Dan R
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Posts posted by Dan R
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I started taking this http://www.belllifestyleproducts.com/40-bloodsugarimbalance.htm after complications from glyburide-metformin. At week seven I suddenly gained 13 pounds and my legs swelled up. I took myself off the medication and switched to the herbal mix that includes bitter melon (Chinese: 苦瓜, pinyin: kǔguā, "bitter gourd"). Interested to see if my tests do any better next month.
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Hello, it is a good thing that we can discuss this topic and the worst thing that has happened is perhaps some cow piles getting tossed around.
Unlike what is happenning for real in Asia. Flyovers of fighter jets and other responses to those flyovers. A barrage of threats of missiles and nuclear devices launches and threats of annilations. Fishing and research vessel and various other naval vessels circling and allegedly intrudging on another's sovereign territories. etc, etc....
Of course one could say that the above mentioned action have nothing to do with Japan's future. But there are others that might disagree.
I wonder what would be the perspective of an aging little ojiichan (Japanese grandpa) named Hashimoto whose country is the only country to experienced not one but two atomic bombings. I wonder if he sittings around wanting for an apology, an admision of guilt of the country that waged atomic war against his beloved Japan. I wonder if he questions the motives behind the droppings of those two bombs.
Hopefully little old Hashimoto has learn to forgive and also that he hope and prays that the world never sees another atomic bomb dropped.
Danb
Bombs nuclear or conventional kill. More people were killed in Japanese cities than were killed by both Atomic Bombs. War is Hell! There hasn't been a world peace since WWII. Perpetual war in support of politics and grabs for power. 1984 has partially been realized.
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I discovered shrimp chips and durian chips decades ago, never went back
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Gee..... Fashions must have changed since I was in Hubei.
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A terrible tragedy.
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For Christ's sake it was 70 years ago. Way past time to get on with the world instead of digging up dead horses to beat. I have yet to hear China appologize for the millions of their own citizens killed during the cultural revolution and the great leap forward. Or the Red Guard running around the country destroying priceless artifacts because they were old, rounding up teen age children and forcing them to go work like slaves in the countryside. Before they start pointing fingers at the Japanese maybe they should take a good close look at their own sins.
It is always better/easier to hate an outsider than to engage in critical self appraisal. It also makes ruling politicians feel much more secure. What country doesn't engage in it? Certainly America is no stranger to this. While the question of Japan having no future is hardly an issue. The future is yet to see but I am sure Japan will be in it.
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A husband and wife, friends of mine were granted asylum because they had a child while here and presented evidence that they already had a child in China. I've heard that this is not accepted any more. Besides China is now considering a two child policy.On a brighter note...
I just remembered that a woman told me that she was granted asylum by saying that she wanted a second child and if she returned to China she'd be forced to abort.
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It isn't about militarism for the Japanese. They spent decades in shame for what they did and their total defeat. It is about national pride. It is also about traditional honoring of the dead which honors self. Issues are not as simple as many would have them.
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Earlier this month i was in Tianjin. At all the restaurant meals with friends or family the left overs were packed up in styrofoam containers, bagged and divied up among the diners to take home.
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Who has connected Buddha with Santa Claus? Seems an odd connection to make. There is one Buddha and many Buddhasatvahs. Anyway it originates in India not China. There are many sects of Buddhism originating in each Asian country. Tibet Buddism is just one of the many sects. I do agree that using Western terminology obscures the meaning of Asian philosophy. Confucius represents one branch of Chinese philosophy unconnected with Buddhism.
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Hhhmmm.... Liquor harms liver, kidneys and reproductive system. So is plasticizer more of a risk? Is plasticizer found in liquor from other countries. Is it regulated anywhere? Is it added or naturally occuring? A very poorly written article raising alarm without any answers.
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I wonder if Americans today would cooperate in such an extent including rationing, curfews, and restrictions on most of what we take for granted to support a war. Todays wars are fought differently and the public gets outraged at losses regarded minor in WWII. The Roosevelt Administration had estimated that it would take thousands dying at Pearl Harbor to get Americans behind the war and a declaration from Congress. It is a day that lives in infamy for Americans. And now along with it we have 9/11.
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Well, I'm not sure my advice is much good....but we faced the same thing when my wife purchased anew home - and then met me - she foisted the job of building it out to me. Although my Chinese was "passable" it was pretty much worthless with the folks who didn't speak Mandarin - and only spoke the local dialect. Doing it yourself is "fraught" with issues. They have stores - "Home Orient" (THink Home Depot) and I'm pretty sure with a city the size of Wuhan you could find several of them. I looked at becoming my own GC, but I just couldn't make the math work nor the headaches with some of the trades - not to mention the "graft" that it requires if it is a "New Building".
