I've written several times previously about the nature of democracy in Singapore. Generally, this topic comes up when I visit the city-state since that is when I can get an in-person taste for what democratic freedom amounts to there.
The Economist has published a pretty spot-on account how things work there. I encourage you all to read it since it's short and it'll give you an idea of what I mean by a democratically elected benevolent dictatorship.
Just to recap, I think Singapore's ruling party, the People's Action party (PAP) has done a great job at ensuring the the country continues to move forward. Additionally, they continue to find a way to toe the line between control of everything and the resulting grumbling from folks who dislike the lack of American style freedoms.
In practice, I think most of SGP's population could care less about freedoms as long as they are able to live a comfortable life in relatively efficient world. The PAP has realized this (or more correctly, created this attitude) and caters to it on a daily basis. In the end, I think most people operate in that fashion whether it's in SGP or in the USA.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Monday, May 08, 2006
Two words for every brand
Forgive my usual stupid pun in the title (a free photo for the first person who knows the reference)
So since last year have you been noticing that much of the consumer goods you get the store have things written in two languages? Considering that we're in California, one would expect the two languages to be English & Spanish. Afterall, the vast majority of the population speaks one of those two languages fluently.
But as you've probably figured out, the second language we see is not Spanish, but French.
Why French? Because the Quebecois are uppity like that. Now, don't go thinking I'm a French hater. I actually took 4+ years of French classes and I think the French bring a lot to the cultural table (if nothing else). But despite all they bring to the table in terms of cuisine, culture, and art, the French seem to have this inferiority complex when it comes to the English language and especially Americans. Quebecois seem to have this same issue.
And thus you get the French Language Charter, which, among other things, requires that all consumer products to be labelled in French to the same degree that they are in English (or any other language I suppose). If you're in Quebec and love you some French, this seems fine, but when you're in the one of the most highly Hispanic regions of the United States? Useless. Even worse, it takes away from the table.
While English is the main language in this country and I think every person in the US should have working knowledge of the language, let's admit that not everyone knows English. While there certainly is no reason to require any language on any package, if there were to be additional languages on packaging, it should be Spanish. No questions.
But here we are with this stupid French-Canadian law that forces me to read French every time I go to buy household items.
Why? Because the people who make my air freshner make the same stuff for our northern neighbors and it's simpler for them to have a single package for the entire market. No sense in creating totally separate packaging for a mere 7 million people so they just make a single package. And so 300 million Americans get to read French on a daily basis.
Anyways, I've been thinking about posting about this forever, but I finally did it because I saw the new air freshner my wife picked up yesterday. Lo and behold...no French! In fact, Glade was smart enough to put Spanish on the packaging in addition to English. I'm sure the millions of Spanish speaking people in this state and others will appreciate a major brand recognizing and tailoring their products to them.
Fuck the Quebecois, dude. I'd much rather deal with a little Spanish on my household items because it serves this community in a much more significant way.
So since last year have you been noticing that much of the consumer goods you get the store have things written in two languages? Considering that we're in California, one would expect the two languages to be English & Spanish. Afterall, the vast majority of the population speaks one of those two languages fluently.
But as you've probably figured out, the second language we see is not Spanish, but French.
Why French? Because the Quebecois are uppity like that. Now, don't go thinking I'm a French hater. I actually took 4+ years of French classes and I think the French bring a lot to the cultural table (if nothing else). But despite all they bring to the table in terms of cuisine, culture, and art, the French seem to have this inferiority complex when it comes to the English language and especially Americans. Quebecois seem to have this same issue.
And thus you get the French Language Charter, which, among other things, requires that all consumer products to be labelled in French to the same degree that they are in English (or any other language I suppose). If you're in Quebec and love you some French, this seems fine, but when you're in the one of the most highly Hispanic regions of the United States? Useless. Even worse, it takes away from the table.
While English is the main language in this country and I think every person in the US should have working knowledge of the language, let's admit that not everyone knows English. While there certainly is no reason to require any language on any package, if there were to be additional languages on packaging, it should be Spanish. No questions.
But here we are with this stupid French-Canadian law that forces me to read French every time I go to buy household items.
Why? Because the people who make my air freshner make the same stuff for our northern neighbors and it's simpler for them to have a single package for the entire market. No sense in creating totally separate packaging for a mere 7 million people so they just make a single package. And so 300 million Americans get to read French on a daily basis.
