Monkey News: Da Return

I haven't found a good monkey news story for some time, until today that is. Here's a good one from msnbc that includes this classic quote: "There are too many monkeys" :

India Train Company Turns to Monkey Business

Fierce-looking primate employed to keep wayward monkeys off subways
MSNBC News Services

Updated: 7:02 a.m. PT Aug 2, 2006

NEW DELHI, India - They say it takes a thief to catch a thief, but India’s Delhi Metro has hired a monkey to frighten off other monkeys from boarding trains and upsetting passengers.

In an effort to keep monkeys out of the New Delhi subways, authorities have called in one of the few animals known to scare the creatures — a fierce-looking primate called the langur, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported Wednesday.

The decision to hire a langurwallah — a man who trains and controls the langurs — came after a monkey got into a metro car June 9, the newspaper reported.

In that incident, a monkey boarded a train at the underground Chawri Bazaar station and reportedly scared passengers by scowling at them for three stops. It then disembarked at Civil Lines station.

Passengers had to be moved to another car while staff chased the dexterous creature, causing delays.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation says it hopes the new hire will avert a repeat of that episode.

“It started working about a month ago and since then we’ve not had a single incident,” said Anuj Dayal, a metro spokesman.

The langur handler is being paid a retainer of India rupees 6,900 ($160) a month, and “he will be called whenever there is a monkey problem,” Dayal was quoted as saying.

“There are too many monkeys,” Dayal was quoted as saying.

Langur monkeys are similarly employed around the grounds of parliament and some government buildings in New Delhi.
© 2006 MSNBC Interactive

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14121007/

PS: I borrowed "Da Return" in today's title from this classic album which you too can own for $.01

stuff I've been meaning to blog plus Prague potato chip scam

my stream of consciousness, larry king-style:

Mom & Reg are here this weekend. They arrived last night and will be here til tuesday 8/8. Going to Ms-TB Monday night with them and Geegy & Mike. Was mom's 65th bday on Monday 7/31 but I promised not to tease her about being an official senior citizen, so I won't. Fred the cat, this blog's namesake, became a teenager that same day, so happy birthday to mom & fred. Happy 13th anniversary to ML & Julie too. Irene & I are heading up to Vancouver tomorrow to see Morty & Kate. Mom & Reg decided to hang in Seattle rather than sit in the car another 6-7 hours, since they'll be driving off to CA Tuesday and did the FL-NH drive in the past couple weeks.

That's it for now except for this important warning from a frommers email newsletter I received today:

Potato Chip Scams

"Other than the taxi drivers, only one other thing upset me about Praha; When you sit down at a restaurant, you'll find potato chips in a basket. You'd think those stale potato chips -- and the unrequested bread they later bring to the table -- are on the house. But no! Whether you eat the chips and bread or not, they still charge you. It's just a few dollars, but you still feel like you've been taken. TIP: Ask the server to remove the potato chips before you sit down, and say "no thank you" to the bread."

I think my favorite part is how the author linked potato chips to the photo he took, you know, as a public service, just in case anyone was puzzled about how to avoid this scam because of unfamiliarity with what Czech bowls of chips might look like.

Wanderlust

Jim and I have been itching to hit the road again. We're trying to figure if and when we can go to Washington, DC and NYC before our bigger trip planned in November. It's still a coin toss if we're heading to Asia (Hong Kong and Shanghai) or Eastern Europe (Berlin, Dresden, and Prague). More on that later...

All this trip planning has given me an idea to list the places I want to visit in my lifetime. So here goes...

The Americas
Canada: Churchill
Peru: Macchu Picchu
Bolivia
Venezuela
Ecuador: Galapagos Island
Patagonia (Chile and Argentina)
Mexico: Mexico City

Europe
Scotland: Glasgow, Edinburgh
Spain: Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Ronda
Portugal: Lisbon, Porto, The Algarve
Germany: Berlin, Cologne, Dresden
Czech Republic: Prague
Malta
Italy: Milan, Bolzano

Africa
South Africa: Johnannesburg
Kenya: Ngogrongoro Crater
Tanzania: Kilimnajaro

Asia
China: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing
Japan: Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Osaka
Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi
Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai
Cambodia: Angkor Watt
Malaysia: Singapore

Coco Damon?

Here's new Red Sox CF Coco Crisp doing his best impression of Johnny, aka Judas, aka Sell-Out, aka Dead-to-me, Damon, while the Sox were out here in Seattle. See the ball over on the right?

Bush: (with mouth full of bread) Yeah

That subject line is my favorite quote from this--another international highlight for America's face to the world, and true class act! I've never been more grateful to the Republicans for passing the 2-term limit after FDR. (Transcript courtesy of the BBC):

Bush: And thanks for the sweaters - I know you picked em out yourself...