Ok, what I did was hire a small GC after interviewing several Contractors to see if they (1) Understood the Scope and Processes, and (2) were reasonable in the price perspective, and more important to me (3) could I control their actions. I went with a fairly small contractor who seemed to grasp all the concepts, actually spoke a word or two of English - not so you could easily tell, but that seemed like he understood that he was dealing with a "Crazy Lao Wei". We agreed that I would pay for the kitchen cabinets/appliances and I would also select and pay for HVAC and Electronics. I also made him set allowances for several items - and that I would choose them, i.e. water heater, washer/dryer, and all lighting. It was a design-build concept, and we set off on getting it done.
There were problems. (1) His first onsite supervisor was a "bad guy" and didn't care about his employer or our apartment. I helped him leave the project. (2) Tile setting quality in two or three areas were sloppy and needed redo - (5 times in one place). The concept of "this row of tiles to look exactly like all the rest" was problematic. I just kept saying no - until it was accomplished correctly. (3) I choose the most expensive HVAC unit I could buy - Fujitsu Halcyon and the installation was flawless in appearance - except "The drain was not set to completely drain - and it had to be rerouted and the building had to be re-cored to get the drain at the proper level. A pain in the ass - but no additional cost to me. During execution of the bathroom installations I continually had to ensure that S/P traps were installed, that Commode seals were put in place...and in short "over supervise" the installation of all plumbing - some really strange areas. i.e, wrong hookups (hot vice cold) to my two Fisher Paykel dishwasher drawers, no following of the instructions for install of appliances (although I had Chinese copies for them - not sure the installers could read) - stupid installs of water faucets and "garbage disposal". All, and I mean all appliances that they had never seen -- didn't get installed correctly unless I WAS STANDING OVER THE TOP OF THEM. The Chinese cooktop was installed without issue as they had done it about a 1000 times. Also, you need to be ABSOLUTELY SURE that all vents, i.e. bathroom, kitchen overhead vents - have a "CLOSING" mechanism when not blowing to "CLOSE" to keep everyone else's place in the building from emitting "Sewer GAS" and Kitchen Smells from entering your home! They don't usually do this....so you have to fight to make them figure out what to buy and how to do it. Pictures off the internet usually help in these cases. Also, they love to connect Washers/Dryers, sinks, etc....by placing a small drain - perhaps plastic - in a larger pipe in the floor by just inserting it in the pipe-end of install. No positive - closed connection. Of course after I got finished beating them up --- all of ours were closed connections, with S pipes, all with lint traps etc. (THink Kohler drains etc) Ok, you're probably getting the idea.....of the things that are problematic, plumbing, strange appliances (disposal and dishwashers) and anything that prevents "Smells".
I found the HVAC guys to be great - but then again - I picked Fujitsu which is expensive. I made one mistake on appliances - I made them import a 2 drawer dishwasher from NZ, via Hong Kong to Xiamen - and it was totally foreign to them. I should've just gotten a Chinese one - albeit I couldn't find one at the time...don't be fooled by the plate warmers. In short, I carry two rotors over every trip to replace the ones in the Dishwasher drawers because they dry up and freeze up because of non use. Even having the brother-in law run it every two weeks seems to not help.
One of the best appliances I put in was a "water filtration system". THink counter top device with 5 filters, dispensing hot and cold water - that you can drink! Unlimited water! It to me is a great machine and so needed in China. (I will tell you my wife still buy's bottled water for trips outside the house)
Now the positive side - the GC stood by everything he promised and MADE IT RIGHT in the end. I never had to yell at him - I just told him what was wrong and how to fix it. Someone mysteriously appeared and fixed the issue. He's had people back for the last three years and never charged me a cent. I can't even imagine me doing the work myself or not being able to use him as a focal point. I didn't know enough people or enough sources of supply. I did AV on my own - and used an Audio guy - bought my own Sharp LED TV's and he installed and integrated them with the Philippine Dream Satellite (english speaking programs) so fast I couldn't believe it. All the speakers, installed in the ceilings worked, were balanced, and the integrated professional remote worked 100% the first time - with never any changes.
