Community Affairs Consultants
February 11, 2014
A contributing cause of today's heightened tensions on the East China Sea is rooted in Japan's past colonization of China, Korea and Taiwan. Moreover, the atrocities associated by Japan's occupation, especially of China, during WWII still carries great pain within Chinese society and a livid resentment of Japan. Also, Japan's abuses of some 200, 000 Korean and Chinese women as forced "comfort" for Japanese soldiers, remains very vivid in the beliefs and the memories of thousands. How does a nation atone for the wrongs of their fathers? Is a modern nation liable for past indiscretions of its people, and if so, to what extent? These are the most crucial of questions Japan needs to answer before a viable relationship could be forged on the East China Sea.
By H. M.
正月十二，搭建灯棚。从即日起人们开始准备庆祝元宵佳节，选购灯笼，搭盖灯棚。
有童谣云：“十一嚷喳喳，十二搭灯棚，十三人开灯，十四灯正明，十五行月半，十六人完灯。”
比如， 每年的农历正月十二，闵西东肖镇都要举行传统的民俗活动——庙会，在这一天里，不仅可以逛庙会，还能欣赏到特色的民俗文化。正月十二日，当你来到庙会现场，这里将人山人海，寺庙内香火旺盛，鞭炮不绝，采茶灯、舞狮及一些民间文艺队和专业剧团纷纷前来助兴献艺，周围还有风味小吃、文化演出、姓名作画等民间工艺，场面热闹非凡，当地居民和慕名前来的人们都会饱食一顿“精神大餐”。
庙会的重头戏“过关”是许多市民必不可少的一项活动。在东肖镇天子庙我们会看到，每人手中都提一盏自带的灯以及竹叶、黑白线、红双喜毛巾、包袱等必备的“过关”用品，在三位道士的带领下，围着寺庙转一圈以示平安吉祥。
February 10, 2014
Shinto-Sino relations have been stressed for many years. Tensions intensified last November when China demarcated the East China Sea. As we mentioned here yesterday, with this action; an already swelling nationalist fever within China was heightened. How would Japan respond? Crafty politician and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had to heightened Japanese nationalistic flare. A visit to the controversial shrine in Tokyo accomplished for Abe the Japanese attitude he desired despite some world condemnations. The Washington Post reported yesterday that Abe is now more powerful than any of his recent predecessors, with an approval rating near 60 percent. Nationalism might be running higher in Japan than in China. So before we venture even farther into the complex nature of the state of affairs on the East and South China Seas, it is imperative that this overview be stated. (Tomorrow we take a brief look into the history of the cause of this strain between China and Japan.)
By H. M.
正月十一請子婿
正月十一是“子婿日”，是岳父宴请女婿的日子。初九庆祝“天公生日”剩下的食物，除了在初十吃了一天外，还剩下很多，所以娘家不必再破费，就利用这些剩下的美食招待女婿及女儿，民歌称为“十一请子婿”.
正月十一，祭奉紫姑,俗称“请紫姑日”（有的地方为正月十四）。最早记载“紫姑”的文献是南朝宋人刘敬叔的《异苑》。大致说紫姑是人家的小妾，遭原配的嫉妒，并在正月十五这天被害死在厕所里，天帝怜悯，封她为厕神。但民间敬奉紫姑并非因为她是厕神，而是紫姑代表了封建社会中深受压迫的女性，才得到女性的崇拜，把她奉为弱女子的保护神来祭祀。
过了正月十一，人们开始准备庆祝元宵佳节，从正月十二开始选购灯笼，搭盖灯棚。童谣是这么唱的：“十一嚷喳喳，十二搭灯棚，十三人开灯，十四灯正明，十五行月半，十六人完灯。”
元宵燃灯的风俗起自汉朝，这一天少不了还要吃元宵、汤圆。正月十六夜则是小孩的节日，所有的小孩拿出自己的灯笼对着别人的重重一撞，然后笑哈哈的看着别人的灯笼着火，这个叫做“碰灯”。讲究的是今年的灯笼不能留到明年，必须以“碰灯”的方式销毁。
以上的习俗也许身在城市的人们过惯了忙忙碌碌的生活，有的节日会被遗忘，可是在中国农村，这种优良的美好习俗，至今还保存着呢。
February 9, 2014
Today, as we open up this discussion on the state of affairs on the East and China Seas and possible solutions, we declare that two of the claimants in the region, China and Japan have both behaved very pubescent recently while competing for international favor to bolster each respective point of view relating to claims on the East China Sea. We submit that China, more so than Japan, is responsible for ratcheting up tensions in the region. The Op-ed publications in international newspapers initiated by China and responded to by Japan both referring Harry Potter villains to each other's just-a-fix position, has been the low point of Shinto-Sino relations. China rose the bar of tensions to a new high level last November when it demarcated the East China Sea in declaring an unilateral Air Defense Identification Zone(ADIZ). The United States, Japan, South Korea and other nations in the region have decried China's actions. But the ADIZ played well with the hardliners within China as Chinese nationalism soared. In Japan, the skillful Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, knowing the strengths of nationalism, performed a gambit in Shinto-Sino relations by visiting for the first time as Prime Minister, the controversial war shrine in Tokyo that many believe, especially China and South Korea, glorifies Japan's warrior past. In visiting the shrine, we contend that Abe made the declaration to his people that he is a nationalist. If his gambit was correct, his nation would follow his lead in any prep for conflict with China. Did he succeed? Yes he did. With Abe's supporter Yoichi Masuzoe winning yesterday's gubernatorial election for Tokyo, Abe has definitely awaken his people as to the rising giant, China. (Much more to come including the history)
By H. M.
正月初十有食食
初十為天公生日的第二天，古時祭天公是一件民間大事。所以初十這一天，可以飽食昨日祭拜天公所留下的豐富佳餚，故民俗有「初十有食食」的流傳話語。
初十是石头的生日，这一天凡磨、碾等石制工具都不能动，叫石不动，甚至要祭祀石头。在山东郓城等地有抬石头神的说法。初九夜，人们将一瓦罐冻结在一块平滑的大石头上，初十早晨，用绳系住瓦罐的鼻子，由十个小伙子轮流抬着走，石头不落地则预示当年丰收。人们把石头和丰收联系在一起，应该是从初十的十音化来。十与石同音。这一天，民间忌动石器，不搬石头，习惯祭祀碾神、磨神、碓臼神、泰山石敢当神等等。过去除夕于这些石器上贴春联后，正月初十日以前，是禁止使用的。过了正月初十日，则可以开封使用，无讲究了。
正月初十日，民间传说是老鼠娶媳妇的日子，亦称老鼠娶亲日，俗称十指。民间孩童习惯踢葫芦玩耍，称为“老鼠嫁女”。石头节与原始人类的大山及石头崇拜有着源流关系。因为墙基用石头垒砌，老鼠又多生活在墙角窟窿里的缘故。初十日，许多地方要在屋隅、墙角及水瓮里点灯、焚香、敬纸，对老鼠娶亲志贺。而在某些些地方，晚上却忌点灯，忌说话，以免惊扰了娶亲事宜，惹下鼠神，一年为患。小孩子不明事理，往往信以为真，闹着不睡觉，要看个明白。大人们便接过祖辈的传说，对孩子们说：要嘴里含着驴粪蛋蛋，耳朵里塞上羊粪蛋蛋，眼皮上夹着鸡屎片片，在满天星星的时候，趴在磨眼里，才能看到老鼠娶亲的热闹场面，听到鼓乐声。这样的事情，孩子们当然不愿干了，也就只好睡觉了。有些地区，习惯用谷面作蒸食，称为“十子团”。夜晚时，放置于墙角土穴等处供老鼠吃。
February 8, 2014
In the war of rhetoric, often amounting to fighting words, over the East and South China Seas; we have witnessed the assertion by a claimant, the counter claim of another claimant and so on and so on for a long time now. Tensions have gotten to a fever pitch with references to the mode of nations pre-WWI and pre-WWII. These tensions create a high probability for an armed conflict in Asia. Tensions have to recede now. Any armed conflict in the region will disrupt billions of lives. So, what are the solutions needed to soften tempers in the region? Beginning tomorrow, and running for a number of posts, we offer our blunt assessments and candid solutions to the disputes around the East and South China Seas. This is a major undertaking, it will be impartial, it will be frank and we will stand by all our assessments and solutions.
By H. M.
天公日：正月初九是天界最高神祇玉皇大帝的诞辰，俗称“天公生”。“天公”就是“玉皇大帝”，是主宰宇宙最高的神，他是统领三界十方诸神以及人间万灵的最高神，代表至高无上的“天”。
汉族的敬天思想是非常突出的,认为天乃宇宙的主宰者,对万物具有强大的统治力、正是基于这种观念,皇帝被称为"天子"。天子也必须顺应天意,如果违反了,就丧失天命,就会有一位真命天子来取代他。无形的"天"同时也被具体化了,称为玉皇大帝,俗称天公。每年的正月初九为天公生日。
"天公生"是厦门民间一个极为隆重的节日。年初七就开始制米龟、圆、"牵",蒸发糕、。初八晚上,暮色初合,便当"天"摆上八仙桌。没有庭院的,则摆在窗口边。随后摆上十二碗干鲜水果,十二碗素菜,以及蒸好的米龟、面干等。也有些人家供荤菜,那就要双份的五牲,十分隆重。
大年初九为天公生，为玉皇上帝圣诞，忌晒衣服，也不能挑肥粪。
据史载，“忠信灯街闹花灯”始于明末清初，自那时起，每年农历正月初九日，粤北九连山重镇“忠信街”（现河源市连平县忠信镇）都要举行一项“闹花灯”的文化娱乐活动。沿街展销的忠信花灯别具一格，顾客多数只顾挑花灯大小式样，一般不计价还价，只要卖主说个“合适”价钱，顾客便乐意照付，因为顾客要的是“好彩头”，卖主亦在成交后说一通恭喜之类的好话，听的人自然皆大欢喜。 当地村民介绍，古时候吊灯、赏灯一般以家中添了男丁才举行闹花灯仪式，现在当地老百姓家里不管生男生女，还是喜迁新居、修缮祖祠，
总之，各地大凡有好事、喜事，家家都会沿袭吊灯、赏灯习俗，举行隆重的闹花灯仪式。
February 7, 2014
So while my friend H. M. continues to inform of Chinese legends and fantastic Chinese traditions of the Spring Festival, it is important that a parallel be drawn between breath-taking exotic traditions, the beautiful people of China and the communist government in Beijing. Any criticisms of China written here now, previously, and in the future, are not criticisms of the graceful people, but to admonish the autocrats that sit in power in Beijing. And no, criticism of the government is not criticism of the people because China does not have a government by the people for the people. If it had such, our brothers and our sisters of the likes of Xu Zhiyong, would not be in jail. If it had a government by the people, churches would be allowed to meet as congregations please; if China had a government by the people, nobody would go to jail for discussing, writing or advocating constitutional reforms and transparency. So to the artists, activists, journalists, lawyers, academics and freedom lovers, keep the faith - history duly records your brave and heroic overtures for liberty and for humanity and for dignity.
By H. M.
大年初八有什么习俗？
大年初八---顺星散灯花。今天是大年初八，民俗老礼儿：顺星散灯花。这一天是长辈给儿孙认星星的时候。古时晚上，家家要点起花灯，最少9盏，名曰“散灯花”。散灯花极有浪漫色彩，任你企盼，这时，长辈要向儿孙讲“一寸光阴一寸金”的道理。
谷日---传说初八又是谷子的生日。 这天天气晴朗，则主这一天稻谷丰收，如果天阴，则年歉。
返家后，由孩子亲手制作一餐谷物晚餐给全家食用。如让孩子亲手和面蒸馒头、亲手制作面条、亲手淘米蒸饭、亲手熬粥，大人只作必要的指导，而不要代替。通过这种方式，让孩子更真切的懂得粮食的珍贵，劳动的不易。。现代化的今天，春节假日过完了，多数人初八开始要上班了。大家收收心，新的一年开始喽！
February 6, 2014
The 113th Congress of the United States has now caught onto Beijing's aggression and assertions on the East and South China Seas. Oops, and Beijing must be livid. It must be livid because Beijing has thought and acted for a long time now that the 113th Congress was so anti-Obama, that it would be marred for years on domestic US matters and not pay close attention to China's assertions upon US allies in Asia. But now that Congress has caught on, the communists in Beijing will now forge ahead with an agenda to be closer to Russia in an attempt to infuriate the West. But China's long term agenda is being exposed more and more each day. In my opinion that hidden agenda so to speak, has been to skillfully gain wealth from capitalist means, invest heavily in the capitalists' markets, retract to being Red; and form an alliance with its Red Russian comrade with a view to dominating the West(fiction or fact, time will tell). But with regards to the US Congress, Daniel Russel, the US Department of State top diplomat for East Asia , informed legislators on Capitol Hill yesterday of a litany of actions by China that are raising tensions, the Associated Press reported. He said China has restricted access to a contested reef in the South China Sea; taken bids on areas far from its own shores for hydrocarbon exploration; and imposed fishing regulations in disputed waters. "There is a growing concern that this pattern of behavior in the South China Sea reflects an incremental effort by China to assert control over the area... in the so-called 'nine-dash line' despite the objections of its neighbors," Russel said. Republican Congressman Matt Salmon described China's behavior as "we're going to see what we get away with" and to see if the US has the guts to challenge them. Democrat Gerry Connolly said from a distance it looks as though China is "picking a fight with Vietnam, with the Philippines, with Japan, among others." Diplomat Russel also criticized as "provocative" China's declaration of an air defense identification zone over the East China Sea. He described China's behavior as "risky activity" near islands controlled by Japan. House subcommittee Chairman, Steve Chabot best described US policy to Asia: "The Asia-Pacific region is the future. It's the driver of the global economy and will make or break our geopolitical role in the world." Finally, Congress is aware of China's actions and intents.
By H. M.
正月初七为人节，源于古神话：女娲开天辟地，在造出了鸡狗猪羊牛马等动物后，几经演变，成为汉族吃七样羮习俗。
人日---亦称“人胜节”、“人庆节”、“人口日”、“人七日”等。传说女蜗初创世，造世上生灵万物，第一日造鸡，二日狗，三日猪，四日羊，五日牛，六日马，七日人，于第七天造出了人，所以这一天是人类的生日。汉朝开始有人日节俗，魏晋后开始重视。古代人日有戴“人胜”的习俗，人胜是一种头饰，又叫彩胜，华胜，从晋朝开始有剪彩为花、剪彩为人，或镂金箔为人来贴屏风，也戴在头发上。此外还有登高赋诗的习俗。唐代之后，更重视这个节日。每至人日，皇帝赐群臣彩缕人胜，又登高大宴群臣。如果正月初七天气晴朗，则主一年人口平安，出入顺利。 俗称“人日子”。
吃面条---大部分地方在这天还有吃面条的习俗，寓意着用面条缠住岁月的双腿，取长寿之意。此外，正月十七和正月二十七也被视为“人日子”。正月初七，十七，二十七，此三天分别为小孩儿，大人和老人的“日子”，谁要过“日子”就要吃面条。
摊煎饼---民间此日要吃春饼卷"盒子菜"(熟肉食品)，并在庭院摊煎饼，“熏天”。
吃七宝羹---一些南方民俗在这天要吃七宝羹.用七种菜做成的羹，在人日的时候食用，以此来取吉兆，并说此物可以除去邪气、医治百病。各地物产不同，所用果菜不同，取意也有差别。广东潮汕用芥菜、芥兰、韭菜、春菜、芹菜、蒜、厚瓣菜；客家人用芹菜、蒜、葱、芫茜、韭菜加鱼、肉等；台湾、福建用菠菜、芹菜、葱蒜、韭菜、芥菜、荠菜、白菜等。其中芹菜和葱兆聪明，蒜兆精于算计，芥菜令人长寿，客家人喜用鱼一起煮，取食有余之意。汕头市区的菜摊，在这一天将7件菜搭配好，论把算钱，不计斤两，人们乐意接受。农村哪一户欠一两件菜，在地里采他人一二株菜凑成七件，没人说他是贼。
另外还有用种蔬菜熬“七菜粥”的习俗，在人日食用，以此来取吉兆，并说此物可以除去邪气、医治百病。人日吃了“七菜羹”，也代表新年已告一段落，初八应该重新打起精神，开始努力工作了。
February 5, 2014
China's aggressive pursuit of territorial claims on the seas of East Asia is causing great concern to many countries in the region. United States Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, confirmed this to the 113th Congress yesterday. Responding to a question posed at a hearing before the US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, the spy chief said China's drive is fueled by a sense of some historical destiny, as reported by the Associated Press. He said China has pursued a very impressive military modernization that is designed to address what it sees as America's own military strengths. But China's assertion and excursions on the East and South China Seas as well as the Pacific and Indian Oceans must now be checked because of the alarm many nations are raising in respect to China. Only yesterday, the president of the Philippines asked for western help in dealing with China's aggression. Has there been enough alarm to demand greater US involvement? Today, one of the Committees of the United States Congress will open hearings into US relationships in Asia, and just maybe, hopefully, the 113th Congress will become more proactive and understanding of the implications and global ramifications by China's behavior in Asia.
