tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34937182011-12-02T08:23:25.279+08:00Notes from the overpass, a day-to-day look at life in Taiwan.Hyattnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3611100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-43587887898203365332011-11-02T13:02:00.003+08:002011-11-02T13:10:11.872+08:00

The community over on Forumosa has helped a visiting cyclist from Japan put together a three-day ride on the East Coast, which is where Rank recommends that new riders in Taiwan do their first multi-day ride. This is not just a route. The thread also has detailed advice on how to take trains and ship your bike back to Taipei as well as inside information on great, inexpensive places to stay. This

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-38970410121621034612010-03-30T12:51:00.001+08:002010-03-30T12:56:24.661+08:00

Here's a great ride in the Sanxia area that takes 5-6 hours. Map.

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-46667722181537812072009-03-11T13:08:00.006+08:002009-05-18T22:00:01.825+08:00

Here's a third extension to the Graveyard ride (Great Taipei Rides II) taking Xinguang Rd. (新光) Rd. up across the hills and back down to Zhengda on Wanshou Rd (萬壽). Map.2009-5-18 Update: the landslide on lane 74 is now under some kind of construction and gates have been installed on either end. The gate on the lower side is chained but a large gap makes it possible to slide your bike under. The

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-85074364174915347622009-03-02T13:02:00.001+08:002009-05-18T22:10:59.273+08:00

This is an easier variant of the Xindian Loop. Instead of turning right on Pingguang Rd. turn left and continue on around to the Xiaguishan Bridge (下龜山). Head back on 9 briefly until you reach Kangyalun Rd (康雅崙). This will take you through some pleasant little hills ( a few steep parts but not bad at all) and then around until you cross the Siyuan Bridge (思源) back to Xintan Rd (新潭).You might

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-60489342035274742462009-02-28T12:48:00.007+08:002009-03-18T16:46:30.827+08:00

Here is a Google map of a great ride you can do through the Fudekeng graveyard (Taipei Rides I) and to Nangang via Shiding. This road also eventually connects with the popular Fengguikou ride.Update: Did this ride again last weekend (March 8). I now recommend taking Jiuzhuang Rd. (舊莊) down if you are going to Nangang. Here's a map. The loop took a little over 3 hours including a stop for

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-27530908688861313572009-01-11T17:48:00.003+08:002009-01-11T18:32:13.800+08:00

The China Times reported the other day the Chinese tourists are asking to be taken to the graves of Meng Xiaodong and famous Shanghai gangster Du Yuesheng. Meng has been made famous as the lover of Mei Lanfang by the new Chen Kaige fim Forever Enthralled about the Beijing Opera star.After leaving Mei in the 1930s, Meng Xiaodong became the concubine and eventually fifth wife of Du. She moved to

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-44076491948683042482008-12-15T09:10:00.003+08:002008-12-15T11:23:03.335+08:00

Rank originally planned to ride from Shuili 水里 to Chiayi this weekend using the route described in Great Taiwan Bike Rides IX: Yushan By the Back Roads. A major landslide though blocked our way out of Lugu's (鹿谷) Phoenix Valley (Fenghuanggu 鳳凰谷) above Xinyi (信義) and we were forced to double back toward Xitou (溪投).As suggested in the linked above, we started from Shuili this time. Getting to

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-16913443403456403052008-12-07T20:34:00.005+08:002008-12-07T21:34:24.183+08:00

I have never been a big fan of biking in the Yangmingshan area. Sure, it's beautiful. But there is too much car traffic on weekends and so many cyclists speeding around on road bikes that it can be dangerous. Still, since a Shilin-based rider took me up Fengguizui last summer, I've been hooked on the Xiwan Rd. ( 汐萬) that connects Waishuangxi with Wanli.The problem with just riding up to

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-79328379569010567822008-10-23T18:34:00.004+08:002008-10-23T19:01:39.563+08:00

Zhang Mingqing shows a different face in Beijing.... Page A6 China Times, 2008-10-23. That's Sun Yafu (孫亞夫) deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office on Zhang's right. Chen Yunlin was also on hand although not in this picture. Apologies for poor quality of scan.

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-52628832723382457962008-09-24T22:57:00.003+08:002008-09-25T04:46:47.018+08:00

This ride goes through the back country of Taipei County through Pinglin (坪林) and out to Fulong (福隆). A short second day doubles back to Shuangsi (雙溪) and then down to Dasi 大溪 on the wonderful Shuangtai access road. See Robert's posts on hiking in this area.From Taipei, ride out to the Taipei Zoo. My preferred route is to ride up to Fudekeng from Liuzhangli. You can also take Wolong St. (臥龍街)

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-65522980495914674642008-09-21T22:57:00.005+08:002009-02-28T12:44:25.240+08:00

Here's a great ride that takes 4-5 hours from the Yongning MRT station in Tucheng. You should be reasonably fit and used to climbing if you follow my route3:00 Arrive at Yongning Station. Ride down Zhongyang Rd. past Foxconn's worldwide headquarters toward the freeway. I have some other alternatives here.3:10PM Arrive at freeway underpass. Turn left across traffic onto Longquan St. (龍泉街). Start a

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1553556155546781902008-07-14T17:20:00.004+08:002010-03-30T12:49:48.025+08:00

Update: Here's a Google map. Also, the trail between Taipei County 113 and Taoyuan County Road 119 has been graded and covered with gravel. [2010-3-30]The Northern Cross Highway is an excellent weekend ride for beginners. But once you've done it a few times, you may feel it is a bit too easy, or you may want to beat some of the traffic that can mar this ride especially during the summer

