This was the headline in the sports section of a Singapore newspaper yesterday.
A westerner in an individual-oriented society would have a hard time understanding the Chinese patriotism and national sports fervor growing around the Beijing Olympic Games.
Chinese see this as their chance to show the world how developed they are, and take their rightful place in the top echelons of world powers.
"For Chinese athletes to get exceptional results at the Beijing Olympics is to fulfill the demands of the people for higher achievements in bringing glory to the nation," Sports MinisterLiu Ping said.
Don't think that Chinese are all dissidents because they don't enjoy many western freedoms and know that there is much corruption in their government. Chinese LOVE their country and the leaders are very clever at using things like sports and the Olympics to unify people, as they also do in other ways such as anti-Japanese and anti-western propaganda.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Riots in France
Wow, pretty strong words in this opinion piece about what he regards as Western governments' "retreat from reality" in how they deal with immigrant populations.
" European countries especially have thrown their doors open to a large influx of Moslem immigrants who have no intention of becoming part of the cultures of the countries to which they immigrate but to recreate their own cultures in those countries.
In the name of tolerance, these countries have imported intolerance, of which growing antisemitism in Europe is just one example. In the name of respecting all cultures, Western nations have welcomed people who respect neither the cultures nor the rights of the population among whom they have settled."
Has Western "tolerance" become a hindrance to a healthy civil society? I don't think the multicultural tolerance of modern liberal society was a part of, or even foreseen by, the founders who depended on a strong cultural moral base to make the freedoms of society work. Unfortunately, in the name of "tolerance," we've torn away the morality and now don't seem to have a basis for building coomon values or practices or order other than resorting to more authoritarian government, which has always been anathema to Western democracy.
" European countries especially have thrown their doors open to a large influx of Moslem immigrants who have no intention of becoming part of the cultures of the countries to which they immigrate but to recreate their own cultures in those countries.
In the name of tolerance, these countries have imported intolerance, of which growing antisemitism in Europe is just one example. In the name of respecting all cultures, Western nations have welcomed people who respect neither the cultures nor the rights of the population among whom they have settled."
Has Western "tolerance" become a hindrance to a healthy civil society? I don't think the multicultural tolerance of modern liberal society was a part of, or even foreseen by, the founders who depended on a strong cultural moral base to make the freedoms of society work. Unfortunately, in the name of "tolerance," we've torn away the morality and now don't seem to have a basis for building coomon values or practices or order other than resorting to more authoritarian government, which has always been anathema to Western democracy.
Coming to a Phone or PDA Near You
Amazing to me how quickly the commercial landscape has changed for digital video. It was, what, one month ago that Apple introduced the iPod with video? And now, the technology that no one talked about before that, has got every media company scrambling to line up their deals.
They sniff this could be the Next Big Thing, like digital music after the iPod made it user-friendly in 2001.
"The deal bears some similarity to recent agreements NBC and ABC have struck with DirecTV and Apple Computer. All are meant to adapt the business model of a broadcast television network to changing technologies and viewer habits, and find additional ways to be paid, beyond the advertising that has been broadcasting's sole source of revenue."
They sniff this could be the Next Big Thing, like digital music after the iPod made it user-friendly in 2001.
"The deal bears some similarity to recent agreements NBC and ABC have struck with DirecTV and Apple Computer. All are meant to adapt the business model of a broadcast television network to changing technologies and viewer habits, and find additional ways to be paid, beyond the advertising that has been broadcasting's sole source of revenue."
Mis-managing Diversity
We're seeing sudden recognition of social inequality in French society. It seems like a policy of ignoring external differences, while a noble sentiment, can serve to promote the opposite of its intention: hiding inequality instead of eradicating it.
"France's Constitution guarantees equality to all, but that has long been interpreted to mean that ethnic or religious differences are not the purview of the state. The result is that no one looks at such differences to track growing inequalities and so discrimination is easy to hide."
"France's Constitution guarantees equality to all, but that has long been interpreted to mean that ethnic or religious differences are not the purview of the state. The result is that no one looks at such differences to track growing inequalities and so discrimination is easy to hide."
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Global Search
Google would seem to be the poster company of globalization. After all, their mission is to organize and accessize the world's information.
It is not only tremendously helpful to users, but it is also beginning to pay off, since it is helpful to sellers and advertisers, too. So while the world is globalizing, it is segmentizing in advertising and sales. Google's expanding reach into these markets is scaring executives of big companies like Wal-Mart.
