Before I get too engrossed in today's headlines, I'm going to have to stop and get packing and prepare for our trip down under. If time permits, we may get a few minutes later on tonight, but we'll have to see.
Then it's going to be quite sparse over the next couple of months as I doubt we will have good access to a solid connection on the ship (and no doubt the robbing gets will be charging a premium for use) and bus hopping through New Zealand will also prove challenging to maintaining the Blog.
We'll do our best, so keep half an eye on the place but I really think we'll be back to "normal" probably around May time.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
This Could Work
The "fourth emergency service", the AA is planning to launch a nationwide fleet of "handy (wo)men", specially trained for domestic duties.
As well as continuing to rescue stricken motorists, the AA will also answer SOS calls from householders with broken-down boilers, leaking pipes, dripping taps or faulty wiring. Its fully-trained home patrolmen and women will even erect garden fences, install showers and bathrooms – or just hang a picture.
Just like drivers stranded at the roadside, home owners will be given a time of arrival and a reference number.
More details at TTel, but already with the offer of an arrival time, this could well be a winner.
As well as continuing to rescue stricken motorists, the AA will also answer SOS calls from householders with broken-down boilers, leaking pipes, dripping taps or faulty wiring. Its fully-trained home patrolmen and women will even erect garden fences, install showers and bathrooms – or just hang a picture.
Just like drivers stranded at the roadside, home owners will be given a time of arrival and a reference number.
More details at TTel, but already with the offer of an arrival time, this could well be a winner.
Top & Bottom
| Latest Standings: |
|---|
| Team | P GD | PTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle | 33 | 35 | 69 |
| 2 | West Brom | 33 | 31 | 63 |
| 3 | Nottm Forest | 34 | 21 | 61 |
| 4 | Swansea | 33 | 8 | 56 |
| 5 | Leicester | 33 | 11 | 54 |
| 6 | Cardiff | 32 | 15 | 49 |
| 7 | Sheff Utd | 33 | 2 | 48 |
| 8 | Blackpool | 34 | 9 | 47 |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 34 | 8 | 47 |
| 10 | Coventry | 34 | -7 | 46 |
| Team | P GD | PTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norwich | 33 | 33 | 69 |
| 2 | Leeds United | 32 | 30 | 66 |
| 3 | Charlton | 34 | 21 | 63 |
| 4 | Colchester | 32 | 18 | 62 |
| 5 | Swindon | 31 | 15 | 59 |
| 6 | Huddersfield | 32 | 25 | 57 |
| 7 | Millwall | 32 | 14 | 55 |
| 8 | MK Dons | 32 | 1 | 49 |
| 9 | Walsall | 32 | 2 | 43 |
| 10 | Bristol Rovers | 31 | -9 | 42 |
| 11 | Southampton | 30 | 17 | 38 |
| 12 | Brentford | 30 | 0 | 38 |
| 13 | Yeovil | 33 | -4 | 38 |
| 14 | Carlisle | 32 | -5 | 37 |
| 15 | Leyton Orient | 32 | -6 | 37 |
| 16 | Hartlepool | 32 | -9 | 35 |
| 17 | Gillingham | 33 | -11 | 34 |
| 18 | Brighton | 32 | -13 | 34 |
| 19 | Tranmere | 32 | -23 | 33 |
| 20 | Southend | 33 | -13 | 32 |
| 21 | Oldham | 30 | -13 | 32 |
| 22 | Exeter | 32 | -13 | 31 |
| 23 | Wycombe | 33 | -24 | 28 |
| 24 | Stockport | 31 | -33 | 20 |
Not Good For Southend
A good win for the Toon away to Watford (1-2), puts Newcastle a healthy six points clear at the top of the Championship. But Southend lose at home by the same scoreline (on Friday) and they are really in the mire, just one place off the relegation zone.
Bielefeld play their tough game at St Pauli today and Tottenham try and grab the points against Everton.
Bielefeld play their tough game at St Pauli today and Tottenham try and grab the points against Everton.
Veg Only?
The average vegetarian unknowingly eats animal based product at least once a week.
I'm just surprised it's not more often than that.
I'm just surprised it's not more often than that.
Bert-Ove
Remember our Swedish pal from a few weeks ago? He's just been in touch and sent us a memento of our night out at the Night Market. Hi, Bert-Ove- maybe we'll meet up again around Christmas time?
Worryingly
And I also remembered that I promised Mr Saeri that we'd do lunch today. At least I think so but I can't recall the exact details. It was late in the bar on Friday and I get this feeling we arranged something but I don't have the slightest idea of what. Just the time and then it's completely blank.
Oh well, mystery lunch date at 13:00 will be fun, if nothing else...if he remembers...
Oh well, mystery lunch date at 13:00 will be fun, if nothing else...if he remembers...
I Survived a Japanese Game Show...
Can you believe I was up until 04:00 this morning, watching this bloody programme and I still missed the finale. Fascinating to watch and even more difficult to switch off.
So not only our last day with all the packing and washing to do, but all on just four hour's kip.
So not only our last day with all the packing and washing to do, but all on just four hour's kip.
Bringing it Forward
In fact, we've decided to slightly change our plans and fly directly back from New Zealand to Bangkok, instead of travelling via Georgetown.
We'll sneak in for a month, chill and relax here before heading back to Malaysia, and then we can apply for our 60 day visa and bring out wifey's mum for her annual holiday.
Already we're much happier and it's just two months before we return.
We'll sneak in for a month, chill and relax here before heading back to Malaysia, and then we can apply for our 60 day visa and bring out wifey's mum for her annual holiday.
Already we're much happier and it's just two months before we return.
One (Last) Night in Bangkok
I can hardly believe we've just the one night to go before we have to leave; it feels like only yesterday we were touching down from Jakarta and yet, here we go, time to leave.
Without doubt, by far the best visit to the capital of Thailand to date and we're already counting down the days to our return. :-(
Without doubt, by far the best visit to the capital of Thailand to date and we're already counting down the days to our return. :-(
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Wonderful Parents
All legit names- from TTel:
Britain’s bizarre names
Barb Dwyer
Pearl Button
Hazel Nutt
Ray Gunn
Helen Back
Stan Still
Jo King
Lee King
Terry Bull
Mary Christmas
Max Power
Paige Turner
Sonny Day
Tim Burr
Teresa Green
Will Power
Anna Sasin
Chris Cross
Doug Hole
Justin Case
Barry Cade
America’s bizarre names:
Anna Prentice
Annette Curtain
Bill Board
Carrie Oakey
Dr Leslie Doctor
Dr Thoulton Surgeon
Dr Payne
Les Plack
Priti Manek
Dr Sumey
Britain’s bizarre names
Barb Dwyer
Pearl Button
Hazel Nutt
Ray Gunn
Helen Back
Stan Still
Jo King
Lee King
Terry Bull
Mary Christmas
Max Power
Paige Turner
Sonny Day
Tim Burr
Teresa Green
Will Power
Anna Sasin
Chris Cross
Doug Hole
Justin Case
Barry Cade
America’s bizarre names:
Anna Prentice
Annette Curtain
Bill Board
Carrie Oakey
Dr Leslie Doctor
Dr Thoulton Surgeon
Dr Payne
Les Plack
Priti Manek
Dr Sumey
Decision Delivered
The Thai Supreme Court ruled yesterday that most of the fortune of the former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra should be seized from his accounts and returned to the nation.
The ruling, which was preceded by a mammoth legal battle, covers almost two thirds of his 76 billion baht (£1.52 billion) in Thai accounts that have been frozen since shortly after he was ousted in a military coup in 2006.
In a verdict awaited with trepidation by many Thais who have split into pro-Thaksin and rival royalist camps, a majority of the nine judges decided that a total of 46.37 billion baht of the Thaksin family fortune was forfeit.
The judges found that Thaksin had sought to enrich himself while in office, had shaped government policy to favour his personal fortunes and had attempted to conceal his ownership of substantial parcels of shares while he was Prime Minister. Thaksin could keep 30.24 billion baht, the court ruled. To seize all the money would be unfair since some of it was made before he became Prime Minister, the judges said.
The looming verdict had set Thailand on edge and rekindled fears of a rerun of last April’s violence when Thaksin’s supporters from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), widely known as the red shirts, rioted through Bangkok.
Only a handful of red shirt protesters were outside the Supreme Court yesterday, with a few hundred more waiting over the road.
The UDD spokesman, Sean Boonpracong, said that the verdict had shocked them.
“I think it’s a political decision. That’s really, really clear. The atmosphere our country operates in today was created by the coup-makers. We are very disappointed with this verdict.”
From TTimes.
The ruling, which was preceded by a mammoth legal battle, covers almost two thirds of his 76 billion baht (£1.52 billion) in Thai accounts that have been frozen since shortly after he was ousted in a military coup in 2006.
In a verdict awaited with trepidation by many Thais who have split into pro-Thaksin and rival royalist camps, a majority of the nine judges decided that a total of 46.37 billion baht of the Thaksin family fortune was forfeit.
The judges found that Thaksin had sought to enrich himself while in office, had shaped government policy to favour his personal fortunes and had attempted to conceal his ownership of substantial parcels of shares while he was Prime Minister. Thaksin could keep 30.24 billion baht, the court ruled. To seize all the money would be unfair since some of it was made before he became Prime Minister, the judges said.
The looming verdict had set Thailand on edge and rekindled fears of a rerun of last April’s violence when Thaksin’s supporters from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), widely known as the red shirts, rioted through Bangkok.
Only a handful of red shirt protesters were outside the Supreme Court yesterday, with a few hundred more waiting over the road.
The UDD spokesman, Sean Boonpracong, said that the verdict had shocked them.
“I think it’s a political decision. That’s really, really clear. The atmosphere our country operates in today was created by the coup-makers. We are very disappointed with this verdict.”
From TTimes.
Back to the Comics
We've just had Superman sell for over a million this week and hot on the heels of that record breaking fee, we have Batman showing us who the real daddy is.
On Monday, a copy of the first comic book to feature Superman, Action Comics No 1 from 1938, sold for $1 million (£657 000) in a private sale arranged by the New York auction site ComicConnect.com.
Then on Thursday, the first appearance of “The Batman”, in Detective Comics No 27 from 1939, sold at auction in Dallas. The hammer price was a little under $1 million, but with buyer’s premium the price reached $1 075 500 (£703 000).
Holy overdraft, Batman...
More at TTimes.
Olympic Event?
THE BBC last night defended a new series that hopes to find the best new under 14 pole dancer in Britain.
Many entrants have been perfecting their routines during PE lessons and some schools have incorporated picking up pound coins with buttock cheeks into the curriculum.
Mother of eight Nikki Hollis is hopeful that her 12-year-old daughter Subaru will impress the judges with her gyratory interpretation of Christina Aguilera's Dirrty.
Hollis said: "She's been so excited for weeks and we've all chipped in to help by sewing little sequins onto her thong and braiding her hair with straggly blonde extensions. For her birthday we bought her a tattoo of the celtic word for 'cheap' on the small of her back. It looks really classy."
But omnipresent TV psychologist Linda Popadopoulos warned the BBC was setting a dangerous example, adding: "The average young teenager isn't psychologically mature enough to cope with decisions like whether to baste themselves with cooking oil or do a back flip onto a beer bottle.
"We should allow kids to be kids and do normal things like killing small animals or setting fire to anything that stays still long enough for them to hold a match to it."
But a BBC spoeksman defended Skankz, adding "We have a long history of producing challenging, innovative programmes for children including last year's Teen Guantanamo and Lordy! My Dad Is A Crack Dealer!.
"Skankz is a chance for Britain to show that we can match any country in the world for producing talented young trollops. Except for the Americans, obviously." style auditions to discover the UK's best pre-pubescent wannabe trash.
DMash.
Left Back Problem
Fans panic as Bridge retirement puts Neville one place closer to recall
England supporters were last night panicking after Wayne Bridge’s international retirement moved Phil Neville up one place in the pecking order for a left-back berth at the World Cup.
Bridge withdrew from England consideration stating his presence in the squad would make it difficult for John Terry to tell the younger players about all the birds he’s had it off with.
However, the move has elevated Phil Neville to 11th in line for the England left-back birth, ensuring the team is now one significant ‘accident’ from fielding Neville during this summer’s World Cup finals.
Long time England supporter Jeff Beale told of his dismay, “This is terrible, terrible news.”
“I feel for Wayne Bridge, I really do - but this is Phil Neville we’re talking about. Philip
Fucking Neville.”
“I’d rather watch Bridge and Terry spend 90 minutes shouting snide remarks about each other’s penises than have Phil Neville in the team.”
Career
The elevation of Neville to England consideration is one of the previously unseen side effects of a wayward John Terry penis.
Another fan told us, “I’m sure that lining up alongside Phil Neville wasn’t on his mind at the time - unless he was trying to slow himself down - but this is where John Terry’s genitals have got us.”
“I mean, has everyone forgotten Euro 2000? I don’t care if there are ten players ahead of Neville in the pecking order, the fact he’s even on the list is cause enough for panic among the supporters.”
“Is Kenny Sansom still playing? He could do a job there, definitely.”
Who would you rather played left back for England?
Size Doesn't Matter
A tiny hotel which measures just 29 ft by 7 ft is set to open in London next month, moving between famous landmarks each morning.
The hotel; an Airstream caravan converted by Radisson Hotels is being launched by Visit London to attract more tourists to the city.
Despite the diminutive 203 sq ft size, the small hotel features a dedicated concierge, check in desk, room service, a flat screen TV, dining room area, double bed and en-suite facilities and each morning guests will be treated to a complimentary newspaper and served breakfast.
For one week in March it will be at ZSL London Zoo, Alexandra Palace, The London Eye, Covent Garden and the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
I wonder if the price tag will match its titchy size?
The hotel; an Airstream caravan converted by Radisson Hotels is being launched by Visit London to attract more tourists to the city.
Despite the diminutive 203 sq ft size, the small hotel features a dedicated concierge, check in desk, room service, a flat screen TV, dining room area, double bed and en-suite facilities and each morning guests will be treated to a complimentary newspaper and served breakfast.
For one week in March it will be at ZSL London Zoo, Alexandra Palace, The London Eye, Covent Garden and the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
I wonder if the price tag will match its titchy size?
We Won't Get Bored on Board
Nightlife
The night is yours to have fun. And that's why we offer the flexibility that only Personal Choice Cruising affords. So you can do it all — over several nights or a single night. Spend the evening dancing under the stars, watch an award-winning movie or catch a live theater production.
Movies Under the Stars
Movies Under the Stars®, the 300-square foot, 69,000-watt poolside movie-theater, offers passengers the unique opportunity to enjoy blockbuster Hollywood movies against a backdrop of sea and sky. Located on the ship's top deck, Princess makes this experience even more special with personal touches including comfortable chaise lounges, complimentary popcorn, warm cookies & milk and cozy blankets in the evening.
Watch the Movies Under the Stars Video
Production Shows
Every cruise features lavish productions with some of the largest casts at sea, performing today's Broadway hits and long-running classics.
Watch the Production Shows Video
Dancing, Karaoke & Comedy
Move to the rhythm of the disco beat or take a spin in the ballroom. And, for some belly laughs, catch a stand-up comedy act or belt out a song in our karaoke lounge.
Parties
Our Princess parties are known for fun that goes well into the night, with themes that add to the festivities, from Caribbean limbo contests to country western hoedowns — yee-hah!
Bars & Lounges
Evening cocktails in one of the ship's cozy lounges or swanky bars is a perfect place to meet up with shipboard friends and swap stories about the afternoon's adventures.
Movies & TV
All ships show first-run films and each stateroom has a TV. Where satellite signals prevail, we offer ESPN, CNN, TNT, TCM, CNN Espanol, Cartoon Network, Boomerang Classic Cartoons and kid's programming, plus an onboard version of Discovery Channel.And Coming Up Soon...
Dawn Princess
Dawn Princess - along with its sister ships Sun and Sea - creates paradise on the high seas. Featuring a wrap-around Promenade Deck, this spectacular ship has more than 400 balcony staterooms to enjoy the ever-changing scenery. Hot spots include the giant Movies Under the Stars poolside screen, the adults-only oasis called The Sanctuary, two show lounges with nightly entertainment, and plenty of elegant and casual dining options from gourmet pizza to grilled steaks.
