Taiwan Number 1

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Fojar38: Sep 2, 2011; Sorry I meant to say I hope that the police use maximum force and kill or maim a bunch of innocent people, thus paving a way for a proletarian uprising and socialist utopia

also here's a stupid take
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Grand Fromage posted:

330 where I am right now. Yesterday you could look directly at the sun without worry, today the sun isn't visible at all. I have seen two Chinese people with real masks today, and a few with those cloth things that don't do anything.

This poo poo is hosed it usually isn't like this until January. Last week was nice. It's still unseasonably warm too so the home coal burning shouldn't be in full force yet. I'm hoping this is burning rice fields or something and it'll calm down in a bit.

E: For context 400 is the worst I've ever seen in my city. A really bad day in a relatively polluted American city like LA or Vegas would be a bit over 100. Some places in the US will issue air hazard warnings at 50, which is an excellent go outside and play day in China.

The lowest I have ever seen is 5. I did so much breathing that day you don't even know. These are readings from the US consulate monitors so they're likely accurate. Even the Chinese one is saying 277 right now though. Somehow it's always lower than the US number!

What's all that GDP smell like

# ? Nov 15, 2016 08:34

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# ? May 22, 2024 08:14

simplefish: Mar 28, 2011; So long, and thanks for all the ~~fish~~ gallbladdΣrs!

Hong Kong has the same clear blue skies as yesterday, but unfortunately the ground has a bit of smog haze

I blame China

# ? Nov 15, 2016 08:34

Grand Fromage: Jan 30, 2006; L-l-look at you bar-bartender, a-a pa-pathetic creature of meat and bone, un-underestimating my l-l-liver's ability to metab-meTABolize t-toxins. How can you p-poison a perfect, immortal alcohOLIC?

I already had a cold so I can't smell the money. My snot isn't dark though so that's what makes me think this isn't coal ash. In winter you blow your nose and the tissue's all covered in black streaks.

When China rules the world.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 08:39

Grand Fromage: Jan 30, 2006; L-l-look at you bar-bartender, a-a pa-pathetic creature of meat and bone, un-underestimating my l-l-liver's ability to metab-meTABolize t-toxins. How can you p-poison a perfect, immortal alcohOLIC?

Also thank the Jade Emperor that Chinese New Year is in the middle of winter, since you get to leave the country and avoid the worst pollution period for a month.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 08:41

Haier: Aug 10, 2007; by Lowtax

Grand Fromage posted:

330 where I am right now. Yesterday you could look directly at the sun without worry, today the sun isn't visible at all. I have seen two Chinese people with real masks today, and a few with those cloth things that don't do anything.

This poo poo is hosed it usually isn't like this until January. Last week was nice. It's still unseasonably warm too so the home coal burning shouldn't be in full force yet. I'm hoping this is burning rice fields or something and it'll calm down in a bit.

E: For context 400 is the worst I've ever seen in my city. A really bad day in a relatively polluted American city like LA or Vegas would be a bit over 100. Some places in the US will issue air hazard warnings at 50, which is an excellent go outside and play day in China.

The lowest I have ever seen is 5. I did so much breathing that day you don't even know. These are readings from the US consulate monitors so they're likely accurate. Even the Chinese one is saying 277 right now though. Somehow it's always lower than the US number!

It's always between 0-10 in Hawaii where I spent much of my life (the percent is based on vog, not smog). I came from one of "the most heavy air pollution areas" of a west coast US state to China, and the highest I ever saw it there was was like 40. Los Angeles on a bad day is like 80 or 90.

I just like how ambivalent or uncaring Chinese people are about masks. It's like those teenagers who think they are too cool to wear helmets while riding bikes/motorcycles because they don't want to mess up their hair, but at least those people know they are being stupid while the average Chinese just think it's dumb to wear a mask.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 08:46

ladron: Sep 15, 2007; eso es lo que es

Haier posted:

I just like how ambivalent or uncaring Chinese people are about masks. It's like those teenagers who think they are too cool to wear helmets while riding bikes/motorcycles because they don't want to mess up their hair, but at least those people know they are being stupid while the average Chinese just think it's dumb to wear a mask.

I think it's (not wearing helmets or masks) kinda like the fan death thing in that it's been going on for so long that no one looks at it to closely and it's just accepted.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 08:50

Grand Fromage: Jan 30, 2006; L-l-look at you bar-bartender, a-a pa-pathetic creature of meat and bone, un-underestimating my l-l-liver's ability to metab-meTABolize t-toxins. How can you p-poison a perfect, immortal alcohOLIC?

