ALL THE BEST IN 2008

ITS THE ECONOMY STUPID

WHO ARE THESE THEY PEOPLE?

I AM AMAZED AT THESE THEY PEOPLE WHO CLAIM THE ECONOMY IS DOING WELL, EXPANDING, & GROWING ETC! THESE MUST BE WALL STREET PUNDITS AND POLITICIANS WHO EXIST IN SOME OTHER PARALLEL UNIVERSE. IN THIS WORLD THEY ARE SO INSULATED FROM REALITY, THAT ITS PAINFULLY SILLY! THEY HAVE NO IDEA AND THEY HAVE NO COMMON SENSE! HERE ARE SOME FACTS & INFORMATION FOR THE EVERYDAY MAN

THEY SAY UNEMPLOYMENT IS UP TO 4.7 %. I SAY IF YOU ARE +50 IT IS CLOSER TO 15%

THEY SAY THE HOUSING / SUB PRIME MORTGAGE MESS WILL COST +$50 BILLION. I SAY IT WILL GO OVER 500 BILLION AND THEN SOME. WHERE HAS ALL THIS MONEY GONE? SOUNDS LIKE THE BANKS AND WALL STREET DID THE OLD PONZI SCHEME TO EACH OTHER!! OUR GOOD GOVERNMENT & N YOU JOHN Q TAXPAYER WILL END UP FOOTING THE BILL FOR THIS ONE.

THEY SAY WE ARE WINNING THE WARS IN IRAQ/AFGHANISTAN AT A COST OF $3 BILLION PER WEEK !! ALREADY OVER ONE TRILLION USD. I SAY, ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME!!! FOR THAT KIND OF MONEY I COULD SECURE OUR BORDERS & TIGHTEN UP OUR CUSTOMS / IMMIGRATION SYSTEM. WHILE I AM AT IT THE EXTRA MONEY WOULD GO TO FIX THE HEALTH CARE MESS & SOCIAL SECURITY!

THE US DOLLAR IS AT AN ALL TIME LOW. THEY SAY, IT IS GOOD FOR OUR EXPORTS. I SAY, WHAT FRIGGIN EXPORTS? WHAT DO YOU SEE THAT IS MADE IN THE USA? THE BOEING JETS ACCOUNT FOR A HUGE CHUNK OF OUR EXPORTS. YOU SHOULD SEE ALL THE EUROPEANS AND ASIANS COMING TO NYC TO BUY EXPENSIVE USELESS STUFF! OF COURSE IF YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION TO EUROPE, YOU BETTER GET A SECOND MORTGAGE TO PAY FOR IT. WAIT THERE IS A CREDIT CRUNCH, YOU CANT GET A SECOND MORTGAGE. WHO WANTS TO GO TO EUROPE ANYWAY, WHEN YOU CAN GO TO FLORIDA AND BUY A CONDO FOR ABOUT THE SAME PRICE AS A MONTH'S HOTEL STAY IN LONDON OR PARIS

"OIL THAT IS, BLACK GOLD, TEXAS TEA"

OIL AT ALMOST $100 PER BARREL, GOING TO $125 EASY. THEY SAY IT IS SUPPLY & DEMAND. I SAY, HEY YOU WITH THAR BIG OLD ESCALADE OR NAVIGATOR, HOW ABOUT $100 TO FILL UP YOUR TANK HALF WAY! FUNNY HOW WE HAVE MORE SOLAR PANELS GENERATING ENERGY IN NEW YORK THAN THEY DO IN ARIZONA OR NEVADA? WHATS UP WITH THAT?

THEY SAY FIVE YEAR STOCK MARKET BULL RUN STILL HAS LEGS. I SAY WAKE, UP ITS OVER! IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. THE WALL STREET MUCKY MUCKS WILL ALWAYS MAKE THEIR MOOLAH. LOOK AT ALL THESE BIG BANKS, BROKERAGE & OTHER FINANCIAL FIRMS GOING DOWN THE PROVERBIAL TOILET, WHILE THEIR EXECS GET FIRED, RESIGN OR WALK AWAY WITH MILLIONS! ALL THIS WHILE YOUR AVERAGE WORKING CLASS PERSON GETS FIRED AND WALKS AWAY WITH NADA!

THEY SAY THERE IS A A 20% TO 50% CHANCE OF A RECESSION IN 2008? I SAY, WHO MAKES THESE ODDS UP? IF IT WAS THE BOYS IN VEGAS, I WOULD LISTEN TO THEM. THOSE ODDS MAKERS KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

THEY SAY CITIBANK IS TOO BIG TO FAIL(MEANS GOVT SHOULD STEP INTO SAVE THEM). I SAY, CITIBANK IS GOING TO CHANGE IT'S NAME TO SILLYBANK!! THEY TOOK THOSE SILLY 10-15 BILLION DOLLAR WRITE DOWNS. IT'S OKAY THOUGH BECAUSE THE MIDDLE EAST GOVERNMENT FUNDS (AKA SHEIK'S SLUSH FUNDS) ARE INVESTING CAPITAL IN OUR BANKS. FUNNY, A YEAR OR TWO AGO THEY SAID WE WOULD NOT LET THEM BUY OUR U.S. SEA PORTS (WHICH ARE MAJORITY OWNED BY FOREIGN ENTITIES ANYWAY) BECAUSE OF SECURITY REASONS. NOW IT IS OK TO LET THEM INTO OUR BIGGEST AND MOST ENTRENCHED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS!!! BUT THEY ARE JUST DOING THEIR PART SO WE DON'T LET THE TERRORISTS WIN!

