President Hu Jintao delivers a speech at the CEO Summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Bangkok, Thailand October 19, 2003. Hu said China's economy remains in good shape and this year's target of a 7 per cent economic growth "is well within reach."

Fifth National City Games
 

Art performances are staged at the opening ceremony for the Fifth National City Games at the Helong Sports Center in Changsha, Central China's Hunan Province October 18, 2003. The event, scheduled to close on October 27, is aimed at selecting outstanding athlets for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, thus none of the athlets are more than 20 years old.


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Billy, I have to say it again, your comments make me laugh:) . I don't think you realize it, but your words in English are funny, in a good way. I am not making fun of you, it's just that I couldn't come up with some of the stuff you say if I tried.

The car kissed me. I think that might qualify as a Cellar Greatest Hits post. :cool:

I think you mean tariff. :)

Keep up the good work Billy:thumb: .

It should be the word
 

I surfed Internet in cyber cafe so I hurry to spell the words. Sometimes I make mistakes. Hope you help me to correct me.

I went car shopping with my dad in Taiwan last year ... a Lexus LS430 costs around $78,000 (US). That's like twice what it is in the U.S.

I asked the dealer and he said it's all the taxes and tariffs (triffes? heh). The retail value of the vehicle is also kicked up like 15% right off the bat - damn japanese.

Billy,
I'm curious, why do you have to go to a cybercafe to get on the Internet? Don't you have a computer at home or at your school?
LUVBUGZ

No computer
 

I have no one computer to use. I have no right to access Internet in company computer. I graduated from my university last year. I have surfed Internet in cybercafe since 1999.

Re: No computer
 

That must be kind of frustrating for you. I can spend several hours on the Internet during one session. How long can you stay online at the cybercafe? Do you have to pay for that time?

Of course, I must pay for it. I often spend half hour in net cafe. In weekend I spend at most 2 hours in it. I can not waste too much time on it because I need prepare for the GRE/GMAT test.

www.x3dchina.com launched
 

Zhao Qizheng (center), Minister in charge of the State Council's Information Office, and Kenneth Podziba, personal representative of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg attend the launching ceremony of www.x3dchina.com in New York on October 21, 2003. The website, aiming to enable North American readers to have a better eyeview of China's ancient culture through the latest high technology on the Internet, is a joint venture between China Daily Information Corp and X3D Technologies Corp of the US.

Sino-Pakistiani joint navy exercise
 

Pakistani navy destroyer Babur awaits to take part in a joint search-and-rescue exercise with the Chinese Navy in the East China Sea. The drill is scheduled to begin October 22, 2003. This is the first time China's navy will conduct a joint non-traditional security exercise with foreign navies. More

Earth resources satellite launched
 

A Long March IV B carrier rocket blasts off into the sky at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in North China's Shanxi Province October 21, 2003, carrying an earth resources satellite jointly developed with Brazil and a China-made Chuangxin I (Innovation I) into orbits.

11 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum
 

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) shakes hands with US President George W. Bush (R) after the reading of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) joint declaration in Bangkok October 21, 2003. The 21-member summit concluded two days of talks with a luncheon where officials had a freewheeling discussion about economic problems and security issues.

Leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) pose for a group photo before the second day of meeting at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Bangkok October 21, 2003.The leaders are (Front row from left) Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Thailand Prime Minister and host Thaksin Shinawatra, Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare, (Back row from left) Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, U.S. President George W. Bush, Mexican President Vicente Fox, Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Taiwan delegate Lee Yuan-Tseh, Chilean President Ricardo Lagos and Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders pose during a group photo session at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Bangkok October 21, 2003. The APEC leaders are (L-R) Russian President Vladimir Putin, Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, Chinese President Hu Jintao, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

Several Chinese Youth Pioneer League members smile during a gathering to celebrate the 54th anniversary of the league in Beijing on October 13.

Rescuers carry out operations at the site where train derailment occured near Yima City in the western part of central China's Henan Province Oct. 11. At 7:48 a.m. on Saturday, a passenger train heading for Zhengzhou, capital of the province, encountered a sudden landslide caused by heavy rain near Yima City. The train driver failed to stop the locomotive in time, causing derailment of the locomotive and five other carriages behind it. Three passengers slightly injured in the accident were hospitalized.

Lin Hui, a two-year-old female panda, eats carrot inside its new home at Chiang Mai Zoo, in northern Thailand, October 12, 2003. Lin Hui and three-year-old male panda Chuang Chuang were presented to the Thai government by China and will act as "animal ambassadors" to reflect the close relationship between the two countries. The Thai government have spent 40 million baht ($1 million) on specially built air-conditioned enclosures and a recreational area for the pandas from China's Cheng Du city.

Three Swedish opera artists are exchanging ideas with their Chinese counterparts after they watch the exhibitions at the Eighth Chinese Opera Festival held in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province on October 13, 2003. The foreign artists spoke highly of Chinese traditional culture and excellent shows at the festival which, starting from October 8, lasts two weeks.

