TRAFFIC POLICE
We are continually being told by the great and the good that the world is an unsafe place, with threats from terrorists all over the shop. In this age of austerity, we are also continually being told, not least by the police themselves, that they are short of manpower. Why is it, then, that police forces the world over spend so much time on traffic offences, often of a trivial nature?
When I lived in Tanzania, the answer was obvious. Nobody, and certainly not a proud policeman wishing to demonstrate the pot belly of officialdom, could live on a policeman's official pay. Traffic offences, real or - more likely - imagined, were the means of bridging this gap. They had to be imagined, since there was rarely any money (or electricity) for things like speed cameras. Though that was not much of a hurdle. If the policeman thought that you were going too fast, then he simply waved you into the side of the road, climbed into the car, and tried to negotiate some sort of deal. If you hung tough and refused to pay, then he might well accept the second best of a lift to the nearest town (there was no money for police cars either).
But in rich, well-paid Denmark, the answer is less obvious. Since the reforms of a couple of years ago, which merged many local forces into a smaller number of bigger ones, there has been a stream of complaints about the lack of policemen available to investigate (eg) burglaries, and about the time it takes for a policeman to arrive in response to a call. Income from traffic fines, on the other hand, continues to rise.
Some people might say that my grumpiness is somehow related to the fact that I have just been done for driving at 64km/hr in a nearby village with a 50km/hr speed limit, a transgression that will cost me kr.1.000 in due course. They would be right. It's not really the fact that it was in exactly the same place as I was done last time. Or that I would rather spend kr.1.000 on Christmas presents. What really sticks in my craw is the idea of having a policeman sit in an unmarked van all day, doing nothing except take automatic pictures of petty sinners like me while swigging coffee, when he could be doing so many other, more useful, things.
Walter Blotscher
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
CONTEMPORARY DANCE
My 16-year old daughter is completely hooked on contemporary dance. When I say hooked, I mean it, since the commitment involved is quite high. Since the start of the autumn term, she has been travelling on the bus three times a week - and sometimes at weekends - to Odense, the main town 30km away. Given the weather of the past few weeks, that implies dedication. Plus she has to go to school, do all of her homework, fit in two part-time jobs, one at the bakery, one at Shell, and party with other teenagers from time to time. All in all, she is a busy bee.
The company she is in is supported by the kommune. In return for that support, they give free performances at various places. This being contemporary dance, these are often in the street, in front of slightly bemused Saturday shoppers or tourists. I have been to one or two of those.
However, last night was the end-of-season finale, where they put all of the small bits together in one show. Contemporary dance is pretty athletic, so 75 minutes is a long time to be full on. I have to admit that, as with the modern art over the weekend, I didn't have a clue what the dancing was about. But perhaps I wasn't supposed to? Anyway, I let the movements and music wash over me, and I absorbed what I could. Besides, my daughter was excellent, so it didn't really matter if I got the meaning or not, watching her was meaning in itself.
Walter Blotscher
My 16-year old daughter is completely hooked on contemporary dance. When I say hooked, I mean it, since the commitment involved is quite high. Since the start of the autumn term, she has been travelling on the bus three times a week - and sometimes at weekends - to Odense, the main town 30km away. Given the weather of the past few weeks, that implies dedication. Plus she has to go to school, do all of her homework, fit in two part-time jobs, one at the bakery, one at Shell, and party with other teenagers from time to time. All in all, she is a busy bee.
The company she is in is supported by the kommune. In return for that support, they give free performances at various places. This being contemporary dance, these are often in the street, in front of slightly bemused Saturday shoppers or tourists. I have been to one or two of those.
However, last night was the end-of-season finale, where they put all of the small bits together in one show. Contemporary dance is pretty athletic, so 75 minutes is a long time to be full on. I have to admit that, as with the modern art over the weekend, I didn't have a clue what the dancing was about. But perhaps I wasn't supposed to? Anyway, I let the movements and music wash over me, and I absorbed what I could. Besides, my daughter was excellent, so it didn't really matter if I got the meaning or not, watching her was meaning in itself.
Walter Blotscher
Monday, 6 December 2010
BLOGGER'S BLOCK
You often hear about writer's block, when a writer simply can't write anything at all. Well, today I had blogger's block. It might have been due to the overdose of culture during the previous 48 hours; or simply the relentlessly cold weather. Anyway, I was stuck for an idea.
But then I remembered that the whole point about a blog is that it doesn't need an idea. Well, not every day, at any rate. So I can just witter on for two short paragraphs and call this an entry. And then get ready to tune into the Ashes on the internet.
Walter Blotscher
You often hear about writer's block, when a writer simply can't write anything at all. Well, today I had blogger's block. It might have been due to the overdose of culture during the previous 48 hours; or simply the relentlessly cold weather. Anyway, I was stuck for an idea.
But then I remembered that the whole point about a blog is that it doesn't need an idea. Well, not every day, at any rate. So I can just witter on for two short paragraphs and call this an entry. And then get ready to tune into the Ashes on the internet.
