GoK was once lively, contentious, at times abusive but also interesting, entertaining and always informative. The goal of harmony resulted in policy of forced moderation and eventual censorship. Only approved opinions and discourse was allowed. As the hand on the tiller grew heavier, GoK lost the wind.
Sorry for getting nautical but I bought a home less than a kilometer from the ocean in California and have been relaxing, enjoying my dotage, sailing, and the Kunming like weather here. I miss China and Kunming. American food is boring.
In the US we are being told that getting vaccinated will end the supply chain problem. Biden’s Energy secretary Jennifer Granholm on skyrocketing prices of goods:
"[Economists say] there is a transitory nature to the inflation problem…We wanna make sure we get everybody vaccinated so we can unclog the bottlenecks that we’ve been seeing.”
Found an interesting video (48 min) on the COVID pandemic and the vaccines being pushed. The mRNA vaxx are still experimental and controversy is raging on who should get the shot. I got the two Pfizer shots as I am 78 with additional high risk problems.
This is the link and there are many (100+ ?) links to additional resources.
The money is made during the land acquisition, financing and building phases of infrastructure projects. The longer the construction can be stretched out the more pockets get lined. And more GDP.
Fifty airports in Yunnan seems to be over kill but the investment component of GDP is a beast that needs to be fed. More jobs, more loans, more graft, more grandiose projects and more GDP.
Then in a few years, rebuild the shoddy works. More GDP.
Over capacity and diminishing returns be damned just as long as there is more GDP. How else can the peoples wealth be squeezed from the people through infrastructure projects into the pockets of the few and mighty?
Inflation in China always seems to be officially lower than what we see in the market. The main reason is the GDP, the main statistic watched and talked about, includes an adjustment for inflation. The greater inflation the more GDP is reduced.
The NBS is thought to play with the GDP deflator to massage the official GDP. This is done by adjusting the market basket and varying the weighting of components. This one of the less transparent parts of the GDP guess.
Be aware they will push whatever they are selling. Some of the staff have no idea about the technical side of appliances.
I went there to buy a stove. I repeatedly told them I would be using bottled gas. They sold me a stove. When I went to my local gas guy, I learned there are at least three kinds of gas sold. Luckily, B&Q did not deliver as promised. I went back to the store and discovered they had sold me a stove they needed to be hooked up to the gas main. I got my money back.
The sales lady was almost in tears, 没有问题！I don't know if it a safety or design issue, but I would think B&Q would know and care.
Subway starts at 9am. I have no idea where to catch an airport express bus. Eight taxis refused to go to the airport. After almost an hour standing on Beijing Lu took a black taxi, this dude drives slower than my mother, 120 yuan.
Flight back was delayed so I learned the subway stops running at 6:10pm.
Getting a taxi back was easy, more taxis than customers. Taxi was 87 yuan including 1o yuan toll, airport to Beichen area. Yes, he took a longer route than necessary.
Kunming imagines being a gateway for international travelers. New airport but hard to get to and from it.
Chinese village turns to mass divorce in face of impending demolition
Posted byThe last stats I saw was that the divorce rate in China is 50%. The divorce rate in the US is also about 50%.
A little more detail on US divorces: 70% of all first time marriages never end in divorce.
The 'alphabets' of Yunnan
Posted byAnother great Jim Goodman article.
Thanks
Yunnan reveals extensive four-year aviation plan
Posted byThe money is made during the land acquisition, financing and building phases of infrastructure projects. The longer the construction can be stretched out the more pockets get lined. And more GDP.
Fifty airports in Yunnan seems to be over kill but the investment component of GDP is a beast that needs to be fed. More jobs, more loans, more graft, more grandiose projects and more GDP.
Then in a few years, rebuild the shoddy works. More GDP.
Over capacity and diminishing returns be damned just as long as there is more GDP. How else can the peoples wealth be squeezed from the people through infrastructure projects into the pockets of the few and mighty?
Yunnan reveals extensive four-year aviation plan
Posted byDoes this mean the morning fog problem at Changshui has been solved?
Food prices across China continue to soar
Posted byInflation in China always seems to be officially lower than what we see in the market. The main reason is the GDP, the main statistic watched and talked about, includes an adjustment for inflation. The greater inflation the more GDP is reduced.
The NBS is thought to play with the GDP deflator to massage the official GDP. This is done by adjusting the market basket and varying the weighting of components. This one of the less transparent parts of the GDP guess.