China’s ‘facekini’ was redesigned because kids were terrified of it

Shifan has sold 30, 000 masks in the past year alone, and counterfeits have started popping up around the country. However, the facekini has also drawn comparisons to Spider-Man, as well as wrestlers, the latter of which is understandably scary for children. After considering a whole range of multiple colors for her swimsuit store in the coastal city of Qingdao, she decided to settle on designs inspired by traditional Peking Opera, a form of Chinese opera known for its colorful face-painting.

Zhang Shifan found a way to protect Chinese beachgoers’ skin in 2004 by inventing a swimsuit for the face, known as the “facekini.”

However, the only problem was that the mask was scaring children. So, Shifan, who owns a swimwear store, is redesigning the popular suits in the style of traditional Peking Opera.

In addition to being designed for sun protection, the facekini was also inspired by Chinese women’s desire to preserve her pale skin, according to Time. Pale complexions are seen as being delicate and feminine in China, while “darker skin suggests tanning caused by farming the fields, or other lowly work,” as Reuters describes it. The mask also works against jellyfish stings.

Shifan has sold 30,000 masks in the past year alone, and counterfeits have started popping up around the country. However, the facekini has also drawn comparisons to Spider-Man, as well as wrestlers, the latter of which is understandably scary for children.

“In the past, I really wanted to do everything I could to avoid scaring people,” Zhang told Reuters.

After considering a whole range of multiple colors for her swimsuit store in the coastal city of Qingdao, she decided to settle on designs inspired by traditional Peking Opera, a form of Chinese opera known for its colorful face-painting.

Chinese entertainers perform a Peking Opera at Tianjin Binhu Theater in Tianjin, China,16 November 2014.

Image: Imaginechina via AP Images/Associated Press

“So little children might not be so scared,” she explained to Reuters.

Whether or not you’re a fan of the facekini, you can’t help but respect Shafin’s business savvy.

“She’s able to make something that can both protect people’s skin and blend it with traditional Chinese culture,” beachgoer Zhang Xing told Reuters.

Facebook, eBay, And Google Side With Samsung Against Apple

apple phone
Apple / Via apple.com

Google, Facebook, and eBay are supporting Samsungs objection to the court decision ordering it to fork over profits from smartphones found to infringe upon certain Apple patents. Its the latest development in a long-running intellectual property war that culminated in 2012, when a jury found Samsung guilty of infringing on a handful of Apples design and utility patents for the iPhone. The jury originally awarded Apple $929 million in damages, an amount that was later reduced by $382 million.

Samsung is now seeking a review of that decision. And a coalition of companies that have a stake in protecting their own smartphones, software, and related IP — Google, Facebook, eBay, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Limelight Networks, NewEgg, and the SAS Institute — have submitted a “friends of the court” brief in support of Samsung’s petition. (This isn’t Google’s first time doing this; in 2013, it joined HTC, Red Hat, SAP, and Rackspace in a similar filing.)
Submitted on July 1 to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the filing, first spotted by InsideSources, argues that the decision to award a portion of Samsung’s smartphone profits to Apple “will lead to absurd results and have a devastating impact on companies, including [the companies in the filing], who spend billions of dollars annually on research and development for complex technologies and their components.”

Samsung has argued that since the design patents in question apply to select features of the iPhone, it should not have to pay damages based on the value of the entire device. Google and the supporting companies agree, saying that “the panel’s decision could allow the owner of the design patent to receive all profits generated by the product or platform, even if the infringing element was largely insignificant to the user and it was the thousands of other features, implemented across the remainder of the software, that drove the demand generating those profits.”

Separately, on Monday, Apple filed an objection to Samsung’s request for a rehearing, restating its argument that the patents in question are crucial to the look and feel of the iPhone.

“Rather than create its own innovative look, Samsung appropriated Apple’s,” Apple attorneys wrote. “Almost overnight, Samsung’s smartphone products transformed from bulky, walkie-talkie-like boxes into sleek, streamlined, narrow rectangles that mimicked the iPhone’s appearance.”

Apple declined comment on the filing. Samsung did not immediately return a request for comment.

 

Attribution: www.buzzfeed.com

Healthy Snacks In Less Than 30 Minutes

 

Who doesnt love tacos? They’re easy, quick, filling, and versatile. And while there are many ways to go about building the perfect one, few of them tend to be health-conscious. This vegetarian version packs in vitamins, fiber, protein, and a ton of flavor. Serve it on any type of tortilla or leafy green wrap, or make it into taco salad.

Why A Broken Heart Hurts So Bad (and How to Start Smiling Again)

Many of us have been there: hearing the words, Its not you, its me, or, Maybe we should just be friends. Others have dealt with the death of a loved one or role model. The experience of heartbreak can be so intense that some scientists suggest it feels the same as physical pain. In one study, people showed similar brain activity when they viewed a photo of a former love and when they felt extreme heat on their arm.

How To Find True Love If You’re An Introvert

That was when I realized that I was doing it all wrong, that I was tapping out and turning inward because I was jogging at an extroverts pace, even though Im an introvert. So I reassessed my dating approach to better align with my energy levels and need for depth over breadth. Here are some tips for avoiding the dating drain and staying true to your introverted self.
When I plunged into the dating scene after getting out of a long-term relationship, my immediate inclination was to “play” extrovert by setting up numerous dates in a week, to give everyone a chance, to give those I was on the fence about a second chance, and to stay out well past my bedtime, even if I felt like I was losing steam.

