Friday Fun Post: Where Do You Most/Least Want To Visit?

Email Print posted by ihavenobias 04/19/2008 06:58:23 PM EST

Google Technorati del.icio.us digg reddit
If you like this story, digg it!
Before I get to my post let me point out that Kshears put up a Friday Fun Post earlier today on best political album in the Bush era.

So, where are some the places that you'd most want or least want to visit if you could?

You could break it down by continent or by country or by city.  And obviously, give some reasons why. And include where you live now to give more context to your comments.

I think the far too obvious answer of "least want to visit" is just about anywhere in the Middle East.  Why? It's dangerous (I do wear a flag pin afer all) and generally speaking I'm not especially interested in most of the sites, sounds, landmarks and culture.

My GF is really big on visiting Africa, but I have to say, that's pretty low down on my list of places to visit too.  Again with the sites, sounds, culture and landmarks, etc (to each his own). I admit I only tried African food once (and I really disliked it), so I need to try it again and I should mention that I love Indian and Thai food (in case someone thinks my mind is closed to exotic cuisine). At any rate, the GF REALLY wants to go to see the animals and she loves elephants.

I admit that part would be interesting, but I have this image of melting in the heat, getting chewed up by malaria filled mosquitos (you get shots, I know) and not being all that close to the animals anyway compared to some of the more modern zoos available. Or maybe you'd get too close to the animals.

Places I'd most like to visit?  I'd say many of them are in Western Europe (I've been to Yugoslavia a couple of times and generally have no interest in Eastern Europe, although watching the old ladies chasing around chickens in the dirt road again might be fun).  Japan and Australia also interest me, because of the culture and or wildlife.

Finally, ever since I was a kid I've always wanted to go to Hawaii.  Maybe it was that Brady Bunch episode with the cursed amulet and Vincet Price in the cave.

And some of you lucky bastards (and Ana) have already been to 100 of these places, like Italy, Spain, Sweden and so on.

PS---It's funny how someone reading this might live in one of the countries I don't especally want to visit.  Are they slightly offended?  Maybe they don't care, who knows.  Oh, and of course you can include states and cities in the US.  I've been to Texas and AZ, but never to the east or west coasts (I know, I know).

< RESPECT to Jimmy Carter... | Rep. Tim Ryan goes for Hillary Clinton >
 Display:
Friday Fun Post: Where Do You Most/Least Want To Visit? | 144 comments (144 topical, 0 hidden)
Africa (none / 0)

I spent a month in Namibia (pre-brangelina) a few years back and it was incredible.  Namibia has one of the most democratic constitutions in the world, after only becoming independent in 1990 (if I remember correctly).  A friend and I rented a 4x4 and camped in the northern regions along the Angola border.  A-fucking-mazing.  Want to get close to animals?  Try walking around in pristine bush where there are no rules about staying in your car.  Just be careful of the elephants and African buffalo, spitting cobras, hippos, crocs, and the ever present malarial mozzies.  You take pills for that, but you can still get malaria.  GF would love it, but it is damn expensive to get there.  You haven't really lived until you have an adult male elephant scream and charge at your vehicle, ears flapping loudly against it's sides, trunk raised.  I'll try to load a video up to YouTube later.

Since coming home, all I want is to return to Africa. Sounds strange, I know, but it felt like home, maybe because we all came from there.  The people were so friendly it was crazy.  It's also really great and humbling to experience being in the minority too--to be a white person in a black country.  I have thought of doing a Peace Corps or volunteer stint there in order to spend more time there doing something worthwhile.

Oh, but you don't go for the food.  We survived on Simba potato chips and peanut butter.  and Jameson.

Other than different places in Africa, I think I most want to visit Australia.  I most enjoy being in places with extremely low population densities where the natural ecosystems are intact.  Since childhood I have wanted to go to Japan too.  My dad was in the army of occupation in Japan in WWII and he fell in love with the country. He and my mom went back several times. 

by desertpear on 04/18/2008 03:07:37 PM EST

So let me get this straight (none / 0)
Hot, really dangerous and bad food?

Some vacation that is!  ;)*

Cheryl would be so pissed if she read that...then again that's how I tease hear all the time anyway when she brings up Africa. :)*


*Cenk approves and encourages use of emoticons

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 03:10:30 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Iraq (none / 0)
OF COOOOURSE!
Or America, post McCain stagflation.

by Spencer on 04/18/2008 03:12:07 PM EST

Or Iran, post McCain. (none / 0)
Or Canada, post McCain.  Because no one is safe.

by Spencer on 04/18/2008 03:13:40 PM EST

[ Parent ]
That's worst place (none / 0)
But what about best place to visit?  And Iraq is too easy for worst, give me one more.

Come to think of it, you're in CO and I'd like to visit at some point.  I knew a few other people there too.

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 03:14:21 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Oh yeah, I forgot the "best" part. (none / 0)
I would actually love to live in Chicago.  Cold weather and great music, that's about all I need.  I'm jealous of all our windy city TYT family members.

by Spencer on 04/18/2008 03:37:18 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I don't understand (none / 0)
Who likes "cold weather". I understand if you like skiing and snowmobiling and other winter activities.  I even understand if you think snow is "pretty" (when are aren't driving in it or shoveling it of course).

But the actual cold itself?  I understand not wanting it hot. I even understand wanting it to be brisk sometimes, so that you can enjoy hot soup, hot chocolate, cider and other things that aren't nearly as good when it's warm.

But I'll never understand liking cold weather outside of those things.  Besides, often times clouds come with the cold, which sucks.  You've got it better in CO, at the winters are milder and you get a lot more sun.

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 07:11:03 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Fun! (none / 0)
Like to visit places:
Al Khobar & Dhahran SA, I know crazy - but I kind of like to see how they've changed.  Impossible, because of the danger and they wouldn't let me in, but I still am curious and I would love one more trip to the souks & my favorite bakery.
Bahrain & Dubai, just because I have to see it for myself.  I am sure it is a surreal experience.
Israel, I imagine the history is overwhelming and I would like to see what everyone is fighting over. 
Italy and Greece - For the art and history.  I was lucky enough to tour Greece as a teen, but I would love to go back and see it through adult eyes. 

