Odd Lots · Thursday, July 2, 2026
Joe Wisenthal and Dan Wong discuss the pervasive phone usage in China, noting the advanced mobile infrastructure including widespread 5G. While it facilitates convenience like quick ordering and entertainment during long commutes, it also creates expectations of constant availability for work and social interactions, contributing to a sense of 'serene discontent'.
“And so there are some good parts here, but let's also get into the bad parts. So the bad parts are when you're when you're in China, you're kind of constantly expected to be on for your boss all the time.”
“So the national TFR rate in China, and this is the official data is one point oh high is zero point six, which is on par with Taipei and Soul. And there are aspects the richest parts of Shanghai the TFR official TFR is like zero point four.”
“So the other part of being in Yuen nine, which is in the southwest, this is the region where my family is from. You know, this is highly mountainous. It's essentially Tibet in the north, it's part of the Himalayas. Literally in the north and then in the south is basically a giant rainforest.”