So, the Norks launched their missle today. Big deal. The best reaction to an attention seeker like Kim, Jong Il is no reaction.
What a punk.
UPDATE: For a more serious and comprehensive take on the missle launch, check out this post from ROK Drop. Also, commenter Frank has a good suggestion for keeping Mr. Kim otherwise occupied–send him a box of DVDs from the wrong zone. Heh.
Ok, I confess to really liking most Korean movies. Yes, they tend to be very melodramatic, sacharine sweet, corny, and predictable. What’s not to like?
My Sassy Girl is an older film that I discovered through a clip posted on the blog On My Way to Korea. I liked that clip so much I stole it and posted it here. Commenter Jason saw the clip I posted, liked it as well, and now threatens to post it on his blog. Ain’t the internet great?
Anyway, that clip whetted my appetite for more and I was pleased to discover the entire movie can be viewed on YouTube in ten minute chunks. I have now viewed the entire movie and declare it hilarious. Yeah, it gets a bit sappy in places, but some of the scenes had me laughing out loud. I don’t think you can understand a culture through movies (I shudder to imagine how people would judge America based on the Hollywood view of things), but at least through film I feel a gain a greater appreciation for this country I call home.
So, I invite and recommend you to enjoy this sweet movie. I’m even going to make it easy for you by posting links to each clip. So, pop some corn, relax, take your shoes off, sit a spell, and indulge yourself in the pleasure of watching this fine film. You’ll be glad you did.
Now, wasn’t that fun?
I competed in the Seoul International Dart League midseason doubles tournament yesterday. It was a mixed A-B Division format, meaning the top ranked A player was matched with the lowest ranked B player and so on throughout the players registered for the competition. I think this works well, because you avoid having the top players in each division teamed up which sometimes occurs in the blind draw format. Yesterday we had a good balance on the teams which made for a highly competitive tournament.
I went in ranked #7 in A division and was matched with Podge who is currently #11 in B division. I hadn’t really seen Podge throw that much, but I felt we had a tough job ahead of us as there were some real strong players teamed up, including several A-A combinations. Of course, rankings don’t count for anything, it’s all about throwing good darts consistently. And for the most part, that’s what we did.
I was quite impressed with Podge, and he actually carried me pretty much in our first match. I picked it up after that, and we really started to roll. In the semi-finals of the winner’s bracket we faced off with Craig and Grant. It came down to the third leg, and we were up in the cricket leg. Then I made a strategic error, opting to close a number instead of throwing for points. Craig punished my stupidity by throwing a 5 mark and snatched the win.
Podge and I fought back through the loser’s bracket and faced Craig and Grant again in the Championship game. Unfortunately, I was out of gas by then, and they promptly dispatched us 2-0. Ah well, it was a great day and I’m not hanging my head over a second place finish. Splitting the W210,000 prize money was also pretty sweet.
It was also a good day for the Blue Bulls (my team in league play). Teammate Craig took first, I got a second, and Scott and Ali took third. I spent a good part of my winnings on my bar tab as we were all in a celebratory mood after a hard days work darting.
Another fine day in my sporting life. Heh, rumor has it that darts will be included in the 2012 London Olympic Games. If so, I guess that would make me officially an athlete. Imagine that! Of course, I also lift weights. 12 ounces at a time. Too bad beer drinking isn’t a sport, eh?
This is my weekly routine:
I work 8-5 M-F each week, but this is Saturday and I am not inclined to talk about work. Ok?
Monday night is dart league.
Tuesday I recover from dart league beer drinking.
Wednesday I practice darts for a couple of hours, then head over to Don Valley, my favorite Korean restuarant in Itaewon, for samgyapsal. Yum!
Thursday I stay home and will usually cook. This week it was galbi, American style. That would be Memphis (Corky’s) bar-b-que pork ribs. Cooked on the grill the way God intended.
Friday is the Dolce Vita Dart tournament. Always fun. Last night I managed a second place with my partner COL Dan and had the high out as well. That was good for W16,000.
