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flatbus posted:Maybe they will fly to Narita Airport and buy out all Japanese baby formula in the duty-free shops, then engage in traditional street-making GBS threads ceremonies a few meters away from airport restaurants. Please, all of the traditional street-making GBS threads ceremonies were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. These are new socialist street-making GBS threads ceremonies with Chinese characteristics.
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Feb 6, 2013 01:14
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Deceitful Penguin posted:Pfffffffffffff, hahaha, is that you Tom Clancy? I don't see why china has some magic ability to recover from a global economic collapse that other nations don't have.
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Feb 6, 2013 01:53
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Numlock posted:I don't see why china has some magic ability to recover from a global economic collapse that other nations don't have. Yeah if push went to shove the U.S would go full blown command economy again if the situation demanded it.
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Feb 6, 2013 01:57
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Fine-able Offense posted:The issue is more that an incident of some kind triggers a brief shooting war, China takes casualties, and then the kind of lunatic nationalist dipshit who spends his days pining to burn more Toyotas loses his loving mind and hits the streets yowling for blood. Then the government is in a pickle about how to deal with mass social unrest that isn't directed against them per se, but which goes against their rational interests. This is pretty much my rough analysis of things. The way I see it, there are a significant amount of chinese officers who have never seen war, even Vietnam/Korea. They've been fed propaganda for long enough that they may not be entirely rational actors. Assuming one of them spits the dummy, and a good amount of the rest of his cohort join in, how long would it last, what kind of damage would be seen?
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Feb 6, 2013 02:01
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Warcabbit posted:This is pretty much my rough analysis of things. The way I see it, there are a significant amount of chinese officers who have never seen war, even Vietnam/Korea. They've been fed propaganda for long enough that they may not be entirely rational actors. Assuming one of them spits the dummy, and a good amount of the rest of his cohort join in, how long would it last, what kind of damage would be seen? I dunno, I suspect that immediately after the first yahoo starts an unauthorized shooting incident, all PLA officers will receive a memo to the effect of "Just FYI, Captain Tai Lihai has been shot, and the next one of you dickheads who tries a stunt like that will follow suit."
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Feb 6, 2013 03:03
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I would wait until after the first PRC aircraft carrier to start talking about violence and warfare.
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Feb 6, 2013 03:45
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Hey what's the title of this thread? Can we get back to what really matters? In baby formula news... The Hong Kong government set up this hotline that allows customers to order tins of powder directly from the suppliers. What's the result? An estimated $100,000 HKD in extra revenues in the first four days. The government (i.e. taxpayer) is paying for this hotline service and Mead Johnson, Friso and the gang are getting big money by cutting out the retail step. Pretty corrupt! It's also pretty clear that there is now going to be a two tin or 1.8kg limit on baby formula being taken out of Hong Kong. Apparently a lot of the parallel traders (i.e. smugglers) think it's already in force and trading has been cut back significantly. The MTR has also instituted a very strict baggage policy, significantly lowering the weight of goods you're allowed to carry. Apparently it's so strict that it has impeded people just going to the airport or Shenzhen for vacation. I'm guessing it's ladies packing too many clothes; AM I RIGHT, MEN? In Macau news, check this shady poo poo out. Some political group is calling for the demolition of a WWII-era Portuguese pillbox because "Conserving it would obviously hurt the feelings of hundreds of thousands of people who love [China] as well as Macau". It's a harsh memory of the horrible Portuguese oppression. The colonizers so oppressive and evil they tried to give Macau back in the 70s and Mao wouldn't take it. It just so happens there is a luxury apartment complex under construction right nearby that might have something to do with this. Honestly, I never gave too much thought to the real estate industry when I was living in the US. Since coming to Asia, it really seems like the shadiest, most evil business there is. Like I have a more favorable view of the Triads than land developers.
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Feb 6, 2013 04:35
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Numlock posted:I don't see why china has some magic ability to recover from a global economic collapse that other nations don't have.  I suppose that 'cause they don't have to deal with either being dirt poor like most autocracies while still being able to brutally repress the populace if they get too uppidity. Still, that wasn't a serious post bruv. Fine-able Offense posted:I dunno, I suspect that immediately after the first yahoo starts an unauthorized shooting incident, all PLA officers will receive a memo to the effect of "Just FYI, Captain Tai Lihai has been shot, and the next one of you dickheads who tries a stunt like that will follow suit." Bloodnose posted:It just so happens there is a luxury apartment complex under construction right nearby that might have something to do with this. Honestly, I never gave too much thought to the real estate industry when I was living in the US. Since coming to Asia, it really seems like the shadiest, most evil business there is. Like I have a more favorable view of the Triads than land developers.
