Saturday, January 27, 2007
Winter impressions
Crap
The stupid left pane "fell" down and I can't get it back to normal again. I changed some posts that I suspected to be the cause but nothing happened...
Update: As you can see I found it. :-) This embedded picture caused the mess.
Update: As you can see I found it. :-) This embedded picture caused the mess.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Winter
As you may have noticed Germany got surprised again by Winter - meaning it snowed for the first time this Winter.
I don't have any snow pictures for now (I'll try to take some tomorrow) but it is big fun. I drove to work yesterday with a record speed of "I could walk faster" thanks to all the people who freaked out.
So anyway these are some pictures of our village that my wife took:
Now that we have snow in our region this video fits:
I found it here.
And Wil found another winter video from Moscow:
So anyway after a fantastic ice scratching experience last evening I opted for the train today. It's just stupid to spend 20 minutes to get rid of all the snow and ice for a 6 km ride.
I'm not used to this kind of weather anymore. :-(
I don't have any snow pictures for now (I'll try to take some tomorrow) but it is big fun. I drove to work yesterday with a record speed of "I could walk faster" thanks to all the people who freaked out.
So anyway these are some pictures of our village that my wife took:
Now that we have snow in our region this video fits:
I found it here.
And Wil found another winter video from Moscow:
So anyway after a fantastic ice scratching experience last evening I opted for the train today. It's just stupid to spend 20 minutes to get rid of all the snow and ice for a 6 km ride.
I'm not used to this kind of weather anymore. :-(
Labels: Germany
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Some funny story to think of...
Really funny is some kind of way is this story by the Economist.
You may wonder if this is really the case but wages of good people have to rise at around 20% per year. If they don't get more they will go to another company which pays double.
Every company tries to build up factories around Shanghai. The problem is that there are only very few good people (especially management) so it can get very expensive. Especially because the education system still has no relation to reality, so it's difficult to employ university graduates.
What I really know is that living costs in Shanghai are exploding. Even the metro got more expensive...
You may wonder if this is really the case but wages of good people have to rise at around 20% per year. If they don't get more they will go to another company which pays double.
Every company tries to build up factories around Shanghai. The problem is that there are only very few good people (especially management) so it can get very expensive. Especially because the education system still has no relation to reality, so it's difficult to employ university graduates.
What I really know is that living costs in Shanghai are exploding. Even the metro got more expensive...
Labels: China
Warner Bros. is actually trying...
Warner Bros. realized just now that they can't win the fight against movie pirates in China the "classic" way - check this article.
They actually want to lower the prices to a level that you don't have to buy a copy: AV Warner will offer three versions of "Still Life" on DVD which will range in price from 10 yuan (US$1.3), 15 yuan and 25 yuan, said CAV Warner's director of marketing Edward Cheng.
I could cry when I read about these prices and compare them to German prices. You have to pay at least 10 Euro (US)$13 for an acceptable DVD.
They actually want to lower the prices to a level that you don't have to buy a copy: AV Warner will offer three versions of "Still Life" on DVD which will range in price from 10 yuan (US$1.3), 15 yuan and 25 yuan, said CAV Warner's director of marketing Edward Cheng.
I could cry when I read about these prices and compare them to German prices. You have to pay at least 10 Euro (US)$13 for an acceptable DVD.
Labels: China, General, Germany
Monday, January 15, 2007
New Year Eve 2006 - Firework
Our Home in Germany
My wife took some pictures of the house where we live in - this way you know where to find us. :-)
The building itself is quite old (at around 40 years) and has been built by a chemical company as employee apartments. These are privately owned now.
We don't have an elevator so it's a bit cheaper.
Sorry for the mess here but I still have problems with Picasa.
So I use the embed function:
The building itself is quite old (at around 40 years) and has been built by a chemical company as employee apartments. These are privately owned now.
We don't have an elevator so it's a bit cheaper.
Sorry for the mess here but I still have problems with Picasa.
So I use the embed function:
Labels: Germany
New Year
Just some pictures from our New Year Eve. We spent it on the bridge between the German and Swiss Rheinfelden. A video will follow...
Labels: Germany
Some facts about Shanghai Metro
Some interesting facts and pictures about the Shanghai Metro can be found on their new English homepage.