Chinese dudes smoke so much I don't know if it matters for them, anyway.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 08:52

fish and chips and dip: Feb 17, 2010

I should be celebrating as this will be last winter in China for me.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 08:52

Haier: Aug 10, 2007; by Lowtax

Edit: I forgot to say that since I am from low-AQI places, being in 200 is loving gross to me. I can't imagine 330 or 500, because I would probably be trying to fly out of there ASAP. I remember landing in the Beijing airport last year during winter and being able to taste the coal in my mouth it was so strong.

I'm spacing out. I am lucky that my job has me doing a set amount of work per day and if I get it finished early I can leave at that exact second. If I want to wake up at 6am and get started and be done by noon, I can. This also leads me to zoning out and taking 3 hour lunches and watching TV and wasting the day and still having work in the evening. It's cool but easy to abuse.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 08:55

Nanomashoes: Aug 18, 2012

Smoking puts heat into the body, which keeps colds away.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 09:01

fish and chips and dip: Feb 17, 2010

ladron posted:

I think it's (not wearing helmets or masks) kinda like the fan death thing in that it's been going on for so long that no one looks at it to closely and it's just accepted.

Part of it is a belief that "if you think about it, it will happen", so if you wear a mask, you think about lung caner, and if you think about lung caner, you will surely get it! The same logi... reaso... way of thinking is used for helmets, seat belts and any other safety device.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 09:09

ladron: Sep 15, 2007; eso es lo que es

fish and chips and dip posted:

Part of it is a belief that "if you think about it, it will happen", so if you wear a mask, you think about lung caner, and if you think about lung caner, you will surely get it! The same logi... reaso... way of thinking is used for helmets, seat belts and any other safety device.

ah, thanks

# ? Nov 15, 2016 09:16

The Great Autismo!: Mar 3, 2007; by Fluffdaddy

here's my Facebook post from two years ago that Facebook reminded me of today

Adventures in China: Trying to get a cold beer (Part 2)

Went to a restaurant with a buddy tonight. Asked the waiter if they had cold beer. He said yes. I said what beer is cold? He said 'we don't have cold beer.' I should have just given up here. However...

Got up to leave and go buy cold beer somewhere else. Another waiter asked what's up. Double-checking, I said "do you have cold beer?" He said "of course, please come with me" and takes me to a fridge stocked with beer. I open it to choose one and, of course, the fridge has been unplugged. It is nothing more than a pantry. I tell him it's not cold and he says "it is in the fridge! It's cold" I tell him the fridge isn't on. He said "it's a fridge, no problem, it's cold!" I walk away and go outside, have no desire to interact with someone who operates under the assumption that a fridge is cold simply because it is a fridge.

Went to the convenience store across the street. Fridge is unplugged and everything is lukewarm. (Can I even call it a fridge if it doesn't refrigerate anything?)

Go to another convenience store. Find cold Qingdaos. Bring them to the register and the really fat girl is cutting her toenails at the register. I say excuse me and she ignores me. Thirty seconds later an older lady comes and rings me up. I ask if it's her store and she says yes. I ask if that's her daughter and she says yes. I ask why she didn't help me and the lady says "she's too busy now" as the girl is still clipping her toenails at the register.

...China.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 09:43

caberham: Mar 18, 2009; by Smythe; Grimey Drawer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6X2uwlQGQM

# ? Nov 15, 2016 09:50

Grand Fromage: Jan 30, 2006; L-l-look at you bar-bartender, a-a pa-pathetic creature of meat and bone, un-underestimating my l-l-liver's ability to metab-meTABolize t-toxins. How can you p-poison a perfect, immortal alcohOLIC?

One of the stores in my city is a German chain and at the meat section they advertise, as a reason to shop here, that their meat is refrigerated the entire way from slaughter to the shelf and is therefore safer than any other store.

I do most of my shopping at the German and Japanese stores in a possibly vain hope that the corporate masters care about their reputations and will keep things functional. So far I haven't died.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 09:52

Cumslut1895: Feb 18, 2015; by FactsAreUseless

Grand Fromage posted:

I already had a cold so I can't smell the money. My snot isn't dark though so that's what makes me think this isn't coal ash. In winter you blow your nose and the tissue's all covered in black streaks.

When China rules the world.

don't worry, it's just blood

# ? Nov 15, 2016 09:55

simplefish: Mar 28, 2011; So long, and thanks for all the ~~fish~~ gallbladdΣrs!

