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2006-03-24 China-Japan-Koreas

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Posted by Fred 2006-03-24 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [1772 views since 2007-05-07] Top

1 China imposes chopsticks tax

#10

Posted by RD 2006-03-24 02:50|| 2006-03-24 02:50|| Front Page Top

2 Good luck collecting. The Chinese are tax evaders par excellence. Not avoiders, in the sense of finding loopholes - outright evaders.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2006-03-24 03:06|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2006-03-24 03:06|| Front Page Top

3 I always thought that most disposable chopsticks were made of bamboo. I guess I thought wrong.

Posted by gromky 2006-03-24 07:55|| 2006-03-24 07:55|| Front Page Top

4 Nope. Each chopstick comes from a single lodgepole pine.

Posted by Robert Crawford">Robert Crawford 2006-03-24 07:58|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/] 2006-03-24 07:58|| Front Page Top

5 The tax on chopsticks may seem a curious way for the Chinese leadership to demonstrate its new found commitment to the environment.

Considering that [iirc] they import the wood from the US.

Posted by Phort Whoth9906 2006-03-24 08:44|| 2006-03-24 08:44|| Front Page Top

6 Nope. Each chopstick comes from a single lodgepole pine.

Actually, what we know as chopsticks are, in reality, partially formed toothpicks where the lathe bit fouled before completion.

Posted by Zenster 2006-03-24 12:16|| 2006-03-24 12:16|| Front Page Top

7 gromky: I always thought that most disposable chopsticks were made of bamboo. I guess I thought wrong.

The non-disposable ones are made of bamboo. They have tensile strength. The disposable ones feel like pine - flex them and they break. Plus they're real soft, like pine, and unlike bamboo.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2006-03-24 12:42|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2006-03-24 12:42|| Front Page Top

8 Bamboo, pine - pfui. My chopsticks (a Christmas gift) are jade.

Wonder what the ChiComs would tax me for that?

If they could, of course. ;p

Posted by Barbara Skolaut"> Barbara Skolaut 2006-03-24 14:29|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html] 2006-03-24 14:29|| Front Page Top

9 Found myself a pair of those jade chopsticks in the thrift shop, Barbara. Paid all of a whopping $5.00 for them. The jade flute I got in Taiwan cost a few more frogskins.

Posted by Zenster 2006-03-24 17:43|| 2006-03-24 17:43|| Front Page Top

10 Most disposable chopsticks are made from aspen. But the best are milled from a single, mature coast redwood. I use nothing else.

Posted by Grunter 2006-03-24 18:51|| 2006-03-24 18:51|| Front Page Top

11 BS: Bamboo, pine - pfui. My chopsticks (a Christmas gift) are jade.

Disposable ones are used at restaurants. Hygiene standards at restaurants in China aren't exactly tip-top. Customers feel a little more secure using disposable flatware.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2006-03-24 18:54|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2006-03-24 18:54|| Front Page Top

12 mine's only jade when someone else plays it, Zen :-)

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-03-24 19:05|| 2006-03-24 19:05|| Front Page Top

13 mine's only jade when someone else plays it, Zen

Don't you just love visits to the heavenly gate with all those clouds and rain?

Posted by Zenster 2006-03-24 19:42|| 2006-03-24 19:42|| Front Page Top

14 You make being jaded sound like fun.

Posted by Zenster 2006-03-24 19:44|| 2006-03-24 19:44|| Front Page Top

15 Zheng Fei - It was my understanding that Asian people often brought their own chopsticks, and it wasn't considered insulting to do so. Is that incorrect?

Posted by Barbara Skolaut"> Barbara Skolaut 2006-03-24 21:43|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html] 2006-03-24 21:43|| Front Page Top

16 BS: Zheng Fei - It was my understanding that Asian people often brought their own chopsticks, and it wasn't considered insulting to do so. Is that incorrect?

I've never personally encountered the practice - and I've dined in a variety of restaurants throughout Southeast (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia) and Northeast Asia (Hong Kong, China, Korea, Taiwan).

Posted by Zhang Fei 2006-03-24 23:52|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2006-03-24 23:52|| Front Page Top

17 BS: Zheng Fei - It was my understanding that Asian people often brought their own chopsticks, and it wasn't considered insulting to do so. Is that incorrect?

What I have seen is this - in some regions, (1) the first pot of steaming hot tea is poured into a teacup, (2) the chopsticks (if not disposable) are rinsed in the tea, (3) the cup of tea is poured into a bowl, (4) the cup is rinsed in the bowl, (5) the tea is poured out of the bowl into a large communal bowl meant for that express purpose and (6) the bowl of water is taken away. Dishes are served banquet style.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2006-03-24 23:57|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2006-03-24 23:57|| Front Page Top

23:57 Zhang Fei
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