Have heard the new X-Files is up and running, anybody know?
Of course watch Game of Thrones, but from the beginning if you're not up to date. My favorite TV series.
Other random favorites, not new, also to be watched in their entirety:

- X-Files

- Battlestar Galactica

- The Wire

- Carnivale

- Deadwood

- British version of House of Cards

- Boardwalk Empire

- Game of Thrones

- Game of Thrones, &

- Game of Thrones
The long-running series of gokunming posters whose ego problems cause them to insult each other at every opportunity, regardless of topic of conversation, is to be avoided, as it lacks a plot other than ego-defense and personality attacks - OR: some bright writer should create a TV comedy out of it, with invented episodes revealing what these people do in their offline lives, some of whom probably have them.

I think the occurrence of non-ethnic dancers masquerading as ethnic members for the benefit of tourists varies considerably. I went to the Ximeng festival quite a few years ago and I didn't detect any of the hundred or so dancers as non-Wa. Of course I could have been wrong, but at that one, anyway, I don't think I was.
On the other hand, I think a lot of the choreography of the dances was lilkely produced by Han.
Remember that these are mostly tourist events, designed to please tourists - ie, give them what they want. Most tourists are Han.

If you're into learning Chinese, whatever formal method you adopt (for me it is classes with homework, and doing the homework - yeah, it's a lot of work, mostly the characters), try to hang out with Chinese people and speak Chinese with them as much as possible. It takes awhile. Spend less time with people who speak your native tongue, or another language that you may know well.
That sounds simple, and it is, but it's necessary and effective.

'Special' cookies like those we had when this thread was started.

Napoleon, maybe you should join dudeson on another thread?