As most are aware, an earthquake last month near Taiwan damaged several undersea cables that–for reasons passing understanding–constituted most of China’s principal internet connection with the rest of the world. The China Daily earlier this month reported that the connection would be up and running again by January 15. I’m not sure why I believed them. When did I drink the Kool-Aid? These are the same people who were telling me two years ago that SARS was definitely not in Beijing.
My lack of internet access can’t compare to a government cover-up of a deadly epidemic, but it still seriously takes the jam out of my daily donut. Right now I’m limited to kowtowing before my laptop as the ADSL connection in my future inlaws’ apartment tries in vain to reach my email, my library, and my fantasy basketball team. YJ’s mom and dad must think I’ve gone totally insane…every evening all I do is sit hunched over a tiny laptop screen mumbling ominous curses with occasional vulgar yelps of profanity as the bits and bytes creep their way to my computer like ants drowning in tree sap.
I am desperately fighting the urge to pour baijiu over the keyboard,