This article reveals a very passionate and idealistic Chinese entrepreneur who sees the power of the internet changing peoples' lives, and society, in China.
However, they are not necessarily the kind of changes Americans would imagine.
Which reminds us that what we want for others, and what we think is best for them, is not always the same as what they want for themselves, and may not be the best solution for their situation.
"But as Lee and I talked about how the Internet was transforming China, he offered one opinion that seemed telling: the Chinese students he meets and employs, Lee said, do not hunger for democracy. 'People are actually quite free to talk about the subject,' he added, meaning democracy and human rights in China. 'I don't think they care that much. I think people would say: 'Hey, U.S. democracy, that's a good form of government. Chinese government, good and stable, that's a good form of government. Whatever, as long as I get to go to my favorite Web site, see my friends, live happily.' ' Certainly, he said, the idea of personal expression, of speaking out publicly, had become vastly more popular among young Chinese as the Internet had grown and as blogging and online chat had become widespread. 'But I don't think of this as a political statement at all,' Lee said. 'I think it's more people finding that they can express themselves and be heard, and they love to keep doing that.'"
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Income Tax Day
Just completed my annual income tax filing ritual.
Time this year to complete all the forms: 9 mins 19 secs
I did it by phone in Singapore. What a country!
See, all I have to do is key in the amount of income I have and claim the deductions for my wife and two children. Then they do the rest! It took me a few extra minutes cause I was exploring other options on the phone which they politely informed me "I'm sorry, that option is not available to you."
In a few months they will tell me how much money I owe, and they will automatically start deducting it from my bank account in monthly installments. In fact, based on previous years, they have already estimated how much I will owe, and have started to deduct it. Later, they'll make the specific adjustments and inform me.
To show it is a government that understands its residents, the deduction for my spouse is compassionately called "wife relief."
Time this year to complete all the forms: 9 mins 19 secs
I did it by phone in Singapore. What a country!
See, all I have to do is key in the amount of income I have and claim the deductions for my wife and two children. Then they do the rest! It took me a few extra minutes cause I was exploring other options on the phone which they politely informed me "I'm sorry, that option is not available to you."
In a few months they will tell me how much money I owe, and they will automatically start deducting it from my bank account in monthly installments. In fact, based on previous years, they have already estimated how much I will owe, and have started to deduct it. Later, they'll make the specific adjustments and inform me.
To show it is a government that understands its residents, the deduction for my spouse is compassionately called "wife relief."
Friday, April 07, 2006
China's Clash of Cultures in Cyberspace
Is there a "carefree digital generation" coming of age in China? There are certainly fewer boundaries in peoples' minds about what they are entitled to talk about.
"But in today's China, the freedom to speak one's mind is increasing, especially in cyberspace. More than 110 million Chinese surf the Internet, and an estimated 20 million have become registered bloggers, said Fang Xingdong, founder and chief executive of Beijing-based Boke.com, which boasts 8 million bloggers since it went online in 2002."
"But in today's China, the freedom to speak one's mind is increasing, especially in cyberspace. More than 110 million Chinese surf the Internet, and an estimated 20 million have become registered bloggers, said Fang Xingdong, founder and chief executive of Beijing-based Boke.com, which boasts 8 million bloggers since it went online in 2002."
Shanghai Vanishing
This article presents a snapshot of the changes taking place in China's most international city. For Westerners, it is hard to comprehend the pace and extent of change going on in Third World cities. In China, cities seem to transform every 3-5 years.
"The reason you must come to Shanghai now, if cities remotely interest you, is that the work here not only constitutes one of the world’s great urban transformations, it also involves one of history’s great disappearing acts. An old city of organic communities, with intimate, walk-up buildings and extraordinarily rich street life, is being replaced, almost in the blink of an eye, by a new city of expensive high-rises, underground parking garages, and lifestyles based on sheltered, closed-door individualism."
