Soho Street - Taichung

In the foreground with the patio umbrellas is PJ's, watering hole for guys, men and other types of males. Soho Street is more like an alley, about the same width as the ones back home in Lubbock, only shorter and bricked with most of the trash being kept on the inside during the cold and rain. Invisible on the back right is Salut Pizza - the only other food/bar venture other than PJ's able to survive for any reasonable length of time. Back even farther on the right corner is the equivalent of the Philadelphia Eagles or the Buffalo Bills: an organization that looks really promising, tempts patrons and ultimately ends up collapsing like a Don King second-tier stable boy. Various names, same result - nada. Close up and leave the equipment for the next sacrifice. However, and that is a caution-laden optimistic however, within the week that all could change. Many have eyeballed the corner lot and thought about what if. This week, we should know if that becomes a what will. That's enough for now except to say that if it does work out, we will have a place to resume watching the playoffs together while enjoying our morning, frosty, adult beverages.

Red A at 12

Watch the Kid from the Man Show in the Beer Stand and Try to Get a Date .

Red A

Have lost your email, please send it along.

Northern Command Meeting

There will be a meeting tonight of the Northern Command at N.C. Headquarters ( 8 Drunken Fairies). D-Wayne (NOT in Canada) will be there. Start time is 5:30 for me and later for yall. Bring books for swapping. We will suspend the "Hey this is a book exhange. I don't care how many books you bring" rule of taking only one book. I might even bring some barbecue for take home. If you want some, let me know before 5:00.

Christmas 'Cue

8 pounds of beef chuck, only hours away from being served. This was my first attemp at barbecuing chuck. Brisket, yes. Ribs, yes. Chuck, nay. However, with a little help from Smoky and my custom-made barbecue grill, I was able to get it done within Smoky's time parameters, but not my wife's. She quickly recanted after chomping down on a mouth chock-ful of chuck. We were joined by Kevlar and Kaia, Jimbo and Rye. We all thanked God for the barbecue, Petra for the jalapeno corn bread and the Green Giant for the corn. While it's wonderfully edible without any finishing sauces - well, okay, one light coat - I did provide one at the table. It's a Smoky recipe, both very easy and superior to store-bought stuff. Almost anything is if you make it yourself and can still eat it. With regards to Smoky, here is the finishing sauce of his that I used.

Mid-South Finishing Sauce
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup vinegar
4 Tbs. Worcestershire
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
4 Tbs. brown sugar
1 Tbs. black pepper
1 Tbs. Tabasco
2 lemons, juice of
3 Tbs. yellow mustard
1 Tbs. salt

Mix and simmer 10-20 minutes

The only changes I made were to use apple cider vinegar and add some pure chipotle chile powder. Try it out and let me hear back. Remember, this is a finishing sauce and will burn unless applied at the tail end of cooking.

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Thinking of visiting Taiwan? Why not? After all Taiwan boasts some of the most creative minds in fashion and nouvelle fusion cuisine. The epitome of this renaissance resides in the heart of Taiwan itself, Taichung. And nowhere else is more representative than PJ's Cafe. Our longtime friend and holder of our tabs, PJ boldly experiments with new concepts and dishes. But we all know how some of these highfalutin prima donnas can be. At times, PJ is no different. He has a tendency to be a wee bit garrulous. We're talking bite-the-gun-and-pull-the-trigger verbosity. So we have prepared a list of words, phrases and topics to avoid, lest you want to void your life insurance policy.

NOT SAFE

cabins n painting (house) n Barney and/or the Flinstones n hitchhiking n backpackers

High School football n massage therapy n real estate n the Irish (not Notre Dame) n the KMT

the exchange rate n the smell in the bathroom n drug dealer Kevin n gangsters n UFOs

the 1st week in Taiwan n defending Taiwan n service n tipping

We have deemed the following SAFE - 3 sentences or less in reply

ice hockey n food safety procedures n suppliers' identities n sci-fi n Malawi n mullets

Santa and his reindeer (tee hee)

This guy is collecting the wrapping papers. The price of cardboard recycling must have gone up. There are alot more people recyling/

Mashed Taters and Carrots for Kevlar

This is the base from which you add your own variations.

Ingredients:

• 4 lb large boiling potatoes such as Yukon Gold or russet (baking) potatoes: NOTE - 6 large potatoes is roughly 4-4 1/2 lbs.
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon pieces and softened
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Destructions:

To peel or not? Most people peel the potatoes, however, I don't. The skin adds a texture I like with little discernible color to the taters. Strictly your call. Place the cut potatoes in cold, salted water to cover and simmer about 20 minutes or until tender. The size of the cut doesn't matter as much as making the pieces as uniform as possible so they will all cook the same. Drain and return to pan. Add butter and room temperature ( or even warmed ) milk, salt and pepper and mash the bejeezus out of them. If you don't have a potato masher, a fork will suffice if you put a little elbow grease into it. Makes about 8 servings.

Variations:

When in Puerto Galera, you, me and the boys sampled some truly fine mashed potatoes made from scratch per order. The owner and cook of the Sinandigan Lodge, Fred, allowed me into the kitchen to show me his method. He simply substituted cream for the milk and added a touch of nutmeg. Both can be found easily in Taichung.

Roasted garlic is easy to add and always wonderful. Get a couple of heads of garlic and cut the heads off - just a little bit - and leave the skins on. Drizzle with olive oil and salt and pepper. Wrap them in foil and put in a oven safe dish and cook at 350F / 175C for almost an hour. The skins will be brown and the garlic will squeeze out like toothpaste. Mix it into the potatoes to suit your taste.

Carrots

I'm going to give you the links to the search results of two good cooking sites: Epicurious and Southern Living. Kevlar, you could also just steam them. Put the sliced carrots on the steaming rack of your rice cooker and have at it. Throw some salt, pepper and any herbs you have on top. Herbs, tea leaves, broth and wine could also be added to the steaming water. The texture of steamed veggies is always superior to boiling as well as most other methods. Be creative, have fun and good luck.

Tramp to part with

The dumpster diving Canadian scored a cool guitar and a trampoline in the orginal box. It has some dust and zero to little usage. Interested parties let me know. Free to me, Free to you.

Yo creo en Pancho Clos!

Feliz Fiesta? No sir! It's Feliz Navidad! Definitely so in Lubbock, Texas. We'll keep using Christmas and Navidad when appropriate. To my soon-to-be-perplexed compadres in the North, East, West Coast, college coffee houses...I offer this story of multiculturalism originating from the Hub City, the story of Pancho Clos. The story was written in Spanish by Jesse Reyes from Lubbock, Texas, based on an older song. It's downright confusing, but, in the link below, look for the burritos, fuel sources, collective bargaining and the development of elves and women. Here is the thorough(ly challenging ) explanation of the story from from El Editor newspaper in Lubbock.

We'd like to wish a Merry Christmas to our friends who are not on the island at the moment - Bread and Ex-Gentleman Chris, Frenchie, D-Wayne, Tall Karl , Tom-u, English John and D.U.G. - as well as to those still here and those never destined to visit.

If you'll be in Taichung for Christmas, don't have plans and would like to celebrate, let me know - quickly. My wife is pushing me to get a turkey. I was thinking of barbecued chuck or a Boston butt (pork shoulder for all you wise acres). PJ will be showing the football games in the morning and Deshea will be making breakfast for anyone who would like to join. Please let her know before showing up and demanding some of her very good grub. I think I'll stay around the house - I can always sneak upstairs to watch the game.