World top player Ma Lin lived up to his reputation by trouncing Kalinikos Kreanga of Greece to claim the title at the ITTF Men's World Cup in Jiangyiin on Sunday. It is the first men's single title at a major international event for China after the ITTF, governing body of the sport, introduced the three-step reform of big ball, 11-point system and no-hide service since 2000 Olympic Games.

Foreign visitors look remote controlled planes at China International Fair for Toy, Hobbies and Gift Friday, Oct. 10, 2003 in Shanghai. A major toy industry association plans to begin inspecting factories - most of them in China - to ensure they meet health, labor and safety codes, an industry official said .

Fireworks from the United States team burst over the sculpture of Golden Bauhinia, a symbol of Hong Kong, October 12, 2003. Teams from Japan and the United States participated in a large-scale show during the Hong Kong International Musical Fireworks Competition on Sunday.

A Chinese worker repairs the roof of a building against a backdrop of an advertisement for a French cosmetic company in Beijing October 14, 2003. China's State Statistical Bureau is due to give the latest snapshot of the economy on October 17 when it releases third quarter data on GDP growth, industrial output and inflation. The economy will finish the year in strong shape.

Visitors dip cookies into a chocolate fountain during the opening day of Jakarta Chocolate Expo 2003 in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2003. The event was aimed to provide an expose on the latest developments in the chocolate industry in the country.

Has to be done.

I was quite amused by the pictures of the world leaders in their solidarity pajamas ... I wonder what possessed the organizers of such an event to require that everyone dress in something other than the typical approved diplomatic formal wear? Okay, I understand the concept (like in the Chairman Mao days) of everyone dressing alike to remove any perceptions of class or status ... but this is just weird.

(I wonder if they performed a June Taylor-like dance number)

I also had a question about the train derailment pictures ... the accompanying story said three people were treated at a hospital for injuries? Usually there are multiple fatalities and many more serious injuries than that! The story mentions 5 overturned passenger cars in addition to the locomotive.

Putin looks like he'd like to smack the front row.:D

China Female flight attendants
 

Female students majoring in flight attendance from the Nanchang Institute of Aeronautical Technology pose for a photo before a training airplane October 23, 2003. As China's first batch of students studying for a bachelor's degree in flight attending, the women were recruited from tens of thousands of senior high school graduates in more than 10 provinces.

Joint naval operation
 

A wounded sailor is winched to safety by a Pakistani helicopter as part of a joint rescue exercise with the Chinese navy in the East China Sea October 22, 2003. It was the first time Chinese naval forces had conducted joint exercise with its foreign counterpart in a non-traditional security field.

An injured sailor is assisted to a Chinese helicopter during the simulated operation.

A Pakistani helicopter winches a wounded sailor to safety as part of a joint rescue exercise with the Chinese navy in the East China Sea October 22, 2003.

China News - English

I didn't know the Nanchang fighter came with flight attendants!

Where is the galley, anyway? And what kind of in flight movies would they show?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Brian

Studying how to catch bachelors as a flight attendant?:D

Hu in Australia
 

Chinese President Hu Jintao speaks to the Australian National Parliament in Canberra October 24, 2003. Hu, the first Asian President to have spoken in Australia's parliament, spoke of closer ties between the two countries. Hu will visit New Zealand after his four-day visit to Australia.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) is guided by Australian Prime Minister John Howard after making his speech to the Australian National Parliament in Canberra October 24, 2003.

Tourism in the balance
 

A parade highlighting a child-balancing feat proceeds along a street in Beijing during a Hong Kong tourism promotion on October 23, 2003. Boosting domestic tourism is an important part of the Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Symposium which opened in the capital Thursday.

Hong Kong is showing advertisements for tourism on American television.

Welcome to HongKong and China mainland.

Guangzhou tourism promotion event opens in Paris
 

Li Wenyao (C), Director of China's Guangzhou Tourism Administration, opens a jug of rice wine with other guests during a tourism promotion event opened in Paris, France, Oct. 23. The tourism promotion event aimed at making more French people to know Guangzhou, the capital city of southeast China's Guangdong Province, and promote development of the city's tourism.

French woman with Beijing hutong
 

French woman Hua Xinmin admires the fine stone carving above the gate of an old folk house in Beijin. Born in a lane in Beijing 48 years ago and as a foreign national of some Chinese blood lineage, she loves hutong (lanes). She has devoted herself to the protection of lanes in the Chinese capital since 1998. Her everyday work is to investigate those courtyards that shoud be protected, or have been demolished as well as those that are being dismantled, and then forward the information to the government and cultural relics sector for the protection of hutong.

Amazing coloured paintings on human body
 

Group Photos: Ancient tomb was found in Sichuan
 

The picture taken on Aug. 14, 2003 shows two terra cotta warriors excavated from a tomb of an official in ancient China's Song Dynasty (960-1127). The terra cotta warriors were unearthed in 1987 in Xinjin County, southwest China's Sichuan Province. A total of 48 funerary objects were discovered in the tomb. The tomb of the wife of the mentioned official was unearthed on Aug. 13, 2003 in the county.

