Dr. Russell Moore has a convicting piece on his blog today. Here's the whole post (sensored a tad). (Thanks Rob for putting this up!)
Now these three abide: anger, outrage, and fear—and the greatest of these is fear.”
That’s not in the Book. But sometimes I wonder if I think it is.
The United States House of Representatives just passed a health care reform bill that I and lots of other Believers opposed. Such legislation should concern us. There are some bad consequences for the weakest and most vulnerable among us, principally unborn children. But should it also concern us that so many of us are talking today about how afraid we are?
Is it a problem that some of us who are tranquil as still water about doctrine and ecclesial mission are red-faced about Nancy Pelosi and the talking heads on MSNBC? Is it a problem that some who haven’t shared the Good News with their neighbors in months or years are motivated to vent to strangers on the street about how scary national health care will be?
It’s not that I think Believers should be disengaged from issues of justice (God forbid!). It’s just that I wonder if we wouldn’t represent our Savior and his kingdom better if we did it with a certain tranquility of Spirit, a tranquility that signals we’re not afraid of the rise and fall of temporal kingdoms and their policies.
The words “do not fear” and “don’t be afraid” are among the most common phrases on the lips of our Father—in both Old and New Testaments—and on the lips of his angelic messengers. I wonder why?
Isn’t it because “perfect love casts out fear” (1 Jn. 4:18)? Isn’t it because we “did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear” (Rom. 8:15)? Isn’t it because the Spirit prompts us not to “fear anything that is frightening” (1 Pet. 3:6)?
In fact, the H.S. through King David, in a context far more frightening than that of our own, calls us to “fret not yourself because of evildoers” who will soon pass but “trust in the Ld and do good” (Ps. 37:1-3).
Here’s why this matters.
Most of us don’t preach “hellfire and brimstone” sermons anymore, on hell and Gd’s judgment. But hellfire is exactly what J.C. said we should fear. “And do not fear the ones who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul,” our Ld tells his disciples. “Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28).
J.C. not only teaches this; he lives it. J.C. doesn’t fear the crowds attempting to stone him. He doesn’t cower before Pilate. He isn’t afraid of the Sanhedrin. He’s confident and tranquil, even when he’s being arrested. But when he faces drinking from the cup of judgment of his Father, he sweats drops of blood.
If we were half as outraged by our own sin and self-deception as we are by the follies of our political opponents, what would be the result? If we rejoiced as much that our names are written in heaven as we do about such trivialities as basketball brackets, what would be the result?
So if what you’re afraid of is a politician or a policy or a culture or the future of Western civilization, don’t give up the conviction but give up the fear. Work for justice. Oppose evil. But do it so that your opponents will see not fear but trust, optimism, and affection.
“So now faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).
Fear Gd and, beyond that, don’t be afraid.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Easy Granola Bars
Wish I had a picture of these. They're amazing! Thank you Cathy Letherer for the recipe. I'll post a picture once I've made them. Try them out for yourself though...
Grease a 9x9 in. square pan with butter.
Put into large mixing bowl:
1/2 c. corn syrup or malt sugar
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1tbsp. butter
1tsp. vanilla extract
Heat in a microwave for 2 minutes, until a bubbly liquid. Then, add remainin ingredients below.
2 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. rasins or dried cranberries
2 c. rice crispies
1/2 c. sunflower seeds
1/4 c. sesame seeds
1/2 c. nuts (almonds, walnuts, or peanuts)
Mix and press into greased pan and set for 1 hr. Cut into squares. May sprinkle chocolate chips on top while warm.
Grease a 9x9 in. square pan with butter.
Put into large mixing bowl:
1/2 c. corn syrup or malt sugar
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1tbsp. butter
1tsp. vanilla extract
Heat in a microwave for 2 minutes, until a bubbly liquid. Then, add remainin ingredients below.
2 c. oatmeal
1/2 c. rasins or dried cranberries
2 c. rice crispies
1/2 c. sunflower seeds
1/4 c. sesame seeds
1/2 c. nuts (almonds, walnuts, or peanuts)
Mix and press into greased pan and set for 1 hr. Cut into squares. May sprinkle chocolate chips on top while warm.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Unborn Babies in China...What Will the Consequences Be?
Tue, Apr. 21 2009 08:38 AM EDT
When Abortion Collides with Totalitarianism
By R. Albert Mohler, Jr.|Christian Post Guest Columnist
The vast nation of China remains under the control of one of the few surviving Communist regimes on the planet. Over the last two decades, that regime has redefined Communist economic theory, allowing private capital and a consumer market to emerge alongside state control and ownership. Nevertheless, the totalitarian nature of the regime reaches even into the most intimate dimensions of life. The most insidious example of this totalitarian impulse is China's infamous "one child only" policy.
The policy limits most Chinese couples to only one child. Reports of forced abortions and sterilizations abound. Couples in rural areas with a girl as their only child may apply for permission for a second child, in hopes of a boy.
