I hear a lot of people talk about freeloaders, in every election. Conventional wisdom dictates that the states with the most people taking handouts and the states with the lowest GDP per capita would vote Democrat, in hopes of improving their lives through government handouts. Sadly, I rarely see statistics on these assumptions – only empty rhetoric. And […]
I analyzed the results from the last four elections for the US Presidency. The statistical correlations are unbelievable.
If you ask the average net-savvy American about internet censorship, they’ll often reference the Epitome of Internet Censorship on our planet: The People’s Republic of China. The PRC blocks so many sites, it’s freaky. We all know how things like Facebook and Twitter and YouTube and adult porn sites like videoshd.xxx are blocked, but they […]
I’ve written before about how my blog is disgusting, but I’ve pretty much gotten over the fact that the vast majority of people who find my blog through Google are doing so to find some kind of sexual service in Taiwan or the Philippines; so it’s time to talk about Taiwan Strip Clubs and Lady […]
I recently wrote a blog about banking with ChinaTrust and Bank of America. So, I sent the money transfer from Bank of America to ChinaTrust; it cost me $35US ($1200NT). BoA’s policy states that the money will arrive within two days, which it did; I checked online and confirmed it was delivered then went to my […]
For those who remember me ranting about the 99% stuff a year-or-so ago, I wanted to tackle something I see a lot of people talk about. People tend to fly off the handle about the ultra-rich (the 1% – people who make enough money to give the maximum contribution to candidates) supporting certain candidates. I’m […]
I recently had some issues at ChinaTrust bank, finding information that would be relevant to foreigners in Taiwan. Hopefully, conveying what I learned can save you some time. My situation is a common one: I wanted to know how much money I could withdraw from my Personal Account using one of ChinaTrust’s ATMs. I don’t […]
I’m 29 years old – that means I was born in 1983. It was around that time where parents began to go off the deep end. Prior to that, corporal punishment was the norm, as was letting kids run around outside unsupervised, or riding bikes without helmets. To this day, there has not been any […]
There seem to be two types of people on Facebook or, at least, that’s been my perception over the last six months: People who continuously post politically charged articles, memes, status updates, comments, etc. – and people who don’t. Now, don’t get me wrong! I’m a politically-minded person, and I will post the occasional political thought. But they are […]
There’s many routes to take, regarding teaching in Taiwan. Since there are a lot of outdated resources out there on the subject, I thought I’d write about a few of them, to give people some idea what to expect in 2012 Taiwan. First of all, I live in Taichung – that is my perspective on […]
As I wrote yesterday, dealing with the government in Taiwan can be a little absurd. Today’s example is their motor vehicle regulations. First of all, unless you have a Resident Visa (ARC), you can not register a vehicle in Taiwan. Nobody can explain why. The funny part is, if you register a vehicle under your […]
There are a lot of great things about Taiwan. But this isn’t gonna’ be about those. This is about how annoying Taiwan’s Bureaucracy is. You have to understand that the concept of “majority rules” goes haywire here. Nails that stick out are hammered down or, as the Taiwanese put it, the fattest pig is the […]
I need to tell you about my friend Ann. It’s entirely possible that Ann hates my guts (I may be her most anal-retentive client), but I consider her an amazing asset and hope that someday I can repay her for all the help she’s given me. There is no one else that I would trust […]
Many people don’t really understand inflation, so I thought a simple explanation of inflation might help. One of the more interesting ways is to look at the history of inflation as it relates to the minimum wage, because while only 2% of Americans make minimum wage, almost all of us have been minimum wage employees […]
I adore banana bread; while this is a recipe for my banana bread, we’ll see a unique baking option, too: rice cooker banana bread. First, I’ll show you how to make banana bread, traditionally, in an oven; then, we’ll get to rice cooker banana bread. Ingredients 2 sticks butter, softened/melted 2 cups white sugar 4 […]
So, there’s this girl. She’s different than any other girl I’ve ever known. And this is about her. We met in 2002, when we were 19 years old. I don’t remember exactly how we met, or when – I would guess that she doesn’t, either, despite her profound memory – we almost certainly met through […]
Ingredients 1 7-pound can of tomato paste 6 tablespoons of Italian seasoning 6 cloves of garlic 2 cups of red wine Water Materials Measuring spoons Rubber scraper Large pot (with a lid) Remove the tomato paste from the can and add it to your pot – use the rubber scraper to get it […]
