THE WEEKEND
Tomorrow is a public holiday which means, horror of horrors, no amah for 2 full days!! That means full-time parenting for Mrs Chariot and me, just like they have to do every weekend in less enlightened countries.
Not sure who's more nervous abut this, us or the little charioteer? Look at it from his point of view - suddenly he has 2 complete amateurs with no previous experience looking after him. They really should make parents do some kind of course or exam or something before they let them loose with children.
Anyway apart from that it'll be a little light dog-walking with Rin Tin Tin (Lassie is ill - again - and is off games. That dog is a walking pharmacy.), followed by a lot of loud swearing when she buggers off and I can't find her.
And last, but my no means least, I hope to find time to squeeze in some top-level lying around in the sun doing nothing.
And that will be about it.
Have a good one all.
Friday, April 30, 2004
BLOG V MU.NU.
For some reason I know that lots of people seem to defect from Blogspot to Mu.Nu. for their blogs. I've never understood why as personally I've never had 1 iota of a aproblem with blogspot that a sharp tap on the keyboard with a hammer couldn't fix, but now I have another reason to not move.
Ever since Simon and Breanagh moved to Mu Nu it has taken longer and longer to access their blogs, to the point where I would lose patience and regularly give up. Today however it is even worse. I now can't get into either at all, no matter how long I wait. What's more, even my pc gets bored of waiting and I get a message telling me the session is "timed out".
so sorry Simon, sorry Breanagh - it seems technology has conspired against me reading your contributions (and yes I have tried turning it off and on again, and rebooting)
For some reason I know that lots of people seem to defect from Blogspot to Mu.Nu. for their blogs. I've never understood why as personally I've never had 1 iota of a aproblem with blogspot that a sharp tap on the keyboard with a hammer couldn't fix, but now I have another reason to not move.
Ever since Simon and Breanagh moved to Mu Nu it has taken longer and longer to access their blogs, to the point where I would lose patience and regularly give up. Today however it is even worse. I now can't get into either at all, no matter how long I wait. What's more, even my pc gets bored of waiting and I get a message telling me the session is "timed out".
so sorry Simon, sorry Breanagh - it seems technology has conspired against me reading your contributions (and yes I have tried turning it off and on again, and rebooting)
STILL UNINSPIRED
So I thought I'd post a nice email scam I got this morning instead for your delight.
CALVARY GREETINGS,
I am a preacher with the Seed Harvesters Ministry,and I
will like to get advice from you.I believe the advice I
need is secular to some extent,but do have the patience to
understand my intention .
A few year's ago I was in Liberia where I had established a
little congregation where I preached regularly,but the
civil war escaleted and the church was converted to a
hospital of sourghts.
On one faith full day three Nigerian Soldiers came to me
and left trunks of Money with me and swore to come back for
it. When the war in Liberia intensified I deposited this
box in a security vault in Togo,I was escorted to Togo by
the ECOMOG soldiers who felt the content of the trunks were
documents and never cared to check the trunks,I was air
lifted to England with other refugees then,I stayed in
England and when I was getting fraustrated I returned to
Africa only to dicover that the three Soldiers died in
Battle while the last was decleared MIA (Missing in
Action).
Now I have the fund which is over Eleven Million
Dollars,but it lies in a security vault in a Security
Company in Europe,and I was contacted in a letter by the
security company asking me to indicate if I was in reciept
of the letter as a sign that I am living and still
subscribed for their service.
I am interested in using this money,in re organisation of
the work,so i redirected the consignment to the Europe,to
take it out of my sight.but I need someone who will be able
to use the fund better maybe for charity or something
universally profitable,
I have thought of doing it myself but,my ministry is the
apocalypse and I believe and preach the soon coming of the
Lord which make me not indulgent in reliance on money or
wealth in any form.I also do not have the money that has
accrued on the service and safe deposit of the company that
holds the fund,I will be glad if you have any interest in
the direction of maybe managing or transmitting the fund as
you prefer in your capacity and understanding. Please if
you are interested,i would want you to send me the
following informations:
1.your legitimate name,
2.your contact address,
3.your phone number,
4.your fax number.
with all these informations,i will take it that you are
interested and the beneficiary will be changed to you in
provision of the above informations,and as such you will be
the only one who can lay claims to the fund and then,i will
give you the security code number with which you will use
to claim the consignment from the security company . but i
want you to note clearly that you will pay for the handling
charges before the consignment can be released to you and
you will promise me that you will use the fund for good
deeds. I will be glad to get a response from you to
indicate your interest.
STAY BLESSED IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (AMEN)
REGARDS
REV JOHN KINGSLEY
N.B PLEASE REPLY TO THIS EMAIL:
(I have deleted his email address just in case anyone takes this seriously. If you really want to give him those details then please send them to me instead, and I shall alert the police that you are too stupid to be allowed out alone.)
So I thought I'd post a nice email scam I got this morning instead for your delight.
CALVARY GREETINGS,
I am a preacher with the Seed Harvesters Ministry,and I
will like to get advice from you.I believe the advice I
need is secular to some extent,but do have the patience to
understand my intention .
A few year's ago I was in Liberia where I had established a
little congregation where I preached regularly,but the
civil war escaleted and the church was converted to a
hospital of sourghts.
On one faith full day three Nigerian Soldiers came to me
and left trunks of Money with me and swore to come back for
it. When the war in Liberia intensified I deposited this
box in a security vault in Togo,I was escorted to Togo by
the ECOMOG soldiers who felt the content of the trunks were
documents and never cared to check the trunks,I was air
lifted to England with other refugees then,I stayed in
England and when I was getting fraustrated I returned to
Africa only to dicover that the three Soldiers died in
Battle while the last was decleared MIA (Missing in
Action).
