More Monstro News Updates and a new feature

considering how I compulsively read the news I might as well make this a semi-regular feature on the blog, with the overlord's permission of course. Anyways, I like myself a good mix of "real" news and funny news. So here goes.

this is a stunning exchange in one of the house office buildings between some anti-war activists and one of congress's more liberal members, representative David Obey (D-WI) in what I think illuminates a lot of the frustrations and misunderstandings between the American left and what is increasingly becoming the american center [evidence of such]. The battle is between those in the more "berkeley" crowd of Rep. Barbara Lee who would rather see a complete withdrawl tomorrow, complete funding cut, etc. and the more, let's face it, rational human beings who are also "anti-war" at least as they would call it and would like to slowly bleed Bush of resources, while still providing for the troops, with which to fight the war. Anyways, I have a sick love for off-the-cuff, non-scripted remarks from pols, and this is a dandy.

Also, there's this, taken from a gaming webiste article by someone named Mike Smith, relating to the wide appeal of the new Nintendo Wii. I draw your attention to one paragraph in particular on page 2 of the article:

"The Wii has been a big hit in an Illinois retirement home, where the inmates are organizing Wii Bowlingtournaments and showing up their grandkids."

This is making me truly terrified about arriving back in the U.S. in a little under 48 hours from now. Who the fuck calls people who live in a retirement home "inmates"? Jesus, we are a fucked up society, I mean Asia has its fair share of problems to say the least but an overall feeling one gets here a very human(e) one, on many levels, but in this case to keep old people involved in families, even living in the same home as the two subsequent generations. People here find it reprehensible that we put our elders into homes, and that is an argument better tackled in another post (I think there are pros and cons) but the casual reference to them as "inmates" is a leading candidate for another new feature I'd like to call: Darkness of the Week (or whenever I decide to post something dark).

There are only two candidates this week. One is Mr. Mike Smith for referring to "inmates" of retirement homes and the other is something I found on a menu in Battambang, Cambodia. For 3000 riel (75 cents) at the White Rose Restaurant you could order something called "Insides Porridge."

Thank you.

edit: in a subsequent readthrough of that gaming article the main focus of this post should have been pants-pissing excitement over my need to buy a Wii ASAP due to the forthcoming re-release of games like Duck Hunt and, wait for it, cue a mix of ominous and light (flute) music, SMASH BROTHERS!