User Comments - weibwo

Posted on: Buying a Plasma TV

Plasma TV uses more energy than LCD TVs.  It is recommended if you watch sports or nature shows that a Plasma TV is better.  LCD blurs or loses some resolution when there is a lot of background movement.

Posted on: Counterfeit Money

You used mo mo for touching.  Why does 魔手 moshou mean evil hands?

Posted on: No Walking on the Grass

This lesson reminds me of the 60's American song included in a Barbra Streisand album called

"Ask Yourself Why".  The last line goes like this:

When you are out walking and you should pass

a sign that says "Keep Off The Grass!"

Put a sign right next to it that says, WHY!

Simple little protest I think.

Posted on: Clearing the Table

When I first went to Danshui close to Taipei, Taiwan, at the restaurants, everyone threw all the bones, shells etc. on the floor.  When customers finished eating they attached ropes that dangled from the ceiling to the table and pulled the table up.  Then the fuwuyuan would take a hose and wash the debris into the drain.

Posted on: Checking Baggage

Jenny:

靠近 is a word for near, close.  When do you know when to say 靠 and when do you know when to say 近.  These types of words always confuse me.  First you teach us that 近 is the word for close then you use 靠 in a dialog, rather than teaching 靠近 before using either of the two words.  There are several examples where this is done in Chinese.  A little confusing.

Posted on: Cosmetic Surgery and Mooncakes

Amber yes put more Chinese in your intereviews.

Posted on: Los Angeles

The people who own Peets are the original owners of Starbucks.  I had a gourmet coffee roasting operation in Portland, Oregon and competed with Starbucks when their coffee was pretty good.  I am a coffee roaster.  However when Schultz took over the owners didn't want to focus completely on marketing and so they bought Peets coffee in San Francisco. Peets coffee is roasted correctly maximizing the bean flavor and they use exclusively Arabica (high grown coffee).  Hence the higher prices.  Starbucks uses some robustas low grown which is why their coffee seems burnt.  Personally I don't like Starbucks.  If you get a chance the best coffee in my mind in the world is Yemen Mocha or Motari Mocha.  It comes from North Yemen but I think you can get at Peets.  Wonderful flavor and one cup pretty much does for the day.  Lots of Caffeine.

Don't forget Pinks on Melrose for the greatest hot dogs in the world.

Posted on: Traffic

Excellent!!!  More!!!  Travel Agency or Train Station, buying a train ticket. 

Posted on: The Panda's Secret Wish

I have told several jokes and my Chinese audience found them funny and laughed.  One example:

A man calls his doctor to ask about the results of his Physical exam.

The doctor says I have good news and bad news.

The man says give me the good news first.

The doctor says you have 24 hours to live.

OH MY HEAVENS THAT'S TERRIBLE.  What is the bad news.

The doctor says I tried to call you yesterday!

Some humor seems to work in both cultures.

Another one that they find funny is:

The doctor says to the patient, you have a terrible skin disease.

In disbelief the patient says I want another opinion.

The doctor says you're ugly too.

I find that the Chinese sense of humor is self deprecating.  They laugh when something happens to another person, like tripping, or accidently hitting themselves.  Or they relate stories about an embarrassing situation that happened to them.  Can anyone explain why?  My wife who is Chinese laughs uncontrollably while I don't see the humor at all.

Posted on: Olympic Excitement

Bravo Beijing and China.  A long time coming.  We wish the Beijing Aoyunhui every success.  I can't wait to see the games.  Unfortunately, NBC has gobbled up the rights.  We have to watch it on the Spanish channels from Mexico to see things live.