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-25747477562250832442008-07-11T16:48:00.001+08:002008-07-18T23:04:46.956+08:00

Here are some pictures of the road from Wushe to Lishan.Friday 6:30PM Arrive at HSR station and disassemble bikes. Here we made a logistics mistake. We bought tickets online figuring the HSR might be sold out at this popular time. Unfortunately, picking up the tickets took about 20 minutes and we missed the 7:00PM train and our planned connection to Nantou City. I'd been meaning to ride the

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-63468819081518041842008-06-30T11:04:00.000+08:002008-07-01T08:10:51.455+08:00

Note: this was written about a month ago when irrational exuberance over the Ma administration's opening to China was still running strong. Since then, the outlook for Taiwan's economy has become much bleaker with higher oil prices, higher interest rates, and an imploding stock market. One of the great myths of the 2008 presidential election in Taiwan was that the economy was in deep trouble.

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-20759238119865506242008-06-21T16:33:00.003+08:002008-06-21T16:42:22.675+08:00

This Taiwanese phrase, pronounced cualedan, seems to be being used in Taiwan's mainstream media more often recently. It means 'to tremble while waiting for something bad to happen. Here the pro-Blue China Times uses it in a headline:親綠財團法人老董 剉咧等Green Chairmen of Foundations Tremble While Waiting [for Ax to Fall]Perhaps A-gu will jump in with the correct romanization and characters?

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-83555802811867899962008-06-19T09:01:00.006+08:002008-06-19T10:39:37.994+08:00

An interview with Ma Ying-jeou starts with an interesting reference to technical standards:He also called for direct sea and air cargo links across the Taiwan Strait, regularly scheduled passenger flights, the drafting of common technical standards and the creation of a system to resolve commercial disagreements.Why would the 'international' president Ma want to bind Taiwan to China's

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-66464915244503671402008-06-14T10:31:00.003+08:002008-06-14T11:16:16.414+08:00

Nearly PerfectBy way of contrast to the New York Times piece I blogged on the other day, Jason Dean of the Wall Street Journal delivers a nuanced, balanced piece that shows real understanding of relations between Taiwan and China. Unfortunately it is behind the Dow Jones pay wall.The first formal talks between China and Taiwan in nine years reached deals to expand tourism and to partly roll back

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-52350156708434975242008-06-12T23:05:00.004+08:002008-06-13T00:16:03.802+08:00

Another horrid article by Edward Wong in the New York Times on the talks in Beijing. Which is too bad because he did some very moving pieces on the Sichuan earthquake.The agreement came on the first day of negotiations over how to strengthen the economic relationship between China and Taiwan, which the government in Beijing regards as a renegade province but which many Taiwanese assert is a

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-5093980358529635452008-05-11T19:53:00.003+08:002008-05-11T20:48:18.442+08:00

Great Taiwan Bike Rides IX: Yushan By the Back RoadsThe point of this ride is to ride south from Nantou County down to Chiayi but to spend as little time as possible on Highway 21, the New Cross Island Highway and Highway 18 (Alishan Highway). This ride is for fit experienced riders---you will ride up to 2,600 meters on the second day and there is a good bit of climbing the first day.Friday7:00PM

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-41377395802279945842008-03-26T17:58:00.008+08:002010-03-30T12:31:18.229+08:00

Great Taiwan Rides VIII: Hsinchu to TaipeiUpdate: some good pictures of the ride up to Shangyulao by a Taiwanese cyclist.Update: [2010-3-30]: Here's a Google map of the route. Rank will be riding this in late April.This short overnight ride takes 1.5 days. Sorry no pictures. On the first day, you will climb nearly 2,000 meters, so this should be for fit, experienced riders. One of the best rides

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-11978622539834917142008-02-26T20:44:00.002+08:002008-02-26T21:08:01.700+08:00

More MRT Stations OpenedApple Daily has good news for Taipei cyclists--12 new MRT stations will allow bicycles on March 1st. The combined ticket price for bicycle and rider has also been lowered to NT$80 per trip regardless of distance. Other rules are much the same. All stations are open on weekends and holidays from 6:00AM to 4:00PM. They close between 4:00PM and 7:00PM for rush hour and then

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-78925222679432527212007-11-10T10:56:00.000+08:002007-11-10T12:31:33.790+08:00

Poetry Festival - HaikuIn honor of the Taipei Poetry Festival, I offer up these bits of Saturday-morning verse. The first one inspired by a recently popular song that takes syllabic liberties with a paraplui.Aisan 愛傘My um-ber-ellaLeft at 7-ElevenOthers can use itSanzhimao (Three's a Crowd) 三隻貓One cat on my lapTwo cats hiss menacinglyMy peace disrupted

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-54709959229311033202007-09-09T15:37:00.000+08:002007-09-09T15:43:00.084+08:00

Stinky Tofu ReduxLast week the story of a stinky tofu shop in Sinjhuang was picked up by the international media after the Taipei County EPA fined it NT$100,000 for being too stinky. Well, today the shop is back in the news. Business has improved since the fine as new customers have flocked to the shop to find out just how stinky their tofu is.

