DMikeS4321

Glad to hear things worked out for her, Charles. The only possible upside is that she wasn't stranded on a PLANE!!

Maybe people are more friendly/open-minded in the south? In all my visits, I've only encountered ONE incident of this kind while visiting Nanning. I don't speak Chinese, but believe me, I can tell. The one time it DID happen, I new instantly that something ugly had been said. I asked my wife to tell the offending parties that I would be happy to show them how we handle *ssholes in the States, but she wouldn't. I gave them an emphatic "middle-finger salute" (international symbol of respect, but offered behind my wifes back) and it went no further, but I think it was because of something SHE had told them about their parentage. In any event, that is the ONLY problem we've had. We didn't even run into this in Shanghai...

Wow, the minute I saw the headline I knew what this was about... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/worl...icle3264827.ece Snow to the west and north towards Yunnan and Shanghai. I was trapped with my daughter and her friend for hours in the Guangzhou train station back in 2005. It was nightmarish... nothing but a huge, swarming mass of people for as far as the eye could see. My wife has been telling me how cold it's been in Nanning. I have a real-time thermometer on my computer that shows the current temperatures in Nanning, Sequim, WA (we're hoping to move there soon) and NorCal where I presently live. It has been COLD in Nanning, sometimes colder than in Sequim. Lao Po tells me it is the coldest it's been there in over 45 years, so cold that most are really suffering (very few homes there have heat as it doesn't usually get cold enough to warrant the expense).

Too funny and very challenging for you too. I salute you for your attempt. If I recall, meatloaf requires baking and ovens are virtually nonexistence in typical Chinese homes. Trouble is, I think our best and most traditional dishes are oven baked too... Try pancakes and maple syrup with hash browns and bacon or sauage...OK, maybe just pancakes and you can bring your own next time. I've always told my wife about the pancakes I make when at home. One day, on my second trip to Nanning, she woke me up with the BEST pancake breakfast I've ever had. I mean, it was GREAT!!! I'm constantly amazed, every time I visit. I couldn't have done half as well and I have no idea where she found maple syrup.

Actually, my point was that I wish OUR country had the moral fiber to protect 10 years olds from the disgusting stuff that is swamping the internet. Read the writings of the Founders, then try to discern what they were talking about when addressing freedom of speech. Porn wasn't even on the radar screen. We've also come to realize that none of the rights ennumerated are absolute; i.e. screaming "FIRE" in a crowded theater. Meanwhile, several big name politicians are restricting the very expression the Bill of Rights was written to protect!!! Just seems backwards to me... Forget moral fiber, how about something called parental responsibility? Too many parents in this country let the computer or television be a substitute for actual parental contact. I think that the beauty of what the Founders wrote is that it IS a little ambiguous. I believe they had the foresight to not decide exactly what constitues freedom of speech or religion or whatever. They knew that the citizenry would have the good sense to figure out where the limits were. Some people just think they should be able to impose THEIR limits on the population as a whole. That I have a problem with. When my 13 year old can do an search for an innocuous term and end up with results showing beastiality and graphic sex, I have a problem with THAT! If it can't be broadcast, it shouldn't be online, not without some sort of filter. If it can't be sold in plain view in a 7/11, it shouldn't be online, not without some sort of filter. What are we trying to 'protect' here, smut merchants or our children? Meanwhile, we can't do issue advertising within 90 days of an election? Where were you when McCain-Feingold was passed (and signed; this was an equal opportunity, bi-partisan violation of the Bill of Rights)? As for ambiguity, not really. It's relatively easy to discern original intent. All you need to do is find judges who are willing to read the historical documents!

Are you saying we should 'have a problem' with other countries who deny rights to their citizens?? Careful, Dave, don't embarrass yourself... you should know where THIS will end up!

Actually, my point was that I wish OUR country had the moral fiber to protect 10 years olds from the disgusting stuff that is swamping the internet. Read the writings of the Founders, then try to discern what they were talking about when addressing freedom of speech. Porn wasn't even on the radar screen. We've also come to realize that none of the rights ennumerated are absolute; i.e. screaming "FIRE" in a crowded theater. Meanwhile, several big name politicians are restricting the very expression the Bill of Rights was written to protect!!! Just seems backwards to me...

I'm up to 340. I'll let you know if I find all 44,000. Typical Illini.....

I still don't know what I missed. Why the personal attack, Dave? Did Tony to something to you that hasn't shown up on this thread? Like steal your pacifier?? Take a deep breath, Dude!! We're all friends here, no?

