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| 155 |
Meeting Place: Starbucks at Jinyan Road, Pudong Haha - @dezza - it does too - reminds me of the lamington drives we used to have in school!!! |
| 154 |
Error in Western Media Report about Tibet Why the personal attack on Joyce? - although there is some opinion in her post, most of it is hard historical fact. Which part is offensive? |
| 153 |
Introduce Yourself @jian shuo - I think you already know much about me over the years... in summary, Peter Breitkreutz - Australian living and working in Singapore - married to ex-colleague from Shanghai, Sammi (used to work together in Kodak). 'Mixed' baby Jaime Zheng Jiayang, born in Singapore on 27th August, 2007. Global Strategic Sourcing Manager for Marketing, Motorola. www.aussiepete.com |
| 152 |
Error in Western Media Report about Tibet @rick - my ancestors are from Australia. - the aborigines were some of the first human beings to inhabit this planet... I'm confused - where did u want me to go to? I'm living in Singapore now - are u saying I should go back home to Australia? |
| 151 |
Photos of Shanghai in May, 2008 @shanghai-ren... u are a very strange person. |
| 150 |
Slow Internet Connection in Early May @wonton - thanks for the wishes - almost completely recovered now!!!! *Whew* - was pretty bad for a while there... am I correct to assume that you have a way to somehow get around the GFW of China to be able to view aussiepete.com?? Maybe you could share your secrets with me?? FYI (and Jian Shuo) - just posted the latest instalment on my blog which may be a little controversial give the online gaming culture here in SG - "Regulation of Cyber Cafes in Singapore (Internet Cafes) and Gaming Addiction of our Youths"... this topic is getting a bit of airplay here in SG media right now... take care... http://www.aussiepete.com |
| 149 |
Slow Internet Connection in Early May Hi @Jian Shuo - after years of following your blogging site, you have inspired me to begin my own to keep track of our day-to-day activities and live as a tribute to our lives abroad. I have posted a link to this site on the opening entry. Please have a look at our site... I don't think the China GFW will allow you to visit the URL 'proper' so also post the direct blog link which (hopefully) can be accessed form the China mainland: http://www.aussiepete.com From mainland China: http://jaimezheng.blogspot.com Kind regards and thank for the inspiration... :D |
| 148 |
Wired Photos... Long Time Ago @Jian Shuo - I hope you enjoyed an evening with no laptop!! I cannot imagine what that would be like - the computer is almost like an extension of me these days. I think I would feel very inadequate just one day without my laptop (although it would make my wife very happy I suspect) :D Very clever pictures!! FYI - Jaime turned 8-months old the other day, and now has his first two teeth - I hope Yifan is also doing well. @shanghai-ren - hmmm... what is your problem? Did you forget to take your medication?? |
| 147 |
"Love China" Blooms on MSN Messenger @rat in hat - just saw your post to me - sorry I've been travelling for business and not had opportunity to visit this site for a few days... I beg to differ on your suggestion that Buddhism in China is more about culture than faith... I understand the point you're trying to make, but it's very a very general one (perhaps based upon your observations? - I'm not sure of your (strange) thought processes). I don't think it's really for you to say whether or not praying for luck is a valid form of faith - if one believes in something without hard evidence of it's existence, is it not faith? - this is the fundamental groundstone for any religion today. Most of my family and extended family in China are very strict in their Buddhist beliefs (them, and also many generations before them). My own immediate family are Christian - it would be naive of me to try and make a call on who is right and who is wrong - or which religion is better for that matter... I have my own beliefs and they are very personal to me. Regardless of your own faith or beliefs, I strongly suggest you refrain from insulting or pretending to understand the intricasies of others' beliefs - especially with the gross generalizations and inaccuracies of your last post on this thread - are you one of these self-proclaimed theologists perhaps?? I recommend you look to 'real history' rather than rely on media or anecdotal discussions to attain your knowledge. |
| 146 |
"Love China" Blooms on MSN Messenger Just a point of note - after attending (and being swept along) with the sea of people at the Jing'an Temple in Shanghai for the last two years in a row on CNY morning... there is definitely some religious 'collective thinking' there... :D There are more people in attendance on this one day than at the busiest Australian Rules football match on a sell-out day at the MCG in Melbourne. |
| 145 |
"Love China" Blooms on MSN Messenger @nick - I'm a 'western guy' but don't tell you or anyone else that I know yours or anyone else's country (or island) better than you... I am respectful - so no need for you to generalize - keep it impersonal hey? |
| 144 |
"Love China" Blooms on MSN Messenger Hahahahaha - @belacqua - now things are getting really dangerous!! |
| 143 |
Yifan in His 9th Month Wow!! Crawling...!!! These babies are growing so quickly - Yifan is so very, very cute!!! Jaime is no almost 8-months, and trying his very hardest to crawl... just not strong enough yet... :p I started a group for him on Facebook - would love for you to join!! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17335466083 |
| 142 |
"Love China" Blooms on MSN Messenger Hi @summer_go... ahem... ahhh... actually there is no such word in the English language "UNFREE"... :D |
| 141 |
Real Pictures of China with My Experience @shanghai-ren... xenophobic is clearly not the appropriate descriptor. There are reasons behind everything (rightly or wrongly), but the Carrefour incident is clearly not due to a 'fear' of foreigners. |
| 140 |
Friends Started to Boycott French Products @Richard - I am not agreeing nor disagreeing with your post (you are obviously very passionate - given your controversial proclamation that 'we were right on Iraq' - millions would disagree with you) - as I have said many times on these threads, it is not my position to do so (as an outsider)... most non-Chinese do not understand the intricacies of the situation or the history leading up until now (no matter how much they -we - think we are knowledgable or how strong the views). I would however like to make a brief comment on your statement: "why did they jail a non-violent political opponent for 6 years?"... on this point, I think it's open to interpretation - it depends on what one's definition of 'non-violent' is. I'd like to take the opportunity to repost this link from a couple of week's ago (apologies to those people whose servers are on the China mainland and may be affected by the GFW). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsoc4-QnplY On the 'non-violent political opponent' descriptor, I think the jury is still out - does a person who makes 95% of his innocent country people suffer dire hardship and starvation under a 'theocratic' regime (in the name of religion) allow that person to get away unscathed because he is 'non-violent' by not physically hurting someone with a weapon? In other circumstances, what the theocracy had done in Tibet could be considered 'crime against humanity' and perpertrators could be subject to more than just 6 years jail (could it not?). Once again, I am not taking sides here - I am just suggesting that you should not learn your history from western media. Especially as it relates to China and Tibet. Take care and God bless!! |
| 139 |
Living Cost in Shanghai Hi @DB -I agree completely with the message you are trying to convey here, but disagree a little with the method. Let me briefly explain why... In absolute terms, you are quite correct, Shanghai doesn't even come close to being one of the most expensive in the world. In relative terms (your point 3), I do not have data to support my observations, but for the average local hard-working Shanghainese (let's say in the construction or manufacturing industry), I'm led to believe that the cost of living is extremely high. In the 'early' days of my marriage (whilst living in Shanghai), it was not uncommon for me to buy a particular item, and then make a statement as to how extremely cheap that item was (obviously when said item was bought from my Australian salary, and when the same item is compared to Australian prices). Such a statement actually put strain on my relationship (one of the very few issues we had when 'blending' our cultures) - my wife would immediately reply that it wasn't cheap - for us, and compared to Australia, yes it didn't cost much relatively, but for the average Shanghainese, the item was unaffordable and considered and impossible luxury. So I fleshed this out a bit more with my wife over the years, and now understand that although I may see something as inexpensive, it is not appropriate - and often downright offensive - to comment on the same to local Shanghainese - it can be perceived as showing-off or trying to act elitist (even though this was clearly never the intent). Nowadays, out of respect to my in-laws, my wife and I can discuss perceptions on living costs in Shanghai relatively (between ourselves), but would never again consider 'belittling' my Shanghainese relatives and friends by making the same relative statements to them. As I said - I have no data to support the relative cost for locals in Shanghai, but I do hear from many people who are struggling day-to-day to make ends meet - having said this, I know people in many other countries that are facing the same problems - if I talk to many SGpeans, I get the same response - cost of living is way too high relative to average wages (whereas I find SG extremely inexpensive - once again it's relative)... these days I find Australia very expensive (which before relocating to SG, I had never even given a thought) - I can buy an entire dinner for my family at the local hawker center in SG for the same cost as two soft drinks in a 7-11 in Melbourne (although I earn much more in SG than I did in Australia, partly due to the massive tax advantages in SG). Anyway, in summary, I agree completely with the point you are making on absolute terms, but I think for you to rate number (3) as a valid way of measuring cost of living in Shanghai, then you have been a victim of your own observations with your opening comment that "this is simply bullshit"... to your position and income, relatively perhaps it is - but for the local Shanghainese, such a comment could be considered offensive (the latter making up a large population of Jian Shuo's readers). Take care @DB... |
| 138 |
Living Cost in Shanghai - Part II @Troy, I think to gain information on living standards and cost of living in Shanghai, you have certainly come to the right place for advice. However, as for the question concerning US citizenship and taxation implications, my advice to you is to seek professional advice. Although you may get some sound opinions and first-hand experiences here, this blog is not the appropriate forum for this sort of advice. Taxation is a very personal matter, and each individual will face different issues, depending on income, assets, investments etc (at home and abroad). To outline this a little further, let me share my own experience. I have lived and worked abroad for a number of years. Now I know obviously, Australian and SG tax laws are much different to the US and China - I am merely offering my case as an example of why professional advice is warranted. My family and I are currently, residing in Singapore on P1 employment pass and dependent passes. When I made the shift to SG, I was allocated the services of a 'global' taxation partner (PCW) through my company, who assisted in my tax matters in both Australia and Singapore. It became glaringly obvious early, that the state of my residence in SG had some (but very little baring) on my tax position. There are many taxation advantages by residing in SG whilst maintaining a 'non-resident for taxation purposes' in Australia.... this is the critical point - if I retained substantial assets back home (eg. house, shares, other investments, etc) or received any form of income (inc. significant interest dividends etc) in Australia, I would need to continue as a 'resident for taxation purposes' in Australia - this would negate any taxation benefits in SG, because I would have to pay an 'equalizing' tax (or if you like, double tax). By 'liquidating' and selling off Australian assets, I am now taxed only in SG at a much much less rate than I would be if I were still in Australia. This as I said, as an employment pass holder... we will become PRs (permanent residents) of SG in a month or two, which offers a couple more percentage points in tax advantage, but to move toward citizenship would offer only a further small incremental gain. This would not be acceptable given my loyalty to my country and heritage (Australian through and through, regardless of where in the region I reside). Also, although Australia recognizes dual citizenship, SG do not (nor do China), and I would not be relinquishing by Aussie status for one or two percentage points of tax gain - totally unacceptable to me. Finally, a very important point to note, is the usage of the term 'expat'. Although, all of us on overseas assignments 'generally' refer to ourselves as expats, it is critical for you to understand the business implications and translation of this term. If you are an 'expat' in it's true business sense, your company will be sponsoring all your costs (living away from home allowance, driver and vehicle, regular R&R and associated travel costs, etc etc), and this money would be paid from your home country (hence the potential for heavy taxes), but generally these packages are quite attractive - I suspect this is not the case for you, because a US$75K package wouldn't cut it (wouldn't even come close). Your HR dept should be able to advise you on this - that's what HR professionals are paid to do - they should have the knowledge base on this. Anway - I've been super long-winded - in short, you MUST engage professional advice on the taxation matters - as you rightly point out, this is a life changing opportunity and you should therefore give the decision the respect it deserves by doing your homework completely. PD: Disposable Income? - depends on you - how do you spend your time? Window shopping or shopping at Gucci? That's a real tough question without the background. |
| 137 |
My Experience of Culture and Religion in Tibet @Wayfarer - please note that the 'concensus' on this blog is not that China places too much emphasis on English langauage or that the English requirement in schools should be dropped. This is just a line that three people have been pushing (yourself, Perkins and Gunyan) - and after studying the content and structure of the posts it is extremely obvious that you three people are one and the same person (remember, that Jian Shou records and can view IP addresses, so changing your name to post the same material is very obvious to him - this 'different personality' syndrome must be very interesting - if not amusing - to him). English and Chinese Mandarin are the two languages needed for successfully conducting business across Asia, and to suggest students in China should not study English language can be very damaging to the young folk reading this blog - please all young Chinese people, do not believe what this one person (with different personalities) is posting - keep up your studies for your own sake (and future success). In ours and your lifetimes, the schematics of global business language will not change (or have major shift). Anyway, to summarize - dropping English in schools in China is not the concensus of this blog - just the belief of one person. Take care... :D |
| 136 |
More Discussion on Tibet Hi Gunjan...?? or is it Ambassador Perkins? Do you mind me asking which part of India you come from? I travel at least 1-month a year across most of the major cities in India, and it's important to note that not all schools are teaching Hindi. I've had this discussion numerous time with my colleagues in India, and many of their children do not study the 'official' language - in fact many people right across India cannot communicate (the dialects are just too diverse), hence the drive in our MNC for common English as the business unifier. |
| 135 |
Error in Western Media Report about Tibet Just a quick note to @perkins... as far as international language is concerned - my experience is very opposite to yours. Having spent two decades living & working in various countries across Asia Pacific (south, south-east and north) and the US in senior executive positions in MNCs (predominately concerned with technology and telecommunications globally), I strongly recommend English and Mandarin as what you have decribed as your 'tier 1' languages in order to be a successful global player. I am fluent in both (oral and written - as well as average oral skills in Shanghai dialect, German, Malay and Tamil). Although Portuguese and Spanish would be a 'nice to have', it's easy enough to get by with in-company translators for the minimal ROI that Sth American countries offer (inc. Brazil). Asia (specifically China) is destined - as we are all aware - to become the world's financial superpower, hence the importance of Chinese Mandarin as we move forward. Also - in respect of Hindi - yes, it is 'officially' the national language of India, but unlike Chinese Mandarin, it is yet to be adpoted by the population as a 'common' language for all... to succeed in business across south and south-east Asia, one would be best to learn Tamil as opposed to Hindi (both would be almost ideal - as ideal as Indian languages are concerned - there would still be millions of people one would not be able to converse with). Finally, when you speak of 'Chinese', I assume you are referring to Mandarin (orally) and simplified Chinese characters?? If you just mention Chinese language in many parts of southern China & HK, the locals would be right to think you are talking of Cantonese (or even Hokkien in areas such as Fujian province). Take care.... :D |