By H. M.
正月初六“送穷神”
送穷---正月初六“送穷”，是我国古代民间一种很有特色的岁时风俗。其意就是祭送穷神。穷神，又称“穷子”。相传穷神乃颛顼之子。他身材羸弱矮小，性喜穿破衣烂衫，喝稀饭。即使将新衣服给他，他也扯破或用火烧出洞以后才穿。送穷之俗在唐代相当盛行，唐诗人姚合《晦日送穷三首》中第一首云：年年到此日，沥酒拜街中。万户千门看，无人不送穷。
扔垃圾---这一天，家中主妇要把节日积存的垃圾扔出去，谓之送穷鬼，门上的挂笺也可摘下来同时扔出去，叫做送穷神。这一天最受欢迎的是当年满12岁的男孩，12是6的二倍，可称六六顺。又传说福神刘海是北京人，是个穿红披绿的胖小子，民间流传着“刘海戏金蟾，步步钓金钱”的俗语，其形象很受市民欢迎。正值本命年的男孩，以刘海打扮，背着５个用白纸或彩纸剪成的小人上街，谁抢到就算谁抢到了财神，被抢者叫扔掉穷鬼。如果两位都是本命年者相遇，谁先抢到对方背后的小人谁吉利。也有用布制小包当穷鬼向外扔的，双方背后均要背个小筐，先把小包投入对方背后筐中者为先扔穷鬼，吉利。今民族传统体育项目“狩猎”即从“扔穷鬼，抢财神”游戏发展而来，惜此活动在辽宁尚有，而北京却很少见到了。该日小贩上街，因是马日，家中应给“扔穷”男孩买“驴打滚”吃。
马日---初六是马日，古称挹肥，人们在这一天才真正开始工作或做生意。而自进入正月以来，一直到初五皆不能打扫，厕所中的粪便累积，于是这一天做一大扫除，并祭拜厕所神明，将平日污秽的厕所清扫干净。 这一天也表示旧时农民于此日开始下田，准备春耕。
民间流传的农历新年习俗歌当中提到“初一人拜神，初二人拜人，初三穷鬼日，初四人乞米，初五初六正是年，初七寻春去，初八八不归，初九九头空，初十打春去，十一打仔回，十二搭灯棚，十三人开灯，十四灯火明，十五祈完灯，采青走百病。”正所谓大年初六求顺扔穷鬼。正月初六"送穷"，是我国古代民间一种很有特色的岁时风俗。其意就是祭送穷鬼（穷神），又称"穷子"。
February 4, 2014
So what will be the fate of the East and South China Seas? And what of the Indian Ocean? A Chinese carrier accompanied by two Chinese destroyers are sailing back to the mainland following exercises on the Indian Ocean. China continues to spread its reach across Asia, and after this recent excursion by the Chinese fleet on the Indian Ocean, will the World now see India expand its own territorial claim over the Indian Ocean stretching beyond the Bay of Bengal as a buffer to China? Maybe the 113th Congress of the United States will start paying a little more attention to China's "joy rides" on the Seas of Asia with a view to protecting US spheres of interest in the region and US commitments to allies.
By H. M.
正月初五---“破五”、祭财神、送穷、开市
正月初五俗称破五。民俗一说破五前诸多禁忌过此日皆可破。按照旧的习惯要吃“水饺子”五日，北方叫“煮饽饽”。如今有的人家只吃三、二天，有的隔一天一吃，然而没有不吃的。从王公大宅到街巷小户都如是，就连待客也如此。民间通行的吃饺子，也俗称“捏小人嘴”，据说，这样可免除谗言之祸。妇女们初五后也不再忌门，开始互相走访拜年、道贺。新嫁女子在这一天归宁。 破五习俗除了以上禁忌外，主要是送穷，迎财神，开市贸易。
祭财神---南方人在正月初五祭财神。民间传说，财神即五路神。所谓五路，指东西南北中，意为出门五路，皆可得财。俗以为接路头，越早越好，最早接到的才是真神，特别灵验，因此叫“抢路头”。上海旧历年有抢路头的习俗。正月初四子夜，备好祭牲、糕果、香烛等物，并鸣锣击鼓焚香礼拜，虔诚恭恭敬财神。初五日俗传是财神诞辰，为争利市，故先于初四接之，名曰“抢路头”，又称“接财神”。
五祀即祭户神、灶神、土神、门神、行神，所谓“路头”，即五祀中之得神。凡接财神须供羊头与鲤鱼，供羊头有“吉祥”之意，供鲤鱼是图“鱼”与“余”谐音，诗个吉利。人们深信只要能够得到财神显灵，便可发财致富。
路头神---路头神是吴地所信奉的一位财神。路头又称“五路神”。据说元末有一何五路，为抵御外寇而死，人们因此祀他为神，名“五路神”。但此五路神似乎与作为财神的路头五路神无涉。或又以五路神实为五圣神，或曰五通神，在康熙年间汤斌毁禁上方山五通寺以后，民间不敢祀五通神，故改其名为路头而祀之。 古人外出行旅，祭祀路神以求平安，此为“祖道”之俗； 路神变为财神，是因商业的发展，财货流通的加剧。财货往来于陆水之间，人们直观地认为，路在冥冥之中主宰了财货。
送穷---正月初五“送穷”，是我国古代民间一种很有特色的岁时风俗。这一天各家用纸造妇人，称为“扫晴娘”，“五穷妇”，“五穷娘”，身背纸袋，将屋内秽土扫到袋内，送门外燃炮炸之。这一习俗又称为“送穷土”，“送穷媳妇出门”。陕西韩城一带，破五这一天忌出门，而且要将鲜肉放在锅中炙烤，还要爆炒麻豆，令其崩裂发声，认为这样可以崩除穷气，求得财运。此外旧时除夕或正月初五要吃得特别饱，俗称“填穷坑”。民间广泛流行的送穷习俗，反映了我国人民普遍希望辞旧迎新，送走旧日贫穷困苦，迎接新一年的美好生活的传统心理。
开市---旧俗春节期间大小店铺从大年初一起关门，而在正月初五开市。俗以正月初五为财神圣日，认为选择这一天开市必将招财进宝。
人们都在正月初五零时零分，打开大门和窗户，燃香放爆竹，点烟花，向财神表示欢迎。接过财神，大家还要吃路头酒，往往吃到天亮。大家满怀发财的希望，但愿财神爷能把金银财宝带来家里，在新的一年里大发大富。
February 3, 2014
Day three has come and gone since New York Times journalist Austin Ramzy left China, and again, as China has figured, the international community seems to have forgotten the issue. Moreover, the communists in Beijing are so confident in their predictions of the world community's reaction to Beijing's censorship of the Press, that while they were expelling Ramzy, Beijing was inviting the international press to cover two of their propaganda meetings slated for March. Beijing has set up a website for the foreign press to attain credentials to cover the two communist meetings. Why? There is something at the meetings Beijing wants to publicize. Beijing does not want independent thinking nor any investigative reporting; the communists crave and prefer the Press to report what Beijing likes and wants. When will the communists realize that "you can't have your cake and eat it too".
By H. M.
正月初四“接灶神”
“上天言好事，回宫降吉祥”，在腊月二十三这天，人们恭送灶王爷回天庭汇报工作，如今是到了该把他老人家请回来的日子了。
迎灶神---俗话说“送神早，接神迟”，所以送神要在大清早，接神却在下午四点钟左右。过去家家户户备牲礼果菜，并焚香、烧金纸、放鞭炮以示恭迎。据说腊月二十四日到大年初四这段期间，天界改派其它天神到下界巡逻，监视一切事物然后上奏天神。在北方还有个传说：初四灶王爷要查户口，因此也不宜离家，因此许多地方亦有初四忌门的习俗。但是侄子可以去看姑姑，“姑舅亲，辈辈亲，打断骨头连着筋，不分彼此一家人”。姑奶奶在家有地位，是北方民俗特色。
接五路---接五路，本指接五路行神，后来演变成接五路财神。旧时商家春节休假后，一般都在初四晚上接请五路财神，初五开市，以图吉利。初四日下午三点，接五路仪式的准备工作就开始了，直到晚上九、十点钟结束。先是摆案桌，一般用两张八仙桌拼起来即可。头桌是果品如广橘、甘蔗，寓意财路广阔，生活甜蜜；二桌是糕点，寓意高升、常青；三桌为正席，供全猪、全鸡、全鱼，并元宝汤等。半桌是饭、面、菜，一碗路头饭中插一根大葱，葱管内插一株千年红，寓意兴冲冲、年年红。第三桌上的酒菜须等接上五路财神后方可奉上。大家满怀发财的希望，但愿财神爷能把金银财宝带来家里，在新的一年里大发大富。接五路须主人带上香烛分别到东、西、南、北、中五个方向的财神堂去请接，每接来一路财神，就在门前燃放一串百子炮。全部接完后，主人和伙计依次向财神礼拜，拜后将原供桌上的马幛火化，表示恭送财神。仪式才算是结束了。
羊日：正月初四是女娲创世神话的“羊日”。晋人董勋《问礼俗》载曰：“正月一日为鸡，二日为狗，三日为猪，四日为羊，五日为牛，六日为马，七日为人。正旦画鸡于门，七日贴人于帐。”在老皇历中占羊，故常说的“三羊（阳）开泰”乃是吉祥的象征，也是恭迎灶神回民间的日子。
February 2, 2014
If President Xi Jinping is really serious about "deepening reforms", then some social reforms need to be quickly excavated within China; for to transform the economic sector at a break neck and revolutionary pace, while the social sector lags in idle, or at best snail- pace; is to open up the door for wider and greater protests in China. To forego major social changes of freedom especially with respect to those rights of speech and the media, could see major increases in the number of protests witnessed in China every year. Instead of witnessing some 146, 000 protest events a year, China could witness over 200, 000 events of Chinese yearning to be free. Such numbers of protest could culminate in one major communist- changing event.
By H. M.
正月初三别出门
关于大年初三，从古至今民间有很多的习俗和传说，有好也有坏，不过最终的目的都还是为了祈福，所以喜欢民间趣闻的朋友不妨好好看一看。
烧门神纸---旧时初三日夜把年节时的松柏枝及节期所挂门神门笺等一并焚化，以示年已过完，又要开始营生。俗谚有“烧了门神纸，个人寻生理”。
谷子生日---民间以为正月初三为谷子生日，这一天祝祭祈年，且禁食米饭。
小年朝---即天庆节。宋代宫廷节日，宋真宗大中祥符元年，因传有天书下降人间，真宗下诏书，定正月初三日为天庆节，官员等休假五日。后来称小年朝，不扫地、不乞火，不汲水，与岁朝相同。
赤狗日---正月初三称为“小年朝”，也称为“赤狗日”。传说中“赤狗”是“熛怒之神”，遇到他的人一定会不吉利，故初三为“凶日”，不宜外出。据说在初三跟谁拜年，就会跟谁吵架，因而不拜年；同时 “初一早，初二早，初三睡甲饱”，就是说初三不但是赤狗日，而且一连几天的忙碌，到了初三，总算告一段落，可以晚起些，补补前两天的睡眠，长保健康。
另外“赤”字有“赤贫”的意思，所以民间也不在这天宴客，会冲犯“赤狗”，带来贫穷。所以在这天里最好是呆在家里，不要到任何亲友家里拜年。不过，现代社会已经破除了这些封建迷信，百无禁忌。
“归宁”节---正月初三是女婿看丈人、闺女回娘家看爹妈的日子。嫁出去的女儿们在这一天纷纷带着丈夫、儿女回娘家拜年。女儿回娘家，必备办一大袋的饼干、糖果，由母亲分送邻里乡亲，一如过年的情景。姑娘回到家中，若家中有侄儿，当姑母的必须再掏腰包，尽管在初一日给压岁钱时已经送了，可这一次意义不同。回娘家有很多讲究，带礼物一定要带双数，不能带单数，一般是四份，娘家不能全收下，待回夫家时，还要再捎回去一部分。回娘家只吃中午饭，女儿必须在晚饭前赶回婆家。女儿回到娘家，如果家中有侄儿，当姑姑的必须要给侄儿红包。
传统观念认定，已逝的老祖宗，年底从天上回家享受供奉。老祖宗如果看到家里有“外人”，就不愿进家了，因为，已婚女人被认为是“外人”；所以已婚女人不能在家里过除夕、初一。老祖宗享用供奉后，在初一（或初二）晚上就回到天上了，女儿就可以回家了。这个规矩在旧社会特别是农村是很严格的，违反了就是大不敬。 这也是一种沿袭以久，而且可能还要执行很长时间的文化现象。
中国古代有男尊女卑的讲究，妇女地位很低，出嫁从夫，民间还有谚语“嫁出去的姑娘泼出去的水”，意思就是指出嫁的女人不得无故回娘家，更多的时间是要伺候公婆和丈夫。过年时女方必须在婆家过，这是规矩。如果女儿想给自己父母过年，只能等到初六以后。但随着社会的进步，男女平等观念的萌芽，女方初一待在婆家，初二、三就要马上回娘家拜年，这反映了社会进步和女性地位的上升。
February 1, 2014
It is day two since China expelled new York Times journalist Austin Ramzy and as predicted, there is silence. China has trumped and duped the international community another time. It has encroached upon human rights and the freedom of the press again with no apparent consequences to bear. But China should be made aware that some not so easily duped observers are taking stock of its actions. Today, we'll leave the PRC with a story - a story of a monkey; when its tail was chopped off, the monkey shrugged and simply said: "It won't be long now." Offered for consideration by all.
By H. M.
