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August 27, 2004
Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask

There are plenty of good guides to blogging and I was going to add my $0.02 to the pile. It's the thing to do once your blog reaches a certain age, and I figure turning one is about the right time. However I'm going to break with blogosphere tradition of jumping on the bandwagon and instead present a collection of various appropriate links at the end of this post. What I am going to share with you is all the things they don't tell you about in blogging school.

 Continue reading "Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask"

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 [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 18:22
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» LivingRoom >> A space for Life links with: Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask about Blogging
» Baggas' Blog links with: If You Blog It, They Will Come
» The Flying Space Monkey Chronicles links with: Simon World Blogiversary #1
» Sanity's-Edge links with: It ain’t pretty, but it’s a post
» INDC Journal links with: Are You a New Blogger?
» mypetjawa v. 2.0 (beta) links with: In Class and No Class
» thehouseblog links with: Blogging 101



From little things big things grow

It seems like only a year ago I started this blog. Mostly because it was.

To celebrate I was going to indulge in an orgy of hubris and narcissism. I could recount how I was introduced to blogs - the merry chuckling of a co-worker over a post at Conrad's. I justified it by thinking of it as a way to keep family and friends in touch with our adventures in the mysterious Orient. But when your first post was:

hi paul
it's best to look to the future instead. You can peruse some of my favourite posts. This site has given me a chance to endlessly sprout off about anything and everything, and amazingly people decide they want to read it. Over the past year the site has broadened its remit, so that now it covers the original family fare and reflections on life in Hong Kong, with a liberal dose of stories about one of the most fascinating places in the world: China and Asia. Sprinkle in a mix of other random bits and pieces and that's what we've got today. Will it be like this tomorrow? Who knows? The site goes wherever my whim takes me. You're welcome to stay for the ride.

But what I've got most out of this site over the past year is all the people I've met, both online and in person. I've a bulging email folder with emails from all sorts of people I would never have otherwise met. I've had the pleasure of breaking bread with some of my favourite bloggers, such as Pixy and Helen. These are relationships that I cherish and am grateful for: it has exapnded my world and made me better for it. I've learnt a hell of a lot from these people and from writing this site: that has made it all more than worthwhile. The one thing that scares me (besides makeovers by JC and PB) is that I stop exercising my mind. This site and the many others that I read have kept at least that part of my body fitter than ever.

This has already been a busy week. First BL's arrival seemed to drag in plenty of comments and links. Thanks for all the kind wishes. The site redesign seems popular too - a nice first birthday present from me to the site. If for some reason you've been lurking for a while but never got around to saying something, NOW is the time to start. Regular commenters and linkers are also welcomed. While modesty prevents me from singing my own praises, nothing can stop you from doing it. So get to it. In return all I can offer more of the same. Please don't let that put you off.

UPDATE: It appears I share the day with Allah. Obviously wasn't much on TV anywhere in the world last August 27th.

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 [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 15:46
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» Munuviana links with: Crack out the champers



Swift Vets made easy

I've not really followed the whole controversy over John Kerry and the Swift Boat hubub, partly because it seems to me that at least Kerry actually went to Vietnam and faced bullets while many of his contempararies were running for cover (see both George W. and Bill Clinton). And I accept that Kerry made his Vietnam service a big part of his campaign, but I would have thought most people were more interested in what both he and George W. are going to do about the war on terror, the deficit, jobs, the environment, oil and the myriad other challenges facing America right now. You know, living in the present rather than the past and all that. After all, if American voters were worried about moral integrity, Bill Clinton would be flipping burgers in downtown Little Rock rather than plugging his book.

Anyhow, Bill has finally got around to using his blog for good, by explaining the whole Swift Boat thing. Now it still doesn't make any sense but at least you can have a laugh (and for a change it's with Bill, not at Bill).

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 [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 15:03
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Women explained

Giles discovers we may share the planet with them, but they are a different species. I should know, I married one.

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 [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 14:54
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Subliminal messages

Most people spend a lot of time in an effort to minimise their tax. Not, however, the Hong Kong Jockey Club. They have proudly displayed an advertisement in the SCMP stating they paid HK$12.2 billion in tax, making up 11.5% of all HK Government revenue for last year. In other words, gambling duties are one of the major sources of Government revenue in HK and form a hidden tax on the gamblers of HK. Additionally the Jockey Club gave out HK$975 million in charitable donations, just to make everyone realise that while gambling is "bad", the results are "good". Many of these projects would otherwise be the responsability of the Government or not occur at all. So it could be considered quasi-Government spending instead. It is why the odds are stacked against the humble punter - the Jockey Club and Government are happily fleecing them and wondering why illegal bookmaking flourishes in the city.

