Not that
 

My father sometimes beat me, I feared him then. They don't listen my heart.They still support me as ago. Now I help myself. I should return my love to them, after all they are my paretns and love me.

Re: I have a long way to learn English
 

Actually, my uncle used to work for RCA. RCA was one of the top US companies in the early to mid 20th century and was located in the area where the Cellar is located (Philadelphia, Camden, etc). It was a great innovator and developer. The RCA record label was one of the best labels for classical music, among other types.

Thomson bought the RCA brand name. After a few bad experiences with TVs and VCRs, we have removed Thomson products from our list of approved suppliers for this household. Also, I believe they recently shut down a picture tube plant in Pennsylvania.

I wish you well in the US, but cannot extend my good wishes to your employer. To use an old Yiddish phrase "May they grow like turnips with their heads in the ground."

Good reply
 

What I tell you is that the picture tube plant move here. The equipments is installing here. I am supervising the installation. I work as one engineer in the product flow. RCA is know as its research and study. I heard that GE had it before Thomson bought it. I don't know Thomson's real background. In markets I have asked for its Very Large Screen TV. They told me that the TVS were worse than SONY. But the price is very high. I don't know how long I will work in this company. Maybe it is over before I go to the USA.

Thank you. Are you a advanced electronic engineer?

GE still owns the HMV image, from what I understand. And if I'm not mistaken, Thomson also runs Magnavox and Philips.

Complicated shareholding
 

Thomson Foshan, my company, is the Thomson-Sino joint company. In my company there are more than ten national employees. It likes one small UN.

My Chinese and English Name
 

My Chinese name is Ding Guo Liang. Ding is my surname,family name. Guo Liang is that my parents gave me. The Guo is nation and Liang is bright. The Guo Liang means that the nation have a bright future.

I give me Billy. I don't know its meaning and if it is a good name. You can give me a good one if you think it is not a good one.

You did say you were a materiels engineer and not a biologist.:rolleyes:
Hell yeah, Billy is a cool name. If you change it now, you'd have to go back and edit all those posts.;)

Good name
 

According to your saying, you like my name. I would edit my impression in your mind if I change my name.

From: http://jupiter.spaceports.com/~sandl...ng/meaning.htm

The meaning Of William

WILLIAM (m) "will helmet" from the Teutonic elements wil "will, desire" and helm "helmet". The name was introduced to Britain by the Normans. It has belonged to several rulers of England, Prussia, and Germany, including William the Conqueror who was the first Norman king of England. William Tell was a legendary 14th-century hero from Switzerland. It was also borne by dramatist William Shakespeare and poet William Blake, as well as contemporary authors William Faulkner and William S. Burroughs.

Billy is the short name for "William".

Billy, do you find it odd that most folks in the world have their names "backwards"? For example, if you were here in the US, you would be Guo Liang Ding.

I don't know my name has so many meanings
 

I should treasure this name. I am fraid that I give myself a bad name and let they make jokes on me.

The name William also means "guardian" and "determined protector".

There are numerous sources online for origin and meanings of names ... Western names are sometimes not as obvious in their meaning as those of China.

We are, however, sometimes unaware of them, unless we take the time to look them up.

"We're American, honey. Our names don't mean shit."--Butch (Bruce Willis) from Pulp Fiction

You teach me dirty English
 

I don't know why you say so many "Fucking" in your words.

Yeah, Sycamore. You uncultured swine!

On the topic of names / last names, Scandinavians have this strange tradition of giving different last names to their sons /daughters. If your name (not last name) is Jon, your son's last name is Jonsson. If you have a daughter, her last name is Jonsdottir.

Japanese also have a funny way to create last names, but I don't know too much about it.

My mom says that it involves a tin can.

But why do you ask, Two Dogs Fucking?

Billy is an American name meaning " That chinese guy that posts on/in the Cellar".:D

Re: You teach me dirty English
 

We tend to call them "potty words" or "cuss words" here. That was just a quote from a movie, but admittedly, I do cuss like a sailor sometimes.

"What are you? Gene Autry or somethin'? I just do that to get my point across."--Eazy-E (RIP)

My English name
 

My foreign workmates call me Billy. I will use it when I would chat with the foreign people. It is easier for them to call billy than calling Ding Guo Liang. We can use lots of Chinese words to name. We think it is our language freedom.

Jimmy Jimmy
 

One my workmate's Chinese name is Liang Zhi Min. We give his Jimmy because the pronunciations are like. But we don't know the meaning. He doesn't like it. He call me to give his new one. I can not find one. What do you think of Jimmy? Is it Ok? How to give him one new name?

