Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Land of smiles

CiF piece on how Thailand's PM wants everyone to be happy (although they edited out my description of Ayn Rand as a "fruitcake"); Nicky Wire on the legacy of C86; Stewart Lee, on last weeks News Quiz defined blogging as: "pornography and descriptions of going to the shops". And, in Bjorn Turmann's novel The Karaoke World of Cortous Haire, I find this:

"You're getting the hang of this expat life. Always find out what other expats are doing, so you'll have more to talk about in the bar when your life becomes truly frustrating and miserable."

Hmmm...

11 comments:

FirstNations said...

I may not know my boos, but we agree on ayn rand.

dontcha love that thousand points of light-let one thousand flowers bloom-a chicken in every pot-kinda rhetoric? how grim.

Unknown said...

LOLOLOL, on that quote.... i might have to use that for my regular miserable expats...

Billy said...

"pornography and descriptions of going to the shops"

I can't be bothered to find it but I did a post ages ago about going to a sex shop by mistake. Am I the ultimate blogger?

Tim F said...

FN: It's the quasi-religious zeal that gets on my tits. They're like the Moonies.

Tree: Yeah, expats are the same the world over. Like KFC.

Billy: You're the ultimate something, but the jury's still out.

Word verification: "uhnav" When your GPS just grunts.

West said...

"pornography and descriptions of going to the shops".

Stewart Lee was very complimentary about my blog in a private communication* so this is obviously just him grandstanding....


* well, he said it didn't make him vomit - which is probably about the nicest thing anyone's ever said about it. He likes Shadow Morton though, so he is forgiven...

Annie said...

Descriptions of going to the shops can be very exciting for me, actually.

As for the ex-pat thing, oh dear.

Anonymous said...

Porn and shopping what else is there really when you come down to it.

Molly Bloom said...

Part 11

Nancy did not want to think of travelling through shops anymore. She did not want to describe meaningless acts in pornography. She just wanted to focus on starlight. She just wanted to go and sink down behind the relentless engine and cradle what had been lost and what had been won. She tried to incoroporate parts of all of her favourites in this tiny glimpse of forever.

Now go to part 12.

Spinsterella said...

When I was a professional backpacker I came across lots of ex-pats.

I'll give them one thing, they are world-class sneerers.

Spinsterella said...

Um, present company excepted, obviously.

Tim F said...

Bob: Is SL the sort of person who's snide and sarky in his public persona, but rather sweet in his private moments? Like Hitler?

AR: As Billy suggested, it's best when you combine them.

Molly: You never cease to astound me with your barmy perfection.

Spin: No, you were right the first time. We all sneer, and we all dress very badly as well.