Recent Posts

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The Champagne Cabana / Re: Adventures with Cats
« Last post by Escaped Lunatic on May 09, 2025, 08:05:32 PM »
Golden Eye is still waiting for adoption.

Mommy Cat finally returned to the vegetable shop.  A new, larger and sturdier trap was acquired and set up totally disarmed to let her become familiar with it (and with eating out of it).

She no longer looked pregnant, so we held back longer to see if she would bring the kittens to the shop with her.  Sadly, no arrived.  The working theory is that the leap out the window, followed by an even greater leap off the roof of a 3 story building may have resulted in a miscarriage. ananananan

Somehow, she got suspicious and extended herself far enough to have her rear block the trap from catching her the first time it snapped.  Then she was seen eating while being VERY careful to avoid touching the trigger.  I was seriously considering getting a longer trap.

Then the call came.  She got over-confident and stepped on the trigger about 30-40 minutes ago.

She's sercurely in the trap.  The trap is set (somewhat diagonally) in a bin to keep her from making a mess in the summoned car.  It's also covered with a blanket to make her feel a little less stressed.  My lovely wife is now taking her to the vet for sterilization and an ear trim.

Walking back from the vegetable shop. I noticed Pear was following me.  Mango was waiting outsite the front door.  They are both such good guard cats. ❤❤
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The Bar (ON-TOPIC) / Re: How Do Notaries Work in China?
« Last post by Escaped Lunatic on May 06, 2025, 05:51:27 PM »
Notaries in China (and quite a few other countries) are much more expensive than in the USA.  But, if you need a "notarized document", they pretty much operate the same way by applying stamps and seals of authenticity to documents and signatures.

Due to the expense, only get things notarized that the government or your employer tell you to get notarized.  Translations in China generally must be done my a certified translator and this is usually an English to Chinese translation.  I don't think a Chinese company would need an English copy of your marriage certificate or any other document issued by the Chinese government.  If you need that marriage certificate for some purpose in the USA, see what the US rules are for translations and certifications.

If you require translation and/or notarization, ask the person who tells you that it's needed to recommend a local translation company or notary.
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The Bar (ON-TOPIC) / Re: Got New SIM Card. How to Do WeChat Account?
« Last post by Escaped Lunatic on May 06, 2025, 05:45:30 PM »
A WeChat account is tied to a phone number.  AFAIK, only one account per phone number.  I don't know if setting up a second one requires a second phone or if swapping or adding a second sim card would be enough, but it probably would be simpler to set up on a separate phone.

Assuming you are still trying to hide some things from your spouse, having alternate social media on a well-secured alternate phone would be the safest approach.
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The Bar (ON-TOPIC) / Re: Have We Noticed Trade Wars Changing Prices Yet?
« Last post by Escaped Lunatic on May 06, 2025, 05:41:44 PM »
1.  China has been preparing for all possible scenarios (including a total end of trade) with the USA.  Even while China kept buying things from the USA, it already had alternate soyrces for the most critical food imports from America (beef, port, corn, and soybeans).

Beef and pork prices in China tend to spike around holidays because everyone's buying more for feasts.  Other than some US brands on the foreign goods aisle, I wouldn't expect any serious price spikes.

2.  I'm sure someone somewhere tracks this.  All I know is that my wife hasn't complained about grocery prices doing anything unusual and the snacks I buy when she's not looking are about the same price.

3.  The dollar spiked to about 7.3 RMB to the dollar, but has fallen back some.  If I recall directly, the strongest the RMB ever was happened when it was about 6.1 to the dollar.  Go back to when I first arrived in China and it was fixed at 8.2 to the dollar.  Visit a financial site like TradingView.com and open a USD/CNY chart if you want a full history of the exchange rates.
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The Bar (ON-TOPIC) / Got New SIM Card. How to Do WeChat Account?
« Last post by Ivyman on May 03, 2025, 09:28:37 AM »
Hello Everyone,

The ChinaMobile people sold me a new SIMCARD.

They said I need a new phone for a new (second) WeChat account?
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The Bar (ON-TOPIC) / How Do Notaries Work in China?
« Last post by Ivyman on April 23, 2025, 09:51:39 PM »
Hi Everyone,

I might need a notary to get a replacement college diploma.

In the US, any bank can do it, free of charge. It just requires some sort of an ID, then the notary puts it on the document.

1. I would need a marriage certificate of mine translated into English.

2. That document would need to be notarized?

What is the most efficient, quickest, foolproof way to do things?
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The Bar (ON-TOPIC) / Have We Noticed Trade Wars Changing Prices Yet?
« Last post by Ivyman on April 22, 2025, 11:00:14 PM »
Hi Everyone,

I was grocery shopping in a local store. I noticed everything was a bit more expensive.

1. Am I just being paranoid, or has the trade wars affected pricing?

2. Do we have any data or based studies?

3. I also wonder about the USD to the RMB? It is the weakest I have ever seen.

Any empirical data would be appreciated.
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The Bar (ON-TOPIC) / Re: Do We Have Any Meta-Studies, Evidence-Based Review on What Will Happen to China?
« Last post by Escaped Lunatic on April 14, 2025, 04:29:14 PM »
I doubt even the US is crazy enough to start shooting, but I'm waiting to see if the trade war escalates any further.

One amusing point.  Smart Phones and Computers got exempted from the new tariffs.

This means someone in the US who wants to buy a Chinese computer doesn't have to worry about tariffs.  On the other hand, a company that builds computers in the US will be paying 145% tariff on all the Chinese components they buy and 10% on any components from other countries.  That sounds like a brilliant plan to kill any business that makes PCs inside the US.
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The Bar (ON-TOPIC) / Re: Do We Have Any Meta-Studies, Evidence-Based Review on What Will Happen to China?
« Last post by kitano on April 14, 2025, 09:56:16 AM »
Quote from: Escaped Lunatic on April 11, 2025, 09:20:33 PM
And now things get extra fun.  A certain person in the USA had to roll back his global tariffs on the rest of the world to 10% while he tries to figure out what to do about China being willing to endure temporary pain instead of giving in to pressure from America.

I'd pay money to have access to the audio and video feeds from the shoe section, housewares section, and electronics section of an American WalMart as supplies of some goods dwindle while prices shoot up.

I do have this horrible thought in the back of my mind that whatever takes and plans for myself and so on, if the USA doesn't stabilise it all just might end in a stupid war from the USA alalalalal
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The Bar (ON-TOPIC) / Re: Do We Have Any Meta-Studies, Evidence-Based Review on What Will Happen to China?
« Last post by Escaped Lunatic on April 11, 2025, 09:20:33 PM »
And now things get extra fun.  A certain person in the USA had to roll back his global tariffs on the rest of the world to 10% while he tries to figure out what to do about China being willing to endure temporary pain instead of giving in to pressure from America.

I'd pay money to have access to the audio and video feeds from the shoe section, housewares section, and electronics section of an American WalMart as supplies of some goods dwindle while prices shoot up.
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