If you are in Beichen area, from the Specialised store head towards metro (but don't cross the street to Metro), go across Beichen Middle Road at the intersection and keep walking for about 100m towards Expo gardens. You will find a pretty good bike shop there which sells some big brands and the prices aren't ridiculous. English is a problem though, you will want to speak some Chinese if you go here! The guys at the Specialised bike shop are awesome but the prices in the shop are a tad ridiculous (I can buy the same bikes in the west for around 10-50% less). And of course they pretty much only stock Specialised...

I think in answering that question you have to think about why English is such a widely spoken language. Its because America and England came to dominate a lot of the world through business, technological innovation and military might. However it seems this is on the wane from both countries and asia appears to be the lady in waiting on all fronts (while the still have a fair way to go), particularly China.

What I do know is this - in my country how many lao wai spoke Chinese or any asian language 30 years ago... almost none. Now, quite a few people are studying asian languages and speak them fairly fluently. Is this just for fun? I believe most people see asia rising and want to be able to communicate effectively both ways, be it for business or just so they can be part of the new world order that will appear in the not so distant future...

Chinese people in China will always speak their local dialect and/or Chinese first and English or another language second. Being able to communicate in the same way will give you a leg up in business/love/whatever. While Chinese people will communicate with you in English if required (and if they know English), you have to look at it from their point of view. If they have 2 people to do business with/fall in love with/become friends with, 1 that knows Chinese (and therefore probably understands the culture a lot more) and 1 that doesn't, who do you think they are likely to connect with? Remember Chinese is a much more social based culture and less contractual than the west...

So for the OP, the answer is "Yes" you are the only one who is shocked by that kind of "discrimination".

Even in ultra equality minded societies, no one bats an eyelid at ladies nights in bars. Do you protest there and say you are shocked by the sexism?

France the better team? Hmmm... tough to make a call there.

France got lots more ball in the 2nd half due to NZ's game plan falling a bit to pieces, mostly due (I think) to Donald coming on and kicking the ball back to France every time he got it - not really the ABs rugby style as they usually hold the ball and run with it. Rather than the French being awesome and therefore holding possession it was more a case of "here ya go, have the ball" from the All Blacks. The French couldn't capitalise on all the possession though - I think a team with better attacking players probably could have scored a couple of tries as the ABs defence was only just able to contain the French. Just having the ball isn't enough, capitalising on the possession is just as important.

The ABs showed a lot more attacking flair in the first half though, a number of their backline moves would have been tries had their timing been spot on. They also missed so many shots at goal as the French gave away too many penalties within kickable range.

Unfortunately as shown by almost all the games in Semi finals onwards, RWC finals matches are won with brute force grinding play with the occasional lucky or clever try with the winner decided by kicking. I say unfortunately because it would be great if the winner won 6 tries to 5 in extra time with the players still able to break the line and more free flowing rugby. Which would be more entertaining and hence better for the game?

I say the rules should be changed - 3 points for a penalty, 2 for a drop goal, 3 for a conversion, 5 for a try. That way, penalties have a bigger effect than drop goals which are boring (and 3 penalties will beat a converted try still, punishing naughty teams) and teams will be more willing to go for a converted try (which means more attacking play/line breaks etc and more interesting in-goal play as players will really really try to get close to the posts). Can anyone really argue that the drop goal is an exciting element to the game or that it should be worth the same as someone doing something really naughty close to the posts?

In rugby league the droppy is worth 1 point - 17% of a converted try. In Rugby its worth 3, 42% of a converted try. A penalty is worth 2 points in league, 33% of a converted try while in rugby its 42% again. In many ways league is more fun to watch than rugby, mostly due to teams wanting to score tries (due to the points advantage) and coming up with really clever back line moves to do so. Until that happens in rugby finals matches will be decided by luck, kicking and brute force rather than entertaining and exciting play. You only have to look at the NRL grand final (in which 6 tries were scored) to see the difference.

Yep, pretty much everywhere you will find counterfeit clothing except at the actual branded stores. The problem is that there are stores that LOOK like branded stores, sell stuff that LOOKs real, charge the same price (or close to) as if it WERE real but its fake. Good way to make money right? If you want to find fake clothes, you should find the real stores (use the manufacturers website) and shop for the same label anywhere but there. Then you will be buying fake, but possibly paying the same price for it.

Sounds like an episode of Seinfeld right?