A lot of the time in america in addition to your "real" or birth name (the one registered on your birth certificate) you have a nickname, which is something that other people call you. Sometimes this is based on your name ... like Billy is a nickname for William. A lot of times for men a nickname that ends in "y" is used when you are a child, but then around the teenage years it gets shortened again to what is considered an adult form of the name ... so many children who were called "Billy" in later life are called "Bill".

One of my friends is named Richard. His son has the same name. To be able to tell which one is which the dad is called Rich and the son is called Ricky. Ricky is now in school in the 2nd grade, and he has informed eveyone that he is now to be called "Rick."

Jimmy is a nickname for James, and the other form of that is Jim.

Your friend's name Zhi Min also kind of sounds like "Simon" if he would prefer an Americanized name closer to his own. "Steven" also has a similar sound. Since he gets the chance to pick, he should pick something that he likes and that fits him.

He like them
 

He like the two names. Thank you! In my office one workmare use the "simon", so Liang can not use it again. He think "Steven" is a little far from his Zhi Min. Please give me more names to select.

OK, I've thought of a question to ask. Many years ago my music teacher was talking about musical chords and how what sounds "right" to each person's ear is an acquired thing, something you learn from hearing it over and over. He gave an example of Chinese music, and said it has a 24 note scale instead of 12 notes like the European music, and if we Americans listen to Chinese music, it sounds like it's out of tune because our ears aren't used to the 24 note scale.

How much do you know about music? I've been curious ever since about how Chinese music compares, I haven't had much chance to hear it except at a resturaunt once. Is the 24 note scale more "traditional" that's not used much anymore, or is all Chinese music still on that scale? What are the instruments like that would play on this scale? Most European and American descended instruments, it would be impossible to play Chinese music on this scale. How is music written out, or is there even a notation scheme for it? Do you listen to American and European music, either classical music from 100s of years ago, or modern popular music? If so, do the chords and such sound strange compared to your native music? Or are we European trained musicians inferior because we only have half as many notes? :-)

I am not anything close to a musician, but...
 

Wouldn't sharps and flats cover it?

China Music
 

I know little about the Chinese tradition music because I don't learn it. The China national music is abundant.I will post your question on the China forum to sak.I can send you some China music by letter if you really want hear.I think you can buy it in China Town.The China drama music maybe have the 24 scale. We use the tradition instruments, chord,zither,lute. These instruments are still used in people. The music is beautiful, but I listen little.Now we may use the west instruments to cooperate China instruments.Some people learn to paly music by their memory, not use denotation. I like listening to the west pop, blues music.I don't compare to the music.I just listen to the beautiful music, and don't care how it is made.

24 scale - is that 24 notes in the octave?

Yeah. Just for those less familiar with music:

In the Western scale, an octave is divided into 12 semitones, each equally spaced on an exponential scale. In other words, the frequency of each note is a specific multiple of the frequency of the note below it, to be exact 2 to the 1/12th power. A note an octave up has twice the frequency of the note an octave below it.

Anyway, if you look at a piano, you might naively assume that all the white keys are equally spaced, and the black keys are just extra, but actually, an octave, 8 white keys, is divided equally into 12 parts, so the sharps and flats are actually filling in the spaces on a C major scale. Did that make any sense? Anyway, on a 24 note scale, you would have twice as many tones, each of the new ones half way between each note of the 12 note scale, so between C and C#, you would have another note, and between C# and D, and between D and D#, etc., etc.

And therefore, the majority of Western instruments, anything that has discrete notes, like pianos, guitars, trumpets, etc. would have no way to generate the extra notes, which is why I'm curious what a traditional chinese instrument that operates on the 24 note scale would be like.

True, but in the case of guitar you can cheat by bending the strings, or using that metallic piece popular in hawaii and some blues music (slide guitar)

And maybe the primacy of stringed instruments and flutes in traditional Chinese music because they lend themselves to these intervals?

linknoid, I did not get the answer
 

There are few people to know the difference. Many young people like the pop music. I will psot it ASAP if I get. I am sorry.

Thank you for looking into it. I actually find it as interesting that you and people you know don't know much about it as I would be about actual information about the music.

I am sorry
 

I sitll find

One my pic
 

This pic was taken in 2000, my second year in university.

Purged.;)

Only me know little about the music
 

I post the answer to many BBS. They told me that they cant not remember the difference. Many people who know the trditional China music don't surf internet. The young people who like visite internet like pop music.

I come back
 

My operation was ok. I entered the Foshan China Medcine Hospital on 30, May and left it on 4, June. It cost me much money. Tomorrow I need go to check again. Maybe it need a long time to recover. My health is bad. I need take care of my body in the future.

I hope you recover your health Billy. We enjoy your insight here.

