Thursday, September 08, 2005
Bye Bye...
I have found this blogging thing a bit of a distraction from other things in life that are more important. As I look at the reasons I started this blog, I have come to the conclusion that it was nothing more than a place to release opinion and ego energy. I would be remiss to discount blogging as a whole, but the reality is that it is merely another form of the "15 minutes of fame" thing. I love the interent, but I have found that blogging doesn't really accomplish much in the long run, and I have found myself getting pissed off at the arrogance of many of the people whom I have been reading over the last several months. The reality of blogging is that is a means for many people who feel small to pretend they are doing something big!
"WOW! I had a millions hits this month! I am great!"
I have discovered that during my vacations in Japana and Bali when I wasn't bloggin, that I was a lot more content. I did not find myself in conflict with someone who I didn't know, or even those I did. I think that blogging give many people a rush and an uncensored outlet.
I am leaving the sit eup, because there are some things I linked to in the past that I may want to refer to later. Other than that...adios...it hasn't really been fun at all!
"WOW! I had a millions hits this month! I am great!"
I have discovered that during my vacations in Japana and Bali when I wasn't bloggin, that I was a lot more content. I did not find myself in conflict with someone who I didn't know, or even those I did. I think that blogging give many people a rush and an uncensored outlet.
I am leaving the sit eup, because there are some things I linked to in the past that I may want to refer to later. Other than that...adios...it hasn't really been fun at all!
Monday, September 05, 2005
Queen of all Evil...Thanks!
Thanks, Rosemary for this post...
"The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law."
I don't pretend to know everything about how things work in the States, so I am thankful when someone can inform me. I also don't have the time to spend finding out all of these things...So a big THANK-YOU to Mrs. Esmay!
That being said, there should be some provisions put in place to prevent this type of situation from happening in the future..yeah, I know it is called a State Election, but when idiots run things that so deeply affect citizens, there should be some way for Pres. Bush, or any leader to say, "This person has fucked up, we are gonna take this by the horns...now!"
I don't have any suggestions, it is just a wish.
"The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law."
I don't pretend to know everything about how things work in the States, so I am thankful when someone can inform me. I also don't have the time to spend finding out all of these things...So a big THANK-YOU to Mrs. Esmay!
That being said, there should be some provisions put in place to prevent this type of situation from happening in the future..yeah, I know it is called a State Election, but when idiots run things that so deeply affect citizens, there should be some way for Pres. Bush, or any leader to say, "This person has fucked up, we are gonna take this by the horns...now!"
I don't have any suggestions, it is just a wish.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
White Citizens were priority...
...according to this observation from a Korean Minister in New Orleans...
There was a widespread sense that the city's African Americans were left stranded for five days while the city was allowed to descend into anarchy because authorities concentrated on rescuing and protecting more affluent Caucasians. The Rev. Yun Jeong-su (48), who spent four days on the second floor of his church in downtown New Orleans, said, "The rescue operations concentrated on the west side, where white people are concentrated. There was also a lot of police deployed and almost no looting. On the other hand, in the black neighborhood in the southeast, there was almost no police seen, and only black people could be seen wandering the streets." It was not clear whether the U.S. government intentionally discriminated against the African American community, but New Orleans is transforming into a powder keg that could ignite deeply rooted racial tensions in U.S. society.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
There was a widespread sense that the city's African Americans were left stranded for five days while the city was allowed to descend into anarchy because authorities concentrated on rescuing and protecting more affluent Caucasians. The Rev. Yun Jeong-su (48), who spent four days on the second floor of his church in downtown New Orleans, said, "The rescue operations concentrated on the west side, where white people are concentrated. There was also a lot of police deployed and almost no looting. On the other hand, in the black neighborhood in the southeast, there was almost no police seen, and only black people could be seen wandering the streets." It was not clear whether the U.S. government intentionally discriminated against the African American community, but New Orleans is transforming into a powder keg that could ignite deeply rooted racial tensions in U.S. society.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
Bush Sr. Apologizes To Son For Funding Bin Laden In '80s
Brilliant Quote of the Day...
"Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a physician, said "a lot more than eight to ten people are dying a day."
- CBC News
I guess he ran out of fingers to count!
- CBC News
I guess he ran out of fingers to count!
