MOBILE PHONES
Everyone who has ever visited Hong Kong will know that everyone in the place is obsessed with their mobile phone. It has the highest market penetration rate in the world with 102 phones for every 100 members of the population (including babies). Your mobile will work in tunnels, on the MTR (Tube, Subway, Metro or MRT depending on where you come from), on top of mountains, at sea and anywhere else you can think of. Some people change their phones monthly or more to be sure they always have the latest model. In short no Hong Konger would ever knowingly be without their phone, and without a signal - mainly, I should add, so they can stop suddenly when I'm walking behind them to shout "WEI?" loudly into it the instant it rings and then look surprised when a large gweilo knocks them flying, but I digress.
I think however, that the obsession has gone too far...
HONG KONG, March 29 (Reuters) - A 14-year-old Hong Kong girl flew into a rage and chased her mother around their flat with a knife and wooden pole after she confiscated the teenager's mobile phone, a police spokeswoman said on Monday.
The terrified mother locked herself in the bedroom and police arrived at the scene on Saturday to see the girl in a frenzy, hacking at the door with the knife.
"They had to use pepper spray to subdue the girl before they could rescue the mother," the spokeswoman said.
The mother sustained slight injury to her arm, but no charges were made. Social workers are now handling the case.
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Beer taster wins compensation over alcoholism
A Brazilian has won increased compensation from a brewery after 20 years as a taster made him an alcoholic.
Master Brewer Bernd Naveke, 49, drank around eight litres of beer every working day while at the Brahma Brewery near Rio de Janeiro.
He was forced to leave his job after becoming a registered alcoholic and hasn't worked since.
In the original case he was awarded $30,000 (about £17,000) and a monthly pension for life equal to his old salary of $2,600 (£1,500).
"I had to drink up to eight litres of beer a day and I left work drunk every day," Naveke said.
During the original case the court ruled the company couldn't appeal the outcome, but Naveke appealed on the grounds the compensation wasn't enough.
Now a court in Rio has ordered the brewery to pay him $2m (£1.2m), according to O Globo.
Brilliant. Paid to drink beer for 20 years, then paid again because he's now an alcoholic!
A Brazilian has won increased compensation from a brewery after 20 years as a taster made him an alcoholic.
Master Brewer Bernd Naveke, 49, drank around eight litres of beer every working day while at the Brahma Brewery near Rio de Janeiro.
He was forced to leave his job after becoming a registered alcoholic and hasn't worked since.
In the original case he was awarded $30,000 (about £17,000) and a monthly pension for life equal to his old salary of $2,600 (£1,500).
"I had to drink up to eight litres of beer a day and I left work drunk every day," Naveke said.
During the original case the court ruled the company couldn't appeal the outcome, but Naveke appealed on the grounds the compensation wasn't enough.
Now a court in Rio has ordered the brewery to pay him $2m (£1.2m), according to O Globo.
Brilliant. Paid to drink beer for 20 years, then paid again because he's now an alcoholic!
MOVE OVER ATKINS - MAKE WAY FOR THE REVOLUTIONARY NEW SEVENS DIET
This morning I finally plucked up the courage to stand on the scales after a weekend of debauchery and discovered that I have finally fallen below the 80kg barrier. I have spent the last 3 years going to the gym, running (occasionally), playing squash and hiking in a desperate effort to go from 83kg to 80kg and nothing worked. Not a gram moved. Now it appears all that I needed is a weekend of beer, fried food and no sleep.
My theory is that it works on two levels. Firstly the fat in all the fried food forms a protective layer over your stomach lining preventing you from absorbing any nutrients from whatever you consume. Then, after you've consumed enough beer, all the contents of your stomach are expelled (I think we all know what I'm referring to) and you have effectively eaten and drunk for hours with no actual calories being taken in! Then you start the process all over again, usually the next day, although the truly dedicated follower of the Sevens Diet may try to restart the process immediately, as several adherents were seen to do over the weekend.
Now I just have to write a book about it and I'm made!