The Lynch's Christmas Trees

Christmas tree, Tassy, Tassy's yurt and Tassy's tree.

Dutch Christmas traditions

Last night I spent some time talking with an acquaintance of mine, Aad, from the Netherlands. I was on my way to buy some decorations for our Christmas tree and that prompted him to point out the way it was - not so much anymore - done in Holland during Christmas time.

I am telling this according to his recollection of how it was actually practiced, historical inaccuracies and ignorance included.

The Dutch celebrate Christmas in two parts, and when you think about it , you wonder why it's not like that everywhere. At least I did.

The first celebration is on December 5th. This is Saint Nick's birthday and it's all his day. This is the day of receiving presents and it's done a bit differently than in North America. On this day, Saint Nick comes to town with a book of all the children's names indicating their behavior for the year. Good ones get the goodies while the bad ones get beaten or taken away with Saint Nick's helper, Black Peter. Now Aad wasn't sure about Black Peter's origin but he stated Saint Nick was believed to come from Spain and hence his helpers were Moors from Spain. Here's a concise explanation of his true origins.

As evening approaches, children gather together in their houses and start to sing carols. They have to balance their ardor with trying to discern the distinct sounds of Saint Nick's arrival. In Holland, there is no sleigh but a white horse that Santa uses to cross the roofs and drop sacks of toys down the chimney. Children leave wooden clogs stuffed with hay and carrots for his horse. If you sing long and loud enough, you might receive a personal visit from Saint Nick himself. If not, Black Peter will leave a bag of gifts in front of the door and disappear after a rap on the door. Here is where it sometimes gets a bit tricky. Parents need to arrange for a neighbor, friend or relative to don the costume and visit their houses and bring the sack of gifts. No problem, yet. There are also...umm... freelance Santas roaming the streets listening for the sounds of carols so that they might visit the house. According to Aad, it is customary to give Santa a shot or two of some local spirits and a little tip when leaving. You can't turn Santa away, so you have to go along. After several visits, it's possible that some of the Santas are bursting with liquid Christmas cheer. Parents' creativity is tasked as they have to explain why Santa keeps returning, looks different and doesn't seem to be able to speak any recognizable language - Of course you don't understand! He's speaking Santa language! They must also guard against the children going outside when there are multiple Santas in the area, lest they witness rival Santa and Black Peter gangs duke it out over their turf. However, parents are usually more than up to the job and judging by Aad's smile and bright eyes, it was a truly wonderful occassion.

The second celebration is for Christmas, the birth of Christ, itself. Trees go up after the 5th, sans presents underneath. There is no rush to buy anything - everything has already been bought. Christmas day is reserved for Christ and the celebration of his birth at church. Time was running out on me, so I did not get as many details about the particulars of this day, but the simple idea of splitting the two struck me. Why not? When the two are together, one or the other, or more probable, both will become diluted.

Time to finish trimming the tree. Merry Christmas!

Bikini clad women teach calculus

Watch and learn.

Delayed Partial Live Blogging Pavarotti

What you see is what I got. A blurry, indistinct sight of a large man who was much warmer than I.








Luciano Pavarotti came to Taichung, Taiwan this last Wednesday, December 12. It was the final concert of the Asian leg of his farewell tour. Why did he come to Taichung and only Taichung? In December? Outside? Well, I think that is due to the influence and work of our mayor, Jason Hu. While not able to do much about crime or scooter punks, he has made it a nicer environment for shootings and rat racing. Nicer parks and all sorts of concerts. In 2001 he got Jose Carreras to perform in Taichung Stadium, and I truly believe he enjoyed it as much as the audience (I was seated in a much closer location than for L.P.). Anyhoo, I think J.H. talked to J.C. and he swayed (very carefully,from a safe distance) L.P. into opera-ing out in Taichung. What follows is my song by song replay, according to my notes. Yes, I took notes and damn near ruined my eyes.

• Song 1 - We are at the very top of the stadium. Pimp and his girl are already seated there. My wife found a seat next to them and I found the wall to lean against and look down and try to figure out who the hell was selling Taiwanese sausages at a Pavarotti concert.
• It starts to drizzle. Great. It's cold. Nipple cracking cold. I wanna go...Wait! The curtain opens and not more than 3 seconds later, the Big Man starts to sing. What the hell is he wearing? A huge beach towel? Is he standing or sitting? It looks like some sort of throne. This question will plague me all night.
• Okay, Song 1 is over. He's saying something. Oh, it's "Thank you." I have been told Pavo is the master of the high C. Or is it Hi-C? I think his fluorescent toga suggests the latter.
• Pimp informs me that it's the former and will help me keep a High C watch.

• Song 2 - No notes for song 2. I checked with Pimp. Yeah, I missed the song, but no High C. I did catch 4 more "Thank you's", however. I decide to keep a tally. So far, no other words.

• Song 3 - Nada. It's over and again I didn't notice. So far, the songs have been soft and lilting. Like a feather in the wind, cradle-rocking back and forth with an occasional quick twirl, the songs lull you into a 4-beer complacency. I want a pick-me-up or at least some dark, brooding, Godfather killing music. The Thank you meter continues to roll.

• Song 4 - Almost tapped my foot. Song ends, I reach for my boot to procure my flask of Jim Beam and Pimp turns around immediately and asks " Got any whiskey?"

• Songs 5-about 7 - A duet with a soprano - Ave Maria. Luciano speaks! " I...peace..umm...like grrrmph world...aaimmth peace" At least that's what I got out of it. The chick is good and belts it out. Sounds like she's covering for Pavarotti on the high notes. An orchestra song. Pimp (ax man for a heavy metal tribute band) assures me that they are gooood. The overs for the Thank you's are in the bag. The chick , probably not good form to call her a chick but it will stand until I buy a program, is singing alone. What happened to Pavarotti? I never see him leave. How does he...What the hell was that? During the middle of the chick's song, Pavi is illuminated and cough/sings out a "Braaahh." That's it. One...umm...word, I think. Maybe he has voice activated lights and some dumplings were backing up on him. Thank God he didn't have any yams. Could this song be considered a duet? Okay, now they're doing a proper duet. Not bad. Could fit in MTV's rotation if it were in English. The screen just showed a partial, full body shot( Yeah, a partial, full - It's acceptable grammar to say that about Luci P. ). He's not standing, but not really sitting, either. Sort of a standing recline. Haven't seen him move anything other than his mouth.

• Intermission to finale - If Pavarotti didn't demand a break the Taiwanese would have taken one anyway. I've never seen so many Taiwanese not smoke for this long in my life. The lights come on. Nope, my bad. That's the illumination of about 20,000 lighters. Now, the lights come on. Pimp thinks the chick is outshining L.P. He also thinks he is lip-syncing. Resuming the concert, there's a couple of short songs, the orchestra and a duet.Not getting much out of it. Hey, he's moving.Doing an over-the-head clap. Trying to get the crowd going? No, just one of those embarrassing I'll-clap-for-myself claps. The chick sings another and nails a high something! The guys watching from a building behind me give her a lot of Wooos! Wow, she does it again and the guys really like it. Big Man back singing a song 1 livelier than death. Next song features flutes, happy violins and bells or spoons or something like that. Makes you want to saunter. Pavlovrotti now singing about Vento? Sounds like a jingle. Shorten it and edit it and I'd probably buy one. What? No friggin way! Pimp says he just hit the High C.I was listening and didn't hear anything above a...um...well, whatever two below a high C is. I finish Jim Beam while he prepares his encore.

