Motorized Bar Stool, Baptism with coke, and a disturbing visit to Guantanamo March 31, 2009

Well its been days since I blogged and I have really wanted to but alas, my life has been very boring!  Ive been wrapped up in a series of books…and read the 3000 pages in 2.5 days over the weekend…(yes thats how I spent my spring break…reading…how pathetic am I!?) and figured you wouldnt want a play by play on the events in the book…If you do, let me know! (J/k) However, I started back to class yesterday…and the semester has one more month!  But its going to be a hella month thats for sure.  Im still not sure what Im doing for the project I have due next week.  Im a little stressed about it, but Ill get it done.  Just give me a B Bates thats all I ask!  Somehow miraculously, I got another A in COIN theory…not really sure how that worked…especially since this last paper I thought was more a work for Diplomacy then COIN, but whatever. He liked it. And Ill take an A!

I thought Id seen all the wackiness that could happen…well at least in Ohio…but I have to admit this story made me laugh, cause only in Ohio would you find such a thing! A Man got arrested for a DUI while sitting on a Bar Stool….the catch is that the man had motorized his bar stool..and thus proceeded to crash it and hurt himself. Only in Ohio would someone motorize a bar stool!!! The funniest thing about it, is that he has plead Not Guilty to DUI and is requesting a jury trial!

Jessie…this story is for you! A Norwegian church used lemon-flavored cola instead of water in a baptism ceremony after its taps were temporarily turned off because of freezing temperatures. Wanna be baptized with coke?

And the #1 in Beers is no longer Budweiser/Bud Light…Chinese beer Snow has lept in front as the most sold beer in the world…and thus China has become the next superpower…j/k.

Ive always thought beauty pageants were full of women who, while pretty, werent the most observant or brightest in the bunch (I know there are exceptions and Im not stating this as a universal application to all contestants). Especially now with Ms Universe stating that Guantanamo Bay is a “relaxing, calm, beautiful place”.  Hmmm….I wonder if she was converted to Islam just like a majority of the troops who are stationed there did?  Wait…she did?  “We visited the Detainees camps and we saw the jails, where they shower, how the(y) recreate themselves with movies, classes of art, books. It was very interesting.” Ahhhh that explains it…she got the publicity tour and not the dirty behind the scenes tour…got it!

Well Im off to read…but not for fun anymore…well not for awhile anyways..

Later!

Sad idea of fun, crazy people, and a war rant March 26, 2009

I guess since I live out on Oahu, the news of sending more troops to Afghanistan isnt really news.  Its old hat, by now, especially since Im in classes with pretty much all military peeps.  Oh well, I find it funny that the media is focusing on this, especially the fact that there is no “timeline.” Um…did the American public forget we are fighting a counterinsurgency in Afghanistan, and forget that the previous administration never actually fought that insurgency?!  In fact, they opened a wound and let it fester for 7 years. Well, now we pay the price.  Yes troops are being deployed, and yes, there is no timframe for withdrawl, but I bet we will be there for at least a 10 year period. Afghanistan is the wild west in the Middle East, and our solution appears to be right on track, but it will take time. Also of note…we are withdrawing troops from Iraq! The number being deployed to Afghanistan, and those being withdrawn from Iraq=less troops actually deployed over seas in a war zone!  Im not saying im not skeptical of the US’s ability to succeed in the region, cause I am, but at the same time, we cant just not do anything. I was against going in after 9/11…even to Afghanistan. I felt the excuses were flimsy, and where does one draw the line when targeting nations who harbor terrorists…cause heck they had beenliving in the US for some time before the attack…do we attack ourselves?! (Yes I know thats ridiculous).  But even so, once we entered, we cant leave..the job was started and now must be finished, or potential national security issues become reality.

Hey Jindhal…Mt. Redoubt continues to erupt…wanna move to volcano state and see if you want to fund volcano services?  (Ok, yes I know Ive been over this, but everytime I see that it erupts, it reminds me of the idiotic comments…so thus I blog)

A Massachusetts man was arrested and charged with kidnapping and beating his girlfriend following a five-hour-long argument they were having about what the operating hours are for the local library.  Um…kinda extreme since there is this new fnagled device calld Google…have you heard of it?  Maybe it can even inform the girlfriend on why dating abusive idiots is not a good idea!

