Starting in Victorian England there was substantial labour reform to do away with child labour and improve working conditions. During the industrial revolution people had gotten the idea they could use abuse cheap and underpaid labour in new factories, and got away with it for a while, but this eventually lead to reform.
Now while I find it plausible the similar scenario of reform may happen in China, I doubt it will happen soon. What has happened to western nations is not necessarily directly transferable to China. But I do believe things may improve, but clearly China's labour conditions are not sustainable, things will change one way or another.
It is happening in China. Minimum wage laws are being enforced (as well as the minimum wage being increased), and there is a nascent Government office of worker's safety that is starting to enforce new standards (like hardhats in construction zones).
I'd say that Pakistan is like India - a hybrid of European, Asian, and Middle Eastern cultures and values (European because of the English and Dutch presence for centuries, and the others because of proximity). Indonesia I'd also consider a hybrid, but still pretty close to other SE Asian cultures.
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My take is that asian cultures tend to be reserved with strangers, volatile when it comes to disagreements (quick blow-up but quickly cooled), permissive of most things (comes from being so densely packed), and pretty individualistic. The influence of Islam has the most impact on that last part; conformity is required, and that is NOT something endemic to mainland Asia (Japan notwithstanding).
FWIW, I live half my life in China (with significant time spent in KL, Singapore, Taipei, Seoul, Yokohama; a fair amount of time spent in Thailand and Vietnam) and the rest in the US. Been doing the whole laowai/gaijin/farang thing for 6 years now and love it!
Never confronted an angry mob, have you? Speech can whip people into a frenzy to kill with their feet or hands, just as they can kill with a brick, knife, or firearm.
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Go to Gaza, stand in the middle of the square, and shout out that Allah is a devil and Jedaism is the only true religion. You'll find out just how bad your words will kill you.
Read and learn. Saudi Arabia is one of the most repressive countries in the world when it comes to religion (other than Islam, of course). Even China is more open; there are there are mosques, synagogues, churches, and temples (Buddhist and Taoist). Good luck finding anything by a mosque in Saudi Arabia.
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You really need to either educate yourself (go and visit the countries, even - I have) or stop trying to willingly mislead people about the realities of life in Saudi Arabia.
No no no.... Obama calls Hu Jintao to set up a schedule to appoint a commission of newly appointed czars to talk over feelings regarding the potential confrontation that may have occurred in space, and what we can do to avoid such distrust in the future!
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That is, if he still has a direct land-line to China left, and not just satellite links...
Singapore and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, probably?) is MUCH closer to Europe in law and freedoms, and culturally is Asian; it is NOT like the Middle East at all. Try visiting Saudi Arabia, Jordan, or Yemen. You'll have a very different experience. Just start with the fact that possession of a Bible or book of Buddhist prayers is fine in Singapore, but can get you arrested in Saudi Arabia.
It's not that the Apple display isn't acceptable, it's that the needs of photographers have changed and Apple is the first to identify and satisfy those needs. Even before the photographers themselves realize it!
And then that pesky little thing called 9/11 happened before the first Bush budget. And of course, the budget deficits under the GOP and Bush were dropping from the Clinton recession and 9/11 fiasco; it was when the Democrats took over in 2006 and created the last two budgets that we saw the deficits spike.
"Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the
treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes. Over and over again the Courts have said that there is nothing sinister
in so arranging affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everyone does it, rich and poor alike and all do right, for nobody owes any
public duty to pay more than the law demands."
How about Tim Geithner, Obama's choice to be Treasury Secretary, failing to pay $35,000 in taxes over 4 years AND getting a tax rebate from the IMF for those never-paid taxes? The man who is to be in charge of the IRS and taxation is himself a tax cheat...
Funny, I seem to remember the massive calls for Cheney's head because he was the CEO of Halliburton prior to being elected VP (of course, by that time he had stepped down and divested all shares of that company). All in the name of "conflict of interest"...
Why don't we spend some time and money on something more important than shiny new toys?
You are absolutely right, and you can follow the news of the current economic situation so much better on the latest 60" flat screen HDTV just released! You know you'll be more informed with an upgraded picture...
This is EXACTLY the correct answer. One of my larger CE clients is forgoing CES and NAMM this year. Why? They got a bigger marketing return from hosting a $300,000 invite-only party at the Hard Rock Hotel in July 2008, than from spending an equivalent amount of money at the 2008 CES and Winter NAMM shows...
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Dollars are still flowing, they're just going to either smaller/up-and-coming shows, or to private/direct shows and efforts. CES has been about 3 times too big for the last 10 years; there is simply too MUCH of CES to make it relevant for most people, dealers, etc.
Best to break it in to about 5 different shows: Computers (bring back a real COMDEX), audio/video, telecom (including the 9,000 cell phone accessories guys on the 2nd floor of the convention center), home automation (really belongs at CEDIA anyway), and mobile electronics (which may be a better fit at SEMA).
When your show takes half the LV Hilton, 1/3rd of the Venetian, the Sands Convention Center, the entire LV Convention Center, and hundreds of additional off-site presentation and demo spaces, it's just too big. Running your own bus system for conventioneers should have been the first clue!