Places I Don't Care to see:
Siberia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and South America just because I don't care.  Nepal, Thailand, Singapore- once was enough.

by Duncansmom14 on 04/18/2008 03:18:48 PM EST

Your post just made me realize... (none / 0)
We should probably all include where we currently live to give more context to our comments on this issue.

Me: The State of Illinois in The United States.

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 03:21:09 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Ooops, I missed that part (none / 0)
Currently I live in the Buffalo, NY area.

by Duncansmom14 on 04/18/2008 03:41:19 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Austin, Tx born and raised (none / 0)
Well now I live in Kyle, TX but thats just a suburb of Austin.

by ProfRich on 04/18/2008 05:53:21 PM EST

[ Parent ]
We had that on our list (none / 0)
of possible place to move.  Costing of living, jobs, arts and culture, warmer, progressive community and so on.

The big 3 turnoffs for me are:

1)-Humid. Hot and dry is one thing, but hot and humid is horrible.  Don't you get some crazy bugs too?

2)-Flooding. I did some reading and it sounds like Austin floods fairly often.  We'll be owning at some point and I don't want to deal with that.

3)-The rest of the people in Texas (family excluded of course).  Enough said.  ;)

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 07:13:20 PM EST

[ Parent ]
flooding (none / 0)
You can build outside the floodplain nobias.  Trust me. 

by desertpear on 04/18/2008 07:49:38 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Why did you answer and not profrich? (none / 0)
While that may be true, isn't the humidity horrible?  I really think Phoenix summers would be better, because while the sun goes down and things cool off (relative to the high day temp obviously), it doesn't take much humidity to make things uncomfortable.

And something about being sorrounded by conservative cowboys (outside of Austin) is kind of a turn-off.  ;)

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 08:04:37 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I'm just sayin (none / 0)

No matter where you live, you can find out where the floodplains are and not build inside of them... I actually don't know anything about Austin itself ;)

Phoenix is really ugly--be sure to check that out before moving there.   

by desertpear on 04/18/2008 11:27:26 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I've been there (none / 0)
I thought the Mountains were really nice.  Obviously "ugly" depends on exactly where you are.  There are "ugly" parts of Chicago and Chicagoland but also really nice parts.

I reject and denouence you!

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 11:55:28 PM EST

[ Parent ]
but (none / 0)

Chicago has that nice Old City interest.  Phoenix was all sprawl and tack.  The mountains are wonderful.  But at this time in my life, I'm more interested in being near the mountains than near the urban center.

by desertpear on 04/19/2008 07:32:49 PM EST

[ Parent ]
See (none / 0)
And at this point in my life, I'd rather be closer to the urban center than the mountains.

Not right in the thick of the urban center, but close enough to go there regularly for the restaurants and other attractions.

Austin seems like it has a lot of fun stuff going on, although I did some reading today and was reminded that mosquitos are in heaven down there in the humid, flood prone city.  I can't say walking around in a giant bowl of humid soup covered in OFF(!) sounds like much fun. And there are rattlesnakes.


Then again Phoenix has rattlesnakes *and* scorpions, plus the brown cloud.  Although I like the sports teams better (not a fan of college sports) and the dry heat as opposed to humid heat.  But less diversity of people, ideas and attractions.

Oh well, no place is perfect obviously.  Chicago has it flaws.  But I gotta say, it's really hard to decide where to move when you've lived in the same place for over 29 years.

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 09:18:19 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Oh, the other thing (none / 0)
the book I was reading today said was that chiggers are common. 

Just the name makes me nauseous, and the fact that the author said something like "the best thing to do if a chigger burrows into you is to let him take his course...he'll fall off in a few days".

That actually bothered me way more than tornado talk did.

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 09:46:41 PM EST

[ Parent ]
critters (none / 0)
I don't mind mosquitoes to a point, and snakes of all kinds are a plus to me.  chiggers sound like about as much fun as ticks though.

by desertpear on 04/19/2008 11:34:06 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Chiggers (none / 0)
Chiggers are almost completely irrelevant.  Just little clouds of bugs.  I have never notice one burrowed in to me.

by ProfRich on 04/20/2008 12:02:14 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Now... (none / 0)
Are the mosquitos year round? I'm not sure I could handle that. I'm hoping you say "no, of course not, just in the summer".

But with the mild year round weather... :(

by ihavenobias on 04/20/2008 12:14:28 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Not year round (none / 0)
Mostly early summer but really has a lot to do with when it rains.  Rain=mosquitos but not immediately.

by ProfRich on 04/20/2008 12:22:53 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Rattlesnakes? (none / 0)

Look man, in 35 years the only times I have come across any of our four varieties of poisonous snakes is when I went looking for them as a kid.  (except this one time they invaded a house I was renting with four other guys.  Turned out there was a nest of a thousand of them living in a hole in the foundation of the Chuck E. Cheese next door.  True story). 

Pollution is a non-issue and the mosquitos do suck. 

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 11:46:39 PM EST

[ Parent ]
You got it wrong (none / 0)

The cowboys are pretty cool.  Conservative but nice and competent with actual old-fashioned values.  Its the piece of shit suburbanites from other big cities that are fucking this place up.  You know the yuppie bastards.  They are filling up the chain restuaruants and fucking up your city too.

I like the cowboys. 

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 12:15:40 AM EST

[ Parent ]
To be clear (none / 0)
Are you talking about actual yuppies, are artsy/inde types?

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 11:00:56 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Actual yuppies (none / 0)

There are artsy indie types but the second the yuppies catch wind of anything they are doing are anywhere they congregate the yuppies overrun it so they can get in on the cool Austin indie vibe, establish their non-existent authenticity and tryo to trick everyone into thinkg they aren't yuppies with their stupid Keep Austin Weird bumper sitckers.

Hate em. 

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 01:43:37 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Yeah, pretty much (none / 0)
You've just described Wicker Park in Chicago.

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 02:02:04 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Here I am (none / 0)

1- Yeah.  Its extremely humid.  That part sucks balls.  the bigs are big, not Houston/Louisiana big.  those fuckers abduct small children

2- Flooding isn't that complicated.  Don't build in the flood plain.  Believe me we are the US capital of flash flooding (CA has earthquakes, we have this, and toronadoes).  But it is really easy to avoid this being a problem.