Yeah,we missed you. next time pick a hospital with internet.:D

Thank you very much
 

Thank you from my heart bottom. I like chatting with you. You give me more good views. The hospital with Internet is too expensive that I can not afford to it. I can surf internet anywhere in China if I have one notebook PC. I will often come as ago.

Hope no next time
 

I don't need next time. Hope I have a good body.

Hey Billy, tell us about healthcare in China. Not that you need to tell us about your illness unless you wish, but was there a wait to get into the hospital or see a doctor? Are there enough hospitals and caregivers to serve all the people in your area? You mention a more expensive hospital versus the one you attended- are all citizens covered for medical care equally? Do you have access to medicines? Do hospitals mix western and traditional Chinese treatments?

China healthcare
 

I first find some official website for your information. I will tell you my feeling next time.

SARS Promotes Health Consciousness Among Chinese People

Public Hospitals Face Big Challenges

Traditional Medicine Looks West

Family Doctors Enter Chinese Life

Funds to Improve Rural Medicare

Traditional Chinese Medicine on Verge of Breakthroughs

[url=http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/10284.html]China¡¯s Relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO)

Public Healthcare System Gets Millions for Upgrade

China Healthcare system
 

I don't need wait to see doctor, but I had a ten minutes wait for the medicine taking. In cities there are enough hospitals and doctors to provide services for the public. In rural areas the healthcare is not so perfect, can say much worse in poor area. The govenment have bulit one medicare sysyem in the cities to protect the pubic getting the curing. The life insurance becomes popular in China now. More and more people receive the life insurance and buy some pieces of insurance. In rural area we are just building this system. Now in many rural areas people have no enough money to cure the serious diseases, like cancer, hepatitis, they wait for heath to save the money for their families. The necromancy still exists to cure diseases in the rural areas. In fact some traditional contagions are more serious than the SARS in rural areas because they don't know how to protect themselves and no money to get the bacterins.

In Henan (my home town), Hubei, Hebei, Shanxi Provinces there are many AIDS infected people. Ago some poor people provided their blood to live. Then the nation and people don't recognize that AIDS can widely spread by this way. The nation absolutely restrict this behavior. I heard that some whole families have AIDS. We have bulit the curing fund to help the por people. But it is difficult to help all the people. In China the people like contributing money to temples rather than children education, curing...

Some hospitals fee is high because they have the famous doctor and good health equipments. This time I did not go to the Foshan First People's Hospital because I can not afford to the too high fee. The hospital provide high quality services, possess famous doctors and good care equipments. I think I should save my money if I can cure my disease in other low price hospital. I learned that Foshan Chinese Medcine Hospital's service is bad. The doctors are professional but som nurses don't care the patients well. One nurse scolded me. We have right to select doctor and medicine. I would select high price medicine if I have enough money to use. I lived in the traditional Chinese hospital, but I had one operation and western medicine. I use some traditional medicine to cure my disease.

There are three kinds of hospitals: western hospital, mixing western and traditional Chinese hospital and traditional Chinese hospital. We select different hospitals to cure our different diseases. We would go to the western hospitals if we have the operations. We would go to the traditional Chinese hospitals if we have some chronic diseases, such as headache using acupuncture. Infact we have make traditional Chinese medicine in practical life, such as we add herbal medicine into soup and dish.

Re: China Healthcare system
 

I'm not sure if your translation came across correctly. By "necromancy", are you saying that they cure diseases by just letting them kill you, rather than treating them? Or is the meaning literal, to quote a definition by dictionary.com: "The practice of supposedly communicating with the spirits of the dead in order to predict the future" or " Black magic; sorcery." Either way, it doesn't sound like a very attractive option for health care.

Or did you mean something else entirely?

Interesting Billy. I was wondering about AIDs. Is there education to curb the sexual spread? Does the government or health organizations promote preventative actions? Is this a concern in the general public?

Do the temples or religious organizations ever support heath or education services with the contributed money? What do they do with the donations?

It seems to me that eastern medicine is slowly getting more consideration here. In our county medical center there is a department of alternative medicine, like accupuncture, accupressure, herb therapy, some homeopathy (I think) that can be accessed and covered by health insurance. I have no personal experience with any of those treatments, but a friend has been receiving accupuncture for some ailments and feels that it is working for her.
I hope you continue to feel healthy.

Necromancy- I'm thinking you mean spiritual or faith healing practice. yes?

My mother was born in 1919 with both hips out of socket and one leg 4 in shorter than the other. The Doctors said she would never walk. Well she did and had 2 children plus me, the demon seed. She was always one of the mothers on class trips plus a scout and 4-H leader.
At 42 she became an LPN and worked in a hospital until she retired at 65. Now she's having a lot of pain from her knees (along with everything else) and the Medicare Doctors don't want to do anything because of her age and history.
Last fall, out of desperation, she tried acupuncture, paying out of her own pocket because Medicare won't pay. IT WORKED. She was more surprised than anyone else. Not cured, but did kill the debilitating pain. The usual day to day pain she's lived with for 82 years and can cope with.
I'm sure it's not the power of suggestion or psychological because she is rational, deductive and the worlds biggest sceptic.

Necromancy=sorcery
 

I want to say that koradjis use of supernatural power over others through the assistance of spirits; witchcraft. I told you a real story happened to my brother. The doctor told him that he had the pneumonia for a long time. He spent much money to cure the pneumonia and hard breathe. But he still did not feel better. One day he go to see one koradji. The koradji told him that the hang man ghost lived in his body. My brother fired one paper man to replace his life for hang man. My brother recover well soon. He went to check to find that he had no pneumonia after the firing paper man. It is very stange and surprise for us. So my families except me all believe the sorcery. I don't believe that but it cured my brother. The doctor can not explain this problem. Whatever they do, I hope my families have a happy and good lifes.

Concern AIDS
 

The media reported the big problem so the public and government began to concern this problem. The public started to use safe sex ways with condoms. The governmant and health organziations educate people to prevent infections. Now the public concern and help the AIDS infected people. In some area the people have no knowledge about AIDS. They may spread this disease to others because they don't realize the dangers.

The temple would use the donations to modify their temple. The famous temple are more beautiful than some schools. I like that the Christianism use the donations to support poor people.

Necromancy: some ways are very strange, as they grasp ghost in one bottle. I don't know more about their magic.

China acupuncture
 

This way dated from 4000 years ago. Our ancestors started use this way to cure. In fact, the doctors know more about human being's nerve system. They use needle to stimulate nerver to cure disease. Maybe can not completely cure well, but at least the patients can reduce pain.

In folk we use naprapathy to cure fracture diseases. The doctors are familiar with human's arthrosis. When I was young, I had several times naprapathy. I think it is better than the western cure way to cure this disease.

Some of the donations, only some.:(
Do you mean he burned a paper cutout or drawing of a man?
Broken bones? Is naprapathy what we call acupunture?

Christian Evangelism
 

I've heard alot of stories of how Christians, If cought practicing faith, would be tortured and killed for their beliefs, especially missionaries.
Have you heard these stories? What is your opinion of the Christian Faith? and do You think that the opinon of the Chinese Government will ever change?

Burned one cutout paper man
 

Broken bones can not use this way. Naprapathy & acupunture are different ways.

Not believe all Christian Evangelism
 

China FaLong Gun have the same faith as you say. I heard that the dream would be real if you have faith. I think Christian caritas is good. I don't what faith is.

I think the China government change many opinons with time because the world changes. Every one and thing change. I think the government still hope to build one strong and rich country.

I will go home town to see my families
 

After three days' hard and tired work I have some free days to go home. Maybe I not come here in 5 days.

Have a nice visit and eat some good home cooking!

Faith is something that you Know is true, but you have no proof that it exists, or proof that it will happen.

Damn! 3 days work...5 days off? That's good duty, Billy. Say hello to your family from the Cellar.:D

Questions for YOU
 

Okay, you guys have bugged the gentleman from China for long enough. :) Now I, as a Chinese (I'm sure Sycamore can verify this), have some questions for you fellas. Don't mind me askin', but I've always been curious:

-How do you guys manage to eat all kinds of food (like pork, rice, and sandwich) without making any sound? I chew with my teeth, and one can always hear me chewing. I have to try really hard to hide the noise. Do you guys chew with your teeth at all?

-Do people generally spend most of their earnings, all of it, over all of it with credit card/loan, or save most of it? In China, it used to be that people generally saved most of their earnings, despite how little they were making. It was tradition to not "waste" any money. I think most people have gotten past this, since the new generation has enjoyed more comfort.

-Do people go see doctor/medical professional whenever they feel uncomfortable, or only when there's something serious? I usually avoid doctors unless there's something serious.

-.... actually, that's all I can think of for now :)

Enjoy this photo from my childhood, which Sycamore did the honor of scanning like 6 years ago :p

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~lin5/yuhao.jpg

I wonder if useing Syc for a reference is the best way to establish your validity? ;)
Sure, with whatever teeth you have. Everyone can hear themselves chew. Do other people hear you chew? You can't really "waste" money because it's yours to do what you want with it. You choose where it goes and you reap the benefits or suffer the consequences. Of course if you have dependents, that's another matter. Remember love and money are not for keeping. I think that depends on the level of medical coverage you have. Most people self diagnose to some degree. If I think I know what the cause is and I don't think it's going to get worse, I tough it out. Every one has different tolerance levels and resources.