Mattel is Bleeding Away

Call it bad luck, call it bad control, call whatever but Mattel is not smiling at all.

The situation is again the same. Mattel and Fisher-Price have gotten 2 contract vendors to do the work and this 2 companies subcontracted the jobs to China based manufacturing companies which didn't meet with the standards at all. That also took a number of months to detect. The toys, if it had been bought / played by the children, would have affected children across the world by now. With that, another batch of recalling again. This time, 8.5m toys. More to come???

Barbie-branded toys. The specific affected parts include:-
* Dream Puppy House – orange on miniature dog
* Dream Kitty Condo – brown on miniature cat
* Table & Chairs Kitchen Playset – yellow food on two dinner plates, brown on miniature dog, yellow and orange on potato chip bowl, orange on salad bowl
* Bathtub & Toilet Playset – brown on miniature cat
* Desk & Chair Bedroom Playset – brown on miniature dog
* Living Room Playset (deluxe) – brown on miniature cat
* Living Room Playset (premium) – yellow flower on purse

Fisher-Price toys recalled are two Fisher-Price GEOTRAX toys and one "It's a Big Big World" toy. Fisher-Price toys with specific parts affected include:-
* GEOTRAX Rail & Road System Freightway Transport – yellow headlights on train car and miniature ladder
* GEOTRAX Special Track Pack – yellow headlights on train car and miniature ladder
* "It's a Big Big World" 6-in-1 Bongo Band – painted decal on top of clear plastic on drum
Tags: Mattel, Fisher-Price, Toys, Barbie, Geotrax, It's A Big Big World, China

Drowsy After Lunch? / China's Me Generation

Interesting articles for reading:-

Drowsy after lunch? Don't worry - it's natural
Ever wondered why do you feel sleepy especially after lunch and worst of all, at your workplace. Something wrong with your health? It's universally known as the "post-lunch dip" due to a collision of biology and economics. Wow, how scientific.

Will your company tolerate your sleepiness which people tend to relate it to laziness? Maybe you could suggest to your company to purchase this superb power nap chair called the Energy Pod which will benefit every staff for sure.

China's Me Generation
With seafood plentiful during a meal, conversation amongst young Chinese would be about exotic overseas trip, snowboarding, credit facilities provided by local banks while another would be assessing internet via the 3G technology.

It seems that the young urban Chinese would usually be found drinking their favourite coffee in Starbucks, wearing Nike shoes and blogging excessively.

Once you asked them about politics, their response would be "We can't do anything about it." It's exactly the same reaction in Malaysia. In China, the young generation is the driver and main beneficiaries of the current strong economy and who wouldn't want it to be changed especially the estimated 300 million 20-29 years old band of the young urban Chinese.
Tags: Drowsy, Post-Lunch Dip, Sleepiness, Nap, Power Nap, Energy Pod, Health, Me Generation, China, Young Urban Chinese

Mass Emergency SMS Notification

Lately, the newspapers did report on certain SMS being unsolicited and sent out to telcos customers without them requesting for it and yet get charged for it. This controversial issue was highlighted in Screenshots. At certain times, unsolicited SMS would be welcomed by customers.

In the cities of Zhanjiang, Maoming and Meizhou in China, a tropical storm was said to be approaching these cities and rumour started as early as 4.00 a.m. (12 Aug) with this SMS message "Huge rainstorm in Leizhou Peninsula began to spread like a plague in those areas."

At the point of receiving such SMS message, the rumour began. Government officials were notified of such SMS message but now the message has turned to "Huge earthquake will be triggered by the rainstorm in Zhanjiang."

One of the town mayor who went out to work noticed the citizens lingering outside houses, offices, buildings and checked on the peculiar situation. Now he has heard that the SMS message became "the huge rainstorm in Leizhou will trigger off an earthquake."

