My House in Bangkok

For some reason this video is TOO light, but I don't have time for a serious edit. At least you can see a bit of my new home. Send me any decoration ideas you might have. 

Big Wedding and Beautiful Guests

October is the month for weddings. Actually in the education business there are two months that seem to hold all of the weddings: October and April. These two months are important for teachers because we are not teaching and so we have time to either participate in or attend weddings. This October our school has 5 members of our staff tying the not. What's kind of cool is that 4 of the 5 are getting married to each other. Confusing? Well love in the work place here in Thailand is not really looked down at so long as it is proper, or in other words leads to a wedding at some point. What is amazing about weddings in all parts of the world is that everyone who comes wants to be as beautiful as they can, and of course this is the big reason we all go to weddings. I love to see everyone all dressed up. I guess it is like the adult version of the prom.

Last week my golfing buddy Ajarn Sak got married to my classroom partner Ajarn Pang. The events was attended by about 400 guests. The venue was wonderful, the food was delicious, and the ladies showed up looking marvelous. I think I'll just let the photos say it all. Enjoy. 

Obama gives US a grand opportunity

The other day I met my good friend Mark for a coffee and a chat. Mark is Irish and visits Thailand to write and enjoy himself before the chilly winters of Dublin begin. He is putting the finishing touches on his PhD in French Philosophy, and is especially interested in the United States because many of the ideals that Americans hold as base values today, actually come from the French revolutionaries who preceded the construct of the U.S. I guess an obvious and natural curiosity would be here, because as a historian it is always fun to look back at ideas and see if they came to be fulfilled and fully developed. 

Mark admitted he, like most Europeans, were shocked when 4 years ago the American people did not get rid of George Bush. He said it was a huge disappointment to most of the world. The thing is, America is no longer the educational power it was, technological power, or manufacturer was, but it is still a massive economy and military power. In essence the world watches our elections and hopes that those of us with the privilege to chose this world leader will chose one that can bring our nation forward and in essence bring the world forward.

Here is the thing, we as Americans have a massive opportunity here to elect a man of color to the greatest office in our government. We can LEAD AGAIN, by proving we actually value some of the words which are written in our great documents -- such as "all men are created equal" -- and we can show the world that we are not afraid of CHANGE! 

By the year 2040 white America will lose its majority standing. That is still a long ways off, but that doesn't mean that white America can not benefit from a leader who is not white. This is a man who has studied hard the historical baggage of our nation, felt it first hand, and followed the fundamental beliefs of our nation all the way to this point.

Can we then, as a people, take the next step with him? Can we look past a name and a color that is not the same as every leader who has come before? 

What an opportunity to show that WE CAN! In truth, we must. At every turn during the past 8 years we have marginalized people's from around the world by our extreme politics. While our leadership has been unwilling to change, grow, and accept a new leadership in the world, enemies have flourished and been able to recruit at record levels. Peace, and partnership reigns across Europe now and yet still we separate, draw lines in the sand, and make demands on nations we don't understand. 

Let's take a step toward global leadership. Let's find a way to bridge gaps with nations who fear and don't believe we are truly an integrated nation who stand for peace and economic growth. In my opinion, Obama is the answer to this.

Obama for president!

Cambodia Clash -- From the Nation

Cambodia claims Thailand violated airspace
By Deutsche Presse Agentur
Phnom Penh - Thailand violated Cambodian airspace hours before a border skirmish erupted on Wednesday, Cambodian officials said. 



Cambodian and Thai soldiers on Wednesday exchanged gunfire in a disputed zone near the ancient Preah Vihear temple on the Thai-Cambodian border called Eagle Field, or Eagle Terrace, 300 kilometres north of the Cambodian capital, which is an important strategic point for access to Preah Vihear.

 "The Thai injuries were worse, but there were casualties on both sides," the director-general of Cambodia's Preah Vihear authority, which oversees the site, said by telephone.

