Quote for the Week, July 28-August 3, 2013

Start every day off with a smile and get it over with.
--W.C. Fields

Bromance, Unrequited

Tom Terrific & 'friend'

Tuesday Tune-up

The Wailin' Jennys, "Beautiful Dawn"

Quote for the Week, July 21-27, 2013

America has no functioning democracy.
--Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter

Tuesday Tune-up

Mount Moriah, "White Sands"

Quote for the Week, July 14-20, 2013

If you live in South Florida and you're not building a boat, you're not facing reality.
--Harold Wanless, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Miami

Beijing State of Mind

rapping at the Great Wall (and other hot spots)...

Cameraman Taken Out

Chilling video from Egypt
[story here]

Tuesday Tune-up

Tift Merritt, "Sweet Spot"

Quote for the Week, July 7-13, 2013

Preach the Gospel at all times and, when necessary, use words.
--attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi

Quote for the Week, June 30-July 6, 2013

War should only be declared by the authority of the people, whose toils and treasures are to support its burdens, instead of the government which is to reap its fruits.
--James Madison

Tuesday Tune-up

2Cellos, "Fields of Gold"

More Snapshots from China

Father and son.  No, really.

Tiananmen Square, Beijing

[06-06-13]

Ceramic wall decoration,

Imperial Palace, Beijing

[06-06-13]

Cathy learned how to make dumplings.

[06-09-13]

Beachfront development in Haigang district,
Qinhuangdao
[06-10-13]

Construction boom in downtown Qinhuangdao.
[06-11-13]

Brett had a tennis buddy with connections.
Result: a gratuitous "lunch" while Wall-hopping,
Shanhaiguan district, Qinhuangdao
[06-12-13]

The Great Wall ascending Jiaoshan Mountain,
Shanhaiguan
[06-12-13]

Jiumenkou
[06-14-13]

Jiumenkou

[06-15-13]

Stop the tea party--we needed a coffee fix.
Tony [left, with Brett, Alex and Cathy] found just the right spot.
[06-17-13]

Cathy's still life by the Bohai Sea
[06-18-13]

Bird sanctuary, Beidaihe district
[06-18-13]

Quote for the Week, June 23-29, 2013

It is getting to the point where the mark of international distinction and service to humanity is no longer the Nobel Peace Prize, but an espionage indictment from the U.S. Department of Justice.
--Julian Assange

More From Brett's Laptop

Great Wall, Jiumenkou
Qinhuangdao
[06-14-13]

Mongol tourists want photo-op with Americans,
Brett goes Genghis.
[06-14-13]

Tuesday Tune-up

Itzhak Perlman & Yo Yo Ma, Dvorak's "Humoresque"

Quote for the Week, June 16-22

There are decades when nothing happens and there are weeks when decades happen.
--Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

Scenes from China, June 2013

Posting photos in anything close to real time has been difficult, as a virtual private network is required to access blogspot.com here in China.  Internet access from a hotel room just won't cut it.  Here are a few photos from Brett's laptop.

one of the Forbidden City palaces,

Beijing

[06-06-13]

Brett (top center) hosting a gaggle of girls from his English class (and his parents),
Qinhuangdao
[06-08-13]

Beach walk, Qinhuangdao
[06-10-13]

Tuesday Tune-up

Elton John, "Moon River"

First Full Day in China

left-most of nine dragons, ceramic mural,

Forbidden City, Beijing

[06-06-13]

[click to enlarge]