John Updike has passed

I will never forget taking my American Literature course during my undergraduate studies. The course was entitled: Hawthorn to Updike, a survey of America's greatest authors. I was raised in Nebraska, and so I had read Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Poe, and Bradbury, but I had never heard of Updike. Who was he? When our course began I recall being shocked that not only was Updike still alive, but that he was not all that old. In those days he was in his late fifties, still producing, and giving brilliant lectures on writing and literature. I immersed myself in his writing during university. One thing I learned was that the only way to read his work was with a dictionary in hand, because he would reach out to his readers with a vocabulary that spanned the English language. His incredible characters, their sexual endeavors, self loathing, and ever so common lives being blown into heroic proportions, reminded me of Shakespeare in the way that every character could be elevated -- risen to a pedestal of personal greatness -- before their inevitable fall. 

His short stories were my favorites, and if you have never read any of his short stories you owe it to yourself to pick one up and read this master. What I loved was that his characters were us, the people around us, the us we recalled in our youth or the us we may someday be, and at every turn within his tale they stayed true to the human restraints and to human nature. 

I will miss him. To honor him, I'm putting down the novel I was reading by John Irving, and revisiting some Updike pieces. 

CLICK ON THE TITLE FOR A DETAILED REPORT OF HIS PASSING

Winner

Whenever I'm feeling like things just aren't going my way. You know those times when you order a mocha and they give you a hot coco or you get a bad review or your students sit like zombies as you tell joke after joke or you fight your way through traffic only to find the mall's parking lot is completely full or you go to the sock drawer where you hide the emergency cash, only to remember as you pull open that drawer, that you blew that cash on lottery tickets because you saw the number 437 in your dream or you decided to get healthy so you brought a pocket full of vitamins only to find out in hot weather they sort of crumble and melt in your pocket or you hear the news about one of your friends and they are a huge success and you always thought to yourself, "at least I'll be doing better than that guy" or you smile at a pretty young lady and she smiles back, but as she gets closer you realize the she is a he (dang sex chances in Thailand are the best in the world) or you realize your 40 and all the cool kids now refer to you as pops or you find more hair in your brush than on your head. Well for any of these reasons really, I like to go to the Mall Namamwan and stand next to the furniture store with the big red sign that says: WINNER. I don't know why, but it always makes me feel a lot better! After all, life is all about perception. I feel like a winner!

Siminoe Video of the week #3

Okay planet Earth. This SIMINOE song of the week is just where it's at. For everyone of us who is going to wake up tomorrow morning, hit the shower, and rush out the door to work for the man. Keep your head up and keep hustlin'!

BANGKOK IS TURNING TO ICE

 

The temperatures in Bangkok are plunging, the locals are shivering, and we foreigners are rejoicing the break from the heat. It is actually COLD in the shadows around the city of Bangkok. Temperatures have dropped below 60% at night, and even during the day it has only been getting up to about 65%. Honestly in all my 7 years in the capital I have never experienced a streak of  cold like this. I am loving it. My aircon has been off for days and it feels good to lay beneath a blanket at night. I am sure the heat will return with a blazing vengeance, but for now I'm enjoying the chill!

Ndamukong Suh

What kind of 300 pound freak leaps above the offense line and blocks a chip shot field goal? The same kind of monster who sacks quarterbacks, catches touchdown passes, intercepts passes, and pretty much drives offensive coordinators crazy -- and his name is SUH.

Here in the city of Bangkok the Nebraska bowl game began at 1:00 AM instead of 1:00 PM, so blurry eyed, buzzing with coffee and a few beers, I tuned in TVU and projected it up on my big screen so I could watch the game. I would like to apologize to my neighbors, who I'm sure were all sleeping, but I was jumping around and screaming with every fumble, interception, and blown play. Nebraska played a fierce game on defense, but our offense looked -- at times -- deteremined to give the game away. Fumbles run for TD's and interceptions run back almost in for 6, it was maddening. Still, they fought on and finally in the second half they looked like the team that won their last 4 games of the year and challenged Texas Tech to an offensive shoot out -- something almost no one in the nation could do.

This was my wife Nan's first real experience with a Husker game, as often I can only tune in an internet radio station. But, last night the TVU picture was amazing and I got to see the entire game in full color and at full speed! Magical!

Huskers win 26-21 over Clemson in a nail biter. Welcome to Nebraska Bo Pellini, 9-4 in his first season. Now that is Nebraska football!

Thai politics welcomes the next PM

Well, next up for Thai politics is a new PM. I suppose this is not surprising considering we have had a new PM about once every six months here. I would like to be optimistic and say that Abhisit does appear different than the others. First of all, he was born in England and is well educated, finishing at Oxford of all places. He is younger and seems to appeal to the public.

Now the PAD will leave the streets of Bangkok and declare a victory of sorts. They wanted Taksin's puppets out and it would appear they have done that. This guy is no Taksin puppet and has opposed him for most of Taksin's political life. So the PAD gets to go home and relax from all of their protesting and demonstrating. 

So it's over right? Wrong! Now it is the RED mobs turn to protest and take to the streets in order to disrupt and destroy the current government. This will begin as soon as the King gives the approval to the new PM. Interesting, confusing, and oh so Thai.

But again, I'll take all of this protesting and vote wrangling over the way most South East Asian nations have solved their political struggles. Cambodia killed a few million in solving theirs, and Burma is still killing all opposition as if it was a Rambo movie, oh yeah it was. Vietnam had their war, one of the ugliest in the region. Thai's seem to always avoid the final outcome most nations fly to when power is confronted with resistance: FORCE.

Good luck Abhisit, if you can last a full term you will be the first in recent memory to do so. Well, technically Taksin finished a term, was re-elected and then Couped from office shortly after. 

The vitals of PM elect ABHISIT VEJJAJIVA: 

Born in Britain, educated at Eton and Oxford
Entered parliament in 1992 as one of its youngest members
Party leader since 2005
Opposed military coup that overthrew Thaksin Shinawatra
Profile: Abhisit Vejjajiva

Dancing Shrimp

I love trying new food. Sometimes it takes a few beers to get me ready to try it though. In this video Nan and I are enjoying a Thai dish known as Dancing Shrimp. In reality they are uncooked shrimp served with spicy peppers which freak them out and make them jump around in the bowl. When one gets over the sheer oddness of the dish, it is very spicy and tasty. It is also supposed to, much like sushi, be more healthy as there is no cooking oils or grease used in their preparation. It is just herbs, spices, and shrimp.
Give it a try on your next visit to Thailand.

The night of the Smiling MOON

It was the night of the smiling moon. December 1st Bangkokians rushed to their rooftops and backyards to check out an amazing event. Venus and Jupiter aligned just above a sliver moon and a smiling face peered down over a very troubled land of smiles. 

Things have gotten worse here. The PAD in an act of desperation has lain siege to the two primary airports of the city and blocked all travel in and out. Hundreds of thousands of tourists and travelers have been stranded and even more than that have been blocked from returning to Bangkok. The PAD is trying to get rid of a tyrant, Taksin, who has pulled the strings of Thai government with bribery and political blackmail for years -- even thought officially he is a convicted criminal in exile -- he still has a lot of power here. I understand that the PAD stands against a government filled with corruption, but is this the way to do it? Now cancellations of tourists and business travelers are swamping local hotels, and my good friend at Bandara Resorts where I do some free lance copy writing, has basically informed me that they have had massive set backs for the next 6 months. 

The global economy is in turmoil and a nation like Thailand does not have the resources to offer infusion packages and bail out plans. That is a lie only the big nations can tell. So this gamble by the PAD to force something to happen just may come back to haunt them. I must say I agree with their political ideals and hopes. I respect their sacrifice. I am just very concerned that now, even if they win, they may have coast the Thai people any hope of a decent economy in the coming 2 years. Sometimes in winning the battle we lose the war. Let's hope there is a result, a leader who can join this two factions and connect the Thai people again.

Video of the Week #2 DAVID BOWIE

  David Bowie has been my favorite musician for a greater part of my life. What has been amazing to me is that I have progressed as he has. What I mean is that Bowie has not settled over his more than 40 year career in music. He continues to evolve, change, and make magical pieces of music for every decade. Sadly, most people stick bowie in the 80's with his "Let's Dance" and "China Girl" efforts. Good songs, don't get me wrong, but far from his best work.
Bowie has done it all from punk, hard rock, disco, soft rock, and through it all he has never forgotten to be David Bowie. I chose this video from his long career because of visual elements and the songs very odd but interesting lyrics. He just never fails to make me think.
ENJOY THURSDAY'S CHILD, by David Bowie!

Husker Magic at the End

It was a very well played game by both teams. CU brought more than I expected in this boarder war. The series totals certainly doesn't show it, but CU always plays the Huskers tough. This game was so close it took a school record to get the Huskers on top. But the icing on the cake was a 300 pound Defense Tackle smacking a quarterback in the mouth and walking into the end zone. Well done HUSKERS.

Look out Big 12 conference, we will be back!

An 8-4 finish and a BIG TIME BOWL GAME for the BIG RED. What a difference a BO makes. 

PAD close the international airport

The PAD has struck their biggest blow against the government. This will force the hand of the government one way or the other and so truly, tension is rising. By shutting down the international airport they have blocked the travel of tourists and Thai people alike. It is time for the government to act, and in my opinion, to take the action of stepping down.

It is a scary time right now for everyone, but the yellow PAD is well organized, well protected, and seem resolute in bringing about change. True peaceful demonstrations continue, and I believe if they can continue to disrupt in a truly peaceful fashion they must be respected and heard. FIGHT ON YELLOW SHIRTS!

Thailand is in Political Turmoil

Please click on the title for up to date information about all the political unrest in Thailand. The PAD, truly are beginning to win this peaceful war on the government of Thailand. Often the western media portrays them as trouble makers, which makes me sick. These people are risking everything, they are giving up their time and for many their income to fight against one of the most corrupt leaders in the history of this nation. They are patriots, right or wrong, and truly believe in changing their nation by peaceful protest. Westerners stay out of this issue! You don't understand that they are trying to remove, from now forward, the powerful families who have put this nation in a strangle hold of bribery and corruption. 

So long as they can do it peacefully, my admiration and respect go to the PAD. Fight on Yellow shirts, change is coming. 

Thanksgiving in the United States

Nebraska
vs. Colorado

Series history (46-18-2)

It's Thanksgiving weekend in the United States, and although I am far away from the turkey, stuffing, beer, and football, I am very excited about the coming show down between my rebuilding Huskers and the hated Colorado Buffalo. My family is from Colorado, so this is not about hating one of the best states in the union. I love Colorado, it was my home for 12 years. But, I am a CSU fan when it comes to Colorado. The evil trust fund babies of the CU clan have long detested my midwestern rooted Huskers and this rancor has turned to a mutual dislike for most big red fans. 

We are not the big red of old, but with Bo coaching our current team it is obvious that we are going to rebuild and we are going to improve. I think the buffalo chips are headed for an old fashioned HUSKER thumping. 

I PREDICT SOME SERIOUS PAIN FOR BUFF FANS:

HUSKERS 45

Colorado 13