YOGAYUGA

Dropping and dropping, crashing and crashing!!! The world economy is in crisis.

Totally no good news released this morning. The whole world is in confusion all the sudden. The Bailout plan called off. The European market is seriously crashing. Asian market sank in early trade after the U.S. House of Representatives failed to adopt a financial bailout plan, which triggered the largest point drop in U.S. market history. The Japanese market is the worst.

People do blame on Bush. Someone had been interviewed on our local news, and said “It’s Bush!!! It’s all Bush. Because of his credibility and political clout long gone among Democrats and lacking among Republicans.” Not only outsiders would give such comments, I believe most of the Americans had blamed their nation’s economic problems on “failed Bush economic policies.” Sorry Bush! You indeed become a VICTIM of being blamed on everything. Regardless, the bailout plan is totally involved with the election issues and the internal breakdown of Republicans. If the bailout plan did go through, then it may not be a good news for the American taxpayers. It’s hard to make a good balance with a winning proposal that makes everyone happy.

Well, no more news until Thursday……Everyone looked so sad on the news. We worry that the unemployment rate would be raised in the coming few months. The banks may not handle the pressure, and cause bankrupt, etc. etc. It does sound horrible.

I have just watched the first presidential candidate debate of McCain and Obama. It seems that they both were not strongly against eachother, but brought the argument slowly according to the way they responded to each question.

Who would handle the economy better? 58% of people stated Obama is better, and 38% for McCain. The person who is always very much keen on fighting in the war..how he can handle better economy? The war of Iraq is a long term battle in Bush’s eyes. Regardless how much benefit Bush thinks that the U.S. will gain from the war, inevitably huge cost needs to be paid in advance. Bush must sits back right now, and waits for the next President to take care of what he had done. He is no longer to be responsible for it. The next President of the U.S. will definitely have tough time to handle all the unnecessary events that Bush had ever done. McCain sounds like still sharing the same thought and dream with Bush. lol

McCain said:

“…..the next president will have to decide when and how to leave Iraq and what the United States will leave behind.

The Republican candidate said that the war had been badly managed at the beginning but that the United States was now winning, thanks to a  ‘great general and a strategy that succeeded’………We will come home with victory and glory.“

Winning? I don’t understand why he thinks the U.S. was now winning.

1) The war caused the unnecessary death and casualties of people in Iraq. Those mostly are elderly, kids and women.

2) The war caused the economy going down. It also affects countries outside the U.S.

3) Unemployment rate is up to 7 years high in the U.S. Many can’t afford the medical insurance. People are paying high tax, so where has those money gone? The war!

4) The U.S. will leave lots behind no matter when and how to leave Iraq. Refugee is the huge issue. No victory and glory in this topic! Wake up! McCain! It’s the world disaster and tragedy. The war also causes unlimited poverty across the countries without helping hands.

McCain also stated that Afghanistan issue can also be done with the same winning strategy as in Iraq. It seems that he is very much into the war..and war…and war….

The whole world now is waiting for the decision of bailout. It could be reached by Sunday the news said.

I can’t wait to see the coming Friday debate of Vice President candidates. Lets see what Sarah Palin is going to say….

It’s now not only limited to dairy products, White Rabbit sweets, Lotte Koala Chocolate biscuits and cheese powder of Pizza Hut are also involved. They all contain melamine, and exceeded the legal limit.

The following list shows all the unqualified dairy products that examined by Hong Kong Food Bureau. Included milk, milk powder, yogurt drinks, coffee and ice-cream. Some are Taiwanese and Japanese brands, but all are made in China. Maybe, more unqualified food and drink products will be listed, and you will see when time goes by…….Some said stop buying and eating stuff made in China, but its’ hard. Almost everything at low cost is made in China now. Part of product contents could be made in China though not the complete products. Foreign countries do import them, and manufacture products with their own brands in China. How can you avoid? Biscuits and cheese powder are also made of milk content, so this issue just happened out of your imagination. I don’t think many would pay serious attention on the food ingredients of the packaging box especially junk food like biscuits. It’s a really challenging issue that Chinese government needs to handle and to face the world with positive response and appropriate quality assurance strategy for future production.

