(Taken from #26 National Geographic’s Photography Contest 2010)

Given the sheer number of China links, makes me wonder should I pack up shop and really live in China for 6 months or a year and learn Mandarin on the way. I think it would be pretty awesome to see it all first hand and then come back into the Western world to help brands analyze proper strategies for working in the Chinese market… dumplings for days!

-Eugene

China Corner

#1. ***Sex in Society: A New Culture War Amongst China’s Post-90’s
A bit of the ignorance that plagues China is detailed through its sexual education. If safety isn’t taught, what is the outcome in 10 years?

#2. ***Art 2.1 | Translating Ai Weiwei: Bringing Chinese Social Media Art to the English Twittersphere, Part 1 | Art 2.1 | Translating Ai Weiwei: Bringing Chinese Social Media Art to the English Twittersphere, Part 2
Ai WeiWei is one of China’s most prolific artists and he has been an important voice in offering support to his fellow Chinese as well as being a critical voice against the government. While he Tweets in Chinese, Jennifer Ng and An Xiao created Bird’s Nest: Ai Weiwei to share WeiWei’s thoughts in English. In Chinese, each character represents a word so as you can imagine 140 characters is a decent sized platform to work with.

#3. ***In China, Cultivating the Urge to Splurge
Traditionally a nation (and culture) of savers, the world is relying on China to start spending and consuming rather than being an export dominant country. However, when education represents such a large fraction of the reason why parents save, it’s this necessity that will continue to keep China in saving mode.

#4. Chinese Export Regions Face Labor Shortages
If prices for Chinese production hadn’t risen enough in the last year, things are about to get much worse.

#5. Life Expectancy in China Rising Slowly, Despite Economic Splurge
China has made huge developments from a societal point of view but life expectancy has not risen accordingly. Maybe the fact it’s so cheap to smoke doesn’t help.

#6. Nations That Debate Coal Use Export to Feed China’s Need
In an ironic but not totally uncharacteristic move, people that question the use of coal as a power source represent the very countries that export it to China. But the way business and government are disconnected, it’s not really a surprise.

#7. China’s Censors Misfire in Absure-of-Power Case

#8. Jaguar Tells Managers to Relocate to China or Risk Promotion
I think a lot of companies want to get into China but aren’t setting themselves up properly to understand and learn the culture. This is true of many high-end fashion labels who aren’t sensitive to China’s market. If you really want to be successful you need to have some sort of ability to re-work your plan for a new battlefield.

#9. Currency Fight With China Divides US Business
In the US, there is both sides fighting for either re-valuation or a maintenance of its current rate.

#10. In China, Money Can Often Buy Love
You hear this so much, how love goes hand in hand with materialism. No house = no love.

China Corner/

#11. The Limit of Human Perforamnce: How Much Faster? | Limits to Human Performance: Lessons from Men and Women | How to Go From Heel Striking/Orthotics to Forefoot Striking/Barefoot
How much faster can the human body run and how far are we from maxing out. It comes down to several factors, temperature, body temperature, physiological traits etc. As well a long but informative article to get on your way to healthier running through forefoot striking.

#12. ***The (cosmetic) lengths men go to
Dudes and their penis-enlargement surgeries… what works what doesn’t and the different methods available.

#13. University of Oregon’s Speed-Freak Football
I don’t watch NFL/College Football, but the articles are always interesting to me.

#14. Fewer Millions for Jeter? Say It Ain’t So
This article is a bit dated as Jeter signed an $18 million/year deal for 3 years… but still does this tarnish his legacy? Maybe not cause he still is a Yankee and talks never got ugly.

#15. Google Grows, and Works to Retain Nimble Minds
I assume that if you’re hired by Google, you’re naturally a person who’s eager for success and growth. However the first bit of bureaucracy in a corporation is probably enough to make you plan an exit.

#16. A Talent Burning Too Brightly, Too Young
Freddy Adu signed a pro contract at age 14 to play with men. 7 years later he’s become a journeyman where nobody wants him. Not surprised cause when he signed his first contract, he was probably 24 years old due to shotty African birth records.

#17. ***Why 2014 Will Not Be Like 1984
Who will reign? Open (with Google) or Closed (with Apple). Both look to be very profitable.

#18. Genes Link Puberty Timing to Body Fat in Women
The reason why girls are hitting puberty so early is probably cause of obesity.

#19. Diet and Malocclusion (Misalignment of Teeth)
Interesting… back in the day there would be no such thing as a dentist and braces so perhaps the diet was better suited to ensuring you had properly lined up teeth.

#20. T-NATION: Unilateral Movements Make You Weak
One-legged movements in the gym might not be as great as you think? But I still like doing them.

#21. Shyne the Rapper Finds Order in Orthodox Judaism in Israel
But he still thinks its ok to drive Lambos and live lavishly?

#22. Japanese Kitchen Knives with Eugene Ong
Japanese knife talk and the history/insight behind it.

#23. Genetics Has A Big Role in Socializing in a Group

#24. The Price 20-Somethings Pay to Live in the City
New York City looks into the sacrifices and exorbitant prices New York 20-somethings pay for convenience and to live in the city

#25. ***The Shadow Scholar: Writing People’s Papers for Money
Once again, a testament to an education system that needs a massive overall. I guess looking back I should be proud of graduating university without cheating despite a shitty GPA haha.

#26. Pictures:National Geographic’s Photography Contest 2010