As I probably have mentioned a few times, the business center of Guangzhou has been completely
built in 10 years. The central business district was farmland as late at 2000; the city decided to create a new center for the planned growth complete with hotels, museums, and other cultural buildings. This center, called "Pearl River New Town" (or Zhu Jiang new Town), was still under construction when we arrived in 2010, is mostly complete now but new buildings open up all the time.
When we stayed at the Ritz in the first few days of our life here, the new Guangzhou library was being build right next door. It looked like it was going to be fabulous - modern architecture, at least 7 floors, a lot of glass. It was completed in 2011 but we never made a visit until a few months ago.
The first picture is from the inside - the library is two towers that look like leaning books touching at the top. The middle is a beautiful atrium. We walked around and saw that there was an English section!
The library seemed like a college one - tons of young, 20-something people all hunched over desks studying or writing. Eager beavers, apparently!
We just had to make our way up to the English section - it was on one of the top floors, naturally. The section was about 9-10 half filled shelves of ......random stuff.
After 30 seconds it was clear that there weren't any new books in this section. It looked like a collection of old books from someone's closet that was displayed for a garage sale. Books with the binding cracked and frayed. Sun-discolored covers. And it contained the opposite of time-sensitive material .
Here are two books we saw at the library:
1. First, in case you need to send random faxes, here is a fax directory for the entire (?) USA as of 2000! (Does anyone out there still have a fax machine?)
2. Ah, Mr. Chinese student. You are thinking to go to the US for college? Great idea! Here, to do your research....have a list of the top US Universities, as rated in 1995. I'm sure the ratings haven't changed much in 20 years.
Just...fascinating. I have a feeling some Nigerian scammer sold the Fax book to the library after he was done using it to send junk faxes.
The Browns......well, all I can say is that I am terrified of this week's game. We are favored----on the road----by more than a field goal. Wow ! Talent wise, yes, we should win this game by a touchdown, but I hope this team is not reading any press clippings - or looking ahead on our schedule...(Don't do it! Don't look ahead! *cough*Jacksonville*Oakland*cough*Tampa*) Don't project!!!
As for my picks, it looks like I was using an NFL preview guide from the Guangzhou library the last two weeks. What a disaster, especially last week. I got burned by 2 of the game-ending pick sixes last week. On to the games:
Sea 27, StL 13: Seattle has got to be pissed after losing to Dallas and maybe they are in a better mood after the Harvin trade. I watched that Rams game Monday night after their 14-0 lead -yikes.
Chi 24, Mia 13. Gut feeling that the Bears have righted the ship. Can't see Miami scoring enough to stay with the Bears.
GB 30, Car 24. Impressed with Cam and the Panthers' O; the Packers D is loose against the run - another good day for Cam?
Bal 27, Atl 24. Pure desperation game for the Falcons. They have the weapons to exploit the lone weakness of the Ravens - their secondary.
Ten 20, Was 17. Gambling that Locker will start; The Skins should not be favored over anyone by more than a field goal.
Cin 31, Ind 28. Cincinnati has the weapons (running) to hammer the Colts, and this is a good enough D to handle a one-dimensional offense. (although that D has given up 41 and 37 in their last two games).
Buf 20, Min 16. I see a lot of rushing attempts in this game. Will be played very close to the vest as each team wants to stay close.
Det 24, NO 21. I expect the Saints' D to be better after the bye, and the Lions' D is top notch.
SD 24, KC 23. Chiefs off a bye and have 2 weeks to prepare for a Chargers team that was exposed a bit in Oakland (at least defensively).
Oak 20, Az 17. I think carr continues to mature as the Raiders QB; the coaching change and the bye did wonders for the Raiders and they will keep improving.
Dal 27, NYG 26. You don't give this many points away in an NFC East clash like this. What's that? You want me to look at last weekend's Sunday Night game?
Den 31, SF 24. Expect to be a close game with the Niners running and trying to pressure Manning to force throws.
Pit 31, Hou 17. The Steelers will be ready for this, as they need to shut up all the critics.
Best bets: 13 of them. Last week: 2-10-1 (!!!), overall: 37-46-3
Sea -6 1/2
Chi -3
Mia/Chi under 48
Atl +6 1/2
Ten +5 1/2
Ten/Was under 45 1/2
Cin +3 1/2
Cin/Ind over 50
Min/Buf under 43 1/2
Oak +3 1/2
Az/Oak under 44 1/2
NYG +5
Pit -3 1/2
Supercontest: with my record last week, it's a miracle I went 2-3 last week. Overall: 19-11
Atl +6 1/2
Ten +5 1/2
Chi -3
Oak +3 1/2
Pit -3 1/2
When we stayed at the Ritz in the first few days of our life here, the new Guangzhou library was being build right next door. It looked like it was going to be fabulous - modern architecture, at least 7 floors, a lot of glass. It was completed in 2011 but we never made a visit until a few months ago.