香港检测的 不合格名单
Sample
樣本名稱
Manufacturer’s name & address
製造商名稱及地址

1 . KLIM Instant Full Cream Milk Powder (1.8 kg)
克寧即溶奶粉
( 淨重 : 1.8 千克 )
Manufacturer: Nestle Shuangcheng Ltd.
Address: Friendship Road , Shuangcheng City , Heilongjiang Province, PRC

2. Nestle Carnation Calcium Plus Non Fat Milk Powder (1.6 kg)
三花高鈣脫脂奶粉 ( 淨重 : 1600 克 )
Manufacturer: Nestle Shuangcheng Ltd.
Address: Friendship Road , Shuangcheng City , Heilongjiang Province, PRC

3. Nespray
雀巢兒童奶粉
3 + 歲以上
( 淨重 : 900 克 )
Manufacturer: Nestle Shuangcheng Ltd
Address: Nestle Shuangcheng Ltd., PRC

4. Nestle Dairy Farm Pure Milk
雀巢牛奶公司純牛奶 ( 淨容量 : 1 升 )
Manufacturer: Nestle Qingdao Ltd.
Address: Weihai Xi Lu, Laixi City , Qingdao , P.R. China

5. Mengniu Pure Milk
蒙牛純牛奶
( 淨體積 : 250 毫升 )
製造商：中國內蒙古蒙牛乳業 ( 集團 ) 股份有限公司
地址 : 中國內蒙古呼和浩特市和林格爾盛樂經濟園區

6. Monmilk Breakfast Milk Walnut Milk Beverage
蒙牛早餐奶核桃奶類飲品
( 淨體積 : 250 毫升 )
製造商：中國內蒙古蒙牛乳業 ( 集團 ) 股份有限公司
地址 : 中國內蒙古呼和浩特市和林格爾盛樂經濟園區

7. Monmilk Suan Suan Ru Sour Milk Beverage (Mango Flavour)
蒙牛酸酸乳酸味奶類飲品 ( 芒果味 )
( 淨體積 : 250 毫升 )
製造商：中國內蒙古蒙牛乳業 ( 集團 ) 股份有限公司
地址 : 中國內蒙古呼和浩特市和林格爾盛樂經濟園區

8. Monmilk
Milk Deluxe Pure Milk
蒙牛特侖蘇純牛奶
( 淨體積 : 250 毫升 )
製造商：中國內蒙古蒙牛乳業 ( 集團 ) 股份有限公司
地址 : 中國內蒙古呼和浩特市和林格爾盛樂經濟園區

9. Yili High Calcium Low Fat Milk Beverage
伊利高鈣低脂奶類飲品
( 淨體積 : 250 毫升 )
製造商：內蒙古伊利實業集團股份有限公司
地址 : 中國內蒙古呼和浩特市金川開發區金三道 2 號

10. Dutch Lady Pure Milk
子母純牛奶
( 淨容量 : 1 公升 )
Manufacturer: Tianjian Dutch Lady Dairy Foods Co., Ltd.
Address: South of Dongting Road , Hexi District, Tianjin , PRC

11. Vita Fresh Milk
維他純鮮牛奶
( 淨容量 : 236 毫升 )
製造商：維他奶國際集團有限公司
地址 : 中國廣東省深圳市光明華僑畜牧場

12. Nestle Vanilla Flavour Ice Cream Cone
雀巢雲呢拿味雪糕甜筒 (8 支盒裝 )
Manufacturer: Nestle Tianjin Ltd.
Address: No.149 Nanhai Road , TEDA, Tianjin , PRC

13. Nestle Chocolate Flavour Ice Cream Cone
雀巢朱古力味雪糕甜筒 (8 支盒裝 )
Manufacturer: Nestle Tianjin Ltd.
Address: No.149 Nanhai Road , TEDA, Tianjin , PRC

14. Meiji Ujikintoki (red bean and green tea frozen confection)
明治紅豆綠茶雪條
(6 支盒裝 :6 x 75 克 )
Manufacturer: Guangdong M&F- Yan Tang Dairy Products Co., Ltd
Address: Datanggang Shahe, Guangzhou , China

15. Meiji Hokkaido Azuki (red bean ice cream)
明治北海道紅豆雪糕
(6 支盒裝 :6 x 70 克 )
Manufacturer: Guangdong M&F- Yan Tang Dairy Products Co., Ltd
Address: Datanggang Shahe, Guangzhou , China

16. Trappist Dairy Low Fat Yogurt Drink
十字牌鮮乳酪低脂飲品
( 淨容量 : 200 毫升 )
經銷商：神樂院牛奶廠有限公司
地址 : 香港元朗青山公路二十八咪半

17. Strawberry Sorbet
戀愛果實士多啤梨雪巴 ( 淨重 : 54 克 )
Manufacturer: Xincheng Greenearth Food Co., Ltd
Address: No.62 Xingjianzhai, Huazhou Road , Pudong, Shanghai , China

18. Natural Choice Milk Ice Bar
伊利牧場香濃布丁雪條
( 淨體積 : 85 毫升 )
Manufacturer: Shanghai Yili AB Foods Co., Ltd
Address: No. 269 Beidou Road, Minhang Zone, Shanghai P.R. of China

19. 牛奶木瓜口味飲料 (Papaya Milk Drink) (350ml) — 尚効
製造商：春喬食品興業股份有限公司 ( 地址 : 台灣彰化縣員林鎮鎮興里山腳路 3 段 25 巷 72 號 )

