Great post Stan!! Keep it coming. Also love to see some pics of things if you can

 

Cool stuff Stan. Keep it coming.

What's your backup plan if the interweb goes down?

 

Thanks.

Backup plan? Pigeons? Hmmmm, never thought about that possibility.

Here is some business news for those that are into this kind of thing. This is info I have picked up from the daily rag here, but am reporting it to you because I suspect that things like this sooner or later will have an impact on all of North America. Unless it is is some technical publication, the lamestream media may miss this.

The world, including North America relies heavily on China for the supply of rare earths, but be ready for these supplies to be soon drastically cut back and the prices to rise. China supplies 95% of rare earth. This is used in items such as iPhones and hybrid cars. China is going to start to restrict exports of rare earths and use production for domestic use.

Alcoa has been a major supplier of aluminum in North America almost from the beginning of aluminum production. The demand for aluminum, especially the specialized types used on aircraft and other complex structures is rising fast. Alcoa has just signed an agreement with a state owned company in China to cash in on the growing demand for aluminum in Asia, especially China and will produce high end fabricated products in the areas of commercial transportation, consumer electronics, packaging, aerospace and the automotive industry. To me, this translates to more opportunities leaving North America and one more nail in your coffin.

 

dunno if I would rely on pigeon... thems good eats in that neighborhood.
I have been hearing rumors in the tech mags about China limiting rare earth metals especially the neodymium magnets.

 

I've been saying this for years. They're taking over.

 

Ok Stan, that was a little creepy. I read an article in National Geographic this afternoon about the shortage of rare earths and rare earth magnets coming from China. It is in the June 2011 NatGeo. I read your note and paused - wait a minute, didn't he write that a few hours ago? Then I looked at the coffee table and saw the NatGeo - you just gave me a good laugh.

 

One thing I need to get used to here are the crowds. Any place the people are likely to congregate such as a Walmart the people are elbow to elbow. The Chinese have a reputation for being pushy, but if you don't push in these crowds, you get swept along with them.

Was in a taxi today and saw a sign over a door that read " Massage by blind masseuse". Wonder what that means? Does the blind masseuse give a better massage than one that can see?

 

Now that you mention this, I do not recall seeing any pigeons around here. Now going to start watching for them.

 

Yep good interesting information you are passing on. Prolly don't see any kats or dogs, on the streets over there. My son went to China about 8 years ago for Washington Mutual Bank. Was selling financial instruments to them. He sent me a few tourest pictures, but no great info about the rest of the country.

 

out of all the times Ive been to Asia, I dont remember seeing any wildlife other than a couple monkeys.

Yeah, they get pushy and dont do personal space very well, they will stand against you any chance they get.
Oh, and the blind masseuse is so she isn't checking out your junk before you get the sensual massage... pay the extra $5 and get the soapy massage.

 

Have seen a few dogs running around the parks, none on a leash. From what I have seen, most dogs are on the small side. Most of the dogs I have seen look really strange as I cannot figure out the breed. Seen many pups for sale in the market areas. Strange looking as some of them are, some are definitely on the cute side. Will try to get some pictures in the future. Seen a few cats too, most of them sleeping in the doorways of stores or under parked cars.

One thing I have discovered is that the majority (all?) of the highrise buildings are not very fire proof. The outside appears to be covered in ciderblock over Styrofoam. A hotel just up the street from me burned down recently. The cause was one of large Chinese fireworks hitting the side of the building, breaking open a hole which exposed the Styrofoam which then caught fire. All large buildings I have been in so far have an extensive quantity of fire walls (walls, not doors) that are lowered in the event of a fire. In my hotel room there are two fire escape hoods complete with respirator. There is also a rechargeable flashlight. Also found out that many of the buildings that look very old are actually only about 10 years old. This is due to the fact that the buildings are built fast and more for show than long life.

 

that doesn't surprise me on the building... Infrastructure in Asia is bad.
The hotels in SE Asia look good, but based on the rest of the buildings, that is about as far as it goes. looks.

 

Forgot to mention that in my walking around I see a lot of buildings starting to crumble. Visible inside is what appears to be large holes filled with rubble. Even some of the sidewalks have sections tilting at crazy angles or loose sections. Definitely not quality work.

 

nope.
just something to remember when you go to sleep tonight...

 

Here are a couple of cultural differences for your amusement.;

When the North Americans sneeze, somebody inevitably says 'bless you'. In Mexico it is 'salud'. Here in China I have yet to hear anybody say anything to anybody when they sneeze. Also, there does not appear to be any attempt at muffling the sound of the sneeze and some can be quite loud.

The next cultural difference is spitting. Everywhere I go I see and hear people spitting. Fortunately only outside and not inside any buildings. Everybody does it, young, old, male and female. What really attracts my attention is that they do not just spit quietly or discretely. They very loudly hawk it up apparently from somewhere below their belly button and then spit. Some of this hawking sound can be quite long. Apparently these people see it as a kind of internal body cleansing and think of us North Americans as unclean when we do not do the same thing.
To me it is really disgusting, but this is something I just have to ignore and go with the flow. No, I am NOT going to start hawking and spitting to cleanse my interior.
Need a hawking and spitting smilie.