What’s happening in this world?
neocon dances with Chinese communists in UN in his debut?
Bolton is the real king of drama. I simply admire him.
I suspect the next move of him is to box with Wang Guangya in UN’s lady’s room on 33rd floor.

August 4, 2005 @ 7:29 pm | Comment

I suspect the next move of him is to box with Wang Guangya in UN’s lady’s room on 33rd floor.

Sorry, didn’t you hear? That event has been postponed indefinitely. Apparently the bathrooms aren’t big enough to host the event, so the UN has decided to renovate the entire building.

August 4, 2005 @ 7:47 pm | Comment

US has worked with the Soviets to fight against Nazi

China is no longer communist, and Japan is trying to get rid of the US control, why US can not work with China to block Japan?

August 4, 2005 @ 8:22 pm | Comment

the poster says: “follow me if you want to enlarge your penis”:

http://tinyurl.com/8cedj

the funniest scene in newly opened “sex products exhibition” in shanghai

August 4, 2005 @ 8:34 pm | Comment

That message will sure get them a lot of attention in China. They know their market.

August 4, 2005 @ 8:38 pm | Comment

“US has worked with the Soviets to fight against Nazi…why US can not work with China to block Japan?”

Oh, because Japan is not Nazi!
And the only country that is any way concerned about Japan at the moment is China!

August 4, 2005 @ 8:39 pm | Comment

And the only country that is any way concerned about Japan at the moment is China!

Posted by kevin at August 4, 2005 08:39 PM

———–

you forget the Republic of Korea, a US ally

what blind your eyes, Kevin?

August 4, 2005 @ 8:43 pm | Comment

“why US can not work with China to block Japan?”

Because Japan is a US ally and China is not. Because Japan is a law-abiding democracy and China is not. Because Japan has not threatened any of its neighbors in 60 years and China has. Because Japan does not have missiles aimed at Taiwan and China has. Because Japan has not threatened to use nuclear weapons against US cities and China has. Because Japan does not support the lunatic tyranical regime in North Korea and China does. Because Japan has not run tanks over student protestors and China has. Because Japan has not, through its lies, inflicted an viral epidemic upon the world and China has. Because Japan does not hold political prisoners and China does.

How’s that for a start?

August 4, 2005 @ 8:48 pm | Comment

While there is a lot of anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea (no denying that), Japan is not viewed as a “Nazi-like” military threat there. South Korea is nowhere near as ignorant on this issue as China.

I think the more proper question would be “what blinds your eyes, bingfeng?”

August 4, 2005 @ 8:49 pm | Comment

“why US can not work with China to block Japan?”
Because Japan is a US ally and China is not. Because Japan is a law-abiding democracy and China is not. Because Japan has not threatened any of its neighbors in 60 years and China has. Because Japan does not have missiles aimed at Taiwan and China has. Because Japan has not threatened to use nuclear weapons against US cities and China has. Because Japan does not support the lunatic tyranical regime in North Korea and China does. Because Japan has not run tanks over student protestors and China has. Because Japan has not, through its lies, inflicted an viral epidemic upon the world and China has. Because Japan does not hold political prisoners and China does.

How’s that for a start?

Posted by Conrad at August 4, 2005 08:48 PM

———–

well said

but the problem is US is now working with China to block Japan

August 4, 2005 @ 8:51 pm | Comment

“And the only country that is any way concerned about Japan at the moment is China!”

The Japanese who rejected the WWII tribunal trial is the same Japanese who wanted US troops out of Japan and proclaimed “Japanese can say no” in 1980s.

In terms of military power, US can defeat China without Japanese help. US need Japan as a paw, but will be stupid to let this Genie to get out of it control.

As to Bolton, I actually like that guy. He is rough. The good thing about right-wing people is that, they make judgement based on interest and can get things done.

People from the left is weak. Just imagine this headline is from Clinton. A huge uproar will explode in congress and Clinton will back out of the deal. Sure thing.

August 4, 2005 @ 8:51 pm | Comment

While there is a lot of anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea (no denying that), Japan is not viewed as a “Nazi-like” military threat there. South Korea is nowhere near as ignorant on this issue as China.

—————

yes i agree, koreans cut their figures to protest and chinese didn’t.

i don’t understand why you change my original words to say that chinese see japan as a “Nazi-like” military threat, is that the way you as a lawyer work for your clients?

August 4, 2005 @ 8:55 pm | Comment

Yeah, conservatives are tough. Just look at how tough we were in Iraq, look how tough we are at Guantanamo Bay, at Abu Ghraib. Clinton got more done than Bush could ever dream of, and he actually succeeded. Under his watch we went from the Reagan debt to incredible surpluses, we actually won the war we got into, we did more to end the US welfare state and we made America great in the eyes of the world. Toughness is when you actually get results without needing to sound strident or act like a bully.

Anyway, give Bolton some time. You like him today because you think he did something good for China. Trust me, he will tow the neocon line that China is a grave threat and you will change your tune drastically.

August 4, 2005 @ 8:59 pm | Comment

to be honest, i think guys like Kevin and Conrad, if they were Chinese, are very probably the most active anti-japanist who will rant everything against japan and japanese

August 4, 2005 @ 9:00 pm | Comment

I’m not a lawyer….

August 4, 2005 @ 9:01 pm | Comment

I don’t think so, bingfeng. Kevin and Conrad are both very logical. Outspoken, passionate, but not full of blind rage.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:02 pm | Comment

Because Japan is a US ally and China is not. Because Japan is a law-abiding democracy and China is not. Because Japan has not threatened any of its neighbors in 60 years and China has. Because Japan does not have missiles aimed at Taiwan and China has. Because Japan has not threatened to use nuclear weapons against US cities and China has. Because Japan does not support the lunatic tyranical regime in North Korea and China does. Because Japan has not run tanks over student protestors and China has. Because Japan has not, through its lies, inflicted an viral epidemic upon the world and China has. Because Japan does not hold political prisoners and China does.

How’s that for a start?

Posted by Conrad at August 4, 2005 08:48 PM

————

full of passion, very strong, i am really impressed

August 4, 2005 @ 9:04 pm | Comment

And also Bingfeng, FYI, when I first came to China, I half-heartedly agreed with a lot of things in the Chinese media. However, the longer I have stayed here, the more that I have understood how most political and international issues are used here, basically to blind the people of the real problems they face, and I am really disappointed in that. Thus, I am not a victim of vicious stupid self-serving propaganda like the Chinese that hate Japan. I’ve been exposed to all sides, unlike some people (monothought with bingfeng).
Also, you say that I twisted your words, but it was you who first referred to fighting Nazis and blocking Japan:
“US has worked with the Soviets to fight against Nazi…why US can not work with China to block Japan?”
I did not twist your words. And I’m not a lawyer at all!

