User profile: michael2015

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Kunming weather

@Alien
My professional experience is commercial, military, and academic - primarily with US, Japanese, Chinese, and US subsidiaries in the UK working mostly at Chief Engineer or C-level. From a management perspective - I've seen massive fraud, widespread professional plagiarism (copying other company's implementation documentation and trying to present it as original engineering work), pervasive and persistent contract fraud, design fraud, project fraud - the list is endless (aka what is WRONG with this world?). I ALWAYS have to prepare for staff meetings with subordinates in advance - as they've also engaged in fraud, criminal activity (embezzling, misuse of government resources), and just plain outright bold-faced lies. So I'm exceptionally pessimistic regarding processes that involve people. Trust is an exceedingly rare thing for me, professionally.

@Geezer
Certain physical phenomena occur within limited "bands" of conditions - example snow or rain will form within a limited spectrum of temperature, pressure (altitude), and humidity.

As an example - assume snow only forms between 0-10C - then expand your graph to include -10 to +20C. However you also limit your simulations or lab measurements to the 0-10C band.

Viola - you have random data within the 0-10C band, with occasional data points outside due to experimental errors, drift, etc et viola - your random data is now essentially banded - has an upper and lower limit, and you may now proceed with applying curve fitting algorithms to random data.

Statistics and accounting are commonly known "inside the profession" as "lying with numbers". The buzzword for this today is Decision-based data - cherry-picking data to support a biased, pre-disposed position.

Data-based decisions are not always correct and decision-based data is rather moot, but this is the illusion of the US MBA management philosophy and it's spread into government, academia, and is prolific in industry.

But - at the end of the day - it's still just my personal opinion, based on multiple severely polluted professional careers, within narrow spectrums of domestic and multinational corporations, government interactions (to include SOEs), etc.

Your milage may vary (YMMV).

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Kunming weather

@janjal
Since the data is banded - one simply scales the plot so the data appears to fall within a band et viola - one can now curve or trend fit a line to random data. Computers and plotting/charting software is a great tool for faux science.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Kunming weather

On that note - I personally witnessed a corporate PhD scientist fitting a straight line (computer graphing software is great) to random data on a multi-billion dollar program.

His lab had an intrinsic problem, causing his data to go random (drift) - yet he was fitting trend lines to random data and presenting it to certain government officials as science (which doesn't say much for our government officials either). Corporate and government abuse in certain developed countries is rampant and as dangerous an issue facing us today, as climate change. Need I reiterate the 2008 Global Financial Meltdown.

So "science" is a heavily abused and suspected word, in today's world. Or maybe I'm just a grumpy old man.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Kunming weather

Science, like professional accounting, can be data-driven decisions or theory or the reverse - decision-driven data - cooking data to support a decision.

(The) Big Bang Theory is just that - a theory that seems to fit certain collected data (we amazingly allegedly have some captured/measured data from energy emitted billions of years ago).

Is the universe continually expanding or is it in a cycle of expansion and contraction? How much data do we need to collect before we'll know definitively as opposed to extrapolating. Are we the proverbial frog in the well, staring at the sky (limited vision).

Climate change is allegedly based on a multitude of things, but the investigations allegedly span data collected from several millennia (geological core samples - roughly equivalent to the alleged science of reading tree rings).

Our goal - sensationalist panic inducing media aside - is the responsible management of global weather, which some nations will obviously attempt to weaponize - you can count on that.

Layered on top of that is the knowledge that an exceptional solar flare event can also utterly and completely extinguish if not vaporize all life on earth, within a few seconds.

Solar flares almost always interfere with radio-based telecommunications - to include our global and localized internet.

So is climate change a reality or merely pseudo-science with a political agenda - the containment of China and other emerging economies for continued exploitation and oppression by developed countries.

Climate change is suspiciously focused on China and the USA has a known and historical penchant for containing China. THAT is measurable.

Also - note that although President Bill Clinton signed the agreement (to his credit), the two-headed (faced) USA refuses to ratify (make it law) the Kyoto Accord because it contends (President Bush) that it would "cause serious harm to the US economy" and "it exempts 80% of the world". The US economy alluded to is the US oil and coal industries - strong supporters and lobbyists of the Bush administrations. The 80% of the world are developing nations who depend on fossil fueled energy and infrastructures (transportation) to develop economy and drag themselves out of poverty.

US refusal to join the world on this position without offering viable solutions to developing nations, as a global leader is both consistent and debatable, indicating obvious political bias on the alleged science and a continued callous and arrogant attitude toward developing nations (to include it's next door neighbor, Mexico).

Also note - Canada also recently withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol, although that impact was superficial.

So - climate change - an evolving science heavily biased by politics and big-money lobbyists on both sides of the issue.

However the by-products of climate change are definitely invaluable - a greater global appreciation for our co-existence with our natural environment, a committed and measurable drive towards renewable energies by China et al, and renewed interest in responsible water management.

