Beijing Boyce

A Somewhat Young China Hand on the Local Drinking Scene

Do you actually *munch* them?

August 05th, 2008 | Category: Uncategorized

Quick quiz: Which headline appears in the August “Olympics” issue of that’s Beijing?

a) Wait, Break, Hatch, Change. Or the coming of eggs outside a bird’s nest

b) Sidewalks of water

c) Red Rover, Red Rover: Walk safely right over

d) The King: How to survive your local neighborhood noodle shop - Etiquette tips on drinking, issuing compliments and munching donkey balls

e) All of the above

If you read the last issue, then it’s a no-brainer. The answer is: e). I’ll have more on that’s Beijing and the other local English-language lifestyle publications in my follow-up to Magazine Madness.

(Hat tip to Beijing Elvis for the heads up.)

9 Comments so far

  1. Irwin Fletcher August 5th, 2008 9:13 pm

    An open letter to PETE DeMOLA of the NEW That’s Beijing:

    I just read your column in the August issue where you used the words “MUNCHING DONKEY BALLS” as part of a headline.

    Pete: I don’t want to offend your ego or your journalistic integrity – seeing as how you are a Deputy Editor – but the words “Munching” and “Balls” should never – and I mean never be used together in civilized written or spoken communication.

    I’ve got to ask…what were you thinking?

  2. 8 songs August 5th, 2008 9:38 pm

    But why are the local mags all suddenly pitching to the visitors for the big circus up on the north fourth ring road? Have a look at the latest City Weekend and the August The Beijinger - both are pitching premium pages to people wo won’t be reading the September editions of their rags. Why not have articles on how and where to hide from the hordes, for those of us who haven’t been able to escape the city this August.

  3. boyce August 6th, 2008 4:17 pm

    @ Irwin,

    Let’s hope Pete gets back to us.

    @ 8 songs,

    In part because their advertisers need business and hope Olympics visitors will provide it, I guess. C’mon, the point isn’t to escape from the hordes, it’s to join them (and hopefully get them to buy you drinks).

    Cheers, Boyce

  4. Paulus August 7th, 2008 2:29 pm

    i’m pretty sure the Beijinger did include an article about “how to avoid the Olympics”

  5. Pete August 17th, 2008 6:13 am

    Hi, Irwin (and Boyce):

    Argh… so the “munching balls” comment, much like the “stench” meme did so last month, managed to turn a few heads. There’s more than what meets the eye about the new mag — some good, some not. I’d be more than happy to answer your questions over a plate of… let’s settle for a pizza somewhere.

  6. P Walters August 17th, 2008 6:04 pm

    Don’t you ever feel that crossing a Beijing street is like that childhood game of red rover, where you have to break through a wall to get to the other side?

    I do.

  7. Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher August 17th, 2008 7:37 pm

    Hi Pete DeMola of the NEW That’s Beijing: “more than what meets the eye about new mag?”

    Please, do tell…because I was very underwhelmed by your first two issues.

    The good news is that you can only improve.

  8. boyce August 17th, 2008 7:50 pm

    @ Pete,

    I like pizza, but I’m a little worried about what kind of toppings you are going to order.

    @ P Walters,

    Actually, I feel it’s more like minesweeper.

    @ Fletch,

    Hey, that “can only improve” line was mine!

    Cheers, Boyce

  9. Pete August 17th, 2008 11:16 pm

    @ Irwin: I’m not sure if a public message board is the right forum to address these issues. I can, however, say that the Chinese guanxi system in doing business and a Western editorial team often don’t see eye-to-eye on certain issues.

    @ Boyce: I’m a classic pepperoni guy.

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