rolling china thread 2011

haha. I think maybe the thing is, that it was originally written in english for newsweek? I can paste one of the news site translations if ya want

【大纪元记者王嫣然编译报道】6月才获释的中国知名维权艺术家艾未未8月28日在美国《新闻周刊》网站上发表文章，猛批中共政府剥夺其公民的基本人权。他表示，北京是一座暴力的城市，是一个挥之不去的恶梦。

这是艾未未2个月前取保候审以来，首次在美国主流媒体公开批评中共政权。他说：“北京是一座暴力的城市，在北京，最糟糕的是你绝不能相信它的司法制度……北京是个恶梦，一个挥之不去的恶梦。”

民工贫困绝望 官商灯红酒绿

艾未未表示，北京是两座城市，一个是“权力和金钱”的北京。人们不关心自己的邻居是谁，他们互不信任。另一个是“绝望”的北京。公车上的人，他们眼里没有希望。他们甚至无法想像自己会有能力买房子。他们来自非常贫穷的村庄，那的人从未见过电或卫生纸。

北京穿西装、打领带的官员告诉外国人，他们可以了解这个城市，鸟巢、央视大楼。官员说我们都是一样的，我们可以做生意。但是他们却否定了人民的基本权利。民工学校关了，医院看病人没钱缝上的线都能再拆开。这是一个暴力的城市。

艾未未在评论中还批评中共当局猖獗的腐败现象和农民工政策。他指，每年，数以百万计的民工来到北京建桥、修路和盖楼。每年他们建造的建筑物面积相当于1949年的北京城。他们是北京的奴隶。他们蜗居在违章建筑里，而北京因不断地扩张又不断地将其拆毁。谁拥有住房？那些政府官员、煤矿老板和大企业总裁。他们来北京行贿，餐厅、卡拉OK厅和桑拿中心的生意都因此火爆起来。

艾未未认为，要正确设计北京城，必须让城市有不同的利益空间，使人们可以共存，使社会形态完整。城市是能提供最大自由的地方，否则它就不完整。我的艺术“鸟巢”不代表北京，我从来没有去想它。奥运会后，老百姓就不讨论它了，因为奥运会并没有给人们带来欢乐。

黑暗司法制度折磨身心

艾未未并以自己被警察非法关押的亲身经历，揭露中国司法制度的黑暗。他说，在被秘密关押期间，他经历了巨大心理折磨和压力，监狱里的经历让他明白，中国有许多地点秘密关押那些没有身份的人。他只不过是一个匿名制度中的一个数字，“他们（当局）剥夺了我们的基本权利”。

艾未未说，被秘密带走后，被关押在一个不为人知的地点，“只有你的家人为你的失踪四处奔走呼号，但是你得不到任何答覆。”艾未未的妻子每天写各种请愿书、打电话至派出所，询问丈夫的下落，但一切如石沉大海，渺无音信，她得不到任何官方出示的正式扣押丈夫的文件。

今年54岁的艾未未，参与了北京奥运场馆鸟巢的设计，因他引起争议的艺术作品和他对当局的犀利批评，在今年4月4日搭飞机前往香港时被扣押，之后音讯全无，被当局以莫须有的罪名关押了81天，国际社会一片愤怒声讨中共违反人权。在压力下，中共当局并未出具正式起诉艾未未的证据，最后只是以艾未未涉嫌经济犯罪，继续对他进行调查，于6月底才释放他。但当局却非法地规定艾未未在1年内不得接受媒体记者的采访、会见外国人，或使用互联网或同人权活动人士联系。

旅美的政论评论家胡平说，以艾未未的个性和这些年来的所作所为，在获释后经过一段时间的心理调整，还会像以前一样对中国现状的不满发出他的呐喊。

胡平说：“从这里，我们更能看到一个本色的艾未未，另外也由于他在海内外的声誉，使他的这些揭露，在现在就尤其更有份量。”

路透社报道说，艾未未再次公开批评中共当局，对北京提出直接挑战，看北京如何处理中国名声最大的社会批评人士。艾未未此前已经通过他的推特，为被关押的异见人士作出呼吁。

“好好活着 看中共灭亡”

