I have decided today to restrict who can view this blog. Basically, you can no longer search for it using google, yahoo etc.
The reason is that, for the most part, I write this for myself, and any family and friends who may be interested (they can access it via facebook). I've had a few other readers, and for the most part, if anyone is interested in my posts I am glad.
However, periodically I get a few trolls. I moderate all comments and so they never appear, but they range from messages in languages I can't read or comments from people with questionable grammar, ideas, education and chromosome counts to angry people wanting me to join their angry causes/denouncing me for posting against their cause to advertisements and other spam. I've had other comments from people I don't know who make interesting points/counterarguments and I welcome them. As to other comments, I feel no need to allow them to find and comment on my blog at all.
Also, with job hunts this and next year having a more private blog seems to make more sense.
If you have any trouble accessing anything message me, I get the comments, even if I don't publish them (though I do report spam/trolling).
Monday, January 26, 2015
Hearing From Paul
Today I heard from an old friend who I haven't heard from in over a year. Paul messaged me to see if I wanted to meet up before he left Korea for good in March. I had a mix of surprise and joy to say the least.
We met in Ulsan just days after I first arrived. He was several months in to his second year and I was fresh off the boat. We became good friends and at one point in 2010 were talking almost daily, certainly weekly. Over time that became bi-weekly, monthly and then suddenly a year and a half. No falling out or anything, just drifting apart I guess.
Last time I talked to Paul he seemed ready to leave Korea but wasn't sure what to do. I am happy to hear that he figured it out. Eight years is a long time to be in Korea. Being that I will finish at seven almost on the nose I can tell you now that I don't think I could do an eighth under any circumstances. Not that I haven't loved my time here, but there comes a point where you need to settle down in Korea (emigrate), move home and settle down, or head off to the next destination (for career, enjoyment and sanity). Last time we talked Paul seemed unhappy here but didn't see a way to move on, so I am more than a little interested to learn why he decided to go now and what he has in store in New Zealand.
I can also add him to the growing number of friends I have leaving this year. After Paul I say goodbye to Bobby, who will be out by the end of April.
Going from stress over Yens visa and her job (another story altogether) to her getting the visa and a new job offer and Paul messaging me in 24 hours. Nice upswing after a shitty January.
We met in Ulsan just days after I first arrived. He was several months in to his second year and I was fresh off the boat. We became good friends and at one point in 2010 were talking almost daily, certainly weekly. Over time that became bi-weekly, monthly and then suddenly a year and a half. No falling out or anything, just drifting apart I guess.
Last time I talked to Paul he seemed ready to leave Korea but wasn't sure what to do. I am happy to hear that he figured it out. Eight years is a long time to be in Korea. Being that I will finish at seven almost on the nose I can tell you now that I don't think I could do an eighth under any circumstances. Not that I haven't loved my time here, but there comes a point where you need to settle down in Korea (emigrate), move home and settle down, or head off to the next destination (for career, enjoyment and sanity). Last time we talked Paul seemed unhappy here but didn't see a way to move on, so I am more than a little interested to learn why he decided to go now and what he has in store in New Zealand.
I can also add him to the growing number of friends I have leaving this year. After Paul I say goodbye to Bobby, who will be out by the end of April.
Going from stress over Yens visa and her job (another story altogether) to her getting the visa and a new job offer and Paul messaging me in 24 hours. Nice upswing after a shitty January.
Yens Visa
Well after a large amount of stress and delays Yens visa was finally extended on Monday to run until July 25th (when we plan for her to leave). I'll follow in October and the Korea period will come to a close.
It also means that I can finally start to get excited about Vancouver. I leave in four days but haven't put any thought in to it so far. Time to start.
It also means that I can finally start to get excited about Vancouver. I leave in four days but haven't put any thought in to it so far. Time to start.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
I am NOT Charlie
Je suis Charlie
The post that appears everywhere in the wake of the attacks in Paris.
While the attacks are certainly tragic, I feel that the media response to them has been equally tragic and ensures this sort of thing WILL happen again. This was NOT an attack on freedom or free speech. It wasn't. It was an attack on a paper that would be banned in many western nations for its hate speech. This was everything wrong with modern France (and Europe) attacking everything wrong with modern France (and Europe). But that message will be lost in waves of anti-Islam and flag waving freedom.
