I am pleased to report a recent sighting of some extremely Hairy Chasms! That’s right, the Big Hominid himself, Kevin, has started posting again at his old blog BigHominid’s Hairy Chasms. Welcome back! You have been missed!
I guarantee that you will not find e-vocative posts like this one anywhere else on the web. So, go give a shout out to Kevin but mind your P’s and Q’s. Whatever the hell that means…
Or do they really think the electorate is this stupid?
Biden: Iraq victory a great Obama achievement.
Sometimes it feels like I’m living in an Orwell novel. The war was won because Bush ignored naysayers like Obama and surged troops to quell an escalating insurgency. And now Obama wants to take credit for Iraq while simultaneously blaming Bush for everything else? Of course, we have seen plenty of evidence that this administration holds the American people in contempt, but c’mon, any sentient being recognizes this ploy for the pure BS that it is.
As Mudville Gazette notes:
There’s an odd thing about this administration claiming credit for victory in Iraq – half the country knows Biden and Obama had nothing to do with it, and the other half will never admit there is a victory to claim. However, since they think we’re all stupid, I guess the White House wants to give it a shot.
I’m sure the President sees plenty of ignorance–every time he looks in the mirror. He’s just too ignorant to recognize it. Which reflects poorly on him, don’t ya think? Ahem.
(photo lifted from The Conservative Mom)
This week I’d like to introduce Korean singer/model/actress Yoon Eun-Hye.
Compare and contrast…
Ok, after careful consideration, I like them both…
I have to say though, there is just something about a gal in glasses…
out of glasses is nice too though…
I think she’s a real cutie, don’t you? You can view a large photo gallery of her here. And a website devoted to her with some pretty cool clips showing her in dramatic performances (co-starring with Cass beer).
But I especially enjoyed this video retrospective of her career. It’s fun to watch her grow up. Nicely done…
That pretty much sums up my day as I completed my well-being physical examination at Soonchunhwang Medical Center. The process and procedures seemed to go well although I won’t know the results until next week.
It was certainly the most thorough and comprehensive examination I’ve had that’s for sure. It started with the requisite stool, urine, and blood samples and progressed from there. I brought along an interpreter to help guide me through the process and she snapped up some photos along the way as well. So, let’s blog it, shall we?
So they had me change into these really cool taekwando-type pajamas. Made me feel confident and dignified, unlike those American-style gowns that open at the back…
So, it was eyes and ears to start with…
This procedure where they blow air into your eye went fine, but it took several tries (and some eye-dilation) before the technician could get a proper photograph of my retinas.
And then they had me embark and don headphones in this contraption…
Which turned out to be a time machine! I was whisked back in time and emerged as a 30 year old man once again…
Here is the new young me! Hey, wait a minute. Turns out I was getting my hearing checked not traveling through time. Damn.
Next I had an ultrasound. Turns out I’m carrying twins. No wonder I’m so fat! Actually, all I heard from this is my liver is enlarged and I should curtail my drinking. Yeah, right. As soon as I stop breathing…
This is where I laid on a cot and had a bunch of wires attached to my body. Boring!
Ah, the chest x-ray.
Seeing as how I’m a non-smoker this shouldn’t be a problem. Although those 25 years I did smoke may come into play…
Ah, the traditional “in body exam”. Not nearly as cool as an “out of body experience”, but then having one of those in the hospital may not be too wise as they are liable to haul your body down to the morgue.
So, I’m not exactly sure how this thing works, but I’m guessing it is like a spectrograph that measures the fat content of your body and crap like that. The screen readouts were in Hanguel, but from what I could make out I’m 117 kgs and I should be 75 by skinny Korean standards. It’s not exactly a newsflash that I’m fat people. But I’m working on it! Oh, I had the dental panoramic x-ray here as well.
So, Soonchunhwang Hospital is actually a complex of several buildings. And my next test was in the building across the street. So, they had me put on my “championship” robe and brave the snow and slush outside…
…to get to this building…
…which houses this clinic…
…where I received an echocardigram whatever the hell that is. The technician was cute though…
Next up was this CT scan…
A Walrus-filled doughnut…
Then it was back across the street to the procedure I had been dreading the most…
The only thing I like down my throat is a pretty girl’s tongue so I asked for and received some “feel good” drugs prior to the procedure…
…which I suspected was going to involve me and one of these gurneys…
Here I go.
Whatever that crap was it gave you instant cotton mouth. I’m guessing it also suppresses the gag reflex. Not a pleasant feeling at all.
Waiting for the drugs to kick in…
’cause I don’t even want to think about where that thing is going soon….
