Read to rescue the nation

It's not an overstatement.

Just read this article by Zhao Yiheng How The British Read. It reveals the fact that our nation has fallen behind at reading, far. Comparing it to Britain, a 'leading nation' in reading (statically. But the author has further proved his point by his reading experience in London and Wales), China has a huge illusion in a prosperous publishing but is extremely weak in book owned by each person, number and scale of public libraries, frequency of reading, etc.

Analyzing from the quantity aspect, this long article has left something undiscussed - perhaps because of the lack of statistics (cannot be measured by numbers at all) - the quality of, not the reading itself, publishing. The major problem is what is being published. 

Under the strict restriction of publishing (strict licensing, under a firm centralized government control), it is not surprising that only books without any valuable thought are possible to come out.

Our drawbacks are related to the habit, but more are related to a lack in free expressions. We used to be a learned, book-loving nation, but the authority's fear of voices is the obstacle to further civilization, whenever it is, throughout our history of civilization...

The Internet has made the issue both better and worse. While it is more accessible to all kinds of voices, it is more convenient to all kinds of rubbish, which has completely changed people's reading habits. (Read Nicholas Carr Is Google Making Us Stupid?)

To be continued...

p.s. would be happy to hear about how the British read nowadays - esp. the young generation - from the British's prospect.

Please Vote for Me

Forty kids, three candidates, one election. And, five parents. It took place in China where elections are uncommon. When the class monitor was for the first time elected, these lovely kids and their 'think tanks' experienced a battle - against the opponents, the self and the illusion of fairness and reason.

The kids knew much and enough. They knew themselves what is welcome, virtue, a positive attitude and the opposites of the above. In this sense, kids know more about adults as they are straightforward to them. They want a treat, so the actual gain satisfies; they follow the good, so they are against the candidates' faults; when the candidate is proactive, they think he is capable. There shouldn't be anything simpler than such values, but the grown-ups has complicated it.

Democracy is however a lesson of blood when the result matters. If it is as simple as treats - that equally distributed among the needed, or virtues and attitudes that are used wisely and properly, it would have been straightforward (even in the way it is called - it won't be called democracy, but something like 'great-treats' or 'moral-good-leadership' lol). One lesson to be taught in the process of democracy is freedom of opinions, which is against the interest of the uncertain some, as freedom means potential offense to everyone. In this story of monitor election, we see it in the kids' world that the speeches of candidates and non-candidates point to a certain interest relating to the question of 'who is to be the monitor'. When it is expressed freely, the interest of some groups is harmed - they cried with disappointment; imagine when it is not - when monitors were appointed by teachers, they didn't see any interest in them - even though they were beaten by the monitor to obey, they didn't feel the harm to interest instantly. Well this is why democracy is bloody painful: it brings you pain by providing you with options. You are easily hurt by the ruin of expectations. It is by no means straightforward in the sense that it causes pain by delivering treats, and achieving virtues via painful sacrifices.

What do you expect a kid to know about this?

Even grown-ups are not making any progress if they are born to enjoy the gain or born not to - there's little possibility of change to the status quo. Because interest is much connected to each other. And gaming is taking risks. See the parents, their connection to this monitor privilege is just love, (perhaps 'mianzi', too? But I'd think it'd be love in the first case.) and they don't risk to let their kid compete under naïve thoughts when others got sophisticated think tanks.

I will leave the question of political campaign unsolved here. Even though the film is quite focused on the little candidates, my real concern is the little non-candidates, the 'citizens' of this class. The crowds' awareness is decisive to the progress of democracy. The voting public treat it a right to vote for themselves, the candidates see it a duty to meet the public expectation. The voting public in this film, however, most effectively reflects the picture of democratic election in China.

I have been hostile to the term politics all through my school years, finding it unreal, dirty, a waste and a disguise in every single case I encounter. Don't even think of the national authority, our experience in a high school mostly dealt with school level, a class of 50 especially. There was no soil for democracy to grow, and we equaled politics to governance. Now I have known it for years, that

government is closed, politics is open.

But no one tells us about this when we were younger.

Ah, defeated architecture...

I have been reading Kengo Kuma's Defeated Architecture for a long, long period of time. Not finished yet. It was more than architecture and it takes time.

