US
Violence in America
So I’m gonna post this video I found on Reddit. It’s being used by a few different types of people, each for their own end. My end … I am not actually that sure what to write, because I am neither black nor a police officer, so I feel as if I am supposed to […]
Winter
Even this season will go by too quickly. Have we gone sledding enough? Why haven’t we hit up the frozen lakes with our skates yet? Will the crows come back and roost in our trees, silent and communing, or was my chance at seeing them, taking their picture, imbibing them that one night when the […]
The Boys and Minnesota
The reason we moved back to the US is beginning to unfold, as spring takes hold, and the boys behold the burgeoning beauty of a land accustomed to a deep freeze, speckled with bodies of water long fat skinny round and winding. lakes and trees and sunshine. Minnesota when the sun comes out is a […]
this space shall change
I have been working on a re-design for this site for some time, so that is why the site looked very strange for a few months. I am back to the old format for now, just so the space can be worked again, I can write here again, people who come and visit don’t leave […]
Book Review: Hawkins, Sagan, Zinn and Thompson
I have been tearing through books recently, due to my snazzy iPad Mini. I did a review a couple weeks ago, and I like that type of post, so here goes another one, this time 4 (5?) books and not three. I will review the first three here, and then do the last two – […]
Book Reviews: Hitler, Stalin, Assange and Wall Street
I tend to read at random, just grabbing whatever is lying around and swallowing it whole, believing sincerely in the Tao of Reading: the Way will lead the books I should be reading to within arms reach. In keeping with this belief – which came first the belief or the book? – I have had […]
An Excellent Argument for Re-election
“Obama succeeded George W. Bush, a two-term President whose misbegotten legacy, measured in the money it squandered and the misery it inflicted, has become only more evident with time. Bush left behind an America in dire condition and with a degraded reputation. On Inauguration Day, the United States was in a downward financial spiral brought […]
Sovereignty
Recently we’ve been treated to a few events that have brought out the reactions of Chinese netizens across the spectrum of opinion, from the reform-minded to the nationalistic, and what we have read in the state-owned media and in the comments on Sina Weibo helps to shed a bit of light on Chinese society. Chinese […]
Speaking of rumors …
The Bo Xilai Incident will not die a quiet death. The plodding censors in the Chinese government are stirring up the rumor pot, and no one is sure if that is the goal or just a byproduct of incompetence and the absurdity of Web censorship in general. According to a recent CNN article, “Heavy hand […]
China-US Cold War and what we can do about it
Can it be denied that the US is actively engaging China’s border nations in an attempt to contain and control China? It seems pretty clear to most observers that such was the case years ago – Kissinger commented on the idea of containment back in 2005 – but with the recent moves in Myanmar and […]
Blinded by the Web
I’m going to switch gears and talk about my own country for a second here. Hitting out at China is actually too easy. There are a bunch of problems in the country and, for the most part, the propaganda and methods of the state are so crude that ridiculing them is like shooting the proverbial […]
The Beijing Consensus
Let’s take a look at the countries that refused to attend the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony: Afghanistan, Algeria, Cuba, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Venezuela, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, Sri Lanka and the Palestinian Authority A collection of enlightened governments, no doubt about it. Standouts include Afghanistan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The […]
The Assassination of Julian Assange
I want a show of hands: How many people have kept doing it after the condom broke? How many people out there believe that Julian Assange raped or otherwise sexually assaulted the two women in Sweden who came forward to accuse him? The mainstream media (The Guardian, Der Spiegel and especially the New York Times) […]
Dreamin bout Portland
I remember Portland sometimes and kick myself in the balls for not experiencing more of that town. But hey, grass is always greener right? I wrote a lil something about the grass and a certain seductive harlot named Hammock once and I stumbled across it again. Its a pretty cool lil memory for me, nikki’s […]
Can’t Truss It ..
No No No No! I try not to get sucked into these discussions anymore, but part of my daily routine is to open sites like Atimes.com and Antiwar.com and others and when I read certain passages I just can’t help my emotional response. Last week, during the peak of the Sino-Japanese pissing contest over rocks […]
WOW FTW: Gamers Can Save the World
This has popped up three times in the past 5 days, so I have to drop it. I watched this speech here by Jane McGonigal about a week ago, in which she describes Gamers — specifically those that play MMPORGs like WOW (Massive Multi Player Role Playing Games like World of Warcraft) — as super […]
They’re catching on …
In this NYT story, the benfit of mushrooms is being researched by scientists and medical practitioners, one of which called it, “existential medicine.”
