Fatal Attraction?

I grabbed a volume from the pocket book pile at my friend Di’s place in London just before I left for Thailand. I have never read Houellebecq but was curious. It turned out to be a strange coincidence. “Platform” is a fiction novel about prostitution in general, and the Thai prostitution and matchmaking "industry" in specific. It’s a provocative read.

H. argues (if you can do that in a novel) that to go Thai is the only way for many Western men to find any love and tenderness in their lives, since they no longer meet the demands of a modern Western woman (who will not give them what they want anyway). He quotes a (fictional?) Thai entrepreneur who defends his matchmaking business: “There seems to be a near-perfect match between the Western men, who are unappreciated and get no respect in their own countries, and the Thai women, who would be happy to find someone who simply does his job and hopes to come home to a pleasant family life after work. Most Western women do not want such a boring husband.”

Wherever you travel here, this country is packed with coupled not-very-handsome Western men and (usually younger) Thai women. And maybe surprisingly, they don’t look unequal to me. And even more surprisingly, they usually both look quite comfortable together (more than most Western couples...).

From now on, I will think twice before I glare at European men going to Thailand to find a wife. A lot of people (both women and men) would claim that Houllebeck - and me too, I guess - show evident proof of being an unusually naïve chauvinist pigs. I’m not sure that the truth is so simple. Read for yourself.

The King and I

"Oh you'll love it, it's so nice."

Anyone who's been to Bangkok has probably also seen the Great Palace with its temples. An impressive place. Not less interesting was the fact that foreign visitors pay quite a hefty price to get in, while all Thais have free entry. This probably has something to do with the Royal Family. Taxi drivers I've asked all are full of love and admiration for the commitment the King and his possee show for the people of Thailand.

Makes me think about the royal families we have left in Europe. It is claimed that they do an important representative work for their countries (whenever they manage to get their asses out of their comfortable homes) - but a problem that strikes me is that this can in no way be managed by the state that pays their salaries. Think about that: an employer that pays €5 million per year (like the Swedish state) and then has no say in either the amount of work or the tasks that gets performed for the money...

I'd like to propose a model for Sweden, who always want to be so damn modern: Set up an independent committee of individuals, chosen for lifetime by the parliament, that supervise the work done by the royal family with the purpose of maximizing the effect of their work for both Swedish companies and the Swedish people. This would mean setting the level for number of travel days each year, committing the different members of the royal family to different states - to tighten their relations and deepen the results - and defining measurable goals that are monitored and revised. Just like any sensible organization would do.

If Thailand is sensible is for me still left to be seen. But it's so nice.

Pride & Prejudice

I used to dislike London. Dirty, crowded, ugly, noisy. Now, a visit to London always makes me high - this melting pot on steroids where its inhabitants churn out an average GDP per capita five times that of my home town Berlin. I know that some (like Tyler Brûlé) complain that London of today is little but a huge overpriced warehouse of scented candles (though why should he complain, it's partly his fault), I happily admit to thrive on their always restless ambitions, envy them their language (with its endless opportunities for wit) and their media (where every morning paper always hides at least one gem) and crave for their overpriced organic flapjacks.

I leave London ground reading The Guardian's sensitive interview with Heath Ledger. One of the quotes helps me recognize one of my own weird habits:

"I never want to feel like I've achieved my goal. It's like chinese farmers. They never admit that it's a good season. They feel like they'll be punished."

But we both proudly admit to be great kissers. Let's hope our tongues won't fall off.

Paris - Texas (well, California)

The address is just perfect: rue de St Honoré. The Paris HQ of Gentry de Paris is also the home of San Francisco-born Gentry Lane, the already acclaimed entrepreneur behind the new masters of chic L.A. Confidential style lingerie, all hand-made in Europe.

Her company is still new and small, but worldwide sales are picking up. It's interesting that it takes an an American girl to package European style and heritage - and export it back to the Americans. Oprah is next in line.

We dropped any business talk yesterday. She had urgent matters and I was a little weak from the cocktails the evening before, so she ended up writing emails and I napping on her (bargained) Louis XVI sofa with her mops Napoleon on my chest. A better start on any collaboration than facts and numbers.

Europe doesn't need to become a theme park to profit from its lush history. We just need to package - and sell - it better. I guess it takes Americans to show us how it's done.

The Empire Strikes Back

Paris. The restaurant in new "urban resort" hotel Murano on Boulevard du Temple has been acclaimed even by the Gourmet staff, and the truffles on almost-melted cheese and spicy rhubard slices were indeed very good. Old European luxury in a revamped stylish setting. The well-dressed Chinese couple in the corner seemed to agree.

I was at an SEB (Swedish bank) breakfast meeting a while ago. The debate was about the bleak future of Europe. When the bank's chief analyst quoted an american know-it-all stating about Europe that "I guess the world needs a museum too", everybody laughed and I got really pissed. "So what, if we're the world's most profitable museum?" Interestingly, nobody on stage could argue against it.

We worry about the Asian tiger economies and about how the Chinese will take over just about everything. I say let them grow. If nothing else, the Chinese are helping us to press margins out of pure production, leaving all the profit linked to advanced design and smart sales. (Thanks, China, that happens to be our key strengths.) Plus: for every new Chinese millionaire, we will have one more sucker for his or her part of European history and heritage. We just have to relearn how to be more imperialistic about it.

We might not work 80-hour weeks (and will never again want to), but we have a good old story to tell - through our products and services - that is genuine. And that is sexy. And as you know, sex sells, if you only understand how to use it. At Murano, they seem to get it (and I'm sure that the popcorn on the fois gras was just a deliberate little joke...).

Und wieder geht die Sonne auf...

Hey people.

Well, as of today, I'm a free man. Or unemployed.

The creation of Minc has occupied a major part of the last four years. It was a gift and a pleasure. Now, other people will bring it further. (Well, I guess I'll be lurking occasionally in the lobby, complaining about the music.)

I'll go back to what I've been put into this world to do. Starting things up. And living life. Both now with less effort and more joy.

2005 ended with two good movie quotes at our berlinjapanese new years eve dinner. Both work well as guidelines for 2006:
"I'd rather be lucky than good."
"I choose a mortal life."

2006 started without movie quotes but with sunshine, Ornella and a surprisingly nice date.

There are many conclusions to be made from 2005. Here's one major:
Rather courageous than brave / Hellre tapper än modig

Ask me if you don't know the difference...

Thank you everyone who has helped me become who and what I am today.

This will be fun.

Berlin-Charlottenburg, 1 jan 2006