Potatoes, golden fried, crispy outside, melting inside. Soft and creamy, mashed with milk and black pepper. Small, boiled and pale, with poppy seeds, sesame oil, boiled eggs and chopped tomatoes. Stewed and warm, on the verge of being tipped into the chicken casserole.
Sweet potatoes, deep orange, caramelised after an hour in the oven and oozing honey scent. Shredded and turned into exotic chips. Pearly white and stuffed into pastry for childhood cakes.
Spuds, patates, pommes-de-terre, potatoes, potah-toes, the most earthy food, the most homely food :)
July 24, 2006
July 17, 2006
The foolishness of humans
It starts with a country that lacks control on the guerilla forces within its boundaries.
The Lebanese government does not control the Hezbollah. The Hezbollah practically rules Southern Lebanon and is widely credited for Israel’s withdrawal from Southern Lebanon in 2000, earning itself mass popularity among the Lebanese. Its “civilian” wing is a minority party in government, whilst its “military” wing operates missiles and drones.
And so when Hezbollah’s military wing decides to kidnap two Israeli soldiers on July 12 to use them as pawns for a prisoner exchange, they set up the beginning of a new Israel-Lebanon crisis taking place right now.
The beautiful country that is Lebanon is now suffering for what its guerilla forces have brought upon it. Israel has the perfect excuse to bomb the whole country. Again.
Where is the line drawn between an Israeli state that has to defend itself, a Lebanese state that has prisoners of an unjust war rotting in jails in Israel and governments that have abdicated in the face of a powerless Security Council hijacked by the US?
The Lebanese government does not control the Hezbollah. The Hezbollah practically rules Southern Lebanon and is widely credited for Israel’s withdrawal from Southern Lebanon in 2000, earning itself mass popularity among the Lebanese. Its “civilian” wing is a minority party in government, whilst its “military” wing operates missiles and drones.
And so when Hezbollah’s military wing decides to kidnap two Israeli soldiers on July 12 to use them as pawns for a prisoner exchange, they set up the beginning of a new Israel-Lebanon crisis taking place right now.
The beautiful country that is Lebanon is now suffering for what its guerilla forces have brought upon it. Israel has the perfect excuse to bomb the whole country. Again.
Where is the line drawn between an Israeli state that has to defend itself, a Lebanese state that has prisoners of an unjust war rotting in jails in Israel and governments that have abdicated in the face of a powerless Security Council hijacked by the US?
July 10, 2006
What makes a man lose his calm like this?
Zidane has given other demonstrations of frustration in the past, also translated by head-butting. In the end, Man keeps trying to control the world outside more and more, when the real challenge is actually getting a grip on oneself inside.
I love Zidane, although I'm less fervent about the French team. He would have deserved better had he known how to rein in his temper. We still don't know what it was, but it's likely a combination of deep provocation and pent-up frustration at not scoring earlier. None of which mattered once he was sitting in the changing rooms ruing his gesture.
And that's the tragedy of it: plus tard, c'est trop tard.
Zidane has given other demonstrations of frustration in the past, also translated by head-butting. In the end, Man keeps trying to control the world outside more and more, when the real challenge is actually getting a grip on oneself inside.
I love Zidane, although I'm less fervent about the French team. He would have deserved better had he known how to rein in his temper. We still don't know what it was, but it's likely a combination of deep provocation and pent-up frustration at not scoring earlier. None of which mattered once he was sitting in the changing rooms ruing his gesture.
And that's the tragedy of it: plus tard, c'est trop tard.
July 08, 2006
Consuming is not a civic duty
This Guardian article is about two people who decided to cut off from the consumerist folly for a year. I am no stranger to impulse-buying or splurging, but I believe there's something in this story for everyone. There should be no internal or external compulsion to buy. And we need less than we think.
Some excerpts:
-Judith Levine, "Bye buy", The Guardian, Saturday July 8, 2006
Some excerpts:
In New York, only a day after the towers fell, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani counselled his trembling constituents to "show you're not afraid. Go to restaurants. Go shopping." When the world's people asked how they could help, he responded, "Come here and spend money." Shopping became a patriotic duty. Buy that flat-screen TV, our leaders commanded, or the terrorists will have won."
This is freedom? I asked myself. This is democracy?"
But, I ask myself, can a person have a social, community or family life, a business, a connection to the culture, an identity, even a self, outside the realm of purchased things and experiences?"
Consumption is an exercise in hope - hope for more happiness, more beauty, more status, more fun."
Fashion depends as much on repulsion as attraction. At the turn of the 20th century, Veblen described the way in which "the best of our fashions strike us as grotesque" a few months past their prime. He called the phenomenon "aesthetic nausea"."
