Comments on: Our Somali Adventure Explained http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/ America's favorite blog Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:35:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.11 by: matt http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-17096 Sun, 25 Jun 2006 03:23:23 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-17096 this is late, and it's a really, really lame joke, but...the part of 'warlord' that sounds democratic is 'arlo'. as in arlo guthrie. sorry, that just popped into my head there. had to get it out. this is late, and it’s a really, really lame joke, but…the part of ‘warlord’ that sounds democratic is ‘arlo’. as in arlo guthrie.

sorry, that just popped into my head there. had to get it out.

]]> by: hedera http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16846 Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:01:23 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16846 I quarrel with your description of the person who would replace him, Murray. As I recall from biology 101, a planarian is a small (read: microscopic) flat worm, generally innocuous. Or do they infect you with stuff? Frankly I think Big Dick is much nastier than any planarian. I'm not sure he's worse than a super-volcano; I'll have to think about it. I quarrel with your description of the person who would replace him, Murray. As I recall from biology 101, a planarian is a small (read: microscopic) flat worm, generally innocuous. Or do they infect you with stuff? Frankly I think Big Dick is much nastier than any planarian. I’m not sure he’s worse than a super-volcano; I’ll have to think about it.

]]> by: Murray http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16830 Tue, 13 Jun 2006 02:49:13 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16830 Hedera, Well just fu*k. The next thing you're going to tell us is that we currently have the worst president in America's history and that the only person worse is the planarian who would replace him if he died. OK, just bring on the super-volcanoes, how could it be worse? Hedera,

Well just fu*k.
The next thing you’re going to tell us is that we currently have the worst president in America’s history and that the only person worse is the planarian who would replace him if he died.

OK, just bring on the super-volcanoes, how could it be worse?

]]> by: hedera http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16751 Thu, 08 Jun 2006 04:12:17 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16751 Have fun in Taupo, Becca and Brian; I enjoyed the NZ beer very much when I visited. You are visiting one of 4 "supervolcano" sites in the world, according to <a href="http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&colID=1&articleID=0006E0BF-BB43-146C-BB4383414B7F0000" rel="nofollow">Scientific American</a>: along with Taupo, the others are Toba in Sumatra, Yellowstone National Park, and Long Valley in California. These are volcanos which are to Mt. St. Helens as an atomic bomb is to a kid's firecracker: 750 cubic kilometers of magma all blowing at once, possibly over 3 days or less. Mt. St. Helens blew out less than .5 cubic kilometers. How did the North American continent rate <i>two</i> of these?? Have fun in Taupo, Becca and Brian; I enjoyed the NZ beer very much when I visited. You are visiting one of 4 “supervolcano” sites in the world, according to Scientific American: along with Taupo, the others are Toba in Sumatra, Yellowstone National Park, and Long Valley in California. These are volcanos which are to Mt. St. Helens as an atomic bomb is to a kid’s firecracker: 750 cubic kilometers of magma all blowing at once, possibly over 3 days or less. Mt. St. Helens blew out less than .5 cubic kilometers. How did the North American continent rate two of these??

]]> by: JR http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16742 Thu, 08 Jun 2006 00:27:23 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16742 Coop, You are assuming I am sane. I moved here voluntarily. That aside...there is a surprising dichotomy in this valley. Salt Lake City (and to a lesser extent SL County) is the bluest of blue islands in a deep red sea. Check out Salt Lake's mayor Rocky Anderson some time. He drives the state legislature crazy(ier). The second biggest parade in town after the Days of '47 Pioneer Celebration is the Gay Pride Parade (last weekend). There is an excellent four-day arts festival coming up at the end of the month and the main SL Library is an architectural gem. The liquor laws, however, are insane. One of the reigning members of the alcohol commission is convinced that anyone who has ever had a drink is by definition an alcoholic. There are several levels of liquor license depending on the type of establishment. Taverns can only serve 3.2 and wine coolers. Restaurants can serve mixed drinks, wine and beer but only with a food order and never over the bar. A server has to come around and give you your drink over-the-shoulder as it were. The closest to what would be considered a "normal" establishment anywhere else are the "private clubs for memebers only" which are not really since anyone can become a member for an evening by paying the "membership fee" (i.e., cover charge). In any event, all liquor is poured in electronically metered measured shots. There is no such thing as a double--or a comp. I do all my drinking at home. The people, as long as you stay away from religion and politics, are extremely friendly, cheerful and helpful. And only one or two have ever tried to convert me. I invite them over for drinks. Coop,

You are assuming I am sane. I moved here voluntarily.