Men are 1000% more likely to commit murder than women. 23% of American murders are men killing women. 50% of those murders involve the women being stalked, first. 75% of murders of women by previous intimate partners involve stalking, first. Possible threats are always to be taken seriously. Ten women are murdered by men every […]
Let me give you an easy way to understand the USA’s budget by comparing their numbers to something more familiar to you. Here’s the numbers regarding the 2012 US income/budget/debt:But that’s not easy to understand and appreciate. Because it just looks like such an enormous amount of money. So how about we remove some zeros and […]
So, I get into a lot of historical and political discussions with people. I find most of them excruciatingly frustrating. Most people have no idea what they are talking about and, really, I need to find the will-power to just stop talking to them about this stuff. People don’t argue to share information: they argue […]
I invented this recipe for the best oatmeal Craisin cookies after multiple experiments. I figured out the perfect oatmeal cookie – hearty and sweet – a cookie with substance that doesn’t taste like a health food. Despite these facts, these cookies hold their own, nutritionally, at a mere 60 calories per cookie. My standard recipe includes Toll […]
I was driving north on WenXin Lu, Monday, August 20, 2012, at 10:45am, on my scooter. Coming off the traffic light at Daye Lu, heading towards Dalong Lu, I attempted to merge right (from the right-hand lane into the scooter lane). I felt something hit the right rear of my scooter and turned my head […]
My entire life, I’ve suffered from chronic sinusitis. I have permanent dark circles under my eyes and a constant stuffy nose, thanks to my being allergic to most every kind of grass/pollen/tree/dust/mold on the planet. It sucks, but the worst part isn’t actually the near-continuous sinus infection that is my life; the worst part is […]
Taiwan has a pretty significant amount of earthquakes. Most of them are pretty mild, but usually I can feel one or two each month – just enough to notice I’m not dizzy and that the room is, in fact, vibrating. But every now and then, something a little bigger comes along, and you’re faced with the […]
I was taking a look at a picture of a scale composite picture of the relative sizes of Earth, Mars, and our moon. It got me wondering – how far away is Mars? It doesn’t look a whole lot bigger than our moon, to look at…but, actually, it’s twice the size of the moon, and […]
It has always fascinated me that a culture so aware of public perception can also be so completely self-absorbed. In Taiwan, there is a great emphasis on “saving face,” and yet, it only applies to certain facets of life. I have yet to fully grasp the concept, but I have made some observations. Generally-speaking, Taiwanese people prefer […]
I am fortunate to live on the outskirts of “Little Europe,” here in Taichung. I have the best of both worlds – close enough to access the coolest part of the city while at the same time living in a relatively quiet and relatively affordable apartment. But the best part about my neighborhood are the […]
While I no longer work with educational institutions in Taiwan, I do like to share my experiences with them. I have a unique knowledge in that I have been in both the education side as well as the managerial side; this allows me to have a perspective that is rarely gained and even less-commonly shared. […]
While the people of Taiwan are often the nicest and warmest in the world, their cultural indoctrination leads to a dependence on bureaucracy, often to the point where people are unable – or unwilling – to make any decision without it being written as law or being directly authorized by a superior. As a culture, […]
Asia’s a unique place, for a variety of reasons. It’s also a huge place with a variety of culture, both indigenous as well as adapted. This is to say that while you will find “Lady KTV” in Taiwan and China, you will not see “Gogo Bars” like you do in the Philippines and Thailand. To […]
One of the things I miss from back in The States is Kraft Blue Box Macaroni & Cheese. Yes, I know it’s processed crap. I don’t care. And I’m willing to bet a lot of people reading this right now feel the same. After being served it since children, we develop the taste for it, […]
Living abroad in a land where I don’t speak the language very well, questions abound and answers are not forthcoming. It’s my own fault, obviously; you should become literate in the language of the place you are in, not simply as good manners, but also as common sense. What happens when you need to find […]
You have one big problem making a legitimate pesto sauce here in Taiwan: pine nuts. Everything else is so easy it makes my marinara sauce recipe look difficult. To make a pesto sauce, you need nothing more than basil, olive oil, Parmesan, and garlic…and that elusive pine nut. I’ve only seen pine nuts at Costco and, […]