ONE OF THE MOST TELLING SIGNS OF THE ECONOMY IS THE NEW YORK TIMES SUNDAY HELP WANTED SECTION. THIS USED TO BE A SECTION OF APPROX 25-50 PAGES UNTO ITSELF. NOW IT IS MERELY AN ADD ON OF ABOUT 8 - 10 PAGES TO THE BIZ SECTION. THEY SAY IT IS BECAUSE ALL THE ADDS ARE ONLINE? I SAY IT IS BECAUSE THERE AIN'T THAT MANY JOBS!

ANOTHER TELLING SIGN IS JUST TO WALK AROUND LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND TALK TO THE LOCAL MERCHANTS & SHOPKEEPERS. I NOTICE MORE AND MORE EMPTY STOREFRONTS AND FOR RENT SIGNS IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS THAN I CAN RECALL IN MANY YEARS. MOST PEOPLE LAMENT THAT SHOPPERS JUST ARE NOT SPENDING LIKE THEY USED TO. PEOPLE ARE BECOMING MORE CONSERVATIVE (TIGHT) WITH THEIR MONEY THAN EVER. THE KICKER & THE SURE SIGN IS THAT BARBIE SALES ARE DOWN! (DID YOU GET YOUR BARBIE TITANIC DOLL THIS YEAR?)

LET US HOPE THAT THEY (THE POLITICIANS) DO SOMETHING SOONER THAN LATER! I SAY WE SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN AHEAD BUT I HAVE A FEELING THAT THINGS WILL STILL BE GREAT IN LATE 2008!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!

ALL THE BEST FROM ALL OF US!!!

NAPPING THE WAY IT OUTTA BE!!!

Ζωνιανα - Τα ζωα τρελαθηκαν

darn funny

HAVE A HEALTHY & HAPPY HOLIDAY!!

WHAT THE FRIGGIN HECK??????????????





MORE IRRITATIONS, RANTS, RAVES, COMMENTS, OBSERVATIONS, RHETORICAL QUESTIONS,OBSESSIONS AND OTHER NO NONSENSE !!

I USED TO THINK THAT HILLARY CLINTON WOULD SAY ANYTHING TO GET ELECTED PRESIDENT UNTIL RUDY GIULIANI SAID HE WAS ROOTING FOR THE BOSTON RED SOX IN THE WORLD SERIES. NOW EVERY YANKEE FAN WORTH HIS SALT WOULD NEVER EVER, EVER ROOT FOR THE HATED SOX TO WIN ANYTHING EXCEPT LAST PLACE! THIS IS MORE PROOF POSITIVE THAT YOU JUST CANNOT TRUST RUDY. HEY MOST NYC COPS & FIREMAN WILL TELL YOU THE SAME THING! HEY EVEN HIS OWN SON DOES NOT TALK TO HIM! EVEN THOUGH I DON'T LIKE HILLARY ( A SENTIMENT I FIND SHARED BY MANY EVEN THOUGH WE DO NOT REALLY KNOW HER), IF SHE WAS A MAN WE WOULD USE TERMS LIKE MENTALLY TOUGH, STRONG WILLED, DETERMINED, RUTHLESS INSTEAD OF BITCH AND OTHERS. HISTORY HAS SHOWN US THAT WOMEN COUNTRY LEADERS HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE EG; GOLDA MEIR, MARGARET THATCHER, & INDIRA GANDHI . YEAH BUT AS THEY SAY IF THE ELECTION WERE HELD TODAY, MY VOTE WOULD GO FOR RON PAUL!

SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT; A COURT IN SAUDI ARABIA SENTENCED A WOMAN TO SIX MONTHS IN JAIL AND 200 LASHES FOR MEETING A MALE NON-FAMILY MEMBER AND BEING GANG RAPED? OUR GOOD FRIENDS , THE SAUDIS? I DO NOT EVEN KNOW HOW TO COMPREHEND THIS?

HAVE YOU HEARD THAT THERE IS A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN DENTAL DECAY (CAVITIES) IN THE GOOD OL USA? SOME OF THE "THEY PEOPLE" (EXPERTS) APPARENTLY ARE BLAMING THE MASSIVE CONSUMPTION OF BOTTLED WATER WHICH LACKS THE FLUORINE FOUND IN OUR TAP WATER FOR THIS DISTURBING TREND. DENTISTS ARE HAPPY CAUSE THEY GET MORE BIZ. FOR EVERYONE ELSE HOW BOUT YOU ALL BRUSH YOUR FRIGGIN TEETH!!!!!

IS IT ME OR DID THE OFFICIATING / UMPIRING IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL REALLY SUCK THIS YEAR?

