In photography, you learn a lot by looking at pictures others have taken. So, today, while browsing Xinhua's photo section I was struck by some featured images, which lead me to the company, 纯粹视觉婚纱摄影机构 (Pureness Vision Photography Agency). There I saw many more amazing portraits. I took liberty in assembling some to share here, while hoping they won't mind in exchange some … [Read more...] about Chuncui, beautiful Chinese models and incredible portraits
A few gripes with Tania Branigan’s Bo Xilai corruption piece
(Update 4/20/2012: see update section below with response from Branigan.) There has been a lot of rumor mongering going on in the Western press about Bo Xilai and the alleged murder of British citizen Neil Heywood by his wife Gu Kailai. In an otherwise fairly well researched article by Guardian U.K. reporter, Tania Branigan, there were couple of crucial errors that were … [Read more...] about A few gripes with Tania Branigan’s Bo Xilai corruption piece
Philippines, China, UNCLOS and the South China Seas
Recently, we hear a growing chorus how the China - Philippines dispute in the South China Seas ought to be settled by binding arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).[ref]See, e.g., this article from CSIS; this article from GMA; or this article from Business World[/ref] We already have dealt with some of the political dimensions of this … [Read more...] about Philippines, China, UNCLOS and the South China Seas
‘Green’ protests in India backed by U.S.-funded NGO’s
Interesting take by Russia Today about U.S.-funded NGO's operating in India doing 'green' protests against the country's aim to develop more nuclear power plants. India has shut down some of such NGO's while Russia Today insinuate they specifically targeted nuclear plants under construction by Russian firms. … [Read more...] about ‘Green’ protests in India backed by U.S.-funded NGO’s
Syria, Resolution 2042, a true win for humanitarian intervention
Joshua Goldstein wrote a whole book to explain that our world today, despite the seemingly endless number of crisis, is in fact the least brutal it has ever been. He concluded with empirical evidence that U.N. peacekeepers, as neutral third parties on the ground, have been stopping tribal factions from fighting and escalating violence. That form of humanitarian intervention … [Read more...] about Syria, Resolution 2042, a true win for humanitarian intervention