Dropping housing prices: China's own crisis, written 15 hours ago, by Getty Images via DaylifeHousing prices are coming down fast, notes the Economic Observer, adding to the real estate crisis that is hurting China's economy, and local dignitaries, already for a while. Selling real estate should be ...

Genius files: Remembering the Kanji, written 3 days ago, I've been using Genius software on my macbook for some time now. For studying Japanese Kanji, this looks like the way to go. I recently came across a yahoo group which provides some pre-made genius vocab lists which correspond to James Heisig'...

"Thanks But No Thanks", Moose Lady..., written 4 days ago, Well, it's done. Today I exercised my right to vote (actually, I look at it as more of an obligation than a right) and I couldn't be happier. Mainly because this seemingly decade-long election process is (mercifully) almost over, b...

You will need this card, written 3 days ago, the Octopus Card used in HK If you plan on staying in Hong Kong for at least a few days, then it may be worth it buying an Octopus Card - a value stored smart card - for riding train, bus, ferry, tram and for payments in supermarkets convenience stores an...

Mark writes about China.

Stories and photos from a life in China. Stevo is an expat ESL teacher, photographer, and writer living in China.

Oct 1st, written 1 week ago, Yesterday was the Chinese National Day holiday. Lots of fireworks were set off.

Links for 2008-10-09 [del.icio.us], written 22 hours ago, $216,000 or $2,000,000? - TIME Dec. 19, 1960 via uglychart.com "For months, How I Made $2,000,000 in the Stock Market by Dancer Nick Darvas has been high on bestseller lists (120,000 copies sold). Last week the New York attorney gene...

Camos and Converse, written 1 day ago, BTV8 was doing a documentary on Stylites at the time, so there was no time to ask for names, hobbies and favorite colors. A Shanghai girl, she works for Converse, a brand that can do no wrong in the eyes of hipsters globally and particularly in China. Camo prin...

Carnage on the ASX, written 16 hours ago, Fuuuuuck, this is getting scary. The Australian Stock Exchange didn't just drop, it fucking rocketed earthwards to the tune of 8% and over $100 billion ... the worst plummet in over 21 years. The ASX200 slid below the crucial 4000-point mark and so did the A...

Time to Fix the Heart, written 1 week ago, I've often written about the fact that I need a new kidney. I have polycystic kidney disease (PKD). This hereditary disease means I have cysts in my kidneys that are slowly growing and deteriorating my kidneys. Unfortunately, it often also can negatively af...

The New American in Shanghai, written 19 hours ago, Esquire says: Today, the problem is lead. Barrett Comiskey sits on a couch in a factory behind a brick wall and a sign that reads SHANGHAI HONG HUI PLASTICS COMPANY. He's a thirty-two-year-old New Yorker with an open, friendly face...

Starbucks' Milk And Dairy Woes In China, written 3 weeks ago, I currently own shares in two publicly-listed companies: one of them is Starbucks. I purchased Starbucks a few months ago, and it's slipped since then. It's a bad year to buy stocks — I know, I know. Now Starbucks says they have been af...

Head to Hong Kong Joy Tour. In this blog, you will find how attractive HK is. Of course you can get whatever information needed. Hope you can have a joyful tour in Hong Kong.

Loving Korean dishes, written 1 day ago,

Chinese dissident about to make a nation proud?, written 2 days ago, The BBC reported yesterday and the Telegraph the day before, that Hu Jia and Gao Zhisheng are prominent on a list of nominees for this year's award of the Nobel Peace Prize.  True to form, China is already irked by the  emb...

Chinese dissident shortlisted for Peace Prize, written 1 week ago, Against the wishes of those in Beijing who warn against awarding Chinese dissidents the Nobel Peace Prize, Hu Jia has found himself on this year's shortlist. According to Forbes' Tina Wang:  Hu Jia has advocated, through political...

Smart Technologies Help Build Multimedia Classrooms In Sichuan, written 1 day ago, Canadian Smart Technologies Inc. has donated interactive whiteboards worth CNY2.8 million to 20 schools in Yaan, Chengdu, Pengzhou, Deyang, Zhongjiang, Mianyang, Zitong, Guangyuan, and Cangxi to help them build modern...

A Different Take on "Take on Me", written 2 days ago, I saw this on the Daily Dish tonight and thought it was worth posting. When I see a video like this and think about the time and energy spent by someone to make it, it just reinforces how fucking weird people are. This is so bizarre.

Am I Danish Yet?, written 2 days ago, On October 16, 2008 I'll be in Shanghai moderating the seminar program on "Responsible Fashion & Design" during the week-long exhibition event of the same name. The seminar in which I am participating is sponsored by the innovative Danish maker of ...