3-I would love to tell you you wouldn't see the other Texans but the cocksuckers keep moving here.

 Seriously it is a great city to live in

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 12:13:48 AM EST

[ Parent ]
How awesome would it be (none / 0)
if you worked on the tourism/relocation board for Texas?  And THAT was your pamphlet.

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 12:31:42 AM EST

[ Parent ]
western Washington now (none / 0)
Cold, grey, wet for 9 months of the year.  Makes Portland, Oregon (where I grew up) seem like the Mediterranean by comparison.  I lived most of my life in northern California--Berkeley and Arcata, both great places.

by desertpear on 04/18/2008 07:45:39 PM EST

[ Parent ]
NORTHwestern Washington (none / 0)

But, I like the sort-of seasons.  I also like the green, the water, and the beer.

My dream travel experience is to do a tour of Tokyo street-cart food vendors.  And then tour Vietnam to hit some of the old wood-fired french bakeries left from the colonial era.  (And, the rice-flour crepes, and of course the  pho noodle soup).

Then Indonesia for some curry.  Did I mention I like to eat? 

by gdoud on 04/18/2008 10:27:03 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Eat? (none / 0)
No, why would we get that impression? ;)

The northwest seems beautiful, but I have a low tolerance for overcast skies.  Maybe if I grew up in the southwest instead of the midwest I'd want a change, but as it is, I want more sun/heat.

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 10:30:16 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I have family in the Southwest (none / 0)

The top half of New Mexico.  Basically, two seasons - desert like summers, and frigid winters.  High altitude there.

But awesome chilis, both green and red (can you say  "enchiladas"?).

by gdoud on 04/18/2008 10:40:39 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Should I assume you're a fan of Mr. Bayless? (none / 0)
I agree the lack of seasons is a bit of a downer, although I have to say, I HATE January and February in Chicago.  They are the two most depressing, dark and cold months of the year.  Plus football ends (along with the holidays) and baseball is a ways off.

I'm not a fan of November either (a depressing month that gets too cold and dark as well, with the only redeeming quality being Thanksgiving), and come to think of it, March is just "okay" at best since I'm not a college basketball fan.

In the southwest, yes, the summers are brutally hot. But a point people rarely make is that it cools off at night *and* the sun goes down. So a dry 80 with no sun is pretty nice actually.  You can go out and live life.  By contrast, in colder climates when it's 37 (or less, often much less) during the day, you stay inside. But even worse, it gets COLDER at night AND the sun goes down.

It's the opposite of the southwest.  It's bad during the day but even worse in the morning/night.

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 10:47:40 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I can say enchilada (none / 0)

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 12:38:08 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Saudi Arabia (none / 0)
I've recently opened war against ever visiting Saudi Arabia since women have close to no rights and if I get raped it will likely be considered my own fault for exposing, um, I don't know a wrist.

I would however like to visit other places in the Middle East such as Jordan for its archaeological ruins, and Egypts Fatimid and Mamluk mosques, and Morocco in North Africa.

Interestingly, I can't wait for our relations with Iran to calm down a bit so I could visit the cities of Tabriz, Isfahan and Hamadan, and enjoy some chelu-kebab:) And Persian is a beautiful language I'd love to get more practice and experience Iranian culture first hand.

Turkey of course is always on my itenerary.

I've never been interested in going to the Carribbean, Iceland, Moldova, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Ethiopia, the Congo, Israel, Palestine, the Vatican, Pakistan, and probably a few more.

Cheers

by chrisandyasemin on 04/18/2008 03:26:34 PM EST

Where do you live currently? (none / 0)

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 07:14:00 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I Have Been To A lot of places... (none / 0)
But I haven't been to Spain...or Greece...or Latin America. This summer I have plans to go to Hawaii for a week, then a cruise to Mexico, and then Vegas for my birthday. It should be a good summer.

by AnaKasparian on 04/18/2008 04:56:39 PM EST

What places do you LEAST want to visit? (none / 0)
I can't believe we only have 14 comments so far. The Queen of TYT AK-47 responds which should call for at least 100.

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 06:53:51 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Playing Mother to Ana (none / 0)
Ana, you're so young, don't waste your time in Vegas. Get out and see the world before you settle down.

by Verified1 on 04/19/2008 11:11:26 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I've never been to Vegas (none / 0)
I've actually never gambled if you can believe it (unless you count NCAA brackets and or fantasy football).  You know what else you won't believe? 

I've never been a strip club.  And guess what? I have NO desire to. None whatsoever.  I'll elaborate some other time, because I think it'll make for its own entertaining thread.

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 11:23:27 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Not missing much (none / 0)
I have been to strip clubs (bachelor parties mostly).  They are nothing special.  Now if you can take a girl who is into it?  That is fun.

by ProfRich on 04/20/2008 12:06:07 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Travel Log (none / 0)

So far

Place that sucks the most: Djibouti.  Need I say more. If you want to see how hot and miserable things will be at the peak of global warming...go to Djibouti. Oh yeah..thinks gnats...BIG fucking gnats...gnats with side numbers and there own air traffic control.

 

 

 

 

 

Place that sucks the least: Norway ( late June) I went up in the fjords, namely Geirangerfjord and others. This photo does not do it justice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Place I want to visit: New Zealand. From what I have read it seems perfect.

Place I dont want to visit: Crawford Texas . When I think of Crawford I think of Djibouti, except its full of Republicans. And gnats.

by MRFred on 04/18/2008 05:53:36 PM EST

Even I (none / 0)

I am a proud Texan, as most of you know, and even I hate Crawford.  Hated it years before shrub planted his lazy no-working ass there.  Its really just a far suburb of Waco and Waco is every bit as shitty as you have all imagined all these years. They never should have put out that Koresh fire. 

Its also, more or less, in the Dallas sphere of influence and Dallas people are far from my favorite. 

Dallas folks are the kind of people who take their ill-gotten gains and buy a farm which they are so stupid they thank its a ranch and invite all their rich friends to come tour the place.

To quote a songwriter friend of mine twice-

"There ain't nothing in Waco worth singing about"

"I don't live in Dallas, I live in Texas.  Where we ain't got no hockey and no damn metroplexes." 

 

by ProfRich on 04/18/2008 06:02:36 PM EST

[ Parent ]
What do you think (none / 0)
about Austin?

