...um...uh...hmm.
Nope. None.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
D-DAY!!
I have spent the last few weeks getting my head around the idea, testing theories, methods, and feasibility. Well, D-Day has arrived:
TODAY I QUIT SMOKING!
To be honest, this isn't really a health decision as much as a financial one. I simply can't justify complaining about how broke I am while spending $30 a week on smokes! Sure, the health thing is a perk and coincides with the second part of my plan, which starts on D+3 when I start swimming.
The cigarette thing might not be that difficult this time around. I managed to survive this week, which was arguably the longest week of my life, with only one, count 'em, ONE, cigarette. That's down from two packs a day, so I figure I'm doin' pretty good.
My resolve will be sorely tested this weekend, as I plan to go into Daejeon and meet Ian for a night of decadence and debauchery. It's payday, and I haven't been out in three weeks. GAME ON!!! If I get through this weekend with my new-found virginity intact, I think I'll be good to go!
...and so it goes!
TODAY I QUIT SMOKING!
To be honest, this isn't really a health decision as much as a financial one. I simply can't justify complaining about how broke I am while spending $30 a week on smokes! Sure, the health thing is a perk and coincides with the second part of my plan, which starts on D+3 when I start swimming.
The cigarette thing might not be that difficult this time around. I managed to survive this week, which was arguably the longest week of my life, with only one, count 'em, ONE, cigarette. That's down from two packs a day, so I figure I'm doin' pretty good.
My resolve will be sorely tested this weekend, as I plan to go into Daejeon and meet Ian for a night of decadence and debauchery. It's payday, and I haven't been out in three weeks. GAME ON!!! If I get through this weekend with my new-found virginity intact, I think I'll be good to go!
...and so it goes!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
She's gone. I'm bummed.
I just got back from an interminably long, hot bus ride back from the airport after seeing Rebecca off. So, with the help of some really loud music and a few beers, I shall assuage my loneliness. Ok. Ok. That was terribly maudlin (and yes, I am listening to cheesy love songs), but I AM bummed.
We had a great week together. Rebecca hasn't been to Korea before so I had great plans to do some touristy stuff, which included seeing some of the temples and mountains and hiking around a bit. These plans were rather quickly dashed when Rebecca told me that the only hiking she wanted to do was up the escalator at any given department store or around the streets of shopping districts. I was fine with this because a) department stores are air conditioned and it's summer here in Korea, and b) Rebecca's idea of shopping with me was to to sit me down in a coffee shop or some such place and go off by herself! Hell, she left me in the Seoul Pub to go wander the stores of Itaewan! That's my kind of shopping. I LOVE this woman! We also went to see NANTA, which, if you live in Korea and haven't seen it, or you are coming to Korea, IT'S AN ABSOLUTE MUST! The show is so much fun. This was my third time seeing the show and it was just as great as the first.
We also did some exploring around Gongju and Daejeon. We went to Santa's of course because she wanted to see that hallowed temple of beer and good times. We spent a lot of time walking around, taking busses from place to place and, amazingly enough, have NOT ONE SINGLE PHOTO from the whole trip. Go figure!
Anyway, it was wonderful to have her here, even if only for a week. I'm going back to my beer and songs like this:
BABE - Styx
Babe, I'm leavin'
I must be on my way
The time is drawing near
My train is going
I see it in your eyes
The love, the need, the tears
But I'll be lonely without you
And I'll need your love to see me through
So please believe me
My heart is in your hands
And I'll be missing you
'Cause you know it's you babe
Whenever I get weary and I've had enough
Feel like giving up
You know it's you babe
Givin' me the courage and the strength I need
Please believe that it's true
Babe, I love you
Babe, I'm leavin'
I'll say it once again
And somehow try to smile
I know we're feeling
We're trying to forget
If only for a while
'Cause I'll be lonely without you
And I'll need your love to see me through
Please believe me
My heart is in your hands
'Cause I'll be missing you
Babe, I love you
Babe, I love you
...and so it goes.
