Southwestern Drought Awareness

March 30, 2010 | Posted in Mainland China, Tagged , , , , ,

we were wrong how?
to deserve such punishments?

Who can help me?
help us?

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What life once grew on the now dry banks of this fertile land?

Over the past five months, Southwestern China, including Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Chongqing, Guangxi and parts of Hunan and Gansu, experienced its worst drought in a century, following another drought in North and Northeastern China last year that led to a 50% crop loss.
In large areas of Guizhou, the drought has been continuous since eight months ago.

The recent drought has left 18 million residents and 11.7 million head of livestock in the region with drinking water shortages and caused direct economic losses of 23.7 billion yuan.

-source: Chinadaily

And the worst part is, it’s still going on, with uncertain hope for rain in the next month.  Kunming received its first rain in five months yesterday, but that was only due to cloud seeding. If no clouds pass over the region soon, the area might be completely out of water. And just as sad is the fact that so few people knew about this so late.

This is there water

The villagers' water supply.

What can you do?
You can donate to the Chinese red cross here so that the people can have clean water to drink.
You can also start by remembering how lucky we are to have warm showers and clean water everyday, and to not waste a drop of them or anything else you have. Showering for a minute less can save enough water for someone to survive another day. Love the earth and protect your home.

Xiao Ke’s students sings for the drought:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSPLEN6Srd0
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After Many Hardships MIC Boyband to Debut in May

March 28, 2010 | Posted in Mainland China, Music, Tagged ,

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Even before winning the top spot, and 5 million yuan scholarship award from popular show “Migu Star Institute”, MIC had risen up to become a top-ranked idol group with all-rounded talent aspects and high popularity. Although they have yet to officially debut, these boys’ charisma and endless potential have received praises from many medias and fans. Footage broadcasted on the 11th episode of Migu has revealed more unknown hardships these idols have experienced.

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“Lala” is One of Four Female-Directed Movies Out in Theaters This April

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Xu Jinglei’s new self-directed and self-acted, metropolitan romance movie “Go Lala Go!” with Pace Wu, Stanley Huang, and Karen Mok will shown in major theaters in mainland China on April 15th.  The story tells of a college graduate who works her way up the corporate ladder and romances her boss along the way. Xu Jinglei, who in real life can be considered one of the most successful Chinese actresses, having directed award-winning films, having the number 1 blog on technorati, and her own web-magazine for women, had originally felt she was too old to star in her own movie but to do financial and other reasons ended up playing the part and hand-picked Stanley Xu for the role of Wang Wei, her boss in the film.

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BOBO’s puppy love and other interviews

March 24, 2010 | Posted in Interview, Mainland China, Tagged

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BOBO Fu Xinbo and Jing Boran both want to have Samoyeds…

Host XiaoQiang (XQ): Before, Fu Xinbo told me that he feels terrible when he sees feral dogs
FXB: Right, my heart hurts
XQ: But now, there are more homes for feral dogs
JBR: Right right right! A lot of dog lovers would build families for them.
XQ: I hate the people who have pets and then throw them out on the street!
JBR: That’s so irresponsible!
FXB: I especially hate people like that.
JBR: I feel so bad for the dogs.
XQ: Right, it should be like taking care of kids. You need to be responsible. I believe you guys will be good … ( I will be a great dad! ) …pet owners
FXB: He said he’ll be a good dad!
XQ: That’s okay. a lot of people call their pets son. But it’ll be hard for your pets. They’ll have two dads!
JBR: We’re dads of two families.
XQ: Oh…two families’ dads. Will you guys have a female dog and a male dog? Will they get married?
JBR: Yes, they’ll get married. We’ll form a new family.
FXB: They’ll form a family!
JBR: Then we’ll be a family, too. In-law!
FXB: In-law!
XQ: Here’s hoping that you two’s future family will be happy and harmonious. (more…)

Hong Kong Directors name Li Yuchun as best newcomer of the year

Li Yuchun singing Bodyguards and Assassins theme song at her last Amon concert. She will have another concert on the 27th.

The Hong Kong Film Director’s Guild has recently announced singer Chris Li Yuchun as the best new actress/actor of the year. Li Yuchun played orphaned girl Fang Hong, in Bodyguards and Assassins. Although the award is only in its third year, it’s still an affirmation of Li Yuchun by the directors.