• Encores - Thank God it's almost over. Got a long day tomorrow. OOHH! He's talking. Dedicating the next song to Taichung and Mayor Hu. It's Granada. Sounds sorta like Volare, but more up tempo. Next song is dedicated to an Italian inn. I would love a transcript so I could know just what he's saying. His English is just broken and mumbly enough for the Taiwanese to understand and for me to not. Finale Encore - Slips into good English and prefaces this song by asking the audience to "Whatever you do, please, please do not clap." He then goes on to demonstrate what not to do by very deliberately and theatrically clapping for all to see on the two large stage screens. He sings. We all clap - he had it coming.

• Exit - At the end of the final encore, Dean wanders in front of me a offers me a beer in a PJ's coozie. I accept.

Conclusion - While I was underwhelmed, I still mildly enjoyed it. Carreras was better, but Pavarotti is older and more infirm (Wow! There wasn't even a bit of faint praise in that but). I predict Mayor Hu will have Placido Domingo here within 2 years and then I can pull off the 3 Tenors hat trick.

Ugly tree contest

It is difficult to get a good picture of an ugly tree. Don't worry the candycane is still in the plastic. Anything else you find fault with was photoshopped into the picture.
So lets see some Christmas tree picture cheer, Rye told me "If you are cold" he still has plenty of Breads socks that he is not using. Great socks for stuffing and mounting on the mantle.

If your tree is not ugly, it is ok to post a picture. ( Come on Bread).

Never Let Your Kid Party with Kirk

Well, at least make sure your kid never drinks whiskey with Kirk.

Unless you like your kid surly, mean, and going on about bands.

Sorry to Kirk for using you as a paragon of bacchanalian* virtue.



*Gunning Fog bastards

Sunday Sunday Sunday

An eight tile game, that arrived on the scence before mahjong.
800 000 Nt and you can have no cusotmers too.
The cats are growing big. The peppers seem to be stunted.
How would you like to ride this to work on a cold day?
What J-hole needs in his garage.

This must be just like living in Paradise!

Ah.... I remember this. Not even a year ago. Beautiful Boracay island. Well that time of year has arrived. Time to start planning a trip. Tickets are booked. Manilla.....Well for about two hours anyways. Now readers (Brett), I'm thinking of planning a trip to El Nido, based of course on the beautiful white beaches, food and quiet. Is it as easy as boracay? Any feedback from readers as to a place to go, and simplicity of getting a place to stay would be well appreciated. I have the lonely planet. Tips from friends are always best. Thanks! Also if you have been to the two islands, which is more beautiful. I was really happy with my trip to Boracay last year. I have no problem returning.

Friday Personals Ad

Collected Wisdom of Yahoo Personal Ads

"Life is a gift, milk it!" Nice bikini shot for an amateur.

"Cuddling is non-negotiable! If you are a pothead, please don't message me."

"I like men who are sweet and sensual. They know what they want. they would have to be demanding and not act like a punk or some little boy."

"I believe in complimenting, compromising and even competing…the difference between “United” and “ Untied” is where you put the “I”, right?"

She forgot "There's no I in Team." Hey honey, are we complimenting tonight or compromising? Oh, I can see from the way you are matching me beer for beer it must be competing.

If you took the quiet, geeky girl next door, melted her down in a big pot, added three cups of diced adventure, one cup of unrefined curiosity, one cup of raw passion, one cup of well sifted sensitivity, and a dash of surliness, mixed well, then let cool, the resulting dish (for all you gastronomes) would resemble something very close to me.

Check this girl's pics...man she really does like the outdoors!

Have a nice week-end!

Happy Birthday RYAN !!!!

Mr. Rye is celebrating a birthday today. What would be an appropriate gift? Nice but not too nice. Manly but caring. Nothing too nipple-ly. It will have to be a day late whatever it is. Hmm . SUGGESTIONS?

China Post steals Ni Howdy writers

I'm not sure what concerns me more about this article from the China Post: the content or the writing style. The content suggests that any of the foreign musicians could be deported. Exempting folk singers and The Deported, that is a little troubling. The writing style and the fact that it appeared in Taiwan's oldest English daily as a bona fide news story is downright creepy. However, a quick click on their link explained the matter.

Official interpreters in Taiwan courts are often known as interrupters
2005/12/7The China Post staff

Interpreters are often known as interrupters.
They are, if they do not understand what they have heard or are unable to say what they mean.
Most, if not all, of official interpreters in courts of law in Taiwan definitely are.
Most of the time, however, their interruption matters little. Those foreigners they have interrupted in court, more often than not, do not complain. There were exceptions, of course. One of them occurred only a couple of days ago.
An American, known only as Scott, will have to be deported shortly.
The reason: Scott sang to entertain guests at a restaurant in Taitung free of charge.
Scott was arrested on charges of violating the alien service act. He entered Taiwan not as an entertainer. He was questioned by Taitung police, none of whom spoke English.
By gestures and other body languages, investigators got answers from Scott, who was then asked to sign the police report on his "crime."
He refused to sign, because he knows his answers were concocted by non-English-speaking cops. One of them, however, knew enough English to tell the American, "You in big trouble."
The American was.
He filed complaints with the administrative court, where an interpreter was an interrupter.
The Taipei high administrative court finally ruled Scott was guilty as charged. The deportation was ordered, plus a proviso that he should never come back to Taiwan again.
That is not an isolated case, according to a well-known attorney who helped write up a report on the quality of judicial trials involving aliens.
Quoting the 2001 report, the attorney says "few interpreters at all levels of law court know enough English or Japanese or even their own language (including such dialects as Hoklo and Hakka) to perform their functions."
Well, practically all court interpreters are interrupters.

Hook 'Em

Lifestyle Copyright Violation

Apparently they are making a movie about English teachers and other expats in Korea. From the plotline, it's obvious they stole the story of our lives and just changed countries from Taiwan to Korea. (Korea, how original!)

It will star Chris Klein who by the way gave an amazing interview in Elle magazine. Must read. Really. Okay, if you don't believe me, here is a sample.

CK: I don't need food to impress, man. It's a flash of a smile and a nice conversation. And at the end of the day, she's cooking the food.

Israel-Palestine

Has anyone else noticed a lack of bombings in Israel in the news lately? It used to be a weekly thing for a bus, cafe, or check-point to blow up.

I guess it's true what people say.

Fences make good neighbors.

Post-Election Analysis

The winning candidates showed their respect to the voters by firing up the sound trucks and drum teams to drive around town on Sunday and thank us for electing them.

Fireworks were set off as well, to inaugurate the new era of Clean Government and Rule of Law in Taichung. Let this be a warning to those who think they can ram blue trucks into the courthouse gates or fire bottle rockets into the canal by Riverside. Yes, Rye Guy and PFP supporters, we have it all on video.

Human Interest Angle: The wife informs me that a DPP candidate was so distraught by losing, he/she wanted to kill themself with a knife. "If I can't be a city councilor, life is not worth living!"

Hi Teacher John!This is Peter from Tourism III!My number is 69.I like your blog. I learn many things. I want to go to America and learn myself at UC San Diego!