Now I have the fund which is over Eleven Million
Dollars,but it lies in a security vault in a Security
Company in Europe,and I was contacted in a letter by the
security company asking me to indicate if I was in reciept
of the letter as a sign that I am living and still
subscribed for their service.
I am interested in using this money,in re organisation of
the work,so i redirected the consignment to the Europe,to
take it out of my sight.but I need someone who will be able
to use the fund better maybe for charity or something
universally profitable,
I have thought of doing it myself but,my ministry is the
apocalypse and I believe and preach the soon coming of the
Lord which make me not indulgent in reliance on money or
wealth in any form.I also do not have the money that has
accrued on the service and safe deposit of the company that
holds the fund,I will be glad if you have any interest in
the direction of maybe managing or transmitting the fund as
you prefer in your capacity and understanding. Please if
you are interested,i would want you to send me the
following informations:
1.your legitimate name,
2.your contact address,
3.your phone number,
4.your fax number.
with all these informations,i will take it that you are
interested and the beneficiary will be changed to you in
provision of the above informations,and as such you will be
the only one who can lay claims to the fund and then,i will
give you the security code number with which you will use
to claim the consignment from the security company . but i
want you to note clearly that you will pay for the handling
charges before the consignment can be released to you and
you will promise me that you will use the fund for good
deeds. I will be glad to get a response from you to
indicate your interest.
STAY BLESSED IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (AMEN)
REGARDS
REV JOHN KINGSLEY
N.B PLEASE REPLY TO THIS EMAIL:
(I have deleted his email address just in case anyone takes this seriously. If you really want to give him those details then please send them to me instead, and I shall alert the police that you are too stupid to be allowed out alone.)
Thursday, April 29, 2004
DREAMTEAM
So Leicester Tigers new coach is.... 3 people! That's how many it takes to fill Deanos shoes.
John Wells, the incumbent since Deanos departure, gets the role full-time as reward for his efforts which hae seen Tigers string some good results together. He gets assistance from 2 returning ex-Tigers, Aussie Pat Howard, who was and is a class act, and Richard Cockerill who left Leicester under a cloud having insulted Dean Richards and Clie Woodward in his autobiography - not a clever idea when you're playing for Leicester and England. He was, however, a great player in the Brian Moore mould. And every Rugby fan will remember his famous confrontation with Norm Hewitt as the All Blacks performed the Haka at Twickenham in 1997. That incident prompted the IRB to introduce rules regarding the Haka that mean opposition teams have to remain in their own half, and the kiwis have to be behind thier own 10 metre line. Sad really. This is rugby after all so there's nothing wrong with a bit of confrontation, or as the great Bill McLaren would put it, arrrrgie barrrrgie.
So Leicester Tigers new coach is.... 3 people! That's how many it takes to fill Deanos shoes.
John Wells, the incumbent since Deanos departure, gets the role full-time as reward for his efforts which hae seen Tigers string some good results together. He gets assistance from 2 returning ex-Tigers, Aussie Pat Howard, who was and is a class act, and Richard Cockerill who left Leicester under a cloud having insulted Dean Richards and Clie Woodward in his autobiography - not a clever idea when you're playing for Leicester and England. He was, however, a great player in the Brian Moore mould. And every Rugby fan will remember his famous confrontation with Norm Hewitt as the All Blacks performed the Haka at Twickenham in 1997. That incident prompted the IRB to introduce rules regarding the Haka that mean opposition teams have to remain in their own half, and the kiwis have to be behind thier own 10 metre line. Sad really. This is rugby after all so there's nothing wrong with a bit of confrontation, or as the great Bill McLaren would put it, arrrrgie barrrrgie.
BEER ON WHISKY - VERY RISKY
Beer on Soju - makes your brain feel like tofu
Leaving do at a Korean BBQ last night for a colleague who's off home to our Seoul office.
Not feeling too perky this morning, but no doubt I am doing considerably better than the girl who passed out in the ladies and had to be carried home. She still hasn't turned up and it's now 10.56.
As for the Korean who is leaving HK? He staggered off at about 11 and was last seen trying to get into the lift, only the door opening seemed a bit narrow for him - he kept bouncing off the wall.
Beer on Soju - makes your brain feel like tofu
Leaving do at a Korean BBQ last night for a colleague who's off home to our Seoul office.
Not feeling too perky this morning, but no doubt I am doing considerably better than the girl who passed out in the ladies and had to be carried home. She still hasn't turned up and it's now 10.56.
As for the Korean who is leaving HK? He staggered off at about 11 and was last seen trying to get into the lift, only the door opening seemed a bit narrow for him - he kept bouncing off the wall.
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
FINALLY - A USE FOR SCIENCE
Over the centuries man has solved many of sciences greatest riddles and problems. We know the shape of DNA and can now map genes, jet engines and internal combustion engines have made the world an easy place to get around, rockets have allowed us to go the moon, radio and microwaves allow us to communicate with probes on Mars, (and cook food really quickly!) X-rays allow us to see through flesh and analyse bone damage, MRI scans allow us to examine tendons, joints and organs without invasive surgery, mobile telephones allow us to communicate with people almost anywhere and at any time, but the ultimate goal has never been attained, the ultimate problem never solved... until now.
Ladies and Gentlemen....
I give you....
THE SELF-CHILLING BEER CAN
Thanks to it's "gizmo" (stop me if I'm getting too technical) the can will cool itself and allow you to have a cold beer anywhere, at any time, without the inconvenience of having to carry a fridge around with you.
