Comments Posted By Kevin Kim
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It’s called Te Araroa.
Hope this doesn’t get caught in your spam filter.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 21/July/2020 @ 8:42 pm
The world keeps on a-turnin’.
The turds keep on a-turdin’.
The girls keep on a-flirtin’.
And the heart keeps on… a-fartin’.(Yew thawt ah wuz gunna say “a-hurtin’,” didn’tcha’?)
Sorry to hear about the retrograde bar situation. Have faith that the ship will right itself eventually.
Respect to your mom and her sacred memory.
I started watching a bunch of short videos about hiking in New Zealand. That’s some badass terrain. I’d love to do the end-to-end national trail (you have to catch a boat between North and South Island), but everything over there looks daunting.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 21/July/2020 @ 6:50 pm
At least you’ve got loyal dogs and loyal fans. None of whom will have sex with you, of course, but still a comfort to the soul.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 20/July/2020 @ 2:22 pm
A very nice walk, indeed. Is it still the rainy season over there?
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 19/July/2020 @ 5:52 pm
Your charitable efforts are well-intended, without a doubt, but if you match those efforts up against the “fish” proverb (“Give a man a fish, and you’ve fed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you’ve fed him for life”), you can see how your kind gestures might end up turning sour. Rule #1: don’t a be sucker when women come a-pleading.
What if you gave of your time and effort in other ways? I don’t know what there is to do, charity-wise, in the Philippines. I’d recommend becoming an English teacher, but that’s just my Korean bias showing: Filipinos already speak some degree of English, so the EFL market is probably pretty small. Can you get involved in helping to build new houses? Could you volunteer to teach business- or personnel- or management-related courses at local colleges? I’m sure the local schools would be delighted to have someone knowledgeable on their side, doing pro bono work. (Or, if you hate working for free, maybe you could negotiate a modest under-the-table salary for your efforts.)
The point is to help people in a way that’s immediately tangible and not easily corruptible by all the shysters out there. Poverty gives rise to pity among those with means, but poverty also breeds malicious cleverness among the poor, which is, alas, a good fit for generous ignorance. You don’t want to get caught up in that vortex.
I’ll confess something: I have this romantic fantasy that involves going around Korea with a trusty axe and volunteering to spend a whole weekend somewhere in the boonies, just chopping wood. (One of the few things I can be thankful to my dad for is teaching me how to chop wood.) I have no idea how to go about realizing this fantasy, but maybe I’ll start asking around. You know—put my money where my mouth is so that I’m not merely dispensing advice that I myself am unwilling to take.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 18/July/2020 @ 6:02 pm
Sweet “lola” wins the Prominent Forehead Prize! Is there room in that noggin to store extra candy?
Continued good luck with your recuperation!
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 18/July/2020 @ 2:06 am
Does your choice of song reflect certain unspoken fears or something? Yikes.
Anyway, get well soon. I agree: if there’s no fever, and your cough isn’t dry, then it’s almost certainly not COVID-19. Dry cough and fever are the two biggest symptoms. That said, it’s annoying to have difficulty breathing when you’re trying to sleep. How do you say “strong expectorant” in Tagalog? Meanwhile, taking a hot, steaming shower for thirty minutes can help loosen anything that might be deep in the lungs. Try it: you might end up coughing up all sorts of nasty green chunks into your shower’s drain.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 16/July/2020 @ 5:52 pm
Aside from that gaffe, it was a fun article, although the conclusion was rather abrupt.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 16/July/2020 @ 9:45 am
A comma after “minutes,” indeed. Here’s an analysis so this doesn’t feel like a guess.
The quoted text shows that Schulz wrote three clauses and strung them together with commas as if they were list items. Normally, you’d separate independent clauses with comma-conjunctions or semicolons, but stringing together three clauses like this is possible: it’s a form of tricolon, in which three grammatically similar items are listed in a series. “Of the people, by the people, [and] for the people” is a tricolon, and so is the three-clause string “I came, I saw, I conquered.” So, what are Schulz’s three clauses?
