Social activist ?Traffic? Ramasamy has filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Madras High Court saying that the new Assembly complex under construction and waiting to be inaugurated on March 13, should not be used without getting a completion certificate as per law.

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Authorities have arrested at least 33 Tibetans, who demonstrated against China to mark the 51st anniversary of a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese annexation, from various parts of Kathmandu, Wednesday.

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Myanmar's ruling junta has announced a new election law that disqualifies pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from participating in upcoming national elections, reports from Yangon said.

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Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama indicated that Sri Lanka encourages the international community, including the UK, to channel development assistance through the Sri Lanka Government at this decisive phase in the country?s development process following the end of the conflict.

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At least six people including two women were killed when militants armed with guns and grenades stormed the offices of a US-based Christian charity in Pakistan on Wednesday.

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New Culture View, March 10, 2010

As I was buying books at the Tongren Bookstore on Xikang Road, I saw a homeless man reading. I saw him in the mathematics section, where he was concentrating on a book and writing things down on a piece of paper. Curious, I went over to have a look. It turned out that he was reading Mathematics for Economics and was working out problems. His handwriting was neat and orderly, and some of the problems even I was unable to solve....what a surprise!

The Chinese media continues its infatuation with homeless chic through the profile of a man who spends his nights in a hallway and his days in a bookstore ? gasp! ? reading books!

Late last month, the rugged features and fashion sense of "Brother Sharp" (???) captivated the Chinese Internet before catching the attention of the mainstream media last week. His national fame reunited him with his family, where one hopes he'll be protected from the prying eyes of the public.

Now the New Culture View has picked up the story of another astonishing homeless man. Twenty-four-year-old Zhang Yi (??) of Changchun, Jilin Province, has been visiting a local bookstore for the past few months to read up on math and science, the same as any ordinary patron.

Although the story did not originate online ? a student at the Changchun Institute of Technology called in with the eyewitness account translated above ? the paper linked Zhang to other cases of Internet-driven celebrity through a headline that echoes a popular online meme: Don't obsess over him; his only love is solving math problems. The Dongguan Times, which used the NCV story on its own front page, took a similar approach: "Shanzhai Brother Sharp" found in Changchun; solves problems in higher mathematics.

The Chinese reading public frequently uses bookstores as reading rooms, and Zhang is no exception:

Ms. Guo, manager of the Tongren Bookstore's science section, said that Zhang Yi had read practically all of the books in the section. His handwriting was quite attractive; many of her colleagues had taken a look.

Manager Liu said that Zhang comes to the bookstore before 9 each morning and does not leave until closing time. He has been doing so for nearly five months, rain or shine.

"The past couple days, Zhang has seemed particularly interested in English and computer books. A few days ago he was engrossed in a Band 8 English text," Manager Liu said.

He explained that at first, they did not let him inside because they were afraid that his improper attire would affect the other customers. But seeing him leave politely each time only to return the following morning, "we let him in a few times and found that he would read by himself and would not bother the other customers, so we didn't stop him anymore." Zhang Yi kept things clean. At lunchtime, he would buy a box lunch to eat in the bookstore, and when he was finished he'd throw it into a trash can before resuming his reading.

"He follows the rules and doesn't make a scene," said Ms. Guo. She also said that he always returns books to their proper location once he finishes with them. But whenever he's reading, other customers keep their distance.

Zhang has a high-school education but appears to have family issues that prevent him from returning home. A reporter followed Zhang to the third-floor landing where he sleeps and pestered him about his life:

Reporter: Where do your clothes come from?
Zhang: A woman from around here gave them to me. (Without looking up, he puts on his shoes, which are too tight for his feet. He removes the laces before fitting into them.)

Reporter: So you live here?
Zhang: That's right. (As he speaks, he retrieves a broken cigarette from his coat pocket and takes two hard drags before it burns out.)

Reporter: Have you had lunch? I'll treat you and we can chat.
Zhang: Lunch? Oh, lunch...yeah, I've already eaten.

Reporter: How do you manage with food and clothing?
Zhang: Lots of people help me by giving me a little bit.

Reporter: What high school did you graduate from?
Zhang: An ordinary high school. It's not worth naming.

Reporter: You can do higher math. So you must have been a good student.
Zhang: My academic performance was average. I was only interested in theory and in math.

Reporter: Why don't you go home?
Zhang: I'm used to being on my own. I'm doing pretty well, aren't I?

Reporter: I can help you give your family a call.
Zhang: No, thanks.

Reporter: It's just past the Spring Festival. Your parents must miss you.
Zhang: They're always fighting. I don't want to go home.

Reporter: When all of the shops closed for the holiday, how did you manage?
Zhang: I ate very little, but I endured it.

Reporter: You're educated. Why don't you find a job?
Zhang: I had a few interviews when I graduated high school, but none of them suited me.

Reporter: Are you going to live like this your whole life? Do you want us to help you find work?
Zhang: I'm fine. I'm used to it.

Then Zhang said he had to use the bathroom and made a swift exit down another stairwell. At the intersection of Dongnanhu Road and Linhe Street, Zhang Yi disappeared into the crowd....

This article is from Danwei.org

Information Times, March 9, 2010

After speed skater Zhou Yang won the 1,500 meters short-track at Vancouver, she mentioned her parents but neglected to thank her country for supporting her in her quest for an Olympic gold medal.

Her ingratitude was criticized by Yu Zaiqing, an International Olympic Committee vice-chairman and a deputy director at the National Sports Bureau. Yu said that she ought to thank the country first.

Today's Information Times reports that Zhou has taken the criticism to heart.

The paper's front-page story emphasizes the involuntary nature of her do-over: "Zhou Yang offers a second thanks meeting to the leader's standard" and "Zhou Yang follows orders and does it again" are headlines. Zhou's second statement now thanks the country first and foremost, and puts her parents last, after her supporters, her coach, and other sports staff.

Zhou's initial remarks after winning the gold:

This is my dream. I think that this gold medal will bring lots of changes. First of all, it will definitely give me more confidence, and it will also improve life for my parents.

Yu Zaiqing's criticism:

There's nothing wrong with thanking your parents, but first you should thank your country. You've got to put the country first, and not simply thank your parents alone.

Zhou Yang's mother, Wang Shuying:

What Chinese person does not love their country? We raise our children to bring glory to the country! The leader's quibbles ? are they really necessary? After bringing so much honor to the country, what does such a little thing matter?

Zhou Yang's second statement, made yesterday:

What I really want to say is thanks. I thank the country for providing us with excellent conditions, for giving us the excellent conditions for our Olympic campaign. And I thank everyone who supported us, I thank our coaches, I thank the staff, and I thank my mom and dad.

This article is from Danwei.org

Lei Feng taking down dodgy adverts

Lei Feng's got a microblog!

Lei Feng Diary contains the musings of the Rustless Screw forty-eight years after his death in an unfortunate telephone pole accident.

The tone is earnest, and while much of the very dry humor derives from the incongruity of a national icon commenting on contemporary pop culture and the latest social scandals, the microblog also explores what the real Lei Feng might make of a world that perceives him as both an outdated icon and a brand ripe for exploitation.

Some excerpts:

A couple days ago the company started to study "The Diary of a Bureau Chief," but there's only one computer, so the comrades haven't been able to. The political instructor was at wits' end, which I saw and took to heart. This evening I worked into the night to write it out by hand so that everyone in the company could have a copy. On the flyleaf of each volume I wrote "Lovers are not the exclusive right of the bourgeoisie. We proletarians also have revolutionary partners, and we aren't afraid of a few more (Selected Works of Chairman Mao, vol. 4)."

