November 2007 Archives

Naming a teddy bear Muhammad may be insensitive to the Muslim religion, but does this transgression rise to the level that it could be considered criminal? I think not!

From Times Online
November 29, 2007
British teacher sentenced to 15 days in Sudan jail

Gillian Gibbons, the British teacher who allowed her class to name their teddy bear Mohamed, has been sentenced to 15 days in jail followed by deportation from Sudan.

Her lawyers announced that Ms Gibbons was found guilty of insulting Islam. The 54-year-old former Liverpool primary school teacher had faced a maximum penalty of 40 lashes and a six-month jail sentence.

Tonight David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, said he was "extremely disappointed" with the sentence and summoned Omer Siddig, the Sudanese ambassador to London, to the Foreign and Commnwealth Office (FCO) to make Britain's position clear.

"We are extremely disappointed that the charges against Gillian Gibbons were not dismissed," said Mr Miliband.

"As I said this morning our clear view is that this is an innocent misunderstanding by a dedicated teacher.

"Our priority now is to ensure Ms Gibbons welfare and we will continue to provide consular assistance to her.

"I have called in the Sudanese ambassador to explain this decision and discuss next steps."

In America, flags are flown everywhere. Here in England, flags are MIA. So is national pride for that matter. Granted not all of the country's history is positive, but there is a lot good here that should be celebrated.

The Sunday Times, November 25, 2007
We’ve been robbed of our Englishness
Jeremy Clarkson

As the nation settled down on Wednesday night to watch England play Croatia, I sensed an air of optimism in the land. A feeling that all would be well. I mean hey, England were holding their own against Brazil when Croatia didn’t even exist as a nation state. So what chance would these swarthy-looking Yugo-ruffians have? They were minnows in a tank of sharks. They weren’t going to be beaten. They were going to be eaten.

Hmmm. I’m afraid I knew we were going to lose moments before the match began. I looked at our players mumbling their way through the national anthem and realised they didn’t really care about playing for England. Because they don’t really know what England is. And truth be told, neither do I.

When I was their age it was crystal clear. Newspapers would report: “Fog in the Channel: Europe cut off.” Peter Ustinov would arrive at JFK airport and, having studied the signs saying “US citizens” and “Aliens”, he’d ask a security guard where the British should go. We were separate, different, better.

We had hardback dark blue passports with a personal message from the Queen on the inside cover “requiring” that foreign border guards allow the bearer to do whatever he or she pleased without let or hindrance. Sl
ap one of those down on a Frenchman’s desk and the crack of invitation grade cardboard would have the greasy little oik sitting up straight; that’s for sure.

We had saved the world from tyranny so often we’d lost count; we’d brought decency, truth and cricket to every continent and every coral pinprick. We’d sailed iron steamships into America when they were still using coracles. We were defined by our brilliance, our superiority, our technical know-how.

It looks like Richard Branson's Virgin Group has won the British government's support to buy Northern Rock. Why I have no idea.

I mean, Northern Rock does need to be nationalised or have a private buyer come forth. But the consortium led by Branson has no major banking/mortgage experience. Thus why the government would back them is beyond me. Also, to throw support behind Branson when there are other interested parties who have not yet showed their hands is puzzling.

Maybe with the BILLIONS invested the government just wanted someone to take it off their hands. Whatever the case, I hope the deal is structured in such a way that taxpayers will get back most if not all of their money -- sooner rather than later. However, something tells me that if this bank ever bounces back, the consortium will be first in line for a payoff. Such is the world of private equity.

According to a recent Global Compensation Planning Report published by Mercer Consulting, UK white-collar workers are slated to get on average about a 1 percent salary increase in 2008. Yikes! That is awfully low. Of course, with the pound being so strong, I suppose that 1% is worth more than the 2% that say US workers will get.

Dark stain mahogany style furniture is out of vogue here in England. How else to explain that after two months of searching at the various high street furniture and antique shops I have yet to find a suitable wardrobe to match my existing furniture.

Almost all furniture is in a light stain and to make matters worst, a lot of it is flat pack furniture (think IKEA) which for me is an absolute NO NO! I need something that is going to stand the test of time. So now searching via eBay. Hopefully, I'll be able to source something in the next month or so as seeing my hanging clothes still in moving boxes is threatening to send me over the edge. However, can't bring myself to comprise. I mean seriously, what were the English thinking by embracing so much disposable furniture? Goodness!

