08.06.08
Posted in Laowai, Media/Internet, Shanghai, Travel/Tourism at 14:19 by Nator
I’m a big fan of David Cross, mostly from his work in Mr. Show, and was surprised to find several videos of his travels through China for VBS.tv. The series is called “The Vice Guide to Travel - China”, and Cross is joined by Gavin McInnes. I found three episodes: China, Day in Shanghai, and All American Pies. All are worth checking out. In one episode they watch part of Super Bowl XL between the Steelers and Seahawks, which would mean the trip was filmed in early 2006.
It’s always interesting to see well-known personalities reacting to things the rest of us notice here in China. (I remember seeing a short video of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone on a similar trip a few years back but can’t find any clips online.)
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07.13.08
Posted in Food, Politics, Shanghai at 21:37 by SHTig
Have you ever noticed the “help wanted” signs in China, you know, the ones that say “wanted, female, ages 18-25″? These jobs invariably involve minor clerical or waitress type work. It’s more important that she be a certain height (often 160cm) than to have any formal schooling certificates.
Today I had lunch at the “Steak & Eggs” diner in Shanghai (the American-run restaurant that started in Beijing). There was a new waitress who was very polite, decent, and - most amazing for China - she hustled. I mean, she really moved swiftly around the two story dining room. Judging by her face she had to be at least 35 (though from behind she could pass for 22, ohhh Chinese women…). The main point was not how attentive she was, but that she was “old” for this line of work. It helps that the owners are an American-Chinese mix, I believe, and that they themselves are late middle age. That is, we’d expect less age discrimination in this set up. But it led me to come here to ask what has crossed my mind from time to time. What do these girls do after they hit 28 or so and leave their original job? Obviously some enter the throes of motherhood and homemaker, but what about the rest? What does a woman in China do who has no education beyond high school, doesn’t know English, and doesn’t have tangible job skills?
NATOR ADDS: Hotpoter kind of said it in the comments, but I’ll be more specific: they get married. An American woman in a similar situation would probably think marriage is her best option; the typical Chinese woman will be a lot poorer and thus more likely to look to marriage. Also, China remains very conservative about certain things, and marriage is one of them. (Though I’d add with more emphasis on “till death do us part” and less on ”to love and to cherish”.) And finally, Chinese women are increasingly outnumbered due to the combination of the one child policy and a traditional preference for males. More than ever before, China’s women will be able to “marry up”. So I think Hotpoter’s point is valid. Most of these women are going to want to get married, and they will get married, and they’ll have a better (financial) life than before.
I’m far more worried about China’s men with little education. What will these men–and there are already tens of millions of them–do when they get older and can’t even find a wife?
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05.22.08
Posted in Shanghai at 14:46 by SHTig
May 22, 2008, Shanghai - at 9:48am local time today a garbage truck exploded into flames. The incident took place at the intersection of Eshan Road and Yanggao Road (峨山路杨高路口). No further details are available at this time and the cause has not been determined
Earlier this month, a Shanghai Bus #842 exploded into flames, killing several passengers, and is believed to have been an intentional act. 垃圾车爆炸
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05.05.08
Posted in Media/Internet, Shanghai at 12:22 by Nator
A bus caught on fire this morning in Shanghai, killing several people and wounded many more. SHTig said he could see it from his office. The following screenshots are from a Sina article (see link above):
Read the rest of this entry »
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01.19.08
Posted in Beijing, Industry, Shanghai, Travel/Tourism at 19:17 by Mul
A subject of debate for over 20 years, the Chinese government finally kicked off construction on a multi-billion dollar, multi-year project to build a high speed railway between Beijing and Shanghai. Expect to cost a whopping $21 billion, the project is scheduled for completion by 2013. Traveling at a speed of 350 km/h, the approximately 1300 km journey will be cut from the current 10 hours to about five hours.
I’m not opposed to the project, but I am curious what argument was most persuasive to the decision-makers to justify the cost. Green considerations, like reducing carbon emissions with fewer flights? Increase passenger capacity on a crowded route? It strikes me as a large amount that could perhaps be directed elsewhere.
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11.17.07
Posted in Law and Order, Shanghai at 18:57 by SHTig
On this cool, drizzly afternoon in Shanghai, I was waiting for the light to change from red to green at a pedestrian crosswalk. As it was, I was on the curb, but 6 people were one step off the curb in the street (which is a cardinal no-no if you’ve ever been in Shanghai). The “Traffic Helper” blew her whistle from afar beckoning everyone to hop one step backward, up onto the curb. Four complied. The two nearest me, two middle aged Shanghaiese ladies, stood oblivious. The traffic helper approached, her whistle getting louder as the distance between her and us was reduced and her blowing intensity increased. Finally the traffic assistant was 2 feet from their faces blowing the whistle but to no avail.
SHTig, rather than cover the ears, opted to excoriate the women for ignoring the helper. They ignored me but pointed out to the helper that the intersection had red lights in all directions for pedestrians Read the rest of this entry »
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