The Hai Life

Rockets x Great Wall Half Marathon

2009-05-15T09:04:00.002+08:00

Let's hope they both go well. Hopefully will see you on Monday.

One Voice

2009-04-09T11:47:00.002+08:00

New Cal football video. I wish I could buy season tickets.

Promo Video: One Voice from ken livingston on Vimeo.

Sushi Kuu review

2009-04-08T23:28:00.001+08:00

Since I started writing it in March, that's where it ended up posting.

Read it here

The Bird and the Bee

2009-04-07T17:23:00.002+08:00

I just got back from Hong Kong . . . and I'll be throwing up some more photos and food posts (I realize that this blog should be renamed "IwishIstilllivedinHongKongbutIminShanghai.blogspot.com") but when I was down in the HKSAR, I picked up a CD - yes a CD - by LA band "The Bird and the Bee"

How to describe their sound? There's a 1960s vibe, but it also sounds like the future. or maybe how people in the 1960s saw the future. I think maybe a more sultry version of Pizacatto Five? Brazil fits in there somewhere too.

The Bird and the Bee - Download it here at amazon - and I swear I'll get to those Spain, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong and other posts that I have all queued up someday.

Tsui Wah . . . after 3 weeks

2009-03-30T22:12:00.002+08:00

I was all excited about the opening of Tsui Wah Shanghai - and indeed I've been there, um, 8 times in 3 weeks. There's a lot of stuff they do well, and a lot of stuff they need to improve. Here's my verdict after so many trips.

Excellent:

The poached chicken in the wooden tub - the taste is excellent, I wish you could order smaller portions, because you need to go with at least two or three people to make this dish worthwhile

The noodles - I haven't had noodles this good in Shanghai . . . in anything. And all types - the ho fun, the cheung fun, the mian - it's all really good.

All of the toasts - French Toast and Condensed Milk Toast etc etc. is all up to HK Standard

Needs work -

The Roast meat - the duck was fatty. The roast pork - honestly, I like it more at Xin Wang (Julu Lu and Maoming Lu). The assorted selection is way too big for one person to eat. This is what a HK/Cantonese restaurant should be built on

Lunch time service - it's a big mess right now. We went for lunch and waited 57 minutes for our choi sum . . .and then when we were leaving the waitress begged us to stay and get the vegetables even though we both had meetings to go to, instead of letting us cancel. The manager cancelled it immediately.

The Wonton - The mian is really good, but the wonton dumplings themselves are fairly pedestrian.

The baked pork chop rice - the other basis for Hong Kong cha chan tang cuisine. It's really pretty far from HK standard.

After having spoken with the manangement 3 or 4 times, I think they're well on their way to improvement - and what is it they say? You can't judge a restaurant within the first 3 months of opening?

I'll check back in later, but for now, here are some photos.

adidas 60 years of soles and stripes

2009-03-30T22:06:00.005+08:00

Free Champagne! Pudong Madness!

OPENING SOON

2009-03-12T15:41:00.002+08:00

TSUI WAH!!!!

opening: soon
food: Hong Kong Style Cafe
location: 富民路根长乐路上海/Fumin Lu near Changle Lu next to La Dolce Vita and Agave

Sushi Kuu

2009-03-05T10:02:00.006+08:00

I've been wanting to eat at Sushi Kuu in Hong Kong since reading Grace's post about it almost two years ago.

But visits to Hong Kong, while frequent, tend to be centered around meals to char siu emporiums or cha chan tangs or wonton noodle places. And its rare that I find people willing to spend 700 HKD ($125 US) on a sushi meal.

However, two weeks ago, when in Hong Kong to take care of some immigration issues (replace my stolen Hong Kong ID card actually), my good friend S called me. Her husband A was good friends with the owner/chef at Kuu and wanted to see if I would like to join in an omakase. Meal. It took me about half a second to say yes.

Normally when thinking about high-faultin' nice sushi restaurants, the colors are muted, the tones revential and hushed. Think about how Anthony Bourdain describes Masa's in the Dirty Bits.

Sushi Kuu is not that kind of place. When customers walk in the door on a Friday night - if the chef knows them, he'll order "SAMUARI!" with a loud point and get that customer outfitted with some potent 41% alcohol sake to start with. All guests are greeted with a loud and hearty "Ush!" - this is not a place to have a quiet, romantic date - this is fun, loud, a little bit crass, but mostly loud, fun.

The food? Well, it all becomes a bit hazy. I just remember eating more Uni than I ever have in my life. Each roll, each piece of sushi was practically swimming in it. The torch crisped tuna was perfection. The everything roll almost killed me.

Just look at these photos - everything was beautifully presented. Crisp. and delicious.

Address: 1/F, Wellington Place, 2-8 Wellington St., Central, Hong Kong 0000, China
Phone: +852-2971-0180

Omokase meal: $700 HKD (without sake)

The Best Scrambled Eggs in the World

2009-02-25T22:28:00.003+08:00

The Australian Dairy Company. Really close to where my dad grew up on Parkes Street in Jordan, Kowloon Hong Kong.

I don't know how they do it, but the eggs are buttery, moist, perfectly seasoned and oh-so-light. There's usually a line, and the double skinned milk is the most famous dish here, but I would gladly stab someone (I didn't like) for someone to make me those eggs daily.

Australia Dairy Company (澳洲牛奶公司)

Address: 47 Parkes Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Phone: +852-2730-1356

Scrambled Eggs with thick white bread $13 HKD ($1.90 US)

I'm on a boat!

2009-02-13T09:00:00.003+08:00

Well, at least someone has a sense of humor about it

2009-02-12T18:54:00.001+08:00

I think its pretty funny myself.

Oh you french bastards

2009-02-10T11:29:00.000+08:00

Pitchfork says it ain't true.

Daft Punk is playing in my town

2009-02-09T14:28:00.005+08:00

French electronic artists Daft Punk are playing a secret show in Shanghai this Friday. Very cool. Here's my 500 RMB ticket.

I'm not normally a big electronic music guy, but I've heard from everyone that Daft Punk is not a normal electronic music concert. I mean they have ROBOT COSTUMES. Of course on the other hand, they're french, but I think ROBOT COSTUMES are the important thing here.

Anyways - it's all kind of cool - here's the website for the concert. As you can see they won't reveal the concert location until the day of the show.

Here's the duo performing "Harder, better, Faster, Stronger" from Alive 2006.

It's pretty exciting. I think this concert is cooler than I am.

meme

2009-02-06T17:06:00.002+08:00

25 random things. I'm loathe to put this on my facebook where everyone else has it. I'll just copy JennWong and put mine here.

1. I claim Los Angeles as my home, but I've been known to tell people I'm from Hong Kong, Berkeley and Pittsburgh. All of which are true.

2. I miss restaurants more than I miss places. When I think of Berkeley (Top Dog) Los Angeles (in-n-out, bravo burger, any number of taco places) and Hong Kong (Jim Zai Kee) I usually think of food first.

3. My first car was a 1984 Blue Honda Accord LX. Perhaps the both the easiest to drive and most gutless car in the world.

4. Obviously my favorite sport teams are the California Golden Bears football and basketball teams. Following that is the US Men's Senior Soccer National Team, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Rockets.

5. I'm very left handed.

6. I own over 120 pairs of shoes. The majority of them are Nike basketball and running shoes, but not all of them.

7. I've seen every episode of Night Court.

8. (And the Wire and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Seinfeld and the cartoon version of the Tick and Star Trek TOS)

9. I love the Coen Brothers.

10. I've now been to 30 countries/territories/places I need to show my passport by the age of 34. My goal is to equal out countries and age by 36.

11. Outside of places I've lived, I've visited Beijing, Taipei, Manila, Bangkok and Tokyo the most.

12. In the last 365 days I've been to Harbin, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Spain for personal trips.

13. My favorite basketball players have tended to be Lakers guards - Byron Scott, Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones to name 3.