"The reason you must come to Shanghai now, if cities remotely interest you, is that the work here not only constitutes one of the world’s great urban transformations, it also involves one of history’s great disappearing acts. An old city of organic communities, with intimate, walk-up buildings and extraordinarily rich street life, is being replaced, almost in the blink of an eye, by a new city of expensive high-rises, underground parking garages, and lifestyles based on sheltered, closed-door individualism."
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Cartoon Body Count
Here is a website that tries to track the deaths and injuries resulting from Muslim attacks over the Danish Muhammad cartoons
"Total Deaths: 139
Total Injured: 823"
When I find a website tracking Christians' murderous rampages following cartoons of Jesus, I'll let you know.
"Total Deaths: 139
Total Injured: 823"
When I find a website tracking Christians' murderous rampages following cartoons of Jesus, I'll let you know.
Monday, March 20, 2006
What Does Globalization Look Like?
Sent by my friend Tom -
Question: What is the truest definition of Globalization?
Answer: Princess Diana's death.
Question: How come?
Answer: An English princess
with an Egyptian boyfriend
crashes in a French tunnel,
driving a German car
with a Dutch engine,
driven by a Belgian who was drunk
on Scottish whisky, (check the bottle before you change the spelling)
followed closely by Italian Paparazzi,
on Japanese motorcycles;
treated by an American doctor,
using Brazilian medicines.
This is sent to you by an American,
using Bill Gate's technology,
and you're probably reading this on your computer,
that use Taiwanese chips,
and a Korean monitor,
assembled by Bangladeshi workers
in a Singapore plant,
transported by Indian lorry-drivers,
hijacked by Indonesians,
unloaded by Sicilian longshoremen,
and trucked to you by Mexican illegals.....
That, my friends, is Globalization.
Question: What is the truest definition of Globalization?
Answer: Princess Diana's death.
Question: How come?
Answer: An English princess
with an Egyptian boyfriend
crashes in a French tunnel,
driving a German car
with a Dutch engine,
driven by a Belgian who was drunk
on Scottish whisky, (check the bottle before you change the spelling)
followed closely by Italian Paparazzi,
on Japanese motorcycles;
treated by an American doctor,
using Brazilian medicines.
This is sent to you by an American,
using Bill Gate's technology,
and you're probably reading this on your computer,
that use Taiwanese chips,
and a Korean monitor,
assembled by Bangladeshi workers
in a Singapore plant,
transported by Indian lorry-drivers,
hijacked by Indonesians,
unloaded by Sicilian longshoremen,
and trucked to you by Mexican illegals.....
That, my friends, is Globalization.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Watch the law
One of my measurements for how developed a society has become is in the clarity and uniformity of its laws, and how evenly they are applied.
In undeveloped countries, laws serve as tools for the government to control its people. Citizens are kept at the mercy of rulers, knowing that at any time they may have violated rules (since many of them are conflicting or unclear) and it is the prerogative of the government whether or not to prosecute them.
I think of the old Soviet Union, or any number of Banana Republics.
In civil societies, rulers are subject to the laws, and may not apply them as they wish. Rather, justice is blind. The laws are sufficiently clear and enforced evenly. Rex lex - the law is king.
Regarding Singapore's upcoming elections, and the laws covering campaigning:
"Those interviewed were in unison about one thing: The laws are broad enough to allow the authorities to prosecute offenders as and when necessary. Whether they do so, however, is another issue altogether.
.
Which begs the question: Exactly what is allowed when it comes to writing about politics and the GE during the election period?
.
Such OB markers are difficult to pinpoint, and it's unrealistic to expect the laws to be drafted to address every single situation, said Mr Charles Chong, a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Information, Communications and the Arts.
In undeveloped countries, laws serve as tools for the government to control its people. Citizens are kept at the mercy of rulers, knowing that at any time they may have violated rules (since many of them are conflicting or unclear) and it is the prerogative of the government whether or not to prosecute them.
I think of the old Soviet Union, or any number of Banana Republics.
In civil societies, rulers are subject to the laws, and may not apply them as they wish. Rather, justice is blind. The laws are sufficiently clear and enforced evenly. Rex lex - the law is king.
