Essay: Barack Hussein Obama

A new era dawns on America, the inauguration of the first black President of the USA is no small feat. People tuned in and turned out in unprecedented numbers. The joy, the shouts of “yes we can”, the hope, and the expectation of a nation and, to a large extent, the world are upon Barack Hussein Obama.

His inauguration speech was eloquent yet restrained. He could have opted for the uplifting, celebrity speech that many have come to expect from him. Instead, he used metaphors to refer to the troubled times facing America and the era of change that lies ahead. It made sense to prepare people for times to come. He has inherited a complete mess from Bush, some his fault and others just bad luck. The economy is in crisis, America is a social pariah in the world, energy, and the environment are main concerns, a prickly Russia, a rising China, rising unemployment, a healthcare system bursting at the seams, the list of problems goes on. He will certainly change America’s course, but surely this is just way to much burden for one man to bear? I fear he may end up merely managing one crisis to the next given the gravity of the situation

We have seen such presidential hopes before. The young, passionate John F Kennedy gave a rousing speech and endless promises, setting himself enormous tasks to fulfill. Could he have fulfilled all those promises? His untimely death will always lead us to mere speculation. The truth is, probably not. His successor, Lyndon Johnson, was far more productive in getting things done domestically but had his reputation butchered, and quite wrongly so in my opinion, due to Vietnam.

Anyway I digress, can Obama fair any better? He has the most powerful yet difficult job in the world. Although the power of the presidency increased throughout the twentieth century power doesn’t lie solely with him. He shares power jointly with Congress and is scrutinized carefully by the Supreme Court. Hopes of a bi-partisan coalition seem great on paper and will maybe work in the short term but seriously, how long can it really go on for? Not long in my view.

However there are some things he really can achieve. Never underestimate optimism, it has been a long time since America has felt anything close to this and this new feeling alone can do a lot to change America. He carries with him hopes, he is young, handsome, intelligent, and largely closes one of the lasting divisions within America, that of race. He will surely be able to change America’s international reputation now Bush’s Manichaean arrogance has gone and a more mild and tempered approach is adopted, along with a new respect for following rules and laws both abroad and home. The economy is another matter altogether and time can only tell how that one pans out.

The next four to eight years may turn out to be a disappointment, a triumphal renewal, or something in between. His speech was strong and passionate, but that was the easy part, now it’s time to put those words into action. He is an inexperienced man in a forbidding world yet has a good and centrist team around him and there is nothing that Obama could be doing better at the moment. Good luck, you are certainly going to need some!

Peter's Birthday and Maryke's Leaving Party

Saturday saw the celebration of two monstrous occasions, that of Peter's birthday and the farewell to long term friend Maryke. Actually, i wasn't even intending to go. Firstly, i had to work all day Saturday to make up for the extra day for new years. On top of that, i wasn't feeling particularly well, no doubt due to something i ate. Lastly, i wasn't really in any kind of partying mood, in fact i was quite down. However, after work i thought what the hell, and jumped on the bus to Taichung. I arrived shortly after 8:00 and headed to FM to meet Peter and the entourage. I arrived just in time for dinner and drinks. I had a much better time than anticipated largely due to seeing everyone again which picked me up and playing some games too. Daisy, you kicked my ass at everything we played but hey i had fun anyway! A few games of Foosball, darts, and a few dances later it was time to head to Londoner for the next party. So along with Ruby and Cha, we headed there.

Londoner has definitely picked up since last time i went. The South Africans had basically hired out the top floor so were playing their own music. Box dancing to the likes of Fleetwood Mac never fails to amuse me, random!! Even more impressive were the drinks. Thai buckets were the order of the evening and hell were they strong. I'm sure half a pint of vodka went in each one, and three of them and i was knocked out. Slowly but surely people arrived and was good to see some old faces. After Londoner we went to Holiday to sing our hearts out for a few hours.

Therefore, it was a surprisingly good weekend , i headed back to Taipei early afternoon and set about recovering, needless to say not much happened on Sunday.

Taiwan approves gambling enclaves

Opponents say gambling poses social and ecological perils to Penghu. Taiwan's parliament has voted to legalise gambling on outlying islands, in hopes of boosting the economy and attracting tourists. The decision will open the way for casinos to be built on the outlying archipelago of Penghu. It has been seeking government approval to develop the gaming industry. Taiwan aims to join a growing number of Asian economies which are looking to the gaming industry as a way to earn more revenue and tax dollars.

The Penghu archipelago, a group of 90 islets, has been suffering for years from a depressed economy and lack of jobs. This has forced its young people to leave in search of work.
Penghu lies in the Taiwan Strait, between Taiwan and the east coast of China, and officials and residents there want to attract more tourists from China. With the casinos, the islands hope thousands of jobs will be created and that many Chinese and other tourists will visit Penghu.


