Apparently the driving age in New Zealand is a meagre 15 only. That is, in my opinion, too young to be driving a car. But it seems like i’m not the only one who’d think that: reports recently by brain experts claim that “[the] frontal lobes of 15-year-olds’ brains were not fully developed, and as a result many struggled to recognise and react to hazards and took extra risks.”
That is true. Although kids these days are learning the co-ordination and car-control skills very quickly (thanks in part probably to computer games!), they can lack the sensibility and self-control when it comes to making decisions on the road. I’m not sure i’d trust a 15 year old with my car (if I had one).
That said, i’m not sure some drivers in China should be allowed to drive… ever! Maybe we shouldn’t judge by age but give drivers a mental test before issuing a license. Now that would be a first!
I’m currently away on a holiday through New Zealand – and with sporadic Internet access only it does mean I won’t be updating this blog much. Not that i’ve been updating it much lately anyways…
So far NZ has been very nice – despite being welcomed by rain. Everyone here is dressed for summer already even though actually it’s still below 20. We arrived in Auckland then started driving south – through Hamilton, Te Kuiti, New Plymouth, Wanganui, and we’re currently in the capital, Wellington. Tomorrow we’ll be crossing to the South Island then will keep driving down… hopefully eventually reaching Milford Sound.
It’s true what they say: the grass really is greener on the other side. Or at least it is here. The air is fresh too – coming from Beijing i’m not sure I can handle it.
I’ll be posting up photos to the usual place after my trip. Meanwhile, I wish everyone a pleasant moon festival and (China) National Day holiday.
Lloyds TSB in the UK have come up with an innovative new business model: Islamic Financial Services. Whilst this is probably nothing new in the Muslim world, i’ve never seen it advertised by a Western bank.
The idea is truly brilliant. ‘Shariah approved money management’ means that no interest is paid on your bank account – since in Islam you should not make money from money, only through “legitimate trade in goods and items” – where you share the risks and rewards.
For Lloyds it couldn’t be better: they save money on unpaid interest, provide services for a sizeable market, and that means more money for the coffers. That’s what I call a plan!
Those interested should also note that Lloyds also provide Islamic Home Finance – an alternative way to finance your home purchase.
I wonder when banks in China will start offering Communist Friendly Banking. Presumably this means dividing your riches between all other bank accounts. It’s a shame this isn’t yet available: with the amount of money I have, i’d gain from it for sure!
- so local (Swansea too, I might add) that they have trouble following a simple instruction that is to have my credit card posted to my registered overseas address.
It’s not difficult, really. After getting all my stuff nicked back in February, i’ve cancelled and subsequently had my HSBC credit card re-issued. One month later there was no sign of it – a call to the card centre revealed my card was in my ‘local’ branch. Centre said they’d arrange for a transfer – instead, I now got a letter informing me if I don’t collect my card soon it would be revoked.
Another call to the call centre, who issued me with yet another new card, promised to send it to Hong Kong – but of course, it went to Swansea again, and all i’ve received here is yet another letter telling me the card is ready for collection.
I’ve called again yesterday, but frankly i’ve given up… wagers on the table please for the number of re-issues i’ll have before I get my card!
I don’t need the card, I have local ones here, but that’s not the point – for such a large ‘global’ corporation to fail to carry out such a simple instruction is just disappointing (though sadly not surprising). They have my overseas address registered in the system, so they should just send the damn card there – it’s not against policy, they’re just incompetent.
They definitely got the local part right… they’re just seriously having problems knowing where the rest of the world is.
That would be, of course, Guy Goma – a Congolese man who was first reported to be a taxi driver but later confirmed to have been applying for a job within the BBC. He was broadcast live on BBC World – a channel which unforunately I have not seen much of lately since being in Beijing.
It started with the victory of Apple Computer over the lawsuit by Beatles’ Apple Corps, for which presenter Karen Bowerman welcomed Goma into the studio as computer expert Kewney. Not realising she had the wrong person, she proceeded to interview ‘Kewney’ by asking “Were you surprised by this verdict today?”
Goma responded:
“I’m very surprised to see the verdict come on me because I was not expecting that… When I came, they told me something else.”
The look on Goma’s face when he discovered he was live was just priceless. In fact, you can view a copy of it online.
Meanwhile of course, the real Kewney was sitting at reception watching himself on TV – live. Now that’s something you don’t see every day.
As for Goma – there is no word yet on whether he got the job he applied for.
That’s right, there’s now an organisation called Business for Diplomatic Action whose goal it is to “see the day when America is once again admired as a global leader and respected as a courier of progress and prosperity for all people” – admittedly a big goal considering that much of the world’s poverty and chaos only exists becuase of failed self-centered America-centric foreign policies by the US government.
Amongst the focuses of the organisation are attempts to dispel the stereotypical view of foreigners that Americans are (and I quote) : “arrogant, loud and unwilling to listen, and a threat to their national cultures”.
I believe that’s a bit harsh : not all Americans are loud and obnoxious, although you will find a fair share of them backpacking around Europe and Australia… and you probably don’t have to look hard. Just a few quick tips from me: we’re not blind nor deaf nor thick – you don’t have to glow, shout, or be blunt. We may speak with funny accents but heck so do you, so get over it. And finally, yes, some people have two taps – now for crying out loud it’s not the end of the world. Things may be done differently abroad and that doesn’t make you superior.
If you can handle that then you’re doing good. Now just remember to bring wads of cash, and spend it on our economies.
Now here’s a novel concept: the guys at Rebar fed a meter for two hours in downtown San Francisco and rented a parking space where they setup a temporary park. Expensive as it was for a bit of grass, they managed to add 24,000 square-foor-minutes of public space and contributed a significant amount of greenery to what is normally a rather grey part of town.
They even give details on how to setup your own PARK(ing) … check out their website for more!
Those who missed George Galloway’s statement to the US Senate about allegations he received money from Saddam through the oil-for-food programme can view the full hearing video, streamed by the BBC. Or read the full transcript.
I wouldn’t vote for him, and I didn’t join his party. But nonetheless, his oratory skills have shown once again and made a complete fool of the US senate – more specifically, senator Norm Coleman. Whilst i’m in no position to side with either party, it is clear that Coleman should have better prepared his allegations and found more substantiated evidence. As it stands, Coleman looks nothing short of amateur in his proceedings and only shows that some US politicians would still stand by US pride and patriotism over rational well grounded decision making.
Update:
I don’t aim to form a personal opinion of Galloway nor start a debate here – but Harry does print a copy of the statement released by the Charity Commission regarding Galloway’s statement on his excellent blog. Much of his posts in the surrounding week also contain interesting comments against Galloway.
The Socialist Worker on the other hand has an interesting article on how they forged the case against Galloway.