There is also a "Shanghai Transportation Blog" with some interesting pictures.
I love to take the metro - though sadly there is none at all nearby my current home. Especially the Shanghai Metro is developing rapidly. During my time in Shanghai two new lines opened (4 and 5) and many more were under construction. The extension of line 2 (to the domestic airport) just opened and the extension of line 3 opened a short time ago.
I hope I can still recognize some things when I go back (possibly this year).
There is also a "Shanghai Transportation Blog" with some interesting pictures.
I love to take the metro - though sadly there is none at all nearby my current home. Especially the Shanghai Metro is developing rapidly. During my time in Shanghai two new lines opened (4 and 5) and many more were under construction. The extension of line 2 (to the domestic airport) just opened and the extension of line 3 opened a short time ago.
I hope I can still recognize some things when I go back (possibly this year).
Labels: China, Metro, Shanghai
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Chinese Company sues a German Blogger
This one is a very interesting piece about courts in China.
Basic story:
MAN (German bus manufacturer) designs and sells a new type of bus. A Chinese company basically builds the same bus but for a third of MAN's price.
MAN and it's Chinese Joint Venture partner sued this company in China. This is still in court.
Some big German news sites (e. g. Spiegel Online (engl. Version)) reported this and used words like "complete copy". A German blog author also wrote about this and got sued now.
This is really not surprising. There were some lawsuits last year that showed what's possible if you do something that somebody with money and influence doesn't like.
One example is the lawsuit of an Apple subcontractor (for iPods) against two newspaper authors. They sued them personally and not the newspaper and they sued them for some millions. The court then blocked all their funds, cars and apartments. Due to high public pressure the company finally gave up after a week.
Basic story:
MAN (German bus manufacturer) designs and sells a new type of bus. A Chinese company basically builds the same bus but for a third of MAN's price.
MAN and it's Chinese Joint Venture partner sued this company in China. This is still in court.
Some big German news sites (e. g. Spiegel Online (engl. Version)) reported this and used words like "complete copy". A German blog author also wrote about this and got sued now.
This is really not surprising. There were some lawsuits last year that showed what's possible if you do something that somebody with money and influence doesn't like.
One example is the lawsuit of an Apple subcontractor (for iPods) against two newspaper authors. They sued them personally and not the newspaper and they sued them for some millions. The court then blocked all their funds, cars and apartments. Due to high public pressure the company finally gave up after a week.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Shanghai Metro Announcments
I found something nice at Shanghaiist - Shanghai Metro Announcments as mp3-Sounds.
You could use them as a phone ringtone. :-)
If you can't find the download I could upload them to my server...
You could use them as a phone ringtone. :-)
If you can't find the download I could upload them to my server...
Another funny mail
This one is really cute. They search "Financial Transfer Managers". You basically should provide your bank account to receive money transfers and then you have to transfer this money to the Ukraine. They use these people for internet fraud.
This means that you have to pay back all the money you got and additionally you may have to go to jail due to illegal banking business....
Top-Angebot dieser Woche:
Gesucht: Flexible, zuverlässige Mitarbeiter
Beschäftigung: Transfer-Management
SoloEastTravel 2006® – Travel to Ukraine with SoloEast. Located in Kiev it's licensed to provide travel and visa assistance, hotels, air and train tickets, tours to Ukraine, and other services for travellers. Tourism Administration of Ukraine License #020048.
Address of the Company: # 12, Travneva St., Hotiv, Kiev-Svyatoshinskiy reg., 08171, Ukraine
Luft-, Auto-, Veranstaltungen-, Hotelreservierung, Visum-Eröffnung für Geschäftsleute und Reisende aus der ganzen Welt.
Sie haben schon immer von einem interessanten und gutbezahlten Nebenjob geträumt, der dazu auch noch mit guten Aufstiegschancen verbunden ist?!
SoloEastTravel® bietet Ihnen eine solche Möglichkeit!
