Irene Eng The Kibbitzer

I had the feeling that this will be the last year of the hunt.  Not sure each year that we give out more than the kids brought in, or vise versa.  The very first year we attended Chinese school, one of the mothers was distributing hard candies (some looked really gross, old, half wrapped ..) [...]

Zhang Shengliang, a 10 years old will perform Shostakovich’s sizzling C minor Concerto at London’s Royal Festival Hall tomorrow.  The world over notices that there are 15m people play the piano in China now, that Yundi Li won the International Chopin Piano Competition in 2000, at the age of 18, followed in fourth place by compatriot Sa [...]

Tags: Melody

Mr. O’Neal didn’t lose his job because he lost 8 billion, rather for not telling his bosses what he’s up to, like authorizing the negotiation of a possible merge with Wachovia.  He’ll get $160m exit package.  Last year GS’s Lloyd Blankfein got about 50m for the record breaking profit he delivered.  Just a thought; playing the numbers; fairness.. .. 

During lunch today I saw part of FOX program, talking about a beach house inferno when 7 college kids perished.  It seems death means so much in the US, because the entire story has nothing to offer except the death.  Again, I’d expected the program tell us how the fire started?  No, there’s no clue, wasn’t mentioned. [...]

Doing cleaning up I found this jeans (ok, back then .. was Fives? lol .. ) which was bought in HK over quarter of century ago, made by Levis.  I didn’t want to threw it away because I liked the way it made and how it looked.  For the fun of it, I squeezed in.  Looked like a sausage?  Not sure, a [...]

Yes they are, so are the presidential cronies and consigliere, errrh I meant advisers.  Few years back, Karen Hughes went to Middle East saying how sorry she felt for the women when they in fact are doing just fine.  They told her so.  Where have you been Karen? And who on earth are advising you?  Didn’t [...]

Time’s newest take on China, remotely has it right this time: that Chinese don’t really care for democracy - who wants to get dirt and messy with politics when spa and bar offer better entertainment?  Guess I just answered my own question, :).  As I’ve been saying, all Chinese want is rice, preferably in a gold or diamond [...]

Due to security reasons, US gov is selling off their real estate holdings - ambassadorial residences that is - around the world.  Consolidating for better protection.  What a shame.  Every city I visited, US embassy or consulate was always housed in the most beautiful building, be it in Paris, Cario or Salzburg, reckon that Uncle Sam can afford, out spending other [...]

And the honor roll.  How to balance, i.e. homework.  Not giving homework, a continuing endeavor, does that mean give student a break from stress - homework-free weekend or whenever, the homework would go away, disappear?  I just don’t see the point that if the kid have to do it sooner or later.  It’s not like an [...]

 The rose   and the jasmine
The modern day teas are, well, very modern.  I’m perhaps one of the very handful Chinese that buys tea for self consuming.   Once I ran into a co-work at the grocery store and he was pretty amused that I actually buy tea.  “Pls don’t buy, I’ll bring you some tomorrow.”  He did.  Apparently [...]

Someone just asked Woodie if he had mentors when he’s novice trader.  My novice moment came when I was first learned to ski.  Once at a new resort, at the base, I saw the signs for different trails, Novice was one of them, at time I didn’t understand the word.  It’s a busy time, long queues [...]

It made Billary’s buy-one-get-one-free so lame.  I don’t quite understand the thinking of the voters: the hubby’s been doing a good job, now they reward his wife to lead them for the next four years?  垂帘听政?  Behind every successful man there’s a woman?  He must love her very much to relinquish the position.  Hmmmm .. [...]

I heard from one of the traders at yesterday’s CCI meeting (which was very successful) that someone would buy on the CEO’s comments.  Immelt had rosy out look for GE, predicting the “GE’s sales outside the US expanding in the next few years by 10-15 per cent annually” b/c “China, India ‘will shield GE from downturn’”.  Ok, [...]

Hsu reminded me of a person Lucy was very found of, Dr. Zhu when he only attended one year at a no name medical school in Taiwan.  How he cultivated her friendship and admiration was a myth to all of us.  He had the greasy sneaky look of Hsu, talked with his hands in the air while [...]

Tags: swim

Budweiser - one of my favored beers - makes great commercial, consistently.  I haven’t seen a bad one so far.  The first autumn in the US, in a bar, I was in the mood for Federweisser - the German fresh young wine - so kind of jokingly asked if they have it.  “Federweisser?  No, but we have Budweiser.”  Without asking [...]

I see empty seats at Wembley Stadium!  Do I need my glasses?  … OMG, baby face Eli just scored his first TD, wtg. ….  Lousy weather, bad grass - who said the grass is greener next door?  Grass is greener right here at home, :).  It’s sort of annoying to see Giants in white color.  Bring [...]

Last week, FT almost inaudibly mentioned that O’Neal’s predecessors were shown the door after they lost far less.  As the days gone by and Mr. O wrote off more and more, today both the FT and Times speculate his imminent departure, loudly .. Merrill chief fights for job.  Just wondering, will I be seeing Mr. Al [Sharpton] goes to Wall Street .. to stage a [...]