Lets see...

Klang, Malaysia. Melting pot of multiple races. How social? Quite social, people usually gather at hawker centers to watch live British/European/South American soccer matches at night despite having a satellite subscription just for the atmosphere.

What's to see? Well, there's about 6-7 shopping malls. Most of them are at the "new town" zones which is technically the outskirts of the actual town! Only two are in the actual town center! Aside from that, there's the harbourfront, riverfront (if muddy and polluted rivers are your kind of things) and a huge park. Also, the old state palace.

Food? Well, if you enjoy Chinese food, we're renowned for a Chinese dish called Bah Kut Teh, which is basically pork boiled in a herbal soup and enjoyed with rice. If you can't stomach that, don't worry- we have most of the usual fast food fare at the malls (and some like KFC and McDonalds are practically everywhere).

History? Very rich. This was one of the more important ports in Malaysia during the British colonial era. Even today it still remains an international port, being the maritime gateway to the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. And oh, it's also the royal town of the state, even though it's not the state capital.

Well, at least China loves G3s enough to steal G3 art.

Lancer and I were discussing stolen artwork on Chinese knockoff coin operated rides the other day and it led to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwb7AdzyHpI , which I discovered a few days prior.

See if you can spot any oddity with the ride in the video (hint: I see Sunny Daze and Rainbow Dash).

corn

Hasbro owns the license to make dolls based on SSC.

Hasbro has the "Master License" to SSC- they have the power to dictate the direction to take the franchise and all the other franchisees must oblige (although not all- a franchisee here in Malaysia is still putting out infant and toddler apparels based on the 2003 Strawberry Shortcake Baby line).

And Hasbro screwed up with how they handled SSC, plain and simple. Compared to what Bandai and other companies have been putting out back in the 2003 SSC era, Hasbro's toys were mostly bland. Compare this: Bandai made various interactive toys, including a voice-activated Apple Dumplin and several interactive Strawberry Shortcake dolls. And oh, plushes. Lots and lots of plushes. Hasbro's "interactive" toys? A R/C vehicle and a doll that only made boring sound effects. Plushes? You wish.

Additionally, Hasbro's version of the show... For reasons unknown Hasbro felt that it necessary to rip the rights for airing SSC out of the hands of Disney and put it in the hands of Cartoon Network. Guess what? Cartoon Network hates you, Hasbro! They're biased to Mattel because Mattel's holding their sister company's toy licenses (who is the sister company in question? well, who owns Batman and Superman? Correct, DC!). Does it not sound alarms that they air Justice League and Teen Titans, and more egregiously, the Barbie movies?!? Anyways, CN proceeded to air the new SSC on Boomerang, which is not available in many of the markets that SSC was popular in.

Also, the change to CGI, new personality for each of the characters and new voice cast did not go down well with many of the 2003 fans. Let's just say Strawberry's snobbishness in the Good Morning America "interview" pretty much had fans with their hands up in the air decrying Strawberry Shortcake as dead to them. The 2003 Strawberry was a kind, humble being. This... This is not Strawberry. This is a Kung-Fu Creature On the Rampage, II.

Lastly, Honey Pie Pony, Angel Cake and Ginger Snap has a large fanbase. Not bringing back Honey Pie (which Playmates threw out when they forcefully took over the toy rights from Bandai, and many fans were hoping Hasbro bring her back before they knew of Hasbro's intentions), and throwing Ginger Snap and Angel Cake off the cliff, did not go well with that fanbase.

Oh, I nearly forgot, one more thing in two words: "HuckleBeiber Pie". Hope you're prepared for the vitriol for relaunching the Huck with his personality based on he who intelligent people hate, Hasbro. Especially from fans of the 2003 Huck.

Grail

I have space for one specially reserved in my room for it. I'm even willing to fork out a lot of money for it

But the powers that be seems determined to not let me have it

I use Google. Before that, when internet was new and sparkly, I used Altavista.

+1. Before Google, I used Altavista. But after google and especially after Altavista's demise, Google has become my defacto search engine.

I'll definitely want the talking TS, the castle and the R/C car. The princess sets will depend, and of course for the TRU sets, only the fan favorites WITHOUT chrysalis. Don't want the others.