Victoria

The theme was a hoax. That he actually tied up a stray dog he found in the street, in an art gallery, as thousands of people passed by without so much as a whimper of protest, and then let the stray dog LOOSE into the streets afterward (once his fame and fortune was cemented) is uncontested. Disgusting. What next? Finding a little homeless kid, tying him up to a rope in an art gallery to highlight the hypocrisy of the public's "non-reaction"? Art is by nature subversive. Any art. It's supposed to get a rise out of you. But for a very long while, that's all its been. Where's the artistic TALENT anymore?

Hey Reems! Frankly, when I recall ORF programming, it was pretty dull at night without you and RWG too...remind me whenever someone belittles American telly to clock them.

Hey and thanks, Uncle Jaysito! I just opened your package, and was very happy to see all my new goodies inside. THANK YOU AGAIN. CC, FWIW, I missed you, and not your wife.

GOLD STAR. I have a present along those lines for Doc (I didn't forget you, Doc!). Stay tuned!

My deepest condolences on your loss, Maciek. Maybe to people who have never had a pet, they think this kind pain is not understandable. But believe me, as someone who has seen 4 of her dogs die, I know exactly what you're feeling. It's devastating. RIP Beta.

The moment I read the title, I KNEW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT. You know, being in a foreign country has its benefits. Instead of being ALL OVER THE PLACE news-wise, like the US is which ironically gives the impression that nothing is covered (the opposite is true), watching a smallish European country's news coverage is a tonic of concentration. We got this story some days before I left, and you cannot imagine the reaction the day after. Everyone was talking of it, including the rather ditzy Italian tourists I met, who up 'to that moment, had only spoken of fashion and clubbing. What can I say, disgusting. I thought of you, Dani. Here is the artist's quote that most disgusts me, and refutes the idea it was a hoax-for-art thing. (Nativity - Navidad, I'm guessing - was the name of the dog) "Nativity was a very sick creature and would have died in the streets anyway." http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2008/04/13/...-art-offensive/

I hit the Gurgls with my relatives. If you know what that is, you've got my respect. (Even my friends from Stowe, Vermont said, "where??")

Thanks, SD4k! Guess what?! My POTR-Silix Breitling Heritage in bronze was amongst the 25+ packages awaiting me, woo. I can't review it like you did, but I'll post a pictorial next week. It's gorgeous.

Thanks LR, ST4, and all who missed me! As you can see by this message and .sig, perhaps the Shoutbox hint last night, I am back. I have learnt some things being on holiday, since (re-)discovering watches/rep watches: Most people in this world don't know what on earth Panerai is. I needn't have worried about taking my PAM reps at all. Secondly, only once was my HBB Aspen noticed. A man came up to me and complimented me on it, asked to see it, and with furrowed brow, I showed it to him. This encounter lasted all of 10 seconds, the look-see about 2, so if he can tell it's a fake, more power to him. So relax people. Enjoy wearing your watches, real or otherwise. P.S.: I had over 1400 posts to read last night, but it's only 71 now. Ah well, must've zeroed it out last night. This is actually a boon for me, as I felt daunted at having to read 1400+ posts in order to catch up. BTW, why so little? I could've done that in a week?

Recently, I heard of a Floridian on Craigslist being threatened by Hublot for selling an obvious copy on the site (it was mentioned in passing in the Miami New Times, and I should've posted about it). I believe the person just claimed they didn't know it was a fake, having bought it on Fleabay. I presume the authorities didn't prosecute because it wasn't worthy of their time, and it's a civil matter now, perhaps. Whilst some marques are more aggressive than others, this reminds me of that Belgian chap who just got his watch seized by Customs this week. He might be in hot water, because the authorities of that country are more vigourous in their law enforcement of reps. I also seem to remember the sad case of a member who wasn't given a simple fax letter by a collector, landing him in much monetary trouble in Germany, IIRC. If the item you receive isn't a fake, then it must be real -- you will pay duties on it. This thread is now 101 posts long, and it may well be one of the most important threads ever posted on RWG.

I just saw PAM192Mex's DSN 177h in the World's Longest Wristcheck thread, and it sparked a thought -- increasingly certain reps are becoming rare. Perhaps not QUITE the Titanium PAMs, but... ...which are the rarest of the reps? Those very infrequently or never seen: like DLGates' Blancpain, perhaps. Which ones do you foresee becoming very rare, sooner than later?

Hear hear. It's bad timing for me, since I can't go back to the Wristchecks and thank everyone who praised my photos, and gave me bon voyage wishes. So thanks guys!! I love all my Repgeeks.

