cats for supper anyone??

Chinese seek to pull cats from the menu

the real story behind "The Sound of Music"

Von Trapps Reunited, Without the Singing

I love this scene!!!

Malays or Malaysians?

Malaysia Willing To Offer Help Where Malays Are A Minority


Did they mean Malays or Malaysians???

X'mas in Cleveland

Being in Cleveland with Joe's family reminded me so much of my family and how crazy we get when we get together for Chinese New Year - minus the gambling and the red packets that the kids get.

But the booze, good food, good conversations with aunts, uncles and grandmas... I wish I could be back there for this coming Chinese New Year...

Anyways, all these got me thinking about getting this amazing X'mas gift for the fam!!!!

newspapers going bankrupt....

MediaNews Sees Bad Timing on Newspapers, Not Bad Bets

Last show of the semester

This is not one of our best, I have to admit. [So glad it's finally over]

"Whistle-Blowers in Chinese City Sent to Mental Hospital"

"BEIJING — Local officials in Shandong Province have apparently found a cost-effective way to deal with gadflies, whistle-blowers and all manner of muckraking citizens who dare to challenge the authorities: dispatch them to the local psychiatric hospital."

NYTimes

2nd last show of the semester!!!

Role of journalists

CNN's Christiane Amanpour reflects on the role of journalists and politicians on wars, genocides...

Media coverage in America during Thanksgiving week

The Mumbai attacks took place while I was still in France. I was surprised to come back to the States and was told that the media barely mentioned the attacks. Here is a good article that kinda of summed up the coverage during a time when most Americans were home to celebrate Thanksgiving with their families and friends.

Not forgetting Congo....

U.N. agency says 13,000 fleeing violence in northeastern Congo have crossed into the neighboring country in 48 hours.

closer to home...

Anti-government protestors forced airports in Thailand to close.

Attacks in Mumbai, India

Click here to read the lastest update on the attacks.



Updates from a blackberry in Mumbai.

France...

I have to admit, I was dreading this trip. As much as I like to fly around the world, spending one week in France is not enough for me. Plus, it`s the middle of the semester. I just have too much to do!!!! And I was really looking forward to spending some time with Lauren, and what better way to do that than to do what we do bestÉÉ some good ol`shopping in France, checking out some hot French `monsieurÉÉ ;P

But, the week is coming to an end. As I`m sitting in Oli`s apartment, looking out the window, I thought to myself, Am I missing out on thisÉ Whatever happened to my alone timeÉ some ME timeÉ I know once the plane touch down in Detroit, I`ll start it all over again, catching up on news, start planning IC news stories, getting the information for my UT Ten News story, homework!! Assignments and quizes to do... sigh...

Here`s a recap of my French Thanksgiving Week.

Sunday
Arrive in Paris at 8 a.m. Met up with my couchsurfing host, Arno, and his friends, Daniel from Melbourne, another Arno, a French and a Korean who does not speak Korean [he`s fluent in French]. I told them the only thing I missed out on from my last trip was going to the Louvre Museum. So, we braved the snow first, then the rain and headed to the Louv. My flight to Nice was at 8 p.m.

My host, Florian came to the airport. He has a small but cozy and really clean apartment.

Monday
I woke up at 7 a.m. and left with Florian, he had to leave for work at 8 a.m. and had to show me where the tram stop is. We had a typical French breakfast! with freshly baked baguettes with nutella and croissant.

I walked along the Promenade Des Anglais and the view was amazing. Everything was perfect until this creepy Italian dude came up to me and tried to talk. It was annoying. Anyways, after I lost him, I found some malls and you know I can`t resist it!

I had dinner with Florian at an authentic Nice restaurant and had some typical local dish and a bottle of white wine.

Tuesday
I said goodbye to Florian in the morning as he left for work, and I slept in, till 4 p.m.! It was greeatttt! I packed and headed out to a hostel near the trains station. I found a hostel for 21 euros a night. There were two French girls from Nimes, and a South Korean girl. It was a small but clean room.

I went out to Checkpoint bar and had three pints of beer and watched football! For some reason, being in Europe always makes me homesick...

Wednesday
I took the train to VilleFranche, a town about 15 minutes away... look out for the gorgeous pictures!!! It was a beautiful day too. I wished I could be there forever... and ever...

Then, I took the train to Monaco. Do you know it`s the smallest country after Vatican CityÉÉÉ I was just amazed at the yatchs... one day... one of those will be mine.....

I felt rich just walking around the Monte Carlo Casino. Stores like Prada, Dior, Louis Vutton, Celine, Burberry, at every corner, cars like Lamborghini, Lotus, Ferrari, Porche parked by the streets like they were JUST cars!!! Elegantly dressed, plastic-like middle-aged European women with their oh-so-precious dogs on leashes...

Thursday
I met up with Oli by the Fountain at Place Massena. Memories from D.C. came flowing back. It was like back in the day. We talked and talked and talked.... and talked... , wishing Jeremiah and Lauren are with us... and he cooked... of course! LOL.... at 4 p.m. we had good pasta and a bottle of wine...

For dinner, we had the amazing Foie Gras, which I had wanted to try forever! Well, since I knew it existed, the texture... it just melts away in your mouth....and the taste... words alone can`t describe them.. you just have to try it!! [just don`t order it at Citrus restaurant in Ipoh]

Then, we had fat duck breast... so good.... with another bottle of wine...

Later that night, we went to Wayne`s bar and met up with Eduardo, Oli`s Brazilian friend. We had a good time. It was ladies` night so with 3 euros, I get unlimited Champagne!!!!

We went to another bar and the three of us ordered the cheapest Vodka [I can still taste it at the back of my throat - ewww] and downed it with O.J.

Friday
It`s kinda windy and cloudy outside... do I want to brave the weather and do something with myselfÉ Or do I want to laze around, listen to some good tunes, and read Homage to Catalonia...ÉÉ

ps. É is actually a question mark. Damn Quebecan keyboards!!

8th show!!!!

Paris, here I come... again!

So, I'll be taking off to France today. But before that, I have a million things I have to attend to. 

Civil rights in the heartland

"It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled ... we are, and always will be, the United States of America," President-elect Barack Obama said during his Nov. 4 acceptance speech.

On the same night, voters in California, Florida and Arizona passed bans on same-sex marriages.

The effects of the constitutional ban trickled across the country as thousands protested in about 300 organized rallies on Saturday, initiated by Seattle blogger and Cleveland native, Amy Balliet.

In many cities across America, protesters gathered to denounce the passage of California's Proposition 8, vent their frustrations, celebrate gay relationships and call for change..... click here to read more.

Cross burnings, black figures hung from nooses, and schoolchildren chanting “Assassinate Obama”

Just when the world is starting to look up to America with fresh pairs of eyes, some Americans just had to prove that "Change" has not completely dawn on all Americans as we see acts of racism skyrocketed since Nov. 4.

Obama win prompts wave of hate crimes from Times Online

The road ahead, not an easy one...

Barack Obama's election may have been met with celebrations around the world, but for some Americans his honeymoon is over before he has even taken office. Click on the link to read more.