Large ship with small-ship intimacy, allowing for great passenger freedom.
Watch the Dawn, Sea, & Sun Princess Video
Watch the Dawn, Sea, & Sun Princess Video
Staterooms
We offer the deluxe amenities you'd expect from a first class hotel: from 24-hour room service to chocolates on your pillow at night.Staterooms
Deck Plans
Our ships are designed with a variety of features and intimate spaces. We call it "big ship choice and small ship feel".Deck Plans
Personal Choice Features
Dawn Princess passengers will enjoy many of our famed Personal Choice Cruising options along with some exciting new features.Personal Choice Features
Amenities & Public Rooms
See Dawn Princess's amenities and personal choice features. We bring you big ship choice and small ship feel.Amenities & Public Rooms
Princess Bridge Cam
Dawn Princess broadcasts from Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the South Pacific.Dawn Princess Bridge Cam
Click on the links to see more of what's in store- or not. No point getting too upset, is there? ;-)
Inevitable
Portsmouth, with debts of about £60m, have become the first Premier League club to enter administration.
The club will be docked nine points as a result and face almost certain relegation to the Championship.
My only true surprise is that they are the only club. We have many Premiership teams paying ridiculous wages to players and who are multi-millions of quids in debt and I wonder who will be next?
Football isn't recession proof either and if the clubs continue to extort the fans with stupid entrance fees, I reckon we'll see a few more fall by the wayside. :-(
Not Good News for Tottenham
This will cheer up Mr Saeri:
He's an Everton fan...
Tottenham's preparations for their Premier League clash against Everton have been disrupted by a virus.
First-team stars Wilson Palacios and Vedran Corluka have been hit by the sickness and diarrhoea bug.
They are among 18 players and staff at the Spurs training ground in Chigwell, Essex, to be affected.
He's an Everton fan...
The Colour of Gold
Sheep of the World Unite
93% of men over 25 own at least one tie.
I wonder how many of them even know how to tie it?
I wonder how many of them even know how to tie it?
Full House
Despite the political climate in town yesterday, the Imm Fusion was fully booked and had to turn guest away. I doubt many were Australian, but it's good news for the hotel and it was great to see the place running at full capacity.
I don't want to leave on Monday, cruise or not. :-(
I don't want to leave on Monday, cruise or not. :-(
Drier Wars
We're getting our packing sorted and in particular the posh stuff for the cruise- in other words, wifey wanted to do some washing and ironing.
She came back periodically with armfuls of straight clothes but seemed a little irate. It was the French...
Apparently some "pushy French get" was hogging all the machines and was becoming bit of a nuisance and if she didn't pack it in, "there would be another Waterloo on her arse".
I decided to help out by going down and checking the drier, but was surprised to find all of our clothes dumped onto the table and said burd busy sticking her clothes into the drier we had just been using. I asked her what was happening and all she did was apologise without meeting my eye.
I repeated the question and politely reminded her that our clothes were in the same machine she was intending to use and that I hadn't finished; they were still damp. I fished out a couple of coins to demonstrate my wish to continue using the drier and suddenly it all became too much for her and she called her boy friend over to deal with the situation.
When faced with the predicament, he also apologised and started to remove their clothes and they both left the scene, rather sheepishly.
How pathetic was that though? For the sake of 20 minutes they felt it was their right to evict our stuff and use the machine for themselves. Funnily enough, the drier next to ours only had a few minutes to run and all would have been well.
It's lucky for them that wifey wasn't there...
She came back periodically with armfuls of straight clothes but seemed a little irate. It was the French...
Apparently some "pushy French get" was hogging all the machines and was becoming bit of a nuisance and if she didn't pack it in, "there would be another Waterloo on her arse".
I decided to help out by going down and checking the drier, but was surprised to find all of our clothes dumped onto the table and said burd busy sticking her clothes into the drier we had just been using. I asked her what was happening and all she did was apologise without meeting my eye.
I repeated the question and politely reminded her that our clothes were in the same machine she was intending to use and that I hadn't finished; they were still damp. I fished out a couple of coins to demonstrate my wish to continue using the drier and suddenly it all became too much for her and she called her boy friend over to deal with the situation.
When faced with the predicament, he also apologised and started to remove their clothes and they both left the scene, rather sheepishly.
How pathetic was that though? For the sake of 20 minutes they felt it was their right to evict our stuff and use the machine for themselves. Funnily enough, the drier next to ours only had a few minutes to run and all would have been well.
It's lucky for them that wifey wasn't there...
Peckish?
While Singha saves the hangover, don't be fooled; it's viciously strong.
It must be for when a fellow traveller sat next to me last night with two paper bags, I didn't turn a hair. Even when he mentioned that they contained locusts and grasshoppers. Nor did I flinch when he offered me the opportunity to sample some of his wares....
Let's put it this way. The locusts are far larger and tasted saltier, while the grasshoppers are smaller and had more of a barbecue flavour.
If it wasn't for witnesses (and wifey missed out on that delight) even I can't believe I did that.
It must be for when a fellow traveller sat next to me last night with two paper bags, I didn't turn a hair. Even when he mentioned that they contained locusts and grasshoppers. Nor did I flinch when he offered me the opportunity to sample some of his wares....
Let's put it this way. The locusts are far larger and tasted saltier, while the grasshoppers are smaller and had more of a barbecue flavour.
If it wasn't for witnesses (and wifey missed out on that delight) even I can't believe I did that.
Bar Flies
We bumped into many an odd character last night, some of which makes you wonder about the passport issuing procedure. Surely there must be some kind of vetting scheme to determine one is fit enough to travel?
Clearly this basic premise of intelligence is not considered as they offer travel documents to just anyone who claims they can tie their own shoe laces and some get through ,despite not being able to tie any kind of bow.
However, it does make for amusing bar company and I'll raise a glass to one or two chaps last night who kept me entertained in more ways than they were hoping. Cheers. :oD
Clearly this basic premise of intelligence is not considered as they offer travel documents to just anyone who claims they can tie their own shoe laces and some get through ,despite not being able to tie any kind of bow.
However, it does make for amusing bar company and I'll raise a glass to one or two chaps last night who kept me entertained in more ways than they were hoping. Cheers. :oD
Not Quite the Plan
We had our farewell drink last night but not at the night market- we didn't get past the hotel bar.
It wasn't a problem in the least as we had a smashing time and as ever, Mr Saeri was not just the most genial and generous of hosts, but he fabulous fun to boot. He insisted that we drank Singha instead of the Chang and while it wasn't a BOGOF offer, the extra cash was well worth it as we remain hangover free. Almost.
A good way to say adieu to our favourite hotel. :o)
It wasn't a problem in the least as we had a smashing time and as ever, Mr Saeri was not just the most genial and generous of hosts, but he fabulous fun to boot. He insisted that we drank Singha instead of the Chang and while it wasn't a BOGOF offer, the extra cash was well worth it as we remain hangover free. Almost.
A good way to say adieu to our favourite hotel. :o)
Friday, 26 February 2010
BBC on Thaksin
Thai court starts giving verdict on Thaksin Shinawatra
 Mr Thaksin's sustains his popularity from abroad through social media |
Thailand's Supreme Court has begun to deliver its verdict on whether to strip former PM Thaksin Shinawatra's family of more than $2bn (£1.3bn) of assets.
The funds were frozen after Mr Thaksin's elected government was overthrown in a military coup in 2006.
Security forces are on high alert amid government predictions of violence by Mr Thaksin's red-shirted supporters if the court decision goes against him.
Mr Thaksin denies any wrongdoing and remains hugely popular in Thailand.
The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says the court will be ruling on whether or not Mr Thaksin abused his power during his time as prime minister.
The court is expected to take several hours to finish delivering its verdict, finishing after the Thai stock market closes ahead of a three-day weekend.
The pro-Thaksin United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), which leads the red shirts, has said it has no plans for any demonstration until mid-March.