This morning I finally plucked up the courage to stand on the scales after a weekend of debauchery and discovered that I have finally fallen below the 80kg barrier. I have spent the last 3 years going to the gym, running (occasionally), playing squash and hiking in a desperate effort to go from 83kg to 80kg and nothing worked. Not a gram moved. Now it appears all that I needed is a weekend of beer, fried food and no sleep.
My theory is that it works on two levels. Firstly the fat in all the fried food forms a protective layer over your stomach lining preventing you from absorbing any nutrients from whatever you consume. Then, after you've consumed enough beer, all the contents of your stomach are expelled (I think we all know what I'm referring to) and you have effectively eaten and drunk for hours with no actual calories being taken in! Then you start the process all over again, usually the next day, although the truly dedicated follower of the Sevens Diet may try to restart the process immediately, as several adherents were seen to do over the weekend.
Now I just have to write a book about it and I'm made!
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
ERIC RUSH
It's official - Eric Rush has confirmed that he will not be here next year for the 7's (at least not as a player). Not only is it the end of an era, it's also the end of an elaborate self-delusion that as long as he was able to represent NZ at the age of 39 I would still have a shot at international sport if I wanted. I now have to finally admit that my sporting career peaked with representing my university at darts at the age of 19 and has been on a pretty slippery slope ever since (to the point where I was even beaten at darts in Whiskey Priest by Genghis a few weeks ago - the shame was almost unbearable). On the plus side it does mean I can finally throw away the huge, and now slightly mouldy, collection of old sports kit that I have built up over the years.
Ahhhhh what might have been...
It's official - Eric Rush has confirmed that he will not be here next year for the 7's (at least not as a player). Not only is it the end of an era, it's also the end of an elaborate self-delusion that as long as he was able to represent NZ at the age of 39 I would still have a shot at international sport if I wanted. I now have to finally admit that my sporting career peaked with representing my university at darts at the age of 19 and has been on a pretty slippery slope ever since (to the point where I was even beaten at darts in Whiskey Priest by Genghis a few weeks ago - the shame was almost unbearable). On the plus side it does mean I can finally throw away the huge, and now slightly mouldy, collection of old sports kit that I have built up over the years.
Ahhhhh what might have been...
The 7s
So it's all over for another year. That makes it 4 sevens tournaments I've been to (3 here and the inaugural Sevens World Cup in Edinburgh in 1993), every one of which has been won by England. I would ask the RFU to make me an official lucky mascot and send me to every tournament England play in but I actually think that would kill me. To be honest England didn't look as good as they did last year. They definitely missed Henry Paul, and were behind early-on in every single knockout game. The Fijians were clearly better in the forwards and won most scrums and a lot of turnover ball, the South Africans gave them a good scare in the backs, and in the final the Argentinians harried them like terriers but ultimately lacked any game plan other than run like mad things. We were saved by the pure speed of Richard Haughton, the dogged determination of Simon Amor and the ability of Pat Sanderson to make ground and suck in defenders with some direct running.
As for the non-rugby side... marvellous. Not an ounce of trouble anywhere that I saw or heard about, but huge quantities of beer consumed in various boxes, the tent, Wan Chai and L.K.F.. All sad and predictable I know but why go against a formula that has worked for years? Had 2 mates turn up from New York for 4 days and 2 from Singapore all of whom have gone home as pale shadows of their former selves, as I was yesterday.
Just about back up to speed now but it'll be another couple of days before I am at 100%
Thank God it only happens once a year.
So it's all over for another year. That makes it 4 sevens tournaments I've been to (3 here and the inaugural Sevens World Cup in Edinburgh in 1993), every one of which has been won by England. I would ask the RFU to make me an official lucky mascot and send me to every tournament England play in but I actually think that would kill me. To be honest England didn't look as good as they did last year. They definitely missed Henry Paul, and were behind early-on in every single knockout game. The Fijians were clearly better in the forwards and won most scrums and a lot of turnover ball, the South Africans gave them a good scare in the backs, and in the final the Argentinians harried them like terriers but ultimately lacked any game plan other than run like mad things. We were saved by the pure speed of Richard Haughton, the dogged determination of Simon Amor and the ability of Pat Sanderson to make ground and suck in defenders with some direct running.