JESUS CHRIST, JESUS CHRIST, JESUS CHRIST!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY CANCELLED THE BEST SHOW TO BE ON TV SINCE THE SOPRANOS. HBO USED TO BE THE LEADING CUTTING EDGE FOR GROUNDBREAKING CLICHE MAKING NEW TELEVISION SERIES. JOHN FROM CINCINNATI WAS SUCH A SERIES! A QUIRKY, SOMEWHAT TOUGH TO FOLLOW SHOW ABOUT A DYSFUNCTIONAL SURFING FAMILY THAT MEETS JOHN AND THEN ALL SORTS OF WEIRD STUFF HAPPENS; MYSTICISM, MIRACLES, RELIGION, SHAPESHIFTING & LIFE IN IMPERIAL BEACH IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THIS SERIES WAS PRODUCED BY DAVID MILCH OF DEADWOOD & NYPD BLUE FAME AND FEATURES SOME ACTORS FROM THE DEADWOOD SERIES. GREAT ACTING BY ALL THE CHARACTERS ESPECIALLY ED O'NEIL, BRIAN VAN HOLT, REBECCA DE MORNAY & AUSTIN NICHOLS. HEY, THE SERIES THEME SONG IS JOHNNY APPLESEED BY JOE STRUMMER AND THE MESCALEROS. THE GENIUS OF THE SHOW IS THAT YOU REALLY HAD TO PAY ATTENTION TO AN THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT WENT ON. A TALL ORDER IN OUR 5 SECOND ATTENTION SPAN SOCIETY!! YA GOTTA WATCH THE SHOW A FEW TIMES. MONEY BACK JIMITHEGREEK GUARANTEE TO BLOW YOUR MIND!!

TWO GOOD LISTENING ALBUMS ( I STILL CANT SAY CD'S )

BEN HARPER - LIFELINE
A NICE FUNKY R&B TYPE GOOD LISTENING JAMMY

OTIS TAYLOR - DEFINITION OF A CIRCLE

SOME PEOPLE CALL IT TRANCE BLUES (WHATEVER THE HECK THAT IS?) BUT THIS IS JUST A GREAT OLD SCHOOL CLASSIC BLUES RECORD.

IT SHOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW JOE TORRE DOES MANAGING THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS. WILL HE REVERT TO HIS OLD CLUELESS JOE DAYS OF MANAGING THE CARDS, METS & BRAVES? ME THINKS HE WILL DO A GREAT JOB IN THE CLUBHOUSE BUT THEY WILL BE A DISASTER ON THE FIELD! OH AND HE TOOK DONNIE BASEBALL MATTINGLY WITH HIM. THIS COULD POSSIBLE BE AN ELIMINATION OF A JINX, PERHAPS DONNIE WAS THE JINX. SINCE HE REJOINED THE YANKS, THEY HAVEN'T WON THE WORLD SERIES, COULD HE BE A JINX?

YES THE RED SOX HAD THE BEST TEAM IN BASEBALL AND THEY EARNED THEIR WORLD SERIES WIN EVEN WITH CURT "PETERPOTAMUSMOUTH" SCHILLING BUT
THE BOSTON RED SOX FANS STILL ARE THE SUCKIEST IN BASEBALL. HEY IN ALL SPORTS FOR THAT MATTER. THE FACT THAT BOSTON HAS COMPETITIVE TOP TEAMS IN BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND EVEN HOCKEY WILL MAKE FOR AN ALMOST NAUSEATING WINTER OF DEALING WITH BOSTON FANS!

THIS JUST IN FROM A LONGTIME READER/FAN/PAL UP IN MAINE
" SYDNEY (AFP) - Santas in Australia's largest city have been told not to use Father Christmas's traditional "ho ho ho" greeting because it may be offensive to women, it was reported Thursday. Sydney's Santa Clauses have instead been instructed to say "ha ha ha" instead, the Daily Telegraph reported."

ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME?? WHATS NEXT? DON'T SAY HAPPY TURKEY DAY BECAUSE YOU MAY OFFEND THE FRIGGIN TURKEY? FRIGGIN POLITICALLY CORRECT IDIOTS & POLITICIANS .



THE GODFATHER 3, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I WATCH IT, HOPING IT IS NOT AS BAD AS I THOUGHT, IT STILL SUCKS

JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE SCENE ABOVE, THEY BOTH LOOK LIKE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE THERE!!

"THEY GAVE ME THIS MUCH MONEY"

HEEEEES BAAAACK, THE AROD FINALLY FIGURED OUT NO ONE ELSE WAS GONNA GIVE HIM THE CRAZY MAD MONEY! HE ALSO GOT HIS THIRD MVP. MAYBE NOW HE WILL GET A RING SINCE THE YANKS GOT POSADA & RIVERA BACK ALONG WITH SOME GOOD YOUNG PITCHING. ALSO THE JINX MATTINGLY IS GONE!

SOMEONE E-MAILED ME THIS PICTURE AND I JUST FIND IT SOMEWHAT DISTURBING AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY EXCEPT THAT IT IS DISTURBING!!

BOOYAH IN BEIJING 2.0

A CONTINUATION OF THE " GO EAST YOUNG MAN!!! JIMITHEGREEK GOES TO CHINA" SAGA (IS THIS REALLY THE END?).......WELL ALMOST!





ON TO THE NEXT DAY (JUNE 15) IN BEIJING. ALL SORTS OF COLLEAGUES AND WORK RELATED PEOPLE WERE NOW EITHER IN THE HOTEL OR ARRIVING. EGADS, WE MIGHT HAVE TO ACTUALLY NETWORK AND DO SOME BUSINESS. THE HORROR OF IT ALL. WELL I HAD TO GO TO THE FITNESS CENTRE AS THEY CALL IT AND DO A VIGOROUS TURN ON THE TREADMILL TO GET RID OF AFTER EFFECTS INGESTING SEA CUCUMBER & CAMEL'S PAW ON THE SAME NIGHT. I WAS NOT ABOUT TO TAKE A RUN OUTSIDE WITH ALL THE CONSTRUCTION AND POLLUTION GOING ON OUTSIDE. AFTER A GOOD TWO HOUR WORKOUT, I MET UP WITH THE CHINAMAN WHO HAD HIS OWN WORKOUT AT THE BREAKFAST BUFFET! AFTER SOME STEALTHY LOBBY NEGOTIATING AND PRETENDING WE NAVIGATED A TAXI AND GOT OUT OF DODGE.










