I talked to Alan, one of the owners of Coyotee, tonight about the dance contest, and he was talking quite positively about the event — the parts which occurred after I left.
So therefore, I postulated correctly that after separating the wheat from the chaff, and the possibility of winning became more apparent, the girls got more wanton and nasty. (Bob, one of the judges confirmed some exceptionally hot girl-on-girl action as well.)
Therefore: What I said stands for the dance contests early on... but stick around or show up late (if you think you can get a seat) for the final rounds of the next Coyotee dance contest if you want to see the raunchy fun.
Monday, October 31, 2005
I'm Never Wrong
I told you what would happen if Harriet Miers withdrew from the nomination process: President Bush would nominte a right-wing whacko.
That's exactly what happened.
That's exactly what happened.
School's In Session
I have a few rules for Took: The first rule is that although she doesn't need to work, she can't sit around the house all day being bored. (You would think this wouldn't need to be a rule, but after several Thai girlfriends, I find it necessary to make it.) Corollary to that is the rule that she cannot just go out all day and hang out with her friends doing nothing. (Again, from experience with prior girlfriends.) Therefore, I gave Took two and/or options: One would be to go to English school, and the other would be to do a job that is fun or tham boon (merit making) such as volunteer work.
So, Took is going to go study English at AUA English School. She went today to take the placement test, and scored at level 7 out of 15... which is quite high. She's giddy... as a schoolgirl. She called me up so excited.
That's all I really ask for too: That the things I do for Took cause her happiness and excitement.
So, Took is going to go study English at AUA English School. She went today to take the placement test, and scored at level 7 out of 15... which is quite high. She's giddy... as a schoolgirl. She called me up so excited.
That's all I really ask for too: That the things I do for Took cause her happiness and excitement.
That's Awkward
I send about 2 or 3 text messages on my phone every day. For the last week, people have not been receiving the text messages I sent to them. Apparently, there was a glitch with my phone. Suddenly, today, that glitch worked itself out, and about a dozen several-day-old text messages sent themselves in rapid succession, spurring a slew of phone calls from confused friends.
Chrome Pole Report
Coyotee Gogo had a dance contest last night.
I compare all dance contests to the first dance contest I ever went to: A Nanapong contest at Electric Blue between the 5 prettiest girls from each of 2 Bangkok gogo bars and each of 2 Pattaya gogo bars. There was no mistaking it was a special event with much fanfare, and a heightened level of excitement and intensity among both the dancers and the crowd.
The performance of the girls was over the top and frenzied, each girl vying for the judges attention, and doing their best to titillate, excite, and even shock the crowd. It wasn't just the suggestion of sex, or even the simulated act. Everything from fingers and beer bottles to sausages from the buffet table found their way into the act... and into the girls.
In other words, there was no mistaking this for an ordinary night of gogo dancing.
Such was not the case with recent dance contests I have been to... both at Diamond A Gogo and last night's contest at Coyotee. I won't say it wasn't enjoyable — because it was, as all nights out in Pattaya's gogo bars tend to be. However, words like "special", "amazing", and "off-the-wall" are words that, for me, conjure up images of dissappearing sausages, not the Pattaya standard of beautiful naked girls dancing on a stage.
The girls are principally to blame. For them, it was business as usual: Get up on stage, strip, and gossip with each other in between smiling blankly off into the distance while masturbating the chrome pole and assuming the supposedly erotic positions that they have mechanically assumed thousands of times before.
I think that the worst part was a complete lack of personality among the majority of the girls. After having, just the night previous, seen ladyboy beauty queens proudly and gracefully work the stage... the sight of congenitally meek Thai girls gallumping onto the stage, shoulders hunched foward, hair hanging down to obscure everything but the tip of their nose and the centermost aspect of an ashamed smile when their name was announced was an exercise in extremes.
After this initial introduction of the contestants, the evening proceeded just as every other evening of gogo dancing proceeds... albeit with higher turnover of girls on the stage. Groups of 4 dancers would come up, one song would play with the girls fully bikinied, and then another song would play with the girls fully nude. There was no increased sense of duty to excite the crowd among the dancers, and no increased sense of duty among the crowd to encourage them to do so.
