The Toadstool http://www.mojotoad.com/ The Chronicles of Mojotoad en Copyright 2005 Tue, 19 Feb 2002 18:05:21 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig Strange as it seems to me, my journey is over and I find myself at home again, a bit over a year since when I started. It has been an experience I'll never forget, an experience I'm still absorbing, but an experience that is already seeming like a dream. Since my Interlude update I hop scotched around Europe soaking up food, drink, and history. So here I offer another woefully inadequate summary plus some flippant conclusions about the nature of our planet.

]]> http://www.mojotoad.com/2002/02/home_again_home_again_jiggity.html http://www.mojotoad.com/2002/02/home_again_home_again_jiggity.html Walkabout Tue, 19 Feb 2002 18:05:21 -0600 Siam Sights, Bangkok Nights From Malaysia I walked into Thailand, once known as Siam, crossroads of Southeast Asia. I promptly investigated some of the amazing limestone island and cave formations of southern Thailand, followed by a dash up to hectic Bangkok where I engaged in diplomatic introductions to local lowlifes and eventually met up with fellow traveler Chris Tarr, who had parted ways with Than not so long before. Together with some local friends of Chris and Than's cousin Owen we engaged in a whirlwind tour of many of Bangkok's offerings, high and low. After sorting out several onward visas I forwent my original plan of taking in Northern Thailand and instead headed overland East towards the mysteries of Indochina.

]]> http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/12/siam_sights_bangkok_nights.html http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/12/siam_sights_bangkok_nights.html Walkabout Sun, 23 Dec 2001 11:03:33 -0600 Interlude When I first began my trip, I was intending to keep friends and family up to date on my activities using this forum. Unfortunately, I have been recalcitrant on those updates for a number of reasons (cost and time, but mostly laziness); the updates have drifted steadily out of synch, falling farther into the past. In the process, they have increasingly lost relevance. Since in my head I keep intending to push out the updates, this has resulted in me simply failing to keep everyone updated on my whereabouts, defeating the original purpose of the site.

So. I've got a lot of updating and writing to do -- and I intend to, if for no other reason than my own recollections in the far flung future. Below you will find a brief summary of where I've been, which should give a good indication of the size of the task. In the meantime, since these updates are no longer relevant, in the temporal sense, I will disable the Toadfriends mailing list that has been notifying you of these updates. Instead, if you are interested in relics of my past, you can check the site from time to time and find the updates. I will still employ the mailing list for general notifications, but there will not be many of them because I only have a little over a month left to travel! Inconceivable, really.

]]> http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/12/interlude.html http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/12/interlude.html Walkabout Thu, 20 Dec 2001 14:22:59 -0600 Singapore, Malaysia, and Borneo After Bali I enjoyed a steady stream of encounters with friends from home. From Bali I flew straight to Singapore, island nation of frenetic economic investment and churn, where I visited with Jen Doran. From Singapore I moved on to Malaysia where I met up with fellow world-stomper Than, on his way to Indonesia in the opposite direction, for some exploration of Malaysian Borneo where we bagged a mountain and bonded with the jungle and its diverse beasts such as orangutans. Together we headed back to the peninsula where we had a reunion with visiting friends from Houston: Rich and Sid, who along with Jen from Singapore met us in Kuala Lumpur. Together we enjoyed a taste of sanguine life on the tropical island Pulau Tioman punctuated by diving and snorkeling trips along with jungle outings. After this welcome stretch of old friend's company, I was off on my own once more on the way to Thailand.

]]> http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/09/singapore_malaysia_and_borneo.html http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/09/singapore_malaysia_and_borneo.html Walkabout Mon, 03 Sep 2001 04:16:10 -0600 Slashdot Quotelore Here is a collection of various quotes found in the sigs of people posting on Slashdot over the years. I had noticed and retained many of the quotes, but recently someone posted this tasty collection, so I figured I'd put it up here for posterity. Some are quotes from well known personalities, some are originals, some are old, many are certainly misattributed. Most are geeky in their humor.

One of my favorites: "Why does everyone always overgeneralize?"

]]> http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/08/slashdot_quotelore.html http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/08/slashdot_quotelore.html Humor Thu, 16 Aug 2001 05:56:49 -0600 Shove off from Flores, on to Lombok and Bali After Flores I picked up the pace and began island-hopping to Bali. After a four day boat tour featuring snorkels and dragons, I sampled the highs and lows of Lombok by climbing its highest peak and relaxing on some of its island beaches. Following this I ventured over to Bali, where after a bit of fluttering about I met up with Susan on her long anticipated vacation from home.

]]> http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/07/shove_off_from_flores_on_to_lo.html http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/07/shove_off_from_flores_on_to_lo.html Walkabout Thu, 19 Jul 2001 10:09:04 -0600 Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia From Darwin I flew to Bali for a few days of orientation and decompressing. Reversing the direction of my original plan, I then flew deep into Flores, East Nusa Tenggara for an island-hopping overland trip back to the relative comforts of Bali. Most of this time I spent in Flores. By bus and by bemo, I slowly headed west from Maumere to Labuan Bajo. In between taxing jaunts on public transport I enjoyed healthy doses of culture, villages, volcanoes, hot springs, snorkeling, and scuba diving -- and isolation from the familiar comforts of the West.