To start, Charlie Hebdo was not some satirical magazine. It was an all white French staff that routinely mocked French minority communities. In fact, they have frequently crossed the line and been accused of racism for over a decade. My personal favourite is the depiction of Boko Haram kidnap victims as welfare queens. They represent the French far right of Marine le Pen, who routinely espouse anti immigrant, anti Muslim sentiments. These people were not heroes, their satire was not good, it was white men dumping on marginalized communities for a good laugh and then defending it as freedom of speech and telling people to "lighten up". It is the same nonsense Glenn Beck used to spout ten years ago and Fox News continues to do today. Bigotry made righteous as freedom of speech. Now I agree that you CAN draw offensive pictures of the Prophet Mohammed if you want to. You CAN imply that young girls dragged from their homes to become sex slaves to militants is funny. For that right IS protected by French law. Doing so makes you an asshole. Doing so makes you a misogynist prick. Doing so is not clever satire. Doing so serves no purpose other than to anger marginalized groups. Perhaps this is why ethnic minorities in Europe seem to have so much trouble fitting in?
On the other hand, there is something VERY wrong in the middle east. I won't say Islamic State is the greatest threat since Nazi Germany, but they may be the most evil thing to come about since the fall of Nazi Germany. IS is horrible, and whether it is anti-colonialism, anti-monarchy, anti-Israel or just plain religious crazy, there is something seriously wrong anytime a movement like that gains momentum. So why would any Muslim living in France choose a movement of unapologetic evil over Paris? Well because Charlie Hebdo makes it clear that they are not welcome there. So you get some 18 year olds who are poorly educated, very marginalized and susceptible to the sort of extremism that exists in the middle east. Once they are radicalized they do something horrible and wrong and what we get is: Islamic fundamentalism strikes again. Terrorists assault our freedom. Rabble Rabble.
What we miss in that is that Charlie Hebdo is a huge part of the problem. They help create an environment for the evil of IS to flourish. Yet pointing this out is akin to saying that you support IS in some circles. This leads to a final point. Condemning Charlie Hebdo AND condemning the attack on them are not mutually exclusive.
I am horrified and disgusted by what happened in Paris, but fuck me if I am Charlie.
The post that appears everywhere in the wake of the attacks in Paris.
While the attacks are certainly tragic, I feel that the media response to them has been equally tragic and ensures this sort of thing WILL happen again. This was NOT an attack on freedom or free speech. It wasn't. It was an attack on a paper that would be banned in many western nations for its hate speech. This was everything wrong with modern France (and Europe) attacking everything wrong with modern France (and Europe). But that message will be lost in waves of anti-Islam and flag waving freedom.
To start, Charlie Hebdo was not some satirical magazine. It was an all white French staff that routinely mocked French minority communities. In fact, they have frequently crossed the line and been accused of racism for over a decade. My personal favourite is the depiction of Boko Haram kidnap victims as welfare queens. They represent the French far right of Marine le Pen, who routinely espouse anti immigrant, anti Muslim sentiments. These people were not heroes, their satire was not good, it was white men dumping on marginalized communities for a good laugh and then defending it as freedom of speech and telling people to "lighten up". It is the same nonsense Glenn Beck used to spout ten years ago and Fox News continues to do today. Bigotry made righteous as freedom of speech. Now I agree that you CAN draw offensive pictures of the Prophet Mohammed if you want to. You CAN imply that young girls dragged from their homes to become sex slaves to militants is funny. For that right IS protected by French law. Doing so makes you an asshole. Doing so makes you a misogynist prick. Doing so is not clever satire. Doing so serves no purpose other than to anger marginalized groups. Perhaps this is why ethnic minorities in Europe seem to have so much trouble fitting in?
On the other hand, there is something VERY wrong in the middle east. I won't say Islamic State is the greatest threat since Nazi Germany, but they may be the most evil thing to come about since the fall of Nazi Germany. IS is horrible, and whether it is anti-colonialism, anti-monarchy, anti-Israel or just plain religious crazy, there is something seriously wrong anytime a movement like that gains momentum. So why would any Muslim living in France choose a movement of unapologetic evil over Paris? Well because Charlie Hebdo makes it clear that they are not welcome there. So you get some 18 year olds who are poorly educated, very marginalized and susceptible to the sort of extremism that exists in the middle east. Once they are radicalized they do something horrible and wrong and what we get is: Islamic fundamentalism strikes again. Terrorists assault our freedom. Rabble Rabble.
