:: a special thanks to Danwei for helping me learn that this image is actually an Ai Weiwei photograph. I honestly had no idea. For the longest time I thought it was just a Zuo Xiao Zu Zhuo (左小祖咒) album cover, which, incidentally, hung framed on the the wall of my Beijing apartment from 2003 to 2006. Does anyone know where I can find more information about this photo? // AjS
:: the winner of the Danwei + Plastered + Neocha = RMB 888 t-shirt design contest is Li Zengshan of Weihai, Shandong Province. See his design below…and yes, that’s pretty much the way it looks at Danwei.org headquarters.
Mr Li gets 888 yuan courtesy of Plastered T-shirts, and his design will be turned into a T-shirt in the next two weeks to be sold at Plastered stores and online. Thanks very much to all contest participants: if you would like to receive a gift as a token of our appreciation for your efforts, please email your postal address to . // AJS
:: Danwei.org, everyone’s favorite English language Web site on Chinese media, Internet, and urban life, is making an official T-shirt to be produced and sold by Plastered T-shirts.
We are accepting design submissions and holding a competition to choose a winner. The competition is being housed on Danwei.org (English) and Neocha.com (Chinese).
The winning design will be sold in Plastered T-shirt stores in China and on the Internet, and the winner will receive glory, fame, and RMB 888 in crisp bank notes!
If you have an idea for a design, please download a T-shirt template from the links below, make your design, and email it to: (or ).
The design can use an iconic Chinese image, simply consist of text, or be something wholly new, but it must have some connection with Danwei.org’s content, or the meaning of the Chinese word “danwei” (单位). Submitted designs do not need to be production ready: Plastered T-shirts will work with the winning designer to prepare it for production.
The competition closes at 8 AM on Monday, April 13. The entries will be judged by:
Dominic Johnson-Hill founder and chief creative officer of Plastered T-shirts
Jeremy Goldkorn founder of Danwei
Shen Qing Managing Director of FT Rui magazine, known in Chinese women’s magazine circles as the “godmother of fashion”
Dongdong Qiang post 1980s man of letters, student of the classics, and blogger
Mauro Marescialli: Founder of Standards Group, the design firm that created Danwei’s logo and visual identity
Adam J. Schokora (Me): Danwei contributor, Neocha.com partner, and blogger
Don’t hesitate: 888 yuan and glory are waiting for you, download a T-shirt template and send your design to (or )!
Templates (any of these file formats are suitable): ai, jpeg, psd
// AjS
[full disclosure: 56minus1 is a contributor to Danwei.org and a partner at Neocha.com]
[UPDATE: see here for the winner.]
:: taken at a Shanghai Foreign Correspondents Club event in which Danwei.org founder and editor Jeremy Goldkorn addressed a full house with insightful and humorous anecdotes from his 15 years of experience in China’s online and offline media world. [Please take notice of Jeremy's quasi-jewfro shadowed on the projector screen, superb!]
The following evening I had the indescribable pleasure of having Mr. Goldkorn at my home for dinner, during which he was gracious enough to introduce me to an old-school Internet meme of monumental vileness: Goatse. Thanks Jeremy. // AjS
[full disclosure: I am a contributor to Danwei.org]
:: this video is the tenth in a Danwei.org series of short interviews conducted at this year’s Chinese blogger conference (cnbloggercon 2008, Guangzhou, November 15 & 16th).
In this interview, Carol Lin (林凯洛) (a.k.a. The Carol), a prolific Taiwanese blogger, , social activist, and an all-around digital maven, who is also well known for her photography, shares her thoughts on the lack of development in the Chinese web 2.0 / Internet industry, Taiwan’s uncensored Internet, the opportunity average Chinese people got to “taste the flavor of freedom in an unblocked Internet” during the Olympics, and digitally savvy Chinese netizens.
This video is also available on Tudou for faster loading in China.
To see other interviews from this series, link here.
Filming, editing, and interviewing: Adam J. Schokora
Subtitles: Alice Liu
Music: B6
:: this video is the ninth in a Danwei.org series of short interviews conducted at this year’s Chinese blogger conference (cnbloggercon 2008, Guangzhou, November 15 & 16th).
In this interview, Guo “Daxia” (郭”大虾”), a controversial and prolific grassroots Chinese blogger well-known for tackling many of China’s most sensitive social issues on his blog (which has long been blocked / inaccessible in mainland China), discusses his experience blogging, “civic consciousness” in China, the influence social media is having on official policymakers, censorship, free speech / public discourse, and the Chinese government propaganda department loosing control.
