Meet Amanda Jones

You might have heard about her: she is the former employee of an international school who had refused that her fingerprints be used to mark attendance. And that the Data Protection Commissioner subsequently concluded -- after carrying out an inquiry -- that the Data Protection Act had been breached.

This interesting case will likely have a bearing on the very controversial biometric ID card.

Constitution Temporary Provisions Bill Published

Yep. Government has published the temporary provision bill which will be debated and possibly adopted in our Parliament next Friday. The latter will be exceptionally open for the occasion. And given how tired the few MPs who will speak on that day will be our august Assembly will enter another indefinite period of prorogation. Right after.

As everybody knows no pressing national problem should get in the way of a well-earned rest.

Happy Christmas!!!

Life Perspectives From Comic Genius

How Not To Get Rid of A Washed Up Whale

Navin Ramgoolam Joins Select Club

As the third of our Prime Ministers to also cumulate the Finance portfolio. Of course the first and most famous member of this very exclusive group is SSR who happened to be our FM at the most famous time in our history.

It's a real pity that Navin Ramgoolam did not take over that ministry back in 2005 as I had suggested when it was already kind of obvious to the trained ear that a toxic politician was doing his level best to send the country to the dogs. Especially when you consider that Mauritius not only had the best growth rates of the past twenty years during the first mandate of Ramgoolam II but the cake-cutting was also a lot more compatible with that of an avowed socialist. But it's true that PMs can sometimes, but not always, get busy. Still, he could have entrusted the ministry to a Rs5 coin and the outcomes would have been a lot better. But let's not cry over a spilled decade. And instead watch how he plays the trump card he's been dealt.

Ghana Loses Match Against US Foolishly

I am a fan of Ghana since their good performance in the 2010 World Cup. So I stayed up late to watch them take on the Yankees. Although they conceded a very fast goal from Dempsey they kind of dominated the game -- Ghana had a 62% possession rate. And it was evident that they would probably put one in the second half. Which they did in the final eight minutes of the game. But then some really sloppy defending gave their opponent a corner which John Brooks deflected into the net of Kwarasey.

I hope they will bounce back because there's a lot of talent on this team. Go Ghana! Go!

Robie van Per-Seal and Holland Trash La Hoja

In a brutal 5-1 win in Salvador, Bahia. RVP scored two goals including an amazing 'flying-seal' header. Robben also scored two magnificent goals after literally making fun of the defence of the reigning champs. They have surely impressed everybody while coach van Gaal has said that his team can get better.

Suarez is in action at 23h00 while Gerrard's side will meet 4-time winners Italy at 02h00. Which means you have one hour to get those chips and beer. Or whatever.

Brazil and Croatia Meet in Their First Match, Again

Eight years after Germany. But not before the opening ceremony where JLo will sing the 2014 World Cup anthem and Iron Man pays tribute to national icon Santos Dumont. We'll have some pretty huge matches early in the competition: a re-run of the 2010 Final at 23h00 on Friday, England will play Italy 02h00 on Sunday and Germany will meet CR7's side on Monday 20h00.

Not every Brazilian is happy about their country -- where more than a third of the population lives in poverty -- spending $11 billion to host the Copa do Mundo. Indeed there have been protests for a year about the huge price tag as locals believe some of it is the result of wrongdoing. For example they can hardly understand why over $300 million had to be spent on a brand new stadium in Manaus where only a few games will be played. And allegations of the 2022 World Cup being bought doesn't help.

In any case you can always sniff out the latest financial statements of the FIFA while you wait for those late matches.

Electoral Reform Tailor-Made For Three

One is Navin Ramgoolam who has been PM for already too long and who seems to want to breathe his last playing with a new toy. The second one, Paul Berenger, who absolutely wants to be 'PM' and has been the MMM strongman for as long a period as two Soviet leaders -- Stalin and Brezhnev -- have headed the USSR combined. The third is Rama Sithanen who sees his proposal of an electoral galimatia that suits the personal interest of these two leaders as probably the only way he can ever get into parliament again.

The infamous bean-counter has strongly denied he is doing all of this for personal interest but this has not convinced a lot of people. See, why would you want to be remembered as the guy who screwed up the economy so badly that you were the first outgoing Finance Minister to be denied a ticket and the same guy who organised a gang rape of our democracy.

Shakira is Ready For Brasil