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I think we had several discussions of this issue in both forums, but it is not the topic. Sorry if I sidetracked but I meant to point out the censorship in China is, as we know, pervasive outside of the internet. I agree about the propaganda angle to China. We have had several of those with western people who came to China for the Olympics, and did not return, alive that is. So I am not necessarily talking about the crime rate, which in China of course is known to be downgraded. But who is doing the killing and not reporting it? And do they allow guns in China? Guns make murder much easier, as we have seen here, especially now in Chicago. I think earlier we linked in several incidents where maniacs in China took a knife to school children. There were several high profile murders, and not sure who posted it, but some buildings had window guards all the way to the 6th floor. In her city, Falun Gong religious "cultists" have literally disappeared when the police hauled them away. So it's a question of reporting by the police of either their own killing or not reporting of others by the government. T Square comes to mind. Oh, but that is correct: the CCP said 33 people were killed, some of them PLA. Right.... Deaths in prisons often go unreported by violent or other means. I visited a friend of my wife's in Seattle and met her husband. quite a gentle man, who fished every day and brought food to the table. He apparently did something bad in China, and was extradited or deported, not sure of those circumstances. But he had to go back to China. He died in prison months later but the family was not told until 6 months later when someone in the family kept trying to visit. They got a lawyer and the Chinese government paid a hefty sum of money to his wife. I know it's anecdotal but I am sure this kind of thing goes on. The organ thefts in prison have resulted in deaths too. How many do we know about? My wife was mugged 3 times in her life as an adult, never mind when she lived thru the Cultural Revolution. She seems to have been victim of the cultural amnesia. Not to say we don't have police killings but certainly not at the rate of China, and many of those are related to corruption than a panicky cop. It is interesting that on rating the fear of crime in walking the streets at night, China is rated 74%. higher than the US, but the murder and violence rate is higher in the US, but that's the nature of who is keeping track of whom.... http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/China/United-States/Crime

I needed another 10 minutes for the sun to rise up and catch some better colors as it was only at the bottom of the suet block. This young Blue Jay was enjoying his time and cawing up a storm before starting to eat. Nothing special, just wait. He begins to start feeding and everything looks normal and calm. Out of nowhere this other bird attacks him, grabbing him in the chest with his left leg. This young Blue Jay immediately bites him in the upper chest to drive him away, which he does, even though he is smaller and younger. It was over in 2 seconds and with the other bird driven off this Blue Jay triumphed and sat on top of the suet block looking proud and unhurt. I have no idea what species the other bird was and was lucky enough just to be snapping some photos when it occurred.

Carl helped so many of us during the dark days of visa hell. He was especially helpful to me. He gave so much to my survival here and on FB. I flew out from PA as soon as I heard he was hospitalized and finally met him yesterday morning. I finally got to say thank you.