We don’t often see the Northwest Passage make it on the news. I’m glad CNN is so optimistic about it.

Hardly I had to reconfirmar, Ethiopia I am yes sixth of the bottom in the human index of the development of a Rumania is number 63. I will push that in the faces of those naysayers when with himself white Iulia. Stop to complain yer!

Wordplay, the site for words and fun, suggested using Altavista’s Translation Service to translate something back and forth. The above passage is an English-to-Spanish-to English translation of the below passage.

I just had to reconfirm, yes Ethiopia is sixth from the bottom in the UN’s Human Development Index. Romania is number 63. I’ll shove that in those naysayers’ faces when I get to Alba Iulia. Quit yer complaining!

Just got my medical insurance, my international driver’s license, scentless deodorant (dissuades malarial mosquitoes from hovering around my armpits), nearly-scentless shampoo (prevents yellow fevered bugs from patrolling my hair), presents for Ethiopian friends, and malaria pills.

Good news! My passport just arrived with my Ethiopian visa in it. A tad disappointed. It’s just a stamp. No fancy graphics. No colourful emblems. Part of it is written in the Ethiopian alphabet, however, so complaints should be kept in check.

Some good news from Japan, at last.

First, victims of stalking can now pre-register with police. Tokyo’s Metropolitan police can dispatch the closest patrol car to the victim’s aid after making the call.

The second piece of good news is that elementary and junior high schools will finally be getting air-conditioning in the summer. The plan will take ten years to equip some 30,000 schools.

The last piece of news, rather bittersweet, is that the Tokyo District Court has finally recognized that Unit 731 was indeed conducting biological warfare. Unfortunately, the Chinese victims will not receive compensation.

On another note, here is the latest weird Engrish. I wonder where you can buy the “Miss Urine Tester Pageant” t-shirt or the “I hate my life Everyday I polish my revolver and shoot my head like a rock star” t-shirt. Or where is the Pumpkin Poo bakery? I also got my wonderful fax reconfirmation from Addis Ababa’s Ibex Hotel: “We shall await your arrival at the Airport Exit gate carrying a plague with your name on it.” How nice.

Visited two libraries (Port Moody and the Burnaby Cameron branch) and two bookstores this week. I found Joyce�s Dubliners for 50 cents at the Port Moody Library. Sadly, however, I have issued a moratorium on book-buying after lugging yesterday’s load home. At the Robson Chapters I got cheap deals on two George Eliot biographies (one by Rosemary Ashton and the other by Frederick R. Carl), three of her books (Mill on the Floss, Middlemarch, and Felix Holt), an Irish cooking book by Darina Allen, and The Ark and the Covenant, which will be a great companion during my trip to Ethiopia next week.

I also went to the Book Warehouse on Granville again, and saw biographies of Walt Whitman, Edith Wharton and Marcel Proust. The heavy set of George Eliot works and what-not tugged my hand and reminded me that I bought too many books already on this trip. I’m sure Walt Whitman will be around the next time I visit.

When I came home, I weighed my recent purchases: 20 kg exactly. The maximum I can send through Canada Post.

Spent the day reading Tintin comics. Watched the 1983 Jackie Chan movie Project A. Hmm, naked Yuen Biao. Gotta write to the Girl’s Guide to Hong Kong movies and tell them that he isn’t exactly an “iron virgin.”

Back to the Tintin. Only two more books to go.

I am still kermit!

Which Muppet Are You?

This time I am….

Which Disney Princess are you?