China: Fifty-three things you may not know

As if learning Chinese wasn't hard enough, did you know that all bloggers in China are security encryption experts?

‘An effective way to visit Wikipedia’ [zh]—which is blocked in China—from Bokee blogger KangKang:

现在,维基媒体提供了通过HTTPS协议安全上维基网站的方法。使用下面的连接:

Wikimedia now offers a way to safely access Wiki websites via HTTPS. Use the following links:

* 中文维基百科https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/zh/wiki/

Chinese Wikipedia https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/zh/wiki/

* 中文维基新闻https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikinews/zh/wiki/

Chinese Wikinews https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikinews/zh/wiki/

* 英文维基百科https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/

English Wikipedia https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/

如果访问其他语言版本,将上述URL中的zh, en换成相应的语言代码;如果访问其他计划,将上述URL中的wikipedia,wikinews替换为相应项目的名称。例如:

If you visit other language editions, replace the ‘zh’ and ‘en’ in the above URLs with the relevant language code; if you visit other Wiki projects, replace the ‘wikipedia’ or ‘wikinews’ in the URLs above with the relevant project name. For example:

* 维基共享 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ -> https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikimedia/commons/wiki/

Wikicommons
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ -> https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikimedia/commons/wiki/

特殊情况:

Special Circumstances:

* 维基文库公共入口 http://wikisource.org/wiki/ -> https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/wikisource/wiki/

Wikilibrary Public Entrance
http://wikisource.org/wiki/ -> https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/wikisource/wiki/

这种访问方法的问题是跨项目和跨语言连接不能工作。部分解决的方法,是在用户页的自定义配置文件中加入Template:SSLFixupjs。方法如下:

The problem with these kinds of visitation methods is that cross-project or cross-language links won't work. A partial solution is to enter Template:SSLFixupjs into the custom configuration file on the user page. Method as following:

* 进入 Special:Mypage/monobook.js。你可以在沙箱或者自己的用户页写 [[Special:Mypage/monobook.js]]然后保存,通过生成的链接(如果之前没有编辑过,一般是红字)进入编辑。
* 在编辑框输入{{Subst:SSLFixupjs|100}},然后保存。
* 当页面重新显示后,Mozilla/Firefox用户点重新加载(或ctrl-r),IE/Opera用户点ctrl-f5, Safari用户点cmd-r,Konqueror用户点ctrl-r。这一步骤可以刷新页面,强行加载新的js文件。之后,就可以使用了。

Enter Special:Mypage/monobook.js. In the sandbox or your own user page write [[Special:Mypage/monobook.js]] and then save. Via the link this creates (if has not yet been edited, there will usually be a red cross) enter the Editor.
In the Edit frame type {{Subst:SSLFixupjs|100}} and then save.
When the page reappears, Mozilla/Firefox users click Reload (or Ctrl-R), IE/Opera users press Ctrl-F5, Safari users press Cmd-R, Konqueror users press Ctrl-R. This step will refresh the page and force load the new js file. After that, it's ready to use.

这个方法的特点:

* 只能用于登陆用户,IP用户不能使用。
* 如果你采用其他方法访问维基,所添加的代码不会起任何作用。
* 如果你通过这个方法去访问跨项目和跨语言链接,你在其它项目上也应该有一个用户名并且按照将刚才的模板所生成的代码复制到该项目相应的配置文件,否则你在哪个项目就不能使用这个功能。另外,目前维基文库上的这个模板稍有点不同,请不要直接复制生成的代码,而是使用{{Subst: SSLFixupjs|100}}这种方法。

Characteristics of this method:
-logging in can only be done by registering as a user, IP logins cannot be used.
-if you use other methods to visit Wiki, any attached code won't have any effect.
-if you use this method to visit cross-project or cross-language links, you should have a username for other projects and copy the code created in the above template to the respective configuration files in those projects, or else you will not be able to use this function in that project. In addition, the present template in Wikilibrary is a little different. Please do not directly copy the code created, but use {{Subst: SSLFixupjs|100}}.

