The closest I've been to China is 
    Chinatown in San Francisco.   

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1989 Smirnoff Vodka Magazine Ad

with Johnnie Carson

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Common Sense

Star Trek

New Star Trek Show coming. "Star Trek Pike". Will have a young Capt. Kirk.

"Drums Along the Khyber" by Duncan MacNeil

"Drums Along the Khyber" is the first of an historical series set in 1897. It is the story of a young Lt. sent to India on his first deployment. It goes along at a good pace, not plagued by pages of description about scenery etc. It is well written. Some may be offended by the language, but it is the attitude of the times. Five stars for me.

Grantchester

If you want to be a Priest on Grantchester, you have to be a part time detective.

VISA

Got a call this morning at 6:30. It was about my VISA card. A kind gentleman from India wanted to warn me that someone was making charges to my card. So thoughtful. I wish I had his phone number so I could show him how thankful I was and call him at 6:30 AM his time.

"Puppet on a Chain" by Alistair MacLean

"Puppet on a Chain" is another MacLean spy novel set in the 50's. I did like that it had the morals of the era and a lack of swearing. That's as far as it went. Mjr. Sherman is an ass. I don't know how anyone could work for him or how he got prompted in the first place. Lots of gruesome murders to read about and a drug culture you would expect in Amsterdam. 

Lack of Sleep

Tired people make bad decisions.

1955 Zippo Lighter Magazine Ad

Wishes

Those who sit and wish for things 
accomplish nothing.

Careers

I heard that it is never too late to start a career. I don't know about that.

"Good and Valuable Consideration: Jack Reacher vs. Nick Heller". By Lee Child - Joseph Finder

A very short novel with characters Reacher and Heller. No morals exist when criminals attack one of their own. They can work together for mutual benefit.

Sandbagging

On YouTube I saw this machine that can bag numerous bags of sand at once and even tie them off.

Groundhog Day

Watched "Groundhog Day". A yearly ritual like "Scrooge".

Secrets

Only the dead can keep a secret.

"Ramage" by Dudley Pope

"Ramage" is the first in a series of sea novels. The story opens up with a sea battle and our ship sinking. Our hero becomes the captain of a sinking ship and the start of his troubles. Ramage is likable, perhaps too much so with the crew. I found some parts boring, too much description about putting up sails. Another part that annoyed me was his reaction to the lady in the story. A bit overdone. He sounded like a wide eyed schoolboy. I'm hoping it doesn't take him too long to become a adult.

Bosch

When I read the Det. Bosch series, I always think of Humphrey Bogart playing the part.

"The Ninja" by Eric Van Lustbader

Like any novel, it starts of with its list of characters. As the story evolves, most of the them are killed off. It makes a compact story with few characters remaining at the end. It goes back and forth between two time periods: the 60's and the present. I thought it would be an exciting story but it just seemed to drag on. There were boring parts that seemed to have no end. Don't think I'll be reading any more in this series. 

Funerals

It seems that since I have been in my 70's, I'm always going to funerals. It's like a part time job, with meals.