UPDATED TO ADD:  Well, that took two seconds.  Thank you to my Twitter list, namely Wedschilde, for identifying the car as a Spyker.  I had never heard of them, but that is definitely the same car.  Oh, and what I thought was C8 Corvette?  I think it was … [Read more...]

Yes, I find the Starbucks in any city I’m in.  Of course, I lived in Beijing off and on for three years, and this was one of my favorite spots during that time.  It’s a great place for people watching.  Chinese rock stars pass through, I once saw Uma … [Read more...]

So, a friend and I were in a cab, zipping along inside the French Quarter, when we stop at a light—I happen to glance to my left—and see the largest, hairiest, strangest looking RABBIT of my entire life.  I mean, it was absolutely a rabbit—it had ears like … [Read more...]

Over at Shanghai Scrap, Adam Minter is discussing those protest banners that went up yesterday (along with pictures, translations, the whole nine yards): The people who own the apartments in these high rises are wealthy and - in some cases - very well-connected. They have no … [Read more...]

I was going to blog about something else, but not ten minutes ago we returned from dinner, only to look out the window and see a man dangling from a rope.  Yes.  A rope.  24 stories up.  The dude was not alone.  And he and his buddy were on a … [Read more...]

In between copy-edits, finishing up the novella, and some other writing work, I haven’t had much time to explore Shanghai since I arrived last week.  Yesterday, however, a friend and I went hopping around the city, and we spent some time in the remarkable Old Jewish … [Read more...]

My Chinese is rusty, but it’s starting to come back after a couple of days immersing myself—and eavesdropping on the twenty-somethings (mostly girls) who sashay into Starbucks or down the street, at restaurants, shops, etc., in high heels, scarves, mini-skirts, with … [Read more...]

I slipped easily into routine this morning, and happily.  I walked through the old neighborhood with its street cats and vegetable hawkers, and the old woman with the parrot on her shoulder; and the other elderly folk out for their early morning walks.  Found my … [Read more...]

This is the second night I’ve spent in the new house.  It took me longer than it should have to make the transition from the old farmhouse, which had its hooks in me—despite the fact that there was no heat, mice, odd smells from the basement, water trouble, and … [Read more...]

...which means that I’m still, you know, under a deadline.  It’s easier to pretend I’m a pirate, trust me.  I saw an interview the other day with Paul Rudd, who had this to say about acting: “Early on I decided I would see if I could make a career … [Read more...]