Coyotee has quite a number of beautiful girls, and having them up on stage naked is a treat. But the fact remains that they are up on stage naked every night of the week. The dance contest did nothing to improve on every other night in the bar.
Now, I will admit, I left early... about halfway through the first round. Perhaps, as the evening wore on, and the number of girls was whittled down to a few final contestants, a sense of purpose may have emerged from the humdrum that I saw. If it did, then obviously what I write here is only true for the time that I was there.
Also, I like the premise that a dance contest is about bars, not girls. I would love to see Coyotee girls go up against girls from Diamond, Living Dolls Showcase, and Misty's. That would be a competition. Having only one bar presenting its girls, and having judges pick the prettiest/sexiest girl from that population... well, once again, that is a function that every man performs every night when he goes into a gogo bar: Pick the prettiest and take home the winner.
So, all in all, a fun evening... just like every other.
I compare all dance contests to the first dance contest I ever went to: A Nanapong contest at Electric Blue between the 5 prettiest girls from each of 2 Bangkok gogo bars and each of 2 Pattaya gogo bars. There was no mistaking it was a special event with much fanfare, and a heightened level of excitement and intensity among both the dancers and the crowd.
The performance of the girls was over the top and frenzied, each girl vying for the judges attention, and doing their best to titillate, excite, and even shock the crowd. It wasn't just the suggestion of sex, or even the simulated act. Everything from fingers and beer bottles to sausages from the buffet table found their way into the act... and into the girls.
In other words, there was no mistaking this for an ordinary night of gogo dancing.
Such was not the case with recent dance contests I have been to... both at Diamond A Gogo and last night's contest at Coyotee. I won't say it wasn't enjoyable — because it was, as all nights out in Pattaya's gogo bars tend to be. However, words like "special", "amazing", and "off-the-wall" are words that, for me, conjure up images of dissappearing sausages, not the Pattaya standard of beautiful naked girls dancing on a stage.
The girls are principally to blame. For them, it was business as usual: Get up on stage, strip, and gossip with each other in between smiling blankly off into the distance while masturbating the chrome pole and assuming the supposedly erotic positions that they have mechanically assumed thousands of times before.
I think that the worst part was a complete lack of personality among the majority of the girls. After having, just the night previous, seen ladyboy beauty queens proudly and gracefully work the stage... the sight of congenitally meek Thai girls gallumping onto the stage, shoulders hunched foward, hair hanging down to obscure everything but the tip of their nose and the centermost aspect of an ashamed smile when their name was announced was an exercise in extremes.
After this initial introduction of the contestants, the evening proceeded just as every other evening of gogo dancing proceeds... albeit with higher turnover of girls on the stage. Groups of 4 dancers would come up, one song would play with the girls fully bikinied, and then another song would play with the girls fully nude. There was no increased sense of duty to excite the crowd among the dancers, and no increased sense of duty among the crowd to encourage them to do so.
Coyotee has quite a number of beautiful girls, and having them up on stage naked is a treat. But the fact remains that they are up on stage naked every night of the week. The dance contest did nothing to improve on every other night in the bar.
Now, I will admit, I left early... about halfway through the first round. Perhaps, as the evening wore on, and the number of girls was whittled down to a few final contestants, a sense of purpose may have emerged from the humdrum that I saw. If it did, then obviously what I write here is only true for the time that I was there.
Also, I like the premise that a dance contest is about bars, not girls. I would love to see Coyotee girls go up against girls from Diamond, Living Dolls Showcase, and Misty's. That would be a competition. Having only one bar presenting its girls, and having judges pick the prettiest/sexiest girl from that population... well, once again, that is a function that every man performs every night when he goes into a gogo bar: Pick the prettiest and take home the winner.
So, all in all, a fun evening... just like every other.
Final Update on Miss International Queen 2005
I found this page on Mimi Marks, from Chicago, who was crowned Miss International Queen 2005 here in Pattaya on Saturday night. (Photo courtesy of that page.)I think it bears repeating: This is one beautiful lady, but I believe her main attribute (and the reason she was chosen over other competitors) is her ability to promote the Miss International Queen pagaent on American (and European?) soil.
