68 degrees this morning. Nice exercise weather and "sitting on the patio" weather.
Today is a week since we returned from China. While we have returned to our routine (somewhat, it as been anything but routine), the memories of our trip still linger.
All experiences change you, and I am a different person because of the trip, I feel even more than just an "experience". Seeing the faces of an entirely different culture and certainly an entirely different form of government and I saw how people and many experiences are still the same for both cultures.
Actually, the City form of government in China is somewhat similar to the U.S. and the challenges they are facing are certainly overwhelming. While I saw only a extremely small subset of urban managers/elected officials etc., I was impressed with their dedication to trying to find solutions to the problems. I was even more impressed with the sense that a city "enhances" the residents life in some way, not that a city exists to cut services as much as possible (unless that perhaps is desired by the population). I'm not talking about extreme programs, basic programs like providing amenities for city residents that truly provide a reason for a city to exist. I'll do some more thinking and reading on this. However, it is not like China officials (I'm talking about the local, I have no concept of the national government) are concerned about the excessive pollution, excessive traffic and high cost of living for younger people. Many same concerns as here, except (IMO), the US has made much more advances in pollution control and traffic.
Laptop is still in the Apple Hospital), although they called and said it was ready for pickup. The iPad has actually been an excellent substitute, but I"ll be glad to have it back.
Memorial Day 2014. Even though, right now for me, "Every day is a Holiday" (not really, but the general concept is there), I think of Memorial Day, of course, as special for what it is for, but also as a day that it is special because it is a holiday. I always enjoyed Holidays because, unlike vacation days, it truly was a day off. If I got a call, I knew it was important.
Reading "Flash Boys". Disgusting in a lot of ways that criminal behavior is actually rewarded and goes unpunished and ignored by government officials who are supposed to protect the small investors from such criminal activity.
Looks like it will be a nice day.
That's it for today, Monday, May 26, 2014.
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