ROCKY - IF HE HAD BEEN FRENCH...
Link
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
ANSWERS ON A POSTCARD PLEASE
Can someone please explain to me why SimonWorld (to be referred to from now on as LinkFest in an attempt to provoke Phil at Flying Chair to start moaning again like he did about HarbourFest), which started as tales of an expat and then morphed into "East meets Westerner" is currently being written by someone talking about moving from Iowa to South Dakota - this is nothing to do with Asia and not interesting. I have no idea where either state is (I guess they're probably two of the big, empty square-shaped ones in the middle) and even less interest.
Will you please go away whoever you are.
Can someone please explain to me why SimonWorld (to be referred to from now on as LinkFest in an attempt to provoke Phil at Flying Chair to start moaning again like he did about HarbourFest), which started as tales of an expat and then morphed into "East meets Westerner" is currently being written by someone talking about moving from Iowa to South Dakota - this is nothing to do with Asia and not interesting. I have no idea where either state is (I guess they're probably two of the big, empty square-shaped ones in the middle) and even less interest.
Will you please go away whoever you are.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
FARMERS WHINGEING
Small family farms "may vanish"
Many moons ago my parents were friendly with the then president of the National Farmers Union. He was regularly on TV and in the press bemoaning the lot of the farmers and how hard done by they were by the Common Agricultural Policy. What somehow never made the press however was that he would arrive for these interviews in a 1930's supercharged Bentley that had a racing pedigree and was worth probably GBP250,000 (this was in the days when GBP250,000 was a lot of money) .
I'd better not mention his name as he was a referee for me when I was applying for jobs, but ever since then I've treated the moans and complaints of all farmers with huge scepticism.
Small family farms "may vanish"
Many moons ago my parents were friendly with the then president of the National Farmers Union. He was regularly on TV and in the press bemoaning the lot of the farmers and how hard done by they were by the Common Agricultural Policy. What somehow never made the press however was that he would arrive for these interviews in a 1930's supercharged Bentley that had a racing pedigree and was worth probably GBP250,000 (this was in the days when GBP250,000 was a lot of money) .
I'd better not mention his name as he was a referee for me when I was applying for jobs, but ever since then I've treated the moans and complaints of all farmers with huge scepticism.
REASONS NOT TO GO BACK TO MUD ISLAND - AN ONGOING SERIES
Tube air "better than outdoors"
Anyone who has ever been on the London underground will appreciate why the news that it's fetid, rancid air is actually cleaner than that above ground is a cause for concern about London air, not celebration of the air in the Tube.
Tube air "better than outdoors"
Anyone who has ever been on the London underground will appreciate why the news that it's fetid, rancid air is actually cleaner than that above ground is a cause for concern about London air, not celebration of the air in the Tube.
We have really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language - Oscar Wilde
I've just remembered that bizarrely watching Teletubbies gave me one of those "surely not" moments regarding the good old U.S. of A yesterday.
You know how when you put a DVD on (any DVD, not just teletubbies) you get a really annoying menu screen which takes ages to load and has a whole load of options when all you want the damn thing to do is play? Well you get that with Teletubbies too (unless you're a parent you will have no concepot of just how annoying the Teletubbies version is). So I put the DVD on last night and was presented with said screen. One of the options is language selection.
Well I had a moment of inspiration. I though given our little lad is still getting to grips with English, I could put it onto say Mandarin, or French, or Spanish or some such and get him going on those. He'll never notice and will be speaking a different language without even knowing it. Clever eh.
So I scrolled to language selection and hit enter.
What I hadn't realised is that out Teletubbies DVD came from the American shop at Fenwick Pier, and so is very very American.
When the language screen came up I was presented with two options. There was a picture of an American flag and.....
wait for it....
not the Spanish flag you might expect given the huge hispanic population of the US but....
the Canadian Flag!
In a moment of lunacy I thought maybe it might be French so I clicked on it, but no..... it is in English again, only with an even sillier accent than the American version.
Do Americans really think Canadian is a foreign language?
I have a horrible feeling the answer is Yes
Germaine - I look forward to your thoughts on this
I've just remembered that bizarrely watching Teletubbies gave me one of those "surely not" moments regarding the good old U.S. of A yesterday.
