Nothing in particular to focus on this morning, so some links: Contra me, Matthew Yglesias over at Vox argues that Donald Trump’s performance in Iowa was impressive. Yglesias is right that by historical standards Trump did well in Iowa, where several factors favor a Ted Cruz-type or a Marco Rubio-type. However, doing well in relative terms is not going toContinue reading “Morning Coffee in Jersey City Links”
Category Archives: links
Weekend Links
I arrived in Beijing on Friday night. A good friend of mine from my Xining, Qinghai Province days generously offered to let me stay with him and his wife for the weekend before I fly to New York on Sunday. The above picture with relatively blue sky was taken from their apartment this afternoon. It’s freezing – feels likeContinue reading “Weekend Links”
Weekend Links
I didn’t watch last night’s Republican debate (was teaching when it aired) or read enough about it to do another “The Agony of Debate” post (previous posts here and here). The Guardian has somewhat evenhanded coverage so if you missed the debate as well, I suggest this link for a good summary of how the candidates interacted and thisContinue reading “Weekend Links”
Weekend Links
I’m back! Happy New Year! I wish everyone a happy and healthy 2016. It will be an interesting year for personal and political reasons. Let’s start with the personal. My wife received a job offer from a non-profit organization based in New York. I can’t really explain how proud I am of her for working so hardContinue reading “Weekend Links”
Weekend Links
Snow will likely remain on the mountains here in Dali, Yunnan Province, China for the rest of the winter. It’s beautiful in the morning and evening lights. The above pictures taken during my walks to and from work yesterday don’t really do the scenes justice. While the views are lovely in winter, the season comes withContinue reading “Weekend Links”
Weekend Links
I had no idea just how powerful this blog could be until yesterday. Recently, I wrote about how we used to have Beijing-style roast duck for Thanksgiving. On Saturday, a student who had just come back from Beijing brought me a duck from the very restaurant about which I had written. No way that kid readsContinue reading “Weekend Links”
Weekend Links
Our annual Thanksgiving tradition when I lived in Xining, Qinghai Province, China was to go out for Beijing-style roast duck. We were lucky enough to have an outlet of the famed Quanjude chain of restaurants, and over my 11 (!) years in China I must have spent five or six Thanksgivings there, feasting on delicious Chinese turkey. ThisContinue reading “Weekend Links”
Links Concerning Paris and Its Aftermath
I’m better informed after reading the following pieces. I have no value to add to them. I’m still trying to sort out why I was dead set against invading Iraq in 2003, skeptical at best about invading Afghanistan in 2001, yet am ambivalent about what France, the US, or other interested parties should doContinue reading “Links Concerning Paris and Its Aftermath”
Weekend Links
Such awful news out of Paris. I never understand what these attacks are meant to demonstrate or accomplish. The world is always worse off. Apparently ISIS is claiming responsibility and some preliminary evidence points in its direction. So France will have a target, and a lot of allies, and we’ll see what happens. Nothing good will come ofContinue reading “Weekend Links”
Weekend Links
We invited one of the students in my adult class and her husband over for dinner tonight. This student, who goes by the English name Dana, is really impressive in her dedication to learning English. She teaches full time at a local high school. This year, Dana is the lead teacher for a class of high schoolContinue reading “Weekend Links”
Nonsense Consensus 