Tag Archives: china

Jackie Chan Says Chinese People Need to be Controlled

In another case of open mouth, insert foot, another celebrity has said something controversial this week. First, there was Hulk Hogan admitting that he “totally understood” O.J. Simpson. Now, Jackie Chan, who was born in Hong Kong, stated that the Chinese people “need to be controlled.” I knew this one was not going to go away without an uproar, but maybe Hulk should thank him for taking a bit of the heat off of him! Chan was at a business forum in Hainan, a southern Chinese province, when he made his remarks. He said that he felt perhaps a free … Continue reading →

50 Part Bruce Lee Biography to Air on Chinese Television

As odd as it sounds, Bruce Lee has been an action hero around the world, except in China. Lee films didn’t show up on video in China until the 80s, approximately 10 years after his death in 1973. Why was China behind the rest of the world in getting on the Bruce Lee martial arts train? It was due in part to the communist government. But now, China is trying to make amends and give Lee his props. China Central Television has spent $7.3 million making “The Legend of Bruce Lee,” a 50 part series. This is the first time … Continue reading →

How Safe is Our Baby Formula?

With all of the news coming from China about tainted baby formula, you might be wondering about the safety of infant formula in the United States or Europe. How safe is it? Let’s have a discussion. First, in the way of a disclaimer, I am big believer in providing a baby exclusively with breast milk. I personally feel that it is the best way to feed a baby and also the safest way to feed a baby, and that most women could and should breast feed their infants without much exception. I also believe that parents should have a choice … Continue reading →

How Do You Pronounce It?

Is it “Bay-jing,” “Bay-zhing” or “Bay-zheeng”? The 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China are rapidly coming to a close and I have yet to view a day of coverage where broadcasters are on the same page when it comes to pronouncing the host city’s name. Have you noticed this too? Brian Williams spent more than a week anchoring NBC’s “Nightly News” from a place he calls “Bay-jing.” The veteran news anchor makes a concerted effort to place the emphasis on the second syllable and he sounds as though he knows what he is doing. However, lead primetime Olympic anchor … Continue reading →

Hot and Spicy Singapore Rice Noodles with Shrimp

In keeping in the Olympic spirit I have been sharing recipes for some popular Chinese dishes. The local Chinese restaurant in my (very small) town came up with the clever idea of passing out recipes to patrons who dine at their eatery during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Last week my friends took me out for Chinese food to celebrate my birthday and we left the restaurant with a folder full of recipes. Some of them were for familiar dishes and others were for ones that we had never sampled until that night, such as the one below. According to … Continue reading →

Olympic Closing Ceremony—What Will the Chinese Blow Us Away With Next?

Frankly, I don’t know how it is humanly possible to top the brilliance displayed during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, but according to Chinese officials, viewers can expect another lavish production come Sunday. According to reports, several international stars will converge on Beijing to make the closing ceremony of the 2008 Olympics one of the most amazing spectacles the world has ever seen. Included in the all-star line up is world-famous Spanish tenor Placido Domingo, who will reportedly grace the stage in a duet with Chinese soprano star Song Zuying. In addition, insiders confirm that the ceremony will … Continue reading →

China’s Most Popular Export Milking the Olympics

You don’t need to have in-depth knowledge about China to know how much actor Jackie Chan means to the country. Chan and basketball superstar Yao Ming are China’s golden boys and its most popular exports (along with Mu Shu Pork). Right now all eyes are on Beijing as the Summer Olympic Games enter week two and no surprise, Chan is in the middle of all the action. The Chinese government recruited the movie star as an Olympic ambassador and he has been busy promoting the Chinese culture at various sporting events. “The Forbidden Kingdom” star was also given the honor … Continue reading →

How to Avoid Eating Dog When Visiting China

The hotels are ready, the cabs are clean, and the hospitality workers are trained… let the games begin! In less than 24 hours the 2008 Summer Olympic Games will officially get underway in Beijing, China. There have been a number of critics who have questioned whether the country could pull off the massive undertaking, but by all accounts it appears that the Chinese are ready to host the world. Millions of people (including athletes and spectators) have traveled thousands of miles to attend the Games and the Chinese government promises the venues will not disappoint. The country has gotten help … Continue reading →

TV Stars You’ll Be Seeing in Beijing

Hail, hail the gang’s all going. When the Olympic torch is lit in Beijing, China for the 2008 Summer Games next week the entire NBC News family will be there to bring it to you live. Seriously, NBC could rent out an entire hotel just to accommodate the A-listers who will be headlining coverage of the hotly anticipated athletic showdown. Brian Williams will be there, as will Tom Brokaw, Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry, Lester Holt, Richard Engels, Kevin Tibbles, and the Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore… and that’s just the bigwigs from the news department. Bob Costas and a … Continue reading →

China–Ready for the Olympics

Don’t call it a makeover. Chinese officials say what they did to their capital in preparation for next month’s Summer Olympic Games is beyond a mere renovation. They consider it nearly a complete overhaul. Beijing has had seven years to get ready for the 2008 Summer Games and officials there say they’ve made good use of the time and are ready for visitors to start pouring in. English-language and anti-spitting lessons (one of the government’s slogans is: “Spitting kills even more than an atomic bomb.”) along with tutorials in personal hygiene were required for everyone from taxi cab drivers to … Continue reading →