Winchester whisperer
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Translation of the day
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodZzhBA6k6ECMimw_VzraFal_2j8FORvzXsdoBiFiegpPlM9OyLyIjLk5OUIY5NJzwQzHQVH82emQ1Kh5fmxKLDpOHVTMUDOF7wPKhTn16G1z7gWV2f1AxaIOC3qGkDQdA6M8/s400/jabber1.gif)
Der Jammerwoch
Es brillig war. Die schlichte Toven
Wirrten und wimmelten in Waben;
Und aller-mümsige Burggoven
Die mohmen Räth' ausgraben.
»Bewahre doch vor Jammerwoch!
Die Zähne knirschen, Krallen kratzen!
Bewahr' vor Jubjub-Vogel, vor
Frumiösen Banderschntzchen!«
Er griff sein vorpals Schwertchen zu,
Er suchte lang das manchsan' Ding;
Dann, stehend unterm Tumtum Baum,
Er an-zu-denken-fing.
Als stand er tief in Andacht auf,
Des Jammerwochen's Augen-feuer
Durch tulgen Wald mit Wiffek kam
Ein burbelnd Ungeheuer!
Eins, Zwei! Eins, Zwei! Und durch und durch
Sein vorpals Schwert zerschnifer-schnück,
Da blieb es todt! Er, Kopf in Hand,
Geläumfig zog zurück.
»Und schlugst Du ja den Jammerwoch?
Umarme mich, mien Böhm'sches Kind!
O Freuden-Tag! O Halloo-Schlag!«
Er schortelt froh-gesinnt.
Es brillig war. Die schlichte Toven
Wirrten und wimmelten in Waben;
Und aller-mümsige Burggoven
Die mohmen Räth' ausgraben.
Robert Scott 1872
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Fake food
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4f-n_3tzwC3dB4bVSB3F4vEFq3wQJdL4yXBZGZDJDyQABZEcLT126BCDH3COKoOpHKoGdko5l5vXbdznxsEOYq3nL85dsTR-24b2-IGtHaWhRUqcjDdGvObRHAMlaprdUzkcV/s400/fake+egg.jpg)
At a Singapore conference yesterday, I was reminded of the Chinese scam of manufacturing eggs using chemicals, chiefly alginic acid. Here's an example of an advertisement for this get rich quick scheme:
Chicken” You’re Fired!
Man-Made Eggs a path to riches!
“… Our company has promoted the technology of “Man-Made Eggs with Shells” and trained at least 70,000 people in more than 20 Provinces and cities nationwide. We have a great reputation and excellent economic results, in part due to our performance at the Third Annual New Technology and Product Exhibition, where we won the Gold Medal …
… Total cost for one-on-one training: RMB880; or RMB580 for a manual and a set of equipment for eggshells, egg whites and eggyolks as well as manuals for man-made beef, chicken and five other manuals for man-made products.
Technical secrets are under copyright and any dissemination without permission will be punished!
Let's not think about man-made beef and chicken...
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Streets of gold
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKC85YoBtbpxqRsR0HoYF_xCO2dOZj_klIxW8OWuZ2qWTnpfzoXuIUldjxatGJFyYBgO-BTc-Dr0I5VzEpDWiJoxU8kyBCR_p-vNPSUsyLvRIZwUIrP8BNRGYSL0OauZZ7lrMI/s400/gold_ring.jpg)
Strolling along Park Lane towards Hyde Park Corner yesterday, I noticed a man stop a couple of yards ahead of me to pick something up from the pavement. Turning around he announced triumphantly, "Look what I've found - it's my lucky day!" and he showed me a wide banded gold ring in the palm of his hand. I complimented him on his good fortune and walked on. "Madam, stop!" he cried. "This ring's too big for me, why don't you have it?" I hesitated. He asked where I was from and told me he was Serbian. "Why don't you take the ring and give me some money for food?" he suggested. I then twigged: the ring had been his all along.