Shanghai Saturdays

...right now. But I'm back home after a brief trip to Highpoint, NC. I've got a lot to update on, and I'll do my best to get it up sometime tomorrow. But for now, this is all you get Kourry.

Posted by Gordon Fellows at 10:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Every quarter-aged American male that I know has fond memories of what might well be the best Nintendo sports game ever, RBI Baseball.

In doing my daily check of The Shanghiist , I found and unbelievable RBI Baseball-based reinactment of the 10th inning of the 1986 World Series from The Gothamist. These guys have overlayed the classic Vin Scully broadcast commentary over their pitch-by-pitch video game reinactment, and it is unbelievable to watch. It's about 8 1/2 minutes long, and you really need to watch with sound to get the full effect, so those of you who, like Michael Koury, read this blog while you should be paying attention in class need to wait until you get home to check it out.

Click here to check it out.

Posted by Gordon Fellows at 08:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This morning I was thinking about writing a blog post about how Los Angeles Angels of Anehiem slugger Vlad Guerrero hasn't been hitting for power this season. This was frustrating me because he was my first round fantasy pick, but not putting up power numbers at all.

Then of course, when I sit down to write to the post I check today's baseball stats and find that Vlad has hit 2 longballs. I really should learn to try and write a post when I think about it. Believe or not though, with my propensity to not post everyday, I've actually learned this lesson before.

Posted by Gordon Fellows at 07:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Chuck Norris is Luke Skywalker's Father.

Why does Bart randomly email me things like this? I mean, I know that Bart really likes Star Wars, but gracious, it's getting to be kind of rediculous.

Posted by Gordon Fellows at 06:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I spent most of the day Tuesday wandering around St. Andrew's School in Jackson talking to Ms. Rosenblatt's 8th grade classes about globalization. I don't claim to be an expert on globalization, and there are definetely a lot of smart people in the world that know much more than I do, but I do have some first-hand experience observing how Globalization is changing the world. The main point that I kept harping on with these kids was that as the world becomes more and more interconnected, our generation of Americans has to understand what's happening in other parts of the world in order for America to remain the world leader in most fields.

I know that's nothing ground-breaking, but I think it's a valid and important point to make to 8th graders. Then today, I found an interesting post on The Shanghaiist, an expat blog about life in Shanghai, China. The post was about how this guy, Eugene Nelson,
an Intel employee and Diamond Dallas Page impersonator had a small problem while he was meeting with clients all across China.

After finishing his business in the Chinese mainland, Nelson was supposed to fly from Honk Kong to the highly Westernized island of Taiwan, but instead he boarded a flight to Taiyuan, a remote industrial city in North Central China. Nelson was stranded there in Taiyuan for a number of days before he was finally able to make it home.

Somehow the Associated Press found out about Nelson, interviewed him when he finally got home, and then wrote this article which probably sensationalizes the story just a little bit. Here's my favorite line in the story, "Nelson said he faced danger and indignity, injuring his legs and back leaping out of the way of a reckless car and enduring the spit that some Chinese hurled his way."

I'm glad Nelson finally made it home, but I think there are a number of important pratical lessons that we can learn from his trying experience. First, when you have a job that requires international travel, know a little bit about where you are going. I understand how easy it is confuse Taiyuan with Taiwan, they sound almost exactly the same. But anybody doing international business ought to know that flying to Taiwan means flying into Taipei International airport. When you fly into America, you don't fly into American airport, when you fly into England, you don't fly into England airport, when you fly into China, you don't fly into China airport. Why would Taiwan be any different? Point is, if Nelson had a little bit of background information about Asian geography, this probably wouldn't have happened.

Second, know a little bit about the lifestyle of where you are working. Traffic in China is horrendous, and any travel guide book will tell you that. Guide books will also tell you that spitting is a normal occurance in Chinese culture. Bottom line, it's good to be aware of where you are walking and what's going on around you on sidewalks in China. Just paying attention can stop a lot of problems before they begin. Had Nelson read a guide book, he probably would have been able to avoid his problems of "danger and indignity."

I'm rambled here a bit, but this story clearly shows how important it is that kids our age at least learn a little bit about how things work in other parts of the world, because everyone of you quarter-lifers that reads Rants and Cravings are going to be doing business that is somehow connected to another part of the world in your lifetime, I guarentee it.

Posted by Gordon Fellows at 07:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For the first time, the grandfathers of Rock'N Roll tuned up, lit up, and turned it up in the Central Kingdom. From the reports I read, this concert was a pretty big deal for China and the City of Shanghai, which is known throughout Asia to be the most progressive city in the country. Shanghai has a booming indepent rock music scene that combines Chinese and European musicians, most of whom were probably very encouraged by the CCP's decision to allow the Stones to play.

But I'm thinking that the Chinese government didn't want us Westerns to forget that they are big fans of the old Ed Sullivan Show, so they banned four Stones songs for there suggestive lyrics: Brown Sugar, Beast of Burden, Honkey Talk Woman, and Let's Spend the Night Together.

I read a report that tickets for the concert were scalping for over $600 USD.

I think it's great that government allowed the Stones to play...anything that can build cultural similarity between the West and the East is probably good.

Posted by Gordon Fellows at 09:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Before I started blogging about baseball, I spent a lot of time posting about my favorite thing in the word...FOOD!! But, alas, I've put on some pounds since my return from China, and I have had to curb my eating (and blogging about eating) habits. But I've had an opion brewing about a certain upscale chain restraunt that I just can't hold back any more, so I'm about to kick it Old School and give ya'll my opinion on THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY.

I really like the food at this place. First of all, the word "cheesecake" is in the name of the restraunt, which is awesome. This chain also offers a HUGE selection of dishes based on a wide variety of influences. Seriously, it usually takes me 10 minutes just to go through the menu for the first time. Portion sizes are also generous. Salads, appatizers, entrees, and of course desserts rarely leave wanting for anything. Bottom line, I like the food...I've had better, but I've had a lot worse too.

But I've got two problems with this place. First, take a look at this.

That's right, it's the atmosphere stupid. When I walk into a Cheesecake Factory, I can't tell if they want me to feel like I'm dining on the shores of the Mediterrainian, eating in an Egyptian Pyramid, or experienceing an elegant hotel restraunt. How does this atmosphere remind me of Cheesecake or a factory? I mean look at that ceiling pannel. What is that? What does it mean? How am I supposed to concentrate on my food with that thing over my head? I just don't get. Am I alone with this?

But there's something about the Cheesecake Factory that really burns my grits. THE PUT STINKIN ADVERTISEMENTS IN THE MENUS!!!!!!! Unbelievable, when I eat at one of these locations, I've usually spent two or three hours in the ajoing mall suffering through the pangs of shopping, unconsiously reading every advertisement I inadvertantly see, and getting frustrated with crowd. When I duck out of the mall to eat, all I want is a brief escape in which I can enjoy my meal. But I sure can't find that at the cheesecake factory. Instead, I'm forced to pay to look at commercials. UNBELIEVEABLE!!!

Posted by Gordon Fellows at 09:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)