Jeikun

Whether or not a news organization reports facts, is highly debatable. For example, take a look at the reports that came out yesterday about the Washington Post. Facts are still facts Jesse. Show some examples of The Post reporting something that wasn't fact. Just because facts don't conform to your idealogical view, doesn't mean they're not facts. lol come on Dave. I'll give you the credit to say I don't think you really believe that. You can give a straight, factual story comprised of one paragraph of cold hard dead facts, and by the time it is fleshed out into a story by the various word choices it can be given a "feel" which almost ALWAYS carries some form of slant. Add in with that some statistics which can be interpereted to opposite conclusions and anything in between depending on what who uses them wants to say, and a few "expert opinions" from whichever side you want to pick them from... and you can get hard right, right-leaning, relitively center, left-leaning, and hard left stories that all use the same "facts". Strictly "down the middle" stories are more and more rare (and were never all that common to begin with). Anyone who can thump on one news source (that coincidentally more often than not supports their idealogical views) and call it fair, and call another one (which coincidentally rarely supports their views) a poop-rag, is missing the bigger picture here. Though I will confess I would never think to use "Mark Levin" and "News Source" in the same sentence. When he isn't screaming or calling his own callers idiots, he's saying things so retarded that they actually convince people AWAY from what he is arguing for. (For example in arguing against global warming, I heard him say plants PRODUCE CO2 and why not cut all them down then, as he was screaming down a caller) I would say, not to mix commentary up with news - but also don't make the mistake in believing your favorite news source isn't slanted just because you agree with it usually. The road runs both ways, and both sides play the same game. Keep your eyes open and realize that agree or not, neither of them are on "your side" they are on the side that gets them subscriptions and advertising dollars.

Right, it's not a "battle plan to dominate the world economy". But by striving to do the best they can, and secure prosperity for themselves as people and a nation, and sheer population not being a factor to be ignored, this will likely be the result. Much as we never set out to dominate the world economy as a goal in and of itself. We simply sought to "pursue happiness" and that is the effect of being sucessful. If 15 years from now China is the dominant economy, and has a high standard of living etc etc... there is no shame in it for anyone. It's not a contest. As long as we are better off than we are today also, and making consistant progress why begrudge the success of another? As long as we are smart and maintain profitable and mutually beneficial relationships, their success is our sucess and vice-versa.

maybe he needs a history lesson... And a few on the present as well. Do you mean this part of Chinese history? China is an East Asian country with a large territory, a huge population and an ancient history. With written records dating back 4,000 years, it is recognized as one of the four great ancient civilizations of the world, together with ancient Egypt, Babylon and India. Moreover, it is the only ancient civilization that has continued to this very day. I meant chinese history as you show the sustaining parts... we're so western centric whenever 'history' is viewed ; and we view the east's history as opressive... Most still seem uncapable of accepting that China had an incredibly long period of bronze and metal crafting,probably mainly to serve the military whose exploits shows they developed stragetic formations long ago. Their renaissance was about 400 years before the west, where they could not only print but printed money in color. This period was at the same time that Europe was closing up on the "Dark Ages"... Seems almost a Yin Yang diametrically opposed cultures. Silk and tea are of so ancient a discovery they pre-date the west by close to 2000 years. During the 1400s, their military was unsurpassed; the west was just getting around to a renaissance. The earliest reports back spoke of their superiority in production and manufacture of imitations; certainly must of been so for hundreds of years. On their own and isolated, they did so without need of global markets... today, we only talk of global markets and both what we can contribute and gain from it.. as well as sinking from it. It seems such a same to only think in this way and forget what some countries accomplished that allowed a global market to even exist... All true. But I think the essence of his point is based on "superpower" status, as in being the dominant economic force of the world. During the 19th Century (as for pretty much all of recorded history), China was in fact the largest economy in the world, but Britain was dominate as a world economic power. A global economy dominated by China is likely the way of the future. I think what he said was poorly worded and simplistic, but I read it not as him saying China was repressed for it's entire history, but rather that the people living in China today have living memory of repression and deprivation (much as Americans in the 40's and 50's had living memory of the great depression and hardships of war) and are now emerging from it, and that momentum of striving for success coupled with their huge population will create an enormous middle class which will change the landscape of the global economy drastically. (Maybe I am interpreting too much, but I took it as meaning to be positive, not dismissive). While he did basically by his statement if taken literally, make is seem as if China was always communist... his point was positive towards China in that other nations need to take notice and also meant to give credit to China for advances never seen before in the world (which in terms of scale is true). It was a quote from a speech touching on the future of global economy after all, not a history lesson on every awesome thing China ever did.

haha you lived in Modesto, so I KNOW you know how unhappy those cows can be... lol (or at least I would be unhappy too if I spent months on end trudging through 3 foot deep piles of my own poo) Wonderful smell, isn't it? I understand how the term "dairy air" came to mean someone's rear. Driving to work in Sunol on the back roads every morning.... wakes you up better than coffee, just not as pleasant.