I talked before about peaking in high school, and that I could never be accused of such a thing. University, however, is a different story. It was one of the best times in my life and I had major accomplishments. I served all four years in student government and, along with my best friend at […]
Taiwan has a lot of great food. But both Italian and Mexican food are not on the list of things they do well. Traditionally, the Chinese like noodles served in a much more broth-like sauce – even their Italian versions of cuisine are noticeably loose. Think when you go to a bad Italian joint in […]
After a few days of undergoing “intensive chiropractic therapy,” including daily half-hour-long treatments plus eating the most disgusting Traditional Chinese Medicine (a blend of 7 herbs/roots) three times a day, I feel better than I have in years. I’m still waking up with a slightly sore neck, but this man knows what he is doing. After only three […]
The human vertebral column has 24 bones called vertebrae. A few years back, I managed to somehow move three of my lower cervical vertebrae (C5, C6, and C7) out of position. It has resulted in chronic pain, mostly in my left trapezius. It’s not uncommon for me to turn my head suddenly and feel as […]
Yesterday, I got to drive to-and-from Taichung City and Chungli City. It’s around a 120 kilometer (75 mile) drive, each way, and involves around an hour of highway driving and a half hour of city driving. Before leaving, I made sure to treat my windows with a generic product identical to the very famous Rain-X. […]
I haven’t been much into machines, in terms of my lifetime. There wasn’t much exposure to me – my dad wasn’t into them – I didn’t hang out with any gearheads. I’ve always been great behind the controls of most anything that can be steered, but it wasn’t until I moved to Taiwan that I […]
I’m going to try to start doing that more, like I did in college. Back then, I was impressed when I would pound out 8000 words in an all-nighter. Now, I can do 2000 words an hour without breaking a sweat. So, why don’t I write more? As I age, am I becoming more jaded? […]
Recently, a friend of mine wrote the following on Facebook: Waking up to the horrible news of the movie theater shooting. I can’t even comprehend this. What is the solution to protect ourselves and our families? Gun control? Do we need metal detectors and TSA agents at movie theaters as well? These poor people were […]
You know those TV commercials that start with biking in the park, and a happy couple together, and the suddenly the voiceover announces the guy has genital herpes…but it’s all just perfectly fine! Both partners feel safe and secure and it brought the relationship closer together and so on and so forth. Then comes the […]
I got to thinking about homemade protein brownies as they compared to cost, labor, and nutrition, compared to cooking out of a Pillsbury box. Finding recipes online can be a real frustration. I recently went looking for a homemade brownie recipe, as an alternative to typical store-bought “Box Brownies” that are both not necessarily available […]
Well, here I am, a month after beginning my “not really a workout” workout routine and “not really a diet” diet. It really has not consisted of anything more than doing crunches, push-ups, and pull-ups, as I think to do them (2 minutes of my life a couple of times a day). I’m eating smaller […]
Last week, I was lucky to get through a few push-ups, and couldn’t even do a pull-up. Today, reps of ten push-ups aren’t straining and I can do a half-dozen pull-ups (not chin-ups). I have no idea how many crunches I do a day, but it has to be over a hundred. My current […]
I have to go to a wedding in a little over three weeks. It’s with family I never get to see, so I like to look my best when I do. This means that the next three weeks of my life are predominantly occupied with getting tan and getting fit. It’s been a sad winter […]
Being a substitute teacher at Pulaski County Special School District boils down to one thing – you are a per-diem employee that can be dismissed at any time for any reason. However, given that there are so few substitutes available, most schools simply ban bad substitutes – it’s rare that you hear of one get […]
When I was in high school, which was only a decade ago, it was a better time than today. While I wasn’t enrolled in the district I currently teach in, I’ve seen pictures of kids then and I see them now, and today is clearly more oppressive. We thought we had it bad in high […]
When I was in middle school, which was around the time modern high school students were born, there was a new phrasing of an old word that had really taken over the scene. For a long time the word meant happy and then, later, the word changed to mean homosexual; by the year 2000, the […]
This blog has been operational for about a year. Last spring, I decided to put all my old work on here, for people to read – everything from when I was in high school up until my late 20s. I put a lot of academic writing on there and a lot of personal writing from […]
