Latest Reads

Read a few interesting articles, reviews and blogs the past week. Some shocking, some interesting, some comforting...

http://beijinghaze.blogspot.com/
Regarding China's "System": An American wife has been blogging about her husband's detainment in Beijing. He was arrested at a massage parlor for "indecent behavior" and is locked up since August. Through investigation, bribery compensation fees, inaccurate translation/communication...she is still waiting for her husband to return home. As China is preparing its 60 year anniversary, there has been major governmental crackdowns towards drunk driving, prostitution, and drugs. TIC factor +10 stars.

http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=138770
On the technical front: Need more friends? $654.30 can buy you 5000 fans/followers. Not surprised that this service is now available (from USocial), and it is an exceptionally interesting business model for online advertising. But nonetheless absurd to me. If friends/followers/fans can be bought...how well can it help the brand/product to REALLY sell? Does it ensure that within this group of 5000+ "friends", x amount of these people will eventually be brand/product-converted? Paying for followers/fans would be like buying a happy ending massage...looks and feels good temporarily, but honestly, you just spent your money on something too insubstantial to see/know the difference, no?

http://love.ivillage.com/lnsunderstandmen/whathethinks/0,,askmen_866mq1rk-p,00.html
Love me, Need me, Want me? 10 Traits that make a great gf.
Keywords: Intelligent, Sexual, Independent, Respectful, Beautiful, Lets the Man BE the Man, Nag-less, Great with Friends & Family, Loves You, and Makes the Man WANT to be a Better Man.
Need I say more? ;)