Talking about being in a vulnerable position! But fortunately I was now in my happy place….
Blissful post-op sleep. I seem to recall waking up during the procedure feeling like I was choking but my hands were bound and I was helpless. Maybe it was a dream.
Once I was back up and on my feet they had me cross the street again (I know, I know. But this is Korea) to visit Urology department…
And I had a pretty good idea what was coming next…
…and now you do too…
…ok, let’s just get this over with quickly. And call me Angel of the Morning…
And that was that. I’ll see Dr. Yu next Thursday for the results. So, I was in at 0830 and done at 1230. And other than the logistics of crossing the street (twice) wearing pajamas in inclement weather, it was a smooth and efficient operation. Here’s the interesting part–all this testing cost me W750,000 (that’s a tad bit less than $750.) Not bad. Although I did get a discount of about $140 because this is the “slow season”. Can you imagine a U.S. hospital putting medical treatment “on sale”? I’m not sure how they do it, but maybe Obama ought to check it out.
And that’s not all! They gave us two free tickets for lunch at a little Korean soup joint across the street from the hospital.
After fasting I’m plenty hungry…
Lunchee is served!
That is a rice and vegetable soup, and although I found it a little on the bland side…
…it didn’t go to waste (other than my own).
Alright, thus ends my tale of adventure at Soonchunhwang Hospital.
Well, this clip still rings true today. It is timeless.
What is ironic is that it comes from Little Green Footballs circa 2005.
From a post called “some things don’t change”.
Ha Ha, Charles Johnson. Sadly, yes they do and yes they have.
Thanks for the memories…
After a long (too long!) hiatus, my pal Jenn from I Got 2 Shoes is back with the harrowing tale of her hospital stay. While I am sure the medical treatment in Korea hospitals is first world, the experience itself is well outside the North American norm. As Jenn’s story makes clear, you are basically on your own when it comes to creature comforts. Anyway, it sounds like she is on the road to recovery and is at least free from the confines of the hospital. Get well soon Jenn!
Here’s the link to my Korean hospital experience. Similar, although Jenn’s was much worse.
Coincidentally, I’m going to the hospital tomorrow morning for a complete physical examination. It is good to know I will also be leaving the hospital tomorrow!
Man, when did the comics become organs of political propaganda?
In issue number 602 of Captain America, a new story line has begun called “Two Americas.” In it the current Captain (there have been a few of them, apparently) is on the trail of a faux Captain America that is mentally deranged and getting chummy with some white supremacist, anti-government, survivalists types going by the name of “the Watchdogs.” While investigating this subversive group, Captain America and his partner The Falcon — a black super hero — have decided to try and infiltrate the secretive organization.
In preparation for the infiltration, Marvel Comics depicts the two super heroes out of costume and observing from a rooftop a street filled with what can only be described as a Tea Party protest. The scene shows crowds of people in city streets carrying signs that say, “stop the socialists,” “tea bag libs before they tea bag you,” and “no to new taxes.” Naturally, the people in these crowds are depicted as being filled with nothing but white folks.
You can go read the rest on your own. But wow.
via PubliusForum
The future is comin’ on and I gotta say, it’s scary as hell. You know, sorta like the feeling you get as the roller coaster crawls to the top of that first magnificent drop. I mean, you know it’s going to to turn out all right (statistically speaking), but it is still a thrill and your heart beats faster in anticipation.
Of course, you could always play it safe and stay off the frickin’ roller coaster to begin with. And sticking with the sure thing can be awfully tempting. So finding these words on a young man’s blog was food for thought indeed:
If you make sure that nothing bad ever happens to you, you’ll also make sure nothing really good ever happens to you either.
Or as Stephen Stills put it: “It’s no matter, no distance, it’s the ride.”
for Evangeline–
The woman was old and ragged and gray
And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day.
The street was wet with a recent snow
And the woman’s feet were aged and slow.
She stood at the crossing and waited long,
Alone, uncared for, amid the throng
Of human beings who passed her by
Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.
Down the street with laughter and shout,
Glad in the freedom of ‘school let out,”
Came the boys like a flock of sheep,
Hailing the snow piled white and deep.
Past the woman so old and gray
Hastened the children on their way.
Nor offered a helping hand to her-
So meek, so tired, afraid to stir
Lest the carriage wheels or the horses’ feet
Should crowd her down in the slippery street.
At last came one of the merry troop,
The gayest laddie of all the group;
He paused beside her and whispered low,
‘I’ll help you cross, if you wish to go.”
Her aged hand on his strong young arm
She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,
He guided the trembling feet along,
Proud that his own were firm and strong.
