And let me start by pointing you to the strange Chinese photo of the day.

Good find, John. I had no idea.

July 13, 2005 @ 6:06 pm | Comment

115. Yow. My wife is there now, I guess that’s why she said she’s staying indoors and not moving around too much. She’s been cursed in the US. First time she came was to Texas in the worst heat wave in 40 years.

“I don’t like America! Too hot!”

July 13, 2005 @ 6:17 pm | Comment

I miss MAJ.

July 13, 2005 @ 6:31 pm | Comment

To each his own Simon. I have photos of him, if you’d like to put them on your desk at work.

July 13, 2005 @ 6:39 pm | Comment

Rest assured Simon, I’m sure he’s lurking.

In fact, he could be any one of us…bwahahaha
😛

July 13, 2005 @ 6:56 pm | Comment

Indeed, I am watching!

July 13, 2005 @ 7:02 pm | Comment

Mark, do you ever, ever keep your word about anything? Remember the mails you sent me pledging not to post here anymore? Is it all just a big sick game to you?

Today’s IP address: 218.88.4.25

And it’s banned.

July 13, 2005 @ 7:07 pm | Comment

Don’t get too carried away. That IP is in Sichuan, and is probably a spoof.

July 13, 2005 @ 7:12 pm | Comment

Thanks Sam; whoever it is is banned – we dont want to turn this into the Paranoid Duck blog.

Dd you see the other MAJ IP addresses I posted in the comments yesterday? Were they all Shenzhen? I hope so; if not, ther may be multiple MAJs in multiple provinces. Just what we need.

July 13, 2005 @ 7:24 pm | Comment

Yeah, I saw those. I traced all but one to Shenzhen, the other couldn’t trace (maybe temporarily, I have no really special tools for this kind of thing). Couldn’t come to any big conclusion.

Hey, I and Other Lisa and rwillmsen are all being irritated by the same troll. I’ve tracked him to his location, and am working with his ISP manager on a complaint, in hopes of getting him to go away. Other Lisa, if you want to make a complaint, I have most of the appropriate information to do so. Save all the (long-form) email headers if you do.

July 13, 2005 @ 7:56 pm | Comment

Thanks Sam. Amazing, how some people can’t get a life.

July 13, 2005 @ 7:57 pm | Comment

ha! You probably just banned American Man. Unless of course some of your other snarky commenter’s are from Sichuan?

Luckily I haven’t had any problems with my trolls for awhile. (knock on wood)

July 13, 2005 @ 8:16 pm | Comment

If he emails me, I’ll reinstate the IP address. It’s not the one he usually uses.

I get letters, by the way, this one from Hillary Anthony Jones:

“Hi Richie! You don’t know me, cause like, I’ve never contributed to your Duck or nothin’, but how about leavin’ MAJy-boy alone. He was put to death yesterday by his creator, and no longer exists, so whover is posting comments under the name MAJ definitely ain’t him, right! You oughta know by now Richie, that like, the writer formally known as Mark Anthony Jones would never have signed his name simply as MAJ.

Even though he no longer exists, I inherited his computer and IP address. Aren’t I lucky?

And I know too, by the way, that MAJy-babe never, had never ever, posted anything on Sam’s site, or on Other Lisa’s site, or on rwillmensen’s site – so whoever this troll is, he definitely ain’t MAJy-babe. Perhaps you might care to tell them that. In fact, MAJy-babe’s creator has never even visited Other Lisa or rwillmsen’s site. I hope Sammy can track down this troll too, cause like, I don’t want nobody out there pretendin’ to be MAJ. He’s dead, and can longer even defend himself. And besides, his creator still has a copyright on his MAJ creation, just as he has with all of his other characters. So if anybody ever claims to be Mark Anthony Jones, Mark Anthony James, Steve L., Dr Anne Myers or Bryce, then please ban whoever it is immediately, and report the theft to me, at this email address. I’ll pass the info on straight away to our creator and copyright holder. Thanks for that Richie!

Oh, by the way, I’m sure MAJ must be resting very peaceful like, in his grave, knowin’ that some of your readers are missin’ him already. I’m sure he misses Simon too ya know. If Simon and others like, miss him that much, then like, maybe my creator might be able to bring him back to life so to speak, and maybe then reactivate his hotmail account – that way Simon and others can continue to like, you know, correspond!

Yeah, I can see the Peking Duck story now, the headline to a future thread: “The Resurrection of Mark Anthony Jones” Wow! Wouldn’t that be a blast from the past, hey? Wouldn’t that be a blast?

