A whole new way to see the Stooges

I've been and will continue to be a stoogie as long as I live.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who when he shaves his mustache looks a little bit like Larry

Graphene?

I can see the new comic book character based on this stuff now

"The man of Graphene"


Until next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger without any carbon fiber paper

Tag, your it!

I have been challenged to state 8 autobiographical facts by the one and only Fumier.

OK

1. I lack any form of social grace
2. I was once voted by as the meanest teacher in the school where I am employed by middle school boys
3. I used to race bicycles
4. I prefer whiskey to beer
5. I believe that all great men have a mustache
6. I agree with Waylon Jennins. Charles may be a prince but "Bob Wills is still the King"
7. I have a PhD though my spelling doesn't show it
8. I was almost born in the back seat of a 1957 Chevrolet

Dyslexics of the World Untie

I don't agree with everything the guy linked to above has to say. I am, I think a little more mellow about my dyslexia. However, it is still a fairly good post and expresses some of the frustrations that dyslexic people struggle with.

I would also add that I think one of the biggest obstacles that dyslexics face is the over diagnosis of Learning Disabilities and the use of of the label for personal gain without the associated work and effort needed to achieve such.

Until Next time
Fai Mao
The untied Blogger

Commuting in Hong Kong

I don't drive. In Hong Kong you don't really need to. However, I have friends who have automobiles and so I know that driving, if you can afford it is still faster than the bus or even a taxi here.

I know a man here whose wife is a CPA. She actually put a pencil to it and figured out that for a family of four it is cheaper to take a taxi everywhere you go than to own a car when you include the taxes, licensing, maintenance and so forth. I'm not sure about that but driving is definitely not a middle class activity here unless you live in one of the government housing projects that provide you with a parking space.

Hong Kong has what must be surely one of the best bus systems in the world. There are also trains and subways which I don't normally take. The subway gives me the creeps because it is just two crowded and the train doesn't go past my job. However, there are still one or two days a month that I wish I had a car. Today was one of those. My bus broke down and I had to sit there until they could tow it to the shoulder and then transfer to another bus. It made me about 30 minutes late for work. If I'd had a car I could have been here on time.


When the school moves to a new location after Christmas break I will no longer have a bus that goes past my job. The time and money required to catch a bus, change to the train and then change trains again is going to be a real hassle. Causeway Bay to Shek Mun must be the only two places in Hong Kong that don't have a nearly direct bus route between them. It may be time to look into a scooter license. I still don't think I want a car.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger without a drivers license.

A short quote

"If men had postponed the search for knowledge and beauty until they were secure, the search would never have begun. We are mistaken when we compare war with "normal life". Life has never been normal. Even those periods which we think most tranquil, like the nineteenth century, turn out, on closer inspection, to be full of crises, alarms, difficulties, emergencies. Plausible reasons have never been lacking for putting off all merely cultural activities until some imminent danger has been averted or some crying injustice put right"
(Lewis, C. S. The Weight of Glory and other Addresses, William Eerdmans Publishing 1965, p 44-45)

This is perhaps a quote that someone could throw at the human bow-tie regarding universal sufferance in Hong Kong. There will never be a perfect time. There will always be one more problem that could be solved. There will always be reason to wait. Perhaps the HK government knows this. Perhaps that is the idea.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who reads more widely than Donald Tsang

Pakistan: Revenge Attacks on Chinese Nationals and Security Personnel

Interesting.

And if you own a Chinese restaurant in Islamabad maybe frightening

Until Next Time
Fai Mao

I'M TOO SEXY FOR YOUR BUS

I don't know whether to feel guilty for laughing at this story or not

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who rides the bus

Molon Labe!

I sometimes get upset with the way that language is misused. I think we all do to some degree or another. Certainly I've met enough Brits that get really bent out of shape over "Tires," "Center" and "Color" that I think I'm justified in thinking many people have an idea, even if it is a fuzzy one of what proper grammar, usage and spelling should entail.

Many words have, through slang or sloppy usage lost any semblance of their real power. I could make a couple of corny jokes about the lost attributes of love, gay, wicked, or any of probably 1/2 a dozen other words. But I'm not. I'm going to pick on one word. Actually I'm going to pick on two forms of one word: racist or racism.

It strikes me that racism in the proper context has everything to do with skin color or more properly ethnic heritage and nothing to do with religion or culture. Some NAZI, I've forgotten who, maybe Goering said something very much along along these lines when he said and I'm paraphrasing here; "We hate Jews because they are Jews not because of their religion" (This is one of those quotes that I wish I'd kept a source for.)

I bring this up because I've been watching a DVD of the the movie "300" about the Spartans against the Persians. Some Mullah in Iran objected to this film because it showed the Persians, modern day Iranians, getting their butts kicked by 300 Greeks until a Greek traitor showed the Persians a way to get behind the Greeks. Somehow, I'm not really sure how, this was considered "an affront to Islam" even though none of the characters in the movie were Muslims and Islam hadn't been invented yet , but this Iranian guy just had the vapors with righteous indignation.

Well, since 9-11, as an expat-American; I've made it my patriotic duty to watch any movie or buy any book that Muslims object to. Salmon Rushdie? You bet. Those cartoons in Denmark? I've seen them all! I'll see Evan Almighty when it comes to town with the beautiful, smart, hardworking, looks 25 years younger than she is wife. One of the reasons I want to see this movie is, in addition to looking like it is hysterical, because some Islamic clerics in Malaysia objected to the film because God is played by a Black man, Morgan Freeman (My second favorite actor behind Russel Crow) He said the the movie is an "Affront to Islam" Holy Cow, if it offends a significant percentage of Muslims somewhere that's good enough for me.

So how does this relate to racism? Easy. I've been, from time to time labeled a racist because of my views on Islam. In reality, nothing could be farther from the trues. I don't hate Muslims or anybody else with the possible exception of George Steinbrenner because of the way he ruined the game of Baseball. I don't care what anyone's skin color is, what their parentage is, where they live or anything else. I don't even hate Islam. You can't hate hate an idea. You can only disagree with it and I do. Vehemently so. I disagree with every tenant of Islam. I disagree with it in principle and practice. I wish that it would simply die out and it would if the countries where it exist would stop maintaining it by force. Whatever the crimes any other religion has committed pale in comparison to the barbarism practiced by Islam.

But, disagreeing with Islam as a religion doesn't make me a racist but what might be called a culturalist. I believe that in most ways my Western culture that stresses liberty and tolerance is superior to Islamic cultures.

All cultures and all nations have a set of myths that people believe but that are not necessarily true. George Washington and the Cherry tree. Abe Lincoln walking miles to return three cents he'd overcharged a customer in his father's store. French fecklessness and so on. Some of these myths such as Honest Abe returning the pennies and other times they were constructed out of whole cloth. But they all serve to define a national or cultural heritage. They represent what we, the citizens of a place want to believe about ourselves, or nation, our culture. That is why we preserve them. Or, in some cases discard them, because what we are as a people has changed.

One these myths that has served Islam well is that Medieval Islam societies were more advanced than those in Europe. That they were more tolerant and so for and so on. I think that if we were to look closely and objectively we'd be able to see pretty fast that this myth is exactly that; a myth. Not that Medieval Europe or China were a cream cake by comparison, they weren't but Islamic societies were just as bad or worse.

But, even if the myth of Islamic cultural superiority were true in the past, that's not what Islam is today. I refuse to be immolated, or more likely have my head chopped off for not being a Muslim. I refuse to allow a backward, woman hating, intolerant bunch of scary guys with beards and AK-47's tell me what to do, believe or eat.

But I digress. This was a movie review.

I enjoyed this film. I liked it a lot. Yes, I know it kind of glossed over the unsavory elements of Spartan society. But this film had everything else going for it; blood, sex, treachery and bravery,on one hand and honor and the desire to do the right thing in the face of overwhelming odds on the other hand, everything. The fact that some Islamics in Iran objected to it was gravy just as the the old Monty Python film "The Life of Bryan" was more fun because of Southern Baptist protesting against it.

I wouldn't recommend it for little kids or Canadian pacifist but everyone else should enjoy it.


Molon Labe in deed!

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The movie watching non-Islamic Blogger

Worst Headline of the year?

I'm not sure these are plague rats. They seem to be more like domesticated livestock

In any case I bet there are lots of Civit Cats breathing easier

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who prefers chicken

Worst gadgets - A top 10 list

The Daily Mail list some things as gadgets that don't bother me such as speed cameras. Well actually they might if if I drove but since I don't I'm glad to see most drivers get nailed. I wish they'd install the things on Pokfulam Road; then the government would not need to revamp the tax system in Hong Kong.

Worst Gadgets:
10 . The Electric Can Opener. The ultimate symbol of a lazy decadent society.

09. Cell phones that are incorporated into eye glasses. Talk about the nerd from Hell, there you are.

08. Elliptical workout machines. Try hiking and eating less instead. Anything is better than these beast

07. A tie between the X-Box, Wi and Play Station 3. I play a lot of video games but you don't need a computer that only plays games

06. Digital cameras in cell phones. If I see one more adolescent boy using his cell phone camera to take a quick picture of his girlfriends' underwear on the MTR I'll consider advocating Sharia law in HK.

05. Battery powered watches. The only time you really need a watch in three years will be the day the battery dies. Get a self winding one

04. Battery powered alarm clocks. Everything bad about a battery powered watch is true of a battery powered alarm clock in spades. Except in Hong Kong the rooms don't have enough plugs.

03. Apple Computers. Apple sells a life style not a computer. I don't know if they work better or not. I don't care.

02. Online dating services. Not strictly a gadget but this is my list.

01. Those weird multi tools that they sell on the streets here. They look kind of cool but don't work. Their only real purpose is to get $10.00 from your pocket to the vendors'.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Neo-Luddite Blogger

Straining at Gnats and Swallowing Camels

I sometimes suffer from topic overload because it just seems that there are so many things to write about that I end up not writing at all. The crane that collapsed near my flat yesterday is a good example. My God, what if that thing had fallen onto Hennesy Road rather than back into the construction site? Does anyone doubt that the use of illiterate construction workers from the PRC and lax safety standards by HK contractors didn't have anything or probably everything to do with that horror? I hesitate to write on disasters like this because I believe this is an issue that the papers and television news can actually cover well. So why write about it? I could write a long essay on the need for better health and safety standards here or the enforcement of those already on the books but why? The SCMP can do that and should.

There are however, things that journalist cannot cover well. This is because:

1. They don't have the technical knowledge of a specific area.
   
2. They don't have the connections
   
3. They are unable to separate their personal convictions or attitudes from the issues involved. This is especially true, or so it appears to me when dealing with political and scientific areas.
   

I must admit, I don't believe in journalistic objectivity (or any other kind of professional objectivity for that matter)in matters of importance. Everybody, my self included, has a near impossible time separating their feelings, training and beliefs from the way they view the world. Journalist are no different. Our opinions and personality color and to some extent shape what we see. That is one of the things that make blogs so useful to me. They give me the opportunity to find divergent points of view or expertise that isn't filtered though someone else provided that I have the skills to discern authentic what the blogger is saying.

I bring this up today because there is a link to a Radio interview on RTHK Radio-3 with Hemlock on his site. The very first caller to the show was a "journalist" who complained about Hemlock using a pen-name because, or so the journalist claimed, that not using his real name lessened his authority. The host of the program concurred saying in effect that the invitation to Hemlock had been carefully considered because of his screen name. Hemlock's answer that he maintains his anonymity because of his job and family was roundly pooh-poohed by the Radio host and the caller. Hemlock, in true what I think is Brit politeness was kinder to them than I would have been.

But then I am a bomb throwing reactionary crank by training, habit and temperament.

This was a perfect example of number three above. Journalist do not live in the real world when it comes to employment. They simply don't get it. More than that they are hypocrites of the worse kind.

Why?

1. If a journalist makes an outrageous claim, especially one that is true their employer benefits through increased sales or greater market share. Having the government protest the content of an article exposing governmental corruption or having a group of protesters complain about a newspapers coverage of them is good for the paper. Finding things out, especially salacious or illegal things is what journalist are often paid to do. It increases sales. I on the other hand as a blogger would lose my job if I start having nuts who don't appreciate my point of view showing up the gate of the school where I work. As well I should because at that point my private life would be affecting my professional life.
   
2. Have these journalist ever used an unnamed source? We aren't talking about Dan Rather making things up here. We're talking about printing something that includes phrases like: "An official in the government told us....." "This housewife said......." How is this different from Hemlock or Fai Mao or any of the other Hong Kong Bloggers who have pen-names? We have authority, if we have it all because what we say can be checked as true and factual.
   
3. Do journalist, any journalist ever reveal all of their sources as footnotes or text notes within their articles? I've never seen it if they do.
   
4. Do journalist, really think they are adequate to act as the sole gatekeepers of knowledge? Especially since, I believe, in the same week this interview with Hemlock took place they themselves issued a report describing the growing amount of self censorship among the press in Hong Kong? Maybe they should censor less and use more fake names
   

To say that someone who has an obvious insider position in the financial and government workings of Hong Kong. who has lived here a long time and has a cogent, well thought out not to mention often hysterically funny position on the government here is a suspect source simply because he/she/they use a screen name is simply a condescending ploy by practitioners of a dying industry to keep a few more pay checks coming before they have to get a job as a checkout boy at Wellcome.

Growl.

There is a famous line from the Shakespeare play Henry VI "First we kill all the lawyers" perhaps if the Bard were alive today Journalist would have claimed his ire as well.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger Who is proud of His Anonymity.

A Job to Die For

According to Blomberg this morning the PRC EXECUTED the head of its' food safety commission yesterday over the quality and safety issues.

I'm sure that won't fix the problem. I am not even sure it will help. It does show that the PRC is at least in a superficial way concerned about the problem.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who avoids food products from China

Live Earth

Just an idle thought.

Back in his days a Vice-President Al Gore and his wife made a big deal about the evilness of Rock and Roll and Rap music. This week he was on stage with many of the people he wanted to ban in 1997.