Political fight
Mr Thaksin, now living in Dubai, says he will continue his political fight against the "military-bureaucratic elite" that deposed him - with or without his family fortune.
 | THAKSIN TIMELINE 2001: Elected prime minister 19 Sept 2006: Ousted in military coup 25 Sept 2006: Corruption investigation begins 11 June 2007: Thaksin family assets frozen 25 Aug 2008: Prosecutors ask Supreme Court to seize frozen assets 21 Oct 2008: Sentenced in absentia to two years for conflict of interest in land deal  |
Tensions in Thailand remain high, however. Tens of thousands of extra police have been placed in and around the capital, and in areas of the north-east of the country where some of Mr Thaksin's supporters are based.
Local media have been predicting huge disruption, counting down to what they call "judgement day".
But some government and opposition figures have sought to calm fears.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of national security, tried to play down the wider significance of the case, saying it concerned only Mr Thaksin's wealth.
"Thaksin must respect and accept the rule of law as well as other Thai people. It's not possible for the whole Thai nation to respect the law but not Thaksin," he said.
Mr Thaksin's supporters have said they resent being painted as a violent rabble and insist they are fighting for democracy and against military-backed government.
 Red-shirted supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra want their leader home |
"It [a judgement] would not put an end to Thailand's crisis because now Thaksin's supporters, the red shirts - the UDD - they have evolved into their own force to be reckoned with," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist from Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.
The judges have looked at whether Mr Thaksin illegally deposited his fortune with family members because he was not allowed to hold company shares while prime minister, and whether his administration implemented policies to benefit his family's businesses.
They have also considered whether telecoms liberalisation measures unfairly benefited the country's main mobile phone service provider, then controlled by Mr Thaksin's family.
And they have investigated whether he unfairly promoted a $127m low-interest loan to neighbouring Burma to benefit a satellite communications company also controlled by his family.
BBC.
Instant Noodles
Ramen geek reviews over 4 000 instant noodles
i-ramen.net is an amazingly meticulous web site that chronicles one man's daily consumption of different kinds of instant noodles since 1997. It appears from the way they're numbered that he is now on his 4,308th bowl. For each new type of instant noodle, he creates a thorough chart that includes a full ingredients list; comments on texture, flavor, quantity, and price; and a starred rating. The first question that popped into my head while browsing his site was: I wonder how his health is! And the second: How many flavors of instant ramen can there possibly be? Looking back at his archives, though, I see that at the end of 1998, just over a year after starting this instant noodle journey, he had reached 227 flavors of ramen. His more recent reviews include flavors from Korea, Thailand, India, and beyond. Given his international reach and commitment to ramen, I suppose 4,000+ may be entirely possible. (I didn't read every single review, so I can't say for sure whether there are duplicates.)
The site is in Japanese, but he also makes YouTube videos of his more recent exploits, which you can see here.
Pinched from BoingBoing.
Double Speed
Just found out that the internet problem was down to an upgrade doubling our download speeds from 4 to 8 GBs (or is that MBs?) Anyway, quicker speeds just in time for our departure... :oD
Major Profit
Centrica, British Gas's residential arm has announced profits of £595 million last year- up 58% on 2008.
That's going to go down like a sack of shite, I'll bet...
That's going to go down like a sack of shite, I'll bet...
Harry Brown
We stumbled across a treat last night as we watched Harry Brown, Michael Caine's latest filum.
There's nothing the Brits do better than a Brit Flick and this is no exception, as this squalid tale unfolds, thrusting the viewer into an uncomfortable role of voyeur into "Great" Britain's demise down the shit hole.
God, was it awful to watch how housing estates have degenerated into war zones with revolting (in both senses) hooded hooligans ruling their turf from all and sundry- including their own.
The plot is non-essential and unoriginal. An old gadgy is being hounded by the local kids and goes to Plod who predictably do nowt. He seeks support from his best pal, an ex war commando (Caine, as Harry Brown) who tells him not to take the law into his own hands.
Old gadgy suffers an appalling death and we see an octogenarian version of Death Wish 7 unfold. It's predictable, it's bleak, it's even disturbing but it's not new. However, it is utterly repulsive in its representation of the gangland youth culture and how "respec, innit?" dominates the headlines. Instant and brutal death for the wrong look or question and quite frankly I'm pleased to be living abroad.
The dialogue is not for the faint hearted (and some scenes will have you squirming in distaste) but there is nothing gratuitous, nothing over-hyped; it's what some parts of England are like today.
Definitely worth a watch but don't expect any kind of rom-com and I doubt the tourism board will be doing cart wheels at how this movie sticks the boot into their country.
There's nothing the Brits do better than a Brit Flick and this is no exception, as this squalid tale unfolds, thrusting the viewer into an uncomfortable role of voyeur into "Great" Britain's demise down the shit hole.
God, was it awful to watch how housing estates have degenerated into war zones with revolting (in both senses) hooded hooligans ruling their turf from all and sundry- including their own.
The plot is non-essential and unoriginal. An old gadgy is being hounded by the local kids and goes to Plod who predictably do nowt. He seeks support from his best pal, an ex war commando (Caine, as Harry Brown) who tells him not to take the law into his own hands.
Old gadgy suffers an appalling death and we see an octogenarian version of Death Wish 7 unfold. It's predictable, it's bleak, it's even disturbing but it's not new. However, it is utterly repulsive in its representation of the gangland youth culture and how "respec, innit?" dominates the headlines. Instant and brutal death for the wrong look or question and quite frankly I'm pleased to be living abroad.
The dialogue is not for the faint hearted (and some scenes will have you squirming in distaste) but there is nothing gratuitous, nothing over-hyped; it's what some parts of England are like today.
Definitely worth a watch but don't expect any kind of rom-com and I doubt the tourism board will be doing cart wheels at how this movie sticks the boot into their country.
Decision Time
More than 22 000 police will be braced for violence across the Thai capital today when Supreme Court judges hand down a long-awaited decision on whether to release assets of THB 76 billion (£1.5 billion) claimed by the exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The funds have been frozen in a series of bank accounts since he was ousted in a military coup in 2006.
The issue has set the nation on edge and prompted fears of a repeat of last April’s violence, led by Red Shirt protesters (those loyal to Thaksin) and the opposing camp, the Yellow Shirts.
Analysts believe the judges will force Thaksin to forfeit most of his seized assets, but the decision will not end his battle to return to Thailand.
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Professor of Political Science at Chulalongkorn University, said Thaksin had “hundreds of millions of dollars” concealed outside Thailand, and would continue to fight. “He is someone who does not like to lose, he will never call it quits,” Professor Thitinan said. “There will be many endings, not one final showdown.”
I'm sure all will be well as most of the protesters are non-violent and peaceful, but we'll let you know how it pans out.
The funds have been frozen in a series of bank accounts since he was ousted in a military coup in 2006.
The issue has set the nation on edge and prompted fears of a repeat of last April’s violence, led by Red Shirt protesters (those loyal to Thaksin) and the opposing camp, the Yellow Shirts.
Analysts believe the judges will force Thaksin to forfeit most of his seized assets, but the decision will not end his battle to return to Thailand.
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Professor of Political Science at Chulalongkorn University, said Thaksin had “hundreds of millions of dollars” concealed outside Thailand, and would continue to fight. “He is someone who does not like to lose, he will never call it quits,” Professor Thitinan said. “There will be many endings, not one final showdown.”
I'm sure all will be well as most of the protesters are non-violent and peaceful, but we'll let you know how it pans out.
Heading Home
Life overseas is losing its appeal for Britons, with a growing number of disillusioned and hard-up expatriates heading home, according to figures published yesterday. At the same time the number of Britons leaving the country has fallen as the economic downturn has reduced job opportunities around the world.
Despite the recession, for many Britain and its welfare system remain more attractive than the uncertainties of living abroad, particularly with the fall of the pound against the euro.
The number of British citizens returning home jumped by 13 per cent to 87,000 in 2009 compared with the previous year, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed. In the same period the number of British citizens leaving the country fell by 12 per cent to 146,000.
Yes, living abroad is different but no more difficult than anywhere else- including Britain. We rarely miss the country or anything pertaining to it as we have far more excitement, adventure and opportunity while travelling. It's not for everyone and some may return, however, that should not be viewed as a failure. At least they gave it a go.
From TTimes.
BBC Botches
The BBC has overspent by an "astonishing" £110 million on its refurbishment of Broadcasting House, pushing the cost of its three latest building projects past £2 billion.
