Foreign Policy and Bears

Happy Friday everybody, lots of important, intellectually challenging issues to sort through today.


Foreign Policy Discussion:  I was recently informed by my good friend from college, I'll refer to him Hiphopanonymous (so he/she (gender confusion, I'm so tricky Philpott! Oopps, oh shit.....) doesn't get Chinese finger trapped or waterboarded),  that this blog is not available to him in China, where he has been for work for a few months.  This raises the issue of this blog's foreign relations policy, specifically towards certain countries that may block interwebs and eat lots of ginger.  First, I support freedom (issue for further discussion, is freedom free? AMERICA!) and believe that people should be able to access the internets if they're not terrorists or mean to animals.  Second, as a ginger, people eating ginger makes me nervous.  I'm sorry, its just a thing I have.  But do Chinese even eat ginger?  How do I eat sushi?  This all just silly, so I will reach out to China to allow/unblock this blog, it's not as uppity as those facepages.  By my estimates the rural Chinese, 45-55, female demographic is my 3rd strongest audience, behind deaf-Australian-goat farmers-under-30 and former hosts of the Family Feud.  So China, open up your interwebs to this blog, then maybe you'd be hipper than North Korea?
Side-Bar: (Dear college that I graduated from, please don't take away my Poli-Sci minor for this past paragraph, thanks. Love, Nick, P.S.- fire our basketball coach, he's stupid and turrible)

Venting Rant of the week: For lent this year, I am attempting to give up Burritos.  Apparently for 40 days I'm subsituting delicious Mexican cuisine that has become a staple of my diet for crazy pills.  Various ramifications have to be decided, like at what point is a fajita not a burrito and what about the rest of Mexican food?  Breakfast burritos are gone, I can't really order anything at Anna's, Chipotle, or any other amazing burrito place that I would normally love without my endeavor of will-power coming into questions.  D-R-A-M-A.  Well, I don't know how long I'll last, but I'll do my best, but after Easter, I may eat only in burrito form for a week, updates to come (because I know you all care so, so much)...

Listing things Friday!: Cities I'd like to travel to-->North American Version!

1. New Orleans-->Fortunately for me, I (don't worry, Juan is coming too) finally be visiting the Crescent City at the end of this month before and after a cruise to Mexico (first cruise ever & first trip to Mexico), who's got suggested places to go/things to do/questionable decisions to make?
2. Las Vegas-->self-explanatory, stupid
3. San Francisco--> I hear good things, question for the San Fran natives: is it frowned upon to run around reenacting scenes from the super smash hit, The Rock?  (True story: receiving a somewhat racist hello from Thunder-Butt from San Fran makes me want to go more, is that kosher?)
4. San Diego--> I want to go that... the baddest Zoo around, nice weather? Is this even a question?
5. Montreal-->This one comes with rules, only in the summer and no hockey related events (trying to stay out of trouble) otherwise everything else is on the table
6. Chicago--> Never been to the midwest, thought Chicago would a jump off city
7. Detroit--> Hahaha, just kidding... (sorry Thunder-Butt, Laura, Eminem, and Kid Rock)
8. Vancouver-->same policy as Montreal
9. DC--> But only if I can go through Baltimore before or after to witness some magic...
10. Philadelphia--> They hammer people there and Ian's stories sound in need of investigatory journalism

This Week in Bear News: This video was brought to my attention (thank you T-Dawg), as it depicts a group of tourists rudely interrupting and harassing (fairly certain it was of the non-sexual persuasion) this Grizzly Bear, who was minding his own business but had to rep his turf.  That's right lady with the hood on, better respect this bear's street cred!

I'd also like to salute Wojtek of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of the Polish II Corps who served during  WWII.  Wojtek was brown bear cub that adopted and listed as a private by the Polish unit, who's job was to haul ammunition around.  My speculation is that tf the bear had been given a gun and the freedom to form an all-bear unit, the war would've been over immideately and Poland would now be a world super-power.  (Thanks Juan for the tip-off)



Olympic Countdown: 146 Days to go.  And I just discovered the Modern pentathlon! Pistols, swords fighting, swimming, horse riding, and running is an actual event and exists?  The winner of this event should just be named bad-ass extraordinaire!
Today's Pre-Olympic Betting Odds: # of total medals China will win in Table Tennis +/- 4