Dear French Peter,

Thanks for the interest in our blog. I am happy that you are considering studying at UC San Diego. However, I would like you to make a fully informed decision. After all, San Diego is a long way from Canada Taichung. But, Pierre, should you decide upon UC San Diego there are many great things there to do. It is very close to an international border with Mexico, and as long as you're not Canadianer, you can cross freely. Their film school is renown for it's defiance of convention. Click here for a possible title and fluffer for your movie. In the meantime, study hard, shut up in class and watch out for winter. I hear it gets pretty darn cold in southern Canuckistan.


A new poll is up. After considering choices such as winless Japanese, women's and Pop Warner teams, I decided (after losing all input data) to let you do it. Just choose Other and enter a team in the comments box. I will amend the poll accordingly.

Election Liveblogging, Condensed Version

Sound trucks are fucking annoying. (Sorry Tourism 3B.)

Municipal elections are boring. They feature candidates with these kinds of slogans.

a. 'Yes, I Do.' (in English) Yep. That's the guy's slogan. "Shr de, wo yuan yi" his team thoughtfully translates for us through the marvel of modern technology that is called the small blue truck with massive loudspeakers mounted on every side.

b. 'Young, Fresh, Active' (in Chinese) Am I voting for a candidate or a tampon?

c. Jason Hu called up my house and told me that even though he'd been to 160 countries, Taiwan was most important to him...and this really inspired me to vote for him. After all, he must know that sounds trucks are not used in at least 150 out of those 160 and be willing to bring Taiwan up to an international level of sound pollution control. Rigggght?

But don't worry Taichungers, no matter who you vote for, they ALL offer great service to the people of Taichung...In fact, I am confident my suggestion to ban sound trucks is being implemented as we speak.

The only one candidate whose advertising proposed anything concrete was the DPP mayoral candidate whose campaign featured billboard ads stating a various goals, and the phrase, "It's what I have to do." Wow, sounds so substantial! What's he promising?

50,000 job opportunities. (Do the math...at NT$ 20,000 salary per month times 50,000 people, in city of one million people...NT$ 1,000 per person every month to pay for this.)

10,000 surveillance cameras. (Again, that's a lot of cash, and 10,000 is butt load of cameras.)

Bike paths. (Yep. Right. Sure. Let me know when you have solved the double parking problem and banned sound trucks.)

Finally, are any of the candidates aware that firecrackers and bottle rockets are ILLEGAL in the R.O.C.?

Dialed and Armed

I found the sweet spot on the chair, and then hit it really hard with the ugly stick.

Billy Joe Cuthbert

Just practicing screen captures. Does BJ remind you of anybody?

P.S. - Sent Frenchie some of BJ's basketball video tips.

Courtesy of Ken at Shallow Waters

I present to you Nihowdy in jive. You can translate to most any dialect, including redneck, just click on the dialecticize button.

Friday Personals Ad

I have to interrupt the usual Friday personal ad because we have something much better to show you:

My alma matter, U.C. San Diego, which used to be the serious university without a football team that was always mistaken for the notorious party school of C.S.U. San Diego, has lately become quite famous.

No, not because the world discovered that we have nobel scientists or are at the cutting edge of biotech research. We're famous because our student-run TV station broadcast amateur hardcore porn.

Oh, and for good measure, once the student council banned the show, the guys broadcast the porno flick again, except that time they photoshopped one of the student senators into the movie.

Since NiHowdy is now a family-oriented community web-site being used as a homework assignment by area teachers, it would be very wrong of me to link to the NTSFW site that shows the screenshots, etc.

If you are done now, you can see what other wonderous programming they came up with here.

Take that Chico State!

My discovery of videos on Ni Howdy coincided almost simultaneously with The Fifty Greatest Independent Films of All Time. Weird. Nice going JW.

On Nov. 11, Red A posted that the reading level of our blog was about a 4th grade level, according to the Gunning Fog Index. In acknowledgement of that fact, I posted what I though was an appropriate puzzle: a one-word crossword. To help our readers, I even posted down clues to ensure success. However, most I asked about it complained that it was only one word across, and, oh yeah, there's only five blanks but six letters. That's not a crossword, man.

Okay. Fair enough. But let's take a look at some of what our Taichung Crossword Kings had to say.

Honest(ly soused) Jim's answer. Click here to view video.

Mathematically-challenged Elizabeth's answer. Click here for her giggling.

Maybe PJ shoulda taken Jim's cue. Click here if you must.

Taichung city worker safety

Everyone knows what this machine is called. The guy driving the saw told me a tree fell on it. What key part of this electric bread knife is broken off? HINT: While driving it is important to your safety.

Tinnie Winnies

Something for the wee ones and their homework. New school dress code. Just Kidding. The students were actually having a DRESS rehearsal for school Drama. By the way I made a seperate blog to put pictures of students and better topics. The addresses is Why_would_I_tell_you@blogspot.R.U.C

I really hate to post this

It shatters all kinds of positive imagery I have of Canada built up from photos of Kevlar's kin killin' and brandishin' animal parts at the lake.

One surprise in the figures is that Canada's emission record is far worse than even the United States, where the Bush administration has refused to ratify Kyoto.

Mr. Bramley said the United States is "actually ahead of Canada in just about every area" of environmental policies used to curb emissions. And he said the record of individual states "is far ahead of any province in Canada."

All I have to say is:

IT RUBS THE EMISSION CONTROLS UPON ITS SKIN, OR IT GETS THE HOSE AGAIN!

Deep Thoughts.....

I was around Pj's this afternoon. Handed in the football pick sheets. Told him I watched the Indy game at home this morning therefore I wouldn't be in to watch the game tonight. He informed me that I won this weeks pool. That's great, thanks. Then he said " you should still come around tonight though, you won, get face or whatever." Hmmm.... Did he mean save face? I wonder how many football pools I would have to win in order to win back the face lost at sports day? In fact, do I really need to worry about face if I'm down at Pj's?

Typical Texas Tech Fan

Watch the video.

Sports day results

Click here ........

Sunday Sports

Dave giving speeches. John resting. Dean knocking'em down and scoring a big goal Yay!. Good job everyone

Free Prize

This is the prize. What is the contest? All five of the our blog readers are welcome to enter.

Gunning Fog Crossword

Across: 1. Binding agent in jellies

Down: 1. South African disinfectant

2. Letter not in Ernest Vincent Wright's lipogram

3. Favorite letter of communist countries

4. Anglophiles pronounce it "Ted."

5. What 90% of Jamaicans (and 99% of B.C.ers) are at any given time.

6. Where the Philadelphia Eagles are: ______ deep doo-doo

Personal Ads F.A.Q.

Why are the women in the ads fairly good looking? Why don't you ever post ugly women?

As a rule, I only bust on the pretty people. As an ugly person myself, I don't find it humorous to make fun of someone's appearance unless they are reasonably hot. Then they're asking for it.

Why are the chicks so young? Is Red A actually Gary Glitter in real life?

Because when I filled in the form many years ago, I selected a reasonable age grouping. But Yahoo apparently thinks I never age and/or that I could still have any chance with these girls.

Isn't this sort of creepy and probably a violation of Yahoo's use agreement?

Yes. But is it Gary Glitter creepy? No.

How about Chaon level creepiness?

Yes, but in a healthy heterosexual way he could only dream of.

I wonder if the guys' ads are even worse?

Probably. We need a ringer to go in the system as a girl to evaluate the male ads in a sensitive yet critical manner. Let me know if you are interested and I'll buy you a butt load of heteracil if you can pull it off.