| 134 |
Error in Western Media Report about Tibet I am purposely keeping opinions on this entire issue to myself - I have had numerous discussions with my father-in-law in Shanghai on this and many other issues, and the main lesson I have learned is although I may have opinions derived from my culture and upbringing, enhanced by media (correctly, or incorrectly), I have no right as a foreginer to make comment. Anyone from the 'outside' who even thinks they have anything close to understanding of the intricacies of current events is delusional. I'll probably get 'slammed' from people for stating the above (especially by the supporters of the 'neocon' and other conspiracy theories - *sigh*), but the reality is that I cannot compare current events with anything that I have encountered in my (long) life. I do not necessarily agree with all of my in-laws' beliefs on certain issues (Tibet and Taiwan, to name just a couple), but I certainly have an understanding of the compelling reasons why many local Chinese people believe (historically) the things they do, and their passion for the same. For this reason, I restrain from posting my misinformed 'outside' opinions. In all, one thing I can say with confidence (and have done before), is that to use the Olympic Games as a political platform is just wrong, especially trying to relate current world events and perceived breaches of human rights to the games that bring the world together. Boycotting the games (or threats of the same) as a publicity stunt to promote political beliefs is so very wrong and is not, and will not, be tolerated by the Olympic organizing committee, or those people who understand the real reasons behind this great event... it has been tried before, and has failed with disastrous and deadly consequences... good luck Beijing and China for 08/08/08!!!! |
| 133 |
Shanghainese Girl Marrying Foreigners Question for "MRMA" - where did u get your stats? Mind me asking? |
| 132 |
Why I Didn't Cover About Tibet @wonton - I've purposely not been stating my opinion on this subject - it's not for me to say. However - congratulations on your post!! It is the most sensible one I've read on this topic yet. |
| 131 |
Why I Didn't Cover About Tibet Wow - conspiracy theory at it's best - and lengthiest. |
| 130 |
Prostitution in China Hi @oncrest... hehe - I think I'd get in to big trouble if I go and checkout Geylang nowadays - I think I understood your point, but didn't make myself very clear - I have no doubt that the percentage of prostitutes in SG that are Chinese is high, what I was trying to say is that the percentage of the total Chinese national population in SG that are prostitutes is low - which is why the perception that all Chinese nationals in SG are prostitutes is wrong... it's sort of like saying that because most suicide bombers are of islamic faith, therefore every moslom is a terrorist bomber, or because most kebab shops are owned by people from Turkey, that every person from Turkey owns a kebab shop... anyway, you get my drift - I've actually been confronted with the misconception that all Chinese nationals are prostitutes many times whilst living in SG - there is no way that the people with this view can be swayed otherwise, and I find it a little strange... Cheers. Sorry all for going way off topic here. Oh - and my 'blind China lover' reputation precedes me.... lol :D |
| 129 |
Prostitution in China @ - @oncrest - I agree with you on this incorrect 'perception', and would like to add that the % of prostitutes of total population of Chinese nationals is very low in SG... I love living in SG, but this deep-seeded 'perception' in some SGpeans you describe is very, very true - and very, very wrong. It will take some time for the 'old school' Chinese national-haters to ween out of mainstream. I'm so glad you understand the issue so well... Let's keep on the govt's back to clean up geylang, and let's keep the open discussion going to remove the incorrect perceptions of 'old school' SGpeans that all Chinese nationals are prostitutes. Interestingly, we got rid of similar incorrect perceptions in Melbourne many years ago (that most asian girls are prostitutes), by lobbying the local, state and federal govts to change advertising laws. At that time, some brothels were advertising services by 'Asian only' - and went further to define by country of origin - it was possible to call and book time with a SGpean (or Chineses or Japanese or Malaysian or Korean etc, etc) if that was one's requirement... this practice is now illegal in Australia thank goodness - the world's 'oldest occupation' attracts workers from every walk of life, every country and every culture - no one country or race is immune. |
| 128 |
Shanghainese Girl Marrying Foreigners @DB - *sigh* I don't even know why I'm wasting my time... you've confused me by your timeframe - I referred to your 'mini-attack' (the incorrectly spelt "ditto") in a single post - to u and to yippee... As for "and please please do yourself and ALL of us one favour" - contrary to your own beliefs in your own popularity, you are not the king (or queen) of blogging, and you don't have any right to speak on behalf of ALL other readers of Jian Shuo's blogs. As Jian Shuo rightly posted - keep it about the subject, not the person. Feel free to have the last say here, because I refuse to answer anymore little personal digs... just really wasting my valuable time by even responding to this last one. Gotta go - got some real work to do now. All the best!! |
| 127 |
Shanghainese Girl Marrying Foreigners @john - take it easy mate... @db - once again, you have agreed with my post - no substantaited data exists. Your real-experiences lack the appropriate sample size to be validly considered data (China's population is >1.4bln - foreginer population reading this blog? I'm not really sure)... everyone is entitled to their own opinions on any topic, and I encourage and applaud open debate (when it is meaningful). To post % numbers that are just subjective opinion is just down-right silly. As a statistican, I cannot accept opinion stated in terms of data... it is valid for a person to say something like "in my experience, most of the people I know..." or "I've witnessed a large % of people..." etc... but to quote actual numbers with no further substantiation of where they are derived - this is inadequate and ignorant... I merely asked the question "where did u get the data from?" - why are u so excited about me asking the question?? Have an opinion sure, but you cannot convince me that using data that is flawed or has no substance can lead to meaningful debate. Your real-life experiences (not data, by definition) help form your subjective opinion (which is absolutely fine), but in no way can be representative of the entire population of China or mixed-country relationships. PERIOD!! As far as "AussiePB" bashing - actually, MrMa (who was not the original poster of the 'data') suggested I lacked commonsense by asking the source of the data - I used the commonsense angle back to him - then you (unprovoked by me), used it also on me (by the way, "ditto" is spelled with two t's)... yeepee's comments then further inflamed this 'mini attack' by you. Let's leave it at that - we obviously disagree on this topic, and we are both entitled to our opinion - but please just re-read my post asking where the data came from (as I asked you to before) - you seem to have misinterpreted my question as something to be offended by or to warrant your 'mini attack'. Take care... |
| 126 |
Shanghainese Girl Marrying Foreigners @db - you have supported my point exactly... I wasn't sprouting data - someone else was... if it's not real, why post it? There are people that read stuff on blogs like this and believe it. Also completely agree that my experiences are not necessarily reflective of the entire population of China - I never once suggested otherwise. @yeepee - I didn't mention my wife in my most recent post about the substandard data that was posted. Actually what I do take offense to is people making pointed remarks at skin colour - since you are so hung up on colour, what colour would you decsribe my son as?? Be careful, coz it could lead to a punch in the nose in other circumstances - also FYI, not sure of your heritage or financial position, but since you brought up my wife - We met in a professional environment, she is well-travelled, extremely highly educated and comes from a very well-to-do family (much more well-to-do than mine actually), with no need for green cards, money or anything else you might suggest. Also, I'm not naive enough to believe that all cross-border relationships have the same base (just check with people who have experiences with Mexico and foreign relationships). You agree with db's post about data not being available in China, but then continue on to quote a number of 80% again - do you agree with db's post, or just his AussiePB bashing. To you both, please review my post in reponse to the data again... I never once generalized nor tried to offer any data. As a person qualified in statistical analysis, I will always question any data that is unsubstantiated... that's all I did and referenced my personal experience / circles... what's with the poignant attack from you?? Perhaps it is you who have issues with cross-cultural marriages and your way of subtly getting your feelings across is to bash me for a very innocent post questioning the validity of data that someone posted... when I questioned it, MrMa suggested that I lacked common-sense. My family are members of groups that socialize together - happily married mixed couples with children... western men/chinese women, chinese men/western women, african women/chinese men, european men/south american women, and many, many more combinations... some have them have just now read the above posts and cannot believe some of the negativity associated with many of these posts - especially this latest unwarranted 'attack' by yeepee. I implore you both to please re-read the previous few posts and allow me to question unsubstantiated data - please let's just continue with good-hearted, positive debate based upon opinion and experiences without the personal attacks - this is what I've grown to love about Jianshou's blog over the years... God bless!! :p |
