On this page the following entries were made in the “Whine and Cheese” category.
Archive for “Whine and Cheese”
So THAT’S How The Republic Was Founded
Three months ago I had a post planned where I would review The Founding of a Republic (建国大业), the Chinese film timed for the 60th anniversary of the most important day of the 20th century: the founding of Communist China. I was going to write a review extolling how the film portrayed the true greatness [...]
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Grow the Economy, Print Bigger Currency
As you may have heard, China’s economy has changed over the last few years. In 1979 China’s economy was 10th biggest in the world between Spain and Holland. It is expected to pass Japan as the world’s second largest this year, if it hasn’t already.
And yet, with all of the changes that have taken place, [...]
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The 10 Plagues of Beijing Spring
During my bike ride to work down the Second Ring Road yesterday, I noticed tiny little bugs–gnats or something–gathering on my shirt. As I looked at them and wondered if one of them would end up getting smeared across my work clothes, I realized that this was meant that Beijing spring had officially arrived. This [...]
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Beijing Bans Oasis to Obscurity
In a shocking move, Beijing has canceled planned dates for an Oasis tour that would have landed them in Beijing and Shanghai. Shocking, because apparently Oasis still has enough of a following to go on tour.
Beijing apparently just discovered that lead singer and guitarist John Lennon–I mean Noel Gallagher–played at a Free Tibet event 12 [...]
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Seriously, Phelps Did Not Harm China
Japanese car company, and Michael Phelps sponsor, Mazda, asked their endorser to issue an apology to the Chinese public following his pot smoking incident. And he delivered one (scroll down to watch). Can someone please explain this to me? I find it utterly baffling on so many levels that my head feels like it is [...]
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No Roads Lead to Starbucks
One of the oddest things about Beijing is its bizarre scale. You can’t walk anywhere. One block is about a kilometer long. Housing complexes expand over dozens of acres. Coming from Brooklyn, where anything you want is a five-minute walk, Beijing is bizarro world.
And one of the cornerstones of Beijing’s madness is the lack of [...]
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I Do Not Call Wrong Numbers
In New York I sometimes get phone calls from wrong numbers. Sometimes they are speaking in Spanish. Come to think of it, that happened once with my US number in Beijing. Can you imagine living in Washington Heights and accidentally calling China? Anyway, callers are usually apologetic in the US, or sometimes embarrassed causing a [...]
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When Can One Criticize China?
In China, all too often, criticizing any aspect of Chinese society or the government is taken as an affront to the entire country. On my blog I pretty much say whatever I want, but in my personal interactions I try to be a little more cautious. Nevertheless, it also strikes me as bizarre that talking [...]
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Permission to Move Sir
Yesterday I did most of my moving into my new place, only two blocks from the old one. I was able to get all of my stuff over there in a few taxis rides, but taking 10 suitcases away freaked out the doormen at my old building. In order to move lots of stuff, apparently, [...]
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Clintons Should See the Writing, End Cynicism
I remember Bill Clinton’s first presidential election in 1992. He was cool, smart, likable and most importantly, he really cared about the average American. He gave people hope and made them feel like America’s best days were ahead of them. There was a Bush in the White House, a war in Iraq had just ended, [...]
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