The picture taken on Aug. 14, 2003 shows a mini-house excavated from the tomb of an official in ancient China's Song Dynasty (960-1127), in Xinjin County, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The mini-house and 47 other funerary objects were discovered in the tomb in 1987.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum here in Kansas City has an excellent Oriental collection, complete with several of these pottery buildings. I guess I didn't realize that they were funerary items, though.

The most amazing piece in the entire collection, IMHO, is this one... http://www.nelson-atkins.org/collect...l/bodhisat.htm

It is especially well-situated in the museum, and is an wonderful place for contemplation and introspection. Very, very nice energy there. However, the museum is currently undergoing a major construction and revamping project, and this wonderful statue may be moved. I sincerely hope not, because it is just too perfect as it is.

And, just so you know that I'm not *too* new-agey and all Pagan weird, here's my very favorite piece in the whole gallery, by our own local boy Thomas Hart Benton:

http://www.usc.edu/schools/annenberg...ages/422bg.jpg

Gansu earthquake
 

Photo taken in Shandan in northwest China's Gansu Province, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003 shows a house destroyed by a strong earthquake . Two powerful tremors shook a remote, earthquake-prone region of northwestern China, killing nine people and injuring dozens of others.

Earthquake victims
Gansu earthquake

Memorial ceremony for victims killed by Japanese invaders
 

People carry candles and banners to commemorate the Chinese victims killed by invading Japanese troops in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang Province, October 27, 2003. On October 23, 1940, Japanese invaders airdropped a plague virus on Ningbo, killing 108 local residents. Relatives of the victims are preparing to file a lawsuit against the Japanese government.

Cao Gangchuan meets with Rumsfield
 

Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Cao Gangchuan[left] enters the Pentagon with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003. It was the first visit to the Pentagon by a Chinese defense minister during the Bush administration. The meeting was aimed at rebuilding relations soured from the start of the Bush administration.

England captain Martin Johnson (R) and teammate Dorian West (L) laugh during a ride at Wet and Wild theme park as part of a rest and relaxation day on Australia's Gold Coast October 28, 2003.

Chinese farmers dry corn along a small road on the outskirts of Beijing October 24, 2003. Corn harvest has been delayed in some areas due to cold weather and rains this year.

General Electric Company Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt receives a Chinese scroll with "smooth sailing" note from a lion dancer during the opening of GE China Technology Center in Shanghai October 23, 2003. General Electric, one of the world's most profitable companies, expects to generate $3 billion in sales from China this year and wants to invest in the country's vast financial services sector, Immelt said on Thursday.

Boeing donates $100K to the Golden Key Shaanxi Project to help sight impaired children.

A Turner Prize-nominated work by British artist Grayson Perry entitled "Vase Using My Own Family 1998" is seen at the Tate Britain gallery in London, October 28, 2003. The winner of the 20,000 pound ($34,000) annual prize will be announced on December 7.

Bolivian Gonzalo Calizaya walks past the bus in which he works as an assistant, which was painted with an airplane flying into the World Trade Center and portraits of Osama Bin Laden and Che Guevara, in La Paz, October 28, 2003. The bus owner, JuanTapia, had his bus painted after an image he saw in a newspaper, adding a portrait of his idol, Che. He said many passengers and tourists have their pictures taken with the painted bus, which travels frequently into the tropical Los Yungas region from La Paz.

Chinese tourists walk past sculptures depicting herioc Chinese people on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003. During an annual World Tourism Organization meeting in the Chinese capital, both Chinese and International tourism officials express hope that the tourism industry will recover from the post Sept 11 terrorism attacks and post-SARS virus epidemic. China is increasingly a driver for the industry as more Chinese travel abroad on vacation and more foreign tourist choose to visit China.

A human foetus sucks its thumb in week 20 of the pregnancy, in this undated photo by Swedish photographer Lennart Nilsson. Now 81, Nilsson shot to world fame in 1965 when the American magazine Life ran 16 pages of pictures from his book "A Child is Born" showing the development of a human foetus in the womb.

SOHO satellite view of solar activity on the sun in this undated photograph. The Earth's magnetic field was bombarded with extra energy from the Sun on October 24, 2003 when a geomagnetic storm sent charged particles that affected electric utilities,etc.

New Zealand All Blacks fans show their support during their pool D match against Tonga in the 2003 Rugby World Cup at Lang Park in Brisbane October 24, 2003. New Zealand won 91-7.

Car and Beauty

It is the typical picture in the Culture Revolution in China.

Hunan Changsha
 

Special police forces in Changsha City, Hunan Province, spent 2 hours persuading an abductor to release a woman before overpowering him Tuesday morning. The unnamed man grabbed the captive and demanded a ransom from her family. Police ballooned an air bag under an overpass to secure the woman's safety. The woman, who's name was not released, was not harmed.

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