Taiwan Fact: The former president, Chen Shui Bien, was just imprisoned for life. Corruption, accepting bribes, that sort of thing. Lots of members of his family have also been charged and some imprisoned. Also, just before the last election he won, his wife was crippled by an assassin's bullet intended for him, which is pretty interesting.


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Taiwan Fact: Happy anniversary, me! It can't really be a fact if it doesn't have a truth value ( Read more... )

Taiwan Fact: Taiwan pretty well shuts down at night. By 10pm you can't eat at most restaurants. At around midnight, the night markets close. During the week, the bars may not have been open in the first place and all you have left are 7-elevens, illuminating near-empty streets. Taipei: The City That Often SleepsLet me tell ya, watching a five-year- ( Read more... )

Taiwan Fact: Jīang Shī are "stiff corpses" that are basically Chinese zombies. My kids couldn't really figure out what I was for Halloween until I stuck my hands out in front of me and hopped around. Jīang Shī hop, I hear, because traditionally corpses' feet are bound when they're buried. I've also heard their leave their graves when cemeteries are ( Read more... )