I decided to research the word by looking up dogs in dictionaries to see how they behave in languages.

According to Random House Dictionary via Dictionary.com, in addition to

a domesticated canid, Canis familiaris, bred in many varieties,

a dog can mean:

a despicable man or youth, a fellow in general (e.g. a lucky dog), something worthless or of extremely poor quality, [as in] “That used car you bought is a dog”, an utter failure; flop; [as in] Critics say his new play is a dog, [or] an ugly, boring, or crude person.

As The 21st Century Unabridged English-Chinese Dictionary (21世纪大英汉词典) via dict.youdao.com believes, a dog can be:

# [口语]男人；男孩，小伙子， 家伙
# [口语]卑鄙小人，禽兽般的人，无赖汉；可轻视的人
# 不受欢迎的人；地位低下的人；无能(或无用)之辈，窝囊废
# [美国俚语]

* [黑人用语]“公狗”(性骚扰的男人)；好色之徒；诱奸者；勾引者；不值得信赖的男人
* (与男人滥交的)野女人，烂污女人，妓女
* 无吸引力(或心狠、令人厌恶)的女人(或姑娘)，其貌不扬的女人，丑妞，丑丫头
* 迷人的时髦女郎
* [澳大利亚俚语、贬义]叛徒，变节分子；告密者
* [复数 ](人的)双脚
* [the Dog]“灰狗”长途汽车，(画有灵提狗的)公共汽车
* [the dogs]绝妙事物

# [美国、加拿大英语]无价值(或卖不掉)的东西，滞销货，廉价商品，蹩脚货，质量低劣的东西，废物；不能令人满意的事情；不成功的冒险；(彻底的)失败
# [口语]铺张，摆阔，架子
# [英国俚语]电话
# [俚语]=hot dog
# [复数] 轻便运动鞋，旅游鞋
# 【电影、电视】低劣(或蹩脚)剧目，失败之作
# 驽马，蹩脚马
# [美国俚语、爵士音乐界用语]漂亮女人
# [the dogs][美国俚语]快事，盛事

Then, a dog can be anything from a despicable man to a hot woman (American jazz slang), and from a traitor (Australian slang) to a failure.

