User Comments - matt_c

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matt_c

Posted on: Guilin Mifen
April 14, 2009 at 4:33 AM

@sfrr Thanks so much for your account of a real life menu stealer. You got any links (to scans) of your Chinese restaurant missions/collumns?

@Bodawei I know the kind of places you mean. Were the people you quizzed helpful and friendly?

@Bababardwan The whole high pitched 1st tone is a myth - hence no kicks to the crotch.

@eupnea63355, @user23060, @user1283, @xinjiapo2703  Thanks for your encouragement :D

It's funny how many of us will use a really high pitched voice on the first tone when we have just started learning Manadarin. Over time it gets brought down to a reasonable pitch, as long it's a flat tone that is higher in proportion to the other tones.

Posted on: Opening a Factory
April 13, 2009 at 6:09 PM

 我的个天！  Thanks for the heads up, I'll flush out the mole first thing in the morning before The Menu Stealer is published!!! ;)

Posted on: Opening a Factory
April 13, 2009 at 5:28 PM

@xiaohu Did you experience difficulty with the CD quality link? I just tried it myself and it worked fine. Perhaps try clearing your browser cache and trying again.

If you could elaborate on the actual problem you encountered, I'll hopefully be able to assist you...or did I miss something here. ;) Thanks mate.

Posted on: Moscow
April 13, 2009 at 12:20 PM

Never had perogie, any pictures?

Posted on: Hungry Traveler: Halal
April 13, 2009 at 8:18 AM

So here's the down-low on Halal eating from the Halal Food Authority(UK):

  1. An animal should not be dead prior to slaughter
  2. A Muslim should perform slaughter
  3. Any flowing blood of the carcass should be completely drained
  • Choice of modern and in vogue method has to be considered with caution and, it should be mirroring to the Islamic ethos. 

In further Detail:

Now to make meat halal or permissible, an animal or poultry has to be slaughtered in a ritual way known as Zibah. To make it readily comprehended halal is somewhat like Jewish kosher and, Zibah is with some exception similar to Shechita. The Qur`an gives following underlined injunctions in chapter al-Maida 5:3 that

  • Zibah require animals to be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter, since carrion is forbidden and, jugular vein, carotid artery and windpipe have to be severed by a razor sharp knife by a single swipe, to incur as less a pain as possible. Here the only difference is that a rabbi will read what is required by his faith and, a Muslim will recite tasmiya or shahada, which fulfils the requirement of dedication. The question of how to overcome the issue of recitation of shahada on individual bird whence we now have poultry being slaughtered at a rate of six to nine thousand per hour, has already been addressed. A Muslim is commanded to commence all his deeds in the name of Allah.
  • All the flowing blood (al- An`am 6:145) must be drained out of the carcass, as blood is forbidden
  • Swine flesh is also forbidden, and it is repeated in few other places in the Qur`an
  • Forbidden is an animal that has been killed by strangling or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall

    • Posted on: Opening a Factory
    April 13, 2009 at 2:27 AM

    @jola0012 The photo is of a port/industrial area near Shanghai called:

    洋山深水港Yángshānshēnshuǐgǎng


    View Untitled in a larger map

    Posted on: The New Series is So Close, We Can Taste It!
    April 12, 2009 at 3:23 PM

    Please take a look at my Canton Fair Survival Guide and give me your thoughts, as the Survival Lesson Set may prove useful to Newbies and I'd love to hrear your thoughts. Thanks.

    http://chinesepod.com/community/conversations/post/4711

    Posted on: The New Series is So Close, We Can Taste It!
    April 12, 2009 at 2:36 PM

    @bababardwan Whilst I'm totally pumped by your enthusiasm and Aussie solidarity, I certainly couldn't put myself in the same league as David Ireland. The menu Stealer on the other hand...

    He would eat Mr David 'Wildlife Man' Ireland for brekkie and ask for seconds!

    :D

    The Menu Stealer Season 1 will be released once every 2 weeks. As for the number of lessons published on the one day, you bring up an interesting point, one I'll consider further.  Thanks mate.

     

    Posted on: Hungry Traveler: Halal
    April 10, 2009 at 1:55 PM

    @bobm112 You asked which is the best pinyin input for MAC? Here's your answer IMK/QIM I think you can download them together.

    http://mac.softpedia.com/get/Word-Processing/QIM.shtml

    I've been using this for about 6 months now, my MAC using translator mates in Beijing, Calkins (of poddie fame) and many others will tell you - this is the best MAC option. Not perfect, but does the job. Enjoy!

    Posted on: Saved by the Gong: Music Class
    April 10, 2009 at 1:46 AM

    @Tarcy @Tanick  我见过很多的Tarcy,我也觉得这个名字很好听。