Going green French style; 999, please hold; and Doing the voo-doo that you do

Well, we figured that today would probably be a good day to focus on some of weirder, whackier news out there in the other 194 countries of the lovely planet earth.  Hopefully today’s news highlights can put a smile on some people who now have some spare time on their hands (like those two awesome dudes from Lehman we met yesterday on the subway).

Anyway, here’s what’s going on the world today, September 16, 2008:

Out of France: Just when you thought the price of plastic cutlery was skyrocketing out of control, along comes France and makes matters worse.  That’s right, folks.  France is doing their small part to save mother earth by levying a tax on throwaway cutlery that is non-recyclable.

Now, we have to give France their props because they’ve already been doing something similar – with cars.  We kid you not.  Heavy polluting vehicles are subject to taxes, whereas lesser polluting vehicles get you a tax break.  Well done on starting small and slowly but surely transitioning to the big ticket items, like refrigerators, washing machines and wooden furniture.

"Tax this, baby!"

 Unfortunately, mother earth will have to wait a wee bit longer.  According to the environment minister of France, one Jean-Louis Borloo, the French government is “not completely ready” and decisions haven’t been made definitively.  

Baby steps, France, baby steps.

(Link from the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/world/europe/16france.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin)

Out of Scotland: Even in the United States, law enforcement officials, especially those in the movies and television,  can’t seem to track down an international fugitive without calling their friends at Interpol and Scotland Yard.  Jack Bauer and Seeley Booth (c’mon, everyone needs a good “Bones” reference every now and again) might want to rethink dialing up Scotland Yard.

It turns out that Central Scotland Police, with its 999 number, has been busy with more pressing matters than helping to track down terrorists, warlords, arms dealers, drug smugglers and diamond thieves.  That’s right, folks, according to The Telegraph, a UK daily, 999 has been busy dragging down the vicious criminals who drove through a puddle and soaked a man; the criminal masterminds who put too many onions in one man’s takeout food; and the notorious evildoers who sold a bunny with ears that were, according to the caller, not as floppy as she was promised.

 

"999...sure, I'll hold."

Seriously, stop laughing.  Those are some of the calls that Central Scotland Police has received according to the Telegraph, which, naturally, distracted the dispatchers from more pressing duties.  Umm, folks, Jack Bauer’s on a timetable here.

(link fron NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/world/europe/16briefs-HELPPOLICEMY_BRF.html?scp=1&sq=central%20scotland%20police&st=cse)

Out of Congo: Riots at a soccer match in Kivu province of Congo led to the death of 13 people, most of them kids between the age of 11 and 16.  It’s obviously really a sad story because it involves the loss of live (what international news stories these days don’t?) but what we find so amazing is what caused the riots.  

The riots started when an accusation of witchcraft was levied against a player.  The ensuing panic caused people to flee.  This caused police to fire shots into the air, which, of course, caused more panic.  The officials reporting on the issue didn’t mention anything about witchcraft but we find it hard to imagine that in a place as politically stable as the Congo, such events couldn’t have possibly been caused by anything else.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those who lives were lost in this tragedy.  We also hope that peace will come to the Congo in our lifetimes.

(Link from NY Times: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/15/news/Congo-Soccer-Riot.php )

Minority Report; Up, Up & Away; and Logging On to Learn

Happy monday to all.  Since nothing important seems to be happening in the US and it’s shaping up to be a quiet day on Wall Street, here’s what we at “The Other 194″ are looking at in the news: 

Out of India: Everyone’s favorite crazy actor Tom Cruise tried to warn us, but we didn’t listen.  We all thought that “Minority Report” was just some crappy film without any real value or message.  Oh, how wrong we were.  It turns out that a judge in India has allowed the use of a Brain Electrical Oscillations Signature (BEOS) test in a murder trial.  

And just what is a BEOS test?  Glad you asked…A BEOS test, in simple terms, reads brainwaves to determine whether or not someone was at a crime when it was taking place.

The case in question involved a woman who poisened her ex-fiance at a Mickey Dees in Mumbai.  After taking the BEOS test, it was ruled that the technology was good enough, smart enough and gosh darn it, liked enough, to be prove that she had “experiential knowledge” to the extent that she had killed her ex.

Legal experts, scientists and other experts are mixed about the application of this technology.  Some love it, but say it needs work.  Some hate it and say we’re moving toward an Orwellian state.  

We at “The Other 194″ simply aren’t smart enough to render an opinion about the BOES test and similar technology.  However, that ain’t stopping us from wearing aluminum foil hats.

Here’s the link from the NY TIMES: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/world/asia/15brainscan.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin

Out of Kenya: Some diplomats feel the need to hold summits and conferences and all that jazz to bring warring parties together.  Given the track record of these meetings (google “Doha round talks”) we like the approach that some fellas in Kenya have taken.  No stuffy conference rooms.  No arbitrators.  No bargaining through the media.  Instead, just a simple hike up a tiny little rock called Mount Kenya, with its peak of only 17,000 feet (compared to Everest’s 29,000 feet-high peak).