-Judith Levine, "Bye buy", The Guardian, Saturday July 8, 2006
July 05, 2006
Thai monks mix Buddha with Beckham
by Kate McGeown, BBC News, Bangkok
Like billions of other people around the world, 25-year-old Phra Prawit is avidly following the World Cup - and especially his favourite team, France.
On the other side of Bangkok, 28-year-old England fan Pramaha Preecha is equally addicted to the beautiful game.
But Prawit, Preecha and their football-mad friends have a problem: they are Buddhist monks and have to be awake at 5 am every morning to collect alms from the local community.
Because of the six-hour time difference between Germany and Thailand, many matches do not start until the early hours of the morning, and since the World Cup began there have been reports of monks sleeping in, leaving local Buddhists waiting in vain with their morning offerings.
One report in the Nation newspaper cited an angry woman in the city of Chiang Mai who said her birthday celebrations had been ruined because she arrived at a temple with her carefully-prepared alms, only to find that most monks were still in bed.
But Prawit and Preecha know where their priorities lie. Despite their allegiance to the football, they rarely stay up past midnight.
"I watched some football the other night, but I fell asleep after 15 minutes," said Preecha. "I had to follow up what had happened the next morning."
His friend Phra Phitak has an established World Cup routine. "I get up early, meditate and collect alms. But as soon as I get back to the temple for breakfast, I turn on the TV or check the internet to find out the score from the previous night's match."
Football fever
The issue of whether monks should be allowed to watch football has been a topic of debate in Thailand over the last few weeks, with the subject featuring in newspaper reports and TV chat shows.
After all, Cambodian monks have apparently been asked to steer clear.
The chief monk in the capital, Phnom Penh, told the French news agency AFP that monks found watching the World Cup should be kicked out of their temples.
In Thailand, though, it appears the consensus of opinion is that monks should be able to follow Beckham as well as Buddha - as long as they don't take their passion for football to an excessive level.
One senior abbot I spoke to, Pramaha Grissana, said: "Some Thai Buddhists don't want monks to watch the football, as they think we should be separate from the lives of laymen. Personally, though, I think it's fine."
In any case, it is hard to prevent young Thai monks supporting a sport that the rest of Thailand is obsessed with. Their country might not be in the competition, but that has not stopped Thais from following every free kick, red card and own goal of the 2006 World Cup.
Bars showing the football are packed to capacity whenever a match is on, and according to one research centre, Kasikorn, Thai people will wager up to $1bn on the tournament, despite the fact that gambling is illegal.
Average Thai citizens think nothing of watching into the small hours of the morning.
"I've seen every single match," said 32-year-old Brazil supporter Protpinan Buranayooyti proudly. "I've specially kept some of my holiday allowance, so I can take some days off work and not get too tired."
So it's not surprising that while temples may be places of sanctuary from the outside world, even they are not completely free of the all-pervasive love of football.
In Pariwas temple, where Phra Prawit lives, the monks have taken this one step further. A golden statue of David Beckham - forever immortalised with his late 90s-era floppy hairstyle - is nestled among the Buddha images.
Since it was created in 1998, the statue has become a tourist attraction, but the temple's monks are non-plussed by all the interest.
"Beckham's all right," said Brazil supporter Phra Phitak, busy washing bright orange robes outside the temple, "but personally I think Ronaldhino is a better player."
Red card on excitement
The one stipulation that senior Thai Buddhists agree on when it comes to the World Cup is that monks should not become too emotional when they watch their teams play.
"It's not good for monks to shout and get too excited," said abbot Pramaha Grissana.
"It's not the Buddhist way - we should be calm and take things slowly."
His colleague, Phra Pornchai, agreed. "I'm supporting Germany, but I've been a monk for a long time and I've learnt not to get emotional. If Germany win, I'll be happy, but if not I will accept it."
"I support my team in a quiet way," added Pramaha Suriya, "But it's difficult, because my temple is near Khao San Road [the main centre for foreign backpackers] and I can hear people yelling and shouting when the matches are on."
As the World Cup final approaches, there is little doubt that monks throughout Thailand will be glued to their screens.
But the question is - unlike the rest of the world's football fans - can they contain their emotions at the result?
Story from BBC NEWS
© BBC MMVI
Like billions of other people around the world, 25-year-old Phra Prawit is avidly following the World Cup - and especially his favourite team, France.
On the other side of Bangkok, 28-year-old England fan Pramaha Preecha is equally addicted to the beautiful game.
But Prawit, Preecha and their football-mad friends have a problem: they are Buddhist monks and have to be awake at 5 am every morning to collect alms from the local community.