Then back again to his friends he went,
His young heart happy and well content.
‘She’s somebody’s mother, boys, you know,
For all she’s aged and poor and slow,
‘And I hope some fellow will lend a hand
To help my mother, you understand,
‘If ever she’s poor and old and gray,
When her own dear boy is far away.’
And “somebody’s mother” bowed low her head
In her home that night, and the prayer she said
Was, ‘God be kind to the noble boy,
Who is somebody’s son, and pride and joy!”
…Mary Dow Brine
Rubbies achieved our first victory of the season tonight against Jagernutz from Sam Ryan’s, 20-17.
And I only lost two legs!
But then, I only played three.
It’s all good.
That’s my favorite quote from Global Warming (blessed be thy name) fanatic Jacob at ROK Sojourn. Jacob believes that anyone who does not share his faith in anthropogenic global warming religion theory should just “shut the hell up”.
I can only imagine his disappointment that not only have people refused to shut up, the mainstream press has now joined the blogging community in reporting the almost daily revelations of fraud in the UN’s IPCC report.
And now comes this report from the BBC showing a rather significant increase in heretics non-believers in AGW over the past three months (coinciding with the climategate scandal). This graphic shows what happened when the Great Wizard of Global Warming (aka “settled science”) was exposed as just a “man behind the curtain”:
Yikes, that’s a lot of people lining up to “contract cancer and die painful and slow deaths”. Not sure the overwhelmed British health care system can handle the influx.
Perhaps Jacob will show these newly minted non-believers some mercy. Forgive them Jacob, they know not what they do.
UPDATE: Read this from Canada’s Globe and Mail. I think it captures precisely where things stand on this issue.
You know, we like to keep things humble here at LTG. I have a small, but dedicated, group of regular readers and a handful of folks who are brought here through a misdirected Google search. But get a link from one of the big boys, in this case Instapundit, and look out! The Blogfather linked to this post, and as you can see from the graph above, things were off the charts.
But, fame is fleeting it seems. I’m not thinking that many of those who followed Glenn’s link will be back anytime soon. But that’s ok, we’ve still got each other, right?
It’s Friday which means it’s time to introduce the Yoja for this week. And here she is–Ms. Moon Ji Eun:
She’s got that sweet girl next door look going on, but don’t let that fool you. She’s got a naughty side too:
Anyway, she is a popular singer here in Korea (not that I would know). And sorry Dave, I don’t think she does more than sing, dance, and look mighty fine.
You can watch her put the moves on here…
Well, the visit to the Soonchunhwang medical center today was a bit of a bust. I did get reacquainted with my old pal Dr. Yu who said I looked much better than the last time we met. Anyway, the whole medical well-being checkup was to be scheduled after my consultation with the good Dr. Yu. And that will occur next Friday. Endoscopy and everything. HooRay! Oh, I am wearing the blood pressure monitor which is recording my blood pressure every 30 minutes or so. I was 140/90 this morning, but I always run a little borderline high. So, we’ll see.
Anyway, since I had taken the whole day off work I decided to take a break from the treadmill and hike up Namsan (South Mountain) instead. Let’s check the pictures…
Yobo Jee Yuen came along for the sunshine and fresh air…
And how could she resist an offer from a handsome guy like this? Although she did laugh a little too long and a little too loud when she got a look at my hat and walking stick….what’s up with that?
Stuff like this in Korea never ceases to amaze me. Not so much that it is assumed passerby’s will put out any brush fires they may encounter, but that no one would consider stealing the shovels and rakes. Man, they wouldn’t last 24 hours left out like that in the USA.
This was either fresh spring water or the drain from the toilets…
Ah, the pause that refreshes…and yeah, it was clean water…
Ok, I’m not going to pretend that it is a difficult hike. It’s not at all. It’s like a stairway to heaven in fact…
Just call me the old stairmaster. 163 steps on this incline…
And at the top is this nice scenic overlook…
With views like this one…
So, our destination is Seoul Tower. We’re about half way there at this point…
The wimp’s way to the top. (which is my normal method, well that was the old me).
Old fortifications…
And chimneys for the smoke signals to warn of invaders. Which happened quite often in Korean history…
Objective achieved. Now we’re hungry…
Hmm, last time I was up here this was a family style Korean restaurant. Now it’s a hoity-toity Italian place.
But the view of Myeongdong is the same…
Quite a bit fancier on the inside than it used to be…
Jee Yuen’s hungry face…
We watched the cable cars while we waited (the restaurant is directly above the station).
Alas, this delicious seafood soup was just about gone before I remembered to use the camera (I told you Jee Yuen was hungry!) But you can see the shells and stuff off to the side. Mussels and prawns and other goodies.