We applaud the efforts of these young men.  We truly think this is setting a great example for the rest of the world.  If you’re so committed to peace that you’d climb a mountain, sleep with rats and survive on only custard cream cookies, well, that says a lot.

We just have one question – how high is the temple mount?

Here’s the link from the IHT: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/14/news/kenya.4.php

And finally, out of Jordan: Props go out to King Abdullah and his $500M campaign to provide better educational opportunities to the young people of his kingdom.  The program, which was launched in 2003, has brought rennovations, computers, curricullum revision, and teacher trainings to schools that aren’t producing enough educated youngsters to meet growing workplace demand, especially in the IT sector.  The project has even attracted funding and support from the likes of Microsoft and Cisco.  We think it’s a great statement about the power of public-private partnerships.  We also think that it’s great that Jordan is taking a leading role in the education debate.  

Of course the project has its nay-sayers who expect to see immediate results and thing even more needs to be done.  ”Until teachers are given the training and compensation they deserve you cannot expect to transform a nation’s youth,” said Marwan Kamal, President of Philadelphia University in Jordan.

To that we say hog’s breath is better than no breath at all…and there are a lot of kids who can’t breath. 

The link from the FT: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/de83d026-7e08-11dd-bdbd-000077b07658.html

Regulators (not the Warren G kind); Po Boys; and Why we care

Here’s what’s news in the world on this beautiful Sunday, the 14th day of September, 2008:

Out of Europe: There’s an old saying – the specifics of which we are familiar – that has something to do with a butterfly flapping its wings in Hawaii and causing some sort of waves in another part of the world.  We’re pretty sure that whatever the phrase is, it’s not to be taken literally because it’s more of a metaphor (it cannot be a simile since there’s no like or as being used in the comparison).  For what it is a metaphor?  Well, we’re gonna go with the European economy.

That’s right, folks.  In recent months, the European economy has gone the way of the U.S. economy insofar as it’s started to sputter.  Indicators that are causing concern include financial markets, inflation and foreign exchange rates not working the way they’re supposed.  But we needn’t fear.  The EU has come up with a plan to address it.  We’re calling it the 2012 Regulator Plan. 

What is the 2012 Regulator Plan?  Well, by 2012, the EU agreed to have a single reporting system for financial companies, which would replace the country-by-country reporting system now in place.  This is a great plan because we’ve seen how well bureaucracies work.  Just look at the DMV and the various law enforcement and homeland security agencies in the United States.  We also take heart with the fact that this will be done in four years.  Apparently, like the EU, we see no need for immediate action when fixing some paperwork-related issues can cure global economic issues in a little less than half-a-decade.

Link to article from the WSJ: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122130818990832183.html?mod=hpp_europe_whats_news

Out of the United Nations: We here at “The Other 194″ offer up the following riddle.  What do the Millenium Development Goals and the New York Yankees have in common?  OK, time’s up.  The answer is – lots of money being spent and lackluster results.

The New York Yankees have a $200M payroll.  The MDG has spent billions of dollars on fighting global poverty.  The Yankees are 11 games behind the Rays in the AL East and 9 games behind in the AL Wild Card race.  The MDG, despite all its work (and it’s done a lot of great work), has seen the number of those living in extreme poverty rise in the poorest regions.

Some will argue that this isn’t entirely true – and to be fair, it’s not.  Extreme poverty rates have indeed dropped but that’s mostly do the rising China economy and all the people in the country who have benefited.  But Africa has fallen behind and people in that continent continue to fall further and further and further behind, especially in terms of child malnutrition and job insecurity.

Note: The Other 194 firmly believes that the MDG are worth pursuing and we are supporters of the U.N.  But, we also firmly believe that if the path you’re on isn’t the right path, taking a different route – or at the very least looking at the map – is the responsible action to pursue.  After all, the Yankees realize that snapping up a bunch of big name stars isn’t the way to go, which is why they’re now focused on developing their farm system…oh wait!

Here’s the link from the Financial Times: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/702c72d2-801e-11dd-99a9-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1

And finally, out of Haiti: Want to know why we support the MDG?  Because of this: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/world/americas/14haiti.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin

We really hope you think about the lives of restaviks the next time you complain about your team not making the playoffs or the fact that you’re hamburger was overcooked.

Oh, and one bit of follow-up from China: Yesterday, we talked abot the milk issue in China.  Chinese officials have taken into custody 19 people and it turns out that this stretches as far as New Zealand.  Here’s the link the follow-up story from the Int’l Herald Tribune.  And really, how can you not want to follow this story when kids like this are involved:

It’s a good thing we can’t see his teeth or else maybe, he’d have a stand-in.

Some Bad Cooking, Some bad food and a Bowl of Cricket

Here’s what we’re talking about this lovely Saturday, the 13th day of September:

Out of Thailand: The Thai Prime Minister, Samak Sundaravej, will not be remoninated by his party after his outster from power over his paid appearance on a cooking show.  It’s hard to believe that the people of Thailand don’t want their leaders doing their best Rachel Ray impersonations.  It could be the people of Thailand are peeved he didn’t get more creative than dumplings.  Or maybe they’re just encouraging Samak  to come to the U.S. and run for office, what with his extensive executive experience.  He had been PM for 7 months.  Is that John McCain calling?