正月初二“回娘家”
在经过了欢乐的大年初一后，传统的民俗在初二又有什么有趣的讲究吗？
回娘家---大年初二回娘家是许多人都知道的一个老传统，每年正月初一一过，嫁出门去的女儿们就会纷纷带着丈夫和孩子回娘家过年，看望家中的老爹老娘。女儿回娘家，必须要备办好一大袋的饼干、糖果，然后由母亲分送给邻里乡亲。但是姑娘回娘家还有一个讲究，就是只能吃中午饭，晚饭前需要再赶回婆家。
祭财神---北方在正月初二祭财神，这天无论是商贸店铺，还是普通家庭，都要举行祭财神活动。各家把除夕夜接来的财神祭祀一番。实际上是把买来的粗糙印刷品焚化了事。这天中午要吃馄饨，俗称"元宝汤"。祭祀的供品用鱼和羊肉。老北京的大商号，这天均大举祭祀活动，祭品要用"五大供"，即整猪、整羊、整鸡、整鸭、红色活鲤鱼等，祈望今年要发大财。
请姑爷---大年初二回娘家的习俗，提供了一个聚会的机会，让许久未见的姊妹们，得以叙叙旧、话话家常，同时姑爷们也可以聚在一起聊聊天了。
大年初二，按照福建福安的民俗惯例，基本上不去亲朋好友家逛门，如果一定要去，初一那天就要先去报到一下，第二天才能再去。许多外地的朋友不知道这个民俗，如果冒昧在初二这一天前往福安朋友的家里，虽不至于吃闭门羹，但是主人脸上却少了过年应有的热情和福安人好客的本性，这总会让外地朋友感觉怪怪的（闽东六县仅有福安如此，全国其他地方更未听说）。但，这民俗却已存在四五百年了！
January 31, 2014
The bold arrogance of the communists in Beijing is getting more blatant and more daring by the day. The government of China is behaving as if it could do as it pleases, when and wherever, without any fear of consequences. Case and point: last December, United States(US) Vice President Joe Biden, while in China, complained to President Xi Jinping about the problems faced by US journalists and media houses in China; how did China react? Yesterday, the communists forced New York Times journalist Austin Ramzy out of the country. Ramzy became the second NY Times reporter to be forced out of China over visa issues in less than 14 months. Why? China remains upset with the western free press because it cannot control it as it does its own; but the communists are trying and they are trying hard to fashion, shape and control the free press. Last week, China also blocked access in China to the websites of several American and European media houses because they carried reports of an investigation that showed the relatives of the Chinese president and other business and political leaders were linked to offshore tax havens, according to the Associated Press(AP). White House spokesman Jay Carney said the US is "very disappointed" over Ramzy's departure. The White House urged China to unblock US media websites and to eliminate other restrictions on journalists. Washington also noted that in some cases the free press faced violence at the hands of Beijing authorities and these "restrictions and treatment are not consistent with freedom of the press..." But Washington can continue to talk as much as we have for quite sometime; Beijing will not listen, neither will the communists amend their ways. Beijing has learnt that for some apparent reason, the international community is unwilling to really challenge the one-part communist state. Beijing has suffice to a science the West's response to its bad behavior: day one verbal complaints, day two silence and by day three inaction. Knowing this, Beijing has been able to act at will and whim as it pleases with respect to the press, to freedom aspirers and to its neighbors on the East and South China Seas. At what point will Beijing be made to suffer the consequences of its actions? Let's not recommend anyone holds his/her breath.
By H. M.
大年初一万事吉。中国人民过春节已有4千多年的历史，它是由虞舜兴起的。公元前两千多年的一天，舜即天子位，带领着部下人员，祭拜天地。从此，人们就把这一天当作岁首，算是正月初一。据说这就是农历新年的由来，后来叫春节。春节过去也叫元旦。春节所在的这一月叫元月。
开门炮仗---春节早晨，开门大吉，先放爆竹，叫做“开门炮仗”。爆竹声后，碎红满地，灿若云锦，称为“满堂红”。这时满街瑞气，喜气洋洋。
拜年---春节里的一项重要活动，是到新朋好友家和邻那里祝贺新春，旧称拜年。汉族拜年之风，汉代已有。初一早上大人要拜年，而且一定要在天亮前把村里所有长辈都拜完，否则就不显得尊重。民间互访拜年的形式，根据彼此的社会关系，大体分４类：一是走亲戚。初一必须到岳父、须带礼物。进门后先向佛像、祖宗影像、牌位各行三叩首礼，然后再给长 辈们依次跪拜。可以逗留吃饭、玩耍。二是礼节性的拜访。如给同事、朋友拜年，一进屋门，仅向佛像三叩首 ，如与主人系平辈则只须拱手一揖而已，如比自己年长，仍应主动跪拜，主人应走下座位做搀扶状，连说免礼表示谦恭。这种情况一般不宜久坐，寒喧 两句客套话就要告辞。主人受拜后，应择日回拜。三是感谢性的拜访。凡一年来对人家欠情的（如律师、医生等）就要买 些礼物送去，借拜年之机，表示谢枕。四是串门式的拜访。对于左邻右舍的街坊，素日没有多大来往，但见面 都能说得来，到了年禧，只是到院里，见面彼此一抱拳说：“恭禧发财”、 “一顺百顺”，在屋里坐一会儿而已，无甚过多礼节。
聚财---俗传正月初一为扫帚日，这一天不能动用扫帚，否则会扫走运气、破财，而把“扫帚星”引来，招致霉运。假使非要扫地不可，须从外头扫到里边。这一天也不能往外泼水倒垃圾，怕因此破财。今天许多地方还保存着一习俗，大年夜扫除干净，年初一不出扫帚，不倒垃圾，备一大桶，以盛废水，当日不外泼。
不许打喷嚏---比较特别的习俗是，初一早上不许打喷嚏，如果非要打，只能对着墙打。
民俗大年是中国最富有传统特色的节日。随着人们物质生活的极大提高，大部分人对过年吃吃喝喝已失去了热情，过一个集传统与时尚于一体的新年，成为人们新的期盼。
January 30, 2014
To my family in Shandong, to my friends in Beijing, Tianjin , Nanjing, Taiyuan and Xinjiang and to my associates in Wuhan, Guangzhou and Chongqing and to the rest of China, Happy New Year!
By H. M.
腊月三十，就是俗称的除夕，是中国老百姓一年当中最高兴的日子。在这天家人团聚，亲朋见面，共同迎接新的一年的到来，无比的欢欣。
年夜饭---除夕夜的饭是最香的也是最真实的，因为每一粒饭粒都充满了家的味道，每一道菜中都是家人的爱，因此，除夕夜的年夜饭是最受中国老百姓重视的一顿大餐了。
饺子---说到年夜饭，一般都少不了两样东西，一个是鱼，一个是饺子。“鱼”和“余”谐音，是象征“吉庆有余、年年有余”。而饺子，则是取“新旧交替、更岁交子”的意思。又因为饺子的形状很像一个个的小元宝,一盆盆端上桌象征着“新年大发财，元宝滚进来”的好兆头，所以，家家户户都要在这天吃上一顿饺子。
守岁---俗名“熬年”。守岁从吃年夜饭开始，这顿年夜饭要慢慢地吃，从掌灯时分入席，有的人家一直要吃到深夜。而现在，大多数人是伴随着已经20多年的春节联欢晚会来度过这个除夕夜的。一家人吃过晚饭，围坐在电视机前看春节联欢晚会 。
放爆竹---放鞭炮是除夕的必要项目。吃过饺子，到了午夜时分，就该是最热闹的放鞭炮的时候了。这个时候新年钟声敲响，整个中华大地上空，爆竹声震响天宇。有的地方还在庭院里垒“旺火”，以示旺气通天，兴隆繁盛。在熊熊燃烧的旺火周围，孩子们放爆竹，欢乐地活蹦乱跳。这时，屋内是通明的灯，庭前是灿烂的火花，屋外是震天的响声，把除夕的热闹气氛推向了最高潮。2014年很多地方禁放鞭炮由于考虑空气被污染。
给压岁钱---给压岁钱原本的意思是家里的儿女给老人准备的，为的是压住“岁”，而求得老人身体健健康康，现在社会，已经将它演变成了给孩子的零花钱。虽然给的人不一样了，但是同样都是为了取保平安健康的意思。每年到了除夕夜，家中的孩子一字排开，按年龄大小给长辈们一一磕头，然后欢欣雀跃的领到自己的一份压岁钱。
另外，以前的除夕夜，许多人家都会摆上一桌天地桌，上面摆满了祭神用的各种贡品和蜡烛，墙上贴好了要拜的神像。此种习俗传说中为了要接神仙下届而特意准备的。虽然现在这种封建传统已经被破除，但它本身也不失为一种有意思的民俗活动。
过年是一种强大的磁场，是最具凝聚力的一个节日。回家的脚步，就是被过年的文化所牵动，在农历年的最后一个晚上，一家团聚传递着家常的幸福，辞旧迎新寄托着美好的期盼。
January 29, 2014
Yesterday, we honored our jailed, on trial and under suspicion brothers in the race for freedom in China. In doing so, we meant not to detract from the personal sacrifices of you thousands of citizens across China, who demonstrate some 500- times a day for greater liberties. To all you brothers and sisters in the struggle for greater human dignity, freedom, equality and opened official wealth transparency, we salute you. From Wukan to Beixin Village to Xiamen to Fuzhou to Putian to Beijing to Tibet to Hubei to Xinjiang, we salute all of you. As you prepare for the Spring Festival, we pray that you feast bountifully because you have earned it. On your backs of labor, a privileged few have gotten filthy wealthy. You have provided the grit and the sweat to run the farms and factories, so at this festival, take a break, love and respect your families and above all, eat lavishly for unlike the autocrats in Beijing, you have earned this right. Cheers!
By H. M.
“腊月二十九，蒸馒头”
老北京人，特别讲究“过年”，于是便有“小孩小孩你别馋，过了腊八就是年，腊八粥，喝几天，哩哩啦啦二十三，二十三、糖瓜粘，二十四、扫房子，二十五、炸豆腐，二十六、炖大肉，二十七、杀公鸡，二十八、把面发，二十九、蒸馒头，三十晚上熬一宿，大年初一扭一扭……”的民谣。在腊月二十九这天，到底还有着多少有意思的习俗呢？
“腊月二十八，把面发”，这发了的面，自然也就要用来蒸馒头啦，因此民谣中自然也就有了“腊月二十九，蒸馒头”的说法。
蒸馒头在过去来说不是随随便便的做，而是要精心准备，认真用心，因为做出来的馒头是要跟相亲邻居交换的，因此，一定要做的又好看又好吃，这才有面子，也才吉利，非常的有讲究。
老北京腊月二十九这天家家户户都要蒸馒头，这是为了过年准备主食，除了蒸馒头以外还要蒸花卷、豆包、或者蒸一些小动物造型的豆包等，满族人家还要蒸喜饼、蒸枣泥方糕、蒸子孙馒头、蒸如意卷等。在蒸豆包的时候还要在豆包上面用胭脂点一个小红点，以示喜庆吉祥。腊月二十九因为是除夕的前一天，所以也叫“小除夕”，这天家家置摆酒席一桌，以备晚辈前来给长辈辞岁、别岁。还要在屋外焚香，称为“烧天香”，一直要持续到初一。
年谣称：“腊月二十九，上坟请祖上大供”。 对于祖先的崇拜，在我国由来已久。事死如生不仅是孝道的重要标志，也是尊老敬老的美德。春节是大节，上坟请祖仪式也就格外郑重。上坟请祖的时间，大多数地区在二十九日早晨请祖。 早在汉代中华民族的祭祖活动就已经是春节中一项十分重要的活动了。
January 28, 2014
Among China's 1.3 billion people, a brave few must be commended for their brave and forward thinking believes and deeds. They are the social activists, some who, even from their Chinese jail cells, continue to champion democratic causes of freedom and of transparency; and to challenge the communists to reform into a modern style government with a respect for the rule of law, and to accord the people fundamental freedoms of speech and assembly as defined by international norms. Of Xu Zhiyong we speak, of Liu Xiaobo - the Nobel Laureate we speak; and of professors Zhang Xuehong, Ilham Tohti and Xia Yeliang we speak. There are scores of unnamed others who have been arrested, beaten, and placed under 24-hour surveillance by security forces for also aspiring to be free or for having a mere association with either of the afore mentioned heroes of freedom. That these individuals dared to stand for the basics of human dignity, while millions of others dropped their heads to the pavements in fear, is testimony as to this unique group's worth to civilization and democracy. The free world salutes these exemplary and brave activists for freedom.
By H. M.
“腊月二十八，把面发”，“腊月二十八，打糕蒸馍贴花花”。这是两句关于腊月二十八的民谣，从中我们可以看出，到了农历的腊月二十八这天无论是发面还是做馍，总之各家各户是要开始准备主食了。腊月二十七准备了过年要吃的肉类，到了二十八这天，就该准备面食了。按着老理儿说，从初一开始到初五不能动火蒸馒头和炒菜，所以老北京人习惯在大年二十八、二十九这两天做主食。由于春节期间忌做蒸、炒、炸、烙等炊事，而蒸与争谐音、炒与吵谐音、炸与炸(四声)谐音、烙与落谐音，均属不吉利，所以老北京人在年前都要蒸出够全家吃上一个星期左右的馒头，这叫隔年吃。
年菜中的蒸食除了馒头外，还有另外一些面食。 满族年菜中的蒸食就有：蒸馒头、蒸喜、蒸花卷、蒸枣泥方圃、蒸豆沙圆包、蒸子孙馒头、蒸如意卷等等。春节时候的馒头，上面都要用胭脂点上红点，以示吉庆。现在由于没有那么多的禁忌，春节期间想要吃馒头，随时可以买到。
过去，没有现代比较方便的发酵粉，普通的面提前几天做好了容易坏，只有发面不爱坏，于是二十八这天就发面，准备正月初一到初五的主食。同时，这也是因为初一到初五期间不能动火蒸馒头。在这天，太原人要蒸好“糕儿馍馍两笸箩”；河北人则是“蒸枣花”预备除夕祭礼祖宗作供品；河南人也是“二十八，蒸馍炸圪塔。”只有北京人慢半拍，在这天才“把面发”，等到二十九才“蒸馒头”。
“贴花花”：腊月二十八除了要发面以外，还要“贴花花”也就是贴年画、贴春联和贴窗花。其中贴春联的习俗源于古代的“桃符”。古人以桃木为辟邪之木，《典术》曰：“桃者，五木之精也，故压伏邪气者也。”到了五代时，后蜀君主孟昶雅好文学，他每年都命人题写桃符，成为后世春联之滥觞，而题写于桃符上的“新年纳余庆，嘉节号长春”，便成为有记载的中国历史上第一副“春联”。后来，随着造纸术的问世，才出现了以红纸代替桃木的张贴春联的习俗。
总之，人们祈盼在新的一年里家庭和和美美，顺顺利利，于是就刻意将那些听起来谐音不和谐的事给一一避开。虽说这发面蒸馒头的事有点麻烦，但是还有不少人仍然愿意坚守这老辈传下来的年文化。
January 27, 2014
When will the guardians and the stalwarts of freedom and of democracy; and the advocates of free will and the champions of the human spirit; stand up, take a step back; evaluate and question, their cooperation and their relations with the communist government of China? When will the international community stop rewarding and awarding governments that commit serious human rights violations? When will the community realize that continued business dealings with such violators amount to sanctioning gross suppressions of the human will? Hopefully sooner rather than later - for later would mean that many of us of free will might have to attain Beijing's permission to eat in groups of more than ten in restaurants; that our mothers and grandmothers might have to receive a special blessing from Beijing before sitting at Mass on Sundays; that Beijing would have to approve who could procreate; that academics might need Beijing's approval before publishing scientific findings; that the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal might need the nods of Beijing censors before press time. Such would be a World according to Beijing dictated law. The number of political activists sitting in Chinese jails along with those on trial and those awaiting trial for aspiring to be free is testimony as to our World with China as a "shared" super power partner. On Sunday as Xu Zhiyong was being sentenced to four years in jail, Beijing was preparing to put Ding Jiaxi, Li Wei, Zhang Baocheng and Yuan Dong on trial for similar charges as Xu, suggesting communist officials declare their true wealth and allegedly gathering crowds to disrupt public order. Also on Sunday as proof that Beijing intends to detain every independent mind in China before the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square uprising, popular dissident Hua Jia was taken from his home by Chinese security forces. Hua joins many other freedom seekers in jail including Uyghur scholar and activist Ilham Tohti who was taken from his home in mid-January. The United States State Department has describes Tohti's arrest "to be part of a pattern of arrests and detentions of public interest lawyers, internet activists, journalists, religious leaders and others who peacefully challenge official Chinese policies and actions".
By H. M.