August 4, 2005 @ 9:08 pm | Comment

I don’t think so, bingfeng. Kevin and Conrad are both very logical. Outspoken, passionate, but not full of blind rage.

Posted by richard at August 4, 2005 09:02 PM

————

richard,

you know what i mean, guys like kevin has a strong anti-china emotion that often blinds his eyes and prevents him from seeing some basic facts. and it seems he enjoys ranting things against china, not for thinking, but merely instinct reacting, i bet you agree this is exactly what you can find from anti-japanists in china

August 4, 2005 @ 9:09 pm | Comment

Share some basic facts with me, bingfeng, i’d love to hear them.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:10 pm | Comment

No need to go back 60 years to compare China’s record of aggression with Japan’s: Japan has not attacked any of its neighbors in the last 60 years, but China has invaded a neighbor as recently as 1979: Viet Nam. (And that’s something else they don’t mention in China’s “history” textbooks)

August 4, 2005 @ 9:10 pm | Comment

Also, you say that I twisted your words, but it was you who first referred to fighting Nazis and blocking Japan:

“US has worked with the Soviets to fight against Nazi…why US can not work with China to block Japan?”
I did not twist your words….

Posted by kevin at August 4, 2005 09:08 PM

————–

so you think what i want to say in that statement is to refer japan as a “nazi-like military threat”?

it’s amazing!

yes, you TWISTED my words, intentinoally or unintentionally

August 4, 2005 @ 9:13 pm | Comment

Children, children….

August 4, 2005 @ 9:16 pm | Comment

No need to go back 60 years to compare China’s record of aggression with Japan’s: Japan has not attacked any of its neighbors in the last 60 years, but China has invaded a neighbor as recently as 1979: Viet Nam. (And that’s something else they don’t mention in China’s “history” textbooks)

Posted by Ivan at August 4, 2005 09:10 PM

————

Ivan the authentic intellectual comes back!

August 4, 2005 @ 9:16 pm | Comment

I like Ivan.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:18 pm | Comment

This is just a start????? Brilliant. This is what I wanted to see from a consistent conservative.

Because Japan is a US ally and China is not. Because Japan is a law-abiding democracy and China is not. Because Japan has not threatened any of its neighbors in 60 years and China has. Because Japan does not have missiles aimed at Taiwan and China has. Because Japan has not threatened to use nuclear weapons against US cities and China has. Because Japan does not support the lunatic tyranical regime in North Korea and China does. Because Japan has not run tanks over student protestors and China has. Because Japan has not, through its lies, inflicted an viral epidemic upon the world and China has. Because Japan does not hold political prisoners and China does.
How’s that for a start?

By the way, Conrad,
I already heard from Japanese BABU:
YOU ARE A VELI VELI GOOD MAN!

August 4, 2005 @ 9:18 pm | Comment

“Trust me, he will tow the neocon line that China is a grave threat and you will change your tune drastically.”

Maybe. But republican or right-wing has a history to work with repressive government as long as that works best for national interest.

Kissinger is influential in right-wing think tank. He recommend that Taiwan recognized “one China” early in mid-1990s. If Taiwan is out-of-picture, CCP could be a good partner with republican.

Except for speech freedom, the economic policy of CCP is just like republican’s.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:23 pm | Comment

I’d love to know which basic facts i am overlooking.
I see quite a few basic facts bingfeng is overlooking in conrad’s post above. a well-thought-out and honest post, and bingfeng’s only reaction is a sarcastic “full of passion, very strong, i am really impressed.”

August 4, 2005 @ 9:28 pm | Comment

hey guys, Kevin, Corad and Ivan, i suggest our matters be settled by a duel

debating with you is like playing guitar to a deaf cow

August 4, 2005 @ 9:30 pm | Comment

Kevin, what else can he say? Conrad may be a Republican, but he knows his history and is usually right about Asian issues.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:30 pm | Comment

Steve, you are quite right, those real-politik conservatives have an outstanding track record dealing with thugs and tyrants. God bless them.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:32 pm | Comment

Conrad said:

How’s that for a start?

That’s a pretty good start Conrad.
Now, I’d just like to add this to the mix

They say you can judge people by the company they keep. The same can be said about countries. So what does it say about China when its foreign minister, Li Zhaoxing, skips the annual ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) ministerial meeting to go visit Myanmar, at the same time that Chinese President Hu Jintao is welcoming Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe to Beijing with full honors? This is the same China which responded to the carnage in Uzbekistan by inviting its president, Islam Karimov, to Beijing for a 21-gun salute in May, within two weeks of the Andizhan massacre.

This is the same China, one might add, that has systematically blocked stronger UN Security Council action against the genocidal government in Sudan and prevented the council from discussing North Korea’s flagrant violation of international nuclear and human rights norms. As one surveys the globe’s pariah regimes, it seems the one thing they all have in common is the same best friend: China.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:32 pm | Comment

Well said, Gordon. You Republicans are on a roll tonight.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:33 pm | Comment

No need to go back 60 years to compare China’s record of aggression with Japan’s: Japan has not attacked any of its neighbors in the last 60 years, but China has invaded a neighbor as recently as 1979: Viet Nam.

Ivan
Let me count my fingers……how many US has invaded in the last 60 years………….

alright, you almost confused me. Vietnam was invading Cambodia at that time and Chinese interference has made a huge contribution to nowadays new independent Cambodia.

Ohohoh, one more surprise, almost all permanent UNSC members invaded other countries after WWII.

This is a just terrible record.

Now we decide in order not to let Japan, India, Brazil and Germany invade other countries in the near future, please block them, for the sake of the peace of the world and for the sake of parents, wives, children of their brilliant young man.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:34 pm | Comment

location: pudong int’l airport
tool: gun, stone, you choose
judge: richard TPD
time: the second day richard arrives in shanghai

if Ivan the intellectual dies in the duel, send his body to Harvard univ., if conrad dies, send his body to the home of the mad tokyo mayor, if Kevin dies, sent his body to ??? (no idea)

August 4, 2005 @ 9:37 pm | Comment

Bingfeng, that is in highly questionable taste.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:42 pm | Comment

“They say you can judge people by the company they keep. The same can be said about countries.”

Let’s see. US has been friends with apartheid south africa, corrupt Iran shah, and ruthless Chile Pinochet and … That does not prevent US from winning cold war and becoming beacon of freedom.

On the other hand, Mao supported all those countries fighting against apartheid and seeking independence. But he screwed up his own country big time.

Foreign policy should always be based on national interest.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:43 pm | Comment

Byebye everyone, tonight,

I’ll sleep with the enemy.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:43 pm | Comment

They say you can judge people by the company they keep.

