Every once in a while Shanghai Scrap needs to show its enthusiasm for continued exploration of the universe. Like today: in a few hours the first images from the MESSENGER flyby of Mercury should start streaming back to Earth, and we’ll all have our first close-up view of the innermost planet in 33 years. Me,…
All posts in Appreciations and Recommendations
“The spiciest thing I’ve ever eaten.”
It’s cold here. Cold and wet (my Beijing readers should focus on the latter). US trade negotiators are in Beijing (meaning, further declines in the dollar – and the value of my income). And no, I wasn’t one of the winners in the Led Zeppelin reunion concert ticket lottery. So what’s a down expat to…
Santa’s Chinese Workshop
Posted on Author AdamPosted in Appreciations and Recommendations, Arts, Business and Trade, Labor6 Replies
Below, a photo of a Christmas ornament workshop in Zhejiang Province. Statistics are difficult to come by, but this workshop is located in a section of Zhejiang known for producing a very large percentage of China’s Christmas exports (the country is reportedly the source for 80% of the world’s Christmas ornaments and accessories). And, according…
Vietnam Scrap, Pt. 2
I’ve been meaning to mention that Recycling International has published the second part of my very long journey into Vietnam’s developing scrap markets. Meanwhile, Scrap magazine has the entire article in its current issue. Neither magazine has made the text available online, though Scrap will add it to the magazine’s online archives in a few…
Brief Blogger’s Holiday
I’m in the midst of deadlines and they”ll require my undivided attention through the weekend. So, more likely than not, there will be no updates here until Monday. That is, if I know what’s good for me. Before signing off, though: a hearty recommendation for the second half of the interview that Andrew Sullivan did…
Marathon Air Quality
Over at WorldChanging, Mara Hvistendahl asks: “As an amateur runner in Shanghai’s half-marathon on Sunday, I wasn’t overly concerned with my time. But what was I doing to my lungs?” Her answer is an interesting essay that touches on Beijing’s efforts to improve its air quality in advance of the Olympics, what it feels like…
“The Social Problems Embodied in 11 Yuan”
I’ve just returned to Shanghai after a long flight delay in Tianjin, most of which was spent in newspapers, magazines and – later – blogs. Three hours of reading on various topics and what sticks with me is “The Social Problems Embodied in 11 Yuan” – a post and translation (of an op-ed) by Danwei…
Between a Rock and a Movie Theater at the National Interest
My new op-ed style essay, ‘Between a Rock and a Movie Theater‘ is now online at The National Interest. This one benefited immensely from a recent conversation that I had with a visiting journalist on the monetization of digital music. [UPDATE 11/1: I am pleased to note that Asia Times Online re-published the National Interest…
China’s Mercantalist Future at the National Interest
My new op-ed style essay, “The Mercantalist Resurgence” is now posted to the National Interest. This is the second in what looks to be a series of these pieces (which are, as I mentioned last week, quite new to me), and I’m very interested in receiving feedback from regular readers of this blog. I’ll be…
China’s Ms. Manners at the National Interest
Earlier today the National Interest posted my web-only op-ed regarding recent anti-Chinese riots in Southeast Asia — and film director Feng Xiaogang’s role in explaining them (sort of). It’s a different kind of essay for me, and I’m quite curious to receive some feedback from regular readers of this blog. In either case, the National…