Tag: Pacific Century

half-life happiness

The concept of half-life (radioactive) , if could be applied to soft sciences e.g. happiness, can go on to infinity.

In today’s term, it’s called austerity: scaled-down cars, DVD nights, and local trips.

During the Clinton years, we had a good run. The Japanese had theirs in the 80’s.

Now, it’s the Pacific Century.

Chinese students are enrolling in the States. As of this edit, President Obama and President Xi are having a summit.

(US News and World Reports should be of great resource to these folks who love to shop for brand-name degrees).

I am sure foreign students on American campuses will see all sorts of eye-popping scenes, such as at football games, or frat parties.

Had they been here during the late 60’s, they would have seen much more.

Then, comes senior-panic when recruiters are on campus to whisk away promising young stars (Google remains the number-one choice. For Chinese students who wish to return home after graduation, it’s Baidu).

In their tool bags, I hope these foreign students hone their debating skills, presentation skills and personal-branding skills.

I enjoy reading (in English) novels by mainland Chinese authors. But they are far and few in between.

And for now, I understood the Yale wisdom of long-term investing in foreign language departments, among them Vietnamese.

Who would have thought a major or minor in Chinese studies comes in very handy these days. (The mayor of Chicago saw this).

The MIT Sloan Chinese faculty was consulted on PBS News Hour, at panel discussion etc… In short, he is in demand

to navigate through the complexity of currency pecking, labor and political unrest, and income inequality which pervade today’s China.

And if the Chinese are to loosen their purses, Western style of advertising (Madison Avenue) will set up shop there to blast Pavlovian messages. Buy this, buy that, then you will  be happy.  Drink this, drink that, then you will be happy.

Consumerism just looks and finds new converts across the Pacific ocean, leaving behind its early “adopters” with half-life happiness (adjusted American Dream). American will shop less and save more. Chinese the opposite. Trade imbalance dealt with. Half-life happiness sure beats hopelessness . In crisis, opportunity (for the Chinese Dream to rise, then fall).

Here they come!

Chinese buyers, that is.

Not a bid for 76 gas station, or IBM hardware (now Lenovo).

A GM unit then Symentech.

On seeing David Stockman on TV. I thought I were back to the early 80’s. This time, just one just needs to replace the word Japanese, for Chinese (remember Michael Keaton and his gold fish?). Now, it’s Wolf Pack in Las Vegas, w/ Chow.

A 30-year cycle, deja vu.

Beijing is rolling out cars on mass. Then the Olympics. Then the Summit near the shooting.

Welcome to the Pacific Century, when personal income and saving are on the rise, this time, across the pond.

From the Olympics to the World Fair, from space to supercomputer, Beijing is flexing its muscle.

This time, we’d better get used to seeing our new competitor outside of traditional type casting i.e. China town, kung fu and acrobat.

When the Wall came down in Berlin, another stood stall in Beijing.

America needs a balance sheet. And the “For Sale” signs are up, for any buyer with cash. Chinese have saved up. Under the mattress. And this time, they go shopping. Cash or charge? Cash. Here they come again. Shallow the pride and give our customers the respect they deserve. It’s time for an American pragmatic approach to a pressing economic problem. Um coy, it’s thank you. Anything else you want to buy?