Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Shackles

It's not fresh news that China is:
  • a) a dictatorship
  • b) there is no freedom of press
  • c) there's no freedom of information
  • d) there have always been attempts on human rights (if nothing else, the notorious questions with girls orphanages)
  • e) also the Dalai Lama is out of Tibet for "some reason", right?
Having all that said, China was awarded the event nonetheless. For nothing else, at least because of the symbolism of the Truce. Athenas and Sparta were constantly at war but all retaliations stopped during the games. Under Hitler's rule nations went with their athletes.
Now Tibet is in uproar. UN won't go there because it's Mighty China. No-one will go there.
But imagine you are a high competition athlete. You may not agree with it. But your goals have been set to "that country". What are you to do? Throw your last 4, 6, 8 years or more of preparation out the window?
It's up to the Government to take diplomatic action. Boycott the ceremonies? Why not? Because of Tibet at least. Everyone saw the Journalists at the Lighting of the Olympic flame but not the Chinese. Maybe they'll see it here.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

I need to go to Bilbao


Horst P. Horst
Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao
March-July 2008

Lisa, Hands with Vase and Flowers, 1941

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Repent from riches or Hell awaits!

Last week, during a seminar for priest, to update on the new trends of church, new Mortal Sins were added to the list.
As stated in Wikipedia:

Twenty-first century sins

In March of 2008, Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti listed seven new mortal sins:[

  • Environmental pollution
  • Genetic manipulation
  • Accumulating excessive wealth
  • Inflicting poverty
  • Drug trafficking and consumption
  • Morally debatable experiments
  • Violation of fundamental rights of human nature

Accumulating excessive wealth....
Will the Vaticam "repent"?

By the way, the last one, as stated by Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti, include rape and paedophilia.

PS - for you unbelivers that don't know or don't remember (or haven't seen the Magnum icecream campaign of 2006), the "old" and still rulling sins are:



Friday, March 7, 2008

Oh, they do that in Europe, do they?

True story, a few days ago:

Where: NatWest (it's a bank) in New Bridge Street (in the CITY, of all places), London, UK:

"So, is it true that it is not possible to transfer money online to other countries?
Yes, I'm afraid it is, for international transfers you need to come to the branch (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm) and fill in a paper form. Alternatively, you can call your Private Banking team (side comment: slightly better timings, I found out: Monday to Friday from 8am to 6 pm... - does that sound like working and commuting time to you? To me it does...)

What about SEPA?
SEPA?

The European Payment System?....
Not sure what that is...

...

But why can't it be done online, it is possible in Switzerland, Netherlands, Portugal, in any simple bank account?
Oh, they do that in Europe, do they?

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Monday, March 3, 2008

Absolut Ice Bar

How Chivalrous Are You?


Some tricky scenarios to determine where you guys fall on a scale from Sir Lancelot to Sir Mix-a-Lot. (Girls test your friends ;) )


Start with –5. Add or subtract points for each answer.


1. On a date:

a. You always pay for dinner. (+5)

b. Even on your birthday. (+15)

c. But you make her pay for what she's eaten off your plate. (–20)


2. You're on the street and a woman is attacked. You:

a. Confront the attacker. (+20)

b. Look around for someone strong and brave. (+2)

c. Shout, "Hey, stop that!" (–5)

d. Twice. (–10)


3. The person who best represents how you think women should be treated is:

a. Mullah Mohammed Omar, head of the Taliban movement. (–50)

b. Henry VIII. (–15)

c. Giovanni Casanova. (+5)

d. Oprah. (+20)


4. If you were lame enough to have a ringtone, it would be:

a. "Face Down Ass Up," by 2 Live Crew. (–20)

b. "Girls," by Beastie Boys. (–10)

c. "Glory of Love," by Peter Cetera. (+10)

d. The version of "Glory of Love" you wrote for your wife. (+25)


5. You're sitting down on a crowded subway car. You would offer your seat to: (Choose all that apply.)

a. a pregnant woman. (+3)

b. an elderly woman. (+5)

c. a man with long hair. (+10)

6. Someone grabs your girlfriend's ass at a bar. You:

a. Punch anyone who won't make eye contact. (+10)

b. Stand by her while she does. (+5)

c. Tell her it was probably accidental and she needs to relax. (–5)

d. Collect the five bucks, ask your friend if it was worth it. (–40)


7. At your birthday, your intoxicated wife slips and bangs her head really hard. You:

a. Take her to the hospital and insist that she did not ruin your birthday. (+20)

b. Lay her down on a pile of coats and tell her to close her eyes for a few hours. (+5)

c. Ask her why she always has to be the center of attention. (–10)


8. You're camping and a grizzly bear appears. You:

a. Tell her to run, then make yourself seem as big as possible, like they showed you on Discovery. (+20)

b. Run, telling her to make herself seem as big as possible like they showed you on Discovery. (–20)


9. If a woman were an automobile, she'd be:

a. a Lexus, elegant, with plenty to love under the hood. (+5)

b. a 1967 Shelby Cobra, a privilege to experience, worthy of constant pampering. (+15)

c. a Jeep, palatable in most situations, best when dirty. (–5)

d. a minivan, utilitarian, slightly embarrassing, best for holding children. (–20)


10. At Thanksgiving dinner, your uncle suggests your girlfriend should abstain from a second helping of mashed potatoes. You:

a. Take another serving yourself as a sign of solidarity. (+10)

b. Tell him he's out of line. (+5)

c. Suggest the green beans. (–10)


11. If you were an animal, you would be:

a. a New Zealand paddle crab. (They eat their mates while mating with them.) (–50)

b. a blue crab. (They hold their women in a pre-mating embrace to protect them as they're molting.) (+10)

c. a black vulture. (Philandering vultures are attacked by other vultures.) (+20)

d. a sea horse. (Males carry the babies. Lucky bastards!) (+30)


-------------------------


Key


More than 100 points: Congratulations! You belong in the esteemed ranks of Prince Charming and Sir Lancelot. And if you're not getting walked all over, at least you're getting laid.

50 to 100:You're in the ranks of Sir Mix-a-Lot. But since we've been forced to lower our standards, you'll probably do okay.


Less than 50:Dick.

I'm back from: