Now that several civilized nations already have troops both in Iraq and outside Somalia, would it be too much to ask for a quick, surgical black-op against this judge?
A less modest, though by no means less desirable proposal in the eyes of yours truly, would of course be to go in full force, guns blazing and execute the whole Saudi royal family and every single member of the Saudi clergy, religious police, religious school system, etc, etc... you get my drift.
I've always found it apalling that there is not more outrage in the civilized world against the oppression and inhumanity prevalent in most Arab countries, Saudi Arabia foremost among them. This is 2009. If a western citizen treated his dog the way the Saudis treat their women, he'd be in jail. We shouldn't sit idly by and watch this anymore, not when we have the military means to wipe out these fuckers in short time.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Some more pics
From the industrial expo/amusement park site at Holesovice, very close to my hotel. I really went in there to see a museum with statues, but typical of my luck, it was closed "due to technical reasons". No word on when it would open again.
This huge fucker goes around and around with downright frightening speed, and the passenger capsules turn around in the air. Argh.
Sweet Jebus, that carousel thingy in the back was high above the ground.
The Old Town and Josefov seen from Letna Park.
View towards Mala Strana and Petrin hill (with the tower). There's a monorail going up the hill, with a restaurant about 2/3 of the way up. Great views from up there.
This huge fucker goes around and around with downright frightening speed, and the passenger capsules turn around in the air. Argh.
Sweet Jebus, that carousel thingy in the back was high above the ground.
The Old Town and Josefov seen from Letna Park.
View towards Mala Strana and Petrin hill (with the tower). There's a monorail going up the hill, with a restaurant about 2/3 of the way up. Great views from up there.
Bless Google
I bought a cough remedy at a Czech pharmacy a couple of days ago, but the instructions were all in Czech and I'd forgotten it completely until I almost coughed up my lungs last night. It took me a couple of days, but I finally came up with the bright idea of googling the medication and then use the translation service to get instructions. It worked like a dream, so now I'm coughing slightly less... I may even make it home alive (sorry folks).
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Quick update
Had precious little sleep last night, coughing, sneezing and generally feeling very sorry for myself. Managed to get in a little walking yesterday, in Mala Strana. Spent the evening at the bar again, most of it in conversation with a strange, but funny Korean girl who had a thing for British swearwords. The bartender was called a twat, a cunt and a wanker every other minute, while I mostly escaped the abuse, largely because I'd given her a spare breakfast voucher. We actually had a good time, it was just one of those nights where everyone's tired and everything, no matter how inane, gives you the giggles.
A few pics from beautiful Prague...
Josefov, the old Jewish quarter has tons of pretty streets and buildings.
From Old Town Square, where they had an Easter market
Yes, we all know why we celebrate Easter: To commemorate the poor, fluffy, yellow toy chicken that was cruelly hung from an iron bar by a steel wire for the sake of our sins. I swear, sometimes I don't understand the Czechs at all...
A few pics from beautiful Prague...
Josefov, the old Jewish quarter has tons of pretty streets and buildings.
From Old Town Square, where they had an Easter market
Yes, we all know why we celebrate Easter: To commemorate the poor, fluffy, yellow toy chicken that was cruelly hung from an iron bar by a steel wire for the sake of our sins. I swear, sometimes I don't understand the Czechs at all...
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
I'm cursed
Come down with a slight cold... sore throat and a little fever. Fuck fuckety fuck.
Had very lazy days Sunday and Monday (the Kraut group finally left Monday morning, and an unusual calm descended upon the hotel). Finally got a full night's sleep and didn't feel too shabby this morning, so I went to the National Technological Museum, which of course was closed until 20fuckin10. So instead I embarked on the 45 minute walk through Letna park to Prague Castle.
It's been real nice and sunny today, and I was sweating like a pig the whole way. Lots of people outside, strollers, dogs, the whole bourgeois fantasy out in full force. I was lucky enough to find the last available table at the terrace cafe by the eastern entrance to the castle and anticipated a nice (if pricey) lunch, with great views over the Mala Strana district. My luck lasted less than 30 seconds.