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-48854610945193779192007-09-01T16:00:00.000+08:002007-09-01T16:21:54.643+08:00

A New York Times review of Nicole Mones’s new novel “The Last Chinese Chef” leads with a photo of an illustrated menu from somewhere in China, judging by the simplified characters and prices. To most NY Times readers, the photo probably seems fairly appropriate to the review since the core of the novel is supposed to be about "the unique tangle of Chinese food and culture, and the ways both have

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-58216813555440752532007-08-09T13:05:00.000+08:002008-03-04T21:25:26.578+08:00

Bikes Permitted on MRT Weekend and Holiday EveningsI haven't seen this mentioned anywhere in the English media, but you can now take your bicycle on the MRT on weekend and holiday evenings. This makes later afternoon riding in Xindian or Danshui much more practical. Remember, you can only take your bike on the Danshui-Xiandian or Beitou-Nanshijiao lines. Here's the official announcement.Also, on

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-24137863921052334582007-07-10T08:07:00.000+08:002007-07-10T08:25:12.611+08:00

Banana GlutAccording to the lead story in the United Evening Express yesterday, Taiwan's bananas are so plentiful this year, the government is buying surplus and using it as pig feed . Coincidentally, the Taipei Times yesterday cautioned Taiwan against plans to gradually boost biofuel production. With Taiwan's recent fruit gluts, someone should look into biofuel production with the fruit of our

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-38022311720407523122007-07-09T13:42:00.000+08:002007-07-09T13:44:07.706+08:00

Panegyric on Classical Chinese for MathematicsA great parody in today's Liberty Times singing the praises of the Taiwanese examiners who used literary Chinese to ask a math question in this year's university entrance exams. Taiwanese nationalists have been trying decrease the amount of literary Chinese used in high school textbooks while Chinese cultural conservatives lead by the poet Yu

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-8627423088120835282007-07-08T16:07:00.000+08:002007-07-08T16:21:19.687+08:00

Taiwanese FertilityInteresting map from Taiwanese blogger Richter's Maps Talk showing Taiwan's 2005 Total Fertility distribution. Jianshi Township, a heavily Atayal district in the Hsinchu mountains has Taiwan's highest total fertility rate of 2.61 births per woman. The map shows that relatively high fertility rates are clustered in Taiwan's mountain districts. White areas on the map show total

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-49191821500857459002007-07-01T22:57:00.000+08:002007-07-08T16:07:58.784+08:00

Taipei Sunset

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-28106738738212196302007-06-24T09:55:00.000+08:002007-06-24T15:21:17.054+08:00

Great Taiwan Bike Rides VII: Route 197-Southern Cross Island Highway-LiuguiFirst a slide show...Dennis Flood wrote up his ride a few years. His photos are much better.Day 1We flew into Taidong airport on the 6:30AM flight from Taipei. We arrived at Songshan Airport at 6am, which have us plenty of time to 'pack' the bikes. For those who haven't flown with their bikes in Taiwan, this means cutting

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-66388939818167167152007-06-11T21:26:00.000+08:002007-06-12T12:18:38.128+08:00

A fantastic review of three recent books on China by Rick Perlstein over at The Nation. I haven't read The Nation in years--but this was a return to the kind of writing that thrilled me in the 80s in the public library of small Republican towns in California.It's also encouraging to see China be taken up by a well-informed member of the left who is not a China watcher. I was disappointed by the

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-71596752106259858152007-05-31T14:17:00.000+08:002007-07-10T07:53:53.494+08:00

Red Bean Danish RollA couple months ago, when I asked a business visitor what she wanted to see and what kinds of foods she wanted to try in her 2 days in Taipei, she said, "I know this sounds strange, but I want to go to Starbucks and McDonalds - I want to see what kinds of local tastes are represented there." I told her in that case McD's would be more satsifying than Starbucks. Now, I see that

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-90214777148762072992007-05-29T19:29:00.000+08:002007-05-29T21:08:05.493+08:00

Chinglish T-shirts and signsI'm so impressed with Feiren's slideshow below that I thought I'd try one myself.I took the following photos with my phone in the Gongguan area of Taipei a couple weeks ago. Once you start looking, you realize that decorative English is everywhere.

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-27969007717048972782007-05-27T16:02:00.000+08:002007-05-27T09:11:00.197+08:00

Great Taiwan Bike Rides VI: The Northern CrossTaipei-Sanxia-Baling-YilanWe did this ride of medium difficulty at a leisurely pace by leaving Taipei on Friday evening. If you are an experienced rider in reasonable shape, you can do this ride in two days if you leave Taipei by 10am. Leave earlier in the summer to beat the heat.We started off from Taipei at about 6pm on a gorgeous early May evening.

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-76499973796596177392007-05-27T08:30:00.000+08:002007-05-28T08:46:15.092+08:00

So Long, President ChiangSomeone had told me that most of the CKS display (including the two limos) at the CKS Memorial Hall (sorry, Democracy Memorial Hall) remained after last weekend's unveiling of the new name. So I was surprised to discover yesterday that an exhibit has been hastily arranged and the Caddies removed. It's entitled "再見 蔣總統 - 反共．民主．台灣路" [Bye President Chiang - Fight Communism .