The Zhanjiang Earthquake Bureau and the Zhanjiang Weather Observatory heard about the rumour. Not long after that, they decided to use the Weather Observatory's SMS emergency notification system to disseminate an accurate information to dispel the rumoured message being spread via SMS message. At the rate of 500,000 SMS message per hour, the local government was able to send out messages to the 1,400,000 mobile telephone users in the city.

* At 8.41a.m., the following was sent out:-

"The Zhanjiang city Earthquake Bureau and Weather Observatory reminds you: there has not been any earthquakes recently even though earthquake rumors began to appear at 4am this morning in the Leizhou, Wushi, Beihuo and Tanduo of Zhanjiang city. Please do not be afraid!"

* At 10:30am, a second emergency SMS notification system was issued:-

"The Zhanjiang city weather observatory gives this special reminder: the weather will be unstable for the two days, with showers and heavy rains. Please be prepared and call 12121 anytime for the latest weather report."

A success for the local government as they were able to send out 2.8 million in 3 hours. Is Malaysia ready for that sort of exercise? Instead of just harping on who sent out the rumours that de-stabilised the cities, the local government took up the responsibility to make right the situation. (Adopted from Zonaeuropa)

Tags: China, Zhanjiang, Maoming, Meizhou, SMS, SMS Message, Zhanjiang Earthquake Bureau, Zhanjiang Weather Observatory

China Made Charcoal Roasted Chickens

With the recall of toys that were manufactured in China due to non-stringent quality control systems, one is not surprised to see other goods being produced at a low quality standards especially those charcoal roasted chickens.

One will puke after seeing how a rural factory could produced such chickens for consumption.
Early morning, chicken collectors would go around the neighbourhood.
House by house looking for dead chickens.
At a cost of Renminbi 1.00 per chicken, it's a steal.
A number of collectors are hired each day to do such collections.
The small factory was just like the state of a car workshop.
Carcasses was all over the compound.
Even a doggie could go near to sniff it.
The de-feathering process starts here.

Easy job - just pull the feathers out.Feathers were strewn around the small factory without any cause of concern for hygiene.

An unused bathtub was used to clean the chicken after de-feathering.
Staff walking in and out of the small factory oblivious to chickens lying around the floor.

Here is the end product - the Charcoal Roasted Chickens after some colourings were added onto it to make it real.

Another 'profit over hygiene' case!

Tags: Roasted Chicken, Charcoal, Hygiene, China Made, China, Food

Made In China

China really has to clean up its act in coming up with more stringent quality control to be imposed on factories operating within China, whether local or foreign owned. Tight scrutiny in foreign owned factories should have been done but I think 'profit over safety' blinded those foreign owners.

In a recent case where a top China official from the food and drug administration was 'executed by the authorities' due to taking bribes from health manufacturer that produced health goods which caused death to consumer(s).

Subsequently, food products exported to USA were tainted with substance that can caused illness. Toothpaste was a big issue too.

Recent days, toys manufactured by an OEM manufacturer in China, Lida Toy Co., marketed under the Fisher-Price brand have been recalled by Mattel from throughout the world. This caused its share price to drop as much as 4% from US$23.00.

The toy products being recalled are as follows:-
* 18.2 million magnetic toys globally, including 9.5 million in the United States, with magnets or magnetic parts that can be dislodged - inclusive of 7.3 million Polly Pocket dolls and accessories with magnets, 1 million Doggie Day Care magnetic toys, 683,000 Barbie and Tanner magnetic toys, and 345,000 Batman and One Piece play sets; and
* about 253,000 Pixar Sarge die-cast toy cars with lead paint were also recalled. Lead has been linked to health problems in children, including brain damage.
* Big Bird, Elmo, Dora and Diego characters because their paint contains excessive amounts of lead.

