China and the US are getting hitched (with fiber)

Looks like Chinese and US telco's will do what our governments can't: establish an undeniable bond which is stronger than, uh, glass. Ok, we have that. Nevertheless, work began this week in China on a 18,000-km (11,184-mile) fiber-optic cable between the coastal city of Qingdao and Nedonna Beach, Oregon. Existing cables between China and the US run through Japan. The new link is designed to support 62 million simultaneous calls while handling the anticipated growth from Internet video and e-commerce. With any luck, they'll meet the July target ahead of the Beijing Olympics which starts in August 2008.

[Gabe @ Oct 23rd 2007 8:47AM]

"62 million simultaneous calls (for takeout?)"

I don't know if you guys know this, but this is a racist/prejudice statement, and not funny. I know you guys try your hardest to add slight wit to your stories, but this is really pathetic and you should be ashamed of writing that.

[Luke @ Oct 23rd 2007 8:59AM]

I don't know if you know this, but you need to grow a sense of humor, and not take things so personally. I know you try your hardest to be the first comment, but your lack of humor is pathetic and you should be ashamed of writing that.

[BestSnowman @ Oct 23rd 2007 8:59AM]

Even if it wasn't racist/prejudice it was still really stupid.

[Ryan Block @ Oct 23rd 2007 11:32AM]

It's interesting how different people read a joke like that. I read it as being a scatching commentary on Americans' distorted sense of internationalism -- which is how Thomas, an American living abroad, intended it. Either way, I can understand how some might take it the wrong way, so we've pulled the line.

[Gabe @ Oct 23rd 2007 11:43AM]

I just thought it was in poor taste. I sincerely appreciate the benign humor that takes place on Engadget at times, but what if someone from China read this and saw that, or what about a Chinese-American?

@Luke - I have a great sense of humor, and I do find the post slightly funny, but as a human being with a conscience, I was not comfortable with the fact that the focal point of this post ended up being about this one comment. I personally feel that the post could have been a great one, especially with the significance of what it really means for both our countries, China and America. And at the end of the day I felt like I was reading a blog called Laughgadet, cause that is what the post ended up being, instead of informative, it became Engadget making a mockery of itself, which is a shame.

At least we are not censored by Brian Lamm, oh wait, the post was removed. I do appreciate that you have opened the comments back up, and it would be nice to have further information about this topic, because it could be significant.

[Thomas Ricker @ Oct 23rd 2007 11:43AM]

Gabe,

Duuuuuude...

"I insist that you explain why you though it was funny that 63 million Americans would be ordering Chinese Food using this hardline to China, is that what you really think of the Chinese people? Are you a bunch of racist cowards?"

http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/23/olpc-goes-after-deep-pocketed-donors/comments/8298828/

As BestSnowman already said, the joke was "stupid," yes, but hardly "racist/prejudice." It's a commentary on ignorance rather than the Chinese "race." Regardless, the joke is gone... the world is once again safe.

Thomas

[Gabe @ Oct 23rd 2007 11:49AM]

I simply become angry when it seems that people are being censored, and when the post was originally pulled, that's what I believed happened, and I didn't appreciate that, so I became upset and I apologize for that. If it happened to you, you would be upset in a similar manner as well, bet you anything.

I like your posts, but I was very disappointed, that's what I was feeling, frustration, disappointment and quite frankly I was furious of the apparent censorship.

And if I had not posted those posts would you guys have re-opened this forum? I don't know, it's too late to tell because you pulled it and then only re-posted it after my comments.

[drummerboy @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:05PM]

I don't think it's racist to say that Chinese people eat Chinese food.

He didn't say that Americans would be ordering food from every Chinese person, because every Chinese person works at a Chinese restaraunt. He didn't say that at all. Instead, he used the fact that man, many Americans enjoy Chinese food, which, for its American base, is usually consumed through means of delivery. If there were a direct line to China, perhaps more deliveries would be made. This is rediculous, as no one would order food all the way from China. It would cost too much. Hense the humor.

