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Michael Yon has posted some more photos from Southeast Asia, including this one captioned “Morning alms at Luang Prabang, Laos.”
135 comments
4 |
Nevergiveup Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:21:37am |
18:46 U.S. says waiting for Iranian response to nuclear talks offer (Reuters)
G-D am I embarrassed.
| 5 |
VegasRick Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:21:54am |
I have had Thai Monks at my home many times, they are wonderful people.
| 6 |
DEZes Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:23:10am |
Yon has a wonderful eye.
And this is my 1st post from work. ;)
| 8 |
kansas Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:25:01am |
re: #4 Nevergiveup
18:46 U.S. says waiting for Iranian response to nuclear talks offer (Reuters)
G-D am I embarrassed.
Iranian answer?
[Link: zvis.com...]
| 10 |
DaddyG Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:26:36am |
re: #7 Occasional Reader
Is that woman donating a banana?!
Looks like a plantain or banana yes. AFAIK The monks receive voluntary offerings from locals for their subsitance.
| 11 |
Nevergiveup Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:26:57am |
High School Baseball Coach Dismissed After Team Kills Snake to Stop Losing Streak
Thursday, April 09, 2009
PrintShareThis
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — A Tampa Bay area high school baseball coach has been temporarily relieved of his duties while authorities investigate the killing and burial of a snake on his team's field.
[Link: www.foxnews.com...]
Yankees are you listening?
| 12 |
Killgore Trout Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:27:38am |
Alms giving is a really cool ritual practiced in a lot of Buddhist cultures. Each region has its own variation. In Thailand the monks go to where the people are waiting with food. Each person puts a small spoonful in each monk's bowl. In Tibet the monks stay put and the people go to the monastery.
It's pretty common for most boys in Thailand to spend some time as a monk. It's not a life long commitment.
| 13 |
Egregious Philbin Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:28:48am |
Luang Prabang is a beautiful place. I have a great pic I took there of a very young monk in training, probably 7 years old, playing on the remains of an armament on top of a mountain.
Laos is a strange place, not for the cruise ship traveler, you will meet rats, you will see things you don't see on package tours. Its a craphole, but that's OK. Vientiane is a dreadfully dull place though.
| 14 |
Chicken Kiev Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:28:57am |
In Thai culture (also in Japanese culture), donating food to wandering monks is considered a moral virtue -- kind of a "mitzvah." The monks more or less subsist on donations from the public.
| 15 |
Killgore Trout Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:29:47am |
re: #7 Occasional Reader
The banana isn't that uncommon. I'm more surprised my the prepackaged snacks. Usually it's a small portion of plain rice. I guess the times are changing.
| 17 |
godfrey Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:31:28am |
Didn't know if you all saw this:
Obama lawyer backs ban on Tariq Ramadan
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A lawyer arguing on behalf of the Obama administration on Tuesday echoed Bush administration policies to back a decision to deny one of Europe's leading Muslim intellectuals entry to the United States.Assistant U.S. Attorney David Jones told a U.S. federal appeals court panel that they should uphold a decision to bar Swiss Muslim Tariq Ramadan, an Oxford University professor and a vocal critic of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, from entering the United States.
Woot!
| 18 |
Kosh's Shadow Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:31:45am |
re: #4 Nevergiveup
18:46 U.S. says waiting for Iranian response to nuclear talks offer (Reuters)
G-D am I embarrassed.
Let's hope their response isn't an explosion.
Actually, I don't think they're ready, yet.
| 19 |
godfrey Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:32:28am |
Beautiful photograph, by the way.
Support your local monks!
| 20 |
Kragar Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:34:48am |
re: #18 Kosh's Shadow
Let's hope their response isn't an explosion.
Actually, I don't think they're ready, yet.
The mullahs are going to force the US delegation into the bathroom and give them a swirly.
| 21 |
VegasRick Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:35:25am |
Sorry for the OT but really sad.
[Link: www.foxnews.com...]
| 22 |
Ford_Prefect Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:38:28am |
From that part of the world, a repost from the earlier open thread:
Bracing for bloodshed in Bangkok
I don't even pretend to know anything about politics in Thailand, but I found this interesting. Doesn't look good.
