I really had no particular reason for posting that last image, other than the fact that I had people asking about the next "tanzany" post, and I had nothing to offer. So I cheated and posted an image I Stumbled-upon of some street graffiti in Bangkok. It had no connection to anything other than that I found it interesting. Maybe it was loosely connected to the conviction I've been feeling towards my apathy which has recently been chomping at my brain.
But surprisingly in light of that, here's one interesting observation of my roommate Peter Jackson that came to my mind nearly a year to the day after it was made:
Whenever China begins to feel the heat and come under international scrutiny, there always seems to be some sort of disaster (terrorist attack, landslide) that blows through, completely taking everyone's focus off of the mistakes being made by China.
I find this especially interesting with respect to the recent Burmese cyclone and the earthquake in China. It just fits too will, especially since the media has been swamped with accounts and images of heartrending outpouring of aid and support by the Chinese people for the victims in Sichuan. Across the way, however a harsh and oppresive regime is actually blocking international aid for its people. So in the end, China looks pretty good. Coupled with the proximity of Sichuan to Tibet, I find it just a little bit creepy.
Here among Oakland's scientific community it's apparent there's a little bit of a different perspective on the situation. The other day I was making my bi-hourly coffee run when I passed by one of the PI's offices which had this poem printed out and taped onto the door. Read it. It made me question my own biases and once again be baffled by a complex world in which there are no clear cut solutions.
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