The Taipei Kid

The tune that everyone in Taipei is forced to listen to everyday, the tune that makes my dog growl each time she hears it, is mentioned in Andrew Leonard’s recent column. (He also mentions our own little China Post.)

Geffen Records chairman Ron Fair defending the criticism American Idol judges lash out at contestants: “In order to have a reputation and continue in a healthy manner in this business, you have to tell people `no’ all day long,” he said. “I’m telling people ‘I’m not going to sign you, that song is not a [...]

Our secret spies have been out around the town recently. This must be the first time a neurodevelopmental disorder has been used in a blue jean advertisement. Tacky.

I tried to get half-off, high-speed rail tickets today, but failed. The only tickets to Taichung they had left for Saturday were the 8 and 9 pm ones. Too late. I am impressed with how quick the line went and the auto-machines, but don’t expect to use your credit card with them unless you know [...]

Salon’s latest feature on the death of James Kim mentions another family who had also gotten trapped in the Southern Oregon snow–the Stivers. I don’t feel quite as sorry for the Stivers, who took their kids on a little RV holiday with Grandma and Grandpa Meth Dealer,  as I do for the Kim family. Is [...]

I went to go see about tickets for the high-speed rail today. Big mistake. If you are a foreigner, you can expect to be filmed, photographed and bothered by all of the reporters camped out around the ticket counter. This includes sticking a microphone and camera in your face while you are talking to the [...]