Sep/094
fighting h1n1 – shanzhai style
a couple of months ago, the office handed out these mini bottle of antiseptic hand gel. obtesibly to combat the spreading of germs, specifically h1n1 influenza.
today, we were handed giant bottles of antiseptic hand gel, and taking a closer look at the giant bottle, we realized that the first bottles were shanzhai’d versions of the amway pursue brand of hand gel.
what is shanzhai, you might ask. according to wikipedia
Shanzhai ??; sh?nzhài) refers to Chinese knockoff and pirated brands and goods, particularly electronics. Literally “mountain village” or “mountain stronghold”, the term refers to the mountain stockades of warlords or thieves, far away from official control. “Shanzhai” can also be stretched to refer to people who are lookalikes, low-quality or improved goods, as well as things done in parody
after taking a closer look at the original hand gel, you notice that instead of “amway” it’s “amoy” and instead of “pursue” it’s “pursier.” actual use wise, the alcohol smell is much stronger with pursier than with pursue.

here’s the closeup of the mini bottle – apologise for the size, this is off my iphone camera.
fightin’ the h1n1! who knows if it works though.

11:59 am on September 25th, 2009
Noticed a lot of empty pursier bottles around the office?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33006700/ns/world_news-europe/
4:43 pm on September 25th, 2009
I have . . . .hmm, that would explain a lot of strange behavior.
8:41 am on September 30th, 2009
Did i spot a Stevie Franchise celebriduck in its original packaging in the background? I cant imagine there are a ton of those floating around China.
10:34 am on September 30th, 2009
Not only a Stevie Franchise celebriduck, but also a Limited Edition Talking Bobble Head of Rudy Tomjanovich. Aside from mine, and samples at the factory, there’s this sporting good store in Beijing that has a cabinet of every Rockets premium from 02 through 05 – the workers there told me the boss used to live in Houston.