Yo, China, wassup? People are complaining about the TVB series A Gem of Life that's being broadcast right now on TVB Jade, saying that they're distressed Ada Choi is wooed by a father and son who try to win her heart with competing shantoosh shawls. They write:

"The selling or owning of Shahtoosh was made illegal in all countries that signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Many countries including the USA, China and India are cracking down on those involved in the Shahtoosh trade. Although Shahtoosh is banned under the agreement, illegal hunting and selling of Shahtoosh is still a serious problem in Tibet."

TVB tells them it's not their problem. Solution: forced viewings of KEKEXILI.

Bigger problems in Beijing, however.  Starchitect Rem Koolhaas has designed the new HQ for CCTV. Problem is, people think it looks like someone squatting over the toilet and having a bowel movement (side by side comparisons on Danwei).

Maybe they need a visit from Wang Xiniu, one of the most awesome conmen to ever live. In a sense-shattering display of the conman's art, back in 2005 Wang convinced the government in Hohhot to demolish an eight-story and an eleven-story government buildings to make way for his "Golden Eagle International CBD Center" which would become the tallest building in Western China. After the buildings were dynamited it was discovered that he was a conman with a string of arrests in his past and his big investment company building the "Golden Eagle International CBD Center" was a shell company in Hong Kong with HK$10,000 in assets (a little over US$1100). He was arrested in 2007 and sentenced to life in prison for fraud this summer. How he managed to pull this off, according to him, is, "Get in good with big leaders, hold up big banners, and make big money." However he did it, he graduates from conman to con artist. (Danwei has all the details)

I see their point. It doesn't help that the building's name is "Knowledge Window" or Zhichuang (智窗) which is a bit too similar to zhichuang (痔疮) which means "hemorrhoids." CCTV is running a contest to rename the building and they have a whole list of boring names to choose from. Number one choice of netizens: Big Underpants (大裤衩)
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Speaking of Andy Lau (who played a conman in several Wong Jing films - awkward segue!), I don't know why this photo of Andy Lau in costume on the set of FUTURE COP bothers me so much, but maybe it's the baggy 60's era jumpsuit? They look like they're in THE MYSTERIANS.

 In better Andy Lau news, LOOK FOR A STAR, his team-up with Shu Qi under the eagle eyes of director Andrew Lau (INFERNAL AFFAIRS), will be Media Asia's big Chinese New Year film and it'll go head-to-head with BATTLE OF RED CLIFF 2. It's one of Media Asia's most expensive films of the year and it tells the fluffy story of a rich bachelor who meets a fast-talking chick and falls for her. It also stars Denise Ho and Pei Pei of DOG BITE DOG and SHAMO.

Finally, it looks like director Dante Lam has a hit after four years of trying with BEAST STALKER. The movie opened this past weekend in Hong Kong with a pretty great HK$2.91 million and in China it opened at number four at the box office with US$908,294 which put it just behind HELLBOY 2's $949,945. It looks like this relatively low budget flick (it ain't no LOOK FOR A STAR) is going to pay off big for everyone involved. (Watch the trailer)

(Thanks to everyone who helped with this post)