Monday, April 28, 2014

A Lonely Sole Finds His Way Home

John B. Rehm, a State Department lawyer, became the first general counsel in the office of the Special Trade Representative (1963-69). Upon leaving government in the 1969, he practiced international trade law in Washington, D.C.

A Friends Seminary graduate in 1948, Rehm sent his application to only two schools: the University of Chicago and the Harvard University. He was accepted by both with scholarship. Four years later, Rehm went to the Law School of Columbia University only to get out of Harvard.

There must be some really extinguish traits that made John picked Diane, a divorced Arabian secretary, who was working for the State Department, as his love and wife in the height of John's prominent and successful career life.

For one, John loved the way Diane ironed his shirts. Diane would iron his shirts all day after she sent their children David and Jennifer to school for the next fourteen years, until one day she volunteered for an intern position for The Home Show at WAMU in 1973, during which she scolded the guess, a public official, because she thought his policy was wrong.

In the next few years, history would see Diane raise to a national celebrity, while John became disappointed by what a law degree was meant for, making money that is, while he made tons of money everyday. According to Diane, John became unhappy and sad by the moneycentric way of live which was adopted by the society. Although John lost interests in his career and life, but "not eve a single time" had he implied any discouragement on Diane's success. "Not even once," recalled Diane.

The duo loved each other, and were truly committed, toward commiment. Diane tool John to a 115 acres family farm for 15 days on a family vacation, while the couple reflected on ups and downs and bumps of their marriage. Diane taped and transcribed the exchange in its entirety. The book was raved on its revealing honesty.

Millions of loyal listeners of the ever so popular radio program were pleased to hear that Diane, WAMU and the NPR signed a three years contract extension in Spring 2014.

John was disabled by Parkinson's disease moved in an assisted living facility. "John once said," recalled Diane, "a best couple should live next door, or different floors, in a short distance." "Now you get your wish granted," joked Diane.

"No decision I have made was so valid and right on the woman I married," John told Melbourne Spector during an Oral History Project interview, which had became a part of the history held by the Library of Congress.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Japanese Parade on Hilter's 125th Birthday

Japanese gathered on April 20 to honor Adolf Hitler's 125th birthday. The parade started at Tokyo's Ikebukuro Central Park East where seven Class-A war criminals including Hideki Tojo were hanged by international court post WWII. Participants include youth as well as elders.

Banners advocating Japanese Supremacy were displayed along Nazi flags. Posters of South Korean President Park Geun-hye were defaced and marked 'beggar' and 'prostitute'.

A national politician, former vice president of the nationalist "Restoration Political Party-New Wind", Hiroyuki Seto made the following remark: I don't know what's wrong with agreeing with Hitler. Is it the holocaust of six million Jews? Are there still people who believe that happened? That's a lie. It's the same fabrication of history as the Rape of Nanking and the forced comfort women.

The admiration to the Fuehrer is deeply rooted in generations of Japanese. Last year, referring to a constitution revision, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance commented "we can learn from techniques of the Nazis", who changed Germany's Weimar constitution "unnoticed".

The gathering and parade were escorted by police, as it had been registered and approved.

Prior to US president Obama's visit on April 23, Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and his cabinet members paid respect to a shrine Yasukuni where war criminals were commemorated.

Neighboring countries such as China and South Korea see Yasukuni as a symbol of Japan's militarism, and repeated visits by Japanese leadership as a lack of remorse over the pain Japan had forced on peoples in Asia.

On April 1, 2014, the US Justice Department confirmed that 35 Japanese war criminals were banned from entering US. Most of them either served in Unit 731 which carried out horrifying experiments on live human subjects, or operated 'comfort stations', where females from occupied countries were enslaved as sex tools for Japanese army.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Chinese Students Populate US Universities

University of Southern California announced that over four thousand Chinese students were studying on their campus, based on Fall 2013 enrollment. Among which, 3,600 are from mainland China, 400 are from Taiwan, and 125 are from Hong Kong. The total number of international student population at USC is 8,500.

On the other end of the pipeline, around 7,000 Chinese obtained long term employment based visa through H1B in 2013. The total number of post-secondary Chinese students in the US exceeds 287,260 in 2013-2014 academic year (USICE). This number has doubled in five years from 128,000 since 2009-2010 academic year. The great majority of those who wish to stay in the US will have to explore options beyond high tech workers project.

