Summer's here.. looking for a book to read on the beach?
The Authors' Summer Reading Lists is a clickable list of authors and the books that they recommend for reading this summer and beyond. A large range of recommendations, from chick lit to serious fiction. A resource for reading ideas.. via lifehacker
Or try What Should I read Next?
Friday, June 30, 2006
You Get My Goat..
What do you call an unemployed goat? Billy Idol.
What do you call a goat at sea? Billy Ocean.
What do you call a goat that mimes? Billi Vanilli.
What do you call a goat at sea? Billy Ocean.
What do you call a goat that mimes? Billi Vanilli.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
The Nagano Swindle
A 38-year-old woman (I guess that pretty much rules out dementia) who operates a company in Nagano, Japan has been cheated out of 47 million yen since the end of last year.
In December last year, she received a fax from a person claiming to represent a Tokyo financial institution who was interested in lending money to her company. The woman requested a loan of 10 million yen, and was told by the “lender” that 800,000 yen needed to be deposited a particular bank account as a deposit. For some reason, she complied.
Then she was told that a syndicate would be putting the loan together and they also required deposits. Over a period of time, she reportedly sent a total of about 30 million yen to secure her loan of 10 million.
Being no dummy, the woman shrewdly deduced that something was amiss when her loan never arrived.
"The woman became suspicious when she did not receive any loans, and asked that her loan contracts be cancelled. The swindler then told her that she needed to pay cancellation charges. She then sent a combined 17 million yen on 18 occasions."
via Japundit
In December last year, she received a fax from a person claiming to represent a Tokyo financial institution who was interested in lending money to her company. The woman requested a loan of 10 million yen, and was told by the “lender” that 800,000 yen needed to be deposited a particular bank account as a deposit. For some reason, she complied.
Then she was told that a syndicate would be putting the loan together and they also required deposits. Over a period of time, she reportedly sent a total of about 30 million yen to secure her loan of 10 million.
Being no dummy, the woman shrewdly deduced that something was amiss when her loan never arrived.
"The woman became suspicious when she did not receive any loans, and asked that her loan contracts be cancelled. The swindler then told her that she needed to pay cancellation charges. She then sent a combined 17 million yen on 18 occasions."
via Japundit
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Perspectives
"Are you going to ask that question with shades on?"
US President George W. Bush, to Los Angelese Times reporter Peter Wallsten during a White House press conference. Bush did not know that Wallsten is partially blind and has to wear sunglasses to protect his eyes from glare.
"Practice."
Tiger Woods, when asked what he would do after missing the cut in a major tournament fro the first time as a professional golfer.
from Newsweek, June26, 2006.
US President George W. Bush, to Los Angelese Times reporter Peter Wallsten during a White House press conference. Bush did not know that Wallsten is partially blind and has to wear sunglasses to protect his eyes from glare.
"Practice."
Tiger Woods, when asked what he would do after missing the cut in a major tournament fro the first time as a professional golfer.
from Newsweek, June26, 2006.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Sensitivity Training
It's easy to determine who needs to take a sexual harassment class; just ask the person if "harass" is one word or two. If they say two, they need to take the class.
World Cup - French Team Agenda
Friday 23rd June 9pm : TOGO FRANCE
Friday 23rd June 11pm : GOTO FRANCE
Friday 23rd June 11pm : GOTO FRANCE
Thursday, June 22, 2006
More Minimum wage..
Bush should call Kennedy..
this topic caught my eye again after our Monday viewing..
this topic caught my eye again after our Monday viewing..
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
DRM
"The music industry's insistence upon DRM is what put the ITMS in the position that Apple now enjoys; the record industry is decrying a lock-in advantage that they themselves handed to Apple so they could deny their customers (i.e. us, the people who listen to music) the interoperability they now say they want."
"Record industry executives refuse to believe what is patently obvious to anyone with a clue — they are never ever going to regain complete control over the distribution of recorded music."
"Calling for "interoperability" without any practical suggestion as to how it could be achieved is just an empty platitude. It's like demanding "a cheap source of energy" or "a cure for cancer". But unlike the energy problem or cancer, digital media interoperability is not an intractable problem. There's an obvious solution staring everyone in the face."
Wise words - Daring Fireball
"Record industry executives refuse to believe what is patently obvious to anyone with a clue — they are never ever going to regain complete control over the distribution of recorded music."
"Calling for "interoperability" without any practical suggestion as to how it could be achieved is just an empty platitude. It's like demanding "a cheap source of energy" or "a cure for cancer". But unlike the energy problem or cancer, digital media interoperability is not an intractable problem. There's an obvious solution staring everyone in the face."
Wise words - Daring Fireball
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Linkage
The Most Offensive T-Shirt Ever?
Oso - the teddy bear USB stick - Wa, I want one!
Last night we watched the first episode of Morgan Spurlock's "30 Days" series, Minimum Wage .
It was sobering stuff. Pretty depressing actually.
It reminded me of a Bushism..
"You work three jobs? … Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that."
—to a divorced mother of three, Omaha, Nebraska, Feb 2005.
Oso - the teddy bear USB stick - Wa, I want one!
Last night we watched the first episode of Morgan Spurlock's "30 Days" series, Minimum Wage .