But opponents - including Buddhist and other religious groups, which have been protesting outside parliament, as well as the main opposition party - warn of potential social and ecological problems. Opposition legislators also accused the ruling party of unrealistically looking to China to solve Taiwan's economic woes. They pointed out that the nearby gambling centre of Macau faces problems of being too dependent on Chinese gamblers. China recently placed restrictions on its citizens visiting Macau, for fear of capital flight.

Military Service

The day finally arrived. On a cold winters morning I got up extra early to drive George to Main Station. And so starts his 11 months of military service. I can’t believe the day finally arrived. I hate goodbyes, but I suppose it is not really a goodbye as he will be back most weekends. It’s just going to be the first month that’s going to be brutal. Anyway, this gives me a chance to catch up with some reading and movies and, maybe even start up the much needed Chinese lessons that I have been constantly avoiding. As part of the reason for moving to Taipei was for exactly that reason I think I should think about resurrecting them. January is going to be a tough one, but as ever, I’ll make it.

Artists for 2009

Here are some artists which show considerable talent and stand a real good chance of arriving on the music scene with a bang. No doubt some (or many) will fall flat on their face. Keep your eyes and ears open for the following acts.

1) The Big Pink - A London trio using gritty beats, droning guitars, abstract effects and dreamy vocals. Their album could prove to be very interesting if single, Too Young to Love is anything to go by.

2) Empire of the Sun - This Australian duo mix soft pop synthesisers with laid back beats.

3) Kid Cudi - Could be the latest in a long line of American hip-hop artists.

4) Little Boots - Another British act who could be a British version of Kylie continuing the futuristic pop sound firmly accompanied by her tenorion, different if nothing else!

5) Passion Pit - Another electronic band whose songs and lyrics seem cheery enough to light up the darkest of days.

6) Dan Black - This London born singer uses samples and beats instead of guitars and has made a big impact reworking already classic songs! Definitely one to watch here. Mark Ronson move over!

7) Florence and the Machine - A new eccentric in the same style as Kate Bush, Bjork or P J Harvey. Her debut album will certainly be eagerly anticipated.

8) La Roux - Another colorful London based synth-duo who apparently only listen to 80s music. Time to turn back the clock they say. Bring it on I say!

9) Master Shortie - The next star of British hip-hop? That's what many seem to believe. This could be better than the usual British attempts at hip-hop as his music seems to be influenced heavily by indie music.

10) The Temper Trap - An Australian Quartet using pulsating rhythms, yearning vocals, grand guitars, and produced by Jim Abbiss (Arctic Monkeys and Adele).

11) VV Brown - VV Brown is a 24-year-old modern-day doyen of doo-wop, giving the sound of vintage girl groups a 21st Century twist with a quirky, savvy, squeaky sheen.

12) Frankmusik - Dance singer, remixer and all-round whizz-kid Vincent Frank creates high-energy robopop in which fast neon beats jump out of '80s-tinged tunes.

13) Lady GaGa - Making an impact in the US for a while now as a songwriter for modern pop / dance acts, this could be the year she finally breaks out on her own.

14) Mumford and Sons - Rooted firmly in the folk seen of London their music also has a country tinge to it along with four part harmonies. A very promising debut album if their live acts are anything to go by.

15) White Lies - These moody London rockers can expect to be compared to the likes of The Killers and Editors, with epic vocals and dark, swirling guitars, plus a synthesiser giving them a pop sheen.

