Made a comment, thought better of it, took it out, then found I couldn't get rid of it without leaving something in its place, so I left a ..
Anybody know how to do this?
I wish those of us who post on various other subjects would make the attempt to focus as admirably as those who post on, say, football. Right, maybe some subjects are a bit more amorphous, but that's no excuse for free-for-all backbiting, etc. The syndrome seems to pop up most frequently when the subject matter requires an effort to reason.
@vicar: I'm always worried when I hear the phrase 'putting America first', but to be honest I'm never quite sure what is meant - I guess that's why I'm worried. What do you mean by it? I take it you don't think that US generals 'put America first'?
One problem I think we all tend to have is that we use a vocabulary that sounds like we're all talking about the same thing when in fact the terms either mean different things to different people or are not really clear to anybody. I think this phrase is an example.
I'm not sure everybody involved with the military-industrial complex and its generals are pro-Trump - the MIC has always done pretty well under previous administrations, and I think some of them aren't into Trump's wackier ideas and attempted leadership.
Exactly. And in the US a lot of people don't seem to be able to distinguish liberal from radical from socialist from Communist from doper or Gay. Or, for that matter, even to see either the similarities or differences between libertarian and conservative. Leads to rather low level, but useful up to a point, consensus called Trump and the Resistance. Easily fed on by politicians of various stripes.
A certain lack of even a very simple level of sophisticated thinking, and a lot of it coming either from gut-level imbibed prejudice, media simplification and selectivity, and/or just plain laziness. And the 2-party system doesn't help much.
@ redjon: OK, I agree.
@ForeignGuy: (1) I appreciate the problem, but it's possible to know a language and control its use in the classroom. (2) What about living in KM? Don't know your Chinese ability, but I'm not pretending everybody become fluent, which is the kind of irrational and impossible goal that has kept friends of mine from learning any Chinese at all - and that is a stupid mistake. On the other hand, if you can only buy things in the market in Chinese etc. you are shortchanging yourself, as well as those you attempt to communicate with and live among.
Well, I've lived places for more than 6 months without developing at least conversational language ability and I felt like an idiot. Being a nice person doesn't come into it.
Although I have studied at Keats and find it's the bet place to study Chinese in Kunming that I know of, the article sounds a bit like a plug for Keats.
As for studying Chinese, imagine how idiotic it would be to live in any country for more than about 6 months and not be abler to hold a conversation in that country's language.
Not quite what you'd call a jumping place, but not bad at all for rather standard US-type meals, not overly expensive, and with a really good salad bar that's cheap, or free with most dinner dishes after 5:30PM. You can get a bottle of beer or even wine if you really want to, but I've never seen anybody do it - maybe that's just to take out. Chinese Christian run, and they hire people with physical disadvantages, who are pleasant and helpful. Frequented by foreign (mostly North American) Christians and Chinese Christians - was started by a Canadian couple associated with Bless China (previously, Project Grace), who are no longer here, but no religious pressure or any of that. Steaks are nothing special, and I avoid the Korean dishes, which I've had a few times but which did not impress me.
As a shop and bakery, it's very good bread at reasonable prices, of various kinds (Y18 for a good multigrain loaf that certainly weighs well over a pound. Other stuff too, like granola and oatmeal that is local, as well as imported things, including American cornflakes and so forth, which some people seem to require.
Large portions, seriously so with the pizza, which is Brooklyn/American style, I guess. Convivial, conversational, good place to drink with good folks on both sides of the bar, especially after about 9PM.
Life in Kunming: Studying Chinese in the Spring City
发布者@JanJal: Yep, I'm sure it gets easier year by year.
Life in Kunming: Studying Chinese in the Spring City
发布者@ redjon: OK, I agree.
@ForeignGuy: (1) I appreciate the problem, but it's possible to know a language and control its use in the classroom. (2) What about living in KM? Don't know your Chinese ability, but I'm not pretending everybody become fluent, which is the kind of irrational and impossible goal that has kept friends of mine from learning any Chinese at all - and that is a stupid mistake. On the other hand, if you can only buy things in the market in Chinese etc. you are shortchanging yourself, as well as those you attempt to communicate with and live among.
Life in Kunming: Studying Chinese in the Spring City
发布者Well, I've lived places for more than 6 months without developing at least conversational language ability and I felt like an idiot. Being a nice person doesn't come into it.
Life in Kunming: Studying Chinese in the Spring City
发布者Although I have studied at Keats and find it's the bet place to study Chinese in Kunming that I know of, the article sounds a bit like a plug for Keats.
As for studying Chinese, imagine how idiotic it would be to live in any country for more than about 6 months and not be abler to hold a conversation in that country's language.
Counting down Kunming's Top Ten Smells
发布者Obviously all a matter of different strokes.