So...

My best friend "Shannon" from the last post went back and deleted ALL of her comments from that post. But not before I'd already copy and pasted it! HAHA.


I also cut my bangs,


it stopped raining,


we went out on the town,



finished the pyramid,


changed hotels,


wandered,



were appalled at the Indonesian war on Christmas,


& I got a new man.


or is it MEN?

THE argument

This all began when I posted a link to this survey which showed that Fox news viewers are significantly less informed than consumers of news from other sources. An ex-coworker of Anton and I's, David (who is cool), re-shared it on his wall with this comment "If those stats are correct, (they could be totally made up) we are fucked!"

This is what followed, minus a few "I LOVE THIS" posts from David. (It's long, but worth it. I'm bold, & my main opponent is underlined. Everyone else italics. Also: Brian & Shannon are siblings...didn't want to post last names.)

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Alecia: The question isn't whether the stats are correct, they are (within an appropriate margin of error), but whether this is a causal relation or a correlation...does Fox make you stupid, or are stupid people just drawn to Fox?

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Greg: I saw this yesterday when I accomplished reading the whole internet. The truth is, if you are getting your news from O'Reilly or Hannity, you're no better than getting your news from Maddow, Matthews or Olbermann. They're all sabre rattling shills. The mainstream media has turned into an epic failure, completely slanted and misleading.

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Brian: Try watching mathews or olberman on msnbc. Talk about misinformed...

Brian: Furthermore, the actual news programs on fox are very good and not biased. Opinionated programs like oreilly and hannity are just that but it's not like they try and hide it. At least they bring on pundits from the other side and actually debate topics.

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Shannon:
This is propoganda (or PR as we call it in my world) related to Al Gore and his claim that FOX manipulates the news because of an email from a FOX managing editor outlining their commitment to unbias coverage of "global warming." You call this manipulation of coverage? This to me says they're responsibly reporting the facts:

"Given the controversy over the veracity of climate change data," Sammon wrote, "we should refrain from asserting that the planet has warmed (or cooled) in any given period without IMMEDIATELY pointing out that such theories are based upon data that critics have called into question. It is not our place as journalists to assert such notions as facts, especially as this debate intensifies."

So, wait, who's trying to manipulate coverage here? Seems like Al Gore is working the media pretty hard today to prove his theories. As a PR person I know that you can create any survey to get the results you want. Too bad the rest of the American public believe any "survey" they read.

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Brian: Lol! Nice one sis!

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Alecia:
‎@Shannon
As a political science major whose favorite subject was statistics, I ALSO know surveys are easy to manipulate. These questions are straightforward with extremely significant results. Also worth noting is that it's not the first time this has been surveyed and these results have been found. Along with this study performed by the University of Maryland,

"This study corroborates a previous PIPA study that focused on the Iraq war with similar results. And there was an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll that demonstrated the break with reality on the part of Fox viewers with regard to health care. The body of evidence that Fox News is nothing but a propaganda machine dedicated to lies is growing by the day."

Picking one hot-topic issue and screeching about Al Gore does little to disprove the other 8 questions, and also makes you look like a fool considering you're still shilling for Fox News while responding to a survey about that same news organization making you stupid. Good job.

And @Brian, maybe you should have read the whole article before you began railing against MSNBC, which has the BEST record on informing viewers (not great, but in the age of corporate owned EVERYTHING what does one expect.)

"By the way, the rest of the media was not blameless. CNN and the broadcast network news operations fared only slightly better in many cases. Even MSNBC, which had the best record of accurately informing viewers, has a ways to go before it can brag about it."

LOL good one Alecia.

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Brian:
Wow, I know a great way to settle this! Alecia vs. Shannon, fisticuffs. I know who my money is on...

Seriously though...

@ Alecia :) if you think Mathews, Olberman, the Ed show, Maddow, etc are any different than Hannity, O'Reilly, etc, only on the opposite end of the spectrum, than you are a complete moron. Also, Fox's opinionated programs do not begin until 7pm. They are still doing the news when MSNBC's liberal pundits are on the majority of the day. If you think the news on Fox is biased than you haven't watched it, and are clearly talking out of your ass.

We all know that Liberals own the media. Fox news is the only place you can go for an opposing view. Not to mention they constantly bring on people from the other side for debates so it's up to you to choose who you agree with more. There is a reason Fox's ratings are by far higher than any other cable network.

