Meanwhile, I just created charcoal while trying to make a bagel.

The rig cost Tao 30,000 yuan ($4,385) and two years to build, and includes a periscope and depth control tank. No mention of a sonar system, but knowing the Chinese farmers these days that DIY achievement has to be just a matter of time. [China Daily via Gizmo Watch via DVICE]

RNL Puhua Plastic and Cosmetic Medical Center is a partner of the Beijing Tian Tan Puhua Hospital, which helps last-hope Parkinson's and spinal cord injury patients. But instead of focusing on that aspect of stem cell therapy, RNL has turned its attention to the multimillion-dollar beauty industry instead.

For about $4000, patients go through a process where fat cells removed from their abdomens are turned into a crop of stem cells. The stem cells are then injected into their faces to plump out skin and erase wrinkles. It sounds like an opposite liposuction. It also sounds like suspiciously iffy science.

Apparently, it's getting pretty popular though. People—South Koreans are specifically mentioned—are allegedly flocking to the center for a chance to have their own fat needled into their faces. [Cityweekend Beijing]

Li Wei was born in Hunan province and moved to Beijing in the early 90s. He has had his work exhibited all over the world-most recently in the Mogadishni Cph gallery in Denmark. Check out more of his crazy stuff here. [56minus1]

The China Central Television headquarters is a 6.45 million square foot complex that involves twin leaning towers connected by two massive sections in midair. It's an amazing feat of engineering, but everyone in Beijing is now worried that it might collapse if the building directly next to it, right now said to be the incompleted Mandarin Oriental hotel, isn't put out quickly (It's been on fire for a good three hours now).

Right now it's the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the first month of the new year on the Chinese calendar, and quite inauspiciously, one of the most important landmarks of new Communist China and the message it's trying to portray – is this close to getting obliterated.

Probably not surprisingly, I can't find any news of this on local Chinese television (though some channels over here in Shanghai are mysteriously silent). Rather, I'm relying on blogs and Chinese twitter feeds for updates. [Shanghaiist]

The video shows the building burning from the first moments after the fire broke out.

In fact, it was about the Sony Ericsson F305 motion gaming phone. Apparently the F305 comes with some bowling game of its own. Does a viral video count as a fail if everybody thinks it's advertising a different product? [Youku]

He doesn't half-ass the WoW-themed décor either. The entrance is a real-life recreation of the opening animation from the game. The dining area, called the Hall of Snow Storms, features large plasma screens showing in-game action, as well as a towering World Tree in the middle of the room.

The owner said he'd created the restaurant in hopes that "people who share his enthusiasm for The World of Warcraft would find a comfortable gathering place." Well, my account hasn't been active for over a year, but rest assured, I. Will. Be. There. You know, for the Horde and all. [CCTV]

Sure, they may not look very homey to us, but they're an ingenious way to deal with the terrible problem of the thousands left homeless by the earthquake, while making sure older subway models don't end up in a landfill somewhere. Altogether, the trains will accommodate roughly 1,200 people. [China News]

Another man, who said he wasn't seeking damages, sued Microsoft in a Beijing district court for “violating the integrity of his computer.” He argued that “Microsoft has no right to judge whether the installed software is pirated or not” and demanded that the company remove the notice that he was software piracy victim from his software.

Just to refresh, the "illegal measure in question" is a nagware that turns the screen black on allegedly pirated copies of windows every hour. No data is lost, you're given a countdown for when your screen will return to normal... it's basically just a major annoyance (assuming that it is only pirated copies getting nagged). Is it just me, or does this seem a little brazen of people to sue for what's basically stealing? I think I'm actually starting to feel sorry for the big guy. [Shanghai Daily]

Even though the number of people dissatisfied with something in polls is usually higher than the actual percentage (dissatisfied people are more likely to complain), it's really interesting that that many residents think this is an infringement on their rights. I guess getting your mug on record as being a camwithher viewer is more tangible evidence of the internet crackdown than sites being blocked? [Times Online]

I encourage you to go check out the rest of the images, including a few of a failed baton hand-off, just like the American men and women did recently in the 4x100. [Flickr, shared under the Creative Commons License]

It has been quite an Olympics hasn't it? From the spectacular opening ceremonies, to the amazing performances by Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt (not to mention all of the controversy stirred up by the Chinese government). In years past I can't say that I was all that excited about the Olympics—but I will be kind of sad to see this one go. The good news is that just because the games are over doesn't mean you can't carry the torch...literally. So, check out the following ten gadgets to learn how to play like an Olympian.

