Face-kini Fashion in China : Van Offers Mobile Paternity Tests : 60s Space Racer Auction : A Dog’s Bizarre Eating Habit : aforadio.com
Posted in Q-News on 19. Aug, 2012
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‘Face-kini’ beach balaclava craze hits China
While most people strip off when heading to the seaside, beachgoers in China are covering up in masks and full body suits to avoid harmful UV rays.
Dubbed the ‘face-kini’, the new craze is sweeping across China as the most efficient way to avoid the damaging effects of the sun.
The full body suits and protective head masks are proving extremely popular with visitors to beaches across Qingdao, in north-east China’s Shandong province.
According to state-run broadcaster China Radio International, the beach balaclavas were initially designed to combat sunburn, but are also extremely effective at repelling insects and jellyfish.
‘The weather is too hot, the first thing I do each day is to swim in the sea,’ explained 62-year-old Qingdao resident Zhang Guilan.
The special swimwear was originally designed several years ago but is only just starting to catch on across the country, added Ms Guilan.
Chinese media outlets have likened people wearing the colourful suits, which feature mouth and eye holes, to characters from a sci-fi movie.Shops across the province have stocked up on the sun protectors with demand for the suits continuing to grow steadily.
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Who’s Your Daddy? Van offers mobile paternity tests
Fathers in New York wanting peace of mind that their child is really theirs can now make use of an RV truck which doles out paternity tests.
The Who’s Your Daddy? van sells its on-site tests for between $299 and $575 (£200-£300).
All men have to do is have a swab test taken and wait a couple of days for the results to come back from the laboratory.
The results can be delivered in the mail or in person.
Speaking to CBS news, the owner and operator of the vehicle, Jared Rosenthal, said that the service is proving popular.
‘They flag us down, they pull us over, they talk to us,’ he added.
‘Sometimes, because of the nature of the services, they want to be a little more discreet about it, but they do come or they’ll call the number.’
And of course if people don’t get the results they want, there can be some drama.
‘We have people that want to get the specimen from their spouse without them knowing about it. We deal with a lot of drama. It’s constant drama,’ he added.
However, Mr Rosenthal said that there are also some really happy moments such as reuniting a man with his long lost daughter.
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Space Racer Set For $1million Auction
This futuristic-looking Plymouth XNR may be 50 years old but is still expected to sell for a cool $1million (£635,000) at auction.
As the only one in existence, interest is expected to be high in the stunning supercar, designed and built in the early 1960s.
Inspired by jet aircraft, the refurbished racer, once owned by the Shah of Iran, will go under the hammer this weekend.
An original Plymouth XNR promotional brochure described the car as being ‘functional, beautiful, unprecedented: the entire design is concentrated around the driver’.
It even survived war-torn Beirut in the 1980s before being returned to the US for a comprehensive restoration.
‘When we received the XNR in 2008, the body shell was intact and, considering its history, in surprisingly good condition,’ explained RM Restoration manager Mario van Raay.
‘Many original parts accompanied the XNR, but our greatest challenge was the re-creation of the missing components.’
He added: ‘Considering that this was a concept car, there was incredible attention to detail, right down to the fine leather interior, beautiful instrument cluster, and custom-built hubcaps.
‘Each hubcap was comprised of 35 individual metal pieces. We had to completely scratch-build those hubcaps.
‘Because of the extensive information and many high-quality photos available, we could not take any liberties when re-manufacturing all these components.’
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Dog Lucky To Be Alive After Dining On Phones, Beer Cans And Battery Acid
A family’s dog is lucky to be alive after eating his way through mobile phones, beer cans and
The two-year-old pet has been taken to the vet 45 times because of his bizarre tastes but shows no sign of sticking to a normal dog’s diet.
Nelson, a cocker spaniel and golden retriever cross, nearly died when he chewed through a battery and swallowed the acid inside.
Owner Dawn Ashley said Nelson started by eating stationery as a puppy.
‘He is just very inquisitive and wants to try everything,’ added Ms Ashley, 50, of Hadleigh, Essex.
‘We have learnt to never leave anything about the house within reaching distance of Nelson or he will destroy it – it’s like having a small child around the house.
‘I dread to think how much money we have spent on trips to the vet – thousands I imagine – but he is worth every penny.
‘He is very inquisitive and wants to try everything. I dread to think how much we have spent on bills.’
Vet practice manager Michelle Warwick said: ‘His peculiar diet has left him with long-term stomach damage but thanks to his owner’s quick actions he has escaped a far worse fate.’
