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We need anti-drone drones clearly. I wonder if drones will evolve just like planes did. First used for observation, then bombing, then finally something specifically designed to take out the planes observing and bombing.
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Mar 26, 2013 17:18
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VideoTapir posted:What? Surveillance (coastal, electronic, shadowing the movements of other nations' ships and subs, etc.) and espionage (undersea cable tapping, etc) are two of the primary missions of sub fleets during peacetime.
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Mar 26, 2013 17:30
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Baronjutter posted:We need anti-drone drones clearly. I wonder if drones will evolve just like planes did. First used for observation, then bombing, then finally something specifically designed to take out the planes observing and bombing. I fail to see any reason they won't follow that path. And ditto goes for detection and evasion and disabling, etc. etc. In the future, wars will be fought against robots with robots and the first side to run out of money and resources to build more robots nukes the other one or something. The end.
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Mar 26, 2013 17:43
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孙子曰：The wars of the future will not be fought on the battlefield or at sea. They will be fought in space, or possibly on top of a very tall mountain. In either case, most of the actual fighting will be done by small robots. And as you go forth today remember always your duty is clear: To build and maintain those robots.
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Mar 26, 2013 18:16
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Paper Mac posted:Surveillance (coastal, electronic, shadowing the movements of other nations' ships and subs, etc.) and espionage (undersea cable tapping, etc) are two of the primary missions of sub fleets during peacetime. These roles are not a substitute for aircraft. A submarine isn't very good at taking pictures or intercepting radio traffic.
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Mar 27, 2013 02:46
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So is restoring the air traffic controllers a step by step "put back" off parts of the sequester or is it going to lock everything in because they take away the most odious of the cuts?
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Mar 27, 2013 03:15
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VideoTapir posted:These roles are not a substitute for aircraft. A submarine isn't very good at taking pictures or intercepting radio traffic. Depends how they're equipped and what you want them to do. Sturgeons were succesful SIGINT platforms for decades, and they were operating in environments where the US sure as hell couldn't keep an aircraft on station for weeks.
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Mar 27, 2013 03:16
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Hello, China thread. I am bringing you a big post of current events. First: Hong Kong Foreign Domestic Workers Manila agencies are once again sending workers to Hong Kong after Hong Kong agencies agree to stop charging the maids placement fees. And more hilarious comments on the permanent residency case: rease.92 posted:What would happen if all foreign domestic helpers and other refugees stayed home and took care of their corrupt governments? Powdered Baby Milk Formula Friso, one of the most popular brands, says there was never any shortage. Some Danish Guy posted:"There was never a stock shortage," said Arnoud van den Berg, general manager of FrieslandCampina, the manufacturer of Friso products. It sounds like they just limited supply to drive up demand. Now the popular brands are complaining about Hong Kong's export restrictions, because now mainlanders can't buy them in huge amounts like they were before. They were greedily profiteering and are now pissed off that that backfired. gently caress 'em. The real truth is that there was never any lack of baby formula at all. There was a shortage of specific product lines from three popular brands of baby formula. There were always less-popular brands, both Asian and western, in the stores. I also read from some retailers that the big brands like Friso had special ordering requirements, like you could only stock the extremely popular infant formula if you bought it in a bundle with toddler/child/adult milk powders as well. That adds credence to the idea that these manufacturers are profiteering asses who need to stop  ing.Street making GBS threads Actually it's pissing this time, and it's white people doing it. Apparently some Danish douchebags forced their tour bus to pull over so they could take a whiz in the middle of a highway. There are even pictures of this. Predictable comments follow: Snake Eyes posted:Why the outrage? Were they hijacking the locals' spot? Was this area for more serous "business", like many Hong Kong roads seem to be these days? Something about people living in glass houses comes to mind. rpei7007 posted:What about all the Chinese that piss on the the side of the road....I guess it's okay since they do it in the bushes! gracesswong posted:Perhaps their next move will be spitting together on the street. I mean, why not? Chinese Officials Behaving Badly You guys remember this crackdown on corruption and lavish banquets? Well, it turns out the officials have sneaky ways around this. They've built like... banquet hall speakeasies. SCMP posted:One house in Jilin province, owned by the boss of a local food factory, looked like an understated country home, but the interior was decorated to first-rate standard in January. The owner permitted only close acquaintances to enter and he had hired the head chef from a top local restaurant. Or they just get around the restrictions by turning their office cafeteria into The Palm. SCMP posted:Two officials in Fujian province said many canteens in government departments had been renovated and had hired chefs from the region's finest restaurants after outside banquets were banned as part of the Communist Party leadership's anti-corruption and austerity drive. Because nothing says 'Communist' like lavish dining and exuberant parties! Some Official posted:"The call for austerity is too harsh … it is typical communist style that a movement can appear all of a sudden and require all party members to learn the unselfish and noble spirit of revolutionary ancestors. 
