Quirky news: China graduation student in cartoon outfit, black tongues after meal, Japan slow service
A Chinese man walked for his PhD degree dressed as Patrick Star, the famous character from SpongeBob SquarePants, to honour his friendship with a former classmate.
Pan Ronghao wore the pink costume at the China University of Geosciences commemoration event in Beijing in mid-June to surprise his friend Xia Qing, an alumnus of the school.
During the ceremony, as Pan approached a professor, the latter ceremoniously turned the tassel for him, according to Luzhong Morning Post.
“Xia likes SpongeBob very much, and I am taller than him, so I am Patrick Star,” Pan was quoted as saying. “The university is our Bikini Bottom [where the two cartoon characters live].”
Xia and Pan were classmates for a decade before Xia graduated from the university two years ago, also earning a doctoral degree. Xia now works in another city.
“My intention for wearing the costume was to commemorate the unforgettable time at school and my friendship with Xia Qing. I did not expect this to receive so much attention,” Pan said. “Thank you all for loving this.”
Tongue discolouration
A hotpot restaurant chain in China issued an apology following a recent incident where a customer’s daughter revealed online that both her and her mother’s tongues turned black after dining at one of its outlets in eastern China.
According to The Paper news portal, the company explained that the black tongue phenomenon was caused by a poorly maintained iron pot used for serving the soup.
China Hotpot stated that it had directed all its outlets to properly maintain their pots to avoid a recurrence of such incidents. The brand denied allegations that its food contained excessive nitrite levels harmful to health.
With numerous outlets across mainland China, some online users reported experiencing the same issue with tongue discolouration after dining at the restaurant.
“I tried to figure out why my tongue turned black. I suspected all the food I had eaten but never considered the pot. Who would imagine a pot could turn your tongue black?” said one person on Baidu.
Slow path to profits
A checkout counter at a Japanese supermarket has garnered attention for implementing a purposely slow-moving queue, resulting in a 10 per-cent increase in sales.
The idea for the extra-slow counter came from a worker at the Alzheimer’s Disease Support Centre in Fukuoka Prefecture in southern Japan, reported Asahi TV.
The person recognised that elderly shoppers often feel overwhelmed by the fast pace of modern life, especially in quick checkout lines.
At this specially designed counter, catering to the elderly, disabled, and pregnant customers, individuals can take up to 20 minutes to complete their transaction.
They have the freedom to count money at their own pace, pack items leisurely, and engage in conversations with the cashier without feeling rushed. The deliberate slowness creates a relaxed atmosphere for both customers and those waiting in line, enhancing the overall shopping experience.
This unique approach has proven popular, with some customers specifically choosing this supermarket for the leisurely checkout option. The positive response is reflected in the 10 per-cent sales boost since the slow checkout counter introduction.