In case the message was too subtle, the thoughtful graphic artists have put the numbers in the form of a petrol pump. With the current strong state of the price of oil and fears it is heading even higher, it seems particularly apt.

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 [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 12:24
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Cash 'n Carry

Forget about the cashless society. The SCMP reports on a robbery yesterday:

Two bicycle-riding robbers escaped with a handbag containing $400,000 after threatening a pursuing off-duty policeman with what appeared to be a pistol in Fanling yesterday. One robber pointed a handgun or a replica at the unarmed sergeant from about a metre away, ordering him to stop the chase...Police said the victim had been waiting for the bank to open. It is understood the money was to be deposited to settle the recent purchase of a mainland house.
In this modern era of ATMs, internet and phone banking, credit cards and cheques, it seems to be that many cannot let go of the folding stuff. What is it with Hong Kongers and their fascination with cash? Any trip to the races or to the casinos of Macau will show you multitudes of HK residents with massive rolls of money.

As I understand it there hasn't been a significant bank collapse in Hong Kong in years. So why people walk the streets with their life savings in their handbags remains a mystery to me. Banks, for all their faults, are usually a good way to safely keep your money. Perhaps it's time for another Government education campaign.

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 [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 10:06
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Running in the family

Clearly my father and I need to have words. If he is going to be so selfish as not to become Prime Minister for my benefit then what's the point. Just ask Mark or Tim.

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 [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 09:48
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August 26, 2004
Asia by Blog

Time again to check out the best that Asian blogging has to offer...

Hong Kong, Taiwan and China

  • Hong Kong will get universal suffrage, says the CCP. It just has to pick the right candidates first. While on HK elections, ESWN follows the latest efforts by the Democratic Party to shoot itself in the foot. He also looks at the aftermath of the politician and the hooker and notes the irony that international pressure triumphed over the rule of law. Helpfully Hemlock has produced a leaflet for the hapless Democrats to use (see Wednesday, Aug 25th, or the pink thing in the middle).

  • Asia Media covers the trial of the 2 authors of a book on China's peasantry and the difficulties they face. Metanoiac has more on this.

  • Minerva says in Taiwan even the rain and voodoo are part of politics.

  • Adam on Chinese corruption, past and present. There was also an article in the SMH on power struggle at top of CCP.

  • Phil has already reviewed the HK Olympic homecoming. He also has the riots in Hong Kong, the city where beer beats dead Commies every time.

  • Tom Plate covers the thoughts of a retiring US naval commander on the Asia-Pacific region.

  • China may be dragged into the US Presidential campaign, this time in the murky area of donations. Conrad's also on the case. It seems the dirty tricks machine is working overtime at the moment.

  • China is currently celebrating Deng Xiapong's 100th anniversary of birth. Richard links to an IHT article questioning his legacy and Giles compares the efforts of Britain and China.

  • Fumier reports on the decline and fall of a once great HK institution.

  • China's economy is feeling the heat, literally. Also making a mistake at work can end up costing you more than you thought.

  • Supernaut has an article on the "truth" of the Cultural Revolution.

  • The home of the "laissez-faire" economy is becoming more monopolistic by the day, says Tom. He also covers HK's pathetic response to the challenge issued by Singapore's elder patriarch, Lee Kuan Yew. Perhaps because LKY is right. There's more on the whole thing at CSR Asia.

  • China's now bailing out the private sector as well as the public, says Fons. He also looks at China's massive unpaid wages bill.

  • In the irony department, even suicide isn't easy in China.

  • The Black China Hand says the Qing dynasty was actually China's best.

  • Shanghai is restoring its Jewish area.

  • Hitting Chinese polluters where it hurts the most.

  • ESWN has more great photos from all over China. Wayne has pictures from the typhoon that hit Taiwan.

  • You've seen the movie, now apply for one in China.

  • China leads the world, again, especially against those prudish Americans.

    • Korea and Japan

  • The Koguryo dispute between Korea and China appears to be over. Adam thinks this could be a significant breakthrough for China. Andrew, guest blogging at Asia Pages, has an interesting analysis of the situation.

  • John Kerry's got at least one foreign leader's support.

