Ah, yes...just a few sports-centric guys sitting around getting make-up put on, talking about getting the "meat sweats." Then one of those guys--Los Angeles Times sports columnist Bill Plaschke--throws this humdinger out about his travels in China: "Then I went to a penis restaurant, and ate some penis." more ›

Beloved to millions, the Apple iPhone is capable of countless things. It can talk, (No, Siri. I don't want to search the web. I want you to solve my dilemma NOW!), act as a GPS, manage daily activities, wake up its owner, serve as a mini computer and game console, play music and much, much more. Oh, and it also calls and texts people, too. But apparently, a Chinese company wanted the iPhone to do more - to cook food. more ›

A man protesting in front of the Chinese Consulate this afternoon fired shots at a security guard, who had taken his sign and tossed it in the trash. more ›

Today we're learning that late last month, inspectors at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach seized two shipments of potentially dangerous Santa Claus, snowman and polar bear figures with electrical adapters that contained counterfeit Underwriters Laboratories Inc. markings, according to City News Service. more ›

When you care enough to send the very best...well, maybe you shouldn't be sending it on a flight to Los Angeles. Federal customs officials announced a recent seizure of drums holding about 520 pounds of a powdered chemical used to make meth at LAX. The shipment of methylamine hydrochloride was found at a cargo facility last month. more ›

During a routine pat-down at LAX last Wednesday, August 24, TSA agents discovered two unlikely passengers - bright yellow birds - stuffed in socks and taped to the arm and leg of a female China-bound traveler, reports L.A. Now. more ›

At California State University Northridge’s art galleries, a new exhibit will showcase the work of two Chinese artists exploring the notions of urbanization and modernization of their country, according to a statement released by the university. The artists, Chen Qiulin and Fen Weng, will showcase over 40 pieces of photographic and video art. more ›

Since the '90s a Walt Disney theme park and resort project has been in planning stasis pending approval from the Chinese government. Over the weekend, invitations to attend a "special event in Shanghai" were issued, reports the Wall Street Journal, to a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday "that Disney CEO Bob Iger is expected to attend," notes Deadline. more ›

Inspectors at LAX today encountered a not-so-pretty find : About 5,400 fake M.A.C makeup brushes attempting to land in L.A. from China, reports CBS2. The faux beauty tools arrived, and seized, " in five shipments at an air cargo express consignment location between Jan. 20 and Feb. 11," according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rep. The big pile of fake M.A.C. was estimated as having a retail value of $112,500. Okay, so are fake makeup brushes really a big deal? Yes, say customs officials, because they're sort of a gateway drug to other offenses: "the trading of illegitimate goods is often linked to and provides funding for various other criminal enterprises." more ›

Roughly 25.7 million tourists photo-snapped, food-spotted and Star-toured it through Los Angeles last year, up from 23.8 million in 2009. Yet of all the domestic and international visitors that spent a combined $13.1 billion on hotels, restaurants and theme parks in 2010, most came from Australia. That's a first, according to the Daily Breeze. Why are Aussies flocking to our shores? Though we'd like to think it's for our culture and our food and our uniquely LA vibe, we suspect it's not for our beaches. more ›

Federal agents seized three shipments of fake designer sunglasses with an estimated retail value of more than $12 million at the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the 78,600 pairs of sunglasses arrived in three shipments from China looking "confusingly similar" to designer brands Coach, Gucci and Emporio Armani. more ›

Before Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger leaves office this year, he'd like to leave a legacy and one that isn't poisoned by that "deficit" word. Too late on that one. He could, however, leave somewhat of a mark on the development of high speed rail. At the very least, he's trying really hard. more ›

Meet the Beijing-Tibet Expressway. It may seem like a joke, but apparently there's a 60-mile, nine-day traffic jam and it could last for weeks. People are reportedly playing cards and vendors have entered the freeway to sell food at high prices. What's causing this? "Insufficient traffic capacity … caused by maintenance construction." more ›

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested four Chinese nationals over the weekend as part of a takedown of two brothels operating in the San Gabriel Valley, according to abc7. more ›

Basketball fans, rejoice. Nike has just opened another of its specialty stores in the L.A. area and it is targeted at you. more ›

This video of the Sunday morning rituals in Renmin Park at People's Square of Puxi in Shanghai offers a glimpse into the lives of older people in China. From fan dances to Tai Chi and this one that they call "disco", the park was full of bodies moving and happy smiles. more ›

Big Bear's Jordan Romero has done something very few people in the world will ever do: Climbed Mount Everest. But what's more amazing is that Romero is just thirteen years old, which now makes him the youngest person ever to do so. more ›

A Chinese bank is has agreed to loan $7 billion to help build a high speed train between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, according to the Las Vegas Sun, via Curbed LA. That's great, but there are hurdles, including the fact that the line was not funded in the latest round of stimulus money, in which California received $2.25 billion. However, if it does become a reality, Las Vegas will truly become L.A.'s far flung suburb. But, hey, Chinese bankers, what about some funding for the subway to the sea? Huh? more ›

For the first time since their capture in North Korea, sentencing to a hard labor camp, and return to the US following a diplomatic intervention by former President Bill Clinton, Current TV, the San Francisco-based cable network part-owned by former Vice President Al Gore, has come forward with details of the incident involving their reporters Laura Ling and Euna Lee. more ›

The animation studio responsible for bringing us memorable cartoon characters like Fred Flintstone, Scooby-Doo and George Jetson is celebrating its anniversary. The Paley Center for Media hosts Yabba-Dabba-Doo! A 70th Anniversary Salute to Hanna-Barbera, commemorating the long history of the famed animation studio. Included as part of the celebration is a look at a collection of rare artwork and artifacts spanning the studio's 70 years of existence. Through September 6th. more ›

When former Mayor James Hahn visited China in 2002, hoping to get panda exhibit for the LA Zoo, he came back with the promise of three golden monkeys for 10 years. Now that is not even happening, according to the Daily News. "We did pursue it with the Chinese government, but our understanding is they were no longer responding to our inquiries," Zoo Commission President Shelby Kaplan Sloan said. "We are working to bring in other simians and think we can come up with something the public will respond to and be just as attractive." More than $7.4 million was spent on the exhibit, which will now be used for other Asian primates, birds and miniature deer. more ›

Tonight LACMA presents “Sound & Image: A History of Bollywood Film Music with Robin Sukhadia” from 7-9 pm at the museum’s Bing Theater. The seminar is focused on the sound and music of Bollywood, including the works of master film composers Naushad, SD Burman, & RD Burman. The program will feature music videos and film clips, accompanied by historical and political commentary and context by Sukhadia. The evening’s free and kid friendly. more ›

The program blends the Peking Acrobats' aerial feats and daring maneuvers with the majestic and sumptuous sound of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra on a spectacular journey through acrobatic art forms thousands of years in the making. The 21-member troupe performs daring maneuvers atop a precarious pagoda of chairs, precision tumbling, somersaulting, astonishing juggling dexterity, incredible balancing feats and gymnastics. According to the New York Post, the Peking Acrobats “…seem to push the envelope of human possibility," and Dance Insider says, "It's like watching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon LIVE, without camera tricks creating special effects." more ›

Shocking news of a knife-attack on two Americans affiliated with the Olympics on the prestigious event's first day have local reverberations, as the victims' identities have been revealed. According to Associated Press reports, Todd Bachman and his wife Barbara were stabbed midday at the Drum Tower (pictured), a popular tourist location, by Tang Yongming, 47, from the eastern city of Hangzhou. Following the stabbings, the attacker committed suicide by leaping from the second level where the incident took place. Mr. Bachman died from his wounds, and Mrs. Bachman was hospitalized with injuries. The status of their Chinese tour guide, who was also a victim of the attack, is not clear. more ›

The Actors’ Gang presents 1984, the George Orwell novel we all had to read in high school. It “tells of a world where people fear that their opinions cannot be expressed freely, where citizens are monitored at the government's discretion, where leaders are not held accountable for their deceptions, and where perpetual war is waged against an unseen enemy.” This production was directed by Tim Robbins and previews tonight (meaning tickets are a little cheaper). more ›

Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick is bringing up one of LAist's favorite topics: Los Angeles. The once City Councilwoman (and probably future City Councilwoman when she runs and probably wins) wanted Los Angeles to be tourist friendly and not just for tourists, but for residents. more ›

The nearly 10,000 person death toll (and rising!) after yesterday's massive 7.8 earthquake in the Sichuan province of China serves as a reminder to Los Angeles that we are just as vulnerable to such a large shaker. It was just last month that scientists said "California faces an almost certain risk of being rocked by a strong earthquake by 2037." And they're talking about "the big one." more ›

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href="http://londonist.com/2008/02/air_bound.php"> remove one man from Gatwick.

Lakers 130, Suns 124 - So I'm like "OMG!" and then she's like "fer reelllllz!" And then I'm like "NO.WAY." and the she's like "totally." more ›