Picnics will never be the same again.
Thankfully.
Over the centuries man has solved many of sciences greatest riddles and problems. We know the shape of DNA and can now map genes, jet engines and internal combustion engines have made the world an easy place to get around, rockets have allowed us to go the moon, radio and microwaves allow us to communicate with probes on Mars, (and cook food really quickly!) X-rays allow us to see through flesh and analyse bone damage, MRI scans allow us to examine tendons, joints and organs without invasive surgery, mobile telephones allow us to communicate with people almost anywhere and at any time, but the ultimate goal has never been attained, the ultimate problem never solved... until now.
Ladies and Gentlemen....
I give you....
THE SELF-CHILLING BEER CAN
Thanks to it's "gizmo" (stop me if I'm getting too technical) the can will cool itself and allow you to have a cold beer anywhere, at any time, without the inconvenience of having to carry a fridge around with you.
Picnics will never be the same again.
Thankfully.
TODAY IS THE DAY
And this time they really mean it....
The most hotly-debated question in world sport will finally be resolved later today, when Leicester Tigers reveal to the world who will be taking over from Dean Richards as Head coach at Welford Road.
Deano left in February so it has taken a fair while to pin down a replacement, but let's hope whoever it is can return Tigers to winning ways, and knock some of the stuffing out of Bath on the way.
TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSS...... (As we say at Welford Road)
And this time they really mean it....
The most hotly-debated question in world sport will finally be resolved later today, when Leicester Tigers reveal to the world who will be taking over from Dean Richards as Head coach at Welford Road.
Deano left in February so it has taken a fair while to pin down a replacement, but let's hope whoever it is can return Tigers to winning ways, and knock some of the stuffing out of Bath on the way.
TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSS...... (As we say at Welford Road)
LULU THE BUSH KANGAROO
CANBERRA, April 28 (Reuters) - A kangaroo named Lulu is to receive a national bravery award after raising the alarm to save an Australian farmer knocked unconscious by a fallen tree branch.
Hobby farmer Leonard Richards was checking for storm damage on his property at Tanjil South, 150 km (93 miles) east of Melbourne, last September when he was hit by a falling branch.
In a story reminiscent of the long-running Australian children's television series Skippy, in which a kangaroo rescued people in distress in the Australian bush, Lulu began barking until Richards' wife came to investigate, said the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
She found her husband lying unconscious under a tree about 200 metres (650 feet) from the house, guarded by the kangaroo. Richards was taken to hospital to be treated for minor head injuries.
The RSPCA has given Lulu its animal valour award to recognise the kangaroo's heroic act with a certificate to be presented to Richards at a ceremony next month.
"What she did really was exceptional," RSPCA spokeswoman Jenny Hodges said on Wednesday.
Lulu was reared by the Richards family, who rescued her from her mother's pouch and fed her on bottles after her mother was killed by a car over four years ago.
Aaaaaahhhhh.....
CANBERRA, April 28 (Reuters) - A kangaroo named Lulu is to receive a national bravery award after raising the alarm to save an Australian farmer knocked unconscious by a fallen tree branch.
Hobby farmer Leonard Richards was checking for storm damage on his property at Tanjil South, 150 km (93 miles) east of Melbourne, last September when he was hit by a falling branch.
In a story reminiscent of the long-running Australian children's television series Skippy, in which a kangaroo rescued people in distress in the Australian bush, Lulu began barking until Richards' wife came to investigate, said the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
She found her husband lying unconscious under a tree about 200 metres (650 feet) from the house, guarded by the kangaroo. Richards was taken to hospital to be treated for minor head injuries.
The RSPCA has given Lulu its animal valour award to recognise the kangaroo's heroic act with a certificate to be presented to Richards at a ceremony next month.
"What she did really was exceptional," RSPCA spokeswoman Jenny Hodges said on Wednesday.
Lulu was reared by the Richards family, who rescued her from her mother's pouch and fed her on bottles after her mother was killed by a car over four years ago.
Aaaaaahhhhh.....
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
DEMOCRACY - PART 2
Sorry - I know I said I'd be brief but a few more thoughts...
In 43 years time Hong Kong reverts to direct Chinese rule. The CCP are obviously going to assume they will still be in charge of China at that time. This meas that if they were to give universal suffrage to Hong Kong it would only be until 2047 anyway, then it would disappear as the HK parliament disappears.
Can you really imagine the CCP allowing people to have a taste of democracy and then taking it away? Can you imagine the publics reaction here to having 40years of freedom and then having totalitarianism re-imposed?
Given the chinese obsession with "social stability" which is trotted out as the reason for pretty much everything I can't imagine them being too keen on the idea mass protests and potential civil unrest.
Therefore....
HONG KONG WILL NEVER BE ALLOWED TO HAVE FULL DEMOCRACY AND UNIvERSAL SUFFRAGE, AS LONG AS CHINA ITSELF REMAINS A ONE-PARTY SYSTEM.
I'm not saying that is right, or wrong, that this is the state of affairs, and you may not like it, but it is the truth. The only way HK will ever have democracy will be to secede from China.
Sorry - I know I said I'd be brief but a few more thoughts...
In 43 years time Hong Kong reverts to direct Chinese rule. The CCP are obviously going to assume they will still be in charge of China at that time. This meas that if they were to give universal suffrage to Hong Kong it would only be until 2047 anyway, then it would disappear as the HK parliament disappears.
Can you really imagine the CCP allowing people to have a taste of democracy and then taking it away? Can you imagine the publics reaction here to having 40years of freedom and then having totalitarianism re-imposed?
