Absurdity, Allegory and China

Whether or not it is official I cannot say, but it appears as if Tianjin has gone to Plan B. I just received word that the odd-even vehicular restrictions will go into effect tomorrow, Wednesday, August 6, effective through August 15th. From 12:00 to 22:00 inside the outer ring road – though not including the outer ring road – the use of private and company cars will be limited by the final digit in their license numbers: odd numbers get to drive on the odd days, and evens get the evens.

The first women’s preliminary football matches will be held tomorrow evening, a double-header kicking off at 9 PM, Argentina vs. Canada, followed by China and Sweden, which is scheduled to finish at 1:30 AM on the 7th. The final match in Tianjin will be on the evening of August 15th, a women’s quarterfinal match.

Though the car limitations don’t begin each day until noon - theoretically allowing for a full morning rush hour, while restricting the evening one – car owners who work the day shift will be able to drive to work on any day, though able to drive their cars home only half of those days, unless, of course, they hang out at the job and wait for the clock to strike ten.