The preference for boys is overwhelming in the Chinese culture, and especially in rural areas. The urgent desire for sons has led to two horrifying developments - the abortion of girls and the abduction of boys. The abortion of baby girls is now a well-established fact. The abduction of boys in China is less known in the West, but it is now attracting attention. As The New York Times reported April 4, 2009, "Although some are sold to buyers in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam, most of the boys are purchased domestically by families desperate for a male heir, parents of abducted children and some law enforcement officials who have investigated the matter say."
The mentality behind the preference for boys is reflected in this comment made to the paper by a man who paid $3,500 for an abducted 5-year-old boy: “A girl is just not as good as a son. . . . It doesn’t matter how much money you have. If you don’t have a son, you are not as good as other people who have one.” The abduction of boys, usually very young, is now "a thriving business," according to the Times.
A clearer picture of the practice of aborting girl babies is also now available, thanks to the British Medical Journal. The picture is nothing less than horrifying. The arrival of ultrasound technology has made the identification of fetal gender a deadly reality for unborn baby girls. They are aborted by the millions.
The demographics are reported in stark terms:
In 2005 males under the age of 20 exceeded females by more than 32 million in China, and more than 1.1 million excess births of boys occurred. China will see very high and steadily worsening sex ratios in the reproductive age group over the next two decades.
In other words, the problem of the gender imbalance has now reached the point that there is, practically speaking, no way to do anything about the present generation. Millions of Chinese young men will have no opportunity to marry. The sociological impact is beyond imagination.
The British study points to a phenomenon known as the "at least one son practice." Many Chinese couples will do just about whatever it takes to have a son. If their first child is a girl and the couple receives permission for a second child, the report makes clear that the abortion of a baby girl at that point is exceedingly likely.
Consider this:
[T]he steady rise in sex ratios across the birth cohorts since 1986 mirrors the increasing availability of ultrasonography over that period. The first ultrasound machines were used in the early 1980s; they reached county hospitals by the late 1980s and then rural townships by the mid-1990s. Since then, ultrasonography has been very cheap and available even to the rural poor. Termination of pregnancy is also very available, in line with the one child policy.
As William Saletan of Slate.com explains, "It's a terrible convergence of ancient prejudice with modern totalitarianism. Girls are culturally and economically devalued; the government uses powerful financial levers to prevent you from having another child; therefore, to make sure you can have a boy, you abort the girl you're carrying."
Though sex-selection abortions are officially illegal in China, the totalitarian regime has made abortion a centerpiece of its "one child only" policy. Ultrasound machines and abortion clinics are available virtually everywhere in China - and both are put to deadly use.
Here we see abortion and totalitarianism hand in hand, resulting in the deaths of millions of baby girls and the abduction of at least thousands of young boys. When human life is devalued and abortion is state policy, the Culture of Death is institutionalized. When the "one child policy" and an ancient and ingrained preference for boys are combined, the womb becomes a deadly place to be a girl.
When Abortion Collides with Totalitarianism
By R. Albert Mohler, Jr.|Christian Post Guest Columnist
The vast nation of China remains under the control of one of the few surviving Communist regimes on the planet. Over the last two decades, that regime has redefined Communist economic theory, allowing private capital and a consumer market to emerge alongside state control and ownership. Nevertheless, the totalitarian nature of the regime reaches even into the most intimate dimensions of life. The most insidious example of this totalitarian impulse is China's infamous "one child only" policy.
The policy limits most Chinese couples to only one child. Reports of forced abortions and sterilizations abound. Couples in rural areas with a girl as their only child may apply for permission for a second child, in hopes of a boy.
The preference for boys is overwhelming in the Chinese culture, and especially in rural areas. The urgent desire for sons has led to two horrifying developments - the abortion of girls and the abduction of boys. The abortion of baby girls is now a well-established fact. The abduction of boys in China is less known in the West, but it is now attracting attention. As The New York Times reported April 4, 2009, "Although some are sold to buyers in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam, most of the boys are purchased domestically by families desperate for a male heir, parents of abducted children and some law enforcement officials who have investigated the matter say."
The mentality behind the preference for boys is reflected in this comment made to the paper by a man who paid $3,500 for an abducted 5-year-old boy: “A girl is just not as good as a son. . . . It doesn’t matter how much money you have. If you don’t have a son, you are not as good as other people who have one.” The abduction of boys, usually very young, is now "a thriving business," according to the Times.
A clearer picture of the practice of aborting girl babies is also now available, thanks to the British Medical Journal. The picture is nothing less than horrifying. The arrival of ultrasound technology has made the identification of fetal gender a deadly reality for unborn baby girls. They are aborted by the millions.
The demographics are reported in stark terms:
In 2005 males under the age of 20 exceeded females by more than 32 million in China, and more than 1.1 million excess births of boys occurred. China will see very high and steadily worsening sex ratios in the reproductive age group over the next two decades.