———–

bin laden

saddam

saudi dictators

israli invaders

…

…

it seems the one thing they all have in common is the same best friend: USA

August 4, 2005 @ 9:44 pm | Comment

Lin, but when America invades it’s usually for a good reason. Only two teensy exceptions, Iraq 2 and Vietnam. Oh well, accidents happen.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:46 pm | Comment

Bingfeng, that is in highly questionable taste.

Posted by richard at August 4, 2005 09:42 PM

———–

a duel is a quick way to settle the difference between me and Kevin, don’t you think?

LOL

you know i am kidding 🙂

actually i am going to play tennis in Jinqiao of pudong this weekend, quite close to kevin’s office

August 4, 2005 @ 9:48 pm | Comment

Um, that’s actually not near my office.
Bingfeng, how do you know so many things about me, none of which are actually right?

August 4, 2005 @ 9:49 pm | Comment

Bingfeng, America never was a friend to the Osama Bin Laden we know today. And you would put Israel in that same category? Are you crazy?

August 4, 2005 @ 9:50 pm | Comment

Um, that’s actually not near my office.
Bingfeng, how do you know so many things about me, none of which are actually right?

Posted by kevin at August 4, 2005 09:49 PM

———–

ok, now i know your office is not close to jinqiao area and you are not a lawyer

August 4, 2005 @ 9:52 pm | Comment

From what I saw on your website BF, i think we work pretty close to one another. We both go to the same coffee shop.
Watch out for a bearded China-basher with a beer belly.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:53 pm | Comment

Bingfeng, America never was a friend to the Osama Bin Laden we know today. And you would put Israel in that same category? Are you crazy?

Posted by richard at August 4, 2005 09:50 PM

———–

not israel the nation, what i mean is israel the invaders

August 4, 2005 @ 9:54 pm | Comment

Steve, more examples of realpolitik. Are you familiar with Jeanne Kirkpatrick’s doctrine of dealing with authoritarian regimes versus totalitarian? I am not saying I buy it, but it was our justification.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:54 pm | Comment

Realpolitik makes strange bedfellows.

August 4, 2005 @ 9:56 pm | Comment

From what I saw on your website BF, i think we work pretty close to one another. We both go to the same coffee shop.
Watch out for a bearded China-basher with a beer belly.

Posted by kevin at August 4, 2005 09:53 PM

————

i never go to coffee shop, except gatherings at starbucks, as a matter of fact, i am very very close to another expat blogger all of you know quite well, i think i can meet him by chance someday

August 4, 2005 @ 9:59 pm | Comment

i just saw that your website said you like the shimen yilu starbucks, that’s all i know. i didn’t mean to say you like coffee or anything like that

August 4, 2005 @ 10:09 pm | Comment

Lin:

Vietnam moved to oust Pol Pot after the Khmenr Rouge (another hideous Chinese ally) massacred ethnic Vietnamese inside Cambodia supported a Vietnamese guerrilla army making incursions into western Vietnam.

China then invaded Vietnam, seeking to force Vietnam out of Cambodia and restore the murderous Khmer Rouge to power.

To claim that China’s role in Cambodia was a positive one completely ignores history.

Beijing, indeed, was the Khmer Rouge’s chief patron when it held power from 1975 through 1978 and killed more than 1.7 million people, a quarter of Cambodia’s population, in its quest to create an agrarian Maoist utopia.

“Without China, the Khmer Rouge might never have become what it did”.

August 4, 2005 @ 10:22 pm | Comment

Ahhhhh….did I just see a comment by bingfeng, about my dying in a duel?
It’s not just in bad taste. It’s worse. As one who has actually been on the wrong end of a gun barrel and almost been killed, I take it as a personal, violent attack.
I’ve seen death by violence, and the memory of it makes me sick. Bingfeng, you’ve crossed a major, major line. Now I suggest you apologize very nicely and sincerely, now that you’ ve challenged a man to a duel who actually KNOWS how to use swords and guns, although I prefer fists because I don’t really want anyone to die.
Do you still think it’s funny, bingfeng?
(Sorry for responding this way, Richard, but I think bingfeng asked for it. Making personally directed suggestions about duels and dying cannot be taken lightly.)
A formal apology from bingfeng will satisfy me.

August 4, 2005 @ 10:32 pm | Comment

Just arrived back to Beijing from a fantastic time in Ireland with my girlfriend. CANNOT put that Mao- The Untold Story book down! What a great read, although it’s depressing as hell to know that Chinese are forbidden from knowing what a monster their rulers force them to kowtow to….

August 4, 2005 @ 10:39 pm | Comment

haha, Bingfeng is on a roll these days.

this UN thing is so tiresome. the US has bullied and invaded and assasinated all around the world in order to further its national interest. now it complains about china.
blood still drips from the greedy hands of the US, deal with it!

oh and keir, I think quite a few chinese know and believe many of the claims in the Mao book.

August 4, 2005 @ 11:50 pm | Comment

Ahhhhh….did I just see a comment by bingfeng, about my dying in a duel?
It’s not just in bad taste. It’s worse. As one who has actually been on the wrong end of a gun barrel and almost been killed, I take it as a personal, violent attack.
I’ve seen death by violence, and the memory of it makes me sick. Bingfeng, you’ve crossed a major, major line. Now I suggest you apologize very nicely and sincerely, now that you’ ve challenged a man to a duel who actually KNOWS how to use swords and guns, although I prefer fists because I don’t really want anyone to die.
Do you still think it’s funny, bingfeng?
(Sorry for responding this way, Richard, but I think bingfeng asked for it. Making personally directed suggestions about duels and dying cannot be taken lightly.)
A formal apology from bingfeng will satisfy me.

Posted by Ivan at August 4, 2005 10:32 PM

———————————

this is a formal apology to Ivan the authentic intellectual.

Bingfeng (sign) the fake intellectual who knows nothing about Heisenberg and fleed a debate with Ivan the authentic intellectual about Heisenberg

August 4, 2005 @ 11:54 pm | Comment

Just arrived back to Beijing from a fantastic time in Ireland with my girlfriend. CANNOT put that Mao- The Untold Story book down! What a great read, although it’s depressing as hell to know that Chinese are forbidden from knowing what a monster their rulers force them to kowtow to….

Posted by Keir at August 4, 2005 10:39 PM

————-

i am sorry i didn’t finish the book of *the private life of chairman mao* and didn’t distribute it to as many of my chinese friends as possible

August 4, 2005 @ 11:59 pm | Comment

bingfeng, I don’t think Ivan was being serious. it was just another example of the famous american sense of humour!