Gota go now.

Enjoy the Arizona heat!

Love,

Hillary (from cyber characters)

I feel like flypaper to freaks sometimes.

July 13, 2005 @ 8:52 pm | Comment

OMG! Richard has a stalking troll.

July 13, 2005 @ 9:01 pm | Comment

I’m running out of adjectives so I won’t bother.

Gordon, I feared that you just got banned up there but I see it was likely AM. I think Richard will be sensitive to any jokes about “him” for quite a while. Haha.

Re what Sam says above, I didn’t know one could track down pepple’s locations and complain to ISP managers. That sounds cool as I’m sure these saddos smugly believe that they are totally anonomous.

I had problems downloading TPD this morning. It’s all fine now so must have been my connection/whatever. However, I wasn’t looking forward to putting such news on an email to Richard. It might have pushed him over the edge after this week.

July 13, 2005 @ 9:05 pm | Comment

Holy crap, Richard! This guy is absolutely over the edge bonkers. But see, he’s not very good at apeing other styles of writing.

Sam, I only had the troll one time – interestingly, on my blogspot blog – and no reappearances since then. Jing really got innundated, so he/she may want to weigh in…

Which reminds me, somehow in all these months, I’ve yet to visit your blog! I will remedy this later tonight…

July 13, 2005 @ 9:18 pm | Comment

Sorry,I thought you would get my joke.I will never be MAJ again.Promise!!!!!

July 13, 2005 @ 9:18 pm | Comment

Martyn,

I checked the IP I had on AM from his comments on my blog and it doesn’t match the one Richard has displayed above.

As for tracking IP addresses, I bought Norton’s Internet Security 2004 last year before I came to China and it has some really great tools. When someone probes your port, it notifies you of the attackers IP address and then if you want further details it will pull up a global map and trace it down while providing you with the contact information for the network administrator that the attack originated from.

I used it a few times to report hackers to their ISP providers and they assured me the responsible party would have their access suspended. Whether or not they did is another story.

There are also websites you can go to to do an IP lookup. Hell, the Statcounter on my blog tells me the everything from the country of my visitor all the way down to the ISP provider.

Neat stuff if you are trying to customize your blog to attract a certain audience.

July 13, 2005 @ 9:21 pm | Comment

Good to see you back, AM. If you need me to reinstate that IP address, let me know.

July 13, 2005 @ 9:21 pm | Comment

Great to be back! I was nervous that I would have NOTHING to do now!No probs with the ip.Stay cool.My father says Tucson isn’t AS hot as Phoenix.

July 13, 2005 @ 9:24 pm | Comment

Lisa, wait! I’ll hurry and put something worth reading on the site. It’s probably just a postcard to my kids right now.

July 13, 2005 @ 9:25 pm | Comment

Richard thanks for the link to that photo. God that guy is cute!

July 13, 2005 @ 9:36 pm | Comment

If he’s cute he must be Korean.

July 13, 2005 @ 9:38 pm | Comment

That sounds interesting Gordon, thanks. I must say I’ve never had a look around “admin” on HM, I might get lost! I’m still on a high from being able to hyperlink! Thanks for those instructions.

BTW, if you ever need provocative comments for HM, just let me know again! Haha, I just posted a new comment under ‘What’s Good For The Goose…’. Great debate. Jing’s articulate.

Anyway, why would the trolls attact Those Who Dare? I thought the trolls were anti-western??

July 13, 2005 @ 9:53 pm | Comment

On another note, the NYT today has one of the freshest, most unusual op-eds I have ever seen grace its pages. Quite astonishing.

Okay, off to read and watch South Park.

July 13, 2005 @ 9:55 pm | Comment

I noticed your comment a little while ago Martyn. Feel free to comment to your hearts content. I find it all rather amusing.

I haven’t decided as to whether or not I’m going to reply to Jing. Right now I’m too busy programing the new iPod my wife just bought for me. – bless her little heart.

July 13, 2005 @ 10:24 pm | Comment

New toy? You’ll love the iPod. Surprised you haven’t got one already.

July 13, 2005 @ 10:40 pm | Comment

Gordon, you mind if I share that “Good for the Goose..” quote with TPD readers?

Gordon said – “I just can’t noticing how power-hungry and selfish the Chinese have become after several centuries of being trampled on by other nations and left behind due to internal political failures that have left their country in a time warp as other nations continued to advance forward. What kind of impact will this contribute to their mindset as they continue on the path to modernization and newfound power? Hopefully the greed and general lack of mutual respect they display to one another isn’t an indication of what the rest of the world has to look forward to as they move outwards.”

