JKane

Sheesh, sure looks different. Terminal case of pot munchies?

At this point it's a couple-percent chance I'll end up going, just idle curiosity. But I loved this when I read it: "Because China" is the only way to put it. Last week I was in an elevator at 3pm with some nice people, patiently going downwards, stopping at every other floor for no reason because when most people in Guiyang want to call an elevator they hit both up and down regardless of which way they want to go (because China). Then the elevator suddenly dropped a foot or so (felt like way farther, but couldn't have been more than that), then shot to the 26th floor, then shot down to floor 1. We exited, confused and frightened, and a nice repairman explained that he assumed it was empty and was just about to do some repairs. Why would he assume that? Because China. I went to a Pizza Hut with some friends a few days ago. (The Pizza Hut in Guiyang is one of the nicest restaurants in the city, partially because Chinese Pizza Huts are really nice places, and partially because Guiyang is a wasteland, which I say in an endearing way.) We ask if we can get a large pizza that's half one thing and half another. Nope, they don't do that. Okay, sure. We ordered a large pizza. Nope, they're out of large pizzas. Okay, that actually doesn't make any sense, but sure, we'll take a medium vegetable garden and a medium pepperoni, and a pitcher of pepsi. We can't give you a pizza with only pepperoni on it. Bullshit, yes, you can. Nope. Okay, whatever, not in the mood, give me the meat pizza. We get a small cup of pepsi and a medium pizza, half of which is vegetable garden and half of which is meat. I check the receipt. The receipt reflects what we ordered, both in English and Chinese. The waitress is at a loss to explain the theoretically impossible and utterly incorrect pizza. Why did they serve us that? Because China. (The previous time we went, we were served seven identical pizzas, having ordered three and paid for three, again because China.) In the last month, I have been asked by different cab drivers, (1) how much whores are in America, (2) whether military service is compulsory in America, (3) if my parents are upset that I am 26 and unmarried, and (4) if I've got a big dick, or maybe if we (Americans) have big dicks, I'm not sure. But why do they think these are good questions to ask a guy who is trying to get to work? Because China. A couple weeks ago, in the middle of the road I saw a twenty-five-foot-or-so ladder, being held upright by two men. It was unsupported by anything else. At the top was another man, working on a power line, with nothing to brace him, bolster him, or hold him but the ladder being held by two dudes. Cars were swerving all around them. Nobody found this exceptional. Because, again, China. It's not a land in which the foreigner suffers. It is not a hostile land or a wild land. It is, rather, a land of pointless minor absurdities and wholly unnecessary inconveniences, which coalesce to infuriate the ill-tempered and delight the rest. When I first arrived, I was informed by a nice older gentleman, "FIRSTNAME, do not ever ask 'why' here. You can ask yourself any other question, and the answers will enlighten you. But do not ask 'why,' because here, there is no 'why.'" And he was right. The answer--the only answer--to "why" is "because China." http://www.reddit.com/r/mylittlepony/comments/obiy1/i_laughed_way_too_hard_at_this_when_we_read_it_in/c3g52rb

At this point giving the Republican rebuttal seems like the kiss of death (again, Bobby Jindal, anyone?)!

Actually, a lot of people (myself included) noticed Obama when he spoke at the convention in 2004. That's what makes it so sad for Repubs, they've not got anybody even in the wings--every time somebody fresh comes up (Bobby Jindall, anyone?) they fall flat on their face soon after.

That is a damn cool video! Really takes the old auto-show prototype up several notches.

My phone's not Android 4, but I'm hopeful it'll get the upgrade...

Wish I knew how you managed that! I had ATT from before Cingular and was grandfathered into a great plan, but it patently wasn't a smartphone plan... they let me get away with it on my last couple crappy Win Mobile phones, but when I stepped up to the modern generation I had to pay $10 more a month for a 2GB plan! Grr! Went through Premiere and everything, still got screwed. Ah well. A big thing for people to keep in mind with Siri (or stuff like Google Translate) is international roaming/data is *much* more expensive! And that's if you pay extra for international roaming. If you don't, prepare for a 4-figure phone bill next month!!