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Feb 6, 2013 04:55
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Numlock posted:I don't see why china has some magic ability to recover from a global economic collapse that other nations don't have. Bah, it's easy. You just start building cities and poof, GDP growth the made in China way.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18680217 ^: This one isn't even in China. I am curious, in the extremely unlikely event that these aren't just being built by people that have a mandate to spend money, what are these going to be used for?
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Feb 6, 2013 06:30
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Is there any way at all the Diaoyu/Senkaku thing could end with them dividing the archipelago between them?
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Feb 6, 2013 06:46
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Bloodnose posted:Hey what's the title of this thread? Can we get back to what really matters? I still don't get what the big deal is about it. Profit per can is only like 10%. Again, it's just weird and strange to see people whining and complaining about people throwing money at them to buy their things. Also, the tariff in China on the stuff is low. The major reason the prices are stupidly high in China is basically greed on a large part by the manufacturers. "make it expensive so people will think it's quality" style marketing. Seriously, the official imports pull in a margin of around 70%. It has practically nothing to do with the taxes.
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Feb 6, 2013 08:17
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Deceitful Penguin posted:Haha, why, you got some good experiences with Triads? For some activities Triads are great and they profit from price gaps. When you drive to a restaurant the valet service is run by them. They charge you for a cheap fee and park your car and guarantee a spot. Normally they just illegally park on the side of the road and if traffic cops come they will drive around the block until the coast is clear again. The restaurant owners are happy because it attracts customers, customers are happy for easy parking, and triads are happy for extra income and have extra surveillance. The police, not so much for illegal parking but as long as the mess is manageable and not blocking traffic and fire trucks they don't care. I would totally pay for legit parking but it's hard to find in Hong Kong. Those sleazy sex packages to Macau that are unsold with ferry tickets included? Well they can break down package tour prices into individual bits and just sell you a cheaper ferry ticket. Cheaper duty free cigarettes? Why yes, they have duty free border runners and old ladies buying cigs by the carton and reselling them in Hong Kong. Of course there are bad sides to them like mini bus rackets, protection fee bull poo poo, loan sharking, peddling drugs, and all sorts of sleeping dogs craziness 
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Feb 6, 2013 08:17
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caberham posted:Those sleazy sex packages to Macau that are unsold with ferry tickets included? Well they can break down package tour prices into individual bits and just sell you a cheaper ferry ticket. That's where those cheaper ferry tickets come from? I like the Triads even more now. Land developers never gave me good values. Sino Land even has the gall to charge me $150 a month for the lovely 'fitness room' in my building where the heaviest weight is 25lbs.
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Feb 6, 2013 09:13
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Pro-PRC Laowai posted:I still don't get what the big deal is about it. Profit per can is only like 10%. Again, it's just weird and strange to see people whining and complaining about people throwing money at them to buy their things. The companies love it. The residents off Hong Kong who go to the store to feed their babies and find the shelves empty are the ones complaining.
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Feb 6, 2013 12:59
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Deceitful Penguin posted:Haha, why, you got some good experiences with Triads? I'm pretty sure the point was the land developers are worse then organized crime syndicates, with all that implies.
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Feb 6, 2013 13:57
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pentyne posted:I'm pretty sure the point was the land developers are worse then organized crime syndicates, with all that implies. Yeah, but now I found out it's the Triads who are getting me discount ferry tickets so, another point for them. Also cool Triad culture and influence on good action movies maybe? Then again, I wouldn't be surprised to hear about some of the developers actually having Triad connections, so maybe they're all one big group anyway.