“What is fare for the US goose must be fare for the Chinese gander”
Horse’s Mouth
http://tinyurl.com/7rfbw

July 13, 2005 @ 10:44 pm | Comment

martyn, that is what was so funny about this particular troll. Jing, Richard W. and I were all attacked as “Christian bigots.” which is pretty damn funny in all three of our cases!

All right, Sam, I’ll wait a bit.

July 13, 2005 @ 11:32 pm | Comment

Haha, yes I can see that. A shame that the troll will probably never understand the joke but, then again, he’s just a troll I suppose.

I feel sorry for our host these days, who’d have thought that running a China blog could be so stressful? Ugh, glad it’s all over.

July 13, 2005 @ 11:42 pm | Comment

It looks like MAJ is worthy of an article in a prestigious medical journal.

July 13, 2005 @ 11:42 pm | Comment

Simon, only if Dr. Myers writes it.

July 13, 2005 @ 11:44 pm | Comment

In today’s SCMP. The noose further tightens around China’s media. Yet another step backwards I’m afraid.
————————————————–
Setback for media joint ventures

VIVIAN WU

The mainland’s media regulator has banned regional radio and television broadcasters from teaming up with foreign media organisations in broadcasting operations.

The State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (Sarft) announced the ban on Tuesday in what is believed to be a clampdown on recent attempts by regional broadcasters to use foreign capital to beef up station programming, administration and advertising.

“Radio stations and television stations are not allowed to rent their channels to overseas institutions, co-operate with overseas institutions in joint ventures or co-operative projects, or launch any joint venture radio and television programmes or live broadcasts,” the administration announced on its website.

Sarft said regional radio and television stations would also have to pass through a strict assessment process to gain access to international conventions, seminars, festivals and programme activities involving foreign media groups.

Authorities have kept tight control of foreign access to mainland media, but a more liberal stance last year allowed radio and television stations to set up production joint ventures and allowed foreign-made programmes to be broadcast.

Renmin University media professor Yu Guoming said local media, particularly television stations, were struggling to survive under the weight of regulations and China Central Television’s monopoly on content, broadcasting channels and advertising.

“They wanted to experiment with production and advertising management to find alternatives, but their speedy moves to work with foreign investors were too fast and have scared media authorities,” Professor Yu said.

July 13, 2005 @ 11:47 pm | Comment

Simon, I take it you’ve never had anything like this before? I always thought the only danger for bloggers was the odd trolloc.

July 13, 2005 @ 11:50 pm | Comment

I’ve had a couple. I had one recently who was posting links to a bizarre anti-gay rant. I banned the IP, sent a complaint to the ISP and changed the comments to “I’m an idiot”. It seemed to do the trick.

July 14, 2005 @ 12:23 am | Comment

Yes, I saw that on simonworld but I thought they were nationalist rants from the motherland, or more specifically speccy Chinese students sitting in Amercian/Australian dorms.

I’m impressed that you and Sam track down the IP complain to their ISP. I had no idea. Great stuff.

July 14, 2005 @ 12:40 am | Comment

It’s easy enough to do. Use samspade.org and the IP lookup. Each ISP has a complaints/spam contact. If they are half way decent, they investigate and warn the transgressor.

July 14, 2005 @ 12:50 am | Comment

all-righty – I have posted another 79 reminiscence, though it’s more about the weird foreign community than China per se…

July 14, 2005 @ 1:03 am | Comment

Jing, Richard W. and I were all attacked as “Christian bigots.”

Make that FOUR instances. I got the same jerk. Same text and all. I’m working with the IT guy at the university he’s spamming from, but seriously, if someone else would send a complaint, they will take it even more seriously. I have the contact info.

July 14, 2005 @ 1:24 am | Comment

PS. Lisa, I was just kidding about waiting; I make no pretenses about “weight” on my blog. It’s mostly for fun.

July 14, 2005 @ 1:26 am | Comment

Sam_S

If emails of complaint against these spammers from blog readers would help, then please let me know. Perhaps one email is much like another to the IT people you’re referring to. I’d gladly help out if it’d do any good. Thanks.

July 14, 2005 @ 1:33 am | Comment

Another ’79 post Lisa? My favourite.

