The government can't resist whipping up just a bit more patriotism with this new-release DVD called 'Da Yue Bing' (big military parade). The last parade was ten years ago (1999) and these discs contain footage from all parades since 1949. We were honoured to be accompanied at the parade by Isabel Crook, now 94 years old, who attended the first parade in 1949. She and her husband have lived most of their lives in China. We were sure that the films had already been made by the day of the parade (from rehearsal footage) ready to broadcast to the nation in the event of terrible weather. How could we be so cynical? It's not like fireworks were digitally manufactured for the olympics, or 'prettier' understudies have ever been chosen for the cameras. Furthermore, did we really doubt China's ability to manipulate the weather?
Spitting image
Manipulating the weather is one thing, but can the government control the population when it comes to their habits? This natty little bag (easy to mistake for a tea bag if you can't read Chinese) is one attempt to those in the habit of spitting on the street or worse, on buses. The bag is available free from dispensers at bus stops and other places where people hang around. We didn't see much evidence of them being in use - people simply hold on until their stop. People are much more likely to spit on the pavement than risk getting phlegm all over their hands because the opening is so small. Nice idea, but it needs to be accompanied with some basic health education about the risk of spreading infectious diseases through grauchles. Otherwise, why will people bother? What's more, there's the second problem of getting people to put this litter in the bin, not a habit that's very strong down this way.
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