I'm going to withdraw any gripes I may have conveyed earlier about the "most beautiful" transsexual (Miss Korea) not winning because I remembered this: The purpose of the pagaent. The pagaent was billed as an event to promote GLBT (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender) issues and to promote tourism in Pattaya. That being the case, the judges made the correct decision. Mimi Marks is the best-suited competitor to aid the purpose of the pagaent.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Well That Didn't Last Long
In the span of about 2 hours, the kitties had been shooting birds in a barrel, and had felled 3 of them in a permanent fashion, and several more were winged. All of them traumatized. Since this all happened after sunset, and there was a bright porch floodlight nearby, it could be that the birds were crashing endlessly into the cage, but I doubt it.
Regardless, obviously the environment is deadly to the birds and they would have all been gone within a day, so all of the surviving little song birds were released. One of the winged birds unfortunately didn't make it past the cats lurking in the periphery, and two big tookeh lizards were waiting by the floodlight which is the path the freed birds were flying... but I don't think the lizards caught any birds.
I did keep the lovebirds though... since they seem to have a nesting instinct, and went up into the safety of the little enclosure in the roof to set up shop.
All in all though, a grand debacle, and I'm bummed out at having caued more death and suffering among the avian population.
Regardless, obviously the environment is deadly to the birds and they would have all been gone within a day, so all of the surviving little song birds were released. One of the winged birds unfortunately didn't make it past the cats lurking in the periphery, and two big tookeh lizards were waiting by the floodlight which is the path the freed birds were flying... but I don't think the lizards caught any birds.
I did keep the lovebirds though... since they seem to have a nesting instinct, and went up into the safety of the little enclosure in the roof to set up shop.
All in all though, a grand debacle, and I'm bummed out at having caued more death and suffering among the avian population.
New Maid New Birds
Oo... or is his name Ooo?.. is my pool boy. He noticed that the dishes were piling up in the kitchen and asked if I needed a new maid, as he would volunteer his girlfriend for the job if I did.
Thus, Porn (but pronounced "pawn") came to start work today. Oo will also be working for me cleaning up my yard once a week. Porn will be moving into the garage apartment tomorrow, I believe.
Khun Wolf, my bird, died... from neglect, I'm afraid. I feel horrible: I filled up his big water dish last week thinking that it would last... oh hell... I don't know... longer than it did obviously. The bird died of dehydration.
Thus, I went to the pet store today and bought 20 little song birds and 2 love birds and put them in the cage. The make quite a nice twittering... although they are driving the cats bonkers. I've had to run out every 5 minutes to smack one or more of them who has clawed their way up the side of the cage, and will probably have to continue to do so until they are trained not to do it.
Obviously I've learned my lesson, and will be monitoring my new friends' water and food status a little more closely.
Thus, Porn (but pronounced "pawn") came to start work today. Oo will also be working for me cleaning up my yard once a week. Porn will be moving into the garage apartment tomorrow, I believe.
Khun Wolf, my bird, died... from neglect, I'm afraid. I feel horrible: I filled up his big water dish last week thinking that it would last... oh hell... I don't know... longer than it did obviously. The bird died of dehydration.
Thus, I went to the pet store today and bought 20 little song birds and 2 love birds and put them in the cage. The make quite a nice twittering... although they are driving the cats bonkers. I've had to run out every 5 minutes to smack one or more of them who has clawed their way up the side of the cage, and will probably have to continue to do so until they are trained not to do it. Obviously I've learned my lesson, and will be monitoring my new friends' water and food status a little more closely.
Miss International Queen 2005
The pagaent just finished, and it was a letdown on a whole lotta ways.
First, the Tiffany Show always puts on a show that is polished and perfect. The Miss Tiffany Universe pagaent, which chooses Thailand's prettiest ladyboy (the common and not-at-all-insulting word for transsexuals in Thailand) each year is wonderfuly choreographed and always goes off without a hitch. The Miss International Queen pagaent was hardly perfect, with miscues, mistakes, and lots of people standing around on the stage looking confused.