Blair: Oh yes absolutely - in fact I knitted it!!!

(laughter)

Bush: What about Kofi Annan - he seems alright. I don't like his ceasefire plan. His attitude is basically ceasefire and everything sorts out.... But I think...

Blair: Yeah the only thing I think is really difficult is that we can't stop this without getting international presence agreed. I think what you guys have talked about which is the criticism of the (inaudible word). I am perfectly happy to try and see what the lie of the land is, but you need that done quickly because otherwise it will spiral.

Bush: Yeah I think Condi's (US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice) gonna go soon.

Blair: Well that's all that matters but if you... You see at least it gets it going.

Bush: I agree it's a process...I told her your offer too.

Blair: Well it's only if she needs the ground prepared as it were. If she goes out she HAS to succeed whereas I can just go and...

Bush: You see the irony is what they need to is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit and it's all over...

Blair: Dunno... Syria....

Bush: Why?

Blair: Because I think this is all part of the same thing...

Bush: (with mouth full of bread) Yeah

Blair: Look - what does he think? He thinks if Lebanon turns out fine. If you get a solution in Israel and Palestine. Iraq goes in the right way

Bush: Yeah - he's [indistinct]

Blair: Yeah.... He's had it. That's what all this is about - it's the same with Iran

Bush: I felt like telling Kofi to call, to get on the phone to Assad and make something happen.

Blair: Yeah

BUSH: [indistinct] blaming Israel and [indistinct] blaming the Lebanese government....

Warming up my TiVo

CBS has started promoting Amazing Race 10 which'll air this fall. The 13 teams started their 30-days globe trekking adventures from Gas Works Park here in Seattle back in May. CBS confirmed the teams traveled to China (the first pit stop), Mongolia, Vietnam, Kuwait and Madagascar. The Seattle P-I comments that this edition has more diverse racers than before, but I still wondered why they haven't casted many teams of mixed ethnicities yet. Let's hope for another exciting seaon, and no repeats of the lameness of the family edition.

I ♥ pomme frites

It's Bastille Day! The weather is gorgeous outside, with great weather for the coming days. To get things started right, I had lunch at Cafe Campagne in Pike Place Market. They set up food and drink stations so you just pick out what you want, find a seat, and enjoy!

Liberté! Égalité! Fraternité! Parté!

Here's to the French man of the moment, Zizou rocks!

Baby - it's what's for dinner

from today's Seattle P-I: "The $7.50 Burrito Grande at Gorditos in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood, billed as the burrito as big as a baby, is almost as big as this 11-week-old. You get a choice of meat in this double-tortilla-wrapped monstrosity."

I was going to make another baby meat joke here but decided to restrain myself

Zizou you've been a bad boy

come on, give us a hug

PC Load Letter! @#@##@!

From: "Boss"
Sent: Monday, July 03, 2006 7:43 AM
To: "Peon"
Subject: printer

Please put paper in my printer…. It is out

I'm sorry that I can't claim to be the peon requested to comply with this boss's command. But I have worked for this person before and I can attest that he makes similar requests all the time and he demands immediate attention whenever asked. The person requested to put paper in the printer doesn't sit closer to the printer than the boss. The peon just happens to be financially "closer" to the printer.

Sox Lose in 19

Apparently the Red Sox suck at 19 inning games. They lost another one tonight, blowing leads in the 9th with 2 outs (Papelbon with a rare blown save) and again in the 11th, this time a 2-run lead, when recently acquired ex-White Sox Jose Lopez and normally reliable Timlin couldn't shut the door. Only Timlin's 3rd bs of the year, so I ain't mad at him either

here are the gory details. Also, from the game recap: "It was Boston's longest game by innings since going 19 innings on Aug. 1, 2000, against Seattle"

Irene and I were at that game & stayed for all 19--It started Tuesday night & ended past 1AM Wednesday. Favorite moments: the Mariner Moose dressed in his PJs after 11:00, and the 14th inning stretch. Apparently we get a stretch every 7 innings according to the latest collective bargaining agreement.