Die Firma SoloEastTravel ®, die schon seit mehreren Jahren mit zuverlässigem Service in Amerika und Asien erfolgreiche Dienste leistet, gewinnt in der Europäischen Union einen immer größeren Zuwachs an Klienten. Zurzeit bekommen wir viele Aufträge aus Deutschland. Da wir noch keinen festen Sitz und keine Mitarbeiter in Deutschland haben, suchen wir zuverlässiges Personal, das für uns die Arbeit des Geldtransfers vornimmt. Dafür brauchen Sie weder Startkapital, noch entstehen bei Ihnen irgendwelche Zusatzkosten. Abgesehen von guten Aufstiegschancen und interessanter Arbeit können Sie mit einem guten Lohn rechnen. Als Lohn garantieren wir Ihnen 8% von jeder Transaktionssumme, die Sie vornehmen werden. Mit zunehmendem Vertrauen, werden wir immer mehr Aufträge durch Sie tätigen.
Vorraussetzungen:
Mindestalter 18 Jahre
Bankverbindung, um Geldüberweisungen entgegen zu nehmen
Telefonische Verbindung
Flexibilität, Ehrlichkeit und Zuverlässigkeit!
Wenn Sie sich entschieden haben mit uns zu arbeiten oder Fragen haben, schreiben Sie an
soloeast-transfer@yandex.ru
Wir schicken Ihnen den Vertrag und das nötige Formular, mit nähren Informationen, umgehend zu.
Wir freuen uns auf eine gute Zusammenarbeit!
Finanzdirektor Gerassim Noveliev
SoloEastTravel ® 2006
www.tourkiev.com
This means that you have to pay back all the money you got and additionally you may have to go to jail due to illegal banking business....
Top-Angebot dieser Woche:
Gesucht: Flexible, zuverlässige Mitarbeiter
Beschäftigung: Transfer-Management
SoloEastTravel 2006® – Travel to Ukraine with SoloEast. Located in Kiev it's licensed to provide travel and visa assistance, hotels, air and train tickets, tours to Ukraine, and other services for travellers. Tourism Administration of Ukraine License #020048.
Address of the Company: # 12, Travneva St., Hotiv, Kiev-Svyatoshinskiy reg., 08171, Ukraine
Luft-, Auto-, Veranstaltungen-, Hotelreservierung, Visum-Eröffnung für Geschäftsleute und Reisende aus der ganzen Welt.
Sie haben schon immer von einem interessanten und gutbezahlten Nebenjob geträumt, der dazu auch noch mit guten Aufstiegschancen verbunden ist?!
SoloEastTravel® bietet Ihnen eine solche Möglichkeit!
Die Firma SoloEastTravel ®, die schon seit mehreren Jahren mit zuverlässigem Service in Amerika und Asien erfolgreiche Dienste leistet, gewinnt in der Europäischen Union einen immer größeren Zuwachs an Klienten. Zurzeit bekommen wir viele Aufträge aus Deutschland. Da wir noch keinen festen Sitz und keine Mitarbeiter in Deutschland haben, suchen wir zuverlässiges Personal, das für uns die Arbeit des Geldtransfers vornimmt. Dafür brauchen Sie weder Startkapital, noch entstehen bei Ihnen irgendwelche Zusatzkosten. Abgesehen von guten Aufstiegschancen und interessanter Arbeit können Sie mit einem guten Lohn rechnen. Als Lohn garantieren wir Ihnen 8% von jeder Transaktionssumme, die Sie vornehmen werden. Mit zunehmendem Vertrauen, werden wir immer mehr Aufträge durch Sie tätigen.
Vorraussetzungen:
Mindestalter 18 Jahre
Bankverbindung, um Geldüberweisungen entgegen zu nehmen
Telefonische Verbindung
Flexibilität, Ehrlichkeit und Zuverlässigkeit!
Wenn Sie sich entschieden haben mit uns zu arbeiten oder Fragen haben, schreiben Sie an
soloeast-transfer@yandex.ru
Wir schicken Ihnen den Vertrag und das nötige Formular, mit nähren Informationen, umgehend zu.
Wir freuen uns auf eine gute Zusammenarbeit!
