strategist

What Crime? Aung San Suu Kyi Sentenced to 18 months of House Arrest

Excuse me? Can anyone explain why Suu Kyi was arrested? And why was she sentenced to 18 months in detention? Is there any reason why the troops with Blue Helmets do not have boots on the ground in the country?

Our children and their children will ask why our generation allowed such an injustice could exist at the start of the 21st Century. I don't know how I will explain to my future grandchildren. It is so sad that the ASEAN members stand on the sidelines and do nothing. Should they not talk to country's military leaders and ask them to release her? Why are the ASEAN states so afraid? What are they afraid of? For the life of me, I do not know the reason.

Let's hope the EU (27 Member States) can do something that the rest of APAC is unwilling to do. Or will China stand up and take the initiative to become truly a global leader? I don't know if they have the strength of do such a thing.

Well, if the EU and China are unwilling, let me call upon Prime Minister S. Harper to step up to the microphone and denounce the sentence and make moves to free Suu Kyi.

And for the country's main trading partners (China, India and Thailand), please do more to set her free. Please.

GOP: Please find a new candidate for 2012

Sarah Palin - took herself out of the race even before it began.

Newt - I think he screwed up so badly with his initial endorsement of Palin that he should be disqualified to ever again hold public office.

Bobby from Louisiana - nope, he screwed up with his response to President Obama televised to the entire world. Stick with fixing the aftermatch of Katrina and you might have a chance in 2016 or 2020.

Sanford - well, he royally screwed the pooch with his on-air admission of his love affair. Not going to rebound in time for 2012.

Rush - huh? Is he still alive?

Rudi G - nope. His marriage to his cousin knocked him out with the social conservatives.

Huckabee - well, if Chuck Norris has his way, Huck might be the nominee.

Air France Flight #447: What Brought Down the Plane?

Mechanical failure? Human error? Foul play? Which one brought down the plane?

In less than 90 days, I have a strange suspicion that someone high up in the French government will begin laying out a 'conspiracy scenario'. The question will become 'Who brought down AF447?' and not 'What brought down AF447?'.

Who was on the flight? Why would some government agency want to bring down the plane? Was this an act of war?

Conspiracy theorists - are getting their blogs ready for the "What if....?" scenarios.

The Non-United States of America

Two major forces within the USA are leading to the destruction and break up of the Republic.

Force #1: Anti-Obama/Pro-Clinton Supporters
Force #2: Radical Right Wing of the GOP

These two usually diametrically opposed forces are coming together to keep the US Presidency out of the hands of a black American. With the RRW preparing an onslaught of negative (Swiftboat-type ads) and the Pro-Clinton supporters getting ready to ruin the Denver Convention, you can bet that a handfulf of people from both groups have already created a War Room to hand the November election to McCain. Once all of this transpires you can pretty much say the days of the Republic are over. And who can we thank for all of this? Rich folks like the backers of the Swiftboat ads? No. The rich and white elite? No. My money is on Russia and the Middle East. No two regions have a bigger stake in the break up of the US.

Russia needs a weakened US in order to resume its militaristic/economic pursuits of ruling the Eastern Hemisphere. The Middle East wants what it has always wanted: to push Israel into the sea.

So, here is my advice to the USA, again.

#1. Stop all this childish fighting and grow up. Tell McCain to act his age. Tell the Clintons that they lost their chance with Hillary. But, we'll give Chelsea a chance in 20 years.
#2. The next military threat will not come from OBL and his gang, but the next threat will come from Russia.
#3. Give all your citizens access to health care and education regardless of their station in life.
#4. Free speech does not mean 'stupid speech'.
#5. All politicians should be paid a base salary and a 'performance-based bonus'; if they do nothing, they get paid nothing.

The next time you see an attack ad on television, ask where the money is coming from: Russia or the Middle East.

Strange World of Work: The Twilight Zone

Are you confused when...

(1) your boss tells you to always speak out and give your opinion but, that same boss reprimands you for not being a 'Yes-Man'?
(2) your boss tells you to go home at a decent hour (after a 15-hour day) like 20h00 but, that same boss complains that you should dedicate more time to work and not go home to your family?
(3) your boss tells you to help others but others don't want any help but, your boss still insists on your helping other?

My brain hurts when I think of such HR management problems.

Chinese: Lucky 8

Got this from my cousin in Hong Kong: very interesting.

Chinese used to be very superstitious about "8" as lucky number - look at those "8's" (translated into English from original Chinese version) - can we really associate to anything "lucky"??  May be "coincidence" can only explains.......

01/25 : snow disaster

03/14 : Tibet rebellion

05/12 : Sichuan earthquake

1+2+5 = 08

3+1+4 = 08

5+1+2 = 08

08/08/08 = Beijing Olympics

The day when Sichuan earthquake took place was the 88th day before the opening of BJ Olympics on 08/08/08

"Sichuan四川 " in Chinese writing = 8 strokes

Sichuan = located at 8pm clock direction from Beijing

May 14 = 8th day in Lunar Calendar

Democratic Presidential Nominee: Could it be?

