ScotsAlan

This is a big big issue really. Governments agree to pollution limits, and set targets for vehicle emissions. If the car passes the test, they are allowed to sell the car. VW cheated the Government test. But not only that, they cheated the entire international community who are trying to control air pollution. Basically, it seems the cars are able to pass the test, but with reduced performance. VW knew they could not sell the reduced performance cars, so they cheated. Potentially, an extra million tons of NOX was released into the atmosphere (so far) because of this cheat. The Guardian says this is more than all UK power stations, industry and agriculture produced in a year. VW agreed to meet standards, which Government set for health reasons. VW cheated and we have been breathing more NOX for years because of it.

I mean it was a serious story in an official party newspaper, outlining a new policy of the party. To me it was comical. An atheist Government declares that it is in charge of a God it says does not exist. I will post a link. It is funny. But not as funny as the Chinese constitution. Chinahand should post a link here to that on here. There is no need to be anti party really. The party have a loaded gun pointed at their own feet. They pull the trigger themselves on a regular basis.

There was a funny story in China Daily last week about the various Tibeten Lamas. The Party basically announced that it approves of reincarnation, but the Party has the last say in who has been reincarnated as who. I am still struggling to get my head around that one. I will post a link when I get to my laptop. When I say it was funny, I mean it was a serious article, but it was seriously funny

Nice :-)

I wonder if they will cut off people who don't pay. Maybe people will use a bucket and slop out in the morning. That will confuse the dog wardens when they do their DNA testing on what they think are doggie deposits :-) I am thinking of all the manifestoes that come out at election time. Every one of them seems to include a phrase such as " I will work tirelessly to eliminate the very real issue of dog excrement on our streets". It would be really funny if people started flytipping their shit. What would they put in their manifestoes next election, lol. Gardyloo :-)

Will read your pm next time I am on a pc.

I know of a few people in the local media who try and exploit local connections rather than act sensitively. Is that on a daily basis or once a decade? And what is the topic? Best bull in show. Minister in dogging scandal. I have not seen much evidence of your claims of tabloid reporting techniques in the Manx press. Manx forums always likes evidence to back up factual posts. No evidence? yeah. Whatever. Your just a gossip like us :-)

Good post JW.

History is repeating itself here... http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/4375885?david-cameron Last time they flooded the place with opium. But it does seem a bit strange that Cameron visits at the same time as Biden. But to be honest. From following the Chinese press for a few years.... I reckon its actually Cameron they don't like. The Chinese love Boris. They just don't like Cameron. I suspect this goes back to school days. There was a few Chinese students about when Cameron was running riot in the Burlington club. China does not like Cameron. In my humble opinion. But what would I know :-)

Like I said - the authorities decide what we can and can't be told and the media do as they are told. It has happened here, which might be acceptable due to the nature of the incident, but it happens all the time in many other areas of public life.I believe it is a dangerous situation for editorial decisions to be made based on the guidance of a government organisation over what it is 'appropriate' for the public to know. I don't blame the organisation for offering the advice, and I'm sure it is frequently well intentioned, I blame the media for accepting it without question. I suspect it has more to do with the local media pay and conditions rather than Government censorship. And also, people working in local media are also more likely to be a bit more sensitive than the ambitious hacks of the national press. I reckon the Manx press do a good job on the whole. As do the Manx Police.

I like the way the Manx Police have gone over to social media. Honestly. Sort of makes them seem friendlier. Anyway. Hope all goes well with your investigations Inspector. The result will be just. Of that we should have no doubt . Respect where respect is due I reckon.

Not sure about that. I think it says a lot about the Island that the local police don't have a department of people ready for these instances. In any case, I would have thought it would be better to get people from across to do such things. They have a bit more practice in it than the bobbies do here. Would have thought it would be better to have people who do this week in week out. That makes sense to me. Thankfully these things really are rare on the island. My condolences to the family and friends.

America has told its airlines to comply with Chinese requirements. Go for it China. Put the yanks in their place. As a Chinese tax payer.... I am right behind China on this :-)

I saw this sticker in a car window recently. I did not actually check to see what brand of car it was. But I do remember it was a big SUV.