In other words, the problem of the gender imbalance has now reached the point that there is, practically speaking, no way to do anything about the present generation. Millions of Chinese young men will have no opportunity to marry. The sociological impact is beyond imagination.
The British study points to a phenomenon known as the "at least one son practice." Many Chinese couples will do just about whatever it takes to have a son. If their first child is a girl and the couple receives permission for a second child, the report makes clear that the abortion of a baby girl at that point is exceedingly likely.
Consider this:
[T]he steady rise in sex ratios across the birth cohorts since 1986 mirrors the increasing availability of ultrasonography over that period. The first ultrasound machines were used in the early 1980s; they reached county hospitals by the late 1980s and then rural townships by the mid-1990s. Since then, ultrasonography has been very cheap and available even to the rural poor. Termination of pregnancy is also very available, in line with the one child policy.
As William Saletan of Slate.com explains, "It's a terrible convergence of ancient prejudice with modern totalitarianism. Girls are culturally and economically devalued; the government uses powerful financial levers to prevent you from having another child; therefore, to make sure you can have a boy, you abort the girl you're carrying."
Though sex-selection abortions are officially illegal in China, the totalitarian regime has made abortion a centerpiece of its "one child only" policy. Ultrasound machines and abortion clinics are available virtually everywhere in China - and both are put to deadly use.
Here we see abortion and totalitarianism hand in hand, resulting in the deaths of millions of baby girls and the abduction of at least thousands of young boys. When human life is devalued and abortion is state policy, the Culture of Death is institutionalized. When the "one child policy" and an ancient and ingrained preference for boys are combined, the womb becomes a deadly place to be a girl.
"The Body" in China
World|Fri, Mar. 12 2010 04:36 PM EDT
U.S. Rights Report Criticizes China over Missing Christians
By Ethan Cole|Christian Post Reporter
The United States accused China of various human rights abuses in its new State Department report, including the disappearance of several Christian leaders.
In the human rights report, issued Thursday, the U.S. State Department specifically mentioned the disappearance of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who often represented Chinese house church Christians in court, and underground Catholic bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding, Hebei Province.
Gao, who himself is a house church Christian, was last seen being hauled off by a dozen police officers on Feb. 4, 2009. After more than a year, his family is still unable to confirm his whereabouts.
“In the last several years, more public interest, human rights, environmental lawyers have been taking cases. Law clinics and elsewhere are springing up. There seems to be a real crackdown,” said Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner during a media briefing Thursday. “And we learned today that there’s also a new press certification system in place which is going to give Chinese journalists training in Marxist news theories.
“So there is a sense that the space is actually closing for those, whether they’re journalists, lawyers, or NGO activists.”
Gao, who was once named by the Chinese government as one of the country’s ten best lawyers, was detained and severely tortured in 2007. He was released and told never to disclose what happened to him while he was in prison.
But after his disappearance last year, his wife released an open letter by Gao that detailed the horrific torture he endured.
Currently, some of the world’s leading human rights specialists have joined forces to call on the United Nations to assist in locating Gao.
Similarly, Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo was arrested last year on March 30 and his whereabouts are still unknown. Several other underground Catholic priests remain missing after being arrested a few years earlier.
China only allows its citizens to worship in religious institutions affiliated with bodies established by the Religious Affairs Bureau. For Protestant Christians, this means worshipping in churches affiliated with the Three-Self Patriotic Movement and the China Christian Council. For Catholics, they are legally allowed to worship at churches that belong to the state-approved Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.
But many Chinese Catholics worship underground because they want to remain loyal to the Pope.
Likewise, many Protestant Christians refuse to worship in registered churches because they feel that joining a registered church compromises their belief that God is the head of the church.
There are up to 100 million underground Chinese Christians, and the number is growing.
U.S. Rights Report Criticizes China over Missing Christians
By Ethan Cole|Christian Post Reporter
The United States accused China of various human rights abuses in its new State Department report, including the disappearance of several Christian leaders.
In the human rights report, issued Thursday, the U.S. State Department specifically mentioned the disappearance of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who often represented Chinese house church Christians in court, and underground Catholic bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding, Hebei Province.
Gao, who himself is a house church Christian, was last seen being hauled off by a dozen police officers on Feb. 4, 2009. After more than a year, his family is still unable to confirm his whereabouts.
“In the last several years, more public interest, human rights, environmental lawyers have been taking cases. Law clinics and elsewhere are springing up. There seems to be a real crackdown,” said Assistant Secretary of State Michael Posner during a media briefing Thursday. “And we learned today that there’s also a new press certification system in place which is going to give Chinese journalists training in Marxist news theories.
“So there is a sense that the space is actually closing for those, whether they’re journalists, lawyers, or NGO activists.”
