China Hit By Earthquake

Drudge Report ^ | Updated:08:00, Monday May 12, 2008 | Sky News

[Lijahsbubbe]

An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale has hit China's Sichuan province. The tremor was felt across the entire region - shaking buildings in the capital, Beijing, as well as the Thai capital, Bangkok, and Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. US Geological Survey said the quake struck 57 miles north-west of the city of Chengdu at 2.29pm local time (6.28am GMT).

Some 10 million people live in Chengdu.

[goldstategop]

That's not a misunderstanding. There is a difference between tyranny and freedom. No conservative can be neutral on the issue. Freedom is the best and highest state of man and no man, wherever he is, is born in chains. Jean Jacques Rousseau thought slavery was the lot of mankind. We contend the true state of man is freedom and it is a desire that is implanted in the human soul. Our differences with those who rule China are deep and profound.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

Agreed. Not every one is a troll or government agent from China. After all, we're discussing on this thread a catastrophe. Our prayers and thoughts go out to the victims and we hope every one is safe and well and to those who have lost loved ones, we send our condolences. That being said, we do not hide the fact we believe in freedom and limited government. This site after all, is about an American philosophy of life and government. But it is not contradictory to say we believe freedom and democracy is a universal principle. That's true and it also reflects fully the dialectical contradiction of life itself.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

Machine Translation works well with Western languages. But languages like Chinese still come through nonsensical because the software cannot accurately decode the inflection and intonation of native speakers. Just be aware that Google has serious limitations. It helps if you speak the language but even then a translation is just a reflection of the original. Something is lost when you change the words, as the great Italian poet Dante wrote.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

What's the construction like? If it was a lot of unreinforced masonry, its no wonder so much of the city was flattened. Even buildings up to earthquake safety standards may suffer significant damage as to be rendered unfit for human habitation. The point with quality construction is to minimize the loss of human life. At a point in time after the rescue efforts are over, questions will be asked to make sure such a scale of devastation is minimized in the future.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

I do think BeiChang is straight out of "Shangri-La." Much of China close to the Tibetan border has otherworldly landscapes and these have been depicted in Chinese art and poetry to haunting effect.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

That's what I mentioned a few posts ago. There's shoddy and substandard construction in much of China. In the decades that follow, cities sprung up Soviet style, with cheaply built structures. Its been reflected in the devastation in interior China. The contrast between the developed eastern coast and the poorly served interior in China has never been brought up until now into such stark contrast. There's been an imbalance in the allocation of national resources. Whether China's government can begin to redress it is a subject of discussion for another day.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

Chinese civilization has been mainly secular. Its greatest ethical direction was found in Confucianism. Marxism is a dead end and no society deserves to be poor. Mao's crime was turning China into a vast monastery, which proved unworkable and destructive. The only solution is tradition, family and freedom. China will discover its own model of national greatness. No society can rest on making every one equal in their assets and in limiting their God-given gifts. The persistence of marked differences in a country is a sign not of its weakness but a sign of its health for it is only in its diversity that the essence of it unity is revealed. That is much true for China as it is for every other country on earth.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[goldstategop]

Americans do not conflate the government with the people. Most countries have a government and then they have a people. In America, the people happen to have a government. The country was born first and a federal government was established much later, only out of the most urgent necessity to preserve its existence.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[DavFeng]

China quake death toll rises to 28,881,and Beichuan residents evacuated for fear of lake burst

[gogov]

Not sure I understand your post. Suspect it was not directed at me but just a post in the thread.

[Joya]

Thanks tjt322 for the pictures.

Prayers for all those affected.

Joya

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Not sure if this has been posted or not, but I wanted to pick a few news items that show Americans *do* care, and that people are people no matter where they live on earth. We are brothers and sisters despite our governments and what the media reports sometimes.

Phoenix starts earthquake relief fund for sister city Chengdu
Phoenix Business Journal - by Mike Sunnucks

Chengdu, China — a sister city of Phoenix — is near the epicenter of the devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake that left tens of thousands dead or missing. A school in Chengdu collapsed, killing hundreds of children.

The city of Phoenix has set up a relief fund to help the Chinese city. Donations are being accepted at Wells Fargo Bank branches.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. also said Wednesday it was donating $430,000 to earthquake relief and reconstruction efforts in China.