So, dogs are not more favorably or better represented, either, in English

What about the luck of the animal in Chinese then? No better…

狗盗鸡鸣：
①比喻具有微末技能。②比喻偷偷摸摸
狗盗鼠窃：
像鼠狗那样的盗贼。比喻成不了气候的反叛者
狗吠非主：
狗见到不是自己主人的人便吠叫。亦以喻臣奴事奉其主而拒事非其主者。语出《战国策•齐策六》：“跖之狗吠尧，非贵跖而贱尧也，狗固吠非其主也。”
狗吠之惊：
谓小惊忧
狗苟蝇营：
像狗那样苟且求活，像苍蝇那样营营往来。比喻不顾廉耻，到处钻营
狗急跳墙：
比喻走投无路时不顾后果地行动。语出《敦煌变文集•燕子赋》：“人急烧香，狗急蓦墙。”
狗口里吐不出象牙：
比喻坏人说不出好话
狗马声色：
良犬、骏马、音乐、女色。借指穷奢极侈的享乐
狗拿耗子：
比喻做外行事或多管闲事
狗皮膏药：
①中医外用膏药。将药膏涂在小块狗皮上制成，能消痞止痛。②旧时走江湖的人常假造狗皮膏药来骗取钱财，因用以比喻骗人的货色
狗屁不通：
形容话或文章极不通顺
狗头军师：
对专在背后出谋划策的人的蔑称
狗头鼠脑：
喻奴才相
狗尾续貂：
亦作“狗续貂尾”。亦作“狗尾貂续”。①古代近侍官员以貂尾为冠饰，任官太滥，貂尾不足，用狗尾代之。后以“狗尾续貂”讽刺封爵太滥。《晋书•赵王伦传》：“奴卒厮役亦加以爵位。每朝会，貂蝉盈坐，时人为之谚曰：‘貂不足，狗尾续。’”②比喻以坏续好，前后不相称。多指文学艺术作品。宋周必大《杨廷秀送牛尾狸侑以长句次韵》：“公诗如貂不烦削，我续狗尾句空著。”
狗心狗行：
比喻歹毒的心肠、行为
狗行狼心：
比喻行为凶狠，心肠毒辣
狗续侯冠：
犹狗续金貂
狗续金貂：
比喻滥封的官吏
狗血喷头：
形容骂得很厉害
狗咬吕洞宾：
喻不识好歹。吕洞宾，传说中八仙之一
狗仗官势：
比喻坏人倚仗官府势力欺压他人
狗仗人势：
比喻奴才、走狗倚仗主子的势力
狗彘不若：
犹言猪狗不如。形容品行极端卑劣。语出《荀子•荣辱》：“乳彘不触虎，乳狗不远游，不忘其亲也。人也，下忘其身，内忘其亲，上忘其君，则是人也，而曾狗彘之不若也。”
狗走狐淫：
比喻卑劣淫乱
白衣苍狗：
唐杜甫《可叹》诗：“天上浮云如白衣，斯须改变如苍狗。”后以“白衣苍狗”比喻世事变化无常
嫁鸡随鸡，嫁狗随狗：
比喻女子出嫁后，不管丈夫如何，都要随从一辈子
苍狗白衣：
犹白衣苍狗。喻事物变幻无常
打鸡骂狗：
比喻旁敲侧击地漫骂，以发泄对某个人的不满
打落水狗：
比喻继续打击那些已经失败了的敌人，不使死灰复燃
貂不足，狗尾续：
①谓授官太滥。②指美中不足或以次充好
貂狗相属：
指真伪或优劣混杂在一起
斗鸡走狗：
鸡与鸡相搏斗，狗与狗相竞走。古代的赌博游戏
饭牛屠狗：
①喻指从事低贱之事。②指从事贱业者
飞鹰走狗：
放出鹰和狗去追捕鸟兽。指打猎
挂羊头卖狗肉：
比喻用好的名义做幌子，实际上名不符实或做坏事
狐鸣狗盗：
旧时对造反者的贬称
狐朋狗友：
犹狐群狗党