  • Joel isn't sure about kids. I'm not surprised.

  • Kimchee GI covers the effects of the US troop realignment on Korea and the contrasting views of Bush and Kerry on the matter. GI Korea explains the attitude of US troops actually in Korea (via FY).

  • I've tried to keep this an Olympics free zone. But Korea has got its collective knickers in a twist over the controversy on Korea's Gymnastic medals: start here and over at Cathrtidae too, then move along to here, the next instalment here, and if you're still with us finish off here. Marmot thinks the Korean was screwed by the bad judging. The Olympics and poor judging: who would have thought?

  • Jodi notes some very different interpretations between American and Korean papers of the same event.

  • Marmot has all things sex and p0rn in Korea covered, so to speak, including the battle royale of Japanese p0rn queens.

    • SE Asia

  • Myrick looks at the overturning of the convictions of the Bali bombers.

  • In Singapore the Government is in the business of creating love to help create people. At least they're talking about real people, rather than cyber-creations.

  • Singapore's new Emperor PM is slowly opening the door to political expression. Slowly. The new PM has also decided to plunge into the China/Taiwan dispute following his visit to Taiwan last month.

  • You've been in Singapore too long when you read lists saying "you know you've been in Singapore too long...". Unless of course you look at the Hong Kong one instead...

  • Conrad has the solution for what ails the Philippines. None of that pesky democracy nonsense either.

  • Slavery is making a comeback in Nepal.

  • If Singapore's ever invaded at least they know they've got the fastest draw in the East.

    • Miscellany

  • Being a Hong Konger means never having to be lonely again, especially in the city where nothing is real.

  • This is just wrong.

  • Wayne talks about another kind of inflation in Taiwan.

  • AIDS will cost Asia dearly in the years to come.

  • Apparently Ghengis Khan wasn't quite the barbarian you thought he was.

  • Jeremy says China's banks are categories for all ends of the market.

  • Lastly, this is just LOL funny.

    • Imitation and all that

  • I'm pleased to say Friskodude has spawned something of a similar idea to this series (for example here). It links to blogs and newspaper reports around the region. Check it out.

    show comments right here »

     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 16:50
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    » The Marmot's Hole links with: Sweet blog design



    Changes

    Something looks a little different around here...

    Thanks to Robyn from Sekimori. I hope you like the new design. It survived a hurricane in Florida, a new tooth, a new baby, a difficult to please client and numerous technical issues to complicated for me to explain because I don't understand them myself.

    As always, feedback appreciated.

    UPDATE: One of the improvements is you are now able to take this blog with you! For those with PDAs, try this handy link. It also appears at the bottom of the left sidebar.

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 12:10
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    » Wetwired links with: Friday, August 27, 2004 Friday Morning



    Revionism

    Philip Bowring's op-ed on Asia's relationship with Japan in the IHT is another staggering example of historical revisionism and confused clap-trap. He argues that Japan gets a bad rap in Asia, especially from Koreans and China that is not entirely deserved because some welcomed the Japanese with open arms in WW2 and earlier. He follows the Monty Python school: "What have the Romans ever done for us, except for education, roads, water, etc?" I'm sure many residents of Korea and Nanjing would have been happy to develop these things on their own without their Japanese overlords. Bowring amazingly compares Japan's lack of contrition to the West's lack of contrition for its "imperialism" in Asia. Finally he calls Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore's new PM, to heel for daring to say Taiwan shouldn't aspire to independence. Bowring cites Singapore's history as the basis for this, even when modern geopolitical realities mean the Taiwan issue is far bigger and deadly than the Singaporean one in the 60s.

    But therein lies the problem: Bowring seems to have little grasp of reality.

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 12:07
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    Science corner

    Hong Kong is in the process of discovering a new species and all anyone can do is complain. The new animal is capable of surviving in some of the most hostile conditions known to mankind: HK's public swimming pools. For the past we there have been daily discoverys of red bloodworms in various public pools in HK. How animals can survive such high concerntrations of chlorine will remain a mystery forever.

    The good news is now HK's men in blue are on the case. I'm glad they'll be spending their time hunting for worm saboteurs rather than those that like to put bodies in suitcases and torch them. These worms could be dangerous.

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 10:30
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    Mixing

    Today's handy household tip: even water-based paints don't come out of grouting.

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 09:53
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    August 25, 2004
    Open invitation

    It is common custom to celebrate the arrival of a baby with the ancient "headwetting" ceremony. This could dove-tail nicely with a get-together of some of Hong Kong's finest devotees and practicioners of the art (it's certainly not a science) of blogging.

