GammaGlobulin

We shall overcome, someday. Do you think?

I was just joking wif you. My mother never told me never don't listen to no black music. She was a Super Fly...

When I was young, my mother would not let me listen to Black Music. Long live Curtis Mayfield!

Move on Up!

We know that things will just get tougher, year by year. Yet, what are we to do? Human beings have had it much worse in the distant past. We can overcome any adversity. Hope I am here to ring in the next New Year, 2024, maybe the "year of the beast", and not just the year of the rabbit. As Chomsky always reminds us: It is up to us. We are the only ones who can decide our fate. See you, next year, 2024, if all goes better than expected. Gamma

The great thing about the Farang Forum is that, in most cases, it is only those from Scotland, with their dry wit, who are able to understand 95% of it. Let's keep it going. Keep on Keeping on.... Best wishes for another great year, during this Amazing Chinese Spring Holiday, which we all value so much. May we all be renewed.....!

Seeing a snake such as this, reminds me of the film, Donnie Darko. What do you think?

Dear Friends, My apologies, since the description of this topic will be overly abbreviated, and should have been longer. Let me put it this way. I just saw a grandma climbing down into a small stream nearby, and it was not such an easy climb to make, since she had to clamber down quite far over some cement walls, and navigate a good number of stones and rocks, as well, encumbrances which probably never existed when she was nine. Obviously, she was not just searching for tasty greens to eat. Tasty greens can be bought at the market, and at low cost. In my view, she was searching for something which she had known had always been there, just in order to recapture her childhood memories of going to the stream to pick, for free, what she had picked in years gone by. And then it occurred to me that IF I were a maker of films, and if I were funded, and IF I were as talented as Herzog, then I could make a very nice little film about this experience. And, I could sell it for millions to the BBC, for example. Sometimes, I look down at an ant, below me, and I wonder, should I step on it, just for the sake of stepping on it? If I DID step on it, then nobody would know that I had committed an immoral act, for example. From my experience, here in Thailand, when one attends a Thai language class, the teacher never discusses morality questions such as these. I once knew of a Princeton grad who posted on ThaiVisa. Even he was not willing to talk about anything of interest to me. He mostly just talked about himself, including his past academic accomplishments. Somedays, I wonder why I am here in Thailand. Why am I not in Indonesia, for example? Also, anybody wishing to discuss the meaning of life, please feel free to hit me up. Two years ago, or more, I was sitting just outside the gate of a Thailand university, when a rather large snake slid up beside me, without introduction. I did not fear him. I just wanted to photograph him, which I did. I also felt sorry for him, having not been fed, obviously, for quite some time. He was too thin for my taste. I was shocked to have this snake visit me. And he was obviously far more powerful than I could ever hope to be, even in his unfed condition. The true beauty of this snake is almost indescribable when you see it in the wild, sneaking up upon one. It’s like, “OH, here you are!” I KNEW that you would come, one day! Thank you for visiting me! In Conclusion, therefore: My best advice is to embrace all that you find here in Thailand. Be very thankful. Never complain! Try your best to be Brodie Girls! Best regards to all, Happy New Year! Gamma Such a beauty! I will never forget him, just as I will never forget my first lay, at age 18.

What about Mistletoe and Mistletoes?

Such a court jester.

The transformation of NYC from the 60s and 70s vibe to what you might see today is a travesty of which only Walt Disney might approve. Perhaps it was the great film, Taxi Driver, which fomented the ruinous revolution in NYC that destroyed its very soul.

Yes. I know. I love the guy. (I just hope he lives a full life, after my post about him, here. I'm not superstitious.)

And one might also ask the question: Has anyone in this world ever before seen a classically-trained man stand on one leg while simultaneously tooting his flute?

Dear Friends, And, not only a flautist is he. Also, I wonder if he ever played with John Mayall. It has been just over 50 years that we first listened to this incredible album, Aqualung: And before that, we listened to John Mayall's The Turning Point, with flute included. The only reason I mention this is that it seems more difficult to find a decent flautist, these days, outside the classical arena. Regards, Gamma

As is always the case, during the Chinese Lunar New Year festivities, at least for me, I cannot help but reminisce about past Chinese New Year celebrations. One of my fondest memories, maybe my favorite, is my recollection of a very exciting 1974 New Year's party with a bunch of communists from Mainland China in Manhattan. It was a mixed group. We had capitalist guys from HK and commies from Beijing. And, the commies seemed more like capitalists, even, than the Hong Kongers. Those magnificent days are now, so sadly, gone. I just mean that, in 1974, the commies from China were more interesting. And, they were far more excited about their first taste of the decadence of NYC, and the delights of becoming a foreign fly. They were like flies drawn to honey, and, oh so happy to be in Manhattan. Those days, as I say, are sadly gone. These days, the commies from the Mainland seem far more blasé when tasting the forbidden fruits of NYC. Maybe, obviously, these commies of today have had their fill in their home country. They don't get too excited about New York. Such a shame, really, because, it was fun while it lasted. Now, the commies are almost too jaded to even enjoy this holiday. Such great memories, though....

DRAGON DANCE.....PENINSULA HOTEL....Years ago....HK.. (not my video) Those were the days... My old stomping grounds... Those were the great old days, Before the Mainland Band came Marching In. Such memories.....(sob)... (The above video is more recent, maybe around 11 years ago. I'm Talking: Peninsula Hotel in 1980, or thereabouts. Sob, those glorious days are gone, now.)

A tipple, or two, in time, saves nine. Best to you, my friend.

Proverbial Bogeyman, also.

Dear Friends, Chinese Lunar New Year has always been one of my favorite times of year, even better than Springtime. This Chinese Lunar New Year, things are changing fast, and in so many ways. Why list the changes, when we are all watching events unfold faster than we would have imagined. Why has China now banned fireworks in most provinces of China? This seems a bit overly Scrooge-ish, to me. What I don't understand is why China bans fireworks on ChunJie (Spring Holiday), but does not ban the following well-known tune: I wish ALL my Chinese friends a fine Chinese Lunar New Year, prosperity during the coming harvest, and health and happiness. Best to my Chinese Friends, Of which I have many, Regards, Gamma

Not the same analogy. Centre is not the singular of center.

The "bottom line", as you mention, is, if you are an American: The taste of Cherry Chapstick. (Maybe, Americans should begin to get serious about our world?) Dr. Carl Sagan, in 1985, clearly spelled out the consequences which we face if we pursue our business-as-usual trajectory. 40 years hence, still, nobody listens. Instead, we listen to tunes about Cherry Chapstick. Bye, Bye Birdie.