February 28, 2010
Thailand (Bangkok)
Temples, temples and more temples. Sitting Buddha, laying Buddha, standing Buddha. It became overwhelming after a few days. I also overdosed on Thai food the first week and switched to burgers and fries. I know, it’s pretty pathetic.
There are some curious categories of tourists that visit South East Asia: there are ubiquitous German couples (both straight and gay), British tourists on a colonial nostalgia tour, dressed like and thinking that they are Indiana Jones, young hippie looking women on a spiritual journey, which I could have become 10 years ago if I have had a bit more acid than I actually did. And of course, single (or married travelling w/out spouse) guys on, well, another kind of spiritual journey. I felt myself out of place.
But the massages are amazing and for about $10 available on every corner. I couldn’t get enough of those. Jewelry shopping is also pretty good. Eventually I had to summon all my willpower to forbid myself from visiting jewelry stores. And they are everywhere!
Pictures under the link:
February 25, 2010
Health Care Summit
I only caught the last hour and a half of it, and I was afraid that I missed the good part. I did not. I loved the testimony of one congressman, I think his last name is Barasso, who was an orthopedic surgeon before going into politics. He said that people will be better off with only catastrophic coverage, because this way they would allocate their resources wisely. You know, like when your knee hurts just a little bit you will think twice before going to a doctor. And then when things get really bad that’s when you get coverage!
Obama could not hide his disgust with this guy when he asked him an obvious question: Would he support this kind of coverage for the members of Congress? Barasso said yes, what else was he gonna say? I at least give him credit for being consistent. Obama followed up with another question: What about if you only make $40,000? No answer to that one. He probably didn’t think about that. It’s hard for Republicans to fathom that there are people making less than $250K a year.
During the closing comments Obama was clear enough to send a message that he will do what needs to be done if met with continuous Republican obstructionism – reconciliation. That is passing the bill with 51 votes. Which is what needed to be done a long time ago.
Dear Lord! Give him balls to do it!
Congressman with balls
That’s what I’m talking about! Unfortunate last name, true, but man, he has cajones!
Listen to this:
Anthony Weiner rips the Republicans for being a fully-owned subsidiary of insurance companies. Indeed, why are they so afraid of public option? God forbid insurance companies would actually have to COMPETE! But that would be capitalism!
February 21, 2010
Federal government to lift restrictions on guns in national parks
This is for the Obama-will-take-my-guns-away crowd. Although I doubt that words and facts mean anything to those people. They want to believe that he will. It’s convenient for their cause.
Federal government to lift restrictions on guns in national parks
The same thing with taxes – they went down for 95% of the population, but the teabaggers believe they went up. Because otherwise what would they have to scream about?
Mass Delusion on a Grand Scale
These people are disgusting. So immersed in their own little fantasy world where they are being harassed by an imaginary black guy that they are beginning to enjoy being the victim. Because, you know, then they can complain. Otherwise they would actually have to do something other than dress up in colonial gear and wave the flag. I guess the glory of the 60s civil-rights movement makes them wanna have their own, because back then these types were on the wrong side of history. They are dreaming of their own Woodstock.
Well, drop some acid or something, smoke some pot. Although in order to engage in some mind expanding exercises you must have the mind first. These guys are hopeless.
February 18, 2010
Myanmar (Burma)
I had the strangest experience in this country. First, it’s a military dictatorship, but as a tourist there’s nothing to be afraid of as long as you don’t talk politics with locals. I take pleasure in breaking the rules, so I tried it of course, but they were not cooperative, so I didn’t press further. For their own safety.
Coming from Bangkok and being tired of pagodas I asked my guide to take me to places where tourists don’t go. He took me to the port and then to the produce market. Unlike in Vietnam no one bothered me at the market trying to sell me stuff, but rather they gazed at me like I was an elephant (a polar bear). There I made some of my best pictures.