Regarding Singapore's upcoming elections, and the laws covering campaigning:
"Those interviewed were in unison about one thing: The laws are broad enough to allow the authorities to prosecute offenders as and when necessary. Whether they do so, however, is another issue altogether.
.
Which begs the question: Exactly what is allowed when it comes to writing about politics and the GE during the election period?
.
Such OB markers are difficult to pinpoint, and it's unrealistic to expect the laws to be drafted to address every single situation, said Mr Charles Chong, a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Information, Communications and the Arts.
Watch your blog
You might have heard of the bloggers in Singapore that were jailed for "sedition" last year because of critical remarks about Muslims.
Now that elections are coming to our country, bloggers need to be especially alert. During the election period, they may not write about any politicians in a way that either praises or criticizes them, otherwise they will be breaking the law by campaigning on the internet.
Apparently, this also includes reporting on what was said at political rallies.
More guidelines can be found in a newspaper article today:
"So, quite simply, from the time the writ for the GE is issued and until the elections are over, they are legally not allowed to indulge in anything that can be construed as campaigning.
.
Nor can blogs conduct 'political advertising' using any medium, including film or video, clarified the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (Mica).
.
Welcome to the real world, bloggers.
.
'Not only are the majority of bloggers unaware of the laws, I think that they would just continue to assume that what they do or write is within the boundaries,' said blogger Benjamin Lee, more commonly known by his online moniker, Mr Miyagi.
.
The coming GE will be interesting because it will be the first since blogs exploded on to the scene and became such a popular mode of exchanging views and information.
.
Those interviewed were in unison about one thing: The laws are broad enough to allow the authorities to prosecute offenders as and when necessary. Whether they do so, however, is another issue altogether.
.
Which begs the question: Exactly what is allowed when it comes to writing about politics and the GE during the election period?
.
Such OB markers are difficult to pinpoint, and it's unrealistic to expect the laws to be drafted to address every single situation, said Mr Charles Chong, a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Information, Communications and the Arts.
.
Hiding in cyberspace?
.
Could a blogger, say, write about his favourite Member of Parliament on his blog?
.
'If you do write political content praising or criticising a politician outside an election period, it's not violating the PEA. But if it is during the election period, then you are subject to the laws,' said Mr Siew Kum Hong, the director of Keystone Law Corporation, a law firm
.
Still, many bloggers felt it would be possible to hide in the vast anonymity of the Internet, especially if they used sites that were hosted out of Singapore.
.
One such site that was set up last "
Now that elections are coming to our country, bloggers need to be especially alert. During the election period, they may not write about any politicians in a way that either praises or criticizes them, otherwise they will be breaking the law by campaigning on the internet.
Apparently, this also includes reporting on what was said at political rallies.
More guidelines can be found in a newspaper article today:
"So, quite simply, from the time the writ for the GE is issued and until the elections are over, they are legally not allowed to indulge in anything that can be construed as campaigning.
.
Nor can blogs conduct 'political advertising' using any medium, including film or video, clarified the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (Mica).
.
Welcome to the real world, bloggers.
.
'Not only are the majority of bloggers unaware of the laws, I think that they would just continue to assume that what they do or write is within the boundaries,' said blogger Benjamin Lee, more commonly known by his online moniker, Mr Miyagi.
.
The coming GE will be interesting because it will be the first since blogs exploded on to the scene and became such a popular mode of exchanging views and information.
.
Those interviewed were in unison about one thing: The laws are broad enough to allow the authorities to prosecute offenders as and when necessary. Whether they do so, however, is another issue altogether.
.
Which begs the question: Exactly what is allowed when it comes to writing about politics and the GE during the election period?
.
Such OB markers are difficult to pinpoint, and it's unrealistic to expect the laws to be drafted to address every single situation, said Mr Charles Chong, a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Information, Communications and the Arts.
.
Hiding in cyberspace?
.
Could a blogger, say, write about his favourite Member of Parliament on his blog?
.
'If you do write political content praising or criticising a politician outside an election period, it's not violating the PEA. But if it is during the election period, then you are subject to the laws,' said Mr Siew Kum Hong, the director of Keystone Law Corporation, a law firm
.