Cooking, of course, isn’t that only problem Samak has had as of late.  He’s been facing protestors street protestors since May.  But since that didn’t seem to be working, the protestors formed a blockade to his office in late August.   And when the protests turned violent, what did the Samak-led military do?  Standard protocol – they ignored they ordered.

Anyway, here’s some video of Samak cooking…Hard to imagine why he only lasted seven months:

Here’s the whole story from the IHT: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/12/asia/thai.php

Out of China: The nationwide inquiry into tainted baby formula is under way.  Sanlu Group, the producer of the suspect formula had to recall 700 tons of this stuff, which has caused, sadly, one death of a baby and kidney problems in 50 others.  We don’t really have anything witty to say here since that would be rude.  We will, however, offer our prayers the family of the baby that died and hope that the “serious punishment” that Chinese officials intend to levy against those responsible for this involves more than the blocking of Yahoo.com – oh wait.

Link to the story from the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/world/asia/13milk.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin

And finally, out of Mumbai, India, we turn to sports: ESPN has jumped on the cricket bandwagon.  For those of you who have seen a cricket match and are saying, “oh that’s the sport that’s like baseball,” think again – baseball is like cricket.  Sort of.  The story is basically that an ESPN Star Sports, which is owned by Disney and NewsCorp, has won rights to for a new international cricket league.  The league will feature matches of 20 overs (no, that’s not a typo, it’s cricket lingo), which takes about three hours to play.  This, of course, is compared to a 90 or 100 over match, which can take five days to play and, in many cases, especially when played in the UK, involves tea breaks. 

ESPN Star Sports beat out Abu Dhabi Sports Club and the Dubai Investment Council for the rights to the eight team tournament.  What makes this special is the fact that it’s the first time any company from the UAE hasn’t won something or doesn’t control something. 

Oh, and to prove that cricket isn’t just for British royalty and guys named “Bob” who play when they aren’t providing Americans with technical support, here’s some footage of Mel Gibson enjoying a match.  (FYI – It’s 5:04 in length, which makes it 5:03 too long.) 

For some real info on cricket, check out http://www.iplt20.com/index.html.

Here’s the link from the Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122115734549624325.html?mod=hpp_europe_whats_news

An Energy Plan, a “Fourth Reich”, and a Power Deal

Here are the stories we’re talking about today:

Out of England: Embattled UK PM Gordon Brown announced a $1.79B (approximately 1 billion british pounds) energy plan today.  This plan, which would be funded by the “big six” energy companies would be used to help low-income families.  

So why did Brownie do this?  Well, it’s all about the politics.  That’s right.  Brownie’s approval ratings are lower – if you can believe – than Dubya’s (hey, he’s no Tony B, that’s for sure) that he announced this plan to help his image.  Even members of his own party were all like oh no you didn’t, girlfriend.  Hell, the shadow welfare secretary (and we’re not making that title up), a guy named Chris Grayling called Brownie’s plan “a damp squib.”  We don’t even know what that means but if the shadow welfare secretary is coming out with those dry, British barbs, well, friends, maybe you need to think about a career change.

Out of Berlin: Holocaust jokes don’t always go over so well.  Even Eddie Izzard might have a problem pulling one off.  And comparing someone to Hitler or Eichmann, or even calling some a Nazi in general (unless of course it involves soup) is not particularly funny.  So imagine being the Germans, the Obama-loving Germans and reading in a letter from your dear friends in Liechtenstein that your country is a, wait for it, “fourth reich.”

That’s right, folks, Hans-Adam II, the tiny lands monarch used those words to describe the home of Oktoberfest.  But it gets better.  He didn’t just do it because he and his buddies weren’t getting a cup of clam chowder.  No, he said after a museum in Berlin asked him to lend a painting to its collection.  The museum in question?  Oh, you know, just the Jewish Museum in Berlin.

This incident is just another a series of recent events that increased tensions between the two nations.  The first has to do with tax investigators in Germany sharing some financial information that has caused some problems in the Liechtenstein’s financial services industry.  The other incident that has caused tensions between the two countries (and, as one German official theorized, the reason the Adam went all reichy on Germany) is Germany’s whopping of Liechtenstein this weekend in football.  The final score was six to nil.

 Out of Zimbabwe: Finally, Zimbabwians can rest easy.  No longer do they have to fear getting smacked around for trying to vote or gather or, you know, do other stuff like breath.  Zimbabwe’s President and his chief rival, Morgan Tsvangirai have reached a power-sharing deal.  

Here are the details of the deal: ____________________.

Yeah, that’s right.  South African President Thabo Mbeki, nor any of the negotiators, or anyone with a pulse for that matter, is letting on to what the detail entails other than to say “an agreement has been reached.”

Oh well, that’s good.  That’s like saying “I’ve got a great story for you…I’ll tell you later.”

Although on the bright side, maybe Zimbabwe can focus on that 10 million percent inflation.