Farrago

The True North Strong in Fee

For all the noise I’ve made about the recent visa situation here in China, or bureaucracy here in general, I tend to forget that this isn’t a China-exclusive thing. Before I can get my visa renewed next month, I need first to renew my passport. No big deal really, a couple of photos, an application …

June 18, 2008
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A few changes around here

Just a quick note to reference a few changes I’ve made to the site. First: you’ll notice that I’ve changed the comment submit layout. When I initially designed the look of this site, I was eager to try some new things, and so had the comment submission form stuck at the top of the comments. …

June 11, 2008
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Bill Moyers on Media Reform

I first learned of Bill Moyers while I was in school for journalism back in Canada. A classmate of mine lent me the book version of his rather famous interview series with Joseph Campbell entitled “The Power of Myth”. In the years since I’ve watched a handful of his numerous interviews and I have to …

June 9, 2008
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Quality of Life vs. Standard of Living

An e-mail to a friend this morning got me thinking about what it’s like to live in China. By “live”, I don’t mean in the common temporary sense, as a short-term contract teacher or business person might, but rather as someone who has no firm plans on the if and when of their eventual departure. …

June 4, 2008
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Must see: Hacking Democracy

Just got finished watching Hacking Democracy, a documentary exposing the vulnerabilities and errors rampant in electronic voting machines. For all its attempts to be shocking (a la Michael Moore), the film is a bit more subdued in its point – but all the better for it. Hacking Democracy tells the story of essentially one lady, …

May 28, 2008
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Redesigning The Duck

Back in 2004 when I decided to come to China I immediately hit the blogs to get a “feel” for what life for expats was like there. There were three blogs that immediately became my favourites, and have largely remained so in the nearly four years since. Mask of China Sinosplice The Peking Duck That …

May 21, 2008
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Movin’ on up … to the first floor

Well, it’s official. Mags, Addie and I are all moving to a new apartment at the end of June. We’ve been talking about moving for quite a while now, and with our lease up next month, it was time to either piss or get off the pot… alright, there was no pots, and I wouldn’t …

May 21, 2008
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Moment of Silence today

Just a quick notice to say to everyone that today officially starts a 3-day mourning period, and will include a 3-minute moment of silence across the nation at 2:28pm this afternoon. Whether you are a reader in or out of China, please join me in observing this moment of silence and taking the time to …

May 19, 2008
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How us Suzhou Expats can help quake victims

My friend Rebecca just let me know that Suzhou Bookworm, which also has an affiliated location in Chengdu, is collecting donations to assist those affected by Monday’s horrible earthquake in Sichuan. If any fellow Suzhou expats have means to help, please read the following for details. The Bookworm’s sister branch in Chengdu has become a …

May 14, 2008
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