Still, many bloggers felt it would be possible to hide in the vast anonymity of the Internet, especially if they used sites that were hosted out of Singapore.
.
One such site that was set up last "
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Carbon Dioxide Hit Record in 2005
This article says that the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere increased almost 1% during the year!
I am not a tree-hugger, but I think the US government (the country that consumes a high percentage of the world's energy) could be doing a LOT MORE to reduce harmful energy usage and stimulate alternative energy development.
Some issues are more important than low taxes, and national and global security is a lot broader than military strength.
"According to NASA, 2005 had the highest annual average surface temperature worldwide since instrument recordings began in the late 1800s."
I am not a tree-hugger, but I think the US government (the country that consumes a high percentage of the world's energy) could be doing a LOT MORE to reduce harmful energy usage and stimulate alternative energy development.
Some issues are more important than low taxes, and national and global security is a lot broader than military strength.
"According to NASA, 2005 had the highest annual average surface temperature worldwide since instrument recordings began in the late 1800s."
Islam Fatally Flawed
Interesting that this former Muslim is getting media coverage about the shortfalls of her former religion. While most non-Muslims would probably agree with her, I doubt many Muslims would pay attention. And those that do, would probably attribute it to anti-Muslim sentiment and not listen seriously.
"In a blunt interview on Al Jazeera television last month, Sultan harshly criticized Islam as violent and unfavorably compared Muslims with Jews. In remarks Sunday at her Corona home, Sultan, who said she left the faith after witnessing an act of religious extremism, went even further, saying Islam was beyond repair with teachings that exhorted Muslims to kill non-Muslims, subjugate women and disregard human rights.
'I don't believe you can reform Islam,' Sultan said. Saying Islamic scriptures are riddled with violence, misogyny and other extremist ideas, she declared, 'Once you try to fix it, you're going to break it.'"
"In a blunt interview on Al Jazeera television last month, Sultan harshly criticized Islam as violent and unfavorably compared Muslims with Jews. In remarks Sunday at her Corona home, Sultan, who said she left the faith after witnessing an act of religious extremism, went even further, saying Islam was beyond repair with teachings that exhorted Muslims to kill non-Muslims, subjugate women and disregard human rights.
'I don't believe you can reform Islam,' Sultan said. Saying Islamic scriptures are riddled with violence, misogyny and other extremist ideas, she declared, 'Once you try to fix it, you're going to break it.'"
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Play It Safe Politics
This is a well-written Los Angeles Times opinion article "They can't even win a war of words."
I agree with the sentiment of this writer, but not as a disappointed Democrat. Rather, as a disappointed American. Does politics have to devolve to the level of attacking your opponent while trying to not make any mistakes yourself?
"Yet somehow the Democratic Party still can't do any better than 'America can do better.'
'You can do better' is what you say to a dim child whose grades were even worse than expected. Is this really the Democrats' message to the nation: that we don't need to be quite as pathetic as we now are, though excellence is certainly beyond our reach?
This slogan speaks not of hope but of hopelessness, of scaled-down ambitions, of dreams deferred and dreams denied.
It's the smallness of it that kills me. This nation began with a dream — a crazy, risky, breathtaking dream of freedom, justice and equality. Sure, we've never truly achieved that dream, but for much of the last century, it's been the Democratic Party that has helped keep that dream alive. So how can it be that, today, Democrats don't seem to stand for anything at all?
"
I agree with the sentiment of this writer, but not as a disappointed Democrat. Rather, as a disappointed American. Does politics have to devolve to the level of attacking your opponent while trying to not make any mistakes yourself?
"Yet somehow the Democratic Party still can't do any better than 'America can do better.'
'You can do better' is what you say to a dim child whose grades were even worse than expected. Is this really the Democrats' message to the nation: that we don't need to be quite as pathetic as we now are, though excellence is certainly beyond our reach?
This slogan speaks not of hope but of hopelessness, of scaled-down ambitions, of dreams deferred and dreams denied.