As for the non-rugby side... marvellous. Not an ounce of trouble anywhere that I saw or heard about, but huge quantities of beer consumed in various boxes, the tent, Wan Chai and L.K.F.. All sad and predictable I know but why go against a formula that has worked for years? Had 2 mates turn up from New York for 4 days and 2 from Singapore all of whom have gone home as pale shadows of their former selves, as I was yesterday.
Just about back up to speed now but it'll be another couple of days before I am at 100%
Thank God it only happens once a year.
Monday, March 29, 2004
Friday, March 26, 2004
TEMPORARY INTERRRUPTION TO THIS BLOG OWING TO 7s
Next update is likely to be Monday at earliest.
Just a quick thought - England are not looking good to defend their title without Phgil Greening, Tony Roques, Ugo Monye and Henry Paul. All are important players and all are missing.
Having said that...
I have only been to three 7s tournaments in my life. England have played in, and won, every single one - 1993 World 7s at Murrayfield, 2002 HK 7s and 2003 HK7s. In fact until they won without my support in South Africa this year I had been present at the only tournaments they had ever won. I can only conclude therefore that my presence is vital to the fortunes of the team and I regard it as my patriotic duty to be there again all weekend this year.
Good weekend all.
Next update is likely to be Monday at earliest.
Just a quick thought - England are not looking good to defend their title without Phgil Greening, Tony Roques, Ugo Monye and Henry Paul. All are important players and all are missing.
Having said that...
I have only been to three 7s tournaments in my life. England have played in, and won, every single one - 1993 World 7s at Murrayfield, 2002 HK 7s and 2003 HK7s. In fact until they won without my support in South Africa this year I had been present at the only tournaments they had ever won. I can only conclude therefore that my presence is vital to the fortunes of the team and I regard it as my patriotic duty to be there again all weekend this year.
Good weekend all.
Thursday, March 25, 2004
MICROSOFT
So the European Commission has decided to fine Microsoft EUR497 million and ordered them to unbundle their software packages, in particular they want Windows Media Player taken out of the Windows Office package.
The argument for this is that it will encourage and allow consumers to shop around for thier various bits and pieces of software, thus increasing competiton, and allow other systems such as Sun and RealNetworks to compete in their various niches.
What a load of bollocks.
First of all, why should Microsoft be punished for being the only software provider able to cover the entire software market with 1 product? If Sun want to compete, they should put a media player into their package, not have courts force Microsoft to take theirs out.
When Anti-Brake Lock Systems (ABS) were first launched by whichever company developed them as a feature on their cars, the other car companies didn't go to the courts to have it taken off their vehicles because thir own products were now inferior, they went to their engineers to get them to develop a similar system for their own cars.
Secondly - why the hell woud I want to shop around for various systems to do various different things? Especially when those systems probably won't talk to each other and every time you install one it fucks up all the others and takes days to get everything up and running again. I want to go to a shop, buy 1 package, have everything work, and never have to think about it again.
Most of us can't even master all the features on our mobile phones let alone all the intricacies of the software our pc's. I'm sure there are a few geeks out there who are happy about this but for the bulk of us this is a nightmare.
The real reason behind this simply has to be that the European Commisision are trying to prove how powerful they are by bullying Microsoft. Unfortunately for them Microsoft has a cash pile of $50 billion so the fine will be paid from petty cash, and they are appealing which will take years, by which time the systems will all be redundant anyway and the market will have moved on.
If I were Microsoft I'd just pull my products and support from the European market and wait for the howls of protest from the public to force the European Commission to backtrack.
So the European Commission has decided to fine Microsoft EUR497 million and ordered them to unbundle their software packages, in particular they want Windows Media Player taken out of the Windows Office package.
The argument for this is that it will encourage and allow consumers to shop around for thier various bits and pieces of software, thus increasing competiton, and allow other systems such as Sun and RealNetworks to compete in their various niches.
