Class

Well I'm starting my 5th class at UCLA. The work seems to get more intense with every class. My goal is to maintain an A and to write something that is funny as well as thought provoking.

My Trip

I got back from Henan yesterday and had a good time. While there I got to spend the afternoon with some friends of mine. These kids live in Shen Qiu. We all had a great time. We also had the chance to eat lunch there. A fun time was had by all.

I had a wonderful day with the wife. We ate a nice lunch and walked in our old neighborhood. For me the old stomping grounds didn't really hold all that much sway for me anymore. I just don't need to be out there. The subway will open by our house in October and that will bust the city wide open. We will be able to get anywhere and not have to fight other people for cabs and stuff.

Save the Day

So I was having a minor melt down yesterday. The crowds and the people sometimes just get to you and you have to do something about it. For me that lintels staying in the house of 16 hours or so. Well yesterday I had to go out. That meant dealing with people and a minor culture clash. I was doing alright, I was holding my own when suddenly I saw it. A box of Krispy Kreme. This was impossible. I'm in Shanghai, China we don't have that. Then I found myself almost knocking the poor man down asking him where he got the doughnuts. After he recovered from the shock and two white people trapping him on the side walk he told us. We looked to no avail. I found myself next looking it up on line and setting a course to go to the store. I was there...along with everyone else. Other foreigners that knew how good Krispy Kreme was where there. They were coming out of the store with buckets of doughnuts. The red light was on and I got a fresh free doughnut. it was heaven. I woke up only a few hours ago from the shock. Somehow I made it home. My fingers are still sticky and there is an almost empty box of doughnuts in my kitchen.

One in three kids in America are overweight. Lately I have been feeling the pounds and a need to do something about it. Living in China makes it hard to be overweight. Most of the men here are under 100 kg and the women are around 50-60 kg. I now have to be proactive in my battle of the bulge. Being in America I looked like the skinny kid. I didn't feel the need to do anything extra. Now I'm Shamu the whale and feel like a puffy pink skin sack ready to burst. I will work on it. I have to. My knees can't take the weight any longer. Well, it's lunch time. Let's see what I can't eat.

Day 2 of Rain Day 1 of No Google

This storm has just caused a steady rain to fall for about 18 hours. Are clothes that we have drying are slowly going from wet to damp. The whole city is covered in a haze and people are walking around like they are half asleep. It is almost a fitting memorial to the death of Google.cn. The relationship was rough from the start but finally Google is leave because of "irreconcilable" differences. This is not something the government wanted to happen so close to the world Expo. they would of preferred that Google leave after the opening on May first, but alas Google found it's cause again and saw that China is not ready for an open internet. In fact, most of the local internet users here don't know that they do not have access to information. It is this tiny fact that causes confusion between Chinese and Westerners when we talk about this issue. They don't have anything to compare it too. They have been told that they are free and that they have rights and find it odd that outsiders keep telling them that they are not free. This begs us to ask what freedom is and how we realize it.

Where is Google

Google has now been completely shut off from internet users in Shanghai. Not even Google Hong Kong is accessible. The heated debate that has erupted on many news sites might have lent a hand in the decision by the government to block Google all together. So far world opinion is not in favor of China censoring it's internet searches, but local internet are following the party line in backing up the government. It has been China's history to buck at outside involvement in most aspects of social or political life. The internet might be the 21st century catalyst that shuts China off from the world again.

Google

The war has begun today. I like so many others in this country will be the casualties. Google looks to be pulling out of China and causing all sorts of issue for expats like myself. Right now it looks like the government is blocking most sight related to Google on Google Hong Kong. I'm only able to access Blogger and Facebook by internet slight of hand. Will try to keep you updated...however you are.

Rain

The sun was out but the rain has come again. One thing about living in this city is that it will rain on you all the time. it doesn't matter what time of year we just have to live with the rain. It also makes for the worse cold. I know some one out there is thinking about Mongolia or something (just a side note, I have been to Mongolia) and no, shanghai doesn't get that cold. Shanghai however has a unique ability to keep you chilled. going into stores or offices doesn't seem to help you warm up. You can go hours out side then all of the sudden realize that your toes are aching. It's strange.

Starting Again

It has been a long time. Blogging has not been as important to me lately because I know that no one reads my post. Most of the time that is alright. I'm able to "confess" in the open almost to no one. Still the disconnect is there. A whole world and no one knows me, but could with one click of a mouse button. Still I have hope. I have started writing again. This time more serious than ever before. I'm looking to sell my stories and maybe make some money of of them. After a time of being in the dark I now can see some light. In the light all things will be know that can be known.

