Reader Jenny G. emails:
"Today, I came across a new McDonald's ad running in Germany. Apparently, they have come up with an asian-themed menu for Asia Weeks there in Germany. My problem is that they have managed to make a shape on the top of the sandwich buns that looks a bit like the kanji for 'Strength', but not quite. So I was hoping you could help me out.
You can watch the TV spot on the http://www.mcdonalds.de/ web site. Just wait for their Flash page to load and you will see a section called Hin & Ham Wochen, with green bamboo. Click that, and in the bottom right corner of the pop up window, click on "Funk & TV." which will bring up the commercial. Anything you might figure out will help."
(Screenshots: 1, 2, 3, 4)
The character shown in the McDonald's ad in fact does not exist in the Kanji listing. It is indeed an incorrectly written 力 （strength, power, capability, influence) with an extra dot.
Similar characters are:
刀 = knife; old coin; measure
刁 = tricky, sly, crafty, cunning
力 = strength, power, capability, influence
刃 = edged tool, cutlery, knife edge
办 = manage, do, handle; deal with
匕 = spoon, ladle; knife, dirk
七 = seven
