Essays

Another view: Memorable Placer coach left big footprint | Auburn Journal.

My Guest Column for the Auburn Journal about a visit to see my old Placer High School basketball coach, Tom Barry, which ran on December 26th, 2012 and is also posted as a blog, below, because The Auburn Journal (and Rolling Stone Magazine) does not allow access from Thailand.

“Who Does Anyone Think They Are?”

Our eyeballs are a commodity with a limited vision and a seemingly unlimited supply of choices for what…

February 7, 2021

Ice Hockey in Bangkok and Light the Lamp Memories

Scotty Murray, AKA Scotty Hockey is 60 years old and still making great plays and scoring occasionally.…

November 22, 2020

The Wet and the Dry – A Drinker’s Journey by Lawrence Osborne – Book Review

When discussing the teetotaler vs the drinker Osborne concludes, "Each finds the other a bore". I like…

August 28, 2020

Step Right Up to The Circus by J.D. Strange – A Book Review

How would I describe The Circus by J.D. Strange? It is a story about demons, abuse (of drugs and…

July 24, 2020

When Life Hands You Onions, Make Onionaid – Keep Moving

It's the year of Covid-19 around the world and we are as fractured as ever.

July 2, 2020

Don’t Get Sick in China and Other Amusing Tales by Stu Lloyd – Bamboozled – A Book Review

Stu Lloyd goes through life much as he does when he takes a one-thousand plus kilometre motorcycle-ride…

April 20, 2020

Cameron Cooper Interview – Writer, Rider, Picker, and Midnight Smoker

"When nobody was looking, I slipped my dime into the machine and selected the forbidden track. It was a…

November 25, 2019

Yada, Yada, Yada … Where’s the Bisque?

"Everybody's talking at me I don't hear a word they're saying Only the echoes of my mind " Those…

September 4, 2019

Is Bangkok Fiction Dead?

In an age when the novel has been declared dead more times than an unlucky cat, what can readers who…

April 4, 2019

Bangkok Air – A John Gartland Poem

There’s poison in the city air, wherever you’re residing. It’s the frisson before storytime. He…

March 6, 2019

The Black and White World of Facebook

So what's this got to do with Facebook, I hear the many non-basketball fans reading this asking?…

February 12, 2019

You Never Know When Good Luck Will Cause You Really Bad Luck – A Tale of Two Footballers

Let's hope in this tale of two footballers Hakeem's story has a much better ending.

February 7, 2019

20 Questions with American Historical Crime Thriller Author T Hunt Locke

We are all prisoners or explorers of our own geography. Thom and I now find ourselves in Thailand. But…

January 29, 2019

Chicks Dig the Long Ball and Sam Collins – Murder in Milton – A Book Review

T Hunt Locke's latest novel is Murder in Milton. With duel settings it has the pace of a Forrest Gump…

January 21, 2019

John Gartland – The Clearest Drummer of Them All – His Best Interview

"The centerpiece of Different Drummers is an interview with “poet noir” John Gartland, interspersed…

January 14, 2019

Do You Have Room for Rooms by Christopher G. Moore?

Does Moore remain hopeful for humankind in the future? Does he believe that technology will free us or…

January 5, 2019

“Erection over, what you do now?”

In the Author's Note of Different Drummers I quote Christopher Hitchens, "Everyone has a book inside…

November 9, 2018

The Best Joe Cummings Interview – Ever

"I was in the Joe C hater camp, once. I had read that the Louisiana born and Army brat Cummings, best…

September 15, 2018

Long Live King Klashorst … Long Live the King – A Profile of Dutch Painter Peter Klashorst

Genius: Very great and rare natural ability or skill, especially in a particular area such as science…

September 2, 2018

Walk this Way to see Jimmy Fame & Friends at Checkinn99 and much more …

Rock This Way, Sunday Jazz, a film premier of Jimmy Fame and Friends with MC and blues singer Jimmy…

November 25, 2017

Gop Turns Four Years Old Today – What’s Your Philosophy on Life?

I have learned a few things about Gop in the past four years. He's not a worrier. His coconut shell is…

April 14, 2017

You Can Turn Back Time … and It’s Probably a Good Idea

"We judge time by technology. We judge information by the date of the technology. Time is an exact…

March 13, 2017

Kevin Cummings sits ringside at Bangkok Proflex Fight Night

Ringside at the Friday Night Fights in Thailand – And a Few Memories

A little over two weeks ago I got a text message message from the effervescent proprietor of Checkinn99,…

February 18, 2017

Read any good bad books lately?

