Gold Rush Discards, Prius, and Geopolitics

[LongBlade]

This is an interesting and somewhat complicated article on a number of issues.

First, it looks like some of the rocks discarded during the gold rushes of the 1800s may contain rare earth minerals used in today's electronics.

Second, two years ago China hiked the price of one of its minerals because it wanted to stick it to Japan.

Two years ago, China raised prices -- in the case of Neodymium, used to make Prius electric motors stronger and lighter, from $15 a kilogram in 2009 to $500 in 2011, while Dysprosium oxide used in lasers and halide lamps went from $114 a kilogram in 2010 to $2,830 in 2011. It's also about the time China cut off supplies to Japan, maker of the Prius, in a dispute over international fishing territory.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/07/21/rush-to-find-gold-rush-era-discards-that-could-fuel-cellphones-tvs/?test=latestnews#ixzz2ZiawELVf

N.B. that last sentence about the disputed islands that aren't disputed because Japan owns them.

Interesting.

[airboy]

China's rare earth price war has been written about extensively in the business press.

[bayonetbrant]

N.B. that last sentence about the disputed islands that aren't disputed because Japan owns them.

Japanese Plastic Model Trolls the Chinese Military

A new plastic model for a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force escort vessel is raising eyebrows in China.

The model's box art seems to feature the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning engulfed in flames and sinking. Japanese fighter jets fly overhead.

Originally a Soviet carrier, the Liaoning is known for its curved incline to, as South China Morning Post explains, "launch" aircraft from its deck. This is different from U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, which use a catapult-assisted system.

The model carries the words "Operation Senkaku", which refers to a set of islands that both China and Japan are claiming as their own.

Online in China, people have been quick to point out that the sinking aircraft carrier looks like the Liaoning. Xinhua, one of China's largest news sources, is even covering the plastic model, wondering why it mocks the Chinese navy. The reason, apparently, was that the Japanese navy has never lost to China or something to that effect.

However, online in Japan, people seemed to think it was a silly thing to get upset over, noting that it was just box art for a plastic model aimed at the military model maker niche. Some even pointed out that this model company in particular often has provocative box art and plastic models. Others said this was tame compared to all the hyper violent anti-Japanese dramas on Chinese TV.

With this newfound attention, some even pointed out that this model was headed for big sales. Everything according to keikaku, no doubt.

[Barthheart]

^Awesome!

[GDS_Starfury]

China's rare earth price war has been written about extensively in the business press.

National Geographic had a very interesting article about the amount of rare minerals in the hills and mountians of Afghanistan.
it would seem theyve got the majority of lithium thats easily accessible.

[TheCommandTent]

N.B. that last sentence about the disputed islands that aren't disputed because Japan owns them.

Japanese Plastic Model Trolls the Chinese Military

A new plastic model for a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force escort vessel is raising eyebrows in China.

The model's box art seems to feature the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning engulfed in flames and sinking. Japanese fighter jets fly overhead.

Originally a Soviet carrier, the Liaoning is known for its curved incline to, as South China Morning Post explains, "launch" aircraft from its deck. This is different from U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, which use a catapult-assisted system.

The model carries the words "Operation Senkaku", which refers to a set of islands that both China and Japan are claiming as their own.

Online in China, people have been quick to point out that the sinking aircraft carrier looks like the Liaoning. Xinhua, one of China's largest news sources, is even covering the plastic model, wondering why it mocks the Chinese navy. The reason, apparently, was that the Japanese navy has never lost to China or something to that effect.

However, online in Japan, people seemed to think it was a silly thing to get upset over, noting that it was just box art for a plastic model aimed at the military model maker niche. Some even pointed out that this model company in particular often has provocative box art and plastic models. Others said this was tame compared to all the hyper violent anti-Japanese dramas on Chinese TV.

With this newfound attention, some even pointed out that this model was headed for big sales. Everything according to keikaku, no doubt.

An international incident over a plastic model, now that would be something.   ;D

[GDS_Starfury]

for those wondering the company is Aoshima and theyve been around forever.  after looking through 8 pages of box art this is one of the very few that have an action scene and the only one that has a ship sinking in the backround.  the model can be found here:
http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS00726/Nav

[LongBlade]

for those wondering the company is Aoshima and theyve been around forever.  after looking through 8 pages of box art this is one of the very few that have an action scene and the only one that has a ship sinking in the backround.  the model can be found here:
http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS00726/Nav

I poked around Amazon and found at least three different ships called "Hyuga."

However, we're looking for the DDH-181 in operation Senkaku, and though it doesn't show the cover, I believe this is our huckleberry: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BEA45N8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BEA45N8&linkCode=as2&tag=grogheads-20

And I believe I'll be picking up that model tomorrow

[GDS_Starfury]

Ive always thought it was rather clever that they called their pocket carriers helicopter destroyers.  ;)

[GDS_Starfury]

And I believe I'll be picking up that model tomorrow

they make all their ships in the same scale as well as building of all kinds for dioramas and gaming.
and since its a waterline model you can make it either with the full hull or not.

[Windigo]

China's rare earth price war has been written about extensively in the business press.

and yet the rare earth elements aren't so rare... its the refining thats the bitch

[Staggerwing]

for those wondering the company is Aoshima and theyve been around forever.  after looking through 8 pages of box art this is one of the very few that have an action scene and the only one that has a ship sinking in the backround.  the model can be found here:
http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS00726/Nav

I poked around Amazon and found at least three different ships called "Hyuga."

However, we're looking for the DDH-181 in operation Senkaku, and though it doesn't show the cover, I believe this is our huckleberry: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BEA45N8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BEA45N8&linkCode=as2&tag=grogheads-20

And I believe I'll be picking up that model tomorrow

in the Amazon pic of the model I can see an Apache, a Cobra, and an Osprey. Anyone ID the third whirlybird in line? A Comanche, maybe?

[GDS_Starfury]

Kawasaki OH-1

[Staggerwing]

Ah, thanks.

BTW, while checking out the model I got this suggested to me by whatever digital Dobbie that Amazon assigned to me for my stay:

http://www.yoyo.com/p/diamond-select-star-trek-the-original-series-black-handle-phaser-812849?site=CA&utm_source=cse&utm_medium=cpc_Y&utm_term=XOK-174&utm_campaign=amazon&CA_6C15C=1932703704




Sorry about the image size. It was the only way I could link it.