Sweatin It

[mynameismud]

Met the in laws yesterday.  Nice people,  a bit insane like most old folks but it was not that much different than hangin with Brad.

I did sweat bullets at dinner.  Kept waiting to screw up.  They took it easy on me.  Nothin strange at all since we had dumplings.  Whoo Hoo my favorite.

Now that we are away from the major tourist area there isn't a cup of coffee to be seen for miles.  I would ask someone to FedEx a cup of Peets out here but all the addresses look like squiggly lines.

mudworm managed to ditch me in the Temple of Heaven, this place is huge with tons of people.  I think she thought that I needed some enlightenment, do not think it worked.  I back tracked to the gate where we came in.  mudworm was so disapointed to see me she fell down and cried right in the middle of the square.

The air quality in China is, well.... Not so good.  Any President that has traveled at all and did not sign the Kyoto Treaty is a fuggin idiot.

The spell check here is in Chinese so deal with it.

[F'ueco]

What does the president have to do with the air quality in China? And how is making up a socialist country going to help our own air quality?

 The AQ sucks in Hong Kong, Bangkok and Kathmandu; just like in all major cities... If you don't like it, don't live in the city. 

[mynameismud]

It sets a standard and a precident.  You are either leading by example or talking out your arse, that is the way it is.  Yesterday mudworm's folks put on the English speaking News for me.  It was a debate about progress here in China and the ramifications ( pollution was one topic) the arguement one person gave was the the USA and Europe both polluted considerably to get to where they are. 

They also mentioned that we (The US) does not want to restrict to much in these area since we are worried about our own economy.  Again the old put up or STFD.  So far it looks like the old USA has chosen the STFD posture since our leadership has been castrated by politicians and big business.

You give engineers the free reign to design and they will put out cars that get better gas milage and perform.  And, we will push technology, which is a good thing.

[Brad Young]

Dam, what a great opportunity. To travel like you are in China. I'm actually jealous. Enjoy, learn, have fun with your wife, and her family.

[mynameismud]

Yea, it has been a good experience.  Eye opening.  mudworm got in a good conversation with a retired professor from Beijing on the train ride to her folk's place.  About Communism, China, human rights, economy, ect...   She translated a bit.  Wish we had more time and that I was fluent in Manderin.

[mynameismud]

I would just like to add that the air quality is not just bad in the cities.  Our train ride was 2 hours and 45 minutes long.  So part of the time we were in rural China.  Abut the best the visibilty ever got was about 1 mile perhaps a bit more.

[F'ueco]

If you put more than a billion people in the USA, the air quality would be bad everywhere here as well.

 How do people heat their homes in China?

[F4?]

mudworm needs to try ditching you when you go to the bathroom. "Sure, I'll wait right here for you right here". Jenny tried that a few times, but I found her.

Do they have the coffee in a can? Its not bad stuff when chilled. I kept having Mr. Brown.

The sweating is good for you. Right?

[mynameismud]

Part of the problem is the number of people.  Part of it is the insistence of corporations to put out products that are just good enough.  When I first moved to the Bay Area I can remember ever summer the smog was so bad that while driving down Shoreline and going over the bridge that goes over Central expressway and the Railroad tracks you could barely see El Camino.  There were fewer people in the Bay Area at that time.  But with more strigent Air Quality Controls there are now more people and the air is better.

The only way conditions will improve is if our government makes corporations put out a better product.  A sad truth, but the truth all the same.  And, I do think the US should be an international leader in this field/aspect of life.

No coffee here of any kind.  We did hit a Chinese coffee shop yesterday.  One of those places where you get a booth to yourself and a curtain so people cannot see in.  But you get one cup of coffee with no refills and no extra cream.

[mungeclimber]

"One of those places where you get a booth to yourself and a curtain so people cannot see in."

do they give you tissues at least?

hahahaha

[mynameismud]

Actually that is the first thing they give you when you sit down.

Forgot to mention.  From what I have seen so far the most common way to heat is with radiators.  Solar heating for water seems to be common.  mudworm said that the water heating is backup up with propane on demand during the winter.  Summer if you run out ya just chill.  From what I have experienced so far heating is not the concern.  It is cooling.  I think it is common to set the AC at around 82 to 84.  The AC doesn't seemed to be widely used by the locals.

Some public buildings seem cooler.