WE WERE HEADED TO A BEIJING CITY CENTER THAT WAS TO BE A SHOPPING EATING TOURISTY PLACE FOR THE OLYMPICS MONEY CROWD. AFTER ABOUT A 45 MINUTE CITY VIEWING CAB RIDE WE ARRIVED AT THE DESIGNATED PLACE. IT WAS A MIX MASH OF OLD AND NEW. CONSTRUCTION WAS ONGOING AT A RELENTLESS, FRENETIC PACE. WE WALKED AROUND A BIT LOOKING AT ALL THE KITCHY SOUVENIR STORES AND CHINESE RESTAURANTS. THE CHINAMAN WAS GIDDY WITH SOME OF THE STORES THAT HAD THE EQUIVALENT OF THE OLD PENNY CANDY OF HIS YOUTH DURING THE LATE 19TH CENTURY (JUST KIDDING) THE STUFF YOU SEE IN THESE STORES CAN BE BIZARRE, BUT I GUESS WHEN THE CHINESE VISIT OUR STORES THEY FIND BIZARRE STUFF AS WELL. THEY HAVE PRETTY YOUNG GIRLS AS GREETERS AND WE HAVE OLD RETIRED FOLKS WHO CANNOT SURVIVE ON SOCIAL SECURITY WORK AS WALMART GREETERS!! I WENT TO A NEAT BOOKSTORE WHILE THE CHINAMAN WENT HUNTING AT SOME FOOD STORE (WHICH HE LATER DENIED!) THE MORE I SEE OF CHINA AND THE PEOPLE THE MORE I THINK THAT THEY ARE MORE CAPITALIST THAN THE USA IS!! IT SEEMS EVERYBODY HUSTLES TO WORK AND EARN A LIVING.





WE FOUND AN OFFICIAL BEIJING 2008 OLYMPICS SHOP. ACCORDING TO THE CHINAMAN, IF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT CATCHES COUNTERFEITERS OF BEIJING OLYMPICS MERCHANDISE THEY WILL BE SEVERELY PUNISHED AND COULD BE SHOT, HAVE THEIR HANDS CHOPPED OFF OR FACE CHINESE WATER TORTURE! OK OK,JUST KIDDING FOLKS, BUT THEY WILL BE PUNISHED AND JAILED. HHHUMM, SEEMS TO ME THAT ITS OKAY FOR THE LOCALS TO COUNTERFEIT OTHER NATIONS INTELLECTUAL AND OTHER COPYRIGHTS BUT NOT THEIRS! AAH, THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF AN INDUSTRIAL AND ECONOMICAL REVOLUTION! ANYWAYS THEY DID HAVE SOME NEAT STUFF BUT THE SIZE SELECTION WAS LIMITED AND THEY SEEMED TO BE OUT OF STOCK ON QUITE A FEW ITEMS. WE DID MANAGE TO GET SOME OBLIGATORY T-SHIRTS, HATS & STUFF. THE CHINAMAN GENEROUSLY BOUGHT MME A PRESENT AS WELL. IT IS A SET OF OFFICIAL OLYMPIC PINS FOR BOXING. WE ARE BOTH BIG BOXING FANS. THE FUNNY THING IS THE CHINGLISH TRANSLATION INSIDE THE BOX. I AM NOT SURE IF YOU CAN READ IT ABOVE SO HERE IT IS:






"BOXING IS A SPORT IN WHICH THE BOXERS ARE REQUESTED TO BLOW THE OPPONENT WITH THE FORWARD PART OF THE BOXING GLOVES. THE BOXER WHO GAIN MORE POINTS IN THE BOUT IS THE WINNER"





TRAVELING IN CHINA YOU DO SEE AND HEAR SOME OF THESE WHAT I CALL, CHINGLISH TRANSLATIONS. THEY ARE AMUSING AND YOU JUST CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP! IT IS THE REAL LOST IN TRANSLATION! I HAVE THIS ITEM PROUDLY DISPLAYED IN MY OFFICE. I AM SURE THIS AND OTHERS WILL BE ADJUSTED BY THE SUMMER OF 2008. HUM, I WONDER HOW MUCH I CAN GET FOR THIS ITEM ON E-BAY?






BY NOW (OK YOU GUESSED IT) WE WERE GETTING A LITTLE HUNGRY. IT WAS PAST LUNCHTIME AFTER ALL. WE WALKED A BIT MORE AND STUMBLED UPON THIS LOCAL PLACE WHICH HAD A PACKED HOUSE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS PAST LUNCH. IT WAS A LOCAL DUMPLING SHOP. THEY HAD A COOK MAKING THEM IN THE RESTAURANT IN AN ENCLOSED PLASTIC BOOTH. KINDA WEIRD. ALSO THE PLACE WAS LIKE A THROW BACK. THE TABLES AND CHAIRS WERE OLD & WORN, PLATES, SPOONS & BOWLS WERE CHIPPED N CRACKED. NO NAPKINS, NO MENUS, NO ENGLISH AND IT WAS NOISY AND CROWDED. OF COURSE THIS MEANT THAT THE FOOD WAS GOING TO BE DARN GOOD AND IT WAS. WE HAD THE PORK DUMPLINGS, SOME VEGGY STUFF, UNKNOWN DUMPLINGS, MUSHROOM THINGY DUMPLINGS, BEER, UNKNOWN DUMPLINGS AND THEN SOME SEMI SWEET STUFF. I MUST SAY THAT NOT ONLY WAS IT TASTY BUT IT ALSO ONLY COST ABOUT TWELVE BUCKS!! OH AND THE BATHROOM WAS A HOLE IN THE FLOOR WITH NO TOILET PAPER, BUT WHEN YOU GOTTA GO, YOU GOTTA GO! AS I UNDERSTAND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING ON UPDATING THE TOILET THINGYS! NOW AFTER THAT GREAT MEAL AND A FULL DAY OF TOURISM IT WAS TIME TO GRAB A CAB, GO BACK TO THE HOTEL AND TAKE A NAP! AFTER ALL WE HAD TO GET READY FOR DINNER!







