Articles

Two weeks ago, I decided to work remotely from Xinjiang. However, I faced internet delays, extreme temperatures, and an uncomfortable workspace. COVID-19 further complicated things, leading to my first positive test. My sense of taste diminished, and I ultimately returned to Chengdu. This experience highlighted my dependency on ergonomic office setups, making digital nomadism impractical for me.

Falling in love with a house with a balcony, the dream of a rural oasis in the city center quickly turned into a lesson in the challenges of a garden. Facing issues with soil quality and orientation, the gardening journey involved clearing land, composting, planting flowers, mulberries, and struggling with vegetables like potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, and chili peppers. Despite the effort, a realization of the time, water, and complexity involved in maintaining a garden led to a shift towards container gardening as a more practical and manageable choice.

After migrating, the blogger disconnected his site from mainland China due to dissatisfaction with the Great Firewall's environment and frequent social media account bans. Initially, to improve access for mainland visitors, he filed for ICP and moved the site to Hong Kong. However, recent events and negative discourse led to canceling the filing and migrating to overseas hosts for better reliability.

Firewood.news is an innovative standalone blog navigation site utilizing AI to categorize and summarize articles for easy access. The platform encourages long-form writing, aiming to provide exposure to meaningful content in a digital era that often lacks serious discussions. The developer's vision is to create a lasting impact akin to stacked wood from the Han Dynasty, prioritizing quality over mere traffic. Firewood seeks to support bloggers and foster a community that values thoughtful content and meaningful dialogue, emphasizing truth and authenticity over superficial engagement.

Firewood is an innovative independent blog navigation site with automated data fetching and manual curation. The backend, built with Node.js and Nest.js, includes modules for article management and scheduled tasks. AI technology is used for content classification, and SvelteKit is chosen for frontend development. Deployment is done via Docker Compose and Cloudflare Pages, with an emphasis on performance optimization. Building Firewood has provided valuable insights and a deeper understanding of backend development processes.

A C1D driver finds manual transmissions challenging and rewarding for connecting with a car but faces difficulties due to auto-transmission popularity. Describing the manual driving process, the article details starting on slopes, emphasizing coordination and control. Through experiences with motorcycles and challenging road trips, the driver concludes that manual cars are less fun and prefers motorcycles for power and excitement. Disillusioned with manual cars post-trip mishaps, they appreciate motorcycles for the freedom and enjoyment they provide, ultimately favoring them over cars for driving pleasure.

The author has developed a nightly habit of catching slugs in their garden using a headlamp. The garden, despite its appeal, hosts various critters including fruit flies, red spiders, and numerous gastropods like slugs and semi-slugs. Their goal is to exterminate these pests using methods such as salting, burning, or chopping, as they damage plant stems and leaves.

The author emphasizes the importance of a commenting feature for independent blogs, discussing various platforms. They started with Disqus, which had issues like intrusive ads and privacy concerns. Later, they tried Commento, which is privacy-focused but lacks updates. Finally, they recommend Remark42, an open-source, self-hosted platform that's easy to deploy and manages data effectively.

In 1964, China's first atomic bomb was successfully detonated, thanks in part to uranium mined in Bukesaier County. With early Soviet assistance withdrawn by 1960, China conducted nationwide uranium mining. The key site, Mine 730, operated under harsh conditions, exposing workers to severe radioactive contamination, leading to high rates of deformities and illnesses. The mine was closed in 1979, leaving unresolved health impacts.

Chongqing, separated from Sichuan Province but comparable to Chengdu, is a motorcycle-friendly mega-city with chaotic overpasses and dense 3D terrain. Although the city offers a vibrant skyline perfect for photography, its overwhelmingly spicy "Jianghu" Sichuan cuisine can be hard to handle long-term. The professional use of Mandarin in services contrasts with Chengdu’s preference for Sichuanese.

The author, deeply familiar with Haixi Prefecture in Qinghai, plans a trip for industrial ruins and starry sky photography. Starting from Golmud, the route includes Mangya, Lenghu, and Dachaidan. After careful logistical preparations, the group embarks, encountering a humorous mix-up at a restaurant. The next day, they prepare for the extensive drive ahead.

Last month, I visited Baikouquan to photograph its industrial ruins, especially the Karamay Oil Extraction Plant No. 5, which operated from 1980 to 1998. Despite ongoing oil production, improved transportation reduced the need for local residences. In its 1990s peak, the area had schools and amenities but now stands largely abandoned, evoking my childhood memories of Karamay.