Sunday, July 29
The Little Prince.
". . . One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes. . . . It’s the time that you spent on your rose that makes your rose so important. . . . You become responsible for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your rose. . . .”
Sunday, June 24
Religion today.
I find it highly ironic that people who practice a religion based on love, understanding, rejection of dogma, forgiveness, and tolerance are in fact some of the scariest hatemongers out there today.
Wednesday, June 14
Sunday, June 11
Sunshine: boiling heat, wine, frappes, and strawberries...
Last Saturday was spent enjoying some British sunshine at the lawn outside the Tate Modern (after a brief trip to Borough Market), followed by a few mocha frappes, and more sunshine at the lawn at Lincoln's Inn. Sunday was spent nursing some burnt skin.
Monday, May 29
Posh wipe. This season's must have - the little black roll.
Renova, a Portuguese paper products company, is releasing an all black toilet paper. Last year, Renova debuted the product in Paris "to a select group of high-society women, and it was very positively received."
"Elegant, sophisticated, rebellious, alternative and eternally fashionable, black has become virtually synonymous with chic and style. But while this colour is often present in avant-garde creative work, no one has ever dared to use it for toilet paper until now. Black in the loo, how chic and sophisticated can you get?"
You can find le noir toilet paper in the bathrooms of places like celeb after-hours hangout Bungalow 8, Bette, Kittichai and the Four Seasons. This all-black toilet paper from Portugal is brand new, real, and mercilessly chic. And, as it turns out, 10 times more costly than the average Euro-wipe.
Is black the new black? Black jeans were the new rage last season. What's next? Band aids?
For the "chic and sophisticated", you can purchase a sample directly from the manufacturer. Renova can be found at http://www.renovaonline.net/
Talk about provocative advertising.
January.
February.
May.
July.
October.
November.
Sunday, May 21
Bruxelles.
Hotel Bristol Stephanie...
... along Avenue Louise.
Elevators down to the old town.
La Grand Place de Bruxelles I: a remarkably homogeneous body of public and private buildings, dating mainly from the late 17th century.
La Grand Place de Bruxelles II.
La Grand Place de Bruxelles III.
La Grand Place de Bruxelles IV.
La Grand Place de Bruxelles V.
Falstaff: classic Art Nouveau restaurant slash bar, with a resolutely Belgian menu and a good variety of biers.
A little history...
Interior:: loving the stained glass.
Le 1er citoyen de Bruxelles: le petit Julien - Manneken-Pis.
"Et qui va promener le chien?" Chic bar with a large ‘terasse’ on a pedestrian street and a funny name: "And who will walk the dog?".
Pierre Marcolini: the self-described Hermes of the chocolate world. Minimalist-chic bonbonniere on the Place du Grand Sablon.
Dinner at Niels': crayfish pasta; white wine. Excellent meal!
Saucy mannequin. Couldn't resist the shot whilst walking back to the hotel.
View from hotel room. Lovin the weather!
Ouch.
"The French may like to think that Chanel No 5 is their scent but we all know that garlic and stale Gitanes are much more representative."
That has to be the most insulting quote of the month.
_______________________________________________________
LONDON (AFP) - The French have been voted the world's most unfriendly nation by a landslide in a new British poll published. They were also voted the most boring and most ungenerous.
A decisive 46 percent of the 6,000 people surveyed by travellers' website Where Are You Now (WAYN) said the French were the most unfriendly nation people on the planet, British newspapers reported.
The Germans have no to reason to celebrate the damning verdict. They came second on all three counts.
WAYN's French founder, Jerome Touze, told the papers he had been stunned by the thumping condemnation of his compatriots and sought to blame it on Gallic love-struck sulking.
"I had no idea that the French would emerge as such an unfriendly country," he said.
"I think our romantic 'moodiness' is misunderstood and I will be sure to pass on the message to my family and friends back in France to be a bit more cheerful to tourists in the future."
Italy was voted the world's most cultured nation with the best cuisine, while the United States was named the most unstylish with the worst food.
The British did not feature in the top 10 of any of the categories.
"The British fit in nowhere -- good or bad. It appears that we are so completely average that the voters did not include us in any category," the tabloid Daily Express commented.
"And to our shame, four percent of respondents -- all British of course -- said they would only talk to other Britons when they are abroad."
This unwillingness to talk to the locals appears to go hand in hand with respondents' perceptions of foreigners.
While most said Spain was the foreign country where they would most like to live, they said the Spaniards were nearly as unfriendly and ungenerous as the French.