14. I wear my watch on my right hand.

15. One summer I ate the same exact lunch every single day I was on campus. A torta with carnitas, extra avocado, no salsa and a Snapple Lemon Ice Tea. $5.25

16. I've never lived more than 25 minutes commute away from work.

17. My team won the 1999 adidas Streetball Tournament in Hong Kong.

18. I enjoy travelling on my own.

19. One of my bicycles cost me 2 months pay.

20. The most played songs on my iTunes are: Kanye West - Stronger, Shadow Stabbing - Cake, Elanor Put Your Boots On - Franz Ferdinand, Paranoid Android - Radiohead, Guerilla Radio - Rage Against the Machine

21. I will always and forever believe that the best album of all time is the Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream

22. I have a major soft spot for New Jack Swing - Bobby Brown, New Edition, BoyzIIMen

23. I miss basketball practice

24. I lost things. Lots of things.

25. I'm the biggest spendthrift I know.

Fragrant Harbour

2009-01-31T23:41:00.003+08:00

So I spent Chinese New Year in Hong Kong. I'm too lazy to write about it now, so how about some more photos? Yay!

(I swear I'll get something up about Spain and Hong Kong soon)

America: Now open under new management

2009-01-24T15:11:00.006+08:00

It's on the internet - so you know it's true!

I, along with 600 other Americans in China went to Glamour Bar to celebrate Obama's swearing in. There was a lot of hugging and cheering and high-fiving and boos (for 43 and VP of Evil). Here's some photos:

One last kick in the pants to W - here's the Economist article about his presidency. Assessing the Bush Presidency: The Frat Boy Ships Out.

Valencia

2009-01-09T08:19:00.005+08:00

My last stop in Spain . . .Valencia. (I'll write up something on actually visiting the place soon.

Toledo (Spain)

2009-01-02T01:04:00.001+08:00

Happy 2009! Here's some photos of Toledo (not Ohio).

Madrid

2008-12-31T10:46:00.001+08:00

Barcelona

2008-12-29T00:15:00.002+08:00

Words coming later.

Instructions

2008-12-17T15:14:00.005+08:00

Just in case you didn't know how to shave.

(Taken from the JW Marriott, Beijing)

Finals at Cal

2008-12-16T10:38:00.002+08:00

(h/t to royrules22 at californiagoldenblogs)

Finals silliness at Cal. (This guy has apparently ported his entire desktop and blankets into the Doe Library Stacks. . . and promptly fallen asleep at his desk)

Shanghai pop punk

2008-12-15T14:09:00.002+08:00

Pinkberry

Cantina Agave, Part 2

2008-12-10T10:34:00.005+08:00

Post is worthless without photos right?

Cantina Agave:

Carnitas Quesadilla

Tacos - Machacha and lengua

The Lengua is especially delicious.

Mexican food in Shanghai!

2008-12-06T00:24:00.003+08:00

Californians, Texans (and probably Mexicans too - although I don't know in China) have long awaited the appearance of any sort of authentic Mexican (or even Tex Mex) in China.

Well, it's here. Agave Cantina on Fumin Lu and Changle Lu.

They got carnitas. They got carne asada. It's all pretty close to Los Angeles level.

I do love the carnitas. I've been twice in the past two days.

Photos soon. I promise.

If you like Mexican food, and you live in Shanghai, I highly highly highly recommend it.

Agave Cantina.

We've got the Axe!

2008-11-27T08:32:00.000+08:00

2008 Big Game Victory from bob gregory on Vimeo.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The worst idea ever. Or .. . It's a Cookbook! It's a cookbook!

2008-11-24T10:09:00.002+08:00

First seen on Chicagoist , I'm pretty sure this is the worst idea of all time.

Attention all semen enthusiasts!

We are very proud to announce the arrival of our new book.

Natural Harvest - A Collection of Semen-Based Recipes explores the culinary value of semen through beautiful photographs and delectable recipes.

It's the perfect holiday gift for that special cook in your life

Buy your copy here.. Bleah.

Two black men

2008-11-05T16:36:00.002+08:00

I'll have my review of Kanye West's concert in Shanghai in a few days (awe.some.)

But someting fundamentally important happened today in the United States, which is far beyond my abilities to talk about in a rational, measured and academic manner.

So instead, I'll leave this photo:

Tee Hee

2008-10-27T12:10:00.002+08:00

Yes, it's infintile.

I don't care. Tee hee.

Catching Up - Kyoto and Nara

2008-10-21T00:44:00.005+08:00

Maiko (geisha in training) strolling around in Kyoto

Nara Temple Entrance

Kyoto Temple

Kyoto

Catching Up, part Deux

2008-10-20T12:57:00.005+08:00

Some stuff from Osaka.

Giant Ferris Wheel.

Osaka Food Street near Dontonbori

Random Drunk Guy in the Osaka Subway

Despite all the Obama talk on this blog

2008-10-20T11:57:00.001+08:00

I've decided I'm voting Republican.

Watch this video and you'll be convinced too.

I wish I could be as confident

2008-10-18T22:02:00.003+08:00

Catching up. . . slightly

2008-10-13T18:36:00.002+08:00

Beijing Olympics Two photos:

MONGOLIA

BIRD'S NEST

Er, life is too busy to blog? (Radiohead in Tokyo)

2008-10-04T21:05:00.008+08:00

Poor excuse, I know. But since August, I've been in Beijing, Taipei, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Osaka, Kyoto and currently, Tokyo. I realize there's lots of interesting stuff I haven't posted about, but I'll get to it, I swear. When I get back from Dunhuang, Guangzhou and Beijing at the end of October I'll get to it.

However, in the meantime, I'll leave you some photos from the AWESOMENESS of RADIOHEAD in Tokyo.

(Just a quick story about this concert. We're in Japan this week on vacation, and randomly in Shibuya, my friend saw a Radiohead concert poster - so I decided to ditch everyone and go see the show. Only paid 500 Yen/5 US dollars over face value for the ticket. Considering staying 1 extra day to see them again tomorrow, but probably won't. It was a lifetime goal of mine to see "Paranoid Android" and "Exit Music (for a film) performed live. Check. Check.)

Here's the sign:

Saitama Super Arena:

The crowd:

Radiohead - I think this is Weird Fishes/Arpeggi:

In conclusion: seredipity rocks. So does Radiohead.

Whoops

2008-09-03T03:07:00.002+08:00

Things I owe to my own blog:

1. Photos of my Beijing experience
2. A wrap up of my Olympics experience
3. Some photos of my trip to Taipei

What I will do instead:

Embedded Cal football highlights!!!!

Cal vs MSU Highlights from sam walton on Vimeo.

Everything I said I owe I'll work on this weekend

My "Hey I'm at the Olympics" Post

2008-08-10T01:14:00.002+08:00

Quick post:

Weather: BAD
Opening Ceremonies: HOT (in a good way, like Paris Hilton would put it)
Traffic: Surprisingly GOOD
Bird's Nest/Water Cube: BEAUTIFUL
People: LOTS
Scalping: EXPENSIVE
Hotel: SUCK ASS
Fireworks: AWESOME
US Unifroms: Classy
China Uniforms: Eggs and tomatoes

By the way, I called Li Ning as final torch guy like 2 weeks ago, but I think so did a million othe rpeople.

34 days until kick-off

2008-07-27T12:25:00.002+08:00

While the whole world waits the start of the Beijing Olympics (22 days away) - especially around these parts. Some thing more important is coming up in 34 days. Cal Football!

Just to whet the appetite a little - here's a highlight video (taken from the California Golden Blogs) of Jahvid Best.

Jahvid Best 2007 Highlights from ronenglish1 on Vimeo.

Go Bears!

Comic Book Movies

2008-07-23T17:37:00.003+08:00

As I live in China, I'm obviously missing out on the Dark Knight (I'm trying trying trying to get to Hong Kong to see it soon - but chances are slim with all the work I have ) and Iron Man was kick-ass already this summer.

But this. This makes me so very hyped.