The first picture is from the inside - the library is two towers that look like leaning books touching at the top. The middle is a beautiful atrium. We walked around and saw that there was an English section!
The library seemed like a college one - tons of young, 20-something people all hunched over desks studying or writing. Eager beavers, apparently!
We just had to make our way up to the English section - it was on one of the top floors, naturally. The section was about 9-10 half filled shelves of ......random stuff.
After 30 seconds it was clear that there weren't any new books in this section. It looked like a collection of old books from someone's closet that was displayed for a garage sale. Books with the binding cracked and frayed. Sun-discolored covers. And it contained the opposite of time-sensitive material .
Here are two books we saw at the library:
1. First, in case you need to send random faxes, here is a fax directory for the entire (?) USA as of 2000! (Does anyone out there still have a fax machine?)2. Ah, Mr. Chinese student. You are thinking to go to the US for college? Great idea! Here, to do your research....have a list of the top US Universities, as rated in 1995. I'm sure the ratings haven't changed much in 20 years.
Just...fascinating. I have a feeling some Nigerian scammer sold the Fax book to the library after he was done using it to send junk faxes.The Browns......well, all I can say is that I am terrified of this week's game. We are favored----on the road----by more than a field goal. Wow ! Talent wise, yes, we should win this game by a touchdown, but I hope this team is not reading any press clippings - or looking ahead on our schedule...(Don't do it! Don't look ahead! *cough*Jacksonville*Oakland*cough*Tampa*) Don't project!!!
As for my picks, it looks like I was using an NFL preview guide from the Guangzhou library the last two weeks. What a disaster, especially last week. I got burned by 2 of the game-ending pick sixes last week. On to the games:
Sea 27, StL 13: Seattle has got to be pissed after losing to Dallas and maybe they are in a better mood after the Harvin trade. I watched that Rams game Monday night after their 14-0 lead -yikes.
Chi 24, Mia 13. Gut feeling that the Bears have righted the ship. Can't see Miami scoring enough to stay with the Bears.
GB 30, Car 24. Impressed with Cam and the Panthers' O; the Packers D is loose against the run - another good day for Cam?
Bal 27, Atl 24. Pure desperation game for the Falcons. They have the weapons to exploit the lone weakness of the Ravens - their secondary.
Ten 20, Was 17. Gambling that Locker will start; The Skins should not be favored over anyone by more than a field goal.
Cin 31, Ind 28. Cincinnati has the weapons (running) to hammer the Colts, and this is a good enough D to handle a one-dimensional offense. (although that D has given up 41 and 37 in their last two games).
Buf 20, Min 16. I see a lot of rushing attempts in this game. Will be played very close to the vest as each team wants to stay close.
Det 24, NO 21. I expect the Saints' D to be better after the bye, and the Lions' D is top notch.
SD 24, KC 23. Chiefs off a bye and have 2 weeks to prepare for a Chargers team that was exposed a bit in Oakland (at least defensively).
Oak 20, Az 17. I think carr continues to mature as the Raiders QB; the coaching change and the bye did wonders for the Raiders and they will keep improving.
Dal 27, NYG 26. You don't give this many points away in an NFC East clash like this. What's that? You want me to look at last weekend's Sunday Night game?
Den 31, SF 24. Expect to be a close game with the Niners running and trying to pressure Manning to force throws.
Pit 31, Hou 17. The Steelers will be ready for this, as they need to shut up all the critics.
Best bets: 13 of them. Last week: 2-10-1 (!!!), overall: 37-46-3
Sea -6 1/2
Chi -3
Mia/Chi under 48
Atl +6 1/2
Ten +5 1/2
Ten/Was under 45 1/2
Cin +3 1/2
Cin/Ind over 50
Min/Buf under 43 1/2
Oak +3 1/2
Az/Oak under 44 1/2
NYG +5
Pit -3 1/2
Supercontest: with my record last week, it's a miracle I went 2-3 last week. Overall: 19-11
Atl +6 1/2
Ten +5 1/2
Chi -3
Oak +3 1/2
Pit -3 1/2
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