Gao, who was once named by the Chinese government as one of the country’s ten best lawyers, was detained and severely tortured in 2007. He was released and told never to disclose what happened to him while he was in prison.
But after his disappearance last year, his wife released an open letter by Gao that detailed the horrific torture he endured.
Currently, some of the world’s leading human rights specialists have joined forces to call on the United Nations to assist in locating Gao.
Similarly, Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo was arrested last year on March 30 and his whereabouts are still unknown. Several other underground Catholic priests remain missing after being arrested a few years earlier.
China only allows its citizens to worship in religious institutions affiliated with bodies established by the Religious Affairs Bureau. For Protestant Christians, this means worshipping in churches affiliated with the Three-Self Patriotic Movement and the China Christian Council. For Catholics, they are legally allowed to worship at churches that belong to the state-approved Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.
But many Chinese Catholics worship underground because they want to remain loyal to the Pope.
Likewise, many Protestant Christians refuse to worship in registered churches because they feel that joining a registered church compromises their belief that God is the head of the church.
There are up to 100 million underground Chinese Christians, and the number is growing.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Tuesday: the day of the hike
We awoke at 7:15…or at least Grace and I did. We were getting a head start on the day. The day that lay ahead of us included hiking the through the mountains…and that’s about it! Aside from having realized the night before that I left my toothbrush in Kunming, all was well. Don’t worry; I bought one around 9am because I just couldn’t handle it!
After feeling pumped about the day ahead, we walked up Renmin Lu in search of some grub. We divided and conquered; Grace and I with our hot soy milk and baozi (veggie roll dumplings), Kim with her onion bread pancake thing, and Zach with his xiao juzi (or tangerines). We were off to a great start!
Around 10am, we had a van come pick us up from the hostel and take us up the mountain. The van looked brand new. Usually they’re somewhat dirty…or old looking. Nope! This one looked brand new! I wasn’t so sure though once I started smelling smoke as we slowly climbed the mountain. The engine didn’t sound so great either! I was just praying we wouldn’t all go up in flames!
We arrived at the take off point (cars can only go so far) and began our hike up the stairs (many) so that we could then get on the petrifying ski lift that would take us up…only about half way (the mountains were huge). I’m pretty sure that we were in the foothills of the Himalayas! As we hiked up the stairs, we were bombarded by people selling fruit and other goods. The fruit tasted so sweet. I’m pretty sure she must’ve done something to the fruit. I’ve never had strawberries so sweet! We gave in and bought a kilo of them and loaded them in the backpack. Then, the treacherous ride up the mountain began. I had to pull the window down just to get some fresh air. Ugh! I hate being that high up on a little cord that so easily seems like it could just snap! Somehow though, I’m not that afraid of flying. Maybe it’s being able to see my sudden death? I don’t know.
Good news! I’m still alive! We got off and had the privilege of hiking up too many stairs. My heart rate and body temperature increased simultaneously, that’s for sure. I was pleased when we finally reached the level that the path that would take us about 4-5 hours to walk and that was mostly flat…with no stairs! The sights were grand. Snow in some corners, and strong heat in others. The city spread out below us, and gondolas frequented the alcoves. We happened upon a little tented area (where it looked like people were temporarily living) and ate some fried noodles (or rice)…I can’t remember. BUT, I do remember that it was one of the best fried _____ I’ve ever had! Why was that lady cooking in the mountains? She could be making a fortune if she would hike down with her frying pan and chopping board!
After lunch, we continued on our way. Our final destination was about 13 km away from where we’d initially been dropped off at. That’s about 8 miles. We think we actually hiked a little more than that though…we’re going to say 10 miles! I had to use the bathroom or the “WC”—I guess they use the British phraseology (wow! That’s a word!). Unfortunately, the sweet little lady that cooked the “hao chi” food told me “mei you” (sounds like mayo and means don’t have). She pointed up a hill, as if to tell me, “Go squat up there behind the trees.” I declined and kept walking with my buds. After going around about two more mountains, I was certain, and so was Kim that we simply could not wait any longer! Kim and I began scouting out some place in the shrubbery to find solitude and privacy. It took some effort….like me climbing up off the nice paved sidewalk and grasping some branches (hoping I wasn’t touching anything poisonous) and at times using my hands to walk up the steep slope. At last, I had found the perfect spot! I’ll spare you the details…but I felt pretty proud of myself, as did Kim…a former brownie girl!
After a long day of walking, I was ready to just drop down and stay there for awhile! Grace and Zach kept us going though. We walked all the way from the foot of the mountain back to the ancient city. Remember that walk from day one? Yea…this one surpassed it. When we arrived at our hostel, I was excited to finally get a shower. I hadn’t had one since we’d left Kunming on Monday morning. Not too gross, but I was totally ready for one. Once I had, I was totally refreshed and ready for a night out on the town.
