What's in the News

Let the punishments begin!

https://www.shanghaiexpat.com/news/china-punishes-airlines-and-airports-frequently-see-delays

funny thing is that the airlines are not at fault... they're only allowed to use one small part of of the airspace which is the real cause of all the delays. Once there's a turbulence in one particular area, it's almost impossible to re-route and thus everything gets clogged. Unless they change the rules and open it up, no chance in hell for real changes

China's [Maker, Naomi Wu, aka] 'sexy cyborg' took on Silicon Valley bro culture — and won

There’s no mistaking Naomi Wu amid Shenzhen’s deliverymen and investors.

Her long, auburn-dyed hair falls over tight, low-cut tops; her miniskirts reveal more. Wu often wears these outfits in do-it-yourself videos that show her devising an LED-lit skirt or creating heels that hide hacking tools.

Wu calls herself a “sexy cyborg.” She also calls herself a “maker,” the term for tech hobbyists who build creative DIY projects. Her endeavors have earned Wu 157,000 subscribers on YouTube and more than 43,000 Twitter followers in a country that blocks both platforms. She has more than 700 supporters on Patreon, a crowd-funding site.

But in recent weeks she’s received even more attention — first from skeptical online commentators and then from Dale Dougherty, a California executive who helped launch the maker movement. They accused her of fraud....


Quotable: "...or her technical skills (she taught herself to code because she was an English major and needed work)."

Was almost going to post this article for my students, but then thought mmmmmm, no.

In one metric of diversity, China comes in dead last

China is changing fast. Over the past several decades, the country has transformed economically and culturally at a pace the world has rarely seen.

Despite this metamorphosis, one thing remains the same: China has almost no migrants coming to the country. According to recently released estimates from the United Nations, as of July 2017 there were almost exactly 1 million migrants in mainland China. (People born in Hong Kong and Macau now living in China are considered migrants by the UN.) That’s just 0.07% of all people in the country, meaning China has the fewest share of migrants of any country in the world. By comparison, migrants make up 15.6% of the US population...


At 15 years in, I am #notamigrant

According to the article, you need permanent residency to be counted as a migrant.  If all goes according to plan, I'll be getting mine in about 3 months.

Molten roadways down under. 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/australia-heatwave-weather-hot-road-melting-highway-emergency-services-warning-latest-a8145366.html

No wonder I'm "hot stuff" EL!

GM, you are the hottest!

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/sydney-clocks-the-hottest-place-on-earth-as-hot-weather-continues-20180107-h0etl6

Missing:  One red Tesla.  Last seen being driven away by a guy in a white suit.

https://www.space.com/39618-elon-musk-falcon-heavy-spacex-reaction.html

Specter of one-man rule looms as China lifts Xi’s term limit

BEIJING — For some Chinese, their feelings about plans to lift term limits to allow President Xi Jinping to rule indefinitely can be represented best by a cuddly stuffed bear.

Social media users shared images of Winnie the Pooh hugging a jar of honey along with the quote, “Find the thing you love and stick with it.”

The Disney bear’s image has often been compared to Xi, prompting periodic blocks on the use of Pooh pictures online.

Other online commenters wrote, “Attention, the vehicle is reversing” — an automated announcement used by Chinese delivery vehicles — suggesting that China is returning to the era of former dictator Mao Zedong or even imperial rule.

Analysts say the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s move to enable Xi to stay in power indefinitely will ensure some degree of political stability while also reviving the specter of a return to one-man rule....


is it just me or is this country getting ready to not need me no more...

https://curiousmindmagazine.com/harvard-psychologist-says-adhd-largely-fraud/

Harvard Psychologist, rated higher than Pavlov, calls out ADHD as bullshit

Over-diagnosed ? YES
Over-prescribed ? YES

Total BS?  NO
Would love to see him manage a school room with 4 preteens who all have ADHD

Chinese government 'considering scrapping limits on family size'

Shares in Chinese companies that make and sell baby products have surged after a report said China is considering plans to scrap limits on the number of children a couple can have.

Companies like Shanghai Aiyingshi, which runs a chain of stores selling baby products, infant care device makers, and others saw their shares rise as much as 10% on Tuesday. China’s Shanghai Composite index rose 0.51 points to its highest close in more than a month.

On Monday, Bloomberg reported that China’s state council has commissioned research on the impacts of ending limits on the number of children families can have, citing anonymous sources familiar with government deliberations....


Yay?