MEANWHILE BACK AT THE HOTEL THE CHINAMAN WAS AT HIS SURREPTITIOUS BEST. HE HAD SOMEHOW MANEUVERED AND ORCHESTRATED A GROUP OF US AND TWO TAXIS TO GO TO A FAMOUS RESTAURANT AT A HIDDEN HUTONG IN THE MIDDLE OF WHO KNOWS WHERE? THE BEAUTY OF THIS BOB AND WEAVE MOVE IS THAT WE MANAGED TO AVOID ALL THE TOP DOGS OF OUR COMPANY GATHERING! HOW DOES HE DO IT? IT IS THOSE CLEVER DISGUISES AS YOU CAN SEE ABOVE!







WE GATHERED OUR CREW WHICH CONSISTED OF THREE OF OUR MANAGERS FROM XIAMEN & NINGBO ALONG WITH OUR MOSCOW MANAGER MR. BEAN. I SWEAR HE LOOKS LIKE MR BEANS DOUBLE WITH A THICK RUSSIAN ACCENT. OF COURSE SINCE WE CHRISTENED HIM MR BEAN HE WAS DOOMED TO BE CALLED THAT FOR THE REST OF HIS STAY IN BEIJING. NOW ONCE WE GOT TO THE TAXIS THERE WAS A HEATED DEBATE GOING ON WITH THE THREE MANAGERS WHO I WILL NOW REFER TO AS THE TRIAD. THE TRIAD ARE ALL VERY ADEPT , STAUNCH BUSINESS WOMEN BRANCH MANAGERS. THEY RUN THEIR OWN STATIONS EFFICIENTLY AND PROFITABLY. WELL ANYWAYS AS FAR AS WE COULD DISCERN THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME CONFUSION AS TO WHERE THIS FAMOUS RESTAURANT WAS. ONE OF THE TAXI DRIVERS SEEMED TO THINK HE COULD GET US IN THE RIGHT AREA....GREAT

WE WERE OFF TO THE LI FAMILY RESTAURANT WHICH IS HIDDEN IN THE HUTONG AT HOU HAI. NOW WHEN THEY SAY HIDDEN, THEY AIN'T KIDDING! ALSO THE DEFINITION OF HUTONG DOES NOT DO IT JUSTICE. THESE HUTONGS ARE LIKE WARRENS. THEY ARE NARROW STREETS PACKED WITH HOUSES / SHOPS THAT ARE ALL ATTACHED SOMEHOW. ONCE YOU ARE IN THERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IN A MAZE OF SOME SORTS. ALL KINDS OF LITTLE ALLEYWAYS AND DOORWAYS LEADING WHO KNOWS WHERE WAYS!

GOOD THING WE HAD THE TRIAD WITH US AS THEY KNEW BETTER THAN THE TAXI DRIVERS, THE CHINAMAN, MR BEAN AND CERTAINLY JIMITHEGREEK WHERE AND HOW TO GET THERE. ACTUALLY IT WAS A GLIMPSE INTO HOW HOUSING AND LIFE WAS IN BEIJING MANY MOONS AGO. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MO BETTER TO SEE IT DURING THE DAY RATHER THAN NIGHTTIME. ANYWAYS THE TAXIS GOT US CLOSE TO THE RESTAURANT AND THEN WE WALKED ABOUT 10 -15 MINUTES THRU THE ALLEYWAYS THRU A DOOR TO A HALLWAY TO GET TO THE JOINT. ME N MR BEAN KIND KEPT LOOKING AT EACH OTHER WHILE THE CHINAMAN & THE TRIAD WERE CHATTING AWAY! OH WELL THIS MEANT TO ME THAT THE FOOD BETTER BE DARN GOOD!


WE ENTERED INTO A SMALL COURTYARD AND WHERE ESCORTED INTO OUR PRIVATE LITTLE DINING ROOM. BASICALLY THE DINING AREA CONSISTS OF ROOMS AROUND THE COURTYARD. IT REALLY IS A CONVERTED HOME. THE OWNER WAS A FORMER MATH PROFESSOR AND HIS FAMILY WHO STILL RUN THE PLACE. AS SOON AS WE SAT DOWN THEY BROUGHT SOME APPETIZERS? ALL LITTLE PLATES!







MR BEAN KEPT ASKING WHAT EVERYTHING WAS AND WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY JUST EAT IT IT IS GOOD OR IT WAS CHINESE VEGETABLES OR IT WAS A MEAT OR FISH DISH. OH WELL , AFTER A FEW BEERS HE STOPPED ASKING! THE SERVICE WAS GREAT AND THE FOOD REALLY WAS DELICIOUS. WE HAD BEIJING ROAST DUCK WONDERFULLY CRISPY SKIN AND MOIST TENDER MEAT. HUGE TASTY, SPICY SHRIMP OR AS THEY SAY PRAWNS.