For dinner, we decided to walk in a different direction and wander until we found something that we’d all agree on. After wandering for about 20-30 minutes, we landed upon a rather noisy street (live bands and such) and figured that this hopping place would be fun. Well, it was fun…until Zach and I decided to go out and get drinks (they’re cheaper if you bring your own…and you’re totally allowed to do that). I found a store that didn’t have all the drinks we wanted, but I thought we’d make do, so I asked the lady, “duo shao qian,” and she told me 7 kuai for a little bottle of juice and for the water too! I usually pay 1 kuai for water and 3 kuai for juice! NO WAY JOSE! So I walked straight out of there…no shame…walked across the street and bought from the lady over there, who had clearly marked prices that were the norm. That lady wasn’t going to rip off this chica! Not today, hunny! Uh-uh.
We got back with the drinks and moved our table downstairs and inside…it was warmer and less noisy. Then we began a round of hearts. As our food came to the table, we ate and continued to play hearts. I got vegetable lasagna. I was expecting zucchini and some other kind of veggie (you know, the normal stuff)…but instead I got a Chinese veggie in my lasagna. Weird. Oh well, it wasn’t that bad…just a little stringy. The other three ordered Cheese Burgers. …Or so they thought. Haha. Out came their cheese sandwich, with fries on the side. It was goat cheese too. They all had a little hissy fit, because they were dead set on getting their burger, so they sent it back to the kitchen (after about 5 minutes of confusion). So, for Grace, when her plate came back out with the fries still on it (because she refused to touch the plate), she got cold fries and a little beef patty with an itty-bitty square piece of cheese on top. Glad I ordered lasagna!
After all that fun, we went shopping. Don’t worry, I didn’t buy anything (not that time at least). That lasted until all the shopkeepers started to put their old doors into the slots and closed up shop. We then ventured around to a massage place. The massage was good…but the window was open, and it was cold outside, so all of us were kind of shivering the whole time. No thanks! I’d pass on that one again. That is pretty much how night two concluded. That and I got to brush my teeth with a toothbrush, instead of my finger.
After feeling pumped about the day ahead, we walked up Renmin Lu in search of some grub. We divided and conquered; Grace and I with our hot soy milk and baozi (veggie roll dumplings), Kim with her onion bread pancake thing, and Zach with his xiao juzi (or tangerines). We were off to a great start!
Around 10am, we had a van come pick us up from the hostel and take us up the mountain. The van looked brand new. Usually they’re somewhat dirty…or old looking. Nope! This one looked brand new! I wasn’t so sure though once I started smelling smoke as we slowly climbed the mountain. The engine didn’t sound so great either! I was just praying we wouldn’t all go up in flames!
We arrived at the take off point (cars can only go so far) and began our hike up the stairs (many) so that we could then get on the petrifying ski lift that would take us up…only about half way (the mountains were huge). I’m pretty sure that we were in the foothills of the Himalayas! As we hiked up the stairs, we were bombarded by people selling fruit and other goods. The fruit tasted so sweet. I’m pretty sure she must’ve done something to the fruit. I’ve never had strawberries so sweet! We gave in and bought a kilo of them and loaded them in the backpack. Then, the treacherous ride up the mountain began. I had to pull the window down just to get some fresh air. Ugh! I hate being that high up on a little cord that so easily seems like it could just snap! Somehow though, I’m not that afraid of flying. Maybe it’s being able to see my sudden death? I don’t know.
Good news! I’m still alive! We got off and had the privilege of hiking up too many stairs. My heart rate and body temperature increased simultaneously, that’s for sure. I was pleased when we finally reached the level that the path that would take us about 4-5 hours to walk and that was mostly flat…with no stairs! The sights were grand. Snow in some corners, and strong heat in others. The city spread out below us, and gondolas frequented the alcoves. We happened upon a little tented area (where it looked like people were temporarily living) and ate some fried noodles (or rice)…I can’t remember. BUT, I do remember that it was one of the best fried _____ I’ve ever had! Why was that lady cooking in the mountains? She could be making a fortune if she would hike down with her frying pan and chopping board!
After lunch, we continued on our way. Our final destination was about 13 km away from where we’d initially been dropped off at. That’s about 8 miles. We think we actually hiked a little more than that though…we’re going to say 10 miles! I had to use the bathroom or the “WC”—I guess they use the British phraseology (wow! That’s a word!). Unfortunately, the sweet little lady that cooked the “hao chi” food told me “mei you” (sounds like mayo and means don’t have). She pointed up a hill, as if to tell me, “Go squat up there behind the trees.” I declined and kept walking with my buds. After going around about two more mountains, I was certain, and so was Kim that we simply could not wait any longer! Kim and I began scouting out some place in the shrubbery to find solitude and privacy. It took some effort….like me climbing up off the nice paved sidewalk and grasping some branches (hoping I wasn’t touching anything poisonous) and at times using my hands to walk up the steep slope. At last, I had found the perfect spot! I’ll spare you the details…but I felt pretty proud of myself, as did Kim…a former brownie girl!