Given the chinese obsession with "social stability" which is trotted out as the reason for pretty much everything I can't imagine them being too keen on the idea mass protests and potential civil unrest.
Therefore....
HONG KONG WILL NEVER BE ALLOWED TO HAVE FULL DEMOCRACY AND UNIvERSAL SUFFRAGE, AS LONG AS CHINA ITSELF REMAINS A ONE-PARTY SYSTEM.
I'm not saying that is right, or wrong, that this is the state of affairs, and you may not like it, but it is the truth. The only way HK will ever have democracy will be to secede from China.
DEMOCRACY
I'm going to keep my comments brief as i'm sure everyone else will be blogging furiously on this too, but my two-penneth worth is...
The CCP are clearly terrified that if Hong Kong were ever to achieve democracy then that would put pressure on their monopoly on power, and so will never allow universal suffrage, no matter how much they have to twist the words of the Basic Law.
At the same time however I doubt we will see PLA tanks on the streets here, no matter how big this years July 1 march is, as that will simply prompt Taiwan to formally declare independence.
Lastly - I hate to say it but I have some sympathy with the view that Hong Kong (and indeed many countries, and not only in Asia) is not ready for democracy.
I have never understood why it is considered a good idea for every moron to have input into who governs. There should be some form of qualification criteria before you are allowed to vote to demonstrate that you understand the election process and what government is able and not able to do. Otherwise you get massive corruption, so prevalent in Asia, as politicians simply buy votes, and a discontented public that doesn't understand why the government can't simply give money out to everyone.
No doubt lots of people will disagree but that's my view and I'm sticking to it.
I'm going to keep my comments brief as i'm sure everyone else will be blogging furiously on this too, but my two-penneth worth is...
The CCP are clearly terrified that if Hong Kong were ever to achieve democracy then that would put pressure on their monopoly on power, and so will never allow universal suffrage, no matter how much they have to twist the words of the Basic Law.
At the same time however I doubt we will see PLA tanks on the streets here, no matter how big this years July 1 march is, as that will simply prompt Taiwan to formally declare independence.
Lastly - I hate to say it but I have some sympathy with the view that Hong Kong (and indeed many countries, and not only in Asia) is not ready for democracy.
I have never understood why it is considered a good idea for every moron to have input into who governs. There should be some form of qualification criteria before you are allowed to vote to demonstrate that you understand the election process and what government is able and not able to do. Otherwise you get massive corruption, so prevalent in Asia, as politicians simply buy votes, and a discontented public that doesn't understand why the government can't simply give money out to everyone.
No doubt lots of people will disagree but that's my view and I'm sticking to it.
ANOTHER IRAQ DEBACLE...
The U.S. appointed Iraqi governing council has unveiled the country's new flag. It has apparently been criticised immediately for sharing the same colour scheme as the Israeli flag and having had the words "God is Great" removed.
Why would they choose the same colours as the Israeli flag? Surely no-one could have been that stupid?
The U.S. appointed Iraqi governing council has unveiled the country's new flag. It has apparently been criticised immediately for sharing the same colour scheme as the Israeli flag and having had the words "God is Great" removed.
Why would they choose the same colours as the Israeli flag? Surely no-one could have been that stupid?
Monday, April 26, 2004
TOURISTS
This weekend was the straw that broke the camel's back.
If I have to do 1 more tour of Stanley Market, The Peak, Felix, Ladies Market etc etc I shall be forced to commit murder on a massive scale.
Any who do these people all insist on staying with you for days on end, and then get up in the morning and say helpful things like - "where are you taking us today?" Can't they read a guide book and work out for themselves where to go, and then hopefully go there under their own steam?
Does it not occur to them that perhaps I have better things to do with my weekend than fight my way to the Ladies Market in the deepest bowels of the Dark Side just to watch someone else buy another bloody fake LV bag?
I know they mean well, and it's great to see people, but why do they all switch their brains off the minute they arrive, especially people who have been here before and can fend quite happily for themselves.
From now on only immediate and friendly family (in my family "immediate" does not necessarily mean "friendly", in fact it often means the exact opposite) get the full tourist treatment. Close friends may stay but will have to fend for themselves around the sights, and not so close friends can bu**er off to a hotel and I'll see them for a beer in the evening.
The milk of human kindness has run dry.
This weekend was the straw that broke the camel's back.
If I have to do 1 more tour of Stanley Market, The Peak, Felix, Ladies Market etc etc I shall be forced to commit murder on a massive scale.
Any who do these people all insist on staying with you for days on end, and then get up in the morning and say helpful things like - "where are you taking us today?" Can't they read a guide book and work out for themselves where to go, and then hopefully go there under their own steam?
Does it not occur to them that perhaps I have better things to do with my weekend than fight my way to the Ladies Market in the deepest bowels of the Dark Side just to watch someone else buy another bloody fake LV bag?
I know they mean well, and it's great to see people, but why do they all switch their brains off the minute they arrive, especially people who have been here before and can fend quite happily for themselves.
From now on only immediate and friendly family (in my family "immediate" does not necessarily mean "friendly", in fact it often means the exact opposite) get the full tourist treatment. Close friends may stay but will have to fend for themselves around the sights, and not so close friends can bu**er off to a hotel and I'll see them for a beer in the evening.
The milk of human kindness has run dry.
Friday, April 23, 2004
THE WEEKEND
It's finally here. As you may have guessed from the higher than average number of posts today, it's not been very busy here today. In fact today has been possibly the slowest work day of the year so far.
So what does the weekend hold in store?
Sadly there are no major rugby games in the UK, not that they'd be shown here by the muppets at ESPN/Starsports anyway, so no need to be nervously checking the BBC for Tigers progress (we could really do with another few wins to get us into a spot for Heineken Cup qualification for next season - would salvage some pride from this seasons debacle).
We do however have some friends of my wifes family staying with us over the weekend. They have stopped off in Hong Kong on their way from home in Luxembourg to Dubai (you'd think Luxembourgers would have a better grasp on geography than that wouldn't you?) so I guess the weekend is going to be the usual tour of such delights as Stanley Market, The Peak, Times Square (for electronics), Mongkok (for some "brands" for the little Luxembourgers who have been left behind) and in the evenings a beer in L.K.F. and dinner in Indochine.
And of course some toast and marmalade before all of the above gets under way...
Anyway - I hope everyone has a good weekend, and Happy rest of St Georges Day to you all.
It's finally here. As you may have guessed from the higher than average number of posts today, it's not been very busy here today. In fact today has been possibly the slowest work day of the year so far.
So what does the weekend hold in store?
Sadly there are no major rugby games in the UK, not that they'd be shown here by the muppets at ESPN/Starsports anyway, so no need to be nervously checking the BBC for Tigers progress (we could really do with another few wins to get us into a spot for Heineken Cup qualification for next season - would salvage some pride from this seasons debacle).
We do however have some friends of my wifes family staying with us over the weekend. They have stopped off in Hong Kong on their way from home in Luxembourg to Dubai (you'd think Luxembourgers would have a better grasp on geography than that wouldn't you?) so I guess the weekend is going to be the usual tour of such delights as Stanley Market, The Peak, Times Square (for electronics), Mongkok (for some "brands" for the little Luxembourgers who have been left behind) and in the evenings a beer in L.K.F. and dinner in Indochine.
And of course some toast and marmalade before all of the above gets under way...
Anyway - I hope everyone has a good weekend, and Happy rest of St Georges Day to you all.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Last night I was having a quiet glass of something cold and refreshing in Bar George with a friend, idly passing the time in light conversation and generally minding our own business, when an american lady came up to us and asked us to fill in a questionnaire about intellectual property rights for her thesis. She is investigating the different views held by westerners and asians on the thorny issue of fakes and copies, and was asking westerners to fill in these questionnaires, while a local colleague was asking asians to fill in the same (she reasoned - probably rightly - that a westerner asking about fakes etc might be seen by locals as being a bit of a police set-up so they would clam up).
Anyway we filled them in for her and then had a bit of a chat with her about it. She seemed pretty firmly of the opinion that it was a great evil, was killing off hollywood (and we're supposed to be bothered because..?), the american music industry (and we're supposed to be bothered because..?), microsoft (now that might bother me - there's is the only stuff I can work) and seriously impacting on the sales and profits of major brand such as Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren etc etc...
I must say I disagree entirely with this. The people who buy fakes are, in general, buying them because they either can't afford the real thing, or can afford it but resent the vastly inflated prices charged by top brands for what are, after all, just clothes, bags or watches, and so wouldn't buy them anyway.
In fact, while most of these brands make a big song and dance about stopping the fakes, I think they secretly are quite happy about it. The fact that their products are being faked means that they are in demand, and the people who are buying the fakes now because they can't afford it, might well turn into the guys who replace the fake with the real thing in a few years time when they can. It keeps the name in the limelight, and visible, and makes it an aspirational item.
Basically my view is that as long as no-one is actually physically harmed by an unsafe fake product (and yes I am aware of the whole "fake milk" story that is going in China at the moment, but that is not the sort of fake I am talking about), and a token effort is made to keep the fake business underground, then I have no problem with it.
Then I got home and found my wife had been to the Ladies Market on the Dark Side yesterday and I now had a nice shiny new Rolex Yachtmaster, just don't get it wet! Lovely.
Last night I was having a quiet glass of something cold and refreshing in Bar George with a friend, idly passing the time in light conversation and generally minding our own business, when an american lady came up to us and asked us to fill in a questionnaire about intellectual property rights for her thesis. She is investigating the different views held by westerners and asians on the thorny issue of fakes and copies, and was asking westerners to fill in these questionnaires, while a local colleague was asking asians to fill in the same (she reasoned - probably rightly - that a westerner asking about fakes etc might be seen by locals as being a bit of a police set-up so they would clam up).
Anyway we filled them in for her and then had a bit of a chat with her about it. She seemed pretty firmly of the opinion that it was a great evil, was killing off hollywood (and we're supposed to be bothered because..?), the american music industry (and we're supposed to be bothered because..?), microsoft (now that might bother me - there's is the only stuff I can work) and seriously impacting on the sales and profits of major brand such as Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren etc etc...
I must say I disagree entirely with this. The people who buy fakes are, in general, buying them because they either can't afford the real thing, or can afford it but resent the vastly inflated prices charged by top brands for what are, after all, just clothes, bags or watches, and so wouldn't buy them anyway.
In fact, while most of these brands make a big song and dance about stopping the fakes, I think they secretly are quite happy about it. The fact that their products are being faked means that they are in demand, and the people who are buying the fakes now because they can't afford it, might well turn into the guys who replace the fake with the real thing in a few years time when they can. It keeps the name in the limelight, and visible, and makes it an aspirational item.
Basically my view is that as long as no-one is actually physically harmed by an unsafe fake product (and yes I am aware of the whole "fake milk" story that is going in China at the moment, but that is not the sort of fake I am talking about), and a token effort is made to keep the fake business underground, then I have no problem with it.
