Bill—re Chinese economic incursions into Africa (and South America), yes—they are worrisome. And the way they use Chinese rather than local workers for construction has generated local antipathy. But China is willing to make infrastructure investments that the former colonial (in the broadest sense of the word) powers have not. Case in point: that standard-gauge railway through Kenya to Sudan, replacing (augmenting?) the existing 19th-Century narrow gauge railway built by the British. While Bush Jr. was busy trying to wrest away Russian influence over its “near abroad” [AKA sphere of influence], he ignored the US near abroad (South America), thereby giving China carte blanche to build up economic ties. The trend has continued since then. It strikes me as just another aspect of the US abandonment of its own interests—which is now in overdrive. Pardon the rant.
Evolution of the Academic Library [Click] It strikes me that the digital trends are functionally about the same as microfilm—which it was thought would replace paper books.
Bill—re Chinese economic incursions into Africa (and South America), yes—they are worrisome. And the way they use Chinese rather than local workers for construction has generated local antipathy. But China is willing to make infrastructure investments that the former colonial (in the broadest sense of the word) powers have not. Case in point: that standard-gauge railway through Kenya to Sudan, replacing (augmenting?) the existing 19th-Century narrow gauge railway built by the British. While Bush Jr. was busy trying to wrest away Russian influence over its “near abroad” [AKA sphere of influence], he ignored the US near abroad (South America), thereby giving China carte blanche to build up economic ties. The trend has continued since then. It strikes me as just another aspect of the US abandonment of its own interests—which is now in overdrive. Pardon the rant.
ReplyDeleteChina only makes $8.46 from an iPhone – and that’s why Trump’s trade war is futile [Click]
Evolution of the Academic Library [Click] It strikes me that the digital trends are functionally about the same as microfilm—which it was thought would replace paper books.
The digital divide narrows. [Click]
Trial of raspberry picking robot in UK [Click]
ReplyDeleteGreens surge as parties make strongest ever showing across Europe [Click]
ReplyDeleteUK Summary: Brexit party in front, Lib Dems surge, Tories head for fifth, Labour slumps, Greens gain.
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ReplyDeleteRobert Reich: Trump's wrecking ball assaults American government. Luckily, it is strongly built [Click] “Trump and the Republicans… are digging themselves ever more deeply into a hole from which they may never emerge.” We can certainly hope so!
A Lesson From 1930s Germany: Beware State Control of Social Media [Click] This does not really seem to advocate a course of action.
From last year: Lord Buckethead: 'A slightly moldy pain au chocolat could negotiate Brexit better than Theresa May' [Click] The John Oliver clip is so fine… Here it is in its [rather limited] entirety. [Click]
And here is Lord Buckethead’s 2017 Christmas message, in case you missed it. Or not. [Click]
And now this! Double trouble: the fight to be the real Lord Buckethead [Click]
MEP vote in UK, 99% counted.
ReplyDeleteRemain parties: 40.4%
Hard Brexit parties: 34.9%
Conservatives/Labour: 23.2%