The Economics-- China vs. USA

Everything goes in cycles. Good times, Bad times.Love and War.Daily life, and, of course, Economies.China is growing and growing with no end in sight. The US seems to be stuck in a recession with no end in sight. Today in the Shanghai Daily there was  the story of the  unemployment news in theUS. Jobs are not being created and the rate went up to 9.8%. In that same paper the following articles appeared about China. 1). China set to invest US$1.5 trillion in 7 sectors ( alternative energy, biotechnology, new-generation info. tech, high-end equip. manf., advanced materials, alternative-fuel cars, and energy saving and environmentally friendly tech.) China is trying to be the " Green" country going forward and is seeking alternatives to dwindling commodities. They also want to get away from being just known as a low end manufacturer. 2). Symantec expects to triple it's revenue here in China within 5 years-- typical of many tech. firms. 3) Starbucks plans to triple it's presence in China in 5 years. It wants to run 1,500 stores in China by 2015. 4) General Motors sold a record 196,990 units in November up 11.2% from a year earlier. Shanghai's GM sales rose 33.4% annually in November--- which leads me to buy some recently IPO'd GM shares on The NYSE at $34. Just a suggestion. 5) China to invest $500B more in next 3 years on Hi-Speed trains.
This growth mirrors the US back in The Industrial age of the late 19th -early 20th century when these headlines would have begun with the US and not China. But things go in cycles and China will have it's hiccups and the US will bounce back. But that's why Jane is working in China now.

And a few random pictures for your entertainment pleasure.

These are the spider men of Shanghai. They swing back and forth
on their ropes in perfect unison as they wash the windows. I
applied for a job but they don't accept anyone over 60. Darn!

Jane and I at Expo in Shanghai this spring to attend a
performance of the Philadelphia Orchestra. The China pavilion
is lit in the background.

My favorite local Xiao long bao ( steamed dumpling with soup inside)
place. A short walk from our apartment.

Inside Ling serves up the best that you can order from the
menu behind her. No, I cannot read Mandarin so lunch is often
a surprise but usually not moving.

The electrical panel in our basement. Kidding. This is the panel
in an older building that was going to be torn down as soon
as the final tenents left.

Jane on her way to work.

John signing up for what he thought was Mandarin lessons.
Dig this guy's hat.

Turns out it was a special blessing for long life ( hey, I'm
still alive). I had to blow on this box for some reason. That
and 15RMB ($2) and I was good to go.