I have a passion to architecture...I love it with a passion and hate it also with a passion...blah blah. But I'm not a systemetic thinker on the subject matter blah blah. It appeals as massive undertakings over, around and beneath us. You might have felt it incredable in an aeroplane (on which you can fly!!! Ho!), but what you might have neglected is the building you are in everyday - not just a shelter over your head like a tree or a cave - it's a sophisticated piece of work that makes you safe (sometimes to an extend of danger- -') by every means. It's great. And it all the time makes me think human is great - Architecture is a reflection of human desires - and the ability to turn desires into...architecture.

I do have a strong criticism to modern city architecture. From an aesthetics point of view, cities are ugly with massive mansions, skyscrapers and stadiums that only eye on their own function and their so-called design. The innovation to modern architecture is a total failure. Look at the cities without a character (if their 'modern' character is what you think character is, you are a person with character, congrats.) and are so functional - that they are paradise for offices (physically speaking, office boxes), trade fairs (gathering halls), shopping (product-dominant exhibiting squares, where only the products and the cash matter), commercial ads (billboards making you desire for fortune), entertainments (gathering rooms with alchohol and sex)... I suddenly understood that this is the funtionalism in modern architecture when I read Kengo Kuma. A funtionalism that requires non-character in architecture, in order to meet the mobility and separation features of modern living.

Now we look at suburbans. Suburban architecture do not have characters ever since the modern movement either. I have once upon a time appreciated the suburban ring of sattellite cities regarding them as a smooth paste of personal properties and communities. Here I'm not going to speak the social dimension of this planning, but observe it solely on architecture. It was a positive part about the movement towards modernization, in terms of privacy, independence and freedom - I mean in architecture. Again from an aesthetics point of view, suburbans don't look ugly because, I consider, the abovementioned 3 values has promoted diversity in designs. I always regard it as a symbol of liberalism in nations such as US and UK, comparing to the highly planned territories as Germany, Japan and China (or Hong Kong) - again, referred to architecture. Their policies are towards a more organized and united urban planning to achieve the functional objective. Going back to liberalization, Home Mortage policies has made it possible to 'own' a house easily and execute almost absolute freedom on it (if not mention the rights of banks). It is possitive to the creativeness in architecture design.

However, when I went to suburbans in the west and east coast of USA and now the UK, and simultaneously started to read Defeated Architecture recently, I had a feeling of being duped by a policital campaign. On one hand, I started to doubt the surface liberalism in these housing policies - does it seem so good just because people are guided to think it good? Is it liberal only to the wealthy? This is from what I saw and experienced. I stayed in a poor area right down to Beverly Hills and right next to Santa Monica in LA, in a black area in Brooklyn New York, and now in a nice middle-class home area in a nice middle-class city (all-red in the voting map of Britain forever) in UK. I saw it myself that Home Mortage policies is not a pleasant gift to the poor, is a burden to the middle-class, and is nothing to the rich. So who cares about the architecture? Only people who earn a living from it. We can explain why architects are elites in the social class. Because they are not working to the needs. (I have an instinct to talk about lawyers...!!!)

On the other hand, Kengo Kuma has given me a satisfactory explanation to my doubts: professional, from an architect's angle and in-depth, from his responsible thinking. He talked about the modern movement in architecture from the 20th century, starting from economics on land then Keynes' intervensionism and its relationship to government policies which has a huge impact on modern city development and the middle-class 'boom', including the mortage policies. He has analysed the work of modern architects such as Le Corbusier and Peter Ellis thoroughly. I looked out of my window, I observed houses when I run across the lands, buildings when I travel to Newcastle, London and Cardiff, I read pictures I took in the States, and I can find what Kengo Kuma indicates. The key to modern is to get rid of characters, so that we are in a 'purer' world of economic mainstream, commerce domination, finance driven and culture popularity. As stated before, architecture is a reflection to human desires, the key to modern has left in those buildings (and it lasts almost forever! - another crucial point to observe when analysing the impact of architecture.)

One last thing to add is the recession at this moment of time. Yes it's about housing! Yes it's about mortages! And yes, they cannot pay the loans...well this book was written in 2004 though.

While modern is about driving off characters, post-modern is boasting the utmost characters. But it is overstated. - Some thoughts are beingn organized. This is to be continued after I finish the book, perhaps.

