Radio Free Taiwan

Thanks to Big Fluffy Matthew on Forumosa for the posted scan.

The Taipei Times reported that this racy map was removed from the airport because the shirt worn by local pop-star (who used to take her clothes off a lot and pose too) says “Dirty White Slut”.

Offensive map removed
A publisher has withdrawn tourist maps from CKS International Airport showing a pop singer with a profanity on her T-shirt, the company said yesterday. The free map of Taipei shows singer Vivian Hsu (徐若瑄) wearing a pink sleeveless T-shirt with the words “dirty white slut” printed on it in gothic letters, a pink cap and hot pants. The words seemed to refer to promiscuity. The map’s publisher, the Vision Group, said there had been no complaints about the slogan, but it had still decided to remove the maps from the airport. “The person responsible for issuing the map didn’t understand English, but when we saw the picture, we thought it better to withdraw it from circulation,” a company spokeswoman said. The map is still available at some hotels in Taipei, though. “We have no right to interfere with the hotels, they make their own decision about the map,” she said.

I think I’ll have to visit some hotels. I want to get a whole stack as gifts for all visitors.

Actually, while I’m at the keyboard maybe I’ll tap on a bit about womens’ fashion. It’s gone a bit slutty lately for some reason. Last year it was candy-colored pumps in exotic shapes. These were definately not worn well by Taiwanese ladies who assemble their outfits according to rules I’ll never understand. Some Japanese girls are able to mix up weird things and achieve a nice look that appears effortless and expressive. When Taiwanese women try to copy them, they end up looking like bag ladies from New York just returned from a shopping spree at Macy’s.

Anyway… this year those glaring shoes are less common. Only the odd pair here and there that actually looked okay remains to be seen on anyone’s feet. I guess the girls here need time to figure out what looks ugly. But the new thing is heels. Strappy numbers that scream “look at me.” Spikes even. And short skirts. It’s all starting to go the way of Britany Spears and Betelnut girls. I wish I could say it looked good, but as usual, Taiwanese girls don’t understand restraint. And when it comes to English on their T-shirts, well, who ever reads it anyways, right?

My favorite Web tool, Stumble Upon, (find it for yourself) led me to www.pulitzer.org. It’s great!! Try browsing the photo and cartoon winners for a quick gush of awe.

This year’s winner is here. (But it’s better to navigate from the original URL.)

I wish I thought of this one.

Here’s a more serious concern the New Orleans mess has brought to the surface yet again. Click the picture to visit Snopes.com and get the juice on this one.

Got a new dog. Anne found it abandoned on the street. He’s very cute. We didn’t think of any good original names, so he’s just Didi, which means little brother in Chinese. We think he’s a mix of German Shepherd and Taiwan dog.

Here is a story on Taiwan dogs.

Here is a link to a blog called Taiwan’s Other Side which seeks to redress the apparent bias that most Western commentators have favoring the DPP and President Chen ShuiBian.

And some other Taiwan blog links jut for fun:

One whole jujuflop situation

Wandering to Tamshui

Michael Turton’s Blog, The View from Taiwan His Teaching English in Taiwan Web Page is a good place to go to “get a feel for” Taiwan, assuming you’ve never been here.

Here we go again. The elected officials are busy squaring off again in the legislature. The “blues” are STILL whining about the current government being unfair somehow, but they won’t put their money where their mouths are and call a non-confidence vote. I think the “greens” (who hold the presidency but don’t control the legislature) would love to see a full election happen again to fix the impasse. I think the childish blues would lose big time.

Here is the story….

Click to visit!

THE OSTRICH MANEUVER
Students at Shukuang Girls High School in Hsinchu yesterday shelter in the school’s basement during the Wanan No. 28 military air-raid drill, an exercise that was held in seven northern cities and counties yesterday.
PHOTO: HUANG MEI-CHU, TAIPEI TIMES

My coworker was pulled off the road by police during the 20 minute drill. They still happen once in a while and catch a lot of people by surprise. Perhaps these drills will happen more often now as the government tries to convince the population that the threat of an attack from China is a real danger.

