This was supposed to be China's time to shine.

This was supposed to be China's chance to show the world what it was really like.

Instead, they've ended up looking like tomato scrambled eggs.

The response to the unveiling of the Chinese Olympic team's official uniform came fast and furious this week with commentators from across the country decrying the bold red and yellow outfits as resembling the well-known Chinese dish fanqie chaodan. And that was being polite.

Other critics compared the duds to Ronald McDonald on steroids, Korean peasants and, most crudely, female menstruation. Mostly, people just lamented the "national embarrassment" and "loss of people's respect" caused by the a-fashionable attire. One even vowed never eat tomato scrambled eggs ever again.

And while the designer of the uniform, Liu Ruiqi, stood by his creation, promising that "when the Chinese delegation comes out, they will certainly catch the eyes of the audience," it seems most would prefer no one to notice them at all.

In somewhat related news: Beijing taxi drivers will also be getting a wardrobe update this August. Instead of those boring old company uniforms, every shifu is getting a fancy new yellow and blue city-mandated outfit! Hurray! The new uniforms will include a corny yellow collared shirt, a striped tie, dark blue elastic pants and even a pair of leather shoes -- free of charge.

While city officials seem to think this will add a touch of class to their street fleet, the drivers themselves see the change as a bit ridiculous. Honestly, we'd have to concur.