Cup of Cha
This is China

Recently the government released eight things Chinese shouldn’t ask foreigners. Well, we at Cup of Cha have put together eight things visitors to the Beijing Olympics shouldn’t ask Chinese people:

When it says “duck’s blood” on the menu, what is it really? (And why is blood solid?)
Why does Taiwan (ie, Chinese Taipei) have its own flag [...]

Continue reading “Eight Things Olympics Visitors Shouldn’t Ask” »

The Olympics have, as hoped, put Beijing in the spotlight. My sister and some other friends are coming before the games, something I am not sure would have seemed as interesting or achievable without them. One reason for this is that for many the first thing that comes to mind when they think of China [...]

Continue reading “Welcome Olympic Guests” »

I remember being a little kid and opening up the newspaper during the Olympics to make sure that the US was always ahead in the medal count during the Olympics. Not the Winter Olympics, mind you. Although I strongly believe the US should merge with Canada to improve that situation as well. And to strengthen [...]

Continue reading “Earn Those Medals, Win That Respect” »

Not to scare anyone, but the State Department is warning Americans they could be watched by the government during the Beijing Olympics. You know, not in a warrantless-home-searches-in-the-middle-of-the-night kind of way, real intrusive stuff. They are advising Americans to be vigilant while in China. The report said:

All hotel rooms and offices are considered to be [...]

Continue reading “US: Beijing Olympics Give Totalitarianism Bad Name” »

As reported by Xinhua, Hu Jintao has claimed victory in his re-elction today at the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC), appearing to have a clear majority. Senator Clinton told the media not to jump to any conclusions yet, citing an obscure Communist Party rule that allows for “the super army” to install anyone they want–her [...]

Continue reading “Hu Jintao Claims Election, but Hillary Vows to Fight on” »

It’s getting to the point where you can’t find a product in China that doesn’t come from the US. The cars are Ford, the computers Apple, and the financial services are from New York. The artificially weak US Dollar has upset the natural balance of trade and distorted markets. Cup of Cha urges Congress to [...]

Continue reading “Message to US: Stop Manipulating the Dollar” »

People have said that this week’s NY Philharmonic performance in Pyongyang, North Korea was a sort of modern day Ping-Pong diplomacy. Yet, what you may not have heard about the recent concert was that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was the group’s pianist.
Secretary Rice is widely known to be a world-class, classically-trained pianist. What [...]

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The emergence of a treasure trove of Hong Kong pop-star Edison Chen’s (陈冠希) homemade sex pictures was a shock to all, but none more so than me. When the files showed up online I sorted through them one by one, expecting to see my own image. Instead, during my strictly investigative search, I found [...]

Continue reading “My Edison Chen Affair” »

As consumers around the country panicked in the face of rocketing prices for food, oil and other essential items, the Beijing Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games sought to soothe frayed nerves. Xinhua reports:
The Beijing Organizing Committee of the 29th Olympic Games (BOCOG) Wednesday vowed to maintain the licensed Olympic product prices at present [...]

Continue reading “Crappy Olympic Gifts Unaffected by CPI Jump” »

Oh Beijing, why do you torture me so? Isn’t our love pure, and true? And yet you find the need to pretend your are someone else, as soon as we have guests. You are ashamed of your smoke-filled restaurants, buses and even taxis, so you ban smoking in public places during the Olympics. Do you [...]

Continue reading “Beijing, You Beautiful Bitch” »