Actroid DER2

Kokoro, a Sanrio Group company specializing in the design and manufacture of robots, unveiled its new Actroid DER2 feminine guide robot at Sanrio headquarters in Tokyo on October 4.

Spiritual Civilization Committee

How great is that title for a government department, I think a better translation would be ethics committee. As China's world status elevates, more and more tourists are setting theirs sites on checking out foreign landmarks. In response, Chinese leaders are getting the word out to the masses to not to embarrass themselves by spitting, butting in line, and generally being loud in public, all things that are part of regular Chinese daily life. Unfortunately those that are the worst offenders are the ones with the most status and are therefore the most likely potential tourist abroad. Check out this amusing article, here.

Banksy

The British graffiti artist, Banksy, recently placed a Guantanamo Bay "prisoner/detainee" outside Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain. Check out the images here.

RIP Tom Sawyer Island

If you're like me, you have fond memories of running wild on Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland. But for future generations this experience will be unavailable. The 50 year old island is soon to become Jack Sparrow's Pirate Booty Island. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure this is great news if you're a kid and you have no idea who Tom Sawyer is, but it seems a bit lamentable to me.

Keep the Dream Alive

Check out these DIY Chinese Inventors link

The Human Camera

Stephen Wiltshire is a human camera. He’s an autistic man who accurately draws entire cities from memory after a single 45-minute helicopter ride — right down to the correct number of windows in each building.
link

China Images

As some of you may know, the Lunar holiday is in full swing in China and there are lantern festivals to be celebrated plus China is preparing for it's National Day. So here is a sampling of some of my favorite pictures from around China this week. I love the chimp and the dreadlocked old guy, who by the way has been growing his hair for thirty years... and WTF is with the boxing bears?

The Moving War

Didn't get a chance to post on Friday as I went into battle with all my belongings. It's amazing to think that I carried everything I own on my back and down the stairs and out to the street and into the truck and out into the lobby and up the elevator and down the hall.... I am so sore today and exhausted. But it's done! The implicit nature of the words "U-Haul" will forever haunt me or at least till my hands stop aching.