This video is also available on Tudou for faster loading in China.
To see other interviews from this series, link here.
Filming, editing, and interviewing: Adam J. Schokora
Subtitles: Alice Liu
Music: B6
:: there has been a lot of talk on Danwei and Shanghaiist (and online) about CCTV’s (China Central Television) real-time censorship / interruption of President Obama’s inaugural speech while it was being broadcast in China. The first clip below shows a CCTV news anchor suddenly and awkwardly cutting away to a 2nd-screen analyst just as President Obama and the live Chinese interpreter say: “earlier generations faced down fascism and communism” (keywords: “faced down” and “communism,” of course). The second clip below shows an uncensored and Chinese-subtitled version of the entire speech, courtesy of Youku BUZZ (thanks & ). Pasted below the clips is a complete and uncensored Chinese translation of the inauguration speech, courtesy of Shanghaiist, with the censored content underlined. For a more detailed analysis of the incident, click here. // AjS
各位同胞：
今天我站在这里，为眼前的重责大任感到谦卑，对各位的信任心怀感激，对先贤的牺牲铭记在心。我要谢谢布什总统为这个国家的服务，也感谢他在政权转移期间的宽厚和配合。
四十四位美国人发表过总统就职誓言，这些誓词或是在繁荣富强及和平宁静之际发表，或是在乌云密布，时局动荡之时。在艰困的时候，美国能箕裘相继，不仅因为居高位者有能力或愿景，也因为人民持续对先人的抱负有信心，也忠於创建我国的法统。
因此，美国才能承继下来。因此，这一代美国人也必须承继下去。
现在大家都知道我们正置身危机核心，我国正在与四处蔓延的暴力和憎恨作战。我们的经济元气大伤——这既是某些人贪婪且不负责任的後果，也是大众未能 做出艰难的选择，对国家进入新时代做准备不足所致。许多人失去房子，丢了工作，生意萧条。我们的医疗太昂贵，学校教育让人失望。每天都有更多证据显示，我 们利用能源的方式壮大我们的对敌，威胁我们的星球。
这些都是得自资料和统计数据的危机指标。比较无法测量但同样深沉的，是举国信心尽失——持续担心美国将无可避免地衰退，也害怕下一代一定会眼界变低。
今天我要告诉各位，我们面临的挑战是真的，挑战非常严重，且不在少数。它们不是可以轻易，或在短时间内解决。但是，美国要了解，这些挑战会被解决。
在这一天，我们聚在一起，因为我们选择希望而非恐惧，有意义的团结而非纷争和不合。
在这一天，我们来此宣示，那些无用的抱怨和虚伪的承诺已终结，那些扭曲我们政治已久的相互指控和陈旧教条已终结。
我们仍是个年轻的国家，但借用圣经的话，摆脱幼稚事物的时刻到来了，重申我们坚忍精神的时刻到来了，选择我们更好的历史，实践那种代代传承的珍贵权利，那种高贵的理念：就是上帝的应许，我们每个人都是平等的，每个人都是自由的，每个人都应该有机会追求全然的幸福。
再次肯定我们国家的伟大，我们了解伟大绝非赐予而来，必须努力达成。我们的旅程从来就不是抄捷径或很容易就满足。这条路一直都不是给不勇敢的人走 的，那些偏好逸乐胜过工作，或者只想追求名利就满足的人。恰恰相反，走这条路的始终是勇於冒险的人，做事的人，成事的人，其中有些人很出名，但更常见的是 在各自岗位上的男男女女无名英雄，在这条漫长崎岖的道路上支撑我们，迈向繁荣与自由。
为了我们，他们携带很少的家当，远渡重洋，追寻新生活。
为了我们，他们胼手胝足，在西部安顿下来；忍受风吹雨打，筚路蓝缕。
为了我们，他们奋斗不懈，在康科特和盖茨堡，诺曼地和溪山等地葬身。
前人不断的奋斗与牺牲，直到双手皮开肉绽，我们才能享有比较好的生活。他们将美国视为大於所有个人企图心总和的整体，超越出身、财富或小圈圈的差异。