Saturday is a wild card. I do my grocery shopping for the week, surf the net, blog, and play CIV IV. Saturday night? Depends on the mood. I’ll usually take a break from Dolce, and change the pace by visiting Manila bar for some San Miguel on tap. When I’m feeling bago payo, I’ll hit Don Valley for some bulgogi. Then depending on my mood level of intoxication and who I’ve encountered out and about, I like to do the norebang thing. I can’t sing a lick, but that never stops me. Tonight I will be playing in the Seoul International Dart League mid-season doubles tourney at Bless U Pub. It starts at 4, so that foretells an early evening. My capacity for beer drinking generally maxes out at 4 hours or so. And as everyone knows, darts is just a socially acceptable excuse to drink beer, right?
Sunday I do whatever I feel like, and don’t do whatever I don’t want to do. It’s my lazy day (heh, more lazy than normal). I don’t shave, sometimes cook, usually spend hours on the internet or playing CIV IV (I am bit obsessed with the game). If I get too bored I’ll venture out to Dolce Vita and chuck some darts.
So, as you can see I like living life on the edge. It’s a thrill a minute, let me tell you.
I say all of the above as a long winded prelude to my sharing this week’s movies. As my regular reader(s) know, I recently purchased a giant flat screen TV and blu-ray DVD player. And signed up for a subscription to Netflix.
The way Netflix works for those that don’t know is you pay a monthly fee and have movies mailed to your home address. This works for me because I have an APO (Army post office) address, which is serviced by the good ol’ U.S. Mail. Given the turnaround time, I can usually watch 3 movies a week through Netflix. I tend to watch movies on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday nights. I supplement Netflix by buying movies on the street in Itaewon. And yes, I am sure these are legitmate because they have the F.B.I. warning on them, and I know Korea would not tolerate anything as illicit as bootlegging DVDs. That is wrong and tantamount to stealing afterall. Just say NO! Alright then, now that we are clear on that, here’s what I watched this week (no spoilers):
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. A very interesting film starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. Based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Which I haven’t read. The film was technically well made, and the special effects were impressive. I enjoyed the story because it was different and thought provoking. The whole concept of living your life is reverse chronology is quite mind bending. Pitt turned in a fine performance as Mr. Button. My only real complaint is the movie is a tad long at 3 hours, but for the most part I was sufficiently entertained to make the time investment worthwhile. Using the LTG unpatented rating scale (1=sucks, 5=excellent) I give this flick a solid 4.
Valkyrie. This film tells the true story (Wikipedia says it was for the most part historically accurate) of German Col Von Stauffenberg’s failed attempt to assianate Hitler in 1944. Tom Cruise plays Stauffenberg, and although I’m no fan of Cruise, he did a nice job in this movie. I’m a bit of a history buff (which is to say I have an interest in history, but I don’t really know sh*t about it), and the WWII genre is something that always catches my interest. I didn’t have great expectations, but I enjoyed the Dickens out of this movie (sorry, I’m a slave to puns). The what ifs of history are always intriguing, and the Valkyrie plotters came surprising close to pulling this coup off. Of course, Hitler was dead in 9 months anyway, but perhaps an early end to the war would have changed the world as we know it today. Or maybe not. Anyway, if you have any interest in one of the lesser known events of WWII, I think you will find this movie satisfying. I give it a hearty 3.
Yes Man. Typical Jim Carrey fare. A bit of a farce, but still mildly entertaining. I like Jim Carrey in his more serious dramatic performances (i.e. e.g. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and this movie was full of the face gags and physical comedy for which Carrey is more well-known. There were a few laughs along the way, but in the end I guess I was feeling like I could have better spent those 2 hours (like playing CIV IV). I’ll be charitable and give it a rating of 2.
Ok friends, that’s this weeks view from the couch. Keep on Truckin’!
UPDATE: Corrected the i.e. to the proper e.g. as pointed out by a commenter. I think I use to know the difference in some forgotten past, and I appreciate the reminder. I also know my spelling is atrocious. I have been ruined by a combination of Bill Gates’ squiggly underlines (unavailable here) and my utter laziness when it comes to actually looking a word up…
Here’s a commercial from Great Britain you won’t want to miss. I promise.