To add insult to injury, British newspaper The Daily Telegraph put the boot in on Saturday by saying in an editorial that the French stank.
"The French may like to think that Chanel No 5 is their scent but we all know that garlic and stale Gitanes are much more representative."
That has to be the most insulting quote of the month.
_______________________________________________________
LONDON (AFP) - The French have been voted the world's most unfriendly nation by a landslide in a new British poll published. They were also voted the most boring and most ungenerous.
A decisive 46 percent of the 6,000 people surveyed by travellers' website Where Are You Now (WAYN) said the French were the most unfriendly nation people on the planet, British newspapers reported.
The Germans have no to reason to celebrate the damning verdict. They came second on all three counts.
WAYN's French founder, Jerome Touze, told the papers he had been stunned by the thumping condemnation of his compatriots and sought to blame it on Gallic love-struck sulking.
"I had no idea that the French would emerge as such an unfriendly country," he said.
"I think our romantic 'moodiness' is misunderstood and I will be sure to pass on the message to my family and friends back in France to be a bit more cheerful to tourists in the future."
Italy was voted the world's most cultured nation with the best cuisine, while the United States was named the most unstylish with the worst food.
The British did not feature in the top 10 of any of the categories.
"The British fit in nowhere -- good or bad. It appears that we are so completely average that the voters did not include us in any category," the tabloid Daily Express commented.
"And to our shame, four percent of respondents -- all British of course -- said they would only talk to other Britons when they are abroad."
This unwillingness to talk to the locals appears to go hand in hand with respondents' perceptions of foreigners.
While most said Spain was the foreign country where they would most like to live, they said the Spaniards were nearly as unfriendly and ungenerous as the French.
To add insult to injury, British newspaper The Daily Telegraph put the boot in on Saturday by saying in an editorial that the French stank.
"The French may like to think that Chanel No 5 is their scent but we all know that garlic and stale Gitanes are much more representative."
Saturday, May 20
Funny commercial.
In Dutch; the ending says: "Mercator Homesolutions. Because one day you will be living on your own again."
Saturday, May 13
Ads.ch: Welcome to Love Life.
No Action Without Protection: this is the new slogan for the Love Life Stop Aids ad campaign in Switzerland.
Saturday, May 6
Skanky whores.
Overheard the other day: "Lawyers are like whores - we charge by the hour."
I'm feeling as skanky as ever.
I'm feeling as skanky as ever.
Friday, May 5
NY-LON
Guys, it's confirmed; I'm moving to the Big Apple. London's burnt out for a wee bit.
I'm well chuffed - there's no doubt about that. But we're talking September, so don't get rocking yet, my babies. Oh, and people are welcome to stay if they're thinking of visiting.
God, this week has been groovy. Slash over-worked.
Whatever. In other news, I'm off to Brussels on Sunday for a working visit; racking up the points on Eurostar, and (hopefully) getting some time off to do the touristy-thing mincing about the Grand'Place before meeting Niels for dinner at his.
Fuck me, it's 3am now. Time to sleep.
Moving to the Big Apple.
See http://absolutad.com/:
ABSOLUT NEW YORK (taxicabs) is a second version of the "New York" ad; the first was an artist's rendering as part of the ABSOLUT STATEHOOD Collection from USA Today newspaper (1992-3) and 2/14/94 Time magazine. This new version looks like ABSOLUT CITRON (taxicabs) and is an aerial view of a busy New York City street, crowded with cars. In the middle of the cars are 34 yellow New York taxicabs, forming the Absolut shape. Photographed by Steve Bronstein, this ad has the 1998 copyright date from the original Citron/cabs ad.
I'm well chuffed - there's no doubt about that. But we're talking September, so don't get rocking yet, my babies. Oh, and people are welcome to stay if they're thinking of visiting.
God, this week has been groovy. Slash over-worked.
Whatever. In other news, I'm off to Brussels on Sunday for a working visit; racking up the points on Eurostar, and (hopefully) getting some time off to do the touristy-thing mincing about the Grand'Place before meeting Niels for dinner at his.
Fuck me, it's 3am now. Time to sleep.
Moving to the Big Apple.
