What People Really Like

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I'm concerned about humanity. When I look at my stats for the past year the most viewings I have received have been for my brief article about squatty potties. It seems that people are more interested in the toilet culture than in Tiger Mothers or Bus Cooties. As an experiment I will now post several pictures of Chinese toilets just to see how many hits I get. I will avoid the odious ones I get when I search Google for Chinese toilets. You can do that yourself. I will let you know the results.

Supah Bo!!!!

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The Super Bowl was broadcast live at 7 am today (Monday because we live in the future). I rolled out of bed at 7:30, found the right channel, got a cup of tea and began to watch. I lacked beer, nachos, dips, cheese, salami, salsa, chips, and all the other fat based snacks vital for the true Super Bowl Experience, but I still enjoyed the game. For one thing, it's the only football game of the year that is broadcast on Chinese TV. We have NBA but no NFL, so it's a real treat to see my favorite sport on something other than Youtube highlights.

It's a surreal experience. You have Chinese announcers and they manage to dim the crowd noise so that it's just a kind of muffled white noise. The commercials are the same lame ads you see any time, but they are not as frequent. Instead they show some cool hi-light films. No problem there.

I hate the Steelers. I've always hated them, but that Neanderthal rapist douche Roethlisberger adds a nice extra dose of loathing to my feelings about this team. Sometimes rooting against a team is just as meaningful as rooting for one.

Plus, I've always liked the Packers.

The Chinese announcers really knew their football and they did a bang up job pronouncing Big Douche Ben's last name correctly (although "Loathisboogah" would have been OK by me). It was great to hear them say "Aiiyoh!" when an interception was thrown, which happened a couple of times by The Teutonic Twerp. He dug them a pretty good hole, then a couple of key Packers got injured, the receivers forgot how to catch for a while, and Pig Pen managed to get them within spitting distance a couple of times, but sometimes God does get involved in a football game, and Mr. Molester and his pack of thugs just couldn't pull it off. They ate some crow in front of the cameras and slunk back to their vermin ridden lairs to lick their wounds, nurse their over inflated egos and try to justify their over hyped existences to themselves. The harder they come, the harder they fall. You can run, but you can't hide. Hasta la vista, baby.

Game over. I'm not bloated or drunk, and having the team you most despise lose the Super Bowl is almost as good as having your favorite team win.

Video links:

Football on TV

Commercials not worth remembering

Fishing

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This is a more popular beach outside of the small city of Wuchuan. Since it was a nice day, there were more than a few city folks making the scene. Swimming was definitely a possibility, but nobody was doing more than dipping their feet in the water. Chinese people are real novices to the joy of beach life.

Local fisher folk were plying their trade, oblivious to the gawkers. A group of women were putting away their extensive net system. A boat tows the long net out through the surf, then the ancient bulldozer with a spool on the back helps reel it in with the catch. These folks have been doing something like this in a collective manner for probably thousands of years. Farmers and fisher folk in this region still exist living a more traditional life in and among the modern growth technology. We're lucky that they do. Our food is fresh, local and unprocessed.

Flowers

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Even though it's been unseasonably cold they have managed to get the flowers out. This is from the old park near my school.

FIREWORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Last evening we went for a stroll to the local Ground Zero for fireworks. There is a big, open field by the water that is prime fireworks real estate. Instead of an organized display like you get in the US, this is a free for all. Local citizens load up on all kinds of cool ordinance, stake a place out and start blasting away. These are true laissez faire fireworks, free from government interference and nanny state wussiness.

My home town in the US banned all private fireworks last year. I think they still allow sparklers, but they have even banned everything else that is legal in the state of Oregon--Little Roman candles and such. They out nannied a nanny state and there was nary a wimper from the limp wristed, spineless weenies that are all that remain of a once proud populace that once loved a good conflagration on the Nation's birthday.

A strong nation can handle powerful fireworks. They endure third degree burns and missing digits which are the hallmark of a mighty people.

Say What??

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We went on a few amusement park rides today. After reading this, I opted to stay off since the rules were far too restrictive. I also knew that I have job security for years to come.

This Place Can Be Crowded

"Wo Ma" (Wal Mart)

Blurry phone photo under duress in a mob like situation.

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Spring Festival crowds are much worse than Christmas crowds. There are at least 1.3 billion people here and at least half were at Wal Mart today. Getting there was a little thrilling too since everyone who drives has decided to go out and clog the streets with their antics. Intersections become clogged by cars trying to go at the same time. Two lane streets become one lane because drivers become shoppers and park their cars in the street turning two lanes into one. Walking was the optimal mode of transportation. We got off of our bus before a huge traffic clot and left it behind on foot. I believe it eventually made it through. Staying home is an excellent option that few seem to choose.