bindlestiffs

Corking Fees

2010-02-24T23:40:55Z

If wine bottles are replacing corks with screw tops, what is the new name for a corking fee at a BYOB restaurant?

On Shaving

2010-02-16T04:53:30Z

Just once, before I die, I dream of reaching that quasi-Nirvana state of having a great shave without scouring off the entire top layer of skin. It may well be a myth, a story passed down from father to son, a pater familis version of the Big Rock Candy Mountain; but, by god, I yearn for it.

If the pope would name a patron saint of good shaves, I would return to the fold. I don't know Hinduism well, but there may well be a god dedicated too such a noble cause; and if so, I will baptize myself in the Ganges immediately.

Welcome back to the States

2010-02-01T13:18:05Z

5:14 Wake up; thanks jet lag. 5:27 shower. 6:01 dressed and ready to go into work for a few hours. 6:08 car is stuck in ice, now parked sideways. 6:14 battery died. 6:38 Car jumped and then pushed out of parking space thanks to Ben. 6:43 Car is parked again. 6:49 Screwdrivers are made and the drinking has commenced in our household.

Alexis vs. Hippo

2010-01-06T15:15:00Z

Jessica is the world's most famous hippo. Since we were just a few kilometers away we decided to take an hour drive and visit her. Jessica was abandoned by her mother during a flood at only a few days old; then found by a park ranger and raised by him and his family. So she is very used to humans. Just watch the video and you see she is allowed in the house or as our guide put it at night she is used as a coach. However, one cannot say tame as hippos: have never been domesticated, are the number one man killing mammal in Africa (other than man), and she herself is allowed to come and go as she pleases, visiting wild hippos just downstream. Yet, as you arrive she is hanging out in the stream next to a small pier. When you are told you can take off your shoes and massage her back with your feet, you quickly forget that she is a one ton eating machine with six inch tusks. She almost moves her head to pose with you in pictures and snorts gleefully as you kneed your feet into her massive body. Then, after everyone has had a chance to massage her, you totally forget the warning you were given to stay on the other side of the raft as she turns toward the small pier and puts her head up next to you. Just ask my friend Alexis who thought that would be a perfect time to lie down put her head next to Jessica and snap a few pics. Jessica, instead, felt it was time to be fed again and decided to nudge Alexis as a reminder that she was hungry. The only problem was Jessica nudges with a head larger in diameter than a beach ball, mouth open, tusks and giant teeth sticking out, and in one innocent "I'm hungry" move could bring all that plus jaws strong enough to crush a human skull down on poor Alexis. In the blink of an eye Alexis is "nudged" with all this, attempts to scamper away but is not in position to really move. Persistent and hungry Jessica starts to remind Alexis again as I dive down grab Alexis by the legs and pull her away. Alexis survives with a few bruises, a bump on her head and a little more fear of Jessica. Jessica got her food after being punished with a short time out for misbehaving. We all took turns feeding her, giving her tea and even giving Jessica a kiss on the nose. Oh and the pic Alexis was wanting? Let's just say Alexis has empirical evidence her head has been inside the mouth of a hippo.

Missing Africa

2009-12-29T12:53:06Z

I kind of miss the frogs, lizards and snakes in my bathroom that I grew to love the last week. Oh and the bushbabies sleeping over my bed were awesome too! Check out some pics. If you ever make it to South Africa I recommend staying here. http://www.pezulu.co.za/images/photo-galleries/treehouses.html

Religiosity Versus Happiness

2009-12-24T03:09:29Z

From two articles considered on Gawker.com: There is no correlation between happiness and religiosity. Consider this chart:

Gaijin at the Helm

2009-12-18T13:00:41Z

Interesting article about an American guy who is the chief of a dying village in rural Japan.

