A couple years ago, I chanced upon the opportunity to meet the then President of Sohu.com, one of China’s most prolific search engines, Victor Koo, at the ETRE (European Technology Roundtable and Exhibition) Conference.

Recently, I read reports on Poynter that Google recently apologized for borrowing stealing it’s competitor’s database and using it in one of their search tools.

You can find out more about the story, HERE.

Victor has since left Sohu to pursue other (likely awesome) endeavours (find out more HERE). I recall his wife, Helen Qin, formerly the Managing Director for Dow Jones in China, was looking to go back to school at NYU in sports management given her interest to bring the NBA to China.

The release from Google (translated into English.. original HERE):

Google on Google and other Sohu users to input an apology

04/09/2007 11:24:00 morning.
Issued : Google (Google), a public relations spokesman

Google Pinyin input method in the laboratory release (April 4, 2007), We have received a lot of user feedback and suggestions particular, we note that the Google input thesaurus questioned In the pilot phase of the thesaurus does contain some non-Google data sources. We are willing to face up to their problems, such as Sohu said it apologized to customers.

Meanwhile, we immediately took action this week (April 8, 2007) at noon, We have completed a Google Pinyin input method releases the second update (version 1.0.17.0 input Google) spent two days to complete the re-escalation of a comprehensive thesaurus. Google thesaurus from the massive searchable database accumulated over the years produced tens of millions of entries. We welcome our customers with upgraded versions of the industry’s supervision.

Google itself, but also hopes to work with the industry to work together to improve the overall escalation of input methods, functional breakthrough in the long term. pragmatic and substantive work continuously to provide users with more and better application experience.

Finally, again indicated to the users, Sohu and other apology!

Translated via Google’s own translation tool HERE.

Sometimes I wonder if the guys at DADABASE / Sunday Magazine are freebasing.. other times.. well, they’re always amusing. This hit my Inbox on Easter Monday:

Original link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-uw0MooTqE

UPDATE (12/2008) – it appears that they have made the video private. Perhaps from political pressure from the United States Government?

Here’s the news report:

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE: USA USED A NEUTRON BOMB IN 2003 TO CAPTURE THE BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

http://sundaymag.ca/…
www.lonestaricon.com/…

Corroborated by ALJAZEERA this morning:
http://english.aljazeera.net/…

Referred to in VICE’s Iraq issue:
www.viceland.com/…

Confirmed by Russian intelligentce sources at the time
www.iraq-war.ru/…

April 5-8 marks the fourth anniversary of the Battle of Baghdad, the bloody battle that was the lead-up to President Bush’s infamous and untruthful claim on May 1, 2003, of “Mission Accomplished.”

Now we know more about the Battle of Baghdad Airport, which began on Friday night, April 4th, 2003, and involved the near complete annihilation of the US 3/7 Cavalry. At that time mainstream media covered these events with a great deal of confusion and contradiction, and no mention of major US losses. The story goes that after the counterattack launched by Saddam’s Republican Guard, US apparently counter attacked the Iraqi defenders at the airport, using a single neutron bomb, which wiped out all resistance. Of course this was not mentioned by the media at all.

According to news sources overseas, including American military operatives and various investigators, all was not what it seemed at Baghdad Airport. They claim that the Battle of Baghdad was largely covered up as something the American public should not see, with U.S. news coverage instead focusing on a staged photo-op rescue of captive Private Jessica Lynch and later the pulling down of the Saddam Hussein statue, as symbolic of an easy victory.

“The biggest story of the war became a non-event when the truth of the matter was that it was simply too bloody an event to report.” Captain Eric H. May, a former intelligence and public affairs officer in the military, was quoted.

“The bogus rescue of Private Lynch was merely a distraction from the truth,” said May. “And the staged photo-op of the pulling down of Saddam Hussein’s statue was nothing more than a way to cement into people’s minds that it was an easy victory. But what about the hundreds of soldiers who gave their lives on the battlefield? Their story was not told. Theirs was the real truth of this segment of the war.

