Found another Transformer today

Luckily he (or she) didn't transform into robot form when I was taking a picture.

Futian, Shenzhen

Google Translate still has lots of room for improvement

Today my Chinese teacher told me there was a car accident a few days ago on a highway in Shenzhen and 3 people died. Apparently they were in a sports car. I was intrigued and wanted to know what type of car was involved. So I went to the QQ (as in the Chinese social network) home page and looked at the news section. I saw one headline in Chinese that mentioned three dead people. I guessed that was the article about the car accident and my teacher said I was right. 

I started to read the article in Chinese but became restless and decided to put the page through Google Translate to find the answer about the car's brand more quickly. This is the translated headline as it popped up while in the middle of class: 

The Shenzhen informed drag racing case that does not exist fucking the family of the deceased question (Figure)

I hate to post dirty words on this blog but I figured it was a good opportunity to state the obvious; Google Translate is probably the most used translation service in the entire world and it still sucks. I did a survey a few years ago at Qingdao University and 90% of the participating students mentioned they had used Google Translate or an equivalent online service at least once a week for translation help. Online translation services are improving day by day but in many cases they're still awful. 

The article never did mention the car type involved in the accident. It only stated something about the people drinking at a bar in Coco Park (near my house) and then racing at 180 km on the highway (near my house). 

Big Hummer

I'd like to see the guy that drives this around. Could be anyone from a weightlifter with tattoos to a skinny bank chief. And being in China, it could also be an 80 pound Chinese woman with gold glasses carrying a tiny poodle in her purse.

Futian, China

Surprise of the year so far... the Battleship movie is actually good

24 minutes from the end (at 1 hour 40 minutes into the movie), it gets good. Really really really good. In a cheesy movie way of course. But that's to be expected. 

I saw the trailer for the movie a month ago and I have to say they really messed up their advertising. I had previously written that I was excited for the movie. But I have to admit that when I originally watched the trailer, it appeared to be a very direct ripoff of Transformers, with man fighting machine (except in boats). Even the sound effects in the trailer make it seem like Transformers.

But exactly one hour and one minute into Battleship, some happens and you realize, "wait, this isn't actually Transformers, this is something a lot more interesting." Unfortunately, this twist is never even hinted at in the trailers. People have already seen Transformers, and probably don't need to see it again, hence people not going to see this movie. They could have, and should have, hinted in the trailers at the more interesting conflict taking place. But they didn't and now the film is bombing at the box office. 

The other missed opportunity in the trailers? They showed off the wrong battle scene. From the game it's based on, you would think there would be a scene that plays out just like the board game, with each side not knowing where the other is. Based on the trailer, this doesn't happen. Which is why I read internet comments such as, "they can see each other, so it's nothing like the real Battleship board game... how stupid is that."  

It turns out, the true-to-the-game battle scene does happen in the movie and the scene itself is great. But the fighting scene used in the trailer is taken from early in the movie and probably prompted its target audience to be turned off to it. 

My recommendation? Go see it (or rent it, Netflix it, etc.). I thoroughly (and much surprisingly) enjoyed it. 

The streets are starting to flood

Hope I make it home. It's poring rain.

Futian, Shenzhen

Matching Angry Birds' clothes

A mother and son. How cute.

Jindi Meilongzhen, Shenzhen

Video of 3 year old riding toy bike into oncoming traffic

If this video is anything to go by, China will have some of the most talented and daring drivers in the F1 field in 15 years time. 

See the story and video here: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/3-year-old-drives-into-middle-of-chinese-rush-hour-traffic/

Pool night

I lost and thus had to pay the entire cost for our time there. 65 yuan.

Gangxia, Shenzhen

Just sitting here con't

Just realized in the 5 minutes since my first post that it's actually a very nice evening.

Gangxia, Shenzhen

This BMW M3 is a little too flashy

I would love to have an M3 but I'd do just fine with a plain white one and no decals.

Luohu, Shenzhen

Just sitting here

Waiting.

Gangxia, Shenzhen

The Hunger Games is an awesome movie

Just saw it. The best part of the movie?

"Thank you for your consideration."

Now the question is, why can't I buy the damn book on iBooks for my iPad? I hate when people don't want to take my money. 

What is happening with her fingers?

Coco Park. Futian, Shenzhen

If you do one thing today, watch this 10 minute video of Monster Tajima's record breaking Pikes Peak Hill Climb run

Amazing. I miss you Colorado. 

Video by way of GoPro

Jackie Chan retires from action movies

The end of an era:

Speaking in Cannes, Chan said that his latest Hollywood outing, Chinese Zodiac, would be the last time audiences see him in a leading action role.

“This is my last action film,” he said. “I tell you, I’m not young any more. I’m really, really tired.

“And the world is too violent right now. It’s a dilemma - I like action but I don’t like violence.”