Even the USA (wealthiest nation in the world, bar none) had an incredibly irresponsible toxic municipal water supply issue (Flint, Michigan) under the usually oppressive auspices of the US EPA (US Government's Environmental Protection Agency) dominion - making the EPA look yet again like just another impotent bloated government agency than a vigilant protector of the people, who's taxes support this reeking stench of a bloated carcass. FYI, Flint Michigan is a city of poor, economically disadvantaged people, so they were left to waste away. Not much I can say about that.

Fortunately, sensationalist media coverage can also be used for socially and environmentally responsible issues - on very rare occasions.

So, global warming, climate change - eternally debatable (aka academic). However - renewable energy, water management, air pollution, soil pollution, responsible environmental management - these benefits of heightened awareness and responsibility at the global and the individual level are undeniable.

As I pen this monolog - the construction project next to me is wafting toxic fumes from glues, paints, and who knows what else...free and legal "high" I suppose. China - still a developing nation (well, Yunnan) with a long road ahead - but it's on a good track, for now.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Need a USD money order

I use PayPal...you can also sign up for PayPal in china. It's NOT inexpensive, but for small amounts (say, less than USD 10k), it's fast, effective, and reliable.

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Ahh...city folk. Visit the countryside to see HUGE kitchens with giant woks (usually a side-by-side pair), albeit wood burning. Don't need to emigrate to the USA for a larger kitchen - just move to the countryside.

Reviews

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Took the family here to stroll around and there's a LOT of walking. Many of the stores appear closed, but the bar street nestled inside seems quite well populated.

We chose the Japanese restaurant near the entrance (there are many entrances). The food and service was quite acceptable - from the fruit salad, tuna salad, curry pork cutlet, and the ubiquitous California Sush Rolls (you can buy the small size or the large size).

It rained a little while we were there, which helped drench the heat and humidity. When the sun came out - it was HOT.

If you're lucky, you'll occasionally see people (usually women) wearing minority clothing being photographed by professional photographers. There's also a small photographer's store where you can rent various ethnic clothing and have professional pictures taken (maybe the two are related...now that I think about it).

There's also the ubiquitous game centers (shooting galleries etc) for the kids and unaccompanied teenagers.

It seems the most popular venues were the prolific food courts - but that's probably related to it being lunchtime when we visited. The place is clean and plenty of antiqued door fronts (the wood panels) for those photo shoots.

Capping off the visit, one must of course take pictures on the bridges crossing the lily ponds and the landmark temple spire. We didn't make it to the surrounding temples. Maybe next time.

Transportation is everywhere - but make sure you have your mobile phone ride share app working, just in case you hit rush hour.

Again - for now - it seems many vendors were closed - but I'm positive that'll change again as the economy begins to rebound.

Excellent way to spend a half day as opposed to the kids faces glued to their mobile devices...fresh air, good food, plenty of people watching, and walking...walking...walking...

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Took the family here a few days ago. Wonderful place to go walking with lots of snack & drink kiosks (along with chairs and tables) to rest frequently. This zoo is similar to most other large open air zoos with reasonably spacious enclosures. This place is HUGE so be prepared for a LOT of walking. Consider wearing sensible hiking or walking shoes. Your feet will be grateful.

Entrance fees when we went still cny100 for adults and kids cny70. Feeding the animals at the managed venues - cny30 per site...per child. Monkeys can be fed by tossing carrots and sliced apples into their enclosure - which is good. Monkeys famous for flash mobbing. Can be terrifying for kids (and adults). Even in the enclosures, you can clearly see they're territorial and aggressive. Bullying is displayed frequently enough for teaching moments for the kids (cuz there are monkeys in all schools everywhere in the world).

MOST people bring their own food and drink, as the kiosks are quite expensive. Example a cny5 drink outside is cny10 in the zoo, so expect most everything to be twice as expensive. I had a bbq chick drumstick (leg?) for cny25...ouch.

Bring carrots. LOTS of carrots. The zoo has several managed (paid) and unmanaged petting areas for most semi-domesticated animals, such as the Alpacas (seriously cute), deer, giraffes (ok...you can feed the giraffes on an elevated platform, but probably difficult to "pat" the animals. It's kind of spectacular to actually see giraffes face to face - these animals are simply vertigo inducing huge and tall.

The seal show was nice - typical of seal shows everywhere. Seals are kind of like the dogs of the sea. Friendly and ravenous appetites so easily trainable.

Lots of cheap touristy souvenirs to buy the for the kiddies (and relatives kids).

HIGHLY recommend taking the bus tour - they basically zoom around picking up and dropping off customers (they check your e-ticket at every pickup site) at entrances and exits to walking enclosures. They'll drop you off at roughly 15 minute walking sites. NO need to rush and you can grab ANY bus upon emerging from the walking enclosure sites.

