So...will this help me or hurt me?

Yea, yea, yea.  I know, it's been a year, almost 2.  But this is blocked in China and When I get back to the US I'm usually not thinking "blog first!"

But today, that's exactly what I'm thinking and so I have to post this, my favorite product I've ever seen in Asia.

So the real question is this: does this product cure your retardedness or cause it?  I'm scared to try it myself.

Most Random Combination. Ever.

Pink plaid. Thanksgiving Winnie the Pooh. Buddhism (nuns, no less). And a Chinglish encouragement to stay the course--all together on one shopping bag!

Who could possibly think that up? What kind of demented mind mixes all of these things together?

Would anyone believe this combination if they hadn't see it for themselves.

Asia is NEVER boring.

Mindless Censorship

One thing that I really hate about living in China is the BS excuses for and randomness of government censorship. It's just completely mindless.

Now I understand the need to control information. If you control information you control minds. Understood. But what value is there in limiting ESPN's PTI ?! Or ESPN's Bill Simmons? These podcasts are threats to stability in China? Socially offensive (ok, maybe)? These kinds of censorship are just mind boggling.

But even content that makes more sense isn't even seriously controlled--so what's the point?! For example. Yesterday's TV news from Hong Kong (in Chinese and English) about the lower than expected numbers and the govt's new efforts to stimulate the economy was also censored as it came into China. How do I know it was censored? Because about 15 seconds into the story every channel (English x2 and Cantonese x2) were all clumsily switched to PSA's (Ironically, about voting in HK).

This has been the pattern for years and all the locals here are used to it. They just know, if there is something that you really want to know, you just go find another source for whatever story was started and cut off.

Spent a week working in Vietnam at the end of last month. Over all I was quite impressed/pleased. Very comfortable, if still not much slower than China and must less developed/expensive than Hong Kong and Shenzhen too.

I noted some major differences and similarities with China (and Thailand).

First, Vietnam at 7AM on a Sunday in April:












And now, Shenzhen at 7AM on a Wednesday of the next week:
















For some reason, couldn't get these photo up on the SRI blog. So this is a bonus version!!

Second, Chinese population is HUGE in VN. Something more than 1 million, most of them involved in business. We did all our factory work in either Mandarin or Cantonese.

Third, environmentally and in terms of level of development, it was very similar to Thailand 20 years ago. Just better internet access and more bread.

For more, you can read my post over at SRI.

All the wrong reasons!

But what if want to get a receipt for the wrong reason?

Don't drink by yourselves

Good advice, no doubt.
















Was Dan Quayle their editor? And what does this mean:




















At least the lunch was tasty!

Sprinkles on your Mocholatachina espresso

I'll be the first to admit that I don't get Chinese culture as much as I'd like to think that I do. But today, in Starbucks, I have to say what I saw was NOT acceptable behavior for anyone in a major urban environment; I don't care where you're from.

The guy has leather shoes, a lap top and enough money to at least pretend he likes expensive coffee with lots of cream on top.

That's right, he's shaving in the middle of the restaurant!!! I just looked right at him, took a picture and laughed out loud.

The Chinese have a word for this: 没文化. It means "no education/manners/culture." As in: You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. Or: You can take Zhou out of the rice paddy and give him a million dollars but that doesn't mean Zhou has any manners.