After an investigation, Mattel gave an account of what has happened:-
The recall of the Sarge toy results from Mattel's increased investigation and ongoing testing procedures following the recall of select Fisher-Price toys on August 1, 2007. The toy was produced by Early Light Industrial Co., Ltd (Early Light), one of Mattel's contract manufacturing facilities in China, which subcontracted the painting of parts of the toy to another vendor, Hong Li Da (HLD), also in China. While the painting subcontractor, HLD, was required to utilize paint supplied directly from Early Light, it instead violated Mattel's standards and utilized paint from a non-authorized third-party supplier.

With dignity down the drain, the Chinese owner by the name of Zhang Shuhong had committed suicide due to the recall. That's how bad the situation is.

If you are concern as to the exact toys being recalled, you can check at Mattel's Voluntary Safety Recall Facts and click your language and respective countries. As for Fisher-Price, click its Fisher-Price's Recall Information.

Reading: What Went Wrong at Mattel - BusinessWeek
Reading: Chinese products win praise - China Daily

Tags: China Made, Toys, Mattel, Fisher-Price, Early Light Industrial Co Ltd , Hong Li Da, China, Toy Manufacturer, Recall, China Products

Calling for Bounty Hunters

Yeah, as per the title, Bounty Hunters are required in China and if your stint is successful you can share your experience worldwide. Interested?

In Luoyang city, Henan province of China ....... bounty was set ....... for ........ DEAD FLIES!! Yeah, those pesky housefly flying around during your meals.... hehe

How much would you get per dead housefly? A bounty price of 0.5 yuan (approx. US$0.07) per dead fly turned in at the Xigong district office. Lucrative? But may not be that easy as it sounds. I should have taken those pictures when I was in Sudan. It was terrible scenario. Our fly traps, when left alone for 3 days, would have been full of those pesky insects.

So, before you start the hunt you may have to learn the art of catching it. There was this guy who has mastered the art of catching those pesky fellas ...... he's called the Fly Slayer.

The residents in the province wanted to know one thing - what was the government's plan in disposing those insects after buying in tons from the residents.
Tags: Housefly, Bounty Hunter, Luoyang, Henan Province, Xigong District, China, Fly Slayer

7-11 in China

In China, it's really convenient to find a convenience store. If you can't find a particular one in building, there are those on wheels. They will just pack up and push it into a storage area at the end of the day. Simple. Tags: 7-11, China, Convenience Store

Beijing 2008 - Unwanted Lists

If you have thought of going for next year's Olympic Games in China, you better make sure you are not part of the unwanted lists.

Doesn't mean if you are one of the International Olympic Committee ("IOC") members, you could be allowed into the Olympic Games. Yeah! it's that absurd. China's Ministry of Public Security are currently investigating various individuals that have to be there by virtue of their positions/occupations but China may not grant them entrance. At the end of each Olympic Games, a flag handover ceremony is usually done during the closing ceremony, right? The representatives from the next city would be represented, in this case London. Well, your representatives could be barred from entering China......hahaha. So, who's to take the flag then? What list am I talking about? Backgrounds of each people would be investigated and a benchmarks for the investigation were set too. Click here to view the list (in Chinese).

The Catholic guys didn't find it amuse and had published an article in their website, Independent Catholic News. It seems that Catholic believers have been singled out. Why? China is quite strict on the religion issue and they do not want religious people coming into the country to spread their influence in a communist state.

Extract of the statement by the China's Ministry of Public Security:-
* The banned groups will include members of religious groups not sanctioned by the state, including the underground Catholic and other Christian churches; "key individuals in ideological fields," "counter-revolutionary" figures, the Dalai Lama and all affiliates, "individuals who instigate discontentment toward the Chinese Communist Party through the Internet," and certain types of "handicapped" persons.

* Members of the indigenous religious group Falun Gong would be barred, as would "family members of deceased persons" killed in "riots" -- a euphemism for events such as the Tiananmen Massacre -- and Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province, which the regime brands "national separatists."

* Foreign athletes, members of the media, Olympic staff members, referees, sponsors, dignitaries, and the International Olympic Committee itself, will all be investigated, to determine whether they fall into any of the 43 categories.

