Category Archives: Essays and interviews

“China’s dairy century,” video online

This talk introduces China’s dairy century as three distinct trajectories: production, consumption and culture. I gave this talk a few months ago, and the nice people at Cornell were kind enough to make a very good recording. Other talks from their “Contemporary China Initiative” series are available on the same page. I’m curious about justContinue reading ““China’s dairy century,” video online”

Upcoming talk on Vatican-China relations at George Washington University

May God Bless Manchukuo: Manchuria and the transformation of Vatican-China relations with Prof. Thomas DuBois Co-sponsored by the Sigur Center for Asian Studies and the Department of Religion Thursday, October 19, 2017 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM The Elliott School of International Affairs 1957 E Street, NW, Lindner Commons, Room 602 (6th Floor) Washington, DCContinue reading “Upcoming talk on Vatican-China relations at George Washington University”

Zhangjiakou – terminus of the Mongol trade

For years I have wanted to visit Zhangjiakou. Sure everyone says they want to go there, but how many people actually do? Wait – what I meant was that nobody says they want to go there. In fact, why don’t you just go ahead and enjoy that first sentence again, since I’m fairly sure that nobodyContinue reading “Zhangjiakou – terminus of the Mongol trade”

Cows in Hong Kong (no brisket)

And… now I am in Hong Kong! If there are two more different places on this planet than Bozeman, Montana and Hong Kong, I have yet to see them. Strangely, one thing that the two places share in common is cows. Let me explain. The way we see the world is situational. If you are hungry, youContinue reading “Cows in Hong Kong (no brisket)”