Second, was the results. First, the top 10: All 4 American representatives got into the final ten. This is a beauty contest, so I will be blunt: One of the Americans was —as far as American drag queens go — below average in appearance. Half of the drag queens in America are prettier. Another one of the Americans, although pretty in the face, had a body that was better suited for an NFL wide receiver than a bikini. You want muscles? Sheesh. A third American girl was actually Thai, but raised in America. Quite pretty, but I would have picked 3 or 4 other contestants for the top 10 before her. The fourth American, see below.
Yes: The winner. It wasn't Miss Korea. It was the blonde-haired Miss USA. Once again, I'll be blunt: Incredible smile. Exceptionally beautiful face. Big blonde Texas-style hair. But you could see her age in her face (Early-30-something, I would guess), and she was easily a size 8. That's up against porcelin-skinned, size zero, 19-year-old Miss Korea and Miss Thailand, and Britney Spears lookalike, Miss Brazil. (Granted, Miss Brazil's question-answer was horrible, and that knocked her out of the running, but how did Miss USA beat out Miss Korea?)
Well, I have my own theory about that: I think that the Tiffany's people decided that if the Miss International Queen pagaent was going to really take off, they needed an American (non-Asian) to represent the show for the next year, speaking English, communicating how great the show is, et cetera. I think that Miss USA was chosen because she could best further the renown of the pagaent. I will say that all my personal gripes aside, she certainly carried herself like a beauty queen, and I do agree with the fact that she can only help the success of the pagaent in the future.
Anyway, here come the photos. Sorry for their quality as camera phones are not designed for perfect photos.
The opening number by the Tiffany's cast... a song celebrating Pattaya.
After the final results are announced. All the contestants and judges up on stage.
The 3 finalists: Miss Thailand, 2nd Runner-up is on the left. Miss Korea, 1st Runner-up is on the right. Miss USA, Miss International Queen 2005, is in the middle.
Anyway, there was lots of press there, and I saw reporters from lots of different TV stations from around the world. The show was broadcast live in Thailand on one of the major TV networks. Miss Thailand (the female one) was there, and Thailand's version of Matt Lauer was the emcee.
First, the Tiffany Show always puts on a show that is polished and perfect. The Miss Tiffany Universe pagaent, which chooses Thailand's prettiest ladyboy (the common and not-at-all-insulting word for transsexuals in Thailand) each year is wonderfuly choreographed and always goes off without a hitch. The Miss International Queen pagaent was hardly perfect, with miscues, mistakes, and lots of people standing around on the stage looking confused.
Second, was the results. First, the top 10: All 4 American representatives got into the final ten. This is a beauty contest, so I will be blunt: One of the Americans was —as far as American drag queens go — below average in appearance. Half of the drag queens in America are prettier. Another one of the Americans, although pretty in the face, had a body that was better suited for an NFL wide receiver than a bikini. You want muscles? Sheesh. A third American girl was actually Thai, but raised in America. Quite pretty, but I would have picked 3 or 4 other contestants for the top 10 before her. The fourth American, see below.
Yes: The winner. It wasn't Miss Korea. It was the blonde-haired Miss USA. Once again, I'll be blunt: Incredible smile. Exceptionally beautiful face. Big blonde Texas-style hair. But you could see her age in her face (Early-30-something, I would guess), and she was easily a size 8. That's up against porcelin-skinned, size zero, 19-year-old Miss Korea and Miss Thailand, and Britney Spears lookalike, Miss Brazil. (Granted, Miss Brazil's question-answer was horrible, and that knocked her out of the running, but how did Miss USA beat out Miss Korea?)
Well, I have my own theory about that: I think that the Tiffany's people decided that if the Miss International Queen pagaent was going to really take off, they needed an American (non-Asian) to represent the show for the next year, speaking English, communicating how great the show is, et cetera. I think that Miss USA was chosen because she could best further the renown of the pagaent. I will say that all my personal gripes aside, she certainly carried herself like a beauty queen, and I do agree with the fact that she can only help the success of the pagaent in the future.
Anyway, here come the photos. Sorry for their quality as camera phones are not designed for perfect photos.