What a load of bollocks.
First of all, why should Microsoft be punished for being the only software provider able to cover the entire software market with 1 product? If Sun want to compete, they should put a media player into their package, not have courts force Microsoft to take theirs out.
When Anti-Brake Lock Systems (ABS) were first launched by whichever company developed them as a feature on their cars, the other car companies didn't go to the courts to have it taken off their vehicles because thir own products were now inferior, they went to their engineers to get them to develop a similar system for their own cars.
Secondly - why the hell woud I want to shop around for various systems to do various different things? Especially when those systems probably won't talk to each other and every time you install one it fucks up all the others and takes days to get everything up and running again. I want to go to a shop, buy 1 package, have everything work, and never have to think about it again.
Most of us can't even master all the features on our mobile phones let alone all the intricacies of the software our pc's. I'm sure there are a few geeks out there who are happy about this but for the bulk of us this is a nightmare.
The real reason behind this simply has to be that the European Commisision are trying to prove how powerful they are by bullying Microsoft. Unfortunately for them Microsoft has a cash pile of $50 billion so the fine will be paid from petty cash, and they are appealing which will take years, by which time the systems will all be redundant anyway and the market will have moved on.
If I were Microsoft I'd just pull my products and support from the European market and wait for the howls of protest from the public to force the European Commission to backtrack.
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
HONG KONG TOURISM
Fumier makes an excellent point re the HKTA marketing people and their pointless slogans and campaigns. They only ever seem to market themselves as a "shoppers paradise" while missing out on so much you can do outside of the city.
But now they've gone and made even the shopping unattractive!
The Customs and Excise Dept claim to have the sale of pirated goods "practically under control" and are planning to clamp down further.
No doubt this will appear to be great news to all the overpaid civil servants and local bigwigs who run things such as the HKTA. They are all obsessed with brand names and wouldn't be seen dead with a fake anything, as the queues of cantonese speakers in the boutiques come sale time demonstrate.
But what they don't understand is most foreigners who come here to go shopping do so specifically for the fakes. That's the fun part. Why would they come here just to buy the same Louis Vuitton / Prada / Rolex / Burberry / Tag / any-other-brand-name product that you can buy in every major western city? The whole point of shopping here is to go to the markets, buy fakes, and feel you're being a bit rebellious and taking a walk on the wild side in the dangerous and mysterious east instead of just popping to the local shopping mall at home.
Last year my sister and mother turned up with 3 empty suitcases between them and went home with them all full. Of fakes. Take away the fakes and their main reason for coming would be gone. (I'm under no illusion they were here to see me.).
The HKTA and the Customs and Excise Dept just don't understand gweilos!
Fumier makes an excellent point re the HKTA marketing people and their pointless slogans and campaigns. They only ever seem to market themselves as a "shoppers paradise" while missing out on so much you can do outside of the city.
But now they've gone and made even the shopping unattractive!
The Customs and Excise Dept claim to have the sale of pirated goods "practically under control" and are planning to clamp down further.
No doubt this will appear to be great news to all the overpaid civil servants and local bigwigs who run things such as the HKTA. They are all obsessed with brand names and wouldn't be seen dead with a fake anything, as the queues of cantonese speakers in the boutiques come sale time demonstrate.
But what they don't understand is most foreigners who come here to go shopping do so specifically for the fakes. That's the fun part. Why would they come here just to buy the same Louis Vuitton / Prada / Rolex / Burberry / Tag / any-other-brand-name product that you can buy in every major western city? The whole point of shopping here is to go to the markets, buy fakes, and feel you're being a bit rebellious and taking a walk on the wild side in the dangerous and mysterious east instead of just popping to the local shopping mall at home.
Last year my sister and mother turned up with 3 empty suitcases between them and went home with them all full. Of fakes. Take away the fakes and their main reason for coming would be gone. (I'm under no illusion they were here to see me.).
The HKTA and the Customs and Excise Dept just don't understand gweilos!
