The Onion Gets Taken As The Truth
I like stories like this, where a humorous piece from a satirical web site like The Onion, gets taken as the truth, by the media in some country where freedom and press don’t go anywhere together. This time it’s China that gets fooled, but Iran has been duped in the past.
The trouble is that these countries wouldn’t make fun of a serious leader so wouldn’t know humour if it hit them in the face.
I wonder if they have April Fools’ Day in China and Iran?
Are Chinese Dogs More Intelligent?
This story from the BBC, about a Chinese dachshund is a bit over the top.
But it does seem to be an intelligent dog. Hopefully, it isn’t too intent on starting World War 3, like so many other dachshunds I’ve met and even owned. One was distinctly racist and would attack any black dog she saw.
A Chinese View On Peer-To-Peer Lending
I found this article in the South China Morning Post.
It would appear that peer-to-peer lending is taking off in China in a big way. Here’s an extract.
According to an unofficial source, there are an estimated 100 such Chinese lenders in operation, with projected total outstanding loans this year of 18 billion yuan (HK$22 billion)
That sounds a lot to me.
Play Interrupted By A Cockroach
I’m just watching the Murray-Federer tennis on the television.
the play was momentarily halted because of a cockroach or another large insect.
One commentator said it had escaped from their hotel or something like that!
Buses For The Chinese
The bus route 88 is surely an ideal one for the Chinese, who are very superstitious about eights.
We even had a winner at Nottingham on the 8th of August, 1988. The horse, Golden Panda was named after a Chinese restaurant, owned by a friend from Hong Kong.
We dined out cheaply on that win for many years.
Strange Bus Adverts In Chinese
There is series of bus adverts like these on lots of London buses. Here’s one.
Strange Bus Adverts In Chinese
It is apparently aimed at the Chinese home market.
What I Remember About The Opening Ceremony From Beijing In 2008
As a computer person, I remember the computer screens around the stadium, showing Microsoft’s infamous blue screens of death. I’m not the only person either. Perhaps they hadn’t paid the licence fees.
Let’s hope they use good old-fashioned technology tonight.
Will Expelling Two Syrian Diplomats Make Any Difference?
Of Course it won’t! Assad’s vile regime will expel or worse two of our diplomats. And two from all the other countries that have sent a couple of Syrian diplomats home.
I can’t see a solution to this, whilst the Russians and China back the Syrians. After all, kicking Assad out of power, would set a terrible precedent for their own human rights abuses.
A Course In Chugging?
They’ve just had a guy on the radio, who runs a course at South Bank University on charity fundraising. How to chug properly is a substantial part.
Surely, we can think of more worthwhile University courses?
Incidentally, they were chugging for Save The Tiger in Islington last week. It would be better if they did this outside the Chinese Embassy!
After all we’ll only save the tiger, if we convince the Chinese to change their ways. I wonder if the Chinese are keen on saving pandas, is that they have no culinary or medicinal use for them!
There is a big piece in The Telegraph today about how the Local Government Association is getting a bit fed up with them and is calling for a clean up of legislation. A spokesman is quoted as saying.
“Government needs to remove the double standard which means volunteers collecting coins for a local hospice need a licence, but agency workers seeking pledges for national charities do not.”
I would agree as a local hospice is much more important than a big national charity. I think though that methods of donation like Just Giving are better. I regularly see an ad and send a small amount. The trouble is some ads are on the Underground and mobile phones don’t work down there.
Interviews Before Execution
This article on the BBC web site, puts a whole new slant on reality television.
We’re back to the public executions at Tyburn that finished in the last 18th Century. The list on Wikipedia of those who were executed there, includes Oliver Cromwell, who was actually posthumously executed, after exhumation of his body from Westminster Abbey.
The Anonymous Widower 