Torch Relay:

Usually, physically fit / important individuals are chosen to be a part of the Olympic torch relay—which is why you were passed over this time around. Screw the IOC! You can have your own torch relay around the neighborhood with this official replica version. Only 200,000 were authorized—each featuring steel leftover from the "Birds Nest" stadium and a base of laser cut crystal illustrating the route of the controversial Beijing torch relay. Available for $500. [Product Page]

Avoiding the Health Hazards of Pollution:

A big to-do was made out of the poor quality of the air in Beijing. In fact, it was such an issue that many athletes were issued smog masks before they arrived—and the US cycling team was forced to apologize for wearing them at the airport. If airborne pollutants concern you, and you don't mind looking like a Michael Jackson-esque hypochondriac, you can pick up a filtered pollution mask for around $25 (sport version available on 8/25). [I Can Breathe]

Swimming:

Obviously the big story of this year's Olympics was Michael Phelps' amazing 8 gold medal effort. He is a machine, there is no doubt about it, but he did have some help. The LZR Racer swimsuit from Speedo had a hand in a race or two with its space age fabrics and snug Hydro Form compression system. Available for $550 starting in October. [Speedo via Link]

Another secret to Phelps' success was his trusty iPod. We saw him sporting earbuds and getting pumped up with music before every race. But what the hell was he listening to exactly? The only song we know for sure was Lil Wayne's "I'm Me," but he has professed affinity for Young Jeezy, Twista, Eminem, Usher and Outkast in the past. So what does that mean for you? Rap wins gold medals folks. It's a fact. [ZDNet]

Volleyball:

Besides the mystery of Phelps' iPod, another question on everyone's mind was that black junk on the shoulder of Volleyball phenom and hottie extraordinaire Kerri Walsh. The answer was Kinesio athletic tape, and it helps support muscles without inhibiting the athlete's range of motion. Available for about $15 a roll. [AllegroMedical and Link]

Fencing:

Those bizarre blinking helmets you see on the heads of fencing athletes in the Olympics are actually based on the same technology the sport has been relying on for years. LEDs on the mask are set off when the open-closed circuit system detects a charge from the weapon, indicating a hit. Forget fencing, these would make great accessories to a Halloween costume. [Link]

Cycling:

Unless you have a million bucks to burn on a bike, you will not be getting your hands on this custom Koga bike designed for Dutch cyclist Theo Bos. Apparently, it has the lowest air resistance of any bike in the world, and its super stiff frame makes it an extremely difficult ride—unless you are a finely tuned athlete, that is. [Link]

Track and Field:

Staying cool is essential if you are training on a track outside in the heat. The Nike PreCool vest helps athletes lower their core temperature and keep muscles working optimally. The vest features two layers: the innermost layer is filled with frozen water and the outermost layer is made from aluminum to help trap the cold in. [Link]

If you saw Usain Bolt capture the 100 and the 200 meter golds, you probably know that he could have won the race in flip-flops. However, he was wearing custom gold-colored Puma Theseus II Croc track spikes on both occasions, and you can pick them up at Foot Locker for $100. [Foot Locker]

Okay, So You Are Not The Athletic Type:

No worries, you can still sit on your ass and smoke like an Olympian with this Bird's Nest ashtray and lighter combo. There is even an LED in the lighter to give it the same stylish vibe as the real thing. Available for $23. [sourcingmap]

And while it may seems like a nasty stereotype to jump on the Chinese government for internet censorship, various IT analysts around China have agreed that the government has most likely cut the lines to the iTunes store. From PCMag:

The core URL "seems to be stopped on the China side" but worked when accessed from abroad, said Danny Levinson, CEO of a digital direct marketing company in Shanghai.

Thank goodness I'm in the USA where I have unfettered access to all the Monkees my iPod can hold. [PCMag]

For serious swimmers, here's some serious info about this next gen suit. It was designed with input from NASA, and the fabric is touted as the "world's lightest swim fabric." The seams are ultrasonically welded together and the Hyrdo Form Compression system holds the swimmer's abdomen and other bits at an optimal position for streamlining. The suit is made up off three pieces, which were cut from a three-dimensional pattern to hug the body more closely. Word on the street is it takes about 15 minutes or so to squeeze into this marvel of modern swimming pool engineering.

The suit is available for pre-order now at Speedo, and ships in October. [Speedo via Uncrate]