Forums > Living in Kunming > who thinks we chat is for business use I remember many years ago when computers became available to common folks. Everyone jumped on the MSN bandwagon because they gave you free email service. Then came Yahoo that offered Instant Messages. So stupid people did free advertising for the rich profit making yahoo and they invited others to join yahoo. In years to follow, this process repeated many times. We have all been asked to join this or join that but amazingly, no one offered a system that can talk to other systems. In time, people had their information posted on several systems because one did not connect with another (MSN, Yahoo, Facebook, etc).
Here in China it was all about QQ. My students would tell me how their password got stolen and I never understood what that meant until I met a chinese techy guy who showed me how he can go in and steal their passwords. I made the move to QQ when yahoo was no longer allowed in China a few years back.
Now its wechat! Went to greenery cafe and they no longer gave us a menu because they told us to go to wechat and order. We insisted and got a menu. When it came time to pay the bill the waitress looked at us like we were crazy when we handed her cash - she told us to pay on wechat. Most people use a wechat number not their telephone number so when they give us their contact info they always use wechat which is useless to a person who does not want to use this crap.
In a few years, it will be a new sytem in place and everyone will make the transition again. For us old timers who have done this crap time and time again, we can see the big picture and no longer fall for this crap.
It is all about profits, that is the reality of the present. So when I see companies that offer many things for FREE, it is clear there is an agenda. The agenda is to get as many people hooked on this as possible. Went to the movie theater last month. Tickets were 80 Yuan but with wechat it was only 30. That is a huge difference and people will get wechat to save 50 yuan per ticket. No agenda there.
In the west, most people have seen how credit cards ruin lives and families. Here in China this beast is just beginning to manifest. I see more and more examples of young people up to their necks in debt because they use credit cards every day to buy junk or a single yogurt at Walmart.
Forums > Study > KCEL a profit-making school Went to KCEL (Dong Feng) the other day. What impressed me most was the very big poster on the wall that had the PSB regulations in both Chinese and English warning students that they can NOT work with a student visa. I think this is very important and all students should be aware of this as soon as they begin classes.
Side note: I think GK staff should regulate (control) all advertisements on GK (classifieds) when it comes to English schools seeking english teachers. As a requirement to put an ad here, the school should provide GK with the authority granted to them by PSB to hire foreigners.
I see many ads for english teachers here and some very clearly state they they can give you a working visa while others do not or are seeking part time work which will certainly not be able to provide a working visa.
The institutions that can not provide a visa are clearly advertising to hire illegal workers.
Forums > Travel Yunnan > Police certificate of no criminal records www.gokunming.com/en/forums/thread/12365/police_clearance - Contact this person and ask him how he completed this process. Read the thread as there is some good information provided.
Forums > Travel Yunnan > Torch Festival - Huo Ba Jie www.gokunming.com/en/blog/item/342/torch_festival_time_in_dali
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I find the smaller events are much more enjoyable. The big Torch festival in Chuxiong (Yi) is very crowded.
I prefer the smaller events in Dali (Bai). I especially like to see the community participate in making the giant torch and all the surrounding ceremonies that are included in preparation the days prior to the event. Best one yet has been in Zhou Cheng near Dali Old Town.
Check internet for different dates for this event. This is a minority festival, not a national festival. It is also a lunar calendar festival so look for the solar equivalent this upcoming week. Fun to watch if you have not participated in one before. Still Fun even if you have seen many of them like me - Hehe! Best to go to different places to see how each is similar and different.
Do not go to the Minority Village near Dianchi Lake - ends up costing you and arm and a leg for a totally fake and overcrowded environment. Best to find a small village - Bai and Yi Torch Festivals are very different so best to try a different one every year.
Laos extradites drug suspects to Yunnan
Posted byCannabis is listed as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, the highest classification under the legislation. This means that the substance has a high abuse potential and no safe medical use.
This is a lie because:
1 - Patent # 6630507 – Oct 2003
2 - No one ever overdosed or murdered on Cannabis.
Laos extradites drug suspects to Yunnan
Posted bycasual drug users who do not negatively affect anyone - Read what I just wrote, you are 100% mistaken in this premise. Casual drug users do affect others you just don't know about it.
most people cannot even agree on whether drugs should be legal in the first place? People dont make laws, govts make laws and the govts are filled crimminals. Govts do NOT do the will of the people, they only do what is good for themselves.
Laos extradites drug suspects to Yunnan
Posted byAgain, to understand a complicated topic one must first understand the difference between a functinal (F) addict and a (D) dysfunctional addict. A functional addict seems to live a normal life, never arrested or no run ins with the law. This is the obvious evidence most people see. What people do not see is what happens in the background which is the same for both F + D addicts. The DSM will list these factors and most people know what these are. Problems in the family, divorce caused by the addiction, loss of income caused by the addiction and so on.
There are millions of people who use illegal drugs and never get arrested. And there are millions who use illegal drugs and DO get arrested. We only hear about the ones who get arrested.
For those of you who believe drugs are a victimeless crime, then you failed to consider the mother, the husband, the wife, the children and you are just looking at the fact that the addict did NOT rob a liquor store to get money to support his/her habit.
Laos extradites drug suspects to Yunnan
Posted byMagnifico, if you disagree with #3 then give us examples of how this statement is not true.
Laos extradites drug suspects to Yunnan
Posted byAlien may not agree with all that I wrote but he can understand what I mean because he asked a serious question rather than jumping to conclusions or making sarcastic remarks and name calling.