Reading: China’s Ministry of Public Security Issues Secret Directive to Investigate and Bar Thousands Worldwide from Olympics - Falun Data Information Center
BEWARE! Or is it just a propaganda raised by Falun Gong?

Tags: Beijing 2008, Olympic Games, Catholic, Falun Gong, International Olympic Committee, Ministry of Public Security, China, Investigation, Dalai Lama, Chinese Communist Party, Communist

Wahaha ...... hahahahaha

Came across this company's products by the name of Wahaha located in Hangzhou, China ..........hahahaha

I would say that the owner, Zong Qinghou, and his wife (former teachers) are laughing all the way to the bank...hahahahaha. From a minnow company selling beverages and ice-creams, they have diversified to many other types of beverages and one of which is Wahaha's Future Coke.

Future Coke, a similar carbonated drink to Coca-Cola, was launched in 1998 and today, it's giving sleepless nights to Coca-Cola and Pepsi in rural China areas. Now, you have to know that the rural areas are definitely much larger than the urban/established areas.

Their business could generate an annual revenue of US$1.37 billion (11.4 billion yuan) and profits of US$162.7 million (1.34 billion yuan) per year.

Seeing this potential, it has prompted Group Danone SA to increase their investment in Wahaha......hahahahahahhaha. Somehow, the investment didn't go as planned and has generated wide protests from the Wahaha local workers.......for once Wahaha staff are not laughing. Their founder, Zong Qinghou, has resigned amidst the takeover by Group Danone SA.

Wahaha is famous enough to attract Wang Lee Hom to become their products' ambassador. So, Lee Hom is also hahahhahahahah all the way to the bank as well.

Guess who's laughing lately ...hahahaha
Reading: Wahaha - Taking the fizz out of the giant cola brands! - Venture Republic

Tags: Wahaha, Hangzhou, China, Zong Qinghou, Future Coke, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Group Danone SA, Wang Lee Hom, Beverage

Chinese Likes To Eat?

Talk about food, the chinese friends (in KL) that I have will travel just to taste a particular food. I'm talking about dinner on a Sunday night. Be it in Klang, Port Klang, Kajang, Sungai Buloh, Sri Kembangan and our normal hunting grounds around KL or PJ.

The places we go to were usually fully packed and may have to wait for your table. After getting a table, you may have to order and take turns for your food to be served. Just waiting alone may take 1 hour at times and the food will be finished in 30 minutes.

But I bet we cannot match the scenario in found in a feast held at Xuyi County, East China's Jiangsu Province. Some 15,000 people devoured nearly ten tons of lobster made by about 500 cooks during the feast.

Bearing in mind that Xuyi County is one of the poorest counties in Jiangsu Province with 90% of the population being peasants. Peasants but yet could enjoy such a feast. This is what I call - enjoy life while you can!

Tags: Food, Dinner, Klang, Port Klang, Kajang, Sungai Buloh, Sri Kembangan, KL, PJ, Lobster, Xuyi County, Jiangsu Province, China, Peasants

Chinese Surnames

My surname is Ong (as known in Malaysia) but in China it's known as Weng. Maybe it's how the Hainanese people pronounced it. My paternal grandparents were from Hainan Island.

In China, when a local baby was given birth, the baby could follow either the father or mother's surname. In Malaysia, we have to take the father's surname.

My surname is not that popular in the sense not many people shared the same surname. Following are the top surnames being shared in China:-
* 93 million with the family name Wang (normally known as Wong in Malaysia)
* 92 million people shared the surname Li (Li = Lee)
* 88 million were called Zhang (Zhang = Chong or Cheong)
* 20 million shared between Chen, Zhou and Lin surnames (Chen = Chan)

And if you are interested to know your family tree back in China, Shanghai Library is currently compiling the world's largest genealogical database, containing about 50,000 Chinese family trees, by the end of this year. Wow!!! Alternatively, you can join the political arena where your political foes will definitely find out on your behalf as they will dig till the cow comes home on your historical background to bring you down.