ACTUALLY THE FOOD JUST KEPT COMING, WE HAD SOME SLIGHTLY SWEET RIBS, WHICH I AM STILL NOT SURE IF THEY WERE BEEF OR PORK OR AS MR BEAN SAID MEAT KIND RIBS? WE HAD MORE MYSTERY MEAT WHICH I AM PRETTY SURE WAS SOME KIND OF BABY COW.....DUH VEAL! THERE WAS ALSO LOTS OF VEGGYS WHICH I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE ? ONE OF THE SERVERS BROUGHT A COUPLE OF PHOTO ALBUMS WITH PICTURES OF FAMOUS DINERS. THERE WAS BRITISH PM JOHN MAJORS, BILL GATES, HENRY KISSINGER, BILL CLINTON AND MANY MORE! ALL THE WHILE THE FOOD KEPT COMING. AFTER MUCH BEER DRINKING AND WITH MUCH TREPIDATION I GOT UP TO USE THE TOILET. AS THE NICE LADY DIRECTED ME THRU THE HALLWAY TO THE TOILET I ASKED HER IF PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON USED THAT TOILET. SHE EXCLAIMED TO ME THAT BILLIEEE CLINTON PEE IN THERE! SO I WENT AND ALSO PEED IN THE SAME TOILET AS THE PREZ.



I GOTTA TELL YA'LL IT WAS A DELIGHTFULLY DELICIOUS MEAL WITH SOME FUN COMPANY. A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL. I TOLD THEM THAT I PEED IN THE SAME TOILET AS PRESIDENT CLINTON AND WE ALL HAD A GOOD LAUGH. OF COURSE THE RUSSIAN MR BEAN HAD TO GO AND PEE THERE AS WELL, DARN COMMIE!! THE TRIAD SOMEHOW FIGURED OUT A SHORTER WAY TO A REAL STREET AND WE HAILED A COUPLE OF TAXIS BACK TO THE HOTEL. AT THE HOTEL ME AND THE CHINAMAN SKIPPED THE LOBBY BAR AND SLEW OF COLLEAGUES THAT WERE THERE. MR RUSSIAN BEAN HAD TO GO GET A VODKA TO STERILIZE ALL THE MYSTERY MEATS!







THE MRS JIMITHEGREEK AND THE DAUGHTERS OF JIMITHEGREEK WANT TO KNOW. YES IT IS ALMOST OVER. BEIJING IS ALMOST FINISHED, ONE MORE BLOG AND IT WILL BE DONE. I GOTTA TELL YA ABOUT THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA. IT IS TRULY AWESOME. I GOT LOTSA OF CATCHING UP TO DO, PLAYS , RESTAURANTS, MOVIES RANTS, TRIP THRU ARIZONA, STRANGE PICS ETC. HEY, IT 'S MY BLOG AND I'LL WRITE WHAT I WANT!!!

GREAT KNOCKOUT

KOSTYA TSZYO KNOCKS ZAB JUDAH INTO NEXT WEEK

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"IF THE PURPOSE OF YOUR LIFE IS YOUR JOB, THEN YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHO YOU ARE" - BILLY KADERLI

READ THIS QUOTE SOMEWHERE AND WROTE IT DOWN ON AN ENVELOPE AND JUST FOUND IT. I THINK IT IS PRETTY DARN GOOD!

Buena Vista Social Club - Chan Chan

OLD OLD OLD SCHOOLS, ONE OF MY FAVES

RECIPES OF THE DAY

DUE TO OVERWHELMING DEMAND AND REQUESTS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION BASED ON MY BOOYAH IN BEIJING POST BELOW PLEASE FIND RECIPES DIRECT FROM THE FAMOUS FANGSHAN RESTAURANT!!!




CAMEL PAW WITH MUSHROOMS


Ingredients:


1 camel paw, cleaned and soaked for one hour, you can cook whole or chop into one-inch by 4 inch pieces
1 boneless chicken breast, cut into eighths
10 shiitake mushrooms, soaked and cut in half
1 whole shiitake mushroom
1 ounce salty ham, slivered
1/4 cup Shaoxing wine
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 scallions, tied in knots
6 slices ginger root
1/4 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns

Preparation:

1. Put all of the ingredients into a wok or deep pot. Bring to just below the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer covered for two hours.

2. Remove from heat, remove ginger root, scallion knots, and peppercorns, then serve.

3. You can thicken the sauce with 3 Tablespoons cornstarch in the same amount of water or remove the solids and reduce the liquid somewhat.

4. Put the whole mushroom in the center just before serving.









DUCK TONGUES WITH WHITE FUNGUS


Ingredients:

1/2 pound duck tongues1/4 cup white fungus or white mushrooms
1 slice ginger root
1 scallion
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 Tablespoon light soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 small carrot, diced fine
2 Tablespoon frozen green peas, defrosted


Preparation:

1. Soak Fungus for two hours, then pick out any dark spots or pieces, drain well.

2. Boil duck tongues with ginger root and the scallion for half an our, remove, cool and then take out cartilage.

3. Mix all other ingredients except the carrots and peas, bring to the boil, then simmer one minute.

4. Add vegetables, heat through. Then take out the fungus and set aside. Put everything else on a plate, put fungus on top & enjoy!

