Paranoid Passion

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay launches a new restaurant in Versailles, but an acid review from famed French critic threatens to sour the occasion. See news from The Age, AFP, and an AFP video. Plus a quote of the day by head chef Simone Zanoni,

"May be paranoid passion to achieve perfection in every single thing that you do."

Links: 2008-03-26

1. Jim Cramer is still putting random words in random order
2. Companies that use Gmail abroad break the law because PATRIOT makes it possible for US spooks to spy on Google
3. Photos from rotting Chinese theme-park in Orlando - a series of 200+ rather sad pictures
4. Wing On, Hong Kong’s Great Department Store
5. India's Tata Motor to Buy British automakers Jaguar and Land Rover for $2.3 Billion
6. Ta, Ta, Jaguar
   

China, Olympics, Human Rights, Tibet

I have no doubt China will be changed as a result of the 2008 Olympics (the triple 8 Olympics -- 8th August (the eight month), 08 (number eight for prosperity)) with the spotlight from around the world. It is just difficult to say will it be for the good or bad. I hope it will be for the good but the pessimistic side of me thinks that something good can only happen if key senior Chinese leaders willingly give up some of their power at least in the short term. May be they won't, may be they can't. I just hope they will, and I still hope they can.

Based on news like the following, it is unlikely that things will suddenly quiet down.

• Beijing admits riots spread to provinces, arrests made
• China in 'life and death' battle with Tibetan dissidents, party chief says - from CBC with video
• China: Olympic Torch Route Won't Change
• China Terrorizes Tibet - NYT editorial
• Authorities in Lhasa parade 'repentant rioters' on TV - UK Guardian - with video report
• UK PM Brown tells China he will meet Dalai Lama during London visit - UK Guardian - with video report
• 蘋 論 ： 最 需 要 解 放 思 想 的 是 掌 權 者 - paid subscription required
• More Chinese troops to Tibet
• Harper urges China to 'show restraint' in Tibet - from CBC with video
  

Recreating D-Day by 3 men in 4 days

Wonderfully cool and creative work by 3 graphics designers with some props to do what Saving Private Ryan did with 1000 extras. Enjoy.

[hat tip: Richard]

Links: 2008-01-30

1. Whatever the question, integration is the answer…
2. Arm’s-length regulators: Fine, but how long is an arm? by Preston Manning
3. Where Are Those Million iPhones? Everywhere.
   
4. In Las Vegas, a Beauty Contest for Game Shows - The wonderful “Deal or No Deal”
5. Wendy’s: No Longer Red All Over - replacing campaign launched by Saatchi & Saatchi in May 2007 - NYT Blog

Video of The Day: The Road to Serfdom

My economist friend Angela has put a spotlight on an interesting documentary on Friedrich Hayek’s “The Road to Serfdom“. Hope you enjoy the YouTube Videos.

OpenSkies (a tiny part of British Airways) starts blogging

Virgin is one of my Admired Companies. If it is up to me, I prefer flying with Virgin over British Airways.

But I will definitely give BA some credit in starting the OpenSkies blog (all three entries so far have been written by Managing Director Dale Moss (PDF file)). Quoting their “Behind te blog“,

Our lines are open, so are our minds.

Let’s start with a brave statement: We don’t want you to simply witness the creation of an airline, we want you to be part of it. That may sound like puffery, but it isn’t. We hope to prove that your contributions will help make OpenSkies a unique and, invariably, a better travelling experience.

This blog is the heart of our conversation.

Dale seems to be creating some buzz and quite responsive to readers’ comments/feedbacks even their first flight is months away in June 2008.

I agree with Neville’s analysis that Dale’s “commentary has far more impact than the massaged press release text”.

Thanks to Matt, I am happy that OpenSkies’ blog is now on my radar screen and I am paying attention to it. (smile)

Now, why doesn’t Virgin have a blog?

Rumpole of the Bailey

My better half and I are now addicted to “Rumpole of the Bailey” (imdb) and just love Horace Rumpole, an aging London barrister, and also adore his wife Hilda “She Who Must Be Obeyed“.

Calgary Public Library has again been a great supplier of our new exotic tastes of old classic. This wonderful 1978 to 1992 series truly “set the bar for all law dramas that followed.”