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Mar 27, 2013 04:09
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If Mao were to return from the dead one day he'd kill everyone in an apoplectic fit.
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Mar 27, 2013 21:54
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Riso posted:If Mao were to return from the dead one day he'd kill everyone in an apoplectic fit. I think pretty much every founding leader of a country would do that these days.
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Mar 27, 2013 23:07
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If you look at it closely Mao was some sort of odd sociopath in history who climbed his way to prominence through political intrigue. People shouldn't even use him in the same sentence when talking about modern China because he was ready to sink the ship and throw everyone under the bus when his grand experiments started failing. Modern China is all Deng's and Zhou Enlai's brain child. Zhou in particular was the guy who tried to rein in a lot of the crazy maoist demagoguery. He was probably the only truly balanced one amongst all of them. Deng was just an egotistical opportunist. I know a lot of people despise Edgar Snow these days but a lot of his unfounded optimism came from conversations with Zhou.
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Mar 28, 2013 00:51
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Hong Kong media Some of you who are familiar with Hong Kong may know TVB, the colossal monopolizing free-to-air TV network that dominates Hong Kong pop culture. They constantly run the same lovely rehashed period dramas using the same twelve actors who are signed to horribly restrictive contracts that eventually branch them out into horrible, samey, rehashed Cantopop careers. This is one of the reasons Hong Kong is called a cultural wasteland. It's an entertainment conglomerate controlled by Arch Lich Sir Run Run Shaw. Look at this:  This man is older than both existing Chinas. He lived through the reign of two Chinese Emperors. I am convinced he stays alive by draining the cultural energy of Hong Kong's entertainment industry. Anyway, there is hope on the horizon, as the Hong Kong government is planning to grant at least a couple free-to-air TV licenses in 2015 that could challenge TVB's dominance. Right now their only competitor is a joke called ATV that has less than 10% market share and doesn't even produce its own dramas. More choices would make TVB shape up and produce something people want to watch, especially young people. What do you think TVB does about they? Well they are crying that everything isn't fair and trying to get the courts to stop this because it will destroy Hong Kong culture. They say there's not enough ad revenue to share between several players, even though they are making multibillion dollar revenues in a market smaller than New York City.Here are some highlights from that article: SCMP posted:[TVB Executive Director Mark] Lee has questioned the government's right to award new licences before TVB and ATV's latest licences (which were secured with the promise of vast investment) will expire in 2015. He is prepared to go to court to press the claim, and has written to all lawmakers, Executive Council members and board members of the Office of the Communications Authority for support. Some stuff about their lovely content: SCMP posted:But it seems the viability of stations is not the main concern of the city's viewers. While millions of eyes are glued to TVB's shows, audiences are quick to complain about programme quality and illogical plots. I really hate TVB SCMP posted:Lee emphasises that his station is an institution. "Victoria Harbour, Ocean Park and TVB come to people's minds when they talk about Hong Kong. The wrong policy could crush the 45 years of achievements that TVB has attained." In other news... Here's a Xinhua picture representing the New China:  And finally... The Filipino domestic worker who brought the lawsuit that started the permanent residency case has gone back to the Philippines and "is now living in a large house with a big plot of land and gets financial help from her seven children, all of whom have completed university degrees. One is a doctor, while another is an architect, according to her lawyer. She has 11 grandchildren." So gently caress all y'all, she doesn't need Hong Kong anyway.