August 5, 2005 @ 12:00 am | Comment

I just read a global times (huanqiu shibao) article about the closure of seven TV stations in Taiwan, and it was complete BS. There is no denying that these seven stations were closed, but the paper claimed that they were news stations, and that the DPP aimed to “cut the number of news stations in half.” in fact, only one news station ETTV-S was closed, while the rest were financial and movie channels. in the meantime, ETTV News and ETTV Asia News remain open. I am not saying I agree with the closures, but look at how easily things can be twisted here.
oh, give the authorities here a chance to lie about something and they will…

August 5, 2005 @ 12:00 am | Comment

Bingfeng, I wouldn’t expect you to finish that book, as you are simply too close-minded to do so. And I wouldn’t expect you to pass it on to your friends. And I wouldn’t expect you to read Mao The Unknown Story. Because once any bit of information challenges your narrow view of the world, you go into personal attacks and challenge people to duels. I’m sorry, but how old are you? 12?

August 5, 2005 @ 12:02 am | Comment

bingfeng, I don’t think Ivan was being serious. it was just another example of the famous american sense of humour!

Posted by KLS at August 5, 2005 12:00 AM

————

me too!

the only difference is chinese sense of humor is not as famous as the american one

August 5, 2005 @ 12:32 am | Comment

Yes I was serious about duelling.
And bingfeng’s sarcastic “apology” to me, is insulting and worthless and dishonorable.
But I know it’s impossible to explain “honor” to any craven and cowardly Chinese such as bingfeng.
And the old European tradition of duelling (which my German grandfather passed down to me) says that it is a waste of time and energy and dignity, to challenge anyone to a duel who does not understand Honor.
So I will drop this, by saying simply that Bingfeng is a craven coward. And I know that is not as insulting in Chinese as it is in English or German or any Western language – because any man of the West who has any honor, would rather die than become a coward – such as bingfeng is. But he does not understand – no more than a dog would understand honor -so I will drop this conflict.

August 5, 2005 @ 12:38 am | Comment

I just read a global times (huanqiu shibao) article about the closure of seven TV stations in Taiwan, and it was complete BS. There is no denying that these seven stations were closed, but the paper claimed that they were news stations, and that the DPP aimed to “cut the number of news stations in half.” in fact, only one news station ETTV-S was closed, while the rest were financial and movie channels. in the meantime, ETTV News and ETTV Asia News remain open. I am not saying I agree with the closures, but look at how easily things can be twisted here.
oh, give the authorities here a chance to lie about something and they will…

Posted by kevin at August 5, 2005 12:00 AM

————

global times (huanqiu shibao) is a 3rd class “newspaper” only read by some teenagers who love “military affairs” here.

none of my friends read it.

their strategy is to attract as many readers as possible by publishing unverified “news” like that. it works quite well and attract many readers like Mr. Soong the japanese-hater.

by the way, the official newspaper of a similar niche – the Cankao Xiaoxi (reference news) edited by Xinhua, covers a lot of news reported here by TPD, unbelieveable, such as the article about soong the japan-hater was covered by Cankao Xiaoxi

August 5, 2005 @ 12:41 am | Comment

Strange, a lot of what you says sounds straight out of huanqiu shibao.

August 5, 2005 @ 12:46 am | Comment

And from what i can see, it is one of the more popular newspapers here.

August 5, 2005 @ 12:48 am | Comment

Yes I was serious about duelling.
And bingfeng’s sarcastic “apology” to me, is insulting and worthless and dishonorable.
But I know it’s impossible to explain “honor” to any craven and cowardly Chinese such as bingfeng.
And the old European tradition of duelling (which my German grandfather passed down to me) says that it is a waste of time and energy and dignity, to challenge anyone to a duel who does not understand Honor.
So I will drop this, by saying simply that Bingfeng is a craven coward. And I know that is not as insulting in Chinese as it is in English or German or any Western language – because any man of the West who has any honor, would rather die than become a coward – such as bingfeng is. But he does not understand – no more than a dog would understand honor -so I will drop this conflict.

Posted by Ivan at August 5, 2005 12:38 AM

————–

you could declare that i didn’t dare to write jokes about chinese leaders (there is one at teahouse), and i knew nothing about heisenberg (maybe not so much as ivan knows), and now i am a coward (not sure who is a coward), what’s next?

August 5, 2005 @ 12:52 am | Comment

what’s next?
you’re close-minded, obnoxious, and avoid real issues…

August 5, 2005 @ 12:55 am | Comment

And from what i can see, it is one of the more popular newspapers here.

Posted by kevin at August 5, 2005 12:48 AM

————

no, in order to attract advertisers, a recent issue of Huanqiu Shibao had a special page dedicated to boasting its circulation number, something like 2 million. the actual circulation i think is about 0.7-1 million

the circulation of Cankao Xiaoxi is something like 3-4 million

August 5, 2005 @ 12:59 am | Comment

Do you intend to say that Cankao Xiaoxi is a more respectable paper? because i hate to inform you that it is filled with the same BS.

August 5, 2005 @ 1:00 am | Comment

what’s next?
you’re close-minded, obnoxious, and avoid real issues…

Posted by kevin at August 5, 2005 12:55 AM

———–

and the enemy of all human being? chinese hitler or bin laden? liar? US-basher and anti-democracy activist?

the real issue to me is – did Ivan read my joke about chinese leader at teahouse and did he enjoy it

August 5, 2005 @ 1:04 am | Comment

Do you intend to say that Cankao Xiaoxi is a more respectable paper? because i hate to inform you that it is filled with the same BS.

Posted by kevin at August 5, 2005 01:00 AM

————

i don’t think Cankao Xiaoxi is full of BS, at least it’s much better than the Taipei Times

August 5, 2005 @ 1:07 am | Comment

“and the enemy of all human being? chinese hitler or bin laden? liar? US-basher and anti-democracy activist?”
Actually, I wouldn’t use such terms to refer to you. I would not sink that low, although you are in the habit of saying that those who disagree with you would “fit in well in Nazi Germany.”

August 5, 2005 @ 1:08 am | Comment

“at least it’s much better than the Taipei Times”
a typical response, pointing the finger in the other direction. saw that one coming from a mile away…

August 5, 2005 @ 1:09 am | Comment

And I think the real issue is, why do you feel the need to avoid real discussions and challenge others to duels?

August 5, 2005 @ 1:11 am | Comment

People in Great Hall of People have their real names exposed to one another and don’t have anonymous discussion.

August 5, 2005 @ 1:15 am | Comment

“at least it’s much better than the Taipei Times”
a typical response, pointing the finger in the other direction. saw that one coming from a mile away…

Posted by kevin at August 5, 2005 01:09 AM

———–

well, not as irrelevant and arrogant as the following statement:

“Do you intend to say that Cankao Xiaoxi is a more respectable paper? because i hate to inform you that it is filled with the same BS.

