I have to admit that life without the internet is a life lived quite simply. I have read more books in the last 3 weeks than the previous three months combined. Of course the list above doesn’t make me exactly excited to get my life back online. I’m not sure whether to count it as a blessing or a curse that Xinjiang is by most reliable counts not expected to be back online until early October or later. The precedent set by Tibet last year was two months, but I think we’re gonna break that record by a mile.

So here I am on a train from Urumqi to Beijing, taking a break from reading another book, writing about not being able to get online. I expect this might be the first time in my life that I will actually be excited to see a dark room full of young adults and teenagers playing World of Warcraft or some other online game.

I am overwhelmed by the amount of news and controversy that has gone completely unheard by any person living within Xinjiang.  I almost feel unqualified to write about what is happening here in my own home because everybody seems to know more than I do.  During this internet blackout I have still continued to write about what I have experienced, however, and I will be posting a few articles to be scheduled over the next couple of weeks, including an entire series dedicated to the Urumqi riots.

Please enjoy and keep in mind that once I return to the black hole that currently is Xinjiang I will again be unable to return emails or answer comments. On a separate note, if you have any good books to send my way…