The Week January 22, 2010

Text message cut off for "bad" words

First up news this week that text message services could be suspended if you use bad words. Users in Beijing and Shanghai will lose the rights to send a message for a month if they use bad words like sex, prostitution, violence or extortion. So judging by the texts I received last night, it means my phone would probably be working again in the year 2020.

Orthodox Epiphany

Next to Kiev and the annual Orthodox Epiphany celebrations where devotees strip half naked, jumping to icy water in freezing cold temperatures to show their devotion to their god. Half naked, freezing temperatures, a frosty face, dunking – sounds like your average night in Sanlitun to me.

Free porridge

From frosty to porridge munching and today is the Laba Festival. Laba is celebrated on the eighth day of the last lunar month, referring to the traditional start of the Chinese New Year. La in Chinese means the 12th month and ba means eight. But more importantly it means free porridge from some temples. So chow down, but remember don't ask for more.

Related video: Beijingers brave cold for free Laba porridge

So hot, no pants

In Guangzhou a group of 20 young people tried to bring attention to environmentalism by taking off their pants on the subway, but the move backfired after authorities issued a warning saying that future removal of clothes would be banned. They said the act would "posed threats to riding safety and social order."

Khaki wedding

A group of students have been hired by a couple to carry them during their wedding ceremony dressed in khaki-colored clothing to highlight the struggle of farmers trying to settle in the city. It looks like Willy Wonker is missing his umper lumpers if you ask me.

I’m not dead

And finally a woman who was believed to be dead and placed in a coffin for 16 hours has been discovered alive. Her family only noticed the mistake after they heard a knocking on the coffin door. Now that's what you call "knocking on heaven's door". And that's a happy ending. No being buried alive.