Hot Links: Human Popsicles, Skype says it ‘aint so and the end of Jiangjinjiu?

Netease (via Chinasmack): Two Chinese Men Break Cold Endurance Guiness World Record
David Blaine ‘aint got nothing on these two cool cats: “January 3rd, a “cold endurance war” occurred at Tianmenshan in Zhangjiajie City of Hunan province, where Chen Kecai and Jin Songhao of Heilongjiang province stood naked in glass compartments filled with ice in a cold endurance competition and ultimately breaking the record for ice cold endurance. Contestant Jin Songhao even performed calligraphy.”

MSNBC: Skype says it's legal in China
“Not so fast,” says the world’s leading VoIP service: “A spokesperson for TOM Online told Reuters Skype is complying with Chinese laws and ‘business is as usual.’ Meanwhile, industry analysts have been quick to note that the government announcement is motivated by old-fashioned economics, not censorship, and that Skype is not being targeted.”

BeijingDaze: Jiangjinjiu Bar closing?
Our favorite resident music fanatic wonders if the wrecking ball is imminent for this Beijing live music staple: “They have a full listing of performance planned for january but according to Buyi (the Band), the ride is over … a post left on Jiangjinjiu’s douban about the issue has yet to be answered.”

Chinatechnews.com: China's Biggest Cinema Chain to Install RealD 3D
Look for a 3D screen at the Wanda Plaza cinema soon: “U.S.-based RealD Inc. and Wanda Cinema, China's largest movie theater circuit, announced plans to install RealD 3D technology on up to 500 screens across the Wanda circuit.”

See Also: FT.com: Silver screen strikes gold in China (login required)

Shanghaiist: Beijing-Shanghai high speed rail opening bumped up to June
Tiffany Ap writes: “The Beijing-Shanghai rail link opening date which was originally scheduled for 2012 has been bumped up to mid-June. So midway of this year, you'll be able to satisfy your need for speed with something as simple as a train trip to Beijing on the fastest train in the world.”