The Bombay Company my favorite store for Christmas ornaments and other assorted nick-knacks, discontinued their online operations. And further research indicates that they have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and are closing all stores after the holiday season.

This is almost tempting me to get on a plane to the US to pick up a few more holidays treasures. However, the sensible me knows that I need to stay away from all stores to avoid negative cash flow. So major bummer on their retail website going down. Guess I'll have to go seek online retail porn elsewhere.

Can anyone please explain to me why the British government hasn't taken over Northern Rock? Seriously! With £24 BILLION loaned in the last few months plus another £18 BILLION to guarantee deposits, the taxpayers should own the assets not the shareholders. I know, nationalisation would be messy but as I've said before, this whole situation sets a dangerous precedent.

Seriously, what is the government going to do if another financial institutions gets into trouble? Is it going to prop up the bank at these same levels? Surely it can't afford to. Not when you consider that the £42 BILLION investment in Northern Rock represents about 7% of the £587 BILLION the UK government planned to spend in 2007. That is more than the government planned to spend on national defence which in my estimation is of much greater importance. All of this makes me wonder, which of the services below will need to be scaled back to prop up this failing private enterprise?

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but I wanted to say that I am thankful for those family and friends who have been supportive this past year. The health scare and house saga would have brought a lesser woman to her knees, but I persevered. Thus, I am thankful for my inner strength and ability to once again rise to the occasion when faced with difficult challenges. The whole process was a struggle, but I was determined not to let the situation get the best of me.

Same for situation with Airport Guy. He's back! Actually he sent an email 20 days after the break-up conversation. Since then we have spoken a few times. So what does the future hold? Who knows. Truthfully, as long as we live in two different parts of the world, I am not too optimistic. So while I have stated what I would like to see happen in the future, I have made no commitments and am definitely keeping my options open.

Now that I have cable via SKY, I am watching a lot more American television (thank you Rupert Murdoch!). Specifically Fox News. Truthfully, I have no idea what has come over me. Well actually, there are two reasons: 1) the increasing political coverage related to the US presidential election next year and 2) unlike MSNBC & CNN, I get to watch the American broadcast, not the European version. In some ways, this unfiltered broadcast is more comforting even if the network is no where near being fair or balanced.

Money isn't the most important factor when evaluating a compensation package, but I sure would like to work for a company where the possibility of becoming a millionaire after years of hard work is a reality.

Google Options Make Masseuse a Multimillionaire

By KATIE HAFNER

New York Times, Published: November 12, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 11 — Bonnie Brown was fresh from a nasty divorce in 1999, living with her sister and uncertain of her future. On a lark, she answered an ad for an in-house masseuse at Google, then a Silicon Valley start-up with 40 employees. She was offered the part-time job, which started out at $450 a week but included a pile of Google stock options that she figured might never be worth a penny.

After five years of kneading engineers’ backs, Ms. Brown retired, cashing in most of her stock options, which were worth millions of dollars. To her delight, the shares she held onto have continued to balloon in value.

“I’m happy I saved enough stock for a rainy day, and lately it’s been pouring,” said Ms. Brown, 52, who now lives in a 3,000-square-foot house in Nevada, gets her own massages at least once a week and has a private Pilates instructor. She has traveled the world to oversee a charitable foundation she started with her Google wealth and has written a book, still unpublished, “Giigle: How I Got Lucky Massaging Google.”

When Google’s stock topped $700 a share last week before dropping back to $664 on Friday, outside shareholders were not the only ones smiling. According to documents filed on Wednesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Google employees and former employees are holding options they can cash in worth about $2.1 billion. In addition, current employees are sitting on stock and unvested options, or options they cannot immediately cash in, that together have a value of about $4.1 billion.

Although no one keeps an official count of Google millionaires, it is estimated that 1,000 people each have more than $5 million worth of Google shares from stock grants and stock options.

15 days. That’s how long its been since I've spoken to Airport Guy. Not surprising -- since I did break up with him. However, its strange for someone to leave your life never to return when for months on end, you shared your hopes and dreams with them.

So am I feeling better about things? Yes and No! Yes because I know it was the right decision based on the current state of affairs. No because it is hard letting go of the fantasy.

This annoys me because were this a business decision, I would have been over it long ago. But then at least, it wouldn't have been such a long drawn out process. I would have had the courage to ask direct questions a lot earlier and then made a determination as to whether or not it made sense to take things to the next level.

