Pittstop's sabbatical
Due to the intense pressures of maintaining its position as Hanoi's 170,451st most popular blogspot, every one here at Pittstop Works HQ is having a wee rest and staying clear from the blogosphere for a month or so.
Sign up for that reader thingymajig in the top right to make sure you receive notification of when we get back in the saddle of the Pittstop blogmobile, sometime in early June, or late May if you're lucky, and blow your minds through the summer of 2008.
Anyway, at this stage we think you've all figured out how to read Than Nien online and the Snooze in the flesh and laugh at your own conclusions so, perhaps, our work is done here. Or perhaps you've also had enough of this time-consuming and fruitless life online and this sabbatical will help you find the courage to turn off the internet tap and feast your eyes on the world outside your house.
In a way all of us have an El Gaupo to face some day...
[Clippety-clop sounds as man rides horse into a sunset without looking back....]
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Wondering where the Vietnamese wonders went?
Just when we thought we had the dubious natural wonders campaign all sown up, with the top three spots secured and Mount Everest, Mount Fuji and Niagara Falls eating our proverbial dust, all of sudden Halong Bay, Fansipan and Phong Nha caves get bounced out...
Is the reason a) "According to NewOpenWorld, the organiser of the new world natural wonder selection, Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang and Fansipan Mountain were rejected from the selection list because of lack of official support committees." ... Or is it b) VietNamNet Bridge – NewOpenWorld on April 14 temporarily removed Ha Long Bay from its nomination list of new world natural wonders, said Ngo Hung, Head of the Ha Long Bay Management Board. The reason, according to Hung, is some Vietnamese websites have pirated New7wonders’ logo, photos and contents of NewOpenWorld’s website. c) none of the above and a conspiracy theory of your choice?
Alas now even the Hansel and Gretel-esquely-named Chocolate Hills of Philippines have made the top seven.
Just when we thought we had the dubious natural wonders campaign all sown up, with the top three spots secured and Mount Everest, Mount Fuji and Niagara Falls eating our proverbial dust, all of sudden Halong Bay, Fansipan and Phong Nha caves get bounced out...
Is the reason a) "According to NewOpenWorld, the organiser of the new world natural wonder selection, Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang and Fansipan Mountain were rejected from the selection list because of lack of official support committees." ... Or is it b) VietNamNet Bridge – NewOpenWorld on April 14 temporarily removed Ha Long Bay from its nomination list of new world natural wonders, said Ngo Hung, Head of the Ha Long Bay Management Board. The reason, according to Hung, is some Vietnamese websites have pirated New7wonders’ logo, photos and contents of NewOpenWorld’s website. c) none of the above and a conspiracy theory of your choice?
Alas now even the Hansel and Gretel-esquely-named Chocolate Hills of Philippines have made the top seven.
| 1. |
| Cox's Bazar, Beach | BANGLADESH - Asia | |||
| 2. |
| Ganges, River | BANGLADESH/ INDIA - Asia | |||
| 3. |
| Amazon River, River/Forest | BOLIVIA/ BRAZIL/ COLOMBIA/ ECUADOR/ PERU/ VENEZUELA - South America | |||
| 4. |
| Mount Everest, Mountain | NEPAL - Asia | |||
| 5. |
| Cocos Island, Island | COSTA RICA - North America | |||
| 6. |
| Mount Fuji, Mountain | JAPAN - Asia | |||
| 7. |
| Chocolate Hills | PHILIPPINES - Asia |
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Stuff you people might or might not like...
* There's a website called Stuff White People Like I clicked on via Upstairsforthinking written by white Americans (Update: the founder is Canadian I'm told) for white Americans who like to be ultra-ironic and self aware 'cos it's cool to know you're trying to be cool when you know really you're not that cool by listening to for example Mos Def, watching Wes Anderson films or eating Sushi or most ironically... being ironic!
Judging by the latest post on rugby with over 1,000 comments it's incredibly popular and is rumoured to have had over 7 million hits this year... so no surprises perhaps that someone has copycatted the idea with Stuff Asian People Like which really isn't funny at all and most of the time doesn't get its own concept quite right: "It’s safe to say Asians have divided opinions regarding Lucy Liu..."
Maybe it should be called Stuff Asian people have divided opinions on...