That aside…there is a surprising dichotomy in this valley. Salt Lake City (and to a lesser extent SL County) is the bluest of blue islands in a deep red sea. Check out Salt Lake’s mayor Rocky Anderson some time. He drives the state legislature crazy(ier). The second biggest parade in town after the Days of ‘47 Pioneer Celebration is the Gay Pride Parade (last weekend). There is an excellent four-day arts festival coming up at the end of the month and the main SL Library is an architectural gem.

The liquor laws, however, are insane. One of the reigning members of the alcohol commission is convinced that anyone who has ever had a drink is by definition an alcoholic. There are several levels of liquor license depending on the type of establishment. Taverns can only serve 3.2 and wine coolers. Restaurants can serve mixed drinks, wine and beer but only with a food order and never over the bar. A server has to come around and give you your drink over-the-shoulder as it were. The closest to what would be considered a “normal” establishment anywhere else are the “private clubs for memebers only” which are not really since anyone can become a member for an evening by paying the “membership fee” (i.e., cover charge). In any event, all liquor is poured in electronically metered measured shots. There is no such thing as a double–or a comp. I do all my drinking at home.
The people, as long as you stay away from religion and politics, are extremely friendly, cheerful and helpful. And only one or two have ever tried to convert me. I invite them over for drinks.

]]> by: David http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16739 Wed, 07 Jun 2006 23:48:01 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16739 JR, Due to how I was dealing with reality when I wrote that post, there was some reverse rotation going on.... On the other hand, when it is 9:15 am edt on the edge of the Green Swamp, it's 6:15 am edt on the Left Coast, and since the Bar at the End of the Universe opened at 5am God's time (which is whatever time it is in the Green Swamp), Mary was still at least an hour and a quarter late if she drank the beer which was or wasn't there in the bar that did or didn't exist at the End of the Universe that is or isn't...or something. JR,

Due to how I was dealing with reality when I wrote that post, there was some reverse rotation going on….
On the other hand, when it is 9:15 am edt on the edge of the Green Swamp, it’s 6:15 am edt on the Left Coast, and since the Bar at the End of the Universe opened at 5am God’s time (which is whatever time it is in the Green Swamp), Mary was still at least an hour and a quarter late if she drank the beer which was or wasn’t there in the bar that did or didn’t exist at the End of the Universe that is or isn’t…or something.

]]> by: Mary http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16726 Wed, 07 Jun 2006 16:48:16 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16726 There's a bar open at 5:00am????? I need that address. There’s a bar open at 5:00am????? I need that address.

]]> by: Murray http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16725 Wed, 07 Jun 2006 13:13:38 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16725 JR Mary is in Michigan (Go Blue!) so it's EDST. JR
Mary is in Michigan (Go Blue!) so it’s EDST.

]]> by: Becca (and Brian) http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16723 Wed, 07 Jun 2006 06:31:22 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16723 Hey Cooper (and all)- I don't even know what to say in response to this latest entry (other than kudos Adam). Time to sigh heavily and disgustedly and go find a good NZ beer (which do actually exist). Thanks for checking in on the blog. We're taking a few days to relax before around Lake Taupo (north Island, New Zealand)and should have the rest of the reports on the north island up in the next few days. Then it's off to our last major destination: Australia (unless we can figure out a quick trip to Borneo in there). The danger of reading FA and the news too regularly though is it makes us want to just keep on going around the globe again. Surely we can avoid coming back until after 2008? (I suppose that wouldn't work though as we need to be back to fight the good fight) Still bummed we're going to miss Felberpalooza and the chance to meet you all. Can't wait to hear stories. It'll be one year on the road June 14th. Raise a glass of your favorite for us. Becca (and Brian) Hey Cooper (and all)-

I don’t even know what to say in response to this latest entry (other than kudos Adam). Time to sigh heavily and disgustedly and go find a good NZ beer (which do actually exist).

Thanks for checking in on the blog. We’re taking a few days to relax before around Lake Taupo (north Island, New Zealand)and should have the rest of the reports on the north island up in the next few days. Then it’s off to our last major destination: Australia (unless we can figure out a quick trip to Borneo in there). The danger of reading FA and the news too regularly though is it makes us want to just keep on going around the globe again. Surely we can avoid coming back until after 2008? (I suppose that wouldn’t work though as we need to be back to fight the good fight)

Still bummed we’re going to miss Felberpalooza and the chance to meet you all. Can’t wait to hear stories.

It’ll be one year on the road June 14th. Raise a glass of your favorite for us.

Becca (and Brian)

]]> by: Murray http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16722 Wed, 07 Jun 2006 03:22:55 +0000 http://fanaticalapathy.com/2006/06/05/726/#comment-16722 JR, God, hellifiknow. JR, God, hellifiknow.

]]>