狐群狗党：
喻勾结在一起的坏人
画虎不成反类狗：
比喻好高鹜远，终无成就，反贻笑柄。亦喻仿效失真，反而弄得不伦不类
淮王鸡狗：
晋葛洪《神仙传•刘安》：“时人传八公、安临去时，馀药器置在中庭。鸡犬舐啄之，尽得升天。”后因以“淮王鸡狗”比喻攀附别人而得势的人
获兔烹狗：
犹言狡兔死，走狗烹。比喻事成后排斥以至杀害有功者
鸡肠狗肚：
比喻狭窄的度量，狠毒的心肠
鸡飞狗叫：
犹言鸡飞狗走
鸡飞狗走：
鸡吓得飞起来，狗吓得逃跑。形容惊慌失措，乱成一团
鸡零狗碎：
谓事物零零碎碎，不完整
鸡鸣狗盗：
鸡鸣狗吠：
狼嗥狗叫：
形容恶人狂呼乱叫
狼心狗肺：
比喻心肠狠毒、贪婪
狼心狗行：
比喻心肠狠毒贪婪，行为卑鄙无耻
傫如丧狗：
卖狗悬羊：
犹言挂羊头卖狗肉。意谓名不副实
泥猪疥狗：
比喻卑贱或粗鄙的人
牛黄狗宝：
牛黄，牛胆囊中的结石；狗宝，狗脏器中的凝结物。两者都是内脏病变的产物，因以喻坏透了的心肠
烹狗藏弓：
语出《史记•越王勾践世家》：“范蠡遂去，自齐遗大夫种（文种）书曰：‘蜚鸟尽，良弓藏，狡兔死，走狗烹。’”后以“烹狗藏弓”比喻事成之后把效劳出力的人抛弃以至杀害
人面狗心：
①《晋书•苻朗载记》：“朗曰：‘吏部为谁，非人面而狗心，狗面而人心兄弟者乎？’王忱丑而才慧，国宝美貌而才劣于弟，故朗云然。”后因以“人面狗心”比喻容貌美好而才学低下的人。②犹言人面兽心
丧家之狗：
《史记•孔子世家》：“孔子适郑，与弟子相失，孔子独立郭东门。郑人或谓子贡曰：‘东门有人，其颡似尧，其项类皋陶，其肩类子产，然自要以下不及禹三寸，累累若丧家之狗。’”后因以比喻失去依靠、无处投奔或惊慌失措的人
声色狗马：
歌舞、女色、玩狗、跑马。泛指旧时统治阶级的淫乐方式
鼠窜狗盗：
像鼠狗那样奔窜偷盗
鼠窃狗盗：
①比喻小偷小盗或小规模的抢掠骚扰。②指小股盗贼
鼠窃狗偷：
①同“鼠窃狗盗”。②指男女之间不正当的行为。③比喻鬼祟卑鄙。④指委琐低劣
偷鸡摸狗：
亦作“偷鸡盗狗”。①指偷窃。②指背着自己的配偶和他人搞男女关系
土龙刍狗：
土做的龙，草扎的狗。比喻名实不相副
兔死狗烹：
兔子死后，猎狗被烹食。多比喻统治者杀害功臣。语出《史记•越王勾践世家》：“范蠡遂去，自齐遗大夫种书曰：‘蜚鸟尽，良弓藏；狡兔死，走狗烹。越王为人长颈鸟喙，可与共患难，不可与共乐。子何不去？’”
蛙鸣狗吠：
青蛙与狗的鸣叫。比喻拙劣的诗文
行若狗彘：
行为像猪狗。谓不齿人类。语本《墨子•耕柱》：“子夏之徒问於子墨子曰：‘君子有斗乎？’子墨子曰：‘君子无斗。’子夏之徒曰：‘狗豨犹有斗，恶有士而无斗矣？’子墨子曰：‘伤矣哉！言则称於汤文，行则譬於狗豨，伤矣哉！’”
羊头狗肉：
喻表里不一，明一套暗一套
引狗入寨：
犹言引狼入室
蝇营狗苟：
①像苍蝇一样到处钻营，像狗一样苟且求活。比喻为追求名利，不顾廉耻，不择手段。②借指无耻之徒
跖狗吠尧：
意谓各为其主
指猪骂狗：
犹指桑骂槐
猪朋狗友：
比喻好吃懒做、不务正业的坏朋友
椎埋狗窃：
谓抢杀偷盗，不务正业
椎埋屠狗：
杀人宰狗。指为非作歹和从事低贱的职业
捉鸡骂狗：
犹指桑骂槐

