@Tiger: kilo of apples more than hourly minimum wage - yes, that's a problem for people earning the hour minimum wage, but not for people making 4500rmb/month, probably plus accommodation, for teaching English. But I do agree that farmers, at least, should have higher incomes in China. Ok with me if teachers get a raise too.
And for hypochondriacs who are unfamiliar with life in Kunming, note that there are EVEN GREATER DANGERS here, such as drinking, eating, people who don't speak English, and strong laughter, during which you may forget to breathe. The problem with that 'high' (under 2000 meters) altitude, however, is that it can sneak right into your apartment, even when you've locked all the doors and windows to keep out beer, food, the Chinese language and fun...
Yeah, alright Dragon, I don't know where you're from but I'm not sure it's worth calling a lot of attention to this, since everybody knows about altitude anyway and we're not talking about Mt. Everest, or even Lijiang.
That would be totalitarianism, perhaps. But I'm not sure why we're throwing this word back and forth.
No, but I've read some history.
@Alex: That's lousy but does not amount to 'totalitarianism' - could be argued that before 1979 or so you could make sensible use of the term, but I think we all know that many things have changed and are in the process of changing. I too dislike control freakism, prisons, forced confessions and belittling of the idea of 'human rights'.
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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.
Report: Ancient Yunnan rock art at risk
发布者Two thousand yuan. Huh.
Provincial authorities get serious about poverty
发布者Interesting article. My thought is that money might well work this way, but that perhaps a god way to handle the situation is to make such gifts dependent on the recipients' keeping their kids in school - after all, the kids don't deserve to be hampered by their unequal starts in life just because their parents do this or that with the money. Such an approach has been tried, on a very small scale and with small amounts of money, in Yunnan, and has been successful in keeping the kids in school.
Provincial authorities get serious about poverty
发布者@ Haali: I mean I don't necessarily buy the "and deserve to".
Provincial authorities get serious about poverty
发布者@ Haali: I'm suspicious of official money-handling in the name of the poor as well, but I think maybe you misunderstand the problems that the poor have in handling money in an exploitative society, and their unfamiliarity in doing so - so I don't buy "and deserve to". Seems to me that education is something that, if someone gets it, it can't be taken away or lost in unequal competition with those who have more in terms of cash, ownership or power.
Friction of terrain: Cycling through Zomia (part IV)
发布者@ Peter: US ordinance lying around in Southeast Asia - reminds me of an old Tom Lehrer song from around 1962:
'"Ven za rockets go up who cares where they come down,
That's not my department,"' says Wernher Von Braun.