Articles about a few human beings, thoughts about life, how debt drags down growth, Japan’s nuclear book industry, Germany’s commitment to the European project, America’s real debt problem, and an excellent Canadian population goal.

Han Han tweaking the Chinese establishment.

New Yorker -- The Han Dynasty
LETTER FROM CHINA about novelist, essayist, blogger, and race-car driver Han Han.

Charles Bronson is Britain’s violent and talented prisoner.

Independent – Visiting Time
After 34 years behind bars, the man labelled Britain's most dangerous inmate claims to be a reformed character. In an exclusive interview, Robert Verkaik comes face to face with the sinister, defiant – and charming – Charles Bronson.

Wendy Deng is Rupert Murdoch’s wife.

Independent -- Wendi Deng: The real power behind the throne
Wendi Deng has become an unlikely star of the hacking scandal, thanks to her feisty defence of Rupert Murdoch. Susannah Frankel discovers the truth about the 'tiger wife'.

Barry Armstrong is a returning veteran.

New York Times -- Returning Home From War
Since 1973, the Veterans Outreach Center in Rochester has been helping veterans of all wars return to civilian life.

Randy Channell is the owner of a traditional Japanese tea and sweet shop

Japan Times -- Canadian martial artist finds the way to tea of tranquility
The intricate stained glass window in the heavy wooden door provides an artistic and unusual welcome.

The examined life. Thanks to David of Victoria.

Pdf below -- A Roadmap to a Life that Matters

Quote worth quoting.

“Let's go somewhere that matters — not just somewhere that glitters”

The developed world’s debt challenge.

Financial Times – Developed World Cannot Thrive at ‘Stall Speed’
Debt is the disease – growth is the cure, but as the latter falters, economies and their associated financial markets hang in the balance.

Want to have a best selling book in Japan? Have ‘nuclear’ in the title. Thanks to Ken of Tokyo/Hong Kong.

Washington Post -- In Japan, nuclear bestsellers reflect new debate
A Japanese nuclear researcher with a four-decade track record of activism and obscurity was walking through Kansai International Airport a few weeks ago when he spotted a display of bestsellers at a bookstore.

How European does Germany want to become?

Telegraph -- Only Germany can save EMU as contagion turns systemic
Europe's leaders have finally run out of time.

Related.

Financial Times – Standing on the Precipice and Ready to Jump
I am not worried that the eurozone’s leaders will walk away from Thursday’s summit without a deal. Wednesday night’s reported, but not yet revealed, agreement between Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy firmly points in that direction.

Related.

Project Syndicate – How to End the Greek Tragedy
European leaders, faced with the reality of an insolvent Greece, are reportedly now considering a “Plan B” that would involve reducing the burden of its future debt payments.

The real debt problem isn’t the debt ceiling.

Time – Our Real Debt Problem
On Friday, I posted a piece on the U.S. debt and how we are creating a false crisis given current interest rates and our ability to manage that.

60 million upped to 100 million.

Globe and Mail -- Fulfilling Laurier’s vision: A Canada of 100 million
For the Liberals today, holding to what Trudeau called the radical middle on the political spectrum, solid ground is becoming narrower as both Conservatives and the NDP pretend to be liberals.