Posted by kevin at August 5, 2005 01:00 AM”

August 5, 2005 @ 1:15 am | Comment

And I think the real issue is, why do you feel the need to avoid real discussions and challenge others to duels?

Posted by kevin at August 5, 2005 01:11 AM

———–

that’s what i want to ask Ivan

he challenged me by asking me develop a joke about chinese leader, and i had a joke at bingfeng teahouse and asked him to take a look, then he fleed, since then, he said nothing about jokes about chinese leaders

August 5, 2005 @ 1:20 am | Comment

and the heisenberg “debate”, in order to show off how knowledgable he is, he asked questions about heisenberg, and accusing me of not dare to confront him for such “academic” issues during my absence

i asked him what are the pilosophical implications of heisenberg’s experiements, and he fleed again

August 5, 2005 @ 1:24 am | Comment

I recently bought a Cankao Xiaoxi with a headline like “Japan and US teaming up to surround China and interfere in our internal affairs.”
It’s the same second-rate or third-rate propaganda you’ll see in any Chinese paper.

August 5, 2005 @ 1:27 am | Comment

“Japan and US teaming up to surround China and interfere in our internal affairs.”

What’s wrong with this headline? It just states a reality. Every sane person can figure that out by what’s happening around.

August 5, 2005 @ 1:31 am | Comment

Are you two ever going to stop bickering Kevin/Bingfeng?

The Cankao Xiaoxi newspaper has an interesting history. It used to carry translated foreign articles but was only available to cadres. In the early 80’s, however, circulation nose-dived so the paper was made available to all.

There was also the Cankao Ziliao (Reference Information), more restricted and only available to middle- and upper-level cadres. Ziliao often carried foreign reports critical of China.

Speaking of what Kevin is saying about how Chinese newspapers twist things. There was a famous example in Time Magazine a couple of years ago.

Remeber the book “A Personal Experience of China.” from a guy called Hessler who wrote about his life in Fuling/Three Gorges?

Cankao Xiaoxi used a book review from the US “Policy Review”….but they chagned a few things!
From Time Magazine 2003:
————————————————–
“China’s ascent to the world stage should give us pause,” he wrote. But that was one of many sentences that had not been translated at all by Cankao Xiaoxi. Neither had the phrase “the brutality of communism’s excesses” nor the sentence “Hessler finds himself reacting emotionally—and often negatively—to the Chinese worldview that confronts him.” Instead, Cankao Xiaoxi spun the commentary in another direction:

“Hessler also notices that the patriotism of the Chinese is very deep. He says the Chinese have a deep love for their motherland … they are proud of the economic advances of the past 20 years, and they are proud of their government.”
————————————————–
Indeed.

August 5, 2005 @ 1:38 am | Comment

I recently bought a Cankao Xiaoxi with a headline like “Japan and US teaming up to surround China and interfere in our internal affairs.”
It’s the same second-rate or third-rate propaganda you’ll see in any Chinese paper.

Posted by kevin at August 5, 2005 01:27 AM

————

i should indicate that all articles (ads not included) in Cankao Xiaoxi are translated from overseas media (including those from hk and taiwan)

titles are translated from the original article if there is only one, and sometimes several articles reporting the same topic will be collected in the same page and a new title covering them will be given by the newspaper

August 5, 2005 @ 1:39 am | Comment

Sorry, I’m just exhausted by bingfeng’s willingness to avoid real issues, mock and bash others, make comments like “you’re from america, ok, that explains it,” and challenge others to violent duels. But it’s probably not even worth engaging with him.

August 5, 2005 @ 1:44 am | Comment

“Hessler also notices that the patriotism of the Chinese is very deep. He says the Chinese have a deep love for their motherland … they are proud of the economic advances of the past 20 years, and they are proud of their government.”
————————————————–
Indeed.

Posted by Martyn at August 5, 2005 01:38 AM

————

time magazine!

the issue of 1987 (?) has an article of how china excute “anti-revolutionists”, with photos of those “anti-revolutionists”, the chinese characters on their clothes read “rapist”

August 5, 2005 @ 1:44 am | Comment

And the rather creative translations shown above by Martyn should be sufficient to show that bingfeng is fooling no one except himself…

August 5, 2005 @ 1:46 am | Comment

Sorry, I’m just exhausted by bingfeng’s willingness to avoid real issues, mock and bash others, make comments like “you’re from america, ok, that explains it,” and challenge others to violent duels. But it’s probably not even worth engaging with him.

Posted by kevin at August 5, 2005 01:44 AM

————

you want “debate”, you get “debate”

you want debate, you get debate

August 5, 2005 @ 1:49 am | Comment

Do I ever read mainland Chinese meida?

Yes, I do. But only tabloid stories when I’m too bored.

Now rely on mainland Chinese media for any serious news, analysis or discussions.

August 5, 2005 @ 1:50 am | Comment

“Now rely on mainland Chinese media for any serious news, analysis or discussions.”

It should be “Never”

August 5, 2005 @ 1:51 am | Comment

Kevin, bingfeng also has a wicked and well-developed sense of humour. Not all he says is to be taken literally I don’t think.

Bingfeng, yes, Time Magazine has commited various pecadillos ove rthe years but, in this case, it was simply reporting Cankao’s not only inaccurate translation but how they even added to it to make it sound more China friendly and pro-government. They are people walking around China who genuinely believe that the book review actually quoted Hessler as saying “…Chinese people they are proud of the economic advances of the past 20 years, and they are proud of their government.” When, in fact, Hessler said nothing of the sort.

If I read a UK/US newspaper with a “translation” of a Le Figaro/El Pais/Renmin Ribao article I would certainly expect it to be an exact word-for-word translation.