You know how when you put a DVD on (any DVD, not just teletubbies) you get a really annoying menu screen which takes ages to load and has a whole load of options when all you want the damn thing to do is play? Well you get that with Teletubbies too (unless you're a parent you will have no concepot of just how annoying the Teletubbies version is). So I put the DVD on last night and was presented with said screen. One of the options is language selection.
Well I had a moment of inspiration. I though given our little lad is still getting to grips with English, I could put it onto say Mandarin, or French, or Spanish or some such and get him going on those. He'll never notice and will be speaking a different language without even knowing it. Clever eh.
So I scrolled to language selection and hit enter.
What I hadn't realised is that out Teletubbies DVD came from the American shop at Fenwick Pier, and so is very very American.
When the language screen came up I was presented with two options. There was a picture of an American flag and.....
wait for it....
not the Spanish flag you might expect given the huge hispanic population of the US but....
the Canadian Flag!
In a moment of lunacy I thought maybe it might be French so I clicked on it, but no..... it is in English again, only with an even sillier accent than the American version.
Do Americans really think Canadian is a foreign language?
I have a horrible feeling the answer is Yes
Germaine - I look forward to your thoughts on this
BARNEY v TELETUBBIES
What a marvellous weekend. Happy Birthday Buddha and many thanks for making your birthday a monday this year.
I spent the weekend in the bosom of my family, which, of necessity when that family includes a 21 month old and a 9 month old, means that some time was spent in front of the TV attempting to instill some much-needed peace into proceedings with a few Barney and Teletubby DVDs.
It was at the end of one of these shows, while I was wondering why no one had punched Barney in the face, that it suddenly occurred to me that Hollywood is missing out on some great potential.
Following along from all the recent translations of kids cartoons and TV shows into movies, Spiderman, X-Men, The Hulk, Thunderbirds etc surely it is only a mater of time until Barney and the Teletubbies make it to the big screen. Of course young kids wouldn’t be able to go on their own to see these movies, and there is no way any sane adult is going to take them (a 30 minute video is painful enough already), so instead of making it some twee kiddsy type thing how about pitching it at the poor parents who have to suffer through these things and making it something they would enjoy – i.e. along the lines oif Alien vs Predator except with Barney and his sidekicks, Baby Bop and the alarmingly named BJ vs the Teletubbies.
You could arm Tinky Winky with an AK-47 for example instead of a very dubious handbag, and Po’s scooter could be traded for an F-15 fighter. Baby Bop could trade her yellow blankie in for a flame thrower, or a surface-to-surface missile launcher. Barney could learn a few Matrix style martial arts type moves. The options are endless.
It could be a great action movie, and hopefully the scriptwriters could engineer it so we have the gratifying sight at the end of all of protagonists dismembered and very very dead.
What a marvellous weekend. Happy Birthday Buddha and many thanks for making your birthday a monday this year.
I spent the weekend in the bosom of my family, which, of necessity when that family includes a 21 month old and a 9 month old, means that some time was spent in front of the TV attempting to instill some much-needed peace into proceedings with a few Barney and Teletubby DVDs.
It was at the end of one of these shows, while I was wondering why no one had punched Barney in the face, that it suddenly occurred to me that Hollywood is missing out on some great potential.
Following along from all the recent translations of kids cartoons and TV shows into movies, Spiderman, X-Men, The Hulk, Thunderbirds etc surely it is only a mater of time until Barney and the Teletubbies make it to the big screen. Of course young kids wouldn’t be able to go on their own to see these movies, and there is no way any sane adult is going to take them (a 30 minute video is painful enough already), so instead of making it some twee kiddsy type thing how about pitching it at the poor parents who have to suffer through these things and making it something they would enjoy – i.e. along the lines oif Alien vs Predator except with Barney and his sidekicks, Baby Bop and the alarmingly named BJ vs the Teletubbies.
You could arm Tinky Winky with an AK-47 for example instead of a very dubious handbag, and Po’s scooter could be traded for an F-15 fighter. Baby Bop could trade her yellow blankie in for a flame thrower, or a surface-to-surface missile launcher. Barney could learn a few Matrix style martial arts type moves. The options are endless.