My, my how things have changed. Or, maybe not.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao

Oh Give Me a Home

What a month. I left for the US on June 5th and returned after a three week visit. However, quite unexpectedly, this turned into a working vacation. My father despite his bad health does volunteer work with a group from the Southern Baptist that perform disaster relief. As has even been in the news here in Hong Kong; the area from from North Central Texas through Southern Nebraska in the US which is probably an area at least the size of the UK has gotten just staggering, Seattle like, amounts of rain fall this spring. Indeed from March 1, through June 1 my mother said this year North Texas received twice the total amount of rain that they get in an average year. So, since the disaster relief team needed an extra pair of hands, I helped with some flood relief. It was actually a good way to spend five or six days of a 20 day vacation.

The upside of the rains is that even in the much drier West Texas where I am from the Dessert was in bloom. The fields were green and the air was clean and I wanted to stay. I like Hong Kong but there is something about the emptiness of West Texas that really appeals to me. The land is just so massive. You can see for miles and mile. Prairies are, if you know how to look at them, seriously beautiful places. Not the gaudy neon pretty of the Hong Kong skyline or the majesty of a mountain range but a quiet, modest beauty that when you first see it takes your breath away.

The lovely, smart, beautiful, looks 25 years younger than she is wife and I are beginning to look beyond Hong Kong. She is going to be working in Singapore next year while I finish my contract here. We don't know where we'll be in 18 months but I am hearing the call of the buffalo. If I have any say in the matter Lubbock, Amarillo or Abilene may be in the offing

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who is still a Cowboy at Heart.

Some Inconvenient Truth for Mr. Gore

Al Gore is making millions on the Global Warming baloney.

The true science refutes almost every aspect of his allegations but Al will keep milking this cash cow for all it is worth. I wonder when people are going to start demanding their money back for all those carbon credits they've been buying?


I realize this is a harsh post for someone just back from vacation and will start up with my normal navel gazing on Monday or Tuesday

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Skeptical Evironmentalist

From Emergengy to Emergency

I should offer apologies to my few regular readers for my lack of post.

The last two weeks are the busiest of the year for me at my job. Now that school is out I'm off to the US for three weeks. I will return in the last week of June.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The blogger on vacation

Weasel Words

Some Questions for Ma Lik

1. If there were not 4000 people killed by the Chinese in June 1989 what was the real number; was it maybe 5000 or 6000?
2. If those people didn't die, where did they go and why haven't they contacted their families?
   
3. If being run over by a tank doesn't turn you into mince (hamburger meat for those of you reading this in civilized countries) what does being run over by a tank turn you into; a meat waffle?
4. If the PRC didn't cremate the bodies of those killed then what did they do with the bodies?
   
5. What is total cost for hair dye by top Chinese officials?

Enquirering minds want to know

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who longs for China to be free

Small Minds Think Alike

CUHK students have been in a row with administration this week over a sex survey they published in the school paper. They have now started to complain about the Bible saying it is as bad as they. I guess the students who print the student rag at Chinese U can't tell the difference between puerility and history.

Let's take their charges one at a time
Incest - They are probably referring to two events: Lots daughters and episode between a brother and his half sister who were children of King David. Both are condemned. Paul explicitly condemns a man that is sleeping with his stepmother in the New Testament does that count as incest? Still it is a practice that is condemned as is all forms of sexual immorality. When the people who complained said that the Bible "advocates incest" they either didn't know what they are talking about or are simply lying.

Rape - The second example above as I said it is not presented in a positive light or held up as the norm for others to practice.

Cannibalism - Where? Possibly in the description of one of the sieges of a city or as something practiced by the Canaanites before Joshua invaded. Once again not something promoted. Possibly they are confusing the concept of communion "Eat my body and drink my blood" and fail to see the symbolic nature of the passage. In any event, it isn't cannibalism.

Violence - Certainly, the Chinese U. flap that caused this complaint didn't ask about violence so I fail to see the connection because they were asked to withdraw a (Probably poorly constructed) survey about students and sex. So the comparison is apples and oranges. But, that is also beside the point. If we are going to label books that have historical or even semi-historical or mythical accounts of history as unacceptable because they report about wars and killing and all violence in the Bible is presented as a historical account, then we can read no history or ancient mythology. Let us not even touch the fact that if they really wanted to see a religious book that advocates violence then they should have cited the Koran.

It appears to me that the student newspaper at CUHK was actually trying to do something that the accounts of rape, incest and violence in the Bible does not do. They were trying to justify their bad behavior by saying people long ago did this too. Please understand. I'm not necessarily defending anything in the Bible or trying to evangelize anyone. I am not even defending the administration at CUHK who are probably a bunch of repressed and sexually frustrated academics. I'm just saying that the complaint is at best vacuous and in probability a sophomoric attempt to justify their desire to print something that they thought was sensational. Given the cramped living spaces in Hong Kong I would think that it is very likely that many, indeed most children have seen their parents having sex. I bet the number is rather high that have seen their maid having sex or that have had sex with the maid! So what? That happens in bigger houses too. Catching your parents in an intimate moment is in many ways simply part of growing up; part of life. It happens all the time and thus makes the survey about as groundbreaking as as asking "Have you ever dreamed of being rich?"

I have seen have several protest by both HKU and CUHK students over the years. My lovely, gracious, smart, looks 25 years younger than she is, Chinese wife used to be a warden at an HKU dorm so I have had ample opportunity to observe the quality of students in HK universities. This may be the best they can do; and then they wonder why Hong Kong seems to be losing ground to the mainland.

It isn't all Sir Bow-Tie's fault.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007. Is the Bible indecent? HK officials have 208 complaints saying it is WILL CLEM and AGNES LAM The Bible became a target of indecency complaints yesterday after an anonymous website launched a campaign asking people to put pressure on the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority to reclassify the holy text as an indecent publication. The Chinese-language website www.truthbible.net said the Bible was full of stories and references to incest, rape, cannibalism and violence in both the Old and New Testaments. Tela confirmed yesterday it had received 208 complaints, more than double the number of complaints it received over the past week about the Chinese University Student Press, which resulted in two issues being classified by the Obscene Articles Tribunal as indecent on Monday. It was not clear how many of the complaints were prompted by the website, which is highly critical of the Christian scriptures. The website runs under a bilingual banner in red, stating: "Legal disclaimer warning: this website contains biblical material, which may offend and may not be distributed, circulated, sold, hired, given, lent, shown, played or projected to a person under the age of 18 years." The suggested complaint letter contained on the site makes specific reference to the student journal's controversial sex survey. The survey asked readers if they had fantasised about having sex with family members or saw them perform sexual acts. The letter likens it to more explicit sections of the Bible. "Passages in the Bible not only advocate incest, but they also aim to rationalise incest and present it as normal," the letter states. Under the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance, a publication or a display is exempt from the law if it is deemed to be in the interest of science, literature, art and academic study. If the complaints were upheld, by law it would mean full texts of the Bible would be deemed suitable to be read only by over-18s, and copies would need to carry a warning and be sold in sealed packaging.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The blogger who thinks most university students should be seen and not heard

Get over it baby!

I used to engage in moral posturing over people's fascination with celebrities. But then I sort of realized that hating celebrities amounted to the same thing as loving them. They don't really care whether I like them or hate them so long as I know their name. So, I'll make fun of celebrities if I want to and not feel any moral shame at all so long as celebrity bashing doesn't control my life. However, with the death of Nina Wong I needed another famous person to follow. While I can't say that not having a celebrity to hate has really caused me emotional pain there was definitely something missing in my life without one.

Paris Hilton has ridden to my rescue.

She has all the attributes of Nina Wong except the pig-tails and is better looking to boot. She is also the reason that dumb blond jokes exist. I just wish she were a Hong Kong resident.

Her impending jail sentence is just simply funny. Her arrogance in thinking that the law would not apply to her has an almost comic air about it. The idea of Paris being humiliated in a group shower in prison is so Sadistically funny that I can't help but keep from smiling.

However, in reality prisons, even in rather tolerant and enlightened countries are no joke. I don't think anybody deserves the abuse given out to new arrivals and first time offenders by the more hardened prisoners. In this respect prison reform should be a more high priority political item. A 20 something rich girl going to jail for traffic fines and driving while drunk should not have to fear being raped by lesbians while serving her time; even if she a lazy, shallow, vapid and spoiled high dollar tart.

So despite my glee on one hand that she's getting her comeuppance and a taste of the real world, possibly for the first time in her life, I have some well meant and serious advice for her. (Though I seriously doubt she'll ever read it or know about it.)

These are taken and modified from the chapter "What if you're arrested" of the book Worst Case Scenarios which is a book sometimes given to high school graduating students before they go off to university.

1. Ask for a solitary cell. You really don't want a roommate.
   
2. Stay in your cell unless you must leave. If you leave your cell try and stay within about 10 feet of a guard. Use the time to read a book (assuming that Paris can read)
   
3. Stay out of the shower. There is normally a sink in the cell take a sink bath. If it means not washing your hair for 45 days so be it.
4. Don't accept any favors from other prisoners. You don't want to "Owe them a favor"
5. Don't offer to help anyone. They might expect more help than you can give
   
6. Don't initiate a conversation with prisoners.
7. Answer questions directly, politely and concisely.
8. If you must be in a common room with other prisoners then sit in a corner with you back against the wall.
   
9. Don't cry or weep where others can see you.
10. Dye your hair and get it cut off before you enter the jail. It might be a best to not look like you.
11. Obey the guards. They are your only friends. However don't trust them. They can be just as abusive.
    
12. It is OK to be afraid but don't let fear paralyze you
    

Lastly. Count the days down and get out and then stay out. Learn form this that you aren't above the law.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who has some sympathy for the person he loves to hate

PotC

The last movie in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy will start its Hong Kong run this Thursday. I plan to go see it if I can on Thursday evening.

I got into sort of an argument this morning with one of the more patriotic and socially minded students here at the school I work for about this movie. She is upset that Chow Yung Fat plays a part that is a stereotypical Chinese Kung Fu villain (Though how she knows this is beyond me as the movie isn't playing here yet.) and is not a positive role model. She conveniently forgot that this is a movie where all the major characters are PIRATES! None of them are particularly good role models and the whole movie is based around comic versions of stereotypical characters.

She just reinforced my notion that the voting age in all elections world wide should be raised from 18 or 21 to about 38 or 40. The young have no stake in the world. That's why they want to change it. It is often said that the world belongs to the future generations but that is a lie. The world belongs to middle-aged farts who had the money to buy from over-the-hill geezers. The middle-aged take care of the Earth because we want to protect our investment. Attempts by 20 somethings to change the world are really just an attempt by those without money to gain access to the wealth of those who have spent 25 to 30 years earning it.


Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who likes to say "Arrrrrgh"

What, no Bill Gates?

I'd like to have Steve Jobs' job for about two days.

Wow! Better than $600 million US for simply selling overpriced computers that are not compatible with Windows.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who does not work in a technology field

A Heartfelt Thank You!

Sometimes it is little things that make your day.

This morning I got on the bus to come to work and my octopus card was negative. I only had a $500.00 bill and no change. Growl! This normally means riding the bus one stop, getting off, finding a 7-11, charging the card, waiting for another bus and then being late for work. However, when the bus driver saw I had no small bills he said in his best Engrish "OK you sit. OK" I guess he's paid by the hour so it really isn't any skin off his nose if he let's the occasional commuter with a negative card have a free ride But, I was still grateful. Thank You sir. Thank you very much.

Now to a little more grumpy subject.

There was a protest by public housing tenants on Sunday that really bothered me. They were protesting that the parking charges for their automobiles are being raised from HK $100.00 (USD $13.00) to HK $300.00 or $39 US dollars a month.

I can't afford a car. The parking where I live would cost $3500.00 a month and I'd still have to walk three blocks to the car. Why do people that are supposedly so poor that they can't afford housing given access to parking below where they live at 1/10 th the going rate? If they are so poor shouldn't they take mass transit? Hong Kong is the most expensive city in the world to drive in. Public housing tenants shouldn't need parking because if they can afford to drive here they shouldn't need public housing.

This brings up the whole issue of how public housing is done in Hong Kong and why it is problematic. Once someone gets a publicly rented flat they are almost never required to move out or give it up; even if they go on to attain great wealth. I vaguely know a couple (Friends of my wife) who started in public housing probably 30 years ago. They now own a factory and drive a jaguar and live in a big mansion in Melborne. They still rent the public housing flat and let a relative live in it "Just in case they go broke in the future" tenants can also pass a flat along to their children as an inheritance. Pardon me for seeing the potential for huge amount of abuse in such a system.

I find it appalling that better than 50% of Hong Kong residents live in some form of government housing. I have little doubt that because the government is always bending over and dropping its trousers for construction industry to keep the property market at an unnaturally high level most of the tenants of public housing projects could afford no where else to live. Indeed, the way the construction industry is allowed to screw the government here it is a wonder that every female in the Buildings and Lands department isn't carrying a baby fathered by Li Kai Shing. However, I also wonder if the assets and earnings of a significant percentage of public housing tenants were really looked at if it would not be found that they shouldn't be in public housing?

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who thinks that the HK Housing Authority could do a better job

I wonder when they start crawling out of the woodwork?

Now that the French have elected a center right, nominally Jewish man with an apparently more devout Jewish wife as their president I wonder how long it will be before the French Left adopts an openly antisemitic stance?

When will the French socialist start saying that the nation has been taken over by a secret cabal of Jewish Bankers who have secretly been running the world since 70 AD?

I can see the headlines now.

I hope Sarkosy goes down in history as the best president France has ever had

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who believes that those practicing antisemitism should be flogged and then jailed

Another T-Shirt

Unfortunately I couldn't get my camera out fast enough and this woman disappeared into the crowd but I saw a real show stopper T-Shirt in Shenzhen on Sunday. But, even if I could of gotten the camera out, I don't know if I could have gotten a picture of it without her realizing I was making fun of her as it had messages on the front as well as the back.

On the front :
"Help me find my lost virginity"

On the back
"Reward offered"

I might have asked her how I could help but I was with my wife.


Until Next time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who only wheres plain T-shirts

Cathay Pathetic Airways

The lovely, smart and looks 25 years younger than her age wife made reservation for our daughter to make a summer trip to see grandparents and relatives in the US this summer and generally relax with her favorite aunt and work at a summer job. The wife flies a lot and has bookoo frequent flier miles on her account and we used 40,000 of them to get a ticket from Leeds in the UK to Dallas via London. We made the reservation online and were happy to get the flights so well routed.

All was well and good until my wife called Cathay Pacific and confirmed the tickets. The phone girl didn't know the definition or difference between the word "Confirmed" and the word "Canceled" and she canceled the reservation. We didn't know this until we didn't receive a route and confirmation number and my wife called back. Since Cathay Pacific offers great in flight service we expected them to make the situation right. They went back and checked the tapes and discovered that my wife had indeed said "Confirm" and not "cancel." Up to this point we had no complaint. OK mistakes happen. It was what happened next that lit my fuse. Despite this whole episode being their fault they offered no suitable recompense. They wouldn't even restore the flight!

After a bit of angry talking on the phone they offered to replace: Leeds to London to Dallas on affiliated airlines they offered Birmingham to New York's JFK and then Newark to Dallas with a 4 hour layover. The Newark airport is technically a New York Airport but it is in another state. There is no subway between the two as in London between Gatwick and Heathrow and no dedicated bus service that I know of. How does a 20 year-old single female without a drivers license and who doesn't know the route get from JFK to Newark? When my daughter was small we lived in the NYC area, so I know it is probably a one to three hour trip depending upon the traffic. That's an expensive Taxi ride for someone without US money. It is also easily possible to mis that connection. In the end after arguing with them on the phone for more time than it should have taken since we were not the ones at fault, we got our daughter booked on a flight from London to JFK on a Cathay Pacific flight and then to Dallas on American Airlines but with rather mind numbing 8 hour layover in JFK.

Would it have hurt Cathay Pacific to say "Whoops! We screwed up. You have a right to be upset with this situation. Here, we'll put your daughter in a London to JFK flight with a complimentary ticket even if it means a business class upgrade. Then you can use your Asia-miles to get the American Airlines flight to Dallas. " Indeed since business class is seldom sold out all it would have cost them is a couple of meals. By taking responsibility and solving the situation in favor of the customer without an argument they would have created a lot of good will in what until now has been a very loyal customer in my wife. Their response was "Look you're getting free ticket anyway. Don't complain."

Frequent flier programs are not free tickets. They are rewards for loyal customers.
My wife flew Cathay Pathetic even when they were more expensive to get the miles into the system. She flew Cathay Pacific even when it meant longer routing or an additional stop than it would have meant with a different non-Asia miles airline. Airlines should use these programs to build loyal customers not drive them away. They've probably driven us away.

It might be time to start looking at Star Alliance to see if they have better customer service.


Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who doesn't really like to fly anyway.

Political Humor

Political humor is a strange beast. When done right it can be the funniest thing in print. I think was Dana Carvy who used to make wicked
fun out of the first President Bush and was invited to the White House to have dinner with the President as a result. The jokes about Ronald Regan
and Jelly Beans, Jimmy Carter's teeth, Gerald Ford's stumbling down steps were all funny and laughed at by the politician as well as their
opponents. Sometimes political humor makes its way into political advertising. With such famous lines as “3500 years ago Moses said 'Load up
your camels and asses and follow me and I'll Lead you to the Promised land Today LBJ tells to smoke your camels and sit on your asses this is
the promised land.”  

Other times political humor can be simply vile and sophomoric. In its worst form it can be seditious. I believe that the ability to laugh government
and to lampoon leaders is one of the most basic of liberties. Martin Luther once said something to the effect of “The best way to defeat the devil
is first to quote scripture to him and second to laugh at him” This is kind of true with politicians as well. Being able to laugh at them selves is
a virtue for politicians.        

More than that, being able to put potentially contentious issues in a humorous format can allow us to discuss and
examine these issues with less rancor is a good thing.  

Being able to allow dissent, especially through humor is something that PRC government needs to learn.
It might also be a good lesson for Hong Kong politicians. Would Sir Bow-Tie look less stiff if we thought
he could laugh at himself?

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who enjoys political humor

Science Fiction Top Ten List

The previous post was general. In reality I think that all librarians probably have several top ten list based upon literature genre rolling around in their heads.

Mine for Science Fiction at the High School level would something like this though in no particular order. Some are out of print

1. A Canticle for Lebowitz by Walter Miller (This really deserve the #1 rank as the best Sci-Fi book of all time)
2. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
3. Q-Squared by Peter David ( The best Star Trek novel by far)
4. The Night Land (parts I and II) by William H. Hodgeson (very hard to find and very strange)
5. The Mansions of Space by John Morressy (A 24th century search for the Shroud of Turin)
6. Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein (Don't confuse it with the bad movie)
7. The Space Trilogy - Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis
8. The Martin Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
9. The Dragon Riders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey (The whole series)
10. 2001 A Space Odyssey by Arther C. Clarke

Honorable Mentions that probably should also be on the list somewhere and would be on other days:
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (the whole series)
The Foundation Trilogy by Isac Asimov
Those Who Watch by Robert Silverberg
The Tripod Trilogy by John Christopher
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Science Fiction Snob

Ten Greatest Children's Books

This list is bogus. "The Amazing Adventures of Captain Underpants" didn't make the list. Not that TAoCU is actually great literature but it is at least a fun read which is more than can be said for most of the selections on this list. I actually think it says more about the deficiencies in the selector's psyche than it does about children's literature. This may be the ten most self-loathing books of the 20th century; but, they are are not the best in children's literature by any stretch of the imagination unless you are an ivory tower academic with pretense for brains.

Not to mention the fact that this looks like books for young adults not children

I hear the snobby chorus from the PC pimps saying "OK smart guy what books would you pick?"

Well, off the top of my head in no particular order.

1. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
2. Johnny Tremain by Ester Forbes
3. The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynn Reid-Banks
4. The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
5. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit
6. Redwall by Brian Jacques
7. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
8. The Book of the Dun Cow by Walter Wangren
9. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
10. Any of the four Sherlock Holmes novels by Arthur Conan Doyle

There are many, many others that are better than the ones on the published list that could be included in my opinion. I'd have no argument with any of the following as well:

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Holes by Louis Sachar
Harry Potter by J.K Rowling
Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Old Yeller by Fred Gibson
I heard the Owl Call My Name by Margret Craven
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Rascal by Stirling North
The Phantom Toll Both by Norton Juster
Stwart Little by E.B. White
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Any of these is better than any of the books on the Independents' list They've all helped get many kids reading and generally have up lifting positive story lines even when dealing with sad or scary topics.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who believes kids should enjoy reading without be burdened by a depressed world view

A Moment of Silence

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who defers to more eloquent voices

The Funeral

Nina Wong was buried yesterday. Lots local big wheels and celebrities were there

Unfortunately my invitation was lost in the mail and didn't arrive so I just went to work as normal.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger Who's still making fun of Nina WOng

Conspiracy

A long but very good post in "Eject Eject Eject" today.

This is a blog I do not normally read but today I am glad I stopped by

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who doesn't Normally believe conspiracy theories

"And so it goes and so forth"

I've forgotten who it was that said that you know you're getting old when the first section of the paper you read is the obituaries so that you can see if any friends have died.

