“Break the Ice” isn’t a bad pop song, but it’s the video that caught my eye. The video is done in the style of an animé. It’s all very “Ghost in the Shell” for my liking, but it’s definitely more watchable than the majority of music videos I’ve watched recently.

The video seems to have little to do with the song, which is a point of annoyance for some music fans, but the vast majority of music videos from the pop world have only vague connections to the songs.

Britney’s video for “Break the Ice” is totally cliché, but it’s interesting. Robert Hales directed the video. He also dircted the video for Justin Timberlake’s “LoveStoned”, which is a great pop record in itself.

What do you think? Video innovation or a failed attempt?

Break The Ice Video

I’m usually not keen on poking fun at Thinglish for the sake of it, but in the world of real estate and high-end hospitality, where multi-million baht firms are trying to sell hotel rooms, condos and houses, specifically to foreigners, there really is no excuse for not paying someone with half a brain a couple of thousand baht to read over ad copy.

Picture the scene: On the drive from Kathu to Patong, there is a large hill. Almost at the foot of the hill, there is an enormous billboard, from a company I won’t name and shame, that reads:

Every our steps serve your lifestyle

This is a needless massacring of the English language because those billboards, as well as the product this particular company is selling, are bloody expensive.

I have no problem with small restaurants or guesthouses using odd spelling and grammar, but when companies worth millions of dollars can’t come up with a simple sentence, it makes you wonder where else they’ve cut corners and costs.

Writing ad copy for property developers and hotels is one of the most boring jobs in the world, but even one of the English-language teachers bumbling about on Yaowarat Rd could come up with something better than “Every our steps serve your lifestyle”.

Chinese human rights activist Hu Jia was on April 3 sentenced to three-and-a-half years imprisonment for “inciting subversion of state power and the socialist system”. For years, Hu Jia has been working in the name of human rights, often coming into conflict with the Chinese government.

There have been numerous attempts to silence Hu Jia. Along with his wife, Zeng Jinyan, who is also a human rights activist, Hu Jia was placed under house arrest in May last year.

Hu Jia has been involved in Aids activism and in campaigns for the release of political prisoners. His criticism towards the Chinese government for its poor response to Aids in China is one of many reasons why he is considered a threat to Chinese national security.

Speaking in November last year about the forthcoming Olympic Games, Hu Jia said, “It is ironic that one of the people in charge of organizing the Olympic Games is the head of the Bureau of Public Security, which is responsible for so many human rights violations. It is very serious that the official promises are not being kept before the games.”

Hu Jia was arrested in December and sentenced two weeks ago.

Censorship of the media and the Internet in China is reaching epic levels. Those critical of the government are bullied into silence and activists are kept under constant surveillance. Hu Jia couldn’t make a phone call or send an email without someone prying.

After being abducted in March last year, Hu Jia was detained for 41 days.

In May last year, Hu Jia resigned as leader of the Loving Source Aids support group to become a full-time democracy activist.

This Guardian report offers an insight into the world of Hu Jia.

There is no Olympic spirit in China.

You may have noticed in my sidebar an application called “Lost Boy Twitter”. For those unfamiliar with Twitter, it’s basically a glorified instant-messaging service that allows you to build up a network and communicate with people.

If you have a blog in any niche, you should be using Twitter. It’s a great way of promoting your own content and finding new blogs and websites that other people are promoting.

Once you have signed up with Twitter, you can then start sending in updates. Some people use Twitter to update people about what music they’re listening to or what they’re having for dinner, but it’s also a great way of spreading the word on content. Every time you write a blog post that you think people will be interested in, update your Twitter and tell people. Each time you find a blog post worth reading, share it on Twitter.

You can build up your network by finding people to “follow”, which means that you keep tabs on their updates. People in turn follow you and receive updates every time you add something to your Twitter.

Many top bloggers, including Shoemoney.com and DoshDosh.com, are using Twitter. At its most basic, Twitter is just pointless fun, much in the same way as chat rooms are, but if you start using it to network with people, you can drive traffic to your blog and build your online brand.

If you have five minutes spare, go and sign up for Twitter and then head over to my profile and start following me; I’ll return the favor.

Tomorrow’s Olympic-torch relay is shaping up to be one of the most farcical events in Thailand for years. Even more unbelievable than a girl’s pet puppy turning into a giant panda, 2,000 policemen, four police vehicles, a bomb squad, a canine crew and a 150-strong Chinese contingent will be on hand just to make sure the bloody thing makes it through the city. (Daily Xpress)

What a monumental waste of time and resources and what a way to bow down to the Chinese. To make the matter even more ludicrous, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said:

“A peaceful protest (during the torch relay) can be done in accordance with the constitution. Thailand believes that politics should not be linked with the Olympic Games.

And then, Daily Xpress printed this:

Protesters disrupting tomorrow's Olympic-torch relay will be arrested immediately and prosecuted for public disturbance, police say.

Foreigners will be expelled and banned from returning. Those with residency will have it revoked permanently, spokesman Lt-General Watcharaphol Prasarnratchakij says.

This is BS. I’ve been to many peaceful protests in Bangkok and not once was I arrested or deported.

”If they come here and engage in unlawful acts, they must be prosecuted … if they engage in illegal activity, we will proceed according to the law by revoking their visa,” he says.

Peaceful protests are allowed by Thai law. I suspect that Daily Xpress is playing up translated quotes to make them appear more radical.

Noppadon also said:

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not have any policy to revoke the visa of foreign national if he/she abide by the law. Foreign nationals can join the demonstration as it is their rights under the constitution. But anyone who snatches the torch or creates disruption during the run will be dealt with according to the law.

The attention this rally has drawn will no doubt lead to a large crowd tomorrow. By the sounds of it, the torch won’t even be visible to the general public, which makes me wonder if there is any point in the torch coming through Bangkok.

Several groups will be out in force tomorrow, including the Free Tibet Network and Students for a Free Tibet.

The meet up tomorrow is at 3 pm at the United Nations Building on Rajadamnoen Avenue.