Child labor
March 2, 2010 by whit · 5 Comments
I read with interest the recent articles (couple of them here and here) about Apple’s announcement that some of their suppliers had used child labor in the past.
What I found most interesting was the “child” part – when I was 15 I would have slugged anyone who called me a child. During the summer of [...]
Arrogant Americans need not apply, the decline (?) of the West and what if the Chinese stop buying US paper?
February 24, 2010 by whit · Leave a Comment
“The enemy always has problems of his own of which you are unaware.” – George C. Marshall
Not that China is necessarily our enemy, but they are certainly a competitor, and I don’t normally borrow money from my competitors. Some interesting articles covering all sides of the USA declining(?) debate and other silliness.
America On The [...]
Days 15-26 – Pollution, street food, deadlines, Hong Kong and crossing the road in China
February 5, 2010 by whit · 2 Comments
Our founder, Mike Bellamy, who evidently doesn’t have enough WORK TO DO posted the Rick Roll the other day under my name. That was his hint that I should blog more often, so here goes. Sorry for the Rick Roll. Sorry for the absence. And sorry in advance for the length of this post.
More interesting [...]
Days 6-13 – Shanghai Hooters, Mao’s Revenge, and rotten cell phone companies
January 18, 2010 by whit · Leave a Comment
Day 6 – Woke to steady rain after a fitful sleep. The Chinese believe in sleeping on hard beds, as it is supposed to be good for you. And when I say hard, I mean sheet of plywood hard. And how having your hips so sore you can barely get out of the bed in [...]
American competitiveness = American creativity
December 9, 2009 by whit · Leave a Comment
Yesterday I was in a perfectly justified foul mood at the rampant economic stupidity being foisted upon America by our semi-permanent governing class, but while I am disgusted with many elements of American society, I still have great faith in this country.
I am a minor stockholder in a local manufacturing company that celebrated 95 years [...]
And now, the link to Mike’s interview…
November 26, 2009 by whit · Leave a Comment
Subscribers to this blog probably got an update last night that should have included a link to Mike Bellamy’s interview during the recent Global Sources trade show in Hong Kong. Sorry for the omission, but please take the time to watch.
And send in your vote on whether Mike should shave his beard! What’s up with [...]
China cutting capacity
November 16, 2009 by whit · Leave a Comment
Adam Supernant in our Shenzhen office sent me this article after reading yesterday’s post. Key paragraphs:
China, the world’s third-largest economy, said it plans new measures to close factories to curb overcapacity and pollution after this year rejecting requests to build industrial projects worth almost 200 billion yuan ($29 billion).The government will target the steel, aluminum, [...]
Is China headed toward collapse?
November 15, 2009 by whit · 2 Comments
A friend sent me this interesting article by Eamon Javers in Politico.
Anyone who’s traveled in China knows there is substantial over-development. Gleaming new skyscrapers sit empty and the amount of factory over-capacity is staggering. Is the PRC a house of cards? In a sense, yes. The development over the last 30 years has been hugely [...]
I’m your cult of personality
November 14, 2009 by whit · Leave a Comment
I was a fan Living Colour 20 years ago, and this article today made me think of their first hit.
I’ve never understood the personality cult of Mao in China, not least because Deng Xiao Ping deserves the credit for what China has become since Mao’s death. It always seemed to me they idolize the wrong [...]
Responding to concerns about patriotism
November 8, 2009 by aggc · Leave a Comment
I received a very interesting email from a prospective client. He is concerned that the Americans working for PassageMaker have lost their patriotism for the USA.
This is an interesting conundrum. How do you promote business in China, without seeming to run down your home country?
Here is my [edited] response for what it is worth:
Thank you [...]
I was fed up with middlemen & poorly run factories distorting pricing, failing to control quality and allowing intellectual property (IP) to be knocked off, so I decided to do something about it. 
