New Post (140) : T.I.M.SK in the footsteps of B.R.I.C.
New movers and shakers of the world economy are making their grand appearance and strong presence felt.
If BRIC is here can TIMSK be far behind ?
(.......or CRIB)
BRIC : Brazil, Russia, India, China
TIMSK : Turkey, Indonesia, Mexico, South-Korea.
(.......or MITSK)
The order you stack them in is unimportant. What's important is that more players are getting their act together and making bigger n bolder moves now.
That should balance the globe a lot better. Good.
Charlie Brown
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Fake rice made, in part, out of plastic
New Post (139) : Fake rice made, in part, out of plastic
Good lord ! Could this be true ?
Quote: (open)
Chinese companies are mass producing fake rice made, in part, out of plastic.
The "rice" is made by mixing potatoes, sweet potatoes and plastic. The potatoes are first formed into the shape of rice grains. Industrial synthetic resins are then added to the mix. The rice reportedly stays hard even after being cooked.
A Chinese Restaurant Association official said that eating three bowls of this fake rice would be like eating one plastic bag. Due to the seriousness of the matter, he added that there would be an investigation of factories alleged to be producing the rice.
Quote: (close)
What next ? ? ? ( I shudder to think)
Brings to mind: Charlie Chaplin’s, “Gold Rush”.
In one of the most famous of Chaplin's transpositions of objects—his conversion of one kind of physical object into another—the Tramp cooks a dinner for himself and his starving friend, Big Jim McKay. Lacking anything else to eat, the Tramp sacrifices one of his own symbols, his floppy shoe, which he boils carefully in a pot, testing it with a fork for tenderness. He then carves it like a roast beef, twirls the shoestrings around his fork like spaghetti and sucks on the nails like chicken bones.
I doubt if [even] the genius of a Charlie Chaplain could come up with---"Fake rice made, in part, out of plastic".
Charlie Brown
Good lord ! Could this be true ?
Quote: (open)
Chinese companies are mass producing fake rice made, in part, out of plastic.
The "rice" is made by mixing potatoes, sweet potatoes and plastic. The potatoes are first formed into the shape of rice grains. Industrial synthetic resins are then added to the mix. The rice reportedly stays hard even after being cooked.
A Chinese Restaurant Association official said that eating three bowls of this fake rice would be like eating one plastic bag. Due to the seriousness of the matter, he added that there would be an investigation of factories alleged to be producing the rice.
Quote: (close)
What next ? ? ? ( I shudder to think)
Brings to mind: Charlie Chaplin’s, “Gold Rush”.
In one of the most famous of Chaplin's transpositions of objects—his conversion of one kind of physical object into another—the Tramp cooks a dinner for himself and his starving friend, Big Jim McKay. Lacking anything else to eat, the Tramp sacrifices one of his own symbols, his floppy shoe, which he boils carefully in a pot, testing it with a fork for tenderness. He then carves it like a roast beef, twirls the shoestrings around his fork like spaghetti and sucks on the nails like chicken bones.
I doubt if [even] the genius of a Charlie Chaplain could come up with---"Fake rice made, in part, out of plastic".
Charlie Brown
The malaise of Sub-national jingoism
New Post (138) : The malaise of Sub-national jingoism
Jingoism ---is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as "extreme patriotism in the form of aggressive foreign policy". In practice, it refers to the advocating of the use of threats or actual force against other countries in order to safeguard what they perceive as their country's national interests, and colloquially to excessive bias in judging one's own country as superior to others – an extreme type of nationalism.
Jingoism is bad enough.
Sub-national jingoism is worse.
Especially so, if it --- “runs contrary to the stated foreign policy direction of the nation”.
Not only is it moronic. It's a spoiler. It’s dangerous.
As an example:
The covert support & funding by certain arm-chair elements in Indian Tamil Nadu of the erstwhile now defunct LTTE against the Sri Lankan government and its majority people.
A totally misguided covert operation (all with a life of it's own) that had no support in India and it’s majority people. Whatsoever.
That “eventually” caused the assassination of a much loved popular young PM of India…on Indian soil in where else but Tamil Nadu He was then not in power. Visiting the state of Tamil Nadu. Without requisite security. Meeting common people with open arms. When the LTTE cowards acted in collusion with local collaborators of Eelam. Targeting him with a bomb concealed in a garland. …………A national shame and tragedy.
The vast majority of the Indian people have always seen the Sri Lankan people as sub-continental cousins. And vice versa. The relationship between the 2 neighbours, India & Sri Lanka, has survived…..the “myopic” subversive sub-national jingoism of a ---handful of educated yet politically-challenged Indian Tamils.
