Looking sharp can be hard work. Many professionals (men especially) would like to dress to impress, but find shopping tedious or confusing.Now some new startups are making it more convenient to achieve that sartorial polish. The Wall Street Journal reports that a number of new enterprises are providing personal stylist services online. There are variations on […]

While the green lobby pushes for electric cars and carbon-trading schemes, a group of scientists and agriculture experts are quietly making serious progress that could reap dividends for the environment. A group of agricultural engineers, including employees of agribusiness companies like Monsanto, are experimenting with techniques to help crops thrive with minimal water. Farmers who have struggled […]

The second stage on my India trip took me to one of the most dynamic places in the world: Mumbai. Hyderabad is a great Indian city; Mumbai is a global metropolis. With more than 20 million people in the metro area, it’s about as big as cities get, and as the financial and entertainment capital […]

Is the smart money getting out of China? There seem to be increased signs that both foreign and Chinese investors are moving their money out of the Middle Kingdom. Here’s the Wall Street Journal: New data published by China’s central bank Tuesday showed China’s banks were net sellers of 3.8 billion yuan ($597 million) in […]

By Chris MeadHello from Walter Mead’s younger brother Chris. On my last birthday I found a large crate at my house, courtesy of Walter. Now I’m stuck with a large four-legged creature for a good portion of the rest of my life. (Walter is afraid I will send him a monkey in revenge for Riley, the […]

Every year on August 15, the date of Japan’s surrender in World War II, Japanese officials visit the Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo to honor the country’s war dead. The shrine honors a number of convicted war criminals, and the visits anger Asian countries that greatly suffered under Japanese rule. This year’s visit comes with tensions […]

Does China now have its own Solyndra scandal?An article in Caixin online (h/t Marginal Revolution) traces the downward trajectory of Chinese company LDK Solar Hi-tech Co. Ltd, which has marked similarities to the Solyndra story. As in America, the government sent billions of Yuan to a promising solar company, only to be left holding the bag […]

The twilight battle over the effectiveness of sanctions against Iran is one of the most important world events happening today. There is a real chance that effective sanctions, consistently applied, could head off war with Iran.On one hand, the sanctions are clearly working. Iranian oil production is at a 20-year low, its currency has lost […]

A new study puts Social Security’s funding gap at $30 trillion dollars over the next 75 years. Meanwhile, the program has been paying out more than it’s been taking in since 2010. The Washington Post reports: The projected shortfall in 2033 is $623 billion, according to the trustees’ latest report. It reaches $1 trillion in 2045 […]

As regular followers of Via Meadia will know, WRM is currently in India for the month. He and AI staffer Peter Mellgard will be posting images from the various spots on their trip.