I don't know what it is with me and Germans, really I don't. I don't know why these sauerkraut-gobbling, tuba-molesting beerguzzlers feel the need to fuck up my world every chance they get, but fuck it up they do. I'd perused the menu for maybe all of ten seconds when my table -and mine alone - was surrounded by a dozen Krauts and their guide, the latter pointing and explaining out over the city, the former cackling and pushing and shoving, all of them utterly oblivious to the fact that someone was actually sitting at the table they were crowding.
After a couple of noisy, unpleasant minutes they left, only to be replaced by a middleaged German couple who were seated next to me (I couldn't in good conscience try to grab four seats for myself, not even with my belly). By faking deafness, muteness and utter incomprehension of any and all Indoeuropean languages I managed to keep the conversation to a minimum. I don't really speak any German, but I was able to make out that they had a disagreement towards the end over how much to tip. The bitch was clearly being niggardly (no, that's not Cajun for African-American) while hubby seemed to have figured out how little money they were actually looking at in Euros. As a final adding of insult to injury, I was afterwards presented with a bill that contained two items of theirs. GAWD!
Suggestion to the world's tourist industries: Now that pretty much every place in the civilized world is smoke free, why not partition your premises into Kraut and non-Kraut? I know I would pay extra for the privilege.
Had very lazy days Sunday and Monday (the Kraut group finally left Monday morning, and an unusual calm descended upon the hotel). Finally got a full night's sleep and didn't feel too shabby this morning, so I went to the National Technological Museum, which of course was closed until 20fuckin10. So instead I embarked on the 45 minute walk through Letna park to Prague Castle.
It's been real nice and sunny today, and I was sweating like a pig the whole way. Lots of people outside, strollers, dogs, the whole bourgeois fantasy out in full force. I was lucky enough to find the last available table at the terrace cafe by the eastern entrance to the castle and anticipated a nice (if pricey) lunch, with great views over the Mala Strana district. My luck lasted less than 30 seconds.
I don't know what it is with me and Germans, really I don't. I don't know why these sauerkraut-gobbling, tuba-molesting beerguzzlers feel the need to fuck up my world every chance they get, but fuck it up they do. I'd perused the menu for maybe all of ten seconds when my table -and mine alone - was surrounded by a dozen Krauts and their guide, the latter pointing and explaining out over the city, the former cackling and pushing and shoving, all of them utterly oblivious to the fact that someone was actually sitting at the table they were crowding.
After a couple of noisy, unpleasant minutes they left, only to be replaced by a middleaged German couple who were seated next to me (I couldn't in good conscience try to grab four seats for myself, not even with my belly). By faking deafness, muteness and utter incomprehension of any and all Indoeuropean languages I managed to keep the conversation to a minimum. I don't really speak any German, but I was able to make out that they had a disagreement towards the end over how much to tip. The bitch was clearly being niggardly (no, that's not Cajun for African-American) while hubby seemed to have figured out how little money they were actually looking at in Euros. As a final adding of insult to injury, I was afterwards presented with a bill that contained two items of theirs. GAWD!
Suggestion to the world's tourist industries: Now that pretty much every place in the civilized world is smoke free, why not partition your premises into Kraut and non-Kraut? I know I would pay extra for the privilege.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Sweet Jebus
... how I hate Germans... loud, inconsiderate, boorish fuckers. There are dozens of them here, probably teens on spring break. Truman nuked the wrong nation.
Update: I was just talking to the Swedish receptionist. I asked her if it was allowed to shoot Germans, and she was positive to the idea. She thought they were leaving Monday. Sweet Jebus, let it be so!
Update II: I was a nanometer from braining one of the females when I opened the door to the hallway just now. At least the little twit got a real fright... hatehatehate...
Update: I was just talking to the Swedish receptionist. I asked her if it was allowed to shoot Germans, and she was positive to the idea. She thought they were leaving Monday. Sweet Jebus, let it be so!
Update II: I was a nanometer from braining one of the females when I opened the door to the hallway just now. At least the little twit got a real fright... hatehatehate...