Also, the fact that you take this viewpoint does not surprise me considering the fact that you were more than likely educated by liberal professors, thus you are a bleeding heart liberal yourself.

Have a nice weekend!

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Anton: David you are an asshole for putting this shit up. Now my girlfriend has to duel Shannon. My bleeding liberal heart will not allow me to hit Brian, so I'd just curl up in a ball as he hits me with the butt of his rifle.

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Alecia:
For the record, I watched Fox EXCLUSIVELY for about 2 years, 2-4 hours a day. To find out for myself / research their claims / have a laugh. (This was back in the Gibson-Smith-Hume-O'Reilly-Hannity&Colmes-Greta days. In that order.) But by all means continue to sling accusations, you are a perfect example of what this study means to those that actually seek out truths instead of blindly following the media. And continue to ignore the statistics I actually cited saying MSNBC HAS THE MOST INFORMED VIEWERS. But oh yes, facts get in the way of your Hannity worship, so just ignore them like a good Fox drone...

And also, for the record, I don't watch any of the garbage cable news channels and I despise BOTH political parties.

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Brian:
I don't really understand what you mean by "slinging accusations". MSNBC has become almost entirely an opinionated network. That is not an accusation. Check the lineup yourself. This is why their ratings continue to drop.

Rifle toting, scotch breath, wall punching, red faced, gay bashing, racist conservative signing off. :)

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Anton: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Who said anything about wall punching?

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Shannon: Good work poli sci major and statistics buff, clearly you don't study mass media in your program.

Shannon: Furthermore, the point is that it's not coincidental that this survey emerges the same day Al Gore rants about Fox, again it's called PR.

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Alecia
‎@Brian - I never attempted to claim that MSNBC wasn't a left-leaning station. Olbermann and Maddow are both extremely liberal. Funny how the most liberal station scores best at informing it's viewers (AKA it's viewers not believing lies about factual issues)! Maybe that's because...hmm...this is a tough one...

@Shannon - So the University of Maryland and Al Gore are BFF's now? Along with Al Gore and all the other survey groups that have done studies showing similar results?

Sounds like quite the conspiracy you're flaunting.

Also, Al Gore spoke out regarding the leaked internal e-mail at Fox. OF WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN MANY. All with the same extremely Republican slant.

But no, an Al Gore conspiracy totally makes more sense.

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David: YES!!!! I LOVE IT!!!

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Alecia Can't...stop...arguing...ahhghhghghghhg

Alecia We should all just watch this and agree that it's fucking creepy:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8514703202504622113#

*****(Note: This is a link to a documentary called "Married to the Eiffel Tower". It is about women who are in love with inanimate objects, mostly large structures...although one woman did have a long term relationship with her archery bow. I highly recommend it, it's fucking insane. Hat tip to Ty for this great find. I was trying to lighten the mood...and I'm also obsessed with it.)*****

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David: Hahahahahaha! That is hilarious!

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Shannon: So then Alecia, what is it that you do for a job? Turns out I've been working with national media on a daily basis for 10 years. You truly have no idea how the world of media turns. But don't feel bad, most people have no comprehension. Don't stop believin', hold on to that feelin' Ha, ha, you're an idiot and I'm peacin' out on this.

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Alecia: ‎@Dave I can't wait to consummate my marriage with the Berlin Wall, and neither can he.

@Shannon I DON'T GOTS NO JOB DAYUM YOU A PR PERSON IM LIKE SO IMPRSSED U NEED 2 B LIKE A GEENYUS 4 DAT

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Shannon: Ha, well 100k + ain't hurtin' nobody! I'll keep pimpin' my way to the bank! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! How's that poli sci major workin' out for you? No wonder while you're hostile. Still laughin' all the way to the bank! Beotch!!!!! So then what's your job then?

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Alecia:
I told you already, I don't work, and I don't plan on using my degree- so I guess as a piece of paper it's fulfilling it's duties nicely by not disintegrating.

Congratulations on your paycheck! We're all real impressed. For, as any good Republican knows, money is the only meaningful representation of a life well spent.

Also, it's "no wonder WHY you're hostile". There's only so much spell check can catch...furthermore, I wouldn't say I'm the one that is hostile seeing as you have now called me both an "idiot" and a "beotch". Beacon of maturity, you are.

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Anton: I enjoy colors, and shiny things.

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David: I love this!

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Anton: Fuck off, Dave. This is not your war.

