7/21    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Cold_War_pilot_defections
        This week's food for thought, brought to you by People's
        Republic of Berkeley: Did you know that many US pilots defected to
        communist Cuba?  South Korea pilots defected to communist
        North Korea? Iran<->Iraq pilots defected to each other?
        W Germany pilots defected to E Germany? Taiwan/ROC pilots
	...

7/20    Is jblack still on? What about the rest of the pro-war cheerleaders?
        http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100720/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_iraq_inquiry
        \_ War is fought for the glory of generals and the economics of the
           war machine.  Looking for "justifications" for it is like looking
           for sense in the necronomicon.  Just accept it and move on.
        \_ When we fight with Red China, what nation will we use as a proxy?
	...

2/4     Don't be evil.  Unless it's with China, or doubleclick, or the NSA...
        \_ Google on the China deal: "We're not being evil because
             we'll do a better job providing information to the
             Chinese than any other company."
           Google on getting out of the China deal: "We're not
             evil because we're cutting our losses in China
	...

10/21   ok, how Taiwan going to protrait itself as a victim and cry faul
        this time:
        http://csua.org/u/mpw
        \_ The protesters will claim that they were protecting their country
           from sell-outs like Ma; Ma will claim that they're nutjobs.
           *shrug* How is this any different than PRC's reaction to Chinese
	...

10/2    What is it like to date a Republican?
        \_ Dated a TAIWANESE Republican. Great sex, but some side effects.
           Always thinks she's right. Very stubborn. She's never wrong, and
           you're always wrong. Materialistic. Always talks about money.
           Complains about job all the time. Wants more money. Plays stocks
           a lot. Talks about stocks all the time. Great sex. Always talks
	...

8/11    Analysis: roots of conflict between Georgia and Russia
        http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4498709.ece
        \_ This is an excellent insight. Thank you.
        \_ this is pretty straightforward actually:
           - s. ossetia is de facto independent and allied with Russia
           - georgia takes s. ossetia by force, pokes Russian Bear in eye
	...

5/12    Another big disaster in Asia in a week:
        "Death toll in China earthquake up to nearly 9,000"
        http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080512/ap_on_re_as/china_earthquake
        \_ my work place is full of mainlanders trying to get funding
           to help their fellow mainlanders. however, they're also the
           people who are insulted at FREE TIBET and LEAVE TAIWAN ALONE
	...

7/10    Citibank mastercard changes me 3% when I use the card in Canada.
        WTF? What are some other cards that charge less? 3% is just
        ridiculous.
        \_ Capital One is supposed to be the only major credit card provider
           left that doesn't charge extra for charging outside the country.
           http://csua.org/u/gdq (sfgate.com, June 25, 2006)
	...

12/23   Thanks for the Taiwan visit tips.
        In the meantime I've found some links listing rates for ATM withdrawals
        and credit card purchases, and another link on travellers check cards.
        http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20050624b1.asp
        http://csua.org/u/efg (europeforvisitors.com)
        My conclusion (for a trip to Taiwan) is that the travellers check cards
	...

7/16    Why is it that everytime I call Citibank I get this guy with a
        heavy Indian accent that I can barely understand? I'm fed up with
        having to call 3-4 times before I get someone who can speak
        decent English. In fact I've been getting used to hanging up
        immediately when I hear someone with a heavy accent. It's totally
        annoying. The other thing is they're really persistent, like
	...

6/30     How many credit cards do you have?
        \_ 4-6: I've carried ~$20,000 debt on different credit cards for
          ~4-5 yrs, APR: 0%, one card rolled over into the next. Had to be
           careful enough to switch banks each time I roll a 0% apr into the
           card.  But I really only use one card for most of my purchases
           that I do pay off every month.
	...

6/17    What's the catch with balance transfer offers? I got one that sounds
        really good, 1.99% for the life of the balance with no transfer fee.
        Is there any reason not to do this?
        \_ Ok, no, all this stuff below is wrong.  I checked and the way most
           of these work is they require you to a) take out more money that
           card every month (some minimum which will vary), and b) any money
	...