Misuse of Office Resources

You hear stories about people stealing pens and paper and various office supplies for home use. Some companies even search the vehicles of employees upon exiting company grounds.

This case is a bit more extreme in terms of the misuse of company resources. CSI Ann Chamberlain tests her husband's underwear and finds another woman's DNA. Problem is that she tested it in the lab she works at (police crime lab, no less). She brought this evidence to court, and she was fired soon after.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2309780.ece

Think about it next time you decide to photocopy that encyclopedia on the office copier.

Oh, the irony

Its interesting to see how ideas and stances change in ten years. Was Cheney betting that everyone would forget what he said back in 94? Probably. How could he predict that over a decade later, his interview and clear stance on Iraq circa 1994 would be on YouTube, in plain view for everyone to see.

There's really no need for an explanation for this video, because the irony is so potent. Even back then when it was perhaps a better and easier option to invade Iraq, Cheney states that its not worth the casualties. Him stating that "for the 146 Americans who were killed in action and their families, it was not a cheap war". The number "146" seems so minuscule in relation to the Iraqi occupation casualties today.

Mix and Match

You've just heard about "Superman" and "4Real", but have you heard of the latest sensation in China? Yes, its naming your kid with both Chinese and English characters. So you could very soon meet someone named "陳誠S", or "黃A如". But that's not the end of it! Some people are going as far as using symbols. So if you're lucky, you'll meet someone named "王%$#".

Again, in my humble opinion, its a murder suicide waiting to happen (or perhaps just a name change).

Lumosity

http://www.lumosity.com/iq_tests

See what your "LumosIQ" is with this three part test. I recommend playing through it once first to see what the games are all about. The first one really confused me. Above is my score from my second "round". Sadly, it turns out that I am not a genius.

Superman is 4Real... yo.

Don't mean to be cruel, but this is a murder suicide waiting to happen. Why? Because when this kid grows up, and realizes what his parents did to him, he'll want to kill them.

See BBC article here.

New Zealand couple Pat and Sheena Wheaton attempt to name their son, "4Real". That's right folks, no typo there. This silly couple wanted to name their son 4Real, but it was rightfully rejected by the registry in New Zealand because it began with a number. So instead, these attention whorish dimwits decide to name him Superman instead. However, they continue to refer to him as 4Real.

The law also advises parents to avoid names that could cause their child to be teased or made fun of.

My thoughts exactly. How much shit is this kid going to get in school? The possibilities are endless. By no means is 4Real the weirdest real name ever (don't believe me? Check out this site, it will blow your mind), but it certainly sounds like the dumbest. Being named Superman is bad enough, but when the kids catch win that his "real" name is 4Real, there will be hell to pay.

In the past they have had to intervene to stop parents naming their offspring Satan and Adolf Hitler.

Why am I not surprised. Child abuse prevention, your tax dollars at work. Good grief.

In Response...

Below is the response to the comments for yesterday's entry.

Re: Robert

First of all, wow, I'm glad I got you guys to finally leave a comment. Now on to the nitty gritty.

Not sure where all this "US vs. China" comparison is coming from. Because it is definitely not coming from me. I did not once mention the US in my entry, and I don't recall initiating the use of the US as a comparison point during dinner. I won’t try to dissect communism, but I will judge their actions. This entry was supposed to be more about human rights and lack of fairness/freedom. I (perhaps mistakenly) tied in all of China’s issues which made for a much broader topic.

Healthcare. I never said that China should emulate the US system. In fact, the US system is the system that I hate the most. What I support is universal healthcare, and I also think that would suit China the best. Implementation and regulation are issues that I believe China is completely capable of dealing with. That is the “beauty” of communism: decisions can be made, and they are usually met with little resistance. I agree that we shouldn’t compare the US to China (which I did not), but I disagree when you compare China to India. Why compare yourself to a nation that is a failure? The two nations are similar, but China should be looking at their positive possibilities. With their recent success (and surely more to come), China should be looking at their upside potential and not compare themselves to India, or Russia, or Indonesia.

Yes, its great that China spends more of their GDP on healthcare than India, but all I care about are results. Numbers like that don’t give me much of a hard-on. All I know is that right now in China, if you have money, you can go to the hospital (emergency or not). If you don’t have money, you are literally left to die. There is such a thing as “fake ambulances” in China. You can call for one of these illegitimate “emergency” vehicles and go to the hospital… after first paying the driver. Again, I don’t support the US system, nor do I think China should adopt the current US healthcare model. 270 million. Sure, the US has one quarter of China’s population, but it costs a lot less to educate, feed, house, and heal a person in China. Chinese people don’t have high demands like they do in the US. It may be a less daunting task than we all think.

You know, I really do think it is about money. When Hong Kong businessmen can donate cash to have a school built, it gets done. In fact, it is all about money in China now. Chinese people are only motivated by money and very little else. Okay, maybe some are motivated by Andy Lau, but that’s it!

I don’t expect China to get this done overnight, but I hear of NO progress, and NO plan. The only policy changes you hear about are relevant to business and the economy. I want the government to throw us a bone. Let us know that steps are being taken to progressively improve education and healthcare. Right now we’ve got nothing. And though I don’t expect overnight change, I do expect it to happen quicker than it took the US and other western nations. Being the 21st century, I expect China to be able to have quicker and more efficient development.

To be completely honest, I laughed when I saw that whole rocket deal in China. I suddenly felt like the world regressed 30 years. Do you think anyone outside China was remotely impressed? I don’t see how a space program can help the economy at this point in time. If China needs help putting satellites in space, they can ask their buddy, Russia. China might want to develop a space program in the future for those purposes, but I feel that there are more pressing issues at hand. And no, I don’t agree with NASA and/or Bush wanting to send crap to Mars. I’m not comparing the two space programs because that would surely be like comparing a Chevelle to an Enzo

Stricter labor laws are great, but everything is for a purpose. When the government wants to push business out of a certain area, it CREATES and enforces tougher labor laws for that region only. Believe me when I tell you that these “labor laws” are far from universal. The central government changes the rules and regulations as they see fit. Its certainly not for the benefit of the people.

I never said we should sacrifice Chinese people for the economy, but that looks like what China is doing. I like democracy, but obviously China is not there yet. Of course not everyone in the US is happy, but I’ll bet that a majority of their problems are trivial when compared to the impoverished people in China.

“Give me fairness, give me freedom…” sounds like sweeping comments, but it is truly what I and many others value the most. Right now in China, you may not even be able to have a fair, open, and honest discussion without being censored by the government.

Re: Jamee

I’m not comparing the US to China. See above.

Again, all the answers to your questions seem to be: money and communism. In terms of social welfare, I’m only asking for education and healthcare. You don’t have to feed a billion people, but you do have to get them started on feeding themselves. I do have ideas on how to employ these people, but I’ll save that for another time.

Again, all I ask for is freedom and fairness. These two things are virtually free, so no, I cannot cut China a break. Not when innocent people are in prison, and not when my words are censored.

Why are you comparing China to a failing country (India)? Why stoop to that level? No one in China is comparing themselves to India. Its like saying my 81 Honda Civic is faster than your 75 Toyota Corolla. Big fuckin whoop.

I criticize the US as well. Please see my “Only in America” entries. Small but growing.

The US shot rockets into space in the 1970s in order to compete with the Soviet Union. It was much different then because they were actually COMPETING. Space was the new frontier and the two nations were on equal footing to see who could one up the other. Thwart Soviet aggression? Fine. What’s China’s excuse? I believe there are better ways to give hope and increase patriotism. The Olympics are a good example. However, what saddens me is that we actually have to worry whether the now clean streets of Beijing will become dirty again after the Olympics leave town. Is our government really so “spur of the moment”? Do they have a vision? If so, tell me what it is.

There is no doubt that the US poses a greater threat to global peace than China. Which is why I think China should cut their military funding and spend it elsewhere. China's biggest threat is its economy and its tainted food/consumer products.

我們的祖國... 唉 Part VII

During dinner the other night, a couple friends asked me what I have against China. That question led to a discussion on what was right/wrong with China, and whether they're headed in the right direction.

To make a long argument short, I stand firm on my opinion that China's economy is growing too quickly. While big cities flourish, smaller rural areas remain stagnant and people there suffer.

Some argue that in order for China to become successful, sacrifices need to be made. Grow now, and take care of your people later.

I'm not saying China should abandon their economy to take care of their people, but their negligence towards poverty and corruption is absurd. Plus, in this day and age, I think it is plausible to expect a nation to do both. We have technology, we have transportation, we can see the big picture.

Then there's the silly argument of national pride. The Chinese have been stepped on for so many decades, that its time for them to show off a little with their booming economic prowess, and their ability to sent a little rocket into space. To me, this is soooo high school. If China had just a little bit of foresight, they would see that by building strong base, their success can only be prolonged. The opportunity to show off will be endless. Why blow your wad now?

I have high hopes for China. I don't want them to fail. I want China to succeed. However, their current actions don't even meet my lowest expectations. Political prisoner, journalist, and patriot, Ching Cheong has now been in prison for 837 days on trumped up charges of spying. While we discuss wealth and China's success, many innocent people are rotting away in Chinese prisons.

Give me fairness, give me freedom, then we'll talk. So sorry, but China isn't even in the same league as its western counterparts.

Whoa Boston...!

First it was Randy Moss, then Kevin Garnett, and now Eric Gagne. Boston teams are loading up on talent, and in my memory, its the first time that all three relevant teams are looking to be contenders.

The Pats

Even during the three Superbowl years, the Pats didn't look this dominant. With Randy Moss, Troy Brown, and Dante Stallworth (plus others), Tom Brady finally has the WRs he deserves. With a much healthier lineup, the Pats look like a super team this season and may finally shed the role of underdog (Ha!).

The Sox

Their giant lead slipping away as the Yanks are finally playing like they should be, the still pretty dominant Sox get Eric Gagne for Kason Gabbard (had some quality starts) and David Murphy (CF prospect we don't quite need. See: Jacoby Ellsbury). I guess the lingering question is, how good is Eric Gagne today? Aside from a low K count, Gagne's numbers are not much worse than those of Jonathan Papelbon; not too shabby. Instead of two dominant closer type pitchers, the Sox now have three. A huge difference from last year's one. Comparing last season's entire pitching staff to this season's, the front office has done a tremendous job in creating both more than solid starting pitching, and a dominant bullpen. Despite a couple minor speed bumps, it is amazing how the offense and defense just came together this season.

The Cs

The biggest story of the three. Just as it looked every Celtic fan was about to slit their wrists over the Ray Allen acquisition, the Cs somehow are able to get KG while giving up Al Jefferson. KG and Pierce alone would have already been a dominant force. I hesitate to say that Ray Allen is complimenting them because he himself is fully capable of carrying a bad team. Suddenly, the Jordanesque Flymaster is looking to shine even brighter, no longer having to be the only good player on the team. Its a 270 degree turn for the Cs. It was all about putting right minded players with the same maturity level together. They still need to build a solid supporting cast, but what a change! Long gone are the days when Pierce and Antoine Walker are expected to lead this team into the playoffs.

The 11th Hour

Who's the Loser?

See this article from ESPN (watch the video too).

This is a perfect example of poor full of shit "shock jock" type sports journalists who aren't funny or entertaining... but they think they are. So news breaks that China is a definite no on whether Yi can play for the Milwaukee Bucks. So these stooges decide to downplay Yi's skill, make fun of his workout videos, and compare him to Darko.

My question for them is, if he's so bad, why was he picked 6th overall (and projected at 5th if not for the Boston trade)? If it was a big Bucks mistake like the Darko pick, then shouldn't they be grilling the Bucks for making a lousy pick? Just because Yi isn't allowed to play in the US, they turn on him and downplay his value as a player.

They also make fun of China and their "reasoning" for not allowing Yi to play for the Bucks. Is this even news? China already said they want Yi playing for a big city team from the beginning. For some reason, the Bucks continued to choose Yi, and now they have this mess on their hands. Why are these dumb sports jockeys even remotely surprised? I suspect that they just have nothing better to say.

Okay. The last couple paragraphs were more rant than reason. On to the more important part of this entry: who's the loser?

BUCKS: they took a big gamble in taking Yi at sixth overall, but it wasn't that big of a gamble in my opinion. I could totally see Yi playing for the Bucks. They have a great young team that is in contention for the playoffs. I thought the Bucks had a good chance of convincing Chinese officials of letting Yi play in Milwaukee. Even now, the Bucks didn't really lose that much. Yi's potential is unknown, and they still have a decent team. Not the loser.

CHINA: they already have Yao as their global icon (despite him being a disappointment NBA wise). Yi would probably take attention away from Yao Ming, and if Yi turned out to be a disappointment, China would see that as a negative. In their eyes, it may be a good thing that Yi's not going to the NBA. Not the loser (this time).

YI: poor guy never had a say in this decision. I'm sure he would have loved to play for the Bucks and make his millions, even if it was just for a couple years. Who knows, he might have busted out and actually become a decent NBA player. For now, we just don't know. Yi has lost his NBA opportunity and its not his fault. Unfortunately, Yi is the big loser.

At least Yi is a player on the Chinese national team. He'll get treated well whether he joins the NBA or not I guess.

Fun with Chemistry

Another experiment gone err... well, perhaps it wasn't so bad.

In hope of making my ice coffee stay cold longer while avoiding dilution by ice cubes, I froze some milk into cubes and put that in instead. Results were... interesting. The milk melted into tiny little pieces that resembled milk that had gone bad. What actually happened was that the high fat content in the milk caused it to separate while freezing. So the little chunks of milk fat floated out first.

In the end, it turned out great, but perhaps a better way is in order. Until next time.

I Win! (in a meaningless war)

We all hate telemarketing. In an attempt to prevent robots from taking over the world, Hong Kong passed legislation last year to outlaw automated telemarketing. This is a small victory for the people; however, human telemarketing is still allowed in full force. So if a person calls you instead of a robot, then its okay. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for robots is staggering.

I still get a marketing call about once every couple days. When I pick up, I refuse to be impolite unless they call when I'm roaming (because telemarketers should be smart enough to hang up when they hear the roaming ringtone). So instead I just pretend that I can't speak Chinese, and they usually hang up immediately. Thankfully my English is good enough to pull it off, but even if my English was shoddy, what could they do? Claim that I'm lying? Heh.

Anyways, even if they did attempt to sell me crap in English, I could probably outmaneuver them easily by using difficult SAT words. Yes, it is mean to step on someone for their loose grasp of a language, but then again they didn't have to call me in the first place.

Excellent Combination

Two recent discoveries:

1) The Palm Treo 750's camera sucks. I'm not picky about camera phones (kind of an oxymoron as it is), but with a sticker price of HKD6000 (relax, I didn't pay nearly that much) I expect something a little better than 1.3 megapixels.

2) Avocado goes really well with ponzu sauce.

I first saw people eat avocado this way in the late Juzo Itami's The Funeral. They basically cut the avocado in half, add a little soy sauce to where the seed used to be, and spoon it out. Not sure if that's how all Japanese people eat avocado, but it looked great.

A couple weekends ago I decided to try it with ponzu instead. The result was delightful.

So next time you get a ripe avocado, instead of making guacamole or a salad, try this method instead.

Cheapness Comes at a Price

The Hong Kong Jockey Club hands out free souvenirs on the final race day only to cause another near riot.

Another Jockey Club debacle? Who's responsible this time?

Just don't ask the Jockey Club, because the only answer you'll get is that its not them. Excuses like, "the people lost control", and "the police didn't do enough", are only two reasons JC is using to skirt responsibility.

A similar incident happened two years ago when 精英大師 souvenirs hats were handed out, causing a riot and twenty people injured. Can't the JC simply learn from their mistakes? Here's the real reason for both mini "riots": the JC only prepared 4000 souvenirs for 20,000 people. If you're going to give away stuff to only one fifth of the people, why even bother...? If you're going to hand out souvenirs to attract attendance, then at least take responsibility for your actions.

Back

Back from a relaxing weekend in Bangkok, followed by a hectic yet enjoyable week in Singapore. I can't say that my batteries are fully recharged since the Singapore trip schedule was so jam packed. When you try to mix work and play, you have to minus a considerable amount of sleep time.

Anyways, I'm back.

我們的祖國... 唉 Part VI

Sometimes stories about China make you laugh, sometimes they make you cringe. With this story, I'm not sure if I should cry or get mad.

Click here for an update on the ShanXi slavery incident.

Brick factories kidnapping kids into forced labor is the latest embarrassment in the Mainland. It is very sad to hear about the individual stories of fathers looking for their children who were abused and starved in these horrific working conditions. Children as young as 8 years old were forced to work in inhumane conditions: forced to work in still hot kilns to speed up production, not given medical treatment despite life threatening burns and wounds, some of the injured were even buried alive.

You hear about China's rapid economic growth, the 2008 Olympic games, and the modernity of Shanghai/Beijing. Then you hear about regions like ShanXi plagued by ruthless slave owners and human traffickers, you wonder whether it is the same country. A nation starving for growth can't be bothered to take care of its own people in the outermost regions.

What happened to cracking down on corruption? I can't stand see lines like "central government leaders shocked at news", cause its just bullshit. They know very well what goes on. They just choose to allow it to happen.

Another Happy Couple

My buddy Philip got married last weekend. Congratulations! A sarcastic thanks to Philip for the idiot ring fiasco!

www.flickr.com

Censorship Strikes Again

China censorship strikes again! Targeting foreign films is no surprise, but this time China has censored one of its own. Though no one is willing to admit it, most of Chow Yun Fat's scenes in Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End have been deleted in its China theatrical release. Now, them silly China internet folk are complaining about how Chow's role is depicted in the movie. They disapprove of his hair, his clothes, his behavior, claiming that it is a skewed Hollywood view of Chinese people.

Well, this may hold some truth, but then I challenge Mainlanders to tell me what a westerner of the 1500s looked like. Ninety-nine percent of them will derive their answers from movies or the internet. You can't expect a Chinese person to know what Westerners looked like 500 years ago, and you can't expected Americans to what Chinese pirates looked like 500 years ago. Plus, if Americans see Chow's image hair and clothes, and see a "Chinese pirate", then the filmmakers have reached their goal. Its no one's fault, but why remove footage of your own actor from a foreign film? Let the people see and decide for themselves what's right and wrong.

I guess the only way to see the complete version of Pirates is to watch the pirated version.

We Have A Winner

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a new candidate for the biggest wuss in Hong Kong. This time, its Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (yeah, what a load of crap, I know) party chairman, Ma Lik. This loser claims that the Tiananmen Square Massacre did not happen. Ma reminds me of those dumb fucks who claim The Holocaust didn't happen. Of course, there is strong speculation that China had ordered him to make such a silly statement. Perhaps China is thinking of deleting the massacre from its people's memory (including those in Hong Kong) entirely, and this is the first step.

So naturally, what does Ma Lik do after making this boldly absurd statement? He scurries off to China right before June 4th. Hopefully, his political career in Hong Kong is done. Unfortunately, he'll probably go on to bigger and uglier things in China for doing them this "favor".

Though right now its fun to make fun of Ma and laugh at the DAB, perhaps we should think about how China is trying to downplay/eliminate/ignore/deny the Tiananmen Square Massacre despite the whole world knowing about it so well. What measures will they take in the upcoming years to achieve this goal?

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