Speaking of which, I must go to the gym today. I must get over my anxiety about no PT compounded by the anxiety about not having gone yet and just go.

sj, can you just do 15 minutes? It's easy to get overwhelmed, but promise yourself you can leave after 15 minutes (maybe you will, maybe you won't) and see if that helps.

sj, can you just do 15 minutes? It's easy to get overwhelmed, but promise yourself you can leave after 15 minutes (maybe you will, maybe you won't) and see if that helps.

Once I get there, I know I'll be fine, but it is the getting there that is the problem. I'm trying to work out a bribe of something I can do after that won't cost me any money.

How about a round of cheers from Buffistas as a reward? Free and kinda satisfying. I totally understand about the just getting there thing. I hope the knowing you will feel better helps you get on the way.

So, is Wallybee's family likely to disown the asshat?

I don't think so. They're not that way inclined. Plus, only son. I have, however, learned a little more about the situation, and he has enough potential trouble as it stands.

First, a correction: apparently it was his father that suffered a coronary, not his mother. Now. His wife's family are understandably outraged. They've tried to assuage the pain by making frankly outrageous demands, not against him, but his parents. To wit: to make up for this shameful treatment, his parents should give their daughter a million yuan. And a new apartment to boot. (The parents, of course, do not actually have a million yuan lying around, let alone a spare apartment; and you can just bet they loved having that conversation.)

His wife may have some recourse though, against the mistress. In such circumstances, Chinese law allows the wife to sue the mistress for any money her husband has given over. That's not the worst trouble she could create, though. Get this: under Chinese law, since Wallybee's cousin got this woman knocked up, they could be deemed to be de facto married. And he could then be brought up on criminal charges of bigamy, maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment.

This guy (and his mistress) have royally frakked up their own affairs (sic), not to mention what it's done to his wife and parents. And let's not forget the child on the way. However, I'm still gobsmacked at the prospect that he could serve jail time for it. Who does that benefit? It's his own damn fault, but still.

billytea, the whole situation sounds seriously messed up. Best of luck to everyone involved. Especially the innocent baby to be.

Ok, I'm dressed in my workout clothes, including my new PoTC t-shirt and headed out the door!

Madness, bt.

How about a round of cheers from Buffistas as a reward?

Flaming angels!!!* And believe me, sj, I am right there with you. I bought a Living Social coupon for 20 yoga sessions a month or two ago, and haven't used any of them yet. And I know it would help with my joint pain, which is pretty out of control right now. Hmm, how often are you wanting to go to the gym? Maybe we could encourage/be accountable to each other?

* Oh right, that was Natter.

eta and she's off! Go sj, you can do it!

damn, billytea. I wonder if anyone has been prosecuted under that law recently. Is it like the FL law against cohabitation where no one has been brought up on charges recently?

damn, billytea. I wonder if anyone has been prosecuted under that law recently. Is it like the FL law against cohabitation where no one has been brought up on charges recently?

No, there have been charges under these laws. They've also been brought against married people who've shacked up with someone else - also defined as bigamy. This arrangement is becoming more common. However, Wallybee's cousin isn't quite square in the sights of the justice system. As I understand it, the reason for this kind of crackdown is twofold. First, there is concern about the rapidly changing social mores of Chinese culture (as the country becomes more prosperous); but the other driver is indicated by this quote from an official:

"We should not fail to see that there are some people who, when they become rich and powerful, become subjected to the obsolete and decadent ways of thinking of the feudalist society in the past. They have also become subjected to the invasion of the decadent way of thinking and living of the Western world, for example there are some problems such as a second wife or a third wife or a concubine."

China experiences tens of thousands of incidents of civil unrest each year. One thing that gets the Chinese people going is perceived injustice. That covers a wide array of problems, including rapidly rising income inequality, high-handed behaviour by the newly wealthy and/or well-connected - and above all, corruption. The Communist Party can hardly wage a credible war against corruption. Instead, it goes after the occasional sacrificial official or businessperson and proclaims them to be an isolated case of a decadent individual.

To make a good scapegoat, the person has to embody China's rising social injustices, which means they need to be seen to have enriched themselves under the new order. Then, the government gets to moralise against them and the average citizen can join in being appalled at their profligate, entitled lifestyle.

In a nutshell, Wallybee's cousin isn't rich enough to make a good scapegoat. (He isn't rich at all.) I think it's unlikely the courts will go after him without some other impetus. ...His wife's family, on the other hand, is well off. If they want to pursue the matter, then he could be in trouble.

DRAMA.

bt, under Chinese law, can the parents of the wife sue the poor parents of the son? That would be the worst outcome, IMHO, to cause more trouble than shame for his innocent parents. Speaking of innocent, what's likely to become of the baby?

bt, under Chinese law, can the parents of the wife sue the poor parents of the son? That would be the worst outcome, IMHO, to cause more trouble than shame for his innocent parents. Speaking of innocent, what's likely to become of the baby?

I don't know. I suspect a suit against the parents would be somewhat tenuous, as they had no idea their son was pulling any of this until last month. I don't know what will happen with the baby. It's entirely conceivable that WB's aunt and uncle will have to take care of it.