Similar examples of mis-guided behaviour abound in several countries all around the state of Israel. Preventing an enduring peace from emerging. A casualty of idle meddlers.
Charlie Brown
Jingoism ---is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as "extreme patriotism in the form of aggressive foreign policy". In practice, it refers to the advocating of the use of threats or actual force against other countries in order to safeguard what they perceive as their country's national interests, and colloquially to excessive bias in judging one's own country as superior to others – an extreme type of nationalism.
Jingoism is bad enough.
Sub-national jingoism is worse.
Especially so, if it --- “runs contrary to the stated foreign policy direction of the nation”.
Not only is it moronic. It's a spoiler. It’s dangerous.
As an example:
The covert support & funding by certain arm-chair elements in Indian Tamil Nadu of the erstwhile now defunct LTTE against the Sri Lankan government and its majority people.
A totally misguided covert operation (all with a life of it's own) that had no support in India and it’s majority people. Whatsoever.
That “eventually” caused the assassination of a much loved popular young PM of India…on Indian soil in where else but Tamil Nadu He was then not in power. Visiting the state of Tamil Nadu. Without requisite security. Meeting common people with open arms. When the LTTE cowards acted in collusion with local collaborators of Eelam. Targeting him with a bomb concealed in a garland. …………A national shame and tragedy.
The vast majority of the Indian people have always seen the Sri Lankan people as sub-continental cousins. And vice versa. The relationship between the 2 neighbours, India & Sri Lanka, has survived…..the “myopic” subversive sub-national jingoism of a ---handful of educated yet politically-challenged Indian Tamils.
Similar examples of mis-guided behaviour abound in several countries all around the state of Israel. Preventing an enduring peace from emerging. A casualty of idle meddlers.
Charlie Brown
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Should Women be allowed to vote ?
New Post (137) ; Should Women be allowed to vote ?
Ignore the question. It’s only a tease. Not to be taken seriously. Just a ploy to get your attention. Read on.......
About International Women's Day……….
When: Tuesday 8 March 2011
Where: Everywhere
What: International Women's Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday.
Why: Suffragettes campaigned for women's right to vote. The word 'Suffragette' is derived from the word "suffrage" meaning the right to vote. International Women's Day honours the work of the Suffragettes, celebrates women's success, and reminds of inequities still to be redressed. The first International Women's Day event was run in 1911………2011 is the Global Centenary Year
God bless Women. They make up the better half of the world.
PleeeeeeZ,...(let's resolve to )..."Save the girl child" !
GOD is a Woman.
Charlie Brown
Ignore the question. It’s only a tease. Not to be taken seriously. Just a ploy to get your attention. Read on.......
About International Women's Day……….
When: Tuesday 8 March 2011
Where: Everywhere
What: International Women's Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday.
Why: Suffragettes campaigned for women's right to vote. The word 'Suffragette' is derived from the word "suffrage" meaning the right to vote. International Women's Day honours the work of the Suffragettes, celebrates women's success, and reminds of inequities still to be redressed. The first International Women's Day event was run in 1911………2011 is the Global Centenary Year
God bless Women. They make up the better half of the world.
PleeeeeeZ,...(let's resolve to )..."Save the girl child" !
GOD is a Woman.
Charlie Brown
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The wail of the Sufi saint
New Post (136) : The wail of the Sufi saint
It's Story time folk/s.
This happened sometime somewhere in a nondescript little town.
The town was starved for water. The village elders tried everything they could. Carving out ponds, digging up wells, ……….(all of the usual)
Then, it got worse.
The town had no rainfall for 3 years.
The townspeople were in tears.
Thirsting for a drop of water.
Prayers were offered.
Animals were sacrificed to please the GOD/s.
Mass migration was contemplated.
Just in time. MIRACULOUSLY---The local politician appeared on the scene and promised that the town would be fed with water by diverting a rivulet nearby with canals for the purpose.
The town rejoiced.
Happy days were here again..........
The plan to migrate was shelved.
NOW---Politics crept in. The people were split in two sides. Each demanding a greater share of the water. That the canal be passed through their side of town first.
One side of "traditionalists" wanted to revert to farming. The other side of "modernists" wanted to set up industry. City folk entered the scene---meddling. A tug of war ensued.
A young couple finds itself separated in this tug of war. Forced to take sides.
All before work had even commenced on the canal.
At the village square the Sufi saint who had made a huge tree his shelter and abode looked on…even as he fed the stray dogs of the village with whatever crumbs he could lay his hands on.
One day he walked out of the village. The stray dogs followed him in a pack licking at his feet.
He took shelter under another huge tree on a hillock overlooking the town.
That very night the Sufi saint was heard WAILING IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.
