Monthly Archives: January 2009
Hi, I’m China and I like to blow shit up
As a foreigner, it’s impossible to live in China for any length of time and not develop some sort of Chinese New Year strategy. Most, the rich and clever ones at least, leave the country. Getting the frack out well before the world’s largest human migration takes place and starts blowing shit up is ideal, …
Human flesh search engines–crowd-sourcing "justice"
Human flesh search engines (rn ru s?usu?/????) is a term that seems to pop up in China-related news on a nearly daily basis now. However, in talking to some IRL friends last week, I was surprised to learn they had no idea what the peculiar vernacular really referred to.
So, here is my attempt at giving some explanation and history of this rather uniquely Chinese phenomenon.
Happy Niu Year To All
Well, once again it is Chinese New Year’s Eve (this’ll be my forth – and I’ve still yet to find a good pair of earplugs). We should be celebrating tonight with some newcommers to China, and that’s always fun. Maggie’s got pots a bubblin’, cooking up some good dongbei food and we’ll be heading downtown …
Mac’in it up with a fruity new computer
I’ve officially joined the club. You know, that pretentious group that hangs out in cafes with their white Apple-logo lit, doing little other than subliminally pointing to the branding and winking. Those that are quick to tell you how amazing a Mac is, and how super better it compares to a PC, while barely having …
Optima Dog Food Saga: It’s Done
Most often I feel time is moving much faster than I expect it to. This last month, however, is an exception. It’s hard to believe that it was just over four weeks ago that we got the news about our Optima dog food being contaminated with aflatoxin. Only a month ago that we began to …
A farewell to George W. Bush – Hilarious
This was a little clip collection that The Hour, easily one of the best shows put out by CBC – and that most of the content is available online makes it super awesome for an expat like me:
No-bull tech for the Niu Year
Chinese New Year is only a few short days away, and as China gears up to light off enough explosives to slightly shift the earth’s orbit, let’s look at what’s ahead for the country’s tech sector in the Year of the Ox.
There’s little doubt that the global economic downturn (or the slightly friendlier Geddie, as I like to call it) is going to play a huge role on what tech makes and breaks in the “Niu” year.
Optima Pet Food Saga: Media’s double-edged sword
It’s been a crazy week – both with trying to catch up on work I let slip while caring for Addie over the holidays and also with trying to bring some perspective to this whole, ongoing, experience. When all this began I created a Google Alert for “Optima dog food”, so I’d know any time …
Skritter – Chinese character learning for the skittish
As a full-time expatriate in China, I’m always on the lookout for ways to make learning Chinese easier. There is no shortage of options when it comes to Mandarin learning; whether it be in books, at university, with a tutor, or–my personal favourite–online.
I’ve sampled many of the online options for Chinese learning–from once free podcasts, to still free forums–and they all have their benefits. However, I’ve been playing with a relatively new service for learning Chinese characters, and it’s done well to impress me.