A Florida man was arrested for trying to commit suicide. But the real issue wasnt his suicide attempt, but how he went about doing it.  According to police, the man tried to gas himself inside his car in a closed garage, but apparently did not have a garage himself, and was arrested for trespass when he drove into a stranger’s garage for the attempt, causing about $1,000 damage. I guess he didnt think that he would have any problems with the trespassing, since he wouldnt be held accountable if he was dead…too bad it failed.

Well Im off to keep my feet up and relax..maybe ill read…for fun for once!  Hmm..such a novel idea, but it is Sspring Break, and fun has been lacking. Is it sad that fun for me invlolves books? Guess Im bucking the wild child notion that my cousin has of me…although there was that Sharpie incident on St Pattys Day…among others…

Later!

Power diplomacy, handcuffs and biting, and a lil’ Mexico March 24, 2009

Well if I ever saw power diplomacy at its finest, it would have to be China’s influence over South Africa when it comes to the Dalai Lama. Too bad it was over something regionally significant, but globally irrelevant. If anything it just hurts South Africa and Chinas perspective in many nations when it comes to triviality over history.  Yes, the Dalai Lama may have opposed China, and been involved in an attempted “coup”, but at the moment, he is a figure head for a place in the world where human rights is a capstone in their interactions with the global community, and to deny him from an international human rights convention, and then justifying it by stating that he would draw attention away from soccer…well now thats stupid. It also reflects that South Africa, post-apartheid, is not ready to venture into the human rights arena which is sad. Their priorities at the moment, strategic protection of their future interests….but I guess that could be said for any state. Kudos for the organizers for cancelling the convention in recognition of the slight.

I love the crazies in the world! And I mean that in the good way!  When I read articles about the eccentric things people do to each other, to themselves, and well what they do in general, it always amazes me that society continues to function at an arguably successful pace.  Take for example, the Connecticut lady who was trying to reconcile with her husband. While he slept, she handcuffed herself to him to force him to have a conversation with her, and when he tried to reach for the phone to call the cops she bit him.  First, I would so not marry a biter (unless its in the kinky good way), Second, where did she get the handcuffs (or do I want to know..were they fuzzy?) and Third, did she think that strategy would end well…guess bedroom diplomacy is still needs some study…phd thesis anyone?!

Finally someone has taken notice, or at least showing some serious respect, to the situation in Mexico. Im still not sold on the Mexican or US course of action, but I will say that its nice that some of our leaders are not imbeciles. Sharing a border with a failing state (or at least a struggling state) is never a good thing, and its only a matter of time before it explodes into the US fully.  Its better to preempt problem, but it may be too late! We’ll see!

Are pre-existing conditions a thing of the past? Not likely, but its nice to hear that health insurance companies are thinking about not charging people more if they have a history of medical problems!

Well, Im off to work on my prospectus. I may have actually had a break through today and developed a new but similar course of action…lets hope it is accepted!

Later!

Dancing under Redoubt, cost of Hawaii, and Colbert to Space! March 23, 2009

 

Well Bobby Jindhal?   How do you feel about your comments on pork barrel spending related to Volcano watching now?  Mt Redoubt has errupted 5 times…Hope you realize that disaster management isnt pork barrel spending.  In a turn of direction, I have decided that I want to witness a volcano erupt. I want to dance in teh falling ash.  Yes I know Im weird, but it would definately be a once in a lifetime event, unless you are one of the people who live by a volcano, then i guess it would be a several times in a lifetime event.

March Madness has been disappointing. Only one Ohio team left and its Xavier. I cant believe Ive been reduced to rooting for Xavier.  UD got creamed yesterday, and it was saddening to watch Cleveland State lose too.  Oh well, Im off to root for the underdogs now.  Go AZ!

I just learned that the minimum salary for a single person to live modestly inHawaii needs to be double that of the mainland.  Wow!  And I can tell you from experience, wages definately arent more that I would earn in Ohio…no wonder im not looking for a job out here!

Haha.  In case you missed it, NASA held a name the new addition to the space station contest and Stephen Colbert rallied his troops to have his name written in.  And he won!  Now we will have to see if NASA will honor the name, or will elect for something lamer.

Wow!  I gotta love the NY district court!  The ruled against the FDA, stating that it let politics cloud its judgment when it denied teenage girls over-the-counter access to the Plan B morning-after pill, and ordered the FDA to let 17-year-olds obtain the medication. Following the popes visit to Africa where he condemned condoms and pledged more abstinence training, this ruling is more inline with modern society today. Abstinence education is fine, but teens need to be introduced to the risks of and safety issues associated with sex.  And that means, not barring access to sex safety options!  Go judiciary system!