We had a great week together. Rebecca hasn't been to Korea before so I had great plans to do some touristy stuff, which included seeing some of the temples and mountains and hiking around a bit. These plans were rather quickly dashed when Rebecca told me that the only hiking she wanted to do was up the escalator at any given department store or around the streets of shopping districts. I was fine with this because a) department stores are air conditioned and it's summer here in Korea, and b) Rebecca's idea of shopping with me was to to sit me down in a coffee shop or some such place and go off by herself! Hell, she left me in the Seoul Pub to go wander the stores of Itaewan! That's my kind of shopping. I LOVE this woman! We also went to see NANTA, which, if you live in Korea and haven't seen it, or you are coming to Korea, IT'S AN ABSOLUTE MUST! The show is so much fun. This was my third time seeing the show and it was just as great as the first.
We also did some exploring around Gongju and Daejeon. We went to Santa's of course because she wanted to see that hallowed temple of beer and good times. We spent a lot of time walking around, taking busses from place to place and, amazingly enough, have NOT ONE SINGLE PHOTO from the whole trip. Go figure!
Anyway, it was wonderful to have her here, even if only for a week. I'm going back to my beer and songs like this:
BABE - Styx
Babe, I'm leavin'
I must be on my way
The time is drawing near
My train is going
I see it in your eyes
The love, the need, the tears
But I'll be lonely without you
And I'll need your love to see me through
So please believe me
My heart is in your hands
And I'll be missing you
'Cause you know it's you babe
Whenever I get weary and I've had enough
Feel like giving up
You know it's you babe
Givin' me the courage and the strength I need
Please believe that it's true
Babe, I love you
Babe, I'm leavin'
I'll say it once again
And somehow try to smile
I know we're feeling
We're trying to forget
If only for a while
'Cause I'll be lonely without you
And I'll need your love to see me through
Please believe me
My heart is in your hands
'Cause I'll be missing you
Babe, I love you
Babe, I love you
...and so it goes.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
The Bears of Gongju
In order to put this little story into some perspective, I figure a little history is in order.
Gongju came into being during what is known as the Three Kingdoms Era (57 BC - AD 668) in Korea. The Goguryeo Kingdom controlled the northern part of the peninsula including what is now present day North Korea as well as parts of China above the Yalu River. The Silla Kingdom controlled the southestern portion, and the Baekjae Kingdom controlled the southwest. In AD 475, Goguryeo overran the Baekjae capital near Seoul. The new capital Ungjin (meaning Bear Port) was established on the Guemgang River where present day Gongju now stands. Ungjin remained the capital of Baekjae until AD 538 when the capital was moved to Buyeo. Baekjae was eventually destroyed by Silla in AD 660.
Bears are an enduring part of Korean mythology beginning with the origin of the Korean people in which a bear and a tiger pray to Hwanung, the son of Hwanin, the "Lord of Heaven", to make them human. Hwanung gives them a task to perform. The tiger gave up before the task is complete, but the bear stays the course and is eventually turned into a woman (there's a "why bears hibernate" thing in this too, but we won't get into that). The bear-now-woman, Ungnyeo, makes offerings of thanks to Hwanung who decides to marry her. They have a son named Dangun Wanggeom, and thus the Korean people come into being.
Gongju has its own bear legend which I'm stealing basically verbatim from the VisitKorea website. it goes like this:
One day, a female bear, lonely after years of watching humans go about their business, kidnapped a local fisherman to make him her husband. At first, the fisherman was afraid and refused to become the bear's husband, so the bear kept him trapped in her cave by blocking the mouth with a large boulder. The bear took good care of the fisherman and, after a few years, their relationship improved to the point they had two cubs. Deciding she could now trust the husband to stay, the bear left the cave unblocked as she went off hunting for food. The fisherman, seeing his opportunity, took off. Upon returning and finding the fisherman gone, the bear, consumed by grief, jumped into the Geumgang River with her two cubs and drowned
After the bear's death, the Guemgang River became rough and the fisherman couldn't work. To calm the bear's spirit, other fisherrman built a shrine to the mother and her cubs. This shrine gives Gongju its original name, Ungjin or Bear Port.
Thus I give you, The Bears of Gongju!
Gongju came into being during what is known as the Three Kingdoms Era (57 BC - AD 668) in Korea. The Goguryeo Kingdom controlled the northern part of the peninsula including what is now present day North Korea as well as parts of China above the Yalu River. The Silla Kingdom controlled the southestern portion, and the Baekjae Kingdom controlled the southwest. In AD 475, Goguryeo overran the Baekjae capital near Seoul. The new capital Ungjin (meaning Bear Port) was established on the Guemgang River where present day Gongju now stands. Ungjin remained the capital of Baekjae until AD 538 when the capital was moved to Buyeo. Baekjae was eventually destroyed by Silla in AD 660.
Bears are an enduring part of Korean mythology beginning with the origin of the Korean people in which a bear and a tiger pray to Hwanung, the son of Hwanin, the "Lord of Heaven", to make them human. Hwanung gives them a task to perform. The tiger gave up before the task is complete, but the bear stays the course and is eventually turned into a woman (there's a "why bears hibernate" thing in this too, but we won't get into that). The bear-now-woman, Ungnyeo, makes offerings of thanks to Hwanung who decides to marry her. They have a son named Dangun Wanggeom, and thus the Korean people come into being.
Gongju has its own bear legend which I'm stealing basically verbatim from the VisitKorea website. it goes like this:
One day, a female bear, lonely after years of watching humans go about their business, kidnapped a local fisherman to make him her husband. At first, the fisherman was afraid and refused to become the bear's husband, so the bear kept him trapped in her cave by blocking the mouth with a large boulder. The bear took good care of the fisherman and, after a few years, their relationship improved to the point they had two cubs. Deciding she could now trust the husband to stay, the bear left the cave unblocked as she went off hunting for food. The fisherman, seeing his opportunity, took off. Upon returning and finding the fisherman gone, the bear, consumed by grief, jumped into the Geumgang River with her two cubs and drowned
After the bear's death, the Guemgang River became rough and the fisherman couldn't work. To calm the bear's spirit, other fisherrman built a shrine to the mother and her cubs. This shrine gives Gongju its original name, Ungjin or Bear Port.
Thus I give you, The Bears of Gongju!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Justice Korean Style
Here is yet another mind boggling example of the down right weirdness of the Korean judicial system. A young Korean couple, who, due to their addiction to a computer game, allowed their 3-month old daughter to starve to death last September, were sentenced by the courts last week.
The father was sentenced to TWO YEARS in prison while the mother was given a suspended sentenced because...wait for it...she's giving birth to their second child in three months and PROMISED the judge that she'd take better care of this one!!!!
WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?
The twisted irony of all this is that the couple let their actual baby starve while obsessively caring for an online baby!
It calls to mind another great moment in Korean Justice that happened a couple of years ago. Two Korean men, grandfather and uncle to a 12 year old mentally challenged girl, were arrested for repeatedly raping the girl over the course of several years. Neither of the men received any jail time mainly because the older of the two was deemed too ill to go to prison and needed to be cared for by the other guy. That's bad enough. The real kick in the head is that the judge in the case gave the two men custody of the girl because...get this...SHE HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO GO!!!
...and so it goes.
The father was sentenced to TWO YEARS in prison while the mother was given a suspended sentenced because...wait for it...she's giving birth to their second child in three months and PROMISED the judge that she'd take better care of this one!!!!
WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?
The twisted irony of all this is that the couple let their actual baby starve while obsessively caring for an online baby!
It calls to mind another great moment in Korean Justice that happened a couple of years ago. Two Korean men, grandfather and uncle to a 12 year old mentally challenged girl, were arrested for repeatedly raping the girl over the course of several years. Neither of the men received any jail time mainly because the older of the two was deemed too ill to go to prison and needed to be cared for by the other guy. That's bad enough. The real kick in the head is that the judge in the case gave the two men custody of the girl because...get this...SHE HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO GO!!!
...and so it goes.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Departmental Review
Insert Foot In Mouth; Chew Vigorously Dept.:
Rand Paul, the new darling of Tea Baggers and ultra-right conservatives everywhere hit the talk show circuit after handily winning the Kentucky Republica primary. This, of course, is where the wheels fell of the wagon. Paul, in a display of circular logic that will make you dizzy, came out both for and against the 1964 Civil Rights Act. While adamantly opposing segregation in any form, Paul stated that he believes the government should not tell private business owners whom they can and cannot serve. Asked to clarify his statement Paul again asserted his anti-segregation stance but said that under the first amendment rights of free speech, etc., private businesses should be able to refuse service to those people they don't want to serve.
Naturally, civil rights activists of all stripes went ballistic. More telling, however; was the Replican response. First there was a collective, "Huh?" Then there was collective "I-think-he-might-have-the-plague" three steps backwards followed by a dash to the press room to say Rand Paul did not speak for all Republicans because the party is all about inclusiveness and deplores segregation in any form.
My head is spinning!
That's Using Your Head Dept.:
Mark Lerner, owner of the Washington Nationals, apparently enjoys putting on a Nats uniform and going out on the field with the team to shag fly balls during BP before games. It also is apparent why Lerner is the owner of the team and not a player. While chasing down a fly ball the other day, Lerner circled under the ball, put up his glove, and got hit square between the eyes with the ball opening up a cut on his face that required 30 stitches. It's nice to see Mr. Lerner out there takin' one for the team!
Religion Does Have Its Place Dept.:
Buddha's the MAN! Hapy birthday buddy, and thanks for the day off! :-D
Rand Paul, the new darling of Tea Baggers and ultra-right conservatives everywhere hit the talk show circuit after handily winning the Kentucky Republica primary. This, of course, is where the wheels fell of the wagon. Paul, in a display of circular logic that will make you dizzy, came out both for and against the 1964 Civil Rights Act. While adamantly opposing segregation in any form, Paul stated that he believes the government should not tell private business owners whom they can and cannot serve. Asked to clarify his statement Paul again asserted his anti-segregation stance but said that under the first amendment rights of free speech, etc., private businesses should be able to refuse service to those people they don't want to serve.
Naturally, civil rights activists of all stripes went ballistic. More telling, however; was the Replican response. First there was a collective, "Huh?" Then there was collective "I-think-he-might-have-the-plague" three steps backwards followed by a dash to the press room to say Rand Paul did not speak for all Republicans because the party is all about inclusiveness and deplores segregation in any form.
My head is spinning!
That's Using Your Head Dept.:
Mark Lerner, owner of the Washington Nationals, apparently enjoys putting on a Nats uniform and going out on the field with the team to shag fly balls during BP before games. It also is apparent why Lerner is the owner of the team and not a player. While chasing down a fly ball the other day, Lerner circled under the ball, put up his glove, and got hit square between the eyes with the ball opening up a cut on his face that required 30 stitches. It's nice to see Mr. Lerner out there takin' one for the team!
Religion Does Have Its Place Dept.:
Buddha's the MAN! Hapy birthday buddy, and thanks for the day off! :-D
Monday, May 17, 2010
Ronnie James Dio - 1942 - 2010
Heavy metal lost one of its greatest voices over the weekend. Ronnie James Dio, who died of cancer this past Sunday, has been defining part of the metal scene since its inception. Whether with Elf, Blackmore's Rainbow, Black Sabbath, or on his own, the diminutive singer's voice reigned supreme. Dio's legendary prickliness with is bandmates was greatly overshadowed by his love and appreciation for the fans, and they in turn loved him back.