The opening number by the Tiffany's cast... a song celebrating Pattaya.
After the final results are announced. All the contestants and judges up on stage. The 3 finalists: Miss Thailand, 2nd Runner-up is on the left. Miss Korea, 1st Runner-up is on the right. Miss USA, Miss International Queen 2005, is in the middle.Anyway, there was lots of press there, and I saw reporters from lots of different TV stations from around the world. The show was broadcast live in Thailand on one of the major TV networks. Miss Thailand (the female one) was there, and Thailand's version of Matt Lauer was the emcee. Well, even with all my complaints, I still had a great time nonetheless, and hope that next years event is even more successful.
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Ewww
Took and I went out shopping today. I bought all the fixins for Jil's Fettucini Carbonara (bacon cream sauce, if you didn't know). Then, it was home to prepare it.
As always, it came out just right.
So we sat down at the dining room table for lunch. Took ate 2 bites of the fettucini and then picked up her plate and went into the kitchen. Yeah... it is a little bland for Thai tastes. She went to add some pepper or a bit of chili powder... right?
She came back to the table with the pasta covered in ketchup.
As always, it came out just right.
So we sat down at the dining room table for lunch. Took ate 2 bites of the fettucini and then picked up her plate and went into the kitchen. Yeah... it is a little bland for Thai tastes. She went to add some pepper or a bit of chili powder... right?
She came back to the table with the pasta covered in ketchup.
Sulu Is Gay
Actually, oddly enough, after getting my gaydar (straight people have it too, you know... you just probably never have had it fine-tuned by hanging out for years in Greenwich Village) switched over to the Asian frequency with all the gayboys running around Pattaya, I watched a Star Trek movie and thought he might be.
Anyway, good for George Takei. Took him long enough.
Anyway, good for George Takei. Took him long enough.
Out For Dinner
It was out to Bob's for Friday All-You-Can Eat Fish Fry.
The Tiffany's "International Queen 2005" show is divided into 2 days. I have tickets for tomorrow (Saturday) night's show... where they crown the winner. The talent portion was tonight. Lolo, the Tiffany Show's principal dancer, called me and told me that since tonight's show wasn't sold out, I could have 2 free tickets, so Took and I went. Fifth row, mid-far left.
There is a reason why the talent show didn't sell out: Talent is not these ladies strong suit, mostly consisting of lip synching. However, Miss Japan did have an amazing female soprano voice, and Miss Germany did a great little schtick were she came out DRAB (dressed as a boy) and then quite astoundingly and instantly transformed into female onstage. Miss Brazil is a Britney Spears wannabe, and was pretty popular. Miss USA (1 of 4 Americans), however, won doing "What A Feeling" from Flashdance with acrobatics, back flips, and splits in high heels.
The highlight of the evening for me though was just getting to see all of the contestants. Most of the transsexuals at least qualify as "quite attractive", and several of them are beautiful. I said earlier that Miss Thailand 2004 (Miss International Queen 2004) had a beauty that would be difficult to beat. I am glad to be wrong: Miss Korea is the clear winner of this year's contestants. No sense even holding the contest tomorrow night really.
So: After the show was a photo op. Hence: Photos... taken on my camera phone.
Left to Right: One of the judges. One of the Miss USA's (several from USA), another Miss USA, Miss Brazil, Miss Phillippines (several from the Phillippines as well), Miss Thailand (only 1 Miss Thailand is allowed to compete), and Miss Malasia.
He and his buddy in a brand new Ferrari, which I didn't get a picture of, were out in Pattaya for the evening. Some of us have a pretty good life here in Pattaya. Others of us have juuust a little more.
The Tiffany's "International Queen 2005" show is divided into 2 days. I have tickets for tomorrow (Saturday) night's show... where they crown the winner. The talent portion was tonight. Lolo, the Tiffany Show's principal dancer, called me and told me that since tonight's show wasn't sold out, I could have 2 free tickets, so Took and I went. Fifth row, mid-far left.