According to Study Abroad Trend Report released by China Education Online, 103,427 Chinese students went to US for education. Among whom, 43.9% attended graduate schools, while 39.8% attended undergrad colleges. 23,795 Chinese students attended high schools, which reflected an increase of 366 times in eight years.

The most popular areas of study for Chinese students in the US are: Business (29%), Engineering (19.2%), Math and Computer Science (11.2%) and Social Sciences (8.2%). In the US, international students represent 3.9% of total students enrollment in the US in 2012 (OpenDoors Report).

One notable change in Chinese studying abroad is the emerging of 'international classes' in first tier cities in China. A conservative estimate put the total enrollment around 50,000 at this time. There are over 100 international classes in Beijing and about 50 in Shanghai, and various number of such classes all across China. High school students in these classes are prepared for going overseas rather than taking the National College Entrance Examination in China. They study for TOEFL, SAT, ACT, and science and humanity classes in English.

A study conducted by Xiaojie Li found the most important factors to draw Chinese students are academic quality and safety, which were followed by employment opportunities in the US after graduation. It is as interesting and important to find their school choices were not greatly influenced by the size of existing Chinese students population nor collaborative programs between the US institution and their Chinese alma mater.

Globally, Chinese students represented the top foreign students population in US, UK, Australia, Canada and Japan.

SchoolEnrollment Mainland ChinaYear of DataUS News 2014
Princeton University 326 2013 1-National
Harvard University 582 2011 2-National
Yale University 378 2012 3-National
Columbia University 2,849 2013 4-National
University of Pennsylvania 104 2012 7-National
Northwestern University 526 2009 12-National
University of California--Berkeley 1568 2013 20-National (2014)
University of Vriginia 828 2013 23-National
University of Southern California 3,038 2013 23-National
Tufts University 235 2013 28-National
Georgia Institute of Technology 1,470 2013 36-National
Pennsylvania State University 2,375 2012 37-National
University of Illinois Urbana-Champion 4,512 2013 41-National
University of Miami 976 2013 47-National
University of Texas--Austin 596 2008 52-National
University of Maryland--College Park 1,912 2012 62-National
University of Pittsburgh 1,387 2013 62-National
Purdue University 4,323 2013 68-National
Texas A&M University 1,688 2013 69-National
University of Iowa 2,062 2012 72-National
Michigan State University 4,419 2013 73-National
Indiana University--Bloomington 3,250 2012 75-National
Stony Brook University--SUNY 1,827 2013 82-National
University of Denver 733 2013 91-National
Binghamton University--SUNY 713 2012 97-National
Iowa State University 1,917 2013 101-National
University of Kansas 190 2006 101-National
Duquesne University 132 2012 121-National
University of Arkansas 211 2013 128-National
Ohio University 920 2013 135-National
Kansas State University 981 2013 135-National
Arizona State University 2,497 2013 142-National
Virginia Commonwealth University 171 2013 167-National
Northern Illinois University 104 2011 177-National
Western Michigan University 268 2013 181-National
University of Houston 686 2010 190-National
North Dakota State University 266 2013 190-National
Central Michigan University 259 2013 190-National
Georgia State University 465 2013 RNP-National
East Tennessee State University 119 2012 RNP-National
Wichita State University 156 2011 RNP-National
University of North Texas 381 2013 RNP-National
Portland State University 299 2011 RNP-National
Amherst College 28 2012 2-Liberal Arts
Swarthmore College 22 2012 3-Liberal Arts
Bowdoin College 20 2013 4-Liberal Arts
Claremont McKenna College 13 2010 9-Liberal Arts
Bucknell University 50 2012 32-Liberal Arts
Rochester Institute of Technology 406 2013 7-North
Chatham University 23 2013 48-North
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 15 2009 95-North
Weber State University 79 2013 80-West
Xavier University 17 2012 4-Midwest
University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire 89 2012 30-Midwest
University of Nebraska--Kearney 115 2013 48-Midwest
Avila University 27 2013 102-Midwest
University of North Carolina--Pembroke 69 2009 80-South
University of Houston--Clear Lake 100 2003 UR
University of Maryland, Baltimore 53 2005 UR

Numbers are cited from publicly available reports. Many universities with high Chinese students representation do not publish by-country enrollment data. For example, there are over 1,000 Chinese students on the main campus of Johns Hopkins University, among its 8,000 total students population. JHU is not listed in the above table because we do not have an exact official number. Similar situations include Duke University and most colleges and universities in the Boston area.

Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Jogging Not As Safe As Runners Thought

Jogging in a small town community park might not be as safe as runners had thought. Two female joggers were attacked while they were jogging together along paved path at Walkersville Community Park in Maryland.

Both 37 year old and 50 year old were sexually attacked by a youth.

Less than one month ago and a few miles to the east, a female runner who was running along the North East Street was groped by a person who did not match the description of the park incident. Earlier, runners reported that they were shot by paintball from driving-by pickup trucks while they were running along country road.

The Greater Washington D.C. area, following the national trend, have found increasing popularity of running. However, the safety issue could never have been worse.

In a politically charged campaign targeting former Californian Congressman Gary Condit, who lost a following re-election, the media focused upon the unexplained disappearance of a Washington intern Chandra Levy. Levy was later found murdered in the Rock Creek Park, probably while she was jogging. As a result of the Levy investigation, it turned out many, many women, possibly all joggers, had been attacked in the same park.

Tuesday, April 08, 2014

Will Yale University Do this to an African American Student?

Frances Chan, an Asian American student majoring in History was threatened by officials at Yale University that she would be kicked out of the school, because she was not heavy enough, according to report by the Huffington Post, New Haven Register.

The Asian American student stands 5 ft 2 tall, and weights 92 lbs. Despite having lived a healthy life, the University simply does not like how much she weights. Obviously she is not as heavy as most white girls, even though 92 lbs and 5 ft 2 is not an unusual combination among people with a skin color of Asians.

Yale University forced the student to check in weekly for weigh-ins. Chan was forced to bury herself with junk food such as Cheetos, cookies and ice cream. Whenever possible, she was forced to take elevator rather than taking stairs. Her family talked to the University, even had her childhood doctor talked to the University, as well as had her medical record shared with the University. The University couldn't be pleased.

Yale does not like how she looks. She does not look as heavy as what Yale likes to see.

The million dollar questions being that whether Yale would do the same to other students who look different from a desired figure (the Lebensborn project anyone cares to recall)? Is Asian the easy target for its hard to contain unresting internal urge of discrimination?

Frankly we could care less about discrimination or in particular a systematic attitude of discrimination at Yale. Be real, if you don't see it at other places you must be blind. The problem is: after several months of forced eating of junk food, the Asian girl is reporting a real eating disorder. What can she do?

Thursday, April 03, 2014

An Arrest Affidavit

Jing-Police-AA[2013] No. 306

Suspect: Ding Jiaxi, male, born August 17, 1967, of Yidu City of Hubei Province, ID# 11010819670817XXX, Han, postgraduate study, CEO of Hongde Law Firm in Beijing, permanent residency: xxxx, Building 107, 37 Xuyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, current residence: x-x, building 16, Huanshan Village, Wenquan, Haidian District, Beijing, member of China Democratic League (note: aka Minmeng, one of eight officially sponsored democratic political parties in China). Criminally detained on April 18, 2013 on allegations of illegal gathering; jailed at the No. 3 detention center of Beijing.

Defense lawyers: Liu Zhiqiang, Hongrui Law Firm of Shaanxi, License number: 610622197008280913; Wang Xing, Huicheng Law Firm of Beijing, License number: 110108198007113410.

The alleged illegal gathering case was stemed from another case investigated by this bureau (note: Metropolitan Police of Beijing) on March 31, 2013, wherein Hou Xin et al, illegally gathered at the Xidan Plaza advocating for public disclosure of properties owned by officials. Findings in that case revealed Ding Jiaxi was involved in the organizing, planning and displaying banners on the street. Suspect Ding Jiaxi was taken into custody on April 17, 2013.

Lawful investigation found: suspect Ding Jiaxi developed resentment because of his personal experiences, and start pursuing 'democratic citizenship'. He is connected to the Citizenship organization headed by Xu Zhiyong. He followed Xu's illegal political theories, i.e. advocate practicing of personal citizenship, reject dictatorship and corruption, exercising spirit of citizenship, share work under a democratic framework, push for peaceful conversion to a democratic legal system, participate by writing and posting articles, vote in elections, parade and demonstrate, push forward property disclosure, anti-corruption, anti land bound laws, promote citizenship awareness), participated in the New Citizenship Movement', therefore conducted damages.