| 125 |
Shanghainese Girl Marrying Foreigners I speak to many people 'on the streets' everyday (maybe I move in different circles to you) - perceptions of biased individuals vs reality - it's difficult to convince people otherwise - commonsense?? - I suggest you use yours in this discussion. Show me data and not opinion - I want to know where this data came from - valid question to ask I think!! Fear not - wisdom will come with age and experience. In the meantime, feel free to have your opinion, just don't try and subsantiate it with substandard or invalid data. |
| 124 |
Shanghainese Girl Marrying Foreigners @mrMa - do you mind me asking the source of your statistics?? Or are you just making some numbers up for fun to suit your opinion? |
| 123 |
I Love Koala! Koalas are very cute too look at. But it should be noted that Koalas in captivity are much different to those in the wild. In the wild, they can be very, very agressive, especially around mating time (and the sounds they make can be very scary). Their claws are very dangerous. Also, they can move very fast when they want to. I used to live on 10-acres in Qld surrounded by National Park, and Koalas in our back yard were a very common experience (same with kangaroos). The best thing that humans can do for these beautiful marsupials is too leave them alone. My wife loved seeing Koalas in the wild in Victoria. |
| 122 |
Being on TV is Nothing @Jian Shuo... what?? No papparazzi trying to take pictures with telephoto lenses through your bathroom windows?? :D |
| 121 |
Welcome ICS Readers I wish we had ICS here in Singapore - so interested in Jian Shuo's appearance on TV!! Maybe we need to ask for autographs now - you are more famous than ever before!! What were the lady's discussion points that Jerry is talking about? Did you manage to keep control of the interview? |
| 120 |
I am a RUBIK Cube (Magic Cube) Solver When I was in high school (around 1980) my best time was 26 seconds... it's actually quite simple, once you know the 'secret formulae'... the trick is memorizing the formulae and then more speed only comes from hours of practice... In my old age this skill has gone completely - I cannot remember any of the formulae required. :( As most people my age from Australia, the 1980s have become a bit of a 'blur' - too much excess and partying - and memory was the first thing to go!! |
| 119 |
Some Interesting Random News Jianshuo.tv - cool concept... :) Look forward to wireless rollout Shanghai-wide... this has always been a big problem for me (not having wireless access as I move about the city)... 2010 - only a couple of years away!! |
| 118 |
"The Right to Refuse Service to Anyone" @Erika - I am not agreeing or disagreeing with the 'one child' policy with the following post, however you need to research and investigate a little more before making generalized blanket statements about how the policy is enforced. The actions you have described are not the norm. In short, any abuse of human rights is abhorrent, but unfortunately it occurs in most countries to some degree around the world - I'm not sure of your heritage, but "let those without sin cast the first stone" - how's your backyard? As per the Steven Spielberg's (ridiculous and mis-informed) reasons for 'boycotting' the games, to try and link the great Olympic Games to a political agenda should not and is not tolerated by the majority of governments and world-leaders - you should find another soap-box rather than waste your time flogging a dead horse... Take care - I truly mean no offense - to reiterate, I just think your generalizations are a little too tough (and as generalizations, incorrect) on mainstream China and it's predominately loving and caring people. Also, even if your statements were legitimate, it is very wrong to try and use the Games as your political platform. |
| 117 |
Yifan and Me are Exactly the Same Hehe - the resemblance is uncanny!!! @Jian Shuo - FYI, I had trouble getting the IP assigned to me across the China GFW... so anyway in the short term, I've registered another (free) domain that IS accessible in China (Beijing and Shanghai)... checkout Jaime's home page (flash site) at http://jaimezheng.co.nr/ The flash page takes a few moments to load, but once it's up and running everything works at ok speed... let me know what you think!! |
| 116 |
CZ3456 Black Box Audio Revealed OMG - so scary (and sad)... as a very frequent flyer, things like this make my skin crawl... :( |
| 115 |
Advice Needed on Rental for Foreigners @jian shuo - *sigh* - I'm a real novice at this - been trying to change my IP address... but in reality I don't think I have any idea what I'm doing... :( |
| 114 |
Advice Needed on Rental for Foreigners @jian shuo... I was wondering if I could urgently seek your expertise and advice on a seemingly 'technical' issue that I think might relate to the China 'great firewall'. I have created a website on google pages for my son jaime. The 'raw' url works fine and is accessible (on google pages) in all countries around the world (inc. China)... However, my problem is that I purchased and registered a domain name that 'pulls' the page/s from the googlepages url address. The domain is working everywhere around the world (so far we've got friends to verify in our home country Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and the US). However the domain does not seem accessible from China (we've had a few different people in different parts of China attempt to access it for us, but the site will not load). Like I said, if internet users in China type the full 'raw' url using the google pages extension, it works fine for them and they can access, but they cannot access the same pages with our own domain name. Is this a problem with the GFW? Do we need to do some sort of registration or verification process with the 'China Internet Network Information Center'? This is really important to us, because we want our family and friends to be able to view Jaime's growing up and experiences on the internet by using our personal domain. Thanks mate - look forward to your advice - I'm gettiing very frustrated with this... Pete :) |
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Advice Needed on Rental for Foreigners @jian shuo... I was wondering if I could urgently seek your expertise and advice on a seemingly 'technical' issue that I think might relate to the China 'great firewall'. I have created a website on google pages for my son jaime. The 'raw' url works fine and is accessible in all countries around the world (inc. China)... the address is: http://www.jaimezheng.com-a.googlepages.com However, my problem is that I purchased and registered a domain name that 'pulls' the page/s from the googlepages url address above. The domain is working everywhere around the world (so far we've got friends to verify in our home country Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and the US). However the domain does not seem accessible from China (we've had a few different people in different parts of China attempt to access it for us, but the site will not load). Our domain / url is: http://www.jaimezheng.com Like I said, if internet users in China type the full 'raw' url http://www.jaimezheng.com-a.googlepages.com it works fine for them and they can access, but they cannot access the same pages with our own domain name. Is this a problem with the GFW? Do we need to do some sort of registration or verification process with the 'China Internet Network Information Center'? This is really important to us, because we want our family and friends to be able to view Jaime's growing up and experiences on the internet by using our personal domain. Thanks mate - look forward to your advice - I'm gettiing very frustrated with this... Pete :) |
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China Eastern Airlines Hi @Jian Shuo - I had not noticed this blog entry before... I have only travelled twice on China Eastern, and both times had very, very bad experiences... long queues at the Beijing airport flying back to Shanghai, but worse still, flights were delayed (one for almost 6 hours) - I missed a very important business meeting. I have vowed never to fly CE again... when flying domestically in China (I only shuttle between Shanghai and Beijing) now I always opt for Air China. |