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Quick update from Prague
Had a good time thus far. Weather's been great and I walked for nearly four hours Friday and a couple of hours today. Bought some souvenirs and ate some pancakes, took a few pics, did the tourist thingy
I brought a ton of chocolate, and have been handing it out left and right to the delight of the bar staff. My Israeli friend who owns the bar made some noises normally associated with ahem, more physical activities than eating when he tasted the Trokia. I swear, I should probably set up shop and start selling this stuff down here.
I've hung out in the bar at nights, talking to old friends and making some new ones, and tonight there's going to be a huge birthday party for an English ex-bartender who's also a friend of mine. I foresee most of the remaining chocolate disappearing soon... Fun, fun, fun!
I brought a ton of chocolate, and have been handing it out left and right to the delight of the bar staff. My Israeli friend who owns the bar made some noises normally associated with ahem, more physical activities than eating when he tasted the Trokia. I swear, I should probably set up shop and start selling this stuff down here.
I've hung out in the bar at nights, talking to old friends and making some new ones, and tonight there's going to be a huge birthday party for an English ex-bartender who's also a friend of mine. I foresee most of the remaining chocolate disappearing soon... Fun, fun, fun!
Pics from London
Just to get it out of the way, here are the disappointingly few pics I managed to take while in London in February:
The Wellington Arch - not very interesting, but it looks nice.
I believe this was a WWI memorial
Views from the top of the Arch - the building on the left is Apsley House, home of the Duke of Wellington.
This is a memorial to NZ troops that have participated in British wars.
Another WW1 memorial.
The tiny print at the bottom - I like the sentiment.
Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.
The sinful dessert I had at the small Italian place just behind the National Portrait Gallery.
The Wellington Arch - not very interesting, but it looks nice.
I believe this was a WWI memorial
Views from the top of the Arch - the building on the left is Apsley House, home of the Duke of Wellington.
This is a memorial to NZ troops that have participated in British wars.
Another WW1 memorial.
The tiny print at the bottom - I like the sentiment.
Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.
The sinful dessert I had at the small Italian place just behind the National Portrait Gallery.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
The Candyman Cometh
I'm off to Prague in the afternoon. Weighed in at 119,3 kg today, but even though I'm hoping to walk a lot while I'm down there it'll be a miracle if I don't put on a little something. Good, cheap, plentiful food and late, late nights in the hotel bar... a dangerous combination even if one doesn't drink!
Last time I was in Prague (Dec/Jan) I'd brought a little Norwegian chocolate I'd bought on the plane. I spread the wealth among guests and staff, and the chocs literally went down well; people loved it and I acquired (nay cultivated) the nickname "candyman". So, being the great guy that I am I went and purchased 2.7 kg of Norwegian goodies yesterday that I'm bringing with me (I also figure it's a cheap way to buy friends!).
Last time I was in Prague (Dec/Jan) I'd brought a little Norwegian chocolate I'd bought on the plane. I spread the wealth among guests and staff, and the chocs literally went down well; people loved it and I acquired (nay cultivated) the nickname "candyman". So, being the great guy that I am I went and purchased 2.7 kg of Norwegian goodies yesterday that I'm bringing with me (I also figure it's a cheap way to buy friends!).
Monday, March 30, 2009
I've created a monster
I should have known that nothing - absolutely nothing - would get as much attention as inviting people to comment on a diet/exercise project... I've gotten way more comments than I usually do, and my (admittedly meagre) hit rate actually doubled last week!
Some of you know me well, some not at all, so let me try and summarize and answer some of the questions from the comments...
1) I'm 38 years old and appx 182 cm tall (I distinctly remember being 182 cm when I reported for the draft registration in high school, but I may have shrunk since then... I dunno?). With a current weight of 119 kg that should equal a BMI of appx 36. Applying BMI, that makes me fall within "Category 2 Obese", but borderlining the less severe Category 1 (35 is the dividing line).
2) While I appreciate all the advice, let me make a few things clear: I am not ever going to go running or biking or whatever outdoors. Especially not in winter, as I fuckin HATE snow and cold temperatures. On a stationary bike I am in complete control of my environment, and the risk of keeling over and sustaining potentially griveous bodily injury remains remote, even for a klutz like me. Out on the roads or in the woods I would be a multiple skull fracture waiting to happen. With good music blasting and 20 minute sessions it's not boring at all. Also, I will forever remain a driver at heart, and bikers and runners are a bloody nuisance. I will happily go for a walk in the woods - even a long one - but that's about it for outdoors activities.
3) Again, while appreciating the advice I'm going to stick with my current eating habits, at least as long as I keep losing a kilogram per week. That means no fanaticism of any kind, just trying not to stuff my face too much and keeping the unhealthy stuff at a reasonable level. I would still consider it downright rude to turn down the offer of a slice of cheesecake, if you get my drift. But I'm downing much less chocolate and chips (crisps for you limeys) and much more apples and pears these days.
4) I'm going to look into doing a wee bit of weights. Nothing drastic, but a slight toning up would probably do me a world of good. I am also going to try some (moderate at first) interval training, but I fear I will probably need to lose some more weight before I even have the stamina to go all out for one measly 4-minute session without keeling over.
5) Yes, I'm a type 2 diabetic, diagnosed in September '02. I take medication, but no insulin. I've stayed below the magic blood sugar line of 7 for more than a year now, and as previously reported I was at 5.7 this month. A non-diabetic will have levels between 4-6, so this is very good.
mmmkay?
Some of you know me well, some not at all, so let me try and summarize and answer some of the questions from the comments...
1) I'm 38 years old and appx 182 cm tall (I distinctly remember being 182 cm when I reported for the draft registration in high school, but I may have shrunk since then... I dunno?). With a current weight of 119 kg that should equal a BMI of appx 36. Applying BMI, that makes me fall within "Category 2 Obese", but borderlining the less severe Category 1 (35 is the dividing line).
2) While I appreciate all the advice, let me make a few things clear: I am not ever going to go running or biking or whatever outdoors. Especially not in winter, as I fuckin HATE snow and cold temperatures. On a stationary bike I am in complete control of my environment, and the risk of keeling over and sustaining potentially griveous bodily injury remains remote, even for a klutz like me. Out on the roads or in the woods I would be a multiple skull fracture waiting to happen. With good music blasting and 20 minute sessions it's not boring at all. Also, I will forever remain a driver at heart, and bikers and runners are a bloody nuisance. I will happily go for a walk in the woods - even a long one - but that's about it for outdoors activities.
3) Again, while appreciating the advice I'm going to stick with my current eating habits, at least as long as I keep losing a kilogram per week. That means no fanaticism of any kind, just trying not to stuff my face too much and keeping the unhealthy stuff at a reasonable level. I would still consider it downright rude to turn down the offer of a slice of cheesecake, if you get my drift. But I'm downing much less chocolate and chips (crisps for you limeys) and much more apples and pears these days.
4) I'm going to look into doing a wee bit of weights. Nothing drastic, but a slight toning up would probably do me a world of good. I am also going to try some (moderate at first) interval training, but I fear I will probably need to lose some more weight before I even have the stamina to go all out for one measly 4-minute session without keeling over.
5) Yes, I'm a type 2 diabetic, diagnosed in September '02. I take medication, but no insulin. I've stayed below the magic blood sugar line of 7 for more than a year now, and as previously reported I was at 5.7 this month. A non-diabetic will have levels between 4-6, so this is very good.
mmmkay?
US Route update
Earlier post here. I've made a few changes to my itinerary, mainly due to the fact that I can no longer count on having a place to stay in San Diego for the last 8-10 days of my trip (my friend there has gotten a 60 day notice from the landlord... which sucks). This means I need the flexibility of having a car for the whole 30-day period and it means I'll have a couple of extra days on the road.
This could still change, but here's the new itinerary (I've already booked almost all of these nights at various Motel 6 establishments - best value for money if you ask me):
June 22: Touchdown LAX, fairly short drive to a motel in Thousand Oaks.
23: Reagan presidential library in Simi Valley, making my way to Fresno to see friends.
24: Driving with said friends to Yosemite for the day. Spending the night in Mammoth Springs, just east of the park.
25: Driving to Portland, OR. No idea how far I'll get, maybe the Oregon border.
26: Hitting Portland sometime in the afternoon/evening.
27-28: Portland, including a brief swing into Washington state. Various museums and sights.
29: Portland - Baker City - Boise.
30: Boise - Pocatello, by a leisurely northern route to see Craters of the Moon and other Idaho sights, such as they are.
July 1-2: With Pocatello as my base (because it's half the price of staying closer to the park) I'll explore Yellowstone. Maybe I'll drive through the Tetons too.
3: Pocatello - Cody - Billings MT.
4: Billings - Little Bighorn - Buffalo WY.
5: Buffalo - Devils Tower - Deadwood - Rapid City SD.
6: Driving around in the Black Hills. Mt Rushmore, etc.
7: Rapid City - Badlands - Wounded Knee. Start making my way south through Nebraska.
8: Hitting Cheyenne WY sometime during the day.
9: Going to Laramie and probably Medicine Bow.
10: Cheyenne - Green River UT.
11: Moab and Arches National Park.
12: Green River - Ely NV. Starting on US 50, "The loneliest road in America", supposedly very scenic.
13: Crossing Nevada, ending up in Carson City.
14: Carson - Fresno.
15: Fresno.
16: Fresno - San Diego.
17: San Diego - Flagstaff with friend(s).
18: Grand Canyon.
19: Flagstaff - Las Vegas.
20: Las Vegas - San Diego.
21: San Diego - Los Angeles.
22: Flying out from LAX.
Ish gonna be fun.
This could still change, but here's the new itinerary (I've already booked almost all of these nights at various Motel 6 establishments - best value for money if you ask me):
June 22: Touchdown LAX, fairly short drive to a motel in Thousand Oaks.
23: Reagan presidential library in Simi Valley, making my way to Fresno to see friends.
24: Driving with said friends to Yosemite for the day. Spending the night in Mammoth Springs, just east of the park.
25: Driving to Portland, OR. No idea how far I'll get, maybe the Oregon border.
26: Hitting Portland sometime in the afternoon/evening.
27-28: Portland, including a brief swing into Washington state. Various museums and sights.
29: Portland - Baker City - Boise.
30: Boise - Pocatello, by a leisurely northern route to see Craters of the Moon and other Idaho sights, such as they are.
July 1-2: With Pocatello as my base (because it's half the price of staying closer to the park) I'll explore Yellowstone. Maybe I'll drive through the Tetons too.
3: Pocatello - Cody - Billings MT.
4: Billings - Little Bighorn - Buffalo WY.
5: Buffalo - Devils Tower - Deadwood - Rapid City SD.
6: Driving around in the Black Hills. Mt Rushmore, etc.
7: Rapid City - Badlands - Wounded Knee. Start making my way south through Nebraska.
8: Hitting Cheyenne WY sometime during the day.
9: Going to Laramie and probably Medicine Bow.
10: Cheyenne - Green River UT.
11: Moab and Arches National Park.
12: Green River - Ely NV. Starting on US 50, "The loneliest road in America", supposedly very scenic.
13: Crossing Nevada, ending up in Carson City.
14: Carson - Fresno.
15: Fresno.
16: Fresno - San Diego.
17: San Diego - Flagstaff with friend(s).
18: Grand Canyon.
19: Flagstaff - Las Vegas.
20: Las Vegas - San Diego.
21: San Diego - Los Angeles.
22: Flying out from LAX.
Ish gonna be fun.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
One Mississippi, Two Mississippi...
Besides the huge enjoyment I get from traveling in the US, there is also a particular goal to it all, one understandable to all you anal-retentive nerds out there: Reaching 50.
My two geographical aims in this life is to visit all European countries and all 50 states of the US. The latter, needless to say, has priority. So far I've got 43 notches in my metaphorical belt, achieved over seven epic trips. Just to bore ya'll (because I can), here's a quick breakdown (Bold denotes a new state):
1997: MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA (5)
1998: CA (1)
1998: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV (13)
1999: AR, CA, CT, DE, IL, IN, KY, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI (10)
2001: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MS, MO, NV, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, WV (7)
2002: AL, AR, DE, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, MD, MN, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, VA, WV, WI (4)
2006: AL, CT, DE, GA, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, NC, SC, TN, VT, VA (3)
So this year I aim to grab OR, WA, ID, MT and WY. This will leave AK and HI for later, but rest assured - I will go there too someday.