Isn't that the where 90% of all reasonable/intelligent Texans live?

;)

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 07:05:35 PM EST

[ Parent ]
LoL (none / 0)

You are 100% right and 0% wrong. 

What I think about Austin is it was an incredibly wonderful place to grow up (born in 72) but has been overrun by people from Houston, Dallas and California and has become a shadow of its former self in terms of its uniqueness and charm.  I still love it but, in a sense, I am love with a ghost. 

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 12:06:46 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Hmmm (none / 0)
I read that Austin has done a really good job of keeping out chain stores, and that there is a great variety of unique shops, stores and restaurants.  Is that not true?


And people from Houston and Dallas...does that mean it's become more conservative?  And what did you think of the humidity and flooding?

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 12:11:02 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Austin (none / 0)

Yeah, we do have a lot of unique restuauraunts (I can't spell that fucking word) and definitely a lot of funky stores but we have chains too.  I don't think we do anything to keep them out.  I just think Austinites like to support local stores so they are more competitive than elsewhere.   You could buy everything you need and eat well every night and never shop a chain here (might be more expensive of course) but its kind of annoying that people come here and wet themselves over the eatery on the corner but everything is Austin is so different.  Dude, its a fucking mexican joint. Calm down.  But I guess I am glad those things are there.

Flooding I addressed. Its really is crazy.  Every few years we get footage of people in canoes on the big streets downtown but flooding is also so easily avoided.  Just don't buy in the floodplain or at the bottom of hills and don't try to drive through running water.  ta-da!  I guess its you out of town people that are buying those stupid ass houses we all know are gonna flood.

Humidity? Its humid but its not like Houston.  You can drown just standing there in that town.  You gotta be like Aquaman to live there near as I can tell.  Who builds a city in a swamp?  Anyway.  Its hot and sticky in the summer.  Its kind of complex but we avoid this through a bifurcated proccess.  We go inside and turn on the AC.  Works like a champ.  Electricity bill is high in the summer but the heating bills are non-existent in the winter.  Seriously, adults in Austin, as a rule, either stay inside in July and August (dog days we call em) or go outside to excercise go to one of our seven lakes or swim etc in the morning or what you call night (sun sets after 9pm at that time of year.  Spring and Fall are wonderful.  Winter is mild (70 on Xmas is not unusual).  Summer is hot and sticky.

Politics? The suburbs tend to be conservative particularly up North which we call South Dallas.  Hate that part of town.  Austin itself is still very liberal (like most urban centers). South suburbs are liberal.  

Since there is interest in my humble home here are some things we haven't covered.

Its beautiful.  The hill country is just goregous.  Its very green.  It has seven lakes. 

It has a massive live music/bar scene.  You can go out 365 days a year and find people worth hanging with at a place worth being listening to music worth hearing.  And when you retire from the scene (as have I) you just stay at home and it is no inconvenience to you (except SXSW, we hate that).

It has aout 100,000 college kids.  UT and six other universities.  This means lots and lots and lots of entertainment options, movie theaters, restuauraunts, softball leagues, bars, all-night diners, retail.  Also means a LOT of beautiful women.  Lots and lots.  Seriously.

Austin is a great sports town.  But a college sports town.  UT is a major force in Football, Basketball and Baseball and this town is wildly passionate about the Horns.

Austin has very little blue collar industry and a lot of white collar.  The biggest industries in Austin are higher ed, government, tech and film.  All of which attract educated high income employees and are non-polluting unless you count the slimy film Republican politicians leave behind.

Everyone thinks its cool.  Tell people you are from Austin and they treat you like you have accomplished something.  Its stupid and a bit annoying but true.

The civil engineering is excellent.  Very green.  Services well distributed.  Traffic is not good though.  

Celebrities hang out here a lot.  And they are generally nice to us. I suppose this is because they are the visitors and we don't do shit like chase them around in crazed camera wielding packs hoping to get a crotch shot or stake out their hotel rooms or jog through their neighborhoods trying to get a cheap glmipse.  I have met a lot of celebrities and they have always been very kind.  For example John Corbett of Northern Exposure fame demanded I go drink with him and watch Dale Watson (a mutual friend) at the Contintental Club.

People are just generally nice.  I know y'all all hate Texas but people really are just nice.

There is a lot of different cultures here and that is cool.  German, Czech, Mexican, Tex-Mex (which is different).  Makes for awesome food.

World's best waterpark just down the road.  Schlitterbahn.

Any other questions?

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 01:18:12 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Keep Austin Weird. (none / 0)
My main residence is Houston, but I own a house in the country, 45 miles from downtown Austin. I was in town tonight. Chicken Fried Steak and live music at Threadgill’s Armadillo.

“The civil engineering is excellent.  Traffic is not good though.”
These two sentences stand in stark contrast. Austin doesn’t have enough roads or water to handle the massive influx of people. After they double-decked I-35, and they double-decked 183, I thought they would double deck MoPac and Capitol of Texas Highway and 71. This town needs a lot more traffic lanes. It also needs ten times the water available in the Edwards Aquifer.

“Celebrities hang out here a lot.  And they are generally nice to us. I have met a lot of celebrities and they have always been very kind.” 
Rock Hudson was very kind to Rich when he lived in Austin. They frequently engaged in oral sex. Rich was always the giver and never the receiver.

by KenTX on 04/19/2008 02:28:18 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Out of nowhere, here comes Ken (none / 0)

A few things.

First, Austin has experience almost unprecedented growth over the last 15-20 years.  Faster than roa construction can keep up.  I have to sit in this shit but even I understand the roads have generally been completed quickly and built wisely.  I am not sure there was much the civil engineers could do.   I am gonna leave it at that since I don't think Austin tranist makes for a good thread.

Second, we don't get our water from the Edwards Aquifer (or my sister friend the environmental lawyer says we don't and I believe her).  We are on the recharge zone.  San Antionio drinks the stuff I think. 

I think our water comes from the Highland Lakes but could be wrong.  Anyway, I have never heard we are running out of water.  Doesn't mean we aren't, I guess.  Are you talking about Save Our Springs?  That was part environmental issue part boondoggle, had nothing to do with drinking water.

As for the last part, I guess I have called you gay enough to deserve that.  God bless, go forward, Ken.