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-66066578706445121362007-05-26T10:38:00.000+08:002007-05-27T09:03:05.593+08:00

More Evidence on LaowaiLast month saw another outbreak of the venerable laowai debate over on H-Net Asia. Andrew Field, one of the editors, summarizes. And here is one of the many debates on Forumosa more specific to the Taiwan context. I take the view that laowai is mildly offensive when used in your presence because it is an insider term directed at other insiders.A comment by Ma Ying-jeou

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-39905772311070516612007-05-21T09:27:00.000+08:002007-05-21T09:57:24.967+08:00

DogoftheSouth may not be howling much on Rank these days, but he did alertly point out this promotional video for the 2009 World Games in Kaohsiung starring Wang Chien-ming.This has to be seen to be believed. As DOS put it, they couldn't have made Wang (and Taiwan) look more ridiculous if they tried. You may have thought Taiwan wouldn't be able to surpass the international success it enjoyed with

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-4904383528221860572007-05-18T08:45:00.000+08:002007-05-18T09:14:31.868+08:00

Iron Horse TourIt's surprising that Feiren hasn't done a daily blog cataloguing Citizen Ma Ying-jeou's current bike journey. The former Taipei mayor and KMT presidential candidate is on a tour of Taiwan on a bike. [In Chinese, it's dubbed "Iron Horse Tour" (鐵馬行). Bikes are known colloquially as iron horses and Ma's name means "horse". I could explain more, but I don't want to be accused of

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-8318148926609383132007-05-09T16:35:00.000+08:002007-05-09T17:24:51.925+08:00

Oops, we did it again!Perhaps the swellest thing about being members of Taiwan's media is that we all know there's lots of room for improvement. It should go without saying that we are all committed to being the best darned, most thoroughly ethical journalists anywhere. The problem is that we all get on our high horses to kick the one that's down -- really hard -- whenever one goes down; then we

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-84597104609789446562007-05-02T16:34:00.000+08:002007-05-02T17:19:50.609+08:00

Speedy Passport ProcessingKudus to the Canadian government in general and the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei (CTOT) in particular for speedy handling of my passport renewal. I was somewhat chagrined last week when I discovered it would take 15 working days post-application for my new passport to arrive from Canada.I filed last Thursday and I got a phone message yesterday (Tuesday) morning saying

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-4253565170017251152007-04-14T14:05:00.000+08:002007-04-15T12:48:34.226+08:00

More Immigration InjusticeJust after an American woman in Hualien gets fined NT$6,000 for swearing at someone, a Japanese man married to a Taiwanese woman gets convicted of a similar offense--publicly insulting an official during the course of his official duties. This offense, defined in Article 140 of the Criminal Code) carries a prison term of up to six months. Prison terms of less than six

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-59086837078789491382007-04-11T19:00:00.000+08:002007-04-12T08:36:51.340+08:00

Judge Judges English"Don't think that Taiwanese judges don't understand English" crows this Libery Times article about an American woman in Hualien who was fined NT$6,000 for telling her former coworker to fuck off in front of Tzu Chi Hospital.She was fined for publicly insulting the woman in small claims court. This follows a similar conviction a year or so ago in Taoyuan where a Taiwanese woman

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-85298962281864754172007-04-03T12:30:00.000+08:002007-04-03T12:30:28.252+08:00

Using time wiselyOne of my favorite Taiwanese bloggers Tseng Wei-chen has just finished his 17 months of alternative military service. During that time he made 160 posts to his blog, 108 of which were published as op-ed pieces in Chinese-language media. He says he earned more than NT$117,000 for his efforts.

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-60901412312061310272007-04-01T11:54:00.000+08:002007-04-02T00:12:39.731+08:00

Great Taiwan Bike Rides V: Chiayi-Alishan-Meishan-Chiayi LoopIn case you haven't figured it out from my earlier routes, some of Taiwan's best cycling is in the Chiayi area.A real Taiwanese gloveFor a weekend trip, I recommend getting down to Chiayi on Friday night because you'll want to be off to a dawn start the next day--it can very hot down here at any time of year. Whether you're coming down

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-40965766444159613662007-04-01T00:55:00.000+08:002007-04-01T00:55:47.502+08:00

Who Paid?According to a review of Laura Tyson Li's biography of Madame Chiang Kai-shek,Madame Chiang Kai-Shek spent her final years in New York in a palatial Upper East Side apartment she regularly described as "modest." A bevy of loyal retainers insulated her from the outside world, ferrying her to shopping trips at Saks Fifth Avenue or shows at Radio City Music Hall. Madame's lavish lifestyle,

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-52353188656823041222007-03-29T01:33:00.000+08:002007-03-29T02:05:56.357+08:00

TVBS Reporter Filmed GangsterThe China Times and other media outlets are now reporting that Zhou Zhengbao's video-taped threats were in fact filmed by Shi Zhen-kang, a TVBS reporter from the station's Nantou bureau. TVBS has issued a public apology and fired Shih along with another reporter from the station's central Taiwan department. TVBS broke the story of the videotape a few days ago as an

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-58658767901869362292007-02-12T20:43:00.000+08:002007-02-13T08:56:01.222+08:00

A Rereading of Liu Ming-chuanThe following is a translation of a post on Tseng Wei-chen's always substantive blog that appeared several months ago. My comments and notes appear in square brackets [].Liu Ming-chuan has enjoyed a recent wave of popularity in Taipei political circles. Mayor Ma says he is following is Liu's footsteps and has written several essays linking himself directly to Liu's

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-20045139255663783792007-01-28T17:47:00.000+08:002007-01-28T17:48:10.366+08:00

Taiwanese TV station ETToday reports on a parrot in Yilan County's Luodong who chews betel nuts

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-7020372141640783362007-01-17T22:25:00.000+08:002007-01-17T22:25:11.622+08:00

Fascinating Statistics: HIV, Drugs, and NeedlesThe China Times had some fascinating statistics in a story today about how the number of new HIV infections in Taiwan has dropped for the first time ever.Number of new reported infections in 2006: 2,942Number of new reported infections in 2005: c. 3,300Total reported infections (Taiwanese): 13, 103Percentage of new infections from intravenous

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-19731582459678782862007-01-17T20:23:00.000+08:002007-01-17T20:23:51.108+08:00