这是我们今天继续前进的旅程。我们仍旧是全球最繁荣强盛的国家。这场危机爆发时，我们的劳工生产力并未减弱。我们的心智一样创新，我们的产品和劳务 和上周或上个月或去年相比，一样是必需品。我们的能力并未减损。但是我们墨守成规、维护狭小利益、推迟引人不悦的决定，这段时期肯定已经过去。从今天起， 我们必须重新出发、再次展开再造美国的工程。
我们无论朝何处望去，都有工作必须完成。经济情势需要大胆、迅速的行动，我们将有所行动，不光是创造新工作，更要奠定成长的新基础。我们将造桥铺 路，为企业兴建电力网格与数位线路，将我们联系在一起。我们将让科学回归合适的用途，运用科技的奇蹟来提高医疗品质并降低费用。我们将利用太阳能、风力和 土壤作为汽车的燃料和工厂的能源。我们将让中小学及大专院校转型，因应新时代的需要。这些我们可以作到。我们也将会作到。
现在，有人质疑我们的雄心，暗示说我们的体系无法承受太多的大计画。这些人的记性不好。因为他们忘记了这个国家已经完成的成就，当创造力朝同一个目标发展，不受约束的男男女女可以完成何等成就，必要的是勇气。
怀疑者无法理解的是他们的主张已经站不住脚，长期以来折磨我们的陈腐政治争议已经行不通。我们今天的问题不是政府太大或太小，而是有无功效，是否能 帮助家庭找到薪水不错的工作，支付得起照顾费用，有尊严的退休。哪个方向能够提供肯定的答案，我们就往那里走。答案是否定的地方，计画就会停止。所有我们 这些管理大众金钱的人都将负起责任，花钱要精明，改掉恶习，正大光明作事情，只有这样我们才能重建政府与人民间最重要的信任。
我们眼前的问题也不是说市场的力量是善或恶。市场创造财富和增加自由的力量无与伦比，但是这场危机提醒我们没有监督时，市场发展将失控，当市场只偏 爱有钱人时，国家无法永续繁荣。我们经济成功的依据，不只是国内生产毛额的规模，还有繁荣可及的范围，以及我们将机会拓展给每个愿意打拚的人，不是因为施 舍，而是因为这就是达到我们共同利益最稳健的途径。
至於我们的共同防卫，让我们必须在自由和理想之间作一抉择，是错误的，我们拒绝接受。我们建国诸父在我们难以想像的危难之中。拟具了确保法治和人权 的宪章，被一代代以鲜血扩大充实的宪章。这些理想依然照亮这个世界，我们不会为了便宜行事而扬弃它。同样地，今日在观看此情此景的其他民族和政府，从最宏 伟的都城到家父出生的小村庄，我要说：任何一个国家、男、女、和孩童，只要你在追求一个和平且有尊严的未来，美国就是你的朋友，我们准备再次带领大家。
回想先前的世代力抗法西斯主义和共产主义，靠的除了飞弹和战车之外，还有强固的联盟和持久的信念。他们知道单单力量本身不足以让我们自保，也不能让 我们为所欲为。相反地，他们知道我们的力量因为谨慎使用而增强，我们的安全源自我们理想的正当性，我们所树立楷模的力量，以及谦逊和克制所具有的调和特 质。
我们是这些遗产的保存者。在这些原则的再次指引下，我们可以面对那些新的威胁，这些威胁有赖国与国间更大的合作与谅解方能因应。我们将开始以负责任 的方式把伊拉克还给它的人民，并在阿富汗建立赢来不易的和平。我们会努力不懈地与老朋友和昔日的对手合作，以减轻核子威胁，和地球的暖化。我们不会为我们 的生活方式而道歉，也会毫不动摇地保护它，对那些想要藉由带来恐怖与杀害无辜以遂其目的者，我们现在告诉你，我们的精神强过你们，无法摧折，你们不可能比 我们长久，我们必定打败你们。
因为我们知道，我们拼凑组合而成的遗产是我们的强处，而非弱点。我们是由基督徒和穆斯林，犹太教徒和印度教徒，以及非信徒组成的国家。我们由取自世 界四面八方的各种语文和文化所形塑。而且由於我们曾尝过内战和种族隔离的苦果，并且在走出那黑暗时期之後变得更坚强和团结，这让我们不得不相信旧日的仇恨 终究会过去，部族之间的界线很快就会泯灭。随着世界越来越小，我们共通的人性也会彰显，而美国必须扮演引进新和平时代的角色。
对穆斯林世界，我们寻求一种新的前进方式，以共同的利益和尊重为基础。那些想播植冲突并把自己社会的问题怪罪於西方的领袖，须知你的国民藉以判断你 的，是你能建立什麽，而非你能毁坏什麽。那些靠着贪腐欺骗和箝制异己保住权势的人，须知你门站在历史错误的一边，而只要你愿意松手，我们就会帮忙。
那些穷国的人民，我们保证会和你们合作，让们的农场丰收，让清流涌入，滋补饿坏的身体，喂养饥饿的心灵。而对那些和我们一样比较富裕的国家，我要说，我们不能再对国界以外的苦痛视而不见，也不能再消耗世上的资源而不计後果。因为世界已经变了，我们也要跟着改变。
在我们思索眼前道路的此际，我们以谦虚感激的心想到，有些勇敢的美国同胞正在遥远的沙漠和山岭上巡逻。今天他们有话要对我们说，就和躺在阿灵顿（公 墓）的英雄们世世代代轻声诉说的一样。我们尊荣他们，不只因为他们扞卫我们的自由，更因为他们代表着服务的精神；愿意在比自己更大的事物上找寻意义。而在 此刻，能够界定一个世代的此刻，必须常驻你我心中的，正是这种精神。
即使政府能做和必须做，这个国家最终仍得靠美国人民的信念与决心。在堤防决堤时，是人们的善心，让他们招待陌生人。是工作人员的无私，让他们宁可减 工时，也不愿看到朋友失业，陪伴我们度过最黑暗时期。是消防员的勇气，让他们冲进满是浓烟的楼梯间。是父母心甘情愿培育孩子，最终决定我们的命运。
