China really can't help being in the news. It's a huge country and has more people than any other country in the world. The Middle Kingdom has looked inward much of its existence, but is now a major trader. Marco Polo and the Silk Road was the starting point for me in learning about it, beyond the made in China label of the last half century or so.

Since Alaska Governor Sarah Palin became the choice to round out the

Huge TV viewing numbers last night for Gov. Sarah Palin, amazingly nearly matching Barack Obama's tally and far outstripping the viewership for Vice President Joe Biden, who is after all her opponent. Sarah Palin is not running for president. And only six networks carried Palin's speech, vs. 10 for Obama, so her numbers are even more impressive.