Transgender Teacher Fired?[All links point to Chinese-language sites]Tseng Wei-chen is blogging and TV station ETToday is reporting on Jane, a physically male teacher at Concordia Middle School in Minsyong, Chiayi County who has been taking female hormones for the past 19 years and is now planning to have sex reassignment surgery. Tseng criticizes the conservative Lutheran school for firing

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1155800586120214042006-08-17T15:07:00.000+08:002008-03-04T21:26:43.957+08:00

Great Taiwan Bike Rides IV: Taidong LoopThis ride can be done in one long day. As usual though, I spent the night at the Dulan Sugar Refinery first and spent a bit of time the first morning exploring the area around Dulan. It's about 15km from Taidong to Dulan on Route 11 up the coast.Then it was off to the beautiful Jinzun beach about eight kilometers up the road where I had a refreshing

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1154946843659830282006-08-07T17:48:00.001+08:002010-04-02T10:39:59.913+08:00

Great Taiwan Bike Rides Part III: Chiayi to PingtungThis ride is best done in three days although we did it in 2 very long days (>100km both days). This is a classic ride through some of Taiwan's most beautiful back country.[Update 2010-4-2]: Here's a Google map of the route using 159A instead of Route 18. 159A is a one lane beauty of a road with far less traffic. Note that Namaxia area was

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1154538783780839712006-08-03T01:13:00.000+08:002006-08-04T14:18:17.726+08:00

Can you feel it coming on?If you've been enjoying fine government propaganda commercials like You Are Not Alone and Ilha Formosa: Taiwan will Touch Your Heart, I'm sure you will also enjoy this allegorical look at relations with China entitled, I kid you not, Can You Feel It Coming On. Brought to you by the folks at the Mainland Affairs Council.Note: I could only get Ilha Formosa to play in IE.

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1154523900143322042006-08-02T21:04:00.000+08:002006-08-07T17:47:22.466+08:00

Madame Chiang cost Taiwan NT$1 billionThe China Times today reported that Madame Chiang Kai-shek's upkeep in the US over the last 30 years of her life cost Taiwanese taxpayers NT$1 billion. During the last years of Madame Chiang's very long life, her niece Kong Ling-wei was chaffuered around by Madame Chiang's driver--also at taxpayer expense. President Chen rejected suggestions that Madame

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1150171030237901022006-06-13T11:57:00.000+08:002006-06-13T12:00:28.473+08:00

The end of the DPP's problemsA DPP lawmaker symbolically seals the lips of #1 first family gadfly (KMT Lawmaker) Chiu Yi.Somehow I don't think this will help.

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1150163003905219672006-06-13T09:34:00.000+08:002006-06-29T17:30:03.386+08:00

Things that appear in my inboxIn my position as "a just gentleman of intact humanity, and one of the most influential persons in the world," I receive a considerable amount of correspondence from PR firms, from the media realations departments at various corporations and government ministries, and from howling lunatics.Allow me to quote from a piece of e-mail I received this morning: "Now, you

DogOfTheSouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687231580627915337noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1149841856705021992006-06-09T16:13:00.000+08:002006-06-09T16:30:57.550+08:00

FTA in the deep freeze (ha ha)Well, I knew that Taiwan was serious about working toward signing a free-trade agreement with the United States. But I didn't realize how serious until I belatedly noticed that among the congressmen pushing hardest for an FTA is William Jefferson, the Lousiana Democrat in whose refrigerator the FBI recently (allegedly) discovered $90,000, evidently what remained from

DogOfTheSouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687231580627915337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1148801884702053182006-05-28T15:25:00.002+08:002009-03-11T12:47:54.215+08:00

This is an ideal training ride for people who are tired of riding along the flat bike paths by the river. If you are looking for better scenery, a better workout, and less people, you need to learn how to climb hills in Taiwan to be able access the truly great rides here. Here is an article on how to climb hills. I have a few of my own tips at the end of this post.Head down Heping East Road past

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1148744397989426512006-05-27T22:28:00.002+08:002010-03-30T12:40:24.649+08:00

Update [2010-3-29] A number of people get lost or can't find the right turn off on Pingguang Rd. The Biking Viking has a nice write up and a good photo of that turnoff. This four hour ride is an excellent weekend morning ride that will help you get in shape for some of the harder rides outside of Taipei. It's amazing that such great riding is available so close to Taipei, and if you use the MRT

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1147709185529583592006-05-15T23:59:00.000+08:002006-05-16T01:04:47.960+08:00

Pandas and Their Discontents[This post is a translation. The original is on KusoNews. All photos from KusoNews]This was Taipei Zoo's orginal plan: After the pandas didn't show, Taipei Zoo came up with these alternative plans to pacify the multitudes: With this [latest] defeat in the War of Unification, China decided on another plan......