The Watchmen - I've read this graphic novel probably 100 times since it was published in the mid 80s up until now.

And they seem to have gotten everything right.

Stuff I miss out in China

2008-07-20T10:15:00.003+08:00

Weezer hasn't made a really good album since, well, Pinkerton. I've liked songs off each of the subsequent albums - but nothing has approached the brilliance of the first two albums. My friend has a theory that beacuse Pinkerton was so exceedingly personal to Rivers and because it got ravaged so hard in the critical press, he decided to just write blandish pop songs for the rest of his career.

Anyways, I was randomly reading LAist and they reported about Weezer's Hootenanny Tour, where they invite 250 fans to come down and sing and play songs with them. I thought that was the coolest thing - and I spent about an hour watching videos on YouTube and Yahoo. In fact, I'm watching them again.

Here's "Say It Ain't So" from the LA portion of the tour.

Shoe, um, Thursday

2008-07-17T16:32:00.004+08:00

ISpyShanghai has the recurring feature Shoe Tuesday. He asked readers to provide him with photos.

Here's my (China) collection. I still have another 20 or so in the US.

Every. Game. Counts.

2008-07-11T16:07:00.002+08:00

Football cannot get here fast enough. Go Bears!

I'm here to do push-ups

2008-07-08T18:46:00.002+08:00

One of the more bizarre things I've seen on the internet. Guangdong TV host Ou Zhihang doing naked push-ups near Chinese national landmarks like the CCTV building, the Great Wall, the Bird's Nest, etc. He was inspired by the Sichuan Earthquake - or rather, he wanted to do his part. His naked pushups are an hommage to a piece of art, although I don't read well enough to know which one.

Here's the link to his original blog

我来做俯卧撑的

Happy Birthday America!

2008-07-04T11:38:00.002+08:00

Wang Chi: Here's to the Army and Navy and the battles they have won; here's to America's colors, the colors that never run.

Jack Burton: May the wings of liberty never lose a feather.

Bangkok vs. Shanghai

2008-06-13T14:18:00.002+08:00

Okay, so I was only in Bangkok as a visitor, so its an unfair comparison, but here's the ways in which BKK is superior:

1. Public Transport - yeah, the buses aren't as good as Shanghai, but the Skytrain and subway and river taxi combo are far superior. (Shanghai's traffic is better though)

2. Movie theaters - I might vote for Siam Paragon's theater being the nicest in the world. Cushy chairs with a little blankie that you and your date can snuggle under? Or if you're alone, you can use to sleep under.

3. Shopping malls - Emporium, Siam Paragon, Central are all far superior to almost anything in Shanghai. Super Brand Mall is the only thing close . . .and that's Thai financed.

4. Street food - Bangkok hands down.

5. Fruit - Bangkok again!

6. Bookstores - Books Kinokuniya and Asia Books - either one of these, even one of the small outlets, if they put ONE in Shanghai, it would instantly be the best english bookstore here, beating Garden Books and Chaterhouse handily.

7. Bars/Clubs/Going out - okay, both cities have annoying people (Nana couples in Bangkok and the crowd at the Bund bars) - but if you're going out with your friends, Nana couples are easily avoided. But my stupid friends enjoy Lounge 18, or ever worse, Bar Rogue. So the crowd at the Bund is unavoidable.

Bangkok wins in an unfair competition, amongst criteria that I decided.

If we couldn't see the sun rising off the shore of Thailand . . .

2008-06-12T18:09:00.003+08:00

So, just got back from 10 days in Thailand. I'll cook up a photo post and a post about why Bangkok is superior to Shanghai soon, but as Swiss James knows, bullet points are a cheap and easy way to write a post. So some random facts about my trip:

Photos taken: 136
Airports visited: 7 (Shanghai Hongqiao, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Bangkok Suvarnabumi, Krabi, Bangkok Don Muang, Shenzhen)
Flight segments taken: 5
Other transportation taken: bus, taxi, mini-bus, subway, SkyTrain, longtail
Books read: Quirkology, Nothing Like It in the World, China Road, Liar's Poker, Getting Rich First
Most common nationality in Krabi: Canadians (most of whom were, um, overweight)
Times falling in love with random Thai women in Bangkok: at least 200
Times attacked by crab: 1
Mangoes eaten: over 20
Massages received: 7
Movie seen: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (C+ movie, A++++ movie theatre at Siam Paragon)
Times I walked over to Rai Leh Beach East: 4
Times I decided there was nothing to do, eat or spend money on in Rai Leh Beach East: 3

I love Thailand. I hope to be back soon.

Get Your Ass to Mars!

2008-05-28T15:37:00.001+08:00

This is either the funniest thing ever or the dumbest thing ever. Or both. I vote for both. I love saying "Get to da choppah!" and "Get your ass to Mars" randomly.

Published!

2008-05-27T15:59:00.002+08:00

Of a sort - but whoo!

First - a guest lecture on the best basketball blog on the internets.

and then linked on the best mainstram basketball blog on the internets!

Shoe Tuesday Showdown begins early

2008-05-23T09:59:00.004+08:00

Swiss James of ISpyShanghai has issued a Shoe Tuesday challenge. Now if you know me, you know I like shoes. I'll reveal my hand later this week on his blog, but for now - here's a preview of what might be in store.

Yao Ming Asks For Your Help

2008-05-22T19:05:00.001+08:00

Yao with the only English language commercial airing outside of China asking for help with Sichuan Earthquake Relief

Things I don't understand about Shanghai

2008-05-20T10:36:00.002+08:00

Not a rant, just a head scratcher and very puzzling.

Sometimes I get to my subway station (Xinzha Road on Line 1) at about 8.45 - 8.50am for my commute to work.

This morning I was coming down the stairs and saw I was about to miss the train - it was 8.46am and the train was empty. Seats + so much standing room you could jump around in.

So I missed that train, and saw the next train was 56 seconds away.

Next train pulls up - ABSOLUTELY PACKED. Like the prototypical Tokyo Subway trains where they have to push people on board. So I see the next train is 52 seconds away, so I decide to wait.

Next train pulls up . . .and its comfortably empty.

So I get on and commute to work in relative comfort. What the heck is wrong with the traffic flow patterns? Shouldn't all the trains be equally packed?

Kobe Mentu Starts tonight on CCTV Olympics

2008-05-18T09:45:00.002+08:00

24 kids, from Shenyang, Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai

Kobe Bryant.

Los Angeles.

8 day training camp.

Be a Kobe Mentu!

Exciting stuff

2008-05-15T08:23:00.002+08:00

Not only did Obama pick up the Superdelegate lead - but John Edwards is now endorsing Barack!

Here's an email I received from Obama (!):

Join Sen. John Edwards in supporting this campaign

At a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Senator John Edwards endorsed Barack Obama's candidacy for president.
Senator Edwards ran a strong, principled campaign for president, focusing on universal health care, bringing our troops home from Iraq, and eliminating poverty in America. And he ran in a way that reflected a conviction that we need to fundamentally change politics.
Like our campaign, Senator Edwards' campaign never accepted donations from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs.
Welcome John Edwards to this campaign with an outpouring of the kind of grassroots support that is bringing our political process back to the people.

Let's hope we get this finalized before the convention.

Earthquake in Sichuan

2008-05-12T22:53:00.002+08:00

With Shanghaiist and Twitter providing much more instant, comprehensive and man on the spot coverage - there's really no need for me to re-hash the horror and tragedy that is going to be uncovered in the next few days as more news comes out of Sichuan.

I'll just quickly relate my personal experience - we were on the 18th floor in Beijing and the building was swaying back and forth for about 1.5 to 2 minutes straight. For the first 15 seconds or so I thought I was just dizzy and/or about to faint (even though I've never fainted) - or maybe just sick - because none of my Chinese co-workers were reacting.

