Once was excusable-maybe. But twice-absolutely not!

The new, so-called "Who's Who in Cambodia" has a listing for the distinguished tax and consulting services firm KPMG, and it even has a picture of the boss.

But his name is not "Augustine Bong". It's David King. And funnily enough, it was David King last year too!

** A fond farewell to Tom Maher, the owner of Tom's Irish Pub, who passed away last week. Tom arrived in Cambodia during UNTAC and dropped his anchor for good.

His Irish Pub-widely known for its generous 10am to 7pm Happy Hour- had a number of physical incarnations, including one short-lived partnership with another Irishman, Jim Kennelly. What was surprising to most interested outsiders was that the two decided to join forces in the first place. God bless the Irish!

Tom had a thirsty sense of humor and so won't mind the re-telling of one small tale, one of many that has made the rounds in recent days:

A customer at his bar ordered a hamburger, and Tom headed, with a nod, towards the kitchen to get it underway. Halfway down the bar he turned back to the customer and asked: "Would you be wantin' any meat with that now?"

** The Overseas Press Club of Cambodia (OPCC) held its AGM on August 26 and appointed a new seven-member executive committee. The Daily's Michelle Vachon was elected president of the OPCC, while Reuters Bureau Chief Ed Cropley will serve as vice-president. More than 30 journalists, photographers and media workers attended the meeting and four new members were elected to the committee.

** Some post-election grumble about poll-watcher gossip. One source sent in the following: "Former Ambassador Gordon Longmuir would rather be denounced and undermined by Phelim Kyne (PPP 10/8, April 13-26, 2001) than defended by Michael Vickery (PPP 10/9, April 27-May 10, 2001)." The reader who can guess the source wins a nickel.

** For those who missed it, the RGC issued Circular #02 on August 20, which reads in part: "..the Royal Government has observed that ministries-institutions have actively worked to join and implement the Royal Government's political program with fruitful and proud achievement, but for the last minute after the election...the Royal Government observed that the use of stamps in a number of ministries-institutions have been interrupted, and it has negatively affected the management mechanism and daily public administrative work caused by a number of heads of ministries-institutions who brought the ministries-institutions' stamps with them."