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Mar 28, 2013 08:03
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More Hong Kong TV talk! TVB in Chinese is 無線 - wireless televsion. Back in the day, ATV use to be the power house television station, like American cable tv. But it was a luxury because people had to subscribe to its service. However, TVB started offering free TV and opened up the television market by offering free programming. The rest was history. It's ironic that TVB is crying foul when they themselves started out as a market disrupting company. It's total hypocrisy of TVB to prevent new players from entering the market space. TVB have a gigantic market share of the "free chinese world" including Taiwan and almost all of the Chinese diaspora. Man I use to love watching that poo poo when I was a boring Asian dude in Canada but nowadays avoid TVB when I live in Hong Kong. No, I don't blame bloodnose for his Jewish media influence but programming nowadays is becoming more of the same and rehashed. What's worse is that TVB programming is considered "edgy" and has a niche following from Mainland China because it's considered "uncensored"  To its credit. There was one show which was banned by the CCP. It's called When Heaven Burns. An allegory of the crackdown on the 89 There is one very memorable scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzG3SeIOgDw The girl is asking : "what does rock and roll represent?"  If you look at this city, everything is the same. We all have the same thoughts, we all like the same things, we all eat the same things, we all have the same habits, we all watch the same tv show, we all support the same political platform, and we all live and die the same way. [...] I always ask myself the same question for 30 years. I seek truth, freedom, love, and individuality. It was a really popular moment. And made every honger Then it reacted into alarmist OMG Mainlanders have tarnished our way of life and we are under the yolk of communists, gently caress mainlanders. Then the Confucius professor, honger are dogs incident happened.  Which gave momentum to the autonomy movement flying the old colonial flag  But that TVB televsion drama was an accident, not really major political movement there.
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Mar 28, 2013 10:46
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caberham posted:TVB in Chinese is 無線 - wireless televsion. Does anyone actually call it that? I've only ever heard anyone call it TVB, even when speaking Chinese.
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Mar 28, 2013 15:09
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Is that Shaw as in Shaw Brothers? Because I don't know if I can hate someone who brought me 36th Chamber of Shaolin.
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Mar 28, 2013 20:44
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LeftistMuslimObama posted:Is that Shaw as in Shaw Brothers? Because I don't know if I can hate someone who brought me 36th Chamber of Shaolin. And Five Deadly Venoms, don't forget.
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Mar 28, 2013 23:11
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http://chinahistorypodcast.com/sir-run-run-shaw-chp-049 Laszlo Montgomery on Run Run Shaw. Note: He likes him a lot.
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Mar 29, 2013 02:12
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LeftistMuslimObama posted:Is that Shaw as in Shaw Brothers? Because I don't know if I can hate someone who brought me 36th Chamber of Shaolin. Yes it is. Shaw studios used to actually create good stuff, before they became a monopoly. On the other hand, a lot of Shaw productions were pretty samey and crappy. They just pumped out a ton of poo poo, and some of it was good. Shotgun effect. Law of averages. That sort of thing.
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Mar 29, 2013 07:54
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I've seen apartment chat come up a few times in this thread and I was reminded of it when I saw this:quote:Chinese Mother Buys $6.5 Million Condo for 2-Year-Old Daughter Buying luxury apartments for mistresses has been mentioned, but is buying luxury apartments for children all that common?
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Mar 29, 2013 14:52
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Dr. Tough posted:Buying luxury apartments for mistresses has been mentioned, but is buying luxury apartments for children all that common? Buy it when you can definitely afford it and don't have to worry about not being able to snap it up in the future I guess.
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Mar 29, 2013 15:01
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But when you've got 16 years until you can use it for its intended purpose (maybe longer if the little princess is a lovely student), during which a lot can happen; and in the interim it would probably be cheaper to stay in the most expensive hotel in the city on the few days you're in NYC than maintain that thing, it comes off as idiotic bubble hysteria or spending money for the sake of showing that you can spend money.
