tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post3195595296964294573..comments2023-10-22T18:25:39.688+08:00Comments on The View from Taiwan: Oil Theatre, Act II, Scene 1Michael Turtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-61581042783495007742014-09-12T11:16:31.371+08:002014-09-12T11:16:31.371+08:00The timing of the HK revelation is interesting. As...The timing of the HK revelation is interesting. Ascetic monk that I am, I tend to avoid eating processed food, especially cookies and cakes and such stuff so I'm in the dark here, but who are Chang Guann's major competitors? Was it they who tipped off the FDA about Chang Guann's HK supplier and then the FDA informed the HK regulatory agency? That would make sense.<br /><br />Incidentally, about that picture from the cliff overlooking the back end of Tseng-wen reservoir: the rafts and debris are the least obvious features of that shot - the two large, partially submerged concrete structures are what draws the attention. I have yet to ask what they are, but I have read that they were intended to serve as a debris-collection mechanism. Notice the series of large screw-holes on both the tower and the block - their obvious function would be to connect a series of bars or cables between them, which would presumably block floating debris. For several reasons however, this doesn't make much sense. First, a line to block debris only makes sense if that debris is floating in which case we should be able to see a floating debris line connected to each of the two structures, and yet no such line is visible. Second, the distance between the tower and the block is less than half of the river's breadth and so you'd have debris simply floating around it, which is useless. My best guess so far is that the two structures are an abandoned design for a "turbulence precipitator". As water passed through, the cables would induce greater turbulence to the flow and thus carry sediments further downstream to the front of the reservoir where it would be easier and cheaper to dispose of them than if they were littered all over the entire length of the reservoir. Or at least that's my guess as to the intention. But the two structures have been standing there unconnected for several years now and the screw-holes are all rusted, so it would appear to have been abandoned. It's an interesting little mystery and one that I haven't got around to solving yet.<br /><br />@Jenna - Yes, we know, you were being unwittingly ironic.Mike Faganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08745281285031316740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-9459932712624142502014-09-11T22:54:39.607+08:002014-09-11T22:54:39.607+08:00yeah, rather than sacrificing people to the Temple...yeah, rather than sacrificing people to the Temple of Capitalism, it would be better to see the whole religion fall.<br /><br />(I'm not being sarcastic).Jenna Lynn Codyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04032277820150000198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-45238932297707779522014-09-11T22:39:15.425+08:002014-09-11T22:39:15.425+08:00I suppose, but one wants to see changes in the sys...I suppose, but one wants to see changes in the system, not occasional sacrifices....Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-43162714267125670202014-09-11T22:13:28.114+08:002014-09-11T22:13:28.114+08:00Isn't it better to scapegoat the leader than s...Isn't it better to scapegoat the leader than someone from middle management or none at all?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com