A Scene Maker

As one of three founders of In The Cut, Jason Lee throws the parties you're at and works with people and companies that, if they do their job right, you know about.

How did your first event go?
We had done clubs for a while, but the first "event" event we threw was one of the biggest. It was for Tongyi. We arranged a three-on-three basketball tournament over two days with 128 teams of expats and locals outside of Infinity Mall. It was huge.
Did you play?
[Laughs] No I was too busy running around. So what are you up to these days? We do most Fridays at Volar and we're also running their Backstage party, which will be great. Now we also run Thursdays at Racks to try and bring back the feeling from "Pegasus Thursdays" when we used to run that party. You're well-known for your parties, but what else are you involved in? GUESS is one of our biggest clients. We threw their launch party last year and they're doing the Backstage parties with us and we're working with Marciano, one of GUESS' higher-end brands, to kick off the line in Beijing. Darryl O'Young, who's already huge in Hong Kong and represents Hublot, Porsche and Adidas, is also an individual client. What's the best part about your job?
The sporadic events. Events pop up out of nowhere and we need to be able to adapt, which is part of the fun.
What are some of the challenges you deal with?
Just the normal stress of running your own business.
Would you ever give it up? Being an entrepreneur?
Definitely not, we just need to keep evolving with the scene and not try and limit ourselves.

The Irony of Privacy

A public kiss turns into a public scandal when a couple sues the Shanghai Metro for invasion of privacy
When caught up in the throws of passion, it's hard to resist the insatiable pull towards a luscious pair of lips. While making out in public generally has a positive correlation with alcohol intake, one Chinese couple seemed to find the intoxicating effects of each other to be all the incentive necessary for locking lip à la Francaise–in the middle of the metro station. However, when a three-minute video of their intimate moment was caught on tape by the Metro security cameras and later uploaded to YouTube by Metro staff (getting thousands of hits), the incensed couple sued the subway operators.

The lawsuit has sparked a discussion on the passengers' rights to privacy, garnering coverage in international press including Reuters, the Globe and Mail and MSNBC. Chinese legal experts working on behalf of the embarrassed couple have emphasized that, while the security cameras reduce crime, stronger legislation is required to regulate the use of video footage. The Shanghai Metro Operation Co. Ltd. reported that two of the employees responsible had already left the company. The third was dismissed. They are now discussing compensation with the couple.
Ironically, while complaints of privacy invasion by the authorities are a serious matter, the event begs the question, how concerned are you with privacy when you deign to make out in the middle of the entry gates to the subway station? Isn't it also embarrassing to have people gawk and stare as your pecking blocks their path? Maybe in hindsight they thought their on camera performance could have been better (it could have). Either way, lesson learned–don't invade others' privacy. We don't need to see that, on YouTube or on the subway.

News You Can Use

Point the way to safety
It's going to get easier to get to the other side of the road. New crossing zones will give pedestrians 30 seconds of green time, have shorter red lights, and provide at least 14 sq. meters of space. More pedestrian walkways will be added and crossing zones are to appear every 250 meters in accordance with new Shanghai Government restrictions.

Olympic ticket bust
According to the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, nearly 75 percent of tickets offered in the second round of ticket sales remain unsold. BOCOG received more than four million applications but most requested the same events, limiting sales. So, if you're hoping to catch the archery competition, you can probably still get in.

Controlling the bang of your buck
Mayor Han Zheng has said that the Shanghai government will focus on improving the daily life of citizens, particularly in relation to managing increasing food costs. Food production and sales companies will have to first seek government approval before raising prices by more than four percent at a time. Subsidies for those in need will also be distributed.

Crash cars
Instead of sorting out traffic mishaps based on the said / she said, traffic police will soon be aided by car crash investigation vehicles, hitting the streets in February. Among other gadgets, the cars carry electronic diagram systems, computers, digital cameras, video equipment and high-powered search lights. Start checking your rearview mirror.