Getting relief and help to Myanmar cyclone victims is proving tougher, with the military regime there hesitant to allow foreign relief workers in the Asian country.

Several major U.S. businesses and foundations have donated to that cause, including FedEx Corp., United Parcel Service Co. and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

For more information on Phoenix’s assistance for Chinese earthquake victims, call 602-534-3751. Charities such as the Red Cross also are accepting donations for both relief efforts.

http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/05/12/daily37.html

[Allegra]

I'm not stupid.

I know those translation generators have serious limitations. I even said on the post "LOOSE" translation. It gave a better idea to what was being said to a lot of people than the Chinese characters did. There are some on here who read Chinese; there are many more who don't. (I'm in the latter category.)

I personally have only used it in a pinch for short phrases in order to glean what the gist of the phrase is and it has worked in situations like that.

[smiling]

I am a chinese student I don’t konw how to reply and my English is poor but I want to thank you you are very kind and friendly this earthquake in Sichuan Province is very terrible many children were killed and now many people are still in dangerous the solders the doctors the nurses etc. they are the most lovely people ah···wish us a good luck~~! thank you thank you ..... 加油中国~~谢谢美国的你们~~

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Armada shows its philanthropist side

BASEBALL: Silent auction added to the fund-raising effort.
Press-Telegram wire reports
Article Launched: 05/16/2008 11:48:15 PM PDT

LONG BEACH - The Long Beach Armada and China’s Olympic baseball team will meet tonight (7 p.m.) and Sunday (6p.m.) at Blair Field, and then go their own separate ways.

The Armada are preparing for the Golden Baseball League season, which begins next week, and China is preparing for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which begin in August.

But both teams have common goals this weekend, which is to raise money for victims of the devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake in central China last Monday.

Twenty-five percent of ticket sales will go to the Long Beach Chapter of the American Red Cross for quake victims. And 100 percent of the money raised from a silent auction will go to quake victims.

Many local professional teams contributed for the auction, with the items expected to be on display today and the bidding on Sunday.

Following are some of the items up for bid:

Angels - Torii Hunter signed bat; Vladimir Guerrero, John Lackey, Ervin Santana signed baseballs; Tim Salmon autographed No. 15 jersey.

Dodgers - Matt Kemp autographed baseball; four Field Level tickets for an upcoming game.

Kings - Autographed stick from the entire 2007-08 team.

Ducks - 2007-08 team signed jersey.

Chivas USA - A Chivas package including a signed jersey, signed soccer ball, four club seat tickets (and parking) to the June 28 game against New York Red Bulls with early access to watch Chivas warm up; five VIP tickets to a suite at Home Depot Center ($750 worth of tickets) with food, drinks, snacks for the May 31 game against the Columbus Crew.
Galaxy - A team signed Adidas soccer ball from this season’s team; Galaxy t-shirts; team signed Galaxy player cards.

Clippers - A signed Cuttino Mobley official basketball; a team signed cap.

Also to be auctioned will be an official No. 7 Steve Yeager Dodgers signed jersey (Yeager is the Armada manager); Yeager signed baseballs from the 1981 World Series; game-worn jerseys from both the Armada and Chinese teams, as well as the bases used in the series, batting gloves and hats.

http://www.presstelegram.com/moresports/ci_9290647

[Joya]

Hello tjt322, welcome to FR.

Thanks for helping us understand this tragedy.

God bless,
Joya

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

I speak not a word in Chinese, so you are well ahead of me. I understand your English very well.

We wish you peace and many more lives found saved!

[Lijahsbubbe]

Those wedding pictures! Beautiful shot of the bride and groom in black and white with red rose petals.

Beautiful church and beautiful people assembled for a joyous occasion, with destruction approaching.

These kind of pictures capture the suddenness and tragedy of this earthquake, and at the same time shows us here in America more of your everyday life.

[Joya]

Hello smiling, welcome to FR.

Your English is good. I would like to speak Mandarin but it’s a difficult language, difficult as a “second language” anyway.

I am praying for God to help all Chinese to recover from this disaster and to be safe.

God bless, Joya

[Joya]

Stunning photo journalism.

Thanks so much, DavFeng.

I pray the bride and groom and all the rest are safe now.

Joya