    When: Wednesday, 1st Sept.
    Where: Start at Stormy Weather in Lan Kwai Fong
    Time: Whenever I can get there. Probably about 7:30pm

    I will shout the first drink to celebrate. This even includes Dr. George Adams. In order to take advantage of this offer, you must identify yourself to me using the secret password: "Rhinoceroses mating." The more the merrier so please pass the word along.

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 18:17
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    Good reasons to wash the car

    Volvo drivers have enough to deal with in life, let alone this...

     Continue reading "Good reasons to wash the car"

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 17:14
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    Do humans work at insurance companies?

    There are many stories that will be retold in the coming days concerning the birth. But one needs to be shared now.

    Little BL is slightly jaundiced. Mrs M and he were discharged yesterday but had to go back for another test today and will have another on Friday. I have some health insurance so the hospital rang the insurance company to check how much they pay out on the tests (here's a hint as to the insurance company's identity). The insurance company informed the hospital they will not pay out on the tests for BL. Why? Because he is not yet a member of the fund. It doesn't matter that he is 4 days old; that he doesn't even yet have a birth certificate; and that he isn't registered because he's only just got home and there are more important things to worry about than the health fund.

    A pea-brained peabody from An Insurance Agency said there was no way they would cover these costs because Mrs M and BL had already been discharged and they were considered no longer part of the birth. Given that having a birth and brit in this city is costing me the GDP of an economically troubled Asian nation already, not to mention other hassles that will be revealed in time, it remains to be proven that real people actually work in insurance companies. Especially when they have the chutzpah to put out press releases saying Hong Kongers are underinsured (NOTE: it's the same link as above, I'm just pointing out the irony).

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 16:10
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    Real ways to influence people

    The NYT times is reporting on China's latest attempt to influence Hong Kong's voters: table tennis. The small problem is the SCMP reports ticket sales were slow, with the lone queuer at City Hall complaining the HK$20 cost and comparing it with the free showing of China astronaut Yang Liwei. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department referred inquiries to the HK Olympic Committee which referred inquiries to the LCSD.

    If China were serious about influencing the election, they'd stop with all this namby-pamby stuff and cut to the chase: offering decent inducements to vote for the "right" candidates.

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 15:36
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    August 24, 2004
    Left is right

    On top of all the regular dramas that come with a new-born, particularly a Jewish boy (let's just say the brit will be a truly mutlinational affair with a significant financial component) in Hong Kong, it is looking more and more likely that PB is going to be a left-hander.

    When it rains, it pours.

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 10:20
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    » Flying Chair links with: All that is happening in Asia.



    Asia by Blog - Month in review

    Thank you to everyone for the good wishes. Everyone is doing well.

    Now to keep you going...as part of the Winds of Change team I provide a monthly briefing on Asian goings-on, particularly China and SE Asia. I thought this would give me a good opportunity to review the collection of "Asia by Blogs" from the past few weeks and pull together some of the highlights and lowlights. There will be less emphasis on Korean news because someone else is doing a Korean briefing...plus it leaves more room to look at the rest of Asia. As usual there will also be some new links from around the Asian blogging community.

    Think of this as one of those "Best of" albums, even though the band is less than a year old and you've only heard one of the songs. More seriously if you haven't had a chance to follow the links from this series, this should give you a good taste of the high quality and wide variety of Asian blogs.

    China, Taiwan and Hong Kong

  • Tom reports on Hong Kong's newest metallic import from Europe. Laosan talks about China's stunning early success at the Olympics. The Ruck talks about China's outshooting the gun-loving USA. While on sport there was the Asia Cup soccer final between Japan and China. ACB was looking at the build-up the final. Fumier congratulated Japan on their weekend soccer win but says China has won too. ESWN wraps-up the stories and photos of the weekend's Asia Cup from the press. FY looks at the whole mess from Korea, saying it proves China's not ready for an Olympics. Jodi also has more. The Ruck has photos and also has some strongly worded thoughts on the hooliganism of China's fans. ESWN looks at passion in soccer and rates the Asia Cup final.

  • Chris looks at the problems with Hong Kong's list system of voting in the upcoming LegCo elections. Hong Kong was titillated with when a LegCo candidate was arrested for soliciting a prostitute in China. ESWN notes significant differences between the English and Chinese language versions of events. He also notes the rapid retreat by HK's Democrats in claiming political persecution.

