Random Photos

Deng Xiaoping, the de facto leader of China from the late 70’s through the early 90’s. He created the 2nd generation of Chinese leaders and introduced the concept of the socialist market economy to the world. He is responsible for the economic power that China has today and also is the god father to the Shenzhen Special Administrative Region (his concept). He is everywhere here.

Good luck guessing what this sign means at a surprisingly beautiful park in Guangzhou.

No trumpets allowed! How dare those bastards.

A very, very large statue of Deng Xiaoping overlooking the city and more importantly the provincial government building. Impressive indeed.

Should have more photos to post in the next few weeks especially as I might be back in a few weeks.

End Of An Era….Felice o Triste

Today my youngest daughter started to crawl. She is not ready to enter the Boston Marathon but she is mobile. I am as proud as I am happy but what does this mean? Will I ever go through the first baby stages ever again? Will I ever feel the joy and frustration that is the first months with a baby with no mobility? Did I enjoy it and take advantage of it as much as possible?

I don’t know and I don’t know how that makes me feel. I am done with infants forever?

Catholic guilt is one thing but this is crazy.

Brilliance…Almost

Recently I was in Vegas at the lovely/overcrowded/poorly run McCarran International Airport and saw a stroke of near brilliance. In the baggage claim area next to the wash rooms and water fountains there was something I had never seen before…a complimentary Purell Hand Sanitizer station! I am happy to admit that I am a little obsessed with hand sanitizers and the idea of them in public places is beyond fantastic. So based on this stroke of good luck I decide to go into the filthy public restrooms (I never do) and then get a drink of water from the equally germ filled water fountain. After this I walk over to the Purell dispenser and, and….it is out…bone dry. Now I am stuck with filthy hands and a poorer taste left in my mouth.

Memo to Purell and McCarran International Airport – Do Not Dick Tease Me Again, Ever. Fuckers.

Not My Thing

A list of a few items which I would consider “not my thing” -

- Pulling Weeds
- Horror Movies
- Mini Bags of Popcorn
- WSCR Chicago (670am)
- Current Rap
- Designers Without Purpose (aka 90%)

And right now Garage Sales. I will let you guess what we have this weekend. Ugh.

Enjoy the heat…

$20.00 to the first one who proves his rapture!

Not For Me

Your Food, Your Choice, Our Condoms. Click here if you want a bad taste left in your mouth. Again, this is why I prefer to drink my Diet Coke or Diet Coke Plus in cans only!

Count Me Out

Officially listed as the Wold’s highest Swing measuring 700 feet this swing is located in Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, China.

If you are interested in this you might want to take advantage of it now before the first 3-4 deaths occur either from falling or pollution at that height.

Plus What?

Official Press Release –

ATLANTA, March 22, 2007 – Coca-Cola North America today announced it will launch Diet Coke Plus™, a sparkling, calorie-free beverage with vitamins and minerals. In addition to providing great, refreshing taste, Diet Coke Plus is a good source of vitamins B3, B6, and B12, and the minerals zinc and magnesium.

Diet Coke Plus will be available throughout the U.S. in April in retail stores where other Diet Coke products are sold.
“Consumers, including Diet Coke drinkers, are increasingly looking for more beverage options, and we wanted to offer them the convenience of a calorie-free beverage that is a good source of several essential vitamins and minerals, and one that delivers on the great taste that they have come to expect from us,” said Katie Bayne, senior vice president, Coca-Cola Brands, Coca-Cola North America.

Each eight-ounce serving of Diet Coke Plus provides a good source of Niacin (vitamin B3), vitamins B6 and B12, zinc and magnesium (15% Daily Value [DV] for Niacin, B6 and B12, 10% DV for zinc and magnesium).

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That is the official word. I substituted my first 2 Diet Coke’s this morning with Diet Coke Plus (This after a 4 shot americano) and I can say it is not bad. I question any benefits, but it did not taste like shit and at least they seem to get the fact that Diet Coke drinkers LIKE the taste of Diet Coke and are not looking for the taste of Coca-Cola. Kudos to them on that point. Try one yourself and let me know how fit you feel. Maybe it have it with a Big Mac as well.

Funny As Hell

Quite possibly funnier than “More Cowbell”. Seriously funny. Crazy funny.

Anticipation Multiplied

“Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead.” – Charles Bukowski, From “Betting on the Muse” (1920 – 1994).
Unbreakable: A Retrospective – The Afghan Whigs, Released June 5, 2007.. Molto, Molto, Molto di valore (Very, Very, Very Worthwhile)