60th Anniversary Celebration and Parade - watch live online now . . .

[gato]

I can't make out what the soldiers are yelling back in response to Hu's 同志们好！ and 同志们辛苦了！

Something XXX好！ Maybe 胡主席好？ Doesn't sound like it.

[roddy]

Imron, or anyone else, this might work.

I've got no idea what they're saying. And I'm disappointed we're not getting details on what all this hardware is. Where are we now? I think this is just north of the train station - should be Jianguomen soon?

[Guest realmayo]

I bet Jiang is thinking he'd do a much better job than Hu. I think he's right, Jiang would be waving, smiling, clapping furiously. still, can't be easy for Hu, having to steer that thing while standing up.

oh! just got a wave!

[gato]

The soldiers were saying 首长好！ apparently.

http://bbs.tiexue.net/post_2096915_1.html

同志们好，首长好。同志们辛苦了，

[gato]

There seems to be a rule of no smiling for the politicians. Grimacing is ok.

[roddy]

I assume all these shots of random people and buildings are while Hu floors it and heads back . . .

Love the way he just steps back into line as if he'd popped out for a cigarette. Oh no, a speech. Shoes at the ready!

[gato]

The text of Hu's speech is in danger of being blown away by the wind. That'd be a classic. I wonder if he has it memorized.

[889]

I thought I heard him saying 同志们幸福了! "Tongzhimen xingfule!"

[Guest realmayo]

I'm surprised there weren't a couple of those tele-prompter screens that most country's leaders seem to use. I can't think about any reason Chinese characters would be more difficult to see on those things.

[roddy]

I don't think they're so fussed about appearing to be spontaneous or engaged with the audience though. A Chinese speech is something you write down on paper and then read out. Anything else would be suspicious.

Hu and Jiang having a nice little chat there . . .

"Do you like my army?"

"I think you'll find it's mine."

[Guest realmayo]

Good point. Hey, who are the girls in red?

[roddy]

I can't believe they're doing this . . .

Trying to identify the girls in red. Love the way they put all the women soldiers in short skirts and boots.

[Madot]

Where I am at the Henan Institute of Education, they haven't paid for a subscription to CCTV9. Usually I can watch it live on my computer, but this morning the audio on the site kept dropping out and now the site appears to be completely down. I am reduced to watching ordinary TV-- quite a spectacle, even if my Chinese isn't up to the commentary... Is there any alternative way to reach the CCTV site other than: english/cctv.com/live ?

Mado

[889]

I've never understood the logic of demonstrating military might by demonstrating that your troops could replace the Rockettes.

[Guest realmayo]

Is this what the women do?

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/05lQa2fdgRea9/340x.jpg

[roddy]

The girls in red were the 女民兵 - whoever they are . . .

Madot - in honesty the commentary isn't all that interesting . . .

[Madot]

Okay, thanks Roddy. I'll content myself with the spectacle. ...and the comments here on the Forum! :-)

Mado

[Guest realmayo]

re Hu's suit, perhaps this is tradition: the first photo here shows the leaders during the 1999 parade.

http://bbs.tiexue.net/post_3719060_1.html

[roddy]

Is there a reason for the pixellated camouflage?

Oh, unmanned drones.

[889]

Deng in 1984 -- even the car looks the same, not to mention the smile:

http://english.eastday.com/picshow/show8/1984NationalDay/index.html