Finanzdirektor Gerassim Noveliev
SoloEastTravel ® 2006
www.tourkiev.com
Labels: Spam
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
New Spammail arrived
This one is as funny as the last one:
From: Maria Edmond [maria_edmond2006@sify.com]
Business Letter to. W. Christian
We are bringing to your noble attention a personal, urgent, serious, unique,highy profitable and risk-free business proposal. We have received your profile from your business listing and after due consideration scrutiny and analysis of your profile and credibility we have decided to contact you as we deem you perfectly fit for this offer.
My name is Maria Edmond.
Please kindly devote a bit of your time and energy to read through this letter of business request and assistance, it would be of interest to you as I have considered several factors before contacting you.
It is with utmost humility, honesty and trust that I write you this letter of business assistance. I am the Wife to Late Mr. Bruwer Edmund a security contractor with Cochise Cunsultancy and also a sales agent and representative with INOC and IOM.
My late husband was attacked and killed on the 19th of Aug 2006 on a bomb blast which charred his body to death. (may his soul rest in peace
) We were not able to secure a formal burial for him.
He died a tragic death. My children and I are currently mourning him in deep pain and sorrow.
For reference regarding his death and profile please visit the
website:
http://icasualties.org/oif/Civ.aspx
Check through the list.
Ths business offer I am contacting you is in connection with funds received by my late husband on deals he executed on behalf of INOC and IOM.
0n July. 2001, the INOC authorities facilitated and actualized an oil sales license and dealership for my late husband. The license was for 5 years at 4 million BBLS/12 months.
His role was to act as a sales agent (middle man) between INOC and IOM and the prospective oil buyers but on behalf of INOC and IOM.
Additional role was to source oil deals and prospective buyers from Europe and China on behalf of the oil company and also to approve payment for oil
sales on behalf of INOC and IOM. For his service to
the
company, he received payment in the manner of
commission based on discount sales which is 0.8% of
all recorded deals sold under his supervision.
The project was successfully executed but he died this year in August after completion of the project when he was awaiting his final payment for the last oil deal with a Chinese businessman
During the course of this transaction and for every deal which my late husband sold successfully his commission bases payment accumulated to the sum of 550,thousand united states dollars per deal (Five hundred and fifty thousand united states dollars per deal) and this project elapsed for a period of 5 years. He accumulated a total sum of 33million united states dollars (total commission received on all for all jobs executed. Documents concering projects are all available and intact will be provided to you in the course of this business transaction ).
As his next of kin, the bank has instructed us to come and lay claim to the funds since they have received notice of his death.
I am a colored South African woman (half-cast), married to late Mr.
Mr. Bruwer Edmund with two children and I am currently pregnant with a twin due for delivery by February next year though I am having some pregnancy complication which is why I am hospitalized and also why I need urgent business assistance.
I am contacting you to assist us in securing this funds in an oversea account since the bank has received information that my late husband has passed away and has notified us as beneficiary’s/next of kin to come and lay claim on funds.
I am medically not fit shape for those procedures, hence I need a foreign partner since I intend to relocate the funds over sea for investment until my children are grown up. I do not intend to invest in my home country. I have a Six year old daughter, a 4 year old son and I am pregnant with a twin. I need business help urgently due to the severe situation of my health. This service shall be rewarded greatly.
In your response to this email, you shall write our financial adviser Mr. Reuben Daniels and When in your response, he shall provide you with my family photos; also I shall provide you comprehensive details of all the deals executed by my late husband on behalf of INOC and IOM also a copy of my late husband’s passport, my own passport, details of all payments authorized by the oil company to my late husband, the allocation license and many other documents that will be of interest to you. Including his death certificate and his will made long ago before his demise.
As a God fearing person, I am moved by faith and spirit to contact you. The only thing you can do for me is to exhibit trust , honesty and transparency then we shall achieve success. I am ready to offer you 20% of the total funds (20% of 33,million= 6.6million ) for your assistance in the relocating the funds oversea and also for helping us invest the remaining 70% of the funds in solid investment ( on behalf of my familty) that will yield good returns. We are particularly interested in real estates or shares with reputable firms in your country.
10% of this fund shall be used to facilitate the process of this deal in manner of expenses and other costs to be incurred.
Please do not send me your reply because I have been hospitalized.