"Google, which tends to keep its plans secret, certainly has the wealth to fund ambitious ventures. Its revenues are growing by nearly 100 percent a year, and its profits are rising even faster. Its executives speak of the company's outlook only in broad strokes, but they suggest all but unlimited horizons. 'We believe that search networks as industries remain in their nascent stages of growth with great forward potential,' Eric Schmidt, Google's chief executive, told analysts last month"
It is not only tremendously helpful to users, but it is also beginning to pay off, since it is helpful to sellers and advertisers, too. So while the world is globalizing, it is segmentizing in advertising and sales. Google's expanding reach into these markets is scaring executives of big companies like Wal-Mart.
"Google, which tends to keep its plans secret, certainly has the wealth to fund ambitious ventures. Its revenues are growing by nearly 100 percent a year, and its profits are rising even faster. Its executives speak of the company's outlook only in broad strokes, but they suggest all but unlimited horizons. 'We believe that search networks as industries remain in their nascent stages of growth with great forward potential,' Eric Schmidt, Google's chief executive, told analysts last month"
Friday, November 04, 2005
Satellite data reveals Beijing as air pollution capital of world
This doesn't surprise anyone that's been there! I visited Beijing twice this summer, and the haze is so bad, it was depressing.
"According to the European satellite data, pollutants in the sky over China have increased by about 50% during the past 10 years. Senior officials warn that worse is still to come. At a recent seminar Zhang Lijun, deputy director of the environmental protection agency, said that pollution levels could more than quadruple within 15 years unless the country can slow the rise in energy consumption and automobile use."
Those who know China respond: Fat chance! Explosive increase in car use that has caused huge traffic and pollution problems, seems only likely to escalate.
"According to the European satellite data, pollutants in the sky over China have increased by about 50% during the past 10 years. Senior officials warn that worse is still to come. At a recent seminar Zhang Lijun, deputy director of the environmental protection agency, said that pollution levels could more than quadruple within 15 years unless the country can slow the rise in energy consumption and automobile use."
Those who know China respond: Fat chance! Explosive increase in car use that has caused huge traffic and pollution problems, seems only likely to escalate.
China Reportedly Shuts Down Blog
Remarkable to me is not the fact that the government blocked a blog, but that average Chinese citizens are becoming reporters and social critics through use of media like the internet.
I do no think this makes them "dissidents" or "anti-government" or "pro-democracy." But they are becoming more engaged in social issues, and are less fearful of government recrimination.
This blogger is a teacher in Sichuan province.
"one of Wang's most recent posts dealt with a campaign by peasants in the southeastern province of Guangdong to remove a village chief accused of corruption.
China has the world's second-largest population of Internet users, with 100 million people online.
I do no think this makes them "dissidents" or "anti-government" or "pro-democracy." But they are becoming more engaged in social issues, and are less fearful of government recrimination.
This blogger is a teacher in Sichuan province.
"one of Wang's most recent posts dealt with a campaign by peasants in the southeastern province of Guangdong to remove a village chief accused of corruption.
China has the world's second-largest population of Internet users, with 100 million people online.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
A Safer World?
Can it be that the world is getting both safer and more dangerous at the same time? While conflict and violence worldwide is down, it is closer than ever. We see it faster, more intimately, and it appears more personally threatening.
Thia commentary from Seth Godin's blog:
Today's Globe & Mail reports that over the last 12 years, the number of armed conflicts in the world has gone down by 40% and the number of extremely deadly conflicts (more than 1,000 battle-related deaths) is down by more than 80%.
A different source reports that New York is the safest large city in the US, with serious crime continuing to drop.
And it's much harder to get sick from bad sushi, too. (has to do with aggressive refrigeration.)
So, what's going on? Why is everyone so tense?
The internet doesn't help. Today, bad news anywhere in the world shows up in your browser in seconds. Second, there are people making a full time living (and increasing their power) by scaring us (and not just on Halloween). And lastly, it's human nature. Vivid images have more impact on us than cold statistics. If I had accompanied this post with a picture of someone in a gutter, the 80% decrease in serious wars over a decade would quickly be forgotten.
Optimism is hard. But it's usually worth it."
Thia commentary from Seth Godin's blog:
Today's Globe & Mail reports that over the last 12 years, the number of armed conflicts in the world has gone down by 40% and the number of extremely deadly conflicts (more than 1,000 battle-related deaths) is down by more than 80%.
A different source reports that New York is the safest large city in the US, with serious crime continuing to drop.
And it's much harder to get sick from bad sushi, too. (has to do with aggressive refrigeration.)
So, what's going on? Why is everyone so tense?
The internet doesn't help. Today, bad news anywhere in the world shows up in your browser in seconds. Second, there are people making a full time living (and increasing their power) by scaring us (and not just on Halloween). And lastly, it's human nature. Vivid images have more impact on us than cold statistics. If I had accompanied this post with a picture of someone in a gutter, the 80% decrease in serious wars over a decade would quickly be forgotten.
Optimism is hard. But it's usually worth it."
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