AlexKMG, That was a great link about water desalineation!

Interesting that on 60 minutes an interview of one of the two owners of Soho Real Estate, one of the largest developers in Beijing said that she expected China to embrace democracy within 20 years.

I have no opinion on this. Only that it was an unexpected information bomb of sorts... We truly cannot even dimly guess China's future.

As far as China's future is concerned, it has changed so drastically in the last 20 years that it is impossible to predict what China is capable of doing.

I agree the most severe problems in China are:
1. Pollution, it's choking the cities. I watch the indexes and Chongqing, Chengdu, and many, many others are in very bad shape. Pollution has been off the charts, above 500 in many cities at times. This is unsustainable. Beijing actually went above 1000 in January. The rich and powerful will force some action if only for their own living areas but that will require massive changes.
2. Water is a worldwide resource in short supply and forecast for increasing demand and decreasing supply.
3. Chinese Education, if it isn't changed will short circuit China's ability to solve its and the world's problems. I believe the Chinese have the ability to provide innovation and creativity to complement current and future technologies but the students are not prepared to think and use their abilities.

4. Corruption is a world wide problem. China's problems are not unique. Everyone blames it on the system but there is no real interest in developing morality. But there is no way to force honesty. People must generate and sustain their own individual standard to overcome the dishonesty. It starts with each one of us.
5. Waste is rampant. Half the food that is produced is thrown out while there are yet poor who have not enough to eat. Predictions are that by 2030 75% of China's population will migrate to the cities. With the loss of farmers in the rural areas (and an increase in elderly who won't have anyone to help them) food production will be reduced. Unless China can find a solution, food production must decrease in China. Large scale mechanized farms like in the US are unlikely given the terrain and lack of investment and infrastructure to support that kind of agrarian development.

In my mind the answer to these myriad problems cannot be found in traditional or historic patterns of thought. An entirely new approach, new paradigms, are required to cut through the particular interests that undercut meaningful solutions.

Current systems of governance have tanked in all countries and cultures. Only radically new dimensions and directions rooted in truly selfless determination to work for the betterment of the world society and the benefit of the generality of mankind can begin a process of justice and peace in the world. We have to stop thinking about the impossibilities and begin to take immediate personal actions that will generate long term solutions through our individual lives and way of living. The changes will come from the masses but through individuals demonstrating that the impossible is possible. You have to believe.

No one believed Galileo when he said the earth was round.
The Wright Brothers were called crazy. Man would need wings on his body to fly...
Our destiny is peace. The darkest hour comes just before the dawn...

Although this sounds utopian it is in fact, a pathway forward. In the past, wars have been used to divert attention and solidify national interests and to move past problems. That is no longer an option, too expensive and no one can afford them any more.

The world is becoming a smaller planet with nations becoming like states and the requirements of world governance being forced through climate change and other world wide requirements for cooperation.

What is China's future? It certainly has demonstrated a trajectory parallel to that of the exponential technological innovations in recent years.

If the morality and the spirit of the Chinese people can be encouraged to create and innovate, honestly and morally, the future of China will take it into the vanguard and even lead the world to new and unforeseen solutions.

China's future? Impossible to guess. Half full or half empty? I think China will surprise the world. But then we will all be surprised unless we can step out of our limited experience and have a vision of the world's future.

It has to be through peace, cooperation and true justice which we have never seen or experienced and thus cannot conceive. This is not a panacea. But the past does not predict the future. We can truly go beyond what we know but we have to escape the limits of our own skeptical and disbelieving minds to be able to begin to experience our potential.

We will face ever new challenges and greater and greater problems. But our knowledge and abilities will grow to those face those challenges. Hopeless or Hope? I choose to believe that the world is going through birthing pains and someday will emerge with systems of life that commence from a preliminary and feeble foundation of political peace, which will begin a long, long process of development.

I've had very good luck with PandaPow.com

They made many changes in their service to keep ahead of the changes that the great firewall was making and they have been very supportive and very good and the prices are good

they are also reached at pandapow.co with no "m"

If you have trouble getting them through the wall try support@pandapow.com

OK, Thanks but I should have posted more info.

I am on a Mac running OS 10.7.4.

I'm not a novice user but the setup is not working.

Most of you are on PC's and so some of what you sent does not apply. The Airport Extreme is ridiculously easy to set up but there could be a block from the Telecom company. That may be the problem. The setup I have is using PPPoE. If you don't know what that is then I don't think you can help. I'm assuming this is ADSL service because of the telephone connection. That does give me another clue. If they somehow can detect and refuse a wifi router then that's the problem. I've never heard of that before.

I'm accustomed to setting up from a modem or a cable box.

I use the Apple Airport software to see and configure the ADSL modem. I can see the modem and attempt the setup but it's not allowing the same setup for the router. It should but it doesn't. I don't need any CD's as I've done this a few times here in China including in Xiamen where I last lived.

Thanks for the suggestions. So far though, no joy...

Hi,
I have a good internet connection that works with PPPoE when connected by ethernet to my laptop. I cannot get my Airport Extreme Base station to work.

My internet connection was set up yesterday. It's great fun trying to talk tech when you can't speak Chinese

I got the laptop set up. I have some kind of internet interface device the telephone company provided. I have a user name and password. I set it up so I can use the internet when I connect with ethernet to the port on the interface device (there are several but I'm not sure what it is) but when I try to set up my Airport E. Base station I can't get it to work. I've tried using the same settings (PPPoE) but it doesn't register.

I'm in the North of Kunming and haven't found any English speaking techies here yet. The internet is fast and good, just can't get my wifi working.

Anyone? Can you help? Please!

Thanks