Still, the way things are going, Chen’s vouchers may expire before he gets a chance to use them.
Amid all the consumer kafuffle, the star prize for stupidest comment relating to the voucher spectacular has to go to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who on Tuesday offered further proof — as if any more were needed — that he lives in a little world of his own.
He said: “The world is watching” Taiwan as the first country to issue consumer vouchers in a bid to stimulate its economy.
Sorry to rain on your parade, Mr President, but I believe the world was rather more focused on events in Washington’s National Mall.
Obamamania was in full flow this week as the new US president was inaugurated in what many journos termed an “electric” atmosphere around the US capital.
Even the Taiwanese delegation got into the spirit, with Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平), KMT blue-blood Legislator John Chiang (蔣孝嚴) and colleague Lin Yu-fang (林郁方) giving the trademark Taiwanese two-fingered salute when having their photo taken before the ceremony.
Ke’ai, ke’ai and ke’ai.
All the excitement in the world, however, couldn’t prevent life-and-soul-of-the-party Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) from falling asleep during a post-inauguration function. Now there’s a man who knows just how invigorating historic occasions can be.
While the rest of the world — bar Hau — was going crazy over Barack Obama, Taipei’s residents were preparing for their own Chicom-approved version of the phenomenon, Pandamonium, which will hit Muzha during next week’s holiday when the bamboo-chomping unificationists hold their coming out ball.
The city government announced last week that there will be a 1.3km exclusion zone around the zoo, while nearby parking fees will be raised to NT$60 per hour.
Wait a minute … I thought they said the pandas were not meant to be a money-making venture?
The only advice I can offer for anyone like me who just wants to enjoy a peaceful Lunar New Year in Taipei is this: Don’t set foot within 5km of the zoo.
As for me, there will be no column next Saturday, because I will be taking a well-earned rest in Taitung with a few of my friends from military service days. We might even form a search party to hunt for my beloved Cathy Pacific down there on Green Island.
You’ll recognize us if you’re in the area: We’ll be the ones lying on a beach at sunset with a cold Taiwan Beer in one hand and a set of binoculars in the other.
Got something to tell Johnny? Go on, get it off your chest. Write to dearjohnny@taipeitimes.com, but be sure to put “Dear Johnny” in the subject line or he’ll mark your bouquets and brickbats as spam.
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