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Mr Jam

Nury Vittachi is an author and journalist based in Hong Kong, and has written many books and articles, under his own name and as "Mr Jam", "Lai See", "The Spice Trader" and so on.

Recent Activity

Harold Evans' Asian Connection

The legendary British newspaper editor, who died this week, had a significant effect on journalism in Asia—and vice versa HARRY EVANS, an assistant editor from the British city of Manchester, stared at the newspaper and sighed. It was 1961 and... Continue reading

Posted Sep 24, 2020 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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The Prince Edward MTR 'Murders' -- what really happened?

The story of the Prince Edward Station "Murders" upsets many people in Hong Kong to this day. But what really happened on August 31, 2019? Consider the details below and make up your own mind. THE MOST REGULARLY shared version... Continue reading

Posted Aug 30, 2020 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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6 news items which recently sent me back to my youth

Someone showed me a random video in which people put cucumbers near cats, and the horrified cats leapt away in sheer terror, sometimes leaping out of windows. Watching it, I re-lived my teenage attempts at dating. Cucumbers: I feel your... Continue reading

Posted Aug 28, 2016 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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THOUGHTS ON HOW WEIRD LIFE IS JUST NOW

THE KIDS WERE NOT really listening to me so I told them that Justin Bieber had just been outed as an alien from the Helix Nebula here to kidnap Taylor Swift. Instant full attention. *** Some folks disapprove of my... Continue reading

Posted Aug 21, 2016 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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Brain 'optional', scientists say, and I have proof

ME: You slept 14 hours! TEENAGE DAUGHTER: I’m up, I’m up, see? * Moves from bedroom doorway to sofa and lies down* *** I’m telling you, this kid has life SORTED. Conscious awareness is over-rated. No, really. It’s science. Scientists... Continue reading

Posted Jul 3, 2016 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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4 TALES THAT PROVE OUR BRAINS ARE SWITCHED OFF AND IN OUR POCKETS

SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT when I wash food by holding it under the horrible yellow water that comes out of my tap I am really just adding an extra dose of carcinogens. Funny how we do things without thinking these days.... Continue reading

Posted Jun 12, 2016 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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Differences between Westerners and Easterners

Asia contains literally four billion people. So it’s kind of weird that every time I visit the West, people say: “You’re from Asia? I met a guy from there once; I wonder if you know him?” What’s even more weird... Continue reading

Posted Jun 6, 2016 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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4 true stories about taking risks

I NEVER USED TO be a risk-taker but then I had children who would play in the dirt and say things like: “Daddy, close your eyes and open your mouth.” Parents soon learn what true courage is. I’ve been thinking... Continue reading

Posted May 23, 2016 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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The gift of persuasion

INTERVIEWER: “And exactly how much leadership experience do you have?” ME: “Does being admin of a Whatsapp list count? Because I had 20 names on one before I accidentally deleted it.” He wasn’t impressed by that or anything else I... Continue reading

Posted May 15, 2016 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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Gender, toilets and all that

A WOMAN WAS SACKED for having short hair and wearing trousers to work recently. “They said I was gay,” she complained to an unsympathetic Labor Tribunal in the city of Guiyang, southwest China. How could her employers get it so... Continue reading

Posted May 2, 2016 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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I'm outing myself: I identify as a potato

It’s 2055. Phones are painted onto our palms. Being transgender is compulsory, except for Popes, who have to be female. All countries have combined into one big nation, North Zuckerberg. No, wait. Maybe life won’t be that weird in 2055.... Continue reading

Posted Apr 25, 2016 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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MONDAY MOANING BLUES: THOUGHTS ABOUT SILENCE

I TOLD MY CHILDREN THE HORRIFIC TRUTH about life in the old days: “And at about 11.30 every night, they would play the national anthem and we would pretend to stand up and every screen went blank. And all screens... Continue reading

Posted Apr 10, 2016 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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The Day 16 Women Escaped Their Marriages

WIFE: “The house is on fire! Get the kids out first!” ME (Stuffing Star Wars figurines collection into pockets): “I’m on it! Really soon! Almost immediately!” *** Fortunately, it turned out to be a dream—or rather a nightmare. No husband/... Continue reading

Posted Mar 13, 2016 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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Household pets hurt my self-esteem

A DOG HAS LEARNED TO READ. Fernie, a two-year-old Labrador from the UK, can read four words and is working on another 20, says his owner, a teacher. *** The growing intelligence of animals worries me, as I well remember... Continue reading

Posted Feb 21, 2016 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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3 eyebrow-raising news items about pets treated as children

While shaking hands the other day, I felt thankful that we evolved from apes. Had we evolved from dogs, we’d greet each other by circling around with our heads down saying: “Wow, your nether regions smell great.” Reply: “Thanks! Yours,... Continue reading

Posted Dec 27, 2015 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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4 examples of knee-jerk reactions

Now that my children are all on Facebook I don’t punish them for misdeeds any more. I just tag them on old family pictures of them pooping at the poolside etc. Mwa ha ha. *** But I was scolded by... Continue reading

Posted Nov 29, 2015 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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10 Daddy and Child Conversations

Kids ask tough questions. Like: “Do fish get thirsty?” I replied that they do, and the most common cause of preventable fish death are the greedy ones drinking up all the water in their tanks. *** “And why isn’t there... Continue reading

Posted Nov 10, 2015 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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SHE FAKED HER PREGNANCY. FOR 10 MONTHS

I just overheard a guy telling his wife to calm down, look at the facts and think rationally. Can you believe THERE ARE STILL MEN who don’t understand how women work?!?! *** Guys, guys! Women are complex creatures with intuitive... Continue reading

Posted Oct 11, 2015 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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BRAIN-EATERS SHOW EVOLUTION CONTINUING, SCIENTISTS SAY

A group of people who ATE HUMAN BRAINS became immune to several deadly diseases, proving that evolution is continuing at high speed, scientists said. The astonishing report was shown to me by a gourmet who took offense to an article... Continue reading

Posted Oct 6, 2015 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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10 reasons why the death of the comma is a disaster

SO A READER named Melissa writes to say her friend was at a talk about global resources and someone put up a Powerpoint slide which said: “The average North American consumes more than 400 Africans.” She asked: “Is it a... Continue reading

Posted Sep 28, 2015 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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DO YOU CURSE IN FRONT OF YOUR KIDS?

Have you noticed that a significant percentage of parenting time is spent screaming at your children to stop screaming? *** Ironic, that. Researchers say that even very young children are now learning curse words, because parents break their own anti-cursing... Continue reading

Posted Sep 21, 2015 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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IRONY AND THE ANGEL OF KARMA

IMPORTANT: If you are on a skiing holiday and you see angels, do NOT fall backwards and wave your arms to make an angel shape in the snow. They may find it offensive. Always be politically correct. Especially to angels.... Continue reading

Posted Sep 13, 2015 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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Hate your leader? Start your own enclave

WHEN A VISITING Westerner airily dismissed Asia as “a region of natural disasters and incredibly nasty leaders,” I was really upset. The truth hurts. *** A similar point was made in the shape of a request I received from a... Continue reading

Posted Sep 7, 2015 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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Arrest me now, I am carrying a bad drawing

ME: “This is not a gun. It’s a child’s drawing of Team Rocket’s bazooka from the Pokemon cartoon.” AIRPORT OFFICIAL: “You do understand that we have to take all threats seriously, sir?” ME: “Do I get a final phone call?”... Continue reading

Posted Aug 30, 2015 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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3 criminals I secretly admire

When I was a student I had the idea of organizing a party with Breathalyzer tests at the door so no girls could get in unless they were drunk enough. Had to cancel when my tutor threatened to report me.... Continue reading

Posted Aug 16, 2015 at The Curious Diary of Mr Jam

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