Roger, everyone, or most everyone would like to save the poor, the sick, the infirmed, but just who is going to pay for it? The point is that taking care of the poor takes more than just compassion. It takes cold hard cash. I'm sure you're happy with the small amount of taxes you pay in China. Would you rather pay the tax rates you pay in the USA for that compassion? Well Jesse is good hearted enough to be paying income taxes in both countries... When I retire to China I will have no income there so will only pay US income taxes... Who said anything about income taxes? What if they provided the social safety net out of property taxes! Property taxes taste even more bitter when you can't even truly own the property you're being taxed for

But the "teachings" are teaching you to believe in something, yes? Belief may not be the word you are searching for. A philosophy or religion does not have to be based on a deity in order to require belief. If you are taught something in which you trust to be truth, then you are exercising belief. In absence of empirical evidence, you could even go so far as to call it faith. I don't see the distinction that you are attempting to describe in this instance. Also, diverging a bit... what is your opinion of the merging of Platonic philosophy with Christianity? It's my experience that the two have become so meshed that most Christians don't even realize that a large portion of modern Christian belief is based as much on Plato as on the Bible.

haha you lived in Modesto, so I KNOW you know how unhappy those cows can be... lol (or at least I would be unhappy too if I spent months on end trudging through 3 foot deep piles of my own poo)

I'm sorry, but I refuse to equate overeating foods that are high in salt/fat ETC with someone knowingly putting poison in food for higher profits. Americans are fat because they make poor choices in diet and eat too much. However, (unless they are stupid) they know that they are doing this, and there are thousands and thousands of healthy food choices here. In areas like California, and other places with large asian populations you could pretty much eat a 100% Chinese diet if you were so-inclined (although melamine free). I just think if the issue is poisoned food in China, then that should be the issue. There's no need for tit-for-tat, it's not about what country is better or worse, or who's dad can beat up who's.

From what I've heard from people, it's ESPECIALLY the upscale restaurants where you wouldn't want to know what goes on in the Kitchen.

*** was victim of attempted rape twice (once other people came on the scene, once she pulled a knife that she carried ever since the first one), and what in the US would be sexual assault more than once. Number of reports 0. Ex husband blamed HER for the attempted rape "Why did he choose YOU? He could have picked other women!" I doubt it's unique, that unless caught in the act more often than not they go unreported as it's a lot of trouble, and humiliation for the victim and the family. Can't be losing face, you know. Yeah I know crimes go unreported in the US too, and I know any story or experience I offer up is anecdotal, but I highly doubt the crime rate is "so much lower" there than here. Though, I would believe that there are less violent crimes per capita, because compared to many other nations that do have free media and accurate reporting we don't measure up so well. But on the other hand, China bragging about low crime rates kind of reminds me of when Iraq bragged that Saddam got 100% of the vote. There's a threshold when, with hard proof or not you just have to say "Oh please!"

I admittedly just got through the first 4 pages before posting. This thread is hilarious. I literally cracked up reading it. And even more funny is how it is completely pointless for me to try to say why it's funny. Some of you already know, the ones who don't wouldn't get it if I wrote 10 pages. So I won't waste anyone's time.

I will save this link for my wife. Too bad we can't download these songs from YouTube, as my wife and our Chinese friends really enjoy singing along to them. You can actually, I forget the link I used before, but if you google search something like "youtube download" or "youtube to mp3 converter" you should find something. Webpages let you (for free, no personal info) give the link to a youtube video, then converts it into a different format, and provides a temporary link to download it. Sometimes can be a little slow, and sometimes has an error and needs to start over... but hey, it's free.

You're kidding right? Dave you cynic... If Xinhua says it it's gospel... oh wait this isn't the religion thread... It only seems like it sometimes. You guys crack me up. We're agreeing too much lately.

Yes, an option for us here, sure. But in China unless you are a vice minister or above, or loaded, not much choice.

There were a couple on there that are done anywhere, like the carcinogins in potato chips... fried starches produce it. But still shocking. As for the hormone injected meat, yeah something similar is done in the US in some situations, and the safety of it is debated even if the "official" word is it is safe... There are MANY unsafe hormones to be using which would affect more growth and are cheaper, and I think that's what you are seeing in China. "Shooting a cow up" with bovine growth hormone, debatable... giving a pig dangerous steroids, not.

Too bad, I always liked White Rabbit

Just for sake of an opposing viewpoint, I really liked MagicJack. While it's true that it has to be constantly connected to your PC, with your PC on if you want to wait for calls - and if you are using a lot of programs, or have a slow PC you may have difficulty with drops, delays, etc. I thought it was most valuable for someone who has someone still living abroad they want to talk with. They can just plug it into their PC when they want to call you, or you plan to call them, and can call any US number for just $19.99 per year. Maybe bad as a full-time replacement for your phone, but good in my opinion as a replacement to phone cards and internet chat. I wish I had had one 4 years ago. Anyway results vary. Depends on what you expect to do with it and how good your PC and connection are.

supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Do I win?

