More Thinking China Blogs
The other day I was tagged as one of five thinking blogs by the Silicon Hutong blog, which required me to tag five more thinking blogs, which I did in this post, entitled, "Thinking China Bloggers And More." My tag included Peking Duck and Jottings from the Granite Studio, and they in turn (as I knew they would) have gone off and done a great job in tagging their own five. The China blogs (they tagged a few none China blogs) they have tagged are so good I cannot resist listing them here. I will start with Peking Duck's list, to which my own comments are added in italics:
1. EastSouthWestNorth: Roland can infuriate me and he can delight me. But I go there first thing every day because his site always makes me think. He often makes me think about how poorly certain issues in China are being covered by the mass media. He often sheds light on "the other side of the story" that somehow didn't make it into the Western edition. Whether you love him or hate him or feel ambivalent, Roland is definitely a thinking blogger, and many of us probably spend more time thinking about his blog, for better or worse, over any other. This is on our blogroll and I too go there every day. My only justification for not putting this in my five is that much of what is done here is translating from the Chinese press and pulling highlighting great posts from other blogs. This may very well be the most important and influential English language China blog out there and it has been on our blogroll since day one.
2. Danwei. Since its inception, this has been "headquarters" for media junkies like me who are fascinated with China. When it was basically a one-man show run by Jeremy Goldkorn it was great; as others joined him, like resident genius Joel Martinson, it became even greater, and there is something there every day for everyone to think about. As with Roland, I don't always share the viewpoints espoused on Danwei, but I respect them and look forward to studying them every day. Jeremy Goldkorn is a class act and this is a top of the line blog. My only justification for not listing it in my top five was that there was no need; everybody knows and respects this blog already and I wanted to give "airtime" to some lesser known thinkers. It has been on our blogroll since day one.
3. Granite Studio. Jeremiah's brilliant musings, accompanied by a vast and panoramic knowledge of Chinese history, put Granite Studio in a class all by itself. I can't believe how lucky I am that he's willing to share some of the brilliance here, especially at a time when I'm unavailable. Hey, I already listed this blog.
4. Positive Solutions A blog after my own heart, Charlie combines deeply personal musings with sharp political observations and a dose of humor that can only be matched by the great Imagethief (who's going to show up on just about everybody's list). Charlie makes me think and he makes me laugh and he makes me angry (at China Daily, not at him). He's on a par with that great humorous blogger who used to live in Hong Kong, who always brought a smile to my face. (Go there now to see what I mean - he's still doing it.). All true. This is an excellent blog and it is on our blogroll.
5. Bokane. This blog has gone without an update for so many weeks I may have to drop it from my blogroll. (Hopefully this will serve as a wake-up call.) But when Brendan is inspired to post, it's always first-rate - from the heart, often funny and always beautifully written. And it's profound, too. Read this intoxicating post and tell me if it doesn't fill you with thoughts and with images, and maybe even tears. I read it many weeks ago and still think about it. Not many blogs wield that sort of power. All true. Bokane is a great blog, but there have been no posts on it since early February and it averages only around two posts a month. It is not on our blogroll only because it posts so infrequently.
Jottings from the Granite Studio's list is equally impressive, and again my own comments are in italics.
1) The 88s: One of the first China blogs I ever read. When I first came across his classic "Inlaws" post, I was hooked and his blog has never failed to disappoint. He is ridiculously well-read, a great writer, and a wicked sense of humor to boot. One of the finest in the China blogosphere. The 88s blog is sometimes brilliant (including his "Inlaws" post), but I do sometimes resent how he sometimes seems to delight in treating Americans as idiots. It is an excellent blog on China and it has been on our blogroll for as long as I can remember.
2) The Opposite End of China: With so many blogs based in China's eastern cities, it's refreshing to get the Xinjiang perspective. TOEC gives you that plus great photography and video from China's western regions. A must-read for anyone interested in China "beyond the pass." This blog is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in Xinjang. It is on nearly every China blog's blogroll, including ours, and for good reason
3) China Redux: A new blog by Ben Landy. Fascinating and informative analysis on political and IR issues. A blog to watch. Absolutely. This is a very new China blog, filling the political and international relations space very incisively. I previously blogged on it in a post a few months ago, called China's Unmentionables. I generally wait at least a couple of months to list new blogs on our blogroll to make sure they are actually here to stay and I just added China Redux.
5) Mutant Palm: A newer blog by a longtime fixture in the China blogosphere. Dave(gonetoChina) is a regular commenter here and a contributor over at The Peking Duck. His new site continues his habit of making the commonplace seem strange and the weird seem quite normal. Brilliant stuff. Dave is also a frequent (and often brilliant) commenter on this blog. Dave knows and understands China's interior, and there are damn few who do. His blog is very new, yet I was so confident of its quality that I put it on the blogroll the day I learned it was up. Dave notes that his moniker is actually davesgonechina, as in davesgonemad.
I find it quite amazing how many excellent China blogs there are out there, including some that have yet to be mentioned. I again urge comments on the blogs mentioned and, more importantly, blogs not mentioned that should have been.
Comments
Aw, shucks -- thanks. I've been getting a few pointed remarks about blogs that don't update lately, in both English and Chinese, and once I finish the translation all-nighter I'm currently pulling (a sample chapter of a truly awful horror novel), I'll slap up a quick post.
Posted by: Brendan | March 25, 2007 2:10 PM
So when you coming to Shangers for a beer/wine Dan?
Posted by: PiPi | March 25, 2007 5:29 PM
Brendan --
Would love to see it.
An all nighter spent translating a "chapter of a truly awful horror novel" does not sound good. I guess it's your job to render it truly excellent in Chinese.
