oh shoreditch…
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oh shoreditch…

dbreunig: James Fallows explains the significance of this seemingly mundane picture, which was taken by a Chinese engineer visiting Florida on a business trip: To the Chinese engineer, what was fascinating and significant about the picture was its orderliness. The yellow school bus stopped, turned on its “do not pass” flashers, and extended its Stop signs. And — the amazing part — all surrounding traffic actually obeyed. Even those who are fans of the excitement and passion of Chinese life will agree that such a scene is hard to imagine in a Chinese city. You’d have motorbikes cutting past on the sidewalk, cars veering into the opposite-direction lane to get around the obstacle, a cacophony of horns complaining about any vehicle that did slow down, and in general the creative-chaos that extends from many other parts of Chinese life to its roadways. (Where it can seem festive, but also dangerous: China’s traffic-death rate per active motorist and per mile driven is several times higher than in North America or Europe.) To local authorities in Florida, what was notable about the situation was: a foreigner stopping to take pictures of a bus containing children. If you see something, say something. So they detained the man for questioning. Our world powers in a nutshell. (Via The Atlantic)
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dbreunig:

James Fallows explains the significance of this seemingly mundane picture, which was taken by a Chinese engineer visiting Florida on a business trip:

To the Chinese engineer, what was fascinating and significant about the picture was its orderliness. The yellow school bus stopped, turned on its “do not pass” flashers, and extended its Stop signs. And — the amazing part — all surrounding traffic actually obeyed. Even those who are fans of the excitement and passion of Chinese life will agree that such a scene is hard to imagine in a Chinese city. You’d have motorbikes cutting past on the sidewalk, cars veering into the opposite-direction lane to get around the obstacle, a cacophony of horns complaining about any vehicle that did slow down, and in general the creative-chaos that extends from many other parts of Chinese life to its roadways. (Where it can seem festive, but also dangerous: China’s traffic-death rate per active motorist and per mile driven is several times higher than in North America or Europe.)

To local authorities in Florida, what was notable about the situation was:

  • a foreigner
  • stopping to take pictures
  • of a bus
  • containing children.

If you see something, say something. So they detained the man for questioning.

Our world powers in a nutshell. (Via The Atlantic)

this is so insightful. i just love documentaries that show things for what they really are. 

helloyoucreatives:

The digital revolution of the last decade has unleashed creativity and talent in an unprecedented way, with unlimited opportunities.

But does democratized culture mean better art or is true talent instead drowned out? This is the question addressed by PressPausePlay, a documentary film containing interviews with some of the world’s most influential creators of the digital era. presspauseplay.com @presspauseplay Facebook: on.fb.me/y4gEK1

(via ninyako)

writersblock: Time Magazine - Person of the year The Protester I couldn’t agree more.  “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” Albert Camus
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writersblock:

Time Magazine - Person of the year

The Protester

I couldn’t agree more. 

“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”

Albert Camus

BRILLIANT, BRILLIANT!!

Yes, it’s part II of Social 0.0 Lab.

Love the people they used for these short films. They speak on the paradox of being Japanese - the Confucian sense of what’s good for the group, mixing with an inherent curiosity and desire for what’s different.

Also, check Kageki Shimoda’s talking about opening your heart to discovering new things in order to experience doki doki and waku waku. That’s what it’s all about baby. ❤

WHAT AN AD!!!

This epitomizes the uncertainty Japan is feeling - post-quake, dwindling economy - by asking famous Japanese people to define abundance. How is good fortune defined if it is not by materialism and wealth?

It nails the anti-consumerist trend, while subtly showing the new phone’s multi-platform capability. This is a selling a Motorola to the way people in Japan truly think. The film series shows conversations that people in Japan are having everyday, how will the Japanese character survive and evolve with an uncertain future? Individually and as a whole?

After spending a year getting paid to have conversations with Japanese people of all ages, this is truly what they talk about and care about.

Translation is a bit dicey because this is meaningful stuff, which doesn’t translate too directly. So use your imagination a bit with the subtitles.

Film by Shouda Yukihero

fifty people one question in new york.

i just love how these videos capture so sweetly the funny way regular people react to being on camera.

We’re brought up in a culture that tells us, “you are what you do.” When people say, “Tell me about yourself”, we immediately talk about career, as if that is a complete and perfect definition of who and what we are.
Alan Arkin (via lanipauli)

smart car is challenging over consumption in america. can’t wait til more companies get on board with this.

somethingchanged: Sales of CJ Corporation’s snack sausages are on the increase in South Korea because of the cold weather; they are useful as a meat stylus for those who don’t want to take off their gloves to use their iPhones. Via Kottke.
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somethingchanged:

Sales of CJ Corporation’s snack sausages are on the increase in South Korea because of the cold weather; they are useful as a meat stylus for those who don’t want to take off their gloves to use their iPhones. Via Kottke.