I was intended to write a review on the first half of the book. But I didn't even have time to start writing. So I put up the pieces as above. To be continue...

When you believe

It's just a random title.

I have been struggling with {Article 81, Article 82, State Aids} etc etc. Well, it seems a lot but it isn't. Because I am far too slow on it! Too slow. Like an aged horse dragging a full cart of coal. Someone give me enthusiasm please?

I have a passion with what I am studying. I advocate equal opportunities with a passion and hate law makers also with a passion. It has supported my study for 5 years. Not like some, I don't argue for appreciating the art, don't dig into the sources for enjoying the complexity, don't go detours for accumulating fine techniques. I am always arguing, digging and exploring for a destiny too naive, that people deserve better options than they are having now. I am not going to discuss it in this post. Read my Chinese blog in case of interest.

It was rather vague about this passion, you are thinking. It's too broad. Well when I was in China I don't think there are too many ends to this passion. - I can think about an utopia, a utopidank or an usatopia but we cannot make it into reality. I may but I'm yet to become influencial. Actually I have thought about that long, long ago when I didn't know much about pain. After I have given up that thought of utopia, it became appearent that we lack the most basic dignity and safety in our country. (Inspired by Man-Tao Leung: we lack common sense) - so the one end to my destiny is that people are living on people's will but the artificial leviathan's, economy's or rulling systems' (including the 'families' in the oriental world).

Of course I read and knew all those dillema in legal theories, political games and philosophic hypothesis. I read and knew about the world (not the people). I went to places in and out of my country and knew situations otherwise. And I am improving myself not to be limited. Nevertheless, when people I meet everyday are living vulnerably and aimlessly, I have no interest argue with you how much market share an EC company owns should it be judged dominant and being stopped from merging another so as to achieve harmony.

I don't know whether to call this a belief or not, but searching for a civil way to resolve the lack of 'common sense' has been echoing in my mind in whatever I do. Meanwhile I find it vague. If it is not vague I could have written a book during the 4 years;) But I'm still too far away from a systematic thinker. Let alone a practitioner.

So I always seek to enthusiasm - passion, until I came up with Henry Miller today:

Back of every creation, supporting it like an arch, is faith. Enthusiasm is nothing, it comes and goes. But if one believes, then miracles occur.

Then, shall I seek my faith then? I always say I have one, but damn, whatever I describe it, there is someone doubting it. And that someone is myself.

I need a talk with someone. But there's no one to talk to at the moment - during exams, Article 81 and 82s.

Non Profit Website Design by Smashing Magazine

By Cameron Chapman, May 14th, 2009 in Design Showcase

Non profit websites share many of the same best practices as any website. They need to be user friendly, easily navigable, and use appropriate fonts, colors, and other design elements. But often a non profit website needs to offer more than your typical corporate site.

A non profit’s website needs to make it easy to find out more about their cause, to donate money, and to become more involved. It needs to make it easy for media contacts to find the information they need and the contact information of key personnel. And it needs to do all this in a way that’s inviting to the organization’s targeted donors and/or volunteers.

Below are a list of best practices for designing non profit websites followed by some examples of non profit websites that are getting things right.

1. Make Your Site Donor-Friendly

Donations are a necessary thing for every non profit organization out there. Your website can be a great place to solicit donations, especially from new donors. It can also make it easier for recurring donors to make additional donations. In either case, you want it to be a simple and straight-forward process for people to give you money.

There are a few things to keep in mind when creating a donor-friendly site. First, make sure your donation page is prominently linked from your home page. Whether you do this with a special banner or button or simply make it prominent in your regular navigation, donors have to see where to donate before they can do so.

Second, make the actual donation process as painless as possible. Don’t require visitors to set up an account to donate. The donation process shouldn’t be any more complicated than any other online transaction. Other than information required to process their credit card or e-check, don’t require any other information. And use a single-page donation form if possible, with just one confirmation page. There’s less chance that there will be browser or connectivity issues if there’s only a single page to deal with.

2. Make Your Site Media-Friendly

Getting media attention can have a huge impact on a non profit organization. Whether the media attention brings in more donations directly or simply raises the profile of the organization, getting attention from journalists, bloggers, and anyone else with an audience is important.