I sort of felt like that this week. First, my favorite punching bag, Nina Wong died. I don't want to make jokes about death but I can't help but wonder if she'll be buried in pig-tails? I would have made a post about it earlier except I was In Guilin last week on a death march tour with the lovely, smart, looks twenty-five years younger than she is, hard working and beautiful wife. It occurs to me that making a joke about someone dying is only funny on the day or the day after they die so, I'll not speak of her again.

What Miss Piggy's passing means is that Regina Ip has moved up a slot in my ridicule list. Madam Broomhead is now number two just behind Long Hair Leung and tied with Donald (I'm not really a Chinese Mr. Bean) Tsang.

On a sadder note, at least for me, Kurt Vonnegut died yesterday; he was 84 which I guess is certainly old enough that his dying shouldn't be a surprise. Vonnegut was a strange author. Lots of Christian schools won't stock his books but I buy all I can get for my library. I found his cynicism and world weariness to be exactly the response that non-Christians should feel when they look at the human condition. His books always made me laugh and cry at the same time. Fiction, when done right, makes you think about your world and how it could be better or worse than it is now. Kurt Vonnegut's books always did that for me. The Sirens of Titian and Breakfast of Champions are my favorite Vonnegut novels.

I felt the same way two years ago with the death of Saul Bellow.

I had to resist the urge yesterday to make a book order with every Vonnegut novel I could find.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who reads strange fiction

Back and gone

I'm back from EARCOS but going to China with the beautiful, gracious, lovely and really smart wife and so will be gone for about a week.

Earcos was what teachers' conferences always tend to be. I never enjoy them. If someone really wants to see what is wrong with education go to a teachers' conference

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The educator who stands for educational progress not PC platitudes

"Hub of the Eastern World"

I'll be in Bangkok next week, through March 30, for the EARCOS teacher's conference.

My lovely and attractive, looks 20 years younger than she is and lots of fun to be around wife cannot go with me. That's a shame because I'm planning to make a pre-conference session and talk to a few individuals and other than that not do much. I hope the hotel has good TV, maybe a treadmill and a pool. Failing those a decent bar with a guest drink free happy hour would work!

Bangkok is probably my least favorite city in Asia. My few regular readers will not be ever able to confuse me with a Christian fundamentalist or even a Pentecostal. However, there is something about Bangkok that repels me at a very deep spiritual or emotional level. I would almost use the word demonic but then I would probably lose my few regular readers. The prostitutes and the pornography and the general tenor of Thai popular culture are just so sad. Thailand seems to be a place that is needy in both the physical and spiritual sense.

If nothing else Bangkok must be the pedophile capital of the world; or at least Asia. Amsterdam(ned) is probably the world capital.

I don't think I could live in Thailand. I'd probably end in prison for murdering a fat pedophile tourist from Germany or Canada to keep them from hiring 12 year-old girls for sex. As noble as killing a few pedophiles with my bare hands might be I'd rather not spend any time in a Thai prison. I guess I'm just not committed enough to my social causes. Maybe I should make my self feel better by calling Tony Blair or George W. Bush a few names. Or I could say"Global Warming" twenty times to absolve myself of my lack of conviction. Better yet. I could give some financial aid to charities and missions that help the victims of rich pedophile liberals. If you know of such a ministry let me know.

Go ahead. Say I'm being judgmental if you want. You can also say I am too narrow and not multi-cultural enough. I still won't like Bangkok any better and will be glad to be back in Hong Kong with my wife on Friday.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who likes Thai food but not much else in Bangkok

More reasons China will never be a Superpower

Poor Customer service. poor quality control. Cutting corners.

People in many developed countries are already leery of the quality of Chinese goods. This just killed lots of dogs and cat in North America and many of these people will now stop buying Chinese goods at least for a while.

I find it funny because the communist are responsible for this even though I no longer think that China is a communist country. They told the Chinese for 50 years that the only reality is material reality and they wonder why nobody behaves ethically?

I am not sure just how much the average Chinese farmer realizes how much a situation like this hurts the Chinese economy. But I wouldn't be surprised to see the importation of foods from China become a political issue.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who has to eat Chinese foods

Yesbutnobutyes

I have placed a link to this. However, it is too funny not to simply steal and so, I've also copied it below.

Well done Evil Richard! Well done!

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Comic Book Reading Blogger

Top 15 Unintentionally Funny Comic Book Panels

Posted by Evil Richard on March 21, 2007.

Comics are great because as they get older not only do they get more valuable (at least my future children hope so because they ain't going to no college unless a certain Mr. Spiderman can afford to send them) but they also get funnier. Thank god our use of language changes over the years because it makes our old comics look stupid and that's funny.

Here's a collection of the Top 15 Funniest Unintentionally Funny Comic Book Panels of All Time.

15. Joker's Boner
I think most of the comic goes on like this. That's all the Joker ever talks about, really.

14. Rod! Rod! Rod!
I can't tell if she's hoping for it or is suddenly surprised by it.

13. Archie Beats off
How convenient that the water comes up to their waists.

12. Shut up, Sue
This one really isn't too unusual for early Fantastic Four comics. Sue really didn't know her place back then.

11. Spider-spunk
Aunt May should know better than to snoop around a teenage boy's room.

10. Wonder Woman's eye-lash emergency
God, women can be so vain.

9. Captain America, wanker
This one's for our Cockney audience.

8. Butt-stroked?
No idea what this is from or what butt-stroking means to this guy but it's funny that this isn't the first time it's happened to him.

7. Barry Arren, Frash
It's one thing to have a character that's an insensitive stereotype, but did the editor really have to get in on it too?

6. Robin takes off his panties
I'm sure this little perv does this all the time. I mean look at who his role model is.

5. Dr. Doom and Crazy Black Man
Most likely this one actually intended to be funny but was it meant to be a story that showed how it's hard for a pimp working with a Dr. Doom tranny?

4. Wonder Woman - just like a woman only smart
Well you really can't say this guy is a mysoginist. He's totally got respect for Wonder Woman so that's pretty progressive of him.

3. Hope she has a safe word
It's hard to believe this one is real and that any version of Batman in the last 60 something years would sound natural saying this. But there it is.

2. Lois' morning after
Robots just don't quit unless you let them go around back. Lois learned the hard way.

1. Oh, Batman. You didn't.
This is my all-time favorite. That Batman has really got problems.

French UFO's

This will probably provide the French someone else to ask for surrender terms from.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who is still pretty much a Frankophobe

The Confession

I doubt that this will shut the offensive "George Bush planned the 9/11 attacks" idiots up but it should.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who knows the difference between a terrorist and a government

This is why I keep saying that China will never be a Super Power

I try not to write on politics much. However, this is an interesting article because it shows why I do not think that China will ever be a Super Power. They need too much of their huge army to keep the peasants from rioting. This is not the simple growing pains associated with industrialization. This is the repressed dissatisfaction of a people who are systematically denied their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The government in China is a bunch or geriatric geezers who use shoe polish for hair dye and are afraid to lose control of the country because they know that they then might be tried and condemned for their crimes. They also like the good perks that high level party members get that prove that "all animals are equal but some are more equal than others."

What is scary about this to me is that I do not think that it is beyond the realm of reason to think that the shoe-polish-hair-dye set that runs Beijing wouldn't reach down to Hong Kong and tell us to cease and desist or else. There is no paranoid like one who really has something to worry about.

