Haha well I had a feeling that once I got back to school updating this xanga site would get lost in the muddle that is my life at school.  Anyhoo a quick recap of fall term since the summer.  Got screwed over on class selection as usual but overall a decent term.  Despite my seemingly light classload, procrastination and in general living the house made my term way harder then it should have been near the end and hence my grades could have been better probably.  Started to try to expand outside the house for once since I have been back, finally, and it's been kinda strange.  People just seem kinda young...  I mean the '05s are usually like what 20?  They can't even buy their own alcohol yet.  And the 06's etc. are even worse.  Meanwhile I should probably be a productive member of society by now or at least trying. Definitely starting to understand Nam's advice in getting out of Dartmouth as soon as possible.  Some things just aren't the same as the last vestiges of the '03 class and I still hang around the house.  Not a particualrily bad thing but something seems out of sync when I can mention '00s and '01s and get no look of recognition among some of the younger classes.  I just need to finish my time here and get out in many ways.  Yet I can't seem to go any faster than I already am as I slowly try to reach my goal of raising my GPA to adequacy and leaving with a career path.  Well one term down and 4 more to go.  Oh yea short highlights of the term for me:

Watching the completion of a Stolly head. (well at least most of one)

Homecoming with the traditional moments of alumni glory and mishaps

The resurgence of Halo as a house game with its subsequent downfall (yes I am a nerd)

Having to play Saejin 1v1 tree on several occasions b/c of suffering inflicted by "Halo". (yes this is what it takes to even slightly make me rage.  I can hear Sunil muttering, "pussy," already)

Having a surprisingly enjoyable time at the in-house formal

Celebrating a nice Thanksgiving at school by cooking for the bros, having a fun meal, and most importantly not freezing my ass off b/c the heat was working in the house this year.

Watching Saejin be the "Last Samurai"

Last but not least the return of Action Jackson and watching him pass out within an hr of his return by half a cup of keystone light.    

Strangely enough for me no new hallmarks in the realm of anime this term.  Collected a crapload of stuff but haven't watched literally any of it and mostly rehashed through older stuff.  Finally watched Battle Royale which was very entertaining.  ya a bit slow on this kinda stuff lately. 

As for vacation, its been fun.  Been getting great and useful gifts from my family this year b/c I basically told them what I needed.  Spending the last of it in SF which has been a lil rainy but still loads better than being in Jersey.  I hope y'all are safe and happy with your families.  Happy holidays! - Bruce

Since Taiwan has so many motor scooters, I've decided to keep a look out for the Super Mollett but unfortunately it seems that though Yamaha and some other Jap brands have a good showing in Taiwan I have yet to spot this elusive scooter.  In general I see more Korean and local brands than Japanese anyway.  I am continually surprised however by the distinct lack of motorcycles in Taiwan.  You would think that since its both more expensive and harder to park cars hence the prevalence of motor scooters that there would be a larger interest in faster motorcycles or Japanese crotch rockets.  Instead the local kids seem to think that motor scooters are pretty cool.  Either way I still got a distinct feeling that two-wheels will be the death of me so I'll be sticking to cars for the near future anyway.  Oh yea finally saw Tomb Raider II the other day and overall I'd say it was better than the original which was a surprise but overall just an ok movie.  Pirates of the Caribbean was a better movie IMO.  Another funny thing to note about the movie; maybe it was because the speaker system was kinda bad in the theater but I had a hell of a time trying to understand that Irish accent and the other guy from Amistad's African accent while all my cousin's could easily read the Chinese subs and understand what was goin on.  Oh well. - Bruce 

I have to say never assume that the Pacific Ocean is small because so far Taiwan has lucked out with having two massive typhoons pass by it.  One to just to the north of it and one just to the south.  Both have in turn hit the mainland so I guess I should say never assume that the PRC is small either.  So what have I been doing then?  Well I did go to what could be related as a sort of street carnival last night.  I always used to go to these as a kid in Taiwan.  Basically the event is your atypical flea market mixed in with such classic game booths such as shooting balloons with plastic pellet guns, the ever impossible ring toss, and knocking over cans with bean bags.  My favorite has always been netting fish with the ever so flimsy paper nets.  Oh course another thing that makes the event enjoyable are the numerous booths serving traditional Taiwanese treats - sweet sausage, shaved ice, and stinky tofu.  Mmmm, stinky tofu.  However, as I've gotten older I realize I can't enjoy these things as much as I used to.  The rigged(or pretty much impossible) games, the cheap wares that are hocked... it just gets to me.  I guess I shouldn't be taking girls to one these events anytime soon.  These carnivals are also a place to find cheap cds and vcds.  Though the vcds are usually movies I have already seen or horrible camcorder versions of ones I haven't.  Inevitably over half the vcd collection is Japanese porn, also.  Lol I don't seem to remember that from my childhood.  - Bruce

Haha, I guess I was wrong cause the typhoon never hit.  It just rained a bit in Taipei and swung over Taiwan to hit the poor guys in the Mainland.  Oh well there seems to be another one brewing up in the Pacific anyway so we'll see what happens.  So I keep the streak alive for one more day but I don't have anything to say really.  Even though it didn't rain in Hualien, its still pretty overcast, hot and muggy.  Hah, I remember all those west coasters complaining about humidity of the East Coast during their sophomore summer well they would surely swelter in Taiwan.  Strangely enough though you still see lots of ppl wearing jeans and long sleeves all over the island.  Ppl seem to just get used the heat and sweating.  Admittedly I decided to go out in a pair of long jeans today, too.  And I don't quite feel so out of fashion when I put on my jean shorts cause plenty of ppl wear them in Taiwan too.  I guess i was made for this island. - Bruce