Finally, Threadgill's.  Great choice.  For those that don't know, that is where Janis Joplin got started (Voted Ugliest Male at UT one year).  I am too tired to explain the Armadillo. 

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 02:44:46 AM EST

[ Parent ]
water, water, everywhere (none / 0)
 84% of North America’s fresh water is in the Great Lakes.
water


But the population is rapidly relocating from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt, where people actually want to live, in cities such as Austin, Denver, Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix.
Because of the influx of millions and millions of people, the sunbelt cities need a lot more water. As KenTX says: “Lay some freakin’ pipe!”
 
The last remaining woeful people of Illinois and Ohio should try to make a lot of money by selling water to Colorado and Texas.

by KenTX on 04/19/2008 03:14:45 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Don't forget Cali (none / 0)
If they can get that pipeline through the Rockies, they could turn a quick buck

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 03:48:36 AM EST

[ Parent ]
That's one my big concerns actually (none / 0)
in potentially moving to the southwest.

Water, rising temps in the future (I'm not sure if it's trending that way specifically, I know globally it is but regionally, I have no idea) and smog (in Phoenix at least).

I'd want a hybrid and eventually a greener house, but affordability says no for now.  Oh, I assume public transportation is relatively non-existent in Austin?  It's ridiculous that AZ has such little public transporation, although I believe they recently completed a light rail?

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 11:15:23 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Come on down (none / 0)

The waters fine.  We have no problems with water that I am aware of.

The last few summers have actually been cooler and wet.  We have had two summers with TONS of rain in the last five.  So I don't see that we are getting hotter but you might check an almanac.

We are getting light rail.  First line opens in a few months.  The gas lobby fought it for a few years but lost eventually.  Now I think public transit will develop rapidly between traffic, sprawl and gas prices.  Public tranist in Texas is less than 15 years old. Maybe ten.  Maybe Ken knows when the Dallas dart opened.  Houston just got it about three years ago I think.  (Ken?).  The Houston light rail had a bum killing problem but the bums seems to have figured out how to get out of the way of the big rapidly moving trains now.

Austin is pretty green and should get greener.  You should be able to live a pretty green life here (buses don't run on gas, city will give you rain barrels, lots of recycling, bike trails etc.).  And, of course, our hippies will be glad to help you green yourself up.

Why don't you visit?  Its a great down to be young with a couple of bucks in your pocket in. 

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 11:22:47 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I really appreciate the info Prof (none / 0)
I really do.


By the way, how much sun do you get? One reason I'm coming to like this area less and less is that we just had our 4th cloudiest winter on record.  If you get that much rain, does that mean you don't get as much sun as I originally expected?


And we do want to visit.  We were checking flight ticket prices but the cheapest we've seen so far is $270 (round trip per person), plus taxes.  Come on, there's gotta be better deals than that.


And the thing is, I'd like to visit in the hot summer, because visiting a place like that in January will prove nothing, other than how much the midwest sucks in January.


We need to know what it's like at the worst time of the year...then again we don't want to get caught up in a flood and miss our flight! ;)

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 11:27:21 PM EST

[ Parent ]
More on Austin (none / 0)

Sunlight- A lot.  Anyone who thinks that can't get at least a little sick of sunshine, come on down.

For cheap tickets try Southwest Airlines.  Although in George Bush's America cheap tickets are probably a thing of the past (anyone think its a little strange that the federal government hasn't regulated ONE SINGLE GODDAM THING except this peice of wiring which has caused zero accidents as far as I can tell.  Couldn't be related to the side effect of driving the small and cheap airlines out of business overnight could it?)

You could always drive.  Gas is brutal but if you rented something really fuel efficient you could do it in less than 20 hours.

Mid-August is the worst time of year.  100+ every day.  High 80s at night.  Sticky.

Oh and the flooding isn't actually what you call flooding.  Its flash flooding.  Like water is exactly where it is supposed to be one minute.  Ten minutes later all hell breaks loose and fast moving water is everywhere low.  A few yankees get swept off the roads.  Half hour later things are normal again except we get to see the yokels in the Volunteer Fire Dept pulling the yankees out of the creeks on the news. 

by ProfRich on 04/20/2008 12:13:32 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Thanks for the tip (none / 0)
Now, if you're being objective and fair about it, is it generally because the "Yankees" are reckless, or is it because most people who are new to an area don't know how to handle new severe weather?

I ask because all of us in life tend to assume that just because *we* know how to do something very well (generally because we've been doing it for a long time) that it should come easy and quick to all others.

Everyone I know (including me) has been guilty of that at some point or another.

by ihavenobias on 04/20/2008 12:18:27 AM EST

[ Parent ]
No offense intended to yankees (none / 0)

I meant because they don't know what they are doing in a flash flood.

About once a year everything "ices over" under about an 1/16th inch of ice.  Don't go out on that day.  But, you say, I am from Chicago.  Icy conditions don't scare me.  Well, unless you have developed the ability to dodge dozens of out of control fishtailing large trucks and SUVs driven by panicking housewives all your fancy ice-drivin' skills ain't gonna mean shit on that day. 

by ProfRich on 04/20/2008 12:25:37 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Oh, and I should also ask (none / 0)
With regard to Austin heat, is there any relief at night (like there is in AZ), or does the humidity pretty much make it miserable to be outside then too most of the time in the summer?

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 11:24:26 AM EST

[ Parent ]
BTW, I picture the average Austinite (none / 0)
Looking something like this.

I happened to see his show this morning, and he was wearing one of those trendy t-shirts with the 'witty' writing on the front.

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 01:24:39 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Hmmm (none / 0)
A lot of professionals, so you'd think the housing and general cost of living would be higher?  I've read a bunch and used a few different cost of living calculators and they all suggest Austin is much less expensive (not cheap, but much cheaper) than Chicago.

Housing especially was something like 33% less expensive on average. Granted, I have no idea what impact the subprime crisis had on housing down there.

As for traffic, I can't imagine it's worse than Chicago.  I'm sure NY and LA are worse, but Chicago is up there for sure.

Are there any other negatives you see?

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 11:09:09 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Housing (none / 0)

Housing is not prohibitively expensive.  You can get a four bedroom 2000-2500 sq ft house brand new from between 140k-300k depending on which suburb and what amenities.

