EastAsiaFair

Banks Make $35.8 billion

Bill Belew — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 00:09:20 +0000

China’s banks made $35.8 billion dollars in the first 6 months of this year says the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC).

In 2003, non-performing loans were about 17.9%. That’s one in six persons did not repay their loan. Good grief!

In the first half of this year, non-performing loans are down to 8.98% or about one in 12.

Consequently – the big proft. Four years ago, the banks made about 12% of what they are making now.

Interesting…people pay back their loans and the bank makes money.

Assets of Chinese banks are up over $7 trillion.

Whoa, that’s a lot of money. That’s a ‘T’!

Of the world’s top 1000 banks, 31 of them are in China.

So, what’s a bank need all that money for?

And, why can’t they lend money at a lower interest rate?

Originally posted 2008-10-09 06:14:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Thu Thi Minh DANG – Asian Girls at 2007 Miss World Contest in Sanya China – VIETNAM -

Bill Belew — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:36:24 +0000

Thu Thi Minh DANG – Asian Girls at 2007 Miss World Contest in Sanya China – VIETNAM.

The 2007 Miss World Contest is happening in Sanya, China on December 1st.

There are 106 countries, regions and territories being represented.

Of course, Asia is sending their best.

From VIETNAM – Thu Thi Minh DANG

Thu was born and grew up in Hanoi.

Thu is a student and model.

Her future ambition is to become a very successful business woman.

Her hobbies and interests are: to travel; singing; reading, and cooking, she adores Vietnamese food.

more pix here

Festivals in Japan: Halloween

Terya — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:34:39 +0000

Halloween in Tokyo

Some said it was â€œjust not Japaneseâ€ to trick-or-treat and since Japan already had its own festival to remember the dead: O-Bon, Halloween would never take off. But just like a lot of other Western holidays,Halloween is seeing a rise in popularity. Although the festival is relatively new to the country, the Japanese wouldnâ€™t be Japanese if they didnâ€™t make use of the chance to dress up and go crazy! Especially in the cities the festivals are a big hit and attract masses of people in the most extravagant costumes.

The origin of Halloween can be found back in the days of the Irish Celts, who lit bonfires and wore masks to calm down evil spirits. But just like with any Western holiday, nobody really cares what it once was about. As long as the music is good and the party keeps goingâ€¦

Originally posted 2008-11-10 19:16:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Zhang Ziyi Introduces “The First Emperor” Premier at the Met

Bill Belew — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:20:22 +0000

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Zhang Ziyi introduced the live transmission of “The First Emperor” from the staircase at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

” ‘The title role of “The First Emperor” is sung by Placido Domingo, who in the 80s displayed his celebrated tenor in movie versions of “Cavallieri Rusticana”, “Pagliacci”, “La Traviata” and “Otello”, all directed by Franco Zeffirelli. Tan Dun (è°ç›¾) is the composer who had won an Oscar for his scoring of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (å§è™Žè—é¾™)”, would do with his epic subject. It is staged by Zhang Yimou (å¼ è‰ºè°‹), director of many sublime Chinese dramas, including “Hero (è‹±é›„)”, the worldwide martial arts hit for which Tan Dun had supplied the music. The costumes are by Emi Wada, who worked with Zhang on “Hero” and “House of Flying Daggers (åé¢åŸ‹ä¼)”. The opera is based on a 1996 Chinese movie, “The Emperor’s Shadow (ç§¦é¢‚)”.’ “

For more details about the event go here.

Originally posted 2008-10-05 23:31:47. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Squeaky Clean Toyota is in a Sexual Harassment Suit

Bill Belew — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:06:56 +0000

Squeaky clean and super profitable Toyota North America is facing a sexual harrassment suit.

A Japanese personal assistant to the president and CEO of Toyota North America is accusing her JapaneseÂ boss of unwanted sexual advances – requiring her to travel with him, accompany him to social functions and physically groping her. (It’s not right but many Japanese men do that when they are drunk – so, keep your distance.)

The woman is seeking at least $40 million in damages for emotional distress and injury to her reputation and $150 million in punitive damages.

Come on, now.Â Where did those numbers come from? The woman ought not be harassed…everyone should be able to work freely and without fear of harrassment or prejudice. But those numbers are ridiculous.

She ought to be sued or something for being stupid and greedy and self-seeking and…someone help me here.Â And take her lawyers with her.

