Frank Li, Author at EconCurrents

Ten Dancing Queens & Kings at OSB 2023

By Frank Li November 29, 2023UncategorizedNo Comments

In this post, I will present 10 amateur ballroom dancers who attended OSB 2023 after choosing to participate in my book (“Dancing Queens & Kings”):

Annette Burden (S2): Winner of both Closed-Gold Rhythm and Smooth.
Irene Fong (S1): Winner of Closed-Gold Smooth.
Eric Leininger (S1): a danceholic.
Brian Ames (C): Placed 3^rd in MIB Rhythm and Smooth.
Nichelle Kennedy (C): A new champion in Open Smooth.
Giovanni Fortezza (C): 2^nd place in Open Rhythm.
Sara Granberg (B): A finalist in Ballroom – Silver.
Alexis Salapatek (A): A new champion in Open Smooth.
Francesca Mattozzi (A): A rising star in Smooth and Ballroom.
Frank Li (S1): Winner of the top male student award (Gold) two years in a row.

Now, let me briefly highlight them one by one …

The most efficient male amateur in pro/am ballroom dancing?

By Frank Li November 22, 2023UncategorizedNo Comments

My first out-of-town ballroom dance competition was OSB 2019, and I finished 4th (Gentlemen, Open Smooth, age-group C). After that, I started claiming, privately, that I am America’s most efficient…

Biden meets Xi today!

By Frank Li November 15, 2023opinionNo Comments

Today, China’s Xi is scheduled to meet with President Biden in San Francisco (Biden to meet Xi on Wednesday in San Francisco Bay area, US says).

What can we expect from this meeting?

Nothing substantial, other than it is nice for them to talk face-to-face.

Specifically, three perspectives:

Trust.
Competition.
It is the system, stupid!

Let me briefly elaborate on each …

9/11/2001 Attack vs. Pearl Harbor Attack

By Frank Li November 8, 2023opinionNo Comments

Here is a recent news story: Bibi blasts ceasefire: Israeli PM Asks if U.S. Would Have Ceasefire After Pearl Harbor, 9/11.

What an absurd comparison!

More profoundly, is the analogy between the 9/11 attack and the Pearl Harbor attack, as is often done in America, even valid?

Yes and no!

Dancing Queens & Kings: FAQs & As

By Frank Li November 4, 2023UncategorizedNo Comments

My forthcoming book “Dancing Queens & Kings” is calling for participation (Dancing Queens & Kings: Call for Participation (5)). The only requirement is that you have competed at the USDC…

America in two wars

By Frank Li November 1, 2023opinionNo Comments

Currently, there are two major wars ongoing: Ukraine and Gaza. America is heavily behind both.

Why is it?

Money – Almost everything American is about money!

Ten Dancing Queens & Kings at USDC 2023

By Frank Li October 28, 2023UncategorizedNo Comments

In a previous post (Dancing Queens & Kings: Call for Participation (5)), I highlighted 10 dancing queens or kings as examples (age-group):

Annette Burden (S2): a real Queen in Smooth and Rhythm.
Irene Fong (S1): a real Queen in Smooth.
Joan Goddard (S1): a real Queen in Rhythm and Latin.
Eric Leininger (S1): a danceholic.
Patricia Schneider (C): a real Queen in Smooth and Ballroom.
Miriam Atkins (C): A dancing doctor.
Mike Butler (B): a Rhythm champion and the Mambo King.
Jill Windy (B): a cancer survivor via joyful dancing.
Francesca Mattozzi (A): a rising star in Smooth and Ballroom.
Christian Orsos (A): a rising star and a 6-dancer.

Now, let me highlight how they did at USDC 2023 last month (9/4-10).

9/11/2001 vs. 10/7/2023

By Frank Li October 25, 2023opinionNo Comments

In a previous post (America between Israel and Palestine?), I talked about the Israel-Palestine conflict escalated by the recent Hamas attack on Israel. In this post, I will compare the event of 10/7/2023 with that of 9/11/2001, although even America’s MSM has started doing it (e.g., On GPS: A peace plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict).

America between Israel and Palestine?

By Frank Li October 18, 2023opinion2 Comments

The news of the week has been Israel is at war with Hamas. Here’s what to know. So, let me add my two cents …

As a Chinese-American, I have no personal stake in this conflict, but I am deeply concerned about America, especially its one-sidedness for Israel, against not only Palestine but also the global south (Injustice Against Palestinians Cannot Continue)!

Dancing Queens & Kings: Call for Participation (5)

By Frank Li October 14, 2023UncategorizedNo Comments

My forthcoming book “Dancing Queens & Kings” is calling for participation. The only requirement is that you have competed at the USDC or OSB (2023 inclusive), with an interesting story to tell. Below is the timeline:

11/30/2023: 1 page highlighting your compelling story in pro/am ballroom dancing.
12/31/2023: 8-page full story.
3/31/2024: Book review by Sam Sodano.
5/31/2024: Publication at Amazon.

I am looking for 50 stories and will accept up to 60 submissions of 1 page (1st come, 1st accepted). After your 1 page is accepted, your 8-page is almost guaranteed to be included in the book unless it is so poorly written that it is totally unsalvageable.