Wino

Roman's bid to have his case thrown out in California has been denied. Here is the latest. A California appeals court on Monday rejected Roman Polanski's bid to have his sex case dismissed, but cited grave concerns over possible judicial and prosecutorial misconduct. The California 2nd District Court of Appeal announced it had denied the petition, with justices saying they are "deeply concerned" about the alleged misconduct. The appeals justices are the second court to raise concerns about Polanski's treatment by the courts. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Peter Espinoza said earlier this year there appeared to be "substantial misconduct," but that Polanski had to return to the United States to argue for the case be tossed out. http://www.popeater.com/2009/12/21/polanskis-bid-for-freedom-dealt-a-blow/?icid=main|hp-laptop|dl2|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popeater.com%2F2009%2F12%2F21%2Fpolanskis-bid-for-freedom-dealt-a-blow%2F

What's wrong with scantily clad cyclists? I bet they don't like spandex, either.

The Thai version of chicken soup is always a good cure.

I am not sure some of those Irishmen would be classifed as amateurs. Many of them practice all year long.

Thanks, Chang. There some clever stuff on the internet.

The latest report I have seen said the arms were headed for Iran. Looks like the crew may end up in a Thai jail for a few years.

I hope this couple is able to return to Sweden and receive the help they need. Living hand to mouth with 3 baht in your pocket is no way to live.

I like to have money in my pocket and do not necessarily enjoy going to the ATM daily. When I make a withdrawal I usually go into the bank and ask for a combination of 1,000, 500, 100 and 20 baht notes. I put what I don't want to carry in my safe and put the rest in the wallet. Works for me.

I remember back in the early 70's, Elvis Presley had a meeting with President Nixon. Elvis showed up in his purple outfit and wanted to offer his services to the country to help fight the "war on drugs." Nixon did not take him up on the offer and the king was dead in 1977 due to a cocktail of prescribed drugs.

Another one for Sarah! Politifact.com, a fact-checking Web site owned by the St. Petersburg Times, has selected its No. 1 political falsehood of the year: Sarah Palin's assertion that the Democratic health care bill would create "death panels" -- government bodies with authority to decide whether individual citizens should receive medical treatment. The site said that 61 percent of its readers also voted Palin's "death panel" remark as the No. 1 political lie of the year. The remark was one of Palin's first political statements after she announced she would resign as governor of Alaska on July 3, and catapulted the former vice presidential candidate back into the political spotlight. "The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care," Palin wrote. "Such a system is downright evil." The statement "spread through newscasts, talk shows, blogs and town hall meetings," Politifact writes. "Of all the falsehoods and distortions in the political discourse this year, [it] stood out from the rest." http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/12/21/sarah-palins-death-panels-wins-polifact-lie-of-the-year/?icid=main|hp-laptop|dl1|link5|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicsdaily.com%2F2009%2F12%2F21%2Fsarah-palins-death-panels-wins-polifact-lie-of-the-year%2F

Mayor Bloomberg has sided with the Hasidic residents. Why is this not surprising?

Any home remedies out there to lessen your hangover? A friend who often dirinks heavily told me the key to lessen your hangover the next day is to drink a glass of water before you go to bed. Might be something to it since I would imagine alcohol dehydrates you. I guess a couple of asprin help, as well. Thins the blood and lessens that pounding in your head.

Although we always here about the many scams in Thailand, most people are very honest. I was at the ATM withdrawing some money. I was counting the 1,000 baht bills and somehow I dropped one. A lady next to me was very kind to pick the bill up and return it to me.

I agree with Bob in that I view New Year's eve celebrations as amateur night. With the risk of being viewed by the younger viewer here as old foggies, I would rather be in a small, safe group rather out amongst all the wild and crazy people.

Here is a humours Christmas poem about the Woods saga. Twas the night of Thanksgiving and out of the house Tiger Woods came a flyin', chased by his spouse. She wielded a nine iron and wasn't too merry, Cause a bimbo's phone number was in his Blackberry. He'd been cheatin' on Elin, and the story progressed. Woman after woman stepped up and confessed. He'd been cheatin' with Holly, and Jaimee, and Cori, With Joselyn, and Kalika. The world had the story. From the top of the Tour to the basement of blues, Tiger's sad sordid tale was all over the news. With hostesses, waitresses, he had lots of sex, When not in their pants, he was sendin' them texts. Despite all his cryin' and beggin' and pleadin', Tiger's wife went investin' -- a new home in Sweden . And I heard her exclaim from her white Escalade, "If you're gettin' laid then I'm gettin' paid." She's not pouting, in fact, she is of jolly good cheer, Her prenup made Christmas come early this year.

