Back in the P.R. of C. and Ready to Go

So the wife and I just got back from a great warm-weather vacation to Hong Kong and the Philippines yesterday and are grateful to be home despite the fact that we're in sub-zero temperatures here in Xinjiang.  I'm looking forward to squeezing comfortably back into my routine and returning this blog to a normal publishing schedule.  It was a good two week vacation and I've been blissfully ignorant about much of what has been happening in Xinjiang, China, and around the world, including:

1. Last Sunday's 5.3 magnitude earthquake hit Xinjiang only 400km (250 miles) from my home.  Thousands have been displaced, but according to many sources compiled by the New Dominion, there have thankfully been no fatalities.
   
2. China welcomed the Lunar New Year to the sound of a hundred-billion firecrackers exploding at once.  I've always wondered if this phenomenon could be seen from space, replacing the false myth about China's Great Wall.
3. The Almighty, One whom I usually try to keep in daily contact with, apparently pulled a fast one on me and has according to most media sources I read taken the oath of office as the President of the United States.  I'm still researching the validity of this claim.

Also because I have a bit of free time I'm going to be experimenting with Twitter and figuring out if it's something I want to get into.  If you're interested in watching a nit-wit learn the ropes, be my guest.  The handle, as you might have guessed, is FarWestChina.

Good to be back...and it would be better if I could get this stupid firewall block fixed.  Peace, and Happy New Year!