After a long day of walking, I was ready to just drop down and stay there for awhile! Grace and Zach kept us going though. We walked all the way from the foot of the mountain back to the ancient city. Remember that walk from day one? Yea…this one surpassed it. When we arrived at our hostel, I was excited to finally get a shower. I hadn’t had one since we’d left Kunming on Monday morning. Not too gross, but I was totally ready for one. Once I had, I was totally refreshed and ready for a night out on the town.
For dinner, we decided to walk in a different direction and wander until we found something that we’d all agree on. After wandering for about 20-30 minutes, we landed upon a rather noisy street (live bands and such) and figured that this hopping place would be fun. Well, it was fun…until Zach and I decided to go out and get drinks (they’re cheaper if you bring your own…and you’re totally allowed to do that). I found a store that didn’t have all the drinks we wanted, but I thought we’d make do, so I asked the lady, “duo shao qian,” and she told me 7 kuai for a little bottle of juice and for the water too! I usually pay 1 kuai for water and 3 kuai for juice! NO WAY JOSE! So I walked straight out of there…no shame…walked across the street and bought from the lady over there, who had clearly marked prices that were the norm. That lady wasn’t going to rip off this chica! Not today, hunny! Uh-uh.
We got back with the drinks and moved our table downstairs and inside…it was warmer and less noisy. Then we began a round of hearts. As our food came to the table, we ate and continued to play hearts. I got vegetable lasagna. I was expecting zucchini and some other kind of veggie (you know, the normal stuff)…but instead I got a Chinese veggie in my lasagna. Weird. Oh well, it wasn’t that bad…just a little stringy. The other three ordered Cheese Burgers. …Or so they thought. Haha. Out came their cheese sandwich, with fries on the side. It was goat cheese too. They all had a little hissy fit, because they were dead set on getting their burger, so they sent it back to the kitchen (after about 5 minutes of confusion). So, for Grace, when her plate came back out with the fries still on it (because she refused to touch the plate), she got cold fries and a little beef patty with an itty-bitty square piece of cheese on top. Glad I ordered lasagna!
After all that fun, we went shopping. Don’t worry, I didn’t buy anything (not that time at least). That lasted until all the shopkeepers started to put their old doors into the slots and closed up shop. We then ventured around to a massage place. The massage was good…but the window was open, and it was cold outside, so all of us were kind of shivering the whole time. No thanks! I’d pass on that one again. That is pretty much how night two concluded. That and I got to brush my teeth with a toothbrush, instead of my finger.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
The Epic Journey begins...
The si ge (4) mei guo ren (American’s) expedition!
It all started on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 7:15am (what was supposed to be 7:15) at the entrance to Hu Pan Zhi Meng Xiaoqu (Hu Pan…neighborhood). (Are you excited about this epic story?) Afraid of not being able to find a taxi, I ran out to Guang Fu Lu (Guang Fu Road) and hailed one down. Just like that! Actually, not so much…I happened to be able to run quickly enough to hop in right after someone got out. I only had to stand out on Guang Fu Lu for about 30 seconds! Off to a great start, I’d say!
After showing the Taxi driver our destination (the West Bus Station), we were on our way. We arrived at the bus station, went through the security check and then scouted out the big waiting room for a place to plop down and start playing cards. Liverpool Rummy was the game of choice, however playing on top of all of our bags proved to be difficult. Another hindrance in our game was the guy who came through spraying bleach…which happened to get our cards and some of our bags wet. Thank you, sir!
I was anxious about getting on the bus, so I checked to see which gate and what bus we would need to get on. The lady that I walked up to proceeded to rip our tickets…even though we weren’t all ready to get on board. Zach and Kim made a pit stop right before departure, and then we were on our way. I was afraid of getting sick on the bus, so I was given the window seat (thanks, guys). China’s roads…especially through the mountains are not the best! I made it though…with a few cat naps in between Kunming and Dali. We stopped mid-way at a rest stop for five minutes. They had some fruit and some bread they were selling (kind of like the Florida Turnpike…we were on a toll road).
I had to use the bathroom though. Now, bathroom stories are very common amongst foreigners in China. It is an all new experience. This one includes a squatty (picture it with me, please). If you don’t know what a squatty is, please allow me to inform you. You do not have a seat. You literally squat down over a hole…that is porcelain (if you’re lucky). It’s really not that bad, once you get used to it. This was however my first experience of using the squatty with no door…and having other women look me in the eye as I was going. Not to mention that I was getting stared at because I’m a foreigner. Talk about uncomfortable! I was glad that I didn’t quite have to go through that again on the trip (there was one that was worse…but I’ll spare you the details).