Walter Blotscher
Sunday, 5 December 2010
CULTURE IN COPENHAGEN (2)
This weekend was the second time this year my wife and I have gone for a culture tour to Copenhagen. The visit in April involved a capella Bulgarian choral music and Argentinian tango lessons. This time I was to enjoy my birthday treat of seeing Madame Butterfly at the new opera house.
The Copenhagen Opera House is one of the most modern in the world, having opened only in January 2005. It is a magnificent structure, as it should be, having supposedly cost more than U.S.$500m to build. The acoustics are superb, not least because the auditorium is relatively small, seating about 1,500 people. We had dinner before the performance (very nice) up on the fourth floor balcony, and our table was next to that of Mærsk McKinney Møller. Who he, ask you non-Danes? Well, not only is Mr. Møller Denmark's richest man (his family controls the shipping company A.P.Møller Mærsk), but it was he, who built the opera house, before donating it to the nation. Technically, the money came from his parents' family trust; but he is Chairman of the trust, and he got involved in most of the decisions, both big and small, about how the building should look. At the time, the donation was rather controversial, since many, both inside and outside Denmark, felt that the building of a national opera house should be organised by the state with (eg) an international architectural competition (that feeling was reinforced by the realisation that the fund's gift would be fully tax deductible, so the state was, in effect, paying anyway). However, Mr. Møller is nothing if not influential; and he not only managed to get the Government to accept the gift, complete with his choice of architect, but also to stump up the money for its running costs.
Madame Butterfly, which I have seen before, was terrific. It's hard not to like the music, and with some sumptious singing and orchestral playing, time flew by. I loved my treat.
On the Saturday (yesterday) we visited the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, north of Copenhagen. The museum is set on, and inside, a cliff overlooking the Øresund, the narrow strait between Denmark and Sweden. There are indoor galleries, and a sculpture garden outside. Many famous modern artists - Giacometti, Picasso, Andy Warhol, Henry Moore - are represented.
I have to admit that modern art doesn't do much for me. I liked some animal paintings by an American called Walton Ford, but didn't go for the other special exhibition, by a German called Anselm Kiefer. And with the outdoor sculptures, I was completely lost. We ended up playing a "try-to-guess-the-title-of-the-sculpture" game, but didn't manage to get any right, which was not really surprising. My guess of "an avocado and two coconuts" turned out to be "the concretisation of humanity on an oval structure" or something like that.
Today we took my elder son out to brunch before catching the train home. That wasn't culture as such (though he is a fairly cultured chap). But it certainly required much less mental effort than modern art.
Walter Blotscher
This weekend was the second time this year my wife and I have gone for a culture tour to Copenhagen. The visit in April involved a capella Bulgarian choral music and Argentinian tango lessons. This time I was to enjoy my birthday treat of seeing Madame Butterfly at the new opera house.
The Copenhagen Opera House is one of the most modern in the world, having opened only in January 2005. It is a magnificent structure, as it should be, having supposedly cost more than U.S.$500m to build. The acoustics are superb, not least because the auditorium is relatively small, seating about 1,500 people. We had dinner before the performance (very nice) up on the fourth floor balcony, and our table was next to that of Mærsk McKinney Møller. Who he, ask you non-Danes? Well, not only is Mr. Møller Denmark's richest man (his family controls the shipping company A.P.Møller Mærsk), but it was he, who built the opera house, before donating it to the nation. Technically, the money came from his parents' family trust; but he is Chairman of the trust, and he got involved in most of the decisions, both big and small, about how the building should look. At the time, the donation was rather controversial, since many, both inside and outside Denmark, felt that the building of a national opera house should be organised by the state with (eg) an international architectural competition (that feeling was reinforced by the realisation that the fund's gift would be fully tax deductible, so the state was, in effect, paying anyway). However, Mr. Møller is nothing if not influential; and he not only managed to get the Government to accept the gift, complete with his choice of architect, but also to stump up the money for its running costs.
Madame Butterfly, which I have seen before, was terrific. It's hard not to like the music, and with some sumptious singing and orchestral playing, time flew by. I loved my treat.
On the Saturday (yesterday) we visited the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, north of Copenhagen. The museum is set on, and inside, a cliff overlooking the Øresund, the narrow strait between Denmark and Sweden. There are indoor galleries, and a sculpture garden outside. Many famous modern artists - Giacometti, Picasso, Andy Warhol, Henry Moore - are represented.
I have to admit that modern art doesn't do much for me. I liked some animal paintings by an American called Walton Ford, but didn't go for the other special exhibition, by a German called Anselm Kiefer. And with the outdoor sculptures, I was completely lost. We ended up playing a "try-to-guess-the-title-of-the-sculpture" game, but didn't manage to get any right, which was not really surprising. My guess of "an avocado and two coconuts" turned out to be "the concretisation of humanity on an oval structure" or something like that.
Today we took my elder son out to brunch before catching the train home. That wasn't culture as such (though he is a fairly cultured chap). But it certainly required much less mental effort than modern art.