  • In China, some things can be illegal but not a crime.

  • ESWN continues his translation of the controversial study of China's peasantry that's been banned on the Mainland.

  • ALN reports that doing good deeds in China sometimes has a price.

  • Richard looks at the release of a book written in 1989 that predicted many of the problems now emerging in the world's greatest toilet bowl: the Three Gorges Dam.

  • Slowly but surely Putonghua (Mandarin) is asserting itself as China's national language, but at what cost? Jodi takes a look at the same issue.

  • "The sloppy baker" finds some say it is a matter of not if but when China will invade Taiwan, while Donald Sensing takes another look at the potential for China to invade Taiwan.

  • After all the fuss over Hong Kong's ICAC raids on newspapers, it turns out all they had to do was ask.

  • China has both a new rock star and a hairy beast.

  • China is facing a shortage of migrant labour for the first time in 20 years. ALN has plenty more about it including why, as does China Herald. ALN also says China is not just attracting investment, it is starting to become a big investor itself.

  • Fons says China's efforts at clamping down on online p0rn has been primitive and largely unsuccessful.

  • Danwei has a list of China's top Google searches for July. Also Google never cut a deal with China's censors, according to one of its founders.

  • Taiping talks about the emergence of China as a force in modern architecture.

  • John at LiC talks about China's latest fashion craze.

  • Also at LiC Edward Hugh says the China economic slowdown has begun; the question is how will it end?

  • ESWN talks about sales training in China, the begging way. He also highlights two very different approaches to reporting the same event. There's additional commentary on this from ALN and CSR Asia.

  • Chris has a look at Hong Kong's alleged paper of record: the South China Morning Post. Marmot says Korean and Chinese journalists are at war.

  • Stephen says when the US releases Uygurs from Guatanamo Bay, they won't be going back to China. There are good reasons why. He also summarises the recent history and current suppression of China's Uygur population.

  • Andrea wonders if China is actually worried by a possible reunification of Korea?

  • Tom explains why AIDS is dangerous just to talk about in China.

  • Which would you rather: working in rice paddies or rubbing feet?

  • Via LiC I came across this survey of differences in attitudes between Chinese and American students on a range of issues. Also via LiC is this article by Shelley Timmins on the differences between Chinese people and Chinese tourists.

  • ACB says CCTV, China's official TV network, has subtly endorsed John Kerry.

  • Ralph Jennings talks about the case of Zhao Yan, the Chinese citizen bashed by a US border guard, and how it is being used as a pawn in a propaganda campaign. It also points out some stark differences in how the case is being handled to how it would be handled in China. ESWN says stupidity can be a two-way street in dealings between East and West. He also updates the facts on the case of Zhao Yan, the Chinese woman in question.

  • ACB says China has compiled a summary of China's assessments of various naval powers.

  • They say that sex sells...firstly Danwei says sex education classes are starting early in China. Secondly there was another trade fair in China: the adult toy expo. It includes this interesting bit: "In Australia we sell three million vibrators per year, mostly made in China," said Michael Rutner, of 'Next to nothing'. That means on average one vibrator for every sexual active woman." Now you know why Aussie women smile so much.

    • Korea and Japan

  • Again with all things Olympic, Tom talks about Japan's latest efforts to capture Olympic gold, and they are extreme. It's not the Olympics butJodi follows Bobby Fischer's Japanese chess game.

  • Marmot and Cathartidae covered the ongoing tussle between Korea and China over that most delicate of topics: history. Marmot goes through the background of this tiff here. Oranckay has more and thinks the spat will serve to cure those in Korea fixated with China. Marmot has plenty more on the Koguryo controversy here and here.

  • Coinciding with Liberation Day in Korea (FY has the historical details) Kimchee GI translates an article that says South Korea's economy is being dragged down by left wing values.

  • South Korean President Roh doesn't want North Korean refugees. Marmot has more on those pesky defectors. Meanwhile Jodi looks at that little known group: defectors to North Korea.

  • Kevin says the Korean blog block continues in part, as does FY.

  • Conrad explains that smell in Tokyo.

  • Jodi talks about some forgotten survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. She also explains why it's not good to be a Korean dog when it gets hot.

  • South Korea was trying to ban reporting on its deployment of troops to Iraq.