1. It’s 1a.m, …
2. …you’ve got…
3. …you’ve been deliberating…Schulz put in just enough commas to separate those clauses, but her third clause also has the introductory phrase “for the last twenty minutes.” There needs to be a comma after “minutes.” To see why this is so, lift the third clause out of Schulz’s long sentence and treat it as its own sentence:
For the last twenty minutes[,] you’ve been deliberating about the use of a semicolon versus a period in a single sentence.”
Et voilà. Obvious. If you’re British, though, you might disagree because, these days, the Brits hate commas and revel in making comma-related errors by leaving commas out when they need to be put in.
Schulz remarked that George Lucas ought to have added a comma to his famous introduction:
A long time ago[,] in a galaxy far, far away…
That’s the comma she meant: a comma that sets off the introductory phrase “A long time ago.” So that’s how I know that Schulz knows you’re supposed to use a comma to set off introductory words and phrases. She focused explicitly on that point, but only after having made George Lucas’s mistake herself. Naughty, naughty!
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 16/July/2020 @ 9:41 am
Kathryn Schulz (from that punctuation article) writes in the very first paragraph of her essay:
“It’s 1 a.m., you’ve got a 5,000-word piece due the next day, and for the last twenty minutes you’ve been deliberating about the use of a semicolon versus a period in a single sentence.”
Oh, Kathryn, Kathryn, Kathryn. You’re missing a comma, my dear. And now, I’m going to sic my top student, John McCrarey, on you. He’ll figure out where to insert that comma… right before he tears you a new asshole.
Remark: interestingly, Schulz later writes, regarding the Star Wars opening crawl and its famous ellipsis: “…and which I admire even while wishing George Lucas had seen fit to include one more comma.” So she’s aware that commas set off introductory words and phrases. (That’s a hint re: where to find Schulz’s error, my friend.)
OK, Jedi John—have at it!
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 15/July/2020 @ 10:36 pm
“I know that last time I ranted about one of Günter’s trails I said ‘never again!’ And this time I really, really mean it.”
When, oh when, will Current John learn to listen to the wisdom of Past John? Pretty much all of your existential questions about life and love have already been answered, I’d say, and you have a blogful of wisdom to consult. Heh.
About that “enjoy the beach views” picture… I’m paranoid now. Is that a lady? Can we be sure? Or is it that, when you’re in Southeast Asia, you just let go and admire anything that looks pretty, whatever the actual reality may be?
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 14/July/2020 @ 7:43 pm
re: “I Started a Joke”
The song’s history is as sad as the song’s tone. See here.
From Wikipedia:
Barry laughed, “There was a lot of psychedelia [in the late 60s,] and the idea [was] that[,] if you wrote something, even if it sounded ridiculous, somebody would find the meaning for it, and that was the truth.” Robin Gibb told The Mail on Sunday on 1 November 2009 about “I Started a Joke”: “This is a very spiritual song. The listeners have to interpret it themselves[;] trying to explain it would detract from the song”.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 12/July/2020 @ 8:11 pm
No video of you and your singing? Well… maybe the world just isn’t ready for that yet.
I saw that Harry Potter meme a while back. Hilarious!
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 12/July/2020 @ 1:37 pm
There’s a Taoist maxim hidden somewhere in that story:
“Problems are not always located where you initially think they are. Sometimes, fixing your air conditioner is as easy as closing your window.”
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 11/July/2020 @ 6:57 pm
Well, since you’re an eternal optimist like Sam Axe in “Burn Notice,” I imagine there are other fish in the sea.
The climb looks to have been harsh. I would’ve hated it. On the bright side, with all the watering holes opening back up, life seems to be returning to your locale.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 10/July/2020 @ 8:53 pm
John,
Well, as I’ve contended, 95% of your punctuation-related problems would be resolved if you read and mastered Parts 1 and 2 of my “Commas” series. If a subordinate clause comes first (as in this very sentence), use a comma to separate it from the main clause. E.g.:
If you do that again, I’ll kill you. (comma; sub. clause first)
I’ll kill you if you do that again. (no comma; sub. clause second)» Posted By Kevin Kim On 09/July/2020 @ 6:12 pm
“And when you are surrounded by nature’s beauty whilst out walking[,] are you ever really alone?”