My two geographical aims in this life is to visit all European countries and all 50 states of the US. The latter, needless to say, has priority. So far I've got 43 notches in my metaphorical belt, achieved over seven epic trips. Just to bore ya'll (because I can), here's a quick breakdown (Bold denotes a new state):
1997: MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA (5)
1998: CA (1)
1998: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV (13)
1999: AR, CA, CT, DE, IL, IN, KY, MD, MA, MI, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI (10)
2001: AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MS, MO, NV, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, WV (7)
2002: AL, AR, DE, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, MD, MN, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, VA, WV, WI (4)
2006: AL, CT, DE, GA, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, NC, SC, TN, VT, VA (3)
So this year I aim to grab OR, WA, ID, MT and WY. This will leave AK and HI for later, but rest assured - I will go there too someday.
RIP Chathouse
Today I learned of the "passing" of a website that once meant a lot to me. I was first introduced to web chatting in the fall of 1995, when we finally got computer labs at my college in Oslo. Sometime in the spring of 1996 I wound up at Chathouse - http://www.chathouse.com/ - and it was to be my home away from home for several years. I must have talked to thousands of people, and some of them remain my friends to this day. Many of them I have met in person on my American travels, but also in Canada, England, Scotland and even Sweden I've met chatters.
I have (mostly) fond memories of chatting into the wee hours during my carefree student days, and in spite of the generally horrible spelling and grammar found in such places, I do believe it helped my English considerably. I talked to people in the US and Canada on the phone several times, which helped my spoken English, and my first visit to the US in 1997 was to meet chat friends - indeed I am meeting one of them in California later this year!
The place sadly started to go into a long decline in the late 90s as it became clear that the operators no longer cared. As with any large social group, there were fights and intrigue and people backstabbing each other. I know for a fact some started real life sexual affairs with people they met online and The Chathouse broke up (but also led to) several marriages. Friends and enemies were made, but at some point is seems people had just had enough of the worsening atmosphere. Internal rules were broken, people harassed, head games played and the administrators were absent throughout it all.
I still went back there now and then, although few of the old gang hung around. I made some new friends, had some fun, but it just wasn't like it used to be. The last few years, most of the "floors" and "rooms" have been closed down, and I can't even remember the last time I went in there to chat - it must have been early 2008 if not late 2007. Since then I've checked in maybe once a month or so, but no one I knew was ever around.
Today I was greeted with a message that said the domain name had expired on March 6. I guess this means the owners no longer had any revenue and decided to pull the life support for good.
The Internet has changed our world in so many profound ways, and I know for sure Chathouse changed mine. Chathouse allowed me to practice my English daily with native speakers, it taught me a lot about many people and places, it allowed me to make many good friends and it provided me with innumerable laughs. I can safely say my life would be different, and mostly for the worse without Chathouse.
Goodbye, old friend, from the chatter known as Aton. I shall miss you.
I have (mostly) fond memories of chatting into the wee hours during my carefree student days, and in spite of the generally horrible spelling and grammar found in such places, I do believe it helped my English considerably. I talked to people in the US and Canada on the phone several times, which helped my spoken English, and my first visit to the US in 1997 was to meet chat friends - indeed I am meeting one of them in California later this year!
The place sadly started to go into a long decline in the late 90s as it became clear that the operators no longer cared. As with any large social group, there were fights and intrigue and people backstabbing each other. I know for a fact some started real life sexual affairs with people they met online and The Chathouse broke up (but also led to) several marriages. Friends and enemies were made, but at some point is seems people had just had enough of the worsening atmosphere. Internal rules were broken, people harassed, head games played and the administrators were absent throughout it all.
I still went back there now and then, although few of the old gang hung around. I made some new friends, had some fun, but it just wasn't like it used to be. The last few years, most of the "floors" and "rooms" have been closed down, and I can't even remember the last time I went in there to chat - it must have been early 2008 if not late 2007. Since then I've checked in maybe once a month or so, but no one I knew was ever around.
