View on the waterfront

Sept. 13,1998
SSLau

      It is funny that all people talked about in Helsinki was how Nokia took over the entire wireless communication business and that the Finish scientists do not have enough opportunities to go abroad ( granted I was with a bunch of nerdy guys), the guys in St. Petersburg were obsessed in sucking as much money from the tourists as possible ( a shot of good Russian Vodka costs 8 units ---what is one unit? It is one US dollar. This is to say that they do not use Rubbles but US dollars as long as you are a tourist. I am talking about a really good and smooth vodka, not Finlandia or Smirnoff). All people in HK were concerned about was the HK government using foreign reserves to firm up the stock market.

      Well, what do people talk about here in the US ? The Ken Starr report, of course. Dear Lighters, you see, it is really American politics at its best---the president talking on the phone with a senator while being serviced by his intern. This is the best one can hope for in America. Of course, it is better anywhere else in the world. Their presidents, leaders or whatever they call themselves may be talking on the phone or reading newspaper ( or just doing absolutely nothing) while being serviced by more one intern, and much better looking. Let me just say that the young girls on the streets in St. Petersburg are all better looking and in better shape ( just do not let them explode into a 300 lb. hot mama later on in life). I used to think what the US president did in the privacy was irrelevant to his presidency. Now I am not so sure. What if, at the moment of weakness, he spills all the national secrets on the phone. Well. You see, this the cause for concern. Of all the sins, crimes or impeachable offences that he may have committed, the most unforgivable one is ---he got caught.

       So dear Lighters, choose your interns judiciously. Make sure they do not talk to people on the phone connected with a tape recorder. Enjoy the best in America, and of course if you want something better, go somewhere else. This is really not the best there is.

       In the mean time, if you are bored with the graphic details of the report, go see the "Rounders"---a movie you may enjoy.