Thanksgiving Personal Ads

Girl No. 1 hi guys
She claims she is "Shy at first, but warm up quickly" but she lists the activities she's interested in as:

Whether it be sexual or going out for drinks and just hanging out. Im up for either.

'Warms up quickly' means sometimes you don't even have to get a drink in her or hang out at all apparently. "Well, officer, it all happened so fast."

Also, you have to be TALL and not shorter than her. That's very important to her. She's 5'4" so I guess Seth Green and a fair percentage of Hmong villagers are out of luck.

Girl No. 2 Sexy Single and Lonely
In her own words:

Also, I am sorry to say, but I am a shallow person. I like my man to be attractive. If you do not keep yourself in a good condition, shower daily, regular haircuts, no scruffy beard,clean clothing, then once again, dont bother.

Hmmmm, fair enough. But shouldn't she warn us that she likes raunchy Halloween costumes? Oh, and yeah, she will black out your face with photoshop if she doesn't like you. Be warned!

Girl No. 3 fun girl looking for a fun guy

Yet another girl that probably doesn't need a personal ad.

Rockin'

My efforts to build a New Brunswick rocket chair have not been so successful. It passes the sitting test. The rocking lacks that grandma chair smoothness. This chair fails to fool the childs knowledge of whether Dad is standing or sitting. I will have to look for the book of rocket rocker science,

DwAYNE sells X-box

Recently Dwayne sold one X-BOX to a man named Dug. Dwayne was over heard saying " Now that the pesky video game box has gone south, I have time to create a post." Well by the powers of grey skull, it worked on Pimp. Shit talk Shit talk shit talk I wish there was something more intelligent to say. Anywho I am going to place a link in the side bar ( just for shits and giggles). Aaron why didn't you tell us chalk lines can be used to stop ant invasions.

The bond

It's not everyday that you bond with about three hundred people at once. But, yes my friends. It has been done. It started off at about 8am Saturday morning. We all boarded the boat with bright smiles on our faces.....destination....Green Island. (Now before I get on with the story, I had been warned about this boat ride.)
Jamie and I got on the boat, and of course a window seat at the front of the boat was available. Great! Quickly, grab those two seats.
We did, the journey began........
With Taiwanese KTV music playing softly in the background. 20 minutes pass. It begins. Hwhaaaaallll! The boat erupts with laughter from my fellow passengers as an elderly woman lets the first roar of puke fly into the bag. I looked out the window to notice the waves were exceptionally large. 20-30 feet and the boat rolling up and down. My friend might not have been exaggerating at all. 5 more minutes pass. The sounds to follow were absolutely unbelievable. 10 seconds of Taiwanese music. Bwlaaahhhh! again.....bwlaahhhh! Arcgh! Splash! Hurl in the bag. Bwlaaahhhh! Cough! I'm not sure how to express the sounds of gurgling, puking and vomitting I heard, but I can tell you this continued until the end of the journey by most passengers on board. As time went on, the waft of Barf finally got to me. I looked at my darling girlfriend, pulled out my plastic bag and let it fly.
But on this memorable day, as I got off the boat, and looked my fellow passengers in the eye. I knew we had experienced something meaningful together, a common trait, a common bond. We were bonded by barf.

Canadian Pimp Deported

Pimp the local blogger extrodaire was last seen getting on the airport shuttle with Dug. He had muckclucks and a silk scarf in tow.I think he said " If the Eagles can't win, I isn't blogging and I is going ." Dug said "NOTHING".

Some souvenirs to bring home

This is the first of many wooden carvings I came across at a market in Taidong. This beautiful carving is about 4 ft tall. Amazingly next door, was an even bigger carving which was difficult to photograph due to size. If I could just figure out how to get it on the plane it would be a great surprise for Mom and Dad.

This second item was found in a jade shop. Ideal for gift giving holidays such as Christmas. What is it you ask? Well, it's a heart made of pure jade. This finely designed display case can be placed on your mantle over the fireplace, or better yet on your bedside table. Although lifesize, don't mistake this for a real heart. For decoration purposes only.

The latest I could find

for all the looking I did. From Nov 6th an article outlining the Danishers growingly cozy alliance with the GW agenda. And all for the sake of tiny, tiny Hans Island.

Virtual Bands

The marketing geniuses at EMI came up with a virtual rap band called Gorillaz.

Yeah, this is old news to most people since they've been around since 2001.

One obvious advantage of a virtual band is that the nerds that create them have no power and cannot make extravagant demands for, say, a bowl of M&Ms - green only.

Of course, that demand is not so hard to deliver anymore.

with video goodness (warning: incredibly SFW)

H.O.S.P. II - It's all about the guano - Clipperton Island

Discovered by Magellan in 1521, the only atoll in the East Pacific was named for Spanish-employed English pirate and mutineer John Clipperton. Over the years, it has been held or claimed by the French, the U.S. (see Guano Islands Act), the Mexicans, the Brits and the King of Italy. In 1917, the lighthouse keeper found himself to be the last man on the island, declared himself King and went to work on raping the remaining women before he was killed. Currently a French possession, Clipperton has been mostly inhabited by birds and crabs since the end of WWII.

Friday's Personal Ad

I love music. I like to sleep. I dig scrawny pale guys. I dislike mind-numbing, soul-crushing small talk. Please don't talk it to me.

I think I'm in love...but I'll need a time machine to take me back when I was scrawny and pale instead of fat and pale, like some bespectacled slug with a beer in his tentacle. (Cthulun image?)

Side note to Chaon: I had to download Destination Eschaton for some reason. Stop getting me to like your pale, scrawny guy music.

DJ Marcus Aurelius, one of the only two fabled philosopher-button pushers, is scheduled to make an appearance this weekend somewhere in Taiwan - he hasn't been very forthcoming about exactly where, though. As if he cares. Come prepared for a wild night of caution and contemplation as he spreads the Logos of fellow sages such as Quinquaginta Cent and his I Smell Cunnus , To All My Nigrum and Futuo Dat Matris Prolapsis.

Scientific Poll

Why did the Eagles lose to the Cowboys?

A. Hubris

B. McNabb always throws an interception in the 4th quarter to allow a comeback win.

C. McNabb tempted Olympus with a shamless TD celebration dance. C'mon, he's not a receiver or a running back - QB's should be more reserved.

D. Because I was wearing my lucky boxers.

A Mad Lib

A ____________ parades in front of street children, some of whom are sniffing glue, in the drug-infested 'Barrio Triste' (Sad Neighborhood) in downtown Medellin in Colombia November 7, 2005. The event was organised to entertain the children by a member of a local charity that helps children in Barrio Triste by providing food, clothes and cleaning facilities. REUTERS/Albeiro Lopera

Fill in the blank with what you think would make sense. Then click to the photo.

(h/t www.qando.net )

BREAKING NEWS - must credit NiHowdy

J-hole has been outed by an anonymous tipster to NiHowdy. According to the source, J-hole's true name in John and his wife works for the CIA as a Chilli-Heat Analyst.

Fitzgerald to indict NiHowdy commenter 'Frenchie' who claims he heard about this from a comment on NiHowdy's blog.

If the robot offended anyone

Then keep in mind its creator also made a Texas Hold-Em Poker game.

Somewhere Sunday evening.

KTV truck
Originally uploaded by kevlar1.

All the 58' kaliong and beer you could drink. ten course meal. NUDE as in Naked women (not shown here). She slide down a 3 metre pole to put out a fire. Free lap dances for everyone. Alcohol, food, naket women and rice paddies( and deafenig loud) Don't post she was too big. This took place in front of 200+ people for free.

Taipei road trip

tpe str
Originally uploaded by kevlar1.

With the family in toe i made it too the big city. Kaia get wrinkled carrier butt. Following Aj's tip we hit Page One, an awesome bookstore.
Had some hotel time so we cracked a keg of beer. also took a boat ride in Dan shui. Nice variety of foods there. would like to go back next weekend.

Mash-Up: Old Songs & Recent Memories

So, I am sitting here looking for old tunes from "the day" (c) 2003 Karl. I remember that there was a song by Charlie Daniels that my subconcious has been hankerin' for ever since a recent encounter in Taichung's dirty town:

Yep. Me and Chaon we got ourselves a wild hair
And figured we wanted to go somewhere
So we loaded up in his battered-up Cefiro.
We had a little bit of money
And a whole lot of show
And with The Smiths blaring on the radio
We got us a pack of Davidoffs
And we was on our way

We figured we'd go down to Dirty Town
We were barrelling down old Wu Chuan Lu
When a man with a blinking red light
Was on our tail
He said you were doing 80 in a 60 zone
But I'm gonna let you go this time
But if I catch you again
I'm gonna slap you in the Taichung county jail

We said thank you sir you sure been nice
And you ain't gonna have to tell us twice
And we were Southbound and down with the wind
Blowing in our faces
We kept on rolling and pretty soon
The radio was cooking out a Marilyn Manson tune
And we were pulling into the strip
Checking out all them places

I was feeling dry and I said I think
We ought to stop and get ourselves a drink
And old Chaon said yeah 'cause we got time to kill
We kept on rolling and I seen this spot
And we pulled into the parking lot
Of this place called the Pig Pen Bar and Grill


We walked through the door
And the place was jammed
The lights were low they had a Bon Jovi cover band
And some orange haired feller singing about desperados
I said Chaon this ain't our kind of place
He said well let's just have one round anyway
So against my better judgement we walked on inside
Went up to the bar and we sat down
This feller walked up and said "ni hao"
And he sat down on the barstool next to Chaon

He looked like a guy but he talked like a weirdo
He had betel nut mouth and mascara in his eyes
And everybody in that place looked just about like him
I said Chaon, this ain't our kind of bar
Let's just go on out and get back in the car
'Cause there's gonna be trouble
Ain't no sense in taking a chance
We was getting up getting ready to leave
When somebody grabbed old Chaon by the sleeve
And this short stocky girl was asking my buddy to dance

I said Chaon, don't do it there's something missing
There's fellers dancing and fellers kissing
There's a feller in high heeled shoes wearing panty hose
He said partner I just can't turn this down
You just go over there and have one more round
And I'll dance with the lady
And we'll get on down the road

So he walked away and left me alone
But this funny looking feller kept coming on
And he was making me mad with some of the things he said
Then he put his hand on my knee
I said if you don't get your paw off me
I'm gonna locate your nose around
The other side of your head

He said I love it when you get that fire in your eye
I said well partner try this on for size
And I unloaded on him and he went out like a light
Everybody in that place must have been his friend
They all headed for me I said this is the end
But where I come from we don't give up
Without a fight

They were screaming and yelling and scratching and clawing
I was punching and hitting and kicking and pawing
I was holding my own 'cause I've been in a scrap or two
Old Chaon come running up out of the blue
And that gal he was with come running up too
And proceeded to beat on me with a high heel shoe

I grabbed her by the hair it came off in my hand
And that beautiful girl was just a beautiful man
And old Chaon just got sick right there on the floor

He dropped that dude like a shot from a gun
Smeared his lipstick made his makeup run
And me and old Chaon started fighting our way to the door

We lit out of there in that Cefiro
Chaon put in on the floor and it stayed that way
We were going down the highway
Doing about a hundred and ten
We were headed for home and we was getting nearer
Then a red light came on the rear view mirror
And that same blame cop was pulling us over again

Now I'm sitting here in this county jail
Chaon had to call Cynthia to get our bail
But I learned me a lesson
That I never will forget again
I've done give up drinking I've give up bars
And running around the country in souped up cars
I'm going back where the women are women
And the men are men

Uneasy Rider 88

Both this song and Uneasy Rider (without the 88 ) are excellent story songs from Charlie Daniels.

Football today at 4, Da Ye Jr. High.

H.O.S.P. I

When I first moved to Taichung Aaron and I would sit around drinking Yan Jing Beer- remember that one?- straight out of the can- a RED one at that. God we were cheap. Anyway, one afternoon we wanted to know what the tiniest, smallest, most inhospitable places on Earth were. So we did. (Hat's off to Kevlar for making language so simple) Well, we found a few before moving on to the next thing. Here's one of the first in our History Of Small Places series- Kerguelen Island, a lumpy, barren, windswept, glaciated and fjorded rock that eventually landed its' namesake in prison for stretching the truth as to the potential of his discovery.

Sunday Vegetable

This one is native to the hills of Afghanistan. The ancient Egyptians knew them to be purple. Caligula fed them to his senate in the hopes they would have an orgy. It didn't become it's most widely recognizable color until the 16th century, thanks to Dutch patriotism. Red A remembers.

It's Been Thirty Years Since She Left Fully Loaded For Cleveland

I trust everybody busted out the Gordon Lightfoot in honor of the Edmund Fitzgerald. If not, get over to Ryan's house and enjoy some Kirin and give it a listen. Consider it your patriotic duty for the year...(and you Canadianers, remember, at that point in time you guys weren't so proud to be not-American)

Friday Personals Ad

Why does a chick this hot even remotely need a personal ad?

Shouldn't she be too busy eating at fine restaurants every night and fending of Lotharios at every turn?

Maybe it's the cat.

Very Embarrasing

I ran NiHowdy through a readability tester and here are the results:

Readability Results

The following table contains the readability results for http://www.nihowdy.blogspot.com.
Reading Level Results Summary Value
Total sentences 241
Total words 1784
Average words per Sentence 7.40
Words with 1 Syllable 1214
Words with 2 Syllables 382
Words with 3 Syllables 132
Words with 4 or more Syllables 56
Percentage of word with three or more syllables 10.54%
Average Syllables per Word 1.46
Gunning Fog Index 7.18
Flesch Reading Ease 76.12
Flesch-Kincaid Grade 4.48

Now for the analysis:

The bad news:

Our Gunning Fog Index score of 7.18 is better than TV Guide (6) but worse than Reader's Digest (8)

The good news:

Our Flesch-Kincaid Grade score means a 4th grade education is all you need to understand this site. This fits nicely with our demographics.

BTW: 5 of 7 NiHowdy contributers are English teachers.

Update: Here's the site where I ran the test and they explain what the tests mean. Sorry, Rye but there is some math so why not just sit back and crack a Kirin?

Japan is hosting the inaugural Asia Series Konami Cup. It is a baseball tournament for 4 Asian teams: Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Red China. All teams but the commies sent their respective league champions. The Reds were allowed to field an all-star team. That did not stop the Taiwan team, the Sinon Bulls, from Great Leaping past the Proles, 6-0. Today, the Bulls face the Japanese champion, CHIBA LOTTE MARINES. Meanwhile, when the China Stars face the Samsung Lions they will strive to Achieve the Four Bases in order to realize the maxim, It is good just to have one run.

TV times can be found at the first link. Taichung area viewers can watch VL Sports, cable channel 70 and/or 72 for games. A complete TV schedule can be found here.