Then I got home and found my wife had been to the Ladies Market on the Dark Side yesterday and I now had a nice shiny new Rolex Yachtmaster, just don't get it wet! Lovely.
SARS IS BACK - HURRAH
The W.H.O. is today breathing a sigh of relief. After several months when they have unable to find any new diseases which they can use to vastly over-inflate their own importance at the expense of global panic, SARS has reappeared in China. This is great news for the W.H.O. after the debacle over Bird-Flu which failed to really scare anyone (except the chickens obviously).
My advice to the W.H.O. for future scare stories incidentally is to come up with something more frightening as a name than bird-flu. you just can't take that seriously no matter how bad it really is. It just conjures up images of chickens sneezing. Bird-SARS would have been better. Or Avian fever.
Anyway time for the dim-witted out there to dust off their boxes off face masks and give the rest of us something to laugh at.
The W.H.O. is today breathing a sigh of relief. After several months when they have unable to find any new diseases which they can use to vastly over-inflate their own importance at the expense of global panic, SARS has reappeared in China. This is great news for the W.H.O. after the debacle over Bird-Flu which failed to really scare anyone (except the chickens obviously).
My advice to the W.H.O. for future scare stories incidentally is to come up with something more frightening as a name than bird-flu. you just can't take that seriously no matter how bad it really is. It just conjures up images of chickens sneezing. Bird-SARS would have been better. Or Avian fever.
Anyway time for the dim-witted out there to dust off their boxes off face masks and give the rest of us something to laugh at.
BREAKFAST
There are many things in the world which the English invented, in which we excelled for a while, but then were overtaken by others(usually, and annoyingly, by ex-colonies). Off the top of my head the list would include soccer, cricket, tennis, railways, invading other countries who were peacefully minding their own business and slaughtering the natives, rugby league (though not union - we still rule the world in that - we just had bit of a rough patch for 20 years or so) amongst a whole host of others. But there is one thing which we invented which I would argue is still the best in the world - The English Breakfast.
Now I should say that I like to think of myself as reasonably adventurous on the gastronomic front. I'm not one of those Englishmen who go abroad and then moan they can't get a decent steak and kidney pie. In general I am happy to eat mostly what the locals eat wherever I am. I have eaten whale, seagull, haggis, crocodile, assorted antelope, ostrich, chickens feet, snake, kangaroo, all sorts of odd crustaceans, and I have no problem with people eating dogs, cats, civet cats, porcupines etc if they really want to (in fact living in Hong Kong and regularly eating suspicious looking noodles and curries means I've probably happily shovelled most of those down in ignorant bliss anyway).
But not in the early morning. That is when your system needs some delicate handling before the rigours of the day begin.
The rest of the worlds breakfasts just don't really do the job. The europeans with their smorgasbord of bits of smelly cheese and yoghurt are not even in the running, the americans have tried to hijack the english breakfast and call it their own (a very hollywood trick) but then bastardise it by adding foul things like waffles and maple syrup in the mistaken belief that quantity is more important than quality, the asians just don't get it at all - I mean how anyone can eat that congee muck at any time of the day is beyond me.
No - The English Breakfast is still breakfast perfection. The combinations of eggs & bacon, and toast & marmalade are still unsurpassed.
But I am a creature of habit, especially in the early morning. Mess with my dawn routine at your peril. And I have my preferences in each of the vital ingredients to a successful breakfast, and do not deal well with inferior substitutes. The eggs must to be large, brown and free-range, the bacon must be good thick back bacon with a good rind, the toast must to be made with brown or wholemeal bread, and, vitally, the marmalade must be Frank Coopers Thick Cut Old English marmalade. Fortunately upon arriving here were able to find all these ingredients (not cheaply it has to be said, but a good breakfast is worth paying for), but over the last month tragedy has struck. We ran out of Mr Coopers finest product and despite diligent searching of Olivers, Great, CitySuper and every Park'n'Shop and Wellcome i can find I have been unable to locate any fresh supplies.
So in desperation I have been trying some alternatives. Firstly there was jam, but that's just too weak in the mornings. There's no substance to it. Then my wife wanted me to try marmite, but that is just horrible. So I cracked and decided in a moment of weakness to try other marmalades. Firstly there was some french muck made by someone called Dalfour which advertised itself as a Rhapsodie de Fruits.... marmalade made with oranges, sweetened with grape juice... YUK. More like Rhapsodie de Merde. They should stick to the things they're good at - wine, cheese, forcefeeding geese and annoying the rest of the world by existing. Then I tried Wilkins and Sons "Tawny Orange" marmalade. It looked promising - right colour, right consistency, good big chunks of orange, but the taste... oh what a disappointment. Bland is the only word that adequately describes it.
But finally I think i have found a worthy substitute. Yesterday I stumbled across Chivers Olde English Thick Cut Marmalade. I was initially put off by the nauseating addition of the "e" to Old but it had been nearly a month since a decent bit of toast and marmalade had greeted me in the morning and I was starting to fear i would never taste it again, so I bought it, and tried it this morning. MAG-BLOODY-NIFICENT. Finally the slightly bitter kick is there to go with the colour, consistency and big chunks of marmalade. At last the world makes sense again. On the way in this morning there was a spring in my step, and no amount of heat, humidity, or aimlessly wandering pedestrians could take the smile off my face.
Later I shall be popping out to buy up all remaining supplies of Chivers Marmalade to make sure this blissful state of affairs continues. In the meantime if you see an englishman wandering around with a slightly faraway look in his eye and a slight smile playing over his lips, it's me remembering this mornings first bite...
