Friday night darts

Played in the Dolce tourney last night and actually had fun.  I guess throwing half way decent contributed to my joy.  That and winning (a first and a second place finish).

On the long plane ride back from Hawaii I decided it was time to get back to basics and try to relearn all that I’ve apparently forgotten about the game.  Actually, I am committed to going out and practicing again on a regular basis.  That and pull my head out of my ass and start throwing with some confidence.  Although the two might be related.

I’m hoping to rejoin Take it Easy for the upcoming season.  Kind of back to the future as that is where it all began for me.  And since my time in Korea is rapidly drawing to a close, it makes sense for things to end with Take it Easy.  I’ve always been fond of the symmetry of bookends.

How could this be?

This can’t be right, can it?  I mean, that would mean everything the Dems said about Obamacare was a lie.

Say it ain’t so, O.

President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul law will increase the nation’s health care tab instead of bringing costs down, government economic forecasters concluded Thursday in a sobering assessment of the sweeping legislation.

And there is also this:

In particular, concerns about Medicare could become a major political liability in the midterm elections. The report projected that Medicare cuts could drive about 15 percent of hospitals and other institutional providers into the red, “possibly jeopardizing access” to care for seniors.

Hmm, “jeopardizing access” = rationing = death panels.

Someone owes Sarah Palin an apology.

Yoja of the week

Back from vacation and time to renew the feature that at least one reader missed.  I proudly present the Yoja of the Week, Ms. Park Jung-Ah.

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What’s not to like?

And especially for my Canadian readers here she is playing hockey and singing! (not at the same time.  and probably only pretending to play hockey. but then, I wouldn’t know the difference.  hockey wasn’t that big when I was growing up in Southern Cal…)

There is just something wrong with the lyrics that go with this video.  I mean, I don’t even see a cat.

But the girl can dance

Diamond Head

Saturday morning is was up and at ’em for another Echotour, this time a hike to the top of Diamond Head.

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As might be expected, we began our trek on the floor of the crater.  What struck me was how arid this location was.  The day before maybe 10 miles away I had been hiking through tropical terrain.

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Did I mention this was a pretty popular tour?

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Maybe you can make out the early 20th century fortifications.  These were designed to protect the Oahu from a southern seaborne attack…

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A vista

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You can see the walls of the volcano cone, right?

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Winding the way up to the mountain top…

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Looking out at the wide Pacific…

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An operational lighthouse keeps the ships off the shallow reefs surrounding Oahu.

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Looking westward…

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Waikiki from the summit of Diamond Head.

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A closer look at the old defenses…

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“Yo, the attack will come from over there…and it won’t be by ship!”  Advice comes easy with 20-20 hindsight…

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This fire control operations center is built 3 stories into the mountain.  It didn’t help much on that day of infamy, but still quite impressive.  The ol’ Walrus had a heck of time crawling in and out of the damn thing though…

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Headin’ back down the mountain.  Watch your step!

Alright, tomorrow we are gonna get out of town and journey around the island of Oahu.  See you then!

Manoa falls

Ok, so I managed to catch a cold somewhere along the journey, but what are you going to do?  I signed up for some half day tours that involved hiking just to keep the exercise regimen going while on holiday.  This enabled me to take some great naps in the afternoon, which after all is part of the vacation experience as well, don’t ya think?

So Friday morning I took the “Manoa Waterfall Hiking Adventure” through an outfit called Echotour.  On the way out to the trailhead, we drove past President Obama’s high school and the tour guide said he had been a classmate of Barack’s.   He said they didn’t really run in the same circles and he was a year ahead of the Prez in school.  He told a story about how during one class assembly some guy sitting behind Obama was throwing pieces of paper in the future president’s Afro.  I thought how things hadn’t changed much except now it was two bit dictators and despots from around the world bullying the world’s geeky nerd.  Ah well.  On with the hike:

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So, we parked in this foothill neighborhood to begin the hike.  According to our guide, one of these modest houses could be purchased for $700,000 or so, but they rarely came on the market.