The development is four years behind schedule as a result of "weak governance" and poor planning, and its budget has spiralled to £1 billion, according to a damning report by the National Audit Office (NAO). A further £188 million was spent on the BBC Scotland headquarters in Pacific Quay, Glasgow, £62 million over budget and moving Radio Five Live, BBC Sport and three other departments from London to the "MediaCity" site in Salford, Greater Manchester, will cost £877 million.
Full story at TTel on how the BBC is spoofing up your taxes but here's a more definitive breakdown on the three projects:
The development is four years behind schedule as a result of "weak governance" and poor planning, and its budget has spiralled to £1 billion, according to a damning report by the National Audit Office (NAO). A further £188 million was spent on the BBC Scotland headquarters in Pacific Quay, Glasgow, £62 million over budget and moving Radio Five Live, BBC Sport and three other departments from London to the "MediaCity" site in Salford, Greater Manchester, will cost £877 million.
Full story at TTel on how the BBC is spoofing up your taxes but here's a more definitive breakdown on the three projects:
- Broadcasting House, Portland Place, W1
- Original budget: £991 million
- Forecast budget: £1.046 billion
- The BBC's costliest development is in two phases: a revamp of Val Myer's original Art Deco building and the construction of a new extension.
- It will house the "largest live newsroom in the world", surrounded by glass walls which will allow visitors to see journalists at work and watch the weather forecast being filmed.
- When completed, the current workforce of 400 will increase to 4,500 staff from news, radio and the BBC World Service.
- Broadcasting House cost £500,000 to construct in 1932 - around £25 million by today's standards.
- When the building was bombed during the Blitz, newsreader Bruce Belfrage famously continued to read the 9pm bulletin despite being covered in ceiling plaster.
- Pacific Quay, Glasgow
- Original budget: £126 million
- Actual cost: £188 million
- BBC Scotland's headquarters were completed in July 2007 - a year overdue.
- The steel, glass and concrete building has been likened to a giant greenhouse, and the interior is dominated by a dramatic red sandstone staircase.
- Staff moved there from their old offices in Queen Margaret Drive. Gordon Brown attended the building's official opening.
- The Weakest Link, hosted by Anne Robinson, recently started filming there, and it is home to Newsnight Review.
- Salford Quays, Greater Manchester
- Original budget: £953 million
- Forecast budget: £877 million
- Five departments - Sport, Children's programming, Radio 5 Live, Technology and Learning - will relocate to Salford in 2011 as part of the BBC's plans to become less 'London-centric'.
- The cost of building the offices and studio space was borne by the developer, but the BBC will pay £233 million rental costs over the next 20 years.
- Furniture, IT resources, relocation packages and other costs take the total figure to £877 million.
- Last month, it emerged that not a single 5 Live presenter had committed to move north, preferring to commute rather than give up their London homes.
Send us a Postcard, Paddington
A new Czech travel agency, Toy Traveling, is offering a new style travel service- soft-toys from around the world can visit Prague, even if their owners want to stay at home.
Owners post their cuddly toy to staff, who then (for a fee of £80 to £130) take it on a sightseeing tour of the city, while taking photos to prove it. Naturally, the more well heeled bears can get the more expensive packages, so the pampered teddies are even treated to a massage and aromatherapy session…
Guess what your kids are going to want next Christmas? :o)
Owners post their cuddly toy to staff, who then (for a fee of £80 to £130) take it on a sightseeing tour of the city, while taking photos to prove it. Naturally, the more well heeled bears can get the more expensive packages, so the pampered teddies are even treated to a massage and aromatherapy session…
Guess what your kids are going to want next Christmas? :o)
Forget Sexy Eyes and a GSOH
Thousands of British women just want to date a man earning £50 000.
A study of 83,000 ladies looking for love shows that despite the recession, women still have high expectations for a potential partner.
Asked what women (over 80 000 of them) would like in a man, a £50k salary came top, followed by an established career and being a driver with an Audi TT. They also said their ideal man would be educated to degree standard and enjoy cultural pursuits such as going to the theatre and cinema.
So while we are still being fed bollocks about theatre and stuff (I have yet to meet any man under fifty who professes to enjoy going to the theatre) at least we get closer to the truth. They want wedge and a flash car.
How very 21st century...
A study of 83,000 ladies looking for love shows that despite the recession, women still have high expectations for a potential partner.
Asked what women (over 80 000 of them) would like in a man, a £50k salary came top, followed by an established career and being a driver with an Audi TT. They also said their ideal man would be educated to degree standard and enjoy cultural pursuits such as going to the theatre and cinema.
So while we are still being fed bollocks about theatre and stuff (I have yet to meet any man under fifty who professes to enjoy going to the theatre) at least we get closer to the truth. They want wedge and a flash car.
How very 21st century...
Jetting to Work
The Martin Aircraft Company have announced that they have secured an £8 million deal to produce at least 500 of their personal jet packs each year. The dual-propeller device can travel at 60 mph for up to 30 miles and they have been reached heights of 7 800 ft in tests.
As they weigh on 250 lb, it means that users will not have to gain pilot's licence before taking off but avoiding the traffic will come as a premium- they are to go on sale for a hefty £50k each.
Faddy and fun perhaps, but that's still a load of dough. Why not get a second hand litre super sports bike (like a Blade or 'Ard One) for a tenth of the cost and still beat the traffic home?
As they weigh on 250 lb, it means that users will not have to gain pilot's licence before taking off but avoiding the traffic will come as a premium- they are to go on sale for a hefty £50k each.
Faddy and fun perhaps, but that's still a load of dough. Why not get a second hand litre super sports bike (like a Blade or 'Ard One) for a tenth of the cost and still beat the traffic home?
Bridge Stands Back
Wayne Bridge, "team mate" to John Terry has stated that he does not want to be picked for international football duty while the man who had an affair with his then girlfriend is in the same team. Despite losing the captaincy over the affair, Terry will still be playing and Bridge (rightly) can't deal with that.
I'm not sure if Team Eng-er-Land will miss him much on the pitch but it's the honourable and correct thing to do. Could one really play alongside a "friend" who's been strumping your burd and continue to feel all warm and gooey inside?
It also got me thinking of how many other players in the team have been in the news for having extra marital affairs; Ashley Cole is currently hogging all the headlines for doing a Tiger Woods, but Beckham's been accused as has Rooney and inexplicably that gargoyle Ferdinand, I believe.
Perhaps that's the way in, playing away gets you into the international squad?
I'm not sure if Team Eng-er-Land will miss him much on the pitch but it's the honourable and correct thing to do. Could one really play alongside a "friend" who's been strumping your burd and continue to feel all warm and gooey inside?
It also got me thinking of how many other players in the team have been in the news for having extra marital affairs; Ashley Cole is currently hogging all the headlines for doing a Tiger Woods, but Beckham's been accused as has Rooney and inexplicably that gargoyle Ferdinand, I believe.
Perhaps that's the way in, playing away gets you into the international squad?
Life on a Ship
I expect we'll be well looked after as we eat our way around the continent. I also expect to have to pay through the nose for any extras like laundry, drinks and other sundries.
Price will be the telling factor in how much internet access we will obtain but I suspect it is going to be a lean month for our follower(s?) of the Blog. We will endeavour to keep it ticking along by sporadic use of internet cafes instead but I suspect we will all be grateful of the enforced break and so intend to make the most of sunbathing, swimming, sight seeing and other standard touristy things.
New Zealand should offer us easier access to the internet as we will be in and out of hostels, but again, I expect business to be back to normal once we land in Malaysia and upon our return to Thailand.
There is life after the internet, right?
Price will be the telling factor in how much internet access we will obtain but I suspect it is going to be a lean month for our follower(s?) of the Blog. We will endeavour to keep it ticking along by sporadic use of internet cafes instead but I suspect we will all be grateful of the enforced break and so intend to make the most of sunbathing, swimming, sight seeing and other standard touristy things.
New Zealand should offer us easier access to the internet as we will be in and out of hostels, but again, I expect business to be back to normal once we land in Malaysia and upon our return to Thailand.
There is life after the internet, right?
Coming Up
It's with heavy heart that we beging to say our good-byes to Sukhumvit 50.
