the China government seem to exploring all its component....i hope the security can prevent all terror..

I'm a little undecided thus far on the issue: if I saw a platoon of Chinese poliltzei coming at me on segways, would I A) immediately duck and look for nearest exit or B) stand, point and giggle.

I just hope the PSB helo pilots are better trained than the PLA Chengdu Military District pilots were...

The Panopticon is here to stay.

Thanks for underwriting the effort, Olympics fans!

Sincerely,

HJT.

Capture the Taiwan flag

I want to comment on the BOCOG rules for spectators issued yesterday.

First of all, what are the "f-words" used by Beijing natives?
Fuwa? Fuwocheng? Fangpi? Fаlungong? 粪？ 废话！

Here's the specific quote at yesterday's news conference from Huang Keying about bringing banners: "For instance, a banner proclaiming Go China! would be unfair to athletes from other countries."

Why didn't any sensible reporter ask this 乏货 how many foreign athletes will be able to read a Chinese character banner that says 中国加油？ Maybe it's not fair to the Japanese athletes?

I also want to know if I will be allowed to bring a two meter by one meter official Olympic flag for Chinese Taipei to the archery competition and lead chants shouting 中华..加油！

Oh, this is very expensive.

Why cities bother bidding for the Olympics now is beyond me. Doesn't seem worth it.

de...
de...
de...
de...

*BANG*

Counter-Terrorist ...WINS

Spelunker,

I also noticed in the rules issued by BOCOG that among the items prohibited are cameras and flash photography. Are they really going to confiscate everybody's cameras at the entrances to the venues?! And their camera phones!

The simple answer to your question is no.

What is prohibited are camera tripods as well as large professional video equipment and there is also a stipulation against flash photography, but spectators will be allowed to bring ordinary cameras (including small DV video cameras) and of course, their cell phones.

My source is the Chinese document issued by China's government; the relevant explanations are copied and pasted below:

一般家用的摄像机,也就是我们通俗称做DV的摄像机是可以携带进场馆并进行拍摄的,但按照规定所携带的摄像机长不能超过50厘米、宽不能超过30厘米，而且用DV拍摄的影音资料不能用于任何商业用途。
观众们的手机、PDA以及笔记本电脑等,包括MP3、MP4等物品是可以带的。但需要注意的是,在一些场馆中,为了不干扰比赛,需要将手机调成振动状态。

the recoil from those machine-guns will land them flat on their as*, er, back -LOL

Do you feel lucky?
Make my day! LOL

Don't forget the overseas Chinese citizens of other countries who took 2 billion dollars out of their local economies to put into the olympic park so the state could afford all this security.

Wonder if those missiles can hit patchuli reeking banner droppong base jumpers. all rooftops in town are probably secure anyway.

Any word on what these t-shirt stickers look like? will make for great post-modern beijing chic silkscreening. They'll go like hotcakes, I'll be rich.

Unless they're told what it means, the Japanese athletes won't really understand what 中国加油 means either.

Even then, I don't think they would care.
After all, they're going to be performing in China...

anyway, we use (日本)頑張れ！