艾未未在该评论文章上说，上星期一些在公园遇到他的行人，虽然没有跟他交谈甚么，但对他竖起大拇指，拍拍他的肩膀，表达他们的敬佩和支持。

艾未未说：“没有人愿意开口说话。他们在等甚么？他们总是对我说：‘未未，赶紧离开中国吧。要不，好好活着，看着他们灭亡。’”

艾未未曾表示，绝不远走他乡。但是他在最近的文章中说：“要么离开，要么耐心，看他们怎样消亡。我不知道我将怎么做。”艾未未还表示，不知道这篇文章的发表将会给他带来甚么样的后果。

hol' up think I found one

原文：The City: Beijing
作者：艾未未
发表：2011年8月28日
本文由"译者"志愿者 @Michae1S 翻译
本文配有“每日译文精选”MP3音频

北京是两座城市。一座是权力和金钱之城。人们不关心自己的邻居是谁，他们不相信你。另一座北京是绝望之城。我看到公交车上的人们，我从他们的眼睛里看不到任何希望。他们根本不敢想象自己能买得起一所房子。他们从连电和厕纸都没有的贫穷乡村来到这里。

每年数百万人来到北京，为这个城市修桥铺路、盖房架屋。每一年他们都建出了一个1949年时那么大的一座新北京。他们是北京的奴隶。他们蜷缩在违章建筑里，被政府摧毁后又卷土重来。谁拥有房子？那些政府的人、那些煤老板、那些大企业的老板。他们来北京送礼――因此北京到处都是饭店、卡拉OK和桑拿会馆。

北京对外国人说，你们能读懂这个城市，我们有同样形式的建筑：鸟巢、中央电视台大楼……官员们和你们一样西装革履，我们是同类，我们可以做生意。但他们拒绝给我们最基本的权利。你们会见到民工子弟学校被关闭，你们会见到医院把病人的伤口缝合后，发现病人没钱，于是再把伤口拆开。这是一个暴力之城。

【原文配图：对一位被关押又被有条件地释放的人来说，不能相信邻居，不能相信生人，不能相信北京官员，也不能相信法庭。 Chien-Chi Chang/Magnm Photos】

在北京最糟糕的事情是，你永远不能相信司法体系。没有信任，你无从分辨。就像一场沙尘暴。你无法把自己当作这个城市的一部分――这里没有一个地方与你有关，没有一个地方你乐意去。没有一个角落，没有一块地方被阳光照耀。你对任何材质、纹理和形状都不会留下回忆。所有的东西都一直在改变，依照某些人的意志、某些人的权力。

想要合适地对北京进行设计，你必须让这个城市为不同利益的人群提供空间，这样人们才能共处，这样才是一个完整的社会。城市应该是一个能为人们提供最大自由的地方，否则它就是不完整的。

我不得不难过地承认，在北京我没有喜欢的地方。在这个城市里，我不想去任何地方。这个地方如此单一。你根本不想看看经过你身旁的那个人，因为你完全知道他在想什么。没有好奇心，甚至也没有人与你争论。

我的作品全都不代表北京。鸟巢――我压根没想过。 奥运之后，普通人不再讨论它，因为奥运没有给人们带来欢乐。

北京也有积极的方面。人们仍然在生小孩。这里有几个不错的公园。上周我走进一座公园，几个人走来向我竖起大拇指，或拍拍我的肩。为何他们要用这种隐秘的表达方式？没人愿意说出来。他们在等什么？他们常常对我说："未未，离开中国吧。"或者："你一定要长寿，要看着他们死掉。"无论是离开这个国家，还是耐心的等着看他们怎么死，我都无所适从。

我的痛苦经历使我明白，在这个大监狱里，他们有很多秘密关押人的地方。那些人没有姓名、只是一个号码。他们不关心你要去哪里、犯了什么罪。他们看见你，或者没有看见你，没有一丁点的差别。这样的秘密关押点数以千计。只有你的家人在为了你的失踪奔走哭号。但你无法从街道办或者官员嘴里得到答案，甚至最高层，法院、警察、国家领导人也不知道。我的妻子每天都写这样的申请、每天都打电话到警察局。我的丈夫在哪里？请告诉我我的丈夫在哪里！没有文件，没有信息。