*snips
More than 100,000 protesters — many from Thailand's poor upcountry — have amassed in Bangkok. This is a tremendous show of force for Thailand's "red shirt" opposition movement, which is campaigning to drive out the current ruling party — which is backed by old money and establishment powers.I think the red shirts have been looking for crowds large enough to overwhelm the military. Is 100,000 enough? Probably. I was told not to show up tonight before having a heart-to-heart with my loved ones ... and finding some goggles to see through the tear gas. Great.
As I type this, taxi drivers, who largely hail from rural Thailand, have blocked one of Bangkok's busiest traffic circles with their cabs. I just received a text message from the red shirts that mobs are pushing towards Thailand's state-owned TV station.
I'm not sure how this ends. But I suspect that, before it's all over, someone will be hurt or killed. I hope I'm wrong.
| 23 |
Egregious Philbin Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:41:55am |
re: #22 Ford_Prefect
I was stuck in Thailand in December during the airport closures. Not fun, but the redshirts weren't the idiots that held the country hostage. My trip was hardly ruined, I spent more time on the beach in Phuket and a suprise side trip to Chiang Mai, could have been much worse.
| 24 |
Kenneth Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:44:03am |
re: #7 Occasional Reader
Is that woman donating a banana?!
Hey, I'm putting a banana in the donation plate at church on Sunday. Let's see how that goes over.
| 25 |
Ford_Prefect Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:44:45am |
| 26 |
SasquatchOnSteroids Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:45:55am |
re: #7 Occasional Reader
Is that woman donating a banana?!
I've seen that Chiquita whole pizza by herself.
| 27 |
calcajun Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:46:52am |
re: #13 Egregious Philbin
Laos is a strange place, not for the cruise ship traveler.
Being land-locked makes that real tough.///
| 28 |
Leonidas Hoplite Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:47:38am |
Dang I thought the photo was going to be Somali pirates face down in the water. Maybe next time...
| 29 |
Nevergiveup Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:47:59am |
re: #28 Leonidas Hoplite
Dang I thought the photo was going to be Somali pirates face down in the water. Maybe next time...
Somoli pirates sink.
| 31 |
SanFranciscoZionist Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:49:44am |
| 32 |
Russkilitlover Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:50:31am |
re: #4 Nevergiveup
18:46 U.S. says waiting for Iranian response to nuclear talks offer (Reuters)
G-D am I embarrassed.
US: Gosh, I hope he calls me.
| 33 |
abolitionist Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:50:36am |
| 34 |
godfrey Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:51:00am |
re: #24 Kenneth
I think this is how those monks get food.
Whatever happened to "guineas"? I like the idea of "tossing a few guineas" into the collection plate. Big gold ones. Writing checks is a little abstract.
| 35 |
vapig Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:51:22am |
re: #18 Kosh's Shadow
Let's hope their response isn't an explosion.
Actually, I don't think they're ready, yet.
If they were ready Tel Aviv would be gone.
| 37 |
Ford_Prefect Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:52:17am |
re: #7 Occasional Reader
Is that woman donating a banana?!
Like all of us, they give what they have.
| 38 |
VegasRick Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:52:18am |
re: #34 godfrey
I think this is how those monks get food.
Whatever happened to "guineas"? I like the idea of "tossing a few guineas" into the collection plate. Big gold ones. Writing checks is a little abstract.
You are not Italian are you.
| 39 |
Leonidas Hoplite Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:52:26am |
When I was in Thailand years ago we saw this every morning in Bangkok - vendors sold pre-packaged alms to people on thier way to work, who would give them to a monk and receive a blessing. IIRC, it is the only meal the monks are allowed each day
| 40 |
AuntAcid Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:52:52am |
| 41 |
Bubblehead II Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:52:53am |
This isn't good.
Ahmadinejad inaugurates new Iranian nuclear fuel facility
*snip
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday inaugurated a new facility producing uranium fuel for a planned heavy-water nuclear reactor. The West fears the reactor could eventually be used for producing a nuclear weapon.
*snip*
| 42 |
Ward Cleaver Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:53:18am |
re: #4 Nevergiveup
18:46 U.S. says waiting for Iranian response to nuclear talks offer (Reuters)
G-D am I embarrassed.
