Xiang Ji’s Bookshelf

with Bloomberg.

After sleeping with the devil (read: Chinese government) for a number of years, Google woke up one day and decided it had enough. “I’m going to leave you now,” said Google. “The world knows you are evil. And you see, my philosophy is ‘Don’t Be Evil.” Thanks for the &^%&*(&…Hey, it was never good, you *&&^@!”

A few months later, Google still hasn’t packed up and get its ass out of the devil’s chamber. At the moment of departure, Google had an epiphany: Being the most innocent being in the universe, it needs the nourishment of devil’s scum to stay strong. “Please, can I stay?” Google plead to the devil, all teary. A moment later, Google hardened its voice, puffing on a cigar, said in a slow feminine voice: “My dear, whatever you do, you are evil. Let me stay, I shall $@#% you harder than before. If you don’t, I will send all your nude pictures to my minions.”

Sometimes you find a glimpse of humor in dreary Bloomberg stories: Keeping the yuan pegged to the dollar has been “a great source of stability” for China and the world, the Columbia University professor told reporters in Hong Kong today. While U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed the move, “he is not an economist,” Mundell said.

I love these interviews with Chinese officials (I posted one previously of Chinese Ambassador in the UK having tea with the FT) or executives. These people don’t talk to foreign press that much, and their manners are interesting to watch:
FT talks with Beijing Auto.

For all those who think their stash is never thick enough, here is the federal poverty level.

Still a long way to go to be officially poor?

number of person(s)

1 $10,830 $11,913 $13,538 $16,245 $18,953 $20,036 $21,660
2 $14,570 $16,027 $18,213 $21,855 $25,498 $26,955 $29,140
3 $18,310 $20,141 $22,888 $27,465 $32,043 $33,874 $36,620
4 $22,050 $24,255 $27,563 $33,075 $38,588 $40,793 $44,100
5 $25,790 $28,369 $32,238 $38,685 $45,133 $47,712 $51,580
6 $29,530 $32,483 $36,913 $44,295 $51,678 $54,631 $59,060
7 $33,270 $36,597 $41,588 $49,905 $58,223 $61,550 $66,540
8 $37,010 $40,711 $46,263 $55,515 $64,768 $68,469 $74,020

First number (annual income) is 100% of poverty, second is 110%, 125%, 150%, 175%, 185% and 200%.

from the biggest lying machine in the whole world.

Somehow this introduction sounds very cynical to me: Mr. ABC received a BA in Ethics, Politics and Economics, cum laude, from Yale University.

The dealbook had a very good reader comment who seems to be an expert in twisting words:

The resignation memo from the firm is artfully prepared; larded with gushing laudatory praise, wafting the aroma of sour cream, the taint of sulphur fumes. Larded with cliches, it veritably screams half-truths and tin ear fabrication. It will be required reading at Harvard Business School for how not to write a resignation memo with as many holes as swiss cheese; a classic example of “good” versus “real” reasons.

Tim O’Neal should be looking over his shoulder as he may feel a slight wet trickle where the “Soviet” style stiletto silently and swiftly slits between the shoulder blades. He is but a bit player who can be easily discarded among the protagonists in the sold-out, acclaimed drama, “Goldman Sachs “, a modern Shakespearean tragedy of deceit, deception, betrayal, greed, and mayhem wherein the newly crowned leader along his sycophants and consiglieres will all be impaled on their own swords. And they don’t even comprehend their impending lonely demise.

Have something in common. According to Timesbusiness, they tied in being the worst paid occupation in the U.K.
another warning sign for you inspiring writers…

Highest paid

1. Directors and chief executives of major organisations.
Average annual salary: £115,576
Job titles include: Chief executive, company director, general manager, managing director (of major organisations).
2. Medical practitioners
Average annual salary: £78,366
Job titles include: Anaesthetist, doctor, hospital consultant, GP, physician, psychiatrist, psycho-analyst, registrar, surgeon.
3. Senior officials in national government
Average annual salary: £68,283
Job titles include: Assistant secretary, diplomat, MEP, MP, permanent secretary.
4. Brokers
Average annual salary: £61,117
Job titles include: Commodity trader, financial broker, foreign exchange dealer, insurance broker, shipbroker, stockbroker.
5. Air traffic controllers
Average annual salary: £60,548
Job titles include: Air traffic controller, controller of aircraft, flight planner, ground movement controller.
6. Financial managers and chartered secretaries
Average annual salary: £58,295
Job titles include: Company registrar, company treasurer, credit manager, finance manager, financial director, merchant banker.
7. Senior officials in local government
Average annual salary: £55,921
Job titles include: Chief executive of local government, town clerk.
8. Police officers (inspectors and above)
Average annual salary: £53,937
Job titles include: Assistant chief constable, chief constable, chief inspector, chief superintendent, deputy chief constable.
9. IT strategy and planning professionals
Average annual salary: £50,143
Job titles include: Computer consultant, software consultant.
10. Solicitors and lawyers, judges and coroners
Average annual salary: £48,908
Job titles include: Articled clerk, barrister, coroner, judge, solicitor.
Lowest paid
1. Waiters and waitresses
Average annual salary: £11,930
2. Bar staff
Average annual salary: £11,930
3. Kitchen and catering assistants
Average annual salary: £12,410
Job titles include: Canteen assistant, catering assistant, counterhand, dining room assistant, kitchen assistant, kitchen porter, washer-up.
4. Travel and tour guides
Average annual salary: £12,561
Job titles include: Coach guide, courier for tour operator, escort, guide
5. Launderers, dry cleaners, pressers
Average annual salary: £12,657
Job titles include: Carpet cleaner, dry cleaner, garment presser, laundry worker.
6. Retail cashiers and check-out operators
Average annual salary: £12,736
Job titles include: Cashier, check-out operator, forecourt attendant, petrol pump attendant, restaurant cashier.
7. Leisure and theme park attendants
Average annual salary: £12,767
Job titles include: Arcade attendant, fairground worker, funfair attendant, usher/usherette.
8. Hairdressers and related occupations
Average annual salary: £13,194
Job titles include: Barber, beautician, hairdresser, make-up artist, manicurist, slimming consultant, barber.
9. Cleaners, domestics
Average annual salary: £13,807
Job titles include: Car valeter, chambermaid, cleaner, domestic cleaner.
10. Nursery Nurses
Average annual salary: £13,872
Job titles include: Creche assistant, nursery assistant, nursery nurse

is an annoyance. It slows the download of the page, its music is headache-inducing and the format is not worth appreciating.