  • Just in case readers in America thought North Korea was nothing to worry about, maybe you should think again

    • SE Asia

  • Everybody is blogging these days...although most people just stop blogging when they've had enough instead of abdicating their throne.

  • First Conrad says "Crooks Endorse Fool", then Myrick finds a coalition of the dispicable building in Indonesia. Myrick also disagrees with Lee Kwan Yew about what Beijing did in Tiananmen Square in 1989.

  • The Swanker says cedrtain prisoners were celebrating Indonesia's Independence Day; there may even be a family reunion in the offing, including mass murderers. Jakartass talks about some who didn't get to celebrate the big day and excerpts an editorial that hopes the day will be a reason to look forward as well as back. The Swanker says another crook in Indonesia's military got away with it. Jodi also takes an insightful look at the mess. Jakartass looks at Indonesia's judicial system and finds it wanting. Conrad asks why foreigners would bother investing in Indonesia.

  • Mr. Brown says political freedom may be coming to Singapore, via the mobile phone. Apparently Singapore is not even a U.S. ally. Rajan said happy birthday, Singapore. Nicholas looks at the Singaporean blogging of its National Day and isn't impressed; instead he gives a dose of realism. Mr. Brown asks is Singapore a country or a child-care centre? (also at Andrea)

  • Richard looks at another country following North Korea's example.

  • Giles has found an alternative to the traditional wedding cake in the Philippines.

  • Jodi follows the aftermath of Malaysia's PM remarks on religious tolerance and how it took less than a week for tolerance to give way to warring. She also talks about religious tolerance (or lack thereof) in Asia.

  • CC asks where are the Philippine press in reporting on the revelations of Gracia Burnham and he takes the Philippine Government to task over its spin efforts on the testimony. Wretchard talks about the whole mess in the Southern Philippines and wonders how much (if at all) the US should help.

  • Jodi measures the toll of the massive monsoons that wrecked havoc over South Asia.

    • Miscellany

  • The alternative Big Mac index continues compiling the numbers from around the world. The premise is simple: how long does it take a McDonald's worker to earn enough to buy a Big Mac?

  • Wayne has found a fake Chinese document with interesting contents.

  • Spirit Fingers has the results of HK's beauty pageant. There's also the new series of lesser-known brands to shop for and the "fashion road-kill" series continues.

  • Tony conducts an interesting experiment in racism.

  • Jodi says it ain't easy being a husband in Thailand. She also gives a detailed account of "booking" (with an intro here).

  • Roy's trying his hand at redrawing maps.

  • Via Doug comes this article on how it can be tough for single Western women living in Asia (printed from the Asia Wall St Journal from September 2003).

  • In the history section, Joel looks at some of the last holdouts from WW2.

    • (This will be cross-posted at Winds of Change later this week).

    show comments right here »

     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 08:21
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    » Flying Chair links with: All that is happening in Asia.



    August 23, 2004
    1,000 words

    By popular demand...

     Continue reading "1,000 words"

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 00:07
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    » See Lai links with: Happy Times For Hong Kong Bloggers!
    » Snooze Button Dreams links with: He's having had a baby



    August 21, 2004
    Introducing...

    At precisely 3pm Hong Kong time today, Saturday, 21st August, 2004, a healthy baby boy joined our ever-growing clan. Weighing in at 3.875 kg (8 pounds 8 ounces in the old scale) and 51 cm long, he was called "generously proportioned" by some and "a whopping great big boy" by others. Mother and son are doing well. The sisters have met their newest attention-sapper and have approved. Daddy is still trying to work out how something so small can cost so much.

    A fuller account will emerge in the coming days, including the most fascinating part of the entire affair: the hair-do on the nurse who admitted us. I have never, ever, in my life seen a mullet quite like it.

    In the extended entry you can feast your eyes on the newest member of the team: BL.

     Continue reading "Introducing..."

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 23:10
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    » mypetjawa v. 2.0 (beta) links with: Congrats to Simon!!
    » Flying Chair links with: Congratulations
    » Brainysmurf links with: Some Asia blogs I like
    » CHASE ME LADIES, I'M IN THE CAVALRY links with: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW INFANT
    » Everyday Stranger links with: London Calling
    » Wanbro links with: Good work my son
    » Snooze Button Dreams links with: He's having had a baby
    » Winds of Change.NET links with: Simon's E. Asia Overview: Aug 25/04
    » CrabAppleLane Blog links with: Wednesday Linkfest



    August 20, 2004
    Countdown

    While I sit here waiting impatiently for my third child to arrive, you can amuse yourselves by visiting each and every of the following sites. These are the top 10 referrers to this site for August, so I hope you can return the favour and give them a visit:

    Gut Rumbles

    Shaky Kaiser

    Living in China

    Gweilo Diaries

    Hemlock

    Everyday Stranger

    Discombobulated

    Brainysmurf

    Sgt Hook

    ESWN

    I'll be updating the referrers every month and listing them in the sidebar. There's an easy way to get on this list...just send people this way.

