Has anyone else noticed the often abominable quality of subtitle translations on Flemish television, specifically VT4 and Kanaal2? Some howlers are so bad they’re hilarious, like this one on the Simpsons on VT4: “Elves came in and fixed it during the night”, where “Elves” were translated with “Elvis”! Or an episode of Dukes of Hazzard on Kanaal2 where some hillbilly called cherubs “naked babies” (which technically they of course are), promptly translated as “naakte griete”. Of course, cherubs might be naked, but “griete” these boys certainly aren’t!
Popularity: 8% [?]
Yes, the tabloids and blogs are shouting it in bright yellow banners: Sony’s Betamax format is to officially die by the end of 2002. The Yoda of video standards is still being pushed in Japan, but not to excess (only 2,800 units were manufactured in 2001). Watch this space for the next phase: Betamax achieves memetic cult status in some kind of underground art movement.
Popularity: 7% [?]
The folks at whatreallyhappened.com are asking some really good questions about CNN’s video footage of al Qaeda gassing a dog while supposedly testing terrorist weapons. Such as: why such a nicely groomed and fed labrador? Did someone go down to a really good pet store (of which down-town Kabul must surely have many!) and pick the cutest-looking pooch in the shop? And why would terrorists who appear hell-bent on weapons of mass destruction be interested in experimenting with gas, when we are repeatedly told that germ warfare and nuclear annihilation are more their thing?
Popularity: 7% [?]
A Kortenberg man was robbed of two mobile phones recently, apparently by someone who knew he was the world’s most gullible idiot. Someone rang his doorbell, claimed to be working door to door as part of a mobile phone factory recall, and asked to check the home owner’s phones. The patsy produced two cellphones, which – heavens – turned out to be the EXACT models affected by the recall. The friendly factory representative went off to replace the phones, and hasn’t been heard from since.
Popularity: 5% [?]
I often worry about the state of the professional Internet industry in Belgium. It’s as if too many people still don’t “get” it, and too many just don’t give a damn.
An example: I visit the BBL group of websites often, as I bank with them. One of their sites is called BBL Onderneming, and it provides business-related information. From time to time they experience technical difficulties, as their infrastructure seems to rely largely on Microsoft products. More than a week ago, I once again encountered a database error, and I e-mailed them a heads-up complete with screenshot of the offending page and error message. To date, I still haven’t received a reply, not even a “thanks, now push off” message.
Which part of keeping their clients happy don’t they understand? The reason I warned them about the error is because I do my online banking with them. Errors equal vulnerabilities, vulnerabilities equal breaches. The BBL Onderneming website is on another system, far removed from their online banking infrastructure, but the people who turn the cranks and push the buttons are one and the same, and the responsible managers are one and the same. If they simply do not care about feedback from a client, I have to assume that they don’t care about their security. I’ll be moving my account to KBC pretty soon now.
www.bbl-onderneming.be
Popularity: 5% [?]
Expats living in Belgium – and British expats in particular – pining for a taste of the radio programming and broadcast energy more often heard in London than on Belgian radio would do well to take a listen to the BBC’s 6music digital radio station. Available via satellite and digital radio in the UK, the station is also streamed over the Internet. Brilliant music, excellend DJs, and not an ad within hearing range.
www.bbc.co.uk/6music
Popularity: 7% [?]
From 2002-08-16 until 2002-11-17 Bruges is playing host to an exhibition of 107 medieval manuscripts and contemporary art by David Claerboudt, Jose Maria Sicilia and Giuseppe Penone. The exhibition is being held at the Brugse Grootseminarie (a Cisterian abbey until 1796). Browse the website, then get yourself down there for a glorious example of art meeting history.
www.beslotenwereldopenboeken.be
Popularity: 5% [?]
You probably don’t need me to tell you this, but Japanese cinema rocks. (OK, badly put, it makes me sound like an American teenager. But saying that Japanese cinema is a clear reflection of a search for values lost long ago in the Western world sounds poncey, so I’d rather stick to the teenager thing.)
www.midnighteye.com
Popularity: 7% [?]
Those of you stuck on the island known as U of K have probably been under the impression (as I have been) that really decent filthy porn was marginally illegal in your neck of the woods. Wrong! In fact, it’s even broadcast on children’s television, in the shape of well-known gay sex icon Bob the Builder. In any doubt? Then follow the link along the yellow brick road, Dorothy…
3gamerchicks.com
Popularity: 7% [?]
“When I leave my body to the beat spout out under brilliant light, then I find myself being kept for a while…” Use the characters in the left-hand menu for Engrish at its best.
www.coolasecosmetics.com
Popularity: 5% [?]
Part of our continuing Marginally Gastronomic series: drinks you probably wouldn’t want to drink, despite the fact that large parts of Asia does. Pocari Sweat with a twist of Soursop Juice for anyone?
www.noapologiespress.com
Popularity: 5% [?]
Sweet potato icecream? Perhaps. Wasabi icecream? I don’t think so!
mdn.mainichi.co.jp
Popularity: 5% [?]
I found the Salon.com review of the book The Remnant very insightful in explaining the psyche and thought processes of a large part of the American population. Once again I have to add the “some of my best friends are American” qualifyer, but the opinions of a giant readership filters through to government level, maybe even determines policy.
From the Salon review: The most popular novel in America right now is one in which the world is tyrannized by the former secretary general of the U.N., who operates from Iraq, and his global force of storm troopers, called “peacekeepers.” Revered rabbis evangelize for Christ, repenting Israel’s “specific national sin” of ”[r]ejecting the messiahship of Jesus.” Much of the world is deceived by a false prophet, part of the inner circle of the Antichrist, who seems a lot like the pope—he’s a Catholic cardinal, “all robed and hatted and vested in velvet and piping.”
Scary stuff, if you think about it.
Popularity: 6% [?]
The US Advertising Council presents some ads to emphasize freedom in the US, done by member agencies DeVito/Verdi, DDB Chicago, Lowe and TBWA/Chiat/Day. Some people have read the ads as being pro government policy, others as opposed to government action. Either way, if this doesn’t make you sit up and take notice, little else will.
Popularity: 5% [?]