There is a reason why the talent show didn't sell out: Talent is not these ladies strong suit, mostly consisting of lip synching. However, Miss Japan did have an amazing female soprano voice, and Miss Germany did a great little schtick were she came out DRAB (dressed as a boy) and then quite astoundingly and instantly transformed into female onstage. Miss Brazil is a Britney Spears wannabe, and was pretty popular. Miss USA (1 of 4 Americans), however, won doing "What A Feeling" from Flashdance with acrobatics, back flips, and splits in high heels.
The highlight of the evening for me though was just getting to see all of the contestants. Most of the transsexuals at least qualify as "quite attractive", and several of them are beautiful. I said earlier that Miss Thailand 2004 (Miss International Queen 2004) had a beauty that would be difficult to beat. I am glad to be wrong: Miss Korea is the clear winner of this year's contestants. No sense even holding the contest tomorrow night really.
So: After the show was a photo op. Hence: Photos... taken on my camera phone.
Left to Right: One of the judges. One of the Miss USA's (several from USA), another Miss USA, Miss Brazil, Miss Phillippines (several from the Phillippines as well), Miss Thailand (only 1 Miss Thailand is allowed to compete), and Miss Malasia.
Left to Right: Miss Indonesia, Miss Japan (2 contestants from Japan), Miss Korea (tomorrow's winner), Miss Germany, another Miss Phillippines, and... Miss I-can't-remember in the top hat. That's two-thirds of the 18 contestants. There was a Miss Laos, another Miss USA, another Miss Japan, and 2 more Miss Phillippines. This is only the second year that they have held the constest, and in that one year, they have doubled the number of countries competing.
Oh... and I'll throw this picture in: On the drive home, I got stuck in traffic behind this guy. I snapped his picture when he was turning around to get to a parking space.
He and his buddy in a brand new Ferrari, which I didn't get a picture of, were out in Pattaya for the evening. Some of us have a pretty good life here in Pattaya. Others of us have juuust a little more.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Well At Least Somebody Is Benefitting
ExxonMobil had profits of nearly $10 billion this quarter.
The United States consumes about 36.5 billion gallons of gasoline per quarter.
ExxonMobil has about 20% of all gasoline sales in the United States.
So here's the math:
20% of 36.5 billion gallons equals 7.3 billion gallons.
$10 billion divided by 7.3 billion gallons equals:
$1.36 profit for Exxon for each gallon you buy. Not bad, eh?
What... you didn't think that those higher gas prices were going to effect the oil companies did you? Silly rabbit. They passed all that along to you... and then a little more as well.
Here's some more math:
You buy 20 gallons per week for 50 weeks... that's 1,000 gallons of gas.
Are you going to give Exxon Mobil $1,360 in profit this year?
Can I make a suggestion?
$229... on sale.
The United States consumes about 36.5 billion gallons of gasoline per quarter.
ExxonMobil has about 20% of all gasoline sales in the United States.
So here's the math:
20% of 36.5 billion gallons equals 7.3 billion gallons.
$10 billion divided by 7.3 billion gallons equals:
$1.36 profit for Exxon for each gallon you buy. Not bad, eh?
What... you didn't think that those higher gas prices were going to effect the oil companies did you? Silly rabbit. They passed all that along to you... and then a little more as well.
Here's some more math:
You buy 20 gallons per week for 50 weeks... that's 1,000 gallons of gas.
Are you going to give Exxon Mobil $1,360 in profit this year?
Can I make a suggestion?
$229... on sale.
Icy Jil
The pool in my house is easily the coldest pool in Pattaya. I'm just really clueless as to how the water could be colder than the coolest nighttime temperatures in Pattaya. I haven't measured it yet, but I am guessing the temperature is about 74º. I tried getting in today, and simply couldn't do it.
Well, come April, when it is 102º in the shade, I'll be loving life.
Well, come April, when it is 102º in the shade, I'll be loving life.
Friday Cat Blogging
Ying 
Yang
Yang 
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Dammit
Harriet Miers withdrew her nomination.
Apparently she didn't pass the far right wing's "litmus test" on Roe v. Wade. You know: The litmus test that the far right wing says should never be used to determine eligibility for the Supreme Court.
Now President Bush is going to nominate somebody who will give Jerry Falwell an erection.