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Shannon: I'll keep paying for you to enjoy your life as a ahem, now what do you do again?. You just sit back, relax and enjoy. Sounds fulfilling. I'm proud of my accomplishments, my job, my house and my family because I've worked my ass off. The reason I lean Republican is because I don't want to pay for dumb fucks like you who contribute nothing to our society and expect everything in return. There's no free paycheck. Oh wait, I guess there is ...

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David: Actually Shannon, they both saved a shit ton of money, and now they tour around third-world countries. You don't pay for them.

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Shannon: Oh, but I thought money is not meaningful? It's just used to pay for stuff. Good one. I've been to 25 countries, even third world countries. Imagine that? Turns out you can travel and contribute to society.

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Alecia:
You have once again misconstrued my words for your own purposes. I didn't say "money is not meaningful", I was merely suggesting that it need not define ones life. You boasting and mocking me over your paycheck is, well, kind of pathetic, "beotch". As if that gives you any more intelligence or any higher claim to the truth.

To be honest, I've grown quite weary of fighting with somebody that ignores blatant facts and chooses to fight about me as a person as opposed to the issues originally at hand. I could get this petty bullshit level "debating" on "Teens Against Abortion".

Although I'm glad you finally took my bait and ranted about "paying for me". Made my day. If you have really traveled as extensively as you claim, then good for you. I'm surprised it didn't open your eyes a bit wider...but then again, I am but a peasant. I obviously know nothing since I do not own a house.

small smattering of Bali

Anton was very excited to try the McRib while we were waiting at the Kuala Lumpur airport for our flight to Bali.


Although in Malaysia it's called...

And it's beef, not pork. Obviously

Yay Indonesia! We have arrived! You exist!

(When I was in...maybe...middle school I did a report on Indonesia. It was a group project. I think it was assigned randomly because I'm certain I had no specific interest in Indonesia and I think they usually assign stuff like that randomly because in 8th grade when we had to do a report on a US president it was random and I got JFK and everyone was jealous because it was going to be mad easy. I didn't realize then that the report would be a piece of cake for any president because it only had to be like 8 pages and there is 8 pages worth of material for every president EVER sorry distracted. Back to Indonesia. Had to go and sample the food from that country and so my mom took me and a couple friends (my group members) to this Indonesian restaurant in Phoenix and we were like 13 and shit so of course we were gagging and repulsed by everything ordered. But, the point of this worthless story is that being so young I didn't have the mental capacity to grasp that things existed outside of my limited world view. Like, I knew that America existed and Europe and Australia (most likely because my grandma was from Australia and my parents had been to parts of Western Europe so I had first hand accounts) but all other places seemed...not real. I was not convinced. Indonesia stands out as the place that I was most confident didn't REALLY exist...like the teachers made it up so they'd have an excuse to give us more homework. Kids are stupid.)

Balinese people are like hella spiritual and shit. <--best sentence ever? Instead of worshiping Jesus or Allah or the Sun or Science or whatever they worship ancestors and different local spirits. It's called "Balinese Hinduism". Here is a description written by somebody that cares about things like beliefs:

Balinese Hinduism lacks the traditional Hindu emphasis on cycles of rebirth and reincarnation, but instead is concerned with a myriad of hyangs, the local and ancestral spirits. As with kebatinan, these deities are thought to be capable of good or harm. Balinese place great emphasis on dramatic and aesthetically satisfying acts of ritual propitiation of these spirits at temple sites scattered throughout villages and in the countryside.

So basically (my cultural sensitivity is THROUGH THE ROOF on this one guys, I know) they put out these little baskets (that I think are made from palm leaves) every morning that are filled with little offerings for the spirits. THESE THINGS ARE EVERYWHERE. Offerings are usually rice, flowers, incense...oh whatever, just look at the pictures. They're really pretty and must take a long time to make. I don't have that kind of devotion to...anything.






Here is a nearby temple. There are SO MANY awesome looking buildings here...I keep waiting for a bluebird day so I can get some good pictures of them. The washed out sky really "EHHHH"'s up the pictures. COME ON, BLUE SKY!



Our first night here we stayed in a hotel that's across the street. We were going to stay in the one we're presently in but the room wasn't going to be ready till after noon and it was only 9 and we hadn't showered in like 50 hours and were beyond exhausted. The old place didn't have wi-fi which was annoying, but we might move back there in a few days because this present hotel is only available till the 30th. We'll see. Anyways, the drawer had a bunch of writings...


so Anton added his own. Inspiring.


