"China earthquake is karma" - Sharon Stone

I'm not the biggest fan of China's government - I think they could do more around human rights. In fairness I'm not Gordon Brown's biggest fan either and don't even get me started on Clinton.

All of that said I have a new candidate to be taken off to a Chinese labour camp. Step forward "actress" Sharon Stone.

The earthquake in China has been a human tragedy - No-one could or should doubt that. The people killed (including so many children) don't make policy decisions and probably couldn't even find Tibet or Burma on a map - They live their lives day to day, and are PEOPLE just like us who still have homes, loved ones and jobs.

And then their world changed forver.

While I don't want to give this woman the oxygen of publicity or even invite people to think that her comments in some way make any sense I have a link the video here.

I can't quite believe I am actually typing these words,

"I've been concerned about how should we deal with the Olympics, because they are not being nice to the Dalai Lama, who is a good friend of mine," she said. "And then all this earthquake and all this stuff happened, and I thought, is that karma - when you're not nice that the bad things happen to you?"

Making this comment can surely only add to the misery experienced by so many people who in no way deserve criticism. Shame on this woman for her comments and society for letting her open her mouth. Taping it shut would be Karma. Ahmen.

Australia - You don't deserve the Queen!

Ah Australia. You don't want the Queen as the head of your state, oh no. You need a leader, someone fearless, up to date, a man of the people, a figurehead for Australia to the world.

Indeed.

And here is candidate number 1:

Aussie straps in beer, not child
Alice Springs, Northern Territory

A car driver in Australia has been fined for strapping down his beer rather than his young child. Police said they were "shocked and appalled" when they pulled over the car south of Alice Springs in Australia's Northern Territory.

They said the 30-can pack of beer was strapped down between two adults in the back, with the five-year-old child unrestrained on the floor. The driver was handed a fine of A$750 (US$709; £362).

The fine was for failing to ensure a child was wearing a seatbelt as well as driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.

Read more here

Note: I am not enjoying this story at all. Really not a bit.

My new work for Cathay Pacific

Just released a new site today and I think it is one of the most innovative sites that I have worked on. A very good effort (no amazing) by the agency, McCann to get this out on time.

The site enables you to take a full virtual tour of an entire 777 Jumbo Cathay plane. You can see all the seats and interact with the VOD (ect ect.)

This project was a chance to show what can be done if you have the will to go to over 50 component suppliers (including Boeing!) and hundreds of man-hours. Of course a few $$ helps as well. This site is built in Flash 9 on the latest technology.

The Cyber Lion is in the bag.

See the site here and you can even win a chance to come to Hong Kong and fly in a simulator with a pilot. Pretty cool all in (even if I do say so myself.)

www.cathaypacific.com/experience

Porsche...

What a day. Been a long week at work (that I didn't need) and its starting to get hotter than Hades in Hong Kong, which makes it a nice surprise when you get a Porsche.

So thanks to Fi and B for making a great day and reminding me that while I may not have the car yet and while the day job occasionally gets me down there is something at the end of the journey.

Speaking of which, I have two dogs and a wife to take in that car one day...

You can see it on my front page here

A great day for London...

This is a fine day for London and a fine day for the UK. Yes, as hoped Boris is in power and red Ken has been kicked out.

Finally.

All I have to say on the matter. Almost tempted to go home. Almost...

My photographic exhibition in Hong Kong

Sunday saw the launch of a great Hong Kong based film by Angie Chan, "This darling Life" and my photos are being exhibited in support of the film.

Loads of celebs turned up and there were plenty of photographers there which felt odd as I am usually the one on the other side of the camera.

Great though to have all my photos out there and being seen by so many people in Hong Kong. Lots of compliments (which was very much appreciated.)

Who would have thought a year ago I would be working for Cathay Pacific, living in Hong Kong and attending my own photographic exhibition?

Not bad for a first year... Not bad at all. You call see all the photos here

China's Olympic dream in tatters?

With credit/thanks to Spike for this:

... I'll say it again. The hatred many have for America and American policies will pale compared to what we think of China in the next 10 years if stories like this continue.

But here is the rub of the Olympics and the Internet in general is that of course many Chinese people are misrepresented, but attacking people on protest marches has very bad connotations and isn't doing the Chinese brand any good.

From the NY Times:

Thousands of young Chinese assembled to defend their country’s troubled Olympic torch relay pushed through police lines on Sunday, some of them hurling rocks, bottled water and plastic and steel pipes at protesters demanding better treatment for North Korean refugees in China.

When lone protesters demanded that China stop repatriating North Korean refugees, they were quickly surrounded by jeering Chinese. Near the park, Chinese students surrounded and beat a small group of protesters, news reports said.

In another scuffle, at the city center where the five-hour torch run ended, Chinese surrounded several Tibetans and South Korean supporters who unfurled pro-Tibet banners, and kicked and punched them, witnesses said.

The largest scuffle erupted shortly after the first torch-bearer left the Olympic Park, surrounded by dozens of police officers on foot or on bicycles and hundreds more in buses and trailed by a water cannon, ambulances and helicopters circling overhead.

Many of the Chinese gathered at the park surged toward about 150 protesters, mostly elderly South Koreans and North Korean defectors, who were shouting “No human rights, no Olympics” from across a boulevard.

Welcome to China's media

From CNN.com, a report that the Chinese government will meet with a representative of the Dalai Lama.

In the CNN story is this quote from the Dalai Lama's secretary, Tenzin Takhla:

"His Holiness, since March 10th, has made every effort to reach out to the Chinese leadership.

"He has long said: 'The only way we can solve our differences is with face-to-face dialog.'"

CNN also carries a quote from a nameless Chinese government official, taken from a terse Xinhua report that is apparently the source of the story:

"It is hoped that through contact and consultation, the Dalai side will take credible moves to stop activities aimed at splitting China, stop plotting and inciting violence and stop disrupting and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games so as to create conditions for talks."

Quite a difference in tone there, with the Chinese striking a conspicuously aggressive stance. I'm afraid that the contrast will leave western audiences as sympathetic as ever to the Dalai Lama. But of course, that can always be attributed to CNN's "biased reporting".