The movie, directed by Teddy Chen, features an all-star cast of Donnie Yen, Fan Bingbing, Nicholas Tse, Hu Jun, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Leon Lai, Jacky Cheung, Zhang Hanyun, Eric Tsang and Li Yuchun. Li Yuchun plays the sixteen-year-old daughter of a former Qing general disguised as an opera troupe leader. Her mother was killed and father exiled after his father lead  forces against the Europeans during the Boxer Rebellion. When her father is killed, Fang Hong seeks revenge and joins in the team of bodyguards protecting Sun Yat-sen from the Empress Dowager’s assassins.

Li Yuchun was also nominated  for best supporting actress, best newcomer and best theme song “Dust” for the 2009 Hong Kong Film Awards. Bodyguards and Assassins was  nominated for every category it fits into, and not undeservingly.

While I’m no judge of acting abilities, watching the following MV of her role in the movie along was enough to make me cry twice. Watch the whole movie here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz1ydhr-DfE

Johnny’s and Hunan TV to form new Chinese-Japanese boyband

What do you get when you cross Top Combine and NEWS?

Ever wonder what you'll get when you cross Top Combine and NEWS?

Tired of Top Combine’s MV’s where the Korean director decides to reuse his own work – DBSK’s Purple Line and O?
Tired of Meteor Shower second lead Yu Haoming being given typical kpop makeovers that overshadows his own sweetness?
So is their company. After years of working with Korean record label DoReMi,  Hunan Broadcasting Systems (which owns both Hunan TV and eeMedia, which manages Top Combine and Yu Haoming), has found a new foreign partner.

Today, Hunan TV’s Tian Tian Xiang Shang (天天向上) variety show announced the beginning of “Road to Asia, Day Day Up,” where Hunan TV (Huan Zhu Ge Ge, Super Girls & Boys, Meteor Shower, Happy Camp, Day Day Up)  will collaborate with Japanese entertainment company Johnny’s (Arashi, NEWS, KAT-TUN, Hey! Say! JUMP) to form a new boyband.

The competition welcomes all Chinese and Japanese males between the age of 12-26 to join, and the finals will air on Tian Tian Xiang Shang. Winners will receive a chance to join both Johnny’s and Hunan TV. They will train with Johnny’s to form a new boyband and  join Hunan TV as hosts for a new program.

Sign-ups begin on the 19th on QQ entertainment, and tomorrow’s episode of Tian Tian Xiang Shang will feature Johnny’s dance teachers, crew, and trainees(? – 街球少年).

Guo Jingming goes into Manga business

March 16, 2010 | Posted in Literature, Mainland China, Tagged , ,
Artwork for Guo Jingming's N Time

Artwork for Guo Jingming's N World

Ever since the publishing of “Top Novel” in late 2006, it has claimed the throne of popularity in its industry.Last year, “Top Novel” defeated the literary typhoon Ba Jin’s “Gains/收获” to become the number one magazine in China.

After the second rendition of this wildly popular magazine, “Top Comic” was separated as another magazine subscription, gaining Guo Jingming even more footing in youth literature in China. Guo Jingming’s “Top Novel” is undoubtedly an excellent example of success, but as he admits, earning money is only a result, not his goal. “Doing magazines is one of my hobbies, and I treat it like my career. I think it’s a wonderful thing to see that it has now grown to be so popular.”

However, Guo Jingming has had his eyes set on the manga market since a series of successful launches of novels and magazines. Followed by the hot sales of Tiny Times series, Guo Jingming plans to mark his entry to the manga market with the manga version of “Tiny Times 1.5″ along with works such as “Droopy Eyes/下垂眼” and “Youth Troubles Club/青春白恼会” and “Elf’s Tail/妖精的尾巴”, which will be released within a short time after “Tiny Times”. This of course, would mean another big bucket of cash for Guo Jingming from the Chinese youth literature market.