The unpleasant part in Myanmar is that they block access to Yahoo and Hotmail and my roaming didn’t work there. So I was incommunicado for 10 days. That was intolerable. In Rangoon my hotel had wi-fi, but only in the lobby area. Freaking cnn.com(!) was blocked as well. I spent 5 days at the beach in West Myanmar (Ngwe Saung beach), where they didn’t have wi-fi at all. The resort is freshly and beautifully built as they try to capitalize on nascent tourist stream, but the road there is a disaster (it’s half dirt, half asphalt). It’s only about 200km, but it takes about 7 hours by car from Rangoon. The staff is extremely friendly but poorly trained, so their idea of a good service is to stand behind your back all the time. I always felt that somebody was watching me as I ate, as I sunbathed, hell even when I was in my hotel room. When they bring you a check they don’t walk away so that you can pay – they just stand there waiting. Every day, as I get out of shower at about 7pm there was a knock on my door. A girl and a guy come in, spray my room with insecticide, insist on making my bed even though I’m laying in it and disappear. They probably thought I was very pleased with that level of service! There was only about 10 tourists in my hotel and about 20 staff. I think they were just coming up with creative ways to show how top notch their service is. So in the end I decided not to bitch about it to the management. The fact that even the management had a poor command of English also played a role in my decision. 5 nights at the resort cost me $200. Burger and fries on the menu is $5. Local beer is $1. The most exotic thing I did in Myanmar was visit the squat style toilet. Yes, it was during that 7-hour trip. There was no other option!
Overall, Myanmar is worth the visit, but with company, considering that entertainment options are limited. I had my e-reader with me loaded with books I haven’t read, so I had my time occupied. But I was relieved to be back in Bangkok.
Swallow THAT, Dick Cheney!
In Blow to Taliban, 2 More Senior Leaders Are Arrested
‘Together, the three arrests mark the most significant blow to the Taliban’s leadership since the American-backed war began eight years ago.’
Yeah! A bookish constitutional law professor with the middle name Hussein had to be elected in order for this to happen. Which makes me wonder: What the fuck have they been doing out there for 8 years?
February 17, 2010
Stimulus
I don’t know about you but I’m long. I have been the most bearish beginning late 2006, but no more. Yes, perhaps I’m late to the long game, but I think it has more room to go. I’m sure that those on the right, while chuckling between themselves about “stimulus”, would literally need to have their dicks stroked before they stop complaining, despite the fact that it would be the government doing the stroking. For those the following statistics won’t mean anything. But for those that have their heads out of their asses, here’s some Bloomberg stats. I hope the source is legitimate enough for the Fox crowd.
Non-farm payrolls (scroll down to see the charts)
Notice that the unemployment number, which is going down, despite the shrieks on the right, is a lagging indicator. What’s more important is the nonfarm payrolls chart. The peak of job losses hit on Jan 09 when Obama took office and has been steadily going down and is now at about Jan 08 level. If this is not progress then I don’t know what is. There are those, of course, that won’t be appeased no matter what happens, proclaiming Obama’s failure because the unemployment hasn’t hit 5% yet. I’m sure they manifest their gloomy disposition by being short. However, I doubt that last year’s rally in corporates and mortage-backed was fueled by left-wing fund managers bent on proving Obama right.
Unfortunately, I don’t think unemployment will dip below 8% this year, which will be bad for Democrats, because the unemployed don’t care about the freaking statistics, but care about the paycheck.
But just some food for thought.
Cambodia
Back from Asia:
Some statistics:
Countries visited: 5 (7 if count transit)
Miles travelled: At least 45,000
Cambodia:
After a while I stopped asking locals whether or not they have seen “Apocalypse Now”. Not only they haven’t seen it, they haven’t even heard of it. I liked Cambodia the most among the visited Asian countries. People are still friendly – there are tourists but not a lot, so they have not learnt to harass them yet as, say, Vietnamese. Angkor Wat is impressive.
Cambodia puts things into perspective for you. I realized what a spoiled bitch I am. Oh, well, now I have to live with that thought forever. But seriously, the poverty is breathtaking there and yet they don’t seem to be depressed about it. I also got to shoot an AK-47 on the shooting range. Bazookas and other more serious stuff was also available for some ridiculous price, but the kick(?) for Kalashnikov was so strong, that I figured I’d be plastered all over the wall if I try anything stronger.
Here’s some perspective: Read the rest of this entry »