One interesting tidbit is that in the 10 months we dated, I never dreamt about him. And now that we are over, he has appeared in my dreams twice -- as my protector. Not sure what to make of this since Naval Academy Guy who use to be a regular has stopped making appearances in my dreams.

I prefer hot chocolate but it I were to drink coffee on a regular basis, I definitely would be a cappuccino girl.

You Are a Cappuccino

You're fun, outgoing, and you love to try anything new. However, you tend to have strong opinions on what you like. You are a total girly girly at heart - and prefer your coffee with good conversation. You're the type that seems complex to outsiders, but in reality, you are easy to please

Quiz found via Larawannabee's blog.

Very few British, Australians and Americans for that matter speak another language besides English. On some level, there really is no incentive as about one-quarter of the world's population speak the language. More importantly English is the language of international business. However, as article below points out, the dominance of the language is not guaranteed.

Whose language?
By Michael Skapinker
The Financial Times, Published: November 8 2007 19:55

Chung Dong-young, a former television anchorman and candidate to be president of South Korea, may be behind in the opinion polls but one of his campaign commitments is eye-catching. If elected, he promises a vast increase in English teaching so that young Koreans do not have to go abroad to learn the language. The country needed to “solve the problem of families separated for English learning”, the Korea Times reported him saying.

In China, Yu Minhong has turned New Oriental, the company he founded, into the country’s biggest provider of private education, with more than 1m students over the past financial year, the overwhelming majority learning English. In Chile, the government has said it wants its population to be bilingual in English and Spanish within a generation.

No one is certain how many people are learning English. Ten years ago, the British Council thought it was around 1bn. A report, English Next, published by the council last year, forecast that the number of English learners would probably peak at around 2bn in 10-15 years.

How many people already speak English? David Crystal, one of the world’s leading experts on the language and author of more than 100 books on the subject, estimates that 1.5bn people – around one-quarter of the world’s population – can communicate reasonably well in English.

Bitchiness at its finest. Seriously. There is no love lost between the English and the French.

Why can’t the English be more like the French?
With the high-speed link to London about to open at last, Hortense de Monplaisir warns her fellow Parisians of the horreurs anglais that await them
The Sunday Times, 4 November 2007

It seems like only yesterday that Pierre-Marie, my husband, delivered the bombshell. Hortense, he said, I have some good news. I have been offered a promotion which I am not about to refuse. He smiled at me nervously. There is a petite complication, he said. The job is in London.

Three months later, I found myself mistress of a cherissime doll’s house off Fulham Road, barely large enough to contain my wardrobe. When the removal van had left, my husband said: “Let us go for dinner.”

There is a famous crêperie on the King’s Road. (We love crêpes, as we have kept in touch with simple pleasures.) As lumpen doughy pancakes were brought to the table with a pitiful garnish of anaemic lettuce and flavourless tomatoes, I wept. I gazed out at the rain and said: “I cannot do this.” My husband held my hand and looked quite wretched.

Ten years on, however, I have become so entirely bi-culturelle that I understand the English better than they do themselves. I will show you how it is to live in the land where the men don’t look at you. Where they never say what they think and laugh like hyenas at things that aren’t funny.

I am still undecided about my vacation plans around Christmas so I called my eldest aunt to find out who might be going home for the holidays. During our extended conversation, she asked about Airport Guy. I informed her that we had broken up. She was rather surprised to hear this as she had seen him a few times during the last week and he made no mention. In fact, she got the impression that things were going well. So I gave her the abbreviated version of why I broke up with him. Her advice was that I needed to pray on the matter. Specifically, I needed to ask God for guidance and support with finding the sort of man I desire.

Since then, I have twice tried to pray about the whole situation, but mid-prayer I gave up. Perhaps because when I have quiet time with God, I ask him to help bring about world peace, a cure for HIV/AIDS, etc. On a more personal level, I ask for good health, strength to deal with the daily challenges of live, etc. Somehow, asking God to sort out my love life, never really crossed my mind. But I just might have to keep trying because reading books like Find a Husband After 35 have not helped either.

I recently go an updated statement for my 401K plan and was happy to see that the investments selected had given a reasonable return. However, when I thought about the weakening dollar against the pound, my smile disappeared.

Why? Well when I moved to the London in April 2005, for every British pound, you would get 1.87 American dollars. Now, for every British pound, I get 2.07 Americans dollars. So great if you are moving money from the UK to the US. Not so great if you are moving money from the US to the UK.

