The Real Reason for a GST

Yes yes, one of the most debated topics this year is the possible introduction of a Goods and Sales Tax (GST). Pretty much everyone in Hong Kong, including all political parties are opposed to having a GST. Tourism and the poor are the two groups that will be hit the hardest by this tax. Please feel free to Google it and read all about the details.

What came to the public's attention was a leak last week about the Government's plan to purchase a fleet of the Volkswagen Phaeton. These cars will replace the current fleet of BMW 7-series luxury sedans, purchased back in 1997. Their excuse was that the BMWs were close to 10 years old, have around 200,000km on the odometer, and it is "about time" to replace them.

Meanwhile, a lot of questions are being asked (see article on the left): why so soon (referring to 10 years)? The old BMWs still run great. How did they manage to rack up 200,000km? A lot of non-work related use would be a good guess (so high mileage is not a good excuse). Why the Phaeton? Why not a cheaper, more environmental car?

This comes as quite a shock to Hong Kong people after they heard our Financial Secretary, Henry Tang, brazenly ask the question, "Where is the money to come from?", referring to the need for a GST.

Well, I can't tell you where the money will come from, but I guess I know where its going.

我們的祖國... 唉 Part IV

Just returned from a four day trip to China. Naturally, you don't read about the embedded shit about the country until you return to "civilization", where free speech prevails most of the time.

In the fourth installment of this ongoing series, we get a glimpse of how Chinese people have soiled the English language, just as they soiled their own language by creating simplified characters (but that's another story).

In preparation for the 2008 Olympic games, it appears that China is overhauling its signs that display english translations. Tourists will no longer think that Chinese people have sex with fruit, among other misconceptions, due to atrocious translation errors.

In the end, it all stems from laziness. Whoever did the translation was too lazy to see whether they did it right. This sign in particular has been on the internet for quite some time. Its just that people were too lazy to make the correction until now.

Policy Address

Hong Kong's most gutless man strikes again!

After that anti-smoking cop-out he pulled last year, the master of Chinese cheek-kissing is back this year with another gutless cop-out; this time he's backing out of setting up minimum wage legislation. Of course we all remember his false promise to improve the environment. What has this guy done?! What is his purpose? To go around shaking peoples' hands and asking them whether they've eaten lunch yet?

I bring up that point because that's exactly what he did. Tsang went around local neighborhoods asking residents who were on their way to work, whether they were on their way to work. He asked people who just finished lunch, whether they had lunch yet. Do something already! I can't stand how he pretends to be a politician. Don't we have any good politicians in Hong Kong? Perhaps China only approves of the silly ones, because they are easy to control. From now on, his nickname is no longer "Bow Tie", its "The Puppet".

Puppet Tsang (PT for short), is continually protective of the business circles (工商界) in Hong Kong. Every time the people want something whether it be anti-smoking legislation, environmental improvement, or minimum wage legislation, those bastards of business always get in the way. With the help of PT, they always end up getting their way, too. I don't know what PT is so afraid of. Even our Mainland brethren have a minimum wage policy. Perhaps he's afraid of angering big business, which is possibly his meal ticket after his term in office ends. Is this idea so preposterous? A good number of politicians in Hong Kong have moved on to big business after they retire from politics.

This time around, he says non-legislative policies will be suggested, and the possibility of legislation will be reviewed in two years... TWO YEARS?! Unbelievable. Instead, he throws out some chump change used for "determining whether the improvement plan is successful". What kind of bullshit is that?

Meanwhile...

Turns out the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (食環處) pays its workers less than government issued welfare. So the question is, would you rather work your ass off sweeping the streets and cleaning the toilets, or would you rather kick back at home and pick up an even bigger check? Hong Kong would be a nice city if it weren't for corruption, unethical practices, and a shoddy government.

阿扁發脾四

So yesterday was Taiwan's 10-10 celebration. As planned, the Anti-CSB (Chen Shui Bian) folk went forward with their "天下圍攻", and surrounded the Presidential Palace among other places. Any type of planned celebration was disrupted.

Despite the chaos, resilient Chen strapped on his bullet-proof vest and braved the stage. Cries of protest drowned out the canned cheering and applause. Protesters managed to sneak on the stage, holding up an Anti-Chen banner behind the President as he spoke.

Well, in the end Ah Bian got frustrated and announced that next year's 10-10 celebrations would be cancelled. I found that hilarious. He's basically trying to cancel the nation's (wait, Taiwan's not a nation) birthday party. Is that even possible? Its like he had a senior moment, and did something that made absolutely no sense. I don't think anyone has the right or power to cancel the country's birthday celebration... Unless you're a dictator.

That's a slight peek into Ah Bian's mind. He subconsciously thinks he's some sort of dictator. Then again, if he were an actual dictator, these protests would be violent, and he'd have troops shooting these people. Sze Ming De would be assassinated, and China would intervene, and it'd be a big friggin mess. Someone needs to make a movie about that.

Therapy is...

Another summer, another season of baseball ends. What went wrong this year? August was horrible. I still miss that awesome 2004 team that worked out so well. I don't doubt Theo Epstein and his scouting team. Heck, one of the guys (Galen Carr) went to my high school (Class of '94) and lived on my floor as a teacher one year. They know a lot more about the players, and certainly know a lot more about baseball than I do. However, I must question at least a couple of their moves they made this year.

• David Wells - Why bring this guy in? Schilling, Beckett, Clement, Wakefield, Arroyo. Where would Wells fit in? Sure, the decision looks horrible now since he missed nearly the whole season, but I questioned this move the day it was made. He is a big time pitcher who I felt didn't fit in our lineup.
• Bronson Arroyo - Another move that looks horrible in hindsight, but that's not the point. This guy was a Red Sock. He loved being on the team, and trusted the team by not asking for a no-trade clause. We repay him by trading his ass before the season started. Wily Mo Pena is a decent young bat, but its hard to replace a solid SP.
• Josh Beckett/Hanley Ramirez/Coco Crisp/Andy Marte/Cla Meredith/Josh Bard/Jon Lester/Craig Hansen/Manny Delcarmann/Kason Gabbard/Jonathan Papelbon - This is more of a curiosity rather than a criticism. Getting Beckett seemed necessary at the time. Though Hanley "The Other Ramirez" Ramirez nearly led the league with 26 errors, he had a phenomenal rookie season. Crisp was horrible as our new lead-off hitter. Andy Marte was not spectacular as a rookie. Pitching showed some ups and downs. Lester was decent, Papelbon was insanely awesome. What I'm wondering, is whether we're sticking to our prospects as Theo said, or giving them away for veterans. Which is it? Also, what made us give away Ramirez when we needed a speedy shortstop? What made us trade Marte for Crisp? Cla Meredith? Josh Bard? I'm not asking for trades or big moves. Just want some reassurance for the guys already in our lineup. Especially those who did poorly last season.

One thing we did was accomplish the goal of bolstering defense, at the expense of offense.

Therapy is...

Coming home after a long day (or night), and falling asleep to Game 4 of the 2004 World Series (choose games 4-7 ALCS if you're in a Yankee hating mood).

Katamari = Need Insurance

Ad sort of based on a videogame that I haven't played, but really should have long time ago. It is an interesting ad on its own, but ten times funnier if you've played or seen the game Katamari Damacy.


The actual PSP game.