The Sydney Morning Herald has published a list of edicts from China’s spin doctors of the highest level. The first edict says it all: “The telecast of sports events will be live [but] in case of emergencies, no print is allowed to report on it.” Interestingly, the SMH makes no mention of how they came [...]
Archive for August, 2008
BBC’s Cool Gorillaz’ Monkey Olympics Video
I never would have though it, but BBC has got to be one of the hippest mainstream news outlets out there.
Who else would turn to Gorillaz’ Jamie Hewlett and Damon Albarn to produce a video, music and overall theme to their Olympic coverage?
Check out BBC’s Monkey Olympics video – very Gorillaz-esque:
#080808 – An Olympic-sized Twitter Meme
Ba ba ba – as the crowds of Olympic spectators herd themselves into their seats for the opening ceremonies, the eights are everywhere. As, by now, everyone’s likely aware – “eight” is an auspicious number in Chinese culture and it’s no coincidence that The Games are starting at 8:08:08 pm on 08/08/2008. The reason for [...]
China Smokes Iran … In Basketball
This was actually game two for the day, but it’s hard to work a half-day in Suzhou, jump on a two hour train and get to the Nanjing Olympic Stadium (no Olympic events have been or ever will be staged here, by the way) in time for a 2 pm game. Plus, Chico and I [...]
Photo of the Week: Chinese Olympic Cheerleaders
Only two days until the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics and with all the cynicism floating around – we here at Lost Laowai needed a little somethin’ somethin’ to … ahem… raise our Olympic spirits. Thanks to ChineseTools.eu for helping us out. Observant readers will remember we featured these girls previously as well.
The O’Pimpics
Three days to go, the country is primed, factories temporarily closed, cars off the roads, the algea invasion temporarily stymied, battalions of garbage collectors pulled back from the urban front-line, peddlers of counterfeit goods pushed further underground, city streets beautified, foreign media covering China like they just found out it’s there, the delegations of diplomats [...]
While protesting in the park, stop and smell the 100 flowers
It was announced recently that three Beijing parks, miles away from the Olympic events, will be reserved as areas where people can “protest” during the Olympics. Of course, to protest, you’ll have to apply five days in advance and hope your cause isn’t considered, the rather ubiquitous, “against national interests” (anyone wishing to raise a [...]
Did China Follow The Shock Doctrine?
When China shifted its view on food subsidies this week, it was considered a major about face for a country that has been open to free trade for the last 30 years. According to writer Naomi Klein in the conclusion of her book The Shock Doctrine: the rise of disaster capitalism, this turn is happening [...]
Chinese too classless to dress themselves, officials say
I’m supposed to be on a brief holiday in Hangzhou, but couldn’t resist posting about this AP article: Beijingers get dress code advice for Olympics. One of the things that has always bothered me about China is the way that “officials” treat the public like children. Now certainly, anyone that has been in China for [...]