Monday, 1st March, we fly down to KL and then onto Melbourne for the beginning of what should be the most luxurious (and expensive) leg of our journey and the start of 30 days on a floating palace.
Naturally we're looking forward to the experience and seeing all there is to see of Australia, but we are going to miss BKK terribly. I think this is our 7th visit to this city since we first landed in Asia in July 2007 and by far this has been the best stay.
We don't tire of the place, we love the people and the food, there is far too much to do to keep us occupied (or we can do nothing and still have fun) and naturally, the Imm Fusion Hotel goes from strength to strength.
After Oz and NZ (another month bus hopping to see both islands) we will take a detour to Georgetown to pop in to say "hi" and pick up our sixty day Thai tourist visa. We're already looking forward to our return in June...
Monday, 1st March, we fly down to KL and then onto Melbourne for the beginning of what should be the most luxurious (and expensive) leg of our journey and the start of 30 days on a floating palace.
Naturally we're looking forward to the experience and seeing all there is to see of Australia, but we are going to miss BKK terribly. I think this is our 7th visit to this city since we first landed in Asia in July 2007 and by far this has been the best stay.
We don't tire of the place, we love the people and the food, there is far too much to do to keep us occupied (or we can do nothing and still have fun) and naturally, the Imm Fusion Hotel goes from strength to strength.
After Oz and NZ (another month bus hopping to see both islands) we will take a detour to Georgetown to pop in to say "hi" and pick up our sixty day Thai tourist visa. We're already looking forward to our return in June...
Twenty Six Straight Days
And yesterday we suffered an outage resulting in a loss of wi-fi access for most of the afternoon. Still, as ever the staff were on it in flash and we seem to be back on line once more.
It was most frustrating as I was in the middle of downloading OpenOffice 3.2 to the Mini HP and it took around two hours to get through the ordeal. Worse, I can't see any differences in the newer version compared to the old. Still, we're back and can hopefully stay this way until we leave on Monday.
It was most frustrating as I was in the middle of downloading OpenOffice 3.2 to the Mini HP and it took around two hours to get through the ordeal. Worse, I can't see any differences in the newer version compared to the old. Still, we're back and can hopefully stay this way until we leave on Monday.
Happy Birthday
To Edy, shivering with cold in the UK and wishing she was out here with us in Thailand. Edy is also the other half of Au Paddy and both are looking forward to moving back to her home country at some point this year.
First round will be on us, folks.
First round will be on us, folks.
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Even to Have Just One
The ten most valuable comic books in the world
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10) Amazing Fantasy No.15 – $280,000
Spider-Man debuted on the cover in August 1960, with the comic book series scheduled for cancellation, but sales proved to be one of Marvel's highest at the time and The Amazing Spider-Man was quickly launched.
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9) Flash Comics No.1 – $289,000
Many DC Comics characters make their first appearances in Flash Comics, including the Flash, Hawkman. This, the first issue, was published in 1940.
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8) More Fun Comics No.52 – $316,000
More Fun was a 1935-1947 American comic book anthology. The No.52 issue introduced The Spectre for the first time.
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7) Batman No.1 – $359,000
Batman had first appeared in the Detective Comics series. The first comic book in his self-titled series, and the first in which Robin appeared, was released in the spring of 1940.
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6) Marvel Comics No.1 – $367,000
Published in October 1939, the first-ever Marvel Comic included the first appearance of Carl Burgos' android superhero the Human Torch.
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5) Detective Comics No.1 – $405,000
Originally an anthology comic, Detective Comics #1 (March 1937) featured stories in the "hard-boiled detective" genre popular. The series went on to feature Batman and Superman.
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4) All-American Comics No.16 – $430,000
Published in 1939, this edition was the first comic book to feature Green Lantern.
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3) Superman No.1 – $671,000
The first comic book dedicated to Superman was published in 1939. Action Comics, in which he previously featured, was an anthology.
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2) Detective Comics No.27 – $1,380,000
The first book to feature Batman. It sold for 10 cents when it was published in 1939.
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1) Action Comics No.1 – $1,390,000
This 1938 issue was the first comic book to feature a superhero of any kind – his name was Superman.
I've got every single Oink! comic from around 198? They are currently worth bugger all...
ABE Continued
A SCOTTISH t-shirt expressing dislike of the England football team could cause morons to say things, experts have warned.
The shirt, which wishes success to 'Anyone But England' in this summer's World Cup, is likely to provoke at least 48 hours of tedious debate about post-devolution British identity and why Scotland needs to grow up.
Experts say the policeman who warned an Aberdeen shopkeeper about displaying the shirt must now take responsibility for the resulting avalanche of bullshit articles and mind-buggering exchanges on Live from Studio Five.
Julian Cook, the Nicky Campbell Professor for the Understanding of Stupid Debates at Reading University, said: "At first you'll get some articles about why the police have to intervene in every single little thing and how this country simply isn't free any more.
"But that will quickly give way to columnists saying 'actually, this incident does raise a serious point about Britain...' when, of course, it doesn't. It just fucking doesn't.
"And by the end of today the BBC will have sent camera crews on to the streets of Glasgow and Coventry to gather up the kind of soul-destroying responses that will lead to yet another traffic spike on French property websites."
He added: "By Friday you may even get a column in the Independent about 'why must the British media analyse absolutely everything?' which will of course be written without even the faintest whiff of self-awareness."
But veteran Daily Telegraph columnist, Denys Hatton, said that while the t-shirt was no doubt meant to be taken in jest, it would inevitably lead to the break up the United Kingdom and generations of blood soaked conflict that will divide families and lay waste to Berwick Upon Tweed.
He added: "When will the prime minister have the guts to accept responsibility for this genocidal 't-shirt' and go back to the land of chippy, drunken, bestial perverts from whence he was puked?"
DMash.
The shirt, which wishes success to 'Anyone But England' in this summer's World Cup, is likely to provoke at least 48 hours of tedious debate about post-devolution British identity and why Scotland needs to grow up.
Experts say the policeman who warned an Aberdeen shopkeeper about displaying the shirt must now take responsibility for the resulting avalanche of bullshit articles and mind-buggering exchanges on Live from Studio Five.
Julian Cook, the Nicky Campbell Professor for the Understanding of Stupid Debates at Reading University, said: "At first you'll get some articles about why the police have to intervene in every single little thing and how this country simply isn't free any more.
"But that will quickly give way to columnists saying 'actually, this incident does raise a serious point about Britain...' when, of course, it doesn't. It just fucking doesn't.
"And by the end of today the BBC will have sent camera crews on to the streets of Glasgow and Coventry to gather up the kind of soul-destroying responses that will lead to yet another traffic spike on French property websites."
He added: "By Friday you may even get a column in the Independent about 'why must the British media analyse absolutely everything?' which will of course be written without even the faintest whiff of self-awareness."
But veteran Daily Telegraph columnist, Denys Hatton, said that while the t-shirt was no doubt meant to be taken in jest, it would inevitably lead to the break up the United Kingdom and generations of blood soaked conflict that will divide families and lay waste to Berwick Upon Tweed.
He added: "When will the prime minister have the guts to accept responsibility for this genocidal 't-shirt' and go back to the land of chippy, drunken, bestial perverts from whence he was puked?"
DMash.
The Better Tale
India arrests Britons for having embarrassingly dull hobby
Two Britons were arrested in India yesterday after admitting that they like to spend their spare time watching aeroplanes from afar and excitedly noting their tail numbers in a series of battered notebooks.
Railway workers Stephen Hampton, 46, and Steven Ayres, 56, both from Bristol, have been released on bail after being charged with boring the living shit out of investigating officers.
An Indian police spokesperson said, “They didn’t even pretend to be doing something exciting like reconnaissance for a terrorist atrocity.”
“In truth, they were actually quite brazen about the banal nature of their true intentions.”
Officials
British officials are said to be doing everything they can to make the arrest sound more interesting before securing the release of Mr Hampton and Mr Ayres.
A Foreign Office spokesperson explained, “We’ve politely suggested that they say they were researching a movie, looking for a kidnapped relative or even planning a complex con on a greedy businessman.”
“But no, time and time again they insist they were merely looking at plane tail numbers and adding those numbers to a long list of plane numbers that they have been collecting for several years.”