“Don’t be Evil” — Tell that to Wall Street
After Google announced that it might leave China, Wall Street and other stock exchanges around the world reacted in typical fashion, by buying Baidu stock and selling Google stock. Baidu’s stock jumped by at least 12%, while Google’s slid by about 1%. For the money-men — the same people, let us not forget, who caused […]
China reacts to Avatar the Movie
Avatar the movie opened up in China on January 4th, 2010. Lines stretched for blocks outside of most every theater in the nation for the next week as waves of Chinese went to see the next stage in movie evolution, 3D fantasy on a Hollywood scale. I went on the 6th and from the first […]
No surprises anymore
Almost a year ago today, I posted a link to China’s Charter 08 and mused about a possible “transition” led by China to a more ethical and just governance … Well the architect of the Charter is in jail and was sentenced recently, according to BBC reports, but that is just a small indication of […]
The American Dream and the Written Word
So I am reading Daniel Boorstin, The Seekers, which is the third in a series that begins with The Creators and continues with The Discoverers. Boorstin is one of my favorite historians. So in Seekers, Boorstin explores the philosophers and “idea-men” that helped to establish the foundations for Western political and social systems. What I […]
Obama in Africa
A lil sumpin sumpin here from another blog i post on: Obama’s sayz: Get your poo together!
Xinjiang protests continue
Here is the BBC on the protests … there is some decent video here showing a large group of Han thugs headed to the Uigher part of town for revenge and also a crowd of Uigher women demanding to know where their men were taken. The NYT has a repeat of yesterday’s story with a […]
Shanghai
I miss the quiet of my dungeon and the wind through Oregon’s trees. Its sunny here and i am about to be in the Du with all my friends again and its gonna be hard to leave. I am trying to stay for one month but i can feel the pull of oblivion on the […]
Tell it like it is
Losar is underway and the NYT and Atimes marked the Tibetan New Year with stories about the seething people of Tibet, pinned down by the boot of Communist China. Kent Ewing in the Atimes wants to know when the policy will change. He hits on the real deal in Tibet briefly, way down in his […]
Big Business in the Prison System
Hey Ya’ll here is a story I wrote for Matador.com about the privatization of the prison system in the US. It is filled with links to sites doing work on this topic, i urge you to follow the trail wherever it leads, there will be some shocking revelations for you I guarantee …. things are […]
Universal Health Care?
So my wounded brother is home in Minneapolis now and my living room has never smelled better. Love the kid, but when he spends a week on your coach, you will understand the mixture of sadness and relief I feel. He is now dealing with insurance issues and paying for his substantial medical bills. It […]
God Bless America
finally. we have a leader we can be proud of and a country we can believe in. It is now time to get up in the morning and begin executing the plans and promises that we have been hearing over the past two years. John McCain’s speech in defeat is a fine one and it […]
Asia-Europe Meeting
A while back I was sitting in my friend Zhuang Jian’s villa outside of Chengdu, drinking some rare pu’er, smoking herb and chatting with a collection of people there. Zhuang always had artists, musicians and vagabonds over because his house was our dream: plum, peach and cherry blossoms, tea and incense, old bamboo and potted […]
China vs. Portland
In Portland, cars will stop on a busy street and let pedestrians cross. Even with a whole line of cars behind them. The pedestrian then turns to the car, nods or waves, receives a nod in return and life goes on. This is not law. It is just how people do here in Portland. When […]
Ma Shan acts like a Child!
I heard this a lot when i was in China (and sometimes here as well) and i always wanted to put across my response: Thank You! Over there in China, children and women should never be listened to, according to an old saying attributed to some white-bearded sage. For China to become what it wants […]
Opportunities
I trust myself now more than ever. I thought to myself the death of Wall Street could only be a boon for me and mine. I had a feeling there was an air of excitement building up … i felt guilty saying it, but i did anyway. peep this video, an Addendum to the Zeitgeist […]
What Germans are saying
My homie Himmler from the 19th Step sent me this long article in Der Spiegel. Its in English. Most people i know will be nodding along with this article, hollerin out like YEAH and YOUKNOWWHATIMSAYIN or whatever you yell out when you catch someone’s vibe. Of particular interest is Part 3, where Spiegel goes into […]
Live and Let Die?
