Is it really a stupid question?


All my life when taking a test I have been told to use a number two pencil. What makes number two that great? Is there a number one pencil? If number two is so good why isn't called number one? What else has "the MAN" told me that I have taken for granted? Have I been programmed from the first day of school to believe, accept, and condone certain things that if left to my own device would have come out differently? I thought that I was outside the box, but what if the box is bigger than I think? What if the box is you...


This is fatkid saying "ham AND cheese"

Youth in Asia

I was reading the China Daily on the plne yesterday and came across a very interesting article about the "little emperors" of China. China instituted it's one child policy in the yearly 1980's to curb the population growth. That generation is now entering the work force, and seems to be clashing with traditional cultural values here. Many older people view this up annd coming generationa s a bunch of spoiled brats that had everything they wanted givento them by there parents and grand parents. Now that they are entereing into society many of them are having trouble holding down jobs and with relationships. Many want the finacial security of their parents without working for it, and thus live off their parents even after they marry. Many are getting married but divorcing before or right at a year. Many sociologist say this is due to the lack of developing proper relationship while young. The "little emperors" say that it isn't their fault. They blame their parents and the schools for not teaching them poperly.
However, this new generation of chinese is more open to western ideas and more comfortable with technology. I think if China is to continue with its economic growth, she will have to rely on her "little emperors". If China is to maintain its rich history and culture she will have to teach them.
I have to thank Joel for his blog suggestion and with his family well. Joel say hello to Gail for Lisa and I.
*SIDE NOTE* friends I am having major internet problems. I have not been able to access my profile or anyone elses for that matter. When on Myspace all i can do is look at blogs and sign in. music, videos, et al is block for me. so if anyone out there can venture a guess as to why this is please help a Fatkid out.
Til next time this is Fatkid saying "Drafty!"

My Great grandmother

I found out that my great grandmother was put in a home the other day. I don't know why this bothers me so much. I might be because I worked in a nursing home for about a year and I know how some people are. It might be because I know my great grandmother, or is it how I remember her.
I was eight when I left the U.S. of A. with my family to live overseas. I would be 16 before I would return to see my great grandmother. Soon after I went to college and then got married and more years pasted. The few times I recall going to her house I rememeber her telling me what life was like for a southerner during the Great Depression and WWII. She told me about the time she caught her husband coming out of te home of another woman, and devorcing him. She did this in a time when that was almost unheard of in the south. She told me of how she worked and bought a house, married a good man and raised her family.
Now she is in a home because she doesn't rememeber things so well. I'm told that she has good days and bad days, but the truth is that she will most likely forget me by the time I return to Arkansas. That will be a sad day.
This is Fatkid saying "forget me not."

jacked in... again

jacked in...again
Well fatkid fans I'm back!
I have been in Shang Hai for the last 3 weeks getting thinngs settled for our move here. This town is great, even if it is a little crowded. I have a nice new place in the Xu Jia Hui district in the middle of the city (for the most part). It has taken about a week to get the internet up and running here, so I've been AWOL.
While I have been here I have noticed just how many white people are here. Coming form Xi An where there was onnly about 400 Americas to Shang Hai that will have an expat population of about 800,000 by 2010 has opened my eyes to how we (Americans) treat them (the Chinese). You don't have to be here very long before you see the cultres clash and some red faced American stomping off, or a huddle of Chinese talkinng about the big white guy.
This has made me think of some of the things I do, but also about the PR of Americans around the world. We are in bad shape. I mean everybody want to go to America, but not many people like Americans. I should be honest and let you all know that it's not the war in Iraq that has caused this problem. It has been a long part of American history. We simple have zero cultural awarness. If any of you in the States choose to go abroad please learn about the place you are going. When in dout be polite and realize that you are in their country. Be prepared to encounter strange foods and smells. Know that people smell different and that personal space in some places doesn't really exist. Know that they talk about you the same way that you talk about them so don't get huffy.
I hope that everyone gets a chance to travel the world in their life. It has effected me greatly. The more I travel the more realize how small the world is.
til next time this is Fatkid saying "the diet is OVER!"