I found two things pretty odd -

1. The lack of reaction from my colleagues - even after people realized it was an earthquake

2. A total lack of an emergency plan or even voice of authority within the office to evacuate or go home or SOMETHING until about 2 hours later (by which time I had left to go to my event).

The Olympic Flame in Shenzhen

2008-05-08T15:45:00.004+08:00

I haven't talked much about the Olympic Torch Relay and all the resulting hub-bub with regards to T!bet, Paris, Jin Jing, Grace Wang, etc. etc.

But I thought this was pretty amazing - the torch run through Shenzhen

Talk about 人山人海

Drugs are bad, mmmmkay?

2008-05-06T15:42:00.001+08:00

Scary scary meth ads. From the Montana anti-meth people

Be careful out there.

2008-05-06T14:34:00.000+08:00

This is a bit scary:

Enterovirus 71 (Ev71) Outbreak In Central China
American citizens are advised of an ongoing outbreak in China of an
intestinal virus called enterovirus 71, or EV71. This virus causes a variant of
hand, foot, and mouth disease. There are no specific precautions for this other
than the general hygiene recommendations for living in China.

Over 3300
cases and at least 22 deaths have been reported in Fuyang City in Anhui
Province. All of the deaths were children less than 6 years old and most were
under 2 years of age. A few additional cases have been confirmed in Hangzhou
City in Zhejiang Province. Hubei Province and Hong Kong have also reported a few
cases.

The symptoms of EV 71 are similar but more severe than the common
hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). Typically, it starts with a generalized
illness, poor appetite, and sore throat, followed by a fever, rashes on the
hands, feet, and buttocks along with mouth ulcers. HFMD is often confused with
foot-and-mouth disease of cattle, sheep, and swine. Although the names are
similar, the two diseases are not related at all and are caused by different
viruses.

Infection is spread from person to person by direct contact
with nose and throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the stool of
infected persons. A person is most contagious during the first week of the
illness. HFMD is not transmitted to or from pets or other animals.

For
more information here are some useful links at the U.S. CDC:

HFMD page:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/hfhf.htm

Non-polio
enteroviruses
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/non-polio_entero.htm

Viral ?aseptic? meningitis
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/viral_meningitis.htm

TRAVEL ALERT!

2008-04-29T15:30:00.001+08:00

Found in my email inbox this morning:

This Travel Alert updates U.S. citizens about security issues in China and advises American citizens traveling or residing there to be alert to their surroundings and exercise caution at all times. This Travel Alert expires on October 31, 2008.
Any large-scale public event such as the upcoming Olympic Games may present an attractive target for terrorists. There is a heightened risk that extremist groups will conduct terrorist acts within China in the near future. In light of these security concerns, U.S. citizens traveling in China are advised to use caution and to be alert to their surroundings at all times, including at hotels, in restaurants, on public transportation and where there are demonstrations and other large-scale public gatherings. Consistent with our standard advice, American citizens are urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations.
In accordance with these security concerns, Chinese authorities have increased security in China's airports during recent months. For example, Chinese airport authorities recently implemented tighter restrictions on taking liquids, aerosols, or gels aboard flights in carry-on baggage. Such restrictions may apply to food, cosmetics, toiletries and medicine. Travelers should contact their air carrier before their flight to determine the precise regulation in place.
American citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal security. For additional information, please refer to ?A Safe Trip Abroad? found at travel.state.gov.
U.S. citizens planning travel to China should regularly check the Department?s Country Specific Information for China at travel.state.gov for the latest safety and security information, including the updated Olympics Fact Sheet, as well as the U.S. Embassy Beijing website at beijing.usembassy-china.org. Americans planning travel to China are advised to register their presence with the U.S. Embassy at travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.
As the Department continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its consular information program documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada or from other countries on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
This Travel Alert is being issued to update U.S. citizens to safety and security concerns.

NIKEiD Studio

2008-04-28T10:31:00.004+08:00

So if you know even the tinest little thing about me, you know I have a serious shoe purchasing problem. And even with my new limit on buying stuff after a disaterious weekend in Hong Kong netted me TWO new cameras, I went over to the opening of the NIKEiD Studio opening in Shanghai (one of 5 worldwide! with New York, London, Paris and Osaka) and took in the official party.

The concept of NIKEiD is pretty simple - you become a shoe designer, taking Nike shoes and introducing your own color blocking and adding in the PE touches like a name or number or in some cases logos. The NIKEiD Studio in Shanghai has some added touches like being able to work with a design consultant, being able to work in a cool private studio where you can take a look around for inspiration and actually look and feel the materials and fabrics and leathers that you are choosing for your shoe. It's quite cool.

So even though the NIKEiD Studio prices are quite a bit more than they are using nikeid.com in the States, I went in on Saturday and designed a couple of shoes.

Somebody's really got to stop me from buying all these shoes. Seriously.

TYPHOON!!!!

2008-04-19T07:08:00.003+08:00

So I'm taking a city break to Hong Kong. . . and of course, it's the 2nd earliest typhoon ever since they started keeping track of these things.

Typhoon Neoguri threatens China's southern Hainan Island,
could hit Friday or Saturday
APGUANGZHOU, China -- The first typhoon to
threaten China this year churned toward the southern island province of Hainan
on Friday, kicking up winds that closed a ferry service and forced thousands of
fishing boats to sail to port, forecasters and media reports said.

Ah, dammit.

Nike Training - Beijing 2008

2008-04-16T11:17:00.004+08:00

Nike's new training commercial features Kobe Bryant, Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Cristiano Ronaldo . .. and Filipino Boxer Manny Pacquiao and Chinese Hurdler Liu Xiang!

I love the message, but I'm a Nike whore.

Things Done Changed

2008-04-16T10:36:00.002+08:00

From Michael Silver's Yahoo Sports Column

Lyric-altered song dedication of the week
Give Cal athletic director Sandy Barbour the mic and get out of her way.

To the tune of Biggie's "Things Done Changed" …
Remember back in the days, when Ben got a raise
No inbounds plays or open treys
Cheatin' Bozeman, homies had the high top jellies
Football was smelly, and our AD was all friendly
Loungin with the Old Blues, drinkin boozelike the homeless dudes, on Telegraph Avenue
Turn your BlackBerrys, to 2008
Stuff is getting flushed Nate, ain't it great?
Throw dumb picks, you ride the pine real quick
Cause Poppa Jeff Tedford ain't havin that script
Rockin' that Nike vest, give the ball to Jahvid Best
always, breakaways all day
Wait for our rivals to step up on some fightin' tip
We take their hoops coach and make 'em sick, don't you even trip
So step away from your defeatist ways
Old-school suckas this ain't back in the days, but you don't hear me though
No more Leon Powe leave-io, NIT
Julian Sensley, all of this to me, is a travesty
I heard them other suckas bitch about it
Now you see a couple of coaches who be lyin' in a ditch and drownin'
And I'm down with the search too
All the stupid writer suckas wantin' me to hire Mark Few
Instead of a Pac-10 livin' legend
Tire tracks on Bowlsby's head and, that's what the hell happens
when you sleep in my trees
Oski be comin' with heat, want to make their smelly asses leap
And we be goin' to Pasadena
To make sure the Rose Queen's in blue and gold like no one's ever seen her
Back in the days, our rivals used to talk trash to us
Look at em now, they know they 'bout to get smashed by us
Trent Johnson skippin' town for Baton Rouge because he can't maintain
Damn, it done changed

Back when our program was so lame
We couldn't even draw 40 grand for a football game
Because our coach was an inkblot
And Michael Ainsworth got caught and Legans couldn't hit a jumpshot
Damn, it's fun cleanin' up Kasser's slums
Followin' what Gladstone done by bustin' out the heavy guns
And now the stuff's gettin crazier and major
Counting Crows on campus and Kip's hosting nightly ragers
Boyle on the recruiting trail, blowin' up
Twelve months later Final Four, we'll be showin up
It makes me want to break out the Cris and Dom
But first I gotta smack a Berkeley judge's mom
Damn, what happened to the days of Lou and Gilby?
Everytime I make a hire I make the rest of 'em look silly
Look, Montgomery be huggin' Oski Bear
Don't ask me why them other suckas scared, things done changed

Things Done Changed

Nasty Nas . . .postponed

2008-04-15T17:21:00.003+08:00

Dammit dammit dammit. From Smartshanghai:

"Due to visa issues amongst the entourage of guest star, NAS, the date of
the Solid Hip Hop Party has been pushed back. The event promoter is working on a
four to six week delay..."

For crying out loud, can't a guy get a decent hip hop show here? (er, the Roots and Talib Kweli excepted). To think I almost flew down to Hong Kong for Kanye, but instead decided to save a little and watch Nas.

Boycott!

2008-04-15T11:18:00.003+08:00

Seriously, this talk of boycotting and Chinese nationalism is really a bunch of knee jerk idiocy and really will serve to hurt local interests anyways. What country doesn't produce goods here in China? Carrefour stocks CHINESE goods.

I feel like Napoleon Dynamite.

IDIOTS!

Thankfully, there's someone around here in the Chinese blogosphere who has a modicum of good sense.

Wang Xiao Feng recently posted something that Danwei.org was kind enough to translate - I'll just let them do all the work here.

Boycott

by Wang Xiaofeng
 I received an SMS from a friend calling on me to avoid Carrefour, to boycott the
French people that have insulted our country's athletes on their procession. I
replied saying that I have always boycotted French culture: I cannot speak
French except to say 'salut'...  
I never boycott any type of goods, including Japanese goods, Korean, American, and now French. My first mobile phone was an Alcatel. I stopped using it because it had a particular characteristic: the screen did not display any information, like a cordless land line. I also do not boycott Japanese goods, the first TV set in my home
was a Sharp. I don't often buy Japanese goods not because of any patriotic
feelings, but because I do not need them. If I need such goods, for example
a digital camera, I will definitely buy Japanese goods. I do not like Korean
goods because I think their stuff is much better looking than it is useful,
for examples their good looking but useless mobile phones.   
In fact, the best boycott is a closed door policy for the country. Let's go back to
the Mao era: can you guys handle it? If you can't handle that, then stop
making a fuss, boycotting this and that.
The best boycott is to make yourself really awesome (牛逼); if
you're not cool, other people will pick on you. If you boycott someone when they
pick on you, you're just pretending to be be great. If you like it, mayabe you
should go to North Korea, where they only have north Korean and Chinese goods.
  Using your purchasing habits to demonstrate whether or not you are patriotic,
this is really "universal values" with Chinese characteristics.
 When you boycott, you are just showing that your target is much stronger than you, that your target is already mixed up in your life. So what the hell have you been
doing before now?
  I just happen to have some discount coupons for Carrefour. I guess if I go these days, there won't be long queues. If there is anything I am going to boycott, it's all these stupid idiots [arranging
boycotts].

(shamefully stolen from danwei.org )

The Music Taste of Shanghai

2008-03-24T16:49:00.004+08:00

By and large, residents of Mainland China don't have what many people would call "good music taste." In a land where Michael Learns to Rock and other bland, sappy, non-edgy music is overwhelming the western pop music of choice, music in public places is often, well at the very least annoying.

However, over the past year and change in Shanghai, I've noticed something odd. Good music in public spaces. I mean really good music - and not the most mainstream of stuff either. Maybe a non-single track from a well-known band or some older 80s or early 90s stuff. and often in weird locations.

Everytime I hear stuff like this - I usually send a text message to some friends who are equally puzzled. I've written down some of the songs and locations I've heard in just the past month:

My gym:
Pet Shop Boys - What Have I Done to Deserve This?
Modest Mouse - Dashboard
Eric B and Rakim - Follow the Leader
Bell Biv Devoe - Poison

789 Hot Pot Restaurant:
Us3 - Cantaloop
Heavy D and the Boyz - Now that We've Found Love
New Order - Touched by the Hand of God

Infiniti Shopping Mall:
Kanye West - Flashing Lights

Bowling Alley:
Men Without Hats - Pop Goes the World
Toto - Rosanna

Riding in a cab:
Duran Duran: The Reflex
Duran Duran: View to a Kill
Duran Duran: Wild Boys
(I believe he was playing some sort of best of or mix CD)

Okay, so it's not all good music (Rosanna) but who is playing all of that good music out there?

冲- Dare - A Nike China Documentary

2008-03-11T11:42:00.004+08:00

Unfortunately I haven't found the english subtitled version, but this is a really cool content piece that Nike did telling the story of Chinese High Jumper Zhu Jianhua.

The movie stars modern athletes Liu Xiang, Li Na and Ma Liyun as well.

CARL LANDRY! CARL LANDRY!

2008-03-05T10:50:00.001+08:00

No words necessary.

Yao, the Rockets, and the rest of the season.

2008-03-03T08:18:00.007+08:00

While getting ready for work, I like to check my RSS feeds over a steaming bowl of Honey Nut Oatmeal and listen to the Chinese National Anthem being played at extremely high volume from the school directly below my apartment.

Yesterday, those RSS headlines delivered a shock. From the China Sports Blog "Yao Out for Season." I thought that couldn't be right - were they repeating headlines from last year? Scrambling quickly I jumped to ESPN, Chinahoop, and Yahoo . . . dammit. It was true. It was devastating - not only was my favorite team missing one 7'6" centerpiece in the middle of a 12 game winning streak, but a man I was slightly acquainted with was well, on his way to becoming this generation's Bill Walton. Or at least Zydrunas Ilgauskas. In a word, it sucked.

What makes it worse is the upcoming western conference playoffs figure to be epic. While I'd never put the Rockets as a favorite I figured they might get lucky get on a hot streak knock out some teams. And put their own stamp on what figures to be the best Western Conference playoffs since the 1988 version the Lakers beat the Spurs, Mavs, and Jazz.

But as the day wore on I felt okay with it. These 25 games will prove to be an opportunity to watch one Carl Landry.

A 6'8" pogo stick with a desire to cram every shot through the hoop and the leaping ability delivered from on-high to go get every rebound, thoughts of Carl Landry keep me warm at night and comfort me at Yao's loss. And then of course, there's this guy:

Taken from clutchfans.net "photoshop the pain thread" by user "poprocks"

And that's pretty exciting stuff right there.

Excellent

2008-02-20T08:35:00.000+08:00

Berkeley tree-sitters upset as arborist trims their roost
Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff Writer

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

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(02-19) 13:11 PST BERKELEY --

UC police brought in an arborist at dawn today to snip ropes and dismantle a wooden platform at the Memorial Stadium oak grove, where tree-sitters have been roosting for more than 14 months to protest the university's plans to remove about 100 trees to build an athletic training center.

The arborist climbed into the grove at about 6 a.m. and cut most of the ropes connecting the half-dozen platforms the tree-sitters have built in the foliage. The arborist also took down one of the platforms, which was uninhabited. In the process, a bucket of human waste fell about 60 feet to the ground.

There were no arrests, and a university spokesman said police moved in because the protest appears to be winding down.

But the action enraged the protesters.

"They cut a s- bucket and it fell to the ground and exploded," said Erik Eisenberg, 39, a leader of the tree-sitters' ground crew who goes by the name Ayr. "They've made things less safe and less sanitary. All they're trying to do is harass and intimidate us."

University spokesman Dan Mogulof said, "There's just a hardcore few left up there. The police felt this was a good, safe opportunity to act, to address some of the public safety and public health issues up there."

A judge is expected to rule by June on lawsuits filed by the tree sitters, the city of Berkeley and neighbors in an attempt to stop the stadium renovation plans.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/19/BA4BV52CK.DTL&tsp=1

Lawry's Shanghai

2008-02-17T10:31:00.003+08:00

Growing up I knew Lawry's from two different sources. First, we used to eat our hard boiled eggs with Lawry's Seasoned Salt. The paprika colored salt is part of the taste of childhood for me.