It is as clear to me as it was to Fred a hundred and fifty years ago: the concept of divinity that the majority of humans share is incorrect and must be adjusted. He said, “God is dead,” and has caused quite a stir when people have taken that line out of the context of […]
Having lived in Little Rock for a while, and always cruising Craigslist in whatever location I am in (even in Taiwan, where no one uses it), I posted the following reaction to the ads I was seeing on there. This is what I wrote: Honestly, ladies, it’s not that I don’t […]
Back in 2008, I voted on of a proposition here in Arkansas called The Unmarried Couple Adoption Ban. The concept was pushed by a group called The Arkansas Family Council (AFC), who are quirky in their homophobia: they freaked out about California’s Harvey Milk Day, saying kids would be required to dress in drag and have mock […]
I think when people are forced to write, they often don’t do it well. I believe people can write in a very “tunnel-vision” manner when they are very focused on their writing, and quality suffers for the sake of content. I hate writing poorly, but sometimes, I can’t avoid but to appear to write badly. […]
Substitute teachers have a few different brands. You were a kid once. Maybe you still are. You know the drill. There’s a reverse bell curve, with “insanely strict substitutes” on one end and “totally aloof substitutes” on the other end. The minority find themselves in the middle – 90% of subs are super strict […]
Teaching has its various merits and drawbacks, for me. First of all, no matter what educational bracket you are in, academia is the lowest income bracket you are looking at. This is why most teachers do lots of extra stuff – anything from coaching sports teams to staying after school to monitor kids getting […]
I’ve come to realize, over the last few months, that I’m in a unique position. Since returning to the USA in December on 2011, I began substitute teaching at Pulaski County Special School District at the end of January. I have worked the last 45 out of 55 working days, the majority of my work being at […]
People talk a lot about World War Three. A few years ago, I realized that World War Three, the way we all imagine it to be, is not going to happen. Nations secure in economy and military have no reason to launch war in the manner seen in the 1940s – actions like that were […]
David’s Burgers has done well for itself in Central Arkansas – after starting in Conway, their West Little Rock location has been open less than a year, and they are already creating a third one elsewhere – for a high-end hamburger joint to be that successful in this economy, you really know all you need […]
For those unaware, BTJunkie closed down a few days ago, “voluntarily,” which is to say they closed down before the US government could close them down. The more I look at it, the more I see it all as innevitable. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief a month ago, thinking there was some victory over […]
YouTube, while being the most popular video hosting/sharing website, has some extreme failures that are frequently overlooked by the majority of users. The benefits of YouTube can not be understated; its value to the internet is unparalleled. If the advent of internet is equivalent to the invention of interchangeable type, then YouTube is the creation […]
Before leaving to Angeles City, Philippines – one of Southeast Asia’s many Cities of Sin – I checked with a variety of hotels regarding accommodation; in the summer time, many hotels will offer discounts, especially for long stays paying cash. To my amazement, the majority of hotels did not even respond to my email inquiries […]
My stay at Stone House July 5, 2011, could not have been more fantastic. While it is a little out-of-the-way, in Quezon City, its charm more than makes up for the extra distance. The building is aptly named; the exterior is entirely made of stone and the interior is charmingly antique. When I stayed there […]
An Economic Timeline Regarding US Military Spending (in billions) 1942 $260 (estimated) 1944 $850 (estimated) WWII ENDS 1946 $556.9 1947 $52.4 COLD WAR BEGINS 1948 $103.9 1949 $144.2 1950 $141.2 KOREAN WAR BEGINS 1951 $224.3 1952 $402.1 1953 $442.3 KOREAN WAR ENDS 1954 $420.9 VIETNAM BEGINS 1955 $376.9 1956 $356.2 1957 $360.9 1958 $352.9 1959 $352.5 […]
Mere days ago, it was announced the Joe Paterno has a treatable form of lung cancer; a good friend of mine, who is both named Laura and a considerably larger football fan than I am, suggested it was to gain sympathy after the recent scandal. This prompted me to do some research and write the […]
The following was a back-and-forth between myself and my very good friend, Dave McKelvey, over the course of 24 hours, on Facebook. Joseph Fritz This is not from “mainstream media pundits” – this is one of many actual people out there, uncut and flat-out. I await any video of a 99%er who actually has something […]
