Given that no subject in the China-based English language blogosphere gets people more excited than Chinese nationalism, it’s amazing to me that more reporters haven’t bothered to go out and report on the phenomenon’s actual origins and current adherents. And that’s why I’m so pleased that my great friend and MN compatriot Mara Hvistendhal is…
All posts in Minnesota
Rake Over
Yesterday, with little notice outside of Minnesota, The Rake died as a print publication. And that’s a pity. My association with the nearly six-year-old Minneapolis-based publication dates back to its fourth issue. It was a proud and supportive relationship, and though I haven’t been much of a contributor over the last couple of years, I’ve…
Second Sunday Lecture at St. John’s
I’m not sure how many readers I have in Central Minnesota, but if you’re out there, this post is for you – On Sunday, February 10, I’ll deliver this month’s Second Sunday lecture at St. John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota. The announced title of my speech is “Catholicism with Shanghai Characteristics: Faith’s Future…
Best Buy in China
North American companies have been entering the Chinese market for so long that rarely – if ever – do they warrant coverage beyond a one or two paragraph slug in the back of the Wall Street Journal, anymore. The problems, the strategies, and the narrative remains – with some variation – largely the same. And…
US Governor Resigns, Joins Shanghai “Geek Squad”
SHANGHAI, China (Shanghai Scrap) — During a planned visit to Shanghai’s first Best Buy retail outlet on Friday, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty abruptly resigned when he noticed that – minus coat – he fit right in with the company’s local Geek Squad tech support department. Ok, the truth is …
US Democracy in Absentia: Overseas Voters Still Count Less
On November 6, 2007, municipalities throughout the great US state of Minnesota will hold local elections for offices such as mayor, city council, and school board. These are relatively minor affairs (so long as you don’t care about street lights and education policy), and nobody outside of Minnesota is going to pay much attention to…
Jackie Chan Goes to Seed (After the Jump)
In his latest column for That’s Shanghai magazine, Kent Kedl – a good friend, and fellow Minnesotan in Shanghai – writes of the Minnesota State Fair. For Minnesotans in China, this is a real knee-slapper; for anyone else, well, Kent may have just solidified our reputation as some of Shanghai’s most, ah, inward looking of…
Oriental in Minnesota
I purchased several books during my recent visit to the United States, but none was more interesting (or cheaper) than this 63-page booklet, published in 1949 and found in the inventory of a small bookshop in Moorhead, Minnesota. Based upon that title, and that cover, I wasn’t expecting much. And, considering the sad state of…
Minneapolis: 35W Bridge Collapse, Revisited
Minneapolis has a displaced feeling today. People are talking about the bridge collapse, of course, but those conversations are often paralleled by open surprise that the collapse has become the focus of national and international attention (a friend emailed to say that it was featured on a local Shanghai newscast!). I guess that’s a function…
Minneapolis: 35W Bridge Collapse
I am currently in suburban Minneapolis, watching the televised response to the collapse of the 35W bridge over the Mississippi River. What follows are a few spot, shocked reactions to the news. Earlier this evening, roughly 10-15 minutes before the collapse, I was riding from the Minneapolis airport into downtown Minneapolis, and I passed within…