Eighteen years ago, I was at a small beachside resort in southern Thailand when I got word that my father had died. Within 24 hours I was on a plane bound for Minnesota. Below are the words that I spoke in farewell and tribute to my dad at his memorial service on January 25, 2001 […]
Happy New Year
Is it 2019 already? Where did 2018 go? For that matter, where did 2000 go? And 1975? You get the picture…. Looks like Hong Kong was the place to be when the clock struck midnight. The amazing fireworks display gets going at the 1:48 mark. (Email readers, please click here to watch the video.) May you […]
2018 Books: Top Ten
Thanks to being part of a book club and the discovery of audiobooks, I did a lot of reading (and listening) in 2018. Here are ten of my favorites: The Almost Nearly Perfect People: Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia, by Michael Booth This is an interesting look at the cultures and societies of […]
Don’t Touch the Red Button
During the two weeks I was in China, I took four different high-speed train rides (the absolute best way to travel). As with all other public spaces in China, there are lists of behavior rules posted all over the train, and a steady stream of announcements over the loudspeaker about prohibited “uncivilized” behavior. Most of […]
Rejuvenation Express
When China began building its amazing high speed rail system in the early 2000s, Hu Jintao was the leader of China. As with all leaders, he had a slogan or catchphrase that was used (ad nauseum) to symbolize his rule. With Hu Jintao, the slogan was “build a harmonious society.” For his 8 years in […]
A Vile Vial
My travel itinerary on this China trip took me to Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province. Besides being the center of China’s coal production, Shanxi is famous for vinegar. In fact, when you step off a train or plane, the smell of vinegar is in the air. Upon arrival, our hosts took us to a […]
