Clipmarks | rmowery's China collection

China struggles with rising crime against foreigners

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:36:49 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

China struggles with rising crime against foreigners

SHANGHAI: The troubled Chinese man, obsessed with his outstanding debts, boarded the tourist bus and opened his jacket to reveal explosives. In the only English he spoke that morning, he told the frightened Australian passengers, "I'm sorry."

Hours later, the intruder was shot dead by a police sniper, his blood spattering a hostage's jeans. The police jumped over her and shot him again to make sure he was dead.

The incident last week in Xian, one of China's most popular tourist cities, was an embarrassment for China as it prepares for the global spotlight that comes with the Olympic Games this summer.

Crime against foreigners is rising, as a booming economy erodes old taboos and some Chinese grow bolder - or, like the hostage-taker, more desperate.

Tags: china, crime, tourism

1,000 Tibetans arrested in Chinese crackdown

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:31:45 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

1,000 Tibetans arrested in Chinese crackdown

Rioters in Lhasa: many have been rounded up by the Chinese authorities

Close to 1,000 Tibetans have been detained in two days of sweeps across Lhasa, the capital, by paramilitary police hunting down those who took part in last week’s deadly anti-Chinese riots.

Sources in the city said 600 people had been detained on Saturday and another 300 had been picked up on Sunday. They said it was not clear where those rounded up were being detained because the main Drapchi prison in Lhasa is believed to be virtually full.

Tags: china, tibet, protests, arrests

China baffles world with mystery bomber

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:27:05 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.cnet.com

China baffles world with mystery bomber

China's H-8 stealth bomber may be more advanced than the American B-2A and capable of delivering a 350-kiloton nuclear warhead to the continental U.S., or it could be a mock-up of the A-12 "Flying Dorito."

Those are just two of the rumors accompanying a video trumpeting some recent triumphs of Chinese aviation. Although it's "top secret," Chinese quasi-official Web sites brag that the Xian H-8 is a carbon-fiber, "special nanotechnology"-coated, stealth, strategic, heavy bomber all rolled into one.

What we know for sure is that it has a range of 11,000 kilometers, without refueling, but it could refuel if it wanted to--possibly. In any case, it has extra-large fuel tanks. It has a crew of two and travels at Mach 1.2, or maybe 1.4. It carries an 18-ton bomb payload and/or 12 new Stealth cruise missiles with a range of 3,000 kilometers. And three nuclear missiles, at least.

Tags: china, bomber, stealth, weapons, war, h-8

US concerned over China military build-up, Taiwan: admiral

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:56:21 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: afp.google.com

US concerned over China military build-up, Taiwan: admiral

BEIJING (AFP) — The top commander of the US Pacific Fleet raised concern Tuesday over China's military build-up and urged Beijing to clarify the intentions of its increasingly sophisticated armed forces.

Admiral Timothy Keating said he urged Beijing to increase transparency in military affairs during talks with government and defence officials here which focused largely on the issue of Taiwan.

"China's military is developing very impressively," Keating told journalists.

"We are concerned about the development of long-range cruise and ballistic missiles, we are concerned about their anti-satellite technology (and) we are concerned about area denial weapons."

In talks Monday, Beijing agreed to higher-level military exchanges, which could help allay US concerns over China's military build-up, he said.

Chinese Rap --- wow I never knew

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 03:43:19 GMT

clipped by: rmowery
clipper's remarks: a good friend of mine pointed this out to me. I never knew that there was Chinese Rappers. The link to the actual MP3 to listen is here:

http://www.newplay.cn/Sound/101/0110490.mp3

Clip Source: mp3.baidu.com

快乐崇拜

歌手：潘玮柏 专辑：wuha

忘记了姓名的请跟我来
现在让我们向快乐崇拜
放下了包袱的请跟我来

传开去建立个快乐的时代

快乐到底属于那个年代
708090还是y世代
翻开历史课本答案就算仔细找
也会找不到
背也会背不好
放松让我来说
什么年代吹着什么样的风
我拿我的麦克风
唱出old school show
yall ready to roll
70的年代
复古我最high
disco fever
从来不肯say goodbye
只有放放放克才能酷
男男女女老老小小
我们穿着喇唯裤
爆炸头上望春风
左右摇摆上下一指神功
黑白电视可能无法感受
但相信你们可以悟出黑色幽默
忘了你存在
有什么期待
欢乐你邀请它一定来
与其渴望关怀
不如一起精彩
快乐会传染