Well Im off to read…and relax since its spring break!! yay!

Later!

More tsunamis, violent soccer, and an upset pick succeeds! March 19, 2009

Bree..um yea…

The early birds…

Ramona, me, Bree, Selina, and Heather

Well, my sight visits were interesting last night.  We toured FEMA, Corps of Engineers, and another place on Ft Shaftor…for not being military, i seem to be on bases alot lately!  While we were listening to a presentation last night, we saw an earthquake happen in live time in Papua New Guinea…and there was a tsunami alert.  Then this morning I wake up to an underground volcano in Tonga area erupting, causing an earthquake and a tsunami alert.  We even got a Tsunami watch issued here!  This is not boding well for my new irrational fear of tsunamis!

Haha!  I picked Western KY to win today and they actually did!  Now, on to root for UD tomorrow!!! Go Flyers!

Now Ive heard from some of my middle eastern friends that soccer (or football) is a dangerous sport across the Atlantic, but shooting an opposing teams player and killing him as he is trying to score an equalizing goal in Iraq is extreme!  Ive heard of fans rioting and pulling the benches up and hitting each other with them, etc, but gun violence is another whole issue.  It makes the baffoons at US football (and I mean football) matches that get in to drunken fights with each other lok like pussies!

Well Im off to get some sleep, early day tomorrow…and I posted a few more pics form St Pattys Day fun for you to enjoy!

Later!

St Pattys Day, Honolulu Style March 17, 2009

Me

Bree, Selina, and me

Selina and me

Well I had another eventful St Pattys Day….and again my “colors” came out.  oh how I misses thsi time of year. The evening started at Indigos with Selina where we drank our happy hour martinis and drank some Jager. We are soulmates because we are both Jager addicts. Eventually we made our way to the block party and Murphys, where we did more Jager and started our beer run. I definately had plenty to drink!  I gotta say, Irish Kevins will always be a mianstay for my St Pattys Day celebrations, but the Honolulu Block Party was definately a blast!  I got to meet all kinds of people, and got guys to show me their nipples  for once (for beads).  All in all it was a good night!  Im exhausted, and tired, but I had fun!

Things I noticed tonight…Some people d0nt follow the St Pattys Day trend (ie: Ramona and her attempts to be ethnic).  I also saw a guy wearing egyptian style head gear. Not sure what that had to do with St. Patrick, but then again, what does green beer and drunkeness have to do with it either?!  Regardless, I got to listen to some good live music, drink some Guiness, and even ran into my old roomies Charlie and Kim with their little one Kai.  Yes they brought the new baby to a St Pattys Day block party!  Gotta love em!

I posted a few pics, and now im off to bed…

Later!

COIN update, unsuccessful shopping, and the wonders of birds March 16, 2009

Oh boy. Second paper done on COIN, one more to go!  Yay!  Then my Monday class will be done!  Slowly, this semester is ending, and March is flying by. I have alot to do still, but Spring Break is next week, and I should be able to relax and finish some of the readings I have to do…on top of working onmy thesis prospectus…ok, maybe i wont get to relax much.

My afternoon was good. Class finally let out and I went to try and find some St Pattys Day attire. I was slightly saddened by the fact that I wasnt able to find any green lipstick or giant St. Pattys Day earings, however I think I still have plenty of green to wear tomorrow!  Im looking forward to it!  Should be a blast!

My walk from the bus stop was interesting today.  As I was walking over the Laimi bridge area, I caught a glimpse of something truly disturbing. At first glance, I thought I saw two Mallard ducks trying to drown another duck, but then I realized it was in fact a bird orgy. I guess spring has finally arrived afterall. I wouldnt know since there is no change of seasons out here, and every day seems like summer, while some are just more rainy.  I have to admit I felt sorry for the female bird because, she was almost drowned in the process as the 2 guys tried to make it with her. Poor girl, men are so rough at times! My favorite part of th scene was the fact that the two guys eventually forgot about the chick, and continued their fight as they were swept downtstream.  Hmmm, Im finding it kind of disturbing that males of every species fight like idiots over sex!

Well Im off to relax and get some dinner…

Later!