Here's a crazy story for you to consider: What if Hillary and Bill entered into a pact to change the course of US politics for the next 20-30 years? How could they do it? They would set the country along the road to electing the country's first black president. That's right. They have long ago decided that in the best interests of the country, the best person to lead the country well into the 21st Century would be Obama. Think of this as the Clintons farewell gift to the country. By making the GOP think that HRC will be nominee, the Clintons are secretly preparing for Obama to be on top of the ticket.

Just think about how bad it would be for the GOP to attack Obama because of his skin colour? Or how awful it would look to attack him because of his schooling outside of the US. Or his middle name. No matter how you look at it, the GOP needs for HRC to be the nominee. Without Hillary in the game, the GOP have no reason to fight.

Imagine... what if??

Iran: One Step Closer to Declaring Membership in Nuke Club

Frightening thought. A nuclear Iran. With one nuke, it could ignite an all-out military war pitting Israel against the entire Middle Eastern region. If Israel falls, so does the rest of Western Europe. The IAEA is handcuffed. It cannot force Iran to do anything. Without 'teeth', the IAEA is nothing but an empty shirt.

Time has come for the UNSC to force Iran to give up any plans on continuing with its nuclear program. Failire to halt any and all nuclear development activities must be met with the harshest penalty: war. This time the UNSC must be united and absolute in their conviction. A nuclear Iran will draw the entire world into WWIII.

So, what can the UNSC do? Well, it could levy massive sanctions on the country. But, sanctions at this point in time will achieve nothing. If sanctions don't work, what will work? War.

In the end, perhaps - GW and his neocon hawks have the right idea: the best way to deal with terrorism is with bombs and guns. Preferably more bombs than guns. Guns mean 'boots on the ground'. And we don't need more solider deaths now, do we? So, bombs seem to be the best choice. Lots of bombs.

I predict that within 6-9 months from the levy of UN sanctions, there will be lots of bombs hitting Iran. When that day comes, the world had better be ready for sky-high gasoline prices. More security at the expense of a loss of personal privacy. More 'pat down' searches before we enter airport restricted areas, hospitals, schools and office buildings.

Remember this one important fact: A nuclear Iran is not in the interests of the world. So, whatever it costs, the UNSC must stop Iran before it amasses a huge arsenal of weapon nukes.

Stop them before it is too late.

Read CNN.

Matrix Redux: Pjammer in Trouble

Yet another funny, funny blog. Where the hell does this guy get his energy? Out of a Pepsi can? At the end of a beer bottle? Where? Let me know and I'll buy a case.

(Mr. Smith versus Mr. Pjammer)

USA vs. North Korea: WWIII

Will it happen? Perhaps. Could it happen? Definitely. What can the world do to stop them? Nothing.

Read NY Times op-ed piece by Kristof about how the two countries are headed right at each other with no one/country to stop them. Not even the UN can halt them. China? Not too sure. South Korea and Japan will be on the losing end of any eventual conflict.

Excerpt from op-ed:

North Korea is the eeriest and most totalitarian country I've ever visited, making even Saddam Hussein's Iraq seem normal by comparison. I realized how regimented the entire country was when I stopped two girls randomly on the street for an interview on a 1989 trip and the girls started praising their leaders - reciting identical lines in perfect unison.

In his new book, Mr. Martin tells the story of how one of the Dear Leader's assistants, while drunk, told his wife about his boss's womanizing. The wife, apparently a true believer in the North Korean system, was shocked and wrote a letter to the leadership to protest this immorality.

The Dear Leader had the woman brought to him, then denounced her before a crowd and ordered her shot. At that point, her husband begged to be allowed to kill her. Graciously acceding, Mr. Kim handed him a gun to kill his own wife.

So this is a regime that is not just menacing, but monstrous. Mr. Bush is right to regard it with loathing. But U.S. policy on North Korea for the last four years has only strengthened Mr. Kim and allowed him to expand his nuclear arsenal severalfold.

Under 21: Stop Reading

Not sure if this is true. You may find it offensive so consider yourself forewarned!

(Should I laugh? Cry? Drink more beer?)

Ann Coultier: President of the USA

I kid you not. One day, Ann might just toss her hat or ass in the political ring as a joke. And guess what would happen - everyone would vote for the right-wing dame and she would win the electoral vote and ride into the Oval Office on her donkey. Gee, I would love to see Ann run the country and world. Merry Christmas (Ann's way) to all who didn't vote for Ann.

Seriously. I kid you not. A vote for Ann is a vote for total domination over the world. Now, that is something we should pray for to happen.