Raymond Chandler was great at describing the outside of a building but less adept at describing the…

September 2, 2016

Last Call for Checkinn99 Sukhumvit – Curtain Call for Bowery Boys, Algie, Newman & Locke

We all have our biases. Mine is Checkinn99. I like the place; I like the proprietor, Chris Catto-Smith.…

July 1, 2016

Keith Nolan – Making the Days (and Nights ) Count

Keith Nolan appears in Chapter 1, page 1 and paragraph 1 of my book Bangkok Beat. That should come as no…

June 5, 2016

A Most Curious Three Years – 1096 Days of Blogging … and Counting – Happy 2559!

Three years ago I had a decision to make. Life often thrusts those upon us. Under cover of Songkran 2013…

April 14, 2016

Mark Fenn – August 14, 1977- January 16, 2016

Mark Fenn - August 14, 1977- January 16, 2016

January 24, 2016

The Beauty of Isaan by T. Hunt Locke

I jumped on the skytrain. “Exit at Nana, directly opposite the Landmark Hotel, you can’t miss us.…

January 4, 2016

A Dickens Christmas with the Frog in the Coconut Shell – Gop Cartoon Strip #9

Click to Enlarge Gop Strip #9 I am reading Hard Times by Charles Dickens for the first time. The…

December 10, 2015

The Ploenchit Fair is Saturday, November 28th, 2015

The British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy, more commonly referred as BCTFN will hold…

November 27, 2015

A Story about Two A**holes …

Click Strip to Enlarge. It’s the political season in the USA. A very long season. Longer than…

October 20, 2015

Bangkok Beat – Live! July 26th 2015 Book Launch @Checkinn99 – Ebook Available Now

Curiosity may well have killed a lot of cats. But I suspect those cats lived their lives in Sammy…

July 31, 2015

Frogs, Dogs, Books & Comedians

“I want to write about sex and about death.” That was the opening sentence written by…

July 5, 2015

Hunting in the Dark and Finding The Dude is Sky High

Dude Da Vinci illustration by Colin Cotterill There are many things I like about being a blogger. As an…

May 20, 2015

Hell, I Can Do That …

Write a book. Hell, I can do that. How hard can it be? I was sitting with a bunch of…

April 27, 2015

The Ghost of Phrakanong

Originally posted on The Expatriate: Nang Nak Banner Mae Nak Phrakanong or Nang Nak, the Ghost of…

February 24, 2015

Paint the Town Red

Originally posted on Beyond Khao San Road: Name: Paintbar Address: Paintbar Bangkok, Piman 49, 46/4…

February 17, 2015

Is Everyone a Dick?

Courtesy of MoonFruit Comics No. I don’t believe everyone is a dick. But there are a lot of dicks…

February 15, 2015

“Isn’t she magical?” Raining Jane and Jason Mraz coming to Bangkok City March 21st, 2015

“Isn’t she magical? My sister Roxanne asked, about her daughter, Chaska who had raced…

January 29, 2015

Bangkok Beat Update on August 3rd, 2015

I am pleased to announce the launch of the paperback edition of Bangkok Beat via Create Space store and…

January 25, 2015

Il n’y a pas Charlie Hebdo ici

Since I missed Night of Noir due to a scheduling conflict, this is the first write-up I’ve seen by…

January 13, 2015

Thursday Night in Bangkok City …

People who wonder what the attraction is to living in a place like Bangkok, Thailand need only…

January 9, 2015

Night of Noir III Features Expressionist Paintings by Chris Coles

Night of Noir III Host James A. Newman with artist Chris Coles seen at a bar favored by fat cats…

January 7, 2015

Thailand Footprint’s Footprint Maker of the Year Award 2014

Portrait art of Thailand Footprint’s Footprint Maker of the Year by Chris Coles What a…

December 27, 2014

Krom Concludes Three Night Run of Music, Message and Cultural Expansion at Overground Bar

Last night, the Cambodian noir band Krom led by Christopher Minko and lead vocalist Sophea Chamroeun…

December 21, 2014

Check Inn 99 Sign Goes Down

Sunday, December 14th 2014. A day that will live if not in infamy than in incredulity. For it…

December 15, 2014

Thailand Footprint’s Top Fiction Picks for 2014

The following is one man’s opinion of top 2014 books set in Asia or with an Asian theme, which…

December 9, 2014

FOR THE DEAD by Timothy Hallinan – Sixth in the Poke Rafferty Series – A Book Review

FOR THE DEAD by Timothy Hallinan – A Book Review by Kevin Cummings If you’ve read any of the…

October 21, 2014

Bangkok and Chiang Mai Time Lapse Videos – Produced by Saengthit Kamlangchai

I stumbled upon these two great times lapse videos by Saengthit Kamlangchai while on Twitter. It was…

September 24, 2014

Watch Video – Vote for Chris Catto-Smith at Check Inn 99 for The Big Chili 2014 Expat Entrepreneur Awards

Everybody has biases. Mine involve Check Inn 99 and Chris Catto-Smith. Watch the video produced by the…