In September of 2012, Xu Zhiyong led Ding Jiaxi, Li Wei, Sun Hanhui, Zhao Changqing and Wang Yonghong et al core members, started pushing for property disclosure of officials. They laid out a framework plan, in which Xu Zhiyong was charged as contacting valuable persons with levels of social influences, Ding Jiaxi as the chief coordinator, Sun Hanhui as public relation and the contact person, Li Wei gathering and distributing information. Afterwards, in the same month, aforementioned persons utilized a 'local partying' website to introduce the movement to those came to group meals.

On December 9, 2012, Sun Hanhui drafted a proposal to petition the 205 minister level ranking or higher level senior officials to disclose their properties. After Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiahui edited the petition, Li Wei and Wang Yonghong et al secured sixty-eight democratic and civil rights advocates as co-petitioners. They posted the petition on the Internet and ask for public endorsement. Xu Zhiyong instructed Zhao Changqing, Li Wei and Sun Hanhui et al purchase cell phones and set up mailboxes to accept signatures from the public.

In January 2013, Xu Zhiyong, Ding Jiaxi and Sun Hanhui, et al, donated ¥15,000 ($2,500) to sponsor Ruan Yunhua of Hubei Province and Zhang Kun of Jiangsu Province on their 'North-South Traversal of Property Disclosure Public Officials'. The Ruan and Zhang set out from Zhuhai, via Hubei Province, Changsha, Junyang, Nanchang, Shanghai, Nanjing, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Xi'an, Lanzhou and Chongqing, etc. along their way, they displayed banners and passed out flyers. They also collected endorsing signatures and contacts to promote the petition. By February, they had collected thousands of signatures, which were handed to Sun Hanhui, Li Wei and Ding Jiaxi when they returned to Beijing. On March 4, Sun hanhui sorted through 7,033 signatures obtained through varies channels and attached them to the 'petition' that was sent to the government agencies including the National People's Congress, Chief Operation Office CCP, Chief Operation Office of State Council and the Chief Disciplinary Committee of CCP. On March 13, Ma Xinli was captured when he attempted to pass the petition to Members of the National Congress along other petitioners while the National Congress were in session in Beijing.

Between September to December in 2012, Ding Jiaxi, Sun Hanhui, Zhao Changqing, Wang Yonghong, Li Wei, et al, organized and participated multiple group meals through 'local partying'. While they were eating, they discussed ways to push for the 'Disclosure', including displaying banners on the street. Beginning January 27, 2013, suspects including Ding Jiaxi, Sun Hanhui, Wang Yonghong, Zhao Changqing, Hou Xin, Zhang Baocheng, Yuan Dong, Ma Lixin, et al, identified public places and organized, planned and exercised near 30 times street political activities while they displayed banners, gave talks, and fast mobbed. On March 31, 2013, Hou Xin, Zhang Baocheng, Yuan Dong, Ma Xinli, et al. went to Xidan Cultural Plaza, where they illegally gathered. At the scene, Zhao Baocheng and Ma Lixin, et al. displayed banners with words such as "Ask the Top Seven Politburos to Disclose Property", "Only Big Turtles (Turtle is a disparage term in Chinese culture) Would Not Disclose Their Properties". Yuan Dong gave a speech with a handheld speaker. Hong Xin, et al. took pictures and videos. The event attracted about one hundred passersby. They passed flyers of the 'Petition', and would not desist despite instructions from police and security guards. They were taken away by police from the Xidan Avenue Dispatch Station. After four persons including Hou Xin were taken into custody, Li Wei drafted a open letter of support, and posted to overseas websites after edited and signed by Xu Zhiyong, Ding Jiaxi, Sun Hanhui, Zhao Changqing and Wang Yonghong et al. to promote the cause.

In addition, on February 23, 2013, Ding Jiaxi went to Zhong Guancun e-World Plaze, Hailong Plaza, New Zhongguancun Plaza, East Entrance of Beijing University, West Entrance of Qinghua University, etc. to organize and participated activities such as displaying the banner and passing flyers to passersby.

The findings are evident with: depositions of the suspect and conspirators, material evidence, books, A/V materials and arresting procedures. The suspect confessed accordingly.

Herein, suspect Ding Jiaxi, along with Xu Zhiyong, et al, in name of push for property disclosure of officials, organized, planned and performed pressure in public places to government, with intention to create social instabilities criminal activities. His conduct violated articles 79 and 85 of the Chinese Criminal Code, therefore, please approve this arrest.

Regards,

To: The No. One Prosecution Branch of the Beijing Prosecution Bureau

From: Beijing Metropolitan Police

On: May 18, 2013.