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1147087612253862752006-05-08T19:20:00.001+08:002009-03-18T16:48:09.655+08:00

Hualien to Taidong via Route 11 too easy for you? Here's a more strenuous version that criss-crosses the Coastal Mountain Range three times! You should be fit, ready to ride about 120 km both days, and be able to handle climbing up to 900 meter in one day on moderate (by Taiwan standard) grades. Rank advises riding from about 5:30am till 11:00 am and then 3:30pm till 6:00pm if possible. It can

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1147087152700267142006-05-08T18:12:00.001+08:002008-09-24T22:51:29.182+08:00

Great Taiwan Bike Rides Part 1: Taidong to Hualien (Easy Version)Cycling from Hualien to Taidong on Route 11 down the coast is a classic ride suitable for beginners. Almost anyone in reasonable shape can enjoy this ride, which can easily be completed in two days. Rank recommends doing this ride from Hualien to Taidong because you will have the wind at your back most of the way. There is one

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1146671275355603662006-05-03T23:40:00.000+08:002006-05-10T02:07:24.330+08:00

Taipei is FunBy Han Liang-luOriginally published in the China Times on 30 Apr. 2006A friend of mine from Shanghai who has a foreign passport came to Taipei by herself to hang out. I was asked to show her around as a local and make sure that she had a good time.This friend had travelled all over the worl but had never been to Taipei. But just before she came, heard a group of friends who had been

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1146371014829901232006-05-03T11:51:00.000+08:002006-05-03T12:27:23.286+08:00

Embracing People From Outside TaipeiZhou Fuyi ???Chinese original appeared in 29 Apr. edition of the China Times (E7 supplement)Early morning at Taipei Main Station. Many passengers heading for the east coast or the south are passing through the station. I'm one of them--carrying my luggage and waiting for my train which will leave the station in half an hour. I get to the platform, find a seat

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1146528362995277612006-05-02T08:06:00.000+08:002006-05-02T08:16:29.180+08:00

RankTaiwan Taxi Music BlogThis article confirms my sense that political blogs will never be popular in Taiwan. So as Rank continues to flag as an occasionally political blog, why not consider moving into a niche category that will make it unique. Dog's last post suggests a direction - an exploration of the netherworld of Taxi Music. Or maybe we could put our cameras to use and change "notes from

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1146114933079853662006-04-27T13:01:00.000+08:002006-05-31T14:54:51.363+08:00

Taxi MusicYesterday, while further depleting my local 7-Eleven's beer supply, I realized that the type of music they were playing on the radio is slowly disappearing -- good old-fashioned Taiwan taxi music. You know the songs, those low-budget sentimental pop ballads with swirling pentatonic string parts, with achy-voice singers who seem to be sounding out their plaintive noises while hip-deep in

DogOfTheSouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687231580627915337noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1144716196869992442006-04-11T08:32:00.000+08:002006-04-11T08:43:16.953+08:00

Lien's Trip to ChinaHonorary KMT Chairman Lien Chan is following up last April's historic Chinese visit with another this year. He's leaving Thursday, April 14. Since he added the "honorary" title, the Chinese could hardly not accord him even more honors befitting a high-profile provincial minion - so he gets to meet with PRC President Hu Jintao on Sunday.Hu's most generous gift to Lien and

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1144543421538266652006-04-09T08:14:00.000+08:002006-04-10T08:07:46.056+08:00

Populism Unpopular in Hong KongPoor President Chen. Suffering dismal popularity ratings at home in Taiwan, you'd expect that comrades in Hong Kong would at least recognize his good faith in actively managing cross-strait relations. Sadly not. Apparently, Chen is almost as unpopular in Hong Kong as in Taiwan. See this Angus-Reid poll. However, it appears Hong Kongers are on the "Ma Phenomenon"

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1144247951587298192006-04-05T22:30:00.000+08:002006-04-11T18:17:52.866+08:00

Preserving a "Traditional" Way of LifeIf I ever get back to my erstwhile occupation as a translator, I want to be sure that I have as many opportunities to get source text in traditional characters as possible. That's why I "signed" this online petition. 16,000 "signatures" and counting.Maybe I've been in Taiwan too long, but it just seems crazy to me that the UN would adopt the upstart

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1144051788448222732006-04-03T16:09:00.000+08:002006-04-03T16:30:30.256+08:00

Bian-Ma HuiWatching the end of the meeting between Ma Ying-jeou and Chen Shui-bian.Well, it's a start.Really, though, it's mostly an argument about words.I'll leave it to Feiren to write a more complete analysis. I just have to say both men are pretty impressive. Ma speaks very well and looks very reasonable, but he's just not as foxy as Chen. I've seen him speak a few times in person using

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1142773429280733402006-03-19T20:22:00.000+08:002006-03-19T21:24:12.750+08:00

Washington Post Ma interviewMichael Turton over at The View From Taiwan says he'll "be watching this one[Ma Ying Jeou's US trip] closely, as it will be an important test of the fairness and accuracy of US media."Rank will kick things off by a review of Edward Cody's interview with Ma in the Washington Post.Here in Taiwan, a strong majority has consistently told poll-takers that maintenance of the

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1142740958807636402006-03-19T11:50:00.000+08:002006-03-19T12:02:38.816+08:00

Pandas ProtestGreen rallies in Taiwan are characterized by a carnival atmosphere and lots of creative signs and costumes. One of the best at yesterday's rally was the 'China Panda Brigade' at the front of the march. They demanded the right to decide their own future--a takeoff on China's proposed gift of two pandas to Taiwan.In this photo from the Chinese-language China Times, members of the

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1142558098969019262006-03-17T09:14:00.000+08:002006-03-17T09:16:25.893+08:00

A weekend of ralliesNot too many people are getting fired up about the rallies that we are to witness this weekend - one to "protect" Taiwan and one to protest the cessation (or termination, or abolishment - depending on your point of view) of the National Unification Council and National Unification Guidelines.A United Evening Express editorial a week or so ago basically said: "Enough already

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1141718303233891902006-03-07T15:57:00.000+08:002006-03-07T15:58:23.266+08:00

Posted without comment"Lu then said she was curious to know who had likened her to a 'deserted concubine left in the harem of despair,' since she had never called herself that."

DogOfTheSouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687231580627915337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1141688542249095792006-03-07T07:42:00.000+08:002006-03-07T07:42:22.303+08:00

VOA CorrectionThis is of interest. VOA has apologized for adding misinformation into the flap over the National Unification Guidelines and National Unification Council. Here is a report on the apology.Actually, most international media were reporting that the NUG and NUC were "abolished" or "scrapped" even after the Presidential Office took extra pains to emphasize which wording they were using (

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1141297021684343292006-03-02T18:57:00.000+08:002006-03-03T08:37:54.830+08:00

Recall and ImpeachmentThe KMT and PFP are being their irrepressible selves!I was wondering why I have been reading in English about impeachment (tanhe) but in Chinese about recall (bamian) initiatives planned by the opposition.Turns out, they are pursuing both courses. I explained recall procecures somewhat in the post below. To my understanding, for impeachment lawmakers propose an impeachment

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1141179610632003762006-03-01T10:20:00.000+08:002006-03-01T10:20:10.703+08:00

A Refresher on RecallI was in the newsroom yesterday translating the news about KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou saying the threshold to passing a recall vote is very high. I asked news colleagues what the threshold was and I got blank stares. I haven't seen any English papers this morning, but just in case this hasn't been explained, here goes:As far as the KMT and whoever else signs on will get is

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1141033989878102932006-02-27T17:32:00.000+08:002006-02-27T18:06:49.420+08:00

The China Times is reporting that Chen Shui-bian has 'terminated' zhong1zhi3 the National Unification Council and the National Unification Guidelines. More specifically, he has terminated the operations of the Council, halted its funding, transferred its personnel, and will notify the Executive Yuan. The 'applicability' shi4yong4 of the Guidelines has also been terminated. The terms 'terminate'

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1140754050316044892006-02-24T12:04:00.000+08:002006-02-24T12:08:41.126+08:00

Taiwan SunsetAhhh...a beautiful Taiwan sunset over the Linkou Power Plant. This was in yesterday's China Times which described the scene as "not only beautiful, but also evocative of science fiction."

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1140741107823702772006-02-24T08:31:00.000+08:002006-02-24T08:31:47.906+08:00

RankCurling for AsiansThere are 1001 news tidbits that I could be blogging here, but I'm afraid I'm not finding the time.One story that caught my attention yesterday was an Olympic news feature about curling. The reporter's angle was that this "strange" (mosheng; as in a sport no-one really knows about) sport is attracting a lot of attention in Turin (or Torino) because it's easy to

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1140510912542871632006-02-21T16:26:00.000+08:002006-02-21T16:35:12.553+08:00

After a very long absence......today I blog.(still without formatting, however)Last week, within two days, I had two beautiful Taiwan moments.First, I was walking through back-alley Taipei in the late afternoon and I saw a very old man approaching me. He must have been 80, but he was standing upright and striding energetically -- and he was pushing a carriage with an infant in it. Meanwhile, a

DogOfTheSouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687231580627915337noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1137893961256804942006-01-22T09:39:00.000+08:002006-01-23T07:43:12.460+08:00

RankTia-boI think I will start another panda-only blog. It seems the panda gifts are the only item I'm interested in posting about.The Times of Oman pubishes this AP article about how #16 and #19 (or Freedom and Democracy as I insist on calling them)are being taught to respond to the Taiwanese language. Heart-warming.Updated 1/23: Even more on pandas! Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan are the most popular

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1136550560257371622006-01-06T20:29:00.000+08:002006-01-07T12:19:16.856+08:00

RankBig MouthIt appears I put my foot in my mouth a few months ago when I suggested that Big Mouth the Panda would not be selected by Chinese handlers to be sent to Taiwan. It turns out that the male "#19" panda selected by China is nicknamed Big Mouth and he will be paired with #16 and sent to Taiwan - so long as the authorities here agree.My argument was that China would perceive it as too much

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1136521935363070892006-01-06T12:29:00.000+08:002006-01-06T12:32:15.373+08:00

Something is seriously wrong with BloggerYou can't link, you can't post a picture, you can't format. This really hinders my ability to build Rank into Taiwan's unquestioned leader in online journalism and punditry.

DogOfTheSouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687231580627915337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1136453502031751852006-01-05T17:27:00.000+08:002006-01-05T17:32:35.826+08:00

And today's prize for most baffling photo and caption goes to..."Education: Taiwan-style"Honestly, this photo and caption appear in the midst of an article on education and workforce participation in Harvard Asia Quarterly.I can't even begin to imagine what the photo is suposed to illustrate -- and I'm certainly not going to read the article to figure it out!

DogOfTheSouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687231580627915337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1136277242160434532006-01-03T16:28:00.000+08:002006-01-03T16:34:02.820+08:00

Eery stillnessDuring my first year and a half in Taiwan, it seemed that we had a good little rumbler of an earthquake at least once a month. I grew almost to appreciate those little temblors, on the theory that little temblors released tectonic energy in small amounts, so that big quakes would never be necessary.Hmm. I can't remember the last time we felt any trembling in Taipei...On another note

DogOfTheSouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687231580627915337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1135742443003691092005-12-28T11:53:00.000+08:002005-12-28T12:00:43.016+08:00

Hello thereIt's been forever since I've posted here. My fellow Ranksters haven't been setting any posting records either. I strongly suspect that no one is reading this blog any longer -- let's face it, there's been little to read -- though I can't bring myself to look at the site traffic.One reason that I've written nothing here for a while, as I was telling some of my close associates the

DogOfTheSouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687231580627915337noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1134690529794051232005-12-16T07:48:00.000+08:002005-12-16T07:51:10.610+08:00

Worst NightmareThe New Journalist has pulished its "10 nightmare ministers" edition.Government Information Office Chief Pasuya Yao has topped the list. They arrived at the list of the 10 most unsuitable Cabinet ministers through interviews with 166 legislators.According to the United Evening News last night, lawmakers cited Yao as being "unprofessional, careless, lazy, rude, and ill-tempered."No

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1134470087106643282005-12-13T18:29:00.000+08:002005-12-13T18:34:47.116+08:00

Apt comparisonPFP legislator Sun Daqian compared his party today to "a piece of toilet paper with a historical mission."I'll go along with that.