Second, I remember every year hearing about the Lawry's Beef Bowl where the teams playing in the Rose Bowl would head to Lawry's in Beverly Hills and inhale as much prime rib as possible.

For some odd reason Chinese (or more accurately my relatives) - while they are okay with steak, they LOVE prime rib. So the taste of prime rib with horseradish sauce and sides - well, it's something I grew up associating with special occasions and holidays.

So last night, we went to Lawry's Shanghai located in Xintiandi.

Oh my. That was amazing prime rib. They're still having service issues - but the grand opening hasn't hit yet - but go and try it out. Sure it's not cheap. But it's all kinds of delicious.

POWE! POWE! POWE! POWE!

2008-02-13T15:32:00.004+08:00

So Leon's been playing quite well without KG in the line-up. With a game winning shot against the T-Wolves, and 3 starts in a row, The Show is finally proving he belongs in the Lig. While his playing time will decrease once KG gets back and healthy again, he's shown he can be a big contributor off the bench for the C's.

Just for reference his last 5 games he's posted these numbers:
MPG FG 3P FT ST BLK TO PF OFF DEF TR A PPG
20.2 20-37 0-0 12-17 0.6 0.2 1.4 2.6 2.2 4.2 6.4 0.2 10.4

Go Bears!

Chinese New Year Madness in Shanghai

2008-02-12T19:58:00.000+08:00

The scene in front of my apartment on Chinese New Year's eve. Now imagine this going on in front of several thousand apartment complexes all at the same time.

It was like a war zone.

Yes We Can!

2008-02-05T13:01:00.000+08:00

Here on the eve of Super Tuesday - after a weekend in Beijing (sunny! Warm!) feeling a bit disconnected from the US political process, I wanted to share the will.i.am "Yes We Can" video. And Hey! It's got Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in it! I'm feeling oddly optimistic. Polls are showing Obama running neck and neck with Hillary in California.

When I set out to write this blog, this was really just a space for me to mess around in. I never really thought it would be politically oriented - but the Obama '08 campaign has energized me and given me hope in my country. I hope we will see his vision through.

The greatest line ever spoken on any television show, ever.

2008-02-03T20:53:00.001+08:00

What? Another "It's Always Sunny . .. " post? Yeah, well, I'm lazy. So I'm here in Beijing over the weekend, with business projects and meetings on Monday and Friday - and nothing in-between but to watch IASIP . .. and this clip is amazing

Wow.

Americans in China for Obama

2008-01-31T17:00:00.000+08:00

This is where I was on Tuesday. I'm inspired. Well, at least enough to link to this article.

Obama Blizzard blows through China

The Shanghaiist was also there.

You're the Best Around!

2008-01-25T15:13:00.000+08:00

I don't know how I went so long without watching "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" because this is the funniest show on television. Yes, funnier than the Office (US), or hell - anything since Seinfeld. Yes, it's funnier than the Simpsons and South Park.

The above video has Sweet Dee and Charlie training for fights while on steroids. Seriously, check it out. Yes, I'm lame for only getting into the show 3 season in.

Happy Birthday Dr. King!

2008-01-22T10:00:00.000+08:00

One of the things you miss in living in China is realizing when holidays are. Today, in the US, is Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday, of course. Something I would have forgotten about, if not for the NBA coverage. So thanks NBA! (And TrueHoop)

I wanted to re-print Dr. King's speech from when he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 - also linked on TrueHoop.

Modern man has brought this whole world to an awe-inspiring threshold of the future. He has reached new and astonishing peaks of scientific success. He has produced machines that think and instruments that peer into the unfathomable ranges of interstellar space. He has built gigantic bridges to span the seas and gargantuan buildings to kiss the skies. His airplanes and spaceships have dwarfed distance, placed time in chains, and carved highways through the stratosphere. This is a dazzling picture of modern man's scientific and technological progress.

Yet, in spite of these spectacular strides in science and technology, and still unlimited ones to come, something basic is missing. There is a sort of poverty of the spirit which stands in glaring contrast to our scientific and technological abundance. The richer we have become materially, the poorer we have become morally and spiritually. We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers.

Every man lives in two realms, the internal and the external. The internal is that realm of spiritual ends expressed in art, literature, morals, and religion. The external is that complex of devices, techniques, mechanisms, and instrumentalities by means of which we live. Our problem today is that we have allowed the internal to become lost in the external. We have allowed the means by which we live to outdistance the ends for which we live. So much of modern life can be summarized in that arresting dictum of the poet Thoreau: "Improved means to an unimproved end." This is the serious predicament, the deep and haunting problem confronting modern man. If we are to survive today, our moral and spiritual "lag" must be eliminated. Enlarged material powers spell enlarged peril if there is not proportionate growth of the soul. When the "without" of man's nature subjugates the "within," dark storm clouds begin to form in the world.

Buggati Veyron vs. Christiano Ronaldo (wearing the new Nike Mercurial Vapors)

2008-01-15T16:43:00.000+08:00

Who's faster?

I had heard a rumor that C. Ronaldo had issues with his feet because he was wearing boots 1.5 sizes too small because he wanted the touch. Wow.

There Will Be Awards

2008-01-09T18:19:00.001+08:00

One of the things I really miss about living in Los Angeles (which is kind of stupid since I never really lived here as an adult, nor did I take advantage of it more than a handful of times) was being close to the film industry. With a free night on Tuesday, I took in Paul Thomas Anderson's "There Will Be Blood" at the Hollywood Arclight theatre - which is the only place playing it for now (it opens in New York next week - I think).It really doesn't sound interesting. A 2 hour and 40 minute story about turn-of-the-century US oil drilling in California, loosely based on Upton Sinclair's "Oil"? (If you don't remember your AP US History - or never took it, Upton Sinclair was a muckracking journalist - who is most famed for his book "The Jungle" which explored the dirty side of the meat industry and directly led to the FDA and the imposition of standards in the meat packing and butchering industry. Oil is his novelization of the development of the US oil industry. But the movie concentrates on the first 150 pages of the book - and the relationship between an oilman and his son. It's an amazing character study - Daniel Day Lewis just KILLS this role - of a hateful, misanthrope, setting it against the background of the early days of the oil industry in California. I don't know when this will be playing in your local theatre (it was only playing in one movie theatre in LA) but go see it. I suspect it should be in China soon - because its Oscar season.The soundtrack, but Radiohead's guitarist Johnny Greenwood is jarring and amazing. The best movie of the year.

The Audacity of Hope

2008-01-09T10:41:00.000+08:00

I think this is a good time to re-visit Obama's speech to the 2004 Democratic National Convention:

