Sunday 15 January 2017

Is the plural of Terrex, "Terrexes", "Terrexs", or "Terrice"?

In November 2016, nine "Terrexes", SAF's Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV) or troop carriers, or armoured personnel carrier (APC, the carrier is armoured, not the personnel) or "battle taxis" were seized in HK by the Chinese authorities claiming non-compliance with HK Custom laws. 

And the internet went wild. Or "wow!"

While there were some hand-wringing, sabre-rattling, self-recrimination (or recrimination of the govt), and the usual blame-storming and pretentious armchair analysis (of which, this might be one), the official response has been more low-key (which allows the more vociferous of the armchair analysts free range with their over-the-top theories and recriminations.)

The problem of course is that China has no legal reason to seize those vehicles. So how to return those vehicles, without losing face and seeming to be quite silly?

Sunday 1 January 2017

Good Old Days (and Bad New Days)

Is it me or does the old days seem better and the new ones just suck like an Electrolux?

A few minutes ago, my neighbourhood's usual midnight serenity was interrupted by primal yells into the darkness of the night.

I could not make out the grievances that the various yellers were trying to convey.

Perhaps I was not the intended recipient of the message.

Perhaps they were not even grievances (though they were shouted out with considerable angst, but I could be mistaken).