The Chinese Disaster

Have you been following the news about President Hu's visit to the White House? It was full of the type of faux pas that we might consider minor annoyances but to a Chinese way of thinking they would be major insults.

One of the main ones is the Falun Gong protester during President Hu's speech. Why did it take so long to escort her out of the area? While we do favor dissent here in the United States (at least on paper), we also limit protesters to certain areas usually. Big protests need a permit for example. Environmentalist are routinely arrested for chaining themselves together to block logging trucks. Given the delicate relationship we have with China, it is vital we don't embarrass their leader. It didn't appear that she lied in obtaining her temporary credentials, and she wrote for a Falun Gong newspaper, so someone should have caught that.

The next one was how President Bush at first motioned to escort President Hu off the stage and, a moment later, when Bush realized they needed to stay on there to take a picture or something, he grabbed Hu by the back of his jacket and pulled in back. No wonder this was just an "official" visit and not a "state" visit. We can't even keep from manhandling our guests!

The third one that I remember was that during the official playing of the Chinese anthem it was announced as Taiwan's anthem. They said Republic of China, which is the official name of Taiwan, instead of People's Republic of China, which is mainland China. You must remember the ongoing tension between Taiwan and China, and the US and China over Taiwan. Confusing the two is a very basic mistake that should not have happened.

These sort of slight could have a big cumulative effect and hurt our relationship with China. This administration is incompetent and criminal.

How can I be Behind?

School is really heating up. I was still in the mind set of quarters, so at first this pace seemed really slow to me. But also with quarters school gets out later. We only have till May 23rd, which is really only a month away. It is a little scary. I have been keeping up with what I had to do everyday, and even working on the big projects some, but I still feel like I am behind. I better buckle down.

I'm doing a paper in one class about market-driven journalism, which is journalism beholden to capitalistic forces, such as advertising or shareholders. One could argue that all media need advertisers and shareholders, otherwise they would have no money to print newspapers or braodcast newscasts. Ideally, though, journalism would be concerned solely with delivering truth to the public. How to accomplish that and still maintain a profit so you can afford to hire a newsroom is the question. I've got some good references already so I think it might make an interesting paper. I like it so far, anyway.

I haven't been thanking you as much for reading as I have on my old blog, Shamrock to Kiwi. I guess it is because these entries or shorter so I don't feel so guilty at the end of writing them. But I appreciate anyone who reads my ramblings, no matter how short. So Thank You!!

What a Party!

Everyone cheer Cheryl and Ryan, the bride and groom! Hip, Hip, Horray!

That was even more fun than I thought it would be. My cousin had it planned down to the smallest detail, and the wedding and reception went off without a hitch.

The ceremony itself was fairly short, and took place at the couple's church. The place was packed, and everyone was so involved in the service, craning their necks to see the bridal party enter. The party was huge, with six each of bridesmaids and groomsmen, and two each of the flower girls and ring bearers. One flower girl was a little blond about three years old, and she was absolutely too precious for words. She behaved well during the service too.

The reception was yummy too. More food, I know, but I am traveling! Choice of broccolli salad with cranberries and walnuts or romaine with gargonzola, and then tri-tip or tortellini. I had the tortellini. I often get vegetarian when I travel (it was spinich and cheese pasta).

The dancing was fun too. Folks was very inclusive, so everyone felt welcome to get up and dance. We did YMCA of course, and just generally had a wonderful time.

Thanks for reading! I should thank you more often. :-)

Back Home Safe, on to Cousin's Wedding

I flew back just fine from my trip to Baltimore. I arrived home last Sunday without any trouble at all. Well, I guess the plane was late on the last leg, but I had my ipod and my magazines so I was just fine. We made up some time in the air so we weren't that late. Sorry I didn't tell you earlier.

Now we are at Davis for the wedding of my cousin. That should be fun. Nothing like a wedding to lift the spirits. Though of course I'm at the age where all my friends are marrying off, so it makes me feel a little lonely. Still, I wish her all the best. It is always nice to go to a wedding and get ideas of how you might want your wedding to be someday. Of course, it is not the wedding that is important, but the marriage. And I think my cousin will be good at that too.

NYC

We just returned from New York and I for one had a wonderful time. We stayed in the East Village, near Greenwich Village. We stayed in a building that appeared to be half apartments and half hotel suites. We had what amounted to a one bedroom apartment, completely with a samll kitchen and a tiny stove. Very cute.

Yesterday we saw the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). They were having a Munch exhibit, which I loved. So many of his pieces scare the viewer or at least make you feel squeemish. Very affecting. Such dark backgrounds and clothes and then a very white face. And then he has some that are very light and bright, like a horse pulling a sleigh through the snow, and people in colorful clothes on ether side of the street. Such a contrast. Some of his work is very detailed and pictorial, like some of the commissioned portraits he did. Such a difference from "Despair" (the forerunner to "The Scream") which shows a man's profile where the screamer usually is. But it still has the blood red sky. Just amazing. I bought tons of postcards.

Ok, now a bit of food. Settle down, it is just a bit! Today we went to Tom's Diner, the one made famous as the Sienfeld hangout and the setting of Suzzanne Vega song of the same name. So that was fun to be a part of the legend. See? Not much food.

Well, gotta go dinner is on. (ooops!, More Food!)