 "The Thai fighter jet came 8:50 am and again at 10.07 am to disturb our airspace. Cambodian soldiers wanted to fight then, but they were placated for a while.

 "I do not know why fighting happened at 2.15 until 3.30 pm because I was not there," the head of Cambodia's Preah Vihear authority, Hang Soth, said by telephone from a meeting in Phnom Penh.

 He said there were casualties on both sides, but that the Thai side had borne the brunt of duel M-79, B-40 and AK-47 exchanges.

 Cambodian authorities said all civilians had fled the area and it was now regarded by both sides as a conflict zone.

 The Wednesday shoot-out at Eagle Terrage is important to the ongoing dispute over the Preah Vihear temple because whoever controls that area controls access to the temple, which is sacred to both sides.

 A similar clash at the same site on October 3 left two Thai soldiers and one Cambodian wounded.

Thailand VS Cambodia

What the hell is going on? Thailand and Cambodia are still arguing about this boarder dispute, but now guns have been drawn. Small arms fire erupted today along the Thai - Cambodian boarder. There are no reports of any dead, but wounded Thai soldiers were air lifted back to Bangkok today.

This sucks! Two Buddhist nations fighting over Buddhist temple lands. Am I the only one who sees the irony of this. Hey, Christians, Muslims, and well basically every other major religion have been killing each other since their religions were born, but come on, this is no way for Buddhist nations to act. 

Here is the sad part, I believe the real problem is simply money arrangements which have been made for the future tourism of this location. Both sides have already made deals and now they fear the consequences if they can not make good on those deals. I don't know the real story, but I do know everyone needs to chill. Thailand should have no fight with the Cambodians, because they share a religion and they share a boarder that has been peaceful for generations. 

Time for a CHANGE

I'm very tired of the right-wing, trickle down Republicans saying that none of the mess we are in now is G.W.'s fault. As my father once said, sometimes people can't see the wall in front of their face until they smash into it. I thought having a never ending war, a collapsed economy, less individual freedoms as people, and a national deficit was wall enough; however, there are still those who believe we must protect the big business men who will protect the rest of us. I say screw the rich! I say help the farmers! I say help the middle class! I'm sick of the big business game plan which always seems so eager to send the poor and middle class boys and girls off to fight for property rights and oil drilling sights. You can color shit anyway you want to it still smells like shit and if you really want to make sure my Republican brothers, take a bite and be sure it tastes like it to. 

NO MORE YEARS of the BUSH linage.

I am casting my proxy for OBAMA! 

Husker Season Underway and Under Water

Although I am an expat living in Bangkok, my blood is Husker red. I love the fact that the university of Nebraska got rid of a coach who was hell bent on ridding our program of the traditions our program had developed over the past 40 years. He did not understand the Husker Nation and it was easy to see his moves were hurting our program and running it into the ground. Now, we are rebuilding with a new coaching staff, many new players, and yet for us OLD fans it is difficult to watch the modern big red.

Missouri had not beaten Nebraska in Lincoln in 30 years. They dealt out a 30 year ass kicking on Saturday that no one in the land of red is going to forget any time soon. It really hurt to see this disaster.

I suppose we just have to be patient and let the new staff develop their ideas about the team, but man is it hard to see us this meek.

Visiting my old boss LARRY

Coups, Criples, and Visitors

Sometimes it is amazing how life can be going in multiple directions at once. I have felt the sting of another birthday, wondered of my mortality -- as is the tradition of such an event -- and come to the conclusion that it will wait, death I mean, at least for a while. So what do I do with what is left? That's always the question isn't it. Now I'm at the big 40, I've lived through it and made it all the way to 41. I can't even imagine it in actuality. What does one do when they were a child of the 80's living wild and free with the firm belief that life was to be lived as death had to be coming soon; however, here I am 20 years later still breathing.

So many odd events are happening in Thailand. We have a political stand off. One in which elected officials, who no one thinks achieved their elected office honestly, are being protested against by a group of college professors, middle class workers, and intellectuals. What about democracy? Well you know, some times a nation is not ready for completely democracy. This is the cause of the PAD who are out in the streets in force to protest the current government. But let me write about their cause on another day.