See http://absolutad.com/:
ABSOLUT NEW YORK (taxicabs) is a second version of the "New York" ad; the first was an artist's rendering as part of the ABSOLUT STATEHOOD Collection from USA Today newspaper (1992-3) and 2/14/94 Time magazine. This new version looks like ABSOLUT CITRON (taxicabs) and is an aerial view of a busy New York City street, crowded with cars. In the middle of the cars are 34 yellow New York taxicabs, forming the Absolut shape. Photographed by Steve Bronstein, this ad has the 1998 copyright date from the original Citron/cabs ad.
Wednesday, April 26
Sunday, April 23
The Death Penalty.
From Amnesty International:
In 2005
- at least 2,148 people were executed in 22 countries;
- 94% of them were killed in China,, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA; and
- An additional 5,186 people were sentenced to death.
However, despite the shocking figures, the trend towards abolition continues to grow: the number of countries carrying out executions has dropped for a fourth consecutive year; over the last twenty years, numbers have halved. Mexico and Liberia have most recently abolished the death penalty.
"As the world continues to turn away from the use of the death penalty, it is a glaring anomaly that China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the USA stand out for their extreme use of this form of punishment as the 'top' executioners in the world." - Irene Khan, AI Secretary General.
There are also more than 20,000 people on death row waiting to be killed by their own governments.
The figures we have are approximate: many governments, like China, refuse to publish full official statistics on executions, while Viet Nam has even classified statistics and reporting on the death penalty as a ‘state secret’.
The death penalty is the ultimate, irreversible denial of human rights. It is often applied in a discriminatory manner, follows unfair trials or is applied for political reasons. It can be an irreversible error when there is miscarriage of justice.
During 2005, at least 2,148 people were executed in 22 countries. At least 5,186 people were sentenced to death in 53 countries. These were only minimum figures; the true figures were certainly higher.
Executions are known to have been carried out in the following countries in 2005:
BANGLADESH, BELARUS, CHINA, INDONESIA, IRAN, IRAQ, JAPAN, JORDAN. KOREA (North), KUWAIT, LIBYA, MONGOLIA, PAKISTAN, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, SAUDI ARABIA, SINGAPORE, SOMALIA, TAIWAN, USA, UZBEKISTAN, VIETNAM, YEMEN.
The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, and it is a blatant violation of the fundamental right to life.
I find it hard to figure out why countries like the USA, Japan, and Singapore still allow the death penalty. It is an uncivilised relic from our barbaric past, and treats human beings as nonhumans - objects to be toyed with and discarded.
Don't get me wrong - I believe in justice, and when brutal crimes are committed, I believe the perpetuators deserve infinite pain and retribution. But when we kill them, it diminishes our own humanity.
Right and wrong is relative. But morality in the 21st century has progressed onto a platform where humanitarianism precludes cruelty and inequality. Surely it's time, therefore, for countries to rethink their death penalty laws.
In 2005
- at least 2,148 people were executed in 22 countries;
- 94% of them were killed in China,, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA; and
- An additional 5,186 people were sentenced to death.
However, despite the shocking figures, the trend towards abolition continues to grow: the number of countries carrying out executions has dropped for a fourth consecutive year; over the last twenty years, numbers have halved. Mexico and Liberia have most recently abolished the death penalty.
"As the world continues to turn away from the use of the death penalty, it is a glaring anomaly that China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the USA stand out for their extreme use of this form of punishment as the 'top' executioners in the world." - Irene Khan, AI Secretary General.
There are also more than 20,000 people on death row waiting to be killed by their own governments.
The figures we have are approximate: many governments, like China, refuse to publish full official statistics on executions, while Viet Nam has even classified statistics and reporting on the death penalty as a ‘state secret’.
The death penalty is the ultimate, irreversible denial of human rights. It is often applied in a discriminatory manner, follows unfair trials or is applied for political reasons. It can be an irreversible error when there is miscarriage of justice.
During 2005, at least 2,148 people were executed in 22 countries. At least 5,186 people were sentenced to death in 53 countries. These were only minimum figures; the true figures were certainly higher.
Executions are known to have been carried out in the following countries in 2005:
BANGLADESH, BELARUS, CHINA, INDONESIA, IRAN, IRAQ, JAPAN, JORDAN. KOREA (North), KUWAIT, LIBYA, MONGOLIA, PAKISTAN, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, SAUDI ARABIA, SINGAPORE, SOMALIA, TAIWAN, USA, UZBEKISTAN, VIETNAM, YEMEN.
The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, and it is a blatant violation of the fundamental right to life.
I find it hard to figure out why countries like the USA, Japan, and Singapore still allow the death penalty. It is an uncivilised relic from our barbaric past, and treats human beings as nonhumans - objects to be toyed with and discarded.