Of course, the ultimate attraction always the lion and tiger exhibits at the top of the mountain.

Bring a fan. It gets hot. We were fortunate as the sky was mostly overcast so the temperature was generally cool, but heated up almost instantly whenever the sun peeked out of the clouds.

Bring LOTS of water. Most veteran tourists have their own liter bottles of water. Bring your own umbrella. When the sun comes out - it's HOT. Bring a wide brimmed hat if you're into comfort over vanity. SUNTAN LOTION never goes astray.

Aside from that - typical Chinese group site with everyone rushing the buses and ticket counters. Not so much rushing for the food venues, so seems the elevated prices keep that comfortably in check.

All in all - GREAT place to take the kiddies (or a date if you both know you're into each other - cuz you'll be spending an entire day together). The Outdoor Zoo seems exceptionally well designed with plenty of both managed and unmanaged (eg walking deer along the roadside and the stroll through the peacock "garden").

Easy cab or shared ride out and back. Taxis aplenty when you're ready to leave (just walk past the parking lot gate - they'll be waiting for you). You should consider dining out or delivery at the end of the day.

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Took the kiddies here again.

1. It's FREE.
2. NO knives, lighters, sharp objects, etc. There's a place in front to check bags, luggage (if you're traveling), etc - but the exit is in the rear of the monolithic building, so it's a bit of a hike to walk back around to the checked storage area (it's also FREE).

THIRD FLOOR
We went straight to the third floor - History and artifacts of Yunnan (mostly). Rich history - lots of original sculptures etc removed from grottoes and displayed in the museum. Lots of English language titles and occasionally some explanatory text in English.

SECOND FLOOR
This is the evolution floor with lots of petrified artifacts - sea life mostly, lots of recreations of animals and environments from pre-man times.

There are coffee shops and dining areas on the first floor and drink vending machines on the second and third floors. The place is HUGE so a great place to take the kiddies and walk around until they're tired. They'll probably enjoy the dinosaur exhibit on the second floor the most. Wait a few minutes and the dinosaurs will roar and move their heads and maybe pretend to chew (open and close their maws).

PLENTY of parking and unfortunately NOT close to any subway station, so you'll have to grab a cab or rideshare but seems taxis and transportation are aplenty in the city and surrounding environs.

And...it's FREE for now. Museum closes at 5pm so make sure you leave by 430-445 so you can hike back to the storage area if you checked anything in as they also close at 5pm.

Enjoy!

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This is a great place to walk around and generally kill time while shopping for nothing in particular. Nearby is the Paulaner Brewhouse for super fantastic food, coffee and drinks, outdoor patio dining or just hanging and people watching.

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DATE
2022.01.17

SUMMARY
Just popped in for the annual to biennial visa health check. Cost was CNY 487 - don't forget to bring at least THREE (3) visa pictures and your mask.

As usual, there are TWO health codes to display - the usual kunming/yunnan green QR code and the green "Arrow" code.

ARRIVAL
I went late in the morning, but still managed to shuttle through all the departments and get out before lunch.

I used didi to get there and the map now correctly shows the rear parking entrance as the destination drop-off point. You can also take the subway to a nearby station, and walk walk walk walk walk - it's actually not too far but it will elevate your blood pressure and pulse (BPP) - so make sure to rest 5-10 minutes to allow your BPP to drop back to resting state.

Upon arrival at the main gate, you'll do the usual check-in procedure - mask, sign-in, green QR code, temperature check.

Once inside - Present your passport, green QR code, and green (hopefully) arrow code. Scan the QR codes on your left as you walk in if you don't have these prepared already. The staff will then pass you an application form. Walk over to the wall of stand-up desks to your right, fill out the forms, then stroll over to the clerks to present the form. They'll print out a sheet of bar coded labels for your tests, take your digital picture, attach everything together with a paper clip, then direct you to the cashier to pay CNY 487 (WeChat, alipay, bank card, etc) Don't know if they still accept cash.

HEALTH CHECKS
Hike up the the 2nd or 3rd floor to start the battery of tests:

3rd floor

Chest X-ray

Physical (height, weight, BMI/body mass index)

2nd floor

ECG

Sonogram

Urine test

Blood Test

Eye test (color blindness and eye chart)

Dental

Heart (pulse, blood pressure)

I may have missed a few like the OB GYN...

It seems they also have a COVID/NAT (nucleic acid test) center in a shipping container lab outside the health center - but I didn't bother jogging over to check if it was still operational. In retrospect, should've checked, as the hospitals are jam packed with Chinese New Year travelers.

RESULTS PICKUP
The test results are ready the afternoon of the second day. The facility seems sparsely busy even though they service both foreigners and nationals. There were rarely lines or noticeable waits beyond a few minutes, with at most 1-2 people ahead of you.

Staff are always nice, polite, professional and tirelessly patient for those of us with limited to no communications abilities.