The Bigamist

The bigamist is not about the FLDS or the stepford wives we saw in the news recently after their children were removed from the Texas bigamist compound. This bigamist is about the air quality at the China Olympics. That is the spin now put on the white-out air quality seen behind broadcasters in Beijing. It’s fog. It’s the humidity. It’s mist. Don’t say smog. In their defense, how many photos have I seen in National Geographic taken in India or that part of the world with an ethereal quality from the thick, moist air?

We’ll hear a lot about all things Chinese in the coming weeks. Might as well toss my impressions in the mix too.

When I was growing up we called it Peking. Peking not Beijing. What would you get if you ordered Peking Duck in a café in China? Would you need to order Beijing Duck?

Officials in China, anticipating the sensibilities of the western world, have banned the serving of dog in their restaurants. That doesn’t mean a dog couldn’t eat in the restaurant. He just could not be wokked. Our son, Andy, who spent six weeks in China last summer said he never saw a full sized, grown dog. Plenty of puppies, but no bigger dogs. Wonder what happened to them.

If dogs are banned, will you still be able to get a hot dog from a street vendor? Before we get snooty and judgmental about Chinese food, consider what we eat disguised in the hot dog.

China may be the salvation of our auto industry. They love GM cars. The wealthier class aspires to acquire a Buick. Maybe GM can again overtake Toyota as #1. Market those Buicks more heavily in Asia. Turn about fair play. After all they have a lot of money from all their exports to the US. We could probably make a deal to buy up all those used bicycles you saw everyone riding during the Mao years. We need to conserve gas and watch our budgets and should ride bikes..

My son Andy has an employee picnic today at lunchtime to celebrate the beginning of the Olympics. He was amused that they are serving Gyros. Where did you say those Olympics are again? The Middle East? If you pronounce gyro like they do in the middle east is sounds like “Gi-row”. Many Americans say “hero”. Maybe that is why they chose that menu. We look to our Olympians as heroes. Hero sandwiches. Jon and I are eating hot dogs.