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Soon enough we were into the woods, a moist rain forest like environment.  I don’t recall the name of these trees, but they were soft to the touch, almost sponge like.  Also,  we were warned that the tree could not support the branches and a gust of wind would snap them off like twigs.  Although there was evidence of limb failure along the trail we luckily did not witness any first hand.

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You know, things always look cooler in real life than they do in the photograph.  At least that’s true when I’m holding the camera.  This was a natural bowl within the trunk of a tree retaining water from a recent rainfall.  Although it doesn’t look too tasty, I’m sure in a pinch it would suffice.  But then, we were hiking along side a babbling brook so I guess dying of thirst wasn’t much of a risk anyway.  Never mind.

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Yours truly taking a break beside a stand of wild bamboo…

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Look up there in the distance, can you see it?  Yes sir, I do believe that is our destination!

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Manoa falls in all her glory.  Ok, so it isn’t exactly Niagara.  Or Yosemite.  But it is water.  And the water is falling.  So, technically speaking you have received what was advertised, right?

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So, what we have here is what I call the “upper falls”…

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Which inevitably winds up in the lower falls and pool.  It was sorta pretty although I mighta been a tad disappointed.

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Wanting to get my money’s worth I claw my way to very end of the trail.

And so ended my Manoa falls adventure.

Tomorrow I will bring you the harrowing tale of my hike to the very top of the famous Diamond Head crater.  Stay tuned!

Hale Koa

Hale Koa in the Hawaiian language means Warrior House.  That was the name of hotel where I stayed during my just completed visit to the island of Oahu.  Since the Hale Koa is an Army MWR (morale welfare and recreation) property, I suppose you could say it was aptly named.  Although nice place to stay works equally well, but I guess that is a pretty lame name.  Unless it translates to something cool sounding in Hawaiian.  Here, see for yourself:

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I paid extra for the ocean view room, and this was the view of the ocean from my balcony.

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From another angle I could also see the hotel sprawl that is what makes Waikiki Waikiki.

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This pigeon was enjoying the view from my balcony every morning I was there.  I don’t expect he paid extra though.

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This big old Banyan tree was a dominant feature in the courtyard.

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And the coconut trees were nice as well.

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As far as that goes, the entire property was pretty nicely landscaped.

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The Hale Koa also features a big open air lobby, in the Balinese style…

All in all, not a bad hotel to spend a few days at a decent price (although you have to be military or a DoD civilian to partake).

Back from America’s Cheju-do

Yes, I have returned safely from my adventures in Hawaii, aka America’s Cheju-do.

The weather was cloudy and cool most of the time.  And I was also sick for most of the trip.  But other than that I enjoyed my first visit to the 50th state.  Well, technically, I saw only one of the eight islands, Oahu.  But it was quite beautiful.  I especially enjoyed the parts that did not include Waikiki.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

Ah, Springtime in Korea!  Really the best of the famed 4 seasons of Korea.  Perhaps this year feels all the sweeter with the knowledge that this is my last spring here.  Bittersweet is probably more accurate.

Anyway, these pics were taken outside my office.  Literally.  Not the best possible location for photography, but it will suffice.  Actually, the blossoms will probably peak in a couple of days, so these shots are a bit premature. 

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Magnolia flowers starting to open…

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A cherry tree with the Korean War Memorial building in the background…

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A Yongsan Garrison street scene…

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During the occupation, this was a Japanese military base.  Rumor has it they planted these cherry trees.  I don’t know if that is true or not and I guess it doesn’t matter either.

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They sure are purdy though, don’t ya think?

Like riding a bike

One of the nicest things about living in the D.C. area was the bicycle trails along the Potomac river.  Well, we’ve got ’em in Seoul too.  Not as scenic, but pleasant enough in an urban kind of way.

Anyway, seeing as how I’m working on living a healthier lifestyle and given the fact that I’m growing bored with my “walks” on the treadmill, I decided to reintroduce myself to the joys of bicycling.  It’s been probably ten years since I last rode, but it’s something you don’t forget, er, like riding a bike.  Sunday morning was a fine day in the Land of the Morning Calm, so I hit the trail…

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So, I purchased this fine bicycle on base for $422.  You might notice the bike rack on my car behind me.  I barely have the courage to drive on the streets of Seoul, ain’t no way I’m riding a bike on the road.  But once you get to the riverside, it’s all cool.