The truth is that the battle started April 5, the night that Baghdad Bob said that they had counterattacked us at the Baghdad Airport and there was a sustained fight that went on for several hours. The best evidence from international sources, scientific sources, is that US position was becoming untenable at the Baghdad Airport and they used a neutron warhead, at least one. That is the big secret of Baghdad Airport.

If one looks into international data, there are reportings of enhanced radiation of some livestock, and of human metabolic effects – death and disease. It explains why, after the Battle of Baghdad, we got fragmentary stories of things like truckloads of dirt being moved out and moved in. It made no particular sense at the time, until one puts it into perspective, as a decontamination operation. Again, that part of the Battle of Baghdad, the fact that we went nuclear, explains a lot of things that came out afterwards and also explains why it is that it had to be covered up. You can’t go to a country to try to make sure that nobody tries to start a war with WMDs against you and WMD ’em. It’s a highly embarrassing position to be in.

Baghdad laid bare that USA really wasn’t going into a limited war at all, it was going into a world war, and prepared to use nukes. Incidentally, since the nuking of Baghdad Airport, the Bush Administration has retrofitted our military doctrine to allow for the use of tactical nukes in that sort of situation.

Wednesday, April 5th, 2007 marks the first day of regular business for Chow Restaurant (initially, I thought Ciao or something inventive like Chau) on South Granville. Located next to Zebra Club at 15th, Chow marks the entry of Chef Jean Christophe Poirier (formerly of Lumiere and C) and partners into a South Granville location:

Chow
3121 Granville Street, Vancouver (MAP)

TEL: 604-608-2460
WEB: www.chow-restaurant.com

Sadly I missed the friends and family opening party on Sunday the 1st, but I did get a chance to check out the food thereafter.

Here’s some photos of the experience:

Some photos of the menus:

Here’s what sweetspot.ca had to say about the restaurant:

Chow Down

Shopping along South Granville will never be the same again, with brand new dining-with-sustenance hot-spot, Chow, primed to throw open its doors tomorrow.

And for us, it was love at first bite.

At our sneak peek, we fell for the sleek interior with its sexy blend of casual (jeans and heels, yes) elegance (but snootiness checked at the door). And Chef Jean Christophe Poirier’s — formerly of Quebec via Lumiere and C — incredible menu supporting local farmers and organic produce had us at “hello.”

We started with the Oven Roasted Butternut Squash Milk Soup (Avalon Dairy) ($8) that practically melted in our mouth then moved on to Buttermilk Poach Polderside Farm Organic Chicken Breast ($17). And although we were completely stuffed, a proper dinner out isn’t complete without dessert, so we ended the evening with Affogato ($8), espresso over vanilla ice cream. Perfection.

Lunch will soon be served, and as of May with a sunny view from the patio. For those on extra special dates, dining at the chef’s table will also soon be an option. Either way, we’ll be chowing down.

Chow
http://chow-restaurant.com
3121 Granville St. (at 15th)
604-608-2460

Observations:

When I went in, I had the opportunity to take it all in. Vikram from Vij’s came in and enjoyed dinner, Mark Brand formerly of Chambar grabbed a seat at the bar and Laura Fauman of Vancouver Magazine was enjoying the ambiance.

The restaurant is still not fully complete. They have to finish off the wall behind the bar (I believe they’ll tile around where the televisions are) and they have (according to one of their silent partners) approx. $2,000,000 of art that is yet to be delivered.

When it’s done, should be extraordinary. As for the report on the food and drinks, more to come.

Chow

So.Cial at Le Magasin opened up this week, grand opening party on the 4th of April:

Just a reminder, for those of you who have not yet RSVP’d to the Grand Opening of So.Cial this Wednesday evening, it is imperative we have your name on the guest list.

Please RSVP, if you have not already done so, to (…) or call 604-669-4488 with your name.  For those of you who rsvp’d by return e-mail directly to Cate, your name has been added to the guest list and you do not need to call back.