I wasn't much of a metalhead when I was younger until I heard Black Sabbath's Heaven & Hell. I'd heard earlier Sabbath with Ozzy, but it didn't really grab hold of me like the Dio era Sabbath. I, of course, went on to listen to Dio's albums with Rainbow and grabbed his solo stuff as soon as it came out. That, in turn, led me to start exploring other metal bands. The rest, as they say, is history!
I was lucky enough to see Dio twice: in San Francisco on the Sacred Heart tour in '86 and again with a reunited Black Sabbath in Maryland in '89 or '90 (it's a bit fuzzy. Gimme a break! I'm old! lol). Both shows simply rocked!
Dio - Holy Diver
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqn34CGO-1U&feature=related
Dio w/Black Sabbath - Heaven & Hell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwqe27et28A&feature=related
Dio w/Rainbow - Kill The King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkSHHK7WlAw&feature=related
My personal favorite:
Last In Line - Ronnie James Dio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy6URlmeUpk&feature=related
We're a ship without a storm
The cold without the warm
Light inside the darkness that it needs, yeah
We're a laugh without a tear
The hope without the fear
We are coming - HOME!
We're off to the witch
We may never never never come home
But the magic that we'll feel
Is worth a lifetime
We're born upon the cross
The throw before the toss
You can release yourself
But the only way is down
We don't come alone
We are fire, we are stone
We're the that writes
Then quickly fades away
We'll know for the first time
If we're evil or divine
We're the last in line
We're the last in line
Two eyes from the east
It's the angel or the beast
And the answer lies between
The good and bad
We search for the truth
We could die upon the tooth
But the thrill of just the chase
Is worth the pain
We'll know for te first time
If we're evil or divine
We're the last in line
We're the last in line
We're off to the witch
We may never never never come home
But the magic that we'll feel
Is worth a lifetime
We're all born upon the cross
The throw before the toss
You can release yourself
But the only way to go is down
We'll know for the first time
If we're evil or divine
We're the last in line
See how we shine
R.I.P. Ronnie! We'll miss you!
I wasn't much of a metalhead when I was younger until I heard Black Sabbath's Heaven & Hell. I'd heard earlier Sabbath with Ozzy, but it didn't really grab hold of me like the Dio era Sabbath. I, of course, went on to listen to Dio's albums with Rainbow and grabbed his solo stuff as soon as it came out. That, in turn, led me to start exploring other metal bands. The rest, as they say, is history!
I was lucky enough to see Dio twice: in San Francisco on the Sacred Heart tour in '86 and again with a reunited Black Sabbath in Maryland in '89 or '90 (it's a bit fuzzy. Gimme a break! I'm old! lol). Both shows simply rocked!
Dio - Holy Diver
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqn34CGO-1U&feature=related
Dio w/Black Sabbath - Heaven & Hell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwqe27et28A&feature=related
Dio w/Rainbow - Kill The King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkSHHK7WlAw&feature=related
My personal favorite:
Last In Line - Ronnie James Dio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy6URlmeUpk&feature=related
We're a ship without a storm
The cold without the warm
Light inside the darkness that it needs, yeah
We're a laugh without a tear
The hope without the fear
We are coming - HOME!
We're off to the witch
We may never never never come home
But the magic that we'll feel
Is worth a lifetime
We're born upon the cross
The throw before the toss
You can release yourself
But the only way is down
We don't come alone
We are fire, we are stone
We're the that writes
Then quickly fades away
We'll know for the first time
If we're evil or divine
We're the last in line
We're the last in line
Two eyes from the east
It's the angel or the beast
And the answer lies between
The good and bad
We search for the truth
We could die upon the tooth
But the thrill of just the chase
Is worth the pain
We'll know for te first time
If we're evil or divine
We're the last in line
We're the last in line
We're off to the witch
We may never never never come home
But the magic that we'll feel
Is worth a lifetime
We're all born upon the cross
The throw before the toss
You can release yourself
But the only way to go is down
We'll know for the first time
If we're evil or divine
We're the last in line
See how we shine
R.I.P. Ronnie! We'll miss you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)