Oh No He Di'int!
Topic: News
http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?idr=527&id=698456

China's UN Ambassador Asks the US to Shut Up
Official Opinion

China's Ambassador to the UN Sha Zukang admonished Washington yesterday of interfering in Beijing's domestic affairs , particularly in its military program. Asked by a BBC reporter about China's growing military budget, Sha Zukang did not contain himself and shouted out: "The population of China is six times as much as that of the United States. So, it's time for Americans to shut up and keep quiet. They will be better off like this."

"The United States have the right to settle domestic problems on its own, so let them not pry into China's internal affairs," the Chinese diplomat said. Sha Zukang also warned that if Taiwan declares independency and any country recognizes it, China will apply military force. "It is not a question of how big Taiwan is. Each centimeter of Chinese land is more important to us than lives of our soldiers," the Chinese ambassador to UN stated openly.

China has not spoken so harsh on the Taiwan issue for a couple of years. These blunt words may cost Sha Zukang his post and career but the speech of China's ambassador to the UN shows the hardening of the Chinese leadership's stance on the Taiwan issue and possible conflict with the United States.

Oh No He Di'int!
Topic: News
http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?idr=527&id=698456

China's UN Ambassador Asks the US to Shut Up
Official Opinion

China's Ambassador to the UN Sha Zukang admonished Washington yesterday of interfering in Beijing's domestic affairs , particularly in its military program. Asked by a BBC reporter about China's growing military budget, Sha Zukang did not contain himself and shouted out: "The population of China is six times as much as that of the United States. So, it's time for Americans to shut up and keep quiet. They will be better off like this."

"The United States have the right to settle domestic problems on its own, so let them not pry into China's internal affairs," the Chinese diplomat said. Sha Zukang also warned that if Taiwan declares independency and any country recognizes it, China will apply military force. "It is not a question of how big Taiwan is. Each centimeter of Chinese land is more important to us than lives of our soldiers," the Chinese ambassador to UN stated openly.

China has not spoken so harsh on the Taiwan issue for a couple of years. These blunt words may cost Sha Zukang his post and career but the speech of China's ambassador to the UN shows the hardening of the Chinese leadership's stance on the Taiwan issue and possible conflict with the United States.

Oh No He Di'int!
Topic: News
http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?idr=527&id=698456

China's UN Ambassador Asks the US to Shut Up
Official Opinion

China's Ambassador to the UN Sha Zukang admonished Washington yesterday of interfering in Beijing's domestic affairs , particularly in its military program. Asked by a BBC reporter about China's growing military budget, Sha Zukang did not contain himself and shouted out: "The population of China is six times as much as that of the United States. So, it's time for Americans to shut up and keep quiet. They will be better off like this."

"The United States have the right to settle domestic problems on its own, so let them not pry into China's internal affairs," the Chinese diplomat said. Sha Zukang also warned that if Taiwan declares independency and any country recognizes it, China will apply military force. "It is not a question of how big Taiwan is. Each centimeter of Chinese land is more important to us than lives of our soldiers," the Chinese ambassador to UN stated openly.

China has not spoken so harsh on the Taiwan issue for a couple of years. These blunt words may cost Sha Zukang his post and career but the speech of China's ambassador to the UN shows the hardening of the Chinese leadership's stance on the Taiwan issue and possible conflict with the United States.

Lent!
Topic: Personal
I forgot to give anything up for Lent this year!

Last year it was Spicy Hot Cheetos.

Seriously.

Last year, when a lackadaisically lapsed Catholic co-worker announced his decision to give up coffee for Lent, we all lent (heh heh) support by giving up something too.

I loved, and therefore chose, Cheetos and all its crunchy, salty, spicy, limey, artificial-colored-and-flavored manifestations.

Last Easter my plan was to sit in front of the TV, with a big bowl of Hot Cheetos, and eat until I make myself sick and have to lie on the floor groaning and wishing I hadn't eaten all those Hot Cheetos.

That didn't happen because someone (someone who heard of my appalling plans for the holiest Christian day of the year, mayhaps) gave me a Dove Chocolate bunny, which creamy goodness pre-empted my Cheeto-mania and probably saved me a carpet-cleaning bill.

This year, since I didn't give it up, I have zero desire to eat Cheetos on Easter. Instead, I might be giving myself the gift of unconsciousness only punctuated by brief, but required managment of internal organs that demand attention every few hours.

And one more thing!