This database will comprise tens of thousands of characters, records Chinese families' lives and histories going back 1,000 years which includes overseas Chinese too. Data contributions are coming from overseas Chinese libraries in USA, Singapore, Holland and Taiwan. Once compiled, the data will be available online for the public to access.

Will I be related to any one of the China emperors????
Tags: Ong, Weng, Hainanese, Hainan Island, China, Wang, Wong, Li, Lee, Zhang, Chong, Cheong, Chen, Zhou, Lin, Chan, Shanghai Library, Genealogical Database, Chinese Family Tree, Overseas Chinese

Controversial Penalty on Subway Users

With the merging of both MTR Corporation (urban mass transit railway system) and Kowloon-Canton Railway (railway service between Hong Kong and southern China), the new management for the new entity (upon merger) may issue new by-laws for commuters. Both MTR and KCRC control a large section of the public transportation. By merging these 2 transportation companies, economics of scale will benefit them.

The lawmakers in Hong Kong are now worried with the new proposal as it may cause lots of Honkies to be jailed and this may 'derail' the merger plan. I think the new by-laws should be implemented in Malaysia as well but the same issue will arise - many Malaysians will be jailed/penalised as Malaysians' conduct are not as good also. What are the new by-laws like????

Here goes the list (exchange rate approx. HK$1,000 = US$130):-
* HK$5,000 plus 6 months' imprisonment for use of foul language;
* HK$5,000 plus 3 months in jail for loitering, busking or transporting pets;
* maximum fine of HK$2,000 for queue jumping;
* HK$5,000 fine and 6 months' imprisonment for unauthorized structures;
* HK$5,000 fine for the wrong use of ticket-vending machines;
* HK$5,000 fine for failure to obey directions inside a train carriage;
* HK$5,000 fine for placing feet on seats;
* HK$5,000 fine and 6 months' imprisonment for causing a fire hazard;
* HK$5,000 fine for playing a musical instrument or radio or cassette recorder;
* HK$5,000 for taking on board prohibited items;
* HK$5,000 for entering or exiting by improper means;
* HK$5,000 and 6 months' jail for soliciting for handling goods or luggage;
* HK$5,000 and 3 months' jail for displaying unauthorized materials or loitering; and
* HK$5,000 and 6 months' jail for flying objects endangering operations.

After reading the above, am I correct that lots of Malaysians will cry if such by-laws are implemented here as well. At times, people will only act properly when they know that they'll be penalised heavily otherwise who cares! The above new by-laws will require Hong Kong's lawmakers' approval before it can be implemented that will affect the general public. 6 June 2007 - the D-day for the decision.
Tags: Hong Kong, MTR Corporation, Kowloon-Canton Railway, KCRC, Urban Transport, Mass Transit Railway, Railway, Lawmakers, Economics of Scale

Virtual Cops

A local county in Chengdu of China has set up a Virtual Cop Department just to monitor the citizen's daily internet access to ensure that no dissident group will go against the government or any violation of speech/write up against the constitution or too much of pornography. Below is the Dujiangyan county 's advertisement in search for Virtual Cops that will sit in front of pc monitors day in day out to catch such people. The respective cop will be known as Skynet Monitory Manager. (source: Danwei)

Dujiangyan, locatedin Dujiangyan Personnel Bureau
Dujiangyan Public Security Bureau
Notice about recruitment of professional "Skynet" monitoring managers

Work needs require the recruitment of 96 professional "Skynet" monitor manager; pertinent information is included below:-
1. Position name
Professional 'Skynet' monitoring manager, 96 individuals (10 women)

2. Recruitment scope and target
Any individuals with a vocational diploma or higher (recognized by the State Education Commission), who is a long-term resident of Dujiangyan and who fits the position requirements and the registration conditions may apply.

