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Richard Roman's Blog (150)

How to make the perfect hamburger

OK. I have been experimenting over the last few weeks on making the perfect hamburger. But what am I doing wrong? None of my creations seem to be up to scratch! Help needed! Please post any tips here!

Added by Richard Roman on June 1, 2014 at 18:09 — 6 Comments

Even Ulan Bator has Irish pubs

Over the past two decades Irish pubs have proliferated around the planet. Now there are warnings their growth is being halted. How did the Gaelic-themed drinking establishment take over the world?

Stroll through the centre of almost any international city where the sale of alcohol is permitted and sooner or later you'll find one. There will be horseshoes on the walls, the Pogues on the jukebox and road signs pointing you towards Dublin and Donegal.

Above the front door,… Continue

Added by Richard Roman on May 23, 2014 at 7:45 — No Comments

World Cup - where can we watch it?

OK. We are a month away from the start of the World Cup - anyone any ideas about which bars are gearing up to show it? Please post any nuggets here! Also join the World Cup Group at

http://richardroman.ning.com/group/2014-world-cup

Added by Richard Roman on May 11, 2014 at 15:49 — 5 Comments

Eating Dogs - a thriller set in Changchun

A good friend of mine and of many people here in Changchun has just completed writing his book which is a thriller set in Changchun. He asked me if I could get a group of people to read the book and critique it for him. . This would help him enormously in deciding on any changes/developments he might make

Set in a university here in Changchun, the resident expatriate English teacher is surprised when one of his good English students suddenly goes missing. On enquiring about…

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Added by Richard Roman on May 7, 2014 at 14:13 — 9 Comments

World’s best whisky 2014 revealed – and it’s not from Scotland or Japan

A panel of experts have chosen the best single malt whisky in the world for 2014 – and it comes from a Tasmanian distillery
Described by one judge as tasting like “honey, vanilla and haystacks”, the Sullivans Cove French Oak Cask becomes the first winner of the biggest award in whisky production to come from the Australian island.

Added by Richard Roman on March 31, 2014 at 16:05 — 1 Comment

Crisp (chip?)flavours around the world

I was musing, as I do, on the crisp flavours we have in China. To be honest I cannot take any of them except the plain variety

Yet in the UK , depending on my mood, I will buy cheese and onion, salt and vinegar and smoky bacon.

Are crisp flavours different around the world? What are the favourites in your country?

Added by Richard Roman on March 30, 2014 at 13:57 — 2 Comments

Spring Competition - prizes to be won!

As with our winter competition, when we ask for the first day of snow, this is to ask for the first day that the temperature hits 20degrees Celsius.

Sharon and Richard won it last year and the actual day was the 22nd of April

The question you have to answer is:

When will the day time temperature record 20 degrees Celsius or more for the first time this year? The weather station that will be used is Accuweather.

People who bet 10 days before the… Continue

Added by Richard Roman on March 15, 2014 at 16:42 — 24 Comments

New Indian restaurant

The new Indian restaurant is supposedly opening on Monday 10tMarch. It is pretty well next to Burger King and as you enter from the street, you walk up a flight of stairs. The front of the restaurant simply says Indian Curry. Nothing like giving yourself a great name huh?

Anyway. If people get a chance to go from Monday, please let us know what it is like!

Added by Richard Roman on March 7, 2014 at 15:10 — 1 Comment

I bet you cannot solve this puzzle!

Suppose you're on a game show, and you're given the choice of three doors: Behind one door is a car; behind the others, goats. You pick a door, say No. 1, and the host, who knows what's behind the doors, opens another door, say No. 3, which has a goat. He then says to you, "Do you want to pick door No. 2?" Is it to your advantage to switch your choice?

Wim - you are not allowed to enter!

I have read the answer and I still don't get it!

Added by Richard Roman on February 26, 2014 at 20:37 — 7 Comments

The battle. who will win? Scottish Marin vs Liverpool Richard

Scottish Martin and Liverpool richard have had a bet as to whether Liverpool can finish in the top 4 this season - the English premier league that is

This is for the record so both sides know that we are watching!

My guess is on Liverpool coming in the top 4. So, I am siding with Richard on this one.

Richard says YES

Martin says NO

Anyone want to comment or put up another bet?

