Green Daily

US diplomats are bringing air quality testing equipment to China so they can make their own measurements of pollution causing elements. More importantly, this will also allow them to make their own interpretations of the data.

Despite official word that the air is just fine, other sources like Australian paper The Advertiser reported that Beijing pollution had soared to "levels equivalent to a bush fire" near the track-and-field and swimming venues.

While the Chinese have their own sophisticated instruments for measuring, they also have a different air-quality index. Where we peg 100 at 40 micrograms of mass per cubic meter of air, they put 100 at 150.

It's like Spinal Tap, with 11 being 1 louder. The Chinese just make 100 more than three times as full of crap as anyone else. Oh, these funny cultural misunderstandings!

Air quality will be a big issue during the Olympics, especially if athletes are troubled by respiratory problems. Some athletes were planning to wear face masks, just to be safe. I'd call it "just to be smart." You can wash your hands and clothes, but only time can get your lungs clean again.