@Queen: My guess is this will work, and I know of another place or two as well, as I got a one-year visa through one of them - but for the 10-year visa, if it involves mailing the passport to the US/Canada and if the PRC doesn't like this practice and if they catch you, you could screw yourself.
On the other hand, the HK places I know about are very savvy and have been dealing with the vagaries & changes in PRC visa regulations for decades.
So I strongly advise somebody else to try it and tell me what happens.
@tiger: I'd agree with that with the minor, but I think significant, change: One of the values we have been exposed to is that of questioning what we have been taught. - I'm not trying to be picky, what I mean is that the ability to question pretty much comes with consciousness, but the emphasis on the value of doing so is what we have been exposed to - what's often called the scientific attitude; although it did not begin with the rise of modern science, it has been greatly strengthened by the apparent success of science in changing the world as we desire - probably a conclusion that has been jumped to a little too quickly, but certainly not without cause.
How did that statement go, by an anti-fascist in Germany about 1939? "When they came for the Jews I did not speak up because I was not a Jew, when they came for the communists I did not speak up because I was not a communist; when they came for me I didn't bother because when I looked around there was nobody left to support me' - something like that.
I still think her speech went over the top, both about the wonders of the US and the air in kunming - I've certainly never 'felt sick' from merely breathing Kunming air - but it would be nice if people in China could roll a bit with the fact that Chinese themselves might be willing to criticize the country in a public, international forum, without being accused of betraying their homeland etc. etc. etc.
But hey! Let everybody talk, backtalk, whatever.
Oh hell look, I hope these kids have fun and even maybe become child models or something and help out their families, but if this being passed off as an effort by the overwhelmingly ridiculous, superfluous, flaky airhead fashion industry is supposed to represent giving useful economic opportunities to poor rural populations in Yunnan, I'm afraid I remain to be convinced.
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.
Chinese student apologizes after Maryland graduation speech sparks firestorm
发布者"I belong to that school of thought which declares that school is over." - Henry Miller
Chinese student apologizes after Maryland graduation speech sparks firestorm
发布者How did that statement go, by an anti-fascist in Germany about 1939? "When they came for the Jews I did not speak up because I was not a Jew, when they came for the communists I did not speak up because I was not a communist; when they came for me I didn't bother because when I looked around there was nobody left to support me' - something like that.
Chinese student apologizes after Maryland graduation speech sparks firestorm
发布者'Human flesh hunt' - what a nice term.
I still think her speech went over the top, both about the wonders of the US and the air in kunming - I've certainly never 'felt sick' from merely breathing Kunming air - but it would be nice if people in China could roll a bit with the fact that Chinese themselves might be willing to criticize the country in a public, international forum, without being accused of betraying their homeland etc. etc. etc.
But hey! Let everybody talk, backtalk, whatever.
Yunnan primary school girls vying for trip to New York Fashion Week
发布者Attendees at the event in New York: "Ooo, aren't they cute, geegaw geegaw geegaw..." Enough to make you barf.
Yunnan primary school girls vying for trip to New York Fashion Week
发布者Oh hell look, I hope these kids have fun and even maybe become child models or something and help out their families, but if this being passed off as an effort by the overwhelmingly ridiculous, superfluous, flaky airhead fashion industry is supposed to represent giving useful economic opportunities to poor rural populations in Yunnan, I'm afraid I remain to be convinced.