It took only a few weeks of this before I realized that dating was taking its toll and that I was becoming bad at it failing to respond to texts and messages in a timely manner, rushing through dates with people I felt little connection with and, eventually finding myself leaving all of my dates with a nagging desire for the solace of my quiet apartment.

That was when I realized that I was doing it all wrong, that I was tapping out and turning inward because I was jogging at an extroverts pace, even though I’m an introvert. So I reassessed my dating approach to better align with my energy levels and need for depth over breadth.

Here are some tips for avoiding the dating drain and staying true to your introverted self.

1. Don’t be surprised if you’re misunderstood, because you will be.

Introverts have deep inner worlds. Everyone does. But introverts specifically can be thought of as having minds like an onion: to gain access to those inner layers requires significant peeling, done with sensitivity and patience.

Because of this, you may be initially unfairly labeled as shy (a common misconception), nerdy, or aloof. Keep in mind that whoever is worth your time and getting to know will take relish in peeling back those layers to tap into your rich inner landscape. And dont feel the need to play extrovert just to fit in.

2. While boozing at a crowded bar may not be your thing, remember that a one-on-one date is where introverts really shine.

In this format introverts can assert their curiosity by asking questions and participating in thoughtful conversation. The fact that introverts are highly observant and retain a lot of what they take in generally is where people come to learn how warm and compassionate these quiet souls are.

3. Only make dates with people you really believe have potential (not just people who look good on paper).

Remember that extroverts get energy from being around people, and while introverts arguably make better conversationalists, they are depleted by constant social interaction.

If youre questioning whether its worth meeting someone in person (a blind date or online date, for instance), then schedule a phone call.

You will know within a minute if they are. Avoid burnout at the outset by being both choosy and true to yourself. Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, said that Relationships make everyone happier, introverts included, but think quality over quantity.

4. Save time by getting real.

A great ability of introverts is getting deep. Use this to your advantage and ask questions that are geared to determining whether your date is the right fit for you. I went on a few dates with someone I was intensely attracted to and with whom I had great chemistry, but upon his admission after the fifth date that he wasnt a good communicator I realized it probably wasnt the best fit for me.

Had I been honest with myself and with him that communication was so fundamental to me, we couldve saved ourselves some time. Lesson learned: dont be afraid to ask tough questions from the get-go.

5. Dont overlook extroverts as potential partners.

Sure, most introverts prefer depth over breadth when it comes to relationships. Yet I’ll speak here from personal experience: most of the people I’ve developed great connections with have been on the extroverted side of the spectrum. So long as they understand your need for recharging and downtime and you respect their need for significant social interaction,the introvert-extrovert pairing can be a very complementary combination.

There’s no reason being an introvert should make for a less vibrant dating life. So embrace all those things that make you you, including your introverted qualities, and show them to the rest of the world! Remember: authenticity is attractive.

3 Amazing Tricks and Techniques for Cutting Fruit (Video)

Have you ever had a get together at your house, and wanted to serve up some great fruit as snacks? Well then you know how messy it can get in the kitchen and what a headache it can be. Watermelons are heavy and cumbersome. The pineapple shape is uncanny and anything but simple to work with. The mango pit just makes the cutting process a nightmare. There are simple tricks thatpeople use to make the fruit serving processsuper simple. Here are the easiest and fastest ways to cut these three amazing fruits:

1. Watermelon

 

2. Pineapple

 

3. Mango

There you have it, now you’ll be serving up these fruits like a pro.

Attribution: Organics.org

Aussie surfer fights off shark attack on live TV

sharkattack

JOHANNESBURG: An Australian surfing champion fought back against a shark attack on live television during a competition in South Africa on Sunday, escaping from the terrifying scene without injury.

Mick Fanning, 34, was competing in the final heat of a world tour event at Jeffreys Bay in the country’s Eastern Cape province when a looming black fin appeared in the water behind him.

In a churn of water and spray, Fanning could be seen battling to fend off the shark.

“It came up and got stuck in my leg rope,” he said in a television interview afterwards.

“I was kicking and screaming. I just saw a fin. I didn’t see teeth. I was waiting for the teeth to come at me as I was swimming. I punched it in the back.”

Fanning, a triple world champion nicknamed “White Lightning”, was sitting on his board in the water when the shark lunged at him, tipping him off the board.

He was taken out of the water by safety crews in nearby rescue boats, and said he had only lost his leg rope.

The World Surf League (WSL), which organised the J-Bay Open event, said two sharks were spotted in the water near Fanning and his rival Julian Wilson, also from Australia.

“We were all watching and then all of a sudden you could see the fin so we knew it was a shark,” spectator Kaylee Smit told the News24 website.

“We could see the splashing and he was knocked off his board.

“I thought this guy was going to die in front of us, it was so hectic.

“It was surreal. The whole crowd rose to their feet in complete silence and then that was broken by the announcer screaming over the information system for people to get out of the water. I am still in shock and I am shaking,” Smit said.

The WSL announced that the competition was suspended for the day after the incident. – AFP