Make it easy for journalists to find information about your organization. Include profiles of your board of directors, founder(s), and other key personnel. Make sure you include contact information (email and phone) for each of these key people. Have a downloadable media kit that includes everything your print media kit does.

Offer downloadable images from your site so journalists and bloggers don’t have to contact your and wait for a response. And include press-ready quotes, both from members and directors as well as outsiders. Make it clear that journalists and other organizations may use these items in news coverage without contacting the organization for prior permission.

3. Make Your Site Volunteer-Friendly

Make it easy for visitors to your site to find information on how they can get involved. There are plenty of people out there who might not have the money to make a donation but are still passionate about what your organization is doing.

Whether you provide detailed information about volunteering directly, steps people can take on their own, or just contact information for your volunteer organizer, make sure you don’t overlook this crucial bit of information.

Providing multiple means of contact makes it easier for volunteers to get in touch, so include an email address, phone number, and a web contact form if you can.

4. Make Sure Your Organization’s Purpose is Immediately Apparent

How many times have you gone to a website and not had a clue what the site was about? This happens all too often. Designers and clients often take for granted what visitors to their site will already know about their organization.

But considering how much information is pushed in bite-size pieces on sites like Twitter and Facebook, there’s no telling how much or how little visitors will know. With some organizations it’s easy enough to figure out what the organization is about just by its name, but for others it’s not so easy.

Putting an abbreviated mission statement right on the home page is one way to solve this. Another way is to put a prominent link somewhere on the home page that takes visitors to an about page that offers concise, plain-language (not “marketing-ese”) information about what the organization does.

5. Make Sure Your Content Takes Center Stage

Design on any site should be transparent, and especially so on non profit sites. That’s not to say your site can’t have an interesting design, just that the design should revolve around your content and your mission, not the other way around. Take into account the types of information you’ll be providing on the site and the formats that will be used.

Consider up front how much multi-media elements will be used, and whether they’ll be used on every page or just in special gallery sections. If you plan to post videos and photos on multiple pages, you’ll need to make sure your column widths other elements are complimentary to the kinds of media you want to use.

Make sure your columns are wide enough to accommodate YouTube videos, for example. If they’re not, any time you embed a video (or similar element), your site design will look haphazard (and some of your site content might end up covered up).

6. Make Sure Your Website is Consistent with Your Other Promotional Materials

Your logo should use the same logo and colors as your other promotional materials. Maintaining a consistent brand throughout your organization greatly increases your chances of being recognized in passing. Your website doesn’t have to (and probably shouldn’t) match your print promotional materials exactly, but echoing the look and feel of those materials increases brand identity.

Make sure the content is consistent, too. Proofread and copyedit your website content just as you do your print materials. While it’s easier to change content on a website, it still gives a negative impression if your site is riddled with errors and inaccuracies.

7. Know Your Site’s Purpose Up Front

The leaders of your organization (or whoever is in charge of the organization’s website) should make a list of what the goals for the site are before starting the design process. Is the site primarily to allow existing members to stay updated? Is it to solicit donations? Is it to get new volunteers or members? Is it to raise awareness in general?

Whatever your purpose is, knowing it and communicating it to your designer going into the design process will save headaches and delays down the road. Make sure everyone is on board with the same vision, too, so you don’t have to make unnecessary changes down the road, which saves both time and money.

8. Include a News Section or Blog

Including a blog or news section has a couple of big advantages for non profit sites. First, it gives people a reason to come back to your site. If you offer news about your organization and your cause, people who are interested in either will come back on a regular basis (or subscribe via RSS). This keeps your site visible and makes it more likely they’ll become more involved in the future (or stay involved if they are already).

Second, blogs and news sites are often quoted by other blogs and news sites. This increases the exposure for your site and will likely bring you more traffic.

Third, constantly-updated content increases your search engine visibility. This makes it easier for people actively looking for information related to your organization to find your site.

20 Examples Of Great Non Profit Sites

click here to continue reading...


This is a good article with good examples. NGOs are as targeted as any other business do. The concept of a website is all about convenience and friendliness. When I was doing this sole-goal blog, I found it really hard to achieve - gap between ideas and your work is lying in front of even a tiny task. So, besides bearing these criteria in mind, the real challenge is to make it happen.

And the bigger challenge behind it is, however, to manage it 'offline'!