Might those numbers have anything to do with Toyota’s annual $150 billion in income?

What took her so long in the first place to bring up the charges?

What do you think?

Originally posted 2008-09-24 13:18:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Time Change Fall 2009

Valencia — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:53:05 +0000

Today is October 24, and it means that today is the time change day for fall 2009 so letâ€™s hope you donâ€™t forget to set you clocks backward an hour before you go to bed. What is this all about? Well, at the end of this post youâ€™re going to discover more, but at the mean time letâ€™s sayâ€¦ itâ€™s an additional an hour for you to sleep your night away.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the convention of advancing clocks so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less. Typically clocks are adjusted forward one hour near the start of spring and are adjusted backward in autumn.

In many western European countries, Daylight Saving Time begins on the last Sunday of March and concludes in October on the last Sunday of that month.

Originally posted 2009-10-24 07:55:20. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

US Meat Banned in China

Bill Belew — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:29:47 +0000

It seems as if the United States is working its way around Asia.

Tainted meat products were banned in Japan, let in, banned again…and then finally let in until…well, give it time.

Seven US companies, including Tyson Foods Inc. the world’s largest meat processor has been suspended from importing meat products into China.

Pig ears and chicken feet were found containing almonella, feed additives and veterinary drugs, says the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).

Other US companies that have been banned are:

Sanderson Farms Inc,

Intervision Foods,

AJC International Inc,

Cargill Meat Solutions Corp,

Van Luin Foods USA Inc

“Thumph Foods”, which most likely is Missouri-based Triumph Foods.

The companies have 45 days to get their pig ears in a row.

Is this payback time?

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned farm-raised fish from China last month.

And, wny aren’t there stricter measures on food quality on both sides?

Makes it a bit scary to eat, don’t you think?

Originally posted 2008-10-06 23:30:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Robotic battle of the giants

Terya — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:08:27 +0000

When there’s something to gain, there someone willing to battle for it. This goes especially for Japans major technological companies, who are hoping to earn some money on the rapidly aging population.

Honda has introduced their bionic legs, which should reduce stress and make you feel less tired.

Toyota Motor Corp. developed the â€œToyota Winglet personal transporterâ€, a mix between a Segway and a mini-scooter. You can see a video here.

Cyberdyne, specialized in â€œcybernicsâ€, goes one step further. They created a robotic suit which should make it possible for paralyzed people to walk.

If your laziness already has you wondering where to get one, you’ll have to be a bit more patient. None of these are on the market yet…

Originally posted 2008-11-12 13:30:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Caroline Louise Clowes PEMBERTON – Pan – Asian Girls at 2007 Miss World Contest in Sanya China – AUSTRALIA -

Bill Belew — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:58:17 +0000

Caroline Louise Clowes PEMBERTON – Pan – Asian Girls at 2007 Miss World Contest in Sanya China – AUSTRALIA.

The 2007 Miss World Contest is happening in Sanya, China on December 1st.

There are 106 countries, regions and territories being represented.

Of course, Asia is sending their best.

From AUSTRALIA – Caroline Louise Clowes PEMBERTON

Caroline is born in Sydney.

Sheâ€™s a high achiever, hoping for a First in her Psychology degree, complete a Masters in Neuro Psychology, followed by a doctorate in this area.

She is a devotee of extreme sports including: water skiing, scuba-diving, sailing, canoeing, snow skiing & trekking, rock ice climbing, but still finds time for reading extensively in science and literature as well as charcoal drawing and Ceroc dance lessons.

Her personal motto is: â€œStart with big dreams, set goals to realise them and stay open to opportunityâ€.

more pix here.

HaoHao Report – Social Bookmarking about China

Bill Belew — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:36:00 +0000

HaoHaoReport is a social bookmarking site about China-related news and blogs.

It is the place to go to see/read/learn whatâ€™s going on in China news-wise and from the bloggerâ€™s perspective.

It works like a Digg or a Reddit, but itâ€™s all about China. Ryan is the creator and he’s a whole lot smarter than the rest of us pretend to bes, well, I am sure he is smarter than me. He also writes The HumanNaught.

About himself, he says, “I’m a proud half-pat who has lived in China 3-4 years. By day I make sites like this, and by night I watch pirated DVDs while…”

Give it a look, book mark it, link to it, and learn whatâ€™s going on in China that the blogger is interested in.

Originally posted 2008-08-07 13:39:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter