Two different "wardrobe malfunctions" occurred during the Pussy Cat Doll's recent performance in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and they've earned the LA-based group a $3,400 fine. Carmit Bachar suffered a nip slip, while Ashley Roberts "was accused of revealing her private parts after her tiny pair of shorts left little to the imagination." As a result of the two skin-shows Malaysian officials deemed the Pussy Cat Dolls' routine "sexually suggestive" and subject to fine. One question: had anyone ever seen the Pussy Cat Dolls prior to booking them? "Sexually suggestive" is their collective middle name. [via]

Chinese New Year started with a bang (literally) on Sunday, with firecracker ceremonies to ward off evil, and runs through the beginning of March. This year is the year of the pig, and not just any old porker, but the golden pig! The piggly portion of the chinese 12-year zodiac is supposed to bring prosperity, luck and fertility, especially so during the once-in-60 years arrival of the golden swine. For the next few weeks Chinese cities and chinatowns everywhere from Beijing to London will be a riot of all things gold and red and elaborate light displays, as everyone tries to amp up their luck for the year to come. In Boston’s chinatown, all the local dim sum palaces are visited in turn by lion dancers to make sure that any nasty spirits are scared away. User Indietrekker just uploaded a clip of the proceedings:



Get extra lucky by checking out New Year happenings in any of these cities around the world:

– New York
– San Francisco
– Los Angeles
– Vancouver
– Hong Kong
– Singapore
– Kuala Lumpur
– Shanghai
– Beijing

Gung hei fat choi!

Alternative Israel
- “Had Your Fill of the Ancient Charms of Jerusalem? Relax in the German Colony.” (Washington Post)
- “An Arty Oasis in Old Tel Aviv” (NYT)

Malaysian Cooking
- “In Malaysia, Take Many Peoples and Ingredients, Mix, Enjoy” (NYT)

The Ajanta Caves
- “In the Holy Caves of India” (NYT)

Cologne/Köln, Germany
- “Fun amid the splendor of spires” (Houston Chronicle)

Pre-Ski Season Special
- “Canada: The Best of Everywhere” (Chicago Tribune)
- “From resorts to ski reviews, it’s online” (Chicago Tribune)
- “North America: It’s a big continent, with lots of snow” (Chicago Tribune)