Vote for Pedro. Pedro offers you his protection. Pedro also urges you to...

Note: Broken link fixed

Expat Estrangement Syndrome

If you've been in Taiwan for 10 plus years, sometimes you are so estranged from pop culture back home, you can't tell if something is real or not.

Apparently Oklahoma is Boring

That's why they let little girls fire fully automatic machine guns.

Though, the wifey fired machine guns and an RPG in Cambodia.

Wind chime mobile

Kaia and Dad
Originally uploaded by kevlar1.

Newly discovered hands, are reaching out to entertain and feed the mouth.
No walking, or bouncing required.

End of the World is Nearing!

Repent! Repent!

No, it's not my hangover talking.

Someone made a re-make of JUMANGI.

The only good thing is Robin Williams was not allowed anywhere near it.

Health Insurance in Canada

Illegal for humans, legal for dogs. This short film also shows more 'highlights' of the Canadian system.

Now, a quick question: is this a problem in Taiwan, too?

I do know that in Taiwan it is legal to pay for your own healthcare, obtain additional private insurance, and there are private healthcare providers. Does that help Taiwan avoid some of Canada's problems?

Disclaimer: Yes, I realize that the US system has problems as well. And that in Taiwan there are loads of quacks who will gladly take your cash and leave you with a permanently welded one-finger salute in place, destroying a promising bowling career.

Why I like Rumsfeld

(or at least his way of communication) a part of a interview with the influential German magazine SPIEGEL.

SPIEGEL: How concerned are you about Iran?
Rumsfeld: All of us have to be concerned when a country that important, large and wealthy is disconnected from the normal interactions with the rest of the world. They obviously have certain ambitions, powers and military capabilities ...
SPIEGEL: ...and nuclear ambitions...
Rumsfeld: That's apparently what France, Germany, the UK and the International Atomic Energy Agency have concluded. Everyone wants to have the Iranians as part of the world community, but they aren't yet. Therefore there's less predictability and more danger.
SPIEGEL: The US is trying to make the case in the United Nations Security Council.
Rumsfeld: I would not say that. I thought France, Germany and the UK were working on that problem.
SPIEGEL: What kind of sanctions are we talking about?
Rumsfeld: I'm not talking about sanctions. I thought you, and the U.K. and France were.
SPIEGEL: You aren't?
Rumsfeld: I'm not talking about sanctions. You've got the lead. Well, lead!
SPIEGEL: You mean the Europeans.
Rumsfeld: Sure. My Goodness, Iran is your neighbour. We don't have to do everything!
SPIEGEL: We are in the middle of regime change in Germany...
Rumsfeld: ... that's hardly the phrase I would have selected.

--h/t TigerHawk

New toy

new toy
Originally uploaded by kevlar1.

I bought a new toy. P4 3.0 XP pro with a big video card to play 3D games. Yes that is the new Hanns-G 19 inch TFT screen that was released in TW Oct 31 for the grand price of 7950 NTD. The wife made a call and got an new ADSL box, for 100 Nts more a month she upgraded to 2MB connection. Could also get basic cable for 75nt per month( I don't have time to watch TV). Yipee!!

And Aaron's topic for the week:

Is the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 still a workable piece of legislation? Should it be rewritten? If so, what new statutes and mandates should be included? Is it okay to subsidize ranchers in the name of continuance of culture and a way of life? Are the BLM and Congress tied too closely to ranchers at a cost to the taxpayers and the environment? Yes, these are the exciting questions of the week. I will have finished preparing my powerpoint on Land Exchanges by Monday, so hold off on your responses until I get that sorted. Any other contributors are welcome to e-mail me, with special bonus points awarded to Canadianer ideas (with links to Canadian legislation on public grazing).

Cape + Facial Mask =

Behavioral Effeminism

Friday , once again, returns with my well earned free time. Texas Tech , number 15 in the BCS, takes on the Aggies of A&M. I can't watch or listen to it so I'll probably be GameCasting it - watching little colored bars march up and down a picture of a football field with a printout of the results. I'm hoping to make it to halftime. I will offer no predictions, we got pasted last time I did that. However, in the long standing tradition of making fun of Aggies, I will offer a joke:

How many Aggies does it take to eat an armadillo? Two. One to do the eating, and one to watch for cars.

Bravo! Encore! Why, thank you!

How do you keep an Aggie out of your yard? Put up goalposts.

Please, no more! You slay our collective wit! If you insist, but I do have more.

Big Gay Lance is back from Canada sporting a latex, black and white Canada jacket. Complementing this uselessness is his organization of the-day-we'd-rather-avoid, Sports Day. The date has once again been changed, this time to Nov. 27th. Again we will have to endure the gay-ly attired rugby team, the whiny soccer team and the uber-anal Frisbee Gruppe. Let me make this very clear - WE WANT RINGERS! Come on you Corning guys (or girls)! I'm sure there are at least several of yall who know something about rugby, soccer,Frisbeee oh well, football. Frenchie will gladly freight in all your adult beverage needs.

What was I thinking?

I should have enlisted Aaron much earlier in my new scholastic career. You have done such a fine job, I will be presenting you with one topic per week for the next three weeks. Congratulations, you win friend of the month.

ni men xian zai bu yong qu kan dao na ge ROCKET GIRL ka che yin wei bu zai

Trend?

Ok here it is. I post about The Sudan and we get no responses. Aaron posts about Taiwanese politics, the same. Kevin posts beautiful pictures and zippo. Ryan posts about crazy bands and not a word of response. In the meantime, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy has already received four comments in the one hour since its original post time. I think every male reader (and thus every reader) is a homosexual in disguise (except me of course). John didn't send that hoopster to the other side with drunken stories from China; John sent her to the other side with leadership by example.

酷男的異想世界

It's been a long, long wait, but it's finally arrived in Taiwan.

I am posting the broadcast schedule as a public service announcement for Ponce a.k.a. Karl so he doesn't miss his favorite show. May I suggest you watch it Saturday morning to get your blood up for the A&A game? Or since your wife has grounded you from poker, perhaps Friday night would be best.

Travel & Living Channel, that's Channel 21 for most Taichung cable TV.

Wednesday: 星期三 23:00
Repeated重播:
Friday 星期五 21:00
Saturday 星期六 10:00, 18:00
Sunday 星期日 08:00, 11:00, 23:00

Oh, I am sure Ponce is so excited - look they even translated the stars' names into Chinese! I wonder if they will come to Taiwan and do a show here? Of course, a visit Ponce's house would be a boring episode, since they would not need to make any changes at all and they'd end up sitting around on his luxurious Ikea furniture drinking wine spritzers and chatting about how men who eat Bin Lang are sooooo grosssss! Why don't they use teeth whitening strips like the kind they showed that hick in Texas how to use last episode? They only take 30 minutes twice a day and you can wear them while you shave, shower, moisturize, etc. [Editor: Must admit wifey thought that was a very interesting product.]

Oh, and Ponce don't worry - all the guys are slender and won't break your precious faux cow hide benches. They might re-arrange your X-box games by color scheme though.

Translation:
酷男的異想世界 = Cool Men's World = Queer Eye for the Straight Guy

On-Line Personal Ad Review

My Yahoo account which I check every 2 months or so includes personal ads Yahoo has decided are right for me. Now, most of you will expect me to bag on some chick's personal ad, but overall, I think this girl's pretty honest:

My pet peeves are: game-playing, macho acting, cocky attitude, laziness, arrogant acting, cheap, flackiness and being boring.

