I love Midway too!
I've found that many of the ones who have lived in mainland china actually acknowledge how shit the government is. Those whose parents or grandparents were expats seem to be more vehemently defensive of their origins because they have no idea how crap life is back in the mainland. Then theres those who do business in china who talk it up because the country is allow them to pay for their three mortgages
You fireplace wont start up because you either have insufficient air/oxygen or startup fuel. Jar open the door a bit, make sure you have lots of 'light' fuel to build up the heat and pressure required to force smoke out the chimney instead of the outside coldness and wind forcing the smoke back down into your house.