The biggest political controversy in Taiwan right now is the blocking of an arms purchase budget by the “pan-blues”. They are the two main opposition parties - the KMT (Guomindang, or Chinese Nationalist Party) and the PFP (People First Party, a splinter party led by a former KMT biggie who got sore after being ousted in the king of the castle game).

The blues refuse to let a major weapons purchasing plan get off the floor of the House. Why? Well, because they will do anything - ANYTHING AT ALL - to try and make the current administration look ineffective. They will even sacrifice the country’s security.

They have given various “reasons” for their obstructionism. In fact, whenever one of their high priests thinks up a new reason they will spout it off to the media, which is mostly run by blue supporters anyway. Their latest reason is really outrageous and requires a short lesson to comprehend.

During the last election, Chen Shui-bian and the “Greens” (incumbent government) placed a referendum on the ballot. To have force over policy, a referendum must be voted on by at least 50% of eligible voters. That didn’t hapen, partly due to the fact that the pan-blues urged all their supporters to boycot the referendum. Nonetheless, 92% of those who did vote in the referendum voted in favor of defending Taiwan against the Chinese military buildup across the straits of Taiwan.

The blues, of course, claimed the referendum was useless, invalid and stupid. But now, they say it is this same referendum that obliges them to obstruct the latest arms bill. They say the public rejected arms purchases by not passing the referendum quorum of 50%.

So, by their logic, the absence of a referendum vote is actually a negative vote against the referendum. Wow! What a great political system! Maybe next time we should only put one choice on the election ballot and count all those eligible voters who don’t go to the polls as votes against the candidate on the ballot.

Here is the Taipei Times’ editorial on the latest pan-blue idiocy.

Lies, damned lies and KMT `truths’

A juicy quote:

…comparing the KMT in the days of former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) with the bunch of sniveling scumbags on China’s payroll today is a futile exercise.

What matters is this: Taiwan is in grave danger because its legislature is controlled by a group working in the interests of its enemy. It is as if al-Qaeda controlled the US Congress.

Long time, no entry. Did anybody miss me? (Hah! I need an agent.)

I discovered the coolest Website in ages. It’s www.askquestions.org. You can vote on what questions you think the news media ought to be addressing. Everybody complains, but nobody ever tells those pitiful journalists what to go write about. Here’s your chance. If you are really feeling civic, you can ask your own question.

The site was created by a goddess of computer magazine publishing. It’s strangely underutilized. (I normally don’t use that word - it reeks - but perhaps it is fitting in this instance;-)

Here are links to the questions I voted for and, of course, urge you to vote for as well.

My very own question. (Please, please go vote for it….)

Did Presidend Bust wear a wireless earpierce during the Presidential debate with John Kerry?

I want to know about the depleted uranium weapons that have been used by US forces in Iraq.

Privacy Rights of Students: Why is the school administration allowed to search our lockers, cars and personal property, while the police are required to have a search warrant for the same kind of searches?

I liked this comment that was added. (You can add comments too. I think they are subject to editorial approval as well, but hey, give it a shot.)

Is this justified on the grounds that underage kids aren’t entitled to the same rights as adults? Most students turn 18 before graduation from high school. Do the schools make any distinction between adult students and those who are underage?

And this question (and it is a biggie) was submitted by Mother Jones magazine (an old bastion of hippie, do-gooder goodness that is still publishing after all these years). Their logo even appears on the page entry.

Hemp Energy: How come no one big on the left is pushing hemp as an alternative resource for energy?

Beautiful use of “how come” there.

Now, get this. It was submitted on May 4, 2005, presumably by Mother Jones magazine, and I am about to be the THIRD person to hit the “Me Too!” button. Click. Did it. What is this world coming to, that a Web site like this can’t get a f*@#ing random surfer to give a fake email to get the opportunity to click a small f@#$ing possible difference in this world (Don’t worry Mom, I’m not crazy, just typing publicly (sp?)). Challenge my punctuation on that.

And just one more…
Aspertame… Consume it if you dare. (my title)

Here is a link to some of the article AskQuestions.org has tried to answer themselves based on site feedback. They will research stories that get enough votes. That’s nice of them. Can’t beat that offer. Come on, the top question of all has only got 187 votes.

ARTICLES