Yep, that’s probably one of the most bizarre titles I’ve done for a while, but can’t be bothered to seperate all this into multiple posts… so…

iPhone

So, Apple released the new iPhone on Tuesday (well, announced it, not out in the US until the summer, later in Europe). Already, the fallout has started, especially with the naming of the device. Very recently, Cisco had announced a product range with the same name, but Apple still went ahead and called their device the iPhone. Cisco have hit back.
Mind you, it’s very typical of Apple it seems, given their previous history and attitude to ‘So Sue Me’.
Meanwhile, in Japan, despite the iPod being relatively popular (pretty impressive given that Japan tends to be very loyal to prodcuts that Japanese companies make)… there seems to be a bit of a ‘well, so what. What’s so special about it’. They’d be correct too. The US mobile phone network and market is pretty low-tech, relatively speaking to the Japanese one.

Where did you meet, and what have you done since

Quite interesting to see this article, with someone complaining about Japan being so rude as too ask these questions when trying to get a Spouse Visa. Me… I don’t think it’s much of a problem in this case. Yuko and I had to show ‘evidence’ of our marriage being a genuine one when we applied for her UK Visa (when I was in Japan, I was there on a work visa instead). I mean, I’d rather this was checked, rather than people entering the country (whether that be Japan or the UK) on a marriage of convience. I loved some of the questions we had in the UK application form, especially the one… “Have you met your wife?”. Hmmm. Probably one designed for the Indian’s and Pakistani folks living in the UK, whose family in India have arranged a marriage.

Run for the Hills

It’s kinda interesting (worrying) to note when a former Chief International Economist of a advisor firm (and someone who has written for the Financial Times, Asian Wall Street Journal, Daily Yomiuri, Japan Times, Pravda, Dow Jones Newswires, and other publications) comes out with something like this…
Maybe he’s experienced a road to Damascus moment and largely seems to be on the right path… though he’s going through the typical ‘We’re ALL DOOMED’ emotional response when you first read up (and believe) about Peak Oil.

Talking of oil… I seen that Lord Browne of BP is retiring early. This is on the back of lower than predicted production. Has he seen the writing on the wall, and getting out while he still can??

We need more women

This is not exactly conducive towards a stable society…
Whilst the one child-policy was good (the intentions anyway, we need to globally cut the world population)… given the reluctance to change cultural ideals (male children are better), and no real planning on how to cope with a shrinking population/workforce, China’s ‘economic miracle’ could well collapse damn quickly, with a lot of social unrest. Not a pleasent thought when you have a country with lots of Nukes, has a 80-60 year old grudge with a neigbour (Japan), and is not exactly friends with some other countries in the region. :(