Sponge Bear

I noticed this sign tonight on the streets of Fengyuan (Fongyuan) 豊原. The Chinese writing informs us that wrapped gifts from Japan are on sale. The bit of Japanese at the end is ギフトブベ (the last part being partially obscured from the street). ギフト is the loan word for "gift", but the meaning of "bube" ブベ just eludes.

A gold medal for China's star hurdler Liu Xiang (Ryū Shō) 劉翔 also eludes, following his withdrawal from the Men's 110-meter hurdles at the Beijing Olympics. It's bad enough his dream of another Olympic gold medal has been shattered, but the poor guy now has to face the wrath of a disappointed nation, according to this article ("Hurdler Liu faces cyber-wrath in China") http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/olympics/20080820TDY07306.htm that appeared in the Daily Yomiuri ザ・デイリー読売. Nationalism is an illness, and the Chinese version of it is a particularly nasty strain, but apparently it also exists parasitical form, and can begin to devour its host, at least judging from some of the comments directed at Liu from Chinese bloggers:

"...runaway soldier...cowardly act...1.3 billion people hurt--a new world record...Was this his last race after becoming rich?...You're finished!"

Hell hath no fury like a Chinese nationalist denied the chance to bask in his/her nation's glory. As one commenter noted:

"It [China] is an unusual society. Many Chinese like to shift responsibility and duty to others. If that person succeeds, he is revered. If the opposite happens, he will be condemned."

Is it any wonder I have little interest in these Games?