This fried seafood dish was also quite tasty…
And the pizza was to die for…crust about as thick as a cracker…the way it should be!
So after gorging ourselves on that great food, we decided to ride the tram back down the mountain. Jee Yuen has tickets in hand, but the tram that was supposed to depart at 10 minute intervals was somewhat delayed. Suspiciously it seemed that the delay coincided with enough passengers showing up to fill the car….oh well, it was less than 30 minutes wait and that puts it within the range of “Korea time”.
Nice views on the ride down too…
And so ended my Namsan afternoon…
Seriously, I am having a hard time keeping up with the falling dominoes. Now it turns out the data from China was faked.
And where in the hell has Al Gore been?
Bush was not the problem. Obama is not the solution. So says French news organ Le Monde.
This is of course shocking news for folks with BDS (Bush derangement syndrome), not so much for the rest of us.
Bush was not the problem. Obama is not the solution: one year after the arrival at the White House of a Democratic president, disenchantment is mutual on either side of the Atlantic. The Allies are discovering — if indeed they were unaware of it before — that misunderstandings go beyond individuals.
Having denounced Mr. Bush’s imperialism, Europeans are criticizing Mr. Obama for his impotence. They are complaining of his not being able to bend China at the Copenhagen summit on the fight against global warming. “We overestimated his room for maneuver,” said adviser to the French executive; “The Chinese were facing a weakling”, said a person close to Mr. Sarkozy.
Sad and scary. And oddly hilarious.
So, the LA Times takes some unfair shots at MSNBC icon Keith Olbermann. And yeah, his ratings have been in a bit of a slump maybe, but why kick a guy when he is down? I am not going to stand by and let this unwarranted attack go unanswered. Don’t worry Keith, I’ve got your back! To the article then:
Remember Keith Olbermann?
He was the one-time must-see anti-Bush ranter who helped rescue MSNBC (yes, it’s still on at night) from even worse oblivion years ago.
Yeah, we remember him Mr. Smarty Pants Times reporter. And if you had even half a clue you’d know that he is in fact still ranting against Bush, notwithstanding the fact that Bush is long gone. You’ve got to marvel at (and admire) that kind of consistency!
Well, quietly last month while no one was looking, hardly anyone was watching Keith Olbermann anymore.
The guy, who’s even apparently tried to get some Sarah Palin-like eyeglasses, is now forced to leap over-the-top on ex-state senators like Scott Brown and Tuesday’s worst person, Fox News’ Glenn Beck. Beck is the successful talker with the perfect haircut for radio. Like most Americans, he wasn’t watching Keith.
Well, I’m not watching Olbermann either and neither is anyone I know. But you just don’t get it. Olbermann is a presence for crissakes, you don’t have to actually watch his show to get his vibe. Besides, if you have seen one show you have seen them all. And when did actually watching someone become the end-all be-all anyway? Of course, Palin does look hot in those glasses, but she copied KO’s style, not the other way around. Keith sets the trend, us lesser beings follow. Gladly.
There are a
couple of reasons for KO’s frustration and anger and volume and core meltdown over the Massachusetts election outcome, among other issues of galactic import. For one, lots more ranters around nowadays on all sides, including that colleague of Keith’s with the hugest head in TV. Please, no 3-D for him!
Also, Olbermann’s showboat is sinking. Listing in you-know-which direction.
It’s as if he thinks talking LOUDER will keep his low cell battery from dying.
Now that is a low blow. Get your facts straight at least. NO ONE on television has a head bigger than Keith Olbermann. No one! And you can use that cutesy “showboat sinking” metaphor to insinuate that KO lists to the left. Ha! Ha! As I am sure Keith would be the first to say, he does not list, lean, or otherwise slant to the left. He is f’n off the charts. As many have said countless times, Keith Olbermann may be many things, but he is never right. And talking louder is a proven method of making your point when the facts are stacked against you. Don’t compare his show to a cell phone with a dead battery just because he tends to rant angrily. As the poet Dylan Thomas said “rage, rage against the dying of the light!” You go Keith!
Worst, Olbermann’s network president, Phil Griffin, is publicly praising him, always an ominous sign in television. While referring to his host almost in the past tense. “Keith has been our tentpole,” Griffin says, adding later, “I’m pleased with where we are.”
See, now this Times guy is just playing with words to make things sound worse than they are. Phil Griffin never said anything about past tense, he clearly referred to KO as a “has been”. And that “tentpole” thing–so what? Chris Matthews has had a tentpole in his pants for Obama since before the election (or was that a thrill running down his leg? ah well, same same). And anyway, Griffin gave much more than a mere vote of confidence when he said “I’m pleased with where we are”. Where they are is last place. And every baseball fan (including KO) knows the Leo Durocher maxim that “nice guys finish last”. So, what we have is KO’s boss saying he is a nice guy. You can take that and three bucks down to your local Starbucks and get a hot java. Trust me on that.
In the most desirable TV demographic of 25-54, which Keith will soon outgrow himself, “Countdown” lost 44% of its audience from the beginning of President Obama‘s term until this year. It could have been worse — say, 45%.
Oh ok, here we go. You know the gloves are comin’ off when the critic starts throwin’ around numbers. Let’s see, you got your lies, your damn lies, and your statistics. So yeah, Keith is getting long in the tooth (aren’t we all?), but what are you gonna do lock him up with those “retards” Rahm was complaining about? Wake up and smell the roses pal, this is America and that ain’t on the agenda. So, yeah he lost 44% of his audience. And yeah, it could have been worse. But think about this–if it does get worse, that 44% ain’t gonna seem so bad after all, will it? You want to play the numbers game with me? Bring it on!
Olbermann averaged 268,000 viewers last month in that sector. That’s just several thousand sets of those eyes more than Campbell Brown over on CNN. According to one count, Keith even finished in that time slot behind Nancy Grace. Nancy Grace!
Hey, there is absolutely nothing wrong with finishing behind Nancy Grace. That would be my preference. Have you seen her face? Oh. We’re talking about ratings? Er, well. Never mind then.
On the bright side, which everyone knows KO is fond of spotting, his MSNBC audience was only 696,000 viewers 24-54 behind O’Reilly, whose audience has grown 55%, according to Bercovici. Of course, it might be worse this month.
Oh so it is back to the numbers again huh? Can’t even come up with something new and original? Well Mr. Know-it-all critic let me ask you this: what precisely is the significance of O’Reilly’s audience growing by 55% and KO’s shrinking by 44%? I mean seriously dude, what is your point? And then you smugly say “it could be worse this month”. Well guess what genius, it could also be a helluva lot worse this month. I guess we will just have to wait and see, won’t we?
In the immortal words of Edward J. Smith, captain of the Titanic, “What iceberg?”
You just couldn’t resist getting one final cheap shot in before concluding your worthless article, could you?. Well my friend, the joke is on you because if you had even half a brain you would know two things–one it was the CIA who sank the Titanic not an iceberg (I’m pretty sure EuroYank has a post on this somewhere) and two, if it was an iceberg, the famous words of Captain Smith were “damn the icebergs, full speed ahead”. You can look it up in any history book dimwit.
Keith Olbermann, don’t let the haters get you down. You just keep on doing what you’re doing. The results speak for themselves.
UPDATE: Wow, an Instalanche to my humble little blog. Thanks, Glenn. And welcome y’all. Come on in, take your shoes off (this is Korea after all), sit a spell and have a look around (it’s the internet!). Glad you are here!
UPDATE 2: Damn, I just realized that in the email I sent the Instapundit kinda sorta whoring for a link, I spelled Glenn’s name wrong. And he still linked me. What a guy!
Hat Tip: Instapundit
But, I’ll give this guy props for not just complaining about illegal immigration, by god he’s doing something about it!
A Hemet man who passed himself off as a U.S. Marshal was able to enter the international airport in San Diego with a “prisoner” after convincing airport security officers he was a federal agent, a TSA spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday.
Gregory R. Denny, 37, was booked last month and booked on suspicion of kidnapping, false imprisonment and impersonating a peace officer…Denny was wearing clothing with “Federal Agent” printed on it, had a badge around his neck, a gun belt, and displayed an apparent handgun. The witnesses at the home told investigators the suspect then handcuffed a female resident of the home and said he was detaining her and deporting the woman…
The victim was then taken to the suspect’s vehicle and then allegedly driven to the U.S. Border Patrol station in Murrieta, Wisehart said. Officials at the Border Patrol office told Denny he would not take Denny’s “prisoner” because there was no warrant in the computer system. Denny told Hemet investigators that officers at the Border Patrol office confirmed the woman was in the country illegally, Wisehart said, but they would not take her into custody.
Hemet investigators were then told that the suspect ultimately drove the female victim to the International Airport, where he escorted the handcuffed victim through the airport and to the gate of a departing flight, Wisehart said. At this point he un-handcuffed the victim and she boarded the plane that was headed to the Philippines.
You know, as funny as this guy”s antics may sound, the real joke is our airport security. What a bunch of clowns…
