Monthly Archives: September 2010

When Jesus Went to Hell Jesus went to hell during his time in the grave according the Nicene Creed (325 AD). “He descended into Hell.” Of course this statement was made three hundred years after his crucifixion and death so … Continue reading →

 For a couple of months now I have been working on editing a remarkable set of letters in between preparing lesson plans, teaching college students, and doing research on the cross cultural influences during the Tang Dynasty.  I sent … Continue reading →

I am reading through the Sayings of  Confucius in Chinese with the help of an excellent online dictionary from the University of Virginia. Confucious: Analects 1:16 I do not worry that people do not know me but that I do not … Continue reading →

Growing up on a dairy farm we did not have many books. Most of our reading material was a large number of agricultural magazines such as Hoard’s Dairyman and the Guernsey Cattle Club magazine. Of the few books we had, … Continue reading →

The Mid-Autumn festival is sometimes called the Mooncake festival because of the practice of giving family and friends mooncake. I have about 50 of them from students and university administration sitting on my desk as paperweights right now. Frankly, they … Continue reading →

Well no one can accuse me of being a tourist. I have gone where no man has gone before (except for male janitors). I went to the women’s toilet at Dazu to collect spiders spotted by my fearless Peace Corps … Continue reading →

The word Dazu means “Big foot.” For those familiar with the search for this mythical creature it brings to mind the large hairy ape like creature who has been spotted all over the world but never conclusively proven to exist … Continue reading →

Blue Clipper Butterfly (Parthenos sylvia lilacinus) Some butterflies are difficult to photograph. They either land briefly or they fly high in the tree tops. Such was the latter case with this butterfly I captured in flight. The Clipper (Parthenos sylvia) … Continue reading →

Just outside my apartment I captured another butterfly. Turns out to be an Indian Fritillary which is quite common is Asia. There is a small hatch going on and the birds are going crazy. There is a type of morning … Continue reading →