India
An Indian Government spokesperson explained the reasons behind the arrest, telling reporters, “We have a large tourism industry to consider, you know.”
“We are a country rich in cultural heritage, with sights, sounds and culinary delights that could change your life, yet these men chose to ignore all that and sit in a hotel writing down a series of plane numbers like a really really boring Rain Man.”
“Having holiday makers choose to do this rather than explore our nation is obviously not an image we are looking to foster.”
“They have made us look boring by association, so yes, unless they come up with a more interesting excuse for spending their entire Indian holiday in a budget hotel room we intend to pursue them to the full extent of the law.”
NArse, of course.
The Real Story
From the BBC:
Stephen Hampton, 46, and Steven Ayres, 56, both from Bristol, have been released on bail after being charged with intercepting communications.
MP Dan Norris said the men had pleaded guilty to a breach under the Telegraph Act, at Patiala House Court in Delhi.
The men cannot leave India and their case has been adjourned until 3rd March.
UK plane-spotters 'admit monitoring aircraft' in India
 The pair sparked suspicion after asking for a hotel room overlooking a runway |
Two British plane-spotters have admitted illegally monitoring aircraft in India, the MP fighting for their return home has said.
Stephen Hampton, 46, and Steven Ayres, 56, both from Bristol, have been released on bail after being charged with intercepting communications.
MP Dan Norris said the men had pleaded guilty to a breach under the Telegraph Act, at Patiala House Court in Delhi.
The men cannot leave India and their case has been adjourned until 3rd March.
Definitely the Real Thing
More Coca-Cola bottles and cans are dropped as litter in the UK than any other brand. A recent study analysed the rubbish dropped around Britain to see what was the most common litter and whether certain brands were disposed of more than others. Coke came out on top with a score of 34%- 7 796 items were picked up in the experiment.
Over and Out for Portsmouth?
Portsmouth Football Club in crisis - Q & A from the BBC. I'm not a Portsmouth fan and indeed, have never even been to the city. Wifey did during one summer as student to find work there to get through uni and to this day it remains a ghastly memory.
However, it is sad when a club faces extinction as Portsmouth do and I copy this piece as the author is a Southend fan. There aren't many around.
"Balram Chainrai, the owner of Portsmouth Football Club, has today served notice that the club will go into administration unless new owners can be found by Friday."
Make no mistake, Pompey fans, that means administration, and, as things stand, it is a best-case scenario.
Tuesday's announcement merely confirmed what most close watchers of Portsmouth's desperate decline have known for some time: the club is down, broke and on the verge of oblivion.
But what does "going into administration" mean? Is this the end of Pompey's pain? And how has this happened to a recently successful team in the world's richest football league?
Chainrai (left) has served notice that the club will go into administration unless new owners can be found by Friday
The answers to these questions are, like everything else at Fratton Park of late, complicated, but, having asked three experts - Danny Davis of Mischon de Reya, SA Law's Guy Thomas and Zolfo Cooper partner Simon Wilson - to explain it to me, I will attempt to shine some dim light on a dark affair.
Excuse the formulaic Q&A style, but it should at least provide some structure to this house of cards.
Q: What is administration?
A: It is not, as many clubs seem to believe, a get-out-of-jail-free card for those who live the dream only to wake up drenched in sweat and deep in debt.
It is, instead, a last resort for companies who find themselves in serious financial straits but might, just, have enough about them to avoid liquidation, which in this case would mean the end of Portsmouth FC as we know it: a fate not witnessed in professional football since Aldershot went to the wall in 1992.
In short, administration allows an insolvent business (one that cannot pay its debts) to carry on trading in the hope/expectation the situation will improve.
Q: How does it work?
A: In the simplest terms, the company, in this case Portsmouth City Football Club Limited, asks the high court to be placed in administration. An administrator, an insolvency practitioner, is then appointed to run the club.
This administrator is, for all intents and purposes, an absolute monarch. He or she will have complete control of Portsmouth's finances and their main objective, nay, duty will be to safeguard the interests of Pompey's creditors (those owed money).
Once in administration, the club will be hit with the Premier League's nine-point penalty (it is one point less than the Football League sanction because there are fewer clubs in the top flight) and the search for fresh investment will intensify.
Q: Who will be the administrator?
A: This is still unclear, but we know it will not be Nick O'Reilly, the man who prepared the club's recent "statement of affairs". This document was the financial reckoning Portsmouth had to submit to court last week and it would have contained all the gory details (debts of £70m, a tax bill of £12m and rising, and a see-the-season-out estimate of £20m), as well as his opinion on the outcomes, in terms of money returned to creditors, of administration and liquidation.
Chainrai either disliked O'Reilly's candour or he balked at his quote, which is believed to have been £1m. This may seem like another professional's attempt to wring money from the club, but it should be remembered an administrator becomes liable for the company's debts and businesses in administration have proved they are not that great at paying those.
To not use the expert who did your statement of affairs as your administrator is unusual and should ring alarm chimes. But then this is the club that pleaded poverty to the other 19 Premier League clubs in January shortly before signing Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and Dusko Tosic.
Q: Why has this happened now?
A: Because Pompey, and all its owners and ex-owners, have run out of more attractive options. The "next idiot" production line is on the blink.
It takes weeks to buy something as complicated as a football club (and that is just the solvent ones) as any prospective new owner would want to know exactly what he or she is buying. In Pompey's case, it is an indebted Championship team in a shabby stadium with almost no corporate seating, a battered credit rating and a murky recent ownership structure. Do not be fooled by talk of talks.
Chainrai, who became a secured creditor when he loaned former owner Ali Al Faraj £17m mortgaged against the ground, has filed form 2.5b with the high court, an intention to appoint an administrator. He has done this because he needs to give two full working days' notice to the other secured creditors (the banks, Barclays and Coutts) as their debts are senior to his in terms of chronology.
Given a choice of purgatory or hell, Chainrai has opted for purgatory. His hand has been forced by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Whereas most other "crisis clubs" have had an element of control about their move into administration, Pompey have been coerced by HMRC's winding-up petition, which was set to be heard again on Monday but should now be dismissed either on Friday or Monday itself.
This does not mean it goes away, though, but I will get back to that.
Q: So this is all the taxman's fault?
A: Erm, well, only if you think paying VAT, PAYE and National Insurance is optional.
The truth of it is the taxman has been pushed around by football clubs for years and is now pushing back. Never happy about clubs' habit of using it as an interest-free overdraft, HMRC lost its "preferred creditor" status with the introduction of the 2002 Enterprise Act.
Fratton Park - the home of Portsmouth
This law, among other things, enshrined administration as a safety net for temporarily stricken businesses. But it also meant HMRC had to join the scrum behind "football creditors" when a club went bust. This principle is not company law but is a football rule and it means millionaire players and other clubs get paid first, the taxman joins the queue.
Throw this country's worst recession since the 1930s into the mix and you have a government agency suddenly very aggressive about being paid its dues. How Pompey got itself into such a hole with HMRC is another question.
Q: OK then, how did that happen?
A: How long have you got? The short answer is a shocking disregard for basic
housekeeping: do not spend more money than you actually have. Portsmouth have been ignoring this one for at least four years.
The slightly longer answer is appalling mismanagement, combined with an arrogant belief that the usual rules do not apply, naked greed and a failure on the part of the authorities to regulate the industry properly.
Some will want to add corruption to this cocktail (and I may, one day, be able to say something about this), but if we are going to go down that road we should also remember our own guilt as co-conspirators: we have all demanded more "ambition" from our clubs but have rarely cared about the cost.
Q: So it's administration, then. It can't get any worse, right?
A: Au contraire, it can still get much worse.
Going into administration means the club is unlikely to face a winding-up petition on Monday. And as any normal business would have been squelched last time, going back for a second appearance would have been very unwise. So this is good news.
But going into administration is one thing; getting out of it is the trick.
Pompey, given the Premier League's fervent desire to avoid any further embarrassment (or the need to remove the club's results from this season's competition), should be able to complete the season. Player sales outside the transfer window will be permitted and TV money advanced. In the parlance, the company should be "cash positive" for the next few months.
The crunch, however, arrives this summer when the wage bill keeps coming (£3m a month, including tax...and Pompey will have to start paying that) but the gate receipts are not.