July 14, 2005 @ 1:35 am | Comment

well, like I said, I’m not sure how revealing it is about China, but…

So okay, sam, send me that info and I’ll send an email. though like I said, I was only hit once, and I’m not sure if that qualifies as trolling…

July 14, 2005 @ 1:38 am | Comment

If he’s done it once Lisa he’ll do it again. Perhaps not to you but to someone. Best try and give the troll a warning and it might stop him, especially if he’s in school/university. That’s my humble opinoin anyway.

July 14, 2005 @ 1:45 am | Comment

It would help, Lisa. Is your email addy on your site? If not, send it to me through my link below. Thanks.

PS…”Premature Expatriation” HAHAHA.

July 14, 2005 @ 2:22 am | Comment

Wag the Dog 1997 film
Anyone see this movie? Anyone see it for sale in China? Wherever?

I just read a piece on it from Lew Rockwell.com suggesting it is a must see for movie aficionado. A wicked send up of America foreign policy.

If anyone knows where I can get it., please post it here someplace.

July 14, 2005 @ 2:43 am | Comment

Martyn,

Didn’t you say you were working on a new post last night?

Sam, I’ve never noticed any trolls on your site before. Have you just deleted their comments?

July 14, 2005 @ 2:54 am | Comment

Yep, I’ve seen Wag the Dog. I have also seen it for sale in China.

July 14, 2005 @ 2:57 am | Comment

Gord; they don’t come around too often, and I’ve deleted about half. The incident that pissed me off was laughing at the london bombings. Those comments are still in place under “London bombings”. I notice they’re exactly copied on someone else’s blog, I forget who.

July 14, 2005 @ 3:15 am | Comment

Oh my, Sam. You do have quite a little troll over there.

I don’t think I’ve had any that were that nasty. Mine are just little ankle-biters.

July 14, 2005 @ 3:35 am | Comment

They’re done Gordon, but I’m trying to sort out the admin probs as I don’t want it to be so much hassle everytime.

Thanks for replying Sam, I take it you don’t need any help?

July 14, 2005 @ 3:39 am | Comment

Richard asserted:
“And you think you’ve got it bad in Shanghai.”

Uh Richard, what is the humidity today in Arizona? What’s that you say? 20%? Oh.

Okay, when it gets up to around 98%, then let’s talk about Shanghai’s weather.

😉

July 14, 2005 @ 3:49 am | Comment

“The Paranoid Duck?”
Oh that’s priceless! I just had a vision of Daffy Duck being taken away in a straitjacket (by men in white coats, with butterfly nets), shouting:
“But I really AM Da Shan!”

July 14, 2005 @ 3:56 am | Comment

More bad news than coming out of China these days:

China’s Money Supply Surges as Foreign Reserves Swell

July 14 (Bloomberg) — China’s money supply grew in June at the fastest pace in a year as banks increased lending and surging exports helped drive the nation’s foreign-exchange reserves to a record $711 billion.

New yuan loans rose for the first time this year, reaching 465.3 billion yuan ($56 billion).

Premier Wen Jiabao is encouraging banks to lend to spur domestic demand and sustain economic growth as he restricts industrial expansion and property development. The growth in M2 was the fastest since June 2004 and exceeds the official 15 percent target set in December.

July 14, 2005 @ 6:01 am | Comment

Hi, Martyn;

Thanks for the offer, I would gladly take you up on it, but the IT administrator wanted documentation, e-mail headers, URLs, and so on. I figured that means a “mere” personal annoyance isn’t enough.

Otherwise, I’d say flood the guy with complaints.

July 14, 2005 @ 7:37 am | Comment

Gotcha, thanks. I know next to nothing about these things so please excuse. Mind you, if the guy wants all that evidence then at least there’s chance he’ll do something. Fingers crossed. I saw the troll’s comments last week on the London Bombs thread.

July 14, 2005 @ 9:09 am | Comment

I’t a dry heat though…

July 14, 2005 @ 9:24 am | Comment

“The Paranoid Duck?”
Oh that’s priceless! I just had a vision of Daffy Duck being taken away in a straitjacket (by men in white coats, with butterfly nets), shouting:
“But I really AM Da Shan!”

SNORT!!!!

Okay Richard, there’s your T-shirt!

July 14, 2005 @ 10:31 am | Comment

Yes, but, Other Lisa, please remember that Daffy Duck would pronounce it this way:
“I really AM Da ShpptthhttAn!”

July 14, 2005 @ 10:42 am | Comment

*SNORT*!

July 14, 2005 @ 12:38 pm | Comment

“But I really AM Napoleon! I really AM Da Shan! Oh, you’re desssthpicable….”
🙂

July 14, 2005 @ 12:43 pm | Comment