网页代理

Webpage Proxies

现在很多网站都提供了代理服务,即在页面的文本框中输入URL就可以通过该网站访问请求的URL。
由于网页代理的不稳定性,这里只是列出一些通过页面代理服务访问维基百科的例子。
* http://webwarper.net/ww/~av/zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/
* http://anonymouse.ws/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/http://zh.wikipedia.org

Many websites now offer proxy services; just type the URL into the text frame on the front page and you will be able to visit the website of the requested URL.
Due to webpage proxies’ instability, listed here are only a few examples of how to visit Wikipedia via webpage proxy service.
-http://webwarper.net/ww/~av/zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/
– http://anonymouse.ws/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/http://zh.wikipedia.org

对网页加载过程中若出现任何对话框,请点击接受或OK按钮,某些连接可能不能保持cookies或接受css,因此可能无法登录/创建帐号或页面显示不完美。

If any dialog boxes appear while the webpage is loading, please click the Accept of OK button. Some links might not be able to save cookies or accept CSS; therefore you may not be able to register/create a user account or the page might appear incomplete.

One hundred and one other tips here [zh], and if you have time check out secure Gmail at https://mail.google.com/mail.

Special interests aren't getting any special treatment whatsoever, says a post [zh] from Daniel Wu at Blogbus, looking at a government move to see lobbying groups in China to grow and work without shady funding, ostensibly on their own merit:

新华网北京10月4日的一则电文说:执政党在鼓励市场竞争的同时,将采取措施抑制和防范”特殊利益集团”,以免损害公众利益、破坏社会和谐。报道援引社科院陆学艺研究员的话说:今后将主要靠制度和民主程序协调利益关系、调控利益矛盾,让各利益主体在同一平台博弈的基础上达成共识。记者最后说:”特殊利益集团”的形成发展同商业贿赂存在着密切关系,正在开展的打击商业贿赂行动也表明对可能形成”特殊利益集团”的戒备。
这则电文可看出:当权者正试图防止改革堕入权贵资本主义的泥潭。尽管电文只提出要”防止某些政府部门及一些官员成为'特殊利益集团'的代理人”,但联系最近局势,不难感受到最高层对党与政府内特殊利益集团坐大,甚至与核心分庭抗礼的忧心愤怒。电文中点名的几大垄断行业背后,某些现任与前任党政高层被认为是重要的既得利益者。换言之,十三届二中全会提出的”人民内部利益集团的矛盾”已漫延到执政党上层,可能对胡温主导的”和谐社会主义”政纲造成重大威胁。由此,我们认为:

An October 4 report from Xinhuanet reads: “At the same time as the ruling party encourages market competition, it is preparing to take measures to restrain and monitor “special interest groups”, to prevent harm to public interests and the destruction of a harmonious society. The report quotes Chinese Academy of Social Sciences researcher Lu Xueyi as saying, “from now on regulations and democratic processes will be used to harmonize relations with interest groups, regulate conflicts of interest and reach consensus with all interest groups from the same level playing field. The reporter finally says, “there exists an intimate relationship between the formation and development of ‘special interest groups’ and commercial bribery; the action currently underway in cracking down on commercial bribery also illustrates the precautions taken in regards to the possible forming of ‘special interest groups’.”
From the report it can be seen that those in power are now attempting to prevent reform from sinking into a quagmire of influential capitalists. Although the report only mentions the desire to “prevent certain government departments and officials from becoming the agents of ‘special interests groups’,” when considered in context with the recent situation, it's not hard to feel the anger the highest levels bear towards the growth of inner-party and inner-government special interest groups, and anxiety to be seen as equals with the core. The background to the several large monopolozied industries named in the report are certain current and past Party higher-ups considered to have significant vested interests. Put another way, the conflicts of the people's internal interest groups mentioned at the Second Plenary Session of the Thirteenth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China have already pervaded the upper levels of the ruling party and may prove to be a threat to the Hu and Wen's political program of “harmonious society-ism”. Therefore, we believe:

1、当局明年秋季前要重点打击的是”狭隘的、排他性”的”特殊利益集团”,而不是”人民内部利益集团”。不应误读为高层不再容忍”利益集团”的存在与合法活动(包括合法的院外活动)。
2、尽管商业贿赂与院外活动间并没有必然、本质的联系,但打击商业贿赂必将连带打击当前院外活动中存在的某些不良现象与作风。不排除短期”矫枉过正”的可能。
3、这将使正在蹒跚学步的中国院外活动面临新的舆论与监管压力,但也同时获得新的健康发展动力。”靠制度和民主程序协调利益关系、调控利益矛盾”亦有可能为中国院外活动获得制度地位提供重大机遇。