FWIW, CE Pro magazine reported that the CE industry is expected to grow by 6% in 2009 (the current CE Pro issue to be found all over the CES right now).
Slashdot Mirror
You talking Washington DC and lawyers, right?
Starting in Victorian England there was substantial labour reform to do away with child labour and improve working conditions. During the industrial revolution people had gotten the idea they could use abuse cheap and underpaid labour in new factories, and got away with it for a while, but this eventually lead to reform. Now while I find it plausible the similar scenario of reform may happen in China, I doubt it will happen soon. What has happened to western nations is not necessarily directly transferable to China. But I do believe things may improve, but clearly China's labour conditions are not sustainable, things will change one way or another.
It is happening in China. Minimum wage laws are being enforced (as well as the minimum wage being increased), and there is a nascent Government office of worker's safety that is starting to enforce new standards (like hardhats in construction zones).
...and wasn't started until a few DECADES passed since the start of the factory revolution in China.
My take is that asian cultures tend to be reserved with strangers, volatile when it comes to disagreements (quick blow-up but quickly cooled), permissive of most things (comes from being so densely packed), and pretty individualistic. The influence of Islam has the most impact on that last part; conformity is required, and that is NOT something endemic to mainland Asia (Japan notwithstanding).
FWIW, I live half my life in China (with significant time spent in KL, Singapore, Taipei, Seoul, Yokohama; a fair amount of time spent in Thailand and Vietnam) and the rest in the US. Been doing the whole laowai/gaijin/farang thing for 6 years now and love it!
Go to Gaza, stand in the middle of the square, and shout out that Allah is a devil and Jedaism is the only true religion. You'll find out just how bad your words will kill you.
You really need to either educate yourself (go and visit the countries, even - I have) or stop trying to willingly mislead people about the realities of life in Saudi Arabia.
That is, if he still has a direct land-line to China left, and not just satellite links...
Your possession and exercise of the Right to Free Speech must make you a slack jawed mouth breather, right?
Singapore and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, probably?) is MUCH closer to Europe in law and freedoms, and culturally is Asian; it is NOT like the Middle East at all. Try visiting Saudi Arabia, Jordan, or Yemen. You'll have a very different experience. Just start with the fact that possession of a Bible or book of Buddhist prayers is fine in Singapore, but can get you arrested in Saudi Arabia.
Shoot it to the ground, then follow up with a shot to the head. It's the only way to kill a zombie (machine or human).
Dude, for the Youtube ratings! Duh...
It's not that the Apple display isn't acceptable, it's that the needs of photographers have changed and Apple is the first to identify and satisfy those needs. Even before the photographers themselves realize it!
Kill this worthless position before it grows a permanent bureaucracy and becomes another worthless, money-consuming leech in the Government.
And then that pesky little thing called 9/11 happened before the first Bush budget. And of course, the budget deficits under the GOP and Bush were dropping from the Clinton recession and 9/11 fiasco; it was when the Democrats took over in 2006 and created the last two budgets that we saw the deficits spike.
- Judge Learned Hand
How about Tim Geithner, Obama's choice to be Treasury Secretary, failing to pay $35,000 in taxes over 4 years AND getting a tax rebate from the IMF for those never-paid taxes? The man who is to be in charge of the IRS and taxation is himself a tax cheat...
Corollary: attribute everything to malice if the actions were taken by a Republican!
Funny, I seem to remember the massive calls for Cheney's head because he was the CEO of Halliburton prior to being elected VP (of course, by that time he had stepped down and divested all shares of that company). All in the name of "conflict of interest"...
Why don't we spend some time and money on something more important than shiny new toys?
You are absolutely right, and you can follow the news of the current economic situation so much better on the latest 60" flat screen HDTV just released! You know you'll be more informed with an upgraded picture...
Dollars are still flowing, they're just going to either smaller/up-and-coming shows, or to private/direct shows and efforts. CES has been about 3 times too big for the last 10 years; there is simply too MUCH of CES to make it relevant for most people, dealers, etc.
Best to break it in to about 5 different shows: Computers (bring back a real COMDEX), audio/video, telecom (including the 9,000 cell phone accessories guys on the 2nd floor of the convention center), home automation (really belongs at CEDIA anyway), and mobile electronics (which may be a better fit at SEMA).
When your show takes half the LV Hilton, 1/3rd of the Venetian, the Sands Convention Center, the entire LV Convention Center, and hundreds of additional off-site presentation and demo spaces, it's just too big. Running your own bus system for conventioneers should have been the first clue!
FWIW, CE Pro magazine reported that the CE industry is expected to grow by 6% in 2009 (the current CE Pro issue to be found all over the CES right now).
What are you talking about? Steve was over at the biggest release ever for Apple, the Macbook Wheel...
There are two possible explanations that don't involve Gov. Kulongoski being a stark moron
No, you don't need any other explanations. Kulongoski is a moron.
Herbert Hoover, is that you?
Excuse me, but I did not elect them; I did not vote for Obama nor the Democrat Federal representative of my district.