Lo and behold it started raining like it had never rained before. The skies came down.
But it only rained on the hillock. The town was left as dry and thirsty as before.
The young couple leaves the town for good. Hand in hand. Walking into the setting sun.................(only to be swallowed up by a BIG city, somewhere).
Moral : ? ? ? ...........(my grandmother never told me ! so I do not know.)
Charlie Brown
It's Story time folk/s.
This happened sometime somewhere in a nondescript little town.
The town was starved for water. The village elders tried everything they could. Carving out ponds, digging up wells, ……….(all of the usual)
Then, it got worse.
The town had no rainfall for 3 years.
The townspeople were in tears.
Thirsting for a drop of water.
Prayers were offered.
Animals were sacrificed to please the GOD/s.
Mass migration was contemplated.
Just in time. MIRACULOUSLY---The local politician appeared on the scene and promised that the town would be fed with water by diverting a rivulet nearby with canals for the purpose.
The town rejoiced.
Happy days were here again..........
The plan to migrate was shelved.
NOW---Politics crept in. The people were split in two sides. Each demanding a greater share of the water. That the canal be passed through their side of town first.
One side of "traditionalists" wanted to revert to farming. The other side of "modernists" wanted to set up industry. City folk entered the scene---meddling. A tug of war ensued.
A young couple finds itself separated in this tug of war. Forced to take sides.
All before work had even commenced on the canal.
At the village square the Sufi saint who had made a huge tree his shelter and abode looked on…even as he fed the stray dogs of the village with whatever crumbs he could lay his hands on.
One day he walked out of the village. The stray dogs followed him in a pack licking at his feet.
He took shelter under another huge tree on a hillock overlooking the town.
That very night the Sufi saint was heard WAILING IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.
Lo and behold it started raining like it had never rained before. The skies came down.
But it only rained on the hillock. The town was left as dry and thirsty as before.
The young couple leaves the town for good. Hand in hand. Walking into the setting sun.................(only to be swallowed up by a BIG city, somewhere).
Moral : ? ? ? ...........(my grandmother never told me ! so I do not know.)
Charlie Brown
The HRD hogwash
New Post (135) : The HRD hogwash
This is for youngsters entering the job market. Beware of hogwash.
Meaning: hogwash n. Worthless, false, or ridiculous speech or writing; nonsense. Garbage fed to hogs………
The stated “peoples orientation” of the {HR} Human Resources discipline is hogwash.
Reflect on this:
Employees too are suppliers.
[...have no illusion about this. ]
The “only” supplier that gets paid only “after” a months service has been delivered is ---an employee.
Stated differently---employees are expected to offer 1 months credit to their employer. (like it or not)
Whereas all manner of “other” suppliers---get paid an upfront advance for products/services delivered, that could range from substantial to 100%.
[ parts suppliers, consultants, ……….]
Conclusion: Be cautious about falling for sophisticated HRD jargon. Retain a sensible perspective at all times.
For a commercial organization---Employees are the most dispensable of all suppliers.
The key to being a darling of the HR is --- "Performance".
Charlie Brown
This is for youngsters entering the job market. Beware of hogwash.
Meaning: hogwash n. Worthless, false, or ridiculous speech or writing; nonsense. Garbage fed to hogs………
The stated “peoples orientation” of the {HR} Human Resources discipline is hogwash.
Reflect on this:
Employees too are suppliers.
[...have no illusion about this. ]
The “only” supplier that gets paid only “after” a months service has been delivered is ---an employee.
Stated differently---employees are expected to offer 1 months credit to their employer. (like it or not)
Whereas all manner of “other” suppliers---get paid an upfront advance for products/services delivered, that could range from substantial to 100%.
[ parts suppliers, consultants, ……….]
Conclusion: Be cautious about falling for sophisticated HRD jargon. Retain a sensible perspective at all times.
For a commercial organization---Employees are the most dispensable of all suppliers.
The key to being a darling of the HR is --- "Performance".
Charlie Brown
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Go chase the Somali pirates
New Post (134) : Go chase the Somali pirates
Some background (…& I QUOTE this one very interesting educational Q&A)
Quote (open)
---High Seas Trading - WHAT is it?
In short High Sea sale is when the cargo is already loaded on a ship and sailing on the high seas (international waters, under no jurisdiction) without actually being sold to the final buyer yet. Seller is looking for a buyer, while shipment is on the way. Once the cargo is sold, the captain of the vessel is notified to change course and deliver it to the new buyer’s port. Usually the ship is sailing in a certain direction (example: from Brazil to Middle East). Seller is looking for buyers in destination area (which in this example can be any Middle Eastern country, India, Pakistan, etc..)
---What is the REASON for selling on High Seas?
High Sea sale is done to avoid the burden of Local Sales Tax or VAT which would otherwise have to be paid by the final buyer if the cargo was first bought by the importer and then re-sold to the final buyer. What High Sea Sale does, is put the final buyer in the position of direct importer thus saving him an additional tax. For that reason, goods bought on the high seas, while the ship is in international waters are between 25% - 5% cheaper for the final buyer (depends on the Local Sales Tax / VAT rate in buyer’s country).
---Is High Sea Trading LEGAL?
“High seas sale” sounds like something done hush-hush in the middle of the ocean like we see in the movies. Which is why you have instinctively raised doubts about its authenticity and legality. Let me assure you, “high seas sale” is a perfectly legal transaction though the term might have a mysterious ring to it. High sea sale is simply turning the final buyer into direct importer, and thus saving on the Sales Tax / VAT which would have to be paid on the re-sale if the importer was involved as a middle man.
Quote (close)
If you survived that....erudite legalese.....then....read on.....
2. Now here is the catch:
Export vast quantities of sugar at a low price [ under the pretext of earning precious foreign exchange for your country ! ] thus creating an acute shortage locally in the country and a consequent huge spurt in local prices to consumers. Then { rise to the occasion grandly and } re-import the very same sugar from the high seas, at up to 3 times that out-going price…using the O-so-convenient high seas trading “modus operandi”.
It happens……………and NOT just with sugar.
This is piracy on the high seas. Legalized piracy. The difference ? The ransom is paid by common households. Who is it paid to ? I am not telling. Not here.
3. To my O-so-dumb friends in the news media as also to my O-so-smart friends in the news media who take us for being O-so dumb, I have this to say:
By all means---“Go chase the Somali pirates”.
That makes for a better …thrilling high adventure & riveting human drama… itsy-bitsy story !
Anything. To keep the truth from being told. The truth that needs telling.
PS: I enjoy my cup/s of tea without sugar. Tastes better. So I do not care anyways.
Charlie Brown
Some background (…& I QUOTE this one very interesting educational Q&A)
Quote (open)
---High Seas Trading - WHAT is it?
In short High Sea sale is when the cargo is already loaded on a ship and sailing on the high seas (international waters, under no jurisdiction) without actually being sold to the final buyer yet. Seller is looking for a buyer, while shipment is on the way. Once the cargo is sold, the captain of the vessel is notified to change course and deliver it to the new buyer’s port. Usually the ship is sailing in a certain direction (example: from Brazil to Middle East). Seller is looking for buyers in destination area (which in this example can be any Middle Eastern country, India, Pakistan, etc..)
---What is the REASON for selling on High Seas?
High Sea sale is done to avoid the burden of Local Sales Tax or VAT which would otherwise have to be paid by the final buyer if the cargo was first bought by the importer and then re-sold to the final buyer. What High Sea Sale does, is put the final buyer in the position of direct importer thus saving him an additional tax. For that reason, goods bought on the high seas, while the ship is in international waters are between 25% - 5% cheaper for the final buyer (depends on the Local Sales Tax / VAT rate in buyer’s country).
---Is High Sea Trading LEGAL?
“High seas sale” sounds like something done hush-hush in the middle of the ocean like we see in the movies. Which is why you have instinctively raised doubts about its authenticity and legality. Let me assure you, “high seas sale” is a perfectly legal transaction though the term might have a mysterious ring to it. High sea sale is simply turning the final buyer into direct importer, and thus saving on the Sales Tax / VAT which would have to be paid on the re-sale if the importer was involved as a middle man.
Quote (close)
If you survived that....erudite legalese.....then....read on.....
2. Now here is the catch:
Export vast quantities of sugar at a low price [ under the pretext of earning precious foreign exchange for your country ! ] thus creating an acute shortage locally in the country and a consequent huge spurt in local prices to consumers. Then { rise to the occasion grandly and } re-import the very same sugar from the high seas, at up to 3 times that out-going price…using the O-so-convenient high seas trading “modus operandi”.
It happens……………and NOT just with sugar.
This is piracy on the high seas. Legalized piracy. The difference ? The ransom is paid by common households. Who is it paid to ? I am not telling. Not here.
3. To my O-so-dumb friends in the news media as also to my O-so-smart friends in the news media who take us for being O-so dumb, I have this to say:
By all means---“Go chase the Somali pirates”.
That makes for a better …thrilling high adventure & riveting human drama… itsy-bitsy story !
Anything. To keep the truth from being told. The truth that needs telling.
PS: I enjoy my cup/s of tea without sugar. Tastes better. So I do not care anyways.
Charlie Brown
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