Posted by: China Law Blog | March 25, 2007 5:55 PM
PiPi --
I think this is about the longest I have gone in 15 years without an Asia trip, but I first have to get out of Bremerton, Washington, where I have been "living for quite a spell" as we are finally bringing to a close a massive rwo year fight over a $35 million per year international business. When that wraps up, I am hoping to go to sunny California with my family to give my daughter a chance to look at colleges. I was hoping to meet Jeremiah of the Granite Studio there, but when he learned I might be coming, he fled to Beijing.
And then I have a China real estate seminar in SFO in early May, but I do think I will be in Asia very soon thereafter. I have at least one client expecting me in HK very soon as well. So I am trying, and your gracious offer of beer and wine (or is that beer or wine, or are you being intentionally vague and ambigious?) is further incentive.
Posted by: China Law Blog | March 25, 2007 6:03 PM
Awesome. Thanks for including me on the above list of super-dope China-themed blogs. Respec' mon! Xinjiang in da house!
Posted by: The Opposite End of China | March 25, 2007 8:04 PM
Dan-
Thanks for all of the great blog tips. I haven't much ventured into the English part of bokane.org, but I feel comfortable saying that bokane.org/chinese contains some tremendous writing in Chinese, really in another league, the more so because Brendan is not a native speaker of Mandarin. For that, it's worth keeping on the rollcal IMHO.
Posted by: Shu Jierui | March 25, 2007 9:52 PM
>>but I do sometimes resent how he sometimes seems to delight in treating Americans as idiots.
Well, let me respond to this (ridiculous) charge, Dan. I think almost every disagreement we have had has stemmed from this false perception of yours. In fact, we have rarely disagreed when it comes to China, but anytime I mention anything related to the US, you bristle. In my view, you tend to be overly defensive and nationalist when discussing the US, and you seem to have decided that whatever I say about Americans is some sort of veiled attack by default.
So, for example, when I pointed out dismal American test scores relative to other countries and criticized certain aspects of the American educational system, you translated this into an attack on the "intelligence" of Americans, as if I were saying "Americans are stupid," which is an absurd charge that I repeatedly debunked.
Or when I criticized that Alberto-VO5 ad (without mentioning one word about the US) and said, "To be honest, I felt embarrassed watching this commercial," this was your (baffling) response:
"And what exactly are you embarrassed to be, an American? And are you embarrassed to be an American out of some bizarre fear that everyone in the world will think all Americans were either behind or buy into the commercial?"
To be honest, I don't know where you come up with this idea. You are the only one I know that has ever accused me of "treating Americans as idiots." No one else on my blog or elsewhere has ever leveled this charge. My only theory is that your first impression of my blog was "liberal New Yorker attacking America!" -- something like that -- and you just can't let go of that completely false first impression.
Anyway, no hard feelings, but I think you are reading into things I write that simply aren't there.
Posted by: 88 | March 26, 2007 4:29 AM
The PBS's "China from the Inside" series has a wonderful series and website, with an excellent discussion forum, which I found very helpful and insightful. The discussions about China's capitalism and the status of China's women are both worth reading, though the topic that excited most of the discussion was Tibet. China Law Blog, I noticed, got a mention a few times!
Posted by: Steve67 | March 27, 2007 1:02 AM
Great collection....I value your opinion. Many of my current favorites and daily reads resulted from my Blogroll Diving at your place...
Thanks!
OMBW
Posted by: Lonnie | March 27, 2007 1:56 AM
The Opposite End of China --
Anytime. I believe Ali G spells it, respek, however.
Posted by: China Law Blog | March 27, 2007 2:40 PM
Shu Jierui --
I see what you are saying, but I am actually on the verge right now of dropping a really good blog because of insufficient postings. I think one should post at least every week or so. Just my view.
Posted by: China Law Blog | March 27, 2007 2:41 PM
Steve67 --
It is an excellent site, but it appears not to have been updated for a few months.
Posted by: China Law Blog | March 27, 2007 2:43 PM
Lonnie --
Yours is now the second blog I am feeling bad for having forgotten. I guess I just haven't gotten over your always trouncing me on the various Asian blog awards. Kidding!
Posted by: China Law Blog | March 27, 2007 2:44 PM
88 --
"There you go again."
Am I supposed to just ignore your assumption that it all stems from your being a "liberal New Yorker?" I guess we po' rural fok just can't get along with ya'll big New York City people.
Anyway, definitely no hard feelings (I am saying this not to just parrot you, but because I mean it) and I certainly do think you are reading into things I write that simply aren't there.
Posted by: China Law Blog | March 27, 2007 3:19 PM
>>Am I supposed to just ignore your assumption that it all stems from your being a "liberal New Yorker?"
?????
Yes, this is obviously further evidence that I think Americans are idiots, especially the ones in small rural towns like...Seattle. (?)
I guess I'll point out that you are misreading what I write one last time: I didn't say this stems from my "being a liberal New Yorker." I'm not a liberal New Yorker. I offered the theory that this stems from your assumptions about my politics coupled with the stereotypes related to the city that I'm from. But somehow all you get out of that theory (which could be wrong, of course) is further proof that I am the stereotype of the "liberal New Yorker" and think Americans are idiots...or something.
All I know is that for some reason no matter what I say it all comes out to "Americans are idiots" in your mind. I find it baffling more than anything else.
Posted by: 88 | March 27, 2007 4:30 PM
Dan - Beer/Wine? Being ambiguous is not in my nature - neither is sticking with one type of drink all night. I drink whatever the mood and food dictates. Did I mention they sell some really good Cuban cigars in Shanghai :-)
Posted by: PiPi | March 27, 2007 8:35 PM
88 --
?????!!!!
Posted by: China Law Blog | March 28, 2007 7:24 AM
PiPi --
You did not.
Posted by: China Law Blog | March 28, 2007 7:32 AM