Please contact my financial adviser Mr. Reuben Daniels
at the email address: rbdanielsmail@canada.com
He is currently in canada on a holiday but will be back next week . Contact him on this email address and he will surely provide you information and way forward to actualize this deal. Additionally his phone is on roaming service 24 hours and you can reach him
number: +273 386 5506. I have authorized him in writting to go on with this business transaction
on my behalf with my prospective partner. Feel free to relate with him in all capacities. He has all the documents concerning this deal and shall be willing to provide it to you.
He shall update me with every details of the proceedure as you go along with him in the course of the business transaction.
PLEASE SEND YOUR REPLY STRICTLY TO MR REUBEN DANIELS AT rbdanielsmail@canada.com Do not reply to me as I will not be able to check the email due to a medical procedure I will be undergoing through out this week.
Mr Reuben has all documents about this deal and he knows all proceedures to follow. He also has all details of the proceedures for the execution of this transaction.
When one comes to the aid of another in deep need, God comes to his own aid one way or the other even if he does not know. This is done for nature to achieve balance. What ever one soweth, that he shall reap. If you help someone, God will help you one way or the other. It does not matter if we believe in God or not. GOD do exist and he will fill your heart with mercy to assist me. Though the assistance is not for free, I shall reward you according to the terms I have stated in the proposal but for your time and energy to help me actualize the relocation of this fund I belive I have to ask God to help you in taking a serious decision.
I pray God to guide you in your decision and also thank you for taking your time to read my email.
I have a surgery to attend tonight.
Have a lovely and wonderful day and may God fill your heart with great joy this new year.
Also pray for me to undergoe this surgery without a lot of pains.
Remember to call Reuben Daniels at +273 386 5506 and in your reply do not fail to forward him your phone number, mobile phone number, fax number and email address.
Thanks,
May God bless you abundantly.
Maria Edmund
The mail adress I got this is basically burned. I used it in the WHOIS of one of my domains so it is available for every spammer in this world.
The bad part about this is that some spammer is using this domainname as a sender adress for his spam.
From: Maria Edmond [maria_edmond2006@sify.com]
Business Letter to. W. Christian
We are bringing to your noble attention a personal, urgent, serious, unique,highy profitable and risk-free business proposal. We have received your profile from your business listing and after due consideration scrutiny and analysis of your profile and credibility we have decided to contact you as we deem you perfectly fit for this offer.
My name is Maria Edmond.
Please kindly devote a bit of your time and energy to read through this letter of business request and assistance, it would be of interest to you as I have considered several factors before contacting you.
It is with utmost humility, honesty and trust that I write you this letter of business assistance. I am the Wife to Late Mr. Bruwer Edmund a security contractor with Cochise Cunsultancy and also a sales agent and representative with INOC and IOM.
My late husband was attacked and killed on the 19th of Aug 2006 on a bomb blast which charred his body to death. (may his soul rest in peace
) We were not able to secure a formal burial for him.
He died a tragic death. My children and I are currently mourning him in deep pain and sorrow.
For reference regarding his death and profile please visit the
website:
http://icasualties.org/oif/Civ.aspx
Check through the list.
Ths business offer I am contacting you is in connection with funds received by my late husband on deals he executed on behalf of INOC and IOM.
0n July. 2001, the INOC authorities facilitated and actualized an oil sales license and dealership for my late husband. The license was for 5 years at 4 million BBLS/12 months.
His role was to act as a sales agent (middle man) between INOC and IOM and the prospective oil buyers but on behalf of INOC and IOM.
Additional role was to source oil deals and prospective buyers from Europe and China on behalf of the oil company and also to approve payment for oil
sales on behalf of INOC and IOM. For his service to
the
company, he received payment in the manner of
commission based on discount sales which is 0.8% of
all recorded deals sold under his supervision.
The project was successfully executed but he died this year in August after completion of the project when he was awaiting his final payment for the last oil deal with a Chinese businessman
During the course of this transaction and for every deal which my late husband sold successfully his commission bases payment accumulated to the sum of 550,thousand united states dollars per deal (Five hundred and fifty thousand united states dollars per deal) and this project elapsed for a period of 5 years. He accumulated a total sum of 33million united states dollars (total commission received on all for all jobs executed. Documents concering projects are all available and intact will be provided to you in the course of this business transaction ).