It's the smallness of it that kills me. This nation began with a dream — a crazy, risky, breathtaking dream of freedom, justice and equality. Sure, we've never truly achieved that dream, but for much of the last century, it's been the Democratic Party that has helped keep that dream alive. So how can it be that, today, Democrats don't seem to stand for anything at all?
"
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Google is Right on China
Having lived in Asia ten years, I am much less enamored of anti-censorship than the American Congress or the European Press, which are roasting Google and inciting scorn around the Muslim World.
I am much more in favor of regulated expression. I have seen benefits of it in Asian societies, just as I have seen pitfalls of free expression in the West.
This article presents a reasonable view of China's struggles in its regulation of media. Thanks to the recommendation by my friend Randy.
"My view is considerably more sympathetic both to Google and to China and its leaders than is the Internet consensus."
I am much more in favor of regulated expression. I have seen benefits of it in Asian societies, just as I have seen pitfalls of free expression in the West.
This article presents a reasonable view of China's struggles in its regulation of media. Thanks to the recommendation by my friend Randy.
"My view is considerably more sympathetic both to Google and to China and its leaders than is the Internet consensus."
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Freedom of speech
"But some analysts say that the behavior of high-tech multinationals ultimately may have less effect on freedom of expression than the changing appetites of 1.3 billion information-hungry consumers in China and the voices of people such as Li and deputy editor Lu Yuegang, who are challenging the system at substantial personal risk."
Absolutely! Censorship and freedom of expression issues in China are not the responsibility of Google and Yahoo - it is up to the Chinese people. What do they want? Is social harmony and stability more important to them than individual expression?
Which makes me wonder - is western freedom of expression necessarily related to moral relativism? Does the individualism of western freedoms create
Absolutely! Censorship and freedom of expression issues in China are not the responsibility of Google and Yahoo - it is up to the Chinese people. What do they want? Is social harmony and stability more important to them than individual expression?
Which makes me wonder - is western freedom of expression necessarily related to moral relativism? Does the individualism of western freedoms create
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Marching to 2008
Now we have some visual evidence that China is marching forward toward their date with destiny : )
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Anger Over Cartoons of Muhammad Escalates
Wow, I am hearing this interpreted as a clash of civilizations. What does it say about how these civilizations view the world?
The contrast is portrayed in the media I've read as freedom of speech v. religious zeal.
I see more contrast between individualism and collectivism.
Muslims cannot understand how western societies can allow denigrating portrayals of Islam. Westerners look at individual freedom of expression as integral to human rights, and do not believe governments should restrict individuals' freedom of speech, even when it offends. They cannot understand how individuals in collective societies can tolerate censorship.
Could it be that exporting individualism is what the west means by spreading democracy?
And could it be that people in collective cultures are not willing to trade away the security and other benefits they enjoy in their societies for the freedoms of expression that westerners cherish and want them to accept?
"'Neither the Danish government nor the Danish nation as such can be held responsible for drawings published in a Danish newspaper,' Rasmussen said following the meeting with envoys. 'A Danish government can never apologize on behalf of a free and independent newspaper This is basically a dispute between some Muslims and a newspaper.'
The prime minister added there could be 'unpredictable repercussions' if the protests escalate.
The Egyptian ambassador to Denmark, Mona Omar Attiah, indicated that Rasmussen should do more to diffuse passions. 'I want the prime minister to speak with Jyllands-Posten about getting them to give a real apology,' she said after the meeting."
The contrast is portrayed in the media I've read as freedom of speech v. religious zeal.
I see more contrast between individualism and collectivism.
Muslims cannot understand how western societies can allow denigrating portrayals of Islam. Westerners look at individual freedom of expression as integral to human rights, and do not believe governments should restrict individuals' freedom of speech, even when it offends. They cannot understand how individuals in collective societies can tolerate censorship.
Could it be that exporting individualism is what the west means by spreading democracy?
And could it be that people in collective cultures are not willing to trade away the security and other benefits they enjoy in their societies for the freedoms of expression that westerners cherish and want them to accept?