请你慷慨come on

相恋的失恋的请跟我来
一边跳一边向快乐崇拜
开心不开心的都跟我来

美丽而神圣的时光不等待

到了80年代
要喊什么
b boys b girls
let's make some noise
要穿什么呢h mmmm...
紧裤子
紧上衣
秀出你的身材
有人露出金牙
千万不要惊讶
嘻哈正在发芽
别拔它假牙
lockin poppin we dancing
ain't no stopping 跟我一起唱
快乐崇拜快乐无害
虽然快乐像个簿
簿会传染
90年代我们等待千禧年
party 电子音乐疯狂玩整夜
hip hop for life that'right
每个人嘴里喊着哇塞
管你是不是真正party 天才
扬起你的嘴角

跟我快乐崇拜

忘了你存在
有什么期待
欢乐你邀请它一定来
与其渴望关怀
不如一起精彩
快乐会传染

请你慷慨come on

忘记了姓名的请跟我来
现在让我们向快乐崇拜
放下了包袱的请跟我来

传开去建立个快乐的时代

现代这个匆忙时代
虽然小了时间但千万不要倦怠
今天的事交给今天去做
因为明天才有很多时一起去疯
yo放肆的节奏
看你放肆的互动
看你放肆的感动
看我放肆的创作
要我怎么再说
pepole feel my flow
看我拿着麦克风

唱出快乐的show

忘了你存在
有什么期待
欢乐你邀请它一定来
与其渴望关怀
不如一起精彩
快乐会传染

请你慷慨come on

相恋的失恋的请跟我来
一边跳一边向快乐崇拜
开心不开心的都我来

美丽而神圣的时光不等待

Tags: china, chinese, chinese rap, music, entertainment

Drought threatens 1.5 million in southwest China

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:18:48 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

Drought threatens 1.5 million in southwest China

Story Highlights

• Residents of densely populated area face limited water supplies
• Low water levels have left more than 10 ships stuck
• Southwest China still recovering from last summer's drought

BEIJING, China (Reuters) -- Drought in southwestern China is threatening the drinking water supplies of 1.5 million people and authorities are considering seeding clouds to make it rain, state media said on Tuesday.

The problem has been compounded by last summer's heat wave in the densely populated municipality of Chongqing, as water supplies have still not recovered, the Beijing News said.

More than 10 ships that ply the Yangtze River have been stranded by the low water levels, it added.

Some parts of Chongqing -- home to some 30 million people -- have started limiting water supplies to residents and are drilling new wells to find underground sources of water, the report said.

Last summer's drought was the worst to hit southwest China in more than a century, when temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 F), and about 18 million people faced drinking water shortages.

Tags: china, drought, water supply, yangtze river

China Makes a Sexy, Slutty Robot

Sat, 28 Oct 2006 02:46:11 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.gizmodo.com

China Makes a Sexy, Slutty Robot

We were wondering when the first sexy robot was actually going to be sexy. What with the Karaoke android, the robot monkey, the Chinese beauty robot, and Korea's Ever-1 android all looking a might less than sexy, our hopes for a Human-Robot mating ritual were at an all time low. No longer!

This "Dion" robot from China can both "sing" (in Chinese) and look sexy. Yes, simultaneously. That's two more than Britney Spears can currently do. Check out the video to see her in all her slutty, nipply, mid-drift-revealing glory. – Jason Chen

Video Link [Impress]

Robot News [Impress via i4u]

Tags: china, chinese, robot, android

China Attempted To Blind U.S. Satellites With Laser

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 14:19:57 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.defensenews.com

China Attempted To Blind U.S. Satellites With Laser

China has fired high-power lasers at U.S. spy satellites flying over its territory in what experts see as a test of Chinese ability to blind the spacecraft, according to sources.

It remains unclear how many times the ground-based laser was tested against U.S. spacecraft or whether it was successful.

But the combination of China’s efforts and advances in Russian satellite jamming capabilities illustrate vulnerabilities to the U.S. space network are at the core of U.S. Air Force plans to develop new space architectures and highly classified systems, according to sources.

According to experts, lasers — depending on their power level — could blind electro-optical satellites like the giant Keyhole spacecraft or even interfere with radar satellites like the Lacrosse. Blinding, one source said, is different than disabling given the enormous power required to shoot a laser through the dense lower atmosphere and reach a fast-moving satellite in space. The hardware on the spacecraft can’t be changed given they’re in orbit, but software changes can help them weather disruptive attacks.

Russian jamming systems are publicly known — the Air Force destroyed such a system deployed to Iraq to keep American GPS guided bombs from finding their targets during the 2003. The site was destroyed by GPS guided bombs.

Tags: china, laser, satellite, space, russia, jamming

Learn Chinese Through Stories

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:54:52 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.betterchinese.com

Tags: chinese, children, stories, learn chinese

Chinese Flashcards - Swear in Chinese ;-)

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:52:41 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.baianed.com

Bai An Education was created to take you to the next level in your Chinese Study with Flash Card Software. We've expanded on those subjects that people need the most. With our Chinese Study Flash Cards, you will learn, by choosing the subject you want, then going into it, like no other software out there. When you want a subject in focus, Bai An Flash Card Software is your portal to it.

This is excellent for students, teachers, boyfriends/girlfriends, travelers, anyone who wants to know a little more Chinese than what has been out there in the past. Each Flash Card section contains an open study, testing, and games, to help you on your way to becoming more fluent in Chinese (Mandarin)!

Our Software can be downloaded and used Instantly! No Waiting! Pay, Download, Study. It's that easy.

Several Native speakers have donated their time, and knowledge to the Chinese Flash Card packages listed here, in hopes of seeing more students of Chinese speak more precisely.

Communication is one of the greatest gifts you could give someone. If you know of someone who is getting started, or is moving into more intermediate Chinese, then Bai An Education software is a Perfect gift for them. It's easy to use, and is fully customizable.

Tags: chinese, flashcards, swear chinese, china

ZapChinese - Learn Chinese Mandarin

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:49:10 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.zapchinese.com

Learn Chinese / Learn Mandarin / 学中文

Learn Chinese Vocabulary

- Animals

- Beverages

- Body

- More vocabulary, click here

Learn Chinese Phrases

- Introduction

- Greetings

- Courtesy

- More phrases, click here

Tags: chinese, mandarin, learning, china

Chinese Lessons with Serge Melnyk

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:27:48 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.melnyks.com

Chinese Lessons with Serge Melnyk

Clip Source: www.melnyks.com

Lesson Thirty-Five. How to bargain in Mandarin Chinese

September 18th, 2006

Bargaining in China is important, it’s a part of the culture here. Review how to buy things and also learn new useful phrases from this lesson.

Tags: bargain in China

Listen Now:

L35.Bargaining.: Hide Player | Play in Popup

Posted in Lessons | No Comments »

Tags: chinese lessons, china, leanring chinese, serge melnyk

Rutgers Multimedia Chinese Teaching System

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:26:24 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: chinese.rutgers.edu

Tags: rutgers, chinese, chinese teaching, chinese lessons

China tightens controls on foreign news

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 20:51:51 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: news.yahoo.com

China tightens controls on foreign news

By ELAINE KURTENBACH, AP Business Writer

Sun Sep 10, 11:56 AM ET

SHANGHAI, China - China tightened its control over the distribution of news by foreign agencies Sunday, further restricting international access to the already tightly regulated Chinese media market.

The new measures took effect immediately upon being issued by the state Xinhua News Agency. The regulations give Xinhua broad authority over foreign news agencies, requiring them to distribute stories, photos and other services solely through Xinhua or entities authorized by Xinhua.

The rules would affect The Associated Press, Reuters and other foreign news agencies seeking wider access to the rapidly expanding Chinese market. It was unclear how other news organizations would be affected.

Tags: china, news, foriegn news restrictions, news filtering, censorship

The shrimp did what to the cabbage? (bad Chinese Translations)

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 17:50:47 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: itre.cis.upenn.edu

The shrimp did what to the cabbage?

Welcome, BoingBoing readers. A few Language Log posts have been linked in a recent BoingBoing discussion about the mysterious appearance of the word fuck in Chinese menus seeking a translation-equivalent for GAN 'dry' (干). The issue first came up here in "Engrish Explained," and then again in two guest posts by Victor Mair, "A Less Grand Chinglish" and "GAN: Whodunnit, and how, and why?" The Language Log links were provided by a reader responding to a Flickr photo showing a sign at a buffet reading, "The shrimp fucks the cabbage." Once again, the polysemy of GAN (translatable as either 'to dry' or 'to do,' with the latter sense used as a colloquialism for 'to fuck') leads to a very unfortunate English rendering. (A proper translation would be "stir-fried dried shrimp with bok choy.")

Based on an update to Victor Mair's second post, Xeni Jardin of BoingBoing speculates that "a possible source for all these misplaced F-words on Chinese menus" is "a bug in a popular translation software app, perhaps intentionally placed by a mischievous person." The more likely story, as given by a Sinologist going by the handle "xiaolongnu" in this guest post, is the reliance in China on dictionaries claiming to provide "real idiomatic American English." The more slipshod of these dictionaries may give fuck — a true-blue American idiom — as the only translation-equivalent for GAN.

(An earlier BoingBoing entry links to a 2002 article from the London Telegraph reporting that authorities in Beijing were cracking down on incomprehensible Chinglish signage, with the objective of achieving "linguistic perfection" in time for the 2008 Olympic Games. I wonder how that campaign is going!)

Tags: chinese, china, language, translation, humor, funny