I agree, for books you may be better off sticking to Kindle, keeps your books portable across a broad range of devices, including cheap e-ink ones that are a lot better for long form reading than backlit LCDs (like the iPad and all laptops).

It stinks!

Is it still the official policy of China that gays aren't welcome? I was surprised to see in here that there are some gay escorts available for hire in some places, which made me wonder if I had the wrong impression...? If I were to one day get the chance to go there for work, what could I expect? Is there any danger to seeking free or paid gay sex in China? Are local gays persecuted, or are they starting to manage pride parades/etc? If there's another post about this already a link would be fine...

John Boehner cried today when the cafeteria ran out of potato salad, and again when he used a restroom that had a hand blower instead of paper towels.

The Republican party is self destructing in front of our eyes, it's hard to imagine anything but major losses for them this cycle... And there don't seem to be any exciting up and comers over there for 4 years from now either! But 4 years from now what happens on the Democratic side? I'm sure some will support Biden, but even if he's up for it it's hard to imagine that much enthusiasm, or him not being a gaff-a-minute in a presidential campaign... There'll almost certainly be some die-hards promoting Hillary *still*, but it sure seems like she'll be used up by then. I hated to learn that Gov. Granholm took a TV job (hopefully that will always be the end of any politician's serious chances!) but now that I know she was born Canadian there was no way for her to go further anyway. But what about Elizabeth Warren for President, 2016? I just worry that her enthusiasm lets the media 'Howard Dean' her. Any other interesting possibilities, either side?

Probably, though he also gets a lot of the youth vote Obama is counting on.

I was thinking something similar, a tightest ass contest!

Does Ellen ever do anything like this with hot females? Has she had Olivia Wilde on? Or would that be a bridge too far for the housewife audience?

I bought an Android-based phone, linked it to my three Gmail or Google apps email addresses, which linked it to my Google+. All in all I don't mind. It's very convenient and all works great together. It did take a little while to get used to every photo I take being uploaded to G+ pictures, but it's actually pretty convenient (and nothing is shared until I share it). I just wish there was an easy way to have some stuff be more private. I'd like to install Grinder but don't want it out in the open on my phone. Having my naughty email through Hotmail is convenient because that app keeps its stuff separate (and I installed something that requires a password to run the Hotmail app)--would be impossible if I used a google-based email account for that stuff!

The Academy is usually that way with child actors, only the rare exception gets the nod, even rarer wins. Children and minorities...

What if they in-housed manufacturing instead of exploiting all those Chinese laborers **to death**?? Not necessarily in the US (that ship's sailed...), but somewhere they could have control over everything, treat the workers fairly and get higher quality control as a benefit? Not that I think they will--smug selfish bastards, the lot.

I'm thinking a meal with lots of sauerkraut!

Though at this point both Willard ®-Money and the serial adulterer look equally easy to beat. Except this is the same idiotic electorate that re-elected GWB...

That is perfect! And I'm not sure unintentional!

I've often felt disappointed by President Obama, but that may well be because of how great a job he did inspiring hope in his first campaign. Truth is, he's accomplished a lot of important things: getting us out of Iraq, winding down Afghanistan, killing Osama, saving the American automotive industry, ending don't ask don't tell, the major roadwork currently underway in almost every major city... Of course I'll vote for him, and I hope everybody else takes an honest look at what he's accomplished *despite* Republican obstructionism and even a glance at whomever his opponent is then gets off their ass and votes!

The German censorship of video games and political/religious views always seemed a bit invasive to me... Though I can understand their desire to keep neo-nazis from coming together and 100% agree with them on Scientology...

Damn it, only 73!?

New fish, new fish! Welcome! ( I bet two packs of smokes Lucky makes him cry first! )