Today I was greeted with a message that said the domain name had expired on March 6. I guess this means the owners no longer had any revenue and decided to pull the life support for good.
The Internet has changed our world in so many profound ways, and I know for sure Chathouse changed mine. Chathouse allowed me to practice my English daily with native speakers, it taught me a lot about many people and places, it allowed me to make many good friends and it provided me with innumerable laughs. I can safely say my life would be different, and mostly for the worse without Chathouse.
Goodbye, old friend, from the chatter known as Aton. I shall miss you.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
First numbers
Sunday I started the day at 122.3 kg. I took two turns on the bike, at slightly over 35 mins in all. Monday morning: 121.8 kg.
I forgot to check this morning and I didn't exercise yesterday, so I need to do double dosage again today. Wednesday will be interesting.
I forgot to check this morning and I didn't exercise yesterday, so I need to do double dosage again today. Wednesday will be interesting.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Fat no more
I've blogged about various half hearted exercise schemes before, but this time I mean it: It's healthy or horizontal! Dashing or dead! It's pushing iron or pushing up the daisies!
The most I've ever weighed (as far as I know) was a solid 131 kg (289 pounds), measured on Feb 19, 2008. Mostly due to a few days of hospitalisation due to leg problems and later a bout of flu which had me in bed for a week, I lost weight last spring - I was at 123 kg in late March and 121 in June. I then went up during my summer holiday in Britain - I was at 126 in late July - but lost that by late August, when I was at 121 again. I slowly pushed it further down last fall, reaching an all time low of 118 kg several times in November and December.
Traveling and generally vegetating since then, I got a shock to the system when I found myself at 127 kg after returning from Britain a few weeks ago. So since March 7 I've been on my stationary bike almost daily, for an average of 20 minutes. I just weighed in at 122kg, meaning I've lost 5 kg in 8 days, which isn't too shabby (unlike my general appearance).
I'm going to post more or less daily updates, describing my progress (or lack thereof) and enrolling my faithful readers in this project. Ideally, I'd appeal to your better nature and ask for encouraging words and the odd slap on the back, but knowing you guys, this would be utter folly. Instead I'm asking for venom, cruelty and inane comments to spur me on. Go on, tell me what a lardass I am and berate me for not exercising enough! Kick me when I'm down and trample all over my self esteem! It's a win-win, people!
The most I've ever weighed (as far as I know) was a solid 131 kg (289 pounds), measured on Feb 19, 2008. Mostly due to a few days of hospitalisation due to leg problems and later a bout of flu which had me in bed for a week, I lost weight last spring - I was at 123 kg in late March and 121 in June. I then went up during my summer holiday in Britain - I was at 126 in late July - but lost that by late August, when I was at 121 again. I slowly pushed it further down last fall, reaching an all time low of 118 kg several times in November and December.
Traveling and generally vegetating since then, I got a shock to the system when I found myself at 127 kg after returning from Britain a few weeks ago. So since March 7 I've been on my stationary bike almost daily, for an average of 20 minutes. I just weighed in at 122kg, meaning I've lost 5 kg in 8 days, which isn't too shabby (unlike my general appearance).
I'm going to post more or less daily updates, describing my progress (or lack thereof) and enrolling my faithful readers in this project. Ideally, I'd appeal to your better nature and ask for encouraging words and the odd slap on the back, but knowing you guys, this would be utter folly. Instead I'm asking for venom, cruelty and inane comments to spur me on. Go on, tell me what a lardass I am and berate me for not exercising enough! Kick me when I'm down and trample all over my self esteem! It's a win-win, people!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Tentative route for the US
It's early yet of course, but I've been obsessing about my summer trip since the day I bought my ticket to LA. Feel free to add comments and suggestions, as I have few absolutes at this point other than these:
1) I will visit the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
2) I will spend a weekend with friends from Fresno, but not necessarily IN Fresno - this is where Yosemite comes in.
3) I will spend about a week, maybe a week and a half in the company of friends from San Diego, but again not necessarily IN San Diego - this is where the trip to Grand Canyon comes in.