I would be surprised if they could find a room for 3500 baht a month but I am not sure. Seems the major concern for this couple was the alcohol.

Not sure the promoters were making sport of obese people? The article said, “The event was staged at the Samphran Elephant Ground in Ayutthaya in order to raise awareness for the declining and mistreated elephant population of Thailand.†Obesity, at least in America, is no longer a freak show but a common occurrence. According to this article, “The National Center for Health Statistics claim 34 percent of Americans are obese, compared to 32.7 percent who are overweight. It said just under 6 percent are "extremely" obese.†http://www.monstersandcritics.com/lifestyle/news/article_1452723.php/The_grossly_obese_are_tipping_the_scales_in_America

The Cahtolic Church simply does not have a sense of humor. WELLINGTON (Reuters Life!) – A billboard sponsored by a local Anglican church that shows Joseph and Mary in bed has set tongues wagging in New Zealand, with the Catholic Church condemning it as others found it funny. The controversial billboard, erected by St Matthew-in-the-City Church in Auckland, shows a dejected-looking Joseph under bedcovers beside a sad Mary. Underneath the image, a caption reads: "Poor Joseph. God is a hard act to follow." (Church website at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=498&id=999) Church archdeacon Glynn Cardy said the billboard was intended to lampoon the literal interpretation of the Christmas conception story and highlight the real significance of the festival. "What we're trying to do is to get people to think more about what Christmas is all about," Cardy told local media. "Is it about a spiritual male God sending down sperm so a child would be born, or is it about the power of love in our midst as seen in Jesus?" The billboard has so far drawn the ire of the Catholic Church in New Zealand, which called it "inappropriate" and "disrespectful." It was also condemned as offensive by family values group Family First. "The church can have its debate on the Virgin birth and its spiritual significance inside the church building, but to confront children and families with the concept as a street billboard is completely irresponsible and unnecessary," Family First director Bob McCoskrie told news website stuff.co.nz. The website also showed a picture of the billboard daubed in brown paint, saying it had been defaced a few hours after it was put up outside the Anglican St Matthew-in-the-City Church. Archdeacon Cardy said the church had also received several emails and phonecalls about the advert, which he said was exactly what it had been intended to do -- provoke debate about one of the most important festivals on the Christian calendar. "The true importance of Christmas is in the radical hospitality Jesus offered to the poor, the despised, women, children, and the sick, and says: 'this is the essence of God'," Cardy said. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091217/od_nm/us_newzealand_billboard

He would only be fiddling if Aunt Mildred was around.

I seem to remeber some tasty vendor vittles, also.

You know McDoanld's will never allow their restaurant to look like a homeless shelter.

The recent snow storm in New York City has canceled the proposed nude bike ride through Williamsburg, an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in NY. The cyclists are upset about Mayor Bloomberg canceling their bike lane because Williamsburg's Hasidic Jewish residents "can't handle scantily clad women" http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_bikers_in_the_buff

Nuts come in so many shapes and sizes.

I use to work with a guy that was probably 110 pounds soaking wet. He had a thing for hefty ladies. He would love to be a judge in the beauty contest. A beauty pageant with a difference has been held in the ancient former Thai capital of Ayutthaya. The contest gave women over the weight of 175 pounds the chance to strut their stuff to raise awareness for the suffering elephant population of Thailand. Ayutthaya, the 20th of December 2009 [PDN]: The beauty pageant for plus sized women involved 24 Thai women weighing in at over 175 pounds each. The event was staged at the Samphran Elephant Ground in Ayutthaya in order to raise awareness for the declining and mistreated elephant population of Thailand. The women strutted their stuff for the judges for the chance to be crowned Miss Jumbo Queen 2009. The winner of the contest was 242 pound Miss Tarnrarin Chansawang, who took home, a jumbo trophy and 50,000 baht in prize money. The heaviest competitor to enter the competition, Miss Thanchanok Mekkeaw, also took home a prize for weighing in at 400 pounds. http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.php?IDNEWS=0000011511

I know I shouldn't feel sorry for these "Swedish meatballs," but it is a shame to see anybody down and out.