What the hell did I miss? I'm sorry I started this thread. My comment was simply that I don't mind the kind of censorship discussed in the article I linked to. It has it's upside AND it's downside. My later point is that the "Freedom of Speech" most of us refer to doesn't match up with what the Founding Fathers had in mind. (They were concerned with political speech of the kind limited by McCain-Feingold!! ). I think the Founders would have been horrified with easy access to and universal dissemination of porn. This thread and my points aren't even worth the rancor. Why can't we all just get along?

With all due respect, this is just plain stupid. Rog, you've outdone yourself this time. There is no way to translate our cultural and social sensibilities to another culture or society. To attempt to do so is the height of cultural arrogance. What gives us the right? To paraphrase something I see often in discussions about OTHER international issues; are we the world's policeman??? As for poisoning us, you CAN'T be serious... Wouldn't it be nice if EVERYONE in the world lived by our standards, the standards we have developed over 150+ years of industrialisation? I don't know, you tell me. Should we intervene in a situation like this? It is even our business?? The same people who complain about our "intervention" in other situations often complain when they see something that doesn't fit into their "ideas" (I use the term here very loosely) of how things should be done. China is an authoritarian state, no? They will get around to heavily regulating their workplace soon enough. Get off the "our way is better" nonsense. You only bring it up in reference to one of YOUR pet peeves. Talk about Ugly Americans, this is just silly.... It's going to get really slow if I have to 'splain everything to you Mike... You have TOTALLY MISUNDERSTOOD what I was saying... Or was it intentional??? The point was my friend that the Chinese are harming themselves by making crap for us...MANY, MANY TIMES MORE THAN ANY ILL EFFFECTS THE PRODUCTS MAY HAVE HERE... Do you get it now or do I have to come down there and... HAHAHAHA...just kidding... I guess you missed the part of my post that addressed your "workplace safety" comments. As for Chinese making "crap" for us; that topic has been exhausted (at least in my mind) in previous threads, most of which point out that it's the responsibility of those bringing in the "crap" without assuring it's up to our standards. P.S. I'm not offended by your offer to visit, Rog. You are welcome anytime. I'm sure we would get along just fine. Just leave the hammer at home... But of course...we both love pu'erh tea... Indeed!! Common ground. Maybe if we took some to the Middle East?

With all due respect, this is just plain stupid. Rog, you've outdone yourself this time. There is no way to translate our cultural and social sensibilities to another culture or society. To attempt to do so is the height of cultural arrogance. What gives us the right? To paraphrase something I see often in discussions about OTHER international issues; are we the world's policeman??? As for poisoning us, you CAN'T be serious... Wouldn't it be nice if EVERYONE in the world lived by our standards, the standards we have developed over 150+ years of industrialisation? I don't know, you tell me. Should we intervene in a situation like this? It is even our business?? The same people who complain about our "intervention" in other situations often complain when they see something that doesn't fit into their "ideas" (I use the term here very loosely) of how things should be done. China is an authoritarian state, no? They will get around to heavily regulating their workplace soon enough. Get off the "our way is better" nonsense. You only bring it up in reference to one of YOUR pet peeves. Talk about Ugly Americans, this is just silly.... It's going to get really slow if I have to 'splain everything to you Mike... You have TOTALLY MISUNDERSTOOD what I was saying... Or was it intentional??? The point was my friend that the Chinese are harming themselves by making crap for us...MANY, MANY TIMES MORE THAN ANY ILL EFFFECTS THE PRODUCTS MAY HAVE HERE... Do you get it now or do I have to come down there and... HAHAHAHA...just kidding... I guess you missed the part of my post that addressed your "workplace safety" comments. As for Chinese making "crap" for us; that topic has been exhausted (at least in my mind) in previous threads, most of which point out that it's the responsibility of those bringing in the "crap" without assuring it's up to our standards. P.S. I'm not offended by your offer to visit, Rog. You are welcome anytime. I'm sure we would get along just fine. Just leave the hammer at home...

You are so right. I drove a propane truck for a couple of years when I was young. The truck was well maintained and in good condition, but wearing a seatbelt was my responsibility. Nobody was there to force me to do it. Regardless, nothing could stop the foolish woman who blew a stoplight (while drag-racing her husband) and t-boned me at an intersection, causing the truck to roll over and crush her car. Nobody was killed, but it was a close call. I didn't think driving a propane truck was particularly dangerous up to that point; it was MY choice as to whether I wanted to continue doing it. The worker in the picture will make his own decision based on a variety of factors. Is he being forced into working without a "net"? I don't think it's up to us to decide the level of danger OR whether or not his motivations for doing the job are appropriate.

