Archive for August, 2005

I’m sitting at the 5-star Sheraton in Chengdu, Sichuan province, wondering if it can get any better than this. I’m here on Intel’s dime, a business trip to help the new factory set up their forecasting processes. Originally, I didn’t expect to even consider leaving Shanghai for, well, anywhere else. But here in the land [...]

Anabela was the belle of the ball on her birthday. She graciously hosted us at Shikumen Bistro at Xintiandi, then we headed over to JZ for some jazz and cocktails and conversation. Epilogue at sketchy Julu Lu not posted here

Dumb teen: Hey, look at this! It says ‘Train for jobs in beeyotch.’
Smarter teen: Fool! That word is biotech. Why you gotta be ignorant all your life?
The above is just a tidbit overheard on the streets of New York, taken from one of the coolest websites around right now. Shanghai, with its swarms of people [...]

Babyface, before the chaos
On Wednesday night, we had dinner at a famous Shanghainese restaurant with Grace, Angela (my angel from the north, see previous post), Alex, his cousin Kevin, and a Shanghainese girl named Stella who had a deep, gruff voice and a penchant for bouncing up and down on the dance floor. I don’t [...]

Grace called me on Sunday and asked me for a favor. She had a friend named Angela in town who was visiting for a few days from Beijing, and as circumstance would have it she needed a place to stay. Did I know anyone who could offer their apartment or house for a few days?
Eric: [...]

I’m definitely starting to feel my age. On Friday, in honor of little Alex returning from New York for a monthlong hiatus, I found myself cold-sweating while downing Chivas all night at La Disco, then heading to Guandi not at all enjoying my state of stupor, as I usually do. Bouncing between three tables and [...]

A few notes from my very brief trip to Lijiang in Yunnan province (photos have been posted):
- The Han Chinese (of which I am a member) is the largest Chinese ethnic group, and contributes to 91% of the total population on the mainland. There are 56 officially recognized ethnic minority groups in China constituting the [...]

A trip out to Lijiang in Yunnan Province, supposedly one of the most beautiful cities in all of China. Indeed it was, despite the non-stop rain, and had some quality family time to go along with it.

I have not one, but TWO canker sores on my tongue. I know that doesn’t sound pleasant, but hearing it is about a thousand times better than how it actually feels. I’m quite depressed right now, so much so that I’m contemplating staying in and sobbing for the next two weeks. One is bad enough, [...]

Science fiction stories have often successfully led the audience to ask questions regarding their own humanity and character. Perhaps it is because the limits to the narrative are fewer, or because the genre fundamentally exists upon hypothetical scenarios; the most memorable science fiction writers allow us to identify with these characters placed in fantastical circumstances. [...]