Blog-a-licous Blogs for your Monday:



http://nooit-bru.blogspot.com/

http://naninaninani.blogspot.com/

http://eyeswideapart.blogspot.com/

And then, there were three...blogs for you to enjoy!

The planned New Year's holiday to Myanmar, aka Burma, has generated some controversey.

Several UK friends expressed their moral outrage that I support a country that oppresses its people. Lonely Planet has bannered across its own guidebook: "Should You Go? See Inside For Details."

My answer is an unwavering yes.

If one wants to wave the moral finger of justice, and becry tourism that supports, through tourist hard currency, oppression, Naturally the following places also should be avoided:

Laos: oppression of Hmong
United States: See above (actually set them up to rebel, then left them to fend for themselves)
Iraq: See above
Cambodia: Pol Pot's followers have never been put on trial for war crimes

And you see, this issue developes into a painful, a downward spiral aflame in Don'ts...

rather than live my life according to what Ned calls the "Can't People," we are nonetheless headed to what appears to be a diverse, beautiful nation seeped in southeast asian and buddhist history.

If the situation is so dire, then aren't I a better man for having seen it with my own eyes.

Maybe our UK friends have a guilt complex surrounding this former colony turned military junta.

I'll be careful to buy local, avoid handing the government too many clams directly.

Should I go? most certainly.

interestinly enough, Lonely Planet did not suggest avoiding a visit to:

Tibet, home of cultural and identity rape by the Chinese central government.

Pakistan, home to honor killings, honor-rooted gang rape and well, most of the Taliban brass.

Cuba, where US pride amongst geriatric senators disallows a nation to modernize and provide better economic options for its people. (blame Castro a bit, here too).

North Korea, where the radio dial is welded to Radio Pyongyang, voice of the "people."

My curiosity to visit the Burmese highlands was cemented by the wonderfully written The Piano Tuner.

Two weeks in the heart of Burma...stay tuned.

Some fun facts about MY working career:

Once, I got to mix napalm with Jay Schue. Probably that isn’t legal. But that campfire lit pretty well despite the rain soaked wood! Also, I got to watch Terry Clark getting electroshock therapy (self-induced) in his easy chair. Yikes.

At Izzy’s I got fired when I took a $4 tip after a waitress was going to stiff me after I had bussed an entire banquet room full of leftover Izzy flotsam and jetsam. Then, being a tad tired of that happening I called her a bitch. The assistant manager, fully afraid of the she-devil in question, fired me for doing what anyone would do.

At Taco Bell I often was made to take lunch at the very beginning of my shift. I also had to work for a guy who didn’t like college students. And Andy Yost came to taco bell a lot. My pride suffered tremendously.

In Korea I taught kindergarten kids who responded better to me swinging them around in centrifuge style. That was fun having a captive audience. Fun, I say until that one kid’s arm popped painfully out of its socket. And sure enough I, the white devil, was blamed.

Today at Mister Donut, I tried to get out of a second bag, coupons, tape and various other packaging. The donutress wasn’t having that though and glared at me as her spool o’ potential garbage went untouched.

In Asia, they give you a bag for a pack of gum. Japanese parcels actually outsize American ones, until you unwrap it. And unwrap it again, cut the ribbon and finally unwrap the cellophane bubble in which your object rests afloat cushiony sea of Styrofoam peanuts.

I have been spending some time recently getting a bit plump.

So, the question is now, of course who to blame.

Could it be the folks genetically and chemicallly manipulating the tasties in order to make me crave it nightly?

Missed the chance to attend my 10th High School Reunion. It was held at the Lloyd Center Double Tree on August 6. What a historically loaded day, at least here in Japon.

And there is a big political shake-up/election planned on September 11th.

I am conteplating the meaning of that. I left the US almost 4 years ago to sow the oats of the travel bug with which I have been infected. All in all tons of fun. There is something stuck under my f key.

This will make it difficult to tpye about my 'avorite scandanavian country, 'inland. I will no longer be able to insult people by calling them 'ucker. And an 'ish-based diet that I began must cease.

Must scurry away to plot something against someone for something they might have done to me...

No whereabouts on those keys yet.

My Husky friend and confidant needs something to do whilst being under-utilized at work. Send suggestions to...

White Girl,
Hyogo Prefecture
Amagasaki High School
Fiefdom of Japan
East Asia

Just enjoyed Hummus and carrot sticks.

Must get on publishing my springboard to stardom.

Nayr