Rulers who are afraid of he people rule are generally pretty scary guys.

I really think that Beijing could learn a lot about Hong Kong as could the rest of China. When we have a protest here it is peaceful and polite but the point is made. There was one exception to that but the meanies were from Sout Korea and not locals.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The blogger who wishes that China would live up to its constitution

Leadership

I kind of agree with this guy. Sometimes good leaders are abrasive. They must be.

Consensus often equals a lack of leadership.

Because a leader has a vision for an organization and that vision is often absolute a good leader, or so it would seem to me, might often clash with those who have less clear vision. I guess what this means is that a part of good leadership is that you actually believe in what you are doing. Good leaders are not necessarily the person engaged in a disinterested pursuit of excellence.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who beats them to submission and beckons them with screams

Ban Water

This was an obvious stunt

However, that most people didn't have enough knowledge to realize they were being had is disturbing.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who knows what dihydrogen-monoxide is

Sex Education

I was never this lucky in grade 6. Not that I would have done this if I was.

This is almost beyond belief. As a teacher I think that the teacher probably didn't stop it because he couldn't believe what what was happening.

Until Next Time

Fai Mao
The somewhat more prudish Blogger

Freedom of Expression and Information

The article above details just one more example of how the former nations of Europe are continuing their slide into totalitarianism.


Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who believes in Free Speech

I've got News for the SF Chronicle

China already is so polluted. It already produces more "Green House Gas" than the US. Anybody who has been to a US city and a Chinese city knows this is true.

Over the last 10 years I've been to the non-Hong Kong parts of China maybe 50 or 60 times. I've almost never seen a blue sky; even in rather rural places. China is covered in a perpetual gray haze. It looks like clouds but it is air pollution and it is getting worse. The whole nation smells like it needs to be dipped in degreaser.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who know more about China than SF Chronicle ever will

Death Wish

I am not really a financial or investment kind of guy. I figure that if you spend less than you make and save some you'll be OK That doesn't mean I don't have some investments, it just means that I am not obsessed with making money. But, I have been watching the recent fall in stocks world wide markets.

Not being heavily invested I can afford to snicker at the panic and silliness that might be about to ensue. People who place their value as a human in monetary wealth make some really funny, albeit sad statements in times like this. I realize that laughing at other people's misfortune is a character flaw but sometimes we can't help who we are. More importantly, I am not laughing at the poor who are genuinely going to be hurt in an economic down turn. I'm laughing at the smug, self important speculators and arrogant new rich who don't think they'll ever lose and have never suffered through a recession. That means most of the newly rich "entrepreneurs" in China.

Because investors in the PRC have never been in a down turn they have the potential to be more fun to watch than most others. They have a strange combination of patriotism and incompetence that is going to be fun. There were reports on the Chinese news stations about Shanghai investors who were exuberant because when the Shanghai market fell others did too. They were making statements like "See, the world follows us . We're important!"

Idiots! Who is going to starve first the US or the PRC? If the world goes into a severe depression the PRC will wish that they'd been a little more careful.

I wonder when the bodies will start hitting the pavement in Shanghai?

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who is more of a saver than an investor

Fat Fashion

I was in Wan Chai this weekend. Nothing special, just shopping but as always I was observing the locals and tourist on the street. In the space of about 15 minutes I saw three or four men who were just huge. I mean 50+ inch waist lines. All of them were dressed to the nines. French cuffs with cuff-links. Fancy shoes and ties; exquisitely groomed hair and aftershave that would attract honeybees. It could be that they just stick out more but why does it seem that really overweight men are always such natty dressers? If I, a slightly overweight but not really obese middle aged man wore those kinds of clothes to work people would want to know if I was gay. Really fat guys are the only men I know of who can dress like a gay and not be thought of as gay.

There are several potential answers to this but the truth is probably some combination.
1. They are good dressers because it is a way to offset the negative reaction their weight might make on people
2. A way to compensate for an otherwise poor self image
3. They just really enjoy life; expensive clothes, good cigars, pretty women and rich food and wine. Thus, being overweight is just part of their lifestyle.

Now the other question. Why do I always look like such a slob in comparison?

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who is just a paunchy slob

They Ought to Move to the Big Lycee

Hong Kong Restaurants would feel right at home in NYC

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who isn't bothered by big rats as much as he used to be

Democracy or Liberty?

"Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There was never a democracy yet that did not commit suicide." John Adams

This is a quote that perhaps the people of Hong Kong should think about. Do we really want "Universal Suffrage" and do we want it because we are confusing democracy with liberty? If it were to come to a choice I'd rather have liberty and not vote. Currently we have have neither.

But, I'm am a self-confessed anarchist

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who would rather march to his own drum

Prince Big-Mouth should have to eat his words

This is just too funny

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who prefers Burger King to the English King

Let them Eat Tofu

I don't often completely agree with Ann. She is a bit too strident for me most of the time.
However, I agree with this article. A lot of the things that so called progressives believe today would cause mass starvation and death on a scale never seen in history if followed. The whole Global Warming issue the foremost example of this. Al Gore effectively wants 4 to 5 BILLION people to starve.

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who will see you by the pool

Snicker, Snicker, Snicker

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Non-Political Blogger

Strong Monsoon Warning

Hong Kong is currently under a "Strong Monsoon Warning" what that means is that we will have very strong winds and lots of rain. At least that is the forecast. However, since it comes from the land and not the sea it isn't a typhoon and I won't get a day off to play computer games.


Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who prays for typhoons

Chinese New Year

I made a long post about a Chinese New Year last year. The sentiment is the same. So, I am going to post a link and let you substitute the word "Pig" for "Dog"

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who was too sick this Year to post something origional

High Maintenance Bitch

What I find interesting about this controversy is that the word "bitch" is a proper term for a female dog. Originally it was neither profane or vulgar and the way that the shop has used a term that has slide through misuse into the realm of course vulgarity is legitimately funny.

The woman who complains in this article about how to explain the shop name to her children should be bitch slapped. Just tell the little puppies the truth.

Here is how the dialog would go:

Child: "Mommy, isn't that a dirty word?"
Mommy: Yes and no dearest, the word "bitch" is the proper name for a female dog and a "High Maintenance Bitch is one that requires lots grooming; but some people compare women who wear lots of makeup to fancy female dogs."
Child: "But it isn't nice to call people dogs is it?"
Mommy: "No dear, but it is OK to call a dog a dog."
Child: "So what should we call a woman who wears too much makeup?"
Mommy: "A Nina Wong"
Child: "But I thought that was what you call women who hires men to murder her husband so that she can steal his money?"
Mommy: "Well dear, that was never proved in court so we can't say it; can we?"
Child: "OK mommy, I understand"
Mommy: Good dear, I'm glad."
Child: "Mommy?
Mommy: "What dear?"
Child: "Are we there yet?"

Geez, some people will just bitch and moan about anything.

Until Next Time
Fai Mai
The Blogger whose lovely, intelligent, looks 20 younger than she is wife is very low maintenance

China sentences man to death in ant case

What more can said about this than has been said?
Seems like the punishment is a bit severe!

