Science & Code

• Michael July 31, 2008

  It’s now!

  General

  It is, indeed! In case you do not believe me just check your watch. Even twice if you are that leery.

  Okay. So now that we agree on the fact that it’s currently (or more general “always”) now, why should you even bother yourself with this mere fact? (Which, considering it’s underlying insight, is definetly amongst the D-students of facts.)

  You may or may not have noticed our fancy Web 2.0 button, that stresses the genuine truth about what time it actually is. Contrary to the Web 2.0 itself, the button has a real story. And this is the tale I am going to tell you today.

  A few months ago, Felix and I were attending a conference on computer science at the Beijing University. Therefore we travelled to China, not knowing what lied ahead of us. Besides numerous experiences, that redefined my notion of dimension, ecological awareness, manners and human rights, one experience definetly caused most amusement in our group: The generous handling of the english language.

  Browsing through the foods department in a shopping district in northern Beijing I encountered a box of cookies, that controlled my social life from that day forth.

  

  For us, this tautology-cookies (although eaten long ago) have become more than just unnecessary candy. They’ve become a punchline to a joke no one ever asked us to tell. Well but that’s not the only oddly labeled product, that we’ve encountered. Just to give you another impression:

  

  So, whenever you read chinese symbols that have been put up by non-asians be sure to ask for their meaning if you have the chance to get to know it. I’m sure fun and a hell-of-a-lot of WTF?!s are waiting for you.

  Cheers, Michael.

   
   

1. Eddy

   I am the first reader of this story, but it only kept me away from learning ;-)

   Comment written July 31, 2008 @ 8:33 pm
2. Felix

   The cookies tasted awful.

   Comment written July 31, 2008 @ 8:40 pm
3. Michael

   Did not! I loved them.

   Comment written August 10, 2008 @ 9:35 pm