B-jing A Birminghamian in Beijing
current
Vulcan, in all his iron-keistered glory, has always fascinated me.
From my first visits to Birmingham as a child seeing the macabre red torch indicating a highway fatality, to exploring the cave-like space beneath its base while at UAB. Once, in the guise of taping a video for Operation New Birmingham, I convinced a friend from the Mayor’s office
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Date:
3/1/2010
(Authors note: The DPRK’s government brutally represses its people and governs over a system that will change or break. My attempts at humor are meant to help tell the story. I have a profound respect for the plight of North Koreans, all of whom treated me nicely.)
PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA—“If any of you American imperialists get out of line I’m
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Date:
2/1/2010
BEIJING—Should we attempt a dance number? After all, last year’s Can Can dance won first prize. Maybe we should be more conceptual—an interpretation of the Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony. We could carry a colleague around the ballroom, a la Li Ning running around the bird’s nest stadium, while people on the stage looked up.
It’s the year of the
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Date:
1/1/2010
BEIJING – My mother recently forwarded a joke to me about a new employee in a factory in Minnesota that makes Tickle Me Elmo dolls.
The plant is ramping up production to meet Christmas demand, and there’s a bottleneck at her station. She misunderstood her instructions, and is giving each doll her understanding of two test tickles. Two test tickles.
This
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Date:
12/17/2009
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Trevor Hale, a Cullman native and
self-described “ignoramus abroad,” has lived and worked in Beijing,
Stuttgart, New York, Detroit and Birmingham. Living in Beijing for
the last six years, he has had a front row seat for China's rapid (if
not always graceful) ascension. Growing up, he was caught most Sunday
mornings eating orange rolls at the All Steak restaurant, when he was
supposed to be in church. He travels extensively with his son Spencer
and is happy to be B-Metro's international correspondent. He can be
reached at trevorcookhale@yahoo.com.