Chewin in the Chung

Sinosplice tackles Darkie Toothpaste.

Chess Report: A whopping NINE people showed up for chess last night, which as near as I can figure is 100% of the chessplaying population of Taichung. I played rather poorly until I had a few drinks, at which time I started playing horribly. It was Jonah's last appearance at chess night, as he is leaving Taiwan to continue his travels- Vietnam and Laos his first destinations.

A new bar/restaurant has opened on SOHO street where John Chislett's place used to be. It's called STYX, and has a fairly interesting decor. No word on the food yet. I give it 5 months, tops.

Wayne does a really good job discussing the upcoming legislative elections here in Taichung (except that he is a County guy and I am a City guy). Because of the way voting works here (NOT winner takes all), the strategies employed can seem pretty strange. Yesterday there was a television commercial for the four DPP candidates, instructing DPP voter whose birthdays are in Jan-Mar to vote for the first one, Apr-Jun to vote for the second, etc. Otherwise, too many of the DPP voters will vote for the same guy, guaranteeing his election but screwing the other three candidates.