The weather in Tianjin has taken an ugly turn.  Tonight we were treated to a huge lightning storm, and the humidity has shot through the roof.  I feel like I'm in a tropical country.

<a href="http://www.ananova.com/business/story/sm_619073.html?menu=">China in talks with Vivendi, BSkyB</a>.  They want to broadcast CCTV 9 in Europe (already available on cable in the US, actually).  There is an exciting prospect:  Chinese TV bowing to viewer preference.

I was talking to Kathy today about how in the United States, textbook are published by private companies and not under government control or censorship.  Not to imply they they aren't under <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/29/arts/29TEXT.html?pagewanted=print">other forms of censorship</a>.

Very cool article in the NY Times about <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/30/sports/soccer/30SOCC.html?pagewanted=print">the Korean nation and the World Cup</a>.  It makes me wish China had been able to go further; I think some of the same issue were at stake for this country.