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1133955321475601152005-12-07T18:18:00.000+08:002005-12-07T19:35:21.556+08:00

Michael Turton has posted about Why the DPP Lost the Election. I agree with much of his analysis, but I also think that the DPP's attempts to capture the middle have also contributed to their problems.Taiwan and the US are similar politically in that the vote is pretty much split down the middle. The DPP has been following an outdated strategy used by Clinton and Blair in the 1990s to

Feirenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057491107522344042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1133753762997925692005-12-05T11:36:00.000+08:002005-12-05T11:36:03.040+08:00

Dog Day Night Every dog has his day … and DogOfTheSouth had his Friday night. I have to say it was some of the best Chinese wedding banquet food I have had. And I was introduced to the magnificence of Maker’s Mark. I learned that Jack Daniel’s is not bourbon. All in all, a very productive evening. I think we can excuse Dog for reduced posting frequency in consideration of nuptial-related

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1133136012602242502005-11-28T08:00:00.000+08:002005-11-28T08:04:09.633+08:00

Watching AmericaThis article came with my Google news search email (keywords: Taiwan and Media).It turns out the the editor William Kern used to work as an editor at the Taiwan News. The idea is interesting - to provide articles in translation from around the world to show Americans an unvarnished view of how America is portrayed abroad. According to the article linked above, they only provide

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1132889698742817152005-11-25T11:32:00.000+08:002005-11-25T11:34:58.753+08:00

Paraphrase of the DayFrom the Taipei Times: [Premier Frank Hsieh] added that since people abroad generally pay no attention to local newspaper coverage or TV talk shows, they have a better perspective on what's really happening in the country.What a startling statement by the premier. I can't decide if he's thoroughly correct or thoroughly incorrect.

DogOfTheSouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687231580627915337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1132736450356252732005-11-23T16:55:00.000+08:002005-11-23T17:00:50.373+08:00

UghAt this website, which is supposed to be "The E-Government Entry Point of Taiwan," there's a link up to an article called "Chinese Taipei (sic) committed to striving for a brighter future for Asia-Pacific." The article comes from the Taiwan Journal; I guess the phrasing has something to do with APEC. But I don't much care about the whys and wherefores. No website of the Taiwanese government

DogOfTheSouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687231580627915337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1132199633467252912005-11-17T11:53:00.000+08:002005-11-17T11:55:22.416+08:00

I’ve been asking colleagues about this Lee Teng-hui defamation verdict. Lee was ordered by the court of first instance to pay NT$10m to James Soong for saying he went to play mahjong during a post-election rally last year. The verdict apparently hinged on whether or not Lee made it clear he was referring to Soong. Two pan-green lawmakers got off the hook because they didn’t make it clear. Am I

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1132102139327301132005-11-16T08:48:00.000+08:002005-11-16T09:52:07.193+08:00

GIO PositionThe GIO has posted its position paper on the TVBS case onlne. One has the immediate impulse to stop reading at the first paragraph.In an interpellation on October 7, 2005, Legislator Tseng Tsahn-deng raised evidence of forgery and withholding information on foreign shareholdings by Liann Yee Production Co., Ltd. (widely known as TVBS) when obtaining its business license, and demanded

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1132024265213813332005-11-15T11:08:00.000+08:002005-11-15T11:11:51.300+08:00

Quote of the Day"We will make sure that incidents like some Central Election Commission members succumbing to political pressure will not happen again."KMT Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu, making it clear what sort of people her party will nominate for the National Communications Commission

DogOfTheSouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687231580627915337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1131760158558777352005-11-12T09:49:00.000+08:002005-11-12T09:50:49.676+08:00

Yeaooooow!This dialectic between the Taipei Times and Su Chi is shaping up to be a real cat fight.It's not hard to believe that Su Chi actually peruses the English-language newspapers daily. There are enough small errors in his letter yesterday to believe it was written by a non-native speaker (and not edited by a native speaker), but it's quite readable. Too bad he can't seem to get his facts

Jaculahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11783648672872769497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1131612945250225312005-11-10T16:38:00.000+08:002005-11-10T16:55:45.330+08:00

News you can use!I've just realized something about The China Post. And that's a big deal -- so ossified is this paper that the last time I realized anything about it was 15 years ago.Looking at today's front page, seeing that the number-three headline is, if you can fathom this, "Democrats win in New Jersey, Virginia, California," it's dawned on me that The Post not only wants to live in a

DogOfTheSouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687231580627915337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3493718.post-1131611157408700822005-11-10T16:15:00.000+08:002005-11-10T16:25:58.440+08:00

Quote of the Day "You cannot just accuse any man with a penis of having the intention to rape a woman."DPP Legislator Hsu Kuo-yung, commenting in some incomprehensible way on whether or not voters' identification cards should be stamped at polling places.

DogOfTheSouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687231580627915337noreply@blogger.com0