Don't get me wrong - I believe in justice, and when brutal crimes are committed, I believe the perpetuators deserve infinite pain and retribution. But when we kill them, it diminishes our own humanity.
Right and wrong is relative. But morality in the 21st century has progressed onto a platform where humanitarianism precludes cruelty and inequality. Surely it's time, therefore, for countries to rethink their death penalty laws.
Weekend epiphany.
Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.
Friday, April 21
Munich sojourn.
Munich was a pretty exasperating work trip. Besides getting fairly pissed on the roof terrace at one of Munich's newest clubs on a diet of shots - the whole range of vodka, sambuca, etc - and various rounds of Veuve Cliquot and Munchen bier, we were also invited over to dine with some clients at a very sleek restaurant in town, and stayed at the fairly chic ArabellaSheraton Grand Hotel.
ArabellaSheraton Grand.
Hotel room.
View from hotel room.
Yes, the toilet.
Machen Sie mit! Sie haben die Wahl...
Erm, spare pillow, anyone?
No prizes for guessing what this is.
Käfer Schänke, Prinzregentenstraße 73, +49-(0)-89-4168-247, http://www.feinkost-kaefer.de/
On the main floor is a German gourmet shop called Gerd Kafer. Home of renowned chef Fritz Schilling, who serves up an array of fabulous Bavarian and German fare. The first-rate service adds to the pleasurable experience.
Käfer Schänke
Eight Seasons, Maximilianstrasse 2, +89 242 94444, http://www.8-seasons.com/
8 Seasons: rooftop terrace - check out the snow.
8 Seasons: funky lampshade in toilet
8 Seasons: Veuve Cliquot lining up the bar counter. Someone in the group was feeling generous and decided to buy a drink for the girls in the club. Picture a bar counter lined with glasses of champagne from one end to the other. Beauty.
ArabellaSheraton Grand.
Hotel room.
View from hotel room.
Yes, the toilet.
Machen Sie mit! Sie haben die Wahl...
Erm, spare pillow, anyone?
No prizes for guessing what this is.
Käfer Schänke, Prinzregentenstraße 73, +49-(0)-89-4168-247, http://www.feinkost-kaefer.de/
On the main floor is a German gourmet shop called Gerd Kafer. Home of renowned chef Fritz Schilling, who serves up an array of fabulous Bavarian and German fare. The first-rate service adds to the pleasurable experience.
Käfer Schänke
Eight Seasons, Maximilianstrasse 2, +89 242 94444, http://www.8-seasons.com/
8 Seasons: rooftop terrace - check out the snow.
8 Seasons: funky lampshade in toilet
8 Seasons: Veuve Cliquot lining up the bar counter. Someone in the group was feeling generous and decided to buy a drink for the girls in the club. Picture a bar counter lined with glasses of champagne from one end to the other. Beauty.
Sunday, April 16
Saturday morning at Borough Market.
Was at Borough Market on Saturday morning to grab some cheap fruits (3 boxes of strawberries, 2 boxes of blackberries, 4 oranges, 2 carrots and some wheat grass - all for a fuckin'ly low price of 4 quid 50!!) in my attempt to whip up some smoothies with the blender. I'll have to bring the digicam with me on my next trip...
Fish heads on hooks.
Deer, anyone?
FOr the uninitiated:
"Borough Market is a wholesale and retail food market in The Borough in Southwark, South London.
The wholesale market operates on all weekday mornings, but the retail market only operates on Fridays and Saturdays. The market which is focused historically on fruits and vegetables, has in recent years added stalls dealing with fine food retail market."
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borough_Market)
Fish heads on hooks.
Deer, anyone?
FOr the uninitiated:
"Borough Market is a wholesale and retail food market in The Borough in Southwark, South London.
The wholesale market operates on all weekday mornings, but the retail market only operates on Fridays and Saturdays. The market which is focused historically on fruits and vegetables, has in recent years added stalls dealing with fine food retail market."
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borough_Market)
Random pics from Cambodia. Part 3.
I've finally discovered the bluetooth way to transfer pictures from the mobile over to the pc, and so here are a few more pics of the Ang Kor Wats, taken during the evening sunset... when my Nikon batteries ran out and the Sony Ericsson W800 had to be resorted to.
Ang Kor Wats.
In aged light hue.
Moat surrounding the Ang Kor.
Ang Kor Wats.
In aged light hue.
Moat surrounding the Ang Kor.