Posted at 00:52 on March 4

Yesterday the company notified me that I was to go give my regards to a welfare household, and that the media wanted to do a report. This year, the house that pensioner Grandpa Ding had lived in for fifty years was finally deemed to be an "illegal structure." Grandpa Ding gave me a warm reception, but I was awkward in front of the camera and the director kept scrapping the takes, so Grandpa Ding had to give me a warm reception 58 times. He said, "Lei, your 'nail spirit' has always been an encouragement to me!" Later I found out that Grandpa Ding's household was a nail house.

Posted at 00:52 on March 4

One of the masses suspects that what I just posted was an ad for Naobaijin. But I'm not able to do advertising. True, I have done ads in the past, and there are pics that show that it happened. But then a brand called Nai-ke something-or-other asked me to endorse them. The slogan they came up with was "Just Lei It!" But then they misprinted it, and it ended up as "Just Lie It!" which was blatant slander against the image of party members, and from then on SARFT blacklisted me from doing ads, just like Comrade Tang Wei.

Posted at 02:45 on March 5

Two days ago I was still depressed over not having received notice from my superiors to attend the Two Meetings. But now I've come to terms with it: the party's arrangements have a rational basis. The sessions' opening clashes with Lei Feng Day, so to better serve the people, I have to be with the masses. Without me, the Two Meetings will still be a great rally, a victorious assembly, but I cannot be absent from Lei Feng Day. Ah, the true Lei Feng is among the people, not in the Great Hall of the People. Helping others is helping yourself. Happy Lei Feng Day!

Posted at 03:17 on March 5

This morning when I went out for drills, I ran into Yu Luoke downstairs, who at that early hour was already listless. I asked him what was wrong. He was depressed: "Lei, you're famous, and today everyone remembers that it's your memorial day, but no one knows that it's also my memorial day." I said, "So what if they don't know? People's memories are bad these days, but there's always the Internet. Go online and try Sougou, and in that way you can find the both of us." After listening to me, Yu was no longer unhappy.

Posted at 09:12 on March 5

Further reading: Lei Feng Diary is quite similar to a short-lived 2006 blog. Perhaps the parodies are more easily sustained in microblog format, and we can look forward to reading more of the Fengster's updates in the future.

This article is from Danwei.org

Liaoshen Evening News, March 8, 2010

The Anshan (??) edition of the Liaoshen Evening News is celebrating International Women's Day by detailing:

• What to cook for a woman on this day (which has the headline "It's not dinner I'm making, it's affection!" ???????, ???, a parody of the World of Warcraft "brother" and "legend" catchphrase).
• All women need on this day is to feel important: the article begins by talking about women schoolteachers who can't take the day off, and goes on to describe how some women will spend the day ? shopping with their boyfriends etc. It ends with a nod to "girls" ??, who'd rather not celebrate it because of the word for "women" ??, used in Women's Day (?????). "Old women", ??? might also think that they don't fall under the category of "women" (??), despite that all women over 18 should be included.

The interestingly-designed front page poses many questions: Do you know that you have a half-day holiday today? What to do if you can't enjoy holiday with pay? What are their real feelings? What have men prepared for them during this day? What are men thinking on this day? Are they happy purely because they get a holiday? Where do full-time housewives get their happiness? Presumably some of the answers can be found in the two features mentioned above, on A11 and B13.

Readers can also call in to reflect their views on the topic.

This article is from Danwei.org

Chongqing Economic Times, March 6, 2010

How to maximize the declining value of newspapers as an advertising medium must be a challenge faced by all advertisers, but the editors at the Chongqing Economic Times seemed to have found one answer.

The big image on the front of the March 6 issue shows the charismatic Premier Wen Jiabao wearing his gold rimmed glasses as he delivers a speech before the National People's Congress. The image is captioned with his inspiring words, "Let people live more happily and with more dignity; make society more just and harmonious."

Underneath, a headline reads: "Presbyopia sufferers, we remind you to wear a pair of next generation adjustable multi-focus reading glasses." Very subtle, indeed.

This article is from Danwei.org

The House of Representatives? inquiry committee investigating the Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716 million) Bank Century bailout has spent almost two months in carrying out the probe and has less tha

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