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Jee Yuen came along on her tiny one speed bike.  The lack of gears meant she had to work a hell of a lot harder than I did.  She was whupped pretty good after a 3 hour ride…

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Signs of Spring were in evidence as the Gaenalee (Forsythia) was in full blossom…

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…and leaves were sprouting on the trees.

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Across the river is the National Assembly Building.  The cherry blossoms weren’t in evidence yet, but any day now the streets of Yeouido will be lined in pink…

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Hey, it beats competing with buses and taxis.

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The church on a rock.  Heh, maybe it’s St. Peter’s…

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A river crossing…

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Sunday morning soccer…

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Archers.

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Taking time to smell the flowers…

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…and watching the horses graze.

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Lunchee in a bag.  Dried squid. Yum!

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A rest stop along the bike road…

And actually, this is where I leave you for now.

Yoja of the Week

This week our yoja has a Gamecock connection, tenuous though it may be.  More on that later.

Allow me to present Korean model Hwang Mi Hee for your consideration.

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You usually see her at motor shows, but this horsepower ain’t bad either…

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And I’ve got a little YouTube action going if you want to see more of Ms. Hwang.

So, the Gamecock connection I mentioned comes from this fansite, which had the photo of Ms Hwang above.

And this, which is pretty funny:

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Getting it wrong exactly…

You absolutely cannot make this stuff up:

The federal stimulus act has performed “exactly” as the Obama administration expected it to, Council of Economic Advisers Chairwoman Christina Romer said Sunday.

Ok then, let’s hop into the WABAC machine  for a reminder of what the Obama administration promised us:

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I’m gonna give Romer the benefit of the doubt here and agree that the stimulus produced exactly the result expected.   Which would be this:

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A Goy and his Blog deems this “fiscal suicide by Democrat”.  As apt as it is sad I’m afraid.

Party On!

I guess this goes in the category of a broken clock being right twice a day.  CNN offers a first hand account of a reporter embedded with The Tea Party Express.   

When it comes to the Tea Party movement, the stereotypes don’t tell the whole story.

Here’s what you often see in the coverage of Tea Party rallies: offensive posters blasting President Obama and Democratic leaders; racist rhetoric spewed from what seems to be a largely white, male audience; and angry protesters rallying around the Constitution.

But here’s what you don’t often see in the coverage of Tea Party rallies: Patriotic signs professing a love for country; mothers and fathers with their children; African-Americans proudly participating; and senior citizens bopping to a hip-hop rapper.

Last week, I saw all of this during a five-city Western swing as the Tea Party Express national tour made its way across the country. CNN was along for the ride, and I was charged with planning CNN’s coverage for five stops in two states: St. George, Provo and Salt Lake City, Utah; and Grand Junction and Denver, Colorado.

Together, we beamed out images of the anger and the optimism, profiled African-Americans who are proud to be in the Tea Party’s minority and showed activists stirred by “God Bless America” or amused by a young rapper who strung together rhymes against the president and Democrats.

The CNN Express traveled with the Tea Party Express buses for hundreds of miles, from rally to rally to rally.

Being at a Tea Party rally is not quite like seeing it on TV, in newspapers or online. That’s the reason CNN is covering this political movement — and doing so in ways few others can or choose to do.

It is important to show the colorful anger Americans might have against elected leaders and Washington. But people should also see the orange-vested Tea Party hospitality handlers who welcome you with colorful smiles.

There were a few signs that could be seen as offensive to African-Americans. But by and large, no one I spoke with or I heard from on stage said anything that was approaching racist.

Almost everyone I met was welcoming to this African-American television news producer.

And though speakers railed against the “lame-stream media,” activists and their leaders praised CNN, especially for being the only national media outlet riding along for the post-weekend stops. Some of them e-mailed me after my trip, thanking our crew for fairly giving them a voice.

