Monthly Archives: July 2006

My Baby’s Bendy

Today is the 7th day of the 7th month in the lunar calendar, and as such is the Chinese Valentine’s Day (乞巧节, qi3 qiao3 jie2). There’s a couple different myths that surround the origins of the day, and I can’t be bothered to repeat them here. For me, the significance of today is that it’s …

July 31, 2006
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The Muslim Brotherhood: An Education

Ok, I don’t have much time as I’m about to head out on the links with my dad for a day of what I assume will be rather punishing golf, but I wanted to make mention of this link that my buddy Hek sent me. It’s a column by the rather informed and well-spoken Mike …

July 26, 2006
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My Bestfriend’s Wedding

My bestfriend’s married. Wait, let me say that again… Cory Is Married! I’ve been trying to wrap my head around this marraige thing for the last few weeks but I’ve not come any closer to reaching any sort of enlightment about it. What I’ve been trying to do is understand the significance of the day …

July 24, 2006
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Freezing Point, Dead But Not Forgot

“I actually only did not think that human rights ought to segregate according to political position.  The Nationalists, the Communists, the Democratic Progressive Party, any fucking party … if human dignity is not your core value and if you permit human rights to be determined by those in power, then you are just someone that …

July 20, 2006
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Waxing Candles

So it happened. I knew it would, I’m not naïve. I had, however, assumed it might come at 30 +, but nope… 29 is the magic number when you switch from candles that denote your age to the more euphemistic two or three that mark your transition to “old”. Yesterday I entered the last year …

July 18, 2006
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The Journey West (via the North East)

I woke early Thursday morning to finish last minute packing and get to the airport for my 9 a.m. DLN-PKK flight. The packing went smoothly (and until now I’ve only noticed one thing I forgot), and Mags and I got to the airport without any trouble. We planned it so that we’d have a lot …

July 15, 2006
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You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello

Nothing like a flood to mark a departure. I woke up this morning to a rather disturbing water-leaking-in-the-wall noise coming from behind the shower, and knowing full well that there was going to be a knock any moment to turn our apartment’s water off I did what any man would have … I jumped in …

July 13, 2006
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How To Spot A Jap

It’s no secret in Western countries it is oft whispered among the Whities that when it comes to Asians, “they all look the same to us”. I had always assumed this was just our inherent racism, and once you got to know the cultures and such, it would be much easier to say what nationality …

July 9, 2006
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Dalian Is A Beautiful City

I’ve lived here in Dalian for about a year and a half and in that time I’ve heard the following line more times than I care to count: “Dalian is a clean and beautiful city.” It must have been written in the “How to Properly Promote Dalian to Foreign Visitors and Residents” pamphlet that’s handed …

July 8, 2006
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You Down With RMB?
Yeah, You Know Me

没有钱?没问题. 如果你住在中国和你是外国人, 快块不太困难获得. I’m not sure why I decided to write that in Chinese. Mostly to see if I could… and I couldn’t. I mean, the grammar is likely off and I needed to look up those last four characters. The statement is true though. For those that don’t understand (English, or Chinese)… what I …

July 5, 2006
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HoliDAY & A Ticket To Ride

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” Well, I am was officially on holidays. Michael Corleone’s words have been ringing in my head all day. Yesterday, after emptying my desk, I was sure I was done with teaching for the summer, but such was not in the cards. I’ve just …

July 4, 2006
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