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Yifan Eats Orange @Jian Shuo - wow - he must eat as much as our baby does... :p Please find a link to some of the pics from a photo shoot that Jaime had while we've been up here in Shanghai for CNY... this is a link to the pics on my FB... he's now just over five and a half months... how time flies!! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=18751&l=79b02&id=626433457 |
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Readers Wanted for TV Interview @Jian Shuo - I would love to have participated, but although I'm back in Shanghai today, I fly to Malaysia tomorrow morning to speak at a conference and won't be back to Shanghai until 10:30pm Friday night - very disappointed that I cannot participate!!! |
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Cold Winter Comes Maybe it shrunk coz of the cold weather.... |
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What is Knock Knock? @wangzi - is this your attempt at humour? |
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What is Knock Knock? @wonton... ahh - only disagree with you on one point - even 'old' people like me can still get a real laugh out of 'knock knock' jokes... the more stupid and nonsensical the funnier!! - Maybe it's a culture thing? Or maybe just shows my level of immaturity... :p |
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GPRS Package from China Mobile Hi - When I roam anywhere in the region, I can access and synch my work email (outlook) through my smartphone - since I've been in Shanghai the last few weeks, I have not been able to do this... very frustrating!! Is this because there is no 3G network available?? Does anyone else use a Motorola Q9h or Blackberry to access and synch outlook work email in China?? I'll spend the next couple of days in Beijing - maybe 3G is available there?? |
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What is Knock Knock? @Mark - I remember the 'boo who' one as: A: Knock knock B: Who's there? A: Boo B: Boo who? A: Oh... no need to cry!!! |
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What is Knock Knock? Hehe... we grew up with 'knock knock'... the original version of the 'orange' one is: A: Knock knock B: Who's there? A: Orange B: Orange who? A: Orange u glad I didn't say banana! But I personally love this one: A: Knock knock B: Who's there? A: Interrupting dog B: Interrupting dog w....? A: Whoof whoof!!!! (Sounds funny when the other person is just in the middle of saying "Interrupting dog who" - so the dog interrupts) :p |
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Overseas Chinese Get Back to Home @jonathon villicana - wanna see something even more gay?? Look in the mirror, Jerk!! Hmm - and I'm sure you've seen a lot of shit in your time. Oh, and perhaps you want to go back to school to learn how to write in english... Fool!! |
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Snowing in SJTU (with Kijiji Logo) I really hope that our SIA flight can land at Pudong on Saturday... the forecast is looking pretty bad for Friday (just the day before), and I believe they expect huge delays and cancellations again at Pudong on Friday... :( |
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Traveler Tide in Spring Festival @Jian Shuo - all our blessings for the New Year... my wife, baby and I will arrive in Shanghai this Saturday - it is a very important time for our families. We will stay for almost the full month of February (I will work in the 3rd week, alternating between Shanghai and Beijing). |
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Shanghainese Girl Marrying Foreigners @wonton... I'm with u on this one... speechless - for my benefit, what is MCP? |
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Fight Between Foreigners and Local @aetherunknown - I have been accused on many occasions of stealing jobs from local Singaporeans because I live and work here (which is ridiculous)... this goes on no matter which country you're in. @DC - I do not need a visa to enter China, because I travel using APEC card (Asia Pacific Economic Co-Operation), of which both China and Australia (along with 17 other economies) participate. This gives me a sort of diplomatic status, and I'm pre-cleared to enter any of these economies for the next 3-years. Chinese nationals that travel regularly for business can also apply for this 'pre-cleared' status for the participating economies - most civilized countries in our small world are getting closer and adopting strategies for improved trade. |
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Shanghainese Girl Marrying Foreigners @DB - in the case of Australia and China it's simple. Just because the marriage is registered in China only makes no difference, it is still recognized as a valid and legal marriage under Australian law... proceedings can be undertaken in either country. |
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Where to Buy Digital Cameras and Phones @Mr Jerry Smith... the iPhone will work with any network (carrier)?? How can this be? And what of the recent breakdown of negotiations between Apple and China Mobile? If it can be used with any network, why the big 'broohahaha' about this, and Apple's announcement that they will not be launching anytime soon in China as a result? Pardon my ignorance - I'm just confused now... |
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Car Towing at Owner's Expense? @The Cyndicate - hmmm... interesting viewpoint. I'm a little lost though - wouldn't the easiest solution be to just not break the law? If we are talking private property, what "rights" (as you put it) do you have to use my property without asking me, by parking your car there?? Frankly, I don't have much sympathy for people who get their car towed for parking illegally or without permission - especially if there are signs warning them - don't want your car towed, don't park there. Period!! And to say you would shoot someone for towing your car after you do park illegally - hmmm - I hope you will enjoy your prison life. :D Your statements actually don't make any sense at all. |
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Top 3 Issues of Shanghai Tourism @Simba - firstly, you are insulting the ladies in China... sex for a handbag? - you idiot. Secondly, "they are bad to speaking english"... most people I know in Shanghai speak much better English than what you have posted here... I doubt these ladies would want to spend time with someone so shallow as you and who has such poor english language skills. If your reason for going to Shanghai is to have sex for money or a handbag, then my recommendation to you is - STAY AT HOME!!! |
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Happy New Year 2008 What the hell is that?? He's from the Cayman Islands? They must use some heavy drugs there.... |
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Happy New Year 2008 Happy New Year Jian Shuo and blessings to your family... and @wonton - blessings to the 2007 "king of controversy" and your wife. I look forward to this year's CNY celebrations when we are in Shanghai. |
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Shanghainese Girl Marrying Foreigners My wife says that 崇洋媚外 has negative connotations. |
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Getting U.S. Visa in China Hi Timothy - I'm not sure where you get your information from. I am based in SG and am responsible for dealing with government officials from many countries around the world on a daily basis. There are very stringent policies and rules now, that failure to adhere will lead to imprisonment for a very long time - many officials and company directors are sitting in prison as a consequence of the legislation. There are a list of countries that are considered 'high risk' and the USA is certainly not one of them. Any favours or kickbacks from govt officials in any country is regarded as breaking the law under US legislation, and it is no good anymore for one to say it is just a 'business custom' - certainly not when dealing with any multi-national organization. Remember, China are now playing in the global economic community, and will be the economic super-power in the future. Corruption cannot and must not be tolerated... and I am not American, but you should not be so intolerant or single-minded - "useless way of life"?? Very harsh words indeed. We are a global community. |
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Chinese Middle Name for Erik's Baby @wonton - well written, I fully support your sentiments. |
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Chinese Middle Name for Erik's Baby Wow - thanks wonton - these particular parents need to be 'drawn and quartered'... the poor kid!! No child should be treated in such a way. There should be some sort of severe punishment for this!! I really hope that the 'successful' international adoptions far outway these sort of cases - I've not seen any statistics to make a judgement call on that though. |