BET THERE WASN'T NOT MUCH OF A QUEUE FOR THIS JOB
The man left holding the parcel when the music stopped at the Hamas pass-the-leadership party is Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi
Why would anyone want this job? You immediately get a death sentence, especially if your first act is to promise to teach Israel "a lesson" and "promise they will know no security".
And how stupid are these people? How can they seriously see the death of the leader of Hamas as an evil act but sending teenagers wearing explosive waistcoats onto busses to kill people going to work is ok?
And if they are so anti-Israeli, why do they all go and work there and then bleat every time Israel seals the border complaining that they can't get to work? They want to destroy the state of Israel but not its economy? How the hell is that going to work?
Their double standards are doubly stupid and doubly breath-taking.
I started off in life trying to be understanding and see their point of view, but I'm afraid that I am slowly drifting towards the "seal the borders and let them all rot" mentality. Every time they have a chance to be sensible and put an end to to the killing they just do something even more stupid than before. They are never going to beat a state that has 100% U.S. support, and since they have vowed to fight to the death then it seems more and more likely that the result of their efforts will simply be the extinction of their people.
I for one won't miss them.
The man left holding the parcel when the music stopped at the Hamas pass-the-leadership party is Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi
Why would anyone want this job? You immediately get a death sentence, especially if your first act is to promise to teach Israel "a lesson" and "promise they will know no security".
And how stupid are these people? How can they seriously see the death of the leader of Hamas as an evil act but sending teenagers wearing explosive waistcoats onto busses to kill people going to work is ok?
And if they are so anti-Israeli, why do they all go and work there and then bleat every time Israel seals the border complaining that they can't get to work? They want to destroy the state of Israel but not its economy? How the hell is that going to work?
Their double standards are doubly stupid and doubly breath-taking.
I started off in life trying to be understanding and see their point of view, but I'm afraid that I am slowly drifting towards the "seal the borders and let them all rot" mentality. Every time they have a chance to be sensible and put an end to to the killing they just do something even more stupid than before. They are never going to beat a state that has 100% U.S. support, and since they have vowed to fight to the death then it seems more and more likely that the result of their efforts will simply be the extinction of their people.
I for one won't miss them.
NOW THIS IS ALARMING....
It has been known for ages that the Russians basically can't afford to maintain their armed forces, but the worlds real main powers all play along with the line that the Russians are still a major world power in an effort to prevent the Russian simply admitting defeat and selling their arms (including nuclear weapons) off to the highest bidder.
Now it seems it has reached crisis point, with their flagship being ordered back to port. The story was swiftly changed from "potential nuclear disaster" to "unsatisfactory accomodation" but does anyone really believe that a Russian naval ship would be ordered back to port because it's accomodation had suddenly become unsaatisafactory when it had been fine before (unless of course perhaps the accomodation quarters now glow at night due to radiation exposure and the crew can't sleep?).
This does however present a potential solution a few of the worlds problems. Perhaps we could start parking ageing Russian warships and subs off the coasts of places such as North Korea, Algeria and Saudi Arabia and waiting for them to explode, conveniently taking out a hostile regime in an act which can be described as an accident and solving the Russians problems of not having the capacity to decommission their fleet at the same time.
Of course Greenpeace would complain but otherwise I think I may have hit on winner.
It has been known for ages that the Russians basically can't afford to maintain their armed forces, but the worlds real main powers all play along with the line that the Russians are still a major world power in an effort to prevent the Russian simply admitting defeat and selling their arms (including nuclear weapons) off to the highest bidder.
Now it seems it has reached crisis point, with their flagship being ordered back to port. The story was swiftly changed from "potential nuclear disaster" to "unsatisfactory accomodation" but does anyone really believe that a Russian naval ship would be ordered back to port because it's accomodation had suddenly become unsaatisafactory when it had been fine before (unless of course perhaps the accomodation quarters now glow at night due to radiation exposure and the crew can't sleep?).
This does however present a potential solution a few of the worlds problems. Perhaps we could start parking ageing Russian warships and subs off the coasts of places such as North Korea, Algeria and Saudi Arabia and waiting for them to explode, conveniently taking out a hostile regime in an act which can be described as an accident and solving the Russians problems of not having the capacity to decommission their fleet at the same time.