那些秘密关押点最可怕的地方是它完全地彻底的切断了你和你记忆中熟悉之物的联系。你被彻底隔离。你不知道你将在里面呆多久。但是你真的相信他们可以对你为所欲为。你连质疑的机会都没有。没有任何东西可以保护你。我为何在这里？你会对时间都不确定。你开始丧失心智。对任何人来说，这都非常可怕，即使是对有着坚定信仰的人来说也是如此。

这个城市与他人无关、与建筑无关、与街道无关，只与你的心理建构有关。如果我们还记得卡夫卡写的他的那个城堡，我们就能有所体验。城市确实是一种精神状态。北京，是一个梦魇，一个无尽的梦魇。

haha that's a translation by someone else - yeah don't think Ai Wei Wei published one in chinese. but that should help in yer translation effortsss

Wang sweet compilation was released in June of well-known Chinese artist Ai Weiwei Rights on August 28 in the U.S. "Newsweek" article published on the website, Mengpi the Chinese government denied their citizens basic human rights. He said that Beijing is a city of violence, is a lingering nightmare.

wang sweet compilation otm

yeah, i knew it was originally in english. i had never seen a full chinese version. someone asked me to find one for them today. thanks, dude!

http://www.chinalawblog.com/2011/10/china_smells_like_2008_gloom_and_doom_edition.html

china bubble bursting soon? no more free candy in the form of government backed bank loans? just a side-effect of measures put in effect by the CCP to slow down the economy?

O_O

http://www.chinahush.com/2011/10/29/driver-dodges-hundreds-of-steel-rods-during-collision/

surely a hommage to the british pavillion at the shanghai expo

http://shanghaiist.com/2011/10/28/kim-lee-li-yang-files-divorce.php

*pumps fist for kim*

but jesus christ, li yang, you go fucking die:

Li Yang has in previous interviews described his marriage as a cultural experiment. In one interview, he explained why he married Kim as follows:＂I found out that she came to China because she wanted to have babies with a Chinese man, and so I agreed. Our child grew up in the United States till she was about two. When we moved her to China, we discovered that she was very different from other two-year-old Chinese kids. She was very independent. So, in order to research American family life and education, I decided to marry her."

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzE2Mjc3OTMy.html

四川话 is so cool, mad jellies right now

nakh who is this dude

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFEX9EVmnZA

and uh, more falling housing prices

http://shanghaiist.com/2011/10/26/is_the_bubble_finally_bursting_shan.php

i love the beautiful soft focus tea/tarts kfc commercial that's running at the start of every youku video right now, dunno if you guys get it out there

http://shanghaiist.com/2011/10/31/photos_fog_descends_on_beijing_othe.php

i just got home and i could see my breath, despite it being 16 degrees. inhaling and exhaling fine brown dust.

global times says:

Nobody likes air pollution, but China cannot singly pursue improving air quality.

paul merton isn't a bad sort really, he used to do this sort of wounded idiot savant routine on british tv and was sometimes witty

i guess he is still going, i saw a bit some programme of his on india which was really bad

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qian_Yunhui

had no idea about this guy O_O what a horrible way to go

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/Jessica%20Colwell/ai-weiwei-tax-bill-tweet.jpg

ai wei wei's tax bill is 15 million yuan or 2.3 million dollars, or as he says 1 year's profit for the ministry of rails

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2011/10/is_jon_huntsman_fluent_in_chinese_.html

1. from what i've seen, he's a clown (thinking of the jasmine revolution incident).
2. the answer seems to be that no, he isn't fluent in chinese.
3. but i'd like to hear his taiwanese!
4. but is geoffrey sant fluent in chinese and what's his deal?
5. but does it even matter?

fluency in chinese is overrated

if youre a white guy in china you just need to say like 3 words and everybody will cheer and guffaw and bring you wine to drink

idk what can be said about this, but china sure seems fond of small-number sets like

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Furnaces
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Great_Classical_Novels
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Great_Books_of_Song
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Great_Kung_Fu_Masters

this is a thing, right?

