aric with an a

For a few weeks with Naomi to the Gold Sand Dunes, Teal Beaches and strong coffee of Southern Vietnam. I might be posting. I might not. I’m checking all accountability at Pudong Airport - which just told me our flight has a 5 hour delay. Didn’t I just get done saying ‘never again on a Chinese airline?’.

See ya.

Worst snow in 50 years - but only in Shanghai could it pelt down huge HUGE snowflakes for 4 straight days (and counting) but not stick.

Not exactly what China wanted a week before the Chinese New Year mayhem.

It sucks, really, when you talk to someone new here about being in town for the celebrations - anyone can tell you this is the worst place to be. Everything goes up in price (not exactly the Communistic way, hmmmmm?), fireworks are so frequent and so loud that 2 years ago my friend Gabby’s bird died of a heart attack and…did I mention it’s crowded? Even places of Chinese export are packed (Malaysia, Vietnam, etc).

Don’t stay for it - you’ll be unhappy with life. For a year.

Yesterday’s post got me thinking about Jon Stewart’s annihilation of Crossfire’s Tucker Carlson a while back. Never has such a brilliant discourse been given by any comedian than what The Daily Show’s front man did to said political debater.

How bad was it? It quite possibly ended Carlson’s career, as well of that of Crossfire’s.

Nice to see the Jews getting one up after Joel Stein’s suicide interview with Hugh Hewitt.

There are a few things that are certain at this point in my life.

1. Ellen Page is hot
2. The Onion is funny
3. Chinese plagiarize everything

Now, I’ll hold off on #1 as a few days ago Naomi and I became officially official (read: updated relationship status on Facebook) and having a thing for a teen mother-cum-pervert killer might result in less online ‘pokes‘ next week (which I just learned can be taken many ways), so we’ll go to the remaining.

The Onion - brilliant, funny, what more can be said, the Jon Stewart of print media and masters of tagging in that, if you enter ‘the’ into Google, ‘The Onion’ is the top of your search list.

However, when a piece from my favorite satirical publication is stolen from by a Chinese Journalist and passed off as an original is found on the front page of the largest newspapers in China, The Beijing Evening News, it makes it all worth while.

Worth a read, the entire story of it all, be sure and note the editors defense - painful.

While I miss it, I don’t miss the gas prices ($3.26? No wonder we’re looking at another recession), but that got me thinking something that I thought everyone knew but always acts surprised when I tell them.

Ever pull up to a petrol station and have to remember which side the gas tank is on? It’s quite easy:

Whatever side the gauge is on in respect to your speedometer is the side of your tank.

You’re welcome - now go back to comparing Heath to James.

L.A, Tijuana, San Diego, Tulsa and Chicago are all up here.

I cannot stop playing this - brilliant.

Arctic Monkeys - ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’

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Probably old news as I just got around to listening to their newest album, but…oh! It’s a little bit of wonderful. Add another tick to reasons why Northern English music is the best of all time.

So, last night over dinner with Naomi’s parents, I was asked these 3 questions, in sequential order:

1. What Lunar sign are you?
2. Which Zodiac sign are you?
3. What’s your blood type?

Now, you must understand they’re not some Fuji-fest following hippies, quite the opposite - but this, knowing your blood type and being able to know someone’s type by their characteristics was quite fascinating.

From Bellaonline:

Type O:
Type O’s are outgoing, and very social. They are initiators, although they don’t always finish what they start. Creative and popular, they love to be the center of attention and appear very self confident.

Type A:
While outwardly calm, they have such high standards (perfectionists) that they tend to be balls of nerves on the inside. Type A’s are the most artistic of the blood groups. They can be shy, are conscientious, trustworthy, and sensitive.

Type B:
Goal oriented and strong minded, type B’s will start a task and continue it until completed, and completed well. Type B’s are the individualists of the blood group categories and find their own way in life.

Type AB:
Type AB’s are the split personalities of the blood groups. They can be both outgoing and shy, confident and timid. While responsible, too much responsibility will cause a problem. They are trustworthy and like to help others.

…I won’t confess to them that I not only didn’t know my own (made something up, I think ‘O’), but neither did my Mom.

More articles on this:

NYTimes
Yahoo

So, I finally got around to editing both my recent trip to the States and the rather large road trip I had in May - loads of fun, lots of friends, my fingers are knackerd from iMovie so I’ll refrain from the witty intros…

We start with a visit to my sister and her new husband (see previous post) in OKC - having been away for so long, a very Americano night at the diamond was in order:

A few days later, my uber-cool and ultra-pilot Cousin Jeff took his own jet in for a quick vis:

From there, it was to NYC to hang out with the Clovis Sisters!

After that, Tracy and I took the train back to her home in Jersey, and from there, a historic day in downtown Philly - ‘one wiz wit‘ was the new phrase taught over some serious Connect 4 in the pub.

Now came the beginning of the Road Trip - I flew into Orlando to see Handsome Jim the Weatherman perform a sold-out show…

And then we all piled in Tim and Robin’s RV and headed to Destin.

From Destin, it was more booze and Wii in the RV en route to New Orleans:

From New Orleans (I suppose mentioning collective hangovers would be redundant), it was on our way to Austin for the Second World Gowling Championship at Brother Bacia’s (look for this game to infest a suburbia near you soon).

…helluva trip, loads of good times.

Now, while this should be on a separate post, I recently got back from another visit to The States - while shot on my camera, can still give you a peek - nothin’ like Brits handling their first firearms in Oklahoma.

Hope this brings a smile to you all - it did me.

This morning my caffeine, codeine, and nicotine buzz all kicked in at the same time - I must remember to organize those the exact same way next time.