Random acts of kindness in the City

I don't know whether the countryside has ever been the veritable repository of virtue and good manners or whether only in the good olden days people used to be nice to each other. One thing for sure, city life does not make folks any softer. The stress and frustration of urban rat-race seem to do everybody's heads in.

So much the more fun it is to observe how people react to random acts of kindness. A bit every day - I try to make it a regular practice. A smile, a nice word,a gesture of courtesy.

Many are incredulous. Their immediate reaction is suspicion. I guess they think I want something from them.

Yet many are impervious. The callous around their hearts protects them from hurting and good feelings likewise.

For a few, it does not register at all. Too busy, perhaps. It's alright, receiving gratitude is not the purpose of this exercise.

I am so happy though that there are enough souls out there whose first unconscious reaction to a smile is a smile. There is hope for this weird protein-based species.

TV is a Hitler in your home

Have you ever visited someone, often invited, only to find your host glued to the TV too busy following another portion of Big Brother tribulations to pay attention to you, the guest?

Since when has this become acceptable? I once was at a private dinner party where the hostess fell asleep right at the dining table while watching some shite on TV over our heads. When she came to, she continued as if nothing had happened.

I think it defeats the whole purpose of inviting people over to your place and is also insulting because it shows that whatever crap they put on to have you watch commercials is more fun and important for you than your friends.

The least wanted country of Europe

Moldavia has long been the butt of jokes in the Soviet Union. I've never been there so can't say whether is is justified or not, but it is perhaps tale-telling that election after election, they find it hard to find anyone wishing to become their president. A few years ago it turned out a scandal when no one applied. This time they only have one candidate.

Berlusconi endorses Blair for EU president

News from the League of Crooks. Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi is backing TonyBlair for EU presidency. Blair's PR people should have contacted the zany Ceasar in advance because surely in the polite society Berlusconi's support is highly undesirable.

Laptop, man's best friend

If you put your laptop on your belly and start defragmentation, it's just like a cat, warm and purring. Gotta love it!

On the roots of African poverty

I found these two lines from an article about a recent election in Gabon very thought-provoking.

"Gabon is sub-Saharan Africa's fourth biggest oil producer and Africa's second biggest wood exporter, although most of its 1.4 million people live in poverty.

August's election was called after the death of Omar Bongo, one of the world's richest men, who had ruled the nation for four decades."

Now Omar's son will be calling the shots in Gabon. This reminds me of how 400 men who own Russia now keep pumping money out of the country, keeping the majority of its 150 million eking out a barely decent living.

Phantom roadworks on UK highways

So it is not just me who sees sections, patches or whole lanes of roads closed ostensibly for works with nothing being done there. According to a Highways Agency's survey, 55% UK motorists have the same experience.

The National Audit Office says that due to a "lack of management information" accurate figures for the cost of road resurfacing and such could not be gathered. In layman's terms it means that no one knows what exactly is done during roadworks and how much it costs. Although Highways Agency is a public office, road improvement contracts are awarded to private companies. Any comment would be superfluous.