3. Basic conditions for the candidate
(a) Possess PRC citizenship and a citizen's political rights;
(b) Support CPC leaders; love socialism;
(c) Respect the law, have an upright character, dedicated to work, and possessed of a spirit of serving the people;
(d) Men must be at least 1.68 meters tall; women at least 1.55 meters. In good health with all five senses; no communicable diseases; not hard of hearing; no internal hemorrhoids; age between 20 and 30; unassisted vision at least 4.8;
(e) Must know Mandarin, be able to use a calculator;
(f) Individuals who fit any of the following may not apply:-
i. Been subject to criminal punishment, public security penalties, reform through labor, or juvenile discipline;
ii. Been subject to administrative discipline or who have had their status revoked;
iii. Currently the subject of an unresolved criminal investigation;
iv. Immoral, or have engaged in improper acts such as hooliganism or peeping;
v. Have a close relative, or a distant relative who has been a major life influence, who has been sentenced to death or who has engaged in overseas activities to topple the government;
vi. Have a close relative, or a distant relative who has been a major life influence, who is the subject of an unresolved criminal investigation.

4. Registration and review of qualifications
(a) Registration time and placeRegistration time: 2007/04/16-20; place: PSB reception room
(b) Registration materialsApplicants must bring their residential ID card, their household registration, their diploma, unemployment card, discharge certificate (original), two photos (bare-headed 1 cm) to the designated place at the designated time and must fill in the Contractual Professional "Skynet" Monitoring Manager Qualification Inspection Form (two copies) for review.

5. Tests and administrative review
(a) Recruits should come to the registration location on 24 April 2007 to confirm their review status and obtain a test certificate.
(b) Computer exam will be held on 25 April 2007.
(c) Culture exam will be held on 28 April 2007.
(d) Physical checkup will be held on 8 May 2007.
(e) Interview will be held in one session on 11 May 2007.
(f) Group inspection will be held on 16 May 2007.
(g) Interviews, administrative review, and test results will be announced on 21 May 2007.

6. Contract signing
(a) For candidates who pass review by the administrators, the test, and the interview, a contract will be signed between the employer and the recruit.
(b) The probationary contract will last three months. At the end of the three month probation, satisfactory recruits will sign a formal employment contract. If within the probationary period there are violations, the employer may refuse the offer contingent on the specific situation.
(c) The contract comes in three copies and is prepared by the municipal personnel bureau. The contract lasts for one year; at the end of the contract period the employer will determine on the basis of work conditions whether to extend the contract; should the employer decide not to extend the contract, or should the employee wish to resign, then things will be handled according to the contract stipulations. Disputes will be resolved according to state law and relevant departmental regulations.

7. Salary and benefits (interesting part!)
Monthly salary; retirement, medical, and unemployment insurance (according to relevant national regulations, paid by the employer).
Salary: wages contingent on performance assessment; holiday and overtime wages; uniform fees.
Total: 1,300 per person per month. [96 x 1,300 x 12 mths = 1,497,600 yuan per county. If China was to implement this in all their 2,000 counties, it would cost China 1,497,600 x 2,000 = 2,995,200,000 yuan (equivalent to abt US$440.0 million) per annum]

For the latest information, please inquire at the Dujiangyan Municipal Personnel Bureau and Public Security Bureau: Tel: 87110896, 87112383, 87132216
2007.04.13 (seals of Dujiangyan Personnel Bureau, Dujiangyan Public Security Bureau)
Tags: China, Chengdu, Dujiangyan, Virtual Cop, Dujiangyan Personnel Bureau, Dujiangyan Public Security Bureau

Volunteers for Beijing 2008

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said China had expressed its eagerness for Malaysian youths to help out as volunteers at the next summer Olympics in Beijing - as reported in Star newspaper.

I really hoped that the newspaper or Youth & Sports Ministry would do some homework before blurting anything out just to fill in the empty space in the newspaper. The newspaper stated that volunteers were required for the 14 days during the Olympic Games. Please note that all volunteers were required to be in China (at designated cities/venues/stadiums) for training/briefing prior to the Olympic Games. Therefore, more than 14 days are required. Importantly, age requirement - not younger than 17 years old as at 30 June 2008.

