Why chat someone up when you can get a friend to slip your business card in their back pocket?

Yes, this happened to me...

At first I racked my brains, trying to remember the name on the card, but nothing came to mind. Besides, I'm not one to put someone's card in one of the back pockets of my jeans. I'm not generally the type of person to 'business card flirt' at all for that matter.


This would appear to be the latest thing in dating, flirting, chatting up - call it what you will - it doesn't really fit any of these, does it? Maybe it's the 21st century equivalent of Victorian Calling Cards? Full marks for originality however and not as ineffective as you might think - after all, for anyone with a curious mind, there's only one thing to do - text them back and see where it leads!

Russia needs to be embraced, not isolated

Russia's stance towards Georgia over the past week and a half has provoked widespread international concern and criticism, and quite rightly so. That said, Western leaders need to tread a careful diplomatic line in their approach towards what is undoubtedly one of the world's leading powers today. Bold statements from Western powers that Russia - the new darling of global capitalism - depends upon the West's custom, conceal more than they reveal. In truth, the West needs Russia. Short of turning Europe into one giant windfarm, there is no way the continent can operate without Russian oil and gas, and the sooner the Western media accept this fact, the better. Russia's rulers (especially the President-in-waiting, Vladimir Putin) are an assertive bunch; they lead a confident, proud Russia which after a tough transition into a market-based economy in the 90s is now booming and, many would perceive, reassuming its rightful place among the major global powers.

With power comes responsibility (to quote Spiderman) and the West is completely right to push for Russia to act responsibly and to respect Georgia's territorial integrity. Leaders must however appeal to Russia not as an immature, burly delinquant, but rather as an established member of the international community, which it most certainly is.

Hoping Ireland makes a wise choice on Thursday

Ireland has been one of the EU's major beneficiaries and economic success stories, so one would hope that this Thursday's referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (the only one being held in Europe) is not fraught with risk. However, the No camp appears to have gained in strength in recent times, spurred some would say by businessman Declan Ganley, who claims the Brussels bureaucracy needs to have its limits.

The Irish question is worrying, as it means that this Thursday the future of nearly half a billion people will be in the hands of less than 4 million Irish voters (all other Member States are ratifying the treaty through Parliamentary Assent). But we've been down this road before and in the doldrums for too long now - another set back for Europe's big (and pragmatic) push forward would be a major blow.

On heat...

I have long been aware that translations of the word 'warm' into other languages can be a bit of a minefield, but it was only during my Spanish class this week that I really started to wonder if English is the only language (in Europe at least) where the expression "I am warm" is conotation-free....

Firstly, you have your hot blooded latin-based languges, where the expression means you're feeling rather frisky:

Je suis chaud (French)
Soy caliente (Spanish)

Go further east, and it means you're gay:

Ich bin warm (German)
Meleg van (Hungarian)

Rebranding farces

As much as I appreciate the importance and power of branding (and re-branding), the past couple of weeks have seen a couple of farces if you ask me. Well, to be more accurate, one just seemed unnecessary and costly (the BBC changes it's visuals yet again), while the other was a downright disaster!





I am, of course, referring to the Office Of Government Commerce's (OGC) new logo:











Tilt your heads 90 degrees to the left and you'll see what I mean....

Birtwistle's impressive Minotaur debuts in London

Last night I went to see the premiere of Harisson Birtwistle's new opera The Minotaur. While I initially did find my first opera in English rather amusing to listen to - the storyline was clearly going to be anything other than comic.

Sexual tension and outburst, anger, rejection and trechery all came together to deliver what was a highly emotive performance, with impressive bass-baritone John Tomlinson playing the lead role.

Catholic social club fights priest

I thought I'd inaugurate my new blog with a local story. I'm currently residing in the fair county of Essex (home of David Beckham, Birds of a Feather, Grange Hill, Stansted Airport and many other national treasures). Yet it is a far more humble matter which has grapsed my attention (and frustration) over the past week or so.

The Catholic parish of St. Augustine's in Barkingside (home to one of my good friends) has run a successful club for several years now - a club which is fully self-sustainable from a financial point of view, popular, and brings together people from all walks of life in the community. For a church threatened with dwindling numbers - you'd think such an initiative would be a God-send (pardon the expression). Even if the folks going in there aren't all necessarily church-goers (although many are) - surely the church could see it as a potentially promising "recruitment ground" if nothing else.

Sadly, they don't. In spite of numerous reasoned objections, the local priest stealthily moved in earlier this week and changed the locks on the property. A community centre closed, many old people at a loss for what to do on a Friday or Saturday night. Ah well - too much fun is bad for the soul I suppose!

To find out more and see what has been said on this issue, an article has been published in the local paper (The Ilford Recorder): http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/content/redbridge/recorder/news/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=newsIlford&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsilford&itemid=WeED03%20Apr%202008%2009%3A00%3A30%3A617