Shanghai Summer

It's hot. May and the first week or so of June are really nice, but lately I have been feeling the heat. Don't get me wrong. I've lived in heat all my life. I have had a total of 2 white Christmas' in my entire life. I know hot, but Shanghai is hot. It is very humid and you just seem to sweat. It comes on you quick too. Like, look at that really interesting...HOLY COW I'M SWEATING BUCKETS!
I suggest that you do things early in the morning or after the sun goes down. One nice place to go in the summer is to the Bund. Out by the river at night on the Pu Dong side is a blast. Get something nice from the number of restaurants there or just sit a Starbucks and enjoy the evening.

Brand New Pre-owned

I have been listening to what people say. English is a tool my friends and some people have spent years learning just how to mislead a protect themselves. Th political climate of course is a perfect example of this. However, this is not wat this blog is about. It's about the subtle things that creep in every single day. How with TV and radio ads we are lead into thinking one way or the other. We even have the internet lying to us. The world wide web was to be the new beacon of light and knowledge but was flooded with opinion. That opinion muddied the waters and now we have to work very hard to get correct information. The Truth however, will never e on the internet and that will always bother bloggers.
Blogges have rolled in like rain clouds and some of the most hateful things have been said about people. we have seen how some people have become famous for their ability to destroy another with their words. We have moved from writing to video that shows us using limited speech to hurt others. Not only do I listen but I now watch the hurt and pain. what a world.

the firt time again

this blog is done on my phone. just seeing how this thing works out. i've phone blog before but this might be a better place for me to blog. it is quiet and I feel like I can be more personal.
so will anyone answer? no one has ever. things might change.

Not Being

I haven't been able to get on Blogger for a long time. That is the reason for the sparse post.

That out of the way I need to get some things off my chest. This is the perfect place to do it because NO ONE even looks at this blog.

The people I'm working for are tards! Sorry Bobby I told you I wouldn't use that word but there you have it. In truth it's just one guy being a tard. the companny is changing for the better and he just can't handle it. He can't see how is leadership style is the only thing holding his area back. If only he would pull the stick out and show some support.

There needs to be some leadership changes. We have had one guy leave, but that was for the better. Now I'm thinking that some new blood wouldn't be that bad of a thing. I'm really thinking about changing areas so that I can work with someone that understands the nature of the beast. This is all stupid.

At least Ihave some good music to listen too.

It's happening again

I'm breaking again. It is getting heavy. I have pushed almost everyone away. She is the only one left. I just pushed really hard.

I'm cracking again. It is getting old. I have shaken both fists at the skies. She is the only one left. I just shook really hard.

I'm dying again. It is getting cold. I have grabbed at the peices. She is the only one left. i just grabbed really hard.

I Was Dead Once

I was dead once. It was the oddest feeling in that it did feel any different that I feel right now.

For years I was dead, walking with other dead people, and talking with other dead people. Sometimes theses other dead guys would try to pass themselves off as alive. Some guys would wear cologne to mask the smell of death. Other guys would wear new clothes ontop of the old rags they where buried in. Me, I tried to find someone alive...just one person.

I looked for a long time. I saw a really good friend of mine get fooled. He thought he found someone alive but she turned out to be as dead as he was. He was so hurt that he aviods people that are alive. He is still dead in his grandmother's house.

I felt like a knight in one of those old stories, I was on a quest. The first thing I found was that those stories lied. You don't always get the girl and the knight doesn't always win. sometimes he get eaten up by the monster and then spit out. It happened to me a couple of times.

One day I found a girl and she was alive, but no matter how long I was with her, her "alive-ness" never rubbed off on me. I said all the things she said and did things she wanted me to do, but it never stuck. What was I to do...

One morning I woke up and did something I've never done before. I took a breath. I took it all in and let it all out. It hurt at first because I never used my lungs...I was dead. After breathing for awhile I notice that the world was differnt. I could tell who was alive andwho was still dead. I found a woman that was alive and life with her is great. I don't smell like death anymore and I was able to get some new clothes in to proccess.

I still feel hurt and I still feel pain. I still don't understand everything and some things have remained unclear. The difference is that now I'm alive and know what it means to live

Not sure what to call this

So I'm here in Thailand and I can't seem to get over this cold. I had a good meeting yesterday, and busniess is don't for the most part but I'm not feeling this trip. I need to keep in high spirits because this will be my last Thailand trip for almot 2 years.