(Ann Coultier on life, politics, Bill Clinton's-you-know-what, and other assorted funny thoughts)

Depleted Uranium (DU)

Is the world going to end in my lifetime? Will it end in my children's lifetime? Their children's lifetime?

Watch this flash video and cringe: fear the worst as the end of the world is closer. Yikes!!! Get me a ticket on the first flight to Mars!!!

(Poisonous Legacy: Flash)

Still kindness in the world

No matter how dark the world looks, there is always a shining light in the horizon. Read a wonderful story about how one person sacrificed so much to help so many people. What if there were more people who gave back to humanity instead of robbing humanity of its future. The man's name is Genesio Morlacci.

Solution to USA Politics

Wouldn't it be much simpler for the USA to divide the country into two parts: Red and Blue States?? Instead of having one country, might it be easier to divide the republic into two parts and thus, allow those who wish to live in the blue states to move there and the others to move to the red states. In order to facilitate such a policy, the government representing one half of the former USA could compensate those who choose to move. Just think of how much money and time this would save the republic.

No more campaign seasons. No more wasted money thrown at idiotic television commercials. No more listening to political pundits spew the party rhetoric and draw attention away from the critical issues facing the country. No more need to vote for any candidate. I think in order for my ideas to work, each party would be given one pick at a time. With each pick, they can choose that state they would like to have in their new country. So, for example, if the Dems win the 'coin toss', they would have the right to make the first selection. Same goes for the GOP. Here is how I predict it would go down should the Dems win the toss. (I'll dub the game, "The Political Strategy Game". And if anyone does make this into a game, please send the royalty checks to me. I could use the money for business school and law school.)

Number in ( ) represents the selection number for each party/new country.

Dems (1): California
GOP (1): Texas
Dems (2): New York
GOP (2): Florida
Dems (3): Massachusetts
GOP (3): Ohio
Dems (4): Maine
GOP (4): Missouri
Dems (5): Alaska
GOP (5): Wyoming
Dems (6): Oregon
GOP (6): New Hampshire
Dems (7): Michigan
GOP (7): Iowa
Dems (8): Hawaii
GOP (8): Connecticut
Dems (9): Colorado
GOP (9): South Carolina
Dems (10): Montana
GOP (10): Kansas
Dems (11): North Dakota
GOP (12): South Carolina
Dems (13): Illinois
GOP (13): Idaho
Dems (14): Minnesota
GOP (14): Oklahoma
Dems (15): Washington
GOP (15): West Virgina
Dems (16): New Mexico
GOP (16): Virgina
Dems (17): Mississippi
GOP (17): Pennsylvania
Dems (18): Nevada
GOP (18): Tennessee
Dems (19): Louisiana
GOP (19): Georgia
Dems (20): Arizona
GOP (20): New Jersey
Dems (21): Maryland
GOP (21): Vermont
Dems (22): South Dakota
GOP (22): Indiana
Dems (23): Arkansas
GOP (23): Utah
Dems (24): Alabama
GOP (24): Wisconsin
Dems (25): Delaware
GOP (25): Nebraska
Dems (26): Rhode Island
GOP (26): Kentucky
Dems (27): Federated States of Micronesia
GOP (27): Puerto Rico
Dems (28): American Samoa
GOP (28): Guam

Both countries would share: Midway Islands
Both countries would use DC as a territory at which they could continue discussing grievances between the two countries.

Russia: Terrorists Kill School Children

Now that the hostage-taking situation is over, the Russian government is left with the hard task of sifting through the rubble and determining what happened. As I sat and watched the events on television, I could not help but think how the world is one step closer to an all out war. This future world war will be one unlike any we can remember having in our lifetime: a war of religion.

With more than 300 dead in Russia and many of the victims being children, will the outside world think any less of the Russian government if it were to round up suspects and execute them without a fair trial? Would we be upset if entire villages are wiped out in retaliation? Would we condemn their actions out loud only to praise them inside for the slaughter of terrorists and the families of terrorists? If there is a remote chance that the children of the terrorist would one day grow up to become terrorists, would we be more likely to support the government's actions of jailing/executing them all?

I really don't know how I would react if a group of terrorists killed my family in Japan. Would I support the government as they hunt down the terrorists and their families and execute them? Or would I want the Japanese government only to punish the actual people involved?

I guess the world's eyes will be watching Russia to see how Putin responds to the terrorists. Will it be an eye for an eye?

(CNN.)

Excerpt Begins

Amid criticism over the handling of the crisis, President Vladimir Putin made a surprising admission of Russian weakness in the face of terrorists.

Excerpt Ends

Capitalistic China??

Good news for the world! The latest developments in China opens up more economic opportunities for people within and outside of China. The state should never own property that private citizens can own for themselves. What if the PRC is signalling a massive shift in political will and economic might? Many people have predicted that the 21st Century will belong to Asia. Asia will be the engine of economic growth for the world. Will more and more companies set up operations in this region? Will more and more westerners relocate to the region in order to find gainful employment? I wonder if the number of people studying Mandarin Chinese will increase in the next few years?

Sunday, March 14, 2004

China Adds Private Property, Human Rights To Constitution

BEIJING (Kyodo)--Chinese legislators approved Sunday constitutional changes to protect private property and human rights, with Premier Wen Jiabao vowing to uphold the new rules in the face of skepticism that the changes are only symbolic.

Legislators in the National People's Congress approved the package of amendments with a vote of 2,863 in favor, 10 against and 17 abstentions.

The vote came on the 10th and final day of the NPC's annual session, held in the Great Hall of the People on Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

Approved were 15 changes to the Constitution, most notably a new clause that the nation would ''respect and ensure human rights'' and lines that say the government must compensate people for property it confiscates in the public interest.

''With the revisions to the Constitution, China will be stable and that way China will develop faster,'' said Li Liancheng, a delegate from Henan Province in central China.

There was no discussion before the vote, which follows direction from the Communist Party plenum in October.

Experts and NPC deputies say the changes took place to protect private and foreign investment as well as appease some 10 million people who have been forced to give up their homes for infrastructure projects and real estate development.

The human rights clause addresses criticism, often from overseas, that China prohibits freedoms of religion and speech.

Chinese people who have faced legal problems, such as land and home confiscation, say the constitutional changes mean little without court reform and a corruption cleanup.

Throughout the NPC meeting, people from around China tried to approach the Great Hall of the People and complaints offices in Beijing. Police took some home and sent others to suburban resorts to stop them from approaching the congressional deputies.

At a press conference following the NPC closing ceremony, the premier said Communist Party members would lead enforcement of the constitutional changes to set examples for society. He said later that every crime would be punished.

''This amendment to the Constitution is of great significance to the citizens of China,'' Wen said. He called the landslide NPC vote was ''a reflection of the will of the Chinese people.''

Other constitutional amendments link former President Jiang Zemin's political theories to those of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.

The awkwardly named ''Three Represents'' theory advocates an advanced society and economy. The average Chinese person does not know what the theory means.

The amended Constitution also includes the words ''encouragement'' and ''support'' in a section on the non-state economy.

China has amended its Constitution three times since approving it in 1982. The last time was in 1999, when it added language to boost private business.

Dan Brown: Angels & Demons

Secret order. Vatican City. Conspiracies. World domination. Wonderful ingredients for a page-turner of a book. I picked up Brown's novel, Angels & Demons, on Saturday. Started reading it on Sunday and could not put it down. Gee, how I love to read of stories of secret societies, conspiracies and secret codes. Once I finish this Brown novel, I plan on running out to buy his latest novel, The Da Vinci Code. Hope it is as good or better than the one I am reading now.

Also, if you really want to read a great novel/tome filled with mysteries and secret codes, you have got to read Neal Stephenson's book, 'Cryptonomicon'.

Princess Diana: Was she assassinated?

Just finished watching a Fox News programme hosted by Geraldo with Al Fayed as the main guest. It was an eye-opening show. As Dodi's father presented his thoughts about the untimely deaths of his son and Princess Diana, I started to think about 'what if....' scenarios. Did elements within the British Establishment give the order to eliminate Princess Diana? Did, according to Al Fayed, Prince Charles' father play a big role in the death of Princess Diana?? I wonder whether Scotland will order a full inquiry into the accident and the 'so-called conspiracies to hide the evidence'.

I remember when I heard of her death: I was going to meet a friend who was in town for the weekend from Canada. I had just come out of the underground subway tunnel and saw some newspaper guy handing out 'Hot Sheets'. I first passed him by and waved my hand to the news. It was only when I was about 1 metre away did he say 'Princess Diana was dead'. That sentence made me pause and turn around and extend my hand for the 'Hot Sheet'. Walking to my meeting, I read the news.

What a sad day for the world. I hope Princes William and Harry demand an inquiry into the death of his mother.

Will the British Empire survive?

I hope the allegations surrounding Prince Charles and his past behaviours are untrue for the sake of the British Commonwealth. Perhaps, it is time for the son to step aside and allow his eldest son to ascend to the throne upon the Queen's death. God save the Kingdom! (Related story.)

Non-exclusive relationships: Not a bad thing?!

I wonder where they come up with these studies. Girls who are in non-exclusive relationships are 'better off' than those girls who are in exclusive relationships. Hmm.... now, this leads to the obvious question: Are married people better off in non-exclusive relationships/marriages? Wouldn't it be healthier for people to meet and share their lives with more than one partner or spouse? I don't know about all of you but, if I wanted an non-exclusive marriage with my wife, she would probably hit me upside the head with my hockey stick! (Related story.)