What would I have done differently? I wouldn't have been so pig headed about having the FP Dishwasher Drawers. I wouldn't have gotten the biggest US water heater known to man - because we never use 120 gallons of scalding hot water - it is just too fast to recover with the 220. I would've split the HVAC system into two systems - to prevent the BIG outside unit from being the only source of failure for cold air. (I fixed this with a subsequent small entry way split system). I would've paid the extra money to have them "demo" the reinforced entry way door so that I could put 2-4 door's / panels that my wife originally wanted and blew off as ridiculous...seems to be a Chinese thing - but I should've listened to her and given the building manager the 20,000 yuan to "Bypass" the rules to get what she wanted - of course you all have figured it out....I hear about it every time we are entering our house in China.....SHE...."Sure wished you would've put 2 doors with 2 small side panels as a entry way....would've been so nice! )(*#&)(*)(#^$)(#^)$( Since I didn't listen to her originally I will get to listen to her the rest of my life on this issue. (You can bet the new house we're building in Hawaii has 2 doors and 2 additional side panels at the front entry way - drove the architects crazy - but I learned my lesson. Not much else with my 20/20 hindsight I would've done differently - and I'm very positive I wouldn't have done it myself. I think some people here on the site have done it - and CHOP SUEY, was sure capable of doing his place with his vast amount of experience. But, for me, it was best I hire someone I could beat on to ensure it got done my way. You're probably wondering how much I paid for this service......the GC got approximately 100,000 RMB, total for the 160 M2 place to build out and furnish just a hair short of 1M RMB. Total cost of unit, with build out, 2.6M RMB. Current ~ market price ~ 4.5M RMB. Original parking spot $18K USD sold last year for $63K USD - holding period about 5 years.
Best of Luck
Great advice for those who follow in your footsteps. Have you thought of becoming a consultant?
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Fit all plumbing drain lines with S traps to avoid the sewer gas rising. Use a company referred by people you know. Hope you have good air conditioning for summer. Wuhan gets a bit hot. Have you ever been to Ezhou and the Lianhuashan Retreat?
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One refers to fake marriage and the other to love marriage. The first is encouraged by the story of Mulan. Some woman see going abroad to support their parents as their duty regardless of putting aside pride. This is bolstered by the culture of not asking what you don't want to know. Honor is restored by providing for family. A few years ago a woman was convicted of human trafficing in the US. The Mayor and others from her village testified for her as a local hero who had siingle handedly brought prosperity to the village. It is a different culture. This also brings up how good is our government at stopping funds transferred to terrorists in other countries considering the 100s of millions going to China tax free annually. The issue is too complex and concealed for a simple article or thread.
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"...Centaurs are thought of in many Greek myths as wild and untamed horses......" OOOOHHHHHH Yes ~ ! Onion got it right! (As did the People's Daily) --- which reported the Onion's story as straight news...
Hold on there son. Ya mean I read all the way through this thread and you guys were only joshin?
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This website has helped a lot of people over the years. I arrived here shortly before PJ was getting out and Don picked it up. I commend all those dedicated people who started and kept it going. Without CFL the process would be much more stressful.
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Dang! Why can't we get rights like that in the People's Republic of USA?
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Chocolate is a good one even if it is quickly gone. Dark chocolate especially is a fav and they can even use it as a gift for other relatives so multiple boxes are appreciated. Watches inspire of superstition are ok only if they are name brands in the very pricey range. So better to forget watches. Proof coin sets from the US Mint are a possible choice.
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Oh Doug you have so much to learn. Fortunately Chinese wives are good teachers.
Hehehe.... Bet she can't wait.
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You said your wife won't let you buy one and I said forget it... So the question is actually to you: Why should she buy you one
I would buy one to be able to draw dirt from crevices which are otherwise inaccesible, but it's not really worth buying unless she's on board with the idea - which she's not
The vacuum cleaner is not truly forgotten about until we (you and I) can forget about forgetting about it . . .
You haven't learned to clean the carpet with a damp rag?
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Good luck now the real work begins. Hope it is all you hope for and more.
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Beautiful work and dedication.
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Carl what did he do to you to deserve this? Randy, show em what for. Them not me hehehe. By the way where did you find real German black bier? I cant get that here. Hard to find my favorite dark (dunkel) even. One of the best dark i've had was at Han's microbrewry in Yiching.
ENJOY!
I-130 for married children and the grandchildren
in AOS & Immigration Challenges
Posted
So Ai is now a citizen and she wants to give her children and grandchildren the same opportunity. We need separate I-130s for each family group. We will need all of the birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and recent photos. But puzzled about the I-864. Do we submit now or when visa numbers become available in 10 to 12 years? Anyone been through this? We have two children and their spouses with three grandchildren.