Thursday, March 15, 2007

Great Firewall of China

You can test to see if your web site is banned in China. I tested my company, my personal site, a Boy Scout site and La Crescenta Presbyterian Church.

The only one banned was the church site. I suppose that advertising for western entertainment doesn't qualify for banning, but religious-ness does. I'm sure that a congregation from Southern California strikes fear into the heart of the Chinese government. Why else would we be banned?

Friday, March 09, 2007

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Flatulence prompts jet to make emergency landing:

Yes, you read that right. Here's more of the story...

"An American Airlines flight made an emergency landing on Monday after a passenger with severe gas problems struck matches to mask the odour of flatulence, an official said."

You think that next time she should just bring along some air freshener? How did she get matches on board the plane anyway? Aren't they still banned? If they weren't they sure will be now!

Friday, March 02, 2007

S.F. District faces an identity crisis / As others move in, some fear loss of the area's character:

"But some residents are worried that the culture and history of their world-famous neighborhood could be lost in the process, and they have started a campaign to preserve its character. The city, meanwhile, is spending $100,000 on a plan aimed at keeping the area's identity intact.

Newcomers 'are welcome as long as they understand this is our community,' said Adam Light, a leader in the Coalition, a group formed eight months ago to address the shifts in the neighborhood in recent years."

I rewrote that a little, as you can see from the article. But if the article didn't mention who the residents were, doesn't it seem racist? Isn't this the same sort of talk that we hear in "Raisin in the Sun?"

"Well - I don't understand why you people are reacting this way. What do you think you are going to gain by moving into a neighborhood where you just aren't wanted and where some elements - well - people can get awful worked up when they feel that their whole way of life and everything they've ever worked for is threatened...You just can't force people to change their hearts, son." Act 2, Scene 3, pg. 105-6

Doesn't seem that different to me.