CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2012-12-17 08:20:21 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

2012-11-03 01:46:01 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

This is very cool. Watch it if you feel like getting a 1m37 impression of the universe since the beginning.

2012-11-01 09:02:30 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

This is a circle of active G+ users with a strong involvement with China, the November edition. Do you want to be included? Plus this message. Wrongly included? Let me know.

2012-09-06 12:29:42 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

A beautiful interaction of forces on matter in an almost closed environment with controlled chaos as a result.

Or... some silk and a bunch of fans.

Weirdly compelling.

2012-09-03 02:26:43 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Applications to attend the 2012 Australia-China Youth Dialogue (ACYD) in Beijing and Chengdu are now open! 

ACYD is a bilateral young leaders dialogue held annually, alternately between Australia and China. This year the Dialogue returns to China and will be held in Beijing and Chengdu between 19-24 October. 

The Dialogue selects 15 Australian and 15 Chinese delegates aged 18-35 to participate in an intensive, five-day curriculum designed to challenge their existing conceptions on important issues facing Australia China. Being the 40th anniversary of Australia-China diplomatic relations this year, the theme of the dialogue is, "At 40 there are no doubts: next steps in Australia-China relations"

Further information, including how to apply is available at: http://acyd.org.au/

2012-09-03 02:20:09 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

Via +Bill Bishop at Sinoscism, "The entire China archive of the New York Review of Books is now available free on ChinaFile", and as Bill says, "this is just awesome".

2012-08-29 01:49:09 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Luke Hurst and Peter Drysdale's Australian Financial Review article discussing African mining opportunities (driven in large part by China) is in this week's East Asia Forum. 

2012-08-28 21:02:26 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

I'm sure there's an important story in here somewhere but I'm afraid I'm mostly interested in the picture of Yao Ming standing about 4 times taller than an elephant. 

2012-08-28 20:40:32 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

The US Chamber of Commerce in China also has a great podcast that gives an overview of Burma's democratic transformation. The interview is absolutely compelling. Anyone with an interest in Asia should absolutely listen to this.

2012-08-28 20:36:50 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Burma's democratic transformation continues at speed. If you want to read some good news, pay attention to Burma. 

2012-08-27 23:40:09 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 3 +1s)

Love it!

2012-08-25 06:04:18 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

What could go wrong?

(actually, this looks pretty cool)

2012-08-25 05:15:11 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Its official: the UN wont mess with Texas.

2012-08-25 04:05:37 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

Wow. A whole lot of craziness here, but the part I found most surprising is that group sex is actually illegal in China. Though that probably just reflects naivety on my behalf.

2012-08-25 02:10:38 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

The Economist has a very interesting article about the Australian economy and the impact of its relationship with China. The article outlines how central banks and other foreign investors are turning the Australian Dollar into a safe-haven currency. 21 years without a recession seems to make people think this is a good place to put their money!

2012-08-24 23:10:17 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 1 +1s)

US Admiral Blair, former Director of US National Intelligence, speaking at the Australian National University about future directions of US strategy. I saw him speaking about a week ago at Sydney Uni. He's very engaging and there can hardly be many people who know more about this topic.

2012-08-23 21:48:33 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

The Economist has a short video about Carbon Capture and Storage - a crucial technology to reduce #ClimateChange  . 

2012-08-23 04:18:35 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Hugh White in conversation with Andrwe Carr talking about Hugh's new book, "The China Choice: Why America Should Share Power". Huw's book is hugely influential. I was at a forum last week with Admiral Blair, former Director of US National Intelligence, and he spent the whole time talking about Hugh's book (he disagreed with the main thesis). I've discussed this with Hugh several times and seen him present the ideas often - there is no one who articulates complicated concepts in very simple and comprehendible terms as well as Hugh. Watch this.

2012-08-23 03:16:27 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

Despite a lot of buffers between the Global Financial Crisis and Australia, it looks like the impacts are going to start hitting even the mining industry.

2012-08-21 00:20:47 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

Ken Henry, the Government's Asia Advisor, launched a book, "The China Story Yearbook 2012: Red Rising, Red Eclipse" published by the Australian Centre on China in the World, at the ANU. The book is a free download, so check it out. 

2012-08-15 22:34:38 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

2012-08-15 02:58:46 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Good news against Big Tobacco. The Australian High Court has upheld the government's plain packaging laws and required Big Tobacco to pay the government's legal bills for their bogus law suit contesting the law.

2012-08-13 23:59:14 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Awesome.