August 5, 2005 @ 2:02 am | Comment

Kevin,
As I said above, I am dropping and ignoring all disputes with bingfeng, because he has shown himself to be a coward, a man with no honor.
Yes I was serious about what I said about duelling. And I was DEADLY serious when I said that I had been under gunfire and seen other men killed. (Wondering now, Gordon, are you there? I know you were in the military for a whille, Gordon, so maybe you understand why I take words about violent combat so seriously….)
I literally almost threw up when I saw bingfeng’s remarks about fighting a duel, and about where my dead bodies should go after I’m killed in a duel. I literally, literally went to the toilet and threw up. Because I have experienced gunfire (and one bombing) and I know what it’s about.
And KLS jumped into it with the same kind of puerile, vicious malice of a 12 year old. And it is very similar to how most Chinese boys of under age 30 think about war and combat in these times. They fantasize about it, but they have never seen it.
They fantasize about “fighting Japan” or invading Taiwan, and I have even known some young Chinese who think a nuclear war might be a good idea.
Because, they have never been in combat. They have never been under gunfire, and they have never seen anyone die from gunfire or bayonets or other ways of steel.
(Again I ask, “Gordon, are you there? Can you help me out here, man? I need an experienced warrior to back up what I say here…..)
Bingfeng would not talk so casually about violent death, if he had ever seen how it goes. Here is how it goes, here is what I have seen:
I saw (among other scenes) a man of around 18, standing and fighting upright until the first blade went into his chest. (This was in Russia, by the way, but I will not tell more about the circumstances here)
His enemies watched him sway for a while – oh it was in February, snow all around – and then another one drove a blade into his stomach. Then they paused while he swayed some more – and he cried out but I could not help him (because of my status in that time and place) – and then one more stab, and he swayed back and forth for around three minutes – seemed like hours to me – and then he fell in the snow, and his enemies walked away, and I watched him gurgling and waving his hands into the snow while the life dripped out of him.
And there was nothing I could do at the time, other than watch and wait and say a few words to him in Russian. He made an Eastern sign of the cross, and I made a Western Catholic one, while he mumbled “Christos, Christos” and all I could do was to pray with him in my poor Russian, and make a sign of the cross with him while he bled all over the f—ing snow.
And it still gives me nightmares. And he was not the only man I watched dying from violence – just the most vivid one.
I have watched other people dying from violence – and was almost killed myslef – and so, no I was NOT joking when I took that cowardly little sh– bingfeng to task, for his taking such matters all so casually – as spoiled, callow little Chinese boys will do, who know nothing of death or violence even while they bray for conflict with Japan…….
Bingfeng has LITERALLY made me vomit. Literally.
I say to Bingfeng, and to anyone else who reads this – whether Chinese or of any other country – don’t you DARE speak casually about war or violent death unless you’ve witnessed it.
All real warriors (like Gordon, hey are you THERE, man, can you support my argument here?) will understand what I mean, and why bingfeng made me literally vomit today.

August 5, 2005 @ 2:14 am | Comment

Ivan, I’m sorry to hear about your experiences and even more sorry that you’re having to re-live them due to some comments here. I’m sure bingfeng regrets causing offence even if it wasn’t his intention. Few of us have experienced what you describe above so I think that flippant and thoughtless remarks are therefore a regrettable consequence of this. I’m sure bingfeng wouldn’t have made such remarks had he known what you’ve just taken the time to write about mate.

August 5, 2005 @ 2:27 am | Comment

And the old European tradition of duelling (which my German grandfather passed down to me) says that it is a waste of time and energy and dignity, to challenge anyone to a duel who does not understand Honor.
……………

Posted by Ivan at August 5, 2005 12:38 AM

————

Yes I was serious about what I said about duelling. And I was DEADLY serious when I said that I had been under gunfire and seen other men killed.

Posted by Ivan at August 5, 2005 02:14 AM

————

a real debate ….. really. me not vomit today because laughs overtake vomits

August 5, 2005 @ 2:30 am | Comment

Ivan, I’m sorry to hear about your experiences and even more sorry that you’re having to re-live them due to some comments here. I’m sure bingfeng regrets causing offence even if it wasn’t his intention. Few of us have experienced what you describe above so I think that flippant and thoughtless remarks are therefore a regrettable consequence of this. I’m sure bingfeng wouldn’t have made such remarks had he known what you’ve just taken the time to write about mate.

Posted by Martyn at August 5, 2005 02:27 AM

————

yes, i feel sorry if a joke is not a joke any more due to ivan’s past experiences

joke is not a joke any more

August 5, 2005 @ 2:34 am | Comment

I’m sure bingfeng wouldn’t have made such remarks had he known what you’ve just taken the time to write about mate.

————

sure i will develop a test version for every joke i put here, and as soon as it offends somebody, i will withdraw the joke immediately

August 5, 2005 @ 2:36 am | Comment

Wow! What the hell happened here today? I leave the Duck for a few hours and now people are talking about silly shit.

Ivan, calm down man. I’m sure Bingfeng was just displaying more of his very weird humor as I doubt that he has experiences such horrors as you have mentioned.

As for me, I’ve never seen combat on the field of a foreign country so I don’t know what that is like either. I was in the military during the Clinton years and we spent our time chasing girls and doing back flips off the backs of our naval ships as they weren’t being used for much else.

I have seen “war” on the urban battlefield when rival gang wars break out (hence being shot twice) and it’s quite a traumatic experience, but that’s also like comparing apples and oranges.

In short, Bingfeng was just trying to get a rise out of you which is what he accomplished. He switches to his strange humor whenever he is able to deal with or face any issue with honesty.

Don’t let it get to you. Go have a beer.

August 5, 2005 @ 2:47 am | Comment

oops..

Should read:

whenever he *isn’t* able to deal with or face any issue with honesty.

August 5, 2005 @ 2:50 am | Comment

Well said Gordon. Also see bingfeng’s above remarks. I’m sure he was also shocked by the reaction. He couldn’t have known such a joke/remark would have that effect. Very unfortunate nevertheless.

August 5, 2005 @ 2:51 am | Comment

to guys in shanghai: stay at home this weekend. typhoon is coming.

August 5, 2005 @ 3:03 am | Comment

Well, I’ve never experienced combat either, but growing up I was around a lot of Vietnam vets… and their shell shock was pretty intense at times. My mother made a documentary about shell shocked vietnam vets, actually. I feel for you Ivan, even if i can’t completely empathise.

August 5, 2005 @ 3:08 am | Comment

I’m glad that it’s over now. I’ve been too busy to post but have been reading and following what happened.
Bingfeng, thank god you come to your senses. You’re a bit over the top.
Ivan, you are always my hero. Even though you don’t like Aussie. I like the fact that you speak your mind. But it’s relaxing time now and so, yes, go and have a beer.
I’m turning my computer off now because it’s Friday afternoon and I’m going down the pub. See ya.

August 5, 2005 @ 3:12 am | Comment

Ah, my boss bought us free beer for our office’s new refrigerator!

August 5, 2005 @ 3:15 am | Comment

Further to bingfeng’s above comment, I just read this in today’s SCMP (watch out Kevin!):
————————————————–
China braces for Typhoon Matsa, Shanghai on alert

Storm-weary China was on Friday bracing for Typhoon Matsa, expected to batter coastal areas near the country’s largest city Shanghai just weeks after Typhoon Haitong left 17 people dead.

It was expected to make landfall near China’s city of Wenzhou in Zhejiang province late Friday or early Saturday, weather officials said.