September 16, 2014

The Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur, California

A photo-essay on my day trip to The Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur, California. Henry was not…

September 6, 2014

The Poet Noir John Gartland: Taking Risks in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

(Photography by Eric Nelson) Introduction by Kevin Cummings I offer a short introduction to a superb…

July 19, 2014

Cambodia, anyone? The Poet Noir John Gartland, Krom and Christopher Minko to Perform May 31st and June 1st

Portrait of Bangkok Noir Poet John Gartland by Chris Coles Anyone looking for a respite from the…

May 25, 2014

Taking a Break …

For the same reasons my dog scratches his ear with his hind leg, I’ll be taking a break…

May 2, 2014

A Spirit House for Stirling …

Last week I wrote an essay titled in part, WHAT IS A WRITER? If you had to choose a…

April 26, 2014

Anzac Dusk Music Salute at Check Inn 99 Bangkok – Friday 25th April at 8:00 P.M.

In two days a special day at a special place: Anzac Dusk Music Salute. I fell in love with…

April 23, 2014

What is a writer? Being There by Kevin Cummings

A year ago, I wrote my first essay at Thailand Footprint. You can read it here, if you like: I…

April 14, 2014

Looking Forward, Looking Back with Slim Dusty …

One week from today, Thailand Footprint will be one year old. That is a big deal to at…

April 7, 2014

Artist Chris Coles – Bringing it to the Bangkok Night

I like Chris Coles. The artist and the man. It’s been over 10 years since we first met at a…

March 23, 2014

Baccara Bar on Soi Cowboy, Bangkok: The Art of Seduction or the Art of the Deal?

Last Friday pulp fiction writer, James A. Newman, Bangkok Night of Noir photographer and videographer,…

March 18, 2014

And the winner of the, Best Blog Ever Award goes to …

When I say, Hallmark Greeting Cards, can you think of their tag line? It is, “When you care enough…

March 16, 2014

“I’m dying.” Steve Irwin back in the news …

Steve Irwin would have turned 52 years old last month. He died, tragically, at the age of 44 years.…

March 11, 2014

The Case for Facebook …. Poll results are in …

Facebook, Facebook, Facebook. I spend too much time on it, chances are, you do too. Why? In my case…

March 8, 2014

A Bangkok Blogger’s Observations …

“Walk across the soi, you’ll save 10 baht.” He said Seems like a lot of trouble on a…

March 2, 2014

The Man in the Blue Suede Shoes: Jerry Hopkins – One for The Money, Two for the Show …

“I hope I see you today, I’m meeting Jerry Hopkins there at 3:00 p.m.” The message…

February 24, 2014

The Yammerer of Bangkok … Sung to “The Wanderer” by Dion and the Belmonts … 1961

Oh well, I’m the type of guy who will never compromise When I whistle and I yell, you know…

February 5, 2014

The Frog benefits Big Brother Mouse in Laos … Reading Matters …

During our first week in Laos I had the opportunity to visit Big Brother Mouse in Luang Prabang, Laos.…

February 4, 2014

Election Day 2014 in Bangkok … Looking back at Luang Prabang … Two kinds of fireworks …

Today, February 2nd 2014 is election day throughout Thailand. We live in Bangkok, Thailand much of the…

February 2, 2014

“Here is better”, the foot masseuse said … Luang Prabang, Laos …

In my last post over one week ago, I signed off with a limerick that had deaf and blind policemen…

January 23, 2014

One Bright Day … In the Middle of the Night …

I am off for at least a week beginning tomorrow, leaving the country. Everyone seems to have an opinion…

January 14, 2014

The Beat Goes On at Check Inn 99 … Bangkok Night of Noir 2014 …

For the second time in less than 9 months author James A. Newman, artist Chris Coles and company decided…

January 9, 2014

Night of Noir Jan 5th … Marriage Tree … Cara Black in Thailand …

A few announcements today: The Night of Noir is coming this Sunday, January 5th, 2014 at Check Inn 99.…

January 2, 2014

Footprint Makers of the Year … Looking Back at 2013 … Henry Miller Style …

“Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music – the world is so…

December 29, 2013

Paris 1928 – Nexus II by Henry Miller … What if Henry had called an Audible to Siam?