Walter Blotscher
Friday, 3 December 2010
THE ASHES
The Ashes (for the ignorant, the five test match cricket series between England and Australia) is already living up to expectations.
After England escaped with a draw in Brisbane by making 517-1 in their second innings, smashing a host of batting records in the process, they managed to bowl Australia out for 245 on the first day of the second test in Adelaide. On a flat wicket, on which Australia won the toss and elected to bat, England had them reeling at one point at 2-3, Australia's worst start to a test match in 60 years. Ricky Ponting, their captain and best batsman, was out to a golden duck in his 150th test! A recovery to 245 was pretty good in the circumstances, but Australia would have been looking for at least 400 before the day started.
England now need to spend two days racking up a huge total, before bowling the Aussies out a second time on days 4 and 5. I will try to keep track of events from Copenhagen, where I am spending the weekend. That will include a first ever visit to the new opera house this evening for my birthday treat.
Walter Blotscher
The Ashes (for the ignorant, the five test match cricket series between England and Australia) is already living up to expectations.
After England escaped with a draw in Brisbane by making 517-1 in their second innings, smashing a host of batting records in the process, they managed to bowl Australia out for 245 on the first day of the second test in Adelaide. On a flat wicket, on which Australia won the toss and elected to bat, England had them reeling at one point at 2-3, Australia's worst start to a test match in 60 years. Ricky Ponting, their captain and best batsman, was out to a golden duck in his 150th test! A recovery to 245 was pretty good in the circumstances, but Australia would have been looking for at least 400 before the day started.
England now need to spend two days racking up a huge total, before bowling the Aussies out a second time on days 4 and 5. I will try to keep track of events from Copenhagen, where I am spending the weekend. That will include a first ever visit to the new opera house this evening for my birthday treat.
Walter Blotscher
Thursday, 2 December 2010
WORLD CUP (3)
So it will be Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022 that host the football World Cup. Congratulations to them both!
Ingerland were disappointed ("gutted"), that their 2018 bid was unsuccessful. They had thought that the combination of Prime Minister David Cameron, heir to the throne but one Prince William and football star David Beckham would carry the day. I can't see why. Football is perhaps the world's only truly global sport, and FIFA have shown in recent years, through their choices of South Africa for 2010 and Brazil for 2014, that they would like to see the World Cup brought to either countries in the developing world and/or places that have not hosted it before. Indeed, Mr. Beckham ought to have known this more than anyone else, since he has been one of the main drivers of football development in countries such as China not otherwise known for footballing prowess.
The 2026 bidding process hasn't even started yet. But my shortlist would be China, Egypt, Australia/New Zealand and Chile/Peru. Not Ingerland.
Walter Blotscher
So it will be Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022 that host the football World Cup. Congratulations to them both!
Ingerland were disappointed ("gutted"), that their 2018 bid was unsuccessful. They had thought that the combination of Prime Minister David Cameron, heir to the throne but one Prince William and football star David Beckham would carry the day. I can't see why. Football is perhaps the world's only truly global sport, and FIFA have shown in recent years, through their choices of South Africa for 2010 and Brazil for 2014, that they would like to see the World Cup brought to either countries in the developing world and/or places that have not hosted it before. Indeed, Mr. Beckham ought to have known this more than anyone else, since he has been one of the main drivers of football development in countries such as China not otherwise known for footballing prowess.
The 2026 bidding process hasn't even started yet. But my shortlist would be China, Egypt, Australia/New Zealand and Chile/Peru. Not Ingerland.
Walter Blotscher
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
WIKILEAKS (2)
I said yesterday that the authorities were likely to launch a ferocious assault on the person who leaked thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables to the website Wikileaks, a number of which are embarrassing to some of the world's leaders. I should also have said that they would try to hand out the same treatment to Julian Assange, the founder of the website.
That assault has already started. The former U.S. ambassador to Denmark has said that Mr. Assange should be tried for treason, a crime which carries the death penalty in America (though how an Australian citizen can be convicted of treason in the U.S. is not explained). A member of the U.S. House of Representatives has called for Wikileaks to be branded a terrorist organisation (which, if enacted, would have serious consequences). Other Republicans have simply called for him to be shot, or otherwise liquidated.
This is just the beginning. Expect more attacks during the next few months.
Walter Blotscher
I said yesterday that the authorities were likely to launch a ferocious assault on the person who leaked thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables to the website Wikileaks, a number of which are embarrassing to some of the world's leaders. I should also have said that they would try to hand out the same treatment to Julian Assange, the founder of the website.
That assault has already started. The former U.S. ambassador to Denmark has said that Mr. Assange should be tried for treason, a crime which carries the death penalty in America (though how an Australian citizen can be convicted of treason in the U.S. is not explained). A member of the U.S. House of Representatives has called for Wikileaks to be branded a terrorist organisation (which, if enacted, would have serious consequences). Other Republicans have simply called for him to be shot, or otherwise liquidated.
This is just the beginning. Expect more attacks during the next few months.
Walter Blotscher
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