Notes From Asia

I recently lost 6 pounds in less than 2 weeks, on a regimen of exactly zero exercise. Unfortunately, this was the Giardia lamblia weight loss plan, and I don’t recommend it. One strange side effect, is that giardia block the absorption of fats. The fat comes out the only way it can, since by the time it’s in the colon, you can’t throw it back up. This leads to loss of vitamins and carotenes that are fat soluble, which was the whole problem with Olestra. Carotenes are the orange and red colorants in orange and red veggies, so another side effect of this weight loss plan is that if you’ve been eating orange vegetables, your stools will be a bright, neon orange.

Taiwan is getting more prosperous every time I visit – it looks more and more like Japan. But there is still a lot of Peasants R Us construction left, even in the big cities.

A note for all you second and third world taxi drivers: it’s probably a good idea, when waiting in line at a taxi stand, to keep your pants zipped. A glimpse of pubic hair is more likely than not to cause a fare to look elsewhere for transportation. It’s almost certain to scare off female passengers, but it squicks the male ones the hell out, too. Just Sayin’.