Words of wisdom. Colin Fletcher would approve.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 08/July/2020 @ 7:01 pm
A most capital day! Sincere congratulations. Joining the Hash House Harriers is easily one of the best things you’ve done for yourself since moving to the Philippines. Your fellow Hashers motivate you to constantly better yourself, and the duty of Hare-ing keeps you in the mindset of always looking for something new and inventive. Hats off and much respect. No stagnation!
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 07/July/2020 @ 4:19 pm
It won’t be easy, you’ll think it strange
When I try to explain how I feel
That I still need your beer after all that I’ve drunk
You won’t believe me
All you will see is a dude you once knew
Although he’s sauced up to the gills
And puking and pissing on you
I had to let it happen; I had to change
Couldn’t stay all my life here at home
Looking out of the window, staying out of the sun
So I chose freedom
Running around, trying San Miguel’s brew
But nothing impressed me at all
I never expected it to
Don’t cry for me, Filipinas—
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don’t keep your distance» Posted By Kevin Kim On 06/July/2020 @ 6:22 pm
Your post’s title reminds me of the musical “Evita.”
(True: in the above clip, Madonna sings, “Don’t keep your distance.”)
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 06/July/2020 @ 2:24 pm
Ain’t nuthin’ wrong with pre-packaged meatballs. All that matters is whether they taste good. If you buy another package of them, though, maybe try experimenting by making Swedish meatballs or meatballs in sweet sauce (I don’t know the proper name for these). My mom used to do the latter; I think she incorporated grape jelly into her sweet sauce, and those things were addictive. I’ve never tried making them on my own, but maybe one day…
For what it’s worth, making meatballs involves no more work than rolling up some bits of ground meat (for Italian-style meatballs, that normally means a combo of beef, pork, and veal, but straight beef is fine), then you either brown the meatballs or put them straight into your red sauce and let them simmer until cooked through. If you’re simmering a couple of hours, well, that’s dedication! Seriously, though, they’re no big deal to make. You could even invite some cute little ladies over to help you with the task if you ever decide to have a meatball-themed festival.
I’d recommend searing the meatballs first before putting them into your red sauce, even if you’re using pre-packaged meatballs. The outer sear adds a good bit of flavor to the final product.
We’ll make a chef outta you yet!
» Posted By Kevin kim On 06/July/2020 @ 5:34 pm
I pronounce myself curious to know more about those meatballs! I normally don’t do meatballs when I make spaghetti, but my boss is obsessed with them, so I had no choice but to make them for our luncheon.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 05/July/2020 @ 6:09 pm
A single missed turn can completely alter your day. Happy Fourth!
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 04/July/2020 @ 9:52 pm
Think of the slow return of business as a woman’s legs opening wider… ever wider…
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 03/July/2020 @ 8:09 pm
(Maybe try this link instead. It’s a more modern translation that uses the word “love” instead of “charity.”)
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 02/July/2020 @ 5:49 pm
Spreading love and joy wherever he goes, it’s Santa Mac! (Better than Satan Mac, eh?)
As for “Faith” and “Love,” look up 1 Corinthians 13.
Could be a Catholic thing.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 02/July/2020 @ 5:47 pm
Sounds as if the date went about as well as could be expected. If she doesn’t shave her legs, well… maybe think of it as if you’re dating a hairy-footed hobbit. Heh. At least you’ve concluded that she’s into you.
Beautiful pics of the trail, but no pics of any food? (Or would taking food pics during a date be considered gauche?)
Continued good luck as you figure things out.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 01/July/2020 @ 8:17 pm
May your date go well.
And I wouldn’t let anyone nicknamed Buddy Fucker anywhere near your beloved dog.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 30/June/2020 @ 3:06 pm
Any chance of a family reunion for Buddy?
Good luck with the upcoming maybe-date.
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 29/June/2020 @ 3:30 pm
«« Back To Stats PageAll the meal pics look great, and the trail, while flat, looks interesting and entertaining, although I have to wonder whether Anne will ever be invited back for a walk!
Buddy sure is one lucky son of a bitch. A very happy second anniversary to him (and to you)!
The toughness of your steaks seems to be a recurrent theme in your blog posts. Go to YouTube and type “how to cook a tough steak” for all sorts of tips and tricks. Here’s one quick video, and while you’re on YouTube, look out for the “poor man’s filet mignon” video(s).
» Posted By Kevin Kim On 28/June/2020 @ 8:24 pm