Apparently there's also a Stuff Black People Like so in no time we're sure to have the whole spectrum with Stuff Paddys Like (Post one: the Craic!), Stuff Phaps Like (Post one: Wearing a scarf even if its 30 degrees!), Stuff Aussies like (Post one: Pom bashing!)...
* There's a website called Stuff White People Like I clicked on via Upstairsforthinking written by white Americans (Update: the founder is Canadian I'm told) for white Americans who like to be ultra-ironic and self aware 'cos it's cool to know you're trying to be cool when you know really you're not that cool by listening to for example Mos Def, watching Wes Anderson films or eating Sushi or most ironically... being ironic!
Judging by the latest post on rugby with over 1,000 comments it's incredibly popular and is rumoured to have had over 7 million hits this year... so no surprises perhaps that someone has copycatted the idea with Stuff Asian People Like which really isn't funny at all and most of the time doesn't get its own concept quite right: "It’s safe to say Asians have divided opinions regarding Lucy Liu..."
Maybe it should be called Stuff Asian people have divided opinions on...
Apparently there's also a Stuff Black People Like so in no time we're sure to have the whole spectrum with Stuff Paddys Like (Post one: the Craic!), Stuff Phaps Like (Post one: Wearing a scarf even if its 30 degrees!), Stuff Aussies like (Post one: Pom bashing!)...
Bits and pieces
* It's a Happy birthday to the Hung kings who according to legend founded the first kingdom of Vietnam some 3,000 years ago today. I'm celebrating by riding around on a buffalo for the day.
* Heavens to Murgatroyd... what are they feeding these poor mothers?
"A 6.6-kg boy was delivered after a difficult caesarean section, said a doctor at the Ha Noi Obstetrics Hospital on Thursday."
* Putting a plug in it... (the shits that is).
"The local Department of Health on April 13 decided to close several restaurants in the two districts of Hoan Kiem and Hai Ba Trung which don’t meet standards on food hygiene and safety.
* The Olympic torch is coming to Ho Chi Minh City...
"Vietnam also rarely tolerates street protests, and officials have pledged a trouble-free leg in Ho Chi Minh City."
* Decoding Pham Xuan An... -- the life and times of Vietnam's celebrated secret agent Part I. The following articles in the series are on the right of the linked page.
* It's a Happy birthday to the Hung kings who according to legend founded the first kingdom of Vietnam some 3,000 years ago today. I'm celebrating by riding around on a buffalo for the day.
* Heavens to Murgatroyd... what are they feeding these poor mothers?
"A 6.6-kg boy was delivered after a difficult caesarean section, said a doctor at the Ha Noi Obstetrics Hospital on Thursday."
* Putting a plug in it... (the shits that is).
"The local Department of Health on April 13 decided to close several restaurants in the two districts of Hoan Kiem and Hai Ba Trung which don’t meet standards on food hygiene and safety.
* The Olympic torch is coming to Ho Chi Minh City...
"Vietnam also rarely tolerates street protests, and officials have pledged a trouble-free leg in Ho Chi Minh City."
* Decoding Pham Xuan An... -- the life and times of Vietnam's celebrated secret agent Part I. The following articles in the series are on the right of the linked page.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Luxuriate me!
"The reason why Asians buy so many luxury brands is that in Asia you are what you wear. A luxury brand is a symbol that defines who you are and your social status." -- Timeout
"In a country whose peasant army once marched on flip-flops cut from old tires, Gucci beach sandals priced at $365 can come as a shock." -- LA Times
Yup, luxury brands are sooooo hot right now.
Also...
ASiaLife from HCM City is back on a coffee table somewhere near you in Sunny-Side up Saigon. Not to be confused with the Word which looks exactly like the old AsiaLife did and emerged after some bust up apparently led to a former AsiaLife employee doing a Robbie Williams and flying solo.
Seems a bit sketchy looking online for the time being. Posted the Minsk Olympics party info four days after the event happened and there's a piece on Hanoi's five newest places, one of which isn't open and it also mentions Mao's red lounge which may be a local favourite but it sure ain't new.
"The reason why Asians buy so many luxury brands is that in Asia you are what you wear. A luxury brand is a symbol that defines who you are and your social status." -- Timeout
"In a country whose peasant army once marched on flip-flops cut from old tires, Gucci beach sandals priced at $365 can come as a shock." -- LA Times
Yup, luxury brands are sooooo hot right now.