Of course Greenpeace would complain but otherwise I think I may have hit on winner.
SIR CLIVE HAS LOST THE PLOT
Ollie Barkley had a great game against Wales at fly-half, and while I realise that France are a step-up in quality, I think he deserved to start the game, with Grayson coming on if it wasn't working out. But Sir Clive has not only gone for Grayson as first-choice, he's dropped Barkley so far he doesn't even make the bench! Mike Catt appears to be the bench cover for Grayson despite having consistently shown that his most effective position is at centre.
Normally I think Woodward walks on water, and I admire his hard-headedness and commitment to form over sentiment, but I think he has made 2 mistakes in firstly not picking Barkley to start the game, and then not at least giving him the comfort of being on the bench.
The full team is here for those who care...
Ollie Barkley had a great game against Wales at fly-half, and while I realise that France are a step-up in quality, I think he deserved to start the game, with Grayson coming on if it wasn't working out. But Sir Clive has not only gone for Grayson as first-choice, he's dropped Barkley so far he doesn't even make the bench! Mike Catt appears to be the bench cover for Grayson despite having consistently shown that his most effective position is at centre.
Normally I think Woodward walks on water, and I admire his hard-headedness and commitment to form over sentiment, but I think he has made 2 mistakes in firstly not picking Barkley to start the game, and then not at least giving him the comfort of being on the bench.
The full team is here for those who care...
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
SMALL OVERREACTION MAYBE?
NEW DELHI, March 22 (UPI) -- A New Delhi woman, upset that her husband and three children stayed glued to television to watch the India-Pakistan cricket series, has committed suicide.
Police said Anusuya Rawat, 36, set fire to herself because her children were watching TV instead of studying, the Times of India reported Monday.
Her husband D.S. Rawat told the police that following an argument; his wife retired to the bedroom while he and the three children watched the exciting match between India and Pakistan.
"When she did not return for a long time, I asked my elder daughter to go and check on her," Rawat said.
The daughter found the bathroom door closed and there was a strong smell of kerosene oil.
"I broke the door and found Anusuya inside. I took her to hospital. But, she was already dead," Rawat said.
Three more deaths, resulting from heart attacks, have been blamed on the cricket series that have produced some thrilling moments among the traditional enemies.
NEW DELHI, March 22 (UPI) -- A New Delhi woman, upset that her husband and three children stayed glued to television to watch the India-Pakistan cricket series, has committed suicide.
Police said Anusuya Rawat, 36, set fire to herself because her children were watching TV instead of studying, the Times of India reported Monday.
Her husband D.S. Rawat told the police that following an argument; his wife retired to the bedroom while he and the three children watched the exciting match between India and Pakistan.
"When she did not return for a long time, I asked my elder daughter to go and check on her," Rawat said.
The daughter found the bathroom door closed and there was a strong smell of kerosene oil.
"I broke the door and found Anusuya inside. I took her to hospital. But, she was already dead," Rawat said.
Three more deaths, resulting from heart attacks, have been blamed on the cricket series that have produced some thrilling moments among the traditional enemies.
Monday, March 22, 2004
Virgin Won't Put `Kisses' Urinal in New York Airport, Post Says
March 20 (Bloomberg) -- Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd., responding to critics, said it canceled plans to install urinals shaped like a woman's mouth in a restroom at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, the New York Post reported.
John Riordan, vice president of customer services at the second-largest U.K. airline, said in a written statement, ``We can assure everyone who complained that no offense was ever intended,'' the newspaper reported.
Rita Haley, president of the National Organization for Women's New York chapter, said at a news conference yesterday that use of the urinals would be ``a symbolic act of degrading and humiliating women.''
Riordan said Virgin intended the ``Kisses'' urinals, which resemble a woman's open mouth, to be ``fun and quirky.'' The urinals were to have been installed at Virgin's executive clubhouse at Kennedy, the newspaper said.