I took a photo of a freezer last week at the supermarket, and toyed with the idea of posting it here but decided it was too boring

The freezer is out of order and they have tried to hide the fact that nothing inside has been removed by taping black bin bags to the inside of the door
But because I am taller than the shop assistants I could see
This happens every couple of months. The freezer was out for days. Nothing was removed or replaced
I had thought that the frozen stuff seemed really frosty and tasted defrosted/refrozen in texture when I first bought stuff from there

Then I learnt why. No more frozen food.

And this is HK not the mainland. I imagine it's much worse there

# ? Nov 15, 2016 09:57

caberham: Mar 18, 2009; by Smythe; Grimey Drawer

CALL THE FOOD AND HYGIENE DEPARTMENT

# ? Nov 15, 2016 10:00

simplefish: Mar 28, 2011; So long, and thanks for all the ~~fish~~ gallbladdΣrs!

I also had bugs in the pasta there twice. No more pasta from bak gai

# ? Nov 15, 2016 10:01

Alan Smithee: Jan 4, 2005; A man becomes preeminent, he's expected to have enthusiasms.

Enthusiasms, enthusiasms...

what's the general consensus on Trump over there? On the one hand he threatens trade war and has the keys to the largest military opposition to Chinese expansionism

on the other hand he's a very rich businessman

# ? Nov 15, 2016 10:24

Grand Fromage: Jan 30, 2006; L-l-look at you bar-bartender, a-a pa-pathetic creature of meat and bone, un-underestimating my l-l-liver's ability to metab-meTABolize t-toxins. How can you p-poison a perfect, immortal alcohOLIC?

Trump is a decent embodiment of many of modern PRC values and is generally popular here.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 10:32

Invisible Handjob: Apr 7, 2002; by FactsAreUseless

I left China years ago but for all you guys remaining, do any of you feel like you see the writing on the wall that it might not be such a nice place for foreigners in a few years and consider bailing? it's already not a nice place for anybody really but you know what I mean. i don't want to see any of you hanging from lampposts

it's nice to breath clean air again btw highly recommended I feel nothing but pity in my heart for all of you

# ? Nov 15, 2016 10:37

Invisible Handjob: Apr 7, 2002; by FactsAreUseless

all C ranked foreigners are now being sent to the camps to be reeducated into soylent green

# ? Nov 15, 2016 10:45

Grand Fromage: Jan 30, 2006; L-l-look at you bar-bartender, a-a pa-pathetic creature of meat and bone, un-underestimating my l-l-liver's ability to metab-meTABolize t-toxins. How can you p-poison a perfect, immortal alcohOLIC?

I'd say the writing on the wall has been becoming more clear since Xi's administration. I'm not sure if they're going to kick everyone out but the situation is going to change. Right now there's a huge range of things you can do and a lot of good jobs available to anyone. The future looks like China doing what some of its neighbors like South Korea do and making it extremely difficult for non-citizens to get any jobs beyond a very narrow range.

In Korea everyone I knew (military exempted) was an engineer or an English teacher, usually at the elementary level. In China I am not sure if I have ever met an English teacher. The range of things is vast and those of us who are teachers are doing other subjects, things we're interested in or (gasp!) have a degree in. I think at the very least that is going to end, both by restricting visas and shutting down international education programs. The country is showing no signs of slowing down on its high speed train ride back to the 1960s.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 10:48

fish and chips and dip: Feb 17, 2010

It's gonna be glorious what with the quality of local talent currently in China. Chinese Century indeed. They should also close the flow the other way, so what little world class talent they have here won't leave.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 11:02

The Great Autismo!: Mar 3, 2007; by Fluffdaddy

Invisible Handjob posted:

I left China years ago but for all you guys remaining, do any of you feel like you see the writing on the wall that it might not be such a nice place for foreigners in a few years and consider bailing? it's already not a nice place for anybody really but you know what I mean. i don't want to see any of you hanging from lampposts

it's nice to breath clean air again btw highly recommended I feel nothing but pity in my heart for all of you

it won't fully crash for another few years. make some cash now and it will crash hard by 2020. we have a kid so it's time for him to get out now. I could stay a few more years and make it work but prefer to be with me missus. It's going to get bad soon, a lot of long term expats are leaving or looking for work now. We have 8 foreigners on staff through 8/2017 and literally every single one is looking for work or study outside of china, I know this because I am writing them letters of rec lol

# ? Nov 15, 2016 11:11

Invisible Handjob: Apr 7, 2002; by FactsAreUseless

I mean yeah, especially if you have a kid that's probably a very good idea.

