There is an interesting WSJ article profiling certain personality traits across states. Pretty interesting, and makes me wonder whether students who live in many different states are affected by their environments. And, how much of what that region’s environment sticks with them. Personally, I have definitely been affected by the cynicism and neuroticism of New England and New York, though I am still undoubtedly a Californian. My personality sporadically jumps from one to another: sometimes I am enraged by the amount of people on the streets and on public transportation, but at other times am completely unbothered and people watch. I micromanage, but I also just go with whatever comes my way. Whether or not this attests to different regional temperaments, I do not know. But the article is still worth a glance.
Read more »
Usually in the States, when the stoplight is broken, cars stop at the intersection as if there was a stop sign. Not in China. If anything, it roughly translates into, “There’s no traffic signal denoting cross-traffic and pedestrian crossings, so speed up!” When you try to cross (even when there is a crosswalk), it’s as though you are in their way. They honk and flash their high beams as they zoom past. Would any of them dare to actually hit us? To test this theory out, a few friends and I attempted to cross. Crossing Running for your life as buses and aggressive taxis speed toward you is not advised.
Read more »
The Shanghaiist reports of the many more products that have shown traces of melamine. I can’t believe how this is turning out, and I don’t even want to imagine the many other harmful chemicals that are in the foods we consume. Way to lose major face, China.
Read more »
Today I will be throwing out all of my dairy products. The melamine milk scandal just continues to spiral deeper and deeper into trouble. Not long after I posted about melamine in milk and yogurt products, I went on a rampant search to find what exactly those “eight out of 30 products” were. I searched English news websites, Chinese news websites, the Chinese Ministry of Health website, all to no avail. But then all of Hong Kong’s supermarkets started to recall all of Yili’s products. When precautions made on behalf of a government are that intense, something’s gotta be up. I have to wonder, why does China not take preemptive measures so that events like this don’t have to happen? It is only when it it’s too late (i.e., people die, are hospitalized, etc.) that the government takes action. Talk about losing face. But that’s how China works, and something tells me that unless major government reforms are implemented, it’ll stay this way.
Read more »
I’m pretty certain that my thesis has infiltrated into every element of my life, as Osama bin Laden made a guest appearance in my dreams last night.
Read more »
There is a lot an American can say when they hear “9/11.” I could write for ages about it, but today is a day to remember. It’s difficult for me to relive–let alone imagine–what I did on September 11. I just remember sitting in French class watching the television, not fully aware of the implications this momentous event would have on American diplomacy and mindsets of people around the world. When 9/11 movies started to come out, I always thought, “It’s too soon. It’s too soon.” But it’s been five years, and I still think it happened yesterday. “September 11.” This government buzzword has been used so much that it on any other day but September 11, the word can become meaningless. But at the same time, it has also been misused greatly by the government to incite feelings of injustice and contempt (Pavlov’s dog, anyone?); another reason to keep fighting, every day, even if we no longer know what we’re fighting for. When I took time to really remember what “September 11″ means, I still cannot believe what happened, much less believe what ensued and continues to this day. I now understand how some people can become numb to
Read more »