Cup of Cha
This is China

With that introduction from Josh, the pressure’s on! I’ll do my best to live up to his standards. As Josh said, I live in Angola- specifically in Lobito, a large city in the south of the country. Lobito is home to a thriving port, several oil companies and a few development NGOs [...]

Continue reading “I Hear Rumors…” »

Cup of Cha will continue during my vacation under new management. My friend Leslie who is living in Angola always talks about how many Chinese are down there working. So I’ve turned the reigns over to her for the next few weeks. It should be interesting to hear what is going on over in [...]

Continue reading “Change of Plan” »

Just wanted to let everyone know I won’t be posting for two weeks. I’ll be off without a computer or worry.
Enjoy the holidays. And all your Iowans out there: vote early, vote often.

Continue reading “Cup of Cha, Taking a Vacation” »

On my way out the door I noticed this story. Apparently the Chinese government set up a corruption website, and much like their Olympic site, it crashed under the weight of the tremendous response. There has not bee too much else reported on it yet, but I’m pretty sure this will get some decent play.
[update]
The [...]

Continue reading “Chinese Corruption Site Crashes; Demand Too Great” »

Looking at the range of candidates, it is interesting to guess who would be most beneficial for China. Off the top we can knock Kucinich off their list of top choices. He is highly protectionist, and would do everything possible to limit trade with China while giving Beijing headaches about their human rights abuses. Of [...]

Continue reading “Whom Does China Want As US President?” »

During a trip several months ago in Xinjiang I noticed something quite peculiar in a typical Muslim restaurant: a tablecloth with Hebrew writing (sorry, picture is slightly out of focus, but it should be clear enough). Now Islam and Judaism share roots, but I would not tell that to a Uyghur guy wielding one of [...]

Continue reading “Jewish Tradition in Muslim Xinjiang” »

Not to make light of IP abuse in China, which is rampant and discourages innovation by reducing the rewards associated with creativity, but it is safe to say Microsoft can sleep well knowing no one will be buying fake versions of Vista.
About two months ago I bought a new computer, and even considered switching over [...]

Continue reading “Microsoft Unconcerned About VISTA Piracy” »

We can only revert to the rarely seen future perfect tense to describe how elated we will have been during after the Games. The Beijing Olympic Committee has even posted a poll of what the top ten stories from the Olympics will have been. This is perfect to me. They are trying to script things [...]

Continue reading “Olympics Will Have Been Great Success” »

China has shown a willingness to trade with some unsavory countries in the interest of oil. They love Venezuela, Iran, and Sudan, to name a few. Cheap, subsidized crude has to a certain degree fueled (honestly no pun intended) the rise into middle class for many people. The car, that great status symbol, would not [...]

Continue reading “How Big a Problem is Oil for China?” »

Dear Mayor Bloomberg,
Recently I noticed that you were in China, for what, I am not entirely clear. It looks like you will not be running for president, what with you getting chummy with Mr. Obama and all. So clearly you do not need to burnish your foreign affairs credentials. It’s nice and all that you [...]

Continue reading “Mike Bloomberg: Please Buy the Knicks!” »