I never tire of this photo, snapped in rural Henan Province, probably in 1984 or 1985. Someone had taken an old bus and turned it into a small shop. It was a common sight at the time. A one-stop shop for cigarettes, sodas, and candy.
Month: January 2018
Reading Assignment: Sky City
Much has been written in recent years about China’s so-called ghost cities, urban areas that that are built, often in the middle of nowhere, in hopes of luring people and investment. Sometimes these new urban developments are built as replicas of famous European cities, complete with fake Eiffel Towers, windmills, and stone cathedrals. Since they…
Another Buckeye Bell
Awhile back I attended a concert of the Eric Whitacre Singers at the Cathedral of St. Paul. During the intermission, I joined a long line waiting to enter the restroom. Sitting just outside the ladies room was this bell: As you can well imagine, I am immediately drawn to church bells, so I gave it…
A Tribute to My Father, 2018
Seventeen years ago I watched the inauguration of President George W. Bush on an old TV in a hotel room on a beach in Thailand. The next morning, my mom called to tell me that my father had suffered a sudden heart attack and died. Within 24 hours I was on a plane bound for…
2017 Reading: American Stories
In looking over the books I read in 2017, it’s apparent that I somehow got on a kick of reading books that told stories about the history of the United States. Maybe it had something to do with the four 1000+ mile road trips across the country that I took. At any rate, if you…
Friday Photo: Street Cleaners
I spotted this “lovely” scene in Tianjin a few years back. The street cleaner’s trikes lined up waiting to be put to use. China’s mega-cities are still kept clean primarily by workers who peddle around on these and sweep the streets with straw brooms. Gotta love it! Related Posts: Going to Tianjin? Do This! Tianjin…