a nuclear weapon that only wipes out Republican voters
I’m starting to worry about Pakistan. The security situation there has deteriorated significantly in the last couple of months. Yes, the Taliban are on the move in the tribal areas to the west. The country has a new, West-leaning president, Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of Benazir Buttho. Clearly he is in it over […]
things my cancer taught me 2: I’m a wuz
I now know my limits as an adventurer. I can’t simultaneously live on a little tropical island in the South China Sea and go through cancer treatment. I have to face one challenge at a time. For now, the cancer is more urgent. In order to deal with it, I’ve almost completely sequestered myself in a European […]
amino acids?
This is a jar of amino acids that Doctor Ding strongly recommends. Amino acids help build cells and the idea is that a table spoon of this powder three times a day will help save my mouth. But it’s not working. Doctor Ding was most surprised. “Are you taking it in hot water?” she asked. “No,” I […]
more water, new life
Outside of my study there is a little balcony with a mango tree in a pot. We bought it in the flower market in town a year ago — mangoes, to me, are such a symbol of exoticism and the tropics. Since I haven’t properly been to my study since I was diagnosed with cancer […]
it’s all good
I’m back from the big hospital in Taipei. Everything’s fine. Fine, fine, fine. I wasn’t so sure at first. Dr. Hong studied the X-ray of my lungs with great attention. But then he turned to me and said: “the shape of your heart indicates that you have problems with hypertension.” Now an oncologist who talks […]
man against the machine
I’m starting to really resent the linear accelerator, the large radiation machine. There I am, strapped down, with no means of defending myself, as it circulates around my head for ten minutes a day, bombarding me with laser beams that make my throat, my mouth and gums swell up. I leave the machine after 10 […]
week 2 round-up
Another week of treatment just started. The weekend was great. I listened to BBC Radio 4 on the computer and recuperated. Yes, my mouth is dry but I’m very far from dead yet. Sept 1, Monday: I saw Doctor Ding, my radiation doctor, today. She checked my mouth and seemed happy enough with me. I’ve lost one […]
wedding bells
My student Tsungyi and his fiancée are getting married today. Many happy years to them! I would have liked to go to the party but I’m too tired, and also I’m afraid I will jinx the occasion. Chinese people are big on happiness at weddings. They don’t want people around who remind them of death. […]
blogging in Chinese
My friend Tsungyi took me to a book publisher today. They are bringing out a Chinese version of my blogging book. Great fun. I always wanted to be translated — and into Chinese too! Now 1.5 billion people can read my book! Unfortunately, however, they won’t. In Taiwan the only books that sell are self-help […]
the state of the US economy
My friend Jeff sent me these pretty striking statistics on the US economy since 2000. This is of course what any reasonable election in any reasonable country should be about. What’s particularly striking to me is that productivity during the Bush years has gone up by 19% whereas median income has gone down by […]