March Madness, fish watching, and Cheney returns March 15, 2009

Well I spent the day reading nad writing about COIN theory and the Vietnam War.Fun times. I ended up procrastinating much of the afternoon though because i was reading in the living room when my roomies joined me. Somehow the TV ended up on, and I got engrossed in Discovery channel. Damn Discovery channel.  For some reason anytime I watch it or Travel channel I get engrossed in the programming, no matter the content. The shows I watched today were all about fish (  I know, of all things). And giant fish at that. Did you know that there is a freshwater catfish in Indochina that can be like 10 feet long!  Seriously!  I saw it!  Although Josh thinks it was all Hollywood editing like the moon landing. I think Im fished out for today!

Man how I miss the days of Cheney!  In a span of two days he has stated that Obama’s policies are creating a greater risk of terrorism on the US, and then decided that Obama needs to debate Rush Limbaugh!  Some things never change.  Things arent going my way so Ill rule by fear, and if that doesnt work, then ill support the next best thing…the GOPs leader! Ahhh Cheney, how Ive missed you’re antics.

In case you missed, March Madness brackets were announced today. While, there are no Hawaii schools present (as usual, im not even sure if people out here know what March Madness is because B-ball isnt their choice of entertainment), 5 Ohio schools did. And Im still trying to figure out how Ohio St got a first and potential second round playoff game held in Dayton?!  I feel bad for any other team playing in that arena because its going to be all Scarlet and Gray. I almost wish I was there to witness that chaos, almost.

Well Im off to watch the Amazing Race…

Later!

Change or no change… March 13, 2009

 

With Obama will come Change….Change we can believe in.  Remember that motto?  Well as far as I can see, not much has changed (and I voted for the guy!). The latest in a line of disappointments for me is his continuous following of flawed precedent like his maintaining that the Military has the authority to continue detaining “enemy combatants” in Cuba. My fear for Obama coming into the election season was that his foreing policy wouldnt drastically change away from the past 4+ Presidents, and so far it hasnt. Its the continuance of precedent dating back even to Wilson that hes prolonging, and I feel it needs to change. The US has played an isolationist card in foreign policy amidst the growing globalization of the past decades and is missing the game. Things need to change, and I mean real change…no more of the politcized simplistic change like no longer using the term “enemy combatant,” cause thats not change, thats media manipulation and propaganda meant to cover the fact that change isnt coming. Step up Obama!

Italians recently uncoverd the grave of a 16th century vampire…thats right…a vampire. it even came complete with its own brick (in it mouth). Um…somehow I think that the discovery is wrong…dont they know that vampires dont leave skeltons behind unless they are super old. So unless they found the Master, I think they need to get versed on Vampire mythology…Time to brush up on your Whedon knowledge scientists…cause Buffy knows all!

Well Im off to read some more about how the US  backed right-wing dictatorships as a foreign policy tactic…then write a paper on it. Somehow, I eat, breath, and dream foreign policy lately…it is even effecting my blog as is evident by the above rant!

Later!

Crazy hooker shoe lady, God wanted me to take the bus, and beer addicted deer March 11, 2009

Well is it me or is this world getting crazier?  Oddities spring up everywhere…from the worlds largest functioning cell phone in Chicago to beer robbing deer to men jumping over Niagara Falls and surviving!  Add the seoddities to the sheer craziness of people and all the killing that seems to be making the news in the past few weeks, and it makes you wonder if everytime there is a turn in the economy of the world, people react insanely?!

I think today was just a strange day anyways. I was seeing slugs everywhere I went, I watched some crazy lady try walking outside Indigos on some cement retaining wall in clear hooker platform heels, and then start cussing everyone out while she walked down Nuuanu Ave into oncoming traffic.  While this was going on I had some guy telling me that it was Gods plan for him to not take a Taxi and ride teh bus instead because he was meant to witness and help the crazy lady walking down the street…while he sat there and did nothing! Then while crazy God guy wass talking to me about drinking at a Japanese bar and Vietnam (ie the war…he was a vet) some other guy started talking to me. He was a little creepy, but to make matters even stranger I find out hes from Miamisburg and graduates in 1993. The chance that I meet someone who grew up in the same city as me at 10pm outside Hawaii Theatre is kinda wierd!  But it happened. 

Im not sure what to make of today, it seems that everything was just strange…everything. But its done, and hopefully tomorrows strangeness wont involve almost stepping on slugs, crazy hooker shoe lady, or the man ranting on about God…i would be happy if it excluded all the above!

Later!