100 interesting news facts from 2008

1. Victorians believed smoking cleared the lungs - and struck off Dr Thomas Allinson, who founded the bakery of the same name, for describing nicotine as a "foul poison" and advocating healthy eating.
2. Police are not required to clean up a crime scene once evidence has been gathered.
3. Octopuses need mental stimulation.
4. Etiquette dictates that at dinner parties, a man should always talk to the woman on his left during the first course, and right during the main course.
5. Both men and women find long legs in the opposite sex attractive, but not too long.
6. Carrots used to be purple.
7. Only offal-free versions of haggis are available in the United States.
8. A bear helped carry ammunition for Polish troops during World War II.
9. Swedes have a word for a man who visits prostitutes - torsk.
10. The age at which we are most vulnerable to depression is 44, while a 70-year-old who is physically fit is, on average, as happy and mentally healthy as a 20-year-old.
11. Cumbria is the safest county in England and Wales.
12. Every year, the world's deserts produce 1,700 million tonnes of dust.
11. St Kilda has no rats.
12. The oldest Mormon congregation in the world is in Preston, Lancashire.
13. A fire at a landfill site in Guernsey has been smouldering for three years.
14. Brain tumours can be diagnosed by a handshake.
15. Whales catnap.
16. If housewives got salaries at the going rate for doing household chores, they would on average earn £30,000.
17. For the first time in US history, more than one in every 100 American adults is behind bars.
18. 23% of plastic bags used in the UK are from Tesco.
19. Prison pay is on average £9.60 a week.
20. The average midweek bedtime is between 10pm and 11pm.
21. Short men are more likely to be jealous.
22. Toasters are banned in Cuba.
23. The most frequently used term of abuse in schools is "gay".
24. Men eat more Brussel sprouts and broccoli than women.
25. Lions were kept in the Tower of London in the 14th century.
26. Up to one quarter of the sand on shorelines can be composed of plastic particles.
27. It costs $100,000 to hunt a rhino in South Africa.
28. The Olympic torch is designed to withstand winds of up to 65km an hour and stay alight in rain up to 50mm an hour
29. Each year 40,000 people pay homage at the California garage where the founders of Hewlett Packard started out.
28. Rice was once considered so important in Japan that it was worshipped as a god.
29. About 86% of fathers attend the birth of their children.
30. Smells can drift across the Channel.
31. The language of space is English.
32. There are 109 journeys between London's Tube stations that are quicker to walk.
33. A severed finger tip can grow back naturally.
34. The most common "combination craving" for a pregnant woman is pickles and peanut butter.
35. Punch and Judy puppeteers are called professors.
36. Some 1.3 million unopened yoghurt pots are thrown away each day in the UK.
37. The Ministry of Defence has amassed 160 files on UFOs, containing details of 8,000 sightings.
38. Sloths aren't lazy.
39. Brain chemical oxytocin makes us trust strangers with money.
40. You can lessen jet lag by not eating.
41. Women are banned by law from Mount Athos in Greece, home to 20 monasteries.
42. One of the earliest Mars Bars was pineapple-flavoured. It flopped.
43. Biscuits are key to clinching deals.
44. Syria has the world's largest restaurant, seating 6,014 diners.
45. Pigs can suffer from mysophobia, a fear of dirt.
46. A petaflop is a measurement of computing speed equivalent to one thousand trillion calculations a second.
47. Schools influence the smoking habits of young people.
48. A bespoke garment does not necessarily need to be handmade.
49. A Volvo can accommodate 13 people.
50. The Royal Family costs the equivalent of 66p per person in the UK.
51. An income of £13,400 is required to enjoy a minimum standard of living in the UK.
52. Everton, Aston Villa and Fulham are among the football clubs that were created from Sunday schools.
53. Pears sink while apples float.
54. A monsoon is a wind, rather than rain.
55. Young teenagers are drinking less and consuming fewer drugs.
56. White Americans are 14% more likely than other ethnic groups to survive cancer.
57. Faking one's death is known as pseudocide.
58. Having fat friends increases your risk of obesity.
59. Bees act in a similar way to serial killers.
60. Liz Taylor has broken her back five times.
61. Robins only became a symbol for Christmas in the 19th Century, when postmen - who mostly brought mail at Christmas - wore scarlet waistcoats and were known as Robin Redbreasts.
62. Pet dogs can catch human yawns.
63. Mills and Boon still publish at least one sheikh romance a month.
64. A rooftop luggage carrier increases fuel consumption by 20%.
65. A 72oz steak is about the size of a large telephone directory. And since 1960, 8,000 people have managed to eat one - plus all the trimmings - in under an hour.
66. Misheard song lyrics are known as mondegreens.
67. Twenty-three wedding cakes were made for the nuptials of Charles and Diana.
68. Shetland is the fattest part of the UK.
69. E-mail addresses beginning with "A", "M" or "S" get more spam than those starting with "Q" or "Z".
70. You can dive from 35ft into 12in of water - and only suffer bruising (with a lot of training).
71. Baseball was played in Surrey in 1755.
72. Portraits of famous people often look like the painter instead.
73. Texting impairs drivers more than alcohol.
74. Kenyan women eat stones.
75. The ideal drive is 16 minutes long.
76. Henry V invented passports.
77. Bradford and Bingley has registered the raising of the bowler hat as a trademark.
78. There are two £1m banknotes still in existence. Nine were made after World War II.
79. The word "unbepissed" means "not being urinated on".
80. Goats wear condoms.
81. The world's longest insect is 56cm long.
82. Prince Charles could have had a cameo in Doctor Who.
83. Gay couples can't commit adultery.
84. Stars make noise.
85. The United Arab Emirates, along with the US, has the largest ecological footprint per person.
86. There's a town in Uruguay called Fray Bentos.
87. Barack Obama supports West Ham.
88. Saddam Hussein's yacht had an escape tunnel leading to a submarine.
89. The QE2 does 49 feet to the gallon.
90. The song Two Little Boys was probably about the American Civil War.
91. On the Buses star Reg Varney opened the UK's first cash dispenser.
92. Camel urine is sought after for its medicinal effects in India's Bihar state and sells for £1.34 a litre.
93. Police use curry to hasten the re-emergence of swallowed drugs.
94. The 999 emergency number was chosen over 111 because telegraph wires rubbing together in the wind transmitted the equivalent of a 111 call.
95. The Sydney Opera House was inspired by a peeled orange.
96. A street light costs about 15p a night to keep lit.
97. Emily, of Bagpuss fame, was paid with a bag of sweets.
98. Councils are banning number 13 houses on new developments.
99. Sneezing can be a sign of arousal.
100. Leonard Cohen's original Hallelujah has more than 80 verses.

New Year Fireworks

Happy New Year!!