Our very own meme

You've all seen them; those silly, attention-grabbing images with captions that get spread around via email and social networks.

Users add their own captions but the image always stays the same. If the image becomes popular and is repeated enough times it becomes a meme.

You may not have seen this one - 'High Expectations Asian Father' but I think some of them are pretty hilarious.

There isn't really a dedicated website I can link to since the nature of memes is that they are spread virally, but you can find lots on this tumblr and there are others on this website where you can also make your very own HEAF meme. Enjoy - and relate :)

Link: Tumblr

Link: QuickMeme

Gung Hei Fat Choi!

Happy New Year to all b.b.c. blog readers! Best wishes for the coming Year of the Dragon!

Tempers flare are Mainland Chinese antagonism grows

This is reportedly a viral video from Hong Kong that shows an argument on an MTR train between local Hong Kongers and a Mainland Chinese woman who's daughter was allegedly eating soup noodles in her seat and causing a mess.

The argument and the responses to the video illustrate the sentiment felt by local Hong Kong that their infrastructure - and indeed their culture - is being placed under strain by the influx of Mainlanders. A trend that many would like the Hong Kong government to tackle more firmly.

Shockingly, the video has prompted some quite despicable comments from the mainland with regards to Hong Kongers. In a televised interview Peking University professor Kong Qing-Dong likened Hong Kongers to dogs and thieves.

Raised voices between members of the public is one thing. But for a supposed professor to make statements like these on national television?

This is clearly an issue that is not going to go away.

Jeremy Clarkson apparently on a mission to get fired

Not likely to endear him to Top Gear's many Chinese viewers but Mr. Jeremy Clarkson's latest bon mot is to compare synchronised swimmers to the Chinese cocklepickers who died on Morcambe Bay in 2004. As reported by the Telegraph:

Clarkson mocked the sport of synchronised swimming as "Chinese women in hats, upside down, in a bit of water", adding: "You can see that sort of thing on Morecambe Beach. For free."

Is it even worth being offended? Clarkson is so valuable to the BBC and is generally liked by so many viewers that even these disgusting comments - that would have anyone else fearing for their job - are unlikely to jeopardize his lucrative position (now worth over £2 million a year).

News International should have asked him to hack Milly Dowler's phone because if he had, the British public would have brushed it off as someone 'having a bit of a laugh'.

One thing that strikes me as an occasional watcher of Top Gear is that for someone who insists that all his offensive comments are 'just a joke', Clarkson is seems totally incapable of taking a joke himself.

All the banter on Top Gear is at the expense of others and any time another presenter attempts to make a derogatory remark about Clarkson it is done with the timidity of a scared mouse and quickly countered with a scripted put-down. Anyone would think he was too vain to take a joke at his own expense.

A classic case of one who can dish it out but cannot take it?

Source: Telegraph

Happy 2012!

Photo: Miss O'Kistic

Apologies for the lack of posts recently. Hope to resume normal service now the festive period has passed :)

Happy New Year to all b.b.c. blog readers, and see you soon for more topical posting this new year. Now... bring on Chinese New Year!

China's 'black jails' (disturbing)

A rather scary report from Al-Jazeera.

Can places like this really exist to deal with ordinary people who, for example, want to report corrupt officials?

China's Got Talent to hold UK auditions

Calling all karaoke stars, musicians and performers...This could be interesting.

A lot of UK talent shows already feature Chinese or Asian auditionees - often, it has to be said for comedy value (see Goldie Cheung)

But now, a show that was conceived in the UK and was then exported to China is now coming back to the UK to search for British contestants to compete in China!

According to Shanghaiist:

... contestants must 'have a connection to China, either through language, family, or simply an appreciation of Chinese art forms.' Which sounds to us like the floodgates are open for hordes of random non-Chinese people trying to get famous by singing Chinese songs.

This sounds like a great potential opportunity for the many talented singers and performers out there.

Want to give it a shot? head over t the 'CGT' facebook page here.

The Lowdown on the HK$6000 payout

Word has probably reached you by now that the Hong Kong government is offering all its permanent citizens a one-off payment of HK$6000 over the next couple of years.

Similar to but not the same as the US 'stimulus check', the move has been prompted by pressure from Hong Kong citizens who are becoming increasingly frustrated at the rising costs of living on the SAR, especially for housing.

An initial plan to make payments into citizen's state pensions schemes was scrapped in favour of an immediate handout.

Rather than get into a lengthy explanation of the scheme, I thought I would just direct readers to this blog , where everything you need to know has been posted already by ben.ism.

And this is the link to the official HK government website for the scheme.

Will you be applying? HK$6000 equates to roughly GBP460, which might cover a return flight from London if you're lucky.

Bear in mind you have to either have an active HK bank account or be able to collect a cheque in person from a Hong Kong Post office. There is also a set timetable for when to apply and when your cheque will be ready (see official website)