Jobs Like THAT!

You know the jobs I mean: someone calls or write or sends a text message asking you to do something really simple.

You accept the piffling challenge with a waft of your hand and a, "Don't worry! Consider it done"!

I just accepted a job like that: while you're there, can you buy me a mini Santa Claus ... I collect them from all over the world.

I set off. Hmm! This is work for a woman, I quickly decided. I then realised that while Singapore fully embraces the spirit of Xmas it does so simply by erecting Xmas Trees and draping tinsel everywhere. I found that the deep and detailed Xmas isn't here, in the shops, I mean.

That's not to say that is a bad thing, it's just the way Changi Airport is.

Well, I went into one shop and asked an assistant whether they had any toy SCs. Go to Terminal 3 she suggested. I boarded the Skytrain and got to T3. The Toy Shop is right next to the train. I found Xmas type bears and dogs and red noseless Rudolph. Oh, poo! I carried on and failed.

My eyes lit up at the sight of SC lying on top of some cotton wool in a display cabinet in an electronics shop. I asked how much they wanted for it. Not for sale she said. S$10, I offered. Again, I met a refusal.

I wandered off and even went into the Ferrari shop where there was a pukka Rudolph. Much too big and £40 to boot! I declined their kindly offer.

In the end I resigned myself to having failed and having to resort to buying Rudolph the Not Red Nosed Reindeer and returned to the toy shop, crestfallen. A job like THAT had done me in.

I plonked Rufolph on the counter but asked they had any toy SCs. She pointed at the perfect thing: the last one in the shop, suspended from a stand.

It's perfect, I said. She couldn't follow my excitement or my wittering on about it being the only one in the airport: T1 and T3 anyway.

So I bought my little SC for my friend and was content that I must have done something good today to deserve such an outcome.

DW.
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Milky Tea

I never, NEVER, have milk in my tea so why on earth am I staring at some ghastly looking milky tea that I just bought for myself?

What was I thinking?

DW

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In Common

Question: What do the UK, Singapore and Vietnam all have in common?

Answer: Slade ... So here it is merry Christmas, everybody's having fun ...

That song's played everywhere!!!

DW
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Lose $11 billion and still earn a bonus? No, thank goodness

The story is that those awfully incompetent people at Merrill Lynch have lost a total of $11 billion in the latest financial year. Never mind that the Bank of America that bought out Merrill has been provided with $25 billion in State aid.

Those awfully incompetent people have been reported as considering the payment of a BONUS of £10 million to the CEO of Merrill for performance and retention.

Erm, what performance? You lose $11 billion and that's so good that you deserve $10 million for yourself?

Retain who? Someone who lords it over such ineptitude?

Luckily, the Attorney General of the State of New York agrees that no one in such a position deserves a bonus let alone one of $10 million. So the Attorney General wrote to the Board of Merrill and said so. Read the letter here, it's great!http://www.oag.state.ny.us/media_center/2008/dec/Merrill%20Lynch.pdf

At last and well done that Attorney General!

DW

Motorbikes in Ho Chi Minh City

After an early evening snack and cup of coffee I looked out over the city from the balcony of the lounge near the top of the New World Hotel Saigon and was smitten by the number of motorbikes careening around the city. Come here and take a look as I did and you will see why I use the word careening!

I was so smitten that I immediately went down to the nearest road junction to capture what I saw. Here is just a couple of examples of what I snapped.

It was dark and I was in a hurry and even though I was there for just 10 minutes or so I think I must have seen 500 - 600 motorbikes going past me.

Fascinating!

DW

Katherine Jenkins

I recently heard that Katherine Jenkins is Britain's favourite opera singer or some such. Of course, that was on BBC early evening television and it is such arrant nonsense. However, that's not to say the lady is without talent. On the other hand, yesterday I read this in Krisworld, the in flight magazine of Singapore Airlines, December 2008 edition. The brief report on Jenkins was positive but should the editor have let this final sentence appear?

"This Welsh warbler is only just beginning"

DW

Snaps but I Need a Tripod With me

Here are a couple of snaps of Singapore and as always I find two problems:

• I always seem to hold the camera around 2 - 3 degrees off the horizontal (not important for what you see here, however!)
• I need to carry my tripod with me but never do

The first two photos are of the Fountain of Wealth just outside Suntec City Hall: normal and then on the move. The third photo is of a Christmas wreath taken on the move ... I really like the effect of the latter two photos!

DW

Sweat Bags

I took a 6 kilometre walk around Singapore yesterday and was lathered even though I took my time.

On Sunday, 7th December, they are holding the Singapore Marathon. I can't imagine the fluid intake to be needed to stave off dehydration.

DW


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Roy Keane and Sunderland AFC

They've done it again: Sunderland AFC. I've got loads of time for Niall Quinn and Roy Keane so what's gone wrong at the Stadion Lux?

Looks like the players don't like being disciplined and managed by someone good.

Doubtless there are some of the clueless band of supporters who think it's good that he's gone.

I predicted a high top half of the table position for Sunderland for the end of this season. That is what player and supporter irresponsibility are losing. He's in the mould of Martin O'Neill in my opinion.

