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Monthly Archives: June 2004

“Michael Moore is a Big Fat Stupid White Man”…

29-Jun-04

…is the title of this new book. (Although the author forgot to mention that our favorite documentarian/ideologue is also extremely rich.)
Moore, I believe now, is truly off his rocker. Listen to some of his recent statements, via David Brooks (via Hit and Run):
He said Americans “are possibly the dumbest people on the planet…” He said […]

Pouring the Perfect Pint

27-Jun-04

BBC: “A Caledonian University student claims he has made an important breakthrough in how to pour ‘the perfect pint’ during Euro 2004.
David Stevenson, from Helensburgh, said his device is ‘fool-proof’ and enables football fans to watch games without worrying about pouring problems.”

Housekeeping

26-Jun-04

I’ve added a bunch of Weblogs to the left-hand side of this page. Most of them are sites I’ve been enjoying for a while and am just now getting around to linking to. I’ve also added a more direct link to my travel photos page, which was previously a little harder to find.

More on Ecuador’s Gutierrez

23-Jun-04

Following my speculation that Ecuadorian president Lucio Gutierrez will soon be booted from office, and following my buddy Mike F.’s thoughts that Lucio’s fine for now, here’s what my friend Jordan L. has to say.
Jordan’s an American who lived in Ecuador for three years; he and I were once roommates in Cuenca. He’s seen Ecuadorian […]

Michael Moore’s New Documentary

22-Jun-04

Given my intense distaste for “Bowling for Columbine,” I’m interested to see what my reaction’ll be to Moore’s new film, “Farenheit 9/11.”
Chris Hitchens, a critic I admire, has seen the movie and says this:
To describe this film as dishonest and demagogic would almost be to promote those terms to the level of respectability. To […]

A Report from My Pal in Ecuador

20-Jun-04

I’ve written recently that I think Ecuadorian president Lucio Gutierrez will soon be ousted from office. His approval ratings are south of 10%, and most crucially, he’s alienated the country’s sizeable indigenous population. And as we saw in Bolivia last year, well-organized Indian groups in the Andes have the power to force unpopular presidents to […]

On the Future of Taiwan

17-Jun-04

Via the excellent Peking Duck, here’s a fascinating look at the future of the small island I now call home. Check out Ross Terrill’s “Death of a Party-State: The Aftermath of the Presidential Election in Taiwan.”

Things I’ve Seen People Do While Driving a Scooter Here

16-Jun-04

1. Talk on a mobile phone.2. Smoke a cigarette.3. Enjoy a beverage.4. Chew betelnut.5. Pet their dog, which is riding on the floorboards.6. Simultaneously talk on a mobile phone, smoke a cigarette, and enjoy a beverage.
UPDATE: Jill reminds me of another ridiculous scooter multitasking phenomenon we’ve witnessed: people tending to their infants, who they’ve got […]

The Story of the Two Things…

13-Jun-04

…is amusing.

Um, What Did You Say Your Name Was Again?

13-Jun-04

Is this for real? I believe it is. Wow. (Via Gweilo Diaries.)

More on Ecuador

13-Jun-04

I’ve written a little more about Ecuador in a new post over at Southern Exposure. The long and the short of it:
1) Presidente Lucio’s hanging in there; and 2) here’s a lengthy, detailed, and quite moving expose of the Ecuadorian human trafficking industry; the New York Times published it today, and it’s a must-read. […]

Notes from my Brother’s Visit–and Answers to the Chinglish Quiz!

10-Jun-04

Mechum, my kid brother, just left town (he’s finished teaching for the year in Bolivia, and stopped through Taiwan on his way to visiting friends in Bangkok for a month).
And lemme tell you this: we had an exceptional time. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the stuff he and Jill and I did:
–We […]

Ecuadorian Prez: On His Way Out? (Seriously)

08-Jun-04

Okay. I’ve been saying that Ecuadorian president Lucio Gutierrez’s future is bleak since November. And Latin American commentator Al Giordano has been prognosticating his downfall for even longer.
And now comes news that Lucio is facing what really might be the beginning of the end; he may be heading for a demise similar to that […]

I Won’t Be Posting Much Here for the Next Week…

01-Jun-04

…since my brother arrives in town tomorrow for a quick visit, and my schedule will be busier than usual.
In addition to the quiz below, I leave you with these links:
–Sushi etiquette;–Ambiguo.org Weblog, the owner of which I met yesterday during a break in my Chinese class;–PenMachine.com–Winkie.org–EverydayMatters
Hasta next week.

“Honk Fiercely as You Ride”: Test Your Chinglish!

01-Jun-04

I’m in the process of obtaining my motorcycle license. I’ve done the vision test at a local hospital, and the next step is to take the written and driving tests.
In studying the test booklet, I’ve encountered some amusing questions. Here’re a couple; this is exactly how they appear in the book:
When riding through […]