腊月二十七---宰只鸡。
春节的脚步是越走越近，仿佛听见了除夕的钟声。家家户户，大街上全都热闹了起来。在昨天吃过了美味的炖大肉以后，今天要做的重要事就是“宰鸡”。“二十七，宰公鸡”，是因为“鸡”和吉祥的“吉”谐音，人们都希望讨一个吉祥如意的好彩头。过去年俗有不少讲究：做好的鸡要放到除夕才能吃；吃时要摆在桌子中间，而且要整只放，不能切块；除夕夜不能吃完，要留一点，因为春节期间天天都要在餐桌上见到鸡才算圆满。如今已没有这么多约束。 另外，因为老理讲究初一不能动刀，所以，这些东西当然就要提前准备好。说到在腊月二十七这天杀鸡，不同的地区还有一些不同的讲究：像是天津，讲究只能用公鸡，因为要取漂亮的外观和其雄赳赳的气派。而且这天宰好炖熟的公鸡要在除夕晚上的年夜饭上吃，摆放在桌子中间，也是整只放，不能切块；在北京，老北京人除了在这天要准备鸡肉外，还要准备其他的各种肉类，蔬菜等等吃食，为的就是能准备出一桌丰盛的年夜饭和家人一起分享。
腊月二十七---洗邋遢。在中国南方，也有腊月二十七 “洗疚疾”说法。这一天，需要沐浴来洗去一年的霉气，希望来年有好的收获，而这个时候为了迎接新年的到来每家每户都会丢旧衣穿新衣、人人都为了准备迎接来年的新春而沐浴更衣。因此除夕前，老扬州无论多忙，无论贫富，一定要洗个年澡，谓之“洗邋遢”。 不管怎样，腊月二十七这天，民俗讲究除了要宰鸡为年夜饭做准备外，人们还要去赶大集，购买各种年货，有吃的，有玩的，还要洗澡，一样不落。
January 26, 2014
"...the last remaining dignity of the Chinese legal system has been destroyed"; the final quote of freedom and equality activist Xu Zhiyong before sentencing to four years in jail by a Beijing Court earlier today. Xu's lawyer, Zhang Qingfang, said after the verdict that: "It's not that we can't bear this result, but that fundamentally, the guilty conviction is illegal , is unreasonable and is unfair." Xu was tried last Wednesday before the Beijing Courts and sentenced today, but his conviction by Beijing standards were already predetermined. Xu knew his verdict before trial and so do most accused persons in China. Trials become a mere formality and in Xu's case, he knew the communists would jail him because he dared to question the equality of the education system in China and he dared to ask for transparency into the wealth of the communist honchos in Beijing. Many other activists like Xu have been, and will continue, to be jailed in China in the coming months leading up to the 25th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square uprising. Beijing fears the freedom of independent thinkers. But the communist should learn from history that despite the slashed bole of a tree, the root system remains planted in moist fertile soils awaiting the right conditions when to spring forth with the vigor of life more beautiful and larger than before. Time heals all. Be well Xu Zhiyong - freedom honors and duly recognizes your contributions.
By H. M.
腊月二十六指中国农历年十二月二十六的俗称 。
“腊月二十六 ，杀猪割年肉”，就是说今天主要筹备过年的肉食。所谓杀猪，当然是杀自己家养的猪；所谓割肉，是指没养猪的贫困人家到集市上去买过年吃的肉。
民间还流传着从这一天起要开始置办年货。在各地乡村，这一天是大集市日，集市周边各村的百姓纷纷前往赶集买年货，烟、酒、鱼、肉、鞭炮和走亲戚用的礼品一样也不能少，年味已渐浓了起来。
这天是所有孩子们的节日，终于可以吃到“年肉”了。过去，普通老百姓的日子都比较穷苦，家里人又比较多，往往是吃了上顿没下顿 。好不容易盼到快过年了，家里的劳力们纷纷开始杀猪，没有养猪的人家，就到集市上去割一块肉回家。
“年肉”讲究要吃红烧肉，肉本身就代表着富裕的意思，红烧肉则更能表示来年的日子红红火火的富裕十足，一碗热气腾腾泛着肉香的红烧肉是很多人在腊月二十六这天期盼的。即使到了今天，家家的日子都越过越红火，在腊月二十六置办点大肉也是成为了许多人都没有忘记的老传统。
从腊月二十六开始，丰盛的年夜饭就要陆续“出锅”了。 炖锅肉，一般按汉族而言对于旧时的穷苦人来说绝对是一种奢侈的愿望，是在过年的时候愿望终于实现了。炖大肉，昔日香飘一条胡同，如今香飘整栋楼房。一锅炖肉便是人们心中最朴实的年夜饭 。 即使是到了今天，家家的日子越过越红火，但是在腊月二十六置办点大肉依然是许多人的老传统。
腊月二十六---沐浴又剃头。天津有民谚称：“有钱没钱，剃头过年；有钱没钱，洗澡过年。”按照传统民俗，从这一天开始到腊月三十，大人孩子都要洗澡、理发、洗衣，以除去一年的晦气，准备迎接新春的到来。如今洗澡、买肉已很方便，但仍有人会在这一天理发烫头。这就是传统、这就是文化！这就是习俗。
January 25, 2014
Violence has erupted yet again in China's northwest Xinjiang province. According to reports 12 have died in the newest wave of violence to hit the mainly minority Uyghur populated region. Six people died in explosions at a hair salon, a produce market and a vehicle that was surrounded by police. Police shot dead another six suspects and arrested five. Suspects allegedly threw explosives at police in Xinhe county in the Aksu prefecture early Friday evening. A clash ensued and a vehicle blew up with two suspects inside when it was surrounded by police. Xinjiang is home to Uyghurs who have been demanding greater autonomy from Beijing. Uyghurs complain that they are shut out of the economic bounty scraped from their lands and that Beijing has stifled their culture and religion. Major clashes last year between Chinese security forces and Uyghurs left many Uyghurs and police dead. Earlier this week, Kyrgyzstan troops killed 11 alleged Uyghurs close to the Chinese border whom Kyrgyzstan said had stabbed to death the head of the Kyrgyzstan hunting department on the border with China.
By H. M.
腊月二十五，推磨做豆腐。
民谚称：“腊月二十五，推磨做豆腐。” 据考证，豆腐是西汉淮南王刘安发明的。南宋朱熹在其《豆腐》诗中写到：“种豆豆苗稀，力竭心已腐，早知淮南术，安坐获泉布。” 有趣的是，一些地方还有在除夕以前吃豆腐渣的风俗。究其因，是当地传说灶王上天汇报后，玉帝会下界查访，看各家各户是否如灶王所奏的那样，于是各家各户就吃豆腐渣以表示清苦，瞒过玉皇的惩罚。
腊月二十四扫完尘，二十五就该糊窗户了。随着社会发展多数人家已失去糊窗户的传统，但贴窗花、贴福字、挂对联是必不可少的程序。总之人们祈福旺来年的心愿是一样的。
接玉皇。旧俗认为灶神上天后，天帝玉皇于农历十二月二十五日亲自下界,查察人间善恶，并定来年祸福，所以家家祭之以祈福，称为“接玉皇”。这一天起居、言语都要谨慎，争取好表现，以博取玉皇欢心，降福来年。
千灯节。这是蒙古族、达斡尔族的宗教性节日。蒙语称“明干卓拉”，意即千盏灯节。腊月二十五这一天，做“明干卓拉”去庙里点燃，认为点得越多越吉利。这一节日习俗，在新疆维拉特蒙古族中最为盛行。当地群众在这天吃烤牛羊肉，举行传统的体育游艺活动。
赶乱岁。送灶神上天后至除夕才迎回，其间人间无神管辖，百无禁忌，民间多嫁娶，被称为“赶乱岁”。乱岁是民众为自己设计的调节社会生活的特定时段。岁末年终，人们有了闲暇与积蓄，对于平时难得有精力操办大事的人来说，这是一个好时机。因此，人们根据现实生活需要，发明了这一特殊的时间民俗。可见，在传统社会里，民众生活秩序是依赖着民俗进行调节的。
照田蚕。也叫“烧田蚕”、“照田蚕”、“烧田财”，是流行于江南一带的民间祈年习俗。腊月二十五这一天将绑缚火炬的长竿立在田野中，用火焰来占卜新年，火焰旺则预兆来年丰收。有些地方在年三十举行这一活动。
January 24, 2014
The United States(US) has called upon the Chinese government to release Xu Zhiyong and other political prisoners jailed in China. Moreover, the US has said that the trials of Xu and other members of the New Citizens Movement are "retribution for their campaigns to expose official corruption" by the communist government in Beijing. US Ambassador in Beijing, Gary Locke, responding to China's crack down on freedoms of expression, said:"...the trial of Chinese legal scholar Xu Zhiyong and the prosecution of other good-governance advocates are retribution for their public campaigns to expose official corruption and for the peaceful expression of their views." In a statement, Ambassador Locke declared: "The United States government calls on Chinese authorities to release Xu and other political prisoners immediately, to cease any restrictions on their freedom of movement, and to guarfantee them the protections and freedoms to which they are entitled under China's international human rights commitments." Ambassador Locke also criticized the "mistreatment" of foreign journalists by Beijing security forces as the Press sought to cover Xu's trial. But the real fear here is that as always, in matters involving human rights, the communists in Beijing will continue to do what they have done for so long - to trod on the rights of Chinese and others as they deem fit in order to sustain their grips on power and to maintain their dominance over the populace. Beijing authorities have concluded that despite their horrible human rights record; Beijing was still awarded the Summer Olympics in 2008; similarily, the communists have also been awarded billions of dollars in cash from the international community as it continues to do business with China despite Beijing's human rights record. So the communists are actually having a big laugh at the international community- for as one member cries foul over human rights, another member inks deals to pour billions of dollars into the coffers of the Beijing autocrats. The PRC has no incentive to amends its ways. Until an apartheid- syle boycott is brought to bear upon the communists, they will continue on their present paths to trod upon the rights of Chinese, to demarcate the seas and to expand beyond the Mandarin speaking region.
By H. M.
二十四,扫房子!
“腊月二十四，掸尘扫房子”的风俗 ，由来已久。 按民间的说法：因“尘”与“陈”谐音，新春扫尘有“除陈布新”的涵义，其用意是要把一切“穷运”、“晦气” 统统扫出门。这一习俗寄托着人们破旧立新的愿望和辞旧迎新的祈求。腊月二十四习俗介绍 举行过灶祭后，便正式地开始做迎接新年的准备。每年从农历腊月二十三日起到除夕止，中国民间把这段时 间叫做“迎春日”，也叫“扫尘日”。扫尘就是年终大扫除，北方称“扫房”，南方叫“掸尘” 扫尘。在春节前扫尘，是我国人民素有的传统习惯。每逢春节来临，家家户户都要打扫环境，清洗各种器具，拆洗被褥窗帘，洒扫六闾庭院，掸拂尘垢蛛网，疏浚明渠暗沟。大江南北，到处洋溢着欢欢喜喜搞卫生、干干净净迎新春的气氛。
农历十二月二十四日，是家家户户的“扫尘日”。民间信仰以为，诸神从这一日起不理人间事物，回天向玉皇大帝述职。
民间传 说，这是神明归天的日子，人间只有一些值日神及地主等小神看顾秩序；民间又以为神明上天之後，须等到第二年的初四晚，方才回凡人间；於是便有传说，这时间内，即使翻转屋子也不必顾虑任何细节，利用这一天搬移物件或砂尘乱飞更不怕冲犯家中神明。古人就定下这一天是可以大扫除的日子。
传说，古人认为人的身上都附有一个三尸神，他像影子一样，跟随着人的行踪，形影不离。三尸神是个喜欢阿谀奉承、爱搬弄是非的家伙，他经常在玉帝面前造谣生事，把人间描述得丑陋不堪。久而久之，在玉皇大帝的印象中，人间简直是个充满罪恶的肮脏世界。一次。三尸神密报，人间在诅咒天帝，想谋反天庭。玉皇大帝大怒，降旨迅速察明人间犯乱之事，凡怨忿诸神、亵读神灵的人家，将其罪行书于屋檐下。再让蜘蛛张网遮掩以作记号。玉皇太帝又命王灵官于除夕之夜下界，凡遇作有记号的人家，满门斩杀，一个不留。三尸神见此计即将得逞，乘隙飞下凡界，不管青红皂白，恶狠狠地在每户人家的屋檐墙角做上记号，好让王灵宫来个斩尽杀绝。正当三尸神在作恶时，灶君发觉了他的行踪，大惊失色，急忙找来各家灶王爷商量对策。于是，想出了一个好办法，于腊月二十三日送灶之日起，到除夕接灶前，每户人家必须把房屋打扫得干干净净，哪户不清洁，灶王爷就拒不进宅。大家遵照灶王爷升天前的嘱咐，清扫尘土，掸去蛛网，擦净门窗，把自家的宅院打扫得焕然一新。等到王灵官除夕奉旨下界查看时，发现家家户户窗明几净，灯火辉煌，人们团聚欢乐，人间美好无比。王灵官找不到表明劣迹的记号，心中十分奇怪，便赶回天上，将人间祥和安乐、祈求新年如意的情况禀告玉皇大帝。玉皇大帝听后大为震动，降旨拘押三尸神，下令掌嘴三百，永拘天牢。这次人间劫难多亏灶神搭救，才得幸免。为了感激灶王爷为人们除难消灾、赐福张祥，所以民间扫尘总在送灶后开始，直忙到大年夜。
January 23, 2014
Xu Zhiyong's trial was completed before the courts in Beijing yesterday. As he pledged, he remained silent throughout the event until he addressed the proceedings at the conclusion, and even then, he was denied the opportunity to complete his statement when judges silenced him. He wanted to explain to the China Court that the pursuit of total transparency from government officials about their financial holdings was not illegal, but a freedom of the people. The Court stopped his statement and adjourned its verdict for a later date. Xu has concluded that a guilty verdict will be handed down, but he remains calm as he languishes in a Chinese jail.
Also yesterday, a Judge with the United States(US) Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) ruled that the Chinese units of the "Big Four" accounting firms be suspended from practicing in the US for six months. Judge Cameron Elliot has censured the Chinese units of KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst and Young and Deloitte & Touche. A fifth firm, Dahua, was also censured but not suspended. The judge's order comes years after the SEC sought transparency and access to audit work conducted by Chinese accounting firms for Chinese companies that list in US stock markets. Several of these listed Chinese companies have been plagued by accounting scandals. The SEC has tried to delist or to de-register some of these troubled Chinese companies, but investigations into possible fraud have been stymied by the firms' failure to turn over audit work papers.
By H. M.
关于春节，民间流传着歌谣 “ 二十三 ，打发老爷上了天；二十四，扫房子；二十五，蒸团子；二十六，割下肉；二十七，擦锡器；二十八，沤邋遢；二十九，洗脚手；三十日，门神、对联一齐贴”。体现了时间紧迫和准备工作的紧张。
今天，农历腊月二十三日是汉族传统节日祭灶节，民间又称“交年”、“小年”。这天晚上家家户户均行“祭灶神”的仪式。
这天晚上家家户户均行“祭灶神”的仪式。祭灶神为商周时代五祀之一，初为夏祭，后改为腊祭。
依照中国汉族的传统风俗，阴历腊月二十三日，叫做“小年”。之所以如此称呼，恐怕是因为再过几天，作为“大年”的春节就要来临了。因此，也可以说“小年”是“大年”的前奏或序曲罢!
小年祭灶是大江南北共同的习俗。过去，到这一天人们都要在灶屋(厨房)的锅台附近墙壁上供奉灶王爷、灶王奶奶。佛龛神像的两侧还要贴上一副对联，上联写“上天奏好事”，下联写“下界保平安”或“回宫降吉祥”，横额是“一家之主”。古人云：“民以食为天”，所以人们把灶王爷恭恭敬敬地奉为一家之主 。每年腊月二十三，灶君夫妇都要上天去作“述职报告”，也就是向天帝汇报各家一年来的家长里短，生活情况。是故，各家各户祭灶，必不可少的就是将“糖”供在灶前，为的是粘住灶王夫妇的嘴巴，希望他们不要多嘴，把“家丑”汇报给天帝。
古俗有“女不祭灶”的说法，祭灶往往是男人们的事情。近代却多数由家庭主妇来充当祭灶的角色。
民间传说，灶君爷上天专门告人间罪恶，一旦被告，大罪要减寿三百天，小罪减寿一百天。在《太上感应篇》里，有“司命随其轻重，夺其纪算”的记述。司命即指灶君，算为一百天，纪指十二年。在这里，重罪判罚又增加到减寿十二年了。所以在祭灶时，要打点一下灶君，求其高抬贵手。
过了二十三，家家户户要蒸花馍。大体上分为敬神和走亲戚用的两种类型。前者庄重，后者花梢。特别要制做一个大枣山，以备供奉灶君。“一家蒸花馍，四邻来帮忙”。这往往是民间女性一展灵巧手艺的大好机会，一个花馍，就是一件手工艺品。
过了二十三，大人、小孩都要洗浴、理发。民间有“有钱没钱，剃头过年”的说法。吕梁地区讲究腊月二十七日洗脚。这天傍晚，婆姨汝子都用开水洗脚。不懂事的女孩子，大人们也要帮她把脚擦洗干净，不留一点污秽。
过了二十三，民间认为诸神上了天，百无禁忌。娶媳妇、聘闺女不用择日子，称为赶乱婚。直至年底，举行结婚典礼的特别多。民谣有“岁晏乡村嫁娶忙，宜春帖子逗春光。灯前姊妹私相语，守岁今年是洞房”的说法。
过了二十三，离春节只剩下六、七天了，过年的准备工作紧锣密鼓。要彻底打扫室内，俗称扫家，清理箱、柜、炕席底下的尘土，粉刷墙壁，擦洗玻璃，糊花窗，贴年画等等。
那么应该怎样祭灶，需要哪些菜？灶神说，有几样东西是必须的：
1、年糖年饼：象征生活甜甜蜜蜜（超市有卖一大包的，里面有各种东西）
2、年糕：象征年年高
3、荸荠：也叫马蹄，象征有钱
4、甘蔗：象征日子节节高。（要有头有尾整根的，灶神用甘蔗的尾梢来当马鞭）
5、菠菜：要有根的，红色的根须象征日子红红火火。
6、大蒜苗：象征过日子很会算（精打细算）
7、酒：农历二十三祭灶的要有酒，农历二十四祭灶的不要酒（黄酒或老酒即可）
8、豆腐：上面印有红色“福”字的最好
9、其他：糖果、桔子等都可。一般十样，或不少于十样。十，代表十全十美。
10、给灶神烧纸钱，一般烧金元宝。灶神主要用它来布施贫穷人家。
January 22, 2014
Throughout the course of humankind's history, a select group of individuals has been delegated as martyrs in particular battles for life and liberty; and based upon their acceptances and performances, our martyrs have shaped our free modern world and in many instances, they have contributed to making 2014 and beyond possible. Sun Yat-sen, William Wallace(Braveheart), Ho Chi Minh, Mohatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. are a few of this special group. With great honor I add another soul to this elite list today, the name of Xu Zhiyong, the Chinese activist for freedom , who is sacrificing his limited freedom so that other Chinese could demand more liberties. His trial for allegedly gathering to disrupt order started before the Beijing Courts today. Knowing fully well that the scales of justice are significantly tilted in the authorities favor, Xu has decided to remain silent throughout his trial. He has accepted martyrdom for freedom's sake. He and his attorney agreed to be silent because the broken justice system in Beijing would not allow them to question any of the 68 witnesses against Xu, plus those witnesses testified by statements and not in person as in civil western courts. Moreover, Xu's legal team tried to call witnesses to testify on Xu's behalf, but the fractured Chinese Courts would not allow them this simple defense. So Xu has decided to be a martyr for freedom and it could cost him at least five years in jail. At his trial in Beijing earlier today, Xu stood his ground and remained silent. Members of the Press and representatives of foreign governments got to view Chinese brutality first hand as reporters were jostled and had equipment broken by Beijing undercover agents outside the court. Foreign delegations were refused entry to the trial. So is the mode of China, the country with which western multinationals and western academia conduct great deals. Academia has allowed Confucius Institutes to further Beijing's agenda and they have not spoken up about the known daily abuses of human rights in China. Cheap labor and cheap products have closed the eyes of executives of multinationals from Beijing's human rights record. China will continue to act in the manner it has until a concerted effort equal or greater to that given to countries who did business under the apartheid system is leveraged and waged against the communist in Beijing.
By H. M.
大寒节气： 辞旧迎新的时节
周一温州网：戴围巾穿高领防颈寒；早起冷水搓鼻防鼻寒；喝热粥散寒防肺寒；双手搓腰防腰寒；热水泡脚防足寒……
时光飞逝，一转眼的工夫，二十四节气的最后一个节气“大寒”到了，而马年也在不远处向我们招手。
大寒期间是感冒、肺炎、哮喘等疾病的高发期。民间有说法---大寒要防“五寒”：
防颈寒，戴围巾穿高领；
防鼻寒，早起冷水搓鼻；
防肺寒，喝热粥散寒；
防腰寒，双手搓腰；
防足寒，热水泡脚。
大寒时节的中国民俗：除尘、备年货。除了防“五寒”，大寒时节也是辞旧迎新的节气。最典型的民俗就是除尘、腌制年肴、准备年货。“大寒大寒，家家刷墙，刷去不祥；户户糊窗，糊进阳光。”除尘的“尘”谐音“陈”，主要清洗碗筷、打扫房屋卫生。
清代《真州竹枝词引》记载：“腌肉鸡鱼鸭，曰，年肴，煮以迎岁……” 经过了春夏秋季的大忙之后，进入了“冬三月”的农闲季节，而随着大寒的到来,冬季农闲接近尾声，在准备腌鱼、腊肉之时，已经隐隐可以感受到大地回春的景致，此刻人们的身心状态也应随着节气的变化而加以调整。
过了大寒，春天又近了一步，民间素有“小寒大寒，冷成一团”的说法，这段日子在一年之中是最冷的，希望即将踏上春节返乡旅程的朋友，要注意保暖，小心感冒。
January 21, 2014
China is a beautiful land - her people romantically intriguing and widely diverse, her culture stunningly exotic yet classical, but her government needs to become more representative to reflect the true spirit of all Chinese. Many people worldwide are attracted to China's natural splendor, but many remain skeptical as to the form of government in Beijing. The reason tourism numbers continue to soar in China is not reflective of any liking for the communist government in Beijing, but of a love of the exoticism that is China. While the national government has taken advantage of a worldwide intrigue with China and has taken credit for increases in foreign visitors, at some point soon, greater light shown upon the human rights abuses in China will become sour grapes to authorities as the international world begin to shun any likelihood of seeming to endorse Beijing's abuses. Tomorrow, a testimony of Beijing's abuses will be manifested as prominent human rights activist Xu Zhiyong is put on trial for allegedly assembling a crowd to disrupt order in a public place. Xu has already admitted that his trial is a foregone conclusion of guilt, not because of his actions, but for the fact that once China puts an accused on trial, a guilty verdict is returned 99.9 percent of the times.
By H. M.
年中央一号文件 ：聚焦农业
央广网北京1月20日消息 ，2014年中央一号文件19日发布，聚焦完善国家粮食安全保障体系、深化农村土地制度改革、加快农村金融制度创新等八大方面工作， 提出坚决破除体制机制弊端，坚持农业基础地位不动摇，加快推进农业现代化。包括：完善国家粮食安全保障体系；强化农业支持保护制度；建立农业可持续发展长效机制；深化农村土地制度改革；构建新型农业经营体系；加快农村金融制度创新；健全城乡发展一体化体制机制；改善乡村治理机制。最大的突出点是以改革创新的思路来解决三农发展中长期存在的老问题。
从农田到餐桌---农产品数量和质量都要保安全。以解决好地怎么种为导向加快构建新型农业经营体系，以解决好地少水缺的资源环境约束为导向深入推进农业发展方式转变，以满足吃得好吃得安全为导向大力发展优质安全农产品。
承包地“三权分离” 相关法律待修订---农村土地制度改革成为全面深化农村改革的大平台、新亮点。文件提出，稳定农村土地承包关系并保持长久不变，在坚持和完善最严格的耕地保护制度前提下，赋予农民对承包地占有、使用、收益、流转及承包经营权抵押、担保权能。
抓紧划定生态保护红线---建立农业可持续发展长效机制。促进生态友好型农业发展，开展农业资源休养生息试点，加大生态保护建设力度。抓紧划定生态保护红线。为此，国家将完善森林、草原、湿地、水土保持等生态补偿制度，继续执行公益林补偿、草原生态保护补助奖励政策，建立江河源头区、重要水源地、重要水生态修复治理区和蓄滞洪区生态补偿机制。
健全城乡发展一体化体制机制---不让乡村成故园。城乡统筹联动，赋予农民更多财产权利，推进城乡要素平等交换和公共资源均衡配置，让农民平等参与现代化进程、共同分享现代化成果。对此，文件确定了开展村庄人居环境整治、推进城乡基本公共服务均等化、加快推动农业转移人口市民化等重点工作。
January 20, 2014
With regards to tensions on the East and South China Seas, though the China-Japan escalation of words, at times amounting to fighting words, appear riper for conflict, China certainly doesn't want to engage Japan in any conflict. China more than likely will find a weaker opponent to wit: Vietnam or the Philippines with whom to show up Chinese nationalism and pride. Obviously China's intent is to make Japan weary, but to instigate a full conflict with Japan would be an absurd action by China. The truth is that China knows the character of the Japanese, so does much of the thinking world, and to war with the Japanese brings into question the means, capabilities and actions as to how an actor would end such a hypothetical conflict. As many Chinese scramble to attain riches from the present economic boom, the genuine character and culture of the Chinese people are changing. The "good souls" that we have come to recognize as a Shaolin Monk, a caring grandma in Shandong, a kind business owner in Fuzhou, are disappearing. In place now are characters with cars who will run over fallen pedestrians without stopping, individuals who would run over a mother carrying a child for a parking space because he/she thinks the life of the child carrying mother is less that his/her. In short, and Beijing knows this fully well, in China Today, there are no Hiroo Onodas. In Tokyo, it is possible to find several Horoo Onodas on one city block. For those of you who are unaware of Horoo Onoda, he was a Japanese soldier in WWII who refused to surrender and lived in the jungles of the Philippines for 29 years convinced he was still at war. He died last week in Tokyo at age 91.
By H. M.
中国地区间财力差异较大 高低相差近20倍
日前，国务院办公厅转发财政部《关于调整和完善县级基本财力保障机制意见》。明确通过加大奖补资金支持力度、完善省以下财政体制、健全激励约束机制等方式，为县级财政提供更好的保障。
定责任：县级政府要强化预算管理：由财政部根据经济社会发展水平和国家相关政策执行情况制定。按照财政分级管理的原则，中央和地方实行分税制财政体制，省以下财政体制主要由省级政府确定，实施县级基本财力保障机制的责任主体为省级政府。
按照《意见》，在资金保障上，中央财政要逐步加大奖补资金支持力度，健全激励约束机制，引导和督促地方政府切实加强县级基本财力保障工作。省级政府完善省以下财政体制，加大财力调节力度，推进省直管县财政改革，建立长效保障机制 。县级政府要加强县域经济发展，提高自我保障能力，强化预算管理，切实履行基层政府职能。
“郡县治，天下安。调整和完善县级基本财力保障机制，是党中央、国务院在新形势下深化财税改革，建立事权与支出责任相适应的制度的一项重要举措。这对于增强基层政府执政能力，保障基本公共服务供给具有重要意义 。
这次《意见》明确了省级政府是责任主体。将责任主体方财政部门上升到省级政府，体现了强化属地管理责任的理念。
2009年全国有819个县存在基本财力缺口，缺口额894亿元。从2010年开始，财政部采取以地方为主、中央财政适当奖补的办法，引导各地对县级政府“托底”保障。“此次《意见》的发布实施，标志着县级基本财力保障机制的重点，从过去的‘补缺口’转向‘促均衡’，为推进公共服务均等化，全面建成小康社会打牢基础、创造条件。”
January 19, 2014
Cui Jian, the Chinese rocker, has withdrawn from this year's Spring Festival Gala in China because Beijing officials wanted to censor him. Cui, one of whose songs became the anthem of the students protests at Tiananmen Square in 1989, wanted to sing the same song, "Nothing to My Name" at this year's Spring Festival, organizers insisted on another song; but the still very popular Chinese rocker refused censorship and withdrew from the widely broadcast event. Beijing officials are touchy and tense because key anniversaries will fall this year upon China. Today marks the exact day 40 years ago when China slaughtered dozens of Vietnamese soldiers on the South China Sea in a spat over the disputed Paracel Islands. Beijing, however, is more concerned with this June's 25th anniversary of the students uprising on Tiananmen Square. Then, in 1989, students attempted to change their government but they were crushed by the communists with thousands killed as Beijing fought back against the desires of its young people to live free.
By H. M.
2014年春运大幕周四正式开启，国人开始"大迁徙"。40天时间，全国将有超过36亿人次踏上旅程。春运第一天，国务院副总理马凯在北京市检查春运工作。北京铁路局初步统计，首日有超过38万人从北京四大火车站乘火车出京返家。
北京西站出京客流17万---昨天，北京铁路迎来春运第一天。据初步统计，首日有超过38万人从北京四大火车站乘火车出京返家。仅北京西站出京客流达到了17万，这一数字已经直追去年十一黄金周高峰时的客流。上午11点，西站南广场9400余平米的临时候车区和集散大厅正式开启。首日开行的11趟列车的旅客都要在这里安检、候车。
春运第一天---为了让旅客快速进站，西站开放了所有124个验证验票口。据测算，如果旅客提前准备好身份证、车票，最快1分钟就能通过验证验票口。据初步统计，北京铁路第一天就发送旅客38万人，开行临客35列，主要发往成都、重庆、赣州、郑州、汉口、哈尔滨方向。
1月16日春运今日启幕 北京站预计发送旅客12万人次 。 中国2014年春运大幕正式开启，北京站返乡旅客逐渐增多，总体比较平稳。今年春节早，导致学生流、务工流、探亲流叠加。
北京铁路局预测，出行高峰期将在1月27号（腊月二十七）和28号（腊月二十八）到来， 将视情况在北京站、北京西站、北京南站停售站台票。
当天，在北京站有200名青年志愿者与武警全部到岗，截至下午就帮助了50名重点旅客上火车，包括刚做完手术的病人、老人和儿童。在北京南站“医疗救助站”投入使用，到下午3点医疗救助已为31名旅客提供救助服务。多以感冒、发烧、晕车和外伤等为主。 凭车票可以来，药品免费。 同时北京站的“爱心医药箱”也提供紧急医疗救助服务。
祝福所有乘客旅途顺利，异乡漂泊者早日回到温暖的家，欢欢喜喜过大年！！！
January 18, 2014
The Uyghur Human Rights Project(UHRP) has joined the World community in expressing concern over Beijing's arbitrary arrest and detainment of Uyghur activist and economist Ilham Tohti by Chinese security forces in Beijing last Wednesday. Representatives of both the United States(US) State Department and the European Union(EU) have all voiced concerns pertaining to the whereabouts of Professor Tohti since his arrest. Yesterday, the Washington, DC based UHRP, along with expressing great concern as to the professor's whereabouts, called on Chinese authorities to "immediately release" him and to return "personal property including data confiscated from him during the raid" at his Beijing home. In a statement released in Washington, UHRP Director, Alim Seytoff said : "The detention of Mr. Tohti should sound alarm bells around the world regarding China's zero tolerance approach to Uyghur freedom of speech." He added that, "No Uyghur is safe from the unchecked power of the Chinese state." As a matter of fact, to add to director Seytoff, no Chinese is immune from the heavy-handedness of the Beijing communists. Uyghurs, Han and others who dare to dream, to demand or to express a deep desire for freedom, are either jailed or end up missing within China. Next Wednesday, Chinese human rights activist Xu Zhiyong will be put on trial by the communists for allegedly "assembling a crowd to disrupt order in a public place". Contrastingly, another activist, Abduweli Ayup, who opened an Uyghur-language school, was detained by authorities last year and since then, his whereabouts remain unknown. Yet, with Beijing's record on human rights, the World community continues to do business with Beijing from which the communists have obviously inferred as an endorsement of their actions. Beijing has come to expect the world to ask a question today when an issue is ripe; to forget about the issue by tomorrow; and to conduct business as usual by the third day. Something is wrong here. Beijing must be held accountable by civil-society standards for its repression of human rights. How can civil western democracies consider any conceivable policy of great power sharing with China in light of Beijing's human rights record?
By H. M.
1月13日下午，自治区十二届人大常委会第八次会议表决通过了自治区人大常委会关于修改自治区人口和计划生育条例的决定，修改后的条例将于3月1日起实施，明确规定夫妻一方为独生子女的，经批准可以生育第二个子女。去年11月公布的《中共中央关于全面深化改革若干重大问题的决定》中就明确提出，坚持计划生育的基本国策，启动实施一方是独生子女的夫妇可以生育“两个孩子”的政策。新的生育政策方案出台后，引发了多方关注。
根据现行人口与计划生育条例规定，如夫妻双方均为独生子女，并且只有一个子女的，可以申请生育二胎。另一个就是农村户口的，并且第一胎为女孩，可以申请生二胎，但女方需要满足生育间隔不少于四年，或者年龄不低于28周岁这两个条件之一。
其实该放开就放开吧，什么“单独”放开，应该一视同仁。否则对独生子女本身也不够公平。上辈子多生了，难道是这辈子的错误吗？而且怀孕这事情也不是买手机、买电脑，让几月份买就几月份怀孕？尤其是高龄夫妇准备生二胎的，且需要一段时间周密计划、准备呢。
既然政策放开了，就不要那么多条条框框、规矩多的孩子都不愿意投胎了。既然放开，就不要分什么单独、双独或是三月、五月等。 况且生育本省应该是人类基本权利、自然选择的过程。如果也像种水稻那样左选日子、右挑气候， 到头来有可能人口出生率真不是想让回升就回升的。
况且80后不放开，等90后再放开让他们生的时候，没准人家连一个都不想生好不好，更不知道有几人想生二胎。而且也不能光限制城市人生二胎，农村人一生好几个，也没人管的住，最后人口一普查全给入户。
希望全国一盘棋，一个声音，一个政策，不要人为再为生儿育女这么个私事还制定出各省不一致时间与政策。 人类社会发展进入21世纪已经15 个年头了，希望不要再人为制造什么人民不能自由选择生育的东东了。
January 17, 2014
While the PRC continues its economic and its expansionist assertions outside of China, at home, the government has failed to open up direct and substantive dialogue with minorities, who continue to complain of their sustained oppression under Beijing rule. Moreover, the Beijing government, sounding the blow-horn of reforms, has failed miserably to address serious human rights reforms at home as each day security forces continue to detain and jail academics, political reformers, activists, journalists, artists and many who seek real political freedom within China. The smoke screen that the PRC billows to the World to hide its internal mal-content clears faster than that of the pollutant morning smog over Beijing. Any supporter of democracy and freedom could see through Beijing's smoke screen. The Uyghurs in Xinjiang and across China await true dialogue with Beijing as to their participation in the economic development of their homeland and their aspirations for greater autonomy. Academics, a Nobel laureate and his wife, journalists, activists and others sit in Chinese jails guilty of nothing else but aspirations to be free. At what point will Beijing address their freedoms?
By H. M.
80后公务员辞职自述:7年收入没涨 能力是听话
据解放日报,一位曾在上海市级机关工作的80后公务员碌碌无为7年，不知道自己留下了什么。收入7年没涨、职级7年没变，能力是“听话加写报告”。社会关系是“领导加同事”。而人生却已步入而立之年。 那一刻，他深深感到自己是Loser。
他硕士毕业后进入市级机关做公务员，成为父母眼中的骄傲、家族孩子的榜样。可在机关工作7年里，他发现自己变得碌碌无为，无论如何努力，发展的空间小到让他绝望。“为什么要辞职？ ” 数月来，已经被无数人问过，或许只是内心那股遏制不住的冲动，终于跨出了辞职的一步。
当年，听从父母的意愿，放弃了公司、律所等看起来没有那么“铁饭碗”的机会，进入了公务员队伍。碌碌无为过7年，都不知道留下了什么。 是自己不努力?上班从不迟到早退，从不无故请假，公休经常到年底作废，加班总是主动争取。刚入职那几年，三顿都吃饭在食堂，真是把单位当成家。
“理想很丰满，现实很骨感”。机关就那么点事，不是收文就是发文，几乎所有工作都是通过文字体现。官样文章不管你写得如何，各级领导总要修改一下，以体现他的水平高你一等。天天写、年年写，解决问题就靠写。写了那么多文件、讲话，无一不是“领导重视”“下定决心”“排除万难”“取得胜利”。 这种工作，一年下来就疲了，案牍而已，没什么成就可言。机关待得越长，梦想越远，现实越残酷。
80后公务员这个群体，他们普遍自我意识强烈，非常想实现人生自我价值，不甘心做配角，默默无闻虚度人生。但现实却是，六七年过去了，只有极个别同龄人年轻有为、善于沟通得到了提拔；也有些人能力平庸，但踏实工作，一心等待提拔；只有少数人决然离开，更多的人留下来消耗生命。在机关蹉跎了7年，自己还剩下些什么?出去，还有没有资本? “公务员像极了温水中的青蛙，慢慢不知不觉被煮熟了，如果当年直接扔热水里头也就跳出来了。被短暂的安逸消磨了奋斗的勇气，最后成为机关里那些碌碌无为人中的一员。”
“什么时候开始都不晚，信心比黄金更重要。离开这里，失去的只是枷锁，得到的却是整个世界”。
在中国， 很多80後公務員都有這樣的心聲：也許在另外的舞臺上，可以舞得更好, 关键是能否具有迈出那一步的勇气，80 后们，加油！！！
January 16, 2014
The air is stifling in Beijing. To breathe without a protective mask is to take a deadly risk. Smog has encased the Chinese capital today with readings soaring more than 20 times the recommended exposure levels set by the World Health Organization(WHO). Visibility has been reduced to just feet in the blinding and irritating smog. The Communist government has warned residents to take precautions, wear protective masks to work and the elderly and children to remain indoors. Health guidelines for average concentrations of the smallest pollution particles in the air(PM2.5) should be no more than 25 micrograms per cubic meter. Earlier today in Beijing that number soared to 500. Another reading at the US Embassy in Beijing had that number record more than 25 times the standard reading. Four highways around Beijing were also closed because of the smog earlier in the day. China continues to pay a heavy price for accelerated industrial production, with some estimates suggesting 1 in every 40 women in Beijing with some form of cancer and simply put, air pollution causes hundreds of thousands of premature deaths every year.
[NEWS FLASH]
It has been confirmed, Beijing police has arrested economist and minority rights activist Llham Tohti. Tohti, an Uyghur scholar who has been living and teaching at a university in Beijing, was taken from his home by several police officers and according to his wife, Guzaili Nu'er; "This time it's different; they sent so many security officers, including police from Xinjiang, Beijing and the nearby police station." His wife said police refused to say where he was being taken. Tohti and most Uyghurs have come under intense pressure and scrutiny from Beijing since last year's car event at Tiananmen Square. Tohti himself has been detained and questioned a number of times by Beijing police.
By H. M.
国土部：决不许城里人下乡买地建房
“城里人到农村买地建房属于‘逆城镇化’行为，是坚决不能允许的”。针对城里人关心能否到农村买块宅基地盖房子、建别墅，昨日，国土资源部部长、国家土地总督察姜大明在全国国土资源工作会议上明确表态。
他还表示，今后将逐步调减东部地区新增建设用地供应，除生活用地外，原则上不再安排人口500万以上特大城市新增建设用地。由此意味着，盘活存量将是未来一段时间部分城市用地建设的必然之路。
“尽职尽责保护国土资源，节约集约利用国土资源，尽心尽力维护群众权益是当前和今后一个时期国土资源工作在大局中的定位”，姜大明指出，要划定城市发展边界。一名国土系统内部人士分析，由此意味着，以往以单纯依赖土地增量而扩张城市发展规模的模式将不复存在。农村宅基地制度改革要以确权登记颁证为基础，坚持一户一宅原则，不容许城里人到农村买地建房的所谓“逆城镇化。此举将有效抑制地方政府“卖地”。 同时官方对农村宅基地的谨慎态度，说明土地管控的高压线并没有随土地改革而放松。
希望政府能够统筹兼顾、地区分类执行。对于不同地区采取有别的政策。对一些农村的宅基地，确实有农民想卖地的，应该考虑他们的实际想法，毕竟自己的土地应该自己作主。 卖了地可以买小一点的房子，剩下的钱可以养老，而对个别想在农村买房的城市人也实现了自己想在农村养老、呼吸新鲜空气的愿望。同时有些区域高得离谱、没有最高、只能更高的房价或许随着城市部分人群在农村买房可能些许得到缓解！？ 农民受教育程度不高，因此实施中注意别让农民被骗，保护好农民权益。让他们成为自己土地的真正主人。
January 15, 2014
Deja vu! Forty years ago, Chinese forces slaughtered dozens of Vietnamese troops on the South China Sea in an island dispute over the Paracels(Xisha in Chinese) that were claimed by both countries as well as Taiwan. Chinese forces crushed the South Vietnamese sinking one war ship with its Captain aboard and forcing the Vietnamese navy to retreat. China gained full control of the entire island group after the defeat of the Vietnamese. Up to 1975, the Paracels were claimed by the US-backed Saigon government as reported by the BBC. At that time Hanoi did not protest China's occupation of the islands because of they were communist comrades. But things have now changed. Historian Nguyen Nha says that there is one Vietnam today and with China's aggression on the East and South China Seas, "Vietnamese people are facing a danger of aggression and humiliation[by China] like never before on the South China Sea." Moreover, in light of China's recent unilateral demarcation of both seas demanding that all fishing vessels in the region gain China's permission before fishing; something Vietnam has told its fishermen to ignore, the region is tense and ripe for conflict. A former Saigon Rear Admiral of that 1974 battle, Ho Van Thoai says that the Vietnamese have "come to realize the clear danger of being swallowed by China". China's aggression and assertion in Asia have sparked historical memories of the 1974 battle among Vietnamese to an acuteness never before seen. Prior to this year, Vietnam never mentioned the 1974 battle in text books nor in media; this year the 1974 conflict is ripe in the print of Vietnamese media, politicians and Vietnamese people. China has awaked yet another nationalistic furor in Asia.
By H. M.
香格里拉大火背后
新华社1月13日，香格里拉独克宗古城的一场大火，使当地旅游经济遭受严重打击。目前独克宗古城火灾原因已初步查明，起火地点位于古城中下段，初步认定起火原因为“如意客栈”经营者唐某用电不慎，导致窗帘起火引起火灾。
大火背后的深层原因何在？---古城消防设施存短板。早在2010年，由于保护资金没到位，消防供水改造问题和其他火灾隐患一直难以整改。香格里拉县独克宗古城“1·11”火灾受灾总户数246户，受灾户房屋烧毁 。由于受火灾影响，目前，“古城已经关闭，未对外开放”
一场被预见的火灾？“看似偶然，实是必然。” 首先，独克宗古城建城距今1300多年，是曾经的滇藏茶马古道枢纽及滇、川、藏物资中转、文化、经济交流中心，是目前国内保存最好、最大的藏族群居性建筑，数百间商铺和旅馆多为土木结构。当时风力较大，火势迅速蔓延；其次，古城内部道路非常狭窄，大型消防车辆无法直接进入受灾核心区；第三，由于天寒地冻，气温极低，造成消防设施水压不足。为什么说是被预见的?早在2012年,当地消防人员的《浅谈香格里拉独克宗古城消防安全现状及对策》的文章就指出“古城由于建筑耐火等级低、建筑布局特殊等原因，消防安全现状不容乐观。”“古城的市政消防系统存在消火栓不足、布局不合理、压力不足问题。”而且,同样是旅游业为主业的古城，丽江的经验值得借鉴。对于古城保护和消防安全可能形成冲突，但丽江古城的具体操作是，在国家标准之下有着自己的地方标准，“（丽江古城的）消防车都是定做的，消防管道也位于地下”。
旅游财政成掣肘. “由于保护资金不到位，对古城市政消防供水改造的问题和其他火灾隐患，一直难以整改。一位当地居民说火灾发生时亲眼看到消防栓里没有一滴水” 当然“经费保护一定要充足” 似乎是目前国内大多数古城面临的难题之一。其实即使是丽江古城, 其管理局对古城的投入累计达18亿元，其中丽江古城进行过2次消防领域的改造，累计投入达5亿元，而古城维护费至今仅累计征收14亿元，仍然入不敷出。按照《独克宗古城保护条例》规定，古城保护资金来源主要由列入政府财政预算的专项经费、依法征收的古城维护费、社会捐助等组成。问题是独克宗古城维护费自2008年确立以来，至今未能实现征收。
美丽的独克宗香消玉殒、扼腕叹息，好心痛。是商业开发的代价吗?乌镇、凤凰、平遥… … 这些古城已经失去了他们原始的质朴、纯净、祥和的模样。“四方街”没有了... 藏民们晚上到哪里去跳舞呢? 香格里拉、美丽宁静的古镇，真是太可惜了，被烧掉的是我们古老的文化、代代传承的文明，可惜之余希望国人深思，引以为戒吧！把剩余的老祖宗留下的文化保护好，希望不要让子孙后代看到的文化遗产是遗址、遗物。可爱的丽江、大理一定要汲取教训！
January 14, 2014
Not only has life in one of the few remaining places of serenity and harmony in China been disrupted, but a peculiar culture and a place of refuge from fast-pace modernization and urbanization has also now been effected by the massive fire last Saturday in Shangri-La. The ancient town of Dukezong now has some 2,600 of its residents living in hotels outside the town center as evacuees from the fire. The harmonious culture and relaxed atmosphere of the town on the Tibetan border has always been inviting to urbanites and westerners as a "get-a-way" from the fast life. Alternatives would have to be fond as the Shangri-La County town rebuilds. But how will it be reconstructed? With Han high rises forcing local minorities out of the enclave they have enjoyed for many years living side by side with Han? The answer lies in the desires of the people.
By H. M.
丽江上访商户“冲击政府机关”：警方列为刑事案件，已刑拘10人
新华网昆明1月10日,10日上午，丽江古城区百余商户与市场承包商发生纠纷，随后到古城区政府上访时，强行冲击政府机关部分办公室、扰乱办公秩序。但是，这份通报也留下了诸多疑问：商业纠纷何以引发上访？上访何以升级成“冲击政府机关”？如何定性“冲击政府机关”？“
商业纠纷为何引发“上访”？
有网民表示，商业纠纷并不少见，但为何商户与市场承包商之间的纠纷会引发上访？在事件中并无直接利益关系的政府为何“引火上身”？
古城区宣传部长李润兰: 本次纠纷实际上是丽江华汇工业品市场商铺承租户与承包商之间的纠纷。原先的租赁合同在２０１３年年底到期，承包商准备涨价，涨价幅度为８万至１５万元。然而，承租户觉得价格太高，双方一直未谈拢。
10日上午9时，承包商封闭市场大门，商铺承租户100多人强行打开市场大门，并与市场管理人员发生纠纷。古城公安分局民警赶到现场劝解，但商铺承租户不听劝解。随后,100多人集体邀约到区政府上访，要求政府找承包商出来解决。
上访何以升级成“冲击政府机关”？本来是商业纠纷，由于商户要求政府来解决，政府有关部门予以接访。但上访人员进入政府大院后情绪很激动，与保安、民警和工作人员等发生了肢体冲撞，甚至在公安民警赶到现场维持秩序的时候，还有商户动手抢民警手中的执法记录仪。随后，部分商户来到二楼办公室，不但将桌椅板凳打烂了，还造成３名民警和３名上访人员不同程度受伤。
如何定性“冲击政府机关”？ 通报中“强行冲击政府机关”的表述成为不少网民关注的焦点。
“这个定性够高的，不知何谓‘冲击政府机关’”，希望当地政府能给出更详细的说明。
本来是商业纠纷，本来是简单的上访，但是怎么会演变成“强行冲击政府机关”的“刑事案件”？ 是上访对老百姓没用吗？是有政府人员说了“企业行为”政府管不了吗？这是由于政府不干预市场吗？ 为什么100余人上访？ 为什么100人多次上访？为什么100余人多次上访仍然得不到正当的处理？政界与商界背后有没有什么利益关系呢？是不是百姓上访没人管、还是政府不作为？一次就要刑拘10人，为什么？政府要反思，建议中央要下来调查。
January 13, 2014
A beloved section of Shangri-La burnt to the ground on Saturday and with its destruction, priceless relics and memories of a place of peace between the Chinese majority Han and minorities including Tibetans also went up in smoke. The destruction of 242 homes and shops in the 1300-year-old town of Dukezong, in Shangri-La County, Yunnan province is a major loss to the some 5,000 permanent inhabitants of the town, which claims to be the inspiration for the paradise featured in James Hilton's novel "Lost Horizon", in which the author wrote of Shangri-La. Shangri-La County lies in a corner of Yunnan province near the official Tibet Autonomous Region. The County was renamed Shangri-La from Zhongdian in 2001. It lies about 9,800 feet above sea-level with narrow cobblestoned streets lined with about 1,084 two-and-three story wooden houses and shops mainly of pine, cedar and cypress. It is a tourist mecca and one of the few places that witnesses little tension between Han majority and minority Chinese.