Presentation of a business card upon arrival would be sincerely appreciated.

Please join owner/restaurant director, Maureen Fleming,
owner/executive chef, Sean Cousins

and

partners Kirk McLean and Bob McCammon

As we celebrate our grand opening

Wednesday, April 4th 2007 – 7:00 pm – late

A Social Affair
Please RSVP to 604-669-4488

We regret that due to security and planning requirements, only those who have rsvp’d and are on the guest list will be admitted

Le Magasin Building
332 Water Street
Gastown, Vancouver, BC

Valet Parking

SO.CIAL at Le Magasin

Dining Room, Chefs table and Lounge
Custom Butcher Shop and Deli, Oyster & Seafood Bar and Patio

Cate Simpson
Simpson Public Relations
Culinary & Hospitality Public Relations
Marketing, Promotions & Special Events
Book Tours and Press Trips
Vancouver, British Columbia
simpsoncpr@telus.net  604-730-9626/ 604-681-8333

Here’s the factsheet:

OFFICIAL FACT SHEET FOR SO.CIAL AT LE MAGASIN

Opening: Late March

Restaurant name: SO.CIAL at Le Magasin

Team:
Owner/Restaurant Director, Maureen Fleming
Owner/Executive Chef, Sean Cousins
Active Partner, Kirk McLean
Silent Partner, Bob McCammon

Location: Le Magasin Building
200-332 Water Street, Gastown, Vancouver, BC V6B 1B6
Telephone 604-669-4488
info@socialatlemagasin.com (not in use until opening day, see below for current contact info)
www.socialatlemagasin.com (under construction)

Mission: The fine art of cuisine, great drinks and people, all interacting in a vibrant, comfortable setting.

Hours: Open 11 am – 12 midnight: serving lunch, dinner and cocktails. Open 10:30 am for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Closes at 10 pm on Sundays.

SO.CIAL at Le Magasin – Oyster and Seafood Bar
Downstairs Oyster and Seafood Bar, table service and bar seats, as well as patio.
Section faces the street front. Thirty seats.
Street front patio with keyhole view of the water and mountains. European feel via cobblestones and wrought iron railings. Full menu.
Open weather permitting May – October. Thirty seats.

SO.CIAL at Le Magasin – Custom Butcher Shop and Deli
On-premise smoker, single animal production butchering, chowders and sandwiches and coffee bar. Picnic table plus window bar look onto Cordova Street. Twelve to fifteen seats.

SO.CIAL at Le Magasin – Dining room and Lounge Contemporary Canadian Cuisine.
Vintage feel from crystal and wood furnishings. One hundred and ten seats.
Chefs Table – a horseshoe-shaped banquet facing the kitchen. Six seats

Background: Located at 332 Water Street in Gastown, Vancouver’s most historic neighbourhood, SO.CIAL at Le Magasin is housed in a 1911 heritage building with a 1899 footprint. (Seismic upgrade in 1988)

Design: Renovations, started in December of 2006, revealed beautiful bones in the underlying structure of the building as well as resurrecting a stunning pressed tin ceiling, giant fir support beams and mosaic marble and concrete floors, creating a canvas for interior design by Maureen Fleming using antique white, black and silver with crystal and glass features back dropped by age smoothed unfinished wood. Oversized front windows looking onto the street-scape can be both opened and removed for European style dining.

The factsheet neglected to mention Kirk McLean and Bob McCammon’s decorated hockey careers.

Check out the Urban Mixer site for photos from the grand opening HERE.

Last week I missed the Parasuco Jeans flagship store opening on Granville Street in Vancouver… this week, I miss the FlamesCentral opening on 8th in Calgary. Just my luck.

The Parasuco invite was by far the best executed. They mailed out jean pockets filled with an invitation.

The FlamesCentral and Wildfire Grill invite … well I always enjoy paper invites.

The Parasuco event, I hear, went off. I look forward to hearing about the private FlamesCentral party from all you readers!

Cheers!