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From Quora:

Why do Chinese political leaders have engineering degrees whereas their American counterparts have law degrees?

My favorite answer, from Frank Yu:

Communism and central planning has in many ways skewed the career progression for generations of Chinese citizens. Very much like the former Soviet Union, early communist doctrine…

Continue readingThe rise of technocrats in China

I had a chance to finally stop by the Osage Kwun Tong space in Hong Kong and was thoroughly impressed by its current exhibit (two days left!). My favorite parts were:

Tsui Kuang-Yu’s Arctic Adventure: The whole video was impressive, brainy and entertaining. Definitely worth seeing.

Apologies for the typo my tweet…

Continue readingExtreme Soap Art

Reposted from World Wide Pop. Article by Robin Peckham.

Let the Bullets Fly (让子弹飞, 2010) is an immensely enjoyable, entertaining and engrossing blockbuster, particularly by the standards of mainstream films released on time to catch the action split between the two new year holidays on the solar and lunar calendars, respectively;…

Continue readingReview: Let the Bullets Fly 让子弹飞

James Fallows quoting one of his readers’ emails in the Atlantic:

During my time living here I have observed that this is such a common occurrence that I regard it as almost a characteristic of Chinese organizations in general.

I’m sure you’ve encountered many examples during your sojourn living here, so I will remind you of just one: the city…

Continue readingThe Zipper Street Principle

A work by Ai Weiwei.

The Epoch Times describes the imagery:

One of his couplets says: “Eliminate Cruelty and Evil, We Want Fairness–Diminish Ghosts and Demons, We Want Righteousness.”

Another one, freely translated, says: “Kill the Ghosts and Demons, Let Peace be Our Measures–Escape Police and Special-Forces, Here Come National Treasures.”…

Continue readingRiver Crab Door Gods

Self plug: I’ve started a new tumble log called New Things in Education to track interesting developments and ideas in education. One of my focuses will be China, though it takes a back seat to the general global education debate.

For sample of my China-related posts over there, see:

• A trailer for Wiz World Online, a CCTV-endorsed…

Continue readingSnapshots of education and China

More stories come out every day about how China is favoring state-owned enterprises (SOEs) at the expense of China’s private sector. Every day there are stories about SOEs advancing and the private sector in retreat or 国进民退 as it is called in Chinese…

Excerpted from the China Vortex.

From Bronson’s email newsletter re: Amy Chua:

I just couldn’t endorse the book, though. Not because Amy Chua admits to insulting and guilting her daughters constantly … and not because Amy Chua deprives her kids of playdates and sleepovers … and not because Amy disses athletics and drama. Believe me, I’ve spent years now watching scholars’ videotapes of how…

Continue readingPo Bronson versus Amy Chua

Via the NY Times 10th Annual Year in Ideas, a train that never stops (a passenger train):

And in case you missed it, the train that runs on top of the highway:

(This one has less fun sounding commentary)

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