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger without an ant farm

A man after my own heart

This guy was out of line and should have known better than to do this. However, I understand the sentiment

At this point he should look on the bright side. He is going to get a view of the Philippines that very few tourist see!

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Blogger who hates to be treated like a crimminal at airports

Thai woman tells of 25-year detour after catching wrong bus

I am surprised that this doesn't happen in Hong Kong

Until Next Time
Fai Mao
The Bus Riding Blogger

Microsoft

These emails speak for themselves. I think it may be time I switch over to a Linux operating system even if that means not being able to play my games. I had to remove the Java Script from the emails but otherwise the only thing I have changed is to delete my real name and email address.

Please remember that because we are on opposite ends of the International Date line my today is their Yesterday. Otherwise the dates do not match up

First Message #1 to Microsoft

Three weeks ago my copy of XP developed a glitch and would not boot. I formatted the hard drive and reinstalled Windows. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that my legal copy of Windows could not be validated. I called the HK number and received a validation number and it worked but then the SP2 didn't load correctly and I had to reload Windows again. Because it was new installation there was no recovery point.

I replace my computer every 18 months. Indeed, I custom build my computer to be sure I get the components that I want and because in Hong Kong that type of system can be had at a competitive price. When I replace the computer I format the drive on the old one. Thus, nobody has an old copy of my XP. Indeed, I have two legal copies of XP one for my computer and one for the kid's computer.

I find it offensive that I am assumed to be a law breaker when I am simply trying to use the product correctly. I refuse to purchase another validation even though the call in Hong Kong is not expensive. (It should be free!) The problems with XP are not my fault. (It actually is expensive compared to the cost of the Windows XP but I was trying to be polite)

I need a validation number. I'm not going to call, you are going to send it to me via email. You are not going to charge me for it. Indeed, I would hope that that you would give me a number that works more than once so that if the SP2 again fails to install properly I won't have to write another letter.

Better yet, you could and if you were concerned about your customers would, send me a new copy of XP but I won't hold my breath; I don't look good in blue.

The product key is

XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX

You may email me at:

Please enter "Windows Product codes" Subject box


Comment: Note that I've already paid to gain another activation code that only worked once.

Microsoft's 1st Reply

From: "Microsoft Contact US"
To: XXXXXXX@XXXXXXXX.edu.hk
Date: Wed, 07 Feb 2007 18:59:50 -0800
Subject: RE:'RTCProd=014-374-495'

Hello (Name is spelled wrong)

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Online Customer Service.

I understand that you are unable to install SP2 and validate your Windows XP. I realize the importance of your concern.

Please note, if you are seeking assistance with a Microsoft product that was purchased outside of North America, you may wish to contact your local subsidiary directly for assistance. Our Support Professionals are only trained to troubleshoot issues with North American versions of our products whereas the Support Professionals at the local Microsoft subsidiaries are trained to troubleshoot issues with localized versions of our software and can assist you in your own language. (I have added highlights)

Please contact the Microsoft subsidiary in Hong Kong SAR at +(852) 2804-4200 or you may visit the following website:

http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide/phone/contact.aspx?country=Hong%20Kong

I hope that your issue gets resolved soon.

Thank you for using Microsoft Products and Services.

Priya

Microsoft Online Customer Service Representative

If you have any feedback about your Online Customer Service experience, please submit your feedback by visiting the web link provided below:

https://support.microsoft.com/common/survey.aspx?scid=sw;en;1389&showpage=1&WS=managermail

Comment: The link to the Microsoft Hong Kong web page does not come up when you access the the Microsoft web page. They only give you a phone number that charges you a whopping $450.00 Hong Kong dollars a call for a program that cost $720.00 dollars.

As will become obvious in the next reply despite the somewhat unusual Indian name this is probably a form letter generated by a computer or that the rep has on file and simply fills in the blanks.

Note as well that they did not follow my instruction as to what to put in the subject box either.

Lastly does anything in my email suggest I need or want to speak to someone in Chinese?

Anyway, I emailed Microsoft Hong Kong and received no reply. However I did send a reply email to the US office and this is what I received

My Reply

Your reps need to actually READ MY COMPLAINT!

Look at my last name; look at my writing. Does it look to you like I need to talk to someone in Chinese?

Microsoft's 2nd Reply

Date: 02/08/2007 05:29 PM

Subject: RE:'RTCProd=014-382-347'

---

Hello Dr. (My first name misspelled)

I appreciate that you have taken the time to provide us with this valuable feedback.

As one of our valued customers, your satisfaction is one of our primary concerns. We take our customers' feedback very seriously. We appreciate you taking the time to forward your thoughts to us. Continue to send us your feedback and suggestions. Your comments help us to provide the most useful experience possible.

I also suggest that you provide your feedback in the following page:

https://support.microsoft.com/common/survey.aspx?scid=sw;en;1208

This site is for ideas on new or improved features and services that you would like to see added and ways to make Microsoft products easier. Your suggestions are always welcome there.

We immensely value our relationship and your satisfaction. If you have any other questions regarding your Microsoft product and services, please do write back to us and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

Sujith

Microsoft Online Customer Service

Comments: By this time, I had begun to develop some unique suggestions about products and services that Microsoft could provide and where they could keep them!

My Reply

Date: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 07:44 PM
To: Microsoft Contact US (msconus@microsoft.com)
Subject: RE:

You still didn't read my email. Please do so. It is still listed below.

Look at my original complaint. I am not going to contact the local number because I already have. You will give an activation for free via email or I will simply not use your products.


Microsoft's 3rd Reply

From: "Microsoft Contact US" To:
Date: 02/09/2007 02:02 AM

Subject: RE:'RTCProd=014-374-495'

---

Hello (Name spelled correctly),

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Online Customer Service.

I appreciate you for the time taken to write back to us. I realize the importance of your concern and will assist you in reaching the appropriate resource.

Please be informed that, at this time our Support Professionals are only trained to troubleshoot issues with North American versions of our products whereas the Support Professionals at the local Microsoft subsidiaries are trained to troubleshoot issues with localized versions of our software.

From the information you have provided in your message, I found that you are located in Hongkong. If you have purchased the Microsoft product in Hongkong, your best resource for support is the Microsoft Hongkong subsidiary.

There are significant programming differences between North America and localized versions of software. You will be best assisted by the subsidiary that specializes in the version.

(Misspelled Name), you can contact them at this number +(852) 2804-4200 or visit the following link to locate contact information for the Hongkong subsidiary:

http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide/phone/contact.aspx?country=Hong%20Kong

I hope your issue is resolved soon and appreciate your patience in this regard.

Thank you for using Microsoft Products and Services.

Siju

Microsoft Online Customer Service Representative

If you have any feedback about your Online Customer Service experience, please submit your feedback by visiting the weblink provided below:
https://support.microsoft.com/common/survey.aspx?scid=sw;en;1389&showpage=1&WS=managermail

My Reply

The Hong Kong service center did not answer my email.

I am aware of the number you gave me but I refuse to pay another HKD $450.00 for service even though this problem is not my fault. I'm sorry. I am not going to do that.

As to differences in an operating system between Asia and North America I can't see how that applies since all I need is a validation code.

I will at this point probably find another operating system.

Do you people even read my emails?

I wish I could say thank you for your help. I can't

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Fai Mao
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