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Hope for Microsoft Web Effort They also have a very nice Windows Live Mobile application that I use on my Motorola Q9H smart phone... now as well as staying connected to work email (outlook via airsynch), the net and normal phone services (voice, sms, mms, etc), I can also use windows live email, msn, and all other live components... very neat and simple to use - mind you, this new smart phone is an amazing piece of work. All the bugs have gone, and they've really got a winner with this one - much better than blackberry - now I'm completely connected around the globe anywhere I travel... (MOT have also now invested in a smart phone application for Facebook... I can't wait until that one's available too)... :p |
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Went to Shanghai Community Church @wonton - I couldn't imagine you being pissed off?? :D |
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Chinese Middle Name for Erik's Baby Hehe - @wonton - "the king of controversy"... :p |
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Yifan Starts to Sleep Alone Hi Jian Shuo - as promised, here are some of the latest pics of our little baby boy.... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11699&l=99908&id=626433457 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=12212&l=eecf0&id=626433457 Kind regards, |
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Yifan Starts to Sleep Alone Hi Jian Shuo - I think this will be more difficult for his parents than for Yifan... :D FYI - Jaime is turning 3-months old tomorrow. He is now sleeping through the night. He falls asleep at about 11pm each night, and wakes again at about 7:30am... he has now developed his 'social' smile, and it makes my heart just melt eveytime he looks at me and smiles with obvious complete unconditional love... Jaime has been sleeping in hiw own cot now for about 3 weeks, but his cot is in our room right next to our bed. Isn't fatherhood the best !!! I'm scared about how quickly the time is passing by... |
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Chinese Middle Name for Erik's Baby @wonton - I am very impressed with your explanation... I clearly understand your position now - I hope that you are blessed with your first child very soon. Kindest regards, |
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Chinese Middle Name for Erik's Baby @wonton - mate, you've done it again... I don't crtiticise your right to your opinion, but I do feel disappointed that it's one based on an ignorant and very small view of the world. The subject of adoption is one thing, and it's not really up to anyone to second guess why a couple would want to adopt locally or internationally (especially if you and your wife personally have no problems conceiving - you cannot even begin to imagine what it's like psychologically for couples who don't have this luxury)... I believe it is a reflection of the global 'sensationlized' media that people pick up on the (very rare) incidences of celebrities adopting overseas children - maybe their intentions are not appropriate (or even understood), but regardless these high-profile cases are a very small percentage of the adoption discussion at hand. However, much, much more disturbing to me are the inferences and statement that you have made around identity issues... as you are well aware, our son is mixed chinese and australian. Out of respect of both cultures, and to make it easier for him in both countries, we have given him a 'hybrid' name (chop-suey is a little insulting)... Jaime 郑家洋 (and our surname)... I have no doubt that my son will grow with a much broader understanding of his heritage/s, with a greater degree of tolerance, and more knowledgable than most people in relation to global issues - multiculturalism, trade, etc... I have no doubt that he will be well-spoken, with fluency in a minimum of four languages, most learned before he even attends school. My son will have the material requirements to succeed in the global world of tomorrow, as well as the psychological balance to rival anyone from a single-heritage background. Identity will not be a problem, as we as parents, will ensure that his environment is robust and well-balanced... I might add that I know many other 'mixed' children who are much more balanced and aware of their identities than most others... Anyway, this is not to 'slam' you, but to ask you to please show tolerance and recognize other's differences for what they are. We do not live in the "world according to wonton"... everyone has a right to air the opinions, but it should be done with a degree of integrity and respect for those who may disagree :p |
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City Life v.s. Village Life @Adi Chew... I am very impressed with your insights. I also live in Singapore, and spent much time living in Shanghai, where my wife is from. Welcome to Jian Shuo's blog, however I would like to disagree on your last comment. I am yet to see (in any part of history) a dictatorship successfully support the rights of the people in any country. Democracy enables freedom of speech and freedom from persecution. There is an old saying - "Power breeds Corruption" - in short, power should belong to the people, not to any indvidual. Take care mate... :D |
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Top 3 Issues of Shanghai Tourism @jollyrogers - get yourself an education, fool... |
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Yifan has His Hair Cut Hi Jian Shuo - as promised, please find a link to the latest pics of Jaime Zheng Jiayang, taken on Saturday - two months old already... wow - we took him for his first haircut (to get it shaved)... :p http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10649&l=55484&id=626433457 |
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Seat-Belt? Oh. No. Thanks! @DC - I was on a flight a couple of years ago, and the plane hit turbulence... People not wearing belts were thrown from their seats... I watched one air hostess hit the roof and break her nose. Seatbelts should always be worn on a plane (even when the seatbelt signs are off), and only take it off to use the bathroom... the incident converted me - now I always stay buckled up - and I travel on at least 4 to 6 flights every week... :p |
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Happy Birthday to Me With all of our blessings and best wishes, Jian Shuo... :D |
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Going Back to China? @Ni De Lao Wai - wow... maybe you should just go home? ...and you should call yourself by your nationality rather than 'laowai'. :p |
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Yifan's Recent Photos Hehe - so very cute - no wonder you are proud!!... we've just hit 7-weeks, and Jaime looks so different now!! Every day is a blessing. :p - |
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In Beijing - Love Beijing Hi Jian Shuo - the Shangri-La at Kerry Center?... always where I stay when in Beijing - very nice indeed!! |
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Burma and my Ignorance @Ling... hehe - yeh - I didn't know that you were the spelling police!! I was half asleep when I was writing... :p |
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Burma and my Ignorance Hi @fujianren - thanks kindly... I've actually seen this article. I think I've made it clear in my posts that the Singapore government (along with other countries), have some real tough decisions to make. In this post, I am not defending the SGP govt's position, nor am I criticising them. I would however like to point out some major deficiencies in this article. Firstly, it is well know that Eric Ellis from the Sydney Morning Herald has been a very vocal 'Singapore critic' in the past on many issues... I don't want to say he's a 'Singapore-hater' as this may be a little harsh. Secondly, the links between Temasek Holdings and the Lee family in Singapore is real, however for Mr Ellis to interpret this as 'control' by the Lee family is a huge jump... there has been much press (good and bad) on the involvement over recent months, and to make such a short and poignant statement is rather short-sighted (without bringing to the fore all the facts that go into the Lee-Temasek relationship)... there are too many issues to try and explain the real position in this post (maybe Jian Shuo needs a new topic just for this). It is important to note that as a direct result of investment of Temaskek Holdings, Singapore people have a much better lifestyle today, with a very strong economy, and SGP is no longer considered a '3rd-world' country. My 'opinion' is that Singapore's position on Myanmar is not all about Temasek getting richer - actually, such a statement is just downright misinformed. Thirdly, per my previous post, Singapore is a very large investor in Myanmar (2nd largest), and as I suggested history has shown that outright sanctions would cause more hurt on the poorer people in the country, and would not necessarily assist in dissuading the miltary