Drumming their fingers?
| 43 |
Ward Cleaver Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:55:00am |
re: #21 VegasRick
Sorry for the OT but really sad.
[Link: www.foxnews.com...]
I wonder if this will turn out to be a DWI (since the guy left on foot)?
| 44 |
SanFranciscoZionist Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:55:25am |
re: #24 Kenneth
Hey, I'm putting a banana in the donation plate at church on Sunday. Let's see how that goes over.
I had a summer job once at the SF AidsWalk. We had all these places donating food for the volunteers, including some place that kept giving us bananas. I mean a LOT of bananas. People would eat bananas, and take them home for banana bread, but we had too damn many bananas. They'd rot in the kitchen, and then we'd feel bad.
Finally, one of the kids from one of the church groups undertook to distribute the bananas. This was downtown San Francisco--she simply took off down Mission Street with bananas, giving them out to homeless folks she met--or anyone who seemed to need or want a banana. The homeless guys liked them--they're good, and nutritious, and obviously sanitary, in their peels.
It was an enormous relief. She was the banana volunteer for the rest of the summer.
| 45 |
Mr. In get Mr. Out Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:56:08am |
This picture reminds me of a time when I thought it'd be a good idea to join a Spanish monastery.
| 46 |
calcajun Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:56:21am |
| 48 |
KenJen Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:58:25am |
| 49 |
Russkilitlover Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:58:58am |
re: #21 VegasRick
Sorry for the OT but really sad.
[Link: www.foxnews.com...]
The driver who allegedly fled the scene on foot was caught, arrested and charged with felony hit-and-run, said Fullerton Police Lt. Craig Brower.
Very sad. Young, productive, contributing, skilled, athletic lives snuffed out by a.........hmmmm wonder if they'll ever release the name and nationality of the arrested......
We've had a spate of felony hit and runs in the past few weeks. Very, very sad.
| 50 |
godfrey Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:00:48am |
More breaking controversy about Tariq Ramadan this time in Rotterdam. Get a load of the money involved:
The city reportedly paid 1.79 million euros for Ramadan's activities in Rotterdam in 2007 and 2008, but only 55,000 euros went directly to Ramadan ... Additionally the municipality pays 200,000 euros a year for Ramadan's professorship at Erasmus university, which includes travel and accommodations for him and his three research assistants.
I wonder who those research assistants are...
| 51 |
VegasRick Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:01:42am |
re: #43 Ward Cleaver
I wonder if this will turn out to be a DWI (since the guy left on foot)?
Or illegal alien.
| 52 |
Kosh's Shadow Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:02:58am |
| 53 |
Kenneth Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:03:36am |
Petraeus speaking on the situation in Iraq mentioned "a continuing malign influence to the east". Hmmmm.... I wonder what he could be referring to?
| 54 |
Cognito Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:03:42am |
re: #7 Occasional Reader
Is that woman donating a banana?!
I find that particularly touching, actually.
| 55 |
OldLineTexan Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:03:43am |
re: #31 SanFranciscoZionist
Yep.
Hey, he said Will Pray For Food.
/
My wife has a friend who had a bag of groceries THROWN BACK at her by a "homeless, hungry, four kids, please help" WOMAN at a freeway underpass light several years ago. At least these monks are the real deal.
| 56 |
Erik The Red Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:03:56am |
Hey Lizards. I posted this on the LNDT. Repost cus it is ass slapping funny :)
| 57 |
Killgore Trout Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:05:08am |
re: #56 Erik The Red
Heh. I'm not opposed to the bailouts but that's still pretty funny.
| 58 |
OldLineTexan Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:05:20am |
re: #56 Erik The Red
Hey Lizards. I posted this on the LNDT. Repost cus it is ass slapping funny :)
Hey, that mascot was needed on the last thread.
/
| 60 |
Cygnus Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:07:14am |
re: #28 Leonidas Hoplite
Dang I thought the photo was going to be Somali pirates face down in the water. Maybe next time...
Why negotiate with those scum? Keelhaul 'em, I say.
| 61 |
Kenneth Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:07:19am |
re: #52 Kosh's Shadow
Cool Jew Science!
