One visitor to the US Consulate on Jan 15 was caught unawares when he was told

by a guard that the Consulate was closed.

"Closed? Why?," he asked.

 

"It's the King's birthday," replied the guard.

"Sorry? Whose birthday?" the guy asked, now more confused.

"King Martin!"

The traffic cops at the corner of Sihanouk and Monivong Boulevards have taken an

enlightened approach on how to deal with motorists caught without license plates.

For struggling moto dupe drivers who are short on cash to pay the 5,000 riel fine

for no tags, the cops are now requiring them to drop and do 15 push-ups.

The following comes from a speech US President-elect George Bush gave on Jan 11,

2000 in Washington, DC.

"I want it to be said that the Bush administration was a results-oriented administration,

because I believe the results of focusing our attention and energy on teaching children

to read and having an education system that's responsive to the child and to the

parents, as opposed to mired in a system that refuses to change, will make America

what we want it to be-a more literate country and a hopefuller country."

The management at the gun range, contrary to earlier reports, now say that there

are no cows available to use for target practice, and that there haven't been any

for a long time. However, business remains brisk and a fair share of the clientele

are young Japanese women who seem to get a kick out of letting off a full cartridge

from an AK-47.

The riverside is buzzing with rumors and folks are definitely NOT happy. Restauranters

and regular patrons are mulling over a variety of responses on how to deal with the

two gigantic electric billboards for Sharp and Suzuki. Plans afoot range from a global

boycott of the two company's products to more nefarious schemes which can't be printed

in a family-oriented newspaper.

A report from Poipet indicates that the ancient Immigration Office at the border-the

old cement structure that has been there for decades-has now been sold to make way

for yet another casino.

Grumbles are being heard from the Governor's office in Siem Reap. Officials are ticked

off that absolutely no funds are making their way from all the tourist traffic to

the Angkor Monuments to help clean up the city.

If anyone had any doubts, visitors who have seen King Sihanouk recently report that

His Majesty will definitely sign the Khmer Rouge Tribunal Law.