Another July 1st, and another blogging anniversary: my second.     In looking back over the past year, I am generally happy.  Traffic is still modest – somewhere between 1,000 – 1,5000 hits a week, tending to the… Continue reading

     This blog is still blocked in China.  I can tell by my traffic stats.  Where once I could count dozens of China hits (this is, after all, a small operation), now there may be one or two a… Continue reading

       A commenter, Nick Wong, reports that The Useless Tree is blocked in China.  I looked back at the geographic data and, indeed, my hits from China have dropped significantly in the last few days.    Nick believes… Continue reading

    Typepad crashed yesterday and took down with it a couple of comments.  I was sad to see today that nickwong’s (I hope that is the right name, I am going on memory) beautiful contribution of the original Chinese… Continue reading

    Yesterday, July 1, was my one year blogging anniversary.  So, let me indulge for a moment in the obligatory review.      It began last year with a bit of fumbling to learn the routine, and with this… Continue reading

     Blogging will be intermittent for the next two weeks.  My wife and daughter and I are going on a two week tour of China.  It should be fun.  For me, it will take me back to Beijing and… Continue reading

    Sorry to anyone who checked in only to find a week-old post here.  It turns out that my blog service, Typepad, crashed for a good part of the day.  Things may be getting back to normal now… let’s… Continue reading

     For any of you who have returned after yesterday’s wave of hits from Andrew’s link (thanks!), let me take a moment to let you know what this blog is about.      I have it in my head… Continue reading

    If all goes well technologically, over the course of the next five days it will be IR/Chinese politics week here at Useless Tree.  I will be posting some of my previously published commentaries, most from the LA Times. … Continue reading

    OK. bear with me while I start this out.  Does the world really need another blog?  Maybe not.  But I’m going to do it anyway.  Here’s what I think will happen here.    For the most part, I… Continue reading