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Mar 29, 2013 15:11
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VideoTapir posted:...idiotic bubble hysteria... She is looking for a place to keep her Bitcoin mining rig.
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Mar 29, 2013 16:13
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VideoTapir posted:But when you've got 16 years until you can use it for its intended purpose (maybe longer if the little princess is a lovely student), during which a lot can happen; and in the interim it would probably be cheaper to stay in the most expensive hotel in the city on the few days you're in NYC than maintain that thing, it comes off as idiotic bubble hysteria or spending money for the sake of showing that you can spend money. Why take the risk? In the meantime you can rent it out if you want. The only losing scenarios entail your money not being worth anything anyways. If the NY prices collapse, it's probably a sign that there's something far more wrong than just housing.
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Mar 29, 2013 16:38
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I guess if you assume that the rise of real estate prices in New York are going to outstrip any other possible investments you could make. I'm not familiar with the area, but I get the feeling that there's are lot more financially productive things that you could do with $6.5 million over 16 year period.
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Mar 29, 2013 23:03
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Warcabbit posted:And Five Deadly Venoms, don't forget. 8 diagram pole fighter too. I just can't hate Shaw is he even privy to what goes on in day to day operations anyhow?
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Mar 29, 2013 23:15
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Dr. Tough posted:I've seen apartment chat come up a few times in this thread and I was reminded of it when I saw this: This has been a common practice for a really long time. In the 90's there were a lot of filthy rich Taiwanese kids driving around in their luxury cars getting into organized crime, gangs, and other trouble. The parents would remain overseas then buy them a condo or house and give them a big allowance in the U.S. with the hope that they would do well. Some of them turned real bad and did what young kids do when they have a ton of money. This sort of thing is happening with mainland Chinese kids from well to do families now. I see it in CA often enough but usually the parents come to America too because they are moving their entire family fortune for various reasons.
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Mar 29, 2013 23:21
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Modus Operandi posted:This sort of thing is happening with mainland Chinese kids from well to do families now. I see it in CA often enough but usually the parents come to America too because they are moving their entire family fortune for various reasons.
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Mar 30, 2013 00:54
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Pro-PRC Laowai posted:Why take the risk? In the meantime you can rent it out if you want. The only losing scenarios entail your money not being worth anything anyways. If the NY prices collapse, it's probably a sign that there's something far more wrong than just housing. I was thinking more her daughter's plans changing.
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Mar 30, 2013 00:57
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VideoTapir posted:I was thinking more her daughter's plans changing. You assign far too much autonomy to the richkid-bot.
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Mar 30, 2013 01:19
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VideoTapir posted:I was thinking more her daughter's plans changing. Then you sell the apartment for profit? Seems like a pretty smart plan.
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Mar 30, 2013 03:46
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cafel posted:I guess if you assume that the rise of real estate prices in New York are going to outstrip any other possible investments you could make. I'm not familiar with the area, but I get the feeling that there's are lot more financially productive things that you could do with $6.5 million over 16 year period. Chinese people are probably forgetting property taxes as well, which are based on the value of the apartment. That's going to be a painful expense for an empty apartment over that much time.
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Mar 30, 2013 07:12
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What, isn't that all-at-once for 70 years when the apartment is sold?
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Mar 30, 2013 07:14
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VideoTapir posted:What, isn't that all-at-once for 70 years when the apartment is sold? Property taxes are yearly, you pay or its a lean on the property.
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Mar 30, 2013 07:15
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Ardennes posted:Property taxes are yearly, you pay or its a lean on the property. I know...christ. That was a somewhat-misinformed reference to the Chinese land-lease system; intended in jest. And it's "lien."
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Mar 30, 2013 07:23
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It also depends on not only the assessed value of the property but also their income level in NYC. I don't know anything about the system but they would probably be in Class 1 and pay 18.569% for the property. They could easily pay it off with tenants since they most likely bought the place without a mortgage.