"'Neither the Danish government nor the Danish nation as such can be held responsible for drawings published in a Danish newspaper,' Rasmussen said following the meeting with envoys. 'A Danish government can never apologize on behalf of a free and independent newspaper This is basically a dispute between some Muslims and a newspaper.'
The prime minister added there could be 'unpredictable repercussions' if the protests escalate.
The Egyptian ambassador to Denmark, Mona Omar Attiah, indicated that Rasmussen should do more to diffuse passions. 'I want the prime minister to speak with Jyllands-Posten about getting them to give a real apology,' she said after the meeting."
Monday, January 30, 2006
China's Top Leaders Vow to Tackle Poverty - Yahoo! News
"China's communist leadership has made tackling poverty in the countryside a key priority, as it acknowledges that three decades of economic and social reforms have left great swaths of the population behind."
China's leaders are acting more and more like western politicians in a liberal democratic party, recognizing the importance of wooing people through the media since they are not able to control all of the news in the age of modern telecommunications.
While they continue to push for privatization and regulation in order to stimulate economic growth, they also recognize the importance of deifining the government role in providing public services in order to win citizens' allegiance.
China's leaders are acting more and more like western politicians in a liberal democratic party, recognizing the importance of wooing people through the media since they are not able to control all of the news in the age of modern telecommunications.
While they continue to push for privatization and regulation in order to stimulate economic growth, they also recognize the importance of deifining the government role in providing public services in order to win citizens' allegiance.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Pollution Limits Sun in China - Yahoo! News
"China's skies have darkened over the past 50 years, possibly due to haze resulting from a nine-fold increase in fossil fuel emissions, according to researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy. "
And it will only get worse...
China's energy consumption is growing at such a rapid pace! Oil is going to continnnue to be a precious commodity controlling a lot of the world's politics.
And it will only get worse...
China's energy consumption is growing at such a rapid pace! Oil is going to continnnue to be a precious commodity controlling a lot of the world's politics.
Let the Fireworks Begin!
China is once again allowing fireworks in large cities, where they have been banned for many years.
The trends I see in this are a slowly developing culture of prosperity, where people are spending more money on luxuries (and it is privately spent by individuals, not the government providing public festivities), and a slow emergence of traditional culture, where historical practices are revived.
The trends I see in this are a slowly developing culture of prosperity, where people are spending more money on luxuries (and it is privately spent by individuals, not the government providing public festivities), and a slow emergence of traditional culture, where historical practices are revived.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Future looks bright for Internet ads
The worldwide economy is going through a fundamental shift from local markets to a global market. Technology of all kinds is driving it, from production to distribution, and especially in advertising.
Advertising revenue on the internet will grow from a little under 5% of all advertising dollars to over 10% in the next 4 years.
"The firm now expects the global online ad market to grow at a 25 percent clip annually for the next five years, up from a previous forecast in the low 20 percent range.
In the next year the Wall Street firm expects the online ad market to grow to $26.4 billion worldwide and to $33.2 billion in 2007.
Forrester Research, meanwhile, said that those who have the Internet are spending more than 30 percent of their media time nowadays online, a metric that prompted JMP to increase its market share expectations for Internet advertising in the U.S.
JMP now expects online advertising at $13.2 billion in the United States this year, or 4.7 percent of total advertising revenue, to soar to $35.9 billion in 2010, when the Internet will command 11.1 percent of all ad dollars spent."
Advertising revenue on the internet will grow from a little under 5% of all advertising dollars to over 10% in the next 4 years.
"The firm now expects the global online ad market to grow at a 25 percent clip annually for the next five years, up from a previous forecast in the low 20 percent range.
In the next year the Wall Street firm expects the online ad market to grow to $26.4 billion worldwide and to $33.2 billion in 2007.
Forrester Research, meanwhile, said that those who have the Internet are spending more than 30 percent of their media time nowadays online, a metric that prompted JMP to increase its market share expectations for Internet advertising in the U.S.
JMP now expects online advertising at $13.2 billion in the United States this year, or 4.7 percent of total advertising revenue, to soar to $35.9 billion in 2010, when the Internet will command 11.1 percent of all ad dollars spent."
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