Thread: The weird and somewhat wacky stuff that goes on in China

Originally Posted by Cujo

It'll be implants for all before long.

Been around for sometime. Called mobile phones, all around the world.

Originally Posted by OhOh

Been around for sometime. Called mobile phones, all around the world.

Quite.
At LEAST turn off GPS when you're not using it.

Ahahahah.....screw 'im.


China's multi-billion dollar media campaign 'a major threat for democracies' around the world

In September 2018, billboards adorned with kangaroos and pandas began popping up around Australia's capital cities as part of a $500 million advertising campaign urging viewers to "see the difference" on China's Central Global Television Network (CGTN) — available on Foxtel and Fetch TV.
Key points:

• China's former president Hu Jintao committed $9.3b on a media expansion project in 2009
• Beijing is also buying up broadcast space on foreign airwaves and inside newspapers
• Media freedom in China is among the worst in the world — ranking 176 out of 180 countries

But "seeing the difference" comes with an important caveat.
Experts warn China's media is being wielded as a tool to shape public opinion and serve the ideological aims of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) across the globe.

And, as a part of its efforts, Beijing is training up foreign journalists, buying up space in overseas media, and expanding its state-owned networks on an unprecedented scale.
When the international arm of China Central Television (CCTV) news rebranded and became CGTN in 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the media organisation in a congratulatory letter to "tell China stories well" and spread China's voice.
The message was seen as part of Beijing's ambition to build a new global narrative around China while also challenging liberal democracy as the ideal developmental and political framework.
But as China continues to extend its reach across the world, some Western countries are pushing back.
In the same month CGTN billboards sprung up across Australia, the United States ordered the network and China's state-run media agency Xinhua to register as foreign agents over fears they could be used as tools for political interference.
And observers say that China is quickly understanding the importance of information warfare, and the power of media to shape public opinion not just at home, but around the world.

^ Related ...

China's terrifying and dazzling molten metal festival at risk of dying out, performers say



Wang De does not mind a bit of danger.

Key points:

• The town of Nuanquan celebrates Lunar New Year with molten iron
• Once known as the "poor man's fireworks", iron is flung against a wall to create sparks
• There are fears the tradition will die out, with only four performers left in the town

Every year during China's Lunar New Year festival, he risks severe burns to give his neighbours — and an increasing number of tourists — a good show.
He is one of just four men in a small town called Nuanquan skilled in the art of the "Iron Flower".
It is a 500-year-old tradition, which arose from the region's history of iron production.

"While rich people had fireworks, poor people in this region created their own by flinging molten iron on the city wall," he said.

When the molten metal hits the cold brick, it explodes into brightly glowing shards.



The tradition dates back 500 years - The Iron Flower shows draw thousands of visitors from around China.

Originally Posted by David48atTD

The clip explains it all

The pole dancer is clearly a gymnastics/yoga instructor.

Nothing in the least wrong with her performance.

Originally Posted by OhOh

It appears Jersey, allegedly the UK's version of Hong Kong (a British self-governing territory in the English Channel), has started issuing Chinese themed postage stamps.




A stamp features a Horinger-style paper cutting in the shape of a pig [Photo/helin.gov.cn]

The island of Jersey, a British self-governing territory in the English Channel, recently issued a special stamp to mark the Chinese Year of the Pig. The new stamp features a Horinger-style paper cutting in the shape of a pig. This type of paper cutting is famous in northern China, and was originally developed by Horinger women living in rural areas.

Duan Jianjun, a national paper cutting expert, designed the new pig for Jersey Post and used incised carving to produce the distinctive cutting for the stamp. The design also includes the peony, bird and plum blossom, which are designed to convey joy and harmony.

Horinger paper cutting makes British stamp issue

In case you didn't notice this is the wacky stuff that goes on in China thread, not the wacky stuff that goes on in Jersey thread .

I was amused at the explanation of Jerseys status being inserted into a pretty boring topic. Worth a gram or two. The China Daily has a floor full of sub-editors trying to insert a political point into every article..

In this case Postage Stamps, bravo.

Bohemian Rhapsody premieres in China — but without any references to Freddie Mercury's homosexuality



Blockbuster Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody opened in China over the weekend in a limited number of arthouse cinemas, but the release has been heavily censored to remove any mention of the Queen singer's sexuality, or his later AIDS diagnosis.

Key points:

• All references to Mercury's homosexuality were cut in the mainland China version
• Audiences were confused as some major plot developments were edited out
• The Queen front-man died from AIDS-related illness in 1991

Around four minutes worth of footage — including intimate scenes about Mercury's personal relationships and scenes with drug references — was cut from the more than two-hour film.

ABC bohemian-rhapsody-censored-in-china-gay-references-removed/10911706

Originally Posted by Cujo

In case you didn't notice this is the wacky stuff that goes on in China thread, not the wacky stuff that goes on in Jersey thread .

Can't fault Jersey though. People collect first day covers etc.

Obviously tapping into the chinky market, which should make them a few quid for the post office Xmas shindig.

Previous video ...



Explosives were used in a dramatic operation to break up a frozen river in China’s northeastern Heilongjiang province.

The controlled blast along a nearly 3km stretch of the waterway was conducted by officials trying to reduce the risk of flooding caused by ice jams when the river thaws in spring.

South China Morning Post

I wonder how many fish died

Don't worry, the fish were sedated with a chemical wash, introduced upstream, prior to the explosions. They are said to have been in ecstasy prior to the ice cracking.

The local fish monger shipped the fresh fish to LA. They went like salmon brownies at all the best parties.

Acting sad in public might seem like a normal response when your parents die, but in China it could see you locked up in an "education centre" indefinitely.
It's one of a total of 48 "suspicious signs" — including owning a compass, telling someone to stop smoking and eating breakfast too early — that could let Chinese officials know you're an "extremist".



https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12226178

Included on the list: Abstaining from alcoholNot allowing officials to sleep in your bed, eat your food, and live in your house
Having a VPN
Abstaining from cigarettes.

They want you drunk, with emphysema.

Video game addiction: China imposes gaming curfew for minors


China began regulating the gaming industry to address a rise in near-sightedness among children - Getty Images

China is imposing a curfew on online gaming for minors, the government has announced.
Gamers under 18 will be banned from playing online between 22:00 and 08:00.

They will also be restricted to ...

• 90 minutes of gaming on weekdays and
• three hours on weekends and holidays.

Its part of China's latest move to curb video game addiction, which officials say is damaging to children's health.

China is one of the world's largest gaming markets.


https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50315960

In what possible sense is that either 'weird' or 'wacky'?

Not every guiding principle in the 3W is doom and gloom. Makes sense to me if it could be enforced, and even more sense for the 'free' world to follow.

I know, I know, parents should be able to impose limits without gov interference, but sometimes a helping hand...

^^^ these rules about gaming for youths are not harsh, that's the same numbers as my house rules except they apply to any phone activities, not only gaming (video streaming, social networks...)
Rules every parents should enforce themselves without government intervention...there are apps that allow to monitor and control children phone activities.