Yesterday we were without electricity and running water for the whole day. Sometimes that happens in America, too. I remember once when we lived in Washington DC, I came home to find that we had no water. Here is the conversation I had with a Water Department employee: "Do you live near 4th and G Streets?" "Yes, I do." "Your water will be running again in a few minutes." In China, I can't do that. I wouldn't know who to call, and I couldn't communicate with them, anyway. Remember when Enron manipulated the energy markets in California, leading to rolling blackouts and the ousting of a Governor? Remember when the city of New York, and much of the Mid-West suddenly went dark? I mention these incidents because it can be tempting to blame China when we have to spend a day without flushing the toilet. In fact, the power can go out anywhere at any time. Sometimes you know why, and sometimes you never do.