Imagine you are at a Texas Hold-Em table and a very rich banker steps up with a collection of cash from all corners of his derivative-laced empire. He bets hard on a 6-3 unsuited (bad bad hand) and loses it ALL. And then, because his losses would mean he can’t play anymore, he asks everyone […]
If you’re going to San Francisco
Get yourself a Mission Burrito. Have an Izze soda — my favorite is Sparkling Blueberry. Head to ChaChaCha and drink some Sangria. Put on a gimp suit and head to Castro or Folsom … check out the piers and strippers down on Broadway. Get a tattoo at Goldfields: I did. It says Equality in French. […]
Back in the US of A
The first thing i noticed was the sun. i got off the plane, gathered my stuff and waited for Sammy B to roll through and pick me up, its was 6pm. The sun in San Francisco was so bright and so strong i had to hide behind a pillar at first. On the drive back […]
Old News and Forgiving Old Friends
Although we may already know that Bush’s policies on pretty much everything have been resounding failures, this in depth analysis of the incompetence and duplicity of the Bush Administration is a good place to look if you want to get angry. Remember: McCain will be the same type of leader, haplessly sure of himself in […]
Obama’s Acceptance Speech in Denver
“… this election has never been about me. Its about you.” Read it and tell me Who’s the Man.
Day 15 – Ending with a Bang
Today was quite a day. I watched Cuba whup up on the US in the baseball semifinal and then headed to a spa to wash my stankin sweaty body and watch the US whup up on Argentina in basketball. On the way to the baseball game, i shouted out GO USA! and told jokes in […]
Day ?? – Big Day for team finals
The last two days have been pretty fun, but i have not been able to watch anything. The women’s beach volleyball, men’s volleyball, water polo, softball, the track and field .. i get it offa blogs or Chinese TV. My ticket magic has run out. I have tix to the US-Cuba baseball semifinal tomorrow, but […]
Patriotism and Nationalism
I know China is being held up as the petri dish for this discussion, but i urge all peeps to check their surroundings and see where the petri dish really is. patriotism is the love of the land, the people, the culture, the history nationalism is the love for an illusion provided by the State.
Friedmann has found his issue
He is just hammering away, hammering away at the alternative, renewable energy grid that would bring the US out of its doldrums. No mercy. I remember being annoyed with good ol TF for some of his views on globalization and war in the middle east, but he’s got this one nailed. his issue is important […]
Aint Nothing Changed
Things is hectic in this piece … for real. after the K’ming bombings the government made a few changes to security that are putting a crimp in everyone’s style. In the Metro lines the only security they have are cadres of fussy old women — the same people who yell at bicycles that cross the […]
Clean Energy
Friedmann has been hammering away at this issue for the past few weeks. I think the nation is ready for a Kennedy-style mission to develop clean energy. talk about killing a flock of crows with one stone: A US developed clean energy alternative to oil would revamp the economy, create jobs, remove the need to […]
propagandja
My man Mike the B. and some info on the Freddie Mac thing, which i said was sinister a few days ago …
Impeach Bush
This was posted as a comment, I am re-posting it so everyone can take a look.
We have seen this before, and its always sinister
In today’s NYT, the “demise” of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae is treated with the soft gloves of supposed objectivity. The article begins by saying that the tumultuous tumble in stock value of the two mortgage giants is inexplicable and at the same time potentially devastating for the US economy and, above all, taxpayers.“There is […]
It can’t happen here, can it?
Engdahl drops some more knowledge … check out his site i have it listed under digable (to the right and down)
Laughs
(snicker snicker) (cackle cackle)
Surprise! Beijing is a polluted city!
Sigh. The truth the world has refused to confront always comes out in the end, be it war for oil, Bush is a fool, we need alternative energy or China is polluted … it funny how long it takes before people admit the truth to themselves. I think it takes at least three large stories […]
America the Ridiculous, America the Glorious
Today is Independence Day, and I suppose it is a good a chance as any to re-hash all of the things that i feel and believe about America. I am so eager to head back to the States. I miss so much about the place. But the things I miss are absent from the public […]
perhaps … perhaps …
This here is an interesting article on Obama, if only for the defense of his rejection of public financing. Dowd here says that going after the money is what Kerry failed to do and will keep Obama from being a “chump” like Democrats in years past. I am getting more skeptical, but you never know. […]
2008 Olympics: For Chinese only!
The visa situation in China is getting more and more frustrating for foreigners trying to do anything here. How to extend or wiggle one’s way into a longer stay burrows itself into every conversation at least once or twice these days. If you have a Z-Working visa and want to extend it, you must leave […]
Read This
My MAN Rindy dropped it on this piece right here. I urge everybody to read it and pass it around. Send it to Obama’s braintrust. He is already beginning to betray us, everybody: Isreal vs. Iran, public financing, ethanol … not complete sell out yet, but its early yet. Obama needs to know that we […]
Wandering Blind
I can’t read my blog right now, but that might end. It has been a common occurrence since I started this thing. Sometimes my proxy works, sometime it dont. So here is a bit of an update on the “they tearin down my house” saga: My neighbors and I had a powwow today and learned […]
Mainstream
For the past week I have been a scab for USAToday. I haven’t actually written anything for them, but just in case the Tangjiashan quake lake bursts, then I should be there to write something up about the ghost towns of Beichuan, Mianyang and Mianzhu and all of the people whose houses and fields have […]
I’ve changed my mind
Well. It seems as if Hillary has finally decided to do the right thing and get behind the one candidate 100%. Of course its late and she managed to weaken Obama and strengthen her own hand in the process, but I suppose that is a politician’s job. She has put herself in the best position […]
War is Pure Sin
this here is one of the best articles about war i have seen in recent times, written by a contemporary … I imagine the book to be amazing.
