The evening of August 8th, 2008... 8pm of special significance for the Chinese. There's a reason why the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China was set to launch at that time. 8 (ba) in Chinese sounds very much like the word prosper (fa). So, 8/8/08 at 8pm, is prosper/prosper/prosper, prosper to the Chinese.
This evening, also a special one for us... has led us all to huddle up together in a colleagues hotel room. We're all on a Company Outing at the Lakes of a Thousand Islands (千岛湖 Qian Dao Hu) about 3 hours outside of Hangzhou proper. All of us Ali Colleagues, huddle up together on the hotel bed, armed with junk food, beer, vodka, wine and you name it, in front of the little hotel television, awaiting with anticipation the beginning of what we've all long endured.
Just wanted to throw a shout out to Congressman Wexler and Rep. Kucinich. I personally have supported the impeachment movement from abroad with donations (now becoming regular) and in spirit, because I believe that no one should be above the law. It looks like Congressman Wexler is now getting attacked by those who seek to remain above the law and now needs our help.
I've just pitched in my monetary help and wish also to share it with anyone that happens to stop by and that might share a similar concern.
As an American being away from home, one can really see how fragile and unnormal basic American ideals can be in the rest of the world. Ever since leaving home to study abroad, I have met many people from all around the world. Each of them have their own social norms, cultures and backgrounds from which they come. In some of them, I see things that we, as Americans, should aspire to. In some of them, I see things that we, as Americans, thought we had overcome. But as much progress as we have had in the past generations, this current generation of mine is witnessing a decline.
I chanced upon this video that reminisces some of what being American and America used to mean, and my inner hope that someday we may head back to the right direction. It is a shocking awakening to go abroad and truly see your country and yourself reflected in the eyes of the world, that my fellow Americans sheltered domestically have little inkling of.
This is the first I've ever seen of Bob Barr for President, but it is definitely well done.
Lately, I've been getting requests to use some of my photos as accompaniments to articles or blog posts written by other people. Though my photos are nowhere near spectacular, it is interesting to see this new development and what people use photos for. Here are two articles in which my photos have been used:
Cruise Ships Don't Have To Report Crimes This one was particularly interesting to me because I had taken a cruise several years ago and fortunately for me it went well. But I had no idea the sheer danger, I could have been in.
Some article about maglev in China This one I didn't actually read as I think it's just some news and the person who put this up included hundreds of maglev photos. Some of it a bit reptitious and I got bored browsing through them quickly.
But this website NowPublic is definitely an interesting concept allowing people to write articles and scour the internet for photos to accompany their articles. Makes me wonder if someone can be sitting in Tahiti and writing about the latest news they heard, then scouring Flickr for the accompanying photo...
One of my friends just posted this link with some daring photos captured from within Beijing.
As an expat living in Hangzhou, I haven't heard much about the Olympics actually and rarely felt any excitement. I've heard that many China citizens are getting tired of the Olympics push on television and advertisements. I've also heard that China is very excited and passionate about hosting the Olympics.
Just last Friday as I was taking the taxi home, I heard on the taxi radio that China was issuing Olympics themed paper bills or coins. These were to be freely exchanged in the economy, however those who had first access to it would horde it and turn it for a huge profit instead. The complaint from the radio was that the Olympics was already out of reach of the average citizen and now this Olympic themed currency which was meant for the masses is now also out of reach.
It looks like the Olympics is really more of a trial, than a celebration for China.
The evening of August 8th, 2008... 8pm of special significance for the Chinese. There's a reason why the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China was set to launch at that time. 8 (ba) in Chinese sounds very much like the word prosper (fa). So, 8/8/08 at 8pm, is prosper/prosper/prosper, prosper to the Chinese.
Lately, I've been getting requests to use some of my photos as accompaniments to articles or blog posts written by other people. Though my photos are nowhere near spectacular, it is interesting to see this new development and what people use photos for. Here are two articles in which my photos have been used:
One of my friends just posted this link with some