If every joke had to encorporate every aspect of the object it was making fun of in order to not be insensitive, humor would be incredibly prententiously politically correct, and would cease to be funny. The joke could have read "62 million simultaneous calls (for takeout, or toys, or cheap electronics, or perhaps thousands of other goods and services which the Chinese are well known for making, or perhaps just to chat with the largest country in the world about it's vast historical significance and amazing achievements over the past 4000 years, or maybe to broaden our political horizens, or who knows, this line could be used for so many different things)".

That would include a well rounded assessment of China. But who the hell wants that. It was a one-liner about one aspect of China, it's food business within America, which is an aspect that many Americans can relate too. Humor should relate to the people. When you don't find it funny, just don't laugh. But there's no reason to be angry about something you don't find funny.

[James Cameron @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:53PM]

Isn't this the same Thomas Ricker guy who stir up stuff about the Meizu and instead of accussing the meizu, he uses the word "Chinese"? By the way it's CHINA and the US and NOT "CHINESE and US" or else you say it's Chinese and Americans.

Just my 2cents.

[Blackstar @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:53PM]

Goramit! That's a lot of calls!

[Gabe @ Oct 23rd 2007 3:19PM]

For all of you that don't get, being politically correct is more about sticking up for the people who's voices can't be heard. So as you sit there and laugh at the non-intellectual jokes that you come up with, or some pathetic one liners, think about that. Although you truly are a reflection of what this world has become, dip-shits that don't care about anyone but themselves.

[Jacob @ Oct 23rd 2007 4:09PM]

Mentioning the fact that many Americans order takeout food from Chinese restaurants is racist? I don't follow your logic. Please explain.

[Gabe @ Oct 23rd 2007 5:01PM]

@ Jacob - No, but the perception that we could use those 63 million call slots from America to order Chinese food from China, that is an ignorant view of what exists in China and how we as Americans view the Chinese. If this were said about a Chinese restaurant in America, that may have been funny, but we are talking about China here, and most of you don't even know anything about China or the Chinese.

Things we should be grateful for that come from China - Ice Cream, Medicine, Silk, Fireworks/Gunpowder/other types of arms, Tea, and more.

Things that don't exist in China - Chinese food, they just call it food.

[Vince Maling @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:17PM]

Are you kidding? That was hilarious! I also like the "Great Wall of Fiber" suggestion conceived below.

That Chinese restaurants tend to serve a lot of take-out might be a stereotype, but it's a harmless one. Anyway, the very concept of "take-out" is much more condescending to overcasual, lethargic Americans than Chinese.

What's much more threatening to racial harmony is people overreacting to benign, well-intentioned humor like this.

[Johan S @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:30PM]

I didnt see the original post. But how would a statement referring to chinese takeout be racist??? I love Chinese food. If someone said "62 million simultaneous calls (for advanced microprocessors?)" .. would that be racist too?

Quite frankly, if anything the fact that chinese food is great is something china can be proud of. It's a huge testament in their favor that every culture in the world loves chinese food. It must taste great, how else can so many people love it.

Seriously is there a chinese person getting offended when people say that their food is popular?

Also, I bet if the statement was the other way around (chinese people calling america) "62 million simultaneous calls (for hollywood movies?)" .. that too would be deemed racist .. how can we dare say they like chinese movies so much?.

Sadly, when it comes to joking about two cultures, someone will figure out a way to show that you meant something racist against the culture that you aren't.

[brad @ Oct 23rd 2007 8:55AM]

great wall of fiber?

[Charlie @ Oct 23rd 2007 11:56AM]

The original post did nothing for me. But "Great Wall of Fiber". Looks like Dell's complete care is getting a call for a new keyboard and LCD, because mine are now covered in coffee.

[Nabil @ Oct 23rd 2007 11:53AM]

CHINESE HACKERS REJOICE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now your comrades in the People's Republic Electronic Warfare Division can hack the filthy capitalist pigs' networks and force them into socialism even faster than before.

Now the People's republic doesn't even need spies in Los Alamos, or the lawrence livermore national laborator. Their link is fast enought that they can just hack their servers and download their secrets before their sys admins even knows what hit'em

[macona @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:49PM]

Oh, were going to socialism but it aint by force... ;(

[Diego @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:20PM]

One word for socialism...."Democrat"!!