But, don’t get me wrong. I know. At least, I think I know better than most. I’ve spent most of my life in existential exploration and what is true for me now is as true for me as it has ever been: All knowledge is self-knowledge. Anything we think about the world or about anything, […]
I’ve reached my breaking point. As has, it seems, plenty of governmental organizations and law-enforcement officers. I have major beef with The 99%ers. You all annoy me. You piss me off. And I have legitimate reasons why, just as you have legitimate reasons why you’re all pissed off, too. Some of the things you’re pissed […]
I don’t understand this world that I live in. Which, I guess, doesn’t really say much. I’ve never really understood this world I live in and I don’t think many other people do, either. Those that do write books or become entrepreneurs or politicians. Me? I’m still stuck in the “figuring it out” phase of my life. […]
By the Sea Resort Resort Hotel is fairly standard lodging for Barrio Barretto, Olongapo. Subic Bay has long been a sex tourism destination in the Philippines, dating back to the US Naval Base located there, which was closed in 1991. The area has calmed down quite a bit since then, but there are still […]
I stayed at the Clarkton Hotel in mid-December, 2010, and while I would like to say my stay was pleasant…it simply wasn’t. I had a terrible time over the weekend I was there, and while I hate to rip a hotel apart, that is precisely what I am about to do here. On paper, […]
to learn about Taiwan Strip Clubs and Lady KTVs, click here Ever since I came to Asia, I noticed that prostitution was different here than what I was used to back in The States. The differences are almost too many to count, but in this article, I’m going to briefly discuss a few things, focusing […]
I’ve been writing for many years, but up until recently, I never had a place to put my writings, beyond handing them off to friends. About two months ago, I decided that I wanted to share what I had written over the last decade with everyone. Much of what I write is considered “stream of consciousness” or […]
I am truly impressed with the Oasis Park Hotel. Situated on Belen Street in the Paco section of Manila, it is just adjacent to Paco Park, formerly a municipal cemetery during the Spanish Colonial Period. The neighborhood is relatively barren, by Manila’s usual standards, but this is advantageous, in a way. While the nearest 7-11 […]
Spirituality is a topic I’ve dealt with my entire life. I was brought up Methodist and confirmed Episcopalian, but I never really believed any of it; it all seemed too simple. From the time I could have independent perceptions about the world I questioned what was taught in every philosophy or theology I encountered. There […]
I begin this section almost a year after I wrote PART I. Upon the conclusion of PART I, I hastily wrote both a PART II and a PART III, which were as follows: PART II This will be rather hard to describe… I have discovered that, by writing my system of ideas down as I […]
Because my story is so strange and twisted, with both emotion and substance, there is really no way to begin it. There is no possible way to describe to you the awesome events that have surrounded the last week of my life. Depending on perspective, this has been the most incredible moment of my life. […]
I have never claimed myself a journalist – I write what I write to entertain, not inform – the fact that my material has educational value is insignificant to my desire to simply write what I think and feel. Recently, however, I was watching Bill Maher on CNN, who mentioned something about how the leading […]
Text theory, to an individual, is the ability to think about text. I understand text, in it plainest form, to be anything physical that is interpreted by an individual as having significance. In other words, anything that is intercepted and interpreted through acoustics, sight, touch, taste, or smell is potential text. The real dependent factor […]
I am, for lack of any better definition, a destructive person. One could say I have an appetite for it, but I just say that I rather enjoy damage. Destruction is effective; decimation works; obliteration is fantastic. Now, I would not say I destroy everything or even many things, I simply destroy what I must […]
For the last couple of decades, I have spent my life alone. While I’ve had people with me, I would not say that I have been with people. There have been various instances in my life where I have not felt alone, just as there have been times when I am happy, but none of […]
This may not be for you. For all I know, you’re going to loathe this document just as much as I love it. It doesn’t matter as long as you absorb it. I’m here to talk about my fellow man. My fellows are not the “adult generation;” not “Baby Boomers;” not “Generation X;” my generation. […]
How will it end? Nonsense. When will it really begin? We love and we loathe our aspirations, our expectations, and our anticipations. They keep us all living without actually allowing us to live; we are constantly waiting for a conclusion so we can begin another story. We learn in high school to get into college […]