By H. M.
理财周报---"老干妈陶华碧发家史：把5块钱生意做到身价25亿"
她把一瓶5块钱的辣椒酱做成与茅台齐名的品牌；
她每天卖出130万瓶辣椒酱，一年销售额高达25亿，每瓶辣椒酱大概赚9角5分；
她15年只贷过一次款，她的财务只有两笔最简单的账：进来多少，出去多少；
一个没上过一天学、仅会写自己名字的农村妇女，白手起家，在短短6年间，创办出一个有5000多员工，年销售额达20亿元，上缴利税上亿元的私营大企业——“老干妈”。“老干妈”没有库存，也没有应收账款和应付账款，只有高达十数亿元的现金流。
凌晨3点，从贵阳龙洞堡机场出来，道路两旁的大部分树木楼房都湮没在黑夜中。唯一还亮着的，是一栋高楼顶上“老干妈”三个红色的霓虹灯字，它背后，是一排灯火通明的厂房。
每一天，这里都会生产出大约130万瓶辣椒酱，由始终等候在厂区的卡车拉走进入销售渠道，然后迅速被发往中国各地的大小超市，以及遍布五大洲的30多个国家和地区----甚至来自加勒比海的一位美国朋友都说他吃惯了甘蔗甜的胃口也爱上了老干妈辣酱,以至于他7岁小儿子都是每顿饭必须有老干妈伺候!
“有华人的地方，就有‘老干妈’，它最大的意义是提高了华人对辣椒的接受度和依存度，改变了华人的口味。”
62岁的陶华碧和她的家族拥有“老干妈”超过90%的股权，她是这个“辣椒酱帝国”金字塔尖上的女皇。
老干妈辣酱也是那些游子们的想念。海外留学生就是靠着这宝贵的调味料使他们不再想家,就是这老干妈辣酱使他们安心在海外工作、学习。他们坦言，每周一瓶，如果没有这老干妈，一半儿以上人都要疯了... ...
干妈做的不仅仅是改变华人吃辣的胃口，世界友人也越来越多地喜欢上了这个红瓶子。因此干妈做的不仅仅是美食、不仅仅是简单的小瓶辣酱，她把舌尖上的美味、舌尖上的爱从中国传到了外国、传到了全世界。
愿善良、有爱心、有职业道德的干妈发扬传统，一直做下去。诚信赢天下，喜欢老干妈，支持老干妈！
January 12, 2014
China's aggressive attempts at expansionism over the East and South China Seas are in step with the country's unpublished policy to capture "all the elements". But some elements have already been captured by others, while some simply cannot be captured. But the Beijing government sees all things as available to China, so there is this push through East and South Asia and Africa. Chinese naval boats are patrolling the Gulf of Aden around the horn of Africa. Presumable, these patrols are to render maritime security to Chinese shipping from pirates. With these many Chinese excursions, it will not be long before China falls head first into a conflict on the Seas.
By H. M.
《中国好歌曲》登陆央视三套， 并在腾讯视频全网独播。由刘欢、周华健、蔡健亚和杨坤组成的“扬州菜”欢乐开席，他们会推动面前的录音推杆决定选手的命运。将一首首原创好歌纳入自己的2014原创大碟中。
首期节目中各路人纷纷拍马上阵，从情歌、摇滚，从Blues到古典风格、乡村歌曲应有尽有。曾经宣布不再参加综艺节目的著名歌唱家刘欢，这次再度出山当导师，节目现场几度落泪，成了“爱哭鬼”。 是什么使刘欢老师几度流泪？是歌手唱到伤心了吗？ 是歌手太有竞争力了吗？是人才辈出使老师感动了吗？是的、是的！
改革开放以来，中国大陆随着香港、台湾靡靡之音的传人，随着后来大家传唱流行歌曲、通俗歌曲，再到后来西方歌曲的传人、酒吧歌曲文化的传人，美国乡村歌曲的影响，反映出这个国家真正的改革了、开放了。什么说唱、布鲁斯， 从歌手模仿、传唱，到今天的这么多歌手原创。从之前认为港台的，那是靡靡之音，到现在，随着后起之秀、随着年轻一代、海归一代的成长，他们学成归来，中国大陆的艺术家、歌唱家人才真实层出不穷，青出于蓝！ 从超级女生、快乐男生，到中国好声音、中国好歌曲。每一首都是那么好听、被传唱，特别是霍尊那首穿越时空的、触动心灵、犹如隔世、梦回古代的纱帘飘逸下一个柔弱顾怜女子的期盼... ... 难怪刘欢老师被煽情落泪。中国有人才、后继有来者， 真正高手在民间、曲高、人靓，中国歌曲有希望！！！
January 11, 2014
With China in control of the Asian Seas, fears are that they would resemble Beijing and the Yangtze River. The World's shipping lanes being manned and commanded by communists is a frightening scenario. It must not be allowed and it must not occur. The Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan, who have all complained of China's new thrust into the South China Sea, all have an important ally in Washington. Washington, contrary to Chinese suggestions, cannot afford to sit on the sidelines and allow the communists to dictate the World's Seas. The whole notion of Sea Power Theory comes into play here and China must not be allowed to dictate the Seas the same way it has dictated mainland China for decades. What will the seas of Asia look like under Chinese control of the environmental and natural gems?
By H. M.
和讯消息,“中国财富管理50人论坛”，是一个非官方、非营利性质的财富管理相关业务交流组织。本届为第二届峰会，会议主题为“金融深化改革与财富管理新格局”。会议于2014年1月10日在北京威斯汀大酒店举行.中国财富管理50人论坛主席、中国国际金融有限公司董事长金立群在大会致辞中表示，全球经济仍然处于后金融危机调整中，中国已进入改革发展攻坚区和深水区同时中国管理市场也面临着历史结点，伴随市场利率化，多层次资本市场的建设，互联网金融改革的持续快速的推进，中国财富行业预计将迎来一个崭新的黄金10年。 但是和发达国家相比还有很大差距，包括税收政策，法制化程度，市场创新和深化程度等等 。一系列亟待解决的问题 ，论坛将从三个主要方面入手推动中国改革发展:
积极关注并推动我国管理市场潜能的释放和深化。2012年中国个人持有的资产的总规模达到了80万亿人民币，平均年均负荷率增长了达到了14%，其中一千万以上高净值的人超过70万人，为我国财富管理市场提供了坚实的基础。
关注并研究中国财富管理行业的下一步黄金10年的发展，当前全球经济仍然处于后金融危机的调整之中，中国已进入改革发展的攻坚区和深水区，逐步形成和发育起来的中国管理市场也面临着历史结点，伴随化市场利率化，多层次资本市场的建设，互联网金融改革的持续快速的推进，中国财富行业预计将迎来一个崭新的黄金10年。
持续关注并研究十八大之后的金改的路线图，党的十八届三中全会召开以后，新一届政府明确了全面深化改革的纲要规划，提出了更进一步金融改革的路线图，这势必将对金融业改革和财富管理市场发展产生更为深化的影响，将面临着重大的机遇，当然也有很大的挑战。
2014年中国财富管理50人论坛的发展是承前启后的一年，新年刚过，预祝中国财富管理50人论坛在新的一年再创辉煌！
January 10, 2014
[Yesterday we credited the BBC with a citation in error, the correct credit for the citation goes to the Associated Press(AP) and outstanding journalism by the AP's Didi Tang and producers Aritz Parra and Isolda Morrilo in Beijing.]
The entire concept of a state having legal authority over the reproductive rights of a woman or over entire families and over generations of people goes against natural law. But for the past 30 plus years, the PRC has been able to exact control over the governance of the bodies of Chinese women and families. Yet, with this compelling restriction upon their people, the Beijing communists have been able to successfully broker mega business deals to enrich themselves with democracies all over the world, and with no fear of reprisals for their repressive policies at home. But Cubans have not been able to have a bounty of bread, nor buy new cars, nor solicit increase tourism from the United States(US). What makes the Eastern communists different from the Western communists? Is it simple geography and just-a-fix location to the US? Take note that there are other communists in the Western Hemisphere especially in Central and South America and they are gaining strength and forging closer ties with the rising power in the East. But to the original premise stated here, I submit that Beijing has been able to control all of its women for generations because Beijing knows the passiveness and weaknesses of its people. Beijing, and that less than one percent of the population that rules China, has been able through crafty propaganda and under the fear of reprisals, to ingeniously control the thoughts and bodies of its people for a very long time. The CPC knows well that its people of the 1960s, 70s and early 80s, have memories of hunger and of re-education camps, thus for fear of having to experience the like of such sufferings, the Chinese have conformed to whatever the CPC dictates. Moreover, Beijing has been able to sustain its control over its people because it has calculated that the older generations have passed on the "don't make much of a wave" mentality to their children. But just like its faulty intelligence in creating the Air Defense Identification Zone(ADIZ) last November when Beijing calculated that the World would not take notice, but the World did; Beijing has failed to calculate in respect of its people that the failed reformers of Tiananmen Square have also had children; and these children are now young adults; they are educated and they are socially aware with a thirst for freedom. Moreover, the peasants of the South and West are brow-beaten - they are tired, they are frustrated over agrarian policies; and they feel cheated from not having a slice of the economic windfall of Beijing and Shanghai. How long will they keep their heads to the soil? Having an inclination of this fact has forced Beijing to temper some reforms to ease internal tensions. But are these reforms too narrow and too late?
By H. M.
据央视新闻中心官方微博，无锡市计生局今天已向张艺谋寄发社会抚养费征收决定书，其需缴纳社会抚养费748万余元。今天无锡滨湖区计生局向张艺谋夫妇寄发社会抚养费征收决定书。张艺谋夫妇需缴纳社会抚养费总额达748万余元，若夫妻俩不提起行政复议或诉讼，应在30日内一次性缴清。逾期将加收滞纳金并申请强制执行。就是因为多生了3 个孩子，遭到罚款和曝光，似乎有些又是公平。
一是如果他作为普通人能不能罚700 多万元？不能因为收入高就使劲罚、而那些一般情况超生的也就罚个3-5万。法律面前要人人平等，是不是这一笔罚款就等于无锡市历年罚款总合了吧？无锡市计划生育办公室的事怎么弄得这么大？为什么知名人物反而被曝光这么厉害？也许就是因为他帮助主办奥运会，贡献很大吧。
二是张导演这么生,是只跟一个老婆生三个,总比某些贪官与多个女人生多个孩子而且不负责任、也不结婚好吧？怎么就不查查那些利用权力玩弄女性的贪官？建议领导干部特别是位高权重的，要求他们申报的不仅仅是房子、票子、应该包括多生、超生的孩子！！！
三是张艺谋导演他受教育好、智商高，有能力抚养几个孩子。这样总比那些没有能力抚养、让孩子无法接受良好教育、生活的人也超生也4-5个的那些人强吧？为什么不罚罚他们？
张导完全可以选择到美国、加拿大，到其它国家生育自己的孩子而不要引起这么多麻烦和不便。这样一个典型例子给今后的一些有能力的人、名人、高智商、高水平的、高收入的人提了个醒，那就是尽快逃离这个国家，充分享受自由生育的权利。
January 9, 2014
Of Gong Qifeng we write today. Of this 25-year-old's dehumanizing pain and her suffering from being pinned to a bed by several people restraining her head, arms, knees and ankles and having a syringe of labor inducing drugs plunged into her stomach to forcefully abort a seven-month pregnancy. Of Gong Qifeng we write as a reminder of the human will and of the human spirit to be free. Of Gong Qifeng we write as a reminder that her victimization occurred in China where a number of multinational companies from whom we buy clothing, food and electronic products continue to do business because of the vast opportunities to cheap labor. We have heard the headlines of President Xi Jinping calls for reforms and that the one-child policy has changed, but what of the victims who have been traumatized and scarred for life as victims from years of harsh communist policies? What of those who continue to suffer because rural towns have not received any mandate from Beijing? Of Gong Qifeng this we know: two years ago she became pregnant with a second son in Lianyuan, Hunan province. The "children police" found out late and forced her to have a late term abortion at seven-months, even though the law forbids abortions after five months. After the forced drugs and 35 hours of excruciating pain, Gong, as reported by the BBC, stillborn her baby. " It was the pain of my lifetime, worse than the pain of delivering a child. You cannot describe it," she told the BBC. She added: "...it has become a mental pain. I feel like a walking corpse." Since the abortion two years ago, Gong has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Recently, she traveled with her husband to Beijing to demand help paying for treatment, but she in pink pajamas and her husband were hauled away by the police in Beijing. In Beijing, Gong and her husband demanded "those involved in the case be punished, and we want an open apology and justice...And we demand compensation for the pain inflicted upon us physically and mentally," the couple said in a petition to the communist in Beijing. As reported by the BBC, on Monday afternoon, Gong and her husband were chased out of a tiny rental room by their landlord into Beijing's frigid temperatures and the police took the couple away. Later, her husband sent a text to the BBC saying: "We probably will be sent home. The Party chief of our township called us, asking us to go home for negotiations." We wish Gong and her husband the best. Their story is only one of my tragedies that need attention within China.
By H. M.