On a positive note, I am paid in British pounds and the current exchange rate takes away all temptation to withdraw any funds. Particularly as after Uncle Sam takes its share and the conversion happens, I wouldn’t have much of anything.

So my US retirement money will have to stay where it is for now. Hopefully in time the exchange rate will get better. If not, retirement will definitely have to be someplace more tropical -- where I hope the exchange rate will be more favorable.

No surprise here....

You are Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see.

Take the Quiz here!

Quiz found via Larawannabee's blog.

My aunt's good friend who I stayed with for nearly five months tells me that now that I am on the property ladder, I will become more attractive to men. Thus I need to be mindful of those who might be a bit too eager once they find out I am a home owner. Not sure I agree with her jaded view, but I suppose time will tell. In any event, here are some photos taken of my new home sweet home.

I read somewhere that you should give yourself one month for every year of a relationship to grieve when it ends. Based on this formula, I only have a few more weeks to go. Thank goodness. Week one was like a roller coaster ride with one too many drops.

The low point in the week came on Thursday when I arrived back at my desk from a lunch meeting with my firms public relations agency. There before me was a beautiful bouquet of flowers. As I reached for the card, I thought two people might have sent the flowers.

The first being my Best Guy Friend who I had called before and after the break up call. He knew how upset I was by it all so I thought he might have sent them to cheer me up. But I really hoped they were from Airport Guy. I wanted to believe that he cared enough to make this grand gesture.

So when I read the card and learnt they were from two colleagues in appreciation for the work I had done related to a conference they had presented at earlier in the week, I almost broke down in tears. Don't get me wrong, I was grateful for the recognition, but I felt heartbroken. Why? Well they were a reminder that in the 10 months I dated Airport Guy, he never really did much of anything to make me feel special or appreciated. This was one of the main reasons I broke up with him. There was just lots of words with no action.

Now I'm not one of these women that needs to get gifts from a man to feel special or connected. However, I do want a man who can not only talk the talk but walk the walk. So please, no more empty promises or declarations of love too early in a relationship. When all is said and done, actions speak louder than words. So simply things like calling when you say you will matter. Also, if you genuinely love someone, why tell them that certain areas of your past are off limits for discussion?

Seriously, why is it so difficult for people to be consistent with their verbal and nonverbal communication? Now, I'm not professing to be perfect at this, but knowing that this is what I desire, I make an effort. Thus I expect the same from a potential boyfriend/husband.

List below is confirmation of sorts that Airport Guy and I were never destined for a happily ever after. For the record, I acknowledge my role in the break-up. The failure was not all his fault. However, after Racquetball Guy, I had really worked on my issues so I know for a fact that I was more open and aware of what was required to have a successful relationship.

The Top 10 Relationship Success Secrets That Everyone Ought to Know
Written by Lisa Brookes Kift

As a couple’s therapist, I’ve seen a myriad of relationships styles.

People who come in for counseling are clearly looking to change something they see problematic in their partnership. The problems range from the relatively benign tweaks in communication to serious pain and trust violations due to infidelity and all sorts of issues in between.

Filtering through all of this, I’ve identified ten characteristics of successful relationships. These qualities are integral parts of a healthy relationship foundation and I believe increase the chances of weathering the storms that life inevitably dishes out.

The ten characteristics are as follows and are in no particular order:

1. Friendship
Couples who have a strong friendship have staying power. They not only love each other but genuinely like each other as people. They enjoy hanging out together. They might even consider each other their “best friend.”

2. Humor
Partners who can make each other laugh tend to be good at de-escalating conflicts when they do arise. It’s the great mood lightener. I’ve noticed the use of funny nicknames can be an indicator of great fondness for one another. The names often stem from a “you had to be there” moment from the beginning of their relationship.

3. Communication
As obvious as this may seem, many couples are not very good at it. Those who are able to openly express their feelings in an emotionally safe environment typically deal with situations as they come up and avoid burying frustrations which always have a way of coming out at some point.

4. Chore Sharing
Those who divvy up the household or parenting responsibilities in a way that is mutually agreed upon way are less likely to hold resentments about what they perceive as “unfair.” Each participates (albeit maybe begrudgingly) and both contribute to the relationship in this way.

5. Sexual Intimacy
Couples who have their sexual needs met… or at least have negotiated a reasonable compromise if their levels of need aren’t compatible, feel taken care of by the other. Some are highly active, engaging in lovemaking multiple times a week and others are content with far less. There is no “right” or “wrong” amount. However, often times a negotiation is needed to make sure no one feels neglected by the other.