I stand here today, grateful for the diversity of my heritage, awarethat my parents' dreams live on in my precious daughters. I stand hereknowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owea debt to all of those who came before me, and that, in no othercountry on earth, is my story even possible. Tonight, we gather toaffirm the greatness of our nation, not because of the height of ourskyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy.Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in adeclaration made over two hundred years ago, "We hold these truths tobe self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowedby their Creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these arelife, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams ofits people, the insistence on small miracles. That we can tuck in ourchildren at night and know they are fed and clothed and safe fromharm. That we can say what we think, write what we think, withouthearing a sudden knock on the door. That we can have an idea and startour own business without paying a bribe or hiring somebody's son. Thatwe can participate in the political process without fear ofretribution, and that our votes will be counted--or at least, most ofthe time.
This year, in this election, we are called to reaffirm our values andcommitments, to hold them against a hard reality and see how we aremeasuring up, to the legacy of our forbearers, and the promise offuture generations. And fellow Americans--Democrats, Republicans,Independents--I say to you tonight: we have more work to do. More todo for the workers I met in Galesburg, Illinois, who are losing theirunion jobs at the Maytag plant that's moving to Mexico, and now arehaving to compete with their own children for jobs that pay sevenbucks an hour. More to do for the father I met who was losing his joband choking back tears, wondering how he would pay $4,500 a month forthe drugs his son needs without the health benefits he counted on.More to do for the young woman in East St. Louis, and thousands morelike her, who has the grades, has the drive, has the will, but doesn'thave the money to go to college.
Don't get me wrong. The people I meet in small towns and big cities,in diners and office parks, they don't expect government to solve alltheir problems. They know they have to work hard to get ahead and theywant to. Go into the collar counties around Chicago, and people willtell you they don't want their tax money wasted by a welfare agency orthe Pentagon. Go into any inner city neighborhood, and folks will tellyou that government alone can't teach kids to learn. They know thatparents have to parent, that children can't achieve unless we raisetheir expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate theslander that says a black youth with a book is acting white. No,people don't expect government to solve all their problems. But theysense, deep in their bones, that with just a change in priorities, wecan make sure that every child in America has a decent shot at life,and that the doors of opportunity remain open to all. They know we cando better. And they want that choice [...]
A belief that we are connected as one people. If there's a child onthe south side of Chicago who can't read, that matters to me, even ifit's not my child. If there's a senior citizen somewhere who can't payfor her prescription and has to choose between medicine and the rent,that makes my life poorer, even if it's not my grandmother. If there'san Arab American family being rounded up without benefit of anattorney or due process, that threatens my civil liberties. It's thatfundamental belief--I am my brother's keeper, I am my sisters'keeper--that makes this country work. It's what allows us to pursueour individual dreams, yet still come together as a single Americanfamily. "E pluribus unum." Out of many, one.
Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us,the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics ofanything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there's not a liberalAmerica and a conservative America--there's the United States ofAmerica. There's not a black America and white America and LatinoAmerica and Asian America; there's the United States of America. Thepundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and BlueStates; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. ButI've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the BlueStates, and we don't like federal agents poking around our librariesin the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and havegay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the warin Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of uspledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending theUnited States of America [...]
In the end, that is God's greatest gift to us, the bedrock of thisnation; the belief in things not seen; the belief that there arebetter days ahead. I believe we can give our middle class relief andprovide working families with a road to opportunity. I believe we canprovide jobs to the jobless, homes to the homeless, and reclaim youngpeople in cities across America from violence and despair. I believethat as we stand on the crossroads of history, we can make the rightchoices, and meet the challenges that face us. America

Yue festival highlights!

2007-12-19T16:55:00.000+08:00

Official highlight video from the Yue Fesitval

http://shanghaiist.com/2007/12/19/video_yue_festi.php

Want some Scampi with that?

2007-12-17T09:53:00.000+08:00

As is so often the case, we are always looking for new restaurants to try, since the same ones over and over (Crystal Jade, that Korean place out in Hongqiao, Arch, Gourmet Cafe, Oh Dragon Restaurant, etc.) . . .well, they're limiting.

So yesterday someone came up with Scampi in the Infiniti Mall on Huaihai Lu as a possible place. So we show up there at 7.30 and the menu looks pretty good. (Except for the terminology confusion . . . it's not scampi. What they are serving is crawfish. Or 小龙虾. Crawdads. Mud bugs. Scampi is a method of serving shrimp - totally different type of bottom feeder).

So after some drinks we get the waiter over.

"We'll have a bucket of scampi laksa and a bucket of scampi new orleans style"
"We are out of scampi"

Are you kidding? We went through the whole menu . . . and any dish that had ANY sort of crawfish product - the bisque, the salad, the fritters - well, they were out of.

It's one thing to run out of a certain food item - it's a restaurant, these things happen. But the friggin' restaurant is called Scampi. Hello!

To add onto it, no one said anything to our table when we were being seated. You know like "Just so you know, we're out of scampi"

More reasonable people would've left, but people in my party were hungry, so other things were ordered. Lamb chops, "philly cheesesteaks," ribs. Meh. Honestly, I'd have rather gone to TGI Fridays.

So you're not going to see me back there.

1 week in Yunnan

2007-12-12T10:08:00.000+08:00

For those of you unfamiliar with Chinese geography, Yunnan is the province that sits right above Myanmar, Lao and Vietnam in the far southwest. To compare with the US, you could think of Shanghai as the equivalent of say, Washington DC (east coast, middle of the coast) and then Yunnan would be like Arizona. So it's quite a bit away from here.

So why Yunnan? Well, originally, I was planning to go to Thailand, but since my friend Abbie (hi Abbie!) um, flaked on me, I had a week off and decided to stay in China and go and hike Tiger Leaping Gorge, since supposedly China's inevitable march of progress will see the damming of the Yangtze further upstream, backing the water up and ruining one of China's most amazing natural wonders. So I wanted to at least see it before it might or might not happen. Yunnan also houses many of China's 56 minorities - and so it would be interesting to see some Naxi or Tibetian or Hui or other minority culture in Yunnan. I didn't really have a plan, just a flight into Kunming, a vague idea of what I wanted to see and do and a small backpack with clothes and two books.

Still battling two seperate illnesses, I spent my first day in Kunming (the Yunnan Provincial capital) lying in bed and reading (Michael Chabon's excellent Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, lent by Colin Pine). Despite dealing with a funny stomach AND one serious chest cold, I spent the next day on the bus from Kunming to Lijiang. 8 hours worth.

Lijiang was both at once charming. . . and annoying. A super well preserved ancient village, it has the air of Disneyland about it - yes, I love Disneyland, but only in Anaheim. It's clean, looks like it was built in the last 5 years and all the charming ancient Naxi homes have instead become souvenir shops peddling Naxi attire, Yak Yogurt (tasty!), dried Yak meat (not so much), t-shirts, tour packages, internet usage, etc. etc. Lijiang is also OVERRUN with Chinese tour groups. The whole thing - bad hats, flags, megaphone using tour leaders. So that's not so nice. On the other hand, it's one of the most photogenic places I've been, and there's a nightly Naxi dance in the main square - which ISN'T put on for tourists, just a bunch of Naxi out having a good time.

I spent the next day recovering from at least one of my illnesses, and let myself get talked into renting a taxi for an entire day - which actually ended up working out okay. First we went up the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain - where there was a glacier park at the top of a cable car. Despite being overrun by Chinese tour groups - it was great to get up into altitude and cold and snow and wind and ice. Very refreshing. In the afternoon, I again let myself get talked into a horse ride. While it was touristy, as an individual traveler, I got my own guide, my own horse and got to set my own pace. Unfortunately, while the scenery was spectacular, I must have gotten the worlds' most hateful horse. We ended up (unwisely) taking a metal boat out onto a lake . .. during a thunderstorm. I've made wiser decisions, so not wanting to end up on the news (American tourist evaporated by 1.21 gigawatts of electricity!), we turned back early.

I left Lijiang early the next morning, catching a local bus to Qiaotou where the Tiger Leaping Gorge hike starts out from. With the sun beating down on me (it got hot) I made my way up up up the upper path, past the 28 bends (switchbacks kill me) eventually making my way to what could possibly be my favorite place to stay anywhere, the Halfway House guesthouse, 6 hours down the Tiger Leaping Gorge Trail.

With the most fun waitresses in China, and a gorgeous view of the mountains, we shared simple Chinese food with a table full of independent Chinese backpackers - who didn't really exist 10 years ago - but who are now roaming all over China. With a table full of Europeans and Australians and another table full of Chinese backpackers . . .all it took was for someone somewhat bi-lingual to close the gap and get everyone talking and. .. drinking beer together. Wait a sec, I'm somewhat tri-lingal. So after a bit of shyness was overcome, everyone got to talking and it was an enjoyable night.

Getting up in the morning to hit the second day of the Tiger Leaping Gorge Trail, we motored through to Tina's Guesthouse, then took the trail down to the water to see the Gorges up close. And man, they were spectacular. Just a bunch of white water and lots and lots of power crashing into the rocks. I could have stayed there all day, but the day was getting along, so we powered along the newly opened lower path, until the end when we had to go straight up the side of the hill for one vertical kilometer.