RocknRollaAyatollah fucked around with this message at 09:13 on Mar 30, 2013 |
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Mar 30, 2013 08:30
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VideoTapir posted:I know...christ. That was a somewhat-misinformed reference to the Chinese land-lease system; intended in jest. And it's "lien." I am very sorry I ruined your joke. Anyway, buying property in NYC is going to be a pretty safe investment especially in Manhattan. If I had money to invest, property in Manhattan at this point wouldn't be the worse investment to make. How seasonal is air pollution in Beijing? Does it get better in the spring and/or does it also get an inversion during the summer? Ardennes fucked around with this message at 14:45 on Mar 30, 2013 |
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Mar 30, 2013 14:35
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Worse in winter, and that's when the extremes occur, though it seemed to me there were more moderately lovely days in summer. Whatever time of year has the most wind and rain is going to be the clearest.
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Mar 30, 2013 15:04
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I just saw a news article about a new strain of bird flu popping up in Shanghai and it brought back memories of the SARS outbreak. It's been 10+ years since that debacle where China was essentially covering up 100's of infections and deaths and I was wondering if there's been any actual changes or just another 'take care of it until no one is looking' . http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57577161/china-downplays-new-bird-flu-fears/ The title is obviously "China downplays etc." but I really doubt its something completely managed by the govt.
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Mar 31, 2013 15:01
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Yeah the SCMP is basically in  MEGA SARS  mode right now. Seems every hour they're putting out a new article with a new death toll/number of infections/location featuring H7N9 bird flu.If it turns into another delightful epidemic, it could lead to the property price correction we're all craving. Speaking of which... Tom Holland's column today is all about how China has tons of empty houses, and Hong Kong has more than you'd expect as well. Tom Holland posted:According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, since 1981 China has built an astonishing 39 billion square metres of housing "which has been appraised and accepted" - in other words come up to the designed standards. Tom Holland posted:Hong Kong offers a clue. According to the latest census, there were just short of 2.37 million households in the city in 2011, a number that has been growing by 1.2 per cent a year. And the government's latest Monthly Digest of Statistics says Hong Kong has a housing stock of 2.64 million units. Basically just more fuel for my bear fire. The same stuff we already knew. Too much liquidity in Hong Kong and China means inflation is way higher than interest rates and rich people are storing value in property. A lot of them are even keeping these homes empty. poo poo sucks. Moving back to Hong Kong... STREET making GBS threads NEWS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCYwtz-9n6A Yeah it's not a video of the actual making GBS threads, and it doesn't mean too much to you if you don't speak Cantonese. The jist of it is this couple, who are speaking Cantonese, but with mainland accents, just let their daughter poo poo in a plastic bag on the MTR (the line that goes to Shenzhen). People complained that this was disgusting and made the train stink, leading to this altercation with the MTR staff who asked them to leave the train. They insisted they did nothing wrong it was in a bag after all, not just on the floor! The main even claims to be a Hong Konger (hey, he might have PR. It's possible). Most Hong Kongers have their babies wear diapers. It's a mainland thing to have pants with holes in them to allow for easy street making GBS threads. There's a strike going on at the biggest port in Hong Kong, with dockworkers saying they haven't gotten a pay rise in ten years and currently get paid less than they did in 1995, despite inflation having risen a billion percent since then. I support the strikers, and it looks like they might get their way. Management (with the man of endless means, Li Ka Shing  , at the top) remains intragnizent. If Libertopia is ever going to work and vindicate neoliberals everywhere, greedy fat cats have to be willing to let the lower classes get something for their labors. Hong Kong's IRL Rapture will end just like the Bioshock one (plasmids included) if wages stay stagnant forever while the billionaires slowly morph into trillionaires.
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Apr 3, 2013 03:24
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I've never had any reason to want to go to Hong Kong, but now I want to go just to take a dump in the street. Have you guys finished listening to all the Sinica episodes? I've got something else for you. http://spikejapan.wordpress.com/ A guy writes a large amount of words about Japan. If you want to know what China will look like in 20 years, here's a preview. http://spikejapan.wordpress.com/2010/10/10/phoenix-seagaia-look-on-my-works-ye-mighty/ http://spikejapan.wordpress.com/spike-hokkaido-2/wallstreet/
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Apr 3, 2013 04:41
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