A nice solid list that will keep most Frenchmen and certainly Karl away. I guess any German AAA gunners would be shot down as well....

I am looking for someone who is an honest and reliable family man, kind, sweet,funny, not high-strung,intelligent and ambitious. Good morals and values.

Seems reasonable. I am out of luck though since I am high strung (but low hung.)

My hobbies: I love to shop,wine taste, visit art galleries and do anything involving arts and science, I hate doing anything that involves sweating (except activities in the bedroom). I am not a physical active type person but, I am not lazy either.

Bonus points for interest in wine tasting, science, and willing to sweat in the bedroom.

I think couples should spend time doing seperate activities and have a life seperate from their mate. Your mate should enhance your life, not be it.

Seriously, how long will this last once she figures out my separate activities all involve beer, g-strings, and 20 dollar bills? Oh, she means activities she THINKS I'm doing!

I am looking for someone who can connects with me emotinally and feeds my brain as well as my heart.

(I think by now it's also implied that said prospective life-mate must be willing to accept spelling errors.)

I love the Sac Kings and watching basket ball.

Hey, what a coincidence, I am King of the Sac!

I like the finer things in life. I can be a bit high-maintanance, like nails and hair..but, I'm a woman what do you expect...but, I don't make it priority and it doesn't get in the way cause I am also very grounded and down to earth.

Triple bonus points for honesty, until she makes the bald-faced lie that it won't be a priority. The good news is she will probably take of herself and not become overweight with wild-ass hair and a scraggly neck beard. (Wait, that's me.)

Lastly, my stats: I am 28, never married, no kids, 5'10" blond, brown eyes. I would say average weight. I am curvy...not thin. I have a big butt...like J. Lo. but, I don't want to thick so, I say volumptious...which might be misunderstood. You will just have to meet me in person. My carrer is very important to me. I am an interior designer and I work alot...but, make my own schedule.

More honesty. Volumptious - sounds likes a made up word to describe a pastry.

I am looking for serious inquries only. I am looking for long term committment. Also, no pot-smokers please.

LAST LINE CINCHES IT FOR ME. SHE'S A KEEPER.

Beyond the spelling errors and the obviously wine induced rambling this is a damn good personal ad. She's mentioned her likes, her dislikes, her lifestyle, and came across as honest. 4 out 5 stars.

Bring Out Your Dead!

Football, Sunday, 3 pm, at the school field.
Super Lance Sports Day is coming December 3rd. Have to start training,
finishing last ain't easy.

Border Crossing, North American Style

I live near a Canadian border. I have probably crossed this particular border 30 times in my life, and never had to stay more than five minutes with the formalities. However, now I am a long-haired hippie type, which leads to this exchange with a Canadianer Immigration 'official.'

Can: Why are you coming to Canada?
Me: To go hiking in Waterton
Can: Why do you want to do that?
Me: Because it's beautiful (dumbass thought, not voiced)
Can: Have you ever been to Canada?
Me: Yes many times.
Can: When was the last time?
Me: Two years ago.
Ever been convicted of a felony?
Me: No.
Ever been to our immigration office?
Me: No.
I think you better check them out. Park your car, go upstairs, second door on the right.
Me: Yes sir.

I then proceeded to park my car and go upstairs. Upon my arrival, the immigration official tells me to sit on the bench (not the group W one, just an ordinary one). I tell him I have been sitting for three hours and don't really care to sit, I can stand in wait of my fate.

Official: Son, you do what I tell you to do.
Me: Sir, really my legs are tired of sitting, I need to stand (major asshole thought, not voiced)
Official: Have it your way.

One HOUR later:
Official: Next (nobody has been in here the whole time I have been waiting -only might have been a more appropriate word)
Official: You ever been convicted of a felony?
Me: No sir (no sweat lodges in my background)
Official: Ever been to court?
Me: Once for running a red light and not paying my fine on time.
When was that?
Me: About fifteen years ago I guess.
Ever been fingerprinted?
Me: No sir.
Ever been to jail?
Me: No sir.
Ever smoked marijuana?
Me: (agape) Excuse me?
You heard me boy, you do drugs?
Me: No sir.
You have any on you?
Me: No sir.
Let me see your wallet.

I proceeded to give him my wallet. As he searched through it, I asked what he was looking for and he said LSD. Talk about crazy, after he finally gave me the long 'I know you are up to something but I can't prove it so I guess I will have to go against my better judgement and let you into our fine country' look, he stamped my paper and told me to go to customs, where they proceeded to inspect my car (standard operating procedure these days). Two hours to cross into Canadia. not quite my records of four days into Niger and three days in the Sudan, but a little on the ridiculous side. I would report on my beautiful hiking in Waterton (because it was), but Kevlar has already made people jealous enough with photos from home. The Americans let me pass through without so much as a nod on my way back.

HP V: Easy Ghoul

happy halloween everybody

Saturday saw the return of AmCham incompetence and foreigner apathy, aided, I hope, mostly by AmCham's incompetence. It was billed as Halloweenies for the Kidz, or something like that. The idea was that "Hey! Let's get some food, booze, bands and that cozy park across from PJ's and make scads of money for, you know, the Kidz." It had to rock, being PJ's idea and all. From the kickoff at noon, with everyone checking their watches to make sure they all weren't 2 hours fast to the rockin' climax a few hours later with everyone checking their watches to see how much longer till 89K opened up, it was a hoot.

According to raffle tickets sold, about 110 people attended thoughout the 6 1/2 hours. Of course, there's no telling if people bought multiple tickets and of those that were sold, many were bought by people working the event. Hamburger patties went uncooked! YES, IT'S TRUE! Boxes of chicken legs were cooking themselves in the sunlight. South African sausage was being eaten by, well, of course, South Africans. BEER WENT UNDRANK! Read that again. No, yell it. BEER WENT UNDRANK. A mere $1,000 NT gave a person the right to pack your colon for a good two months on undigested flesh and all the beer you could drink. I estimate about 25 squads of draftees ( the elite Coronaistas and the more plebeian Harbinites ) went unused. They are currently quartered at Big Gay Lance's, waiting future deployment.

How did this happen? Well, PJ flew to the Philippines to consult a psychic surgeon about "the smell of rotting flesh" in his nose that has perturbed him since '86. Yes, really. Well, maybe not the psychic surgeon part, but he would find someone who would willingly perform a walletectomy. So PJ was not around to help round up the troops. But, he was. He condensed his 11 day sojourn into a single day and returned Saturday morning. For AmCham's part, all that needs to be said is that I've only seen two people from AmCham at any event, Jack McDowell, and Wayne Chen. And they are always there. Unfortunately, flyers were only distributed and put up two days before the event. Jack and Wayne cannot do it all by themselves. This is where the rest of AmCham stepped up, looked around and took a powder. Some are at odds with Jack and therefore thought it best to place personal differences above the benefit. AmCham Taichung is nonprofit. Basically they are a service organization of two. Two others, Jerry and Chris, who are not members ( Chris might be, but is not listed in the directory) , were asked to help. They did. So, that's it in a Ron Jeremy nutshell. One bright spot was the music. As usual they give their time - though I wish The Deported had not. One who should have been given all the time he wanted is Shane somebody from Tainan. He's from Saskatoon, plays mostly his own guitar and harmonica country. Hoping to get him to make the move here. See him if you get the chance.