I peer down from the depths of crackerdom
Obama is finally the nominee. In this story here, i think the reasons why are clearly stated. He’s one of us. Unfortunately, “us” might not be the majority of the US. What we learned in the primary is that Hillary will do anything for political power, making her — in my eyes — exactly what […]
what does it take
Today i rolled through Dujiangyan and took a look at the field hospital set up by the German and Sichuan Red Cross. The field hospital is there to take over from the seven local hospitals that are no closed due to damage from the quake. They take on all of the patients that are not […]
False Alarms and Party Poopers
Yesterday Chengdu went crazy as every man, woman and child rushed to the streets to throw up tents (again) or jump in cars to head out of the city. Radio, CCTV, SMS and other media screamed out, “run fo’ ya LIVES!” and we all responded. Once again I had a large crew of people at […]
Around Qing Cheng …
Yesterday i climbed as far as it is possible to climb right and Qing Cheng mtn is def. devastated near the top. Past the Tai An Old town basically every building lies in ruins. There are a few valleys which will take months to clear. Boulders and huge chunks of mountain clog the roads at […]
Tell that b*tch to chill!
Its time to concede Hillary. I like to believe that the universe works according to my whim. My decision to stay here in China until after the Olympics and then boogie to Portland in September seems to be in line with all that is transpiring in the world. In September, I will see if it […]
The Word
I have tried to emphasize the need for us to turn back to home and see what we can do there instead of sticking our under-educated noses into everyone else’s business. This column here by Thomas Friedman lays down what we already feel.
in case you aint heard II
After spending some quality time with large numbers of the youth of this nation last weekend, I have a few thoughts i must convey: if China is looking to be a superpower, to whom would they look for examples of what to do? Both US and Chinese education systems indoctrinate the youth. In america we […]
Kun Shan
The western media feels guilty for spearing the Chinese. At least some of them do. After jumping all over the Tibet story from the Tibetan perspective — lambasting Chinese state media along the way — reporters are starting to look for Han Chinese living and working in Lhasa to tell the story from their perspective. […]
the young tibetan diaspora
like i be sayin:you can’t stop the youth
faded
I am just a few short miles from Aba, where the Tibetans burned down a police station last week. Since that incident it has been mostly quiet. This is a big tourist area and the troubles do not seem to have affected business much. Busloads of Cantonese rumble through daily, honking, yapping and taking funny […]
Aint nothin special bout me
i walked back to my house tonight around 2am and i live near the Tibetan district of town. there were police cars on every block with running motors and flashing lights. the entire neighborhood is surrounded and infiltrated. the only things moving were the cops fingers typing out a lazy message to his girl and […]
orange seeds in the ashtray
Yet another of the three peeps peepin this blog, who refuses to answer me in this blog. Of course, copy and paste is my faithful slave. “re: your words: “i was talking with some homies yesterday about what the most fantastic future imaginable would be. I said it would be the actual fruition of a […]
you’ve lost your smile
well it seems the media blockade is working or I just have not been keeping my ears open. Here a response to my last blog from Big Daddy Villar: “I’m in a bit of a rush and really only had time to look at about two paragraphs of your blog. But from what I’ve read […]
the spikeman mule
so yo Obama hit back with a speech that was exactly what I had been thinking and arguing in a few forums and blogs. The NYT seems to be helping out as much as possible. we shall see. i was talking with some homies yesterday about what the most fantastic future imaginable would be. I […]
China censors
It might be hard for an American to imagine what life would be like under a dictatorship of the proletariat. What happens, among many other things, is that news is completely censored as are your modes of communication. My gmail account is spotty and has been for weeks. But since the protests I can barely […]
Qiangba Puncog must hang
The day after the deadline and people here in China are talking about the protests, both my Laowai homies and my Chinese homies. It is safe to say that foreigners and Chinese disagree 100% on the Tibet issue. An article in the NYT today talks about the long simmering hatred that has finally boiled over. […]