For instance: I bet that the first day that the… Continue

Added by Richard Roman on February 21, 2014 at 22:30 — No Comments

Superbowl XLVIII

Denver Broncos vs Seattle Seahawks - who to win and why the hell hold it outdoors in New Jersy in February?

It's on Feb 2nd - so Monday morning of the 3rd in the Chun. Anyone showing it?

Coffees and donuts!

I go for Denver but have no idea

Added by Richard Roman on January 26, 2014 at 1:16 — No Comments

Online university opens free courses

More than 20 institutions will provide degree-level short courses in subject areas including science, maths and technology, accessed online through FutureLearn, owned by the Open University.

Students in any country will be able to sign up for a course through the FutureLearn site and study for free.

It is understood to be the first time that a UK-based organisation has been set up to offer what are known as "massive open online courses" (MOOCs).…

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Added by Richard Roman on September 19, 2013 at 18:52 — 2 Comments

The first snowfall of the winter? - A free beer or equivalent for the winner!

I am posting this early so we can all have a go at putting up a date - the winner will get a free beer from an establishment of your choice (or a drink of your choosing)

I mean a real fall of snow - not just a few flakes which do not settle. A carpeting of snow is required

Last years Mr Choonie won with a freak heavy fall on oct 23rd and the real snow of winter started on Nov 12th

So place your bets here!

The judges decision is final

I am… Continue

Added by Richard Roman on September 7, 2013 at 10:00 — 20 Comments

The woman from Plymouth who woke up with a Chinese accent

How would you feel if one day you awoke to find your Glaswegian, Home Counties or West Country tones inexplicably gone, with a French, Danish or even Indonesian accent in its place?

38-year-old Sarah Colwill doesn't have to wonder. On March 7, 2010, she woke up to discover that her customary Plymouth pronunciation had gone - replaced by Chinese enunciation.

Sarah is one of the handful of people to be diagnosed with Foreign Accent Syndrome, a condition so rare there were just 61… Continue

Added by Richard Roman on September 4, 2013 at 11:30 — 2 Comments

Blow-up clogs, Renaissance toast ... and Kevin Bacon: Vote reveals the 50 funniest one-liners ever

The world' s 50 top on liner jokes have been voted on. This came in a No.3 but I just love it and Tommy Cooper is an all time great!

3. Apparently, one in five people in the world are Chinese. And there are five people in my family, so it must be one of them. It’s either my mum or my dad. Or my older brother, Colin. Or my younger brother, Ho-Chan-Chu. But I think it’s Colin - Tommy Cooper…

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Added by Richard Roman on August 31, 2013 at 17:36 — No Comments

For all you American baseball fans the best ever first pitch!- all the way from Korea

Best first pitch ever? South Korean actress's acrobatic throw in stunt that left a former Major League pitcher smiling in disbelief

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2398617/Best-pitch-South-Korean-actress-latest-make-acrobatic-throw-stunt-left-Major-League-pitcher-smiling-disbelief.html

Added by Richard Roman on August 21, 2013 at 17:25 — No Comments

Is this the world's worst zoo? Visitors' fury after staff in China try to pass off Tibetan Mastiff as a lion

A China zoo has been forced to apologise after it tried to pass off a dog as a lion.

Angry visitors to the People's Park in Luohe, Henan province, complained when the 'African lion' started barking.

Zoo staff said they had pretended the Tibetan mastiff was a lion because they could not afford the real thing,…

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Added by Richard Roman on August 16, 2013 at 11:33 — 2 Comments

Great way to use a watermelon!

The fruit of my loins! Proud father shows the world his brilliant method for keeping his son cool... shorts and hat carved

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2388533/The-fruit-loins-Proud-father-shows-world-brilliant-method-keeping-son-cool--shorts-hat-carved-frozen-watermelon.html

Added by Richard Roman on August 10, 2013 at 14:30 — 1 Comment

Which hotels are they singing about?

A Seattle man recently won the opportunity to choose the melodies for the Fountains of Bellagio, which are set to music and where each display is unique. Eric Wiebusch won the prize at the Las Vegas hotel by earning one million points playing an online game. He chose the 60th birthday of his wife, Sue, to redeem the prize.

They travelled to the city and were treated to a display that included their two chosen pieces of music 'God Bless the USA' and the Beatles' Lucy in the Sky with… Continue

Added by Richard Roman on August 9, 2013 at 19:00 — 1 Comment