Tag Archives: China

Safe in the Police State

Columbine. Virginia Tech. Aurora. When are we going to learn? Reading about the recent tragedy in Colorado last week, the story of a man gone mad and a defenseless crowd of theater-goers forced to play witness to their own horror … Continue reading

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Hainan for the Holiday

Migratory birds seem to have it all figured out: in the winter it gets cold, so they pack up and fly south to warmer climates. Unlike my feathered friends, when the cold sets in, my winter jacket comes out and … Continue reading

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Living Behind the Great Firewall

The photo is a typical screen I get when trying to access Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or any Western social media website in China It seems cheap sneakers, iPads and iPhones, and a Christmas wish list of consumer goods won’t be … Continue reading

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When Good People Do Nothing

The world for those of us who bleed blue and white has been turned upside down. No one could have predicted the nightmare of the last week that has befallen Penn State, that words like “honor”, “prestige” and “class” would … Continue reading

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Canal Town

Known as the Venice of the East, Suzhou in east China’s Jiangsu province is praised for its lush gardens and enchanting waterways. Miles of narrow, interconnected canals criss-crossing the old section of the city provide endless opportunities to explore and … Continue reading

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Tea Time in Hangzhou

There’s a saying in China: Above is heaven, below is Hangzhou… This adage of old suggests that the beauty of heaven has somehow trickled down to earth and — voila! — instant Hangzhou! Having visited the city in east central … Continue reading

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Happy Birthday Brandon, Happy Birthday China

The People’s Republic of China turned 62 this year to a modest celebration. Instead of parading its nukes, Cold War-era tanks and aircraft carrier-killing missiles up and down Chang’an Avenue, Beijing’s main east-west axis, China’s leaders laid flowers at the … Continue reading

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