The Dalai Lama arrives in Taiwan today. Providing the Chicom point of view is Saturday's editorial in the Xinhua Chinese Taipei China Post. Poor ol' President Ma can't seem to catch a break. He's destined for another life if he does, destined for another life if he doesn't. However, no meeting with the Dalai Lama is scheduled. At least he's got that going for him.

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In Little League World Series action, the Kuei San (龜 山 )Taiwan team from Taoyuan advanced to the championship game with a 9-4 win over Mexico. They will face Chula Vista, California. Game time is 3:00am Monday for us.

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Red A , I think I'll give the mao dou hummus a pass. When I eat them, they are like this (with simple instructions in Chinese). Also, Karl, lots of Taiwanese supermarkets sell the Taiwanese version of avocado. Karl, I have been lugging around a gift for 3 weeks that I suspect you will enjoy but I never see you out. I'll be at Mom and Pop's this afternoon if you would like to get it.

Taiwan Little League Baseball

At the time of this posting, the Taiwan baseball team that was scheduled to play in the AA World Youth Championship in Venezuela is still in Taiwan, still trying to get visas from Venezuela. The visa refusal jeopardizes the teams' chances of making the tournament due to what a top Venezuelan baseball official said were political problems. As if it's not enough to make teams from Taiwan use the name Chinese Taipei in competition and play the Olympic theme, now top commies from around the world are stopping them from competing at all.

However, there is good news. The Taichung Li-Shing All-Stars won the Asia-Pacific division championship and are going to Williamsport to compete in the 2007 Little League World Series (Hopefully, Lubbock Western will join them).

Taiwan was also well represented in other divisions, well. Taiwan's Palomino League team (17-19 yrs. old) advanced to the final game against Puerto Rico, but ended up one run short, 3-2. Taiwan's Bronco League team (11-12 yrs. old) from Sijhih Elementary School in Taipei County, also advanced to the championship game, but fell 16-10.

For a good roundup of MLB, NPB, CPBL, minor and amateur league baseball with a Taiwan theme, check out Taiwan Baseball.

Little League Baseball

I've been following this for the past week and haven't wanted to say anything for fear that I'll bring the dreaded - and real - sports jinx. However, I think the current window of jinxdom has been closed.

The Lubbock Western Little League All-Stars have advanced to the finals of the Southwest Region tournament. One more game, one more victory, and they go to Williamsport and the World Series. They are a collection of 11 and 12 year-olds from the Western division of Lubbock's Little League. They face a team from Roswell, also undefeated, on August 10, 8:00pm, EST. ESPN has it listed on their TV schedule, so D-Wayne, please check and see if you can get it for me and we can all come out Saturday and cheer them on.