From August 6-9, southern Taiwan was hit with the worst typhoon in 50 years. Per the Associated Press story: "Morakot dumped more than 80 inches (two meters) of rain on the island last weekend and stranded thousands in villages in the mountainous south. A total of 15,400 villagers have been ferried to safety, and rescuers are working to save another 1,900 people. The storm … [Read more...] about Can Ma Ying-jeou Weather the Storm?
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Louis Yu's Indie Podcasts
It's not often a guy working on his PhD in theoretical computer science is also one of the hottest Chinese DJs in North America, but there's always an exception and Louis Yu (余雷) fits that role. Originally from Guilin, China, he's currently in Vancouver, Canada studying at the University of Victoria while also doing a weekly podcast featuring world indie music. And where can … [Read more...] about Louis Yu's Indie Podcasts
The mathematics of 10,000 disappearing Uighurs: refuting a refutation of Kadeer's claim
In recent days, there have been widespread and unchallenged reports of Rebiya Kadeer's accusation in Japan that 10,000 Uighurs disappeared overnight in Urumqi on July 5. I can not find a transcript of Ms. Kadeer's press conference speech. The following, from the Guardian, is one of the more detailed and also seemingly the most critical account of her accusation: "Almost 10,000 … [Read more...] about The mathematics of 10,000 disappearing Uighurs: refuting a refutation of Kadeer's claim
Chimerica: James Fallows & Niall Ferguson
This is the full session between Niall Ferguson and James Fallows at the recently held Aspen Ideas Festival. Allen had posted excepts and we promised you the complete discussion as soon as it became available. Niall Ferguson had coined the term "Chimerica" to describe the symbiotic relationship between the economies of China and the United States. He currently sees this … [Read more...] about Chimerica: James Fallows & Niall Ferguson
Iran & China: Is World Press Coverage Similar or Different?
Events of the last week in Iran have been widely reported by the world press. Not long before, the press also reported on the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident of 1989. Were these two distinct events reported in a similar manner or were they treated as different and unique events? Let's take a look at each and see what we can find. 1) Who are the good guys and … [Read more...] about Iran & China: Is World Press Coverage Similar or Different?