    Next week is going to be big one for this humble little site...

    UPDATE: By the way, if you know of any new blogs that would like some publicity, please send them over to the Showcase. Or feel free to spread the word.

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 17:17
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    The downside of growing up, China version

    The Economist has a full court press (pun intended) of articles on China this week. The general theme is that China's rapid growth in the past 25 years has seen immense wealth creation and a rise out of poverty for hundreds of millions. It has also seen the creation of a middle class and a population that is learning to deal with both wealth and the greater reliance on themselves rather than the state. There is, however, a cost and the magazine looks at two of them in detail: the collapse of health care and the threat of pollution.

    The collapse of health care seems overblown: for many in China, especially in more rural areas, there is no health care to collapse. What is more likely is the state is stepping out of providing it and the private sector is rushing in. It is typically chaotic, like much of China's economic transformation, but it is not at a crisis point. In fact the article itself points out that last year's SARS scare, combined with the growing threat of AIDS, is making China's health authorities more aware of the importance of adequate health care. As mentioned above, Chinese people are learning that part of growing wealthy is providing for oneself rather than relying on the state to provide. Health is one part of that.

    The pollution story (no subscription required for this one) is altogether scarier and a bigger issue. China has paid little regard to pollution throughout its rapid industrialisation and prior to that. Indeed some of Mao's policies could be argued to be the greatest man-made environmental disasters ever (not to mention human disasters too). Like China's problems with its banks and bad loans, the race for growth had consequences that until were never addressed because they weren't seen to be immediate problems. This allowed them to grow and now they are reaching the point that something needs to be done. The cost will be large. But like many of the Western economies of today, the gathering of wealth comes first and dealing with the consequences comes once they can be afforded.

    There are two further articles. The first looks at China's powerful bureaucrats and a recent lawsuit they losst over a trademarks dispute. People are getting excited because it may be the first time the CCP has lost a case to a private firm. It is being hailed as potentially the start of a move towards rule of law in China as judges become "more emboldened" to enforce laws against self-serving departments. Don't bet on it. The CCP is not prepared to loosen its control over anything and will not generally accept judges getting in its way. It may well allow certain judgements like this to stand, as this particular case seemed clear-cut and in breach of China's new WTO obligations. But China is run by the CCP without the normal checks and balances of a judiciary upholding the force of law.

    The final article looks at China's dodgy economic figures. This is something they and I have looked at previously and remains a huge problem for what is becoming a huge economy. China is difficult enough to run as it is without worrying if the numbers are telling the real story. To some extent it is always going to be difficult to collate accurate numbers for a country as vast and big as China. However it is vital for China itself to at least attempt to improve the verasity of the economic statistics they publish. It's impossible to steer the boat if you don't have an accurate compass.

    Full marks to The Economist as one of the few magazines of note that are looking at China in such a comprehensive manner. If I get some more time I will try to post more thoughts on the articles over the weekend or next week.

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 16:33
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    » Brad DeLong's Semi-Daily Journal (2004) links with: What's Going on in China?



    It's not your language

    It is a truth universally acknowledged that only bureaucrats can come up with rules as stupid as this. As part of Britain's get tough policy on citizenship it is now insisting on an English language test for new citizens from Australia, the USA, Canada and South Africa. The problem is native speakers of English cannot take the English for Speakers of Other Languages certificate, the regular way migrants prove their abilities. Instead they need written confirmation from an approved person. Except the Home Office hasn't decided who is an approved person.

    In response, Australia should immediately ban export of any more of our soap operas such as Neighbours and Home & Away and recall Kylie Minogue. Actually, that sounds more like a reward instead of a punishment. Double doses of both instead.

    UPDATE: Another interesting point from talking with Giles is a great deal of Brits themselves hardly speak the language. Welsh and Irish, even Scottish hardly counts as English. Cockney rhyming slang, Yorkshireman butchering the Queen's language, Oxbridge toffs, upper class twits who struggle to get words out between their silver spoons and plums...indeed even Fumier agrees of the poor grasp the natives have of their own language.