junta from oppressing the people or the violence against the innocent. Finally, the doctors in Singapore who have been treating Than Shwe, have made it clear that under the hypocratic oath, they could not and would not deny treatment to any human being no matter who or where they come from... I question what Eric Ellis is writing, as I cannot see anywhere in the article what his recommendations or suggestions are to the Singapore government... does he wish them to impose sanctions?? (like I said in previous posts, it would need to be done against certain investments and individuals); Is it to incite military action??; Does he wish for Singapore to invade Myanmar? Does he wish for the hospitals and doctors to deny treatment to a 74-yo man suffering from intestinal cancer?? I cannot see how this would help the people in Myanmar - is it not just creating more inhumanity??? Maybe I missed something in the article - can you see any positive from it that will help the people of Myanmar? Look forward to any incites that you can give me surrounding Mr Ellis' article... Furthermore, per my question to @Jie - why call 'Singapore' sneaky and greedy? To do so makes inferences about the people of the country and not just the government... a country is not just the people in power, rather the people who live and work (and extended families) and are proud of their country... to make a remark such as this about their country is insulting to the Singaporean people... Take care... oh - and as @wonton always rightly says - don't always believe everything you read - especially from people with personal bias such as Eric Ellis from the Sydney Morning Herald... |
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Burma and my Ignorance @Jie - why do make inflammatory comments by calling Singapore 'sneaky and greedy'? Did we do something to you personally? |
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Burma and my Ignorance @wonton - you did it again - you always make me laugh with your so apt analogies... :p |
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Burma and my Ignorance Hi Jian Shuo - after following the events in very close detail, I am of the opinion that the issue in China (regarding their position on Myanmar) is similar to that here in Singapore, albeit much broader. It's all about trade and investment. Singapore is the second largest investor in Myanmar (with S$1.57B, mainly in the services sector). No need to state which country is the largest investor. I really want to be careful what I say, so I don't get your blog site in trouble... but I think a few facts should be ok? Feel free to delete this post if you are concerned, Jian Shuo... China is now a major supplier of consumer and capital goods to Myanmar (mostly through border trade). China also provides a large amount of economic cooperation in the areas of infrastructure, energy and state-owned economic enterprises. Governments (Singapore and China - and also India) are averse to sanctions, as history has shown that the poor would suffer mostly, while engagement without strings merely enriches the wrong-doers. What people can do, is petition the governments for 'smart' sanctions to be imposed against the junta, targeting certain assets and individuals. I am of the opinion, that the last thing China wants, is for their own people to go out to the streets in protest or lobbying efforts against the Chinese government to take action (economically) against the Myanmar military government. Now for something else very controversial regarding Myanmar and China, which you may not want to keep posted here... I quote from "The Irrawaddy" by author Khun Sam: "Welcome to the Macao of northern Burma: Maija Yang, once a backward Kachin State border village but now a bustling boom town with more than a dozen casinos catering to Chinese gamblers sidelined by restrictions in their own country. The frontier-style administration of Maija Yang, 160km north of the Kachin capital Myitkyina, is effectively in the hands of the Kachin Independence Organization, which is said to earn around 8.5 million yuan (more than US $1 million) annually from the Chinese-run casinos. Prostitution, drugs and alcohol probably net the town even more money. The first of the casinos was built four years ago under a KIO development program originally intended to provide local people, traditionally reliant on the opium trade, with an alternative source of income. The high-minded plan went awry, however—the casinos employ mostly Chinese staff, and the drugs problem is only getting worse..." Sorry if this post creates problems - like I said, delete if necessary - I believe strongly in freedom of information, and restrictions of the media do nothing to help the suffering of the people of Burma... at least we can all join in prayer for them... |
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Some Thoughts about War and History @wonton - hehe... I love that analogy... |
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Some Thoughts about War and History Hehe - who posted this last one?.... @Ling? I think must be wonton... hope you're well mate. On this one, I think @Ling is right on the mark... it's not a case of 'bad press'... I've been travelling everywhere, and the international media has the same reports and footage of the atrocious acts in all countries I've been recently... I hope the leaders of the junta go through the same sort of torture that they are putting there own countrymen through... it's unbelievable the things they are doing - and getting away with it while the whole world watches on!! Having said that - I do however, completely understand your position and comments... :) |
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Some Thoughts about War and History Just my thoughts on this - I don't think any comparisons can be drawn between Tibet/China and the current situation in Myanmar (nee Burma)... this is not about pro-independance, it is about what's right or wrong, just or unjust in relation to basic human rights. The current government have retained power unjustly. As far as ASEAN is concerned (of which Singapore is currently the leader), their hands are tied on this matter as far as 'real' action is concerned. This is well documented day-by-day in the newspapers here... the Myanmar protest groups and peoples' voice in support of the victims in Myanmar is growing stronger every day in Singapore. This is the hottest topic in the media right now here, and there is much information available around the actual events, ASEAN's involvement and ability to act, global action, etc etc. @wonton - hi - as far as the police in Myanmar military and police using 'restraint' - this is just incorrect. Many innocent people are getting seriously injured and killed in the most horrible ways. Shootings, stabbings, bashings, just to name a few methods... and not a few people - hundreds... and, I might add that innocent people are getting caught in the crossfire - people not even involved in the protests. The videos and pictures available across all forms of media (inc. the internet) are gut-wrenching. Now that the UN has stepped in, let's hope that some resolution to the issues is forthcoming, and in the meantime let's pray for the victims and their famlies of this horrible tragedy that the govt will cease the violence and offer basic human rights to the people of Myanmar. No one deserves this kind of treatment. Finally - it is a good thing that Myanmar has joined ASEAN - although ASEAN are powerless to do much now, overtime the group of nations will finalize the human rights agreements put forward and currently agreed upon by all but two countries, which means that next time this sort of infingement of human rights can and will be acted upon by ASEAN. Anway, they are my thoughts on this - let's pray for the victims. |
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Mandarin or Shanghaiese? As a westerner trying to get a handle on both mandarin and Shanghai dialect at the same time - and often getting frustratingly confused (and my wife even more frustrated at me)... although I find some components of Shanghai dialect a little easier, overall it is much, much more difficult for me (being Australian, and I presume for most people who have grown up using just english)... our mouths are not physically able to cope without a huge amount of practice - that is, positioning of the tongue, teeth and lips - sounds that are never even considered in our home tongues... mainly due to consonants following one another that are just unheard of in english. I really do get 'tongue tied'... Furthermore (and this goes for mandarin as well), our ears are not naturally trained to cope with the subtle differences, especially tones... once again takes much practice... my wife says a word, I repeat it and she says 'no' and makes me repeat over and over again and it's still wrong - but to my ear it sound exactly like what she has said.... *sigh* - she gets so impatient with me... hehe... At least I'm having a little more luck learning to read and write simplified characters - even if my oral pronunciation may be way off... so if I get stuck one day speaking chinese, I can just write it down to communicate... :D To answer the topic - I believe mandarin would be much more useful, given it can be used in so many other places outside Shanghai... even outside of China (eg. Singapore)... |
