Author Archives: Peter Sahui

This Week I Learned: Innovation Edition

If there’s one theme this week, it’s innovation –  MacGyver-style “doing more with less” (lamps made from a bottle of water); amusing gimmickry (giant soft toys + cafe = win); and the biases that, depressingly, extend to funding innovation. Read … Continue reading

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This Week I Learned: Banknote Bacteria

I’m reading Ian Morris’ War: What Is It Good For?, a big-picture world history with a rather startling thesis. However, as with Morris’ earlier book, the excellent Why The West Rules — For Now, the real highlight isn’t the thesis … Continue reading

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This Week I Learned: French Martial Edition

From time to time I see old articles doing the rounds, and one of them is the remarkable story of the only woman to serve in the French Foreign Legion. On a related note, consider this meal. Starter: Deer terrine. … Continue reading

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This Week I Learned: The Geography of Fame

I have just one link this week, but it’s a good one — about the geographic origin of notable Americans (as defined by Wikipedia). Enjoy!

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This Week I Learned: Culinary Edition

Well, I’m updating this less frequently than I thought I would, but the bright side is that gives me time to cherry-pick the very best links! Today’s crop are all great:   Here is an excellent interview with Bill Gates, … Continue reading

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This Week I Learned – Peoples of the Earth Edition

And we’re back! Some great stories have come through since my last update:   Japan’s ageing society is well known — this is how it copes. Great look at some of the individuals behind the numbers, from a retired headmaster … Continue reading

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High Street Retail – The Strand Arcade, Sydney – taken in November 2013

The Strand Arcade is a Sydney mall completed in 1891. Its ground-level floors contain more mainstream shops, such as fashion outlets, and there’s a large electronics retailer in the basement. However, its upper floors are home to nichier offerings such … Continue reading

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Books read

How Asia Works, by Joe Studwell. One part explanation of how Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and most recently, China have modernised since the end of WW2 — and one part caustic polemic about why Southeast Asia hasn’t matched up. The discussion of … Continue reading

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Melbourne observations

 (Disclaimer: based on a very small sample size.)   * Depicted above is one of the best signs I have seen, part of an official safety campaign. That particular photo is from the official Facebook page, but I saw rhino posters … Continue reading

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Musical Monster – December 2013

This Elmo was playing the Mos Eisley Cantina theme from Star Wars.

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