There are many things in the world which the English invented, in which we excelled for a while, but then were overtaken by others(usually, and annoyingly, by ex-colonies). Off the top of my head the list would include soccer, cricket, tennis, railways, invading other countries who were peacefully minding their own business and slaughtering the natives, rugby league (though not union - we still rule the world in that - we just had bit of a rough patch for 20 years or so) amongst a whole host of others. But there is one thing which we invented which I would argue is still the best in the world - The English Breakfast.
Now I should say that I like to think of myself as reasonably adventurous on the gastronomic front. I'm not one of those Englishmen who go abroad and then moan they can't get a decent steak and kidney pie. In general I am happy to eat mostly what the locals eat wherever I am. I have eaten whale, seagull, haggis, crocodile, assorted antelope, ostrich, chickens feet, snake, kangaroo, all sorts of odd crustaceans, and I have no problem with people eating dogs, cats, civet cats, porcupines etc if they really want to (in fact living in Hong Kong and regularly eating suspicious looking noodles and curries means I've probably happily shovelled most of those down in ignorant bliss anyway).
But not in the early morning. That is when your system needs some delicate handling before the rigours of the day begin.
The rest of the worlds breakfasts just don't really do the job. The europeans with their smorgasbord of bits of smelly cheese and yoghurt are not even in the running, the americans have tried to hijack the english breakfast and call it their own (a very hollywood trick) but then bastardise it by adding foul things like waffles and maple syrup in the mistaken belief that quantity is more important than quality, the asians just don't get it at all - I mean how anyone can eat that congee muck at any time of the day is beyond me.
No - The English Breakfast is still breakfast perfection. The combinations of eggs & bacon, and toast & marmalade are still unsurpassed.
But I am a creature of habit, especially in the early morning. Mess with my dawn routine at your peril. And I have my preferences in each of the vital ingredients to a successful breakfast, and do not deal well with inferior substitutes. The eggs must to be large, brown and free-range, the bacon must be good thick back bacon with a good rind, the toast must to be made with brown or wholemeal bread, and, vitally, the marmalade must be Frank Coopers Thick Cut Old English marmalade. Fortunately upon arriving here were able to find all these ingredients (not cheaply it has to be said, but a good breakfast is worth paying for), but over the last month tragedy has struck. We ran out of Mr Coopers finest product and despite diligent searching of Olivers, Great, CitySuper and every Park'n'Shop and Wellcome i can find I have been unable to locate any fresh supplies.
So in desperation I have been trying some alternatives. Firstly there was jam, but that's just too weak in the mornings. There's no substance to it. Then my wife wanted me to try marmite, but that is just horrible. So I cracked and decided in a moment of weakness to try other marmalades. Firstly there was some french muck made by someone called Dalfour which advertised itself as a Rhapsodie de Fruits.... marmalade made with oranges, sweetened with grape juice... YUK. More like Rhapsodie de Merde. They should stick to the things they're good at - wine, cheese, forcefeeding geese and annoying the rest of the world by existing. Then I tried Wilkins and Sons "Tawny Orange" marmalade. It looked promising - right colour, right consistency, good big chunks of orange, but the taste... oh what a disappointment. Bland is the only word that adequately describes it.
But finally I think i have found a worthy substitute. Yesterday I stumbled across Chivers Olde English Thick Cut Marmalade. I was initially put off by the nauseating addition of the "e" to Old but it had been nearly a month since a decent bit of toast and marmalade had greeted me in the morning and I was starting to fear i would never taste it again, so I bought it, and tried it this morning. MAG-BLOODY-NIFICENT. Finally the slightly bitter kick is there to go with the colour, consistency and big chunks of marmalade. At last the world makes sense again. On the way in this morning there was a spring in my step, and no amount of heat, humidity, or aimlessly wandering pedestrians could take the smile off my face.
Later I shall be popping out to buy up all remaining supplies of Chivers Marmalade to make sure this blissful state of affairs continues. In the meantime if you see an englishman wandering around with a slightly faraway look in his eye and a slight smile playing over his lips, it's me remembering this mornings first bite...
Thursday, April 22, 2004
IRAQ
In light of yesterdays insanity in Iraq and Riyahd , which seem to confirm that the main terrorist targets now appear to be fellow arabs, I bring you this very funny but sadly I expect also very prophetic, tale, shamelessly stolen from The Onion, the home of American satire and irony (yes it does exist, but I believe it is on the U.N.s endangered species list).
BAGHDAD—With little more than two months remaining until the American-led occupation force hands sovereignty to an interim government, Iraqi citizens are joyfully arming themselves in anticipation of independence.
"Saddam is overthrown! Praise Allah! Iraq is ours once more!" Baghdad native Alaa al-Khawaja said, as he busily shoved boxes of 7.62mm ammunition beneath the bed in his two-room home on the outskirts of Baghdad. "Now is the time for all citizens to prepare for our nation's glorious future—a future certain to contain wave after bloody wave of sectarian violence."
"Excuse me, now," al-Khawaja added. "I must barricade these doors and windows with sheet metal before the wonderful day of freedom arrives."
Also readying himself is Thaer Abbas, a Tikrit shopkeeper who sells handmade baskets, earthenware pots, and surplus AK-47s.
"God bless the USA! God bless Bush!" Abbas said. "America has delivered our country back into our hands, and soon, thousands of those hands will be raised in anger as mullahs and imams lead the fight over what little remains."
As the June 30 date for transfer of full authority to the interim government approaches, the dozens of political factions that comprise the liberated nation are readying themselves to assume rule.
"Finally, we will have the opportunity to lead our own nation and decide what is best for our people," said Shi'ite Muslim cleric Namir al-Safy. "Of course, by 'we,' I mean the Shi'ites."