A millions will buy you a mansion in a very nice part of town. (yeah Californians shit themselve when they come here) 

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 11:26:17 PM EST

[ Parent ]
The great news for us (none / 0)
is that we aren't having any kids.  As in EVER.

For that rason, a 2BR, 2 bath would more than enough for us, as long as a pool were included.  Are pools common out there, or are they frowned upon for some reason?  I know they're frowned upon in Tuscon AZ from what I hear.

Oh, and would you say it's a dog friendly city?  I assume yes...

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 11:30:01 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Damn it, reason, not "rason" (none / 0)
Is there a spell checker? If there is, I can't find the tool on the tool bar.

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 11:30:47 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Pools and dogs (none / 0)

Pools are fine.  Not as common as you might think because there are a lot of public swimming options.  Most neighborhoods, pretty mcuh all apartments have pools. Then the lakes and creeks and the public pools.  But if you want one go for it.  Can be expensive to dig because there is a layer of limestone about 1-4 ft beneath the dirt (oh yeah, if you like to dig a lot for some reason, don't move here).

Extremely dog friendly.  Great big park downtown (Zilker) filled with dogs and dog lovers and a great big natural spring swimming pool (Barton Springs) that is always cold (nice in 105 degree weather) and a gorgeous botanical garden.  Actually where I met my wife.

by ProfRich on 04/20/2008 12:17:33 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Austin (none / 0)
It sounds nice.  It snowed here in Olympia Washington last night.  July and August are the only months when you can possibly hope to have reliably nice summer weather, and it is still cold most nights.

by desertpear on 04/19/2008 07:35:41 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Olympia (Lacey), WA (none / 0)
I was there last June on the very tail end of the near 90 degree weather. By the time I left it was barely 60.

I couldn't wrap my mind around how early the sun rose and how late it set. I am sorry, birds should not be chirping in the sunrise before 5am...especially when it only got dark 5 hours earlier.

by jazzchic on 04/19/2008 10:50:57 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Denmark (none / 0)
Went to visit a friend, who was editing her movie at Zentropa Studios in Copenhagen and wasn't too impressed with it. Of course, it was December and the weather was miserable.

We went to the Zentropa X-mas party and the Danish kitchen was pretty basic, nothing special.

by callisto on 04/18/2008 07:00:08 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Isn't there like 2 minutes of sunlight (none / 0)
in the winter?  Or am I thinking of someplace else.  I could never live a place with such extended darkness.

Although the nordic areas with 18 hour sunlight in the summer, that sounds interesting.

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 07:08:31 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Think Alaska (none / 0)
At least southern Alaska for the light / dark cycle of the Baltic states. The closer to the Arctic circle you get the less light there is in winter until there is total darkness during the winter   Reverse that for summer...and no darkness during the summer. Polar day and night are the terms. They roughly correspond with the eqiunoxs.

by MRFred on 04/18/2008 07:41:55 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I couldn't handle that (none / 0)
It also wreaks havoc on the wake sleep cycle.  I would assume rates of Seasonal Affective Disorder are quite here there in the winter.

Although I know populations that eat a lot of fatty fish have lower rates of depression because of the EPA/DHA content.

That's not why I take fish oil capsules every day (I have to be honest, I'm not a big fan of eating fish), but it's a nice bonus here in the midwest.

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 08:09:31 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Dude (none / 0)
Don't go into the submarine service.

by MRFred on 04/18/2008 10:47:01 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Damn (none / 0)
I just mailed my application too.

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 10:48:18 PM EST

[ Parent ]
White Nights (none / 0)

I ended up in Leningrad in July in when I was 17.  I have never heard of this sun not setting crap.  Woke up at midnight, went out into the streets.  Scared the shit out of me.  Barely avoided a communist prison.

True story. 

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 12:17:05 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I guess if you're scared of vampires (none / 0)
That's the place to live in the summer.

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 12:32:36 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Been there (none / 0)

But it was after the fall of old Soviet Union and they changed the name of the city back to Saint Petersburg.

Interesting things I saw were the old palaces and cathedrals, the Hermitage and a real Russian Ballet.

Downsides are the police running around with automatic sub machine guns looking for god knows who and the food sucks. Also, personal hygiene is not high on the locals priorities.

by z1p101 on 04/20/2008 11:52:44 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Not north enough (none / 0)
no no :), Denmark is just above Germany, the places you're talking about are way more to the north, I think maybe the northern parts of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia have this.

Was just very gray and rainy

by callisto on 04/19/2008 05:52:40 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I need to learn to read (none / 0)
ha ha, the post said Norway, not Denmark, damn I need to learn to read :)

Never been to Norway, know some peeps from there, but that's all

by callisto on 04/19/2008 05:54:31 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Denmark (none / 0)
I have a friend who's lived in Denmark most of his life who says the government is actively discouraging foreigners from settling there, especially buying property there. And it's an extremely expensive place to live, unfortunately. But from all reports, it's fantastic, as long as you don't mind dark winters.

by Verified1 on 04/19/2008 10:59:42 PM EST

[ Parent ]
but (none / 0)
read in a Newsweek of a couple of months ago that Denmark is rated number 1 as the place to invest in

by callisto on 04/20/2008 09:58:26 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Be honest (none / 0)
You only want to visit NZ because of Lord Of The Rings.

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 07:04:47 PM EST

[ Parent ]
You got me (none / 0)
and the fishing is tremendous, so I read.

by MRFred on 04/18/2008 07:42:34 PM EST

[ Parent ]
As long as you don't come back (none / 0)
talking about your precious, I guess it's ok.

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 11:56:05 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Only got to see Oslo when I went to Norway. (none / 0)

But seeing the Viking ship museum and Vigeland Park (not for conservatives) was cool.

Further note, you better have deep pockets to vacation there. 

by z1p101 on 04/20/2008 11:56:08 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Where I would like to go? (none / 0)
Well, with my New York Senator sallery, I would set some time for myself to visit different nations to build up "foreign policy" credentials for my run for Presidency. -wink.-

I would visit: Egypt, for it's sand and art. Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel to learn more about culture. Germany, for it's history. Ireland, for it's great landscape. Britain, for equally great land. Russia, for it's great culture. Japan, for it's tech and anime. ^_^ Africa, for I support Civil Rights, and I would like to get in touch with African culture. Canada, for I am part Canadian. Arizona, so I can pimp slap McCain, Antartica so I can announce that I will fight Global wamring to the bitter end.

by PresidentTyler on 04/18/2008 07:05:35 PM EST

Wow (none / 0)
We sure have different interests, that's for sure.  You like the incredibly hot, dangerous places or the really cold, drab ones with questionable food.