From your link:
...a metal complex of the element ruthenium – is a “smart” complex in which the metal center and the organic part attached to it cooperate in the cleavage of the water molecule
| 62 |
Leonidas Hoplite Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:08:06am |
re: #52 Kosh's Shadow
Israelis find a new, more efficient way, of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.
Fascinating...yet another scientific advance not brought to the world by the followers of Big Mo.
| 63 |
Cygnus Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:08:43am |
| 64 |
Leonidas Hoplite Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:08:55am |
| 65 |
realwest Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:10:46am |
Charles - just wanted to thank you for this. Wow, Michael Totten and Michale Yon back to back.
Winners both - thanks again.
| 69 |
Ford_Prefect Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:13:55am |
re: #67 Bubblehead II
EEEWWWW! Please pass the brain bleach.
Pass it here next. I may never have sex again.
| 72 |
Bob Dillon Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:17:03am |
re: #13 Egregious Philbin
I never found it or any other area or place in SEA dull or boring. There is always history, beauty, and at the minimum the comedy of the USAID donated huge concrete monuments to ponder over in Vientienne.
| 73 |
Russkilitlover Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:18:02am |
re: #53 Kenneth
Petraeus speaking on the situation in Iraq mentioned "a continuing malign influence to the east". Hmmmm.... I wonder what he could be referring to?
Heh. Wonder how soon he'll get muzzled by the Obama administration.
We're unclenching like crazy and prostrating ourselves to Iran and now we get this war-mongering innuendo!//////
| 74 |
ConservatismNow! Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:18:10am |
re: #15 Killgore Trout
The banana isn't that uncommon. I'm more surprised my the prepackaged snacks. Usually it's a small portion of plain rice. I guess the times are changing.
Ron Burgundy: "I read somewhere that scientists say the times AREN'T changing"
Ed Harken: "Which scientist was that?"
Ron: "George...Washing..."
Ed: "Ron, were you going to say George Washington?"
Ron: "Yes."
| 75 |
OldLineTexan Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:18:58am |
re: #71 Kenneth
sorry Mom i no find teh spli atumz but i haz sumthing 4 Dad
| 76 |
Kosh's Shadow Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:19:10am |
re: #61 Kenneth
Cool Jew Science!
From your link:
Good thing I looked a the link before opening it! Saved some brain bleach.
| 77 |
Bubblehead II Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:20:05am |
| 78 |
Bob Dillon Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:20:25am |
re: #27 calcajun
Being land-locked makes that real tough.///
There are tours on the Mekong now that make that easier.
Here's one - there are many others.
[Link: www.mekongtravel.com...]
| 79 |
Jimmah Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:20:26am |
Hehe heh! Saddam Hussain made to watch South Park movie which riducules him repeatedly before execution.
[Link: www.telegraph.co.uk...]
Let's hope that Kim Jong Il will recieve a similar honour one day with 'Team America'.
| 80 |
Cygnus Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:21:31am |
re: #52 Kosh's Shadow
Israelis find a new, more efficient way, of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.
Now the Jooooooos will take over the world's energy market, too! /////////////
| 81 |
Egregious Philbin Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:21:47am |
re: #72 Bobibutu
Well, after traveling overland through Laos, I found Vientiane as a pretty soul less place.
Now for great travels in SE Asia, nothing beats Vietnam. Been twice can't wait to go back, its a fascinating place, and with all the turmoil in Thailand, its even better. Just wish the scuba diving was better. Will have to visit Phu Quoc next time.
| 83 |
Kenneth Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:22:59am |
National Security: Russia tells the U.S. not to worry about a nuclear Iran and not to punish nuclear North Korea. Fidel Castro wants to help the president, Russia's "new comrade." Are we being set up?
Three decades of the ugly reality of Islamist revolution in Iran, for instance, have indelibly discredited the belief in 1979 by Andrew Young, the Carter administration's United Nations ambassador, that the Ayatollah Khomeini was "some kind of a saint."
Today, it takes willful blindness not to recognize Iran as the greatest threat to life and freedom in the world. Tehran is apparently now on the verge of announcing that it has mastered the final, most technically challenging stage of nuclear fuel production: the industrial-scale enrichment of uranium, which allows nuclear fuel to be generated in large quantities.
The Islamofascist regime in Iran has denied inspectors from the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency access to its Arak heavy water reactor, which could be geared to produce plutonium from spent uranium fuel rods.
Clearly, Russia wants to lull us into complacency regarding the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction among hostile regimes. Do Moscow and other adversaries of the free world sense an uncommon opportunity in the year 2009?
RTWFT!
| 84 |
turn Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:23:58am |
Wow, General Petraeus just said very forcefully that Bin Laden is alive.
| 85 |
MJ Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:24:43am |
Danish Free Speech Group Sells Copies of Controversial Prophet Muhammad Cartoon
COPENHAGEN — A Danish press freedom group said Wednesday it is selling copies of a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad that caused outrage across the Muslim World.
Some 1,000 printed reproductions of a drawing depicting the prophet wearing a bomb-shaped turban are being sold for $250 each, said Lars Hedegaard, chairman of the Danish Free Press Society.
"All we are doing is starting a debate," Hedegaard said. "We are using our freedom of speech."
Hedegaard said Danish artist Kurt Westergaard, who drew the cartoon in 2005, had given the society permission to produce the copies and sell them. Each numbered copy has been signed by Westergaard, Hedegaard said.
"We have not, and are not, breaking any laws," Hedegaard told The Associated Press.
[Link: www.foxnews.com...]
They're not breaking laws ...for now. However, considering how Fogh Rasmussen got down on his hands and knees and beg the forgiveness of the freedom- loving Turks, it won't be long before they are illegal.
| 86 |
OldLineTexan Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:24:54am |
re: #84 turn
Wow, General Petraeus just said very forcefully that Bin Laden is alive.
No kidding?
That's thread-worthy, IMO.
| 87 |
Onslow Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:25:29am |
| 88 |
ConservatismNow! Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:26:01am |
re: #86 OldLineTexan
No kidding?
That's thread-worthy, IMO.
That IS thread-worthy. Naturally I'm curious as to how he is able to say this with such certainty
| 89 |
Erik The Red Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:26:11am |
Happy Easter Lizards. Sorry for the little ones//
| 90 |
SasquatchOnSteroids Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:26:17am |
re: #84 turn
Wow, General Petraeus just said very forcefully that Bin Laden is alive.
If he said he was dead, you think then the left would say game over ?
| 91 |
razorbacker Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:26:33am |
Happy razorbacker here.
This is the birth-week of my wife and my daughter. The daughter and wife have both taken the rest of the week off work and are happily chattering away, sharing this woman secret and that one, giggling about everything and nothing.
I'm a happy man.
The wife-woman is thrilled with her Rothlisberger championship jersey, the daughter is tickled to get her new double violin case, and I'm just happy to see them so happy.
Life is good.
| 92 |
turn Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:26:39am |
re: #86 OldLineTexan
No kidding?
That's thread-worthy, IMO.
yes, I'm watching FOX live stream kenneth posted upthread
| 93 |
Zimriel Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:28:38am |
re: #17 godfrey
Didn't know if you all saw this:
Obama lawyer backs ban on Tariq Ramadan
Woot!
Yay for Obama!
| 94 |
turn Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:29:13am |
re: #90 SasquatchOnSteroids
If he said he was dead, you think then the left would say game over ?
they've already said game over
| 95 |
Ford_Prefect Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:29:30am |
| 96 |
ConservatismNow! Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:29:34am |
re: #91 razorbacker
Double violin case, eh? That sounds like a good gift!
| 97 |
Bob Dillon Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:29:54am |
re: #81 Egregious Philbin
I based out of Vietnam for 4 years ... yes it's nice.
Diving on the West coast of Thailand and Malaysia - and Penang is good. It is awesome in Indonesia - especially in the Flores Sea.
Great dive spots in the Red Sea as well if you range out a bit.
| 98 |
SasquatchOnSteroids Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:30:04am |
| 99 |
ConservatismNow! Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:30:11am |
re: #94 turn
they've already said game over
No, they didn't say game over. They said "I gotta go guys. I think I hear my mom calling me."
| 100 |
Ford_Prefect Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:30:17am |
re: #89 Erik The Red
Happy Easter Lizards. Sorry for the little ones//
That is sick....Funny....but sick.
| 101 |
Dustyvet Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:31:09am |
re: #7 Occasional Reader
Is that woman donating a banana?!
yup, and it appears to be overly ripe as well:P
| 102 |
Erik The Red Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:31:31am |
re: #100 Ford_Prefect
That is sick....Funny....but sick.
Got another one just for us juvenile boys. Coming shortly.
| 103 |
razorbacker Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:31:33am |
re: #96 ConservatismNow!
It's what she wanted. Now she can carry both her acoustic and electric violin (or fiddle, depending on whether the audience is stomping their feet or just gently nodding their heads) to her gigs.
| 104 |
Son of the Black Dog Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:32:02am |
re: #81 Egregious Philbin
Well, after traveling overland through Laos, I found Vientiane as a pretty soul less place.
Now for great travels in SE Asia, nothing beats Vietnam. Been twice can't wait to go back, its a fascinating place, and with all the turmoil in Thailand, its even better. Just wish the scuba diving was better. Will have to visit Phu Quoc next time.
Yeah, right.
//////
| 105 |
Killgore Trout Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:32:38am |
Economic 'free fall' will end in a few months
The "free fall" that the economy has been experiencing will come to an end in the next few months, according to President Obama's top economic advisor on Thursday. "We are confident that the measures put in place mean that this sense of free fall we've been living with will be arrested in the next few months; that will set a platform for expansion to come," said Lawrence Summers, director of the White House's National Economic Council at the Economics Club in Washington. Summers added that based on forecasts he has examined, the economy could be out of negative territory by the end of the year. Nevertheless, Summers said he sees "substantial downdrafts" in the economy and "substantial strains in the credit market."
| 106 |
Ford_Prefect Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:33:28am |
re: #103 razorbacker
It's what she wanted. Now she can carry both her acoustic and electric violin (or fiddle, depending on whether the audience is stomping their feet or just gently nodding their heads) to her gigs.
And here I was imagining that she was carrying one of those old machine guns like in the old mobster movies.
| 107 |
Kragar Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:34:33am |
re: #79 Jimmah
Hehe heh! Saddam Hussain made to watch South Park movie which riducules him repeatedly before execution.
[Link: www.telegraph.co.uk...]
Let's hope that Kim Jong Il will recieve a similar honour one day with 'Team America'.
Now thats funny.
| 108 |
Kenneth Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:35:02am |
Ge. Petraeus fields a question:
Q: Can you tell us what it has been like serving under President Bush vs President Obama as your Commander in Chief?
A: Umm... well... I've spent my whole career trying to avoid minefields rather than walking into one, but..."
| 109 |
jcm Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:35:04am |
| 110 |
Oh no...Sand People! Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:37:46am |
re: #109 jcm
Once you hit rock bottom, can't fall any farther.
//
Oh, I have feeling they are readying the shovels...
| 111 |
razorbacker Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:39:15am |
re: #105 Killgore Trout
Maybe. I've had evidence just today that may indicate otherwise.
We decided to refi the house to take advantage of those five percent 30 fixed mortgages advertised. Now understand, I no longer have any verifiable income, and the wife can only show a little over $30K/yr. income.
The company called several times asking me for some type of income verification, until I finally just told them, "Look, my credit rating is much better than your companies rating, I have a 40 year history without so much as a late payment anywhere, and frankly I'd just as soon let one of the local banks have this business as you guys. Not to mention, even with the much talked of decline in real estate values, this place will sell for about three times what I'm trying to borrow."
They called this morning to tell me that the paperwork should arrive early next week. Have our signatures notorized and return.
| 112 |
Hengineer Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:41:15am |
re: #110 Oh no...Sand People!
Oh, I have feeling they are readying the shovels...
Screw the shovels, go for the bunker-busters
| 113 |
UberInfidel67 Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:46:45am |
re: #91 razorbacker Nice choice in a gift for the wife : )
| 114 |
razorbacker Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:49:10am |
re: #113 UberInfidel67
Nice choice in a gift for the wife : )
If ever Ben should say the word, I'd be suddenly single.
Or Troy, for that matter.
| 115 |
Egregious Philbin Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:53:45am |
re: #104 Son of the Black Dog
Vietnam is a great place. Been to Saigon, the delta, Nha Trang, Dalat, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Danang, Khe Sahn and Hoi An. Americans are treated very well, I ran into lots of veterans and every one of them was glad they came back to visit. Food is great, people are very friendly, rich history, beaches, jungle, etc.
| 116 |
Dustyvet Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:54:34am |
Al Jazeera's Presence on PBS Alarms Some
PBS' new program, WorldFocus, airs international reports from Al Jazeera's English channel, leading some lawmakers to declare that PBS, which is partially funded by taxpayer dollars, should not be promoting Al Jazeera.
[Link: www.foxnews.com...]
| 117 |
Egregious Philbin Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:55:12am |
re: #97 Bobibutu
I based out of Vietnam for 4 years ... yes it's nice.
Diving on the West coast of Thailand and Malaysia - and Penang is good. It is awesome in Indonesia - especially in the Flores Sea.
Great dive spots in the Red Sea as well if you range out a bit.
I dove off Hurghada in Egypt and all over Bali, great stuff. I want to go to Penang or Cebu next trip. Gotta find some money first...
| 118 |
Killgore Trout Thu, Apr 9, 2009 10:56:41am |
re: #111 razorbacker
They called this morning to tell me that the paperwork should arrive early next week. Have our signatures notorized and return.
Good news. Congratulations.
| 119 |
Russkilitlover Thu, Apr 9, 2009 11:03:20am |
re: #87 Onslow
How Ireland became an economic basket-case (...and the lessons for Britain)
He could be talking about California:
His much-vaunted emergency budget concentrated mainly on raising extra money through taxation. Demanding more from high earners is surely justified - but will count for very little until Cowen starts to cut back on Ireland's public sector, which has become obscenely bloated.
| 120 |
Jack Burton Thu, Apr 9, 2009 11:05:26am |
I can't, for the life of me, figure out why someone would downding this picture.
| 121 |
Kosh's Shadow Thu, Apr 9, 2009 11:05:38am |
| 122 |
razorbacker Thu, Apr 9, 2009 11:14:42am |
re: #118 Killgore Trout
Thanks. Payment will drop almost $100/mo. Seemed like an opportunity that should not be wasted, to me.
| 123 |
Bob Dillon Thu, Apr 9, 2009 11:31:03am |
re: #115 Egregious Philbin
Did you visit the Nuclear Reactor at Dalat?
Our first trip to Penang (1966) ... Large handwritten sign painted on the hotel lobby wall: "Absolutely no Durians allowed in the rooms."
wtf is a Durian? Local slang for a lady of the night?
I soon learned to love them?
Old Indonesian/Malay saying ... "When the Durians go down the sarongs go up."
| 124 |
Occasional Reader Thu, Apr 9, 2009 11:32:32am |
re: #115 Egregious Philbin
Vietnam is a great place. Been to Saigon, the delta, Nha Trang, Dalat, Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Danang, Khe Sahn and Hoi An. Americans are treated very well, I ran into lots of veterans and every one of them was glad they came back to visit. Food is great, people are very friendly, rich history, beaches, jungle, etc.
It's truly odd that Americans are well-regarded and treated nicely in, say, Vietnam and Japan (countries we bombed heavily), and are viewed with scorn in, say, France (a country we fucking well rescued).
Kind of puts an interesting spin on the whole "winning hearts and minds" thing.
| 125 |
JHW Thu, Apr 9, 2009 11:36:04am |
re: #115 Egregious Philbin
Here's a place you might find interesting. Dustyvet can also tell you about the place, it's where our division base camp was. Now,the Dong Tam snake farm is operated by the Vietnamese Army. Oh, the irony.
| 126 |
Egregious Philbin Thu, Apr 9, 2009 11:39:51am |
re: #123 Bobibutu
Did you visit the Nuclear Reactor at Dalat?
Our first trip to Penang (1966) ... Large handwritten sign painted on the hotel lobby wall: "Absolutely no Durians allowed in the rooms."
wtf is a Durian? Local slang for a lady of the night?
I soon learned to love them?
Old Indonesian/Malay saying ... "When the Durians go down the sarongs go up."