Our old buddy Jeff Fassero surrendered a lead off HR to Mike Cameron leading off the 19th to end it. I think we were out of Safeco before Cammy touched home plate. After flopping with the Sox Fassero went on to become a closer(!) with the Cubs in '01 and is amazingly still pitching in the majors, with SF this year. He's been a strictly NL guy that whole time, providing more evidence to support my latest baseball theory: The NL Blows. Tune in to the All-Star game Tuesday night for more proof

OK I'll stop whining now - go Big Papi in Monday night's HR derby

Irene's Reading List for June

The Torment of Others by Val McDermid
fallen by David Maine
The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr
A Million Nightingales by Susan Straight
The Wives of Bath by Wendy Holden
The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

A little coffee with your drink

Welcome to Seattle where everyone, including their mother, loves coffee! My office building has three Starbucks, and there's always a line in any one of them no matter what time of day. This morning I really needed a caffeine fix so off I go to guess which Starbucks is the least crowded. Boy did I guess wrong! There were people ahead of me picking up coffee for their office -- Grande Vanilla Latte, Grande Chai Latte, Grande Latte with no foam and extra hot, Pomegranate Fruit Drink, etc... Not a single drip coffee or Americano in the bunch. It reminded me of the scene in L.A. Story when everyone at the restaurant ordered espresso but with something a little different from everyone else. I know anyone who's ever stood in line at Starbucks, Tully’s, Peets, {insert any corporate coffee monger}, you've already heard what you may think is the most pretentious coffee drink ever. After the 15th drink, I thought I was going to have a cow but luckily they exclaimed that they were done. They left Starbucks joking that they should bring a marker next time to put names on the drinks. Snarky assholes! They didn't even have apologized for making everyone wait for their coffee.

I love coffee like everyone else but I think people are getting out of hand with ordering specific coffee drinks. Starbucks is enabling people to become coffee assholes.

overheard at delaurenti's deli counter today

tourist wearing Buffalo Bills polo shirt, eyeing deli meat counter: Excuse me, do you have any blah-blah-blah (I didn't catch what he said) ham?

DeLaurenti's deli counter guy, blankly: No, what's that?

Bills fan: Wild Boar from Sicily or Corsica

Deli guy, even more blankly: no

Bills fan has nothing further to add to this, looks down & walks away.

Not sure why I even remember this kind of stuff or why it strikes me as funny, but I do and it does. I have my doubts the guy would have bought any, and that he was just trying to show off his advanced level of ham-sophistication, though he apparently forgot that kind of ham is illegal to import to the US.

I learned that when I was in Spain. See--I'm pretty ham-phisticated too! or maybe just ham-fisted? ham handed?

Next topic: here's another way ze Germans are celebrating the World Cup. First wild bear seen in Germany in 170+ years - QUICK - KILL IT!

Can there be anything cuter?

Jim and I had the pleasure to have Bonzo stay with us for the weekend. We stopped by Kris's house while on a walk. Bonzo just got groomed and Kris couldn't resist taking a few pics.

Record Breaking Ball

Who knew there was a world record for largest ball of rubber bands? There's a guy in Medford, Oregon who's hoping to break the current record holder, a 3,120 pound, 5 foot tall rubber band ball. Check out his MySpace page to donate to his cause. The ball is up to 563 pounds.

If you didn't know, I have my own rubber band ball which I started years ago. It's been so long (plus I'm bad with dates) that I don't remember when I started it. Check back later to see the size of my ball. It's no where near 3 foot tall but it does have a mean bounce and will leave a bruise if it's thrown at you.

Final TCB Vocab

I finished the Inner Circle almost 2 weeks ago but have been lax at blogging lately

Here are the final 2 words I learned from it (he used them in the same sentence):

senescence n

1. the organic process of growing older and showing the effects of increasing age [syn: aging, ageing]

2. the property characteristic of old age [syn: agedness]

climacteric n.

1. A period of life characterized by physiological and psychic change that marks the end of the reproductive capacity of women and terminates with the completion of menopause.
2. A corresponding period sometimes occurring in men that may be marked by a reduction in sexual activity, although fertility is retained.

Kitty-Cam

Here's a link to a National Geographic video short about cats and mice. They strap a camera onto a kitty, and set it out to go hunting mice. Spoiler alert -- don't read this if you don't want to know the outcome! Cat 1; Mouse 0.

I'm squeamish so it's pretty disturbing (though educational) for me.

Irene's Reading List for May

Saturday by Ian McEwan
Death of an Ordinary Man by Glen Duncan
Wicked, The Life and Times of the Wicked of the West by Gregory Maguire
Veronica by Mary Gaitskill
No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy

Carl Everett update

Everett a model citizen in Seattle -- so far

My favorite quote from the article: "I haven't had problems anywhere -- except Boston," Everett said. "Really didn't have problems there. They had problems with me."

Not to sound too much like a HS yearbook quote or anything here, but...as Eddie Vedder sang on Riot Act's Cropduster:

I was the fool because I thought
I thought the world
Turns out the world thought me

It's about a guy realizing he's the one who's 'off', not the rest of the planet

the point here? I have no idea. I've always liked that lyric & Carl's quote made me think of it