We've been taking it mad easy and enjoying the cool weather and rain and not drinking much...although the guys downstairs still made a comment about us "always drinking Bintang (Indonesia's beer). I'm like, listen, we each drink like 2 big bottles a night, that is practically like not drinking at all. Just wait. Just wait.

But anyways. Along with our current reduced drinking I've been trying to give myself some much needed nourishment and that has come in the form of THIS:

AVOCADO SALAD! Which is really just an avocado cut up on a piece of iceberg with some dressing. It is fucking AMAZING. I have eaten it like 5 days in a row now. I think I'm eating them out of all their avocados though, yesterdays wasn't as ripe as usual...maybe I'll take a day off to let them ripen.

Here is a view of the pool area from our hotel. Swam in it once so far, it's been so rainy the last few days it hasn't been appealing. The pool is also green...it freaked me out but when I asked the desk guy he said it was just from the rain. So the rain is green? Or is it yellow to mix with the blue to create green? Unclear. And kind of gross.


I think I might be the tannest I've been in years. Much tanner than last trip. I've taken such amazing care of my sunburn (bio-oil 3 times a day along with polysporin on the worst parts) that it has mostly become a tan and not peeled at all. QUEEN OF SKINCARE.


Lots of internetting has been done due to free wi-fi and overall slothery. Downloaded a bunch of shows and a few documentaries, including Collapse (War on Drugs), Restrepo (War in Afghanistan), and WikiRebels (Wikileaks). I tried to download Married to the Eiffel Tower but there weren't any seeders AND I've already watched it but I really want to watch it like 2389572983 more times. We also keep looking for Notorious because I never saw it but all the files are WAYYY too big...that'll have to wait for a smaller file / faster connection.



Baliiiiiii!


Went walking on the beach a few days ago. It is GIGANTIC. I think it's the biggest beach I've ever been to...not only is it miles long but it's fucking WIDE too. So long as it's sunny 1 day a week so I can go play here I'll be happy. The rest of the time be as overcast as you want, dear Bali.



Doggies playing in the surf. So funny. After the dark one started chase the white one just freaked out and started SCREAMING. Like, literally this high pitched doggy scream while it cowered and lowered it's head. I'd never heard a dog make that noise.







Well, our first friend arrival is on the 26th, NOAHHH!! Followed shortly after by DREWWW!! Could NOT be more excited for the tomfoolery that will take place. That will certainly ramp up the excitement around this chunk of the web.

Patong, you are a cruel mistress.

Leaving Ko Lanta, journeying BACK to Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand. Wasn't a long trip (4.5 hours?), and it was pretty. Unfortunately I was seated next to a Muslim woman who had her daughter in her lap/squished between us the whole drive. Of course, the girl was fidgity as fuck until the lady started singing about an hour and a half in and the girl conked out. Normally somebody singing like that would make me want to suck a double barrel shotgun but in this case it was preferable to whiney stir-crazy child. The lady also attempted to talk to me which is like one of my least favorite things because I seriously am the most awful person alive at understanding accents. I demand subtitles for British movies, and always watched Trainspotting with subtitles (well, up until I'd memorized every line in that movie, but my 500+ viewings of that film is a story for another day.)


This is still at the beginning, had to take 2 ferries to leave Ko Lanta. Took this picture on the second one, I swear to science this kid was like 12 years old even factoring in the crazy Asian-forever-young thing and he was SMOKING! Reminded me of Manila, we were buying single cigarettes from this street vendor and this kid came up to get some at the same time and I turned to him and shouted "WAIT. HOW OLD ARE YOU" (I may have had some alcohol in my system) thinking he was like 13 but he said he was 16. I don't remember what I said next but it was probably something like "OKAY I GUESS THAT'S OKAY" like I had any power or right to stop him. Oh, alcohol!


Trying to take picture through window of moving car...not the easiest. Wait. I just remembered that the Muslim lady and her kid were on the way TO ko lanta, not leaving it. I would have had to take these pictures over her lap if it was the other way around. Owell, my memory is shite. But yeah. The white rocks were prevalent.


There is no point in trying to be sober when you're going to Patong. Nobody else is. (Another reminder of the first story being incorrect seeing as this photograph documents me next to the window. DUH.)