Didn't take long for some killjoy to scupper that idea, though I can't say i'm surprised.
March 20 (Bloomberg) -- Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd., responding to critics, said it canceled plans to install urinals shaped like a woman's mouth in a restroom at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, the New York Post reported.
John Riordan, vice president of customer services at the second-largest U.K. airline, said in a written statement, ``We can assure everyone who complained that no offense was ever intended,'' the newspaper reported.
Rita Haley, president of the National Organization for Women's New York chapter, said at a news conference yesterday that use of the urinals would be ``a symbolic act of degrading and humiliating women.''
Riordan said Virgin intended the ``Kisses'' urinals, which resemble a woman's open mouth, to be ``fun and quirky.'' The urinals were to have been installed at Virgin's executive clubhouse at Kennedy, the newspaper said.
Didn't take long for some killjoy to scupper that idea, though I can't say i'm surprised.
Virgin Atlantic clubhouse urinals are the shape of a woman's open mouth
How Virgin got away with this, especially in the States, I will never know
How Virgin got away with this, especially in the States, I will never know
SPIRITUAL LEADER OF HAMAS KILLED
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin has been killed during an Israeli airstrike.
I think Genghis's comment sums up my feelings perfectly - "the spritual leader is where he belongs - in the spirit world".
While I still don't think the Israeli policy of fighting fire with fire will actually ever help sole the problems in the region, I can understand why they have adopted it. No doubt this guy's death at the hands of an Israeli helicopter attack will only lead to huge protests, and probably huge violence, amongst the Arab community, but frankly the guy was a very senior member of a terrorist organisation who sent suicide bombers into Israel but didn't have the balls to go himself.
Now he's dead.
Good.
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin has been killed during an Israeli airstrike.
I think Genghis's comment sums up my feelings perfectly - "the spritual leader is where he belongs - in the spirit world".
While I still don't think the Israeli policy of fighting fire with fire will actually ever help sole the problems in the region, I can understand why they have adopted it. No doubt this guy's death at the hands of an Israeli helicopter attack will only lead to huge protests, and probably huge violence, amongst the Arab community, but frankly the guy was a very senior member of a terrorist organisation who sent suicide bombers into Israel but didn't have the balls to go himself.
Now he's dead.
Good.
6 NATIONS REVIEW
No shocks - Ireland thumped Italy, England beat Wales and France absolutely crushed Scotland (thank you God).
The best game was probably the England v Wales game. Many have made the point that Wales at one point in the second half led by 5 points, but it is an 80 minute game, not 60, and England were always going to be too strong. In the end a 10 point victory was probably about a fair reflection of the game. Wales looked good on the counter but the real consistent pressure was all English and they deserved to win in the end.
This sets up a great game next weekend to decide the title - France v England. Sadly this will kick off at 4am HK time and the chances of seeing it live after a day at the 7s are remote, but it should be a cracker. England have to win by 8 points to guarantee the title, while a France victory would give them the Grand Slam.
To be honest I can't see England beating France on their home turf on current form unless there is a lot of rain up to and on the day. no matter how often Woodward and co claim England now play a fast running game when it comes to it the players regular club games tend to be played in the mud and that is what suits England best. They certainly deal with it much better than the French. If it's dry though I think France will simply be too good, and while England may run them close the French should get their 4th Grand Slam in 8 years.
And at the other end of the table - Scotland will get the wooden spoon if they lose to Ireland in Ireland. On current form that should be a certainty, but you can never quite be sure with Ireland. Still they should be a class above the Scots and the demise of Scottish rugby will be confirmed. Teeheehee.
No shocks - Ireland thumped Italy, England beat Wales and France absolutely crushed Scotland (thank you God).
The best game was probably the England v Wales game. Many have made the point that Wales at one point in the second half led by 5 points, but it is an 80 minute game, not 60, and England were always going to be too strong. In the end a 10 point victory was probably about a fair reflection of the game. Wales looked good on the counter but the real consistent pressure was all English and they deserved to win in the end.
This sets up a great game next weekend to decide the title - France v England. Sadly this will kick off at 4am HK time and the chances of seeing it live after a day at the 7s are remote, but it should be a cracker. England have to win by 8 points to guarantee the title, while a France victory would give them the Grand Slam.
To be honest I can't see England beating France on their home turf on current form unless there is a lot of rain up to and on the day. no matter how often Woodward and co claim England now play a fast running game when it comes to it the players regular club games tend to be played in the mud and that is what suits England best. They certainly deal with it much better than the French. If it's dry though I think France will simply be too good, and while England may run them close the French should get their 4th Grand Slam in 8 years.
And at the other end of the table - Scotland will get the wooden spoon if they lose to Ireland in Ireland. On current form that should be a certainty, but you can never quite be sure with Ireland. Still they should be a class above the Scots and the demise of Scottish rugby will be confirmed. Teeheehee.
SPAM!
While trawling through the usual zillion or so pointless and irrelevant work emails this morning I came across a spam message entitled...
"Fed up with SPAM?"
I don't believe it. People are now spamming me with proposals for reducing the amount of spam I get. Surely this is as low as it can get?
While trawling through the usual zillion or so pointless and irrelevant work emails this morning I came across a spam message entitled...
"Fed up with SPAM?"
I don't believe it. People are now spamming me with proposals for reducing the amount of spam I get. Surely this is as low as it can get?
Friday, March 19, 2004
MORE TAIWAN - BREAKING NEWS
Actually that was a lie just to get you to read this bit...
It's time for this weekends 6 Nations forecasts...
England v Wales - The England team has a much more solid look to it with Robinson back at full-back and Mike Tindall back in the centre. Personally I think Tindall is hopelessly uncreative, but if you want a big strong bloke to run fast straight at people and hurt them then he's he best thing this side of Jonah Lomu. Also Danny Grewcock is back in the second row which hopefully means we may actually win the odd lineout. With these guys back I think England are going to way too strong - Wales may start well but will run out of puff - England by 15 to 20 pts. Chariot back on its wheels and back on track.
Ireland v Italy - Ireland, by a country mile, are the better team. No need to say more. Ireland by 15 to 20pts, more if O'Driscoll has a good game. Go on Danny Boy
Scotland v France - the Scots will stride out proudly at Murrayfield, they will belt out Flower of Scotland with chests puffed out, and in true Scottish sporting fashion La Marseillaise will be roundly booed. And that will be the high point for Scotland. From then on it will a case of lambs to the slaughter. The French are superior in every position on the park and will win, though no doubt being France they will get ahead and then let the Scots back into the game just to give themselves a bit of a fright. They always manage to play down to the level of the opposition. France by 15 to 20, (or 50-60 if my prayers are answered). Allez les Bleus.
Actually that was a lie just to get you to read this bit...
It's time for this weekends 6 Nations forecasts...
England v Wales - The England team has a much more solid look to it with Robinson back at full-back and Mike Tindall back in the centre. Personally I think Tindall is hopelessly uncreative, but if you want a big strong bloke to run fast straight at people and hurt them then he's he best thing this side of Jonah Lomu. Also Danny Grewcock is back in the second row which hopefully means we may actually win the odd lineout. With these guys back I think England are going to way too strong - Wales may start well but will run out of puff - England by 15 to 20 pts. Chariot back on its wheels and back on track.
Ireland v Italy - Ireland, by a country mile, are the better team. No need to say more. Ireland by 15 to 20pts, more if O'Driscoll has a good game. Go on Danny Boy
Scotland v France - the Scots will stride out proudly at Murrayfield, they will belt out Flower of Scotland with chests puffed out, and in true Scottish sporting fashion La Marseillaise will be roundly booed. And that will be the high point for Scotland. From then on it will a case of lambs to the slaughter. The French are superior in every position on the park and will win, though no doubt being France they will get ahead and then let the Scots back into the game just to give themselves a bit of a fright. They always manage to play down to the level of the opposition. France by 15 to 20, (or 50-60 if my prayers are answered). Allez les Bleus.