Aside from China's already almost assured self-unraveling, If Trump is even half as hard on China as he's been blustering on about that's not going to go over well for you guys.

People lives are going to suck even worse than they do now and all of the anger is going to be directed at the local laowai

# ? Nov 15, 2016 11:17

Haier: Aug 10, 2007; by Lowtax

Alan Smithee posted:

what's the general consensus on Trump over there? On the one hand he threatens trade war and has the keys to the largest military opposition to Chinese expansionism

on the other hand he's a very rich businessman

The number one thing I heard the most about him and Hillary: "They are both 70. How can someone have a job at 70? They are too old. They should be with their families now."

fish and chips and dip posted:

Part of it is a belief that "if you think about it, it will happen",

This bugs me a lot because when people want to tell me about something they usually trail off with "I don't want to talk about it." When they ask me to tell them some story about myself and I get to the drama bits, they stop me and say they can't listen. I've met people who had cancer who refused to even say the word. Like, this isn't "The Secret," and law of attraction, people. Researchers don't die of cancer because they study it all day. Talking about global warming won't make it worse. I guess that's why money is such a big topic. Talk about it and here it comes or something.

Invisible Handjob posted:

I left China years ago but for all you guys remaining, do any of you feel like you see the writing on the wall that it might not be such a nice place for foreigners in a few years and consider bailing? it's already not a nice place for anybody really but you know what I mean. i don't want to see any of you hanging from lampposts

it's nice to breath clean air again btw highly recommended I feel nothing but pity in my heart for all of you

It's not so much the Wild West it once was, though still pretty wild in a lot of ways. Xi is helping ramp up the xenophobia artificially and legally, and the new visa grades are pretty LOL. The best part about working in China is that most people, even in good jobs, can find a lot of reasons to leave and never come back. Those with crummy jobs or getting shafted even more so. It's a revolving door and once they make it harder for foreigners then people are going to flood out and not come back. I think it's a good thing, especially when they find out all those Chinese who studied abroad still can't offer the expertise because they usually just coasted through or cheated.
It's really easy to spin all the problems on foreign countries and of course it's going to trickle down onto all of the foreign people working here. I don't think it's going to get better at all, but the warnings are there well in advance. Those who pay attention will leave.

I can work pretty much anywhere and only came back because my boss is my IRL friend before I started working for her, so I could actually trust her 100%. I honestly cannot imagine what it would be like working for a total stranger in this country, but it has to be total poo poo. My boss is probably the best boss I will have anywhere, and I also feel a little bummed that it had to be here. I imagine if she was in Los Angeles or somewhere else I would rather live (like another country), I'd be a lifer. The environment here makes me want to leave all the time, but she's a bro so I will do my best to stick out our agreement until then.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 11:51

Haier: Aug 10, 2007; by Lowtax

http://i.imgur.com/aWQpDbJ.gifv

# ? Nov 15, 2016 11:52

Haier: Aug 10, 2007; by Lowtax

http://imgur.com/a/WAROS

An album of a bit coin mining operation in rural China. LMAO

# ? Nov 15, 2016 12:04

Power Khan: Aug 20, 2011; by Fritz the Horse

Haier posted:

http://i.imgur.com/aWQpDbJ.gifv

Why do you have footage of me playing GTA5?

# ? Nov 15, 2016 12:23

champagne posting: Apr 5, 2006; YOU ARE A BRAIN
IN A BUNKER

Haier posted:

http://imgur.com/a/WAROS

An album of a bit coin mining operation in rural China. LMAO

supposedly 25% of mining is done inside china. while bitcoin doesn't have a central bank as such, it currently has a major branch inside the middle kingdom

# ? Nov 15, 2016 12:47

vanity slug: Jul 20, 2010

Grand Fromage posted:

Chinese dudes smoke so much I don't know if it matters for them, anyway.

smoking is healthier than the outside air in china, cause at least cigarettes have a filter

# ? Nov 15, 2016 12:54

Megillah Gorilla: Sep 22, 2003; If only all of life's problems could be solved by smoking a professor of ancient evil texts.; Bread Liar

At least he was using a sink.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 13:06

oohhboy: Jun 8, 2013; by Jeffrey of YOSPOS

Boiled Water posted:

supposedly 25% of mining is done inside china. while bitcoin doesn't have a central bank as such, it currently has a major branch inside the middle kingdom

I thought they broke the 50% mark ages ago which opened up the possibility of them hi-jacking it if some of the bigger miners got together.

# ? Nov 15, 2016 13:13