Because of the six-hour time difference between Germany and Thailand, many matches do not start until the early hours of the morning, and since the World Cup began there have been reports of monks sleeping in, leaving local Buddhists waiting in vain with their morning offerings.
One report in the Nation newspaper cited an angry woman in the city of Chiang Mai who said her birthday celebrations had been ruined because she arrived at a temple with her carefully-prepared alms, only to find that most monks were still in bed.
But Prawit and Preecha know where their priorities lie. Despite their allegiance to the football, they rarely stay up past midnight.
"I watched some football the other night, but I fell asleep after 15 minutes," said Preecha. "I had to follow up what had happened the next morning."
His friend Phra Phitak has an established World Cup routine. "I get up early, meditate and collect alms. But as soon as I get back to the temple for breakfast, I turn on the TV or check the internet to find out the score from the previous night's match."
Football fever
The issue of whether monks should be allowed to watch football has been a topic of debate in Thailand over the last few weeks, with the subject featuring in newspaper reports and TV chat shows.
After all, Cambodian monks have apparently been asked to steer clear.
The chief monk in the capital, Phnom Penh, told the French news agency AFP that monks found watching the World Cup should be kicked out of their temples.
In Thailand, though, it appears the consensus of opinion is that monks should be able to follow Beckham as well as Buddha - as long as they don't take their passion for football to an excessive level.
One senior abbot I spoke to, Pramaha Grissana, said: "Some Thai Buddhists don't want monks to watch the football, as they think we should be separate from the lives of laymen. Personally, though, I think it's fine."
In any case, it is hard to prevent young Thai monks supporting a sport that the rest of Thailand is obsessed with. Their country might not be in the competition, but that has not stopped Thais from following every free kick, red card and own goal of the 2006 World Cup.
Bars showing the football are packed to capacity whenever a match is on, and according to one research centre, Kasikorn, Thai people will wager up to $1bn on the tournament, despite the fact that gambling is illegal.
Average Thai citizens think nothing of watching into the small hours of the morning.
"I've seen every single match," said 32-year-old Brazil supporter Protpinan Buranayooyti proudly. "I've specially kept some of my holiday allowance, so I can take some days off work and not get too tired."
So it's not surprising that while temples may be places of sanctuary from the outside world, even they are not completely free of the all-pervasive love of football.
In Pariwas temple, where Phra Prawit lives, the monks have taken this one step further. A golden statue of David Beckham - forever immortalised with his late 90s-era floppy hairstyle - is nestled among the Buddha images.
Since it was created in 1998, the statue has become a tourist attraction, but the temple's monks are non-plussed by all the interest.
"Beckham's all right," said Brazil supporter Phra Phitak, busy washing bright orange robes outside the temple, "but personally I think Ronaldhino is a better player."
Red card on excitement
The one stipulation that senior Thai Buddhists agree on when it comes to the World Cup is that monks should not become too emotional when they watch their teams play.
"It's not good for monks to shout and get too excited," said abbot Pramaha Grissana.
"It's not the Buddhist way - we should be calm and take things slowly."
His colleague, Phra Pornchai, agreed. "I'm supporting Germany, but I've been a monk for a long time and I've learnt not to get emotional. If Germany win, I'll be happy, but if not I will accept it."
"I support my team in a quiet way," added Pramaha Suriya, "But it's difficult, because my temple is near Khao San Road [the main centre for foreign backpackers] and I can hear people yelling and shouting when the matches are on."
As the World Cup final approaches, there is little doubt that monks throughout Thailand will be glued to their screens.
But the question is - unlike the rest of the world's football fans - can they contain their emotions at the result?
Story from BBC NEWS
© BBC MMVI
July 04, 2006
Surprise at the Final?
Oh well! England is out. Outer than out. Any comment on that one can only unearth miserable feelings.
I certainly hope the Germans beat the Squadra Azzura to a pulp today. Hopefully the Italians' reputation for simulation is well known enough that they won't get any random penalties from the referee, that is, if they haven't already bought him off! (See Italian match-fixing scandal.)
And what now of the Final? I'd go with Germany against France. The second semi-final will depend on how resilient France is. As for who will win the Cup, all the bets are open now.
I certainly hope the Germans beat the Squadra Azzura to a pulp today. Hopefully the Italians' reputation for simulation is well known enough that they won't get any random penalties from the referee, that is, if they haven't already bought him off! (See Italian match-fixing scandal.)
And what now of the Final? I'd go with Germany against France. The second semi-final will depend on how resilient France is. As for who will win the Cup, all the bets are open now.
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