Sunday, March 23, 2008
Null and void
Vows to not play until one's thesis is finished are null and void when there's a 6 dan in town, right?
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Photo Albums
Last week The New Yorker had a slide show from an album of photos from the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz.
This week The New Yorker has a slide show of photos (along with some clips of interviews) from Abu Ghraib.
This week The New Yorker has a slide show of photos (along with some clips of interviews) from Abu Ghraib.
Monday, March 17, 2008
The So-Called War on Terror
Reading and watching the news lately, it's easy to forget that we're still waging a war in Iraq and Afghanistan (well, of course, it's only a "war" when that's convenient for the Bush administration).
If you care to be reminded of what we're doing and why we should stop, you can always count on Amy Goodman. Unfortunately, you have to go seek out that reminder. It's all too easy to live in blissful ignorance.
It's depressing to know that our past war crimes have never been punished and that our current leaders will surely enjoy the same immunity for their flouting of the Geneva conventions, international law and the U.S. constitution.
If you care to be reminded of what we're doing and why we should stop, you can always count on Amy Goodman. Unfortunately, you have to go seek out that reminder. It's all too easy to live in blissful ignorance.
It's depressing to know that our past war crimes have never been punished and that our current leaders will surely enjoy the same immunity for their flouting of the Geneva conventions, international law and the U.S. constitution.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
BBC China
Lately I've been listening to these audio stories on BBC China, trying to understand whatever I can. They speak too quickly, and I definitely don't know all the words and I don't pay close attention, but usually I can at least get a basic idea of what they're talking about and pick out some phrases and words that I understand. It's good listening comprehension practice.
Today I was listening and heard a clip of a young male voice saying (in English, before it faded into a translation) something about having two injured guys on the plane back with him and then I heard "Taliban", so I knew it was something about Afghanistan. Then I kept hearing 王 ("wáng"), which is a Chinese surname, but also means king. I eventually realized that it was always being paired with 子 ("zǐ"), i.e., 王子 ("wáng zǐ"), which means prince and then it immediately dawned on me that this was always preceded by "hā lǐ" (哈里) — they were talking about Prince Harry! Of course!
哈 = hā = laughter; yawn
里 = lǐ = inside; internal; interior
里 = lǐ = lining of clothing; within; inside
里 = lǐ = li, a Chinese unit of length = one-half kilometer; neighborhood; hometown
Today I was listening and heard a clip of a young male voice saying (in English, before it faded into a translation) something about having two injured guys on the plane back with him and then I heard "Taliban", so I knew it was something about Afghanistan. Then I kept hearing 王 ("wáng"), which is a Chinese surname, but also means king. I eventually realized that it was always being paired with 子 ("zǐ"), i.e., 王子 ("wáng zǐ"), which means prince and then it immediately dawned on me that this was always preceded by "hā lǐ" (哈里) — they were talking about Prince Harry! Of course!
哈 = hā = laughter; yawn
里 = lǐ = inside; internal; interior
里 = lǐ = lining of clothing; within; inside
里 = lǐ = li, a Chinese unit of length = one-half kilometer; neighborhood; hometown
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