I hope Keane finds a club to respect him now. He'll probably have to go down a division or two again to get a club to appreciate him.

If Sam Allardyce gets the job then I'll be happy with that. Another top chap, Sam. I have admired him since his days as a player at Roker park. Good, honest, solid performer.

Sunderland 0 v Roy Keane 1

Clowns

DW
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That Thorny Rose Again

I did some online shopping for Xmas for the family yesterday and today. Generally a fairly positive experience.

Which shop and Knight of the Realm turned it sour though? Surprise, surprise it was Stuart Rose's M&S. Refusing to cope with a German address to start with, goods out of stock but still put in the basket, prices increased on items already in the basket, items put on HOLD but not stating until when.

In the end Thorny, I was left with just three items out of about 12. I cleared my basket and left.

No wonder you're desperate for power as you drive the share price right down.

DW
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From God!

Just had a gradely dinner at Marina Square and have just seen a young man wearing a tee shirt. Black shirt done up to look like a beribboned gift.

The "tag" says:

To: Women
From: God

No offence!

DW


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Music and Rain

At breakfast this morning as the outside temperature had already reached the mid 20s, the background music was:

Let it snow
Let it snow
Let it snow

Did some work this morning and just as I'd finished getting ready to go out, down came an intense tropical rain shower!! :-}

DW
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BBC Reporting from India

What are these people trying to say?

Most reports from Mumbai at the moment are trying to analyse the recent terrorist outrage there. Then they talk about the relationships between India and Pakistan because of the suggestion of the links between the terrorists and Pakistan.

However, they say, "... Relationships between NUCLEAR ARMED Pakistan and India ..." Yesterday a reporter said something like, "... the twin nuclear armed countries, India and Pakistan ..."

What on earth are these people saying and suggesting? Where are the editors? Why are these fly in, fly out reporters given the freedom to say such stupid things in the name of news?

No doubt John Simpson will be waddling through the situation with his own brand of analysis soon. He is the BBC's WORLD editor, after all!!

DW


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Well done Burnley

Burnley just beat Arsenal in what sounds like a brilliant game. 2: 0 in the League Cup.

Haven't seen any of the game but should see highlights this evening.

Well done lads!

Have exchanged around two dozen text messages on the subject so far!!!

DW
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Worn out!

I have finished my very intensive course in Singapore and I am worn out! Slept well on night of arrival but badly last night.

Need an early night and a lie in to recover. Am not working tomorrow so that should help too.

DW



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Bangkok or Bust? Bust!

Because of those anti democratic "pro democrats" laying seige to Bangkok's International Airport, I have had a job postponed and am being forced to hang around in Singapore until I can go to my next job.

Let's define democracy again then!!!

DW


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US Presidency

Has it been like this before? You know I thought nothing of the coverage of the recent US Presidential election. Now, we are being "treated" to every single cabinet appointment, decision and sneeze that Obama makes. When do they think enough of this rubbish will be enough? DW Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Veggie Burger? No! Yes but no!!

I got to Singapore on time but had to endure for 12 hours the twitchiest person I have ever sat behind on a plane. Of course, he also wanted to turn his Economy Class seat into a Business Class flat bed but I told him he was crushing my knees and he relented. Anyway, got to the hotel and did some work in preparation for tomorrow then went to the local mall for a bite to eat. I only wanted a snack so I went to a world famous burger "restaurant". Do you sell veggie burgers I asked. No was the reply. I moved on. I then found the world's second most famous burger "restaurant" and they said yes, they do sell veggie burgers. So I odered one. No meat I stressed. No meat she confirmed. I got my burger, chips and sprite and sat down to tuck in. Chips just warm, sprite ok. The veggie burger comprised:

• Bread bun
• Onion slice
• Tomato slice
• Gherkin slices
• Tomato sauce

That, dear reader, is a Singaporean veggie burger. Definitely no meat!!! The weather here is perfect. 27 degrees on arrival and now, 2100 local time, it is absolutely commodiously warm. Topped up my SingTel SIM card for S$15 and was credited with S$30. Good value. More Europeans here than I am used to. DW Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Excellent use of Google Searches

I came across a podcast the other day that talked about how to use google searches for reasons other than just trying to find an article or web site or something. What some researchers have done is to follow through the number of searches over time using google on influenza … the flu!

What they found was that they could then use the search information to predict when an outbreak of flu might happen. What they also found was that the google search information was probably more immediate that the official or more formal flu data was. They found that the google data led the official data by around two weeks: critical if the flu we are talking about is Avian Flu or some other deadly strain.

What is happening? Well, the google searches came from the man in the street who had caught flu and needed some information; or from a parent or carer or even health worker who wanted to know what was happening in their area.

Either way, I think we are seeing here one way in which the social aspects of the internet can be  a force for good and for change.

There is a pdf file for you to download here: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/pdf/nature07634.pdf. You can currently find the details of this research at the home page of www.google.org too.

DW

VAT and Politicians

Have you seen this week’s utter nonsense in Parliament?

The government is cutting VAT from Monday next and the opposition party among others said, no, no, no, bad idea.

Then someone leaked or accidentally announced that the government CONSIDERED raising VAT at some time in the future. The cry was, no, no, no, bad idea.

These stupid people.

DW