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Entries tagged with 'China'
Posted Aug. 1, 2008,
China's Fashion Police Protect Olympics
By David Hershkovits
While China seems to have loosened restrictions on Internet access to the media during the Beijing Olympics, the fashion police are still out in full force. In order to put its best fashion face forward, "Beijing officials have distributed 4.3 million copies of an etiquette book outlining rules on good manners and foreign customs, including rules about what not to wear." The guide is part of an effort by various departments within China's government to clean the city up in preparation for the at least 400,000 foreign visitors who are expected to descend on its capital for the Olympic Games, which start Aug. 8 (WSJ).
In an effort to make Beijing more civilized, the pamphlet lists a number of no-no's: more than three color shades in an outfit, white socks with black shoes, and pajamas and slippers in public.
"No matter what, never wear too many colors...especially during formal occasions," the book said. "When you wear [formal shoes], be sure to wear socks in good condition...socks should be a dark color -- never match black leather shoes with white socks."
"Older women should choose shoes with heels that aren't too high."
One can imagine protesters dressed like the gentleman shown here being dragged off to jail for violating the no pajamas and flip flop edict. What would Mr. Mickey say!?
Posted Jun. 23, 2007,
Belgian Royal Hijinks in China!
By Mickey Boardman
Who says state visits can't be fun? Phillipe, Duke of Brabant seems to be having a simply marvelous time with his wife Mathilde on a Royal visit to China. Here (above) they are visiting the 16th century Imperial Palace in Shenyang. In the other shot (below), Mathilde, the Crown Princess and mother of three little nippers of her own, is shown with kids at a country school taking part in some rhythmic movement. The chunky little boy on the left doesn't seem to like sharing the spotlight with the future Queen of the Belgians!!
Photos from Hello! Magazine.
Posted May. 1, 2007,
Joint Chinese/Russian Military Excercise (plus The Simpsons) for MAY DAY!
By Ann Magnuson
YIKES! Happy May Day? No wonder NASA wants to keep those commies off the moon! But wait a minute, are the Russians even commies anymore? And with everyone scrambling to get their business into China, what does that make them? Or us? One thing is for sure, if these two superpowers team up we're all having Kung Pow Stroganoff for din-din. But what are the folks on YouTube saying?
Posted Apr. 24, 2007,
Triad Election at Film Forum!
By Dennis Dermody
Triad Election is another crackling crime drama from Hong Kong great Johnnie To (PTU). This is actually Election 2, the second in a series about the two-year term election of a Triad gangster boss. In this one, the boss (Simon Yam -- who Asian genre fans will recall as the scary star of Dr. Lamb) -- is not eager to give up his title, and one lower level mob guy is reluctantly forced to go after the title for strictly financial reasons.
With some amazing violent confrontations and a thrilling chase through an outdoor restaurant, this brutal and stylish film is a treat for fans. Don’t miss this and Election (the first one- which is spectacular) opening at Film Forum this week.
Posted Apr. 23, 2007,
Crocodiles Scare the Sh*t Outta Me!
By Ann Magnuson
This story from China really sends chills down my spine. Nothing scares me more than crocodiles! I think it started when I read a story in the New York Post ('natch) about some dumb vacationing Americans swimming in a swimming hole somewhere Down Under where a Danger: Crocodiles sign was posted. Dumb Americans ignored the sign and a model was snatched up by an Aussie croc and pulled down under herself. (I know this sounds like an urban myth but I SWEAR it was in the news!) They found her body in the crocodile's nest, buried in mud where the prehistoric monsters like to put their prey to soften it up before mealtime.
ARRGGHGHHRRRGHGHGHGHGHGGHHGH!
I can't believe I once went swimming in the ocean in northern Australia not far from where the Danger: Crocodiles signs were posted!! Those SAW movies can't be as scary as the thought of being pulled down and marinated in some crododile's lair. And now they've found the remains of nine-year-old inside a Chinese croc??
ARRGGHGHHRRRGHGHGHGHGHGGHHGH!
Posted Apr. 13, 2007,
Gaysians Are Acting Up for Their Rights!
By Mickey Boardman
Mr. Mickey is pleased to report that there seems to be some exciting gay movement in Asia!!! And we're not talking about a convention of Rice Queens in Bangkok!
MM read on Towleroad, a fascinating gay blog, that there was a gay equality demonstration in Patna, India and Mr. Mickey says, "you better work Indian gays and gals!" It's illegal to be gay in India thanks to an old British colonial law. As Mr. Mickey gets older he feels like anyone who wants to discriminate against any person for any reason can just fuck off and die. Not just the gays. Any sexist or racist must be neutralized. Whether it's someone harassing a girl on the street because she's hot or whether it's German chancellor Angela Merkel saying she thinks Turkey shouldn't be allowed in the European Union. I'm sorry Angela. I'm excited that a woman is leader of a huge economic power but you're a racist and you can fuck off! This Patna demonstration is a small step for gay equality but an important one.
Meanwhile in China, MM was excited to read about a new Chinese TV show about the gays called Connecting Homosexuals. The show will cover gay interest issues (and no that doesn't mean Liza Minnelli) and even have a blind date set-up segment. When it comes to human rights in general, China is pretty piss poor but we at the MMBlog applaud this step. After all, communists can enjoy hot man-on-man action as much as the next group!