yeah dont underestimate the penchant for grouping things together

also the idea that if you take a bunch of good things and combine them you get a super thing

or if you take something and make it bigger it becomes better

or the idea that if you build a replica of something that implies superiority

or the idea that the more expensive something is the better it is

sorry, just ranting

what are the other four great taxonomic penchants?

http://gizmodo.com/5852973/350kg-stainless-steel-fake-leicas-arent-fooling-anybody

this piece of hubris, for example, I'm sure was justified by the idea "it contains elements of the the leica m3-m9, it must be great!" and completely misses the point of a leica

smh

the idea that the more expensive something is the better it is

this is a classic 'nouveau riche' trait right? which makes sense, in context

where's the hubris? it's just a crappy sculpture. if it misses the point of a leica, then leica themselves are missing the point. they paid for them.

i think the blame is all on leica for commissioning that piece of garbage.

see also:

http://www.cnngo.com/shanghai/shop/only-china-leicas-24carat-camera-154867

Grouping stuff actually helps retention for a learner, e.g. 10 heavenly stems, 12 属相. Probably does sod-all for a native speaker though.

if youre a white guy in china you just need to say like 3 words and everybody will cheer and guffaw and bring you wine to drink

― dayo, Tuesday, 1 November 2011 22:48 (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

This principle elevated our previous (and probably next) PM to Chinese stardom. I don't know precisely how good he is at Chinese but the Chinese carry on like he's a genius. Saw his Chinese biography in a shop the other day, it seemed to cast him in a better light than anything written about him here.

there is a leica shop opening the next block up from where i live, the first one outside shanghai/beijing/guangzhou, i think. hope it features a giant stainless steel homer simpson car leica.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-anti_and_Five-anti_Campaigns
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Represents
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_of_Four

"homer simpson car" is the guiding design principle for china

http://asiancorrespondent.com/59851/chinese-man-builds-home-made-ipad/

it's like cool, you spent all that time building a... windows tablet

http://i.imgur.com/9FTPk.jpg

two trucks carrying 72 tons of dynamite explode at a gas station

like, really?

nakh, is this football with chinese characteristics

http://shanghaiist.com/2011/11/01/shenhua_coach_invades_pitch_to_lift.php

there was a story many years ago about china taking its best football prodigies to some outback location in brazil where they were to be intensively coached by native talent, ready to explode onto the world stage about.....now, i guess

lol at homemade tablet w/ apple logo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4yW6Y54168&feature=player_embedded#!

two trucks carrying 72 tons of dynamite explode at a gas station

like, really?

― dayo, Wednesday, November 2, 2011 11:08 AM (6 hours ago) Bookmark

O_O

global times says：

Nobody likes trucks of dynamite exploding at a gas station, but China cannot singly pursue trucks of dynamite not exploding at gas stations.

ahaha

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-03/the-busiest-place-on-earth/3611032

I love the hell out of Mong Kok but I've never lived there (obv) and 4'11" 'er indoors couldn't see over the swarms of people. Didn't know until now that it's the densest human population on Earth but it's no surprise at all.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/world/asia/03iht-letter03.html?_r=3

interesting look at chinese historiography

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/education/edlife/the-china-conundrum.html

I think this has the potential to be a really good thing! I'm totally cool w/ the rest of the world using the american university system as a luxury good, if it means we pay less. and a chinese 20 something probably is getting more out of the university of delaware than most americans there.

http://v.youku.com/v_playlist/f12279621o1p0.html

is that the woman falling from a bridge one? might need a warning.

I think this has the potential to be a really good thing! I'm totally cool w/ the rest of the world using the american university system as a luxury good, if it means we pay less. and a chinese 20 something probably is getting more out of the university of delaware than most americans there.

― iatee, Thursday, November 3, 2011 10:29 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark

dunno if it's a 'luxury good' - a lot of times these kids are blowing through their parents + extended family savings. chinese families are willing to fork over a hell of a lot more for anything education related.

otoh, most universities in china outside of the top tier ones are frighteningly bad. and qinghua/beida barely crack the top 100 worldwide.