2012-08-13 23:18:24 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Just got an email from Justin Lin (Chief Economist of the World Bank from 2008-2012) confirming he'll speak at the Australia-China Youth Dialogue in October. Applications are still open for Australians and Chinese aged 18-35. 

2012-08-11 17:26:30 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Having an extra Hangout this week, because I can!

Practice your English speaking skills in a relaxed, friendly Hangout.

If you are interested, please circle this page.  You will receive an invitation when the Hangout begins.

2012-08-11 12:06:54 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Probably will have a better impact on Australia's public image in South Asia than Tourism Australia's entire budget for a decade!

2012-08-10 21:42:30 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

From UN TV - Hungry Planet (episode18, August 2012) - "In this episode: emergency support helps build farmers' resilience against the growing food crisis in the Sahel; thousands of Syrian refugees search for safety and shelter in the impoverished Beqaa Valley in Lebanon; and a system to filter and reuse grey water for irrigation could change millions of lives in Brazil."

2012-08-08 23:10:25 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Robyn O'Brien talking about some of the problems with an industrialised food system and government policy that subsidises genetically modified (untested) synthetic food while taxing natural farming.

2012-08-08 12:32:00 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

2012-08-08 02:46:53 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

The Australia-China Youth Association has their monthly e-bulletin just released, including calls for applications to the Australia-China Youth Dialogue which will be in Beijing and Chengdu from 19-24 Oct. (must be between 18-35)

2012-08-07 01:47:29 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

Makes sense: 

2012-08-06 14:12:11 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

With all the high priority things that need doing, why would anyone choose to spend their time undoing legislation that reduces rubbish?

2012-08-06 07:27:27 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

David Mortimer AO briefly discussing the importance of the Australia-China Youth Dialogue (about 3mins).

ACYD will be held in Beijing and Chengdu from 19-24 Oct and is currently accepting applications from Chinese and Australians aged 18-35. Check out details at www.acyd.org.au 

2012-08-06 07:22:25 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Sweet! Mars!

2012-08-04 02:11:42 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

2012-08-02 23:08:41 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

This is a very gloomy picture of China's solar industry. It seems that a bunch of companies that, just a few years ago, had market capitalisation well over $10 billion have tanked down to the region of $2-300 million, and it looks like an industry wide problem, not a problem with those few companies.

2012-08-01 13:04:07 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

2012-07-30 01:07:52 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

Polling in Aus shows now that the carbon tax has been in effect for a month, people are starting to work out that it isn't really a bad thing at all. Of course the government need this to be a continued trend all the way to the next election if they have a chance of retaining power, but the opposition look like they might have a struggle in the senate repealing the tax if they can't keep absolute domination they've got at the moment.

2012-07-26 04:09:31 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

An Austrian skydiver jumped nearly 30km, getting to top speeds approaching 1,000kph today! Awesome.

2012-07-18 05:40:31 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Probably the most important thing to know about the Chinese economy: "the trend matters more than the cycle".

2012-07-17 23:08:46 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 5 +1s)

This is mesmerising. 

2012-07-17 21:58:29 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

Sweet. I hope they finance this by placing relevant job ads and things like that :)

2012-07-17 00:00:35 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Best campaign ever.

2012-07-14 09:28:47 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

NSW Labor - about as impressive as the US Republican Party.

2012-07-12 22:38:23 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

China is driving global investment in clean energy, so lets not hear any more crap about Australia 'going out ahead of the world' when it comes to responding to climate change.

2012-07-12 13:09:33 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

This is just stunning. Follow the link to watch the video.

2012-07-12 00:01:45 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

China's approach of building lots of infrastructure in places where there are no people makes a lot more sense than you might think at first. When you have ~10% growth and have to deal with urbanisation at a rate of 25m people / year, you're always trying to build to target levels a few years down the track, else you're constantly left behind. 

2012-07-10 22:36:06 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

2012-07-06 00:30:34 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

A #MustRead  on the coming oil boom.

From the article:
"There is enough oil in the ground to deep-fry the lot of us, and no obvious means to prevail upon governments and industry to leave it in the ground. Twenty years of efforts to prevent climate breakdown through moral persuasion have failed, with the collapse of the multilateral process at Rio de Janeiro last month. The world's most powerful nation is again becoming an oil state, and if the political transformation of its northern neighbour is anything to go by, the results will not be pretty."

2012-07-04 00:37:15 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

The +East Asia Forum has a good article explaining some of the reasons people are wrong to think of China's investment rate as too high, or its consumption too low. I hope there's more of these in the pipeline because that's a meme that I find very annoying.