What we miss in that is that Charlie Hebdo is a huge part of the problem. They help create an environment for the evil of IS to flourish. Yet pointing this out is akin to saying that you support IS in some circles. This leads to a final point. Condemning Charlie Hebdo AND condemning the attack on them are not mutually exclusive.
I am horrified and disgusted by what happened in Paris, but fuck me if I am Charlie.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Seeing Jarrod Off
Last night I went out to Percent bar with Jarrod and Matt to try Daegu's answer to craft beer. Actually they just import it from Busan, but meh.
It was also the last chance I will likely have to see Jarrod before he heads back to the States on Wednesday. Jarrod and I have known each other off and on for years, and have started hanging out regularly this year. It was a great place to chat, hang out and have one too many for a work night. That being said, being good beer I woke up feeling okay, if I did oversleep. I wonder how many hangovers are due to people drinking crap beer from dirty taps rather than the amount that they drank. Anyway.
Percent was also a cool place. Small but with a nice atmosphere. 90's rock on non-stop was also a real plus for me (talk about flashbacks, anyone else remember Tonic and Natalie Imbruglia?). We stayed up chatting about the future of the company, life in Korea. Well that's life.
Jarrod is off early next week for home in Texas, the rest is still up in the air but it seems that he is spoiled for options, rather than lacking them. I am sure he will turn out fine and It'll be great to meet up again one day of that side of the Pacific rim, whenever that may be.
Jarrod is also the first of many friends to be leaving this year. Next comes Bobby in April.
Changing times ahead.
It was also the last chance I will likely have to see Jarrod before he heads back to the States on Wednesday. Jarrod and I have known each other off and on for years, and have started hanging out regularly this year. It was a great place to chat, hang out and have one too many for a work night. That being said, being good beer I woke up feeling okay, if I did oversleep. I wonder how many hangovers are due to people drinking crap beer from dirty taps rather than the amount that they drank. Anyway.
Percent was also a cool place. Small but with a nice atmosphere. 90's rock on non-stop was also a real plus for me (talk about flashbacks, anyone else remember Tonic and Natalie Imbruglia?). We stayed up chatting about the future of the company, life in Korea. Well that's life.
Jarrod is off early next week for home in Texas, the rest is still up in the air but it seems that he is spoiled for options, rather than lacking them. I am sure he will turn out fine and It'll be great to meet up again one day of that side of the Pacific rim, whenever that may be.
Jarrod is also the first of many friends to be leaving this year. Next comes Bobby in April.
Changing times ahead.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Shoulder Update
Well another trip out to Fatima Hospital, this time for my shoulder which I injured last October
Well good news is that it doesn't look like a ligament tear, which the doctor had feared it was. Instead I have what is known in layman's terms as frozen shoulder. Basically it comes from a deep tear in a muscle and as you heal your shoulder joints stiffen and the muscles cramp. The good news is that it will heal 100% and I shouldn't need an MRI or surgery (though I won't know 100% until February 26th when I go back). The bad news is that frozen shoulder can take over a year to properly heal.
The doctor was worried that my mobility was less than in October but said my pain was much less severe than in most cases, which is a good sign. He has me on a series of stretching exercises for now, so hopefully that will help.
Anyway, no $250 MRI bill is a real plus.
Well good news is that it doesn't look like a ligament tear, which the doctor had feared it was. Instead I have what is known in layman's terms as frozen shoulder. Basically it comes from a deep tear in a muscle and as you heal your shoulder joints stiffen and the muscles cramp. The good news is that it will heal 100% and I shouldn't need an MRI or surgery (though I won't know 100% until February 26th when I go back). The bad news is that frozen shoulder can take over a year to properly heal.
The doctor was worried that my mobility was less than in October but said my pain was much less severe than in most cases, which is a good sign. He has me on a series of stretching exercises for now, so hopefully that will help.
Anyway, no $250 MRI bill is a real plus.
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