First they point, then they laugh, then they fight you, then you win. – Gandhi First, I want to make it very clear that I am above you. So far above you, in fact, that you can barely see me; when you do you jeer at me because you’re scared of what I can do […]
I seek happiness. For a long time, I have thought that the “ultimate” happiness was the nature of pure love. I figured if I could look at everything with some love, I would be happier. When asked, “What makes you happy?” a friend of mine said, “What doesn’t make you happy?” I think that is […]
Last night, I found myself in a very stressful situation regarding a group of Oxen and my roommate, who I will refer to as S.D. The whole night we had been dealing with Oxen disrespecting our apartment and disrespecting us, both verbally and physically. Once they showed up at our front door to drag S.D. […]
When I sleep, when I walk, when I sit, when I drive: I dream all the time. There are occurrences in my everyday life that could suggest that I am delusional on some level simply because I will live so much of my existence not paying attention to reality. The question most important to me […]
Almost two months ago, I found myself writing a piece very similar to this one. At the time, I was frustrated with the mixed vibes that I was receiving about my writings, and decided to write about how I just wanted to get my ideas out and “enlighten” people. Recently, a work of mine made […]
I was once assigned a paper by a professor of mine, Mr. Gaspeny. This would have been no problem except that he said the paper required a title. I loathe titles – nothing that I write ever initially has a title. When I told Mr. Gaspeny said I don’t “do titles,” he said, “Well…the High […]
07 November 2002 Many opinions have been stated about the current situation that the United States of America has placed itself in regarding Iraq. Before I get into my opinions, let me first say I am an avid supporter of war. Though I find war itself a brutal and barbaric act of lunacy, I also […]
Almost a year ago, my father gave me some advice about women. Before this, the only advise I can remember hearing was from my mother, claiming to be quoting him, saying, “Keep away from the skirts.” Though it was sound guidance, this simple philosophy leaves a lot to be desired. In the midst of my […]
Ever since I was a young child, I have interacted with people. Before I knew what a case study was, I was performing them on everyone I met. Each person I meet I follow the same procedure. First, I get to know the person and see who I think they are. Then, I watch them […]
2015 Edit: As we are now adults, Someone’s name has been changed to “her” and “she” The first time I met her was an auspicious autumn evening in my first semester at High Point University. A friend of mine who dealt drugs rolled a colossal blunt and showed up at my dorm room where my girlfriend of […]
One morning as I was walking back from a friend’s apartment to my bed I began to think. The night had been wild and yet uneventful, and it was now six in the morning and I was all alone on my campus – just walking through the North Carolina fog that hazed the air just […]
I live in an apartment. My two mates and I have a few pastimes, one of which is substance abuse, as we are in a college apartment complex. The true tradition of our house, however, is the video game. Throughout the last month that we have lived here, furniture has been moved around numerous times […]
Some days, I wake up feeling very refreshed. Though, on most days, I feel quite the opposite. Today I had “a bad wake-up,” as I like to call it. Imagine awakening to 1980s “cock rock” on the radio followed by the realization that not only are you not intoxicated anymore, but you’re remising. It’s during […]
Upon reading the assigned philosophies written by the foremost philosophers of this, the 20th, and 19th centuries, I have come to the conclusion that I do not want to write about any of them. Each of their works has some good points and some bad points, but those points are made in such complex ways […]
When I was in the seventh grade, I learned about Valhalla. For those that don’t know, Valhalla is a place in Norse mythology that warriors would go when they died. A place to wage war during the day and enjoy blissful evenings. For a long time, I imagined how cool it would be to go […]
On the evening of February 26, 2003, a situation occurred between members of the Theta Chi fraternity and my apartment, 1F. At approximately 9:30 pm my roommate Ben Moats and I were on the exterior of our apartment smoking cigarettes and we saw that people standing outside 3B were spitting over the balcony onto the […]
Many people have speculated why youth join gangs. The definition of “gang” is, “1. A group of people, usually young, who associate regularly on a social basis. 2. A group of criminals who band together for mutual protection and profit.” Strangely enough, the gangs in the cities are usually a combination of the two definitions. […]