1. Prior to spring next year, the authorities’ focus will be on cracking down on “parochial and exclusive” ‘special interest groups, and not on “the people's internal interest groups’. This should not be misread as the higher-ups no longer tolerating the existence of “interest groups” and their legal activities (including lobbying activities).
2. Despite there being no necessary or intrinsic connection between commercial bribery and lobbying activities, cracking down on commercial bribery inevitably entails cracking down on the existence of certain harmful occurrences and tendencies. Not ruling out the possibility of short-term ‘overcorrecting’.
3. This stands to make China's still-toddling lobbying activities face new public and supervisory pressure on, but at the same obtain a new healthy development force. ‘Relying on regulations and democratic processes to harmonize relations with interest groups, regulate conflicts of interest’ might also obtain status within the system for China's lobbyist activities as well as provide major opportunities.

Funding isn't the issue for eBay in Asia, says Sina blogger Shang Jin, but incompatible local attitudes towards doing business:

ebay的撤退和泛东亚商业之迥然
昨天ebay台湾关门了,目前就剩下3个员工了,而且还不是ebay的人,按照王建硕说法,这三人还都是Kijiji的兄弟。

eBay's retreat and estrangement from pan-Asian business
eBay Taiwan closed its doors yesterday. They were down to just three employees, but they weren't even eBay staff, according to what Wang Jianshuo says, but Kijiji guys.

这不仅仅是ebay卖掉自己,或者谁谁打跑外国竞争对手,然后成功上市的商业问题。这是一个互联网商业时代非常具有研究参考的话题,ebay曾经用互联网交互方式的革新,用了10年,推广出了c2c的商业模式,而且彻底赢得了全球性的胜利,但是往b2c,b2b深入的时候,这种全球化的问题来了。台湾地区的撤退,甚至包括大陆ebay被淘宝追着打,其实都是很值得深入思考的问题。亚洲式的本地商业文化,尤其是消费者对于商品的认同,以及商业文化中的信任问题,大大的与欧洲不同,ebay可以在德国垄断式的存在,也说明了美国式的商业在欧洲如何可行。却在东亚泛儒家政治文化圈并不适用。除了商业文化上的不同,社会结构和人与人之间交互方式,即便在互联网的界面上,亚洲都是不同的。

This is not just about eBay selling itself off, or who is fighting off foreign rivals then succeeding at listing on the market. This is a reference topic for research into the age of internet commerce. eBay's innovation in using internet interactivity, over ten years, spread the c2c business model, and succeeded in winning the world over. But in moving towards b2c and b2b, globalization became a problem. The retreat from Taiwan also includes ebay being beaten off the mainland by Taobao, actually a problem worth reflecting on. Asian local business culture, particulary how consumers identify with the product as well as the issue of trust in business culture, is vastly different from Europe. eBay may have a monopoly existence in Germany, which goes to show the feasability of American-style commerce in Europe. But this doesn't apply in East Asian deeply Confucian political culture circles. Aside from differences in business culture, societal structure and modes of interaction between people, even on an internet interface, are very different in Asia.

So just what are these local attitudes? Here's a fun little piece [zh] blogger Ayok borrowed from Sina.com entitled ‘A New Fifty Chinese Characteristics as Seen in Foreigners’ Eyes‘:

1.百姓收入是欧美的几十分之一 ,房价却要赶超欧美

1. People's incomes are several tenths of those in Europe or America, but house prices are quickly overtaking those in Europe or America.

2.房子可以是自己的,但土地永远是国家的!最近补充了一下:”房子是土地的一部分”!

2. The flat may be yours, but the land forever belongs to the state! A recent addition is, “the flat is just a part of the land”!

3.国际长途,从国内打到国外的价格是国外打到国内价格的10倍以上!此谓支持民族工业—尊敬的”中国移动”!

3. International long-distance, the price of calling from within China to abroad is over ten times the cost of phoning from abroad to within China! This is called supporting national industries—respect “China Mobile“!

4.成天叫嚣”中华民族的伟大复兴”,”教育兴国”,”教育是根本”…..,但go-vern-ment教育经费投入之少与非洲穷国乌干达看齐,百姓自掏教育经费投入之多全球之冠!此谓社会主义优越性!

5. Crying “the Chinese nation's great rebirth”, “educate for a prosperous nation”, “education is fundamental” all day long……but the go-vern-ment invests so little money into education as to compare with the poor African country Uganda. Money the people dig up themselves for education costs gets invested in many global crowns. This is called socialism's superiority!