Four hours after our departure from Kunming, we arrived in what we thought was the new city of Dali. Apparently, we weren’t quite there though. We got a cab and in all of our excitement, we forgot to check to see that the cab driver started the meter running. About 20 minutes later, we arrived near our destination (our hostel), and were forced to pay 50 kuai! We learned our lesson, and since have always made sure that the meter starts.
After being dropped off on Renmin Lu (there’s always a people’s street in every city), we walked down the cobblestone hill…for about 10 minutes until we had nearly reached the very end of it. At last, we had arrived at our hostel. It looked very eclectic, and I felt like a backpacker. The hostel had low couches and tables, with two computers and a bar area for serving various beverages. Lanterns hung from the ceiling and rugs lined the stone floor. When we walked into the quaint courtyard, there were benches made from tree logs,plants placed in no particular order and there was a ping pong table. A few bikes were parked inside the courtyard too. The three of us girls were on the second floor…a room to ourselves with bunk beds. Zach had his own room up on the roof, where the showers were.
We settled in, made our beds, and met downstairs to go scout out the place…and find somewhere to eat! We found a Chinese restaurant up the street from our hostel and after eating, began the shopping spree that lasted until dinnertime. Grace and I had fun shopping! Bargaining became a sport. First, you have to ask, “Duo shao qian?” (how much money), next you have to decide what you are willing to pay for the item. You state how much you will pay. Now, they tend to bust out the calculator for foreigners because they think that all of us can’t speak Chinese. After the calculator is whipped out, you need to punch in a price that is lower than what you’re willing to pay. Generally, you want to cut their price in half. Gradually, after much fuss and saying, “Tai gui le” (too much!), you go up…very slowly. If you think the vendor is not coming down like you’d like them to, walk out…or begin to walk out. They’ll usually run after you and grab your arm and in a grouchy mood say, “okay, okay.” Then, you have to make sure you don’t have 100 kuai to pay for a 40 kuai item! That always makes them mad. It’s quite addicting, I have to say. While Grace and I were playing this sport, Zach and Kim went off exploring. They climbed up on the old city wall and scouted out some places to eat.
Dinner was outside near a stream that ran down the middle of the pedestrian only street. It was a little chilly, so along with our live music for entertainment, there was also a little fire pit going. It was a really nice atmosphere. I felt like I was at home…only not. I was sitting on a slope that led up to the beautiful snow-peaked mountains. I was also listening to Chinese music. :-)
After dinner, it got a little chilly so we decided to move to our next spot: an indoor coffee shop. We proceeded to order a “pot of coffee” for all four of us. Little did we know that we’d get a shot of coffee…that didn’t even give all four of us a shot! We had to order two “pots.” We also ordered fries and a banana split. The ice cream here is not the same. Not at all! The fries had no salt. The salt shaker hadn’t been used in eons, so the salt was stuck to the bottom of the shaker. It was a typical night in a coffee shop in China. Gotta love it! We did. We played hearts. That was our game for the rest of the trip. After staying at the coffee shop until after closing, we headed back to our hostel under the big bright stars, and the beautiful moon. Day 1 of our adventure had concluded: successful and relaxing. Mission accomplished!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
What do you think?
Treating China as the enemy is a mistake
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-11 07:55
George Gilder, founder of the Discovery Institute and author of The Israel Test, says there is no need for the United States to antagonize China. The two countries are highly interdependent, he writes in his Feb 5 opinion piece "Why Antagonize China?" in the Wall Street Journal. Excerpts follow:
While attempting to appease a long list of utterly unappeasable foes - Iran, North Korea, Hamas, Hezbollah, and even Hugo Chvez - today the US treats China, perhaps our most crucial economic partner, as an adversary because it defies us on global warming, dollar devaluation, and Internet policy.
It started last June in Beijing when US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner lectured Premier Wen Jiabao. Mr Geithner was haranguing the Chinese on two highly questionable themes, neither arguably in the interests of either country: the need to suppress energy output in the name of global warming - a subject on which Mr Geithner has no expertise - and the need for a Chinese dollar (the yuan) devaluation, on which one can scarcely imagine that he can persuade Chinese holders of a trillion dollars of reserves.
In a recent meeting with Senate Democrats, President Barack Obama continued to fret about the dollar being too strong against the yuan at a time when most of the world's investors fear that the Chinese will act on his words and crash the dollar.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the president's friends at Google are hectoring China on Internet policy. Although commanding twice as many Internet users as we do, China originates fewer viruses and scams than does the US, and with Taiwan produces comparable amounts of Internet gear. Protecting information on the Internet is a responsibility of US corporations and their security tools, not the State Department.
Sending them (Taiwan) $6 billion of new weapons is a needless provocation against China that does nothing valuable for the defense of the US or Taiwan. Yes, the Chinese have also spurned America's quixotic effort to herd the gangs of anti-Semitic, anti-American oil-dependent felines at the United Nations to undertake an effective program of economic sanctions against Iran.
