This is a great BBC film which follows the lives of several Chinese children in various parts of the country. The producers had British child actors translate what the children wanted to say to the world about their ideas and their daily lives.

You can download it here: "In My Shoes - China" (635 megabytes - one hour)

If you're having trouble, right click and choose to "Save as". Then play it from your hard disk.

I finally found a very detailed explanation of the situation surrounding this controversy in China. Every major news agency in the West that I visit failed to provide this - including the BBC. Instead opting for "anti-China" stereotype fear mongering stories which reflect this odd sensibility in the West that China is similar in nature to the former USSR.

So, if you wish to understand the ins and outs of politics in China, and aren't averse to spending a few tens of minutes poring over the complex systems which the writer is describing, read on.

• What's REALLY happening with Bo Xilai

One of the people I have come to admire most on the interent is Paul Graham. I just relish reading his essays about anthropological and social things, as well as those about his experiences helping businesses come into being in the tech world.

He's what is known as an "angel investor" - or more formally - as a "venture capitalist." He made his own millions creating the software that would later become "Yahoo store." Today, he invites pairs and triplets of university students to Cambridge Massachusetts each summer to found new startup companies. He accepts applications throughout the year, and when folks' projects are accepted, he gives them enough money to live and eat for the summer, and buy the tools to begin creating their vision for a new company. Later, he gets his money back, when a successful business goes public in an IPO, or when it is sold to a larger company for a large sum of cash.

He's the quintessential "ethical investor" - and really likes to see cool trends come into being through the kinds of projects that he funds.

His latest invitation is for people to come up with business ideas that will "kill Hollywood." Read about it here.

A look back at the history of old media companies fighting the advent of new technological playing fields (courtesy of MentalFloss magazine)

I just recently discovered "The Japan Times." It's really a breath of fresh air, when compared to journalism in most Western countries. There aren't the same tired old patterns of thinking that you find in the West.

It's odd that it's taken me this long to discover the good things about the Far East. My family has a lot of ties with China and Japan... I always heard about how exotic these countries were, and I learned specifically about customs - but my family somehow never put it into perspective for me the ways in which these Asian countries are better the West. There's a profound maturity and inner beauty which you see in those countries, and this article is one which talks about a couple of these comparisons.

Language imperialism — 'democracy' in China

I thought that this little nugget offered some interesting insights into Australian education.

This is a wonderful talk by Michael Taussig, an anthropologist at Columbia University. Here, he is speaking at Monash University which is in Victoria, Australia. I have just recently come to realize that some of my favorite thinkers are anthropologists. The actual links to listen can be found on the webpage I linked you to, and over in a box to the right hand side of the page.

• This is a 24 hour internet stream of "Radio Australia" - from the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC)

This is a fascinating discussion which I found on an Australian public radio website about Bhutan. GNH (Gross National Happiness) is a very central concept in how the Bhutanese people choose to forge their society's future. And it's great to see that Australians are forward thinking enough to see the power of this idea.

While other countries pursue "Gross National Product" - the Bhutanese will be looking for "Gross National Happiness." I'll leave it to you to conclude who will be more successful at achieving fulfilled and happy lives.

• Listen to the program (11 megabyte mp3)

This is a fascinating extended interview with Alan Alda on the Australian public broadcasting network - ABC - on their "Elders" series. This is a really thorough piece. I have come to appreciate the value in public broadcasting from different parts of the world. It's fascinating to me also to watch the interviewer's expressions. He's a great interviewer, but I can tell that he doesn't know how to personally connect with Alda - there's an unfair judgement about Alda's character and mindset which is pretty evident from the reticence in his expression.

I always have really admired Alan Alda. His ideas and approach to life really I see as insightful, and I see him as a great role model.

• Watch it here.