hk vs prc

People growing up in the PRC have certainly benefitted from high levels of education, quality of life, and fairly wide global information access comparable to non-PRC Chinese environments like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. So it’s perhaps unfair to be judged along class lines. But along with an inexperience with democratic representation, their cultural upbringing… Continue reading →

straight & round

Sensei and Noah were with Doshu, preparing for the weekend seminar, reportedly his last in the US, so the evening class was taught by Lewis Sensei. On the mat were white belts Helena and Allan, probably 9 and 15 respectively, along with Nicholas who trained in France, and senseis Stefan from Ontario, Jerke from Germany,… Continue reading →

alpine honey

From his summer in the Italian Alps, Sean brought home a half dozen souvenirs: some herbal genepi from Aosta, a stick of torrone for dad and, from his hamlet in Val D’Otro, a round of fresh goat cheese. And a jar of alpine honey ”for Auntie Belinda,” he said. “I bottled it myself: it’s strong… Continue reading →

half calico

The first time The Maytals came to San Francisco to play, Toots wasn’t satisfied with the quality of the local weed, so someone arranged to smuggle some in from Jamaica before the concert the following night.