Just after midnight, bullet shots went through a BMW's window in a carjack attempt, eventually slaying two Chinese graduate students, Ying Wu and Ming Qu, near the University of Southern California (USC) campus.
Two Chinese students shot dead after carjacking attempt near USC
Infographic: How international tourists get their travel on in China
Seriously, who needs documentaries these days when a scroll-length infographic gets the job done? US-China Today (a website affiliated with the University of Southern California's US-China Institute) has put together some decent data on international tourists traveling to China, as well as info on China's tourists traveling abroad.
Shanghaiist Sunday Show: John Garnaut -- Is China becoming a mafia state?
Insightful as always, John Garnaut, China correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age, speaks at the University of Southern California's US-China Institute on whether China is becoming a mafia state:
This Week In -ist: Elsewhere in the Gothamist Network
With visions of sugar plum fairies dancing through their heads, the -Ists began to get into that holiday mood. Well, some did.
This Week In -ist: Elsewhere in the Gothamist Network
Torontoist has some awesome, cutting edge news: A movie is being made about a gay hockey player - filmmakers even got approval from the NHL and the Toronto Maple Leafs! Also awesome: Toronto's "Do the Sneeze Sleeve Campaign". And most awesome is this dreamy photograph of Toronto's skyline in fog.
Michigan-Ohio State game on Sunday!
As most American Football fans know, and ESPECIALLY University of Michigan fans (GO BLUE!) there's a huge game this weekend when #1 ranked Ohio State takes on #2 Michigan in Columbus. Back in Americaland, they're calling it the came of the decade. It's. Gonna. Be. AWESOME.
Chili, college football and charity
We've written about Bubba's Texas-Style Bar-B-Que & Saloon, college football and chili before. And now, all three combine in some kind of crazy mixed up Sunday afternoon stew. We are pressed for time -- we are a judge in today's Shanghai Chili Cook-off -- so we will do what we know best: copy and paste:
This Week In -ist: Elsewhere in the Gothamist Network
Phillyist rejoices in the Phillies' wild card chances, mourns the injuries sustained by Eagles defensive end Jevon Kearse, and goes pirate on our asses.