It could be a great action movie, and hopefully the scriptwriters could engineer it so we have the gratifying sight at the end of all of protagonists dismembered and very very dead.
Friday, May 13, 2005
THE WHINGERS ARE AT IT AGAIN
The same people who killed off HarbourFest with their sniping and prevented it from becoming an annual event are now whingeing that Hong Kong should not build a new multipurpose stadium on the site of the old Kai Tak airport
According to one... "Given the 40,000 seat stadium in Causeway Bay is full for exactly 3 days a year, it's hard to see why Hong Kong needs a 70,000 seat stadium at Kai Tak." while the whinger-in-chief, Phil over at Flying Chair (which for some reason I seem unable to link to) complains that it'll cost "HK$3900 each. I only wish I had that spare right now." (http://www.flyingchair.net/story.php?storyID=1258)
What a load of crap.
The reason the current stadium is rarely used is that it was designed as a sports venue and so is unsuitable for concerts etc. It is also uncovered and in the middle of a residential area. Kai Tak is not a residential area and the proposed stadium will have a retractable roof to keep noise in. It will therefore be possible to use it much more for both sporting and music events.
Phil if you really can't spare HK$3,900 then a) you probably aren't a taxpayer in the first place in which case it is costing you nothing, and b) perhaps you could sell one of the expensive cameras you lug around with you everywhere so that you can delight with us all photos of your breakfast(http://www.flyingchair.net/trackback.php?storyID=1118).
Lastly, and most importantly, if they build a new stadium then the government can sell the current So Kan Po site to a property developer for a squillion dollars and make money out of the deal.
Think it through boys.
The same people who killed off HarbourFest with their sniping and prevented it from becoming an annual event are now whingeing that Hong Kong should not build a new multipurpose stadium on the site of the old Kai Tak airport
According to one... "Given the 40,000 seat stadium in Causeway Bay is full for exactly 3 days a year, it's hard to see why Hong Kong needs a 70,000 seat stadium at Kai Tak." while the whinger-in-chief, Phil over at Flying Chair (which for some reason I seem unable to link to) complains that it'll cost "HK$3900 each. I only wish I had that spare right now." (http://www.flyingchair.net/story.php?storyID=1258)
What a load of crap.
The reason the current stadium is rarely used is that it was designed as a sports venue and so is unsuitable for concerts etc. It is also uncovered and in the middle of a residential area. Kai Tak is not a residential area and the proposed stadium will have a retractable roof to keep noise in. It will therefore be possible to use it much more for both sporting and music events.
Phil if you really can't spare HK$3,900 then a) you probably aren't a taxpayer in the first place in which case it is costing you nothing, and b) perhaps you could sell one of the expensive cameras you lug around with you everywhere so that you can delight with us all photos of your breakfast(http://www.flyingchair.net/trackback.php?storyID=1118).
Lastly, and most importantly, if they build a new stadium then the government can sell the current So Kan Po site to a property developer for a squillion dollars and make money out of the deal.
Think it through boys.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
DAWN OF THE DEAD
Seeing this post over at Wanbro made me wonder...
What is it with people and the dawn?
Everywhere you go some git is trying to get you up at 3am to go to the top of some mountain / temple / up in a hot air balloon / on the back of a camel to see the dawn break over a valley / a mountain / a canyon / a temple / herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain. (* delete as applicable)
Why. It's dawn for God's sake. That means that a) it's fcuking early and I'm on holiday so why would I get up early? That's what I'm on holiday to avoid, and b) it's the same as sunset, only the light is on the other side of whatever it is you're looking at.
So go see the same things at sunset instead. Not only is it a much more civilised time, but people don't look at you quite so oddly when you produce a bottle of something medicinal and proceed to have a few sundowners.
Seeing this post over at Wanbro made me wonder...
What is it with people and the dawn?
Everywhere you go some git is trying to get you up at 3am to go to the top of some mountain / temple / up in a hot air balloon / on the back of a camel to see the dawn break over a valley / a mountain / a canyon / a temple / herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain. (* delete as applicable)
Why. It's dawn for God's sake. That means that a) it's fcuking early and I'm on holiday so why would I get up early? That's what I'm on holiday to avoid, and b) it's the same as sunset, only the light is on the other side of whatever it is you're looking at.
So go see the same things at sunset instead. Not only is it a much more civilised time, but people don't look at you quite so oddly when you produce a bottle of something medicinal and proceed to have a few sundowners.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
"STRIPPING IS ART"
May 4 (Bloomberg) -- Diamond Go Go Bar, a Norwegian bar with
exotic dancers, doesn't have to pay value-added tax on entrance
fees as stripping has been included in a tax exemption covering
ballet and other types of dance performances, Aftenposten
reported, citing court documents.
The bar in downtown Oslo won't have to pay a 1 million-krone
(US$159,500) tax claim because the Oslo City Court concluded that
stripping is an art form in line with ballet, the newspaper said.
``It's well known that that at certain venues, especially
abroad, one may see exceptionally beautiful artists, who move
graciously to music, and who with sensuous movements gradually
undress, giving many restaurant guests a very good experience,''
the newspaper cited the court as saying.
This means that Wan Chai is in fact the artistic hub of Hong Kong, and Cultureport is unnecessary before it's been built.
Also I know what my reply will be next time Mrs C, a ballet fan, suggests an evening of culture...
May 4 (Bloomberg) -- Diamond Go Go Bar, a Norwegian bar with
exotic dancers, doesn't have to pay value-added tax on entrance
fees as stripping has been included in a tax exemption covering
ballet and other types of dance performances, Aftenposten
reported, citing court documents.
The bar in downtown Oslo won't have to pay a 1 million-krone
(US$159,500) tax claim because the Oslo City Court concluded that
stripping is an art form in line with ballet, the newspaper said.
``It's well known that that at certain venues, especially
abroad, one may see exceptionally beautiful artists, who move
graciously to music, and who with sensuous movements gradually
undress, giving many restaurant guests a very good experience,''
the newspaper cited the court as saying.
This means that Wan Chai is in fact the artistic hub of Hong Kong, and Cultureport is unnecessary before it's been built.
Also I know what my reply will be next time Mrs C, a ballet fan, suggests an evening of culture...
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Monday, April 25, 2005
PERHAPS ESPNSTAR WERE RIGHT AFTER ALL
I went to Delaneys and watched the game on Sunday night.
Oh dear oh dear.
Leicester only have themseves to blame.
They let in a soft try after only two minutes, then dominated the rest of the first half but contirved to drop the ball three times with the try line beckoning, and could only manage to score three penalties to go in at half time 10-9 down.
In the second half play was much more even but the crucial first try of the half went to Toulouse. It was a great try if you ignore the fact that the final pass was clearly forward. Sadly that left Leicester eigth points adrift and playing catch-up rugby, which always leaves a side vulnerable as they have to commit all to attack and leave their defence exposed. Sure enough, after an exchange of penalties, Toulouse scored another try to stretch their lead further and it was all over. A consolation try in the final minute for Leicester made the scoreline slightly less embarrassing but in the end we had the chances to win and just didn't take them. Against opposition like Toulouse you can't afford to do that.
And merci to the Frenchman who bought me a consolation beer. Your Toulouse accent was so thick, and my French so rusty, that I could barely understand a word you said but the beer was much appreciated, and needed.
Next year...
I went to Delaneys and watched the game on Sunday night.
Oh dear oh dear.
Leicester only have themseves to blame.
They let in a soft try after only two minutes, then dominated the rest of the first half but contirved to drop the ball three times with the try line beckoning, and could only manage to score three penalties to go in at half time 10-9 down.
In the second half play was much more even but the crucial first try of the half went to Toulouse. It was a great try if you ignore the fact that the final pass was clearly forward. Sadly that left Leicester eigth points adrift and playing catch-up rugby, which always leaves a side vulnerable as they have to commit all to attack and leave their defence exposed. Sure enough, after an exchange of penalties, Toulouse scored another try to stretch their lead further and it was all over. A consolation try in the final minute for Leicester made the scoreline slightly less embarrassing but in the end we had the chances to win and just didn't take them. Against opposition like Toulouse you can't afford to do that.
And merci to the Frenchman who bought me a consolation beer. Your Toulouse accent was so thick, and my French so rusty, that I could barely understand a word you said but the beer was much appreciated, and needed.
Next year...
Friday, April 22, 2005
THE MOTORING SECTION
Hmmmmm - the thread below is currently on AsiaXpat under the "practical" listing
saab convertible servicing
Posted by georgette (20 hrs ago)
Any good recommendations for a mechanic that specializes in Saabs, not just the engine but the soft top as well. Perferrably on the HK side.Many thanks.
Posted by Royleung (19 hrs ago)
yeshttp://www.triplerichmotors.com/
Posted by fpmr (59 mins ago)
yes HP Cars, expat qualified staff-not only mechanics, but auto electricians (that's what you need for your roof)located in Chai Wan -25580222 ask for Hamish. They do all makes of cars.
Hmmmmm - the thread below is currently on AsiaXpat under the "practical" listing
saab convertible servicing
Posted by georgette (20 hrs ago)
Any good recommendations for a mechanic that specializes in Saabs, not just the engine but the soft top as well. Perferrably on the HK side.Many thanks.
Posted by Royleung (19 hrs ago)
yeshttp://www.triplerichmotors.com/
Posted by fpmr (59 mins ago)
yes HP Cars, expat qualified staff-not only mechanics, but auto electricians (that's what you need for your roof)located in Chai Wan -25580222 ask for Hamish. They do all makes of cars.
Fumier - What do you think we should recommend she does with her Saab?
ESPNSTAR ARE CRAP RANT
So here we are – Heineken European Cup Semi-final weekend is upon us, and 2 cracking games of Rugby are in store.
On Saturday we have an all French tie - Stade Francais vs Biarritz in Paris at Parc des Princes. As of Thursdday nightnearly 40,000 tickets had been sold for the game.
On Sunday we have Leicester (the sole remaining non-French team, and 2 time winners of the Cup) vs Toulouse (also 2 time winners) in Leicester, in front of a 32,000 sell-out crowd. Indeed demand to see the game was such that it has been moved from Leicester’s home ground of Welford Road, which seats 18,000 with temporary seating in place, to the Football clubs ground at Walkers Stadium, and it is only the 32,000 capacity of that ground which prevented more tickets being sold.
All 4 teams are bristling with internationals, and are on peak form. Both games will be massive events
Surely games as big as these will be on ESPN/STAR – “The world leader in sports”
Saturday’s game will be a 10pm kick off HK/Sing time, and Sunday’s at 10.30pm
So let’s check the schedules…..
Saturday night –
ESPN – 10pm – Soccer
UEFA Champions League Quarter Final - REPEAT. Not a new game. Not a live game. But a repeat of an old game.
STAR Sports – 10pm - Golf
A REPEAT of something called Tiger Skins Golf 2005. Never even heard of it.
Sunday night –
ESPN – 9pm Soccer
Messina v Inter Milan – LIVE – hurrah – legitimate live sport. Fair enough. Finishes at 11pm though so could show the Leicester game on a 30 min delay.
11pm – Billiards. Higlights (if there are such things) of the San Miguel Asian 9 Ball tour from Jakarta. YOU HAVE GO TO BE KIDDING
STAR Sports
10.30pm – Tennis – a REPEAT of a Men’s semi-final match from the US Claycourt championships at Houston, Texas.
Not a hint of Rugby.
Looks like I’ll be round at my neighbours with their dodgy satellite feed yet again.
Well Done ESPNSTAR
You have truly plumbed the depths in Sports coverage.
Not only can you not even manage to show the Super 12 games live, and they are surely of huge interest around Asia to the large Aussie, Kiwi and South African expat communities, as well as rugby fans from elsewhere, but the semi finals of what is arguably the worlds premier club competition don’t even make it on the the list to be shown at all, even after the event.
So here we are – Heineken European Cup Semi-final weekend is upon us, and 2 cracking games of Rugby are in store.
On Saturday we have an all French tie - Stade Francais vs Biarritz in Paris at Parc des Princes. As of Thursdday nightnearly 40,000 tickets had been sold for the game.
On Sunday we have Leicester (the sole remaining non-French team, and 2 time winners of the Cup) vs Toulouse (also 2 time winners) in Leicester, in front of a 32,000 sell-out crowd. Indeed demand to see the game was such that it has been moved from Leicester’s home ground of Welford Road, which seats 18,000 with temporary seating in place, to the Football clubs ground at Walkers Stadium, and it is only the 32,000 capacity of that ground which prevented more tickets being sold.
All 4 teams are bristling with internationals, and are on peak form. Both games will be massive events
Surely games as big as these will be on ESPN/STAR – “The world leader in sports”
Saturday’s game will be a 10pm kick off HK/Sing time, and Sunday’s at 10.30pm
So let’s check the schedules…..
Saturday night –
ESPN – 10pm – Soccer
UEFA Champions League Quarter Final - REPEAT. Not a new game. Not a live game. But a repeat of an old game.
STAR Sports – 10pm - Golf
A REPEAT of something called Tiger Skins Golf 2005. Never even heard of it.
Sunday night –
ESPN – 9pm Soccer
Messina v Inter Milan – LIVE – hurrah – legitimate live sport. Fair enough. Finishes at 11pm though so could show the Leicester game on a 30 min delay.
11pm – Billiards. Higlights (if there are such things) of the San Miguel Asian 9 Ball tour from Jakarta. YOU HAVE GO TO BE KIDDING
STAR Sports
10.30pm – Tennis – a REPEAT of a Men’s semi-final match from the US Claycourt championships at Houston, Texas.
Not a hint of Rugby.
Looks like I’ll be round at my neighbours with their dodgy satellite feed yet again.
Well Done ESPNSTAR
You have truly plumbed the depths in Sports coverage.
Not only can you not even manage to show the Super 12 games live, and they are surely of huge interest around Asia to the large Aussie, Kiwi and South African expat communities, as well as rugby fans from elsewhere, but the semi finals of what is arguably the worlds premier club competition don’t even make it on the the list to be shown at all, even after the event.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
DENTISTS
Just back from 2 hours lying in a dentist chair while some sadistic maniac armed with a drill and a syringe caused havoc in my mouth.
Top tip for trips to the dentists - take your iPod, preferably with lots of AC/DC and The Pogues on it. Make sure it's fully charged, and the settings allow you to turn up the volume till your ears bleed and the dentist is asking you to turn it down.
And following todays fun, here are a few things you don't want to hear at a dentists...
Sharp intake of breath followed by (to assistant) "Could you please ask Mrs X (presumably on reception) to call my next patient and cancel. And order some sandwiches too please."
"When do you have to be back at the office?"
"Will you have to talk much this afternoon at work?"
"Are you allergic to any painkillers?"
"I think we've got it fixed, but there's a chance...."
and finally, just as you are leaving,
"Do you have any Advil or Nurofen at the office?"
This could be a loooooong afternoon
And I have to go back for more next week.
UPDATE
4PM - the anaesthetic has now worn off, thought thankfully the Nurofen is doing a grand job of holding back the worst of the pain.
BUT - he has made the new fillings too big - I can;t properly close my teeth. Got to go back at 6 for more drilling and grinding. Fcuking great.
Mrs C - please make sure we have all the ingredients required for a HUGE gin and tonic when i get home.
Just back from 2 hours lying in a dentist chair while some sadistic maniac armed with a drill and a syringe caused havoc in my mouth.
Top tip for trips to the dentists - take your iPod, preferably with lots of AC/DC and The Pogues on it. Make sure it's fully charged, and the settings allow you to turn up the volume till your ears bleed and the dentist is asking you to turn it down.
And following todays fun, here are a few things you don't want to hear at a dentists...
Sharp intake of breath followed by (to assistant) "Could you please ask Mrs X (presumably on reception) to call my next patient and cancel. And order some sandwiches too please."
"When do you have to be back at the office?"
"Will you have to talk much this afternoon at work?"
"Are you allergic to any painkillers?"
"I think we've got it fixed, but there's a chance...."
and finally, just as you are leaving,
"Do you have any Advil or Nurofen at the office?"
This could be a loooooong afternoon
And I have to go back for more next week.
UPDATE
4PM - the anaesthetic has now worn off, thought thankfully the Nurofen is doing a grand job of holding back the worst of the pain.
BUT - he has made the new fillings too big - I can;t properly close my teeth. Got to go back at 6 for more drilling and grinding. Fcuking great.
Mrs C - please make sure we have all the ingredients required for a HUGE gin and tonic when i get home.