:: LIVE FROM BAGHDAD ::

Surprisingly, China's Central Televsion (CCTV) is broadcasting the start of the War on Iraq live.I've been tuned into CCTV-9, the English channel, for the last couple of hours. Coverage includes live feeds from western reporters in Baghdad. The Chinese staff here in the Zhejiang U. Foreign Expert Building are watching the coverage (in Chinese) on the main channel (CCTV-1) and the international channel (CCTV-4).

:: NYT IS BACK ::

For the first time in many weeks, the New York Times website is directly accessible in China tonight.

Blogspot is still not accessible in China almost two months on.

:: SHAMROCK PUB ::

I've been meaning for months to inform HangzhouWorld about the Shamrock Pub - a REAL Irish Pub owned by a REAL Irish lass, situated on a REAL Song Dynasty Street (?) here in Hangzhou. OK, an Irish Pub on a Song Dynasty street may seem incongruous. Well it is. But if you're a foreigner in Hangzhou, it's about the only place you can find respite from the gawks and stares and "Hellooos" of the local Hoi Polloi.

And being owned by an Irishwoman, you KNOW that St. Patrick's Day rocked at the Shamrock here in Hanghzou. Check out the pics at my main site. (Click on the Guinness hats picture there to learn more).