Well, at least I cannot blame the Democrats for messing this up. It all happened on the right side of the aisle.
Apparently she didn't pass the far right wing's "litmus test" on Roe v. Wade. You know: The litmus test that the far right wing says should never be used to determine eligibility for the Supreme Court.
Now President Bush is going to nominate somebody who will give Jerry Falwell an erection.
Well, at least I cannot blame the Democrats for messing this up. It all happened on the right side of the aisle.
Out For Lunch
Took and I went out today for lunch at Bob's. We both had the pulled pork sandwich. I have no idea what "pulled" is, but it was unmistakably pork.
After that, it was next door to windowshop at Pattaya's largest motorcycle dealer. I can get a Yamaha Nouvo with automatic transmission, factory-customized paint, parts, and even tinted glass for under $2,000. (The version on the left is the standard version.) When I mean customized, I mean pretty much every part that is visible. (All the customizing is not that expensive either. That's the thing about these little runabouts: They are laughably inexpensive to get parts for. Replacing all of the body panels (everything that is red in the photo) with a custom funky graphic design is $150... and that is probably 10 times more expensive than the next most expensive customization.) Anyway, I'm going in tomorrow to put a down payment in. The bike will take a month to put together.
After that, it was off to Pattaya's temple for prayers. Took missed them yesterday. While Took was rattling joss sticks and wai'ing the Buddha, I was engaged in conversation by what had to have been one of the most senior monks in Pattaya. Unfortunately, I could not understand a word the gentlemonk was saying, and Took had to come by (on her way between stations) to translate for me. It turned out (as I learned after) that, aside from aged mumbling through only 4 brown teeth, the oldster was from Rayong (about 30 miles south of Pattaya), which has it's own twist on the Thai language. Although he was trying to speak proper Thai to me, his accent (and toothless condition) was killing me.
After that, it was next door to windowshop at Pattaya's largest motorcycle dealer. I can get a Yamaha Nouvo with automatic transmission, factory-customized paint, parts, and even tinted glass for under $2,000. (The version on the left is the standard version.) When I mean customized, I mean pretty much every part that is visible. (All the customizing is not that expensive either. That's the thing about these little runabouts: They are laughably inexpensive to get parts for. Replacing all of the body panels (everything that is red in the photo) with a custom funky graphic design is $150... and that is probably 10 times more expensive than the next most expensive customization.) Anyway, I'm going in tomorrow to put a down payment in. The bike will take a month to put together.
After that, it was off to Pattaya's temple for prayers. Took missed them yesterday. While Took was rattling joss sticks and wai'ing the Buddha, I was engaged in conversation by what had to have been one of the most senior monks in Pattaya. Unfortunately, I could not understand a word the gentlemonk was saying, and Took had to come by (on her way between stations) to translate for me. It turned out (as I learned after) that, aside from aged mumbling through only 4 brown teeth, the oldster was from Rayong (about 30 miles south of Pattaya), which has it's own twist on the Thai language. Although he was trying to speak proper Thai to me, his accent (and toothless condition) was killing me.
Da Flip. Da Flop.
It's amazing how all of the right wing bloggers and columnists are out right now defending Scooter Libby and Karl Rove in this Valerie Plame Affair.
To quote the righties: "What? The best the liberals can come up with is perjury or obstruction of justice? Puh-leeze." (Remember, "Perjury is just a technicality," according to Senator Hutchinson)
Remember, these are the same people that, oh, back in 1998 were clamoring for Clinton's impeachment... because?
Perjury and obstruction of justice (and little else, I might add).
The leftie blogosphere has been having a field day. Every right-winger who has gone out to babble about the talking points du jour for the Republican party is immediately accosted with their own quotes from 1998 about Clinton's perjury and obstruction of justice... which pretty much tend to say the exact opposite thing.
(Not that the lefties aren't a little guilty of flip-flopping: We scoffed at perjury back with Clinton but think it is a pretty big deal now, but that is because we were directly linking it with the crime: Blowjob versus exposing a CIA operative. We liberals tend to think that the president lying about a hummer isn't that big a deal, which is kind of shallow-value in and of itself... but I never said we liberals were always more moral than the conservatives... just currently and for the forseeable future.)
