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Misc.

Catching Some Rays

AFP:

HONG KONG (AFP) — Airline Cathay Pacific has limited air crews’ flights on the non-stop Hong Kong-New York route after it was found the journey could increase the likelihood of cancer, a report said Sunday.

Staff of the British-owned, Hong Kong-based airline say they have been limited to just two of the ultra long-haul flights per month since it was found the route exposed passengers and crew to high levels of cosmic radiation when they flew over the North Pole.

Union chiefs told the South China Morning Post radiation levels increase markedly at 26,250 feet above the pole and prolonged exposure could be harmful to cell DNA possibly causing cancers.

(Via Kottke, who, incidentally, is currently traveling through Southeast Asia.)

Naked Sushi

Naked sushi.

This is perhaps the only instance in which my chorks might not be the best tool for the job.

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Misc.

Do I Have Something On My Head?

Shropshire Star:

A bizarre relationship between two very unlikely partners has left a few feathers ruffled in one Shropshire household.

The Ward family, from Shrewsbury, were baffled when two-year-old German shepherd Hazel and newborn burrowing owl Boobah struck up a firm friendship.

Hazel recently gave birth to two puppies and has now adopted the baby bird as one of her own.

Owners Stuart and Caroline Ward said the pair have become inseparable and the owl enjoys nothing better than to take a ride around the house on Hazel’s head.

Life in the Navy

CPO Dan Gazanski:

After I graduated from high school, I was making good money painting houses, my girlfriend was cool with a rockin’ little bod, and I partied almost every night. But after a year or so, I started to wonder: “If someone wrote a book about my life, would anyone want to read it?”

I wanted discipline and training, but I didn’t want to give up my hard-rockin’ lifestyle. Where, I wondered, could that elusive combination of rigid authoritarian structure and unbridled monster power chords be found? Then I saw a commercial for the U.S. Navy. That’s when I knew what to do with my life.

And guess what? The U.S. Navy fucking kicks ass, dude. From the time we’re awoken at 06:00 by System Of A Down or Disturbed till we drift off to sleep to an instrumental guitar version of “Taps” performed by Zakk Wylde, it’s a nonstop rock block…

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Misc.

Gridskipper Post Numero Tres

In my latest Gridskipper post, I examine the rumored resurrection of venerated DC watering hole The Capitol Lounge, which burned down back in August. (Thankfully, the vintage Marion Barry campaign sign pictured above survived the blaze.)

More on Burma’s Weird Capital Relocation

The NYT’s Seth Mydans takes a closer look at why, exactly, Burma’s ruling military junta is moving the country’s capital 200 miles to the north. His conclusion: no one knows for sure. Could be for reasons of astrological auspiciousness; could be so the paranoid brass can ensconce themselves in the jungle in preparation for an American invasion:

Not long ago, according to one story making the rounds in Myanmar, a military officer was asked the purpose of obligatory civil defense training for civilian men. “You are the holding action against the Americans until the Chinese come to our aid,” the officer said, according to David I. Steinberg, a professor at Georgetown University who is a leading expert on Myanmar.

Mr. Steinberg said rumors of an American “rescue” circulate among opponents of the government – a current of wishful thinking that is as extravagant as the fears of the ruling generals.

“The joke going around is, ‘After diamonds, gold,’ ” he said. In the Burmese language, “sein” – as in Saddam Hussein – means diamonds. “Shwe” – as in Gen. Than Shwe, the leader of the military junta – means gold.

Burma, Myanmar

I’ll Take a Salmon Soda, Please

Thanks to Dave T. for the pointer to this unbelievable Reuters piece on a new salmon-flavored soda:

For beverage connoisseurs tired of turkey-and-gravy or green-beans-and-casserole-flavored sodas, there’s a new choice being offered this year by specialty U.S. soda manufacturer Jones Soda Co.: salmon.

Jones Soda, the Seattle company that scored a hit during the last two holiday seasons with its turkey-and-gravy-flavored sodas, said it is offering the orange-hued fish-flavored drink this year in a nod to the Pacific Northwest’s salmon catch.

“When you smell it, it’s got that smoked salmon aroma,” said Peter van Stolk, chief executive of Jones Soda.

The artificially flavored salmon soda will be offered as part of a $13 “regional holiday pack” that also includes other unusual sodas such as turkey & gravy, corn on the cob, broccoli casserole and pecan pie.

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Misc.

My New Article on Beating the “At-Home Blues”

Transitions Abroad has just published an article I wrote about how to readjust to life at home after living abroad.

In order to conquer what I’ve termed the “at-home blues” — feelings of restlessness encountered during extended time at home between trips — I suggest five tactics:

1. Start planning your next trip.
2. Surround yourself with international influences.
3. Seek out adventures close to home.
4. Draw on the skills that helped you adjust when you were abroad.
5. Be positive and don’t romanticize.

I was happy that long-term world travel guru Rolf Potts supplied a quote for the article.

The piece, which is posted in the Independent Travel section of the Transitions Abroad site, is my third contribution to the magazine. Earlier in the year I wrote about Teaching English in Ecuador and Taiwan. If you’re unfamiliar with Transitions Abroad, poke around their Web site or, better yet, consider subscribing to the print edition.

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Misc.

$100 Laptop: Coming Next Year?

WSJ:

A novel plan to develop a $100 laptop computer for distribution to millions of schoolchildren in developing countries has caught the interest of governments and the attention of computer-industry heavyweights.

Although no contracts with governments have been signed, Mr. Negroponte says current plans call for producing five to ten million units beginning in late 2006 or early 2007, with tens of millions more a year later.

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Misc.

Revisiting Ecuador — in Salisbury, Maryland

This weekend I went to see my friends Mike and Angelica — two pals from my Ecuador days. Mike and I taught English together (and traveled all over the country) while I was there between 2003 and 2004. He and Angelica got married after I left; they’ve got a delightful six-month-old daughter named Sabine and are living in Salisbury, Maryland now.

I had a great time catching up with them — I hadn’t seen Angelica in over two years; I also got to meet her nephew Diego, who’s staying with them for a while. (Both Angelica and Diego are from Cuenca, where we lived.) Angelica treated us to some excellent Ecuadorian food (including an exceptional seco de pollo), and we even broke out the dreaded sugar cane-based Ecuadorian firewater, Zhumir. And I got a chance to play my first-ever game of Frisbee disc golf.

It was fantastic to see them and relive the aspects of what I loved most about Ecuador and Ecuadorians: food, friends, and laughter. (And Zhumir, of course.)