It is very hard to conceive of anyone's possible excuse for this... "Live babies aren't Yuan in my pocket"? China is feeding its babies to the infernal machine of it's own greed. Will they wake up, or just have a rousing game of "point the finger" and then back to business as usual?

These people should be punished. But if the action stops at the people who put the melamine in the milk being punished, than the government has failed to address the problem. The lack of proper licensing, education, and health standards at these farms and facilities creates an environment ripe for such problems to develop. Uneducated farmers who want to sell more milk perhaps added the chemical knowing and not caring that it was dangerous... some also probably did it not understanding the implications of what they were doing. Either way, it was too easily aquired, too easily added, and too easily passed undetected for far too long. Just as when the same chemical caused many pets and pigs to die in the US and Canada, many here were quick to point out that part of the problem was that the importing country and companies were culpable in part by not testing their raw materials better - I put forward that the company that bottled this milk which was tainted from multiple sources is partially culpable. The government as well, for failing to have proper and enforcable standards in place. If this lesson is learned and action is taken to ensure this does not happen again, and the quality of products for a countries most precious resource (children) becomes more sound, and able to be trusted again... then it was dealt with properly. If all that happens is it is presented as these evil farmers who are all to blame, the government puts bullets in their heads, and gives the public time to boo and hiss at them, and then changes nothing and business as usual... then nothing will have changed. It will happen again.

Hmmmm...Just two guys/three tons a day? Sounds kinda scapegoaty to me. Scapegoats in China? Heavens no!!

I think Joanne's reason is equally if not more a part of it than the more cynical view the rest of you are putting forward. US population is just not that dense. Where I lived a a boy it was 20 minutes by car to any restaurant or store or place to work (unless you worked on a farm). While our more densely populated cities have reasonably sucessful mass transit it's just not feasable in the majority of the country. Also, of course the affordability of fuel and personal transportation here just makes it a less attractive option. Yuanyang's post is likely a big factor too (airlines). No need to turn it into it being due to us "blowing our tax dollars on policing the world" lol It's not a political issue, just differing social and geographical realities. Europe and much of Asia is compressed and crowded... makes sence. The US is largely not, so it often doesn't make sense.

Personally I think Roger shows his love for China and his Chinese better half by making the posts he does. Pretty much nobody else is doing it. If he hated China he wouldn't even be here making these kinds of posts. If you can point out the problems and injustices, and still carry love and hope for a place... it seems more of a true love to me (much like 2 people in a relationship knowing each other's faults and shortcomings and still loving each other) while blind sinophilia which motivates one to attempt to shoot down, dodge, belittle, or deny any negative comments about China whatsoever seems less genuine love and more like obsession (to continue the relationship comparison, much like someone who puts their lover on a pedestal and pretends they are flawless because they either feel unworthy themselves, or are incapable of loving a flawed human being and need an illusion of perfection). I think in an imperfect world that pretty much goes for any form of love, except (if you are religious) the love of god - but that is a different discussion entirely. Without Roger's kind of posts showing up and sparking discussion over some of China's warts, this section would have a lot less meaning and substance I think.

Yes, it's the media's fault that cheating occurred. How dare they uncover something underhanded and dishonest and expose it. If we could censor media here like in China no one would have ever been exposed to the dirt!!! Dang freedom of the press!! The cheaters aren't to blame, it's the ones who tattle!! Is the appearance of everything being legitamate more important than discovering if it really is (and possibly finding out it isn't)? Is your face more important than your soul? Why does it have to be sour grapes or a conspiracy? If the tables were turned many of you here would have already been judge and jury to the cheating American team and going on and on and on and ON about what a disgrace it was and how we shamed ourselves before China and the world, and how it was typical American win at all costs attitude, the inevitable comparisons to juicing pro athetes etc etc.... but since it's China... "How DARE we claim they cheated even if they did, and bring shame on China... poor little girl..."(I don't blame her, just don't think using the embarassment she will suffer as a reason to not find out the truth is wrong-headed) gag. I care about knowing the truth. Not for any gold stripping or score altering. I would just like to know the truth and see people who don't respect it learn that isn't acceptible. That goes for any country.

I agree with you that it is likely. Just because many Americans are too hard on China, and misunderstand it, and mistrust it, and are uninformed about it, doesn't mean that any negative press about China is automatically wrong. Just as pride in the USA doesn't need to be taken to the point of blind redneck-patriotism beyond all reason, love for China need not become terminal Sinophilia. And on another subject mentioned by the OP what's wrong with holding up Michael Phelps? The olympics are being broadcast in this country to an American audience who (for the mostpart) are rooting for their own country. Here is an amazing young man who is breaking records left and right, seems indestructible, and really shines in his performance and dedication. Compared to the garbage we normally idolize in this country, he's a shining beacon. Do you really think 99% of the US audience is sick of him and would rather see interviews with the slovakian underwater basket weaving team?