4) I have already booked a car for June 22 - July 13, but if need be I could of course extend this period a few days.
Draft route, including appx driving distance in KM:
Monday June 22: Oslo - Philly - Los Angeles
June 23: LA - Simi Valley (The Reagan Library) - San Simeon (390 km)
June 24: San Simeon (Hearst Castle) - Eureka (766 km)
June 25: Eureka (Redwood forest) - Portland (667 km)
June 26: Portland
June 27: Portland (while in Portland I'll make a quick trip up into Washington state)
June 28: Portland - Baker City (Oregon Trail Museum) - Boise (695 km)
June 29: Boise - Jackson (592 km)
June 30: Driving around in the Grand Tetons National Park
July 1: Driving around in Yellowstone National Park
July 2: Driving around in Yellowstone National Park
July 3: Yellowstone - Ranchester (497 km)
July 4: Ranchester - Little Big Horn - Rapid City (556 km)
July 5: Mount Rushmore
July 6: Rapid City - Cheyenne (507 km)
July 7: Cheyenne (driving around southern WY, prolly visit the Laramie farm that inspired the Flicka books)
July 8: Cheyenne - ?
July 9: ? - Las Vegas (total of 1,374 km over two days)
July 10: Las Vegas - Fresno (650 km)
July 11: Fresno - Yosemite (206 km each way)
July 12: Yosemite - Fresno
July 13: Fresno - Los Angeles to drop off the car (601 km) - Driving with friend to San Diego
July 14 - 16 San Diego
July 17: San Diego - Phoenix - Sedona (756 km)
July 18: Grand Canyon Tour, prolly spending the night in Flagstaff (270 km)
July 19: Flagstaff - San Diego (790 km)
July 20-22: San Diego
Wednesday July 22: San Diego - Philly - Oslo, arriving July 23
1) I will visit the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
2) I will spend a weekend with friends from Fresno, but not necessarily IN Fresno - this is where Yosemite comes in.
3) I will spend about a week, maybe a week and a half in the company of friends from San Diego, but again not necessarily IN San Diego - this is where the trip to Grand Canyon comes in.
4) I have already booked a car for June 22 - July 13, but if need be I could of course extend this period a few days.
Draft route, including appx driving distance in KM:
Monday June 22: Oslo - Philly - Los Angeles
June 23: LA - Simi Valley (The Reagan Library) - San Simeon (390 km)
June 24: San Simeon (Hearst Castle) - Eureka (766 km)
June 25: Eureka (Redwood forest) - Portland (667 km)
June 26: Portland
June 27: Portland (while in Portland I'll make a quick trip up into Washington state)
June 28: Portland - Baker City (Oregon Trail Museum) - Boise (695 km)
June 29: Boise - Jackson (592 km)
June 30: Driving around in the Grand Tetons National Park
July 1: Driving around in Yellowstone National Park
July 2: Driving around in Yellowstone National Park
July 3: Yellowstone - Ranchester (497 km)
July 4: Ranchester - Little Big Horn - Rapid City (556 km)
July 5: Mount Rushmore
July 6: Rapid City - Cheyenne (507 km)
July 7: Cheyenne (driving around southern WY, prolly visit the Laramie farm that inspired the Flicka books)
July 8: Cheyenne - ?
July 9: ? - Las Vegas (total of 1,374 km over two days)
July 10: Las Vegas - Fresno (650 km)
July 11: Fresno - Yosemite (206 km each way)
July 12: Yosemite - Fresno
July 13: Fresno - Los Angeles to drop off the car (601 km) - Driving with friend to San Diego
July 14 - 16 San Diego
July 17: San Diego - Phoenix - Sedona (756 km)
July 18: Grand Canyon Tour, prolly spending the night in Flagstaff (270 km)
July 19: Flagstaff - San Diego (790 km)
July 20-22: San Diego
Wednesday July 22: San Diego - Philly - Oslo, arriving July 23
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Watchmen
I saw Watchmen yesterday, and while I'm no fan of that paranoid commie cunt Alan Moore, I enjoyed it. Now, if I can just find some "Rorschach for president" material...
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