To quote the righties: "What? The best the liberals can come up with is perjury or obstruction of justice? Puh-leeze." (Remember, "Perjury is just a technicality," according to Senator Hutchinson)
Remember, these are the same people that, oh, back in 1998 were clamoring for Clinton's impeachment... because?
Perjury and obstruction of justice (and little else, I might add).
The leftie blogosphere has been having a field day. Every right-winger who has gone out to babble about the talking points du jour for the Republican party is immediately accosted with their own quotes from 1998 about Clinton's perjury and obstruction of justice... which pretty much tend to say the exact opposite thing.
(Not that the lefties aren't a little guilty of flip-flopping: We scoffed at perjury back with Clinton but think it is a pretty big deal now, but that is because we were directly linking it with the crime: Blowjob versus exposing a CIA operative. We liberals tend to think that the president lying about a hummer isn't that big a deal, which is kind of shallow-value in and of itself... but I never said we liberals were always more moral than the conservatives... just currently and for the forseeable future.)
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
It Just Keeps Getting Better
Well, it looks like Roe v. Wade will be safe for a long time to come, thanks to President George W. Bush, and his get-the-smoke-coming-out-of-the-ears-of-the-wackadoo-right Supreme Court nominee, Harriet Miers:
Oh God, please don't let this lady step down from the nomination.
I have to say, October of 2005 has been the greatest month for those of us who love to watch Republicans do political faceplants. I mean jeez! And it's only going to get better! How excited am I? How often do you see me use exclamation points?
"Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers said in a speech more than a decade ago that "self-determination" should guide decisions about abortion and school prayer and that in cases where scientific facts are disputed and religious beliefs vary, "government should not act."
In a 1993 speech to a Dallas women's group, Miers talked about abortion, the separation of church and state, and how the issues play out in the legal system. "The underlying theme in most of these cases is the insistence of more self-determination," she said. "And the more I think about these issues, the more self-determination makes sense."
Oh God, please don't let this lady step down from the nomination.
I have to say, October of 2005 has been the greatest month for those of us who love to watch Republicans do political faceplants. I mean jeez! And it's only going to get better! How excited am I? How often do you see me use exclamation points?
For God's Sake Don't Shop at Walmart
I knew they were bastards... but this is astounding:
Walmart memo about reducing benefit costs:
Other interesting tidbits about what kind of company you are supporting when you shop at this place:
46 percent of the children of Wal-Mart's 1.33 million United States employees were uninsured or on Medicaid.
Please... whenever and wherever you can, always shop at "Mom & Pop" retailers. Spend a few extra bucks, and keep small business alive. You know where they are: The place in your city that used to be such a pleasant place to walk? Downtown perhaps? Would you like to see downtown steamrolled and replaced with a Walmart? Would you like to see the owners and employees of the bakery, Cohns & Sons, Bath Plumbing and Hardware, and all the other businesses become $6 per hour uninsured wage slaves walking around in red smocks with smiley faces printed on them? No? Then go downtown and give them your business... always.
Walmart memo about reducing benefit costs:
To discourage unhealthy job applicants, [the memo] suggests that Wal-Mart arrange for "all jobs to include some physical activity (e.g., all cashiers do some cart-gathering)."...
"It will be far easier to attract and retain a healthier work force than it will be to change behavior in an existing one," the memo said. "These moves would also dissuade unhealthy people from coming to work at Wal-Mart."
Other interesting tidbits about what kind of company you are supporting when you shop at this place:
46 percent of the children of Wal-Mart's 1.33 million United States employees were uninsured or on Medicaid.
Please... whenever and wherever you can, always shop at "Mom & Pop" retailers. Spend a few extra bucks, and keep small business alive. You know where they are: The place in your city that used to be such a pleasant place to walk? Downtown perhaps? Would you like to see downtown steamrolled and replaced with a Walmart? Would you like to see the owners and employees of the bakery, Cohns & Sons, Bath Plumbing and Hardware, and all the other businesses become $6 per hour uninsured wage slaves walking around in red smocks with smiley faces printed on them? No? Then go downtown and give them your business... always.
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