"Kitty, Lumpia, and Whiskey.

What Is the True Meaning of Christmas?; or “Lumpia and Whiskey”

Earlier this evening, I had the great pleasure of joining some friends for a Christmas party at their church in Suwon. Although the service wasn’t exactly my brand, it was good fun all the same. There were quite a few people there from various backgrounds – Korean, Filipino, Sri Lankan, Anglo, etc. It’s an awesome thing to have such diversity for a number of reasons, but chief among them is that its proof in the pudding that religion has as much of a power to unite people as it does to divide them. And when such peoples are united, they are bound to create a whole hell of a lot of good food. I am now 15,000+lbs. heavier due to the assault on the Filipino table that I made. Adobo, lumpia, dulce leche, that thing with bay leaves, etc. all went down for the count. We all then later participated in a White Elephant exchange, and yours truly won a bottle of whiskey. Combined with the recent stash of beer I picked up while on base, this is going to be a very Merry Christmas.

Who Loves Kitty?

We all do; and if you don’t, you will after watching this video. 1:17 is how I feel at the moment; watch the precious fat kitty waddle about at 5:09.

Political Processes Can Frustrate and Unnerve; or “Barack Obama Needs to Borrow a Pair”

I’ve been taking a break from keeping up to date on politics and current events lately, much to the dismay of the entire world (which certainly depends on my keen insight and understanding of what’s going as a bellwether). One thing that has peaked my interest, however, has been the recent deal between President Obama and Congressional Republicans on extending tax cuts (for everyone, including income earners of over $250K/yr) and unemployment insurance. This follows a threat from Republicans to hold up all pending legislation – including the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and extension of unemployment benefits – unless tax cuts were extended for top income earners. Instead of holding fast and HAMMERING THE HELL out of his Republican counterparts, Obama caved in to a deal that does nothing to help the economy and extends our deficits.

The political battle itself wouldn’t have been that difficult. Democrats WANTED to permanently extend the Bush tax cuts for most income earners, letting only the cuts for very high income earners ($250K+) expire. Yet you’ve got 41 Republicans who would hold up extending unemployment benefits for people who can’t find work just so they can extend billions in tax benefits to the rich. Instead of taking to the airwaves and using the Power of the Pulpit, Obama and his team caved. At least one guy has the cajones to call them on it.

One wonders what it would be like to have a liberal progressive president who actually fought for what he or she believed in; at least someone supposedly more moderate like Hillary Clinton would know how to go to the mattresses every once in awhile.

This is Insane

I mean seriously. That much hair gel and house trance music make my drug-free bloodstream SCREAM for cocaine.