Anyways, I've been thinking about posting about this forever, but I finally did it because I saw the new air freshner my wife picked up yesterday. Lo and behold...no French! In fact, Glade was smart enough to put Spanish on the packaging in addition to English. I'm sure the millions of Spanish speaking people in this state and others will appreciate a major brand recognizing and tailoring their products to them.
Fuck the Quebecois, dude. I'd much rather deal with a little Spanish on my household items because it serves this community in a much more significant way.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Back in Blak
I meant to post this last week after a trip to Safeway, but what can I say? I'm forgetful.
Anyways, we were in Safeway and I walked by the cold single serve beverages in the back (you know, just in case you need a mixer for the fifth of rum you're buying).
First thoughts: This photo kind of sucks. My new cell phone is really cool, but the photos it takes aren't nearly as nice as I'd like.
Second thoughts: Coke Blak? Huh?
If you recall my wrap-up posts from my recent trip to Singapore, I found and consumed a can of Pepsi Tarik, which is a mix of cola & coffee. As you can review, I wasn't blown away. At that time I found some news that Coke would be releasing something in France and lo-and-behold, I just found a bunch of bottles at Safeway!
While the bottle is intriguing (it's a metal bottle wrapped in plastic sheathing), based on my experience with Pepsi Tarik, I wasn't intrigued enough to grab a bottle and get lit up with caffeine.
Now that I've blogged about it, I might just drop by the market and grab a bottle. I'll keep you all updated since I know you're sitting on the edge of your collective seats.
Anyways, we were in Safeway and I walked by the cold single serve beverages in the back (you know, just in case you need a mixer for the fifth of rum you're buying).First thoughts: This photo kind of sucks. My new cell phone is really cool, but the photos it takes aren't nearly as nice as I'd like.
Second thoughts: Coke Blak? Huh?
If you recall my wrap-up posts from my recent trip to Singapore, I found and consumed a can of Pepsi Tarik, which is a mix of cola & coffee. As you can review, I wasn't blown away. At that time I found some news that Coke would be releasing something in France and lo-and-behold, I just found a bunch of bottles at Safeway!
While the bottle is intriguing (it's a metal bottle wrapped in plastic sheathing), based on my experience with Pepsi Tarik, I wasn't intrigued enough to grab a bottle and get lit up with caffeine.
Now that I've blogged about it, I might just drop by the market and grab a bottle. I'll keep you all updated since I know you're sitting on the edge of your collective seats.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Soul-Full
The other while driving I saw a car in front of me I saw a station wagon with a bumper sticker that said "Drum Machines Have No Soul". I started to wonder what type of music the person didn't like. New Wave? R&B? Hip Hop?
I then started to wonder what type of the music the person DID like. Hard Rock? Classic rock? Maybe the bumper sticker was supposed to be ironic and the person actually liked New Wave music?
Since this was the only sticker on the car, I was very perplexed and thought about it for much longer than I needed to.
So coincidentally, I listened to a lot of Depeche Mode this weekend while painting our new house. I had downloaded a DM discography a while back and had yet to listen through stuff. So I just loaded up iTunes and had it set to random.
DM was the first band I really obsessed over. And yes, I admit that :) While I don't really like or listen to any of their newer stuff, running through a few dozen of their tracks over the weekend really took me back to when Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, at al were gods to me. Man, as far as music went, DM was it and nothing could beat their keyboards and drum machines.
It was only near the end of the day that I recalled that bumper sticker and had to smirk. Here I was remembering my spiked hair, rolled pant cuffs, pastel shirts and dopey glasses. And man, was that music full of soul.
I then started to wonder what type of the music the person DID like. Hard Rock? Classic rock? Maybe the bumper sticker was supposed to be ironic and the person actually liked New Wave music?
Since this was the only sticker on the car, I was very perplexed and thought about it for much longer than I needed to.
So coincidentally, I listened to a lot of Depeche Mode this weekend while painting our new house. I had downloaded a DM discography a while back and had yet to listen through stuff. So I just loaded up iTunes and had it set to random.
DM was the first band I really obsessed over. And yes, I admit that :) While I don't really like or listen to any of their newer stuff, running through a few dozen of their tracks over the weekend really took me back to when Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, at al were gods to me. Man, as far as music went, DM was it and nothing could beat their keyboards and drum machines.
It was only near the end of the day that I recalled that bumper sticker and had to smirk. Here I was remembering my spiked hair, rolled pant cuffs, pastel shirts and dopey glasses. And man, was that music full of soul.
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