Five Quarters of the Orange:
:: today's reality tomorrow ::
[Wednesday] Dec, 31 2008
Category - other stuff[Monday] Dec, 29 2008
Category - Viet Nam
Viet Nam wins
It's ten after midnight here and it's a touch over 3 hours since Viet Nam drew 1-1 with Thailand and thus won the 2008 Suzuki Cup (also known as the ASEAN Football Championship). Viet Nam leveled the match in almost unbelievable fashion when Le Cong Vinh headed a goal in the final seconds in a dramatic finish to a game that was interspersed with many violent clashes.
I ventured into the streets immediately after that win and encountered literally thousands of enraptured Vietnamese riding motorbikes, hanging from cars, carrying the national flag and making as much noise as possible with whatever was available. Chanting, screaming, clashing pot lids together like cymbals, the noise level was incredible.
Wave after wave of people celebrating the win swept through every street of inner Sai Gon and now, over 3 hours later, the noise of the celebrations has not abated, in fact it seems to be increasing as it rises and falls in waves. The fervour of the people is incredible and from where I sit typing I can hear the sounds of jubilation that will no doubt last through the night.
[Thursday] Dec, 18 2008
Category - Viet Nam
Vietnam: Where pirated apps match personal budgets | Crave - CNET
CNET editor Dong Ngo is spending some time at home in Viet Nam and writes this article about the proliferation of pirated software available for purchase here. He makes a good point about the affordability of expensive software in low-income countries like Viet Nam and comments that it would be better for software vendors to have their products being used for less than not used at all. I remember the days when companies used to provide now widely used software to students free of charge to get them used to using it. Why not provide a similar deal to individuals in countries where they legitimately can't afford the hefty price tags?
[Wednesday] Dec, 17 2008
Category - other stuff[Monday] Dec, 15 2008
Category - Viet Nam
welcome home!
Well, it's nice to know that some things are consistent. Upon arrival back in Sai Gon last night I was pushed out of the way by the baggage handlers at the carousel, queue jumped at the luggage x-ray, fought to get a taxi at the now badly disorganised taxi rank, had an argument with the taxi driver when he got underway and tried to charge 200,000 VND for an 80,000 VND fare, witnessed a 3 m'bike accident with one guy lying unconscious on the road, and began sweating within 1 second of leaving the terminal. All things you don't really need after 24 hours of travel, but at least it makes you realise, "Hey, I'm back in Viet Nam!"
When the new International Terminal opened last year the taxi rank was one road over from the exit which was a great idea because it gave passengers a bit of breathing space from the over eager drivers trying to solicit a fare. The old terminal was a nightmare with drivers or their touts physically trying to take your luggage from you and on many occasions I have had stand up arguments with people who were trying to walk off with my suitcase. Unfortunately the taxi rank at the new terminal has now been moved to the road directly outside the exit and last night the chaos was evident. Not a good impression if people are arriving in VN for the first time and even less so if the driver tries to rip them off, as this guy did. I have become very selective with which taxi company I use and the solicitations of most drivers full on deaf ears. But this taxi was with the new fleet belonging to SG Airport Taxis and I have found previously that their meters are not overclocked. Disappointing to find the drivers behaving like this, even more so when last nights driver became sulky and wouldn't help lift the luggage out of the back. He only shifted himself when I walked off leaving all the back doors open, ah - welcome home royby!
[Thursday] Dec, 11 2008
Category - on the road again
NYC is the best
Now I know why so much has been written about New York City. This place pulses with so much energy and life it's staggering. Images to come when I have time, meanwhile it's time for a Greek breakfast in Queens then back onto the subway and downtown.
[Friday] Dec, 05 2008
Category - other stuff
We still speak English in Australia
I have just spent 4 days listening to the teaching of Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche, a Tibetan monk, in the Vietnamese Buddhist Meditation Centre in Houston Texas. Hungkar speaks reasonably good English but for the most part he spoke in Tibetan which was then translated into English and then into Vietnamese. It came as yet another surprise, when I was formerly introduced to him, to have him comment that, "For an Australian you speak quite good English." He was surprised to learn that English is our native tongue which is the second example within a week of how little is known about our land down under. So much for the all-knowing, all-seeing third eye.
[Monday] Nov, 24 2008
Category - other stuff
We Speak English in Australia
On the flight from Hong Kong to San Francisco on Saturday I was seated next to a guy from Austin in Texas who was friendly and interested to know where I came from and what I was going to do in the States. He gave me plenty of helpful advice advice about things I could do in some of the places I intend to visit. On a reassuring note he told me that I shouldn't have too many problems in the States because my English wasn't really all that bad, good enough to make myself understood at least. I thanked him for this and smiled inwardly but didn't think too much more of it.
Later in the flight, in fact just as we were circling to land at San Francisco International, he asked me how come I knew how to speak English as well as I did and I had to explain to him that we were a British colony to begin with just the same as America. He was surprised by this and even more incredulous to discover that this all happened way back in the 1700's. I guess he thought about it all for a moment and then commented that it was interesting that Australians don't speak "normal" English.
I find it perfectly acceptable that someone from the States is not aware of the history of Australia but it came as something of a shock to be find that he could think my English was not "normal" and somehow sub-standard. After all, in Australia we still spell according to the British standard so I've always considered that American English is the one that is below par.
A funny incident and one that made me realise (with an 's' not a 'z') yet again how important it is to travel, to learn other persons points of view and not assume that your own perceptions are universal.
[Friday] Nov, 14 2008
Category - other stuff
Chicara liquid chrome art motorcycles
Japanese artist Chicara Nagata spent approximately 7,550 hours hand crafting each of these motorcycles which are on display at the ippodo gallery in New York City until January 31, 2009. Using ancient Harley Davidson and Honda moped engines Chicara has integrated contemporary craftsmanship and first-class engineering to create functional motorcycles that transcend into the world of art.
I know that I want one of these machines, but I believe that the price tag is around US$1 million each. A bit out of my price range. However, as i will be in NY next month I'll try to get to the gallery and do a little bit of drooling.
American motor unit 1939
American motor unit 1942
Japanese motor unit 1950
Japanese motor unit 1966
[Monday] Nov, 10 2008
Category - other stuff
A quote that was way before it's time
'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'
Thomas Jefferson 1802
[Wednesday] Oct, 29 2008
Category - other stuff
PalinAsPresident.com
Just keep clicking around, there are a lot of hidden jokes.
http://palinaspresident.us/
Category - other stuff
If the world could vote (in the US Presidential election)
November 4th 2008 the American people will choose a new president. The president of the United States of America is the most powerful person in the world.
We would like to know who would be the next president of the United States of America - if the world could vote!
In the presidential election in 2004 122,267,553 people voted. 6,500,000,000 people did not.
Our mission is to get more people to vote than voted in the last election. Mission impossible, we know, but still, wouldn't it be great to see what the whole world thinks?
If we are to have any chance of reaching that goal we need your help. Tell all your friends around the world about iftheworldcouldvote.com. You can send them email, share it on Facebook (we also have a group you can join), digg it, reddit, save to delicious ... Or all of it. So go ahead. Let's see who would be the next president of the United States of America - if the world could vote;)
Cast your vote and then click on the results tab (on the left), to see how the rest of the world has voted. Very interesting!!
http://iftheworldcouldvote.com/
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roy hornsby
Jack Kerouac, "the Dharma Bums"