Ha, ha...sorry, couldn't resist.

Japan though (minus the anime), I support that, and Britian too.

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 07:07:13 PM EST

[ Parent ]
England (none / 0)
It's super fun to travel in England. I was lucky enough to have my sister live in London for many years, so it was free lodging when I visited.  It's got to be hellishly expensive right now though due to the dollar.

by desertpear on 04/18/2008 07:48:19 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I've always heard London (none / 0)
is incredibly expensive.  You must mean super-incredibly expensive.

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 10:28:12 PM EST

[ Parent ]
LOL :D (none / 0)
I'm a person with great tastes.

Also, I recognize that people won't accept me as a candidate if I don't help prevent a war or something.

Other then that, I like different cultures. I want to be away from a culture with bigots like Hillary, McCain, Limbaugh, Haggey, Hannity, Reverend Moon, and ten year olds who think that just because they have a keyboard it means they can beat the living sh** out of anyone in their path, and always say "OH YEAH, WELL, YOU WOULDN'T SAY THAT IF YOU SAW ME FACE-TO-FACE".

Yeah, I wouldn't. I would be rolling on the floor laughing at how much taller then you are.

(Not you guys I am referring to, it's the conservatives and aimbotters on the TYT blogs on AIM, and on Call of Duty 4.)

by PresidentTyler on 04/18/2008 11:57:51 PM EST

[ Parent ]
London is Expensive and Smells a Bit Like Cat Pee (none / 1)
But...if you're going I can turn you on to a clean, quiet, inexpensive place to stay near the British Museum if you're going to London. I wouldn't tell everyone, but it's only because I enjoy your posts, ihnb - you're one of the most sensible people on this blog. (Aw)

by Verified1 on 04/19/2008 04:54:19 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Best post in the whole thread? (none / 0)
I'm not saying anything, I'm just sayin'.

;)

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 11:12:24 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I love the British Museum (none / 0)

Although I call it the "Giant Mueseum of Stolen Shit"

You gotta give it to the Brits to fill a museum with stuff they stole from much older civilizations and call it the "British" museum.

They only thing British in that place is the inedible food.

And I like nobias too.  Not like, like but you know what I mean. 

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 01:24:26 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Giant Museum of Stolen Shit (none / 0)
Rich, that's perfect.

by Verified1 on 04/19/2008 01:54:41 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I love that place (none / 0)
My sister lived within walking distance of the British Museum.  I know what you are saying, but at least it hasn't been looted lately.  I have spent days in there and love it. 

by desertpear on 04/19/2008 07:38:59 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Correct (none / 0)
Was there last summer, it's super expensive and food is really bad, had my best meal at the airport. First time I had a steak that tasted like water.

BUT although very loud, English are very nice people.

by callisto on 04/19/2008 06:08:24 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Orr... (none / 0)
We could go to the Iraqi port city of.


UMM QAZI!

by PresidentTyler on 04/19/2008 08:04:06 AM EST

[ Parent ]
i'm a bad man (none / 0)
I’ve been wanting to go to Prague and Budapest for awhile now, but haven’t bought my ticket yet.  I’m thinking sometime this summer will be nice for a couple of weeks.  India would be great too, but besides my “Bollywood” exposure, I know jack about that place and have a feeling Indians aren’t too fond of crazy Americans.  I could be wrong – didn’t Owen W. have a blast in D. Unlimited?  Wait that’s a movie and that girlfriend thing – shucks!  Maybe I'll have to pull a Cruise...

I admire that you can travel with your woman ihavenobias.  I can only deal with the tropical vacations/vegas/camping trips with mine.  I remember breaking up with my girlfriend in Paris several years ago – it was horrible!  I’m thinking I might give the girlfriend Europe trip a try again, but this time Spain since I haven't been.  Lastly, at the end of the summer I have a road trip planned with some friends cross country from San Francisco to New York.  I really want to go to Texas for some odd reason.  I did the whole cross country thing once before when I was younger with some friends, but don’t remember too much of it due to my youthful indiscretions.  Why not give it another try and feel some of that good 'ole America n dirt fall through my fingers...

by rev24 on 04/18/2008 08:44:51 PM EST

True, but Indian food is so good (none / 0)
For those of you who haven't tried Indian food, I understand your skepticism, really I do.  But trust me, it's excellent.

Oh, and we liked Darjeeling Limited. I'm sure a lot of Wilson's fans will hate it though. I'm reminded of when I brought the movie Punch Drunk Love with Adam Sandler to an ex-gf's house and her roommate (nice but really, really dumb) started watching it with us.  After about 10 minutes she got up and left, and said as she walked out of the room with a puzzled look on her face "uh, this isn't like his other movies, is it?"

As for vacation breakups, that must REALLY suck.  I guess it depends on the nature of the relationship...in the right context I guess you could really live it up and meet some sexy foreign women, but generally I'd say it would ruin your trip and you'd think it was a huge waste of money.  Not to mention the stress...an anti-vacation.

YPS---you people born in California are incredibly lucky, I hope you realize that.  If only my grandparents had decided to come to America and settle there instead of in Chicagoland (yes I love the city, but not the weather).

by ihavenobias on 04/18/2008 08:57:02 PM EST

[ Parent ]
bad move - horror stories? (none / 0)
Your x's roomate sux - Punch Drunk Love was great!  I understand though - I use to get weird like that too with movies I had problems with.  I think over the years, I've learned to kick back a little and enjoy what I can and not be such a snob. 

