Amazing Discoveries of Chinese Science

I just finished translating a passage in one of my textbooks that explained that the reason that the US has so many tornadoes is due to the fact that we drive on the right side of the road, which causes a small counter-clockwise draft. Since tornadoes in the Northern Hemisphere rotate counter clockwise, they conclude that US drivers should drive on the left. Quoting "scientists" they state: "There are about 2.5 million cars and lorries moving on the roads at any moment. The air that they move is probably enough to change the movement of the atmosphere." Wow. Talk about an empirically arrived at conclusion! It seems logical enough to me, I guess that probably is the cause. I think that the reason that there are so many earthquakes in California is more than likely related to the fact that people in Brazil like to dance so much. Perhaps if it weren't for them stomping around all the time, as well as the fact that Samba rythms probably harmonize perfectly with the San Andreas Fault, Californians could be saved from this all-too-frequent natural disaster. I conclude, therefore, that Brazilians should not dance.
See! I can be a scientist too!

Oh My Leg

I went out for a delicious Thai dinner last night, then to Leon's party at Vics to celebrate a really tough week. My recent irregular sleep pattern, as well as general elation caused my to dance until 4:30 in the morning, at which point I took cab back to my place and went to sleep after scaring myself watching a little of "Mulholland Drive" This morning, I was woken up at 8am by a crippling cramp in my right calf, and I think the surprise of waking up suddenly made it even worse... Today, I'm going out with my Matt and my friend 方达 (Flora, for all y'all non-Chinese readin' folks) to buy some new chinese and foreign DVD's to watch (They're soooo cheap here- I never pay more than 75 cents!) She's on her way over here right now, actually, and she's bringing some delicious 煎饼 (jian bing) with her... Oh lordy, I can almost taste it right now! For all y'all who haven't experienced the jian bing (especially Fort Awesome) I wish I could send you one, It may well be the perfect street food- a huge pancake cooked on a giant griddle with two eggs cracked over the top, then some scallions and meat scattered over that. Then it's flipped over and the various delicious and spicy pastes are applied, and a crispy fried piece of dough is placed in the middle. It's everything the Gordita always wanted to be and so much more. I've got to go rock back and forth catatonically until my breakfast gets here now...

The Boys go to Shanghai

On the plane on the way down to Shanghai, Max fell very, very asleep. The flight attendant would not give him his meal, nor let us wake him up, but instead put this sticker on the head of his seat. I got in trouble for stealing it- I guess they reuse them- but eventually she gave up. I love playing the "I may speak a little chinese, but I'm a still a foreigner so how could I possibly understand you're crazy customs?" game!

Do you think this is before, or after he got "The Service"?