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Thursday, August 30, 2012

In the 626


Good article! 626 is the area code for the San Gabriel Valley, that has a huge amount of ethnic Chinese in it. I basically live and grew up in the 626 area. My business is in the 626 area code, and my house is a couple of blocks from 626 - Rowland Heights is split between the 626 and 909 area codes.

Asian American youth culture is coming of age in 'the 626' - LA Times
San Gabriel Valley locals celebrate the 'fusion lifestyle' they're forging. It draws on U.S. hip-hop and Chinese dialects, includes Instagram and pho. Boba is a must.

Hint for being culturally sensitive, do not at work get into a discussion with a Taiwanese, about how they area really Chinese. It may often lead to an argument.

The comments has a thread going on being Taiwanese vs. Chinese.

The video on the 626

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Start Up Helps Companies do Business with Chinese

The example in the article seems to be for a US company selling US properties targeting Chinese? It's not clear. Sounds like a good niche, but there are a couple of other companies already doing this.

Silicon Valley startup helps small companies do business in China - Mercury News

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In China, Hollywood blockbusters face off on same days

Slick! China's government way to hurt Western Movies, by doing fratricide.

In China, Hollywood blockbusters face off on same days - LA Times

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Chinese Aircraft Carrier uPDARTE

 
A big step by China in their goal of increasing their sea power.

 
 


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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Chinese Gangs in Africa

One ethnic Chinese business owner I know in the US is so paranoid about getting kidnaped. So much that none of his employees knows where he lives, and he has a couple of hundred employees. From Africa, one of the items Chinese gangsters were accused of was kidnapping.

Dozens of Chinese crime suspects deported from Angola - CNN

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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Submit a Photo or Review for a Chance to Win $100

Do you want a chance to win $100? Have you bought a book or DVD from us recently, or have you bought one from us before? Old and new customers are encouraged to join our monthly ChildBook Photo and Review Contest. You may never know, you could take home the $100 prize. Contest is open to all current and previous customers of ChildBook.com
You can join two ways:

1. Go to the product page of the product you bought and write a review 
·      If you bought more than one product, you can submit multiple entries, one review for each product you bought. All reviews submitted will be moderated.  Positive and negative reviews will be judged equally.

2.    Submit a photo of yourself or of your child while using a Child Book
product. (Please be sure the product is clearly shown in the photo)

·      Send the photos to sales@childbook.com. Each photo submitted (as long as it has a different product on it) is 1 entry. You may also submit many photos featuring the same product, but this will only be counted as 1 entry.
·      A winner will be picked through a true random number service and awarded $100. We need at least 10 entries before we can draw a winner. If in case the reviews were less than 10 for a certain month, no winner will be drawn instead the entries will be carried over to the next month. Deadline for submission of entries is on the last day of the month at 12:00 AM PST. 
We will announce the winners every first Wednesday of the month and will be posted in the ChildBook newsletter, blog, Twitter and Facebook Page. For more information, please head over to our Contest Site.
So why not write a review or submit a photo to us. You might be our next $100 winner!

THIS MONTHS PRIZE IS $200 (we didn't have a winner for the July contest). A few days left before we announce the August Contest winner, so send your entries now!

Here's a sample review:

The Product:


Chinese Made Easy For Kids 2
Chinese Made Easy for Kids, Simplified Characters Level 2 Textbook with CD, by Yamin Ma & Xinying Li
Our Price$19.95  

(4 reviews)

Learn Chinese the Fun Way!
  • Forget those boring workbooks...this book uses rhymes, pictures, and storytelling for kids to easily remember Chinese
  • Focuses on teaching Listening and Speaking
  • Four levels available!  Each level includes a CD and Textbook
  • Used by many schools, tutors, and home-schoolers!  Best-Seller!
The pacing is excellent, the pictures are fun, and the CD is very helpful. - Alice From Texas

The Review: 

4 Stars 
As a Chinese teacher,I used this book for textbook. It's very very nice. All my kids like it! 
WAS THIS A GIFT?:No
  • BOTTOM LINE Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Book on SF Chinatown

I am not carrying it yet, but looks good. 

New guidebook for San Francisco's Chinatown

Read more here: http://blogs.sacbee.com/sac_history_happenings/2012/08/new-guidebook-to-san-franciscos-chinatown.html#storylink=cpy

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Unlivable Cities in China

Good read about how so many cities in China have a cookie cutter design, that all have the same appearance.