I have had a chance to see some people that I haven't seen in a long time. It does my heart good to see them moving in their carrers. I hope that they felt the same for me when I left the West. I also see some things in the people I work with that has been the same from the begining of time. I'm 32 but people still look at me like I'm the kid. It comes from people not knowing me our what I can do...or what I have done. I don't know why this gets to me the way it does. i guess it's because I don't have anyone here really to talk to about it.

As I watch the curser blink at me I think about hoe no one knows of this blog and if I should really post this. I've 0 hits in 6 months so I am more free to express myself. That is another thing. I have spent the last 3 years keeping it bottled in. Everything, you know, like how I feel, What I do, and what I want to do. I have just kept it all under the radar. Well, this Fatkid needs to go eat breakfast. Til next time this is Fatkid saying "LET IT OUT!"

U2 songs to replace Hyms

Got this artice off of Yahoo and thought it was intresting. Fatkid fans tell me what you thing of U2 songs being sung in church.

LONDON (Reuters) - For Anglicans who still haven't found what they're looking for, the Church of England is staging its first "U2-charist" communion service -- replacing hymns with hit songs by the Irish supergroup.
"Rock music can be a vehicle of immense spirituality," said Bishop of Grantham Timothy Ellis, announcing plans for the unique service in the central English town of Lincoln in May.
A live band is to play U2 classics like "Beautiful Day" and "Mysterious Ways" with special singalong lyrics displayed on a giant screen. Seating for the 500-strong congregation is to be re-arranged so everyone can dance and wave their hands.
The service is to focus on the Millennium development goals -- U2's lead singer Bono is a leading promoter of the targets to alleviate world poverty.

Sometimes you feel like a Spit Bag

Culture has always been an intresting topic to me. Just the way people look at so many things differently. One of those things that Westerners and Chinese look at differnty is spitting in public. I have been all over this great country of China and the one thing that Ihave notices is that EVERYONE spits. From the richest to the poorest this is just a habit that people have. Chinese think nothing of it and don't consider it rude. However, with the Olympics being hosted in Beijing next year locals here are thinking about the image that they want the world to see.

Here In Shanghai the public health office has come up with and idea to help with this spitting problem. They want to give cabbies bags to spit in while they drive... I know it sounds gross because it is. I can see it now, a nice warm day at the Bund lookinng at the river and feeling the breeze when all of the sudden a soggy bag of spit comes flying at you at 60 mph.

There are other concers as well. Many of you have seen that driving and traffic laws are differnt in other parts of the world. Well Shanghai is no exception. It is a large city of about 20 million and there are a lot of cars on the road. The cabbies here really have to be good inorder not to get hit and to get anywhere in the city. While soome seem to be in training for their next F1 race most cabbies can do the job. What we don't need is something to distract them for driving. I can see the headlines now: "Cabbie Crashes Lookinng for Spit Bag" or "American Throws Up In Cab As Spit Bag Lands In His Lap...Then Cabbie Crashes"

The health office here wants to give 45,000 bags to cabbies. Here is and intresting thought. There are 45,000 cabs with at least two drivers per car. That means that there are more than 90,000 cabbies in the city. Some here have estimated that there are about 270,000 cabbies in the city. so at the lowest estimate of 90,000 that means that cabbies would have to double up on the bags. And is that for just one day? Are these people to share for more than one day? The health offices plan is leaking like a soggy bag of spit. Just something to think about.

Tell me what you think out there in Blog land. Til next time this is Fatkid saying " is that a bird, a plane...it's a flying bag of SPLAT!"

Christmas in Shanghai

What can one say? It is that time of year when we go out at the last minute and buy things for our loved ones. The elusive stocking stuffer has been the bane of my exsistance this year. Living in a country that is still new to this holiday makes for intresting shopping days. However, no matter what day it is rush hour is still no the best time to go anywhere in the city. I made the mistake of taking just a little bit to long to get out of the house this evening and got as rush hour began.

The photo to the right is a picture taken of the interchange between line 1 and 2 of the Shanghai Metro. Yes, it was taken with a camera phone. This was about 4:30 pm, still early and just starting to get crowded. I have been in this ver station when it was so crowded one would feel like a heard of cattle bumping into other people.

While I might not see all the lights and hear all the songs this season, the crowds still make it feel like the holidays.

This is Fatkid saying "Merry Christmas!"