Ma Ying-jeou

Today Ma Ying-jeou becomes the new president of Taiwan. His Kuomintang (KMT) Party replaces replaces former President Chen Shui-bian's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). You can read about it here.

Free Taiwanese Dog

My Chinese tutor and friend, Iwen, is an avid dog lover. A yellow lab named Bebe, has recently come under her care. Another case of an abandoned dog in Linko, and an example of how older, bigger dogs are abandoned or abused when they are no longer cute and cuddly. Iwen has a few dogs like Bebe already, and would like to find her a new home. I told her I'd try to help her find someone who would want a dog that's on it's last chance.

Her description of the dog is as follows:

"She is 3-4 years old. She is not the most beautiful Labrador, but she is certainly kind, gentle, sweet, and friendly. We do wish to find a good home for her, a family to love her and care for her. She is NOT old, but she has been through too much pain, torture."

If anyone is interested, let me know via email or a phone call. Iwen will be able to pay for all of the travel and medical expenses involved (yes, even to the States) with getting this adorable dog into your loving home.

dont txt me bro!

I thought this article from Slashdot was pretty interesting. Apparently, per megabyte, sending SMS (text messages) to your friends and family is four times more expensive than sending and receiving data from the Hubble telescope. It's not exactly a scientifically correct research paper, but it probably rings true (no pun intended) to anyone who's been pissed about a high cell phone bill.

Birthday

Thanks to everyone who sent me birthday wishes. It meant a lot, and I'm glad that you're thinking of me. I had a nice day, and Luke and I went out for teppanyaki on Tuesday night.

I'll be visiting home to Ohio for a couple weeks in August, so I hope to see a lot of people then.

Florida Senator to Castrate Automobiles

From Reuters:

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters) - Senate lawmakers in Florida have voted to ban the fake bull testicles that dangle from the trailer hitches of many trucks and cars throughout the state.

You've probably seen these. Academically challenged individuals often add these chrome cajones to their trucks, along with other hillbilly accoutrement such as confederate flag window decals, motorboat propellers, and the ever popular faux bullet holes.

Republican Sen. Cary Baker, a gun shop owner from Eustis, Florida, called the adornments offensive and proposed the ban. Motorists would be fined $60 for displaying the novelty items, which are known by brand names like "Truck Nutz" and resemble the south end of a bull moving north.

Is this really all Sen. Baker feels is wrong with the state of Florida? Obviously a man with a lot of time on his hands. Hey Baker, you can have my chrome testicles when you pry them from my cold, dead hands!

Critics of the ban included the Senate Rules Chairman, Sen. Jim King, a Jacksonville Republican whose truck sported a pair until his wife protested.

He seems like a good husband. A real role model for Floridians.

Florida, you are such a classy state. Please don't ever change.

Modern Toilet

You may laugh at me for it. I ate at a toilet themed restaurant. Modern Toilet is a chain restaurant in Taiwan that has, you guessed it, a bathroom theme. The floors are tiled, the wallpaper is that horrible floral that many people have in their bathroom, and the tables and chairs are washbasins and toilets respectively.

The food, while not bad, is definitely not the reason people choose to eat here. I'll illustrate for you with photos.

Notice the poo light fixture.

The food comes in a small toilet.

Chocolate ass-cream. Mmmm...

The only disappointment was that the bathroom there didn't look like a restaurant, like I had anticipated it would. You can see the rest of the photos on Ariel's blog here.

Flying Dogs