Unlivable Cities - Foreign Policy

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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

J.Crew in China


Smart to test the market in Hong Kong via e-Commerce, but Hong Kong is not China. Sounds like they are testing the market by having their clothes in a local high end department store. It will be interesting to see how they do. I have seen so many companies go into China, with no clue on how to succeed.

J.Crew Brings Its Brand to China - WSJ
U.S. Retailer Dips Toe in Market Used to Luxury European Logos and Showing Signs of a Slowdown

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Red Queen Verdict

No surprise, Gu Kailai was found guilty, and escaped the death penalty.

The question is, what long term impact will this drama have on Chinese politics?

Gu Kailai spared death for Neil Heywood murder - The Telegraph
Gu Kailai, the wife of disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai was spared execution for the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood after a court ruled that a "mental disorder" meant she was unable to "control her behaviour".

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Anti-Japan protests across China over islands dispute

Worrisome.

I wonder if these happened so fast, that the Chinese government was unable to keep them small. Extreme nationalism in China, is also seen as a danger by the Chinese leadership.

Anti-Japan protests across China over islands dispute - BBC News

Not to mention what is going on with the South China Sea.

The South China Sea's Gathering Storm- WSJ

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Made in China with Robots?

Great article that discusses how the cost of robotic manufacturing, is coming very close to that of using people. And this is also happening in China, where Foxconn, the assembler of the Apple iPhone is going to install more than a million robots in China.

Interesting question, since Foxconn is China's largest employer, what happens when they employ less people? There will be more jobs for higher educated workers.

And yes, I remember the big push 20 years ago with GM and robotics, that was a disaster and actually increased cost. The problem with robots, is they are not suited for all jobs and need to be used for the right type of jobs. In the last 20 years, there have been huge advances in robots which has enabled them to do more delicate work. I would not be surprised if soon, they can even debone chickens, which is done manually currently since each chicken is a bit different.

Skilled Work, Without the Worker - NY Times

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Dragon Boat Festival in South El Monte

This is probably the closest to where I live, and I missed it :-(

Dragon Boat Festival sails into South El Monte- SG Tribune

My calender of Dragon Boat Events, and coloring pages. Lots of super cute coloring pages!

Dragon Boat Festival Event Calendar and Information

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Sunday, August 19, 2012

A Chinese Solyndra?

A great article about how local politics can triumph common sense. And another example of to big to fail, except this is in China.

A Chinese Solyndra? - Via Meadia

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China Car Exports

I must be reading the same articles as Via Meadia :-)

Great write up about how a Chinese company exported some cars to Australia, which had asbestos parts in them.

Great quote:
Prospective buyers initially receive impressive samples of goods, and shoddier ones well after the contract is signed (the company itself claims that the shipment of flawed cars was accidental, but few are buying this explanation).

Quality fade works for a short time deal, but with the Internet and reviews, it's company suicide in the West.

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Colleges have Chief Marketing Officers?

I have mixed feelings on Colleges feeling the need to have a Chief Marketing Officer. Every interaction with a is driven by marketing IMHO. But do you need a $200,000 person at a Chief Officer level to do this? Why can't a Marketing Manager do this? But with colleges charging $50,000 a year, there is a need to justify this huge cost. But, it may also be part of why colleges just keep on increasing their tuition to ridiculous levels. It reminds me of the marketing for luxury items, and are colleges luxuries?

$250,000 and you too can go to a private school for a once in a lifetime experience and get an amazing name attached to you for the rest of your life! And if you get student loans, you can be in debt for another decades! I agree with the idea that your total college cost should be equal to your first year salary. In Texas they are working on a $10,000 degree fora  four year degree, and as a parent, I support this. Think what a family could do with the $240,000 they save? The cost is part of the reason my daughter is going to a state school, and will have no student loans when she graduates. My wife and I feel strongly, this is one of the best gifts we will ever give her.

Marketing Meets Higher Ed - WSJ and Via Meadia

A question or two about the wisdom of buying struggling Western companies


One view, that China is mkaing bad decisions to buy struggling companies in the US. My view is only time will tell. It may be like the purchase of VHS Technology, that lead to the dominance of Japanese companies for Video Recorders. The technology was originally developed in the US.

China, the World's Greater Fool? - WSJ
A question or two about the wisdom of buying struggling Western companies

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Burglary & Invasion of Privacy

My house was burglarized over a year ago and reading how Steve Job's house was burglarized brought back memories. The sentimental value of what was stolen from my house still hurts. This reminds me, I need to go add tracking software to my computers, sigh.

I was surprised at the age of the accused, 35. And in Palo Alto, there was a 63% increase in burglaries. I have noticed around my house, almost every house has a burglar alarm now. And my guess is every Asian house has a burglar alarm.