5.公务员的薪水不拿全国的平均水平,而是平均水平的3倍以上,此谓”高薪养廉”

5. Civil servants’ salaries aren't at the national average, but over three times above it. This is called “high salaries foster a well-off society”

6.全国公务员不交一分钱”养老金”,而退休后的养老金是全国其他人民的3倍以上。邻国蠢一狼3个月没缴”养老金”,全国中央电视台作为丑闻天天放!此谓”三步笑百步”了

6. Civil servants throughout the country don't need to pay a single penny towards ‘old-age pension’, but their pensions after retirement are over three times as high as anyone else in the country. Neighbor country's Koizumi didn't pay his old-age pension for three months and CCTV stations across the country aired the scandal day after day. This is called “the pot calling the kettle black.”

7.出租私房要向派出所每月交费!–(类似B社会的保护费?)

7. Renting a private room requires paying a monthly fee to the police station (similar to a triad protection fee?)

8.禁止收看外国的电视节目!- (比塔利班的禁止收看电视可能要仁慈一点)

8. Watching foreign television programs is prohibited! (perhaps just a bit more merciful than the Taliban's ban on watching television)

9.在国内旅游也需要\”签证\”-(去香港需要过境签证,去深圳需要边防检查证)

9. Travelling inside the country even requires a “visa”. (Going to Hong Kong requires a cross-border visa; going to Shenzhen requires a border defense inspection certificate)

10.反对执政party就要坐牢–(我看谁敢在大街上喊一句:打倒…)

10. Oppose the ruling party and you'll go to jail. (I'd like to see who's brave enough to go on the street and yell “Down with…”)

11.上市公司搞诈骗,股民受损失,但国家法院不受理此类赔偿!–(因为无法可依)

11. Listed companies get into fraud, and shareholders take the losses, but national courts don't take this kind of compensation cases! (because there are no laws to fall upon)

12.禁止用自己买下的房子来作公司办公室–(上海市已经文规定,也就是说,你没有真正支配自己财产的权利)

12. It is forbidden to use one's own purchased flat as a company office (Shanghai has already written the law, which says you have no right of control over your own property)

13.去网吧上网要出示身份证.

13. Go to the internet bar and you'll need to show some identification.

14.黄色刊物属于非法,但性用品商店到处都是.

14. Pornographic publications remain illegal, but sex toy shops can be found everywhere.

15.摩托车的行驶证(牌照)价格比摩托车本身高上好几倍.

15. Prices for motorbike operating licenses (license plates) are several times more expensive than the price of the motorbikes themselves.

16.在国外能够浏览的互联网内容在该国可能就无法浏览-(不是你的电脑故障)

16. Internet content that can be browsed overseas might be unbrowseable in this country (it's not a glitch in your computer).

17.电话打得越多越贵,没打电话也要你付钱–(托中国电信的福手机双向收费)

17. Making phone calls is getting more and more expensive; even if you don't call anyone you still have to pay (with dear China Telecom's mobiles, both parties get charged).

18.医疗事故其实是由医院来裁决的–(法院参照医院所属的上级部门的鉴定报告来判决)

18. Rulings on malpractice cases are actually set by the hospitals themselves (courts refer to the respective hospital authorities’ appraisal reports reports when passing judgements.

19.赌博是非法的,但彩票满天飞,是合法的.

19. Casinos are illegal, but lotteries fill the sky and are legal.

20.该国法官说的最多的一句话就是:”因还没有这方面的相关法律> “

20. The one phrase most often uttered by judges in this country is: “because in this case there is still no relevant law.”

21.军队是属于某个政party的,不是国家的.

21. The army belongs to a certain political party; it is not the government's.

22.人民是不能直接参与投票选举领袖的.

22. People cannot directly take part in elections to elect leaders.

23.一个国家可以有2种制度-(当然,也是被迫的,很不情愿的)

23. One country can have two kinds of system (of course this is forced, and not willing).

24.每个公司中都有一个叫作party支部书记的职位–(当然,它是不负责公司业务的)

24. Every company has a position called Party branch secretary (of course, it's not responsible for company operations).

25.该国中有个叫作”离休干部”的阶层,可以享受高于普通公民的待遇.

25. In this country there is a “retired cadre” class, which enjoys a higher salary than common citizens.

26.该国的领导人喜欢在公共场合卖弄蹩脚的英文.