]]> http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/05/flores_east_nusa_tenggara_indo.html http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/05/flores_east_nusa_tenggara_indo.html Walkabout Tue, 29 May 2001 11:49:36 -0600 The Northern Territory, Up Over Down Under From Melbourne I flew directly into the 'Red Centre', the desert heart of Oz, deep within the vast expanses of the Northern Territory. Here lies the stark beauty of Uluru, or Ayer's Rock. Somewhere along the way from Alice Springs to Darwin, this dry red land transforms into a lush tropical region, a region entering into the tail end of the rainy season when I arrived. In between I scrambled over many rocks, hiked many miles, soaked up Aboriginal lore, swam beneath waterfalls, and ate an ant's ass.

]]> http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/04/the_northern_territory_up_over.html http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/04/the_northern_territory_up_over.html Walkabout Thu, 12 Apr 2001 04:38:13 -0600 Van Diemen's Land, Down Under Down Under Tasmania, or Van Diemen's Land as it was once known, is the most southerly Australian state. In the Southern Hemisphere, this translates to the most temperate climate, situated as it is in the 'Roaring Forties', near 40 degrees below the equator. As a consequence, the winds that course over this land are some of the cleanest in the world, with little to stop or sully them as they whisk around the globe. In this air, on terrain both rugged and rolling, I took in a wonderful bushwalk on the famed Overland Track, explored remote costal areas where convicts once lurked, and with the help of a car explored the hill laden countryside in the agricultural heart of the island.

]]> http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/04/van_diemens_land_down_under_do.html http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/04/van_diemens_land_down_under_do.html Walkabout Fri, 06 Apr 2001 05:47:41 -0600 The Land of Oz: Brisbane to Melbourne After safely landing in Australia, land of the Ozzies, I began to work my way down and around the coast towards Melbourne via Sydney. Alternating between costal beaches and mountain rainforests and prairies, I encountered a diverse crowd including holiday vacationers, cowboys, and Aquarians. Along the way I encountered many fruit bats, finally sheered a sheep, picked up a quality didgeridoo, and lazed on a nude beach.

]]> http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/03/the_land_of_oz_brisbane_to_mel.html http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/03/the_land_of_oz_brisbane_to_mel.html Walkabout Mon, 05 Mar 2001 02:14:08 -0600 New Zealand and Parts South To New Zealand I must return, especially with enough time to properly explore the South Island. After merely a month in this wonderful country, I have barely scratched the surface. Nevertheless, after my Northland meanderings I did manage to take a quick look at the volcanic region of the North Island and get a back country trek in on the South Island; along the way I caught some fish, drummed under the full moon, and discovered a Busker's haven.

]]> http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/02/new_zealand_and_parts_south.html http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/02/new_zealand_and_parts_south.html Walkabout Thu, 15 Feb 2001 21:46:51 -0600 New Zealand and the Northland I have just returned from the Northland of New Zealand, after having successfully arrived in Auckland on the morning of January 20. I spent a couple of days in Auckland getting my bearings and running errands, after which I set off on a loop through what the Kiwis call the Northland, the northernmost bit of the island above Auckland. Land of beach, kauri trees, sheep, and dairies -- I was on my way.

]]> http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/01/new_zealand_and_the_northland.html http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/01/new_zealand_and_the_northland.html Walkabout Tue, 30 Jan 2001 21:20:58 -0600 The Time is Nigh The date of my departure is rapidly approaching. Beginning January 18th, I will be travelling around the world for a year, finally fulfilling a promise I made to myself all the way back in '92.

]]> http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/01/the_time_is_nigh.html http://www.mojotoad.com/2001/01/the_time_is_nigh.html Walkabout Fri, 05 Jan 2001 18:57:26 -0600 Hunter S. Thompson's Article about the Election: Quotes and URL "This eerie Presidential election has been a painful experience for Gamblers. Almost everybody Lost."

]]> http://www.mojotoad.com/2000/11/hunter_s_thompsons_article_abo.html http://www.mojotoad.com/2000/11/hunter_s_thompsons_article_abo.html General Thu, 30 Nov 2000 08:39:43 -0600 Democracy Inaction by Mike Street

As Election Day comes and goes-and now Election Week, too-the country hangs in limbo, caught between two mediocre candidates, wondering whether we'll spend the next four years in a state of left- or right-wing boredom and political gridlock. Before Election Day, I swore I'd never condone the use of the phrase 'battleground state' again in political discourse, and now I've expanded that linguistic sanction to include 'butterfly ballot,' 'recount,' and 'too close to call.' The campaign that lasted forever, yet told us nothing worthwhile about the candidates, has become the election that lasted forever. But what has it told us about our democracy?

]]> http://www.mojotoad.com/2000/11/democracy_inaction.html http://www.mojotoad.com/2000/11/democracy_inaction.html General Fri, 10 Nov 2000 14:02:38 -0600