Steve Jobs home burglary suspect accused of stealing wallet, driver's license, special computers with house key - Mercury News

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Thursday, August 16, 2012

China's ghost towns and phantom malls

Amazing pictures!

China's ghost towns and phantom malls - BBC News

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China set to file treason charges against defector turned away by U.S.

I expected this, but I find it very embarassing for the US.

China set to file treason charges against defector turned away by U.S.- Free Beacon

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Soldier Booted from Army for Death of Pvt. Danny Chen


Tragic what happened to Pvt. Danny Chen.

Soldier Booted from Army for Death of Pvt. Danny Chen - DNA Info.



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With Chinese immigration waning, U.S. Chinatowns are at a crossroads

My guess is a lot of Chinese immigrants skip US Chinatowns and go straight to the suburbs.

With Chinese immigration waning, U.S. Chinatowns are at a crossroads - PRI

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China's Olympic


China’s Olympic Soul-Searching: What the Games Have Taught the Country - The Daily Beast

 
The London Games have sparked debates in China about everything from the country’s obsession with winning to its victim mentality. Melinda Liu and Paul Mooney on the lessons learned.
 
and in contrast:
 
 
Gabby Douglas’s mother declared bankruptcy. Ryan Lochte’s family faces foreclosure on their home. Years of spending huge sums, with little outside assistance, to prepare their kids to become Olympic heroes leaves many U.S. families on the brink of financial disaster.

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California's shark fin ban outrages restaurant owners, seafood dealers

And the bill sponsor was ethnic Chinese.

California's shark fin ban outrages restaurant owners, seafood dealers - PRI

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Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Happy Chinese Father's Day

Chinese Father's Day Coloring Pages and Pictures 

Did you know? -- The Chinese word for "father" sounds like 8-8, thus Chinese Father's Day is celebrated on August 8. And why you see lots of Chinese having phone numbers and license plates with 8's in them. ChildBook's for example, 626-810-2088b - it was even better when the area code was 818 :-)

Which is today!

 One of the Chinese Father's Day Coloring Pages:

Neil Heywood goes from victim to villain

The soap opera continues.

A great read on explaining the politics, and why the Chinese leadership wants this to go away, before more details come out.

Bo Xilai’s Wife to Confess to Murder - The American Interest

And a sub-story to this.

Neil Heywood goes from victim to villain as Gu Kailai fights for her life - The Telegraph
Friends say the good name of murdered British businessman Neil Heywood is now being tarnished, with accusations made against him by those alleged to have killed him.

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What to Do about Huawei?

Good article.

What to Do about Huawei?’ The American
    
It is time for both the administration and the Congress to reveal what they have discovered about the Chinese telecoms giant.

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Monday, August 6, 2012

$5 Billion Potential US investment in US

The politics are interesting, but what is more interesting the $ amounts involved. It would double the current amount of Chinese investment in the US. $4.7 Billion was invested by China last year, and the solar generating plant would be about $5 Billion.

 Solar Jobs Join Harry Reid to Chinese Billionaire in Price Drop - Bloomberg

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Game of Thrones: “Shut Up,” China Explained

Wow!

Game of Thrones: “Shut Up,” China Explained - Via Meadia

My 2 cents is this has a lot to do with the current power transition in China that should be finished by the end of 2012.

China leaders hold resort talks as transition looms- BBC

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Thursday, August 2, 2012

Wanted: Temp Attorneys With Foreign-Language Skills

75% Risk of Diabetes in China

Interesting quote:
“China has had a history of undernutrition followed by the most rapid increase in obesity and related diseases worldwide,” said Barry M. Popkin, Ph.D., W.R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of Nutrition and a co-author of the study. “Given the current picture, we can expect tremendous health burden in China in the coming years.

Study finds 75 percent of Chinese adults at risk for diabetes or heart disease - Medical Express

My family has a history of diabetes, so I know a bit about Diabetes. My Father was diagnosed as diabetic at age 21. Diabetes risk seems to be a combination of genetics, diet, exercise, age, and something else.

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China: The paradox of foreign education

A new term - Sea Weed! Refers to a person who went overseas for college, and returns.

I thought this comment was interesting:
Chinese employers know exactly who they want - someone who will do as they are told but not for much money," Ms Wang says.

China: The paradox of foreign education - BBC

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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

China to attempt first moon landing

It's nice to see steady process in the area of space. The landing will be un-manned.

China to attempt first moon landing - The Telegraph

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