Chinese meteorologists voiced concern that Matsa, packing winds of 162 kilometres per hour, could cause catastrophic flooding.

State media predicted it would be the worst storm to hit Shanghai in nearly a decade, with municipal authorities ordering emergency preparations.

Weather forecasters at the Zhejiang Meteorological Observatory said that while Shanghai would be strongly affected, the neighbouring city of Wenzhou was smack in the path of the eye of the storm.
————————————————–

August 5, 2005 @ 3:29 am | Comment

Yeah, the skies outside here make it look like I’m in the bowels of hell.

August 5, 2005 @ 3:43 am | Comment

Upon the recommendation of my fellow American warrior Gordon, I have had a few beers and now am laughing about all that has gone on in this thread.
So, now, more about beer:
Let me ask you all, what is the WORST American beer you have ever had? I nominate “Stegmaier”, brewed in the coal town of Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania. Back in my college years (early 1980s) I used to buy a case of Stegmaier for around four dollars, and I saw little bits of coal in the bottoms of the bottles.
I have never seen any Chinese beer as filthy or disgusting as that.
So, can any of you top this? Is there ANY beer in the world which is MORE disgusting than Stegmaier?
I mean, before bingfeng shits into it…. 🙂 Is there ANY brand of Chinese beer which is MORE filthy than America’s Stegmaier?…. 🙂
Bingfeng, if you say something funny about beer, then I will forget about our duel and I will hug you….
🙂

August 5, 2005 @ 4:14 am | Comment

Benjamin Franklin said:
“Beer is God’s way of showing us that he loves us and wants us to be happy.”
SO! Bingfeng, do you object to THAT kind of American hegemony?
🙂

August 5, 2005 @ 4:17 am | Comment

Laowai1979 etc ,
Thank you for your very sensitive remark, about shell shock and all who have experienced it.
I can tell you personally, that the main thing which all Americans who have been under fire one way or another, since Viet Nam, what we all yearn for – what we yearn for most, is just to be taken seriously. Just to have our stories taken seriously, and to be welcomed home like Americans used to welcome their boys home from martial struggles.
(And so, when I was a small boy in America, in the 1960s, when I learned how to play piano, one of the first songs I learned was the old Civil War song, “When Johnny comes marching home again…” And I learned that song in the 1960s, within the lifetime of some Americans – some of whom I met – who lived during the Civil War….when I was a child I met an American who was born as a Slave in 1863…and so, the old song “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” hits me in the heart, and it’s still very personal to me…..)
Well, that’s the second most important thing. The most important thing is to hear:
“Welcome Home”
But it has to be said from the heart, like a real welcome with no reservations. And I am sorry to say that most American vets since Viet Nam, since around 1965, have never gotten a welcome home, not in any authentic way. Not like our older, and now mostly dead, generations of overseas warriors were welcomed home in 1918 and 1945. Or even in 1865, after the Civil War. “When Johny Come Marching Home Again” has been obsolecsent since 1945, even while hundreds of thousands of Americans deserved to be welcomed home in such a way from Korea and Viet Nam and other places (inlcuding one place where I was….)
And this includes most of the vets of Viet Nam, and of our little wars in the Balkans and in the Gulf and in Afghanistan, and in other lesser known places. Many Americans say “we support the troops” but they really don’t, not when it matters.
Thank you, LW, for understanding as much as you can.
Since 1945, NO American who fought or struggled one way or another overseas for our country, has ever been welcomed home in the way he deserves.
But thank you, LW, for trying in your sincere way, to understand.

August 5, 2005 @ 4:47 am | Comment

I used to buy a case of Stegmaier for around four dollars

That has headache written all over it.

I’ve actually had some pretty nasty beer.

I was in my early 20’s down on cash and my buddy and I were in the liquor store when we spotted 64oz bottles of Big Jug Malt Liquor for $1.50/ea.

That was seriously some nasty shit. To this day I don’t know how we managed to drink all of it. Probably had something to do with neither of us wanting to be the first one to puss out.

August 5, 2005 @ 4:53 am | Comment

The best beer I have ever had probably has to go out to another buddy of mine. He and his roommates used to brew their own beer and it kind of reminded me of New Castle, but a bit more hoppy and a lot more flavor.

I used to buy it off of him whenever I was out that way.

August 5, 2005 @ 4:56 am | Comment

hahaha..Ivan, let me give you another piece of advice…

Stay away from the computer when you’re drunk! hehe..

August 5, 2005 @ 4:58 am | Comment

I have never seen any Chinese beer as filthy or disgusting as that.
So, can any of you top this? Is there ANY beer in the world which is MORE disgusting than Stegmaier?
I mean, before bingfeng shits into it…. 🙂 Is there ANY brand of Chinese beer which is MORE filthy than America’s Stegmaier?…. 🙂
Bingfeng, if you say something funny about beer, then I will forget about our duel and I will hug you….
🙂

Posted by Ivan at August 5, 2005 04:14 AM

————-

hong cha jun

a “beer” made of black tea fungus, for one time it was as popular as FLG among old people because it was believed to have the magic effect of keeping you live long (over 100 years old)

i put my goldfish into the hong cha jun and they died in a few minutes

to express my sincere regrets, i will refrain from making jokes in the following 7 days

August 5, 2005 @ 5:29 am | Comment

Now I have had a few more beers and I say, I love you all, including bingfeng.
Zhit, za velikii Rosssiya! I, zhit za Peking Duck, i Bingfeng i vcyo tovarischii!
Long life to Great Russia (my homeland country) and to Peking Duck, and even to bingfeng and to all of us comrades on Peking Duck!
Now I want all of you to drink 100 grams of vodka and then to kiss each other, like good Russians. At any rate, now I am imagining kissing all of you, like a good Russian will…
🙂

August 5, 2005 @ 5:58 am | Comment

Now I have had another 100 grams of vodka, and now I want to kiss binfgeng even more.
This is the spirit of Russia, my true native country.
Bingfeng, I will go to sleep tonight and dream of kissing you many times, as a good Russian man will kiss a true friend who needs help like you do…. 🙂

August 5, 2005 @ 6:07 am | Comment

Yes I am really a Russian. Raised in America, but moved back to Russia,
I am a Russian. And I want to kiss bingfeng many times, as a good Russian Man will do, to show bingfeng what it means to be a true Man.
Bingfeng, I love you, and I want to kiss you all over, in my manly Russian way, so that you can learn what it means to be a man.
Please have another glass of vodka and think about it more, bingfeng. You know that we Russians were the “Big Brother” of Communist China – and now I willl kiss you as your big Russian brother.
Bingfeng, just trust me as your big Russian brother. I will show you what it means to be a real Man….
🙂

August 5, 2005 @ 6:15 am | Comment

Now I have had another 100 grams of vodka, and now I want to kiss binfgeng even more.
This is the spirit of Russia, my true native country.
Bingfeng, I will go to sleep tonight and dream of kissing you many times, as a good Russian man will kiss a true friend who needs help like you do…. 🙂

Posted by Ivan at August 5, 2005 06:07 AM

————–

long live Russia, long live the great Sino-Russian friendship, long live the beautiful russian girls:

http://tinyurl.com/cwk4u

August 5, 2005 @ 6:15 am | Comment

Bingfeng, just trust me as your big Russian brother. I will show you what it means to be a real Man….
🙂

Posted by Ivan at August 5, 2005 06:15 AM

————

i know you are a real man, you don’t need to prove that to me.

i need some beer to cure my “ji pi ge da”

August 5, 2005 @ 6:20 am | Comment

Ivan, Ivan, Ivan.