Stayed at the same hotel we'd stayed at back in May. Was about twice as expensive this time but you CANNOT BEAT the location. Like a 4 minute walk from the main crazy strip. Anyways, this is a cruel first photograph of the streets of Patong, as more ICE would be in store for me...


Small sampling of rampant prostitution. It's great advertising, a woman for any taste! And yes, those chics look MAD HAPPY to be there.


I will require a coat made of your finest fetus skin..


First night out we got a flier for free entrance to "SEDUCTION", a big club nearby. It also advertised 100 baht buckets, which is CRAZY good and was only seen one other time by us in sweet, sweet, wonderful Pai. While we checked our bottle of vodka (yeah, like a coat check but an "outside alcohol" check) I noticed this sign and grew nervous due to our flip flops and rags but it was apparently for a separate club in the same building. PHEW.


The 100 baht buckets were a JOKE. On the street we'd asked how big the buckets are and the guy had held his hands out to approximate...well, he wasn't lying, but what we SHOULD have asked is "how much do they fill the buckets up?" His answer, were he telling the truth, would have been "about 2 inches". OMFG SO STUPID. It was all good though, got a free welcome drink cuz I'm a chic and watched some INSANE break-dancing. Best I've ever seen. A guy was hopping and doing crazy shit on ONE HAND.


You were only permitted 1 bucket at the 100 baht price. We watched the people we were talking to order a bucket at regular price (350 baht) and assumed when you're paying that much they actually FILL UP THE BUCKET. INCORRECT. Still the same measly pour. Fuck you, Seduction.

Ran into McDonald's to get a chicken sandwich. This picture could have been more amusing. You see, they had American Ketchup and ALSO Tomato Sauce. If only those two had been next to each other...and yes, American Ketchup is the way and the truth and the light for a ketchup fanatic such as myself. Everyone should like ketchup. My ex-boyfriend's mother didn't like ketchup and it was a terrible combination, me slathering everything from eggs to burritos to chicken in it and her just staring at my plate horrified. I'm getting sidetracked.


Anton trying to buy weed, to no avail. Simply ABSURD prices.


We were stressing about our flights because the Air Asia website was being a piece of shit and couldn't accept American credit cards being that you were unable to select your state, so the address verification failed. So we went down to their offices to try and buy the tickets (had to get OUT of Thailand and TO Bali) and were informed there was a 100 baht service fee per ticket. FUCK YOU AIR ASIA.


So then we may or may not have downloaded some hardcore porn onto their office computer...


As luck would have it after 500 attempts at buying the tickets online it randomly went through a couple days later. Annoying, because the ticket prices had gone up, but at least we had some satisfaction of not paying their shitty office fees.

We assure you, all of our fish have completed med school and had resounding success at their respective internships...


Here are some shots of the main strip. It hardly does the chaos justice, most of these were taken a bit earlier in the night when I still had my faculties about me enough to care about taking pictures.




Grocery store there. Best grocery store we've encountered in SE Asia, still not exactly the same display styles as the US...




The only photographic evidence of "the night that maybe happened"...discussed in an earlier blog post...



Except for the next morning evidence. Anton's shirt.


My knee...(nothing compared to)


My poor baby's eye! It must have been a nasty fall. And it just got worse and worse...



Anton brought me a present for our well earned recovery night in after "the night that maybe happened".





The day after recovery we finally made it out to the beach even though it was overcast...great for us souls of the night.




Woops! How'd that get in there...

There are no words for what my hair is doing in this picture.


Looking a bit more reasonable.


The Thai dude that is not strapped in...no, he didn't jump up there to pull the guy down or anything, he was actually riding above the person going without being strapped in! WTF! Insane!


SEE?!? It was super windy, so I think they needed extra weight or something...crazy mofo.


#obesity. Really he's just given up, can't even stand to eat his kibble.


After our beach time we got ready and went out again. Anton ran into a store to grab some beers and I hung out taking some pictures of the street (see above). He returned to me only to ICE ME AGAIN!! GAH!



That is a face of suffering. There is little under the sun that I despise more than smirnoff ice.

He is forgiven.


Adorable kitty binge:










And the cutest video of these two and their plastic bag adventure...*heart explodes*


Random photo fun...





WHAT POST WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT A BEAR


And finally, you know you're in a classy place where they specifically list blood damage to sheets on their roster of things you must pay for...



4 nights in Patong...certainly didn't take enough pictures. But really, I don't want to know.