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 12:33
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    » The Moderate Voice links with: Truly DUMB Bureaucrats Are In All Countries...
    » Flying Chair links with: Bad English



    It's getting hot in here

    The HK Observatory has done its bit in adding to the global warming scare, and the papers have obliged by reporting the highlights. The HKO says by 2090 the average annual temperature in HK will rise by 3.5 degrees Celsius above the 1961-1990 average. Of course straight away you can see there's been some cheating going on. Judging by the graphs presented in the press release, temperatures rose on average about 1.5 degrees in the 1990s. So we've got 90 more years and the average temp from today (being 2004) will rise perhaps 2 degrees, on the HKO's median scenario.

    Climatologists agree the 1990s were a particularly warm decade. What they do not agree upon is why. The 1990s were the warmest decade in 1,000 years - but as the article linked asks, why was it so warm 1,000 years ago, before industrialisation and greenhouse gasses become issues? Bjorn Lomborg, author of the Skeptical Environmentalist, has dealt with these issues thoroughly and repeatedly. I strongly recommend you read this book. That way next time you come across scare, gloom and doom from greens you will be able to counter them with the one thing they lack: the truth. His major premise is the environment has actually been steadily improving rather than getting worse. If that seems a shock, it will shock you more that Lomborg uses many of the same studies that various green groups use to preach the end of the world as we know it.

    But I digress. Partly due to the impact of growing environmental awareness, many of the factors currently influencing the global climate are being addressed. The impact of these changes will not be immediate, but it is extremely likely that by 2090 changes such as clean air laws, emissions controls, reliance on cleaner energy sources such as nuclear and solar, reduction of CFCs and plenty of others besides will mean the current trends are not likely to continue into the future. It is impossible to ascertain from the HKO report what assumptions they've used to make their projections. They cite the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2001 report, which has been extensively criticised (The Economist has had several articles on the topic: this on how much the globe has actually warmed in the past; and this (reproduced in full in the extended entry) on the problems with the IPCC report.) Australia's former chief statistician is amongst those who see flaws in the IPCC report.

    So the HKO based their observations that 5 minutes of Googling could have told them has serious flaws. Nevertheless their conclusions are that HK will experience higher average temperatures, more hot days and fewer cold ones. Which could be taken as good news: one of the little discussed aspects of climate change is that many areas that are arid or uninhabitable now may turn into useable land. And if predictions of rising oceans come true, the Victoria Harbour crowd can celebrate the efforts of nature to fight back against reclamation.

    There are two major problems with this report. The first is the flawed data is it based on. The second and more important is that climatology is a science that is in its infancy. It requires the use of supercomputers to generate predictions that chaos theory have proven can be wildly different with only minute changes in initial conditions. Just like you read in the investment brochures, past conditions are not a reflection of future results. Hell, the HKO can hardly predict what the weather will be tomorrow. How the hell can they know what it will be like in 2090? That's not to say the efforts of environmentalist groups have not been worthwhile. The benefits have been great and the raised awareness of the potential problems with the environment will ensure continued vigilance. The problem is we live in a world of costs and benefits. If you are prepared to sacrifice large parts of your standard of living for nebulous environmental benefits, be my guest. But until you can convince enough of your fellow citizens otherwise, it isn't going to happen.

    Especially if you try scaring us with dodgy projections.

     Continue reading "It's getting hot in here"

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 10:54
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    Smile and the whole world grimaces at you

    In the ongoing investigation into the dental health of China, the Standard reports that Hong Kong's population cannot afford to laugh at their Mainland cousins:

    About one-third of Hong Kong's population could be toothless by the time they reach their golden age if they do not improve their dental hygiene...In the recent survey, conducted in March, more than 90 per cent of the 1,300 people aged between 18 and 44 interviewed had dental problems like cavities, periodontal [gum] diseases, sensitive teeth and tooth extractions. That translates to about 2.7 million people with dental problems.

    "Hong Kong people may be too busy these days and don't spend more than a minute to brush their teeth.''

    Hong Kong, with one of the highest per capita GDPs in the world, still has dental health problems closer to a Third World country than a modern nation.

    The only people I know in Hong Kong with perfect teeth are on Cathay Pacific ads.

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 09:56
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    Today's quiz

    Is this woman wearing glasses?

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     [boomerang] Posted by Simon at 09:17
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