WHAT NOT TO WEAR IN BEIJING

by Jarrett Carter, Stet Sports Blog

The Chinese government has issued an official etiquette book to 4 million households in Beijing in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics. This handy, dandy booklet instructs residents on all of those nuances that can give a country a bad name when the eyes of the world are upon it.

You know, things like wearing white socks with black shoes.

There should be no more than three color groups in your clothing, the book published by Zheng's committee advises, and wearing pajamas and slippers to visit neighbors, as some elderly Beijing residents like to do, is also out. It recommends dark-colored socks, and says white socks should never be worn with black leather shoes.

And you thought the Olympic athletes would have it bad.

They can't spit in public, shake hands for more than three seconds, and are urged to stand with their feet at a 90 degree angle when speaking in public. As if the polution and stifling of political expression were bad enough, now the world will have to deal with Beijing residents' parading around like iRobot.

Go World.