China Is Only 60 Years Old - Who Are They Kidding?

I think the Chinese history book has been rewritten. Apparently China is celebrating being China for a grand total of 60 years on October 1st 2009. Excuse me? Sixty years old? What happened to the "5,000 years of history" we've all grown up on? Didn't China invent fireworks? Wikipedia says that fireworks were invented by the Chinese in the 12th Century. I have an inkling that the 12th Century was a tad more than 60 years ago.

Wikipedia goes on to say that papermaking was invented in China in the 2nd Century. Last calculation indicates that paper has been around for more than 60 years.

Wikipedia talks about the Four Great Inventions of ancient China. These include the compass from the 4th Century BC, gunpowder from the 9th Century, (aforementioned) papermaking and printing which is known prior to 220 AD (or CE if you wish to be secular about it).

Wikipedia has an article on Ancient China. Yes, I know we Generation Xers think that it's very funny to poke fun at Baby Boombers and the like as being "ancient" but surely 60 years can't be considered as ancient.

Don't let the communists pull the wool over your eyes people. It's just a load of propaganda. China is at least 100 years old. Now that should be considered ancient. Perhaps some of the people involved in writing Japan's history books were involved in the rewriting of China's history or maybe something just got lost in translation.

More Proof That Australia Is A Special Administrative Region Of China

I've said it before but Australia is the new Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. Well, I have more proof. In 2009 Chinese New Year falls on Australia Day.

Australians All. We have been realigned with the Motherland. Kevin Rudd is happy to allow our mining companies to be bought by the Chinese at bargain basement prices, due to the global credit crunch, but I'm wondering why. It is so obvious that we are the newest SAR of China that it isn't necessary to sell off the farm.

Ni hao.

What's The Koreans' Excuse - They've Had The Olympics?

I've received a few emails lately asking me "Is China ready for the Olympics?" even though some are Japanese signs and others are Korean. My missus picked up a copy of Perth Journal, a new publication for Koreans in Perth, and it is littered with typos. Literally every second advertisement has an error. They need a proofreader, that for sure.

So what is the Koreans' excuse? They've already had the Olympics.


The Perth Journal's disclaimer says that the information was correct at press time. Don't ask me where the mistakes entered the picture.

Arirang - I think it's situated at No. 93. But that should be Barrack St (nice restaurant).

Seoul Buffet - What day of the week is Tuse? Maybe it is the day you would tuse to go?

Sinabro - For those of you on a see food (and eat it) diet, enjoy your meet and chacoral BBQ. Be warned as it is colsed on Monday.

Tile Friends Co. - I wanna get me some of the latest follr tiles.

Meijin Garage - For all your boody parts.

Midori - Books essencial.

Ninniku Jip - They're in form for lunch. (Great restaurant!)

Seizan - Funtions are held down staire.

What Are The Customs Import Restrictions In China?

Australia is quite strict when it comes to what you can, and can not, bring into the country. We are rather generous when it comes to the amount of goods that you can import before having to pay import duties, around the $900 per adult mark I believe, and that probably has more to do with politicians going on overseas junkets and wishing to buy their goods duty-free. Quarantine is a different matter. It is very difficult to import wood, grass, food or animal products. Even baby formula is banned from importation. We're careful about diseases, that's for sure.

I wonder what you are allowed to import into China? How strict are Chinese Customs? I find it very hard to imagine a Chinese Customs official saying, "No, you can't bring that into the country," mainly because practically everything that you buy is made in China anyway. You're not about to hear, "That toaster looks suspect," because it was made in China.

I think Chinese Customs officials would be just as stern as every other country's Customs officials but there would be very little that wouldn't be allowed to be imported.