With all due respect, this is just plain stupid. Rog, you've outdone yourself this time. There is no way to translate our cultural and social sensibilities to another culture or society. To attempt to do so is the height of cultural arrogance. What gives us the right? To paraphrase something I see often in discussions about OTHER international issues; are we the world's policeman??? As for poisoning us, you CAN'T be serious... Wouldn't it be nice if EVERYONE in the world lived by our standards, the standards we have developed over 150+ years of industrialisation? I don't know, you tell me. Should we intervene in a situation like this? It is even our business?? The same people who complain about our "intervention" in other situations often complain when they see something that doesn't fit into their "ideas" (I use the term here very loosely) of how things should be done. China is an authoritarian state, no? They will get around to heavily regulating their workplace soon enough. Get off the "our way is better" nonsense. You only bring it up in reference to one of YOUR pet peeves. Talk about Ugly Americans, this is just silly....

Apparently not. Why don't you make up a sign and go protest? Maybe you could start up a union. Maybe that guy would rather have a job than a safety harness, Rog.

Innosence? I am willing to wager that China has easily 20-30 times the number of hookers and kept women as the US. I think China is a fine place, but let's not weld those rose colored glasses on so tightly they blind us completely. Hookers and kept women are not the same as unfettered access to hard core porn over the internet. We (in the U.S.) used to have an outward innocence as well, but now we see a general coarsening of our culture and values. It's kind of a "chicken or the egg" question, but the garbage available on the internet doesn't help. P.S. I don't think porn is what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they were talking about 'freedom of expression'.

If it keeps a few 10 year olds from seeing something they shouldn't, it can be worthwhile, but I think controlling porn on the internet is a lost cause.

I just can't get too upset about this... http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNew...=22&sp=true

Actually, it is putting downward pressure on second and third tier cities. Although prices in these cities are "low," they have had the same incremental increases as big cities. Look at, for example, Qingyuan. Prices there are, for better units, about 4k RMB per m2. Three years ago they were 1.8k. Now they are starting to drop. If they drop at the same incremental rate then the total RMB value of the drop would be approximately what percent? I have to admit that I can't quite get my head around this one. If housing prices are dropping (my Wife says they are UP in Nanning, running around 4000-5000 per m2) those drops could simply be reflecting the higher value of the RMB, no? Fewer RMB per unit of housing would reflect a stronger RMB? I don't get it, but then I never have really understood the R.E. value thingie...

My wife told me last night the pork in Nanning has hit 35 rmb per kilo. That's $2.21 per pound, and we aren't talking Smithfield Hams. She is VERY unhappy. This, combined with the "crash" in R.E. noted by Roger in another thread, is not good news. Brace yourself. I'm no investing guru, but I would go liquid NOW. That fast a rise can mean only one thing... and it isn't good unless you are shorting the market. Best Regards

Is this compared month-to-month or from previous the previous year? That's an important distinction. This sounds much worse than my area (NorCal) and it's bad enough up here. My wife mentioned something of the same in Nanning. Oh well, there is one constant; what goes up, must come down...

Desalination. If the populous coastal metro centers can utilize desalination plants, the surface and ground water supplies can continue to supply interior human and agricultural uses. As global warming breaks up the ice pack, giant icebergs can be towed into coastal waters to provide even less expensive fresh water. Those icebergs can also be used for air conditioning and refrigeration. I first read about this 40 years ago. The cost of moving the ice soutward via towline would be FAR lower and have much less environmental impact than our current methods of providing cooling and refrigeration. If I remember correctly, it seems a 1/2 mile diameter "ice cube" could provide all of the cooling needs for a city the size of New York for an entire summer season. That's what I remember, anyway. The ice is going to melt anyway...

Very interesting, and Rog where do you come up with this stuff?? B) Yeah, where DO you come up with this stuff?

At the risk of hijacking this thread, what about Canada? Is it easier to gain entry to Canada? If so, what about residency requirements? If a resident of Canada, would it be easier for Lao Po to gain entry to the U.S.? Enquiring minds would like to know...

Headstarts differ... I think he is focusing on only some and not others. In terms of trade and manufactering, china has a hugh headstart and has global customers. I don't understand. It isn't clear to me that China "has a huge headstart", David. They are fillling a niche that we outgrew. This could very well be advantageous to both countries, but could hardly be considered a "head start". Henry Ford was mass producing cars when China was almost completely agrarian. It is only recently (the past 35 years?) that China has become a manufacturing powerhouse. My friend would tell you that China will never be as successful with outsourced customer service work as India because of the vast difference in culture and language. India has, for a variety of reasons, much more experience with spoken English. He actually thinks India has a brighter economic future for that reason, especially in high-tech IT, communications and banking services. I don't know. I'm just passing on what I've heard. I'm not even willing to say I agree with the guy, it's just what he told me. I'll say this for him, he's REALLY sharp, speaks English very well, and is a very good businessman.