没事 (Mei Shi) No Problem

Moscow Shootings

So my university town has triumphantly made it into the national news for something other than academics. Of course, everyone has read the story about the shooter in Moscow, Idaho and maybe everyone knows the specifics of the story better than I know. However, I will go through what I have read about the story in brief.

At about 11pm on Saturday night, a man starting shooting into the police dispatch office, which of course brought more policemen and at least one man out of his house. He shot one bystander, and two cops, killing one. He also killed the curator of the Church within which he sought sanctuary. Later, it was learned that he had earlier killed his wife before going on the rampage. In recent months, he had been in trouble for strangulation, attempted suicide and had said to a court ordered psychiatrist that, if he committed suicide he would try to take other people with him.

The justice system at work. It is funny how a person can be busted for drugs or guns or violence and be free on the street awaiting their jail date or court date. They can then violate parole and continue to await their day in court, jail or prison. I guess the system is to blame for this situation for certain.

But, this is not the only unfortunate situation to ever hit the streets of Moscow, Idaho. When I studying there, an openly gay student from the fashion design department vanished, never to be seen again. Also, in the 80's, an African-American student was found hanging from a tree on campus.

It is funny how dangerous America really is, especially when compared to China. When I was in America, I had been in one situation where a gun was pulled on me and I had another situation where I thought a gun was pulled, but it was really a small club and it was used to beat another man over the head. The latter of the two incidents also happened in Moscow and the perpetrator was a 17 year old American-Indian that did not get much recourse for his crime.

In China, the worst thing that has happened to me is some people trying to pick my pocket. But, that is not to say that China is without dangers. My close friend and his close friend were recently attacked by the owner and staff of Cheers Bar in San Li Tun. The friend's friend will have permanent scaring from the bottles and clubs which were used on his face and body. My friend, going to stop the situation, was hit over the head with a bottle. They are currently going through the process of legal action against the bar. So, if you are in Beijing, boycott Cheers Bar for beating foreigners.

Small World

   On Saturday, I continued my usual routine which consists mainly of soccer and then some drinks with the team. However, this Saturday was much different from those before.

   First, I was injured during my game and I was really unhappy about it. The way that the whole system works in China makes the games rather out of control, in all sports. As a result, there are often times when teams are allowed to take intentional shots at the health of other players. This happened to me on Saturday and I got a pretty sore ankle as a result.

   After the match, we went to the old Goose and Duck, which I do not particularly like, but it was the place everyone wanted to go, so we went. In the bar, we chatted away about loads of stuff and it got back around to where I come from, Idaho. At that, Brian, a new American on our team, asked me where I went to University and I told him, "University of Idaho."

 

   "My grandfather attended University of Idaho as well," he told me. He also informed me that his grandfather was now 93. Knowing what I know about the University of Idaho, I was forced to ask him an important question.

"Was he a fraternity man?" I inquired.

   "Actually, he was." Brian told me, and then I knew almost for certain what fraternity he had been in, but I let Brian continue, "I am not sure what fraternity, but he went back for a reunion last year, some big thing."

   "He was a Kappa Sigma, I am a Kappa Sigma. That was the 100 year anniversary of our house." I told him excitedly.

   The other people did not seem to understand the whole fraternity idea and for sure could not understand the significants of this coincidence. This man I met in Beijing is the grandson of a man that lived in the very same house that I lived in during my time at the University of Idaho. Not only were we both Kappa Sigmas, but we both came from the Gamma Theta Chapter of Kappa Sigma and who knows, maybe we actually lived in the same room.

  This was as shocking to me as the day that I walked into my job in the office of Mike Crapo in Washington DC and my boss walked up to me and said, "AEKDB" and then gave me the shake.

 

  It was almost as shocking as the night I was in Dragon Bar in Nowon Gu chatting away with a couple of guys that taught English at a University in Seoul. The guys were from Minnesota and when I told them I was from Idaho, one man asked, "Do you know of Jerome, Idaho?" which nearly knocked me out of my chair.

  I immediately said to him, "How in the hell do you know Jerome, Idaho? That is my home." They proceeded to tell me that they have a coworker that comes from Jerome and he owns a book store in Itaewon. It turns out that this man was the brother of a girl that was in my graduating class.

  It is a small world indeed.

F.O.F.U.M.W.T.B.M.B.Y.W.C.

Flat Out Fucked Up Masters Of Whack the Brass Monkey and Beat Your Wife Club!!!

At the Gamma Theta chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, located in Moscow, Idaho a revolution was started in 1997. A group of pledges decided that on one Friday night, they would do something new and original. They would create and participate in their own ritual of drinking and brotherhood, since they were not yet able to do such a thing in the fraternity.

It all started with the Beasty Boys song, Brass Monkey and Pete Stauff suggesting that we drink some of the tonic. It was on and we bought The Perch out of Old English and orange juice. We drank to the label and filled the bottle with our Sunny D. It was intended to be a weekly activity, but it did not live on so well. Maybe it was the taste of the monkey or the fact that the person who was to set of the festivities, Dirty Steve, was always off on some adventure of drugs and well, just drugs. But on this night, the man with the reputation for breaking things in the middle of the afternoon kicked off our party by kicking a chair. Now we could drink.

From left to right Sam Osborn, Dirty Steve, Ryan Vargas, Joe Young, Travis Maupin (drinking) and Pete Stauff's eye

Osborn and Vargas were Co- El Presidente's...(Now Vargas teaches Spanish...but he is not a Mexican...So he tries to say)

Basically the same folks, but Cathlene is in the back boozing it up. She was nominated as groupie for the club and ended up marrying her long time boyfriend and brother of Co-El Presidente Pete Stauff, Dank Master Dave Stauff.

All of our original members tipped their 40 in tribute to our coolness and great creation.


The Gut and Pete

Dirty Steve

Maupin holds his beer with a towel...it was cold. HAHA. Later that night he hooked up with a manly woman...she left with her shirt on backwards and he took out his bible and said he would never drink again...he lied. HAHA

Vargas with the wicked eyes. I think he ended up with a manly man that night. HAHA

Joe Young, the man with the stereotype nasally stoner voice and laid back attitude. I remember a quote from him about the movie tango and cash, "Man, that is a real bad guy there! He put a room of mirrors into his house just waiting for someone to try and catch him."

And me, later nicknamed Ant Hard after the rapper, Ant Banks. This really baffles me because I did not listen to much rap. It was definitely a fat time for me. Too much  Milwaukee's Best Light!

Our original membership is pictured here. But rumors of our swagger with the ladies spread fast and later that night, more dudes were down to party with us. But they had to pay a price...

John Evey and J.P. Diener showed up to hone in our groupie.

And Brent Jones, at 6 foot 8 inches, easily the biggest pussy in the house. He wanted to be a member of the club, so he had to perform an act of humiliation.

Drinking beer from a man's crotch is truly humiliating!

We then went outside for a smoke.

Then Dirty Steve kicked a trash can.

And I ended the evening with a triumphant vomit.

This was all nearly ten years ago, but it feels just like yesterday. When I got all of these pictures put into digital form recently, I looked back with fondness and sadness that those days had gone. Days of freedom and laughter and 100% good times. The house is still there and other people are enjoying it. Last year was the house's 100 year reunion, but I had to miss it. I did meet some of the "Old School" guys over Christmas, but we are not as rowdy as we once were....Fortunately!