A foreign policy of serious people at a time of crisis will recognize that the current Chinese regime is the best we can expect from that country. The Chinese revitalization of Asian capitalism remains the most important positive event in the world in the last 30 years.
With millions of Islamists on its borders and within them, China is nearly as threatened by radical Islam as we are. China has a huge stake in the global capitalist economy that Islamic terrorists aim to overthrow. And China, like the US, is so heavily dependent on Taiwanese manufacturing skills and so intertwined with Taiwan's industry that China's military threat to the island is mostly theater.
Although some Taiwanese politicians still dream of permanent independence, Taiwan's world-beating entrepreneurs have long since laid their bets on links to the mainland. Two-thirds of Taiwanese companies, some 10,000, have made significant investments in China over the last five years, totaling some $200 billion. Three quarters of a million Taiwanese reside in China for more than 180 days a year.
With Taiwan, greater China is the world's leading actual manufacturer and assembler of microchips, computers and network equipment on which the Internet subsists. Virtually all US advanced electronics, as eminent chemist Arthur Robinson reported last month in his newsletter "Access to Energy", are dependent on rare earth elements used to enhance the performance of microchips and held in a near global monopoly by the Chinese firm Baotou Steel Rare-Earth Hi-Tech Company in Inner Mongolia.
The US is as dependent on China for its economic and military health and economic growth as China is dependent on the US for its key markets, reserve finance, and global capitalist trading regime.
It is self-destructive folly to sacrifice this core synergy at the heart of global capitalism in order to gain concessions on global warming, dollar weakening, or Internet politics.
How many enemies do we need?
(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-11 07:55
George Gilder, founder of the Discovery Institute and author of The Israel Test, says there is no need for the United States to antagonize China. The two countries are highly interdependent, he writes in his Feb 5 opinion piece "Why Antagonize China?" in the Wall Street Journal. Excerpts follow:
While attempting to appease a long list of utterly unappeasable foes - Iran, North Korea, Hamas, Hezbollah, and even Hugo Chvez - today the US treats China, perhaps our most crucial economic partner, as an adversary because it defies us on global warming, dollar devaluation, and Internet policy.
It started last June in Beijing when US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner lectured Premier Wen Jiabao. Mr Geithner was haranguing the Chinese on two highly questionable themes, neither arguably in the interests of either country: the need to suppress energy output in the name of global warming - a subject on which Mr Geithner has no expertise - and the need for a Chinese dollar (the yuan) devaluation, on which one can scarcely imagine that he can persuade Chinese holders of a trillion dollars of reserves.
In a recent meeting with Senate Democrats, President Barack Obama continued to fret about the dollar being too strong against the yuan at a time when most of the world's investors fear that the Chinese will act on his words and crash the dollar.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the president's friends at Google are hectoring China on Internet policy. Although commanding twice as many Internet users as we do, China originates fewer viruses and scams than does the US, and with Taiwan produces comparable amounts of Internet gear. Protecting information on the Internet is a responsibility of US corporations and their security tools, not the State Department.
Sending them (Taiwan) $6 billion of new weapons is a needless provocation against China that does nothing valuable for the defense of the US or Taiwan. Yes, the Chinese have also spurned America's quixotic effort to herd the gangs of anti-Semitic, anti-American oil-dependent felines at the United Nations to undertake an effective program of economic sanctions against Iran.
A foreign policy of serious people at a time of crisis will recognize that the current Chinese regime is the best we can expect from that country. The Chinese revitalization of Asian capitalism remains the most important positive event in the world in the last 30 years.
With millions of Islamists on its borders and within them, China is nearly as threatened by radical Islam as we are. China has a huge stake in the global capitalist economy that Islamic terrorists aim to overthrow. And China, like the US, is so heavily dependent on Taiwanese manufacturing skills and so intertwined with Taiwan's industry that China's military threat to the island is mostly theater.
Although some Taiwanese politicians still dream of permanent independence, Taiwan's world-beating entrepreneurs have long since laid their bets on links to the mainland. Two-thirds of Taiwanese companies, some 10,000, have made significant investments in China over the last five years, totaling some $200 billion. Three quarters of a million Taiwanese reside in China for more than 180 days a year.
With Taiwan, greater China is the world's leading actual manufacturer and assembler of microchips, computers and network equipment on which the Internet subsists. Virtually all US advanced electronics, as eminent chemist Arthur Robinson reported last month in his newsletter "Access to Energy", are dependent on rare earth elements used to enhance the performance of microchips and held in a near global monopoly by the Chinese firm Baotou Steel Rare-Earth Hi-Tech Company in Inner Mongolia.
The US is as dependent on China for its economic and military health and economic growth as China is dependent on the US for its key markets, reserve finance, and global capitalist trading regime.
It is self-destructive folly to sacrifice this core synergy at the heart of global capitalism in order to gain concessions on global warming, dollar weakening, or Internet politics.
How many enemies do we need?
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