26. Leaders in this country like to show off their broken English in public occasions.

27.新闻媒体是由某个政party投资的,但用的却是纳税人的钱-(新闻是我们party的喉舌名言)

27. News media is funded by a certain political party, but using taxpayer money (news is the mouthpiece of our Party).

28.人民是不能随意改变居住地的–(户口制度)

28. The people cannot change their place of residence at will (hukou system).

29.该国的货币是不能在世界上流通的.

29. The currency of this country cannot be circulated in the world.

30.每对夫妇只允许生一个孩子

30. Every husband and wife couple are only allowed to have one child.

31.该国的公民习惯于谎言,不愿意接受真相.

31. The citizens of this country are used to lies, are not willing to accept the truth.

32.该国每100个go-vern-ment官员中就有100个贪污犯–(当然,贪污数目大小有所不同拉)

32. In this country out of a hundred go-vern-ment officials, one hundred are guilty of corruption (of course, the amount and size of the corruption varies).

33.party内行政警告处分可以用来代替刑事处分.

33. Inner party administrative warnings and punishments are used in place of capital punishment.

34.”失业”在该国被称之为”下岗”.

34. “Unemployed” in this country is referred to as “laid-off”.

35.该国资源丰富,但却很多不能用–(因为都被污染了)

35. Resources in this country are abundant, but many cannot be used (because they've all been polluted).

36.该国没有商业电视台 ,但电视广告却比国外台多好几倍.

36. There are no commercial television stations in this country, but there are several times more television ads than on foreign stations.

37.让老百姓知道的越少越好,这是该国的”既定国策”

37. The less the people know the better; this is this country's “stated national policy.”

38.该国人口中有30%以上的文盲或准文盲.

38. Over thirty percent of the population of this country is illiterate or semi-illiterate.

39.该国的法制中有”坦白从宽,抗拒从严”的政策-(不过最近几年好象没脸提了)

39. Within the legal system of this country there is a policy of “confession is met with leniency and resistance with severity” (although it hasn't been used over the last several years).

40.在该国,开一个小酒吧需要100道审批,开一个公司需要1000道审批.

40. To open a bar in this country there are a hundred forms to get approved, but a thousand to open a company.

41.该国是目前世界上唯一的发展中的社会主义国家 ,它的最终目标是实现Communist主义–(是不是很伟大呀…哈)

41. This is the only developing socialist country in the world, its ultimate goal is to realize communism (isn't that so great? Ha).

42.该国家家都有大彩电,是不是很羡慕?不过那是用来接收party的指示的.

42. There are color televisions in this country, isn't that enviable? However, they're used to receive the Party's directives.

43.当地人会把非本地人称作为”外来盲流”.

43. Locals refer to non-locals as “outside unemployed influx”.

44.该国的执政party垄断很多产业,他们称之为”民族产业”–(电信,交通,媒体,水电煤,…)

44. This country's ruling party monopolizes many industries; they're called ‘national industries’ (telecommunications, traffic, media, water, electricity and coal).

45在该国,你能很便宜地买到世界各地的名牌货–(不过都是假货…哈)

45. In this country, you can find any world-famous goods for cheap (although it's all fake…ha)

46.该国历史上曾经是鸦片的最大消费国,现在更是进化成为世界上最大的香烟消费国–(吸烟人口占总人口的比例世界第一)

46. This country was once the largest consumer of opium, but now it's turning into the world's biggest consumer of cigarettes (the ratio of smokers to the total population is ranked highest in the world).

47.很多外国公司把次品卖给该国,因为该国的产品比次品还次.

47. Many foreign companies sell their defective products to this country, because this country's products are even more defective than those.

48.该国的公民好象个个都想消灭JP,但他们却经常拿自己的大半积蓄去买JP货哎这样何时才能消灭JP哟..哈)

48. The citizens of this country all seem to want to annihilate Japan, but then they often spend half their fortune on Japanese goods (agh, this way Japan will never be annihilated…ha).

49.该国的公民(大多数)认为就是要爱……………

49. The citizens of this country (most of them) think all they need is love……………

50.该国的公民(大多数)看了这个帖子只能无奈的笑笑.

50. The citizens of this country (most of them) won't be able to help but laugh after reading this.

2 comments

Join the conversation

Authors, please log in »

Guidelines

  • All comments are reviewed by a moderator. Do not submit your comment more than once or it may be identified as spam.
  • Please treat others with respect. Comments containing hate speech, obscenity, and personal attacks will not be approved.