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Many Events in Shanghai @Jian Shuo - are you watching the opening ceremony of the special Olympics from Shanghai stadium? It's on live now here in Singapore, and I'm very impressed so far... must say, they picked two of my favourite celebrities as spokespeople - Karen Mok and Colin Farrell...!!! Very nice production!!! Congratulations Shanghai -congratulations China!!! |
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Car Towing at Owner's Expense? @Jian Shuo... this practice of towing at the owner's expense is very, very common in Australia. Not only does it apply to private property, but also to public roads where cars might be parked illegally and obstructing traffic flow. What happens, is the car is towed to an 'impound' lot, and not released back to the owner until such time the towing fee is paid in full (and in the case of being towed in public places, the owner would also be liable for a fine). The fees are astronomical. Another deviation of this process is called 'wheel clamping'. If a car parks illegal on private property or car park where they do not have authority, the security have the ability to 'wheel clamp' the car - that is, put a device on one of the wheels (also known as a 'wheel brace') that makes it impossible to move the car. Then the owner needs to pay a very, very high fee before the wheel clamp will be removed and they can take their car. At least it's not taken to an impound lot, but it's still a very expensive exercise for the owner (driver) of the vehicle. |
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National Holiday 2007 in Shanghai I might have mentioned this before...we were married at Jin Mao Tower... Grand Hyatt Hotel... |
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Some Thoughts about War and History @ILH... hehe - sigh, now we're getting into a theological debate. You only got it half right... yes, as christians we have to admit to our Lord God that we have sinned and ask for forgiveness - this is very true... the other half is that we must forgive those that have sinned against us unconditionally - we ask God for forgiveness only. In light of this discussion, the Japanese people are not a Christian god, and therefore do not need to ask for our forgiveness in order for us to do so... let me explain this further so you can understand. The basis of all christian religions, is "The Lord's Prayer" and what I've stated above is clear in the words (praying to God) "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who tresspass against us" (in laymen's terms - forgive us for our sins, as we forgive those that sin against us)... this is fundamental christianity, and no matter what light you might put on it, you cannot change such a fundamental belief - to do so, would be considered blasphemous. Therefore, before my Grandfather passed, he asked for God to forgive him, and he forgave all and any people that wronged him throughout his life - as a result I hope that he has now entered the kingdom of heaven. :) I hope now you understand why I have no 'bad blood' or even wanted to get into dicsussion on this topic (per my original entry above) - I hope you can respect my position, as I respect yours - it's not up to me to tell you that you are wrong, or for you to tell me I am wrong - as I also previously mentioned - we have different cultures and beliefs, let's just leave it at that, hey?? Take care... |
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Shanghainese Girl Marrying Foreigners Hey wonton... on this we totally agree... have a good weekend!! I'm gonna spend it watching football gradfinals from Australia... (we have a wedding to attend tomorrow morning, so I'm wondering the best way to escape early for the football without my wife getting angry at me).... :D |
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Some Thoughts about War and History Hi all... I actually know a little about this (believe it or not - on many other subjects I'm quite ignorant - hehe) - the 'build-up' of China's military is exaggerated in many countries - especially the US who claim that China is spending much more than they really are. The increase in spending this year is just 17.8% over last year. This was reported on March 15th at the Fifth Session of the 10th National People's Congress. It was announced that the country's military budget for 2007 is 350.92 billion yuan, or roughly US$44.94 billion. This marks an increase over the previous year of US$6.8 billion. The US DoD claim that the figure in China in 2007 is really US$90 billion (which most conservative people believe is exaggerated). It should be noted that the US expenditure this year is budgeted at US$419.3 billion!!!!!!... In terms of % of GDP (on official budgets), China is still somewhere in the vicinity of 2%, the US around 4%. So which military power should we be more concerned about?? |
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Shanghainese Girl Marrying Foreigners @wonton - hehe - I won't be suckered in on this again - peace has already been made. One point to make about the topic - "I was asked (more than once) about my point of view of Shanghainese girls marrying foreigners"... You take this to be "all about unfaithful horny men" - I take it to be about true love discovered and everlasting hapiness. You and I have differed on the way we think before, so no point belabouring the point... I am a very positive thinker, and by your own admission in other posts you loften look to the negatives. We're different - no problems. I would like to offer you though (in all sincerity, and with absoutely no antognism) the following. I give lectures all over the globe to directors and CEOs of many various MNCs and Fortune 500 companies on the power of positive thinking. Positive thinking has been proven to not just help create personal & professional wealth and success (for which it is very powerful), but it can also lead to greater personal happiness and enlightenment, improve the health and increase longevity - I would be more than happy to share some of my materials with you (for free!!) - I think you would be amazed at how your life, wealth, status and happiness could be changed dramatically, just by utilizing some of the basic tools used by the majority of the world's most successful businessmen and leaders. Let me know - seriously mate - you could use it to help drive the improvements and changes that cannot be made with words penned in a blog entry... |
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Some Thoughts about War and History @wonton - hi - cultures and religions differ - in Christianity, heaven awaits those who have the ability to forgive. :) History and tradition is held closer to the hearts in some cultures compared others. I have many Japanese friends who I care for very much - and so did my Grandpa before he passed away. |
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I Love Shanghai! @路人甲 - u obviously have nothing wise to say, so please - just keep it to yourself!! |
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Some Thoughts about War and History @ILH - I don't wish to bring up this issue with my Japanese friends or colleagues. My grandfather was a POW and worked on the railroad and survived, so I have heard his account first hand before he passed away. Granted, atrocities occurred, but I owe my people nothing... my grandfather forgave before he died - forgiveness is an integral part of christian faith, and grandpa was a devout christian, so why should I pursue 'bad blood'? |
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Yifan is 3 Months Old Jaime Zheng Jiayang Breitkreutz (郑家洋) is 1-month old today... :D - time travels so quickly... |
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Some Thoughts about War and History Hi all... I'm going to keep nice and quiet on this topic - but very interested in everyone's posts - great topic, Jian Shuo... I'll just quote an old saying - "Make love, not War!!" |
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Foreign Language Only Signs? I hadn't really thought about this much before... interesting topic though. For everyone's information, there are parts of Melbourne in Australia with very large Chinese communities, and many of the shops and restaurants in these locales only have Chinese signs and no English. This goes for many other Eurpoean nationalities and locales in Melbourne as well. I've never had a problem with it. Like I said, I'd never really thought about it before, because it's been this way for so many years.... |
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Fight Between Foreigners and Local @wonton - hi - one more point... you are quite correct in that many 'western' countries did and still do percieve Saddam Hussein as a 'monster'. However it was the Iraqi people who tried, convicted and executed Saddam for crimes against humanity, so I'm not sure if singling out westerners' perceptions is necessary in this case. |