It's a conspiracy entitled 'Centralized Wealth control', carried out in many obscene ways.
I understand I can't enter links here, is that right? a
Anyway, I'll try this one:
www.salon.com/2014/06/01/help_us_thomas_piketty_the_ 1s_sick_and_twisted_new_scheme/
"You have to pick your battles" - well said.
My most common annoyance about living in China - they're everywhere, relentless - who do they think they are fooling? But it helps explain the common practical sense of most people, which is admirable in a way and quite depressing in others.
Apparently virtually all Yahoo news articles are "Sorry this cannot be displayed" today, and google is worse than usual, as usual. There's a great world out there for those who understand the difference between communication and manipulation, but an awful lot of organizations the members of which are paid not to know the difference. Then add everyone in advertising and PR - everywhere - and it gets pretty depressing.
I too am annoyed by the nearly continuous and obviously unbelievable and unbelieved propaganda about how everything is good except the stuff we have defined for you as being bad. Which includes people - seems there are 'good people' and 'bad people', but little understanding of the fact that both good & bad are nearly always the results of action by ordinary people.
As for landlords, I've been very lucky - no hassles at all, and genuinely friendly relations. Quite surprising in a sector based on profits for simple ownership.
I've never had problems with taxis or taxi drivers in over 10 years here - no, I don't know any secrets or how this happens, although I've certainly seen other foreigners with suspicions or attitudes that, one way or another, seem to lead to problems - and yes, I'm sure that there are cabbies who have such suspicions & attitudes as well - somewhere - I guess. It's all usually a pretty simple operation: I get in the cab, tell him where I want to go, occasionally chat with the driver, he takes me where I want to go and I pay him, and have perhaps been overcharged by 1-2 rmb a total of 2-3 times, in 10 years. REALLY BAD, but I think I can live with it.
Landlordism and profit from merely owning property is a very old scam, very popular under feudalism, successfully adapted for capitalist conditions.
I should mention, however, that I've had the same landlord here for many years & all my relations with her have been really good, fair & above-board. I actually like her - this a first for me.
No results found.
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.
Too bourgeois.
Really good pizza and steaks. The wine machine fuddles me when I'm a bit fuddled, & seems unnecessary. Good folks on both sides of the bar.
Ain't no flies on Salvador's.
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.