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I just finished "Into the Wild" today, the book by Jon Krakauer which motivated the recent movie of the same title. I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone, purely as an in-depth study of a truly unusual and extraordinary character who happens to be real; for some readers it will be much more. Next on the docket is Tolstoy's "War and Peace." It's certainly a large book, with over 500 characters according to the editors notes. Just 15 pages in, I've discovered that my vocabulary with respect to character traits is terrible. This is certainly on account of the relatively small qualtity of fiction I've read, in exchange for a lot of non-fiction. I've been taking pause as I read to write down words whose meanings I'm not sure of. The below words are all ones I've heard, but couldn't actually define or explain adequately if asked, until now: Affected Languid Self-Abnegation Impetuousity Pensive Vexatious Gaily Magnanimous Ingrat...

A new moral maxim came to me in the shower this morning: "Treat others as though you are at their funeral."

In light of recent political events in the USA, I decided to copy/paste my entry from April 17th of this year, for your reading pleasure. I think I've been just about smack on thus far with the predictions, though the evangelical conservative McCain picked as his running mate wasn't the one I expected. I still stand by the rest of the entry though... it'll all happen I swear!: ----------- I wouldn't be faithful to the spirit of internet blogging if I didn't do at least one entry predicting who I think will win the presidency come november in the USA. I am absolutely positive the democratic nominee will be Obama. He will beat Hillary without any trouble; he simply is too far ahead with the delegates, and has too much money and influential support. I suspect the lady will bow out after the next batch of primaries. Hillary will not be his vice president pick. She's in the race, I can only presume, because she wants to stay prominent for some reason other than getti...

I thought this evening I'd share a few thoughts on why people in Korea differ in size and health so noticably from people in North America. The reasons are in my opinion rather complex and fascinating: 1. More food variety: each meal has multiple dishes, and every meal includes at least one or two vegetable dishes. Interestingly, Koreans don't eat a low fat diet most of the time, and nor do they eat a low-carbohydrate diet. Most pork and beef dishes leave the fat on in layers! But variety is key. 2. More water: Korean food is very watery, compared to normal western food. Most meals include soups, stews, and so forth. Most notably, water is the accompanying drink for virtually every meal (other than alcohol). People don't really drink pop or juice or other sugary things during meals. These factors make for people who can feel full on fewer calories. 3. Communitarian eating habits: Meals are always shared, often without even individual plates. People will simply have at a mai...

Koreans are really mad about China right now with this whole Melamine crisis. None of the stuff has made its way to Korea just yet, but most people I talk to seem to think either it's already here and undiscovered, or it will be soon. Originally, I thought the anger was misplaced as I thought the whole milk contamination thing was accidental, but apparently it wasn't: milk suppliers in China (and Vietnam) found out it was more profitable to water down their milk and add some poison (Melamine fools protein level verification tests) than to simply supply real milk. Anyway it's the hot topic here right now. Coming in at a close second is the suicide of a famous Korean TV star, a story that even reached CNN's front webpage yesterday. The Melamine has benefitted me in a small way; stores are having a hell of a time selling off their made-in-china milk products, most specifically ice cream bars and other tasty frozen goodies. So, I am taking gratuitous advantage of the 30...

I watched the vice-presidential debate today. Or, rather, it was more a speech exchange. I wish so dearly that high-level politicians would agree to a cross-examination style debate, trading both speeches as well as lines of questioning to each other. While the moderator's questions weren't known specifically by the candidates, there are really only 50 or 100 possible questions to be asked, if that. Every answer was well-prepared and practiced. But, even then, Palin's transparency was blatant. Watch closely, and you can figure out much of what her advisors told her to say and how to act. "Emphasize the word 'maverick, Sarah", "Portray yourself as an untarnished outsider, Sarah," and so on. Biden, to his credit, sounded like he really knew what he was saying; by this I mean I sensed a depth of knowledge behind his beliefs that if meaningfully challened (which they weren't), he could respond in a nuanced and original way. Palin's depth of knowl...

"Anyone who thinks that humans are basically good and kind to each other has never been to a playground. Just go and see how kids treat a kid when he first walks into the playground... because he's the 'other'" - David Wolpe

Occasionally, I see other westerners walking about town. They aren't common though, perhaps I see one or two each day out of many many thousands. I am still having trouble accustoming myself to the uninvited attention I get when I'm out. Just looking the way I do, with blond hair and blue eyes, exceptionally long eyelashes and oddly white arm hair, attracts all sorts of attention from men and women alike. The women tend to stare a bit, then smile and giggle things to their friends in Korean... one of the many reasons I intend to pick up the language. The men just smile respectfully and often want to shake my hand for being western (especially if they know I'm Canadian). It is, in a small way, like being a celebrity, in the sense that no matter I go, people follow my with their eyes, and whisper to each other. Jordan's darker hair and eyes attract a bit less attention, which in most ways is a blessing. As I was listening to some incredibly cheezy and melodramatic Korean ...

Yesterday I was gazing a rather interesting-looking mountain or two while I was enjoying my balcony view: So, I decided to find the foot and do a solo hike. Here are some photos from various points on the mountain. In the first picture you can see much of Nowon, and in the second I zoomed in to my general area and circled my house for your viewing pleasure. The wonders of digital photography and Microsoft Paint... You will also notice a picture of my afternoon snack, a nutritious dried octopus. They cost a mere 500 won here, and are, as I said, nutritious. As for aesthetic value... let's just say they're an acquired taste. Included also is an interesting bug I noticed, as well as a pretty blue flower: Today I ended up sightseeing around town, including an inner-city stream and Seoul Tower. At the tower there is a tradition for young lovebirds to take two locks and lock them together on a particular chain link fence. The locks are often inscribed with sweet nothings. Here...

Many times, I've had trouble using my camera because people generally don't like their pictures taken. I've seen all kinds of cool foods, signs, and street-performers, but have been stopped before I could take a photo. The photos I'll put up here aren't even close to representative of what I've thus far seen, but they are a good little bite anyway. To begin, a few photos from the jet, as we flew up over Alaska and back down over Russia. In order, you can see some glaciers and arctic mountains, as well as Anchorage (Alaska), and the mountains of central Korea. I live in a small alleyway near a busy street, but far enough in as to be relatively quiet. I am only a short walk from a subway/tram station, and the subway system here is so efficient that just about all of Seoul is within an hour's reach. So here's the alleyway: My balcony is in the top right of the photo, while the open door on the left is Jordan's. Below is my balcony view, first to the ri...