20. 阿薩姆奶茶 (Assam Milk Tea) (350ml) — 尚効
製造商：春喬食品興業股份有限公司 ( 地址 : 台灣彰化縣員林鎮鎮興里山腳路 3 段 25 巷 72 號 )

21. 藍山炭燒咖啡 (Carbonize Coffee) (280ml) — 尚効
製造商：春喬食品興業股份有限公司 ( 地址 : 台灣彰化縣員林鎮鎮興里山腳路 3 段 25 巷 72 號 )

I read a Chinese article regarding with the culture and live habit advice for the western expats who live in China. This article was originally commented and written by an American woman who lives and works in China, but was translated into Chinese on the web site. I translated it in English here. Personally, I think these are not just subject to westerners only, I would say they are subject to everyone.

You have to express “NO” or “DON’T” when you are under any of these situations in Mainland China. I don’t think they all do happen in Hong Kong commonly as Hong Kong is so westernised.

1. Don’t ever accept praise directly that given by others

Eg. If someone said your kids are very clever, usually Chinese would say “Nah! not at all!”. No one would say “Yes, my kids are very clever.” It’s not humble in Chinese eyes. Some people in H.K. would accept the praise directly. It depends on the family and educational background of individual.

2. Never let others lose face in public

Eg. You can never point out mistakes that your Chinese friends make in public. You can tell them what goes wrong in private. It’s the same in Hong Kong though. If you pointed out the mistakes of your Chinese friends made in public, then very likely you would break the friendship.

3. No temper in the public

Eg. Chinese people don’t usually like people having temper in public. If once you are not happy with the waiter/waitress of a restaurant, you just don’t go back. Try not to show your temper, and keep it low. Anyway, I would say this is for everyone. Occasionally, Chinese people do have bad temper in the restaurant by complaining this and that.

4. Never call Chinese people first name as last name

Eg. This is related to the language. Surname always comes in the front for Chinese name. It’s totally different from the position of western surname. Like my Chinese name, Lee Wing Chi, I am called Miss Lee. Lee is my surname (last name). You can’t call me Miss Chi. Chi is part of my first name.

5. Never have a drink yourself before you give a toast in public dinner

Eg. If you happened to attend a big dinner for wedding or birthday in China, you must give a toast to the host and guests before you drink anything. It means to respect to the host and his/her guests.

6. Never not try to pay bill in front of others for the dinner

Eg. This is important. It does happen to every Chinese society, even in China town of western world unless family background of individual is very westernised. If you had dinner with few Chinese friends, you must rush to pay bill for the whole table in order to express your generosity. It’s very common to see several Chinese people grabbing bill in the end of the meal, and one of them tries to make the payment for the whole table. In my situation, I don’t do it as usually friends do share bill in Hong Kong unless under some special occasion. However, it does happen often in Chinese society.

7. Always bring your gifts when you visit friends

Eg. You always need to bring gifts to your Chinese friends when you pay a visit. This is not so common in H.K. now. It only happens in Chinese New Year and some other important Chinese festivals.

8. Don’t accept gifts right away

Eg. If a common friend of yours did give you a gift, you have to PRETEND not to take it right away. You have to refuse it at the first place, then accept it at last after you have been asked to accept it for several times. Just try to be polite and act not greedy. It’s greedy in Chinese eyes. It’s ok to accept gifts directly from close family members and friends, and relationships between boy friends and girl friends.

9. Don’t ever think “No” is real “NO”

Eg. If you offered your common Chinese friend a can of coke, usually he/she would say “No”, even though they are thirsty to death. You have to ask at least three times, then they would accept your offers. It’s also not humble in Chinese eyes to accept offers from people directly. If I was offered by someone I don’t know well, then I would refuse the offer. If I was offered by someone I know very well, then of course I would take the coke right away by saying “Yes! Please!”

Chinese people are well known humble and being patience. We concern about “face” in public. The above addresses clearly the real reasons.

I remember I did have difficulties to say NO and THANK YOU during the first year I spent in England. When my school mates said to me that I looked good with my dress, I couldn’t say “THANK YOU” directly. I felt bad and not humble by saying so. I was such a traditional Chinese at that time. When one of my school mates asked me to lend her a skirt of mine for the party, I couldn’t say “NO” even though I didn’t want to lend it to her. I felt I wasn’t generous if I refused to lend it to her. You can compare my past behaviours and the list above, then you can understand the real meaning of traditional Chinese.

I now act the way I am, and say “Yes” or “No” upon my will. Of course, I also act part of the list above, but not too much over.

It’s boring! It’s boring! Come on baby! Where is your sex of heels??

Ahahhahaa……everyone was laughing!!