YOU CAN PROCURE ANY OF THE ABOVE INGREDIENTS AT YOUR LOCAL CHINESE MARKET OR AT ANY RANCH 99 MARKET!! THANKS TO THE MRS FOR THE RECIPES!

If you are ever in Beijing.....

Beijing Fangshan Restaurant ; Imperial Chinese food in a fine historical setting Here is your chance to eat camel's paw, deer tendon or real turtle soup1 Wenjing Jie(inside the east gate of Beihai Park)Beijing100034+86 (0)10 6401 1879Fax: +86 (0)10 6404 1889

BOOYAH IN BEJING

VIEW FROM MY HOTEL ROOM IN BEIJING

A CONTINUATION OF THE " GO EAST YOUNG MAN!!! JIMITHEGREEK GOES TO CHINA" SAGA (JUNE 12 - 16 2007 IS THIS REALLY THE END?)......NAH, ONE, MAYBE TWO MORE TO GO!

ACTUALLY HAD A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP , CHECKED OUT OF THE RENAISSANCE HOTEL AND CAUGHT A CAB TO THE AIRPORT. IT IS AMAZING THAT THE BEST AIRPORT IN THE WORLD IS THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. IT IS CLEAN, BRIGHT, SPACIOUS, WELL ORGANIZED AND EFFICIENT. THERE IS A SLEW OF SHOPS, SERVICES & RESTAURANTS TO MEET EVERY TRAVELERS NEEDS. OF COURSE MY NEED WAS TO MEET THE CHINAMAN AND GET SOME BREAKFAST!

WHAT EAT AGAIN YOU SAY? OK , RELAX, IT WAS JUST A BOWL OF NOODLES CAUSE I AINT EATING NO STINKING AIRLINE FOOD! I'M NOT SAYIN WHAT THE CHINAMAN ATE! (DON'T REMEMBER) AFTER SOME WALKING AROUND, PERUSING SOME OF THE NIFTY AIRPORT SHOPS I WENT TO THE GATE. THE CHINAMAN HAD ALREADY WANDERED OFF ALLEGEDLY ( I THINK HE WENT TO THE GODIVA STORE!) TO THE SMOKING AREA. ANYWAYS A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER WE ARE IN THE NEW CAPITAL OF CAPITALISM, BEIJING.

IT WAS ALMOST TWENTY YEARS SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS IN BEIJING AND ALL I COULD THINK WAS BIG BOW WOW!!!! DURING THE TAXI CAB RIDE FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE HOTEL I DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE JOINT. TREMENDOUS CONSTRUCTION, DEVELOPMENT, BILLBOARDS AND PROLIFERATION OF GOOD OLD CAPITALISM EVERYWHERE. WE GOT TO OUR HOTEL THE CROWN PLAZA PARK VIEW WUZHOU IN ABOUT FORTY MINUTES. THE HOTEL IS NEAR THE OUTER PART OF THE CITY BUT REALLY CLOSE TO SOME OF THE OLYMPIC VENUES FOR 2008. IN FACT IT IS IN WALKING DISTANCE TO THE (BIRDS NEST) BEIJING NATIONAL OLYMPIC STADIUM. IT REALLY IS COOL LOOKING!

SO WE ARE AT THE HOTEL AND WE HAVE THREE DAYS OF WORK LIKE STUFF TO DO. THERE IS OUR CONFERENCE, SEMINARS, MEETINGS, PRESENTATIONS ETC, ETC, ETC. WHAT YOU SAY? WHAT NO EATING? WELL HECK YEAH!! THERE IS SOME EATING AND TOURISTY KINDA OF STUFF, SO LETS GET TO IT!

GATE TO BEIHAI PARK

NOW THE CHINAMAN HAD BEEN RANTING AND RAVING ABOUT THIS RESTAURANT WHERE THE EMPEROR'S USED TO EAT IN SOME PARK WHERE THEY HAD ALL SORTS OF EXOTIC DELICACIES LIKE CAMELS PAW, SHARKS FIN, VENISON TENDONS, MONKEY MUSHROOMS, DEER TAIL SOUP, AND WELL YOU GET THE PICTURE HERE. OKAY SO WE DROP OUR STUFF IN THE HOTEL ROOM AND COME BACK TO THE LOBBY. AFTER A BIT OF SOCIALIZING WITH SOME COLLEAGUES WE DEFTLY SAUNTER OUT TO GRAB A TAXI TO GO TO THE NORTHERN PART OF BEIJING TO BEIHAI PARK. THIS PARK YOU COULD SAY IS AKIN TO CENTRAL PARK IN NYC. IT IS AN OASIS OF GREEN & TRANQUILLITY IN THE POLLUTED, CONGESTED CAPITAL. NOW THE CAB RIDE TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR , MAYBE MORE. IT REALLY OPENED MY EYES TO THE EXPLOSIVE CONSTRUCTION, GROWTH & COMMERCIALIZATION OF THE CITY. OF COURSE ALONG WITH THIS COMES THE POLLUTION, TRAFFIC, OVERCROWDING AND CONGESTION. LET ME JUST SAY CHINA IS GOING THROUGH IT'S OWN "INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION" ON THE WAY TO BECOMING THE NEXT DOMINANT COUNTRY ON OUR WORLD (50 YEARS)! ENOUGH OF ALL THAT, LETS GET TO THE CAMEL MEAT!