歇后语：

够拿耗子——多管闲事
狗咬猪尿泡——空喜欢一场
狗赶鸭子–呱呱叫
狗咬吕洞宾——不识好人心
狗掀门帘——全凭一张嘴
叭拉狗蹲墙头：硬装坐地虎(比喻冒充豪绅)
叭拉狗掀门帘：全仗一张嘴
叭拉狗咬月亮：不知天多高(比喻不知道自己有多大本事，非常不自量力
裁缝打狗：有尺寸
苍蝇嘴巴狗鼻子：真灵
吃过屎的狗：嘴巴臭
吃了砒霜毒狗：先害自己
脆瓜打狗：零碎
打狗不赢咬鸡：怯大欺小
恶狗咬天：狂妄(汪)
恶狼和疯狗作伴：脾气相投
恶狼学狗叫：没怀好意
疯狗吃太阳：不晓得夭高地厚
疯狗的脾气：见人就咬
疯狗咬刺猥：无处下日
疯狗咬人：叼着不放
疯狗咬太阳：不晓得天高地厚(比喻不知事情的艰巨、严重)
疯狗咬月亮：狂妄
哈巴狗带串铃：充什么大牲口(比喻小人物装作大人物的样子)
哈巴狗上轿：不识抬举
黄狗当马骑：乱来
黄狗头上出角：尽出洋(羊)相
济公吃狗肉：不管清规戒律
见狗扔骨头：投其所好
江湖佬卖完狗皮育：该收场了
叫化子打狗：边打边走
街上的疯狗：乱咬人
街头的狗：谁有吃就跟谁走
看羊的狗：一个比一个凶
癞皮狗上轿：招摇撞骗
狼狗打架：两头害怕
老猫犯罪狗戴枷：无辜受累
老牛钻狗洞：难通过
猫儿捉老鼠狗看门：各守本分(比喻份内事，各人有各人的职责)
猫捉老鼠狗看门：本分事
猫钻狗洞：容易通过
皮娃娃砸狗：招你不当人
全銮殿上的狗尿吝：色不济，长在好地方
肉包子打狗：一去不回头
肉包子打狗：白扔东西(比喻徒然付出代价，没有效果)
肉包子打狗：春去无回
三伏天的狗：上气不按下气
司狗的：软的欺负硬的怕
堂屋里挂狗皮：那是什么话(画)
偷嘴的狗：见人就逃(比喻做了丑事，见不得人)
瞎狗逮兔子：碰到嘴上
瞎了眼的癞皮狗：碰着啥咬啥
要饭的打狗：穷横
野地里遇疯狗：难近身
幼狗不吃屎：没事找事
喻巴狗舔脚跟：亲的不是地方(比喻场合不对)
属疯狗的：见人就咬
属狗的：老爱咬人
属狗的：直肠子

However, for people who keep dogs as their loving and loved companions, the animals are their best friends, loyal, entertaining, and understanding. They are everything that a despicable man or an aspirant of no use is not.

Then, references to dogs in both English and Chinese languages serve as the best example of humans’ mixed feelings towards things.

CCTV is torn between two roles: it wants to be a Party and Government mouthpiece while wanting to be viewed as an unbiased and trusted source of information.

And the CFA-run soccer industry has produced a Chinese national men football team that has never scored a single win against their South Korean counterpart in formal matches for more than two decades since the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games. This should be impossible considering the probability law. However, it’s a hard fact and it can only mean the Chinese team is really, truly, and wholly incompetent. No excuses or pretexts allowed.

After having linked to the post in his blog, justrecently read my May 3, 2008 post about whether Chinese fenqings can think for themselves and followed it with a post that focuses on freedom of speech in China.

He said that it’s okay for Chinese people to exercise their freedom of speech to foreign countries and foreign people. But doing so inside China is dangerous and carries imprisonment as Hu Jia has suffered.

It’s true, but it is only half-true.

Because people around me and everyone I know personally haven’t shown any signs that they oppose the Chinese government’s policies on Tibet and the Beijing Olympic Games, I had to google for a long time to find those people who have been put in prison because of their verbal opposition to the policies. Though I haven’t found anyone who have suffered the ordeals Hu Jia has, I did find a guy who is verbally against the hosting of the Games on economic grounds and thinks that the economic resources should be saved for primary education in poor Chinese areas and another who thinks China should abolish all preferential policies towards minorities and put every Chinese citizen on an equal footing. Whether these two people are now behind the bars, I have no way to know.

However, I did find others who were jailed just because what they said ruffled the feathers of local Party bosses or their employers.

“Freedom of speech” is a citizen right enshrined in the Chinese Constitution, though China is far from being a country governed by its Constitution – the biggest violator of the Constitution is the Chinese governments and the Party.

Article 35. Freedom of speech, press, assembly

Citizens of the People’s Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration. (Source)

But, this doesn’t mean China is still like what it was more than three decades ago, when a single disrespectful murmur against the Party and the Government resulted in the loss of freedom with or without a verdict of “anti-Revolution”.

Freedom of speech is being exercised in China, though to a limited extent. This explains why the reports about the jailed people are run by private websites and even websites whose URLs end with gov.cn. In those reports, their writers did not mince their words to save the faces of the governments. This means that freedom of speech is a citizen right recognized by the public opinions, the Party and the Government.