You guys are a bunch of babies. Why the hell does everything have to be so politically correct?? Big deal...it was just a joke...get over it. You have a big problem if you are getting offended over some simple joke. I thought it was funny...I laughed..I moved on!

[Neebs @ Oct 23rd 2007 2:25PM]

If you think we're headed towards socialism faster than fascism, you're wrong.

[Nabil @ Oct 23rd 2007 3:35PM]

Oh come on you guys....all I meant was the Chinese hackers will be happy about a faster link, so they can hack US sites. It had nothing to do with socialism or Democrats or politics.

If anything, it was inspired by the Austin Powers quote "Finally those capitalist pigs will pay for their crimes"

[Constable Odo @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:08PM]

I would certainly appreciate the FO connection with China. I absolutely hate going to Chinese web sites even though I like to check out some of their photos and stuff. Those sites load so slowly, it's unbelievable in this day and age. Maybe there is also a problem with the double-byte characters, but Japanese sites load much quicker.

I'd hardly think the Chinese would get upset over some stupid remark such as calling for take-out foods. They already know that the majority of Americans are idiots and only know about stereotypes of foreign nationals.

Besides, how long do you think it would take for them to deliver from Shanghai? Probably days and I couldn't wait that long.

[kevan @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:16PM]

I hope they watch out for that floating island of trash the size of Texas...or was it double the size of Texas....who knows!

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:34PM]

Let's all just be completely oversensitive and knee-jerky okay?

[mattydread @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:35PM]

Who's managing it? Qwest? Level3? Some Chinese company?

[Vince Maling @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:01PM]

On the American side, Verizon. There are a number of Chinese telecoms joining forces on their side of the Pacific.

[tiuk @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:42PM]

So, does this mean we'll be able to play online games against people in China with minimal lag?

[PK @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:53PM]

And yet *another* neighborhood gets FiOS before mine... (sigh)

[Rick @ Oct 23rd 2007 2:31PM]

Could someone elaborate on the specifics of how the cable will be ran? Will it under the surface of the water? If so, how deep? Will it just float along the near bottom or will it run along the ocean floor?

[Captain Obvious @ Oct 23rd 2007 2:55PM]

I happen to know where Nedonna Beach is in Oregon, and I must say that I can't think of any reason at all why anyone would terminate a fiber run to anywhere in that quaint little backwater town. I'm not sure they even have fiber from there to anywhere else in the world.

[B @ Oct 23rd 2007 6:25PM]

Yes, everyone has to burst a blood vessel over associating America-China phone calls with takeout, but insulting a town is just dandy. After all, rednecks can't possibly get offended.

[HAL @ Oct 23rd 2007 2:55PM]

And another crying little pussy gets yet another thing censored. Way to go nancy boy.

[Jacob @ Oct 23rd 2007 4:19PM]

"anticipated growth from Internet video and e-commerce"

I don't know if you guys know this, but this is a racist/prejudice statement, and not funny. I know you guys try your hardest to add slight wit to your stories, but this is really pathetic and you should be ashamed of writing that.

[Richard Cartwright @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:05PM]

I read the article and expected some give and take about the broad avenue being opened to Chinese (and US hackers, possible further offshoring of US tech jobs and the like. What do I get? a bunch of politcor (this is a tech blog and I wanted no possible confusion with the the term "PC") crapola with a little bit of tech related discussion. Either talk tech or move to the Mother Jones site.

[Richard Cartwright @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:05PM]

I read the article and expected some give and take about the broad avenue being opened to Chinese (and US hackers, possible further offshoring of US tech jobs and the like. What do I get? a bunch of politcor (this is a tech blog and I wanted no possible confusion with the the term "PC") crapola with a little bit of tech related discussion. Either talk tech or move to the Mother Jones site.

[James @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:46PM]

Wow, do they have a filter that can pick all the pro-democracy/pro-Taiwan ideas out of a pipe that fat?

[Henri @ Oct 24th 2007 4:52AM]

This is very good news :) good that internet is getting ?better?