Meanwhile, in another universe:

On March 20, there was an “anti-war” demonstration in Lafayette Square Park, across the street from the White House. AIM went there to see what sort of activity was occurring, and as we show in this video, which was all shot at the scene of the demonstration, it was a mix of 9/11 Truthers, Code Pinkers, socialists, anarchists, and a large contingency of pro-Hamas, anti-Israel zealots.

The Washington Post covered it, but never mentioned the name Obama, though he was clearly a target of the protesters. The group that organized the protest, International ANSWER, claims there were 10,000 people there. Our estimate: 2 – 3 thousand tops, at least prior to the marching part of the demonstration. We didn’t stick around for that part.

One thing for sure, no one burned an American flag at any Tea Party gatherings, but they sure did here. Did you see any reporting about the hate-speech and flag burning? I guess MSNBC was too busy that day.

It makes me sad that so many are filled with a mixture of hate, fear and loathing for their fellow Americans.  But it is encouraging that an ever growing majority of Americans are rejecting the leftist dogma and embracing the freedoms this country was founded upon.

Justin’s Friday night out

So, we kinda sorta arranged a blind date between nephew Justin and the yochin’s daughter Sohee.  Her English is only slightly better than Justin’s Korean skills, but they managed it pretty well I think.  Let’s tag along on their “date”, shall we?

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The evening started at Dolce Vita with Sohee whippin’ Justin’s behind on the pool table.  Er, not literally of course.  She won the game while Justin’s balls were still on the table.  Um, figuratively speaking.  She sank the 8-ball first and won the game.  That’s what happened.

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So, we headed out to Don Valley for some Korean barbecue.

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Been pretty much a regular there these past 5+ years so the wait staff always caters to our every desire.  Food and beverage wise anyway.

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Galbi (marinated pork) and mushroom was our entree of choice.

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Grilled right at the table Korean-style.

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with the requisite side dishes of course

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You can almost smell that Korean goodness, can’t you?

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And Justin sez it all tastes as good as it looks.

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Appetites satisfied it was off to the noraebang

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Searchin’ for the perfect tune…

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Singin’ is serious business for Justin…

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Sohee has the voice of an angel…

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…and momma ain’t bad either.

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The ceiling in our singing room was out of this world… (ahem).

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I’m old enough to remember when we had to “follow the bouncing ball” at sing-a-longs.

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Having exhausted our voices it was time for some country music at the Grand Ole Opry…

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The tackiest honky tonk in Itaewon.  I love this place…

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Not sure what this is about, making plans for a future get together without the old farts along perhaps?

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The Opry tradition at midnight is to play “God Bless the USA”  and as you can see many in the audience stand and sing along.

Anyway, it was a fun night out on the town with the young folks…

Holy Days

It is no secret that I am planning to move to the Philippines after I retire later this year.  My reasons are varied and numerous, but I do appreciate and have a comfort level with a predominately Christian, English speaking population.  Pretty much the only place you’ll find like that in Asia.

I recall my first visit to Cebu back in 2008 coincided with Easter week celebrations.  I was somewhat surprised to discover that Maundy Thursday (which I had never even heard of) was a national holiday, akin to Christmas in the USA.  Everything was basically closed up tight and I was left to spend a pretty boring day in my hotel room.

Of course,  Maundy Thursday is just a warm up for the Good Friday festivities.  Well, if you can call being crucified festive.  No kidding, I’m talking being nailed to the cross here folks.

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The Daily Mail from the UK has a fascinating article (from which I borrowed these photos) about the amazing demonstration of faith by the devoutly Catholic Filipino people.

During my Cebu visit I did not witness anyone being crucified (nor do I think I’d want to) but I did see a huge procession being led by someone like this:

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You know, I’m not Catholic or even particularly religious, but I obviously respect the faith of others.  And to be honest, people who live their faith I think are most worthy of honor.  Still, demonstrations of faith by reenacting the suffering of Jesus Christ are pretty impressive don’t you think?

Certainly preferable to the suicide rituals of those whacked out followers of the pedophile Mohammad.  Just sayin’.