Why is Jesus like an Easter Egg?
.
.
.
Wait for it...
.
.
.
They both dyed for us.

One ticket, window seat please.

Wallpaper that updates with an photorealistic image of the Earth as it would be seen from space at that precise moment!
Topic: Review
http://codefromthe70s.org/desktopearth_dl.asp

This is the illest killer app for desktops ever if you use Windows ("All hail Lord Gates, Prince of Darkness, Destroyer of Worlds"). At night you can see the continents light up with cities picked out in gold on an indigo blue night.

"Desktop Earth is a wallpaper generator for Windows. It runs whenever you're logged on and updates your wallpaper with an accurate representation of the Earth as it would be seen from space at that precise moment."

Taiwan to China: "Take your pandas and shove it."
Topic: Opinion
Trojan Panda Saga continues.

First, there was this story:

Panda Politics: A pair of the world's most adorable animals has unwittingly been thrown into the long-running conflict between China and Taiwan. Jan. 10 2006 Newsweek

A photoshop of a Trojan Panda naturally must be created (by yours truly of course):

A month later:

China warns Taiwan against independence "The leader of the Taiwan authorities directly provoked the one-China principle and seriously undermined peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. His moves are extremely adventurous, dangerous and deceptive. We are now closely following the ongoing developments and are fully prepared for all eventualities." March 14 2006

Oh SNAP!

Trojan Panda: "I told you I was hard-core!"

And yesterday:

Taiwan to China: "Take your pandas and shove it." Not the actual exact words per se, but close enough in meaning: "'At the current stage we cannot issue an import permit for the two pandas offered by China,' said Lee Tao-shen, vice director of the Forestry Bureau which was in charge of evaluating the panda offer." AFP March 31 2006

Happy Moments
Topic: Personal
A finch, perched on the railing of the fire escape of my very old office building, singing his heart out, curls of steam rising from his beak in the morning air over the city;

Stepping off the Trolley and looking up over my apartment building, seeing a Cheshire Cat smile of a waxing moon in an indigo sky;

Using algebra to solve a problem at work;

Snagging a fantastic pearl and silver necklace in an on-line jewelry auction for $22 (score!);

The potter who made my blue rabbit teapot also made me some teacups to match;

Watching the sky over the Coronado Bridge turn pink at sunset.

Caffein Inhaler ( I hope they're kidding )
Topic: Review
http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/buzzaire.shtml

Buzzaire is, quite simply, a caffeine inhaler. One squeeze, one inhale, and you've just rushed 150mg of caffeine into your blood stream. Mints or drinks have to go through your digestive tract first before partying in your blood (or through your skin, in the case of caffeinated soap). But the lung/blood barrier is the fastest way (other than injection or IV) to get caffeine into your system. Not only will you get one heck of a rush, but you'll also freshen your breath! A hint of peppermint oil in each puff will give you a little extra perk with its peppy zing. Buzzaire can beat up your air!

From ThinkGeek.com

Make Your Own SUV Ad
Topic: Fun
Chevy asked people to 'make their own' ads for GM's gas-guzzling Tahoe SUV... What could possibly go wrong?

They ended up with ads that link SUVs with environmental degradation and destruction of the world. Go see them before Chevy yanks them off the website.

http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/50539

Baby Blues
Topic: Personal
I went to see a girlfriend from work who just had her first baby, and I got nailed by the baby while holding her - actually had to borrow a clean shirt from Marissa to change into so I can drive home. Poor Marissa, she is so completely stressed out - I'm a little concerned about post-partum depression for her. As soon as I walked in she told me how the baby cried all day and so she cried all day too - "I felt like the worst mother in the whole world!" A true friend, I looked at her and said, "Surely not the whole world... Spring Valley, maybe." Of course this made her laugh so it stopped the tears at least.

She is so ready to come back to work after only 6 weeks out on Maternity. I think I would be like that too if I had a baby - I mean, I complain about my job, but like Marissa said, she totally misses adult conversations and grown-up thoughts. We may work with people who act like babies, but at least we don't have to change their diapers.

Oh, this is funny - while I was holding the baby so her mother can go get a bottle, the kid pressed her face into my breast and started - I swear - to look for a snack. I was like, "Sorry little dudette, nothing there yet!" At which point she let fly down my blouse. Marissa was horrified, but I really didn't mind all that much - "Oh well, I knew one of my friends' kids would ruin one of my shirts one day...".