Comments by venze

Google allows content of a number of books to be published freely. For instance, half of the 240 page content of "Man, Science and Religion" (TanBoonTee, 2004) was put online quickly by Google for free access, without the consent or agreement of the author.
One reckons that authors, publishers, book-sellers all over the world do not accept what web giants like Google and Facebook have been doing. Will the social-media firms change? What new concessions?

Someone says "For God's sake, go now, Theresa May": Well, god does not want to get involved in ugly and dirty politics. Anyway, no god has asked May to quit yet, and she will stick to the premiership for months more, comfortably or not.

The whole nation is practically corrupted to the core. Would many corrupt voters not vote for the deceptive leader who can never be summoned to court? Equally unacceptable former leaders are back to stage a fight to bring the incumbent down. So what, any difference?

A champion of nationalism, he knows how to talk intelligently and draws the attention of vast audience immediately. Nevertheless, one ought to realize that one cannot fool all the people all the time, everywhere. Walk, before it is drowned by too much talk.
(boontee)

China has a male-female ratio of 106 to 100 on average, no thanks to the one-child policy implemented in early 1980's and the traditional preference for male heir.
Naturally, there arises the need to import brides from neighboring countries to gratify the situation. That scenario would certainly change gradually with couples now allowed to have two children and the growing acceptance of female.

Everything has a good as well as an ugly side, depending on how it is used. Social media are no exceptions. When abused they will look like the image on TE cover-page, an "f" turns into a "gun", a smoking gun. Beware..

Inept Terror Attack in NY. Can one not shiver when hearing the suspect says he feels good after murdering the innocent? Most unthinkable, to the extent of inexplicable, beyond imagination..

Come to think of it, has the global journalism not over-exaggerated Myanmar's refugees plight for sensational purpose? The ethnic conflict has been a long time issue, but was purportedly suppressed by the equally long harsh military regime. Now it surfaces as the nation begins to open to the world. No need to keep blaming poor Suu Kyi, she has not much authority or power, how much can she do?

China’s new commitment: Indeed, a new emperor is born, anxiously waiting to call the shots internationally louder and clearer. Not bad. Nonetheless, Xi has embraced more power than he might have expected. Hope that he would not follow Mao's footsteps too closely and act rashly alone.

A new tsar is just born in China, not Russia. Putin has been tsar for some years, only having a new counterpart in China known as Xi. One tsar is already discomfiting. Two tsars, perhaps a bit too many for complacency and comfort for the rest of the world.

Abe, betting on rising nationalism and Korea Peninsula crisis, has received huge support (no thanks to a very weak opposition) to make a 2/3 majority victory. With that he can go for constitutional change that he had wanted years ago. First, clear away Article 9 so that he can beef up military activity immediately. never mind if it incurs the wrath of neighboring countries. Second, enforce rule to revive Abenomics that seems unduly sluggish.
But then, take note, the above could be easier said than done. (tanboontee)

AlphaGo's victory over world Go champion finally forces many people to think hard on the eventuality and capability of AI. Hurrah, AI is thinking by itself, without being taught how. Are you not scared? I am.

No contesting party in Japan appears to have a definite plan to halt the shrinking and ageing population. Robots replacement is no solution, inviting foreign talents is. But the latter remains a non-option for many Japanese. Too bad..

The Economist should not have said that, it will make Xi floating on the clouds after his success in consolidating his full power in China. A political leader with too much and absolute power does not bode well for his country and the world at large. Xi may not be the exception.

From the image, one would think that the gun that fired those bullets is only partly valid, mainly unreliable. So is the battle against notorious and obstinate cancer.., after all these years.

Shiites and Sunnis, enemies no more? Most unlikely, perhaps impossible within this century. They have confronted each other for far too long, any reconciliation could be unthinkable.

Wolves are back in France, you mean only the wild wolves? Would you not want to include the increasing number of utterly terrifying "lone wolves" all over Europe?

If true, then it could be mainly because many more children were born in the year of dragon, a bigger base, wider choice. Avoid the superstition that dragon kids are smarter than lamb kids (like me). The reverse can be often true too. This is already the 21st century.

Is N-Korea testing a hydrogen bomb? Not a fake report to incite war? If true, Kim has gone far too far, playing with huge fire that will eventually vaporize him, perhaps for good.

Racist behavior is declining in US. Could this be true? Hardly any strong evidence or reliable survey to support the statement? Rather speculative sub-heading.