China: Asia's Back"dorm" Boys

This is hilarious. The Backdorm Boys via (www.tian.cc) lip-sync and dance to melodies, all in their dorm room while their roommate plays computer games in the background. Hilarious.

China: Running out of Chopsticks

Wow, this is amazing. An article in the New York Times [not published online, so I've linked to PekingDuck] suggests that the environmental impact of China's huge population are being felt. The author quotes a Chinese columnist who says China cannot support all the disposable chopsticks that are used, and so should switch to metal chopsticks or "we can use our hands".

I wonder if this points to larger problems within the Chinese economy that are being covered up or are unknown. The article points out that even if the economy is ok, the environment may still be a limiting factor:

"Mr. Zou's column underscores that while year after year of 9 percent growth may be economically sustainable for China, it is reaching its environmental limits."

China: The Nine Men Who Run China

For those of you looking to brush up or start learning about China politics, here's an excellent blog article: "The Nine Men who Run China" by the88s.blogsome.com (which is an excellent blog - far better than this one!).

China: A New Space Race?

The BBC reports that the U.S., India, Japan, and Europe are all looking into the possibility of starting or restarting space programs.

China's launch of its second manned spacecraft, Shenzhou VI, has confirmed the country's place among the space elite.

But as China begins planning a lunar mission in 2007, and with the US and India declaring an interest in another Moon landing - and a manned flight to Mars - are we seeing the dawn of a new space race?

China Tries to Re-Aquire its Art

An interesting IHT article follows China's desire to reaquire Chinese art and to start aquiring Western art, all in an attempt to imrpove its image:

Facing an acute art shortage, the Chinese government plans to construct 1,000 new museums by 2015, including 32 in Beijing in time for the 2008 Olympics and 100 in Shanghai before the opening of the 2010 World's Fair, according to reports in China's government-controlled media.

Pic of me

Taiwan: Google changes reference to "Province of China"

The Taipei Times reports that Google, which had originally listed Taiwan as a "province of China", changed it's maps by removing the reference. Whether this will help Taiwan's chances of independence remain to be seen.

China sends men into space

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9678526/

But nobody can decide whether this provides military benefits to China or not.

I'm with those who say it doesn't. Manned space flight is expensive and dangerous. All China wants is to continue to climb the ladder of developed nations - which is what it always wants to do.