Tomorrow you will wake up and say, “oh shit, I was posting on the Peking Duck while I was drunk.

And your intoxication will forever be witnessed here in the archieves of the duck.

I told you man, turn off the puter when you are drinking. It’s like getting drunk with a cell phone in your hand. YOu think every ex-girlfriend from the last few years wants to talk to you when you are drunk..but they call to remind you the next day that you are seriously F*cked in the head.

August 5, 2005 @ 7:09 am | Comment

“Miles, did you drunken dial?”

August 5, 2005 @ 10:28 am | Comment

Ivan, did you drunk type?

August 5, 2005 @ 10:34 am | Comment

I know, I try to be as sympathetic as I can and get completely ignored. **** it, next time someone goes into one, they’re on their own.

Where’ve you been Lisa? Busy?

August 5, 2005 @ 10:49 am | Comment

You guys’ve got to appreciate Ivan’s drunken style Kongfu.

Better than watching Jackie Chan’s Drunken master II…

August 5, 2005 @ 11:59 am | Comment

dawalishi ivan, daoburautele!

are u a russian american or an american russian?

August 5, 2005 @ 12:14 pm | Comment

We’ve seen some mighty strange threads here, but this one just might take the cake. (After “The Fantabulist,” of course.)

August 5, 2005 @ 12:15 pm | Comment

Hi, Richard
looks like you never did somthing like link fest. I absolutely love it. Since simonworld has stopped its link fest for a while, I suggest that probably a small link fest can be incorporated into the every public thread? Of course this is a little demanding work to do…
but it’s good for some lazy reader like me and maybe helpful to set up the proper topics and tone for the thread. I hate checking all aisa blogs listed on the left everyday either because I don’t like some of webpage layout style or I found its not up to date or its topic today not of my interests.

By the way, it’ll increase traffic for other bloggers too.

August 5, 2005 @ 12:36 pm | Comment

I don’t know anything about link fest. Where can I get information?

August 5, 2005 @ 12:42 pm | Comment

It’s some kind of roundup like this

By the way, anybody here was in the Rave party on the Great Wall several days ago?
See if Australian dude, who dare pee in the public, can be caught here.

August 5, 2005 @ 12:51 pm | Comment

Okay, I see what you mean. I can do that when I have time, but it means a lot of visits to lots of blogs.

August 5, 2005 @ 12:53 pm | Comment

Well, actually you don’t need include that many links. 4 or 5 is should be Ok.
For instance, I don’t read Lisa’s blog everyday, but I found that She covered a very moving story from LA times several days ago. I almost missed it.

By the way, thank you Lisa.

August 5, 2005 @ 1:05 pm | Comment

KLS is described jumping in with the same kind of puerile, vicious malice of a 12 year old.
KLS turns the other cheek.
why? because a lot of loving thy neighbour (or at least thy bingfeng) has broken out on this here thread!

August 5, 2005 @ 2:00 pm | Comment

I’m a first-time visitor to these threads but I was told that this was a community of like-minded interest. I’ve written a series of posts comparing the strategic positions of contemporary Taiwan and Cold War Finland. My site is generally concerned with political economy issues and the exchange rate move, more specifically, so this is a bit of a departure for me, but I would be interested in any comments from the readers of this thread. Thanks.
Regards,
Logan Wright

August 5, 2005 @ 2:07 pm | Comment

well, Logan, if Martyn comments on your blog then your finlandization theory must be worth reading thoroughly.
then again, if martyn comments on your blog with the sole intention of publicising his guest-blogging essays elsewhere, then surely you’re yet another used and abused victim of the guy’s insatiable quest for publicity, no? caveat emptor!!!

August 5, 2005 @ 2:17 pm | Comment

If Martyn had an insatiable thirst for publicity he’d start his own blog. Or he’d put up an asinine article on China Daily, an instant, free ticket to stardom.

Logan, I appreciate the visit and will check out your post, though I may not have time to write it up this weerkend. And please keep in mind, today’s thread was a bit unusual. They aren’t always this raw and personal. (Not that there’s anything wrong with raw and personal…)

August 5, 2005 @ 2:22 pm | Comment

richard, with respect, you live in the US.
those of us living in the UK, Martyn’s Motherland, are constantly bombarded with pro-Martyn propaganda. You can’t move on the subway without seeing adverts for “Martyn — guest blogger on the horse’s mouth”.
I’m told that up in the north of England — obviously I’d never venture up there myself — schoolchildren are required to sing songs extolling the health benefits of reading Martyn’s guest bloggin entries.
I’ll try to find the lyrics and post them here asap!

August 5, 2005 @ 2:32 pm | Comment

I had no idea, KLS. Has he put up billboards, and hired a blimp to circle London advertising his posts?

August 5, 2005 @ 2:39 pm | Comment

not just circling London — there’s a fleet of 583 blimps, or M-Balloons as they’re now known, flying all around western europe causing all manner of security alerts and so on.
there’ll be crossing the atlantic and hitting your neck of the woods soon richard so watch out.
and, I heard he’s got some pop stars, wang fei, zang hui mei, and li wen, to perform as a trio across mainland china praising the robustness of his prose, amongst other things.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

August 5, 2005 @ 2:46 pm | Comment

I make an off the cuff joke on Survived Sars and look where it get me…….

August 5, 2005 @ 3:23 pm | Comment

Hi All!

Maryn, yeah, I’ve been kind of busy, and with some threads, what can I say, I’m, what’s the typing equivalent of “speechless”?

Lin, I’m glad you caught the LA Times story. It is incredibly moving and a real testament to the bravery and kindness of so-called “ordinary” people.

August 5, 2005 @ 4:32 pm | Comment

Hi Lisa, and forgive me for closing this thread, but it’s been a long one. Let’s head north.

August 5, 2005 @ 4:36 pm | Comment