User Comments - lotsofwordsandnospaces

Posted on: Canceling Dinner Plans

dui :)

I used 2000 as a rough 50 weeks at 40 hours. I have been asked the question before, when I was essentially unemployed (I was returning home to study).

Even the Chinese prices were fantastically too much for me (I had to hitch hike to Irkutsk!), so I tried to come up with a figure which didn't suggest I could afford to travel whilst unemployed, and which didn't seem too ridiculous.

Now I explain this, I feel over-calculating, but like you say - I was going for an even footing.

Posted on: The Black Spectrum of Meaning

Given all the negative connotations, does the word 黑人 keep itself distinct in the minds of Chinese people? The reaction to 娄婧 certainly gave me the impression that there is a certain unfamiliarity, and disdain for people with black lineage.

Posted on: Happy year of the tiger!

新年快乐! Happy new year guys!

How does Italics work with Chinese characters? The same way with English? Is it ever used? Hmm. Highlighting. Add a bit of red. Perfect.

Posted on: Getting Taller (Not Fatter)

Ha! No match for "Dotaman", a Gaelic bearded guitarist. On youtube, and crank it up, because it is quiet!

This was the best Scottish TV could produce when I was growing up.

Posted on: What have you done in 2009?

Google trends also suggests that it is a little more Anglicised English too:

http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22change+jobs%22&ctab=0&geo=all&date=all&sort=0

Especially if you were to normalise for Populations.

Posted on: Canceling Dinner Plans

For this exact situation, simply employ the following formula:

(current fare/current journey time in minutes) * 60

as your hourly wage

Then multiply it by 2000 for a rule-of-thumb based yearly salary.

(I always do this calculation, and imagine how many extra hours he works, and how much time the taxi driver is passenger-less. )

Posted on: Mailing a Package at the Post Office

Henning,

I moved home over land, and when I was making my way through China, I realised that I had no need for my suit, smart shoes and so on in my backpack. So I posted them back. Similar thing, bought in the UK - but mine arrived back fine.

However, One thing this lesson never mentioned, and I may have misunderstood at the time. I *had* to use a Green Postage Box, of a set size. It looked like a military box... Pretty cool. I probably still have it. I crammed it full of everything and posted it for a reasonable price.

Fun

Posted on: Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

Bowie is so good, that people tend to talk about his music, and not his knitted body stockings.

If any other artist went on stage in a golden space-leotard, that would end their career.

Posted on: Why is everyone looking at me?

My recurring dreams include falling for long periods of time, my teeth falling out, and my running being inefficient and the monsters catching up with me.

Although - this lesson was nothing to do with dreams. Clearly an excellent way to introduce people vocab and looking. So. off Topic:

I dreamt of a folding bottle this week. When unfolded it looked like a coke bottle. They had needlessly invented a way of filling it with beer over an ipod connector, and because the straw was too short, they added a window to the side so you could finish the drink off.

Posted on: Minor Changes, Virtual School, and a Lefty in the Studio

I wouldn't say I am ambidextrous, but when I try and write hanzi, I might as well be using my feet - there is seemingly no discernible difference between left and right.

I really need to give the Skritter stuff another spin!