As his next of kin, the bank has instructed us to come and lay claim to the funds since they have received notice of his death.
I am a colored South African woman (half-cast), married to late Mr.
Mr. Bruwer Edmund with two children and I am currently pregnant with a twin due for delivery by February next year though I am having some pregnancy complication which is why I am hospitalized and also why I need urgent business assistance.
I am contacting you to assist us in securing this funds in an oversea account since the bank has received information that my late husband has passed away and has notified us as beneficiary’s/next of kin to come and lay claim on funds.
I am medically not fit shape for those procedures, hence I need a foreign partner since I intend to relocate the funds over sea for investment until my children are grown up. I do not intend to invest in my home country. I have a Six year old daughter, a 4 year old son and I am pregnant with a twin. I need business help urgently due to the severe situation of my health. This service shall be rewarded greatly.
In your response to this email, you shall write our financial adviser Mr. Reuben Daniels and When in your response, he shall provide you with my family photos; also I shall provide you comprehensive details of all the deals executed by my late husband on behalf of INOC and IOM also a copy of my late husband’s passport, my own passport, details of all payments authorized by the oil company to my late husband, the allocation license and many other documents that will be of interest to you. Including his death certificate and his will made long ago before his demise.
As a God fearing person, I am moved by faith and spirit to contact you. The only thing you can do for me is to exhibit trust , honesty and transparency then we shall achieve success. I am ready to offer you 20% of the total funds (20% of 33,million= 6.6million ) for your assistance in the relocating the funds oversea and also for helping us invest the remaining 70% of the funds in solid investment ( on behalf of my familty) that will yield good returns. We are particularly interested in real estates or shares with reputable firms in your country.
10% of this fund shall be used to facilitate the process of this deal in manner of expenses and other costs to be incurred.
Please do not send me your reply because I have been hospitalized.
Please contact my financial adviser Mr. Reuben Daniels
at the email address: rbdanielsmail@canada.com
He is currently in canada on a holiday but will be back next week . Contact him on this email address and he will surely provide you information and way forward to actualize this deal. Additionally his phone is on roaming service 24 hours and you can reach him
number: +273 386 5506. I have authorized him in writting to go on with this business transaction
on my behalf with my prospective partner. Feel free to relate with him in all capacities. He has all the documents concerning this deal and shall be willing to provide it to you.
He shall update me with every details of the proceedure as you go along with him in the course of the business transaction.
PLEASE SEND YOUR REPLY STRICTLY TO MR REUBEN DANIELS AT rbdanielsmail@canada.com Do not reply to me as I will not be able to check the email due to a medical procedure I will be undergoing through out this week.
Mr Reuben has all documents about this deal and he knows all proceedures to follow. He also has all details of the proceedures for the execution of this transaction.
When one comes to the aid of another in deep need, God comes to his own aid one way or the other even if he does not know. This is done for nature to achieve balance. What ever one soweth, that he shall reap. If you help someone, God will help you one way or the other. It does not matter if we believe in God or not. GOD do exist and he will fill your heart with mercy to assist me. Though the assistance is not for free, I shall reward you according to the terms I have stated in the proposal but for your time and energy to help me actualize the relocation of this fund I belive I have to ask God to help you in taking a serious decision.
I pray God to guide you in your decision and also thank you for taking your time to read my email.
I have a surgery to attend tonight.
Have a lovely and wonderful day and may God fill your heart with great joy this new year.
Also pray for me to undergoe this surgery without a lot of pains.
Remember to call Reuben Daniels at +273 386 5506 and in your reply do not fail to forward him your phone number, mobile phone number, fax number and email address.
Thanks,
May God bless you abundantly.
Maria Edmund
The mail adress I got this is basically burned. I used it in the WHOIS of one of my domains so it is available for every spammer in this world.
The bad part about this is that some spammer is using this domainname as a sender adress for his spam.
Labels: Spam
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Restroom Time
Read how Scott Adams is spending his time in restrooms. I really can't get this image out of my head. I'm also wondering if men would spend a lot more time in restrooms then...
A completely different topic: I could see/feel the baby moving for the first time now...
A completely different topic: I could see/feel the baby moving for the first time now...