It’s nothing about sex here. It was just the comment of our Aussie dance teacher gave us in the class tonight. We were doing Bolero Rumba. Everyone was serious lacking of relaxation. It’s hard. Latin dance requires passion, motion and all the sexy body and hip movements. You may look sexy if you moves it well with appropriate actions. Otherwise, you would look ugly. I mean it. lol

I am the worst in Samba and Jive. Jive is the worst for me actually. The whole dance of Samba is rather short on the bronze level, so I still can handle it. I am better doing slow dance such as Bolero Rumba. Cha Cha Cha is fine as it’s easy to remember.

Our teacher said no one failed in the history. If he knew that anyone could have a chance to fail in the exam then he wouldn’t let her to do it. I hope he is not going to kick me out at last, in case one day he says “Joyce is going to fail!”

It’s another recall news again after a year of high lead content found in children toys, but this time is about tainted dairy products. Needless to say they are from Mainland China again. I wonder if those people were totally out of their mind during the production. Dairy food and drink products are people most common daily diet. The latest problems are directly related to human health. Four infants dead, 12,892 sick after drinking baby formula contained content of melamine. Hong Kong reported one case of illness this afternoon. H.K. parents are taking their kids for check up in the local hospitals. The long line is clearly seen outside of every hospital. This issue is spreading around the world, not just Mainland and Hong Kong. Taiwan and N.Z are also included. Local Starbucks Coffee is also involved as they use dairy products that made in China.

Products include milk powder, pure milk, yogurt, coffee and any kind of food and drinks that related to dairy products. Brands include Nestle, Mr. Brown Coffee and some other Chinese dairy product brands. Most of the major international dairy product brands are now also having their samples for testing in the laboratories because most of them are also manufactured in China. Health experts say ingesting melamine can lead to kidney stones, urinary tract ulcers, and eye and skin irritation.

Fortunately,  the milk product brand I did drink very often, the result was released yesterday that they are fine.

Production issue of Mainland China is slowly releasing year by year - toys, textile, pet food, tin food, pork, seafood, dairy products, furniture, and what else? Perhaps, vegetables, fruits are coming….who knows?

If they didn’t concern of their quality assurance issues, they would ruin the local economy. Foreign investors are now still having production plants in China, but once they found somewhere else with good cost and sufficient labour force then they could make their moves.

My sister is back from her work trip. She brought me souvenirs from Dutch and Swedish lands. She bought me a pair of jean from her company’s sample sales in Stockholm. My God! She told me it only costs HKD10.00, and the quality is very good. It’s much better than those selling in the store of H & M, Hong Kong. She also got me postcards from Van Gogh museum as well as wood made tulip decoration in Amsterdam. And a very nice metal made plate made in Sweden with Dalarna on it. She got Dad so many dark chocolates as well as some stuff from Paris. Ho! Ho! Ho! What a day for receiving gifts!

What do you feel from dance? (regardless you are a dancer, a learner or an audience)

Feel loved, joyful, passionate, romantic, affectionate, sensational, sexy and hot……….

Oh dear! What an enjoyable night to see such great performance of Latin and Ballroom dance - The Galaxy of Fame 2008.

The dancers are great. They are professional dancers from Poland, Belgium, Italy, U.S.A., Lithuania, Ukraine, England and Russia. There are six couples. One pair of the couples, who have been dancing together for 20 years. How amazing! They must be great friends and lovers. Dances included Vienna Waltz, Waltz, Jive, Rumba, Samba, Cha Cha Cha, Foxtrot, Quick Step, Paso Doble and Tango. All the dresses are incredibly beautiful. The Latin dresses are so sexy and hot!!

Joyful Jive - The female dance, Joanna Leunis, was so amazing doing spin turn without stopping from the middle of dance floor to the edges of it. Her dress is so beautiful and sexy. I love it.

Romantic Foxtrot

Elegant Waltz

Wonderful Quick Step and Passionate Paso Doble

I would love to share some songs here. These are all my love. They are great for Latin and Ballroom dance. I mean to share MUSIC ONLY not the IMAGES as the images were horrible. My camera is too bad. I should buy a new one sooner or later. I can’t capture videos clear in too far distance. It’s NOTHING near to CLEAR at all.

WARNING: PREPARE FOR THE GREAT SONGS BUT THE WORST IMAGES!!! ^_^;

Sexy Tango

Joyful Jive

Romantic Vienna Waltz

Passionate Rumba - I love this song very much indeed….It’s so passionate and sensational….

Elegant Foxtrot - It’s so 30s, that’s why I love it…..

Definitely HOT - Paso Doble - a song from Carman

Really can’t get your feet off the dance floor - Quick Step

Definitely sexy - Samba

So bad, just half song but absolutely lovely, and it makes you moved - Foxtrot again

End of the show….