Thanksgiving in Lesotho

2009-11-30T22:07:21Z

So a Mexican, a Swede, a Norwegian, and a Redneck go golfing on Thanksgiving Day in the middle of Africa... Eric (the Norwegian) and I (the Swede) wake up early Thursday morning and head to the golf course. We have to get there early as there is a leg of Roof of Africa race taking place in Maseru and a chunk of the track circles the golf course. We meet up with the Mexican and the Redneck. A couple words must be said about the self proclaimed redneck. He is one of the most interesting characters I've meet. He drinks like an Irishman, swears like a sailor, yet has won African Volunteer of the Year, and not only lets underprivileged kids hang out with him at baseball games when everyone else tries to kick them out, but he also buys them food and candy.
After paying green fees, ($10) caddie fees, ($7) and club rental ($6) we are off. The redneck averages a beer a hole and the rest of us a beer every other so we are playing the best golf of our lives (in our minds). We managed to finish a round and not kill any of the bikers zooming around the course.
Now it is time to head over to the director of the Peace Corps Lesotho's house for thanksgiving dinner. 25 poor volunteers that haven't been out much start the party off right with each bring a box of wine or a 40 of beer. Amazingly enough we start running out early and I get volunteered to make a beer run. Now not only do I not know my way around the city but they drive on the left and I have a pickup with stick shift in my left hand. I get back in one piece and the truck is too, for the most part. Just in time for the Thanksgiving feast. Turkey, Ham, stuffing, vegetables, the whole nine yards plus, as an African bonus, zebra pot roast. A nice huge chunk of zebra tenderloin roasted with carrots, potatoes and onions, just like Mom used to make. I have to say zebra tastes great, not gamey, very lean, just delicious. Wonder what I will eat for Christmas dinner in South Africa...

Goodbye Frankfurt, Hello Maseru

2009-11-25T18:43:31Z

Two immigration lines took over an hour to process 25 people, three people couldn't get my safe open, the internet is charged by the megabyte, I had to buy an adapter for the power outlet as none out of the five I carry work here, hotel security consists of a $1.95 bedroom door knob, four TV channels (two of which have a giant banner roaming the screen that says we are not allowed to watch this cable channel in our region), and chicken liver was a main course for breakfast. But no worries, TIA

Goodbye Caracas, Hello Frankfurt

2009-11-24T16:13:19Z

After being stopped every ten feet by two to four Venezuelan military, drilled in Spanish, and thrown in secondary for extra screening I was quite pleased to leave the Caracas airport. I land in Frankfurt and quickly make it through the five kilometer obstacle course to baggage. Arriving early I sit down and wait while the rest of the flight arrives. The carousel eventually starts up; I walk to the far side and am pleasantly surprised to see my first bag coming round the corner. I grab it, pack my duty free rum, and start zipping it up when I spot my second bag coming around. I pick it up and as I start walking away with both bags I suddenly become aware that 200 people are staring at me. The carousel continues to go around and around but not another bag is on it. I am pretty sure if I listened closely I could have learned the German for "Who the F is that?"

MADmoiselle - Superconduction Nightclub

2009-11-05T23:57:43Z

A Few Thoughts on the Recent Elections

2009-11-05T00:46:53Z

I know political pundits have to analyze every microscopic thing and paint some 'big picture' out of it, but I have a hard time believing we can learn to much from these off-year elections. Everyone knew Virgina would elect the GOP governor, Corzine was deeply unpopular, etc. Turnout was so low that it's hard to gauge much from it; in low turnout elections, the angrier electorate always wins. The much ballyhooed NY race was so atypical that I don't think much can be gleaned from it, though I desperately hope it means that the teabagger wing of the GOP is running out of steam and the more rational and pragmatic Republicans can reassert some control over their party. The opposition party plays an invaluable role in our system, so when it goes insane, it skews everything.

Science is Weird: Paternal Grandmas Good for Granddaughters, Bad for Grandsons

2009-10-29T08:25:09Z

According to new research:

The importance of grandmothers in the lives of their grandchildren is underlined in a study published today.

But the research showed that it was only granddaughters who were likely to do better with their paternal grandmothers involved in their early lives. In contrast, the presence of paternal grandmothers had a detrimental effect on the survival of their grandsons.

Weird. Read the rest to see more of the details.

Ahnuld: F*** You!

2009-10-29T08:18:27Z

The Governator vetoed a bill by Tom Ammaino in a colorful way:

NPR called in a cryptologist to consider the likelihood that, as the governator's office claimed, it was coincidental. Listen here.

Halloween

2009-10-25T13:31:54Z

So, what are you doing for Halloween in Seoul? Venus over at The Hive is helping out two organizations I'm involved in, so I'm promoting some of her events. Like this one, for example: