Interesting tidbit from Peter Hessler’s Oracle Bones - 40 percent of China’s domestically produced cornstarch goes to make MSG, whereas 60 percent of America’s domestically produced cornstarch goes to make artificial sweeteners. Hessler writes, “Those statistics seemed to say something profound about the differences between the two nations.”
I think everyone has at least one novel inside of them, just like everyone has the potential to run a marathon at least once in their lives. I started writing a novel last year, before coming to China, but then I stopped working on it. It didn’t seem relevant to my new life. [...]
As sad and inspiring as this is, the cynic in me whispers, “If it’s got an anthem, it’s probably already lying to you.”
I’m amazed at the things an Episcopalian can do with a toaster oven.
Monthly Archives: November 2006