李大同, 点评中国: 谣言止于公信. BBC Chinese, July 27, 2009.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_8170000/newsid_8170700/8170799.stm
My comment:
(a) The commentary started with “我们小时候都读过《咕咚来了》的童话.”
(b) Cobalt-60 creates beta decay. Beta particles can be stopped by a sheet of aluminum that is 2 to 3 mm thick. Perhaps because the author, Mr. 李大同, was starved of information--Chinese government has said little about the incident—his commentary states, “6月14日15时，辐照室内接受辐照加工的辣椒粉由于放射源的长时间照射，温度过高自燃。” Beta radiation simply won’t cause fire—not even temperature increase.
(c) Consult
Audra Ang, Chinese villagers flee county in radiation scare. Associated Press, July 20, 2009.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/20/AR2009072000538.html
My comment: Many things that are commonplace to Chinese in China are unheard of outside. Besides 咕咚来了, I am unaware of 蔫默悄地--I do not even know how to pronouce it--I google and find two more phrases whose meaning seems similar, judging from the context 鸦默悄地, 蔫不悄地.
(2)
(a) William Foreman, Taiwan love hotel perfect for traveler with bike. Associated Press, July 27, 2009.
http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_12922888
Seedy (adj): “somewhat disreputable”
(b) Elaine Kurtenbach, E-China: The bicycle kingdom is going electric. Associatred Press, July 25, 2009
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/25/china-electric-bikes-072509/?technology
(upgrading to battery-powered bikes and scooters
(3) 上海名作家称腐败泛滥使中华民族濒临最危险时刻. VOA Chiese, July 27, 2009
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/2009-07-27-voa67.cfm
The report is based on
沙叶新：“腐敗”文化——中華民族到了最危險的時候. 博讯, July 15, 2009.
http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/pubvp/2009/07/200907261205.shtml
(4) Michael fagan, Letter to Editor: Taiwan is already famous. Taipei Times, July 27, 2009
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2009/07/27/2003449667
("If anything, Taiwan would make the World Games world famous — not the other way around!")
(5) 林楠森, 马英九当选党主席促国共高层互动. BBC Chinese, July 27, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/chinese/simp/hi/newsid_8170000/newsid_8170500/8170538.stm