Then, why those prisoners?

China is now in a changing process that has at least lasted three decades and will continue. Its economy has become capitalistic and its society’s values and interests are diversified like any Western country. And, the Chinese people is not one with only one voice.

But, though its economy has long become capitalistically democratic, its Government hasn’t changed that much and continues its monopoly on the State’s political power. It only wants to share this power with trusted people outside of the Government, not those (e.g. Hu Jia) who want to replace the Government leadership with a non-Party-led one. Exercising the freedom of speech in areas other than challenges to the Government’s grip on political power is encouraging. That’s why China has been a largely successful economy and society.

Most Chinese people don’t want drastic government leadership change. They think they need a strong Central Government empowered to govern its 1.3bn people who live in a vast country literally divided into population groups, classes and regions sharply different from each other in terms of social and economic development stages.

Even under its One-Party rule, China’s local provinces are more than willing to fight the Central Government’s policies and rules for their provincial interests. China would be doomed, if its government was organized in the Western way, which is only good for well-developed countries with a strong middle class living in an economically balanced society. A strong middle class means stability in a country because it doesn’t want revolutions or upheavals. China doesn’t have that blessing.

China does not need yet another Revolution to start all over again. It needs a non-disruptive path leading to democracy based on an economically, socially, and politically sound society. This is exactly what China has been trying to build since 1949. China doesn’t like the kind of democracy in Thailand where coups are routine in changes of government leadership.

This process is an interactive, changing one. China should be viewed as and  actually is a country in change for the better.

You will be hopelessly wrong, if you think China is a fundamentalistic “Communist” country as how you may look at it through Cold-War glasses. It’s a capitalistic one with strong government control. That is about it.

Even idiots could see Tiger Zhou (周老虎)‘s photos didn’t look right. But experts and witnesses bet their heads that the photos showed a  real South China tiger.

The fuss started on October 12, 2007  when Shaanxi’s forestry bureau published digital and film photos of what it believed was a South China tiger taken by hunter Zhou Zhenglong ("Tiger Zhou"). The cyberworld, South China tiger experts and China Academy of Sciences (CAS) experts were quick to identify something wrong with the photos.

Zhou now says everything was false. But you can be sure some heads will get rolling because they were bet.

Things like big-footed modern-day barbarians and this time "lost Amazon tribe" are around in media reports. I don’t believe they are true or completely true even though they might appear in "mainstream" media outlets or are re-run in other equally "authoritative" ones.

We have to develop a sense of humor and have our own judgment when being inundated by  information. I had no proof they were just cooked up. But, the picture didn’t look to me more real than Hollywood movies. Also, I don’t believe there are any areas where non-barbarian humans cannot reach on Earth, especially where there are trees in the Amazon and where there are more than 90-percent-naked tribesmen.

Here is what we now know about the photo now - it’s a hoax and it’s half-truth. The tribe has been known from 1910.

The scenes and stories of the rescuers, survivors, the bereaved, and victims now broadcast almost 24 hours a day on TV are encouraging, heartening, and heartrending.

A rescuer pulled tens of kids out of danger before he finally reached his daughter and found her dead already, who was one of those kids trapped and had called out to him for help. He didn’t try to save her first because if he did he had to stride over other kids before reaching her.

A young mother was found dead with her nipple sucked by her young baby. She formed a protective body posture to keep her baby safe.

A teacher who has lost her loved ones takes care of her students.

A woman wiped clean her husband’s hand, who died for the lives of four of his students.

Two elite police officers as advance team members tasked with finding a path leading to the epicenter were killed by falling rocks. (Later reports showed that this was not what happened. All the officers are sound and safe.)

…

My nerves are not strong enough to endure such scenes and stories without feeling completely shaken or being reduced to tears.

I can only pray for the survival of the people who suffer in the quake-hit areas and for the safety and health of the people who risk their own lives to save others.

God bless China.