guitfiddlist, I just sent you a private reply.
By way of reply to both messages (thanks for the interest), I came to Shanghai after a long strange trip indeed, to quote a tired "Deadism" phrase. I started with an astronautical engineering degreee from MIT and worked in the space program in SF and LA - until the Soviets quit and took their ball home, which prompted a general downsizing in the aerospace community.
Meanwhile, I was playing in a schlock-rock band in Manhattan Beach in LA at "Pancho's", and did that for awhile until the LA riots, at which point I said "enuff's enuff". I then went to the Carolinas and was working in manufacturing and IT until I noticed that everybody was shutting down and moving Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay West - as in China. I said why the hey not? since I grew up overseas in Asia - and it was time to check it back out.
Shanghai is a kick - it's a hap'nin' place - for better or worse. I could work here as an engineer again - but I think there's too much to be shaken out of the precarious global economic system...right about now...for me to place a stake anywhere at the moment. I have infinite faith that I should have NO faith in the current global status quo. Meanwhile, I play music in one of the avant garde capitols of the world, and have a great time inculculating implicit American culture via the insidious influence of music. It's great fun - and a positive way to influence what I think is a world on the brink.