A few people have wondered why Henry Miller is included in this blog? A few others have been…

December 15, 2013

Dean Barrett: Man of Mystery? … Yes and No … Author review …

Dean Barrett was one of the first two authors, living in Thailand, whose name I knew and could spell…

December 7, 2013

A Rematch with Champions … at Eminent Air Boxing Gym in Bangkok …

Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. Last spring, shortly after starting Thailand Footprint I…

December 2, 2013

Bangkok Taxi Drivers … Thank-you, Mr. Khemsak …

Bangkok, if my opinion counts, is a great taxi city. I have no idea how many taxicabs and taxi…

November 22, 2013

Socialism vs. Capitalism … Gop the Frog vs. Bangkok Soi Dog …

Since I started coming to Bangkok I have learned a lot about socialism. I had never given it much…

November 17, 2013

Footprint Maker of the Month: Jim Algie …Follow him if you dare @jim_algie

Web Sites are like resumes, they need to be reworked or redone from time to time. On Thailand Footprint…

November 8, 2013

The Rocky Horror Show comes to Bangkok … Dig it if you can …

Bangkok is a city with a lot of entertainment choices. Spoiled for choice, I have heard it said. But…

October 30, 2013

The Buddha’s Footprint (Buddhapada) in Thailand …

The footprints of Buddha (Buddhapada) were represented historically even before there were statues of…

October 27, 2013

Fashion Trends in the Kingdom … Top 5 Best Selling Tshirts in Thailand …

Soon, and not because there has been any particular demand, Gop the frog in the coconut shell will be…

October 23, 2013

Appreciate or Complain? … Decisions, Decisions … I think Voltaire got it right …

It’s always possible I’m imagining things, which would be nice, but it seems to me there is…

October 6, 2013

Tweet me … Like me … Make me write bad checks …

The results are in after 48 hours re the frog on the blog balloting. An independent accounting firm was…

September 15, 2013

The Parks in My Life … The Parks of Thailand …

In 1952 Henry Miller wrote a book which must have been quite the exercise in self examination. It is…

August 16, 2013

An partial list of search terms that led people to Thailand Footprint …

For my amusement and hopefully yours, the reader, I include a partial list of search terms that led…

August 13, 2013

No more Kindles … no more Nooks … no more Ereaders, dirty looks …

School’s out for summer. School’s out forever. Kindle school, that is. I’ve learned…

July 15, 2013

Earning the Couch … Jazz at The Living Room on Sukhumvit Road… Real life vs. Literature …

“You’ve got to earn the couch”, one University mountain biker said to his mountain…

July 10, 2013

Five (5) bits of cultural advice for Patpong, Nana Plaza & Soi Cowboy … The Entertainment Zones …

Lest anyone think I am ignoring the three well known entertainment areas in Bangkok, Thailand on this…

July 7, 2013

You never know what you’ll find in the Attic … a trip to Attic Studios off of Sukhumvit 31 …

I love all things Google. Last Thursday I plugged in “ART LESSONS + BANGKOK” into the…

July 3, 2013

“Whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies.”

"When it comes to a good novel, I know in my heart of hearts that I could not have written something…

June 28, 2013

Forget Yourself … what did Henry Miller mean?

On the About / Mission page of this blog a Henry Miller quote concludes with, “Forget…

June 25, 2013

Another view: Memorable Placer coach left big footprint – Former Hillmen hoopster gives thanks to Tom Barry – By Kevin Cummings / Special to the Auburn Journal

Editor’s Note: This is a special guest column at The Auburn Journal by Kevin Cummings, who played…

June 11, 2013

Sunday Afternoon Jazz at CheckInn99 on Sukhumvit Road …

Yesterday, I went to the historic Bangkok Cabaret bar, CheckInn99, which has a colorful history that…

June 3, 2013

Each One his Own Direction, Each One his Own Way / kon-lá tít kon-lá taang / คนละทิศคนละทาง: Malcolm Gault-Williams interview …

Today’s maiden interview at Thailand Footprint is with Malcolm Gault-Williams. He is the father of…

May 12, 2013

Never Go To Thailand … and the reasons I love it … Mook, the smiling waitress, and Good Sam are just two …

Recently, there was a video making the rounds of the social networking sites. Its title, NEVER GO TO…

May 19, 2013

The Poke Rafferty Series by Timothy Hallinan – King of the Bangkok Fiction Hill?

The Poke Rafferty series is five…

May 2, 2013

Forgetting myself at a memorable evening … Bangkok Fiction Night of Noir

Artist Chris Coles talks with Author Tom Vater at Bangkok Fiction Night of Noir (Photo by Aroon Vater)…

April 18, 2013

I am not a writer … and why the world needs them

I am not a writer. And yet I like to write. I find no incongruity to this. I am not…

April 15, 2013

3 Responses to “Essays”

Christopher April 15, 2013

Henry Miller, I suspect, would have loved this blog.

Kicking off with John Cleese, Alfred Hitchcock and Henry Miller promises a host of new connections to understanding and appreciating the books written in Southeast Asia.

Reply

Kevin Cummings April 15, 2013

Thanks for the nod, Christopher.

Reply

mrmister1964 April 3, 2020

Wow, lots of good stuff here Kevin.
Thank you.

rgds
Kai

Reply