Without outside investment - in the form of a new owner - the administrator will find it hard to look the Football League in the eye and say: "Yes, we can fulfil next season's fixtures."
The administrator will also be expected to extricate himself via a "company voluntary arrangement" (CVA). As the name suggests, this is a deal between the creditors to accept a new schedule of payments and less money.
A CVA requires the backing of 75% of the creditors, based on amounts owed, and usually run for one to five years. This places a huge burden on the business, but a failure to agree one will see further point-penalties from the Football League. Oh, and HMRC almost always votes against them in football cases.
So I'm sorry to be the bearer of sad tidings (I'm a Southend United fan, so I would be a fool to gloat), but I thought somebody should tell you straight.
If you want to get into more detail about all this - "floating charges", misfeasance, the Insolvency Act 1986, Leeds United/Luton Town and so on - I'm happy to dig out my notes and try to answer your questions. But let's be honest about this, the people who really know what's happening/happened at Pompey aren't talking yet. Until they do (if they do), it's educated guesswork.
However, it is sad when a club faces extinction as Portsmouth do and I copy this piece as the author is a Southend fan. There aren't many around.
"Balram Chainrai, the owner of Portsmouth Football Club, has today served notice that the club will go into administration unless new owners can be found by Friday."
Make no mistake, Pompey fans, that means administration, and, as things stand, it is a best-case scenario.
Tuesday's announcement merely confirmed what most close watchers of Portsmouth's desperate decline have known for some time: the club is down, broke and on the verge of oblivion.
But what does "going into administration" mean? Is this the end of Pompey's pain? And how has this happened to a recently successful team in the world's richest football league?
Chainrai (left) has served notice that the club will go into administration unless new owners can be found by Friday
The answers to these questions are, like everything else at Fratton Park of late, complicated, but, having asked three experts - Danny Davis of Mischon de Reya, SA Law's Guy Thomas and Zolfo Cooper partner Simon Wilson - to explain it to me, I will attempt to shine some dim light on a dark affair.
Excuse the formulaic Q&A style, but it should at least provide some structure to this house of cards.
Q: What is administration?
A: It is not, as many clubs seem to believe, a get-out-of-jail-free card for those who live the dream only to wake up drenched in sweat and deep in debt.
It is, instead, a last resort for companies who find themselves in serious financial straits but might, just, have enough about them to avoid liquidation, which in this case would mean the end of Portsmouth FC as we know it: a fate not witnessed in professional football since Aldershot went to the wall in 1992.
In short, administration allows an insolvent business (one that cannot pay its debts) to carry on trading in the hope/expectation the situation will improve.
Q: How does it work?
A: In the simplest terms, the company, in this case Portsmouth City Football Club Limited, asks the high court to be placed in administration. An administrator, an insolvency practitioner, is then appointed to run the club.
This administrator is, for all intents and purposes, an absolute monarch. He or she will have complete control of Portsmouth's finances and their main objective, nay, duty will be to safeguard the interests of Pompey's creditors (those owed money).
Once in administration, the club will be hit with the Premier League's nine-point penalty (it is one point less than the Football League sanction because there are fewer clubs in the top flight) and the search for fresh investment will intensify.
Q: Who will be the administrator?
A: This is still unclear, but we know it will not be Nick O'Reilly, the man who prepared the club's recent "statement of affairs". This document was the financial reckoning Portsmouth had to submit to court last week and it would have contained all the gory details (debts of £70m, a tax bill of £12m and rising, and a see-the-season-out estimate of £20m), as well as his opinion on the outcomes, in terms of money returned to creditors, of administration and liquidation.
Chainrai either disliked O'Reilly's candour or he balked at his quote, which is believed to have been £1m. This may seem like another professional's attempt to wring money from the club, but it should be remembered an administrator becomes liable for the company's debts and businesses in administration have proved they are not that great at paying those.
To not use the expert who did your statement of affairs as your administrator is unusual and should ring alarm chimes. But then this is the club that pleaded poverty to the other 19 Premier League clubs in January shortly before signing Quincy Owusu-Abeyie and Dusko Tosic.
Q: Why has this happened now?
A: Because Pompey, and all its owners and ex-owners, have run out of more attractive options. The "next idiot" production line is on the blink.
It takes weeks to buy something as complicated as a football club (and that is just the solvent ones) as any prospective new owner would want to know exactly what he or she is buying. In Pompey's case, it is an indebted Championship team in a shabby stadium with almost no corporate seating, a battered credit rating and a murky recent ownership structure. Do not be fooled by talk of talks.
Chainrai, who became a secured creditor when he loaned former owner Ali Al Faraj £17m mortgaged against the ground, has filed form 2.5b with the high court, an intention to appoint an administrator. He has done this because he needs to give two full working days' notice to the other secured creditors (the banks, Barclays and Coutts) as their debts are senior to his in terms of chronology.
Given a choice of purgatory or hell, Chainrai has opted for purgatory. His hand has been forced by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Whereas most other "crisis clubs" have had an element of control about their move into administration, Pompey have been coerced by HMRC's winding-up petition, which was set to be heard again on Monday but should now be dismissed either on Friday or Monday itself.
This does not mean it goes away, though, but I will get back to that.
Q: So this is all the taxman's fault?
A: Erm, well, only if you think paying VAT, PAYE and National Insurance is optional.
The truth of it is the taxman has been pushed around by football clubs for years and is now pushing back. Never happy about clubs' habit of using it as an interest-free overdraft, HMRC lost its "preferred creditor" status with the introduction of the 2002 Enterprise Act.
Fratton Park - the home of Portsmouth
This law, among other things, enshrined administration as a safety net for temporarily stricken businesses. But it also meant HMRC had to join the scrum behind "football creditors" when a club went bust. This principle is not company law but is a football rule and it means millionaire players and other clubs get paid first, the taxman joins the queue.
Throw this country's worst recession since the 1930s into the mix and you have a government agency suddenly very aggressive about being paid its dues. How Pompey got itself into such a hole with HMRC is another question.
Q: OK then, how did that happen?
A: How long have you got? The short answer is a shocking disregard for basic
housekeeping: do not spend more money than you actually have. Portsmouth have been ignoring this one for at least four years.
The slightly longer answer is appalling mismanagement, combined with an arrogant belief that the usual rules do not apply, naked greed and a failure on the part of the authorities to regulate the industry properly.
Some will want to add corruption to this cocktail (and I may, one day, be able to say something about this), but if we are going to go down that road we should also remember our own guilt as co-conspirators: we have all demanded more "ambition" from our clubs but have rarely cared about the cost.
Q: So it's administration, then. It can't get any worse, right?
A: Au contraire, it can still get much worse.
Going into administration means the club is unlikely to face a winding-up petition on Monday. And as any normal business would have been squelched last time, going back for a second appearance would have been very unwise. So this is good news.
But going into administration is one thing; getting out of it is the trick.
Pompey, given the Premier League's fervent desire to avoid any further embarrassment (or the need to remove the club's results from this season's competition), should be able to complete the season. Player sales outside the transfer window will be permitted and TV money advanced. In the parlance, the company should be "cash positive" for the next few months.
The crunch, however, arrives this summer when the wage bill keeps coming (£3m a month, including tax...and Pompey will have to start paying that) but the gate receipts are not.
Without outside investment - in the form of a new owner - the administrator will find it hard to look the Football League in the eye and say: "Yes, we can fulfil next season's fixtures."
The administrator will also be expected to extricate himself via a "company voluntary arrangement" (CVA). As the name suggests, this is a deal between the creditors to accept a new schedule of payments and less money.
A CVA requires the backing of 75% of the creditors, based on amounts owed, and usually run for one to five years. This places a huge burden on the business, but a failure to agree one will see further point-penalties from the Football League. Oh, and HMRC almost always votes against them in football cases.
So I'm sorry to be the bearer of sad tidings (I'm a Southend United fan, so I would be a fool to gloat), but I thought somebody should tell you straight.
If you want to get into more detail about all this - "floating charges", misfeasance, the Insolvency Act 1986, Leeds United/Luton Town and so on - I'm happy to dig out my notes and try to answer your questions. But let's be honest about this, the people who really know what's happening/happened at Pompey aren't talking yet. Until they do (if they do), it's educated guesswork.
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