What’s New with Wu

What happens when you mix geek with weightlifter?  Yuri Vlasov, one of the greatest lifters of all time.

I’m writing along with the book a new travel article on Mongolia.  Travel writing that doesn’t suck is hard -fortunately  Seth Stevenson is my guide for this kind of stuff.

His Japan series is totally classic in my opinion, even if you’ve spent time in Japan.

The greatest cliche in travel is “old meets new.”   I must say the conference organizers took that to a new and unexcepted level last night by mixing this

with this

To a remixed version of “Greensleeves” brought to you via turntable and Gayaguem (zither).

I had never thought of zither and breakdancing together but it was a memorable combination.

I’m off to the OECD’s “Future of the Internet” meeting in Seoul.    Unfortunately I have already been to the Kimchi museum so I’ll have to think of somewhere else to go in my off time.

An annual ascent of Shasta would probably be best.  But once every five years is better than nothing.

(photo credit SP8254 on flickr, CC license)

My once idealized vision of U.S. Park Rangers was sure sullied today by their operation of a speed trap in Yosemite Park. Near Tuolumne meadows, on a straight empty stretch of road, there’s a sudden drop in the speed limit from 45 - 35 mph, and the rangers make a good business of busting everyone going 50 mph.
When the Ranger stopped me I thought he was coming over to help with directions or something, and I was actually quite pleased about that, because in fact I had a few questions. But no, it was the whole tough guy state cop routine; and instead of a hiker suddenly you’ve become some kind of felon. In fact, the stupid thing took so long I got out of the car for a while to go wander around (its nice in Tuolumne Meadows) - but oh no, out came an order to return to the car.

I am in Colorado for Phil Weiser’s annual telecom conference, Silicon Flatirons.

Made it to Steamboat Springs to visit a friend of mine.   In some places on the ski hill, nearly 10 ft of snow.

At Sundance I saw the Donnas perform in very small space, and completely fell for this band and in particular lead singer Brett Anderson.

I may give up this whole teaching gig to become a groupie. In fact for the first time I understand what would make someone into one.

PS If you are reading this and you are Brett Anderson, please email.

I’m in Iowa, working as a front-line volunteer.  It feels like “Private Wu reporting for duty–”  in the sense of simply following orders as opposed to trying to decide anything.  Its humbling and very cold.
I’m surely not the first to say this but this is the most interesting election in years and its a thrill to get a first hand look.  Today I went to a Huckabee event - I am fascinated by the man.  He proceeded to give a speech that was almost exactly 50% left-wing and 50% right-wing by conventional terms, switching back and forth so quickly it was like watching a magician.

On the left-wing side, speaking of a poor 7-year old he had met while Governor, Huckabee, explained that we need to measure the progress of America by how the least well-off are doing.

“That boy,” he explained, “needs better roads, better schools, and better health care…  If he’s doing okay then we can know the rest of us are doing fine.”

I can’t remember the last time I heard a Republican discuss the idea that we measure our progress by how we treat the worst off among us; despite the obvious fact that Christians are supposed to approach the world this way (seculars can rely on John Rawls for the same point).

But a minute later he was off on the sanctity of marriage, and the need to abolish the IRS. It was strange to watch.
The appeal of Huckabee comes from the idea that has a set of beliefs that dictate his political views, as opposed to having political views that dictate his beliefs.  That’s also the appeal of Barack Obama and John McCain.  And after 8 years during which supposed principles have been manipulated to achieve the grossest of political ends, its no surprise that these are the candidates that are flourishing, as opposed to the phonies.

Cambridge is meant to have fancy dress parties and I guess they came through. Pictured here is my mother and me, and Andy Klein who teaches torts at Indiana in the background.