Sunday, November 29, 2009

Wonderful Things (Part II)


Sometimes, ..., I find it's good to step back, and remember that the world is full of wonderful and beautiful things.
At this stressful time of year (hmm - is there any time any more that isn't stressful?), its a good idea to take a break - go check out something fun, like the Joe Louis Puppet Theatre.

Here's a video of a fight scene from the Ramakien; the Thai version of the Ramayana.
Enjoy!

Sunday, November 08, 2009

From Your Mouth


To God's Ear.

"Allahu Akbar" (God is great) - Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, November 5 2009.
"Ain't God Great" (Isn't God great) - Sen. Joseph Isadore Lieberman, August 2000.
Yes, Crypto-Republican Joseph Lieberman, who shouted "Ain't God Great" when asked by Al Gore to be his VP, is going to investigate the "Domestic Terrorist" who went on a rampage at Ft. Hood, who reportedly shouted "God Is Great", a "terrorist phrase", according to the paranoia-philiac Senator from Connecticut.
Sen. Lieberman is chiefly known for having been the legislative force behind the creation of the Homeland Security Department a dysfunctional coalescence of several already individually dysfunctional federal bureaucracies.

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

It's All In How You


Spin It! Here's an article from the NY Times Health section that appears to say: "...people who exercise don’t necessarily lose weight"
If one actually reads the article, however, things aren't as they appear from the title/first paragraph. What it really says is that people who exercise for three months showed a weight loss of somewhere around 1 to 2 pounds per month!
So, over a two year period, this would amount to a loss af somewhere between 24 and over 50 pounds. A not inconsiderable loss after all!
When one includes the overall improvement in health plus the improevment in self image, one can hardly find any downside whatsoever.
A better headline might perhaps be "A few hours a week of jogging, swimming, raquet sports, or even pumping iron, can result in vast improvements in your life".
Of course, exercise is not nearly as good a means of weight loss as the latest "New Miracle Diet Pill", which can help you shed all those unsightly pounds, and even restore those six-pack abs that you never actually had but wish you did.
Lets be honest here: ultimately, there's really no substitute for the Best Diet Aid Ever - Wishful Thinking.

Monday, November 02, 2009

Celebrations


Sometimes, I find myself taking a too-apocalyptic view of the world. When I catch myself at this, I find it's good to step back, and remember that the world is full of wonderful and beautiful things.
Don't mistake me: the Apocalypse is on its way. But just because it's all going to end doesn't mean it's all to no purpose. Tonight, here in the Land of Smiles, there's a marvelous celebration. Unlike in more Christian places, it's a celebration of life, rather than of death. Here we celebrate Loy Krathong, instead of All Souls Day. It's much nicer, really, to float a Krathong on the river than to walk around a graveyard. At least so I think.

Here's a video I made a couple of years back, in Suan Lumpini, the park in the center of Bangkok that hasn't quite been concreted over yet.
Anyway, Enjoy!