Although in my case, it is costing. Not much and I did it pretty much on a lark. Yes, today I purchased some Google Ads. Another effort in my struggle to recover from the theft of my domain. I’ve not seen any of the ads, but they should be appearing randomly throughout the K-blogosphere. I just checked the Google Ad stats and one person actually clicked on an ad. Set me back 66 cents. Sir or Madam, I hope it was as good for you as it was for me.
Anyway, I only pay when I get a hit and my total budget is fifty bucks. I’ll be amazed if I get enough hits to max that out, but you never know.
So, if you came here through an ad and are wondering what Long Time Gone is all about, well, you tell me. This blog is a virtual cornacopia of potporri. Which is another way of saying it is about everything and nothing at all. I write what I feel like writing whenever I feel like writing about what I’m feeling, doing, feel like doing, or wishing I was doing. And sometimes I write nothing at all. I ain’t much on grammar nor spelling, but I take no offense at criticism in that regard neither. Feedback is a gift, so feel free to spill your guts in the comment section.
Like me, this here blog is a work in progress. Stop by anytime you like and see what’s up. Expect to be disappointed and perhaps occasionally pleasantly surprised. As Stephen Stills opined: “It’s no matter, no distance–it’s the ride.” Whatever that means…
And now it’s time to say goodbye from here at Long Time Gone
And I would like to thank you folks for kindly loggin’ on
You’re all invited back again to this locality
To have a heapin’ helpin’ of my hospitality…
Y’all come back now, hear?
(with apologies to the Beverly Hillbillies)
More hope and change from The One:
“Don’t think we’re not keeping score, brother.” That’s what President Barack Obama said to Rep. Peter DeFazio in a closed-door meeting of the House Democratic Caucus last week, according to the Associated Press.
A few weeks ago, Mr. DeFazio voted against the administration’s stimulus bill. The comment from Mr. Obama was a presidential rebuke and part of a new, hard-nosed push by the White House to pressure Congress to adopt the president’s budget. He has mobilized outside groups and enlisted forces still in place from the Obama campaign.
Its targets were initially Republicans, as team Obama ran ads depicting the GOP as the “party of no.” But now the fire is being trained on Democrats worried about runaway spending.
Americans United is going after Democrats who are skeptical of Mr. Obama’s plans to double the national debt in five years and nearly triple it in 10. The White House is taking aim at lawmakers in 12 states, including Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad, Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor. MoveOn.Org is running ads aimed at 10 moderate Senate and House Democrats. And robocalls are urging voters in key districts to pressure their congressman to get in line.
Support continues to decline for the proposition that a big boost in government spending will lead America to prosperity. A NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll early last month found that 61% of Americans were concerned that “the federal government will spend too much money” (up 12 points from December), and only 29% were concerned “it will spend too little money to try to boost the economy.”
This growing skepticism will not be assuaged by White House Budget Director Peter Orszag’s bewildering response when asked by a reporter last week about increasing federal debt. He said, “I don’t know what spiraling debt you’re referring to.”Members of Congress should also worry about how Mr. Obama is “keeping score.” He is steeped in the ways of Chicago politics and has not forgotten his training in the methods once used by Saul Alinsky, the radical Chicago community organizer.
Alinsky’s 1971 book, “Rules for Radicals,” is a favorite of the Obamas. Michele Obama quoted it at the Democratic Convention. One Alinsky tactic is to “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” That’s what the White House did in targeting Rush Limbaugh, Rick Santelli and Jim Cramer. (The president’s press secretary, Robert Gibbs, went so far as to lash all three from the White House press podium.) It may also explain Mr. Obama’s comments to Mr. DeFazio.
After all, Alinsky’s first rule of “power tactics” is “power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have.” Team Obama wants to remind its adversaries it has plenty of power, and it does. The question is whether the White House will wield it responsibly. The jury is still out, but certain clues are beginning to emerge. “Don’t think we’re not keeping score, brother,” even if said with a wink and a smile, isn’t quite the “new politics” we were told to expect.
To further enjoy the irony (or perhaps more aptly, hypocrisy) here’s the ad MoveOn.org ran about the comparitively small deficits under Bush (updated to reflect the pending disaster Obama is creating):
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Let me apologize now to my sweet granddaughter Gracyn. The country went temporarily (I hope) insane. Sorry you have to pay for that madness.