Chief Justice Dies
Chief Justice William Rehnquist died on Saturday. As if the partisan politics in the US did not have enough to deal with after the Hurricane in the Gulf, now the jostling for judiciary power begins...
This should be an interesting battle, but of course, it will be fought by extremists on either side of the fence...and it will take longer than necessary because of all the grandstanding and brow-beating.
I think it is amazing he spent 33 years as a Chief Justice...tough cookie!
This should be an interesting battle, but of course, it will be fought by extremists on either side of the fence...and it will take longer than necessary because of all the grandstanding and brow-beating.
I think it is amazing he spent 33 years as a Chief Justice...tough cookie!
Dark Side of Expat Life in Asia
I just read this on CNN
I don't know if people are afraid to talk about the real truth of what happens over here, especially to men...
Western men who move to Asian countries are treated very special by Asian women. Asian men get the same treatment at bars and stuff, as well, but for the Western guy, this is something we have never experienced before. Being waited on hand and foot, usually by very alluring women. They pour the drinks and seem to have a way of infiltrating the western male's libido, propping up his ego. Now, that said, it is not as common as a lot of people think, that Western men are always having sex with Asian women, some do,, most don't. But it is the feeling of being the "MAN" that screws us up.
Western executives find themselves feeling obligated to go drinking a lot more than they normally would, because they see their Asian counterparts doing it. The bravado of having control of our own time and schedule often results in ignoring our spouses.
Asian society is structured very differently, and to the Western man it is alluring. When you make friends with some Asian women, as my girlfriend and I have, you also find out that they are not very happy, but then they will turn around and jump when their spouse demands it, because they feel a sense of duty, or they fear the perilous life of a single woman or divorced woman here.
Here in Korea, the act of saving face is called che myun, and it is a very powerful force. It requires that Korean people sometimes lie to avoid embarrassment, and it is socially acceptable. A minor example...
Friday I arrived home from Japan and my phone did not work, my minutes had expired. My girlfriend had tried to purchase more minutes that morning, but was refused because she did not know the name on my cellphone (foreigners are not usually permitted to have their own cellphone numbers, so you have to get a korean friend or the cellphone rep to use their name). I could not call her after I had arrived at the airport. She informed me of this, so I went to the cellphone shop and asked why this had happened. The girl told me that the computers were down in the morning and she could not process the order. Of course, this was a lie. I was a regular customer at the store, it was where I had been overcharged for my phone. People here buy minutes for other people's phones all the time, as a matter of fact, I have done it there as well. She was embarrassed at the situation, so she made up a phony story. When I tried to logically refute her story she got angry, as if to question her was wrong.
Sorry, tangent...
So my point was that we often hear Asian women say they are happy and they believe that their lifestyle is fine and dandy...they are mostly lying. So what happens is that Western men, particularly businessmen get addicted to the lifestyle here. They have it ten times better here than they would at home...somebody cleans your car everyday and brings it to the door for you, you spend a lot of time drinking and being around women who are very attentive to your needs, albeit for the money and that is addictive! Women often complain, rightly or wrongly, that Asian men are abusive or at least very controlling. Ask a Korean man which garbage bag is for compost and which for recycling and they will tell you they have no idea because that is their wife's job. Tell a Korean man you are cooking dinner for your wife or girlfriend and they are shocked.
So...disgruntled Asian women, power hungry western businessmen and insecure western wives and families in a strange land are a bad combination...for the wives and families.
I don't think it is right to shoot your spouse because they are abusive, unless you are in imminent danger, but when you live overseas there are no services or authorities that are sympathetic. It is a tough life.
I don't know if people are afraid to talk about the real truth of what happens over here, especially to men...
Western men who move to Asian countries are treated very special by Asian women. Asian men get the same treatment at bars and stuff, as well, but for the Western guy, this is something we have never experienced before. Being waited on hand and foot, usually by very alluring women. They pour the drinks and seem to have a way of infiltrating the western male's libido, propping up his ego. Now, that said, it is not as common as a lot of people think, that Western men are always having sex with Asian women, some do,, most don't. But it is the feeling of being the "MAN" that screws us up.
Western executives find themselves feeling obligated to go drinking a lot more than they normally would, because they see their Asian counterparts doing it. The bravado of having control of our own time and schedule often results in ignoring our spouses.
Asian society is structured very differently, and to the Western man it is alluring. When you make friends with some Asian women, as my girlfriend and I have, you also find out that they are not very happy, but then they will turn around and jump when their spouse demands it, because they feel a sense of duty, or they fear the perilous life of a single woman or divorced woman here.
Here in Korea, the act of saving face is called che myun, and it is a very powerful force. It requires that Korean people sometimes lie to avoid embarrassment, and it is socially acceptable. A minor example...
Friday I arrived home from Japan and my phone did not work, my minutes had expired. My girlfriend had tried to purchase more minutes that morning, but was refused because she did not know the name on my cellphone (foreigners are not usually permitted to have their own cellphone numbers, so you have to get a korean friend or the cellphone rep to use their name). I could not call her after I had arrived at the airport. She informed me of this, so I went to the cellphone shop and asked why this had happened. The girl told me that the computers were down in the morning and she could not process the order. Of course, this was a lie. I was a regular customer at the store, it was where I had been overcharged for my phone. People here buy minutes for other people's phones all the time, as a matter of fact, I have done it there as well. She was embarrassed at the situation, so she made up a phony story. When I tried to logically refute her story she got angry, as if to question her was wrong.
Sorry, tangent...
So my point was that we often hear Asian women say they are happy and they believe that their lifestyle is fine and dandy...they are mostly lying. So what happens is that Western men, particularly businessmen get addicted to the lifestyle here. They have it ten times better here than they would at home...somebody cleans your car everyday and brings it to the door for you, you spend a lot of time drinking and being around women who are very attentive to your needs, albeit for the money and that is addictive! Women often complain, rightly or wrongly, that Asian men are abusive or at least very controlling. Ask a Korean man which garbage bag is for compost and which for recycling and they will tell you they have no idea because that is their wife's job. Tell a Korean man you are cooking dinner for your wife or girlfriend and they are shocked.
So...disgruntled Asian women, power hungry western businessmen and insecure western wives and families in a strange land are a bad combination...for the wives and families.
I don't think it is right to shoot your spouse because they are abusive, unless you are in imminent danger, but when you live overseas there are no services or authorities that are sympathetic. It is a tough life.
Fukuoka, Japan
Newfoundland Tourism
While I was in Fukuoka, Japan for 3 or 4 days, I only took 1, yep, 1 picture. I spent most of my time in the Hotel as it was 35 plus degrees everyday, even the Japanese were sweating! The rest of my time was spent at a Reggae bar named Uprising, drinking with Hector, the owner from Ghana. As I stumbled home one evening I happened to have the camera and I also happened to be drunk. I took this bad picture at a travle agency in the underground shopping mall...at least I think that is where I was!
It was nice to see a picture of home...so far away!
An Example of Incompetence
I read this on CNN this morning and I just shook my head...
"Responding to a CNN inquiry, Department of Homeland Security spokesman Marc Short said Friday the gear has not been moved because none of the governors in the hurricane-ravaged area has requested it."
Now, I understand the need to be official, but Jesus Christ, if anyone thinks this isn't a good time to break the rules and send the rescue equipment anyway, they have a mental disease...and it is called moronitis!
Yes, the governeors should have requested this stuff, but come on man, give your head a shake. I guess this really indicates that what is needed is a big "To Do" List for everyone in an eergency situation, especially at the government level.
"In Case Of Emergency"
...To Do...
1. Take my head out of my ass;
2. Call everybody with any equipment to get here now (do paperwork later)
anybody care to take a crack at adding to the list?
"Responding to a CNN inquiry, Department of Homeland Security spokesman Marc Short said Friday the gear has not been moved because none of the governors in the hurricane-ravaged area has requested it."
Now, I understand the need to be official, but Jesus Christ, if anyone thinks this isn't a good time to break the rules and send the rescue equipment anyway, they have a mental disease...and it is called moronitis!
Yes, the governeors should have requested this stuff, but come on man, give your head a shake. I guess this really indicates that what is needed is a big "To Do" List for everyone in an eergency situation, especially at the government level.
"In Case Of Emergency"
...To Do...
1. Take my head out of my ass;
2. Call everybody with any equipment to get here now (do paperwork later)
anybody care to take a crack at adding to the list?