China has started the recruitement of volunteers since end of March 2007 and according to their website, recruitment will end by end May 2007. Yet the Deputy Minister mentioned that he would hold further discussions on the recruitment. More discussions with whom and on what? Deadline is end of this month!!! Volunteers could have applied on their own via the Beijing 2008's official website, don't need government's assistance.

The following was extracted from the Volunteer Recruitment page:-

Volunteers should meet the following basic requirements set forth in the General Policy for Volunteers for the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games. They should:-
1) be able to serve voluntarily for the Beijing Olympic and/or Paralympic Games;
2) have been born prior to (or on) June 30, 1990, and be in good health;
3) be willing to abide by China's laws and regulations;
4) be able to participate in the pre-Games trainings and other required activities;
5) be able to serve continuously for more than seven days during the Olympic and/or Paralympic Games;
6) be able to hold a conversation in basic Mandarin, if their first language is not Mandarin; native Mandarin speakers should be able to communicate in at least one important foreign language;
7) possess the professional knowledge and skills necessary for their posts.
Applicants fluent in both English and Mandarin and competent in a special area will be given priority, especially those who can speak minor languages and are skillful in certain trades.

It would be great if I get to go. Would be able to blog about the extraordinary city of Beijing, its food (slurp!!), the great athletics that will congregate in China, plenty of pictures, get to travel in China (never been there yet) ...... sadly, unable to access the particular site to register myself ........ maybe have to rely on the government......maybe this was the reason the government has to assist people like us.

If any of you from the Beijing 2008 organising committee is reading this blog, please do consider me!!!!! FYI, I meet all the above requirements. Informal application but strong enough.
Tags: Beijing, China, Beijing 2008, Beijing Olympics, Volunteer Recruitment, Olympic Games, Paralympic Games

Singing Contests

In USA, the highly followed American Idol has sent a craze throughout the world. Even in Malaysia has its own Malaysian Idol chapter.

In China, no Idol chapter but it has its own Idol equivalent singing contest for the girls and boys respectively. The girls' contest is known as the Super Girl while the boys' contest is known as the Happy Male Voice.

In winning the respective girls' or boys' contest, it will bring instant recognition and fame to the particular individual. Hence, parents or relatives for a particular contestant will usually get their friends/other relatives to vote for their beloved girl/boy.

In Happy Male Voice, a controversy arose:-
One of the contestant found out that the biggest problem is that the SMS voting can be manipulated. My understanding is that there are two ways to get votes. First, there are the big fan clubs in Changsha. If you can contact their leaders and pay them, they can make sure that your votes skyrocket in a short time. There are also many Internet voting companies who specialize in casting votes. When I was competing, my family organized friends to send SMS. But someone told me that it was useless to send a few thousand SMS votes! The other people are using fan clubs and Internet voting companies! I thought, what kind of stupid competition is this? Another industry insider asked me, Do you want to manipulate this? For 3 million yuan, I can make you number one in the nation. I turned them down. My family is not rich. If I can compete, I will compete; if not, I will back out." (source: Y Weekend)

Is this happening in Malaysia as well for both the Malaysian Idol and Akademi Fantasia? I have heard of one Datuk (a title bestowed by a Sultan in Malaysia) who bought the SMS top-up cards and pass around the company's staff for them to vote for his kin. He's rich enough to go round passing such top-up cards. But it would be a huge 'investment' for other contestants' relatives if they are not 'rich'.

The China Daily has been quoted as missing the point about Super Girl (after a publication on Super Girl) - it it was not about democracy, but audience participation. Super Girl contestants were taking part in a reality show. Whether they could sing was immaterial because such television programmes are about entertainment. Hype, drama and audience-pulling stunts are a staple of the genre to ensure viewers do not change channels. (source: South China Morning Post)

I agree on this point as the main criteria was how cute/beautiful they were instead of how in tune was their melody. Defeats the main purpose of getting a top notch singer.