In truth, my last few weeks have been horrible. I turned 41, and this was a very nice evening. I spent it with 4 close friends and enjoyed a nice dinner and then hung out on my roof and drank wine together. A nice evening even though my wife had to work and could not attend. But shortly after this night things went down hill.

It began with my close friend Dr. Jim attempting to use my laptop. My laptop and I have a harmonic co-existence, but I seldom share her. Jim seemed to be struggling to use him and at one point he yelped when the screen blinked as if it was closing down. The sound startled me and I shot out of my couch and directly to the floor. My entire back was locking up systematically like a series of doors being closed in a prison. And a prisoner I became. 

My back seized up so completely and so painfully that very quickly I found myself incapable of leaving my home or even my floor for that matter. I've heard of lower back injuries, but from a simple thing like a friend's surprised expression? I work out 3 to 4 days a week. I play basketball and badminton, sports that are physical and demanding and I never get hurt. I bounce off collisions and laugh off the bruises. How could this happen?

I missed my first day of work in 3 years. Then luck was on my side and the stress about the demonstrations closed our school for most of last week. It was good to be lucky. If you see being in so much pain I couldn't even sit up in a chair as lucky? At least I didn't miss work.

I must say I don't feel old, and yet, here I am still struggling up stairs and watching while my students -- calling to me as they race to the court -- head out to play basketball without me. I must say I'm not too happy about 41 so far, but maybe all the pain is just the beginning of the year and by the end there will be joy again.

We never Talk anymore

Sound and vision create a bit of a mood video. A struggle between friends. A masterpiece in the background, created by David Bowie. One tornado of energy and one waterfall of power. Yet still, in the end, friends!

Bangkok Rain

Bangkok rains are hard and relentless. The street flooding is dangerous; however, a lot of fun to go driving around in. Whats a little rain without massive splashing!

The King is Naked

  I’m about ready to rant… Okay, so this is the thing. I’m sick and tired of name brands and labeling, packaging and marketing, spin and branding. In Bangkok today and sadly I would guess all over the world, the independent craftsman or restaurateur is disappearing at an alarming rate and being replaced by corporate foods and designer rehashing of all the same old fashions. Honestly I knew the sickness was spreading out of control when someone decided that the ugly brown and gold of LV was beautiful. Please, just throw the golden LV on a shit-brown purse or pair of shoes and girls will swoon. “Oh honey, I wish I could have a Louis Vuitton. It is so beautiful; it is such a remarkable color and design.”

I got to say I’m scratching my head here, am I the ONLY person on the planet that realizes LV, crafted in their ‘oh so tediously recognizable’ shit-brown color, is hideously dreadful? I’m not saying we should judge all things by its visual qualities, perhaps these LV bags have sturdy zippers or thread woven from the virgin butts of Martian worms or something, but the point is quality or not they are putrid pieces of rubbish to look at. 

   Come on planet Earth, put something on that looks good on you. I’ll let you in on a little secret; the factories in Asia which are cranking these products out are also making the cheep stuff sold at half the price. “Oh Sim, no there are made from a better quality of leather.” “What kind of cow is higher quality? Is this a cow that studied at Stanford or something instead of City College?” 
Here is my advice, tear those labels off. Wear something that looks good. Take the difference between the ugly stuff you were going to buy and the cheap stuff I’m recommending, and DONATE that money to www.siminoe.com , which is struggling to survive. My staff hasn’t been paid in months. I'm guessing LV doesn't need your money.

Husker Glory years and New Beginnings

It's August and College football camps have opened all over the USA. In honesty, I love my life here in Thailand, but there is nothing like a fall chill in the air and the smell of freshly cut football grass. I get homesick one time of year, and that is when the leaves begin to turn, the pads begin to pop, and the polls spur the only worth while discussion in America: WHO IS NUMBER 1?