Ok, back with the YOTW feature after a brief hiatus.  It’s going to be tough to top this video of some fine Korean models over at ROKdrop.  Well, I can’t top it, but let me introduce Ms. Yoon Sun Hee, a popular “racing” model…

Hot cars and fast women, what’s not to like?

She could be the girl next door.  Nah, I’ve actually seen the girl who lives next door….

See guys, she’s got an umbrella.  No need to wear a raincoat…  Yeah, that was bad.  Very bad…

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…everybody has one.

This guy speculates on what war would like should things take a worse turn here on the Korean peninsula.

A North Korean Attack: Though war would be catastrophic for both countries, South Korea would suffer the most in the first days of a full-scale conflict. Its capital of Seoul lies just 50 miles south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) — as big a misnomer as you will find, since the area is one of the most heavily militarized areas on the planet. On this de facto border, North Korea has amassed about 13,000 artillery pieces, rockets, missiles and other ordnance that can reach Seoul in a matter of minutes. Seoul, a city of 1 million, could be flattened; also at risk are the 28,500 American troops stationed in the country. Additionally, North Korea could release its dams and flood much of the South, writes Christopher Hitchens. There’s also its 1.2 million-member army to consider. And were North Korea to deploy nuclear and chemical weapons, the devastation would be much much worse.

Is he wrong?  Well, the fact that he says Seoul has a population of 1 million doesn’t inspire much confidence.  I have probably a million people living in my neighborhood (Seoul has well over 10 million citizens).  Now, Kim Jung-il could certainly rain some fire, death, and destruction down on our heads, but there ain’t no way he could flatten the city (unless his nukes are a lot bigger than what he’s tested thus far).

Still, it wouldn’t be pretty, that’s for sure.  It would also be an act of suicide for Mr. Kim and his regime.  I am of the opinion that Kim may be a maniac, but he’s not stupid.  The big wildcard in all of this will be where China comes down.  I haven’t seen many positive signs in that regard, but I can’t believe having the North initiate a war would be in China’s interests.  And the Chinese are cold, hard calculators who will likely protect their interests by prevailing on the North to back down.

But that’s just one navel gazer’s opinion…

UPDATE: Here’s another opinion perhaps more worthy of consideration.

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Yes, it is true.  I had a torrid love affair with South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley.

My evidence?  Well, I lived in South Carolina at one time.  And I’m a blogger.  And during my recent trip home I was invited to visit the Statehouse grounds to witness Sarah Palin’s endorsement of Ms. Haley (although due to jetlag I didn’t attend).  In fact, since Nikki Haley is not an insomniac, I can irrefutably assert that while I was in the Palmetto state, Nikki and I definitely slept together.

So, I would say my proof is at least as strong as the claims made by “douche bag” Will Folks.  Who, based on this account, is nothing but a man-slut anyway.

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“and they are not going to call me racist”.

I’m loving the fact that people like this are stepping up.  It gives me Hope for Change.

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So, as you may or may not have heard, tensions are rising to a seemingly fever pitch here on the Korean peninsula.  I don’t have any real insights into where this might go, although I obviously am hoping that the heated rhetoric doesn’t morph into artillery rounds raining down on my balding head.

The sinking of the Cheonan in South Korean waters was a bit more than the usual provocation we’ve come to expect from the idiots up North.  And the ROKs are blessed with an impressive leader in President Lee who isn’t going to let this act of war go unpunished.  But other than the sanctions and further isolation of Kim Jung Il and his cohorts, there’s nothing else short of war to be done.  And war would of course be disastrous.

So, Obama has told our military to be ready for any contingency.  Thanks for that advice Mr. President.  It’s kinda sorta what we do here on a daily basis anyway.

North Korea has responded by severing all ties to South.  An act akin to cutting the proverbial nose from your face.  Or more literally, biting the hand that feeds you.
So we shall see where this goes.  I’ve got 97 days left.  Here’s hoping I live that long.

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Take comfort in the fact that you are not this guy.

I think this video is from Holland and the guy sounds like he might be an American tourist.  Truth be told Holland made me do some stupid stuff too.  Although not that stupid.

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So, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my vacation photos had not in fact been lost when I put the memory card in my new camera…

Southbound from Virginia I received a hearty welcome from NC and a place to answer nature’s call.

I was rollin’ down the highway in this fine example of American steel–a retro Chrysler 300.

A fine ride indeed!

Although she did drink the fuel…thankfully Pedro was waiting for me just South of the Border in SC…

Picked my son up from work at the radio network and headed out for dinner in Columbia’s upscale Congaree (river) Vista neighborhood.

Granddaughter Gracyn kept me company at my parent’s house…

The next morning mom and dad and me and Gracie headed out to the ol’ Cracker Barrel for an American-style breakfast.

There’s a knack to doing one of those self portraits…one I obviously lack…

Kevin with the newest addition to the clan, Alexander.  Just turned one year old!

Proof that Kevin was born lucky–sweetheart Lauren…

Lauren, mom and Renee…

Nephew Joshua…

Me and the kids (proof that I’m lucky too!)

Lauren and Renee enjoying Sunday brunch at California Dreaming…

That’s a LG from Korea!

Ain’t he sweet?

I really enjoyed the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum at Dulles…

Ah, give me the days when airlines cared about service…and legroom!

The long trip across the Pacific makes you wish supersonic transport was still available…if not affordable.

That reminds me, I still need to post my photos from Pearl Harbor…

Blackbird singin’ in the dead of night…

The space shuttle Enterprise never left Earth’s atmosphere, but still impressive…

It was really great to see old friends Duke and Dave again and to throw some darts like old times.  Duke’s lovely wife Ji Young seems to have put on a little weight though…

In fact, I do believe she’s even bigger than me these days.  I understand she will be losing the weight in dramatic fashion next week…

Congrats to Duke and Ji Young on the impending birth of their daughter Kyla Kim.

Looking forward to their visit to Korea in August…

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I’m back in Korea after a long exhausting trip.  Physically and emotionally.

Back for the last 100 days of my life in the Land of the Morning Calm.  And my last hundred days as a working man.

Suffice to say it is all getting real.  Very real.  I don’t think I’m scared, but I’m definitely starting to freak out.

Ah well.  Time marches on.

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Actually, some refreshing honesty at Government Motors.

Were it only real.

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…but I have no pictures.

Sorry about the lack of posts.  I had several written in my head to go along with the photos I took en route and while I was in South Carolina with the family.  Then my camera crashed.  I bought a new one yesterday, but when I installed the memory card from the old camera it erased all my pictures.  I’m beyond irked about that and too irritated to put thoughts to pixels without the accompanying photos.

I will say I had a too short but wonderful visit with the folks, kids and grandkids.  Everyone seems to be doing as well as can be expected.  There seems to be a theme to this trip but I’m going to let those thoughts perculate a little more before I try to articulate them.

Back in NoVA now.  Threw some darts last night with Duke and Dave New.  Always great to see old friends from Korea  adapting well to their new environs.

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It is inevitable that the pursuit of new dreams requires letting old dreams go.  I’ve come to realize that does not come without a price. 

 

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So, I have completed the official business portion of my trip.  Nothing worthy of note took place at the meetings.  In fact, it occurred to me as I sat through what will be my last gathering of this type just how little things had changed in 30 years of this type meeting.  The same tired issues, the same failed solutions, the same talking heads with all the answers.  Government in action.

Highlight of the week was that the last day was held inside the Pentagon.  That was a first for me and I’m glad I got to experience it.  Quite the building.

And to be completely honest, notwithstanding the pointlessness of most government meetings, with each new “last” I feel an odd sense of loss and sadness.  It is what I have known and done these many years.  Feels almost like losing an old friend somehow.

15/May/2010

09/May/2010

08/May/2010