RE: DEATH OF A RED HEROINE, Author: Qiu Xiaolong

I had no idea how badly the Chinese live in Shanghai.  this book describes their everyday life in a murder mystery the likes of which the world has never seen before.  the writing is like a travelogue and meticulous--so you will need the time to of course finish your studies  in your Cantonese and local slang before you ....just kidding it's in english and the writer/guy is Chinese living in St. Louis, MO.

Shanghai is flat like New Orleans, and about 3 feet high if you can tell from the photos, i can't imagine what they are thinking about burning coal. MOST of the pop. uses coal to cook with, in first floor communal kitchens in vented hallways on hibachi-like grills. one measure of wealth is using propane. still one has to squat or kneel to cook in these places.

having an apartment with a kitchen is a major promotion. one room only is the base median.

but now they can have two kids.

RE: DEATH OF A RED HEROINE, Author: Qiu Xiaolong

I had no idea how badly the Chinese live in Shanghai.  this book describes their everyday life in a murder mystery the likes of which the world has never seen before.  the writing is like a travelogue and meticulous--so you will need the time to of course finish your studies  in your Cantonese and local slang before you ....just kidding it's in english and the writer/guy is Chinese living in St. Louis, MO.

Shanghai is flat like New Orleans, and about 3 feet high if you can tell from the photos, i can't imagine what they are thinking about burning coal. MOST of the pop. uses coal to cook with, in first floor communal kitchens in vented hallways on hibachi-like grills. one measure of wealth is using propane. still one has to squat or kneel to cook in these places.

having an apartment with a kitchen is a major promotion. one room only is the base median.

but now they can have two kids.

Another Piece of Taxi:

last night i caught a ride from SFGH, our public hospital. it was ER. A cop greeted me and told me a lady was coming out and a Sheriff's deputy would follow us to a house somewhere. she came out with a stroller heap with stuff--including a  tiny baby in its own small carrier with handle.  i put the stroller in the back "trunk" area. and we took the back streets to avoid any followers...i figured the cop would notice anyone following easier.

    on the way i chatted with the passenger.  do you have avouched? yes. this was paid for by a hospital fund. it turned out to be 25.

    i asked her if she had BF problems.  yes. husband she said. i told her i had picked up at these sanctuaries before and the women seemed much more relaxed after. she called her hubbie her "baby papa."

    is he the father? yes.  how many? six.  wow how old is baby papa? 31.  you? 29.

    what does he do? nothin'

    how much do they pay you per child?  $1,000.

shocked i asked per month?  yeah.

you could buy a house with that...i already have one she said.

what?  In SF?  no in Fresno. my daddy died and left it to me.

so, uh, you rent it out? yes.  how much? 6,000.  how many bedrooms? 4.

1500 a BR. In Fresno. i shuddered.  my rent control apt now extended its influence in my life throughout the entire state--i knew i would never live in any Fresno.  my next home might be in Vietnam or Bangkok.  maybe Venezuela--in time to witness the revolution.

     so you two make 12,000 a month with 6 kids? yep. about 144,000 a year. yep.

i carried the troller up the stairs fully loaded and too heavy and large and awkward for me really, but i made it by wranging it up going real slow.  [she carried the baby in his basket.]  i figured that service was worth this info.  you get it for free.

     when i told the cop he smiled, not surprised.

i heard a ding from my cab.

i got a call, i said. 

i was outa there.

anybody got an opinion?

[In China they just raised the quota/limit up to 2 children per couple. i don't know what they do with single mamas. or if they still throw away baby girls.  i do know the last ruling on births left China with about 100 million extra single men to deal with. The most formidable ground army the world has ever known. They could simply start marching south and take Bangkok, Burma, and Bengla Desh by the sheer weight of male protein coming on down.]

what a great planet for a poet.