Now it's just older.

So here's to my first post since turning 24, ending the magical youth of early 20s and starting the blossoming bitterness and desperation of the mid 20s. Sunrise, sunset.

The birthday-day itself was not much to speak of save for some nice gifts from the 'rents and some wonderful smelling Starbucks. Note to self in this new age, get job. My last-ditch prospect should become available this week, but then again I thought that last week.

I rarely delve into the world of sports, but I have some thoughts on the 2008 Olympics, I have no comment on the events themselves, though I do support an underground movement to make the games more traditionally Greek with nude requirements (just for summer games), as usual though my real issue is with the politics of it all.

Any expert on Chinese history and culture will tell you that I am not one. However I did take 3 credit hours of Imperial Chinese history, and wet my beak in reading about Chinese politics whenever a suitable article appears on my browser (usually after porn, as I do have priorities).

Americans talking about China usually start going wrong by assuming a few things.
1. America 'deserves' to be a superpower, while China does not.
2. We can keep China from becoming a superpower.

Whats wrong with these assumptions? Cause as those poet-visionaries, or "pisonaries" of Maroon 5 said (apparently) "nothing lasts forever." Not this blog post, not March Madness, not your erection, nothing lasts forever. To expect anything else is to delude yourself about the nature of the universe.

Now an empire's lifespan usually takes longer than your erection to wilt, and though things are different than Rome or Britain, the ending of American geo-political dominence will happen, likely in our lifetime. That is if we don't destroy ourselves trying to stop it. Every American must come to terms with this nature of history and the universe they expect to understand China. Also these articles will be a big help:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/45669?tid=relatedcl
http://www.newsweek.com/id/120109

Since you're not going to read those (it's ok, I just wanted you to have a choice) let me sum it up, Americans believe America, not China, kicks ass. Chinese believe China, not America, kicks ass. What happens when two groups each believe only their side kicks ass? They compete, which is finally what this has to do with the Olymipics. Protesting the torch, the games, or China's government itself is the right of many people with legitimate grievances, even if it's a right that can get you riot police. But like my right to fore-go pants (The sign said, no shirt, no shoes!) having the right, and using it well are different things. The Beijing games is China's debutant ball, China's sweet 16.

Now pretend with me for a moment:
You have a friend from school named China, you didn't always get along, but now you do. China's parents have been getting wealthier during a time when your parents got the short end of say, a sub prime mortgage. Since then your family is still the most prominent in town, but owe China's family a lot of cash too.

Now you and China have loads of mutual cronies, BFFs, and trade a lot of gossip and belongings but lately a lot of other kids at school are angry at how China acts or treats them or their stuff. So angry they want you to skip out on China's sweet 16, China's been talking about it forever, and you know it means a lot. You could probably talk with China about it in private but some think China will never learn unless they're embarrassed at their own party.

What do you do?

P.S. Both you and China have nuclear weapons pointed at the other's house from when you didn't get along.

Tragically the best description of the leaders of our planet and the sacred tradition of athletic competition can bessed be summed up as a group of 15 & 16 year old girls at a birthday party. Still my best read is that calling China out in front of everyone will make them dig in their heels and not change, maybe even become a bigger douche about things. How do I know I'm right? I don't, but I have Fareed Zakaria on my side.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/131751

Zakaria knows more about international politics than you're mom. He embraces the strange habit of trying to explain the perspectives of others, rather than explain why they're not seeing things our way. It's just if you buy an American flag, your probably supporting a Chinese family, another difficult reality in a difficult world.