User Comments - hughborg707

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hughborg707

Posted on: I don't smoke
May 23, 2011, 07:01 AM

My dad once told me that in the 1950's in US Air Force basic training you either stood in formation while waiting for your turn to go into the chow hall (food cafeteria) or if you smoked, you could just go over to where the other guys were smoking and light up. That's how he got started then.

Posted on: I don't smoke
May 23, 2011, 06:58 AM

The funny part is I see this in California of all places. I go the 24hour Fitness here and time to time you see guys (usually guys) smoking before going inside. I guess it stimulates :)

Posted on: Transportation Card
September 08, 2010, 06:55 PM

It's an Oyster card in London. Do they have a thing about naming it after sea creatures? :)

Posted on: Warcraft in China
September 08, 2010, 06:25 PM

Update.... Starcraft II rocks! :)

Posted on: Female takeover of ChinesePod!
September 08, 2010, 06:24 PM

Yikes I should log into the web page more often instead of just listening to podcasts :) I totally missed your comment earlier.

What is the connection to Confucius and the educational system?

Posted on: Warcraft in China
April 24, 2010, 04:24 AM

John,

I'm an original Starcraft-er. Even after a decade + its still fun. I don't know if Starcraft 2 will EVER see the light of day. They've been saying its almost ready now for years.

I got sucked in to WoW for a while (okay somewhat addicted) but managed to quit playing long before my other friends did :)

These days I just hit it with FPS games like the Battlefield series etc. I'm amazed at just how many Battlefield 2 servers are based in (or run by) Chinese groups now. It is a different landscape than when the game was released in 2005.

Posted on: How to Start a Conversation with Chinese People
February 23, 2010, 08:10 AM

Yikes, no more Ni hao ma for me! :/ Time to use these new phrases.

Posted on: Return to the Hometown
February 12, 2010, 09:44 PM

I understand now how casually saying something like "see you around" can be understood differently across cultures.

Like for instance if you met someone you're attracted to you might say "lets get together sometime".

If however it was just a casual friend that same phrase might just be thought of as a polite "see  ya" type of goodbye.

The problem I see is if the two people involved misinterpret the meaning. They could miss the fact you're attracted to them or think you ARE when you're just being friendly.

We must be cautious lol!

Posted on: The White Spectrum of Meaning
February 08, 2010, 06:52 AM

Yep, pale white skin is not popular here in Southern California. It's interesting how its sought after in other countries. :)

Posted on: Female takeover of ChinesePod!
February 08, 2010, 06:29 AM

The last time I was in Shanghai doing network engineering for my American friend for his China based company, he pointed out one of the reasons he brought me from the states. 

He said that the local engineers he had met would be able to do exactly what he asked, but no more.

In other words they seemed to not be able to conceptualize "what-if scenario" based questions to expand his network. That seems to follow the learning by rote memorization that earlier posts pointed to and its unfortunate because expansive thinking is important in my field.

The problem I see is I'm not sure its a skill you just learn on demand. It seems to me to be more of something you're raised with. :/