我们的挑战也许是新的，我们迎接挑战的工具也许是新的，但我们赖以成功的价值观─辛勤工作和诚实、勇气和公平竞争、容忍和好奇心、忠实和爱国心─这 些都是固有的。这些价值是真实的，是我们历史上进步的沉默力量。我们有必要找回这些真实价值。我们现在需要一个勇於负责的新时代，每一个美国人都体认到我 们对自己、对国家、对世界负有责任，我们不是不情愿地接受这些责任，而是欣然接受，坚信没有什麽比全力以赴完成艰难的工作，更能得到精神上的满足，更能找 到自我。
这是公民的代价和承诺。
这是我们信心的来源，体认上帝召唤我们创造不确定的命运。
这是我们的自由和信条的真谛，为什麽不同种族和信仰的男女老幼能在这个大草坪上共同庆祝，为什麽一个人的父亲在不到六十年前也许还不能进当地的餐厅用餐，现在却能站在你们面前做最神圣的宣誓。
让我们记住这一天，记住我们是谁、我们走了多远。在美国诞生这一年，在最寒冷的几个月，在结冰的河岸，一群爱国人士抱着垂死的同志。首都弃守，敌人进逼，雪沾了血。在那时，我们革命的成果受到质疑，我们的国父下令向人民宣读这段话：
“让这段话流传后世，在深冬，只剩下希望和美德，这个城市和这个国家，面临共同危险，站起来迎向它。”
美国，面对我们共同的危险，在这个艰困的冬天，让我们记得这些永恒的话语。怀着希望和美德，让我们再度冲破结冰的逆流，度过接下来可能来临的暴风 雪。让我们孩子的孩子继续流传下去，说我们受到考验时，我们拒绝让旅程结束，我们不回头，也不踌躇；眼睛注视着远方，上帝的恩典降临我们，我们带着自由这 个伟大的礼物，安全送达未来的世世代代。
愿上帝保佑你们，上帝保佑美利坚！
:: this video is the eighth in a Danwei.org series of short interviews conducted at this year’s Chinese blogger conference (cnbloggercon 2008, Guangzhou, November 15 & 16th).
In this interview, Isaac Mao (毛向辉), China’s first blogger and a self proclaimed “free philosopher of sharism,” talks about how many major news stories in China first break online with local netizens using blogs and other social media tools to find, share, and uncover the truth about issues the mainstream / traditional media aren’t allowed to cover. Mao goes on to speak optimistically about China’s social progress and evolution, assuring that the country is moving toward a modern society very much worth looking forward to.
This video is also available on Tudou for faster loading in China.
To see other interviews from this series, link here.
Filming, editing, and interviewing: Adam J. Schokora
Subtitles: Alice Liu
Music: B6
:: a couple days ago in Beijing at Danwei’s 3rd Plenary I met the lovely Ms. Tang Xuemei from Status Tee, an indie design shop (just her) based in Beijing doing some very clever t-shirt designs, many of which are based on current Chinese Internet culture and social issues. Below are two Status Tee designs advocating “privacy” (私) on the front with (ironically?) familiar images from the very recent Zhang Ziyi bikini-photo scandal online in China on the back. Bravo, well done. // AjS
:: this video is the seventh in a Danwei.org series of short interviews conducted at this year’s Chinese blogger conference (cnbloggercon 2008, Guangzhou, November 15 & 16th).