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Feb 6, 2013 14:14
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caberham posted:For some activities Triads are great and they profit from price gaps. When you drive to a restaurant the valet service is run by them. They charge you for a cheap fee and park your car and guarantee a spot. Normally they just illegally park on the side of the road and if traffic cops come they will drive around the block until the coast is clear again. The restaurant owners are happy because it attracts customers, customers are happy for easy parking, and triads are happy for extra income and have extra surveillance. The police, not so much for illegal parking but as long as the mess is manageable and not blocking traffic and fire trucks they don't care. I would totally pay for legit parking but it's hard to find in Hong Kong. pentyne posted:I'm pretty sure the point was the land developers are worse then organized crime syndicates, with all that implies. Bloodnose posted:Then again, I wouldn't be surprised to hear about some of the developers actually having Triad connections, so maybe they're all one big group anyway.
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Feb 6, 2013 23:45
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Imperialist Dog posted:The companies love it. The residents off Hong Kong who go to the store to feed their babies and find the shelves empty are the ones complaining. From what I was reading, the shelves are not even empty. It's that the companies are forcing them to order the full line of their poo poo instead of just what they need, and Chinese are only targeting a few select premium lines. Leaving the rest untouched. So, no, the shelves are not empty, it's just that the specific brands they want are gone.
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Feb 7, 2013 01:26
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That is exactly it. There's tons of baby formula. And tons of new brands that are trying to break into this hugely profitable game. That's why the poo poo about starving babies and malnutrition is so ridiculous.
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Feb 7, 2013 01:36
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Why are Chinese consumers so dumb about these luxury brands then, especially considering none of them are better than free breastmilk? Chinese consumers tend to be pretty price-conscious in other areas, to the point of being kinda stingy. For things that are non-conspicuous consumption like baby formula at least. Although I guess I don't know Hong Kongers and the southern nouveau riche very well.
Arglebargle III fucked around with this message at 03:05 on Feb 7, 2013 |
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Feb 7, 2013 03:00
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Arglebargle III posted:Why are Chinese consumers so dumb about these luxury brands then, especially considering none of them are better than free breastmilk? Chinese consumers tend to be pretty price-conscious in other areas, to the point of being kinda stingy. For things that are non-conspicuous consumption like baby formula at least. Although I guess I don't know Hong Kongers and the southern nouveau riche very well. People everywhere are dumb about all consumer products. You think the average American is particularly well informed about the particulars of the poo poo they buy? Now imagine that same person except he doesn't speak English and can't access half the internet.
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Feb 7, 2013 03:20
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Arglebargle III posted:Why are Chinese consumers so dumb about these luxury brands then, especially considering none of them are better than free breastmilk? Chinese consumers tend to be pretty price-conscious in other areas, to the point of being kinda stingy. For things that are non-conspicuous consumption like baby formula at least. Although I guess I don't know Hong Kongers and the southern nouveau riche very well. Parental guilt and paranoia will make you buy what you think is the best brand for our kid, whether it really is or not. That's true in all cultures, US included.
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Feb 7, 2013 03:26
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Yeah, there's a special brand of dumb for anything involving children. To be fair, if our species wasn't obsessed with caring for children, we probably wouldn't exist, but sometimes the obsession manifests itself in... inefficient ways
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Feb 7, 2013 03:34
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Is there no equivalent of La Leche League in China, or is breastfeeding seen as something poor people do?
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Feb 7, 2013 05:20
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Here's another interesting friction point that could always potentially boil over too. I wonder how China will react to this. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/02/japan-scrambles-jets-in-island-dispute-with-russia/ quote:The Japanese government lodged a protest with Moscow today after two Russian fighter jets briefly violated Japanese air space above disputed islands off the northern coast of Hokkaido island, the Defense Ministry said. Another Russo-Japanese war would be pretty catastrophic especially if it brought China in too.
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Feb 7, 2013 22:22
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Modus Operandi posted:Here's another interesting friction point that could always potentially boil over too. I wonder how China will react to this. Oh, Japan's just whining about the fact that they lost the Kuril islands as a result of that mystery event 68 years ago that everyone there seems so keen to forget about
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Feb 7, 2013 23:00
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Modus Operandi posted:Here's another interesting friction point that could always potentially boil over too. I wonder how China will react to this. They've been doing this poo poo for years, so it's not really that much of a development, unlike, for example the Chinese FCR thing. It's just getting a bit more attention in the media because of the timing.
