As part of The Chronicle's coverage of the Warriors' trip to China, beat writer Connor Letourneau is posting regular first-person accounts of what he observes. SHANGHAI — The U.S. is built on a bigger-is-better mantra. Until it was removed from menus in 2004, the supersized option at McDonald's played into Americans' gluttonous tendencies. The real estate market thrives on their need to have the bigger, better house. If people weren't so intent on having the hugest, most garish car, the Hummer would still only be used in the Army. Growing up stateside, I have long considered myself an unofficial expert in big.