Behind the Smog Screen...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/world/asia/15china.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

It's been a long time since I last posted, but this one is too good to pass up on.

The first question that came to mind as I read the article was: Is it really going to matter??

The damage that's been done is the works of the past decades of growth and development, not this year's construction and industrial projects. Perhaps Beijing can see about installing city-scale air purifiers?? The interesting question then is, where would they dump the pollutants that are purified out?

I always find it infuriating but almost amusing to see how the Chinese likes to make last-minute and clearly ineffective attempts at "fixing problems." It is slightly unfair to single out the Chinese, because in all honesty it's a rather usual practice in many developing countries.

Interesting and illustrative anecdote: I was once in a Chinatown in some unnamed city trying to buy a Chinese baked good. As I looked closer there was clearly patches of white and green mold on the top of the cake. Needless to say I immediately hesitated, and the server said, "oh that's just part of the cake, let me take it out back and warm it up and wrap it up for you."

Riiiiiiigggggghhhhhtt. Incidentally I do know what this cake is supposed to look like. Weighing the options of getting sick over the cake, wasting $10 and throwing the cake out as soon as I leave the store, or being slightly rude walking out without notice, I made my exit and thought it wouldn't be that bad anyway, since I will never go back to the store again.