Chinese geography lesson.... In the world, there are: 1. Chinese people. 2. Japanese people. 3. Black people. 4. Foreign people. Numbers 3 and 4 are confusing tho. Because lots of foreign countries have both. I say this jokingly of course. The problem as I see it is the apparent lack of humility from Japan over losing the war. It just confuses things of course that Japan was not defeated by any fully Asian country. Edit to add. http://english.sina.com/world/2013/0515/590999.html It's not just the Chinese who get upset.

Now that Scotland has declared it wants a bit of the action, do the posters here think that will affect the taxpayers investment? I will edit later to add a link.... It's on bbc. Scotland. Sound stage and tax breaks etc. Edit to add link. http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-22642279

I agree. bw is better.

I would say a good photo is one you like. Yup. I like this. It's what I call a "popper". The subject pops out at you. What makes this photo cool is the "popping" is achieved by exposure and not depth of field that is the norm. I would say your lad's face is maybe just a tad over-exposed, with the background a tad under exposed. At least in this edited format anyway. Focus is spot on. Rule of thirds is playing a part too. The lad's head is on the upper third node. One third down, one third from the right. The main thing for me tho: I think when someone looks at an image, you tend to look left to right. In this case the left of the photo is dull and boring, but at the bottom left the railing edge creates a path for the eye.. Sweep your eye left to right, from bottom to top, along the railing and your view climbs to your lads face. The eye pauses.... Then, still sweeping, you catch the clearly difined edge of his cardie that sweeps down to the bottom right. It's a natural eye movement that gives a pleasing image, I think. A sort of up down as you sweep left to right. A combination of excellent composition and a technically good photo. A shot in 5000 I would say. Or a shot in 20000 for me :-) Maybe try cropping it a bit more so the bottom of the railing is coming from exactly the bottom left corner and his cardie is exactly bottom right. That might look even better. Especially if you can do it in 3:2 proportions, with his head on the top third node. Just my opinion like..... but you did ask :-) Edit to add. I think the cardie helps too. It sort of envelopes the face and detaches it from the background. The eye sort of goes left to right, up and down, then when it gets to the bottom right it catches the button line back to the face..... another pause and turn the page to the next one. Or do another left right sweep. Maybe a right to left sweep looking for other eye paths. Once the lazy attention is captured, the critical comes into play...... Great photo. Certainly caught my attention :-)

This is a good book. It can be a bit dry at times, but it gives an excellent insight into the method of Government at the time.

It's interesting, that while some of the books CH suggests are banned in China, they can still be downloaded within China to a E-reader made by a leading on-line bookseller. Unfortunately, that E-reader is not available in China. It's also unfortunate that many titles are not yet in E-book format. "The Party" by Richard McGregor is a good read. All about how the leadership works (maybe). "Poorly Made in China" by Paul Midler. I can really relate to this book. "Mr China" by Tim Clissold: I found this interesting as it was written by an investment banker. You can get an idea of how investment bankers work rather than China. It's a bit dated now.

Chinahand. It's good that you have studied Chinese culture and beliefs so well. But don't you think you are sometimes looking at it through rose tinted specs? Your knowledge of the Chinese culture surpasses that of any Chinese people I know. Seriously, you are probably in the top 5% of people worldwide in terms of your academic ability to understand what is to most, an unfathomable culture and belief system What I see of Chinese culture, is millions of people blindly following ancient customs and beliefs without knowing why. I asked a Chinese colleage today about some beliefs the Chinese hold. She tried to explain, but in the end she said she believed in it because it was thousands of years old. So it must be true!!! I know we can say the same about any culture. But instead of us just looking at Chinese Culture as something mysterious and exotic, maybe we should be asking how the culture and belief system has contributed to the lack of political freedom. I know this is a ramble... But I have come across many beliefs in China that are detrimental to health, that put the most risk at risk, and others that are just plain cruel. Ramble over :-)

Excellent post Chinahand. Some may question your statisics. But I certainly can't fault your logic.

Or Lxxx's house for a huge big party. Complete with an alternative hangover cure lol.