Beijing was hit with a terrible rainstorm over the weekend, leaving 37 dead. From the pictures that have been posted online, it seems that much of the city was turned into a big lake because the storm sewers were not up to the task of handling the 7 inches of rain that fell in the…
Month: July 2012
Irony and Sidewalks
My friend Kent, (aka The Talking Monkey) has penned another great piece on everyday irony in Chinese life. I laughed out loud at his rumination on the convergence of irony and sidewalks in Chinese cities: Take the sidewalks, for example, which are largely unused because folks prefer to walk in the middle of the street…
The Red Detachment
“What performance did you just see,” asked the taxi driver as I hopped into his cab late one night outside of the Poly Plaza Theater. “The Red Detachment of Women,” I said. As I had anticipated, he swung his head around and let out a big “Hah!” “You, a foreigner, went to see that revolutionary…
What is a Thunderstorm?
I realize I am a bit late to this story, but want to comment anyway. Last month the internet in China (and globally) was buzzing with word of a mysterious mushroom cloud that had appeared in the skies over Beijing late one afternoon. Photos were posted on blogs and micro-blogs, and it didn’t take long…
When Caricature Becomes Reality
It’s another scorcher in the Twin Cities today, with the temps predicted to top out at 99. Of course the heat index will be WAY higher than that, perhaps approaching 175 degrees, or at least that’s what the hyperventilating weather-persons would have us believe. (I’ll save my rant for the stupidity of this so-called “heat…
Swimming Masks
Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water, these photos from China emerge. I don’t know if they’ll affect you the same way, but I had nightmares after viewing them. Here’s the thing. urban Chinese women will go to any lengths to avoid direct sunlight hitting their skin. It’s not a…