I LOVE durian! Most people hate it. Durian is a very large, very heavy, very spikey fruit. It smells like ass, it really stinks, and its smell will infiltrate anything in a room. How does it taste? Think creamy vanilla/almond with an overpowering musky green onion. Very hard to describe, I hated it at first, but love it now. I get Durian smoothies from time to time at my local market and bring it back to work and am greeted by scornful looks.
Beautiful....
| 127 |
Bob Dillon Thu, Apr 9, 2009 11:41:21am |
re: #124 Occasional Reader
It's truly odd that Americans are well-regarded and treated nicely in, say, Vietnam and Japan (countries we bombed heavily), and are viewed with scorn in, say, France (a country we fucking well rescued).
Kind of puts an interesting spin on the whole "winning hearts and minds" thing.
It's a whole different mind set. They do not make absolute judgements ... i.e., all Texans are rednecks. An old saying with the Viets is "When the elephants are dancing it's best for the mice to keep out of the way." That was a general attitude I found prevalent - individuals were/are not immediately looked at as bad.
Keep in mind tho that while Japanese are treated well by Balinese and Indonesians in general, they are charged the highest prices for everything when they visit as tourists. The Indonesians and Balinese haven't forgotten what happened to them in WWII.
| 128 |
Egregious Philbin Thu, Apr 9, 2009 11:51:36am |
re: #127 Bobibutu
Also, the majority of Vietnamese have no first hand memory of the "American War". I met a former S. Vietnamese Colonel, his words were "America won the war, it just took 30 years" Vietnam is one of the most capitalistic places I've ever been. It is nothing but people selling things, usually nothing more than a house front selling fruit, soda, beer, etc. There are huge modern factories all over the country, Canon, Toshiba, etc.
As for communism, its there in name only, there are party folk who still take it seriously, but not the average citizen. SE Asians have always been capitalists, and they are ardent consumers. What I like about Vietnam is that it is one giant marketplace. To some tourists it may seem like a real culture shock, but once you accept what is and what isn't and get with the flow of the place, its a very rewarding experience.
| 129 |
Bob Dillon Thu, Apr 9, 2009 11:53:45am |
re: #126 Egregious Philbin
On boarding a flight from KL to HK the profound odor of a Durian permeated the fuselage. Stews did a row by row search finally cornering a small Oriental guy clutching a bag.
After much wailing and moaning in Malay he finally got it that the Durian was not going to make the flight. The only question was, was he. He finally relented.
Good Durians are very highly prized.
Durians used to be the worlds most expensive fruit (back in the 60s-70s). Don't think it is any more. Enterprising Malays aggressively expanded Durian Plantations. Durians are now available frozen in many Asian markets in the US.
| 130 |
JHW Thu, Apr 9, 2009 11:58:24am |
I remember the small fried bananas and chom choms (Rambutan).
Vietnam Fruit
| 131 |
Egregious Philbin Thu, Apr 9, 2009 11:58:30am |
re: #129 Bobibutu
They sell frozen durian in my town, and even the durian meat, frozen. Its still pretty expensive, at 2 bucks a pound, you are still talking 8 bucks for one. Durian ice cream is also really nice. Sometimes, I can find fresh rambutans (my fave), mangosteen and even jackfruit, longan, lychee and starfruit.
All this talk has made me hungry. I'm off to the Thai place for lunch!
| 132 |
Bob Dillon Thu, Apr 9, 2009 12:03:41pm |
re: #131 Egregious Philbin
Yes - I really miss all the fruit and fresh fish. Thank goodness for all the Thai restaurants in the US now.
Over 700 in LA alone last time I checked ... Yum and sweat.
| 133 |
farleyman Thu, Apr 9, 2009 3:58:04pm |
Mike Yon is great. I just finished reading "Danger Close", his autobiography. Very interesting reading, to say the least! I'm going to start "Moment of Truth in Iraq" next. Keep up the good work Mike!
| 134 |
Karridine Thu, Apr 9, 2009 9:23:34pm |
For Lizards (and people) interested in Luang Prabang or the socialist Republic of Laos, the Brit author Roger Beaumont is publishing a very visual book of his pictures and observations during two recent trips to Luang Prabang, and a free, cut-down version is available for download here: Free Book
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