We Have Arrived!

Big-O's checklist on who to thank:

1. Family
2. Supporters
3. The People

...for obvious reasons.

4. George W. Bush

...if he didn't do such a craptastic job in the last four years, Obama wouldn't have won so convincingly.


Hooray!

Not Just Racing Buckets

Premier racing bucket and OEM car seat maker, Recaro, has seemingly snuck into the airline seat business.

In the past, airline seats had no visible branding. You assumed they were Airbus brand or Boeing brand seats. Now you can see the Recaro brand clearly labeled on the seats in certain Airbus planes. It is kind of like Prada putting their name on an LG phone, or Bose putting their stereos in Audi cars.

Overall, it's refreshing to see professional travel seat makers making seats for airplanes. So what's next? Herman Milliar designed seats in first class? Would be a great selling point if you ask me.

Happy Birthday

To a friend who can no longer wish me Happy Birthday.

Controversial legislator quits beauty pageant

BEIJING -- After public outcry, political figure, Yuan Jing, decides to quit the ongoing "Miss Chinese International" beauty pageant.

Yuan Jing, a controversial people's congress deputy who joined in a beauty contest, shows in this undated photo. [Sina.com] When she made the announcement last week, Yuan was ranked second among more than 1,000 candidates in the contest's preliminary section, which was held online.

"I'm too busy to continue the contest," the 22-year-old explained. "I have a heavy workload."

She does. Yuan is a deputy to the People's Congress, or legislature, of east China's
Jiangsu Province and an alternate member of the Chinese Communist Youth League Central Committee.

As a politician, Yuan's entry in the Hong Kong-based beauty contest, created controversy.

Opposition didn't come from fellow politicians but instead from Internet users throughout China.

"Being a People's Congress deputy means she represents the people. What she's supposed to do is to help improve people's livelihoods, not go for a beauty crown," said a user on a forum of sina.com, China's major Internet portal.

The beauty pageant, sponsored and aired by TVB, a leading television station in Hong Kong, is an annual contest generally held in January and February. Contestants are women born in China or of Chinese descent living abroad. Some participants become famous TV stars after participating.

Many people questioned how Yuan used her political status in the pageant. On her blog, she promoted her legislative titles.

Yuan defended the move, saying "I was only introducing myself to the public. It was a kind of resume. Besides, contestants naturally would try all means to win votes. Why can't I?"

Yuan said she didn't care much about the negative responses written about her on the Internet.

"I would walk my own way."

Not all the online comments were bad. Many people supported Yuan.

"She is a girl after all, young and pretty. Being a Congress deputy doesn't forbid her to participate in the pageant," an Internet user said.

"It's an open world," said another.

Yuan admitted she didn't expect to win so many votes during preliminary selection. It isn't known just how much her political status played a role in her popularity.

Yuan did say she thought twice about applying for the contest because of her job title but she went ahead anyway.

"I'm just a 20-something. I want to go for a beauty pageant -- that's a dream cherished deep in the heart of every girl, I guess. So, why don't I give it a try?"

Yuan denied she quitted because of social pressure.

"It's really because of my own tight work schedule," she said.

"If such opportunities present themselves before me in the future, I'll go for it again, definitely. I'm not only a People's Congress deputy, but also a vigorous young person."

In my opinion, China has much bigger fish to fry. Instead of bitching about a move that could possibly make Chinese politicians look hip and cool, they should focus on stopping corrupt officials from accepting bribes and abusing power. This article should be under the gossip column.

Please focus on the important issues! Stop corruption, not beauty pageants!

Restaurant Etiquette

I had to have a late lunch the other day. So I'm at the mall, expecting restaurants to be somewhat empty. I though about trying this somewhat new place where there's always a long line (turns out it was crap, but anyways...). Surely, there would be no line well past the lunch hour, right?

Wrong. There was still a considerable line. What I should have done was move on and eat somewhere else, but it was too late. My mind had already programmed itself into wanting to eat that meal at that place. So I lined up with everyone else, and that's when I noticed the reason for the line.

People who had finished eating were still hanging around. They weren't just done eating, their dishes had already been cleared away. Despite people waiting for seats right in front of them, they chose to just remain in their seats and chit-chat long after their meal was finished.

Of course this annoyed me, but it is what people do in Hong Kong. Even at a busy restaurant, most Hong Kongers will choose to be inconsiderate and hog their tables until their lunch hour ends. This happened to be a Japanese restaurant, and it reminded me of what would likely happen in Japan: people would quickly eat their meals, and vacate the restaurant. If they wanted to hang out and chat, they would go to a cafe instead of delaying the next person from eating their meal. That is restaurant etiquette.

Naturally, different restaurants and different situations will require different actions. If the restaurant is empty, then yeah, stay as long as you want. However, during the lunch rush, I wish Hong Kong people would be more considerate.

180903

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse.

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
"Just what your worth"

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream, down on your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face and I...

Tears stream, down on your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face and I...

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you.

Exit Polls

The latest Legco elections in Hong Kong have triggered a gaping hole with the method and usage of exit polls.

First, Dr. Robert Chung, Director of Public Opinion Programme (POP) at The University of Hong Kong, made the fatal mistake of announcing that the exit poll information will be distributed to media sponsors periodically before the election is over. This got an immediate negative reaction from the public and many politicians. Chung reversed the decision to release data early, but it was too late. The people had lost faith in the fairness of exit polls and many chose to boycott them by either remaining silent, or purposely providing wrong information.

Second, there's the issue of "fake" exit pollsters. These are exit polls run by private entities who use the data to win the election, rather than for study. The public generally does not like this type of polling, so the pollsters impersonate Hong Kong University staff to entice voters to reveal their choice.

What is the solution to this? I have heard suggestions to release the official vote count every hour, as to ensure absolute fairness. When all the data is out in the open, there will be no chance for private polls to use their data to "cheat". However, that is a pretty drastic move.

Instead, I suggest making the Hong Kong University pollsters "official". Have police stand guard near the HKU exit poll personnel to keep the peace, and to inform the public which poll is "genuine". There will no longer be exit polls claiming to be from HKU.

Give us a choice

Credit card companies are cracking down on retailers who have a surcharge for customers who decide to pay with their credit card. Credit card companies take a hefty percentage from each credit card transaction which ends up being paid directly by the retail store. By employing a surcharge, the retailers are trying to pass on the credit card's added cost to the customer.

Credit card companies are offering a service, and of course retail shops can choose whether they want to allow the use of credit cards as a form of payment. However, I believe the card companies are overstepping their boundaries when they require retailers to charge the same amount for both cash and card payments.

The retailers have no choice. They are forced to pay the transaction fee when a customer pays with a credit card. They should have the right to pass that fee to the customer. Customers will either pay the higher price, pay with cash, or purchase their goods from another store that doesn't charge the transaction fee. The credit card company may lose out if the customer decides to pay in cash, but I still think it is unfair for the card company to tell the retailer how to run their business.

The Consumer Council has sided with the card companies on this issue. If that is their policy, I suppose there is nothing that can be done. However, I am disappointed that the Council has sided with big business rather than try and help out Hong Kong's small business owners.

Monster Maker

Everyone knew that Nissan had their cross hairs on the Porsche 911 Turbo. Everyone knew the goal was to beat the Turbo. No one expected the GT-R to completely blow the 911 out of the water. Let's just say, there's no comparison. The heavier, front engined GT-R beat even Porsche's top of the line, ultra rare, Carrera GT (on the Top Gear track, driven by the Stig). It is mind boggling how good this car is at this price. It is truly supercar performance, without the supercar price tag. It has achieved what the Honda NSX always wanted to do. So instead of paying USD600,000 for a Ferrari Enzo, you'll probably end up paying USD70,000 for a GT-R that has Enzo like performance. How crazy is THAT!

What's even more amazing is the technology involved. Sure, the Porsche GT2 is crazy fast, but you have to be a very competent driver to be able to control it. The GT-R on the other hand is suitable for both professionals, and amateurs alike.

Bravo, Nissan. I am officially jealous.

Absurd

I have refrained from posting about Olympic controversy during the Olympics. This is not a controversy, it is just people acting dumb.

Today's newspapers were filled with pictures of Chinese hurdler, Liu Xiang, and the faces of people in tears over his sudden exit from the games. Cry for Sichuan, cry for the firefighters who gave their lives in Mong Kok, but please don't cry for Liu. He still has his gold medal from 2004, and he has won many many events between then and now. He is no slouch, and certainly not a disappointment. China is shooting for 40 gold medals in this Olympics. People shouldn't cry over the one they can't get.

Of course, that's not all. The worst part is probably the silly internet folk (AKA 憤青), who are calling Liu a coward, speculate that he pulled out on purpose, and whining about how they feel cheated. Cheated? Last I heard, the Olympic televised broadcasts are free. Let's say you managed to get an overpriced ticket to watch the race live: last I heard, there's still a 110 meter hurdle event going on. It's not like the event was cancelled. People cheated themselves by putting too much focus on Liu.

There are the more mellow ones who say they wish Liu would have ran anyways since he showed up, to "finish what he started". Err... the man still has something called a career. If he destroys his Achilles tendon just so you can "get your money's worth", Liu's career as a hurdler may just end then and there.

The media is also certainly at fault, for over promoting Liu. However, I'm cutting them a huge break this time. If it wasn't for the media, Liu wouldn't have been making 60 million yuan per year in sponsorship money.

So stop whinning. Nobody lost here.

Oh please...

Golf without El Tigre

Suddenly, the PGA Tour Championship is upon us! I honestly didn't notice. Since the US Open, and since Tiger Woods got season ending surgery, golf has pretty much been fast forwarded for me. I've only noticed the majors, and the only reason I even noticed the British Open was Greg Norman almost winning it.

Is it my fault? Am I a "Tiger only" golf fan? Not necessarily. However, I have to admit that ESPN and a blog or two decide how much golf news I receive. Now that I'm paying attention, I've noticed that ESPN's golf coverage has dropped a ton since Tiger stopped playing.

Is this on purpose? Probably not. A sport simply isn't as exciting when your best player is injured; especially when its an individual sport. Even for other sports, when Jordan was injured, basketball suffered a blow. Tiger is just so much better than his peers, that the blow golf suffers is even greater. It's all relative.

Farewell, Manny.

Perhaps one day we will know exactly how this came to be. Maybe when Manny writes his life story, we'll find out why Manny's departure from the Red Sox was so abrupt. Things just happened so quickly.

Throughout all the rumors and talks, I still expected Manny to stay. I mean, the past few five seasons all had rumors of Manny being traded, but trades never took place. Manny's offensive prowess just never allowed the Red Sox front office to get rid of him. He had some attitude issues, but how "destructive" could they possibly be if we were able to win two World Series titles, and come pretty darn close in 2003? Manny was the WS MVP in 2004, and he gave the team much needed contribution in 2007. To me, the 2008 rumors seemed no different. It was that time of the year when Manny was acting up again. He was still one of the most productive players on the team, and arguably the most hardworking. I really didn't see this coming. Down to the trading deadline, I was still telling friends that Manny wouldn't be traded. Things would just be the same as they always are. Lo and behold, Manny is gone, we are suddenly short two top prospects, and Jason Bay was due to play LF at Fenway.

Suddenly, a player who had been with us for eight years, who played Fenway in his prime, who won two World Series titles with us, who had so much talent, quirkiness, and unintentional humor, was gone.

From a baseball standpoint, Jason Bay is certainly an upgrade in defense, and provides current Manny type stats. I'm disappointed that Brandon Moss had to go, plus we gave away a much needed reliever in Craig Hansen. Both were long time Red Sock prospects. Personally, I'm sad to see Manny go. Not only a future Hall of Famer, but one of the most fun players to watch, whether it was hitting the baseball, or doing funny stuff like high fiving the crowd, or taking a leak in the Green Monster.

Farewell, Manny. Good luck, and thank you.

Madness is a charcoal filter

William Pesek and I have something in common. We both refuse to help smoker friends buy cigarettes at the airport duty free shops. Read his interesting article about anti-smoking woes in Japan. It is quite sad to see such a sophisticated and advanced nation stuck with an archaic habit. As the article points out, for the Japanese government, it's an economic issue; health comes second.

Also check out David Sedaris' book, When you are Engulfed in Flames, where he goes to Japan (of all places) to quit smoking.

Wow Just Wow

Twins general manager Bill Smith, on Livan Hernandez, who improved to 10-6 with a 5.29 earned-run average with Saturday's victory over Texas: "I'll take the (10) wins. Who do you want, a guy who's 10-15 with a 2.80 ERA or a guy who's 16-8 with a 7.00 ERA? I'll take the 16-8."

Remind me again... are they paying this guy? Furthermore... why hasn't he been fired yet?

Again, why why why do people even LOOK at the wins column when it comes to pitchers? What is this madness? Can't Minnesota afford someone with some basic, modern baseball knowledge?

Dear Bill,
ERA = VERY IMPORTANT
Wins = NOT IMPORTANT

Well... it's not my team, so I don't give a shit. Red Sox fans should thank their lucky stars every single day that we have Theo Epstein as our GM.

Alex says: "I am Ironman"

Robert Downey Jr.? Nope. I've got a real Ironman right here! Congratulations Alex on finishing your first Ironman. I have witnessed the metamorphosis you have gone through in the last couple years: from getting healthy, to running, to biking, then to swimming, and diligently putting it together into achieving this goal which I'm sure is only a start to many more future accomplishments.

Very proud of you buddy. Let's drink together soon.

Well Deserved

Am I finally agreeing with China in something? China Vice President Xi Jinping gave a speech that was very critical towards Donald Tsang and the Hong Kong government, during his visit just this week. Hopefully, Xi had the same issues in mind as the ones I've been talking about during the past two years of Tsang's administration (the year after Tung Chee Wah, and the official year when he was "elected"/appointed).

Michael DeGolyer certainly had the same issues in mind. His opinion piece (above) lists all the issues I've talked about in this blog. DeGolyer's article really summarizes where Tsang has failed and where he should have paid attention. Most of Tsang's faults are really the result of negligence (i.e. ignoring the environment). Other faults come from what seems like a clear choice (i.e. choosing to shy away from the "assistant hiring debacle"), or poor management (i.e. typhoon aftermath in the New Territories).

Well, time for me to shut up. Just read the article.

Bravo to Xi for not allowing this trip to be just a PR pat-on-the-back for Tsang.

World's Worst Tourists

No longer are Americans the world's worst tourists. Sadly, China has taken the cake in this category. A French travel website surveyed 4000 hotel staff whom reflected that the worst tourists are those from China. India came in a distant second, and the French came in third. You can read about it here.

I guess this isn't really news. I have experienced the ignorant Chinese tourist first hand, and it is not pretty. Let's take away the spitting and squatting, since it's kind of a cultural thing. However, the lack of manners and lack of respect are actions I just don't understand. It is sad to see Chinese people (including many Hong Kong people) acting so selfish and disrespectful while in a foreign country.

Don't worry, things haven't changed completely. Americans were still voted as the loudest.

Sympathy

Last week, a kid from Beijing went to Shanghai, charged into a police station in Shanghai, and started killing police officers. The toll from his action was six dead, and four wounded. The curious thing about this incident, is that Chinese netizens are praising this kid as a hero. The story (or rumor) is that this kid was accused ot stealing a bicycle, arrested, and beaten, resulting in him having become impotent. This rampage was his revenge. Internet folk have created websites and tributes to the kid for his heroic actions.

The true horror of this story is that the rumored unjust treatment by the police, and the kid's motive for revenge are so believable. The netizens aren't gullible. They are just so accustomed to corruption and incidents of injustice that to them, the kid's accusations come as no surprise.

China's biggest enemy is still itself.

Clarity... again

Out of nowhere, the Hong Kong Government decides they want to donate HKD100 billion of public funds for the rebuilding of Sichuan. There are a few problems that have arisen from this announcement.

Fairness?
Hong Kongers living in poverty, feel that the government has shunned them. This aid was so easily and so quickly offered to Sichuan, while the impoverished have to protest and beg, only to get very little in return. Indeed many Hong Kongers are facing economic difficulties at the moment, and there have been noticeable cases where the government has ignored pleas for help. I'm sure many agree that money should be donated, but they're also asking, "what about me?".

Filtering.
Where will this money go? To Sichuan, of course! Not so fast. China is notorious for its corruption and its lack of clarity. This is afterall the blood and sweat of Hong Kong taxpayers. We want to know that the money is going to the right place and not into the pockets of corrupt officials, or corrupt contractors. This type of skepticism should be a shock to no one. There's nothing wrong with wanting to know how your money is spent. Have a plan. It is foolish to make such an announcement without a plan to reassure people their donation will be put to good use. We don't have a choice whether to give the money or not, so at least try to put our minds at ease.

Surprise!
Where is this sudden enthusiasm from the government coming from? The earthquake occurred in May. Why offer the donation now? There is speculation that Donald Tsang wants to offer this as a gift to vice president, Xi Jinping during his visit to Hong Kong. This is unlikely, but you do have to question the timing of this offering. Why make a move that might raise eyebrows? Use common sense. Try to make it our decision instead of just yours. Again, if the government proposed this donation earlier on, when people were in more of a giving mood, perhaps they wouldn't be met with such resistance.

Safety First

Here we see Chinese soldiers preparing to defeat terrorists. No joke. These are undoctored photos, and they were published in a newspaper (in the third photo, you can see signs in the background stating this is a anti-terrorist training exercise). I'm guessing this is in preparation for the Olympics. This is also the dumbest shit I've seen in a long time.


Is a caption even necessary for this photo? What the hell? Soldiers on Segways? Is this their feeble attempt at being cool? It is failing miserably. This isn't even funny. It is very sad. Please stop.


What? So they're using flame throwers against terrorists? How is this even remotely useful in an anti-terrorist situation? You'll likely be facing a large crowd which will likely consist of innocent bystanders. Oh wait, but if you accidentally charbroil 100 innocent people, you can just block the media from reporting it. One hundred suddenly turns to one, and of course they'll say that one person was the terrorist.


What do we have here? This water truck is:
A) Spraying "terrorists" to disperse them.
B) Misting people because it's too hot.
C) Helping prepare for a new Olympic event: "rain sprints".

Oh! I get it now. They're spraying this water sprinkler style in order to extinguish the flames, in case all that flame-throwing gets out of hand. What else could it be? This weak sauce stream of water can't possibly stop a terrorist.

(Morons.)

Then again, these "anti-terror" drills are probably actually "anti-protester" drills.