Anton, if I take one more photo of me raising a glass, people will start to think I'm a lush. Virtual chin-chin, darling -- to your health and everyone else's.

Like a re-run of the Planet of the Apes, maybe... Dani, we humans are animals, specifically primates, we just have more highly developed brains. For you to have decided that certain animals deserve protections because they're not a negative life force -- that is, they can't destroy the world because they're not intelligent enough, is reductio ad absurdum. So then, are plants, amoebas, pandas and fleas. And I'm sorry, but a panda isn't as important as I am -- they can't gyrate like I can. I should really leave it at that quip, but keep in mind that only humans can be humane. We are so because we realise the complexity of the world, and its interconnectivity with other creatures. I doubt the fleas do, Dani. Or, sadly, the doggies. Doesn't mean we have to torture them, and your original point is well-taken. It's how you arrive at that point that gets convoluted. Well, tata for now. This thread will survive the cockroaches, you'll see.

Well, I do have to thank you for giving me her name. I'm reading up on her, and yes, she seems to combine her autism with her intrinsic understanding of the suffering of animals. According to Wiki, they call her the "Woman Who Thinks Like a Cow". Funny, I always thought that was my old Headmistress (thank you thank you, I'm here all week). Anyway, I'm all for her devising a less stressful environment in abattoirs. On paper, I have nothing against preventing people from bettering the lot of animals. I just don't care for those who connote the suffering of animals as equivalent to the suffering of humans. THAT is a step too far (for me).

A noted PETA activist Dani. You usually find her on late-night interview shows like Larry King, etc. The name rang a bell, and sure enough, she's also an autism activist (my mother is a child psychiatrist). She believes that animals should have protections like what is given to humans in the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Man and citizens...

Agree. The orange brought out the orangey undertones in your complexion, making it sallow. This brings out the blue hues, so much better. Alas, no. I bought it full-price on Risti. Really got hosed on that one. My 183 has some lug issues, still, so I can't change the straps (TWP is sending me a new case) similar to the 232. However, I did find some 183/Gator combos online.

"I'm the Money" EDIT: No, FxrAndy. This. You were supposed to have replied something back.

That combo looks delicious. Are those the cufflinks the watch ones you were supposed to have worn to the Brussels GTG? Sorry, I almost never clicked on the threads. The sumptousness of the hotel, if those films are anything to go on, is amazing. A similar stay at a five-star hotel elsewhere would've been at least $1000 per night, I'm sure. We won't even talk of the 007 package! That's dead cheap, that is, FxrAndy. Classy choice of watch, at that. Did you get any looks/compliments? EDIT: Just saw your new photo. WOW! Daniel Craig WHO? @Freddy: Very Cartier-Bresson. Lovely.

My contribution to keep the thread going. My "new" 26mm, 220 year-old hide, Metta Catharina on the DSN 127, since I'm still waiting on the other unfinished hide to arrive. I LOVE THIS STRAP! It is truly one of the Holy Grail of straps for any Panerista. BTW, the Wristcheck turned out rather freaky. Like Fay Wray escaping from King Kong or something.

Search didn't yield this link as posted before, so here it is. http://nakahiro.parfait.ne.jp/index.html To whet your whistle: Vulcain Cricket Harwood　 (apparently the first worldwide wristwatch automatic movement, 　1930) Record (　Cal.174 　18000BPH, 　1952) Logines Chronograph (Cal.539 / Cal.30CH 　18000BPH) Junghans (Cal.83-S 　19800BPH, 　1962　, apparently the only German chronometer Automatic) Seiko Quartz (Cal.3863A) This 1989 Rolex Sea-Dweller is already considered antique, I suppose. I had never seen the guts of a Cricket let alone a Harwood, etc. A fascinating site, for those who like antique watches, and especially a look inside (WIS porn).

That's what I've been told repeatedly too. But I read never to set the date when it's between 9 PM to 6 AM. You just go beyond 6, and then set the date. Since then, I read it's 3 AM. This thread needs the master modder from Canada to explain. However, may I ask you Zeus are you Greek? Because new member Nasosn also posted his thread in capitals, like you did. Maybe it's a Greek thing. P.S.: It's usually changed to lower-case by Mods. As you know, online, capital letters stand for "shouting". @Zeus: No worries, darling. BTW, you have a lot of compatriots here, but since they didn't say anything YET, welcome to the forum. Oh, and your English is wayy better than my Greek.