Also...
ASiaLife from HCM City is back on a coffee table somewhere near you in Sunny-Side up Saigon. Not to be confused with the Word which looks exactly like the old AsiaLife did and emerged after some bust up apparently led to a former AsiaLife employee doing a Robbie Williams and flying solo.
Seems a bit sketchy looking online for the time being. Posted the Minsk Olympics party info four days after the event happened and there's a piece on Hanoi's five newest places, one of which isn't open and it also mentions Mao's red lounge which may be a local favourite but it sure ain't new.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Any Arena
Here's a new-ish and fairly slick looking website called Any Arena with mostly Southern based content and an emphasis on glamorous events it seems, you know like, fashion, art and um... boozing like Billio in Sunny-Side-up-Saigon or as in the case below in Mui Ne at a party organised by the JetLag posse.
Here's a new-ish and fairly slick looking website called Any Arena with mostly Southern based content and an emphasis on glamorous events it seems, you know like, fashion, art and um... boozing like Billio in Sunny-Side-up-Saigon or as in the case below in Mui Ne at a party organised by the JetLag posse.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Videos of Minsk music festival
Here's a few videos of everyone's favourite Japanese instrumentalists Both Cheese and My Favourite Uncle at the Minsk Music bash the other day... more videos uploaded by Birdy2bad at that link. (With bonus extra and exclusive footage of the Badger)
Here's a few videos of everyone's favourite Japanese instrumentalists Both Cheese and My Favourite Uncle at the Minsk Music bash the other day... more videos uploaded by Birdy2bad at that link. (With bonus extra and exclusive footage of the Badger)
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
More on the Minsk 10th anniversary party
More photos of the Minsk Music festival here by Loominpapa. Clearly a fan of Both Cheese and Ngu Cung. And a few over here at the doctor's clinic and a collage of portraits of some fine people on the big day over at Monsieur Wainwright's photo blog.
Funnily enough the President of Belarus was in town, too, at the start of the week and has now returned to the land of the Minsk. He last visited Vietnam ... 10 years ago.
Coincidence? I DON'T THINK SO! No doubt he was there, incognito as it were.
Also via Mr. JAW's blog we checked out Jezebel.com's thoughts and scanned pics of a Marie Claire photo shoot in Halong Bay under the cringe-worthy title Vietnam Photo shoot: Apocalypse Wow.
Check it out if only for Jezebel's comments and captions... such as:
"The photographs, by Richard Mazzucco, are absolutely gorgeous, but just a wee bit somber. Well, it is Vietnam, right?
Someone's got her eye on that bicycle, because someone's shoes hurt so bad she needs to sit down. Also, someone wishes this shoot were on the beach in Thailand instead."
More photos of the Minsk Music festival here by Loominpapa. Clearly a fan of Both Cheese and Ngu Cung. And a few over here at the doctor's clinic and a collage of portraits of some fine people on the big day over at Monsieur Wainwright's photo blog.
Funnily enough the President of Belarus was in town, too, at the start of the week and has now returned to the land of the Minsk. He last visited Vietnam ... 10 years ago.
Coincidence? I DON'T THINK SO! No doubt he was there, incognito as it were.
Also via Mr. JAW's blog we checked out Jezebel.com's thoughts and scanned pics of a Marie Claire photo shoot in Halong Bay under the cringe-worthy title Vietnam Photo shoot: Apocalypse Wow.
Check it out if only for Jezebel's comments and captions... such as:
"The photographs, by Richard Mazzucco, are absolutely gorgeous, but just a wee bit somber. Well, it is Vietnam, right?
Someone's got her eye on that bicycle, because someone's shoes hurt so bad she needs to sit down. Also, someone wishes this shoot were on the beach in Thailand instead."
Monday, April 07, 2008
Minsk Party
Well done to all the fine people who had the good sense NOT to miss the best party ever in Hanoi on Saturday last. It was an incredible day of music and hi-jinx that will deservedly go down in history.
I'm also sure somebody somewhere has a thought or a comment on the day that was. I'd be interested in what it was so comment away why don't you.
There's some photos of the bands here taken by Aidan B. Dockery with the likes of fuzzy-haired Jun (below) from Stylish Nonsense on stage. He was runner up in the best-hair-do category on the day. I'll post more photos + reviews as I get them.
