tropic of cancer
Going down to Tainan we passed the Tropic of Cancer. We are now officially in the tropics. The Tropic of Cancer, according to Wikipedia, is “the northernmost latitude at which the Sun can appear directly overhead at noon. This event occurs at the June solstice, when the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun to its maximum […]
to Tainan
We are off on a mini-vacation. We are going to Tainan, a city in the south, to stay in a big hotel for three days. Tainan is supposed to be a very traditional place, with lots of old temples, narrow streets, and the best food in Taiwan. Foreigners, we are told, like Tainan a lot. […]
“Chinese Taipei”
“Chinese Taipei,” 中華台北, is what they call Taiwan in the Olympic Games, and this is its pathetic looking flag. The Beijing government considers Taiwan to be a part of the People’s Republic of China and as a result Taiwanese athletes can’t compete under its country’s official name. How totally embarrassing. It’s like Swedish athletes competing […]
radiation simulation
I did a “radiation simulation” today, in the basement of the big hospital in Taipei. First they put a plastic compound on my face and made a mask. Then they put a mark on my chest to indicate where the mask should line up with my body. I’ll have to walk around with this tattoo […]
next semester
No, I won’t be teaching next semester. I’ll be under treatment until October and most likely I’ll be hospitalized for at least some of the time. And once it’s over, I’ll need a few weeks to recuperate. What about my work? What about my salary? My boss, Thomas Lee, has come up with a brilliant […]
Take a look at this receipt!
Take a look at this receipt. It’s my medical bill for 33 sessions of radiation and chemotherapy at the NTU hospital. The total cost is 37,251 NT ($1,195 US or 630 GBP). What I’m paying, however, is a mere 100 NT — $3.20. The rest is paid by the national medical insurance. And remember, we […]
dolce far niente
I haven’t done anything at all for the last two days. I’m just laying about in total unproductivity. Mainly I’ve slept and watched Olympic coverage on Taiwanese TV. The Olympics provides just the right level of excitement. If it keeps you awake, that’s fine. If it makes you fall asleep, that’s fine too. I still […]
Setting fire to Boris Johnson’s hair
“cancer is a great gift”
“Cancer is a great gift,” says my friend Ilya, quoting a Buddhist teacher. “Give me a break,” I think to myself. People’s fear of death is the illegitimate trump card of all religions. They use it to scare people into believing in unbelievable things. Death makes vicars and priests snicker in secret since they know […]
broccoli
I’m eating broccoli. A bowl-load a day. Broccoli contains a lot of anti-oxidants and anti-oxidants help repair cells and prevent cancers. There are stories about people who complete cure themselves from cancer by going on an all-broccoli diet. No doubt much of this broccoli propaganda is urban legend, but some of it is surely science. Green […]