For all the talk about democracy leading up to the Olympics, perhaps it is time - in the wake of the Olympics - to take a step back and ponder about what democracy really is. An interesting article appeared in the New Yorker earlier this month about the process of politics. Digging under the hood of democratic politics, it tries to explore two strains of forces that in real … [Read more...] about Understanding Democracy
Letters
(Letter) A China-friendly foreigner's Post Secret
Just saw a China-related Post Secret (I swear it's not mine! ;) ). … [Read more...] about (Letter) A China-friendly foreigner's Post Secret
(Letter) Chinese gymnasts age controversy
Last night after the women's gymnastics team final, NBC announcer Bella Caroli commented that the Chinese team cheated with underage athletes, and their passports were doctored by the Chinese government. After some digging, it seems the age allegation had surfaced some time ago, but was quelled after passports and birth certificates where produced to the satisfaction of the … [Read more...] about (Letter) Chinese gymnasts age controversy
(Letter) Watching the Opening Ceremony with a few thousand Tianjiners
My wife and I, along with a German, an Aussie, a TCK (third culture kid), and an American watched the Opening Ceremonies on a giant screen in one of Tianjin's biggest parks. There were thousands of people there, and very few foreigners. We've posted pictures, video, and blogged the experience, particularly the crowd's reactions to different things (Watching the Opening … [Read more...] about (Letter) Watching the Opening Ceremony with a few thousand Tianjiners
(Letter from xiaotaibei) Hospitality in China
A first-person account of a trip to Beijing: I’m pretty amazed by the hospitality in China, especially how it keeps getting better and better. It’s not just the hospitality, it’s all the little things of general people behavior. … [Read more...] about (Letter from xiaotaibei) Hospitality in China