User Comments - bill

Posted on: Quirky Ways of Staying Warm in China

Just to note there is another side to the story. I too tend to be cautious with respect to EMF exposure by the way:

链接：www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/DEE/.../pdf/highfinal.PDF

Based on the review and analysis of the exhaustive literature review and other research projects completed under the EMF-RAPID program, the Virginia Department of Health is of the opinion that there is no conclusive and convincing evidence that exposure to extremely low frequency EMF emanated from nearby high voltage transmission lines is causally associated with an increased incidence of cancer or other detrimental health effects in humans. Even if it is assumed that there is an increased risk of cancer as implied in some epidemiologic studies, the empirical relative risk appears to be fairly small in magnitude and the observed association appears to be tenuous. The studies published in the literature lack clear demonstration of a cause and effect relationship as well as a definitive dose-response gradient. A two- to three-fold increase in relative risk of certain cancers observed in some studies is within the range where experimental bias or confounding factors cannot be completely ruled out.

Evidence from the laboratory studies has thus far failed to confirm that exposure to EMF causes cancer in experimental animals. Laboratory experiments have also failed to show how EMF could initiate or promote the growth of cancer. The results of both in vivo and in vitro experimental studies conducted so far do not lend support to an association between exposure to EMF and cancer.

Furthermore, scientific proof of a causal association is established using multiple criteria, only one of which is epidemiologic association. Other important criteria in confirming causality (including strength of association, consistency and specificity of observations, appropriate temporal relationship, dose-response relationship, biological plausibility, and experimental verification) have not been satisfied for the implicit adverse effects of power-line frequency EMF.

Posted on: Quirky Ways of Staying Warm in China

I would certainly argue that is safe since you are getting ZERO exposure to either EMF or electric fields. You are being very careful.

It is interesting to note that high tension power lines also generate EMF exposure, and here we are talking about 30 to 90 milligauss directly under these lines. There have been studies in the US regarding exposure to these EMF's. As I recall, the results were inconclusive ... But, I would not want to live adjacent to these lines. I don't trust the studies because of the money backing this overhead electricity transport.

愿新的一年，也是充满福佑平安的好年月 。。

Posted on: A Special Christmas Week

It's funny in a sense. Our traditional “圣诞宴” is 中国菜。火鸡相比，我们明明比较喜欢北京烤鸭！

Otherwise, with respect to learning Mandarin it's a good idea to sign up for a guided study. Speaking is essential.

Also, whenever I come across someone who speaks Chinese here in the Bay Area, I begin a conversation in Mandarin with them. It's always a little shocking at first for them, i. e., some 白人 speaking Chinese, or at least trying to do so. But the effort is always appreciated. Sure, one makes mistakes, but these are key to the learning process.

Posted on: Christmas in Chinese

没看过袋鼠，但是我看过"Darling Harbor Christmas Laser Show." 厉害！

Posted on: Christmas in Chinese

I was in Sydney in late Dec., 2000. It was the first time I ever saw “圣诞老人穿游泳衣！"

Posted on: Choosing a Room

We once stayed at the Shanghai Pudong Grand Hyatt. All I can say is that the view from the 88th floor bar was 厉害！Our 大床房 with a river view was on the 66th floor. It was about US$ 220/night, and this is a 五星级酒店。

Posted on: Water

I meant small poem. It was a guess of course (o;

Right, I am very fluent in French, and brush up continuously. I've many friends in France, and we correspond regularly; I always am reading a French novel, and am looking forward to the day when I can attack a 中国小说. We've also been to France about 40 times since 1990, and usually go there every year for a couple of weeks. 但是我们前年去过中国玩三个星期了. 玩得很开心！

Posted on: National Stereotypes

I'd translate it as, "You're 'out of it' man!"

Posted on: The Spring Festival Beast and Firecrackers

真的很好意见！我真喜欢唐诗，比如：

松下问童子，

sōngxià wèn tóngzǐ

言师采药去。

yán shī caǐyào qù

只在此山中，

zhǐ zaì cǐshān zhōng

云深不知处。

yúnshēn bù zhī chù

Traditional translation:

松下問童子, Under a pine he asks the young disciple

言師採藥去。The master is picking herbs.

只在此山中, He's in these mountains

雲深不知處。Heavily clouded, I don't know where.

My take:

But, poems need not have perfect grammar because the grammar can distract from the poetic imagery:

Under pine asks young boy,

Says master's gone picking herbs.

But in these mountains

Heavy clouds don''t know where.

Posted on: Water

Hi Baba,

What is amusing is how I came upon these words. I was writing something in Mandarin about Saint Malo which is a coastal town in Bretagne (or Brittany if you like), France. They have a 13 meter tide, and a river that runs into the English Channel there. So, they use the high/low tides to generate electricity. I looked up "high tide" and found 高潮，and 性高潮. 性高潮好像小小诗歌一样 (0;