It was sobering stuff. Pretty depressing actually.
It reminded me of a Bushism..
"You work three jobs? … Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that."
—to a divorced mother of three, Omaha, Nebraska, Feb 2005.
Monday, June 19, 2006
World Cup
"FOR the next month the world will be engaged in the closest thing yet found to a universal religion—watching football (or soccer, as Americans call it). From the mansions of Pimlico to the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, everyone but a few eccentrics will stop what they are doing in order to watch teams of young men trying—usually without success—to get a ball into a net. The World Cup will be broadcast to 5 billion people in 189 countries.
Amid this global fervour the United States will stand out like a temperance preacher at a Bierfest."
from the Economist
Amid this global fervour the United States will stand out like a temperance preacher at a Bierfest."
from the Economist
Friday, June 16, 2006
No Connection whatsoever..
There's No Inflation Genie - but I think we are indeed headed for a major downturn
Liquid Armour - buy shares in the company that brings this to market
Rub vs. Marinade - fire up the BBQ
Liquid Armour - buy shares in the company that brings this to market
Rub vs. Marinade - fire up the BBQ
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Simply staggering..
"a small fortune" I'll say. Wow, I'm reeling!
FT Wed 14 June 2006
HSBC banker learns the cost of obsession
But Wong clearly saw better use of the money. According to court documents filed in HK, Wong, who was paying HK$10m (US$1.3m, GBP0.7m) for two years of unlimited Latin dance lessons, reached new contracts for HK$120m (US$15.4m, GBP8m) for a further eight-year period. The new lessons, however, have not been taken.
After the high-powered banker paid half the agreed fees and just before the new contracts started, one of the instructors allegedly called her a "lazy cow" and asked her to "move your fat arse" while they were practising publicly in a restaurant.
In her statement of claim in Hong Kong Court of First Instance, Wong alleges that she and her instructor agreed to terminate their oral agreements shortly after the humiliating encounter. The instructor claims they have never reached that conclusion.
Wong is now suing her instructors - a 14 time world champion and her husband - to get back HK$62m (US$8m, GBP4.4m) she has already paid.
The couple is counterclaiming HK$57m (US$7.3m, GBP4m) of unpaid fees.
The sour experience has not put Wong off. She told the Observer she is still taking Latin dance lessons - from another instructor.
FT Wed 14 June 2006
HSBC banker learns the cost of obsession
It's no surprise that private bankers make loads of money these days. But it is sometimes surprising to learn how they like to spend their money. Monica Wong, head of HSBC's private banking in Asia, has chosen to spend a small fortune on Latin dancing.
As a banker who makes a living by managing wealth, Wong should probably know that HK$120m (US$15.4m, GBP8m) can buy a very nice private island in Thailand, a few luxury flats in Hong Kong or 45 of the new Rolls-Royce PhantomsBut Wong clearly saw better use of the money. According to court documents filed in HK, Wong, who was paying HK$10m (US$1.3m, GBP0.7m) for two years of unlimited Latin dance lessons, reached new contracts for HK$120m (US$15.4m, GBP8m) for a further eight-year period. The new lessons, however, have not been taken.
After the high-powered banker paid half the agreed fees and just before the new contracts started, one of the instructors allegedly called her a "lazy cow" and asked her to "move your fat arse" while they were practising publicly in a restaurant.
In her statement of claim in Hong Kong Court of First Instance, Wong alleges that she and her instructor agreed to terminate their oral agreements shortly after the humiliating encounter. The instructor claims they have never reached that conclusion.
Wong is now suing her instructors - a 14 time world champion and her husband - to get back HK$62m (US$8m, GBP4.4m) she has already paid.
The couple is counterclaiming HK$57m (US$7.3m, GBP4m) of unpaid fees.
The sour experience has not put Wong off. She told the Observer she is still taking Latin dance lessons - from another instructor.
Consumerism
Boiler Room mp3 via Consumerist via Felon Check
Cancelling AOL mp3 via Consumerist via Insignificant Thoughts
(which has been dugg for the time being)
Five Fingers - the new Flip Flop?
should I get these instead of a pair of Crocs?
Cancelling AOL mp3 via Consumerist via Insignificant Thoughts
(which has been dugg for the time being)
Five Fingers - the new Flip Flop?
should I get these instead of a pair of Crocs?
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
The World's Funniest Joke
Michael Bentine: I just came in and found him lying on the carpet there.
Peter Sellers: Oh, is he dead?
Bentine: I think so.
Sellers: Hadn't you better make sure?
Bentine: All right. Just a minute.
Sound of two gun shots.
Bentine: He's dead.
written by Spike Milligan for the Goons (1951)
according to Prof Richard Wiseman, of the University of Hertfordshire.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Friday, June 09, 2006
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Rooney is in...
Rooney appears to have won the race to prove his fitness after breaking a metatarsal in his right foot while playing for Manchester United in April. It looks like he will be given the green light but will have to get a Cortizone injection. Beckham said, "If that fat shite is getting a new car, then so am I".
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Selling photos.. for charity
Not often that I comment or have interest in celeb stuff, but I thought this was a work of pure genius by Angelina Jolia and Brad Pitt.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Friday, June 02, 2006
Thursday, June 01, 2006
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