Skip to content

Monthly Archives: June 2007

My Short Item in The Magazine

28-Jun-07

The current issue of The Magazine (pictured above), a bi-monthly glossy published by the Bangkok Post, contains a very brief item I wrote about Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. (You’ve heard me mention Wilco before, no doubt.) In each issue, various folks are asked to weigh in on their favorite album, book, or movie. The item […]

Ghost Festival

27-Jun-07

Last weekend we ventured up to Loei Province, in the far north of Thailand, to witness the annual Ghost Festival (or Pee Ta Khon). Below are some pics. And here’s the full photo set.
In short, Pee Ta Khon involves the local people marching through the streets of a small town wearing ghost and monster […]

Newley.com Will Return on Wednesday

22-Jun-07

I won’t be posting anything here until Wednesday. See you then, friends.
(Image from, via.)

My Favorite Podcasts

22-Jun-07

Podcasts. Would life be worth living without them? Here’re some of my faves:
– NPR: Shuffle. A daily compilation of the best stories from Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and other shows.
– NPR’s World Story of the Day. Same concept, but limited to foreign dispatches.
– ESPN/Soccernet Extra: A bunch of English football journalists discussing […]

Quito Comes Alive

21-Jun-07

My latest globorati post is about the Ecuadorian capital’s rejuvenated historic center.

Strange Japanese Soft Drinks

19-Jun-07

Check out “The Top Ten Weird and Bizarre Japanese Soft Drinks.”
I would kill for a taste of the Pepsi Ice Cucumber. Not to mention the Coolpis Kimchi Drink.

Bolivia, FIFA, and Globalization

18-Jun-07

Simon Romero had an excellent story in the New York Times yesterday about Evo Morales, the president of Bolivia, fighting to defeat the high-altitude soccer ban I mentioned recently. I particularly like the lede (as well as the delightful image, above):
Bolivia’s president, Evo Morales, donned a green jersey the other day, watched a llama sacrifice […]

Me As a Little Guy

15-Jun-07

You may remember “Uncle” Joel, a long-time friend of the family whose remarkable photography I’ve mentioned here before. He snapped the image of me, above, as a three-year-old.
This morning I woke up to a surprise that has made my month: Joel unearthed this old image of me and my Dad back in 1975 or 1976, […]

Asia’s Top 5 Terrorists

14-Jun-07

I have a new story at Tripmaster Monkey. It’s called “Threat Level: Yellow! Asia’s Top 5 Terrorists.”

Phuket’s Emerging Yacht Scene

13-Jun-07

That’s the subject of my newest Globorati post.

The Globalization of Sushi

12-Jun-07

Jay McInerney reviews two new books that “attempt to account for the transformation of sushi from a provincial street snack to the international luxury cuisine of the 21st century.”
(Cartoon via.)

Thailand 1-3 Holland

09-Jun-07

On Wednesday night A and our friends Austin and NG ventured out to Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium to see Thailand host The Netherlands in an international friendly. Holland won 3-1, though the scoreline flattered the Thai team. The Oranje were superior technically and physically and simply outclassed their opponents. Thailand did, however, score a consolation goal […]

Thai Snack Report: Exotic Potato Chip Flavors

09-Jun-07

I recently spotted some exotic potato chip flavors at my local 7-11. And, being a snackfood aficionado and naturally inquisitive to boot, I had to pick ‘em up.
My report follows.

Lays Barbeque Spareribs flavor:
Taste: A hearty blend of seasonings lends this chip a full, spicy flavor. Strong finish with hints of cayenne. Musty aroma. […]

A Cultural Map of the World

06-Jun-07

Strange Maps on the Inglehart-Welzel Cultural Map of the World:
On this map, East and West Germany are next to each other, as one would expect. But Romania’s closest neighbour is Armenia? And Poland and India are side by side? Well, this is not a straightforward geographical map, but a cultural one. It plots out how […]

Wilco’s New Album

05-Jun-07

So have you been listening to Wilco’s new album, Sky Blue Sky? Well, why not? Get on it.
I think it’s a remarkably coherent — if staid — effort. Just like everything the band produces, the album grows on you. Slowly.
I agree with Rob Sheffield, who says this in his Rolling Stone review:
Sky Blue Sky […]