Well done to all the fine people who had the good sense NOT to miss the best party ever in Hanoi on Saturday last. It was an incredible day of music and hi-jinx that will deservedly go down in history.
I'm also sure somebody somewhere has a thought or a comment on the day that was. I'd be interested in what it was so comment away why don't you.
There's some photos of the bands here taken by Aidan B. Dockery with the likes of fuzzy-haired Jun (below) from Stylish Nonsense on stage. He was runner up in the best-hair-do category on the day. I'll post more photos + reviews as I get them.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
A gentle reminder...
Happenings on the Blogosphere
Ah the blogosphgere, or Planet Blog, or the realm of Blogdom, or whatever you want to call it. Isn't it just frightening how it takes over your life and turns you into a square eyed nerd. Sad thing is more and more people want to join everyday...
Take Monsieur JAW for example -- he's just set up a Vietnam based photo-blog there so keep your eyes on that one. In the meantime you can check out his photos of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos.
Then there's Mr. Brian Jeffrey Fabian III, ex-Hanoian, one quarter Panamanian, who's now living it up in San Fran and under the delusion that he can get fit enough to run the SF marathon. He will be chronicling his slow realisation that tacos, absinthe and brews won't help his race for fitness over at this blog.
Personally I don't think he can even keep his blog going for that long.
A disturbing shot of a deer's head
Don't click on this link if you like Bambi or don't like to see decapitated heads of animals hanging off a clothes line. Via those oh-so-sadistic food lovers at Sticky Rice.
Save us from this misery satellite...
This is ground control to Major Tuan, the plain people of the countryside can't get good reception for the Manchester united games on Saturday or a decent enough internet connection to set up a blog...
"Viet Nam will launch the national satellite VINASAT-1 on the morning of April 12 at a cost of more than US$200 million, bringing countless benefits to farmers and other Vietnamese living in remote and isolated areas." via the SNooze.
Headline of the morning
Cannae find the online version but the morning's Than Nien printed daily's bauld headline read: SPERM SHORTAGE. Certainly got my attention. In case you're interested you have to be between 18-45, have completed the 9th grade and have healthy mobile sperm. VND150,00 a pop apparently.
You might remember...
You might remember the picture of the man with the silly inflatable hat that I posted (see below)... well now that Bertie has resigned as Taoiseach of Ireland due to the "controversy over his private financial affairs", it appears that that man, the bauld Brian Cowen, will indeed be the man on top.
Happenings on the Blogosphere
Ah the blogosphgere, or Planet Blog, or the realm of Blogdom, or whatever you want to call it. Isn't it just frightening how it takes over your life and turns you into a square eyed nerd. Sad thing is more and more people want to join everyday...
Take Monsieur JAW for example -- he's just set up a Vietnam based photo-blog there so keep your eyes on that one. In the meantime you can check out his photos of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos.
Then there's Mr. Brian Jeffrey Fabian III, ex-Hanoian, one quarter Panamanian, who's now living it up in San Fran and under the delusion that he can get fit enough to run the SF marathon. He will be chronicling his slow realisation that tacos, absinthe and brews won't help his race for fitness over at this blog.
Personally I don't think he can even keep his blog going for that long.
A disturbing shot of a deer's head
Don't click on this link if you like Bambi or don't like to see decapitated heads of animals hanging off a clothes line. Via those oh-so-sadistic food lovers at Sticky Rice.
Save us from this misery satellite...
This is ground control to Major Tuan, the plain people of the countryside can't get good reception for the Manchester united games on Saturday or a decent enough internet connection to set up a blog...
"Viet Nam will launch the national satellite VINASAT-1 on the morning of April 12 at a cost of more than US$200 million, bringing countless benefits to farmers and other Vietnamese living in remote and isolated areas." via the SNooze.
Headline of the morning
Cannae find the online version but the morning's Than Nien printed daily's bauld headline read: SPERM SHORTAGE. Certainly got my attention. In case you're interested you have to be between 18-45, have completed the 9th grade and have healthy mobile sperm. VND150,00 a pop apparently.
You might remember...
You might remember the picture of the man with the silly inflatable hat that I posted (see below)... well now that Bertie has resigned as Taoiseach of Ireland due to the "controversy over his private financial affairs", it appears that that man, the bauld Brian Cowen, will indeed be the man on top.
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