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said he expects a smooth transfer of power, in spite of anti-U.S. violence, widespread unrest, and recent events like the Shi'ite uprising in Fallujah.
"The Iraqi people deserve their long-sought independence," Rumsfeld said at a Defense Department press conference Monday. "We cannot, in good conscience, postpone the transfer of power. That would be punishing all the good Iraqi people for the actions of a few thousand insurgents, militiamen, suicide bombers, kidnappers, religious zealots, and roving armed bandits."
"Iraqi sovereignty will arrive on June 30," Rumsfeld added. "Citizens of a new free Iraq, this is your final warning: Sovereignty will arrive on June 30."
Even as house-to-house fighting continues in Iraq's urban centers, Iraqi citizens said they applaud U.S. efforts to return their country to them so quickly.
"True Iraqis know that our enemy has never been the U.S.," said Hakmed Butti, a Sunni who has been "saving my joy and weaponry" for the day America returns power to his country. "Our enemy has always been each other. It took an American invasion to teach my people that, but I do not think it is a lesson we will soon forget."
Butti said he plans to observe the day of independence at home with his family, in quiet contemplation and prayer for his life in a fortified bunker he built beneath his house.
Iraqi leaders expressed optimism about the future of democracy in Iraq.
"I am certain that this democracy will be a flash point of social and political change," said one Najaf-based Iraqi cleric who asked that his name and the location of the tanker truck he was loading with diesel-soaked nitrate-based fertilizer not be printed. "My followers and I will visit the new government offices as soon as they open, to make absolutely certain that they get our message. Yes, the capitol building will be at the center of the firestorm, as they say."
Shi'ite leader Dzhan al-Juburi said difficult days are ahead, but that the people of Iraq are "not strangers to challenge."
"The path to re-deconstructing Iraq will not be easy," al-Juburi said. "But if we remember to draw on the strength of our people and their massive stockpiles of automatic weapons, then, Allah willing, we will turn Iraq into the country it once was in no time at all."
In light of yesterdays insanity in Iraq and Riyahd , which seem to confirm that the main terrorist targets now appear to be fellow arabs, I bring you this very funny but sadly I expect also very prophetic, tale, shamelessly stolen from The Onion, the home of American satire and irony (yes it does exist, but I believe it is on the U.N.s endangered species list).
BAGHDAD—With little more than two months remaining until the American-led occupation force hands sovereignty to an interim government, Iraqi citizens are joyfully arming themselves in anticipation of independence.
"Saddam is overthrown! Praise Allah! Iraq is ours once more!" Baghdad native Alaa al-Khawaja said, as he busily shoved boxes of 7.62mm ammunition beneath the bed in his two-room home on the outskirts of Baghdad. "Now is the time for all citizens to prepare for our nation's glorious future—a future certain to contain wave after bloody wave of sectarian violence."
"Excuse me, now," al-Khawaja added. "I must barricade these doors and windows with sheet metal before the wonderful day of freedom arrives."
Also readying himself is Thaer Abbas, a Tikrit shopkeeper who sells handmade baskets, earthenware pots, and surplus AK-47s.
"God bless the USA! God bless Bush!" Abbas said. "America has delivered our country back into our hands, and soon, thousands of those hands will be raised in anger as mullahs and imams lead the fight over what little remains."
As the June 30 date for transfer of full authority to the interim government approaches, the dozens of political factions that comprise the liberated nation are readying themselves to assume rule.
"Finally, we will have the opportunity to lead our own nation and decide what is best for our people," said Shi'ite Muslim cleric Namir al-Safy. "Of course, by 'we,' I mean the Shi'ites."
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said he expects a smooth transfer of power, in spite of anti-U.S. violence, widespread unrest, and recent events like the Shi'ite uprising in Fallujah.
"The Iraqi people deserve their long-sought independence," Rumsfeld said at a Defense Department press conference Monday. "We cannot, in good conscience, postpone the transfer of power. That would be punishing all the good Iraqi people for the actions of a few thousand insurgents, militiamen, suicide bombers, kidnappers, religious zealots, and roving armed bandits."
"Iraqi sovereignty will arrive on June 30," Rumsfeld added. "Citizens of a new free Iraq, this is your final warning: Sovereignty will arrive on June 30."
Even as house-to-house fighting continues in Iraq's urban centers, Iraqi citizens said they applaud U.S. efforts to return their country to them so quickly.
"True Iraqis know that our enemy has never been the U.S.," said Hakmed Butti, a Sunni who has been "saving my joy and weaponry" for the day America returns power to his country. "Our enemy has always been each other. It took an American invasion to teach my people that, but I do not think it is a lesson we will soon forget."
Butti said he plans to observe the day of independence at home with his family, in quiet contemplation and prayer for his life in a fortified bunker he built beneath his house.
Iraqi leaders expressed optimism about the future of democracy in Iraq.
"I am certain that this democracy will be a flash point of social and political change," said one Najaf-based Iraqi cleric who asked that his name and the location of the tanker truck he was loading with diesel-soaked nitrate-based fertilizer not be printed. "My followers and I will visit the new government offices as soon as they open, to make absolutely certain that they get our message. Yes, the capitol building will be at the center of the firestorm, as they say."
Shi'ite leader Dzhan al-Juburi said difficult days are ahead, but that the people of Iraq are "not strangers to challenge."
"The path to re-deconstructing Iraq will not be easy," al-Juburi said. "But if we remember to draw on the strength of our people and their massive stockpiles of automatic weapons, then, Allah willing, we will turn Iraq into the country it once was in no time at all."