So last night after my reply I brought up my traveling plans this year with my girlfriend and it didn't go too well.  Of course, I started in with setting a date for a Vegas trip with my girlfriend next month to grease the next move, but she knew something was up.  After I brought up the whole Eastern Europe thing, she was like "can I go, that's where my family's from."  I told her she was welcome to come but reminded her that she doesn't travel too well and it was going to be a little more rougher.  I had planned on meeting up with friends there, but I guess I shot myself in the foot.  O'well, maybe it will work out, and there's a good chance she'll flake when it comes to buy tickets and take time off.  Hum, maybe some horror stories will push her over the edge so I can travel in complete freedom.

by rev24 on 04/19/2008 02:37:41 PM EST

[ Parent ]
oh man (none / 0)

I prefer travelling alone myself too, unless it's like hanging on a beach.  Some kinds of travel can really be hard on a relationship.  Good luck with that!

Punch Drunk Love was great.   Good soundtrack I remember.

by desertpear on 04/19/2008 07:42:46 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Rev (none / 0)
Why didn't you send that to Contessa's Corner?  A perfect question!

Should you feel obligated to take your girlfriend on your vacation?  Hell, send it now.  Include how long you've been together and how serious you are, along with your perceived pros and cons.

PS---I liked Punch Drunk Love, but I loved Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.  I wonder how many fans of Jim Carey's typical films (low brow, over the top slapstick) hated it.

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 09:20:59 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Euro trip (none / 0)
Spain is great, also must sees are Italy and Prague.

by callisto on 04/19/2008 06:14:38 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Most/Least (none / 0)
  
Most: The Moon
 
Least: Atlantic City, NJ 

by Verified1 on 04/19/2008 04:47:32 AM EST

Everything dies baby, thats a fact (none / 0)

Maybe everything that dies someday comes back

Put your makeup on

Do your hair up pretty

Meet me tonight in... 

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 01:21:40 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Not Even (none / 0)
Not even if you brought The Boss, Rich. I remember the diving horse on Steel Pier from the 50s (yes, I'm the oldest surviving human on this blog). Are there still diving horses in A.C.? What a god-forsaken place.

by Verified1 on 04/19/2008 02:02:03 PM EST

[ Parent ]
To tell the truth (none / 0)
All I know about A. C. is what Bruce told me and that Sundance was born there and Butch doesn't know shit about it.

by ProfRich on 04/19/2008 11:16:14 PM EST

[ Parent ]
More difficult then I thought (none / 0)
I've been to Rome (many times) and to the Playboy Mansion, so that leaves the Oscars I guess.

Would like to the see the piramids, Lebanon (once it's rebuild again) and more places in Italy.

Least, euh... Alabama, Ibiza (full of techno loving English, Germans and Dutch), Idaho.

I likes old cities, so no camping in nature for me :) Only camping I do is at rock festivals :)

by callisto on 04/19/2008 06:04:33 AM EST

Oh come on (none / 0)
You think you just casually slip in "the Playboy Mansion" without elaborating?

Out with it!

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 11:16:05 AM EST

[ Parent ]
It was last November (none / 0)
and the weather was still so nice in LA and we went to
2nd Playboy Mansion PJ Party, it was a wonderful world where guys were wearing comfy PJs and the girls wear wearing sexy lingerie...

I so want to go back this year!!!!!!

by callisto on 04/19/2008 12:07:35 PM EST

[ Parent ]
It was last November (none / 0)
and the weather was still so nice in LA and I got a ticket to the 2nd Playboy Mansion PJ Party.
It was a wonderful world where guys were wearing comfy PJs and the girls were wearing sexy lingerie...

I so want to go back this year!!!!!!

how I got in: did some promo (affiliate) work for them. you could also buy the tickets, but they were like $1500

by callisto on 04/19/2008 12:09:57 PM EST

[ Parent ]
good times (none / 0)
Sounds like fun.  I have a friend whose sister is one of Hugh's old girlfriends/playmate of the year and he gets to go to the mansion a lot.  I'm always so jealous, but I think I'm more of a Hustler/Larry Flynt party type of guy.  Those playboy chicks are way too classy for me.  Can you imagine Cenk at a Playboy party - that would be awesome!

by rev24 on 04/19/2008 02:45:07 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Lucky bastard (none / 0)
what's her name?

problem is, once you've done it, you really want to go again :(
There were lot's of nude models and porn stars at the PJ party: Raven Riley, Ashlynn Brooke, Misty Anderson, Puma Swede, Micah Moore, ... Only after talking to Misty for 10min I realized who she was, but hey she looks way beter in person. And Micah is just the sweetest thing.

damn, really need to become rich and famous :)

Yeah, what about Cenk, Ana should get Cenk in the grotto :) Get Hef on the show to talk about the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award

by callisto on 04/19/2008 10:28:06 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I would love for Cenk to go (none / 0)
to a Playboy party.  Can you imagine what the TYT show the next day would sound like? 

It would be incredibly entertaining and hilarious.  Although I'm not sure Wendy would feel the same.

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 10:51:26 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Just good clean old fun (none / 0)
it's not an orgy :) it's just full, full, full of hot women

the abudance and the fact that you've seen some already naked makes for the fact that you become fearless :) and you have no problem talking to women you would otherwise be too nervous to talk to

very relax that way

by callisto on 04/20/2008 09:42:58 AM EST

[ Parent ]
playmate (none / 0)
Her name is Brande Roderick  (F-Club line running through my head).

by rev24 on 04/20/2008 12:53:41 PM EST

[ Parent ]
aha Brande (none / 0)
oh, I know Brande :)

still remember her pictorials + had never heard that name before, that's why it stuck

by callisto on 04/20/2008 03:36:41 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I thought (none / 0)
people only read Playboy for the articles?

by ihavenobias on 04/20/2008 03:41:28 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I have to ask (none / 0)
Is dropping $1,500 on tickets something you can do with ease, or did that put a real damper on your checking/savings account?

by ihavenobias on 04/19/2008 09:22:03 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Didn't have to pay (none / 0)
no no, I got a free ticket from Playboy.

If you wanted to pay, it was $1500

$1500 would put a damper on my checking account, if it wouldn't I would have bought some for my friends :)

by callisto on 04/19/2008 10:17:46 PM EST

[ Parent ]
also fun (none / 0)
was the Fashion TV party at the Cannes Film Festival, was with the Fashion TV model of the Year election in 2004.

Got to watch a combined version of Kill Bill 1+2 with Tarantino, the most fun movie screening I've ever been to

by callisto on 04/20/2008 09:55:17 AM EST

[ Parent ]