In this interview, Shi Feng (石峰), a drop out from one of China’s most prestigious universities turned blogger, talks about the growing rift between education and social needs / society in China, and calls for everyone to participate in a transformation of China’s education system.
This video is also available on Tudou for faster loading in China.
To see other interviews from this series, link here.
Filming, editing, and interviewing: Adam J. Schokora
Subtitles: Alice Liu
Music: B6
:: Danwei TV presents The Shanghai Beat, “Gay Shanghai.” In this episode, host Adam Schokora (小石) spends an evening exploring all things gay in Shanghai with local scene queen, Comrade Yutian, a self-proclaimed expert on queer Shanghai. This episode also features a performance by the Shanghainese garage-rock band Banana Monkey, shot in their rehearsal studio.
Note: this video was produced and originally post on Danwei in October, 2007.
This video is also available on Tudou for faster loading in China.
credits ::
produced by Adam J. Schokora & Ginger Xiang
contacts ::
email & msn IM:
special thanks ::
Yutian, Chi Heng Foundation, Hot Water Bottle, 刘向飞, 丝丝 and Jimi.
// AJS
:: this video is the sixth in a Danwei series of short interviews conducted at this year’s Chinese blogger conference (cnbloggercon 2008, Guangzhou, November 15 & 16th).
In this interview, Wen Yunchao (温云超), also known as Bei Feng (北风), a well-known blogger, activist, and independent / grassroots reporter at the forefront of current social and political events in China, online and off, talks about the growth of online social networking over the past year, increasing control over and censorship of online debate, and the speed at which Chinese netizens use their blogs / microblogs to work together, organize, and “report on” major happenings.
This video is also available on Tudou for faster loading in China.
To see other interviews from this series, link here.
Filming, editing, and interviewing: Adam J. Schokora
Subtitles: Alice Liu
Music: B6
:: this video is the fifth in a Danwei series of short interviews conducted at this year’s Chinese blogger conference (cnbloggercon 2008, Guangzhou, November 15 & 16th).
In this interview, Liu Xiaoyuan (刘晓原), a well-known blogger and lawyer at the forefront of fighting injustices in both the Chinese legal system and society, talks about two major Internet events that occurred over the past year; 1) the Guizhou, Weng’ An incident, and 2) the “Yang Jia attacks Shanghai police” case; a case in which he served as Yang Jia’s legal counsel.
The Deutsche Welle’s International Weblog Awards recently honored Liu Xiaoyuan’s blog won a “BOB” (Best in Blogs) as the best Chinese blog for 2008.
This video is also available on Tudou for faster loading in China.
Filming, editing, and interviewing: Adam J. Schokora
Subtitles: Alice Liu
Music: B6
// AjS
:: this video is the fourth in a Danwei series of short interviews conducted at this year’s Chinese blogger conference (cnbloggercon 2008, Guangzhou, November 15 & 16th).
In this interview, Zhai Minglei (翟明磊), a citizen journalist and blogger who previously wrote for Southern Weekly (南方周报) and later founded 1Bao.org (壹报) and Minjian (民间) magazine (since “shut down”), talks about how he is pleasantly surprised that the Internet in China has become a platform for the traditional Chinese concept of “jianghu” (江湖) to re-emerge, in the face of “miaotang” (庙堂).
This video is also available on Tudou for faster loading in China.
Filming, editing, and interviewing: Adam J. Schokora
Subtitles: Alice Liu
Music: Sulumi
// AjS
:: this video is the third in a Danwei series of short interviews conducted at this year’s Chinese blogger conference (cnbloggercon 2008, Guangzhou, November 15 & 16th).
In this interview, Zola (Zhou Shuguang), a citizen journalist and blogger well-known for covering sensitive topics / events throughout China, talks about major Internet happenings from 2008, netizens influencing Chinese government / legal decisions, and the Internet’s role in developing civil society in China.
For more on Zola, Google him () (), or Baidu him (Chinese). His official Web site is blocked in mainland China, but try accessing it through this mirror site. Zola is also on Twitter at .
This video is also available on Tudou for faster loading in China.
Filming, editing, and interviewing: Adam J. Schokora
Subtitles: Alice Liu
Music: B6
// AjS