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Feb 7, 2013 23:36
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Its just opportunism by the Russians, especially since another 1905 is brewing in the background (life in Russia is just getting worse all the time). The Russians would never go to war to support China...they have a lot to lose from a strong China and have purposely been restricting their most advanced naval and aerospace tech from them. In addition, they have been building ships for Vietnam. Think of it as a quick jerkish sucker-punch that is a easy sell to their population, Japan is not very popular with the Russian public even today. China is still desperately looking for something that will distract the public from the mass robbery and dysfunction that is taking place.
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Feb 8, 2013 01:55
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Ardennes posted:Its just opportunism by the Russians, especially since another 1905 is brewing in the background (life in Russia is just getting worse all the time). Completely off topic, but is there a thread about this or somewhere I could go to learn more about life in Russia? I'm really interested to just what exactly Russian society is like, now that we're 22 years out from the fall of the Soviet Union.
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Feb 8, 2013 10:59
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Ardennes posted:China is still desperately looking for something that will distract the public from the mass robbery and dysfunction that is taking place. Visa free travel to Cyprus it is!
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Feb 8, 2013 11:57
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Arglebargle III posted:Why are Chinese consumers so dumb about these luxury brands then, especially considering none of them are better than free breastmilk? Chinese consumers tend to be pretty price-conscious in other areas, to the point of being kinda stingy. For things that are non-conspicuous consumption like baby formula at least. Although I guess I don't know Hong Kongers and the southern nouveau riche very well.
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Feb 8, 2013 14:18
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Vegetable posted:Breastfeeding isn't a common thing among Chinese people. It just never really caught on. That's about all there is to it. So what did they do until the development of powdered milk?
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Feb 8, 2013 14:27
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pentyne posted:So what did they do until the development of powdered milk? No shh it's part of their cultural essence.
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Feb 8, 2013 16:31
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Well, you see rice porridge introduced pretty goddamned early in a lot of households as the primary baby food.
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Feb 8, 2013 17:13
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TheBuilder posted:Well, you see rice porridge introduced pretty goddamned early in a lot of households as the primary baby food. What. Do they really look at a developing infant and think that milled grain slurry is an ideal source of nutrition for something that's trying to grow a brain and organs.
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Feb 8, 2013 17:22
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Ah Pook posted:What. Do they really look at a developing infant and think that milled grain slurry is an ideal source of nutrition for something that's trying to grow a brain and organs. If you don't eat rice for literally every meal you will die. This is well known in East Asia. (I have been told this many many times. By dumb people, but there are a lot of those) Grand Fromage fucked around with this message at 18:25 on Feb 8, 2013 |
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Feb 8, 2013 18:12
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I believe in recent times its largely due to economic conditions. Famine in the 50s and 60s (and also drought in the late 80s) probably had some affect on large percentages of nursing mothers who saw more difficulty in breast milk production via low calorie and low water intake. So you've got some recent cultural effect for the current generation of mothers. Add that to the popular opinions that breast feeding will make a woman's breasts less attractive or smaller as a result, as well as the feeling that if you can afford expensive baby formula you're obviously rich and that grants you a lot of "face", mother's just don't want to let a baby near their nipples.
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Feb 8, 2013 18:23
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Grand Fromage posted:If you don't eat rice for literally every meal you will die. This is well known in East Asia. This and the kimchi guy you mentioned recently make me think that Korea is the odd east Asian country out. I've never heard anything like this in China. Even in Guangdong province, it's common for women to abstain from rice if they're trying to lose weight.
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Feb 8, 2013 18:28
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TheBuilder posted:Well, you see rice porridge introduced pretty goddamned early in a lot of households as the primary baby food. What do you do in between when the baby is born and when it can eat and digest rice? That's got to be at least a month conservatively speaking. I mean if kids could start eating soup and hot dogs from birth, that's one thing, but their stomachs aren't even developed enough to handle that the instant they leave the mother's vagina. And the minute they leave the mother's vagina they will start getting hungry.
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Feb 8, 2013 19:22
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MeramJert posted:This and the kimchi guy you mentioned recently make me think that Korea is the odd east Asian country out. I've never heard anything like this in China. Even in Guangdong province, it's common for women to abstain from rice if they're trying to lose weight. China has multiple staple starches (rice, noodles, "dumplings" in all varieties, various bready things) so they can handle that concept at least
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Feb 8, 2013 19:24
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