AFTER A LITTLE CONFUSION OF FROM WHICH GATE TO ENTER THE PARK AND A SHORT WALK. OUR DESTINATION WAS THE FANGSHAN RESTAURANT SITUATED SMACK IN BEIHAI PARK. THE RESTAURANT WAS OPENED IN 1925 BY A FORMER CHEFS OF THE ROYALTY. THEY USED TO COOK 108 OUT OF 800 DISHES FOR THE EMPRESS DOWAGER CIXI AKA DRAGON LADY (1835 - 1908) ROYAL FAMILY'S MEAL. THE RESTAURANT ITSELF IS QUITE RICHLY DECORATED WITH GOLD AND RED ITEMS, CARVINGS ETC. VERY SPARKLY AND COLORFUL I MUST SAY. THERE ARE VARIOUS SET MENUS RANGING FROM ELABORATE ($$$$) TO SIMPLE ($). OF COURSE THE CHINAMAN WENT FOR THE FULL MONTY, THE TOP OF THE HILL, THE GRAND SALAMI, THE MORE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY EAT, THE IMPERIAL BANQUET.

AS WE SAT DOWN THEY BROUGHT A PLATE OF SLICED MYSTERY MEATS, FISH & VEGGIES ( AS PER THE CHINAMAN). ALL TASTY TASTY I MUST SAY


I USUALLY LIKE TO HAVE A BEER WITH MY CAMEL PAW & DEER TENDON DINNERS BUT THE CHINAMAN INSISTED THAT WE ENJOY THE VERY SPECIAL IMPERIAL WINE LIQUOR THAT WAS SERVED TO THE ROYALS! I AM GAME TO DRINK AS LONG AS IT HAS ALCOHOL IN IT. YOU KNOW ALCOHOL KILLS GERMS, SO I WILL DRINK IT. THE BOTTLE THAT THE STUFF CAME IN WAS LIKE THE RESTAURANT , ALL ORNATE GOLD AND RED AND PRETTY IN A GAUDY WAY. THE STUFF IN THE BOTTLE HOWEVER WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC. IT WAS LIKE DRINKING THE ESSENCE OF TURPENTINE. I AM SORRY TO REPORT IT WAS UNDRINKABLE...DOUBLE YUCK! OF COURSE THIS DRINK WAS PROBABLY THE REASONS WHY ALL THE ROYALS LIVED LONG AND HEALTHY AND WHY THEY WERE ABLE TO EAT ALL THIS STUFF LIKE.......

BRAISED ABALONE WITH BROCCOLI AND MYSTERIOUS BROWN SAUCE. ABALONE IS NOT MY FAVE BUT THIS DISH WAS VERY FRESH AND TASTY.

STEWED SEA CUCUMBER WITH BRAISED DEER LIPS. THE MEAT TASTES LIKE VENISON THE SEA CUCUMBER LIKE TASTELESS CRUNCHY & MUSHY STUFF.

THESE LITTLE SLIDERS FROM WHITE CASTLE WERE MY FAVORITES! JUST KIDDING!! THESE WERE LITTLE TOASTED SESAME BUNS FILLED WITH A MINCED LAMB & PORK MEAT FILLING. DELICIOUSO!




SPECIALTY OF THE HOUSE, CAMEL'S PAW WITH SCALLION ONION SAUCE. TASTED A BIT LIKE PORK IF YOU ASK ME! YES I CAN NOW SAY THAT I HAVE ALLEGEDLY EATEN CAMEL MEAT. NO NEED TO EVER EAT IT AGAIN!!!





ROASTED VENISON WITH ASPARAGUS & PEPPER CHILI SAUCE. ZESTY, SPICY AND TASTY BAMBI MEAT!!

SURE, I HAVE ALREADY HAD A COUPLE OF BEERS BY NOW. THE CHINAMAN DID VALIANTLY TRY TO GET ME TO "ENJOY" MORE OF THE ROYAL NASTY WINE, BUT HE DID GIVE UP AND I NOTICED HE DIDN'T DRINK ANYMORE EITHER!!

THERE WERE OTHER DISHES INCUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

WARM DE BONED DUCK BREAST WITHOUT ANY SAUCE...VERY NICE

STEAMED WHOLE SHRIMP FORMED & DECORATED TO LOOK LIKE SPARROWS

BRAISED SHARK FIN SOUP ...THIS WAS THE CHINAMANS AS I DO NOT LIKE IT!

DEER OR VENISON TENDONS STEWED IN WINE SAUCE......CAPTAIN CRUNCHY LIKE TEXTURE!!

THERE WAS A HEALTHY STEAMED STUFFED BEAN CURD DISH, WHICH WE COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT IT WAS STUFFED WITH?

THERE WAS AN EXPLANATION AND NICE PRESENTATION OF EVERY DISH. IT WAS ALL ELEGANT AND WONDERFUL, THREE HOURS LATER WE HAD DESSERT.

DESSERT WAS ROLLS OF SWEET KIDNEY BEANS IN FLOUR AND MASHED PEAS CAKES! I CANT MAKE THIS STUFF UP!
I WAS SO STUFFED I COULD NOT EVEN EAT ANY HAAGEN DAAS ICE CREAM...IF THEY HAD IT! STICK A PAIR OF CHOP STICKS IN ME I WAS DONE! IT WAS AN EXOTIC, EXHAUSTING EATING EXTRAVAGANZA!








OKAY STAY TUNED FOR THE PENULTIMATE BLOG IN THIS SAGA, BOOYAH IN BEIJING PART DEUX!