We ended up at Sean's Guesthouse - which is the oldest and most well known guesthouse along the Tiger Leaping Gorge Trail. I don't recommend staying there myself. It's shabby and run down and we suffered through some amazingly desultory service. From Sean's the next morning, we quickly undid the 24 km hike in a mini-van moving down a dirt road which took 40 minutes.

Getting back to Kunming the following day, there was one remaining thing for me left to do, and that was to try the famous "Across the Bridge Noodles" - there's a famous chain of restaurants in Kunming called "The Brothers Jiang" - and you can order about 5 different sizes, which come with different meats and stuff. The way it works is you walk up to the outside booth, order your noodles (6, 8, 10, 12, or 25 RMB per bowl - I chose 25 RMB) and go and sit down and a waiter will bring you your noodles. Actually if you order the cheap bowl, you have to go to the window yourself and push people around to get your noodles. Then they bring you this GIGANTIC bowl of soup and with the 25 RMB noodles, about 15 dishes with various things. You then dump the noodles, and all the meats and flavorings into the hot broth + oil, which cooks your raw meat. Stir it around, then enjoy.

Let me tell you, I came THIS close to staying forever at the Halfway House and not coming back to Shanghai. It was truly a magical place, and there's a lot more in the province to see . . . I'd like to head back soon

Linkin Park in Shanghai

2007-11-19T15:48:00.000+08:00

Alright, I like Linkin Park. I'd seen them 3 times before in the US and I own all their albums (even Re-Animation) so when they were coming to Shanghai, I knew I had to go see them up at Hongkou Stadium.

They put on a great show, full of passion and it was a very tight performance.

http://player.youku.com/player.php/sid/XMTE3NDk1MDg=/v.swf

Here's the set list:

11/18/2007 Linkin Park Live in Shanghai full list

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

01 One Step Closer
02 Lying From You
03 Somewhere I Belong
04 No More Sorrow
05 Papercut
06 Petrified
07 Points Of Authority
08 Wake
09 Given Up
10 Don't Stay
11 From The Inside
12 Leave Out All The Rest
13 Numb
14 Pushing Me Away
15 Breaking The Habit
16 Crawling
17 Shadow of The Day
18 In The End
19 Bleed It Out

Encore:

20 The Little Things Give You Away
21 What I've Done
22 Faint

Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)

2007-10-26T21:07:00.000+08:00

Okay, I realize the song is aboslutely infintile, but it's catchy as hell. And this video cracks me up

Spongeboy Cranks Dat Ho

Let Go - Frou Frou and the California Golden Overtones

2007-10-25T18:15:00.000+08:00

One of my favorite YouTube videos - the California Golden Overtones (Go Bears!) singing Frou Frou's Let Go

Tha 1 to Watch

2007-10-13T00:30:00.000+08:00

I love this guy.

Best institution in the nation! (Although Grimmy says it should really be "Best University in the Nation")

Yue Festival Rocked my Wig

2007-10-08T20:55:00.000+08:00

One of the very nice things about staying in Shanghai over Golden Week was being able to attend the very first Yue Festival (Yue, as in Ying Yue - Mandarin for Music). With LA Latin Funk band Ozomatli and Brooklyn's Finest Talib Kweli, along with a whole host of supporting acts (YACHT!) it was a great day out.

I actually had a lot more fun here than I have at similar festivals in the US - mainly because it was crowded enough that you know that there's something going on, but it wasn't so crowded that you need to wait for port-a-potties or food or drink.

Ozomatli and Talib Kweli rock the house in Zhongshan Park above.

Talib Kweli was amazing on the mic. It was great to see so many international acts and local acts putting on a fun filled day. The sun was out, it was breezy, the music was great - and hopefully money was raised for a very worth cause: Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots organization.

Let's hope the organizers come back next year.

Damn it feels good to be a gangster

2007-10-01T08:13:00.000+08:00

Thank DeSean, Nate, Ezeff for a great win. Bring on OSU.

2007-09-22T15:11:00.001+08:00

Who has a working iPhone in Shanghai? Me. That's right me. Call me!

Advice for the very stupid

2007-09-16T04:51:00.000+08:00

Which includes me - don't make a trip to Macau. . . on a Saturday . . .without booking a hotel room.

Thanks

Wal Mart has the Nation's 2nd best return policy, behind DeSean Jackson

2007-09-03T22:55:00.000+08:00

It's not just a Facebook group. . . it's the truth.

The changing of seasons in Shanghai

2007-09-01T16:03:00.000+08:00

Sure some people mark the seasons with the calendar . . . or by the fact that college football is starting.

Me? I know the seasons have changed because today I saw my first chestnut roaster on Nanchang Lu.

16 hours until Cal vs. Tennessee.

The Stewart went below (shhh.. .)

2007-08-30T14:18:00.000+08:00

to light the captain's lamp.
The lamp that would not light/because the wick was damp.
The captain went below, TO KICK THE STEWARD'S ASS!!
SO FIRE IT UP YOU SON OF A BITCH THE GOLDEN GATE HAS PASSED!!
For California, For California,
The hills ring out the cry,
we're out to do or die.
For California, For California,
We'll win the game or know the reason why (team sucks!)
And when the game is over we will buy a keg of booze
and we'll drink to California 'til we wobble in our shoes.
So Drink - tra la la,
Drink - tr la la,
rink, Drank, Drunk last night, Drunk the night before,
Gonna get drunk tonight like I've never been drunk before.
Cuz when I am drunk I'm as happy as can be
For I am a member of the Souse family
Oh the Souse family is the best family
To ever come over from old Germany
There's the Highland Dutch and the Lowland Dutch
The goddamn Dutch and the Irish
Sing glorious, victorious,One keg of beer for the four of us
Sing glory be to God that there are no more of us
Cuz one of us can drink it alone, damn near
Here's to the Irish, dead drunk.
Those lucky stiffs - they had four-fifths.
A six pack too, of homemade brew.
And there was Grandma, swinging from the outhouse door
without a nightie.
And there was Grandpa, wishing he could come once more,
but he was 80 . . .

Don't you know sometimes you just gotta Go Bears!

Yi Jianlian Signs

2007-08-29T20:01:00.000+08:00

Finally

Get to Brewtown and show them what you can do, my Cantonese brother.

6 more days

2007-08-28T04:31:00.000+08:00

I'm totally excited

One week to go . . .

2007-08-26T13:29:00.001+08:00

1 week to go until this young man restarts his assualt on the secondaries of the NCAA. I, for one, cannot fucking wait.

We're Number 3! We're Number 3!

2007-08-13T21:23:00.000+08:00

Shanghai's own Jiaotong University has released their (annual? semi-annual? bi-annual?) regular world university rankings.

The University of California, Berkeley (my alma mater) ranks number 3 in the world.

Whoot!

The rankings

STOP SNITCHING

2007-08-13T07:06:00.000+08:00

That's right. I'm talking to you Cho Chang .

Big Weekend in the city

2007-07-01T20:09:00.000+08:00

First spent Friday night at a Xinjiang Restaurant with the NBA folks in town for Basketball without Borders. Then after a 30 minute search for a cab and ogling the Ferraris at the Four Seasons, we made our way over Barbarossa for drinks - didn't get home until 1am.

Saturday Morning, woke up early and went with my friend C. to the Shanghai International Tennis Center

Played 2 hours of tennis (poorly) with grumpy Europeans. Had lunch, then took a long nap - because at night we were going to see the Go! Team.

They really rocked. . . and it was SO MUCH FUN. Jumping. Sweating. Dancing. Probably the most fun I've had at a concert since the Mighty Mighty Bosstones in 97 at the Fillmore or Weezer in 1995. . . also at the Fillmore.

The last part of the weekend - I signed up with Bohdi Bicycles and the Shanghai Bike club to do some riding out at Dianshan Lake. I should really be doing work right now, but I'm so tired I might just go to sleep early and wake up to do the work in the morning.

GO! TEAM