In China, the SMS messages generated during the singing contests would generate a profit of 30% to 50% even after a 15% cut for the telecom provider. How about the Malaysian chapter? Great returns indeed! The main sponsor of China's Super Girl - Mengniu Dairy Company Limited, has risen from being the 3rd largest dairy company to the top of the league during the run of Super Girl show from year 2004 onwards. Great corporate strategy tie-up. Owing to China's large population, an estimated 400 million TV viewers tuned in one night to watch Super Girl 2005's final round. Can you imagine that!
Tags: American Idol, Malaysian Idol, Akademi Fantasia, Super Girl, Happy Male Voice, China, Mengniu Dairy Company Limited, SMS Message, SMS Vote

Nail House

Another case of 'Nail House' as they call it in China. It's just like a nail that was nailed hard into a big piece of wood, noticeable and stands out. Did post about other nail houses in other parts of China too.This 6-storey villa located in Shenzhen, is in middle of a construction site and the owner is from Hong Kong who is waiting for more compensation before moving out even though had been ordered to move. Initial compensation is 5.06 million yuan and they were demanding for 14 million yuan now. The owner said that the new value reflected the current market value. On the other hand, the land actually belonged to the owner but in 1992, new laws being implemented changed the land's status to state-owned. (source: Simon World)
Tags: Shenzhen, China, Nail House, Compensation

Police Technology

In China, police has adopted a small video camera attached to their hat which will capture your wrongdoings and will be used to settle any disputes between you and the police. Easily caught red-handed.
Smart usage of technology. Another way to overcome bribery provided what was recorded was relayed back to the police HQ and couldn't be deleted. (source: 6park.com)
Tags: China, Police, Video Camera, Technology

Graduate Prior to Marriage

In the province of Fujian, the Pinghe County has implemented a new ruling for their citizens there.

If you want to obtain work permits, driver's licenses or even to get married, first of all, you MUST HAVE a junior high or middle school diploma. Reason of implementing such ruling is to stamp students from dropping out of schools as they wished and to maintain high literacy rate in the county.

Sadly, the county government doesn't take into consideration of the poor folks who were unable to continue to fund their school-going children any further. Thus, it will cause such school-going children to be jobless and unmarried in future. Really weird ruling where common sense doesn't prevail at all.

And when someone intended to re-register to study for the diploma, they were forced to pay money before they can get admission. Such rulings allowed local government to manipulate the situation at the cost of the citizens. (source: Danwei)
Tags: Fujian Province, Pinghe County, China, Weird, Middle High School, Diploma

Beijing 2008 Winners' Medals

The winners' medals for next year's Beijing 2008 have been unveiled. It's solidly filled with the JADE gemstone (6mm thick). Priceless indeed!

The design, unveiled on 27 Mar, which inculcates the jade gemstone showcased China's culture and art at the same time. Read more about the myth of jade.

Tags: Beijing 2008, Jade, Medals, China, Beijing, Sports, Olympic Games

Internet Cafe in Shanghai

Received the following photos via email on the opening of a new internet cafe in Shanghai of China. I thought it was a franchised playboy cafe.If you noticed (not the young girls), each customer is accompanied by a hostess dressed in red. You could see that the customers are playing some games BUT the mouse is being held by the hostess. I do frequent internet cafe in Kuala Lumpur but definitely I'll be the one holding that mouse as I want to feel the game's impulse and tenacity.Ok, there's a guy in yellow shirt having control of his game. But really wonder where would you put your hands when your mouse is being controlled by the hostess.The way that they are dressed are just inviting even non-gamers to go in for some cheap fun (you know what I mean) and those hostess are real young. What's the main purpose of the hostess there? Is this really in Shanghai?

Tags: Internet Cafe, Shanghai, China, Hostess