According to publisher’s statistics, “Top Novel” has sold around 700,000 copies per month. Guo Jingming’s “Tiny Times” has sold out all of its first batch of 1.2 million copies within seven days after its release to the public, and the number has continued to rise to 1.6 million within two months.

source: sohu
translation: ixiedin

UPDATE2: Han Geng currently in the US, to go on first TV show after lawsuit on 26th

March 15, 2010 | Posted in Mainland China, Tagged ,

For the record, Sina didn”t make up any of these rumors. They just reported what they found from various different sources, and explicitly stated in their articles which of the sources are legit and which ones are rumors.

If Han Geng joins eeMedia, he might work opposite Meteor Shower actress Zheng Shuang

If Han Geng joins eeMedia, he might work opposite Meteor Shower actress Zheng Shuang

UPDATE2: For the first time after his lawsuit, Han Geng will go on a TV show on the 26th. He will be attending Migu Celeb School, a show that showcases up and coming artists, the most popular of which is Taihe Rye’s  MIC boyband. Meanwhile, he says he has been taking business, English and acting classes to better prepare himself for the future.

Migu is a collaboration between Shanghai’s Dragon TV and China Mobile. Previously, stars who have went on migu include SHE, Jane Zhang, Wilber Pan, Kimi Qiao Renliang, He Jie and BOBO.

Included in the sina article are rumors that perhaps it is instead Taihe Rye that Han Geng will join so that he can lead MIC. An interview with Li Yuchun, who is in both eeMedia and Taihe Rye, had Li Yuchun saying that she has yet to hear of any new of him signing with eeMedia. She said that she is good friends with Han Geng and that his dancing is excellent.

And interview with Taihe Rye CEO Song Ke said that he could not comment on Han Geng’s contract lawsuit. He said that he has met Han Geng before and thought him very polite and talented. He said that “Contracts are dead, but people are alive,” said Song Ke, who then added that artists and their company need good communication

source: sina

Further, another article says that the reporter has phoned Han Geng, who is currently in the US. The article said that Han Geng denied signing with eemedia, but said he’ll have to see what might happen with Taihe Rye.
source: sina

UPDATE1: According to this sina microblog (twitter), Da Peng said that the rumor about Han Geng joining eemedia is not true.

(more…)

Huang Xiaoming Donates to Nursing Home

March 15, 2010 | Posted in Mainland China, Tagged ,

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A few days ago, Huang Xiaoming was at Shanghai filming a commercial for the watch brand Tissot. As the ad’s primary desire was to display the everyday actions and attitude of their spokesperson, they chose a nearby nursing home as the filming location. The elderly people there happily welcomed him. While the staff was applauding him for smoothly completing the filming, a 90+-year-old elder, assisted by one of the staff members, walked over with an autograph book and pen, and said to Xiaoming, “We all really like you! We always see you on TV. Can we have your autograph?”

While he signed her book, he wished good health to all of the elderly there and asked if they needed any other type of assistance. “Allow charity to become a habit” has always been one of Huang Xiaoming’s goals, and he immediately decided to use cash to make a donation, so the nursing home could get more equipment and facilities, and thus make the lives of the elders more cozy.

-translation thanks to Jo.

Source

Guo Jingming book most sold fiction

March 13, 2010 | Posted in Literature, Mainland China, Tagged ,
Guo Jingming

Guo Jingming in his Shanghai home...so jealous of his view (and brains)

According to OpenBook, the most comprehensive book sells analyst in China, author/publisher/idol Guo Jingming’s new book – Tiny Time 2.0, broke the record for most number of sales in a month by a fictional book in China since the company has been operating in 1999. The new record nearly doubles the previous record, which was held by Tiny Times 1.0 . Third place is Zhang Ailing’s “xiao tuan yuan.”

January’s top ten bestsellers includes three books by Guo Jingming, with about 10 times as many Tiny Times 2.0 sold as The Lost Symbol.

1. Tiny Times 2.0 by Guo Jing Ming
2. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
3. Narrow Dwellings by Liu Liu
4. Tiny Times 1.0 by Guo Jingming
5. Tomb-robber’s diary by Nanpai Sanshu
6. Du Lala’s Promotions by Li Ke
7. Twilight by Stephenie Meyers
8. Tiny Times 2.0 (limited edition) by Guo Jingming

source: Guo Jingming’s sina blog (yes, I know, most unbiased source ever…)