In honor of Memorial Day, I am re-publishing this post I wrote about my mom’s cousin, who ferried soldiers to the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. I always knew him simply as Cousin Del, even though he was actually my mom’s cousin, not mine. He never married and took care of his mother until her death. […]
Friday Photo: Bizarre Building
In a city (Beijing) known for it’s bizarre (and, dare I say, ugly) architecture, surely this one must be eligible for some kind of prize… It’s enough to give a person nightmares! Related posts: An Outrageous Mountain Villa From Lucky Street to Vivid Town One Neighborhood, Two Perspectives
50 Years from the Cultural Revolution
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Great Proletariat Cultural Revolution, a political campaign launched by Chairman Mao. The purpose was supposedly to give a new generation the experience of revolution; however, it was actually an outcome of a power struggle between Mao and the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. During […]
Life in a Nail Neighborhood
Perhaps you have heard of nail houses in China–dwellings whose owners have refused to move in defiance of demolition orders. As Chinese cities continue to expand, they are swallowing up villages and land in the countryside. The Boston Globe’s Big Picture blog recently published a photo series documenting a nail neighborhood in Shanghai. In this case […]
Friday Photo: Saddle Up
On a trip to Mongolia in 2010, we did a bit of horse-back riding at Gun Gallut Nature Reserve a few hours outside of the capital city Ulaanbaatar. A truly memorable experience. Related Posts: Breakfast in the Gobi Ulaanbaatar – Pic of the Day A Sunset Ride Wild Horses Mongolian Triads Mongolian Music A Journey Remembered
Why Are They Lining Up?
In what has to be one of the most fascinating lenses through which to observe history and societal change, this short film chronicles recent Chinese history by looking at the different things Chinese people have lined up for over the years. It was posted to the BBC website under the title “China’s History as Told […]
