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2006-03-24 China-Japan-Koreas

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Posted by Fred 2006-03-24 00:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 China imposes chopsticks tax

#10

Posted by RD 2006-03-24 02:50|| 2006-03-24 02:50|| Front Page Top

#2 Good luck collecting. The Chinese are tax evaders par excellence. Not avoiders, in the sense of finding loopholes - outright evaders.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2006-03-24 03:06|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2006-03-24 03:06|| Front Page Top

#3 I always thought that most disposable chopsticks were made of bamboo. I guess I thought wrong.

Posted by gromky 2006-03-24 07:55|| 2006-03-24 07:55|| Front Page Top

#4 Nope. Each chopstick comes from a single lodgepole pine.

Posted by Robert Crawford">Robert Crawford 2006-03-24 07:58|| http://www.kloognome.com/]">[http://www.kloognome.com/] 2006-03-24 07:58|| Front Page Top

#5 The tax on chopsticks may seem a curious way for the Chinese leadership to demonstrate its new found commitment to the environment.

Considering that [iirc] they import the wood from the US.

Posted by Phort Whoth9906 2006-03-24 08:44|| 2006-03-24 08:44|| Front Page Top

#6 Nope. Each chopstick comes from a single lodgepole pine.

Actually, what we know as chopsticks are, in reality, partially formed toothpicks where the lathe bit fouled before completion.

Posted by Zenster 2006-03-24 12:16|| 2006-03-24 12:16|| Front Page Top

#7 gromky: I always thought that most disposable chopsticks were made of bamboo. I guess I thought wrong.

The non-disposable ones are made of bamboo. They have tensile strength. The disposable ones feel like pine - flex them and they break. Plus they're real soft, like pine, and unlike bamboo.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2006-03-24 12:42|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2006-03-24 12:42|| Front Page Top

#8 Bamboo, pine - pfui. My chopsticks (a Christmas gift) are jade.

Wonder what the ChiComs would tax me for that?

If they could, of course. ;p

Posted by Barbara Skolaut"> Barbara Skolaut 2006-03-24 14:29|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html] 2006-03-24 14:29|| Front Page Top

#9 Found myself a pair of those jade chopsticks in the thrift shop, Barbara. Paid all of a whopping $5.00 for them. The jade flute I got in Taiwan cost a few more frogskins.

Posted by Zenster 2006-03-24 17:43|| 2006-03-24 17:43|| Front Page Top

#10 Most disposable chopsticks are made from aspen. But the best are milled from a single, mature coast redwood. I use nothing else.

Posted by Grunter 2006-03-24 18:51|| 2006-03-24 18:51|| Front Page Top

#11 BS: Bamboo, pine - pfui. My chopsticks (a Christmas gift) are jade.

Disposable ones are used at restaurants. Hygiene standards at restaurants in China aren't exactly tip-top. Customers feel a little more secure using disposable flatware.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2006-03-24 18:54|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2006-03-24 18:54|| Front Page Top

#12 mine's only jade when someone else plays it, Zen :-)

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-03-24 19:05|| 2006-03-24 19:05|| Front Page Top

#13 mine's only jade when someone else plays it, Zen

Don't you just love visits to the heavenly gate with all those clouds and rain?

Posted by Zenster 2006-03-24 19:42|| 2006-03-24 19:42|| Front Page Top

#14 You make being jaded sound like fun.

Posted by Zenster 2006-03-24 19:44|| 2006-03-24 19:44|| Front Page Top

#15 Zheng Fei - It was my understanding that Asian people often brought their own chopsticks, and it wasn't considered insulting to do so. Is that incorrect?

Posted by Barbara Skolaut"> Barbara Skolaut 2006-03-24 21:43|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html] 2006-03-24 21:43|| Front Page Top

#16 BS: Zheng Fei - It was my understanding that Asian people often brought their own chopsticks, and it wasn't considered insulting to do so. Is that incorrect?

I've never personally encountered the practice - and I've dined in a variety of restaurants throughout Southeast (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia) and Northeast Asia (Hong Kong, China, Korea, Taiwan).

Posted by Zhang Fei 2006-03-24 23:52|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2006-03-24 23:52|| Front Page Top

#17 BS: Zheng Fei - It was my understanding that Asian people often brought their own chopsticks, and it wasn't considered insulting to do so. Is that incorrect?

What I have seen is this - in some regions, (1) the first pot of steaming hot tea is poured into a teacup, (2) the chopsticks (if not disposable) are rinsed in the tea, (3) the cup of tea is poured into a bowl, (4) the cup is rinsed in the bowl, (5) the tea is poured out of the bowl into a large communal bowl meant for that express purpose and (6) the bowl of water is taken away. Dishes are served banquet style.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2006-03-24 23:57|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2006-03-24 23:57|| Front Page Top

23:57 Zhang Fei
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