春节，恐归族怕被问收入 用加班避开过年回家
中新网1月7日电。路途遥远、害怕人情消费、害怕问东问西，春节临近又让很多“恐归族”纠结起来。路费、礼物、压岁钱……春节回家的开支让人无法承受，催婚、催生娃、逼相亲……亲朋好友的“关心”让人无法忍受，购票难、乘车难、出行难……让人想想都头疼，有的“恐归族”甚至用加班当理由来避开过年回家。
购票难、乘车难、出行难 “恐归族”害怕回家路:春节临近，购票难再次成为了最让大家头疼的事儿，抢票大战也越演越烈。
路费、礼物、压岁钱让“恐归族”囊中羞涩。春节回家也是考验钱包的时刻，不光要付出路费成本，也同时要承受着重重的人情债压力。给亲友的礼物、给晚辈的压岁钱、与同学朋友的饭局费...。
婚况、工资、孕情 “恐归族”怕亲友问:过年回家，除了路途遥远、害怕人情消费，也同时需要承受亲友的询问，问婚况、问工资、问孕情，这些都是“恐归族”怕的问题。
其实,不是不愿意回家，不是不愿意结婚，不是不想尽孝心,是社会无形的压力太大。当你回到家乡，兴高采烈地走亲访友，他们会热情的问东问西…随着亲切的问候，隐含的自责与不安让你紧张、不舒服…这种不安随着接近年节，越发强烈，成为了一种压力、强大的压力。 是什么造成了这种压力？到底是社会环境、乡土文化改变了我们，还是我们改变了社会环境和人们的心理预期？ 这是中国文化特有的吗？这种现象是恐归族独享的吗？是只有恐归族担忧的问题吗？ 不是！是整个社会的问题， 是随着时间、岁月积累的怪像。而这一代婚育一族更有代表性。他们是30-40左右，他们是独生子女，他们是父母、亲朋、父老乡亲的希望、期望。路途遥远的烦恼、囊中羞涩的尴尬，各种世俗的杂质冲击着“恐归族”的心灵。
临近春节，想念幼时的新衣、飘香的厨房、变着花样的饺子、馒头，花生、爪子和糖果，一元钱的小鞭炮、红包包里的压岁钱……过年是孩子们最期盼的。长大了却开始害怕过年，回家路也成了“恐慌途”，希望今年、明年、以后年，我们都抛开杂念，不惧压力，不要考虑那么多什么人情、份子钱、仪式，也希望那些爸爸妈妈不要太过关心孩子的婚事，太爱护和保护，压力太大会杀了孩子，让他们自由作主，自己选对象、定婚期，自己规划命运，自己决定回家的路！希望亲朋好友不再那么愿意探听询问一些隐私，不再进行那些让人产生压力的攀比询问、对话，让在外的游子从容的回家，欢乐地与亲友共度佳节，让本该幸福快乐的假期没有“恐惧”
January 8, 2014
The tension, the anger, the name calling and the nationalistic flare of the East China Sea have now been exported to London, United Kingdom(UK). In London, both Chinese and Japanese ambassadors to the Kingdom are likening each others nation to the fictional evil wizard Lord Voldemort in the JK Rowling's best selling series Harry Potter. Following Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent visit to Tokyo's Yasukuni war shrine, which is very controversial and a bad relic especially to Chinese and South Koreans because they believe it glorifies Japan's war mongering past; the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, on January 1, 2014, in an op-ed article in the British Daily Telegraph newspaper criticized Abe's visit. He opined: "If militarism is like the haunting Voldemort of Japan, the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo is a kind of horcrux, representing the darkest parts of that nation's soul. "In the Harry Potter series, a horcrux is a receptacle in which evil characters store fragments of their souls to enable them to achieve immortality.
Not to be undone by his Chinese counterpart, Japan's Ambassador to the UK, Keiichi Hayashi, on Monday in a responding op-ed article in the Daily Telegraph countered that: "East Asia is now at a crossroads. There are two paths open to China...One is to seek dialogue, and abide by the rule of law. The other is to play the role of Voldemort in the region by letting loose the evil of an arms race and escalation of tensions, although Japan will not escalate the situation from its side."
So the tensions that have fueled between the two major trading partners has now been likened to a child's fantasy. How will existing concerns be realistically solved between the two?
By H. M.
局级干部出差住标间坐经济舱
2014年1月1日起，中央和国家机关差旅费实施新规，其中住宿费、伙食补助费将根据经济发展水平不同，分地区设定标准，目前尚未规定具体数额；交通费用方面，司局级只能坐飞机经济舱；而市内交通费用则每人每天80元。
住宿 按规定用公务卡结算: 出差人员应当在职务级别住宿费标准限额内，选择经济、便捷宾馆住宿，并且按规定标准自行用餐，超支部分由个人自理。
审批 严禁变相旅游接受礼品: 从严控制出差人数和天数；严格差旅费预算管理，控制差旅费支出规模；严禁无实质内容、无明确公务目的的差旅活动，严禁变相旅游，严禁无实质内容的考察调研。不得接受礼品、礼金等。
追责：将查处多报费用等行为.单位无出差审批制度或出差审批控制不严的，虚报冒领差旅费的，擅自扩大差旅费开支范围和提高开支标准的，不按规定报销差旅费的，转嫁差旅费的，
2013年9月，财政部办法规定，以党中央和国务院名义召开的会议，每人/天660元；各部委召开会议为550元。办法自2014年1月1日起执行。
希望中央和国家机关的日后出差不再是企业家们为其买单； 希望局级以上的领导也要这样，节约开支，否则是不是级别越高官位越高权力越大，越特权？现在高级别领导越来越多，厅局级、部级、副部级越来越多，是不是应该规定个金额，头等舱等多余部分由自己支付；希望这届政府改完了，下届政府继续执行。 同时健全监控管理机制， 不要出现上有政策下有对策。让我们拭目以待！
January 7, 2014
Through its heavy investments throughout Africa and elsewhere, China is now beginning to see the complexities of playing on the World stage. At the South Sudan peace talks in Ethiopia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing was deeply concerned by the unrest in South Sudan. More than 1, 000 people have died in violence there. Wang said his Communist government calls for "an immediate cessation of hostilities and violence." Why is China so concern over matters in Africa? The answer: China is the biggest investor in oilfields in South Sudan. Since the violence started, production in the oilfields have been drastically reduced and Beijing has been forced to return some its Chinese workers back home. While it is rumored that South Sudan holds Sub-Saharan Africa's third largest oil reserve, production since the conflict has declined by 45, 000 barrels a day in the lower Nile region. China needs Africa's natural resources to satisfy Beijing's great thirst for energy. Now China must deal with the complexities that effect investments in unstable countries and regions. Take note Beijing, this is only the beginning. The consequences of having to satisfy a dire thirst come with far reaching effects. An interesting development would be the day PRA troops enter Africa or Latin America to protect Chinese investments. Should that day come, the social and the political ramifications associated with it would be unimaginable.
By H. M.
李克强天津行三次打断汇报：不要光表扬政府
中新网北京12月29日电 国务院总理李克强来到天津调研考察。李克强首先来到滨海新区工商银行营业部和工银租赁公司，勉励金融服务实体经济发展；随后他来到津京互联创业中心，询问创业者们遇到的问题，鼓励他们做中国的乔布斯；总理考察河西区大营门工商所，主要是了解简政放权在基层末梢的实情；在寒风中，他又走进红桥区西于庄棚户区，探访了几户居民。在随后听取天津市汇报的会议上，李克强鼓励：“希望天津成为新一轮改革开放的排头兵。”
“”这是新一届总理，这是新一届总理给基层畅所欲言的机会！
几十年来基层领导们习惯了不如实反映情况，而且先表扬政府、表扬上级、表扬领导，歌功颂德、报喜不报忧。中国老百姓已经对他们、对过去失去了太多的信心！这是第一次领导、来自中央的领导要求“不要表扬政府，政府有些做的不够好”。这是务实的总理，中国需要这样的总理。新一届领导真抓实干、雷厉风行的工作作风确实值得各级领导学习，是时候改善现有的浮夸以及不切实际的虚假作风了！爱国、爱党、爱政府不是只说好听的话，是要及时指出存在问题，以利于他们改正。总理下基层、倾听人民的呼声、百姓的意见，可以让政府了解自身毛病，执政才能进步。正如总理所言“亮开嗓子、不如甩开膀子”；“让困难群众生计有保障，生活有尊严。”
希望所有中国官员都像这样、都能这样！
January 3, 2014
My China Dream...
I dream of a China of the people, for the people, by the people. I dream of a China with Bo Xilai having a chance to serve all the people, having a chance to serve humanity and having a chance to fully contribute to the transition of China into the World community. I dream of a China where Bo Xilai would accord to the peasant of Fujian or to the shop owner of Chongqing or to the student of Xiamen; the same respect as afforded to a businessman or to a Central Committee member in Beijing. I dream of a non-one party China. I dream of the migrant worker not having to migrate but rather having an easy commute to his/her trade where he/she could see his/her child everyday and not only at New Years. I dream of an engaged and not strong-armed Uyghur and Tibetan peoples. I dream of a China where one could say and write what one thinks and believes without fear of imprisonment. I dream of a China where one could embrace that which one desires and that which one prefers, yet different from thy neighbor, without fear of alienation. Of these things I dream of the land of beautiful spirits. Should my dreams offend, no apology is offered, but clear considerations of the yearnings of humankind to be free.
By H. M.
据网易新闻,1月2日吉林省电力有限公司四平市供电公司召开新闻发布会。会上通告给予城郊分公司副经理孙建国撤职处分。在发布会上，新闻发言人刘新宇称 ，经过调查，情况属实，深表歉意并将依据相关规定，给予当事人孙建国撤职处分，反省检查。
2013年12月31日晚，一则标题为“局长称老百姓就是给脸不要脸的玩意儿”的视频在网上被迅速传播——吉林省电力公司四平市城郊分公司副局长孙建国在对话中说：“老百姓是他妈的给脸不要脸的玩意儿。
2014年元旦伊始，新华社电（记者 李鹏）河南官员率人强拆时大喊： “要维权去美国！要当公民去美国，这里是中国！中国只有老百姓，老百姓就应该听话。” 一段关于新乡市牧野区东干道办事处官员的雷语在微博、论坛等疯传。
2012年9月，河北兴隆县孤山子镇书记梁某边喝五粮液、抽中华烟、吃螃蟹龙虾，边骂“老百姓就是这副德行！给脸不要脸！”梁某最终被免职... ...
第一，表明这官员不看书、不看报、不上网，对热点事件、新鲜事物的麻木 。这之前发生的官员骂百姓"不要脸",至少他应该知道, 孙某局长要是知道就不会再出口“惹事”了吧？
第二，事件折射出了另一个深层次问题，就是官员之间的互相认同。 明明有前车之鉴，他们还是不断重复出现的论调和用词，证明他们打心底认同“老百姓是麻烦、是累赘，老百姓就是“不要脸”
第三， 事件表面上看是个别官员出口伤人，实际上折射出官员权力膨胀之后自负和”忘我“。一些官员平日趾高气扬，唯我独尊，心底里把百姓反映情况和问题视为给自己找麻烦，在不悦的同时、在情绪化的场合下骂百姓不要脸事件当然会屡屡曝出。其实他们伤害的不仅是群众的尊严和公共情绪，更是政府及干部官员的整体形象。其背后的心态，不是简单的一句骂人能代表的， 着实值得深思。
试想，你是共产党员、你是人民公仆，你骑在了老百姓头上，光说话不办事、说空话不办事、贪污腐败不办事，那你就是“给脸不要脸”。公司表态：将以此为教训，加强内部教育，踏踏实实为老百姓做好事、做实事。而这个官员也不应该只是撤职，应该开除公职， 在他的心中，他从来就没有把为百姓服务作为自己的光荣本分、职责，更没有想到你手中的权力是人民给的、百姓给的！你天生下来就是局长吗？ 你手中的权利和今天能够上台讲话，这些权力是谁给的？ 今天的房子、车子、票子谁给的？---人民、百姓！借用网民的话： 没有人民，你什么也不是！没有老百姓，你他妈狗屁不是！
中国是时候考虑要不要体制再深化改革一下、从体制上根本解决问题。 这样的官员不知百姓疾苦，这样官员说的话没有站在百姓立场上，因为他们不是百姓投票选举出来的，很多老百姓根本就没有投过票。
January 2, 2014
President Xi Jinping needs to free all political prisoners in China including the Nobel laureate, his wife and all those imprisoned for matters of expressing their opinions with no avocations of violence.
By H. M.
新华社评出2013国内十大新闻
国家机构换届顺利完成：3月，十二届全国人大一次会议选举习近平为国家主席，决定李克强为国务院总理，选举张德江为全国人大常委会委员长；全国政协十二届一次会议选举俞正声为全国政协主席。
神十天宫对接嫦娥玉兔奔月：6月，“神舟十号”与“天宫一号”成功实现对接。12月，“嫦娥三号”首次实现月球软着陆和月面巡视勘察。
群众路线教育实践活动展开：群众路线教育活动会议6月18日在北京召开。活动聚焦作风建设，集中解决形式主义、官僚主义 等“四风”。
《大气污染防治行动计划》：9月12日，国务院发布《大气污染防治行动计划》。这是当前和今后时期全国大气污染防治工作的行动指南。
薄熙来案终审 反腐力度加大：济南市中级法院9月22日对薄熙来案作出一审判决，决定执行无期徒刑，剥夺政治权利终身，并处没收个人全部财产；10月25日，该案二审公开宣判，维持一审原判。
（上海）自贸区成立：9月29日，中国（上海）自由贸易试验区正式启动运行。自贸区积极探索负面清单管理模式，并实施商事登记制度改革等诸多创新举措。
十八届三中全会部署全面深化改革：11月9日至12日召开的党的十八届三中全会审议通过了《中共中央关于全面深化改革若干重大问题的决定》，提出了全面深化改革的指导思想、目标任务、重大原则。
青岛、德惠发生特大安全事故：11月22日，位于青岛的中石化东黄输油管道发生泄漏爆炸特别重大事故，共造成62人遇难、136人受伤。6月3日，位于吉林德惠的吉林宝源丰禽业有限公司发生特别重大火灾爆炸事故，共造成121人死亡、76人受伤。
划设东海防空识别区强化维权：11月23日，中国政府公布划设东海防空识别区。这是中国保卫国家主权和领土领空安全的必要举措。
中央首次召开城镇化工作会议：12月12日至13日召开的中央城镇化工作会议讨论了国家新型城镇化规划，明确了推进城镇化的指导思想、主要目标、基本原则。
可以看出新华社本次评选还是比较客观公正。首先敢于把青岛爆炸惨案以及吉林德惠大火列入2013十大新闻事件；其次，薄熙来一案的判决作为另一新闻，确实是实事求是，勇敢坚定，这一新闻敢于把党内这一政治斗争、历史事件公开来，证明已经做好了准备---迎接群众的激烈反响。希望加大反腐力度，说出人们想说不敢说的，揭露人们应该知道的真相！历史是人民写的，中国人民是有正义感的，希望邪不压正、正义终将得到伸张。
January 1, 2014
Here's to hoping that this year will bring greater social equality and justice to the people of China as promised by President Xi Jinping in his policy statement before the Third Plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. President Xi has apparently recognized that in the midst of growing democratic, rights awareness and increasing complaints over social justice, deepening reforms in China must promote social equality. To the people, we wish you well and the greatest prosperity in the New Year.
By H. M.
领导干部带头在公共场所禁烟
人民网北京12月30日，中办、国办《关于领导干部带头在公共场所禁烟有关事项的通知》指出自从《公共场所卫生管理条例实施细则》实施以来，公共场所禁烟取得积极进展。但目前公共场所吸烟的现象仍较普遍，特别是少数领导干部在公共场所吸烟，不仅危害公共环境和公众健康，而且损害党政机关和领导干部形象，造成不良影响。为进一步做好公共场所禁烟控烟工作，两办就领导干部带头在公共场所禁烟进行了通知，主要有：
要求领导干部遵守公共场所禁烟规定，以实际行动作出表率，自觉维护党政机关和领导干部形象；各级领导干部不得在学校、医院等公共场所吸烟 。同时，要积极做好禁烟控烟宣传教育和引导工作，及时劝阻和制止他人违规在公共场所吸烟。
各级党政机关公务活动中严禁吸烟。公务活动承办单位不得提供烟草制品，公务活动参加人员不得吸烟、敬烟、劝烟。 严禁使用或变相使用公款支付烟草消费开支。
把各级党政机关建成无烟机关。机关内部禁止销售或提供烟草制品，禁止烟草广告，公共办公场要张贴醒目的禁烟标识。 在全社会形成禁烟控烟的良好氛围。
现实中确实是，中国太多烟民只顾自己合适，完全不顾别人感受、甚至周围有孕妇他们也不管不顾、照抽不误。 抽烟虽是小事，但是政府把它当作关乎民主健康的大事来抓来管，以小见大，带头示范，证明国家领导人素质在提升，体现中央整治社会风气和精神文明的信心与决心。这项规定的出台让广大群众特别是不抽烟的群众拍手称快、少受二手烟的危害。盼望两办决定落实到位，“领导带了头，群众争上游”。再好的法律、法规只要领导带头执行，带头落实， 没有办不成的事。这项规定是可以操作的、看得见、摸得着的措施，由此变相公款支付烟草开支、请客送礼等都会被禁，必 将对反腐倡廉有很大成效。
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