In the Atlantic by James Fallows (How the West Was Wired) October, 2008. The article details the difficulties of surviving in western China. The authors list several obstacles such as isolationism, poverty and a lack of education. Mr. Fallows highlights the work of college classmates Sayling Wen and Kenny Lin and their lofty goal of modernizing western China by connecting isolated areas with major cities via the internet. The duo succeeded on many fronts including the construction of a major business resort and the creation of a “Town and Talent” center focused on training citizens for life in major eastern cities. The “Town and Talent “centers have accomplished some goals. Abstract by Traci Turreo

On the Atlantic.com by Robert D. Kaplan (Lifting the Bamboo Curtain), August, 2008. Burma became a strategic battleground when China and India began influencing the country. Burma, inhabited by peaceful people has beautiful landscape that is littered with Teak trees, coconut palms, black and ocher mud from the heavy rains, and tall, chaotic grasses. The Thai military has been on the lookout for Karen soldiers, who have been fighting the Burmese government since 1948. Endless conflict and gross, regime-inflicted poverty have kept Burma primitive enough to maintain an aura of romance. Only a small region in the north, inhabited largely by the Kachin tribe, was completely free from bandits or insurgent armies. Burma is a prize to be contested, and China and India are not-so-subtly vying for it.