Tuesday, August 30, 2005
EBS
More thoughts on being back in Seoul. It really hit me how high-tech Seoul is when I walked into a studio for the Educational Broadcast System last night. We were there to attend the opening of the fabulous 2nd International Documentary Film Festival. Beautiful facility, breathtaking documentary clips, totally professional MCing. Programs like this make me feel very proud to see how far Korea has come, and when I think about how far Korea will go it is mind-boggling.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Biking Around
I got spoiled in Saigon, never needed to own a car. Living on a military base in Seoul, though, is a it like living back in the States: you really need a car to span the distances. Our car is coming in a few weeks, so yesterday I bought a bike and have started commuting to work with it.
It's only 15 minutes from home to work and I've had a modest workout by the time I get to the office.
Hard getting used to the darker skies here; a bit more like Hanoi, I guess, versus HCMC.
Always looks like it is going to rain; have to get used to gauging the weather.
It's only 15 minutes from home to work and I've had a modest workout by the time I get to the office.
Hard getting used to the darker skies here; a bit more like Hanoi, I guess, versus HCMC.
Always looks like it is going to rain; have to get used to gauging the weather.
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Chill
Contrary to popular belief, you really do have to refrigerate cheez whiz after opening it, and even then it cannot last forever. You also cannot open a half-gallon barrel of nacho cheese sauce, stick it in the fridge and expect it to be pristine after six months. Do not be bewildered it you pull it out and find it covered in a cheese-crusted forest of green fur.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Info Rich
...and Seoul is incredibly rich in media outlets. Seven major daily newspapers, oodles of online news sources, tv and radio stations. I went to the opening of a new group called the Korean Internet Press Club last week. Plus my office has a thing called CafeUSA and I have started posting to the chat group there--main audience is young Net-savvy Koreans. I'll add a link to it.
http://cafe.daum.net/usembassy
http://cafe.daum.net/usembassy
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Wow!
Seoul is really high-tech. We just got VDSL at home, supposed to be four times faster than regular DSL.
And Arirang Radio is debuting Digital Multimedia Broadcast technology for the first time in the world on September 2--we are talking about radio via cell phone. TV won't be far behind.
And Arirang Radio is debuting Digital Multimedia Broadcast technology for the first time in the world on September 2--we are talking about radio via cell phone. TV won't be far behind.
In Seoul
Hi, here in Seoul. Not much jet lagged any more.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Rodeo Drive
Took time out from packing last night to go to a rodeo at J Bar W Ranch up in Libertytown, Maryland, not far from Pennsylvania.
Saw bull-riding, mutton-busting, barrel racing and, the most exciting of all, wild cow milking. Tried to get Kevin Haney to join a team but he wouldn't go for it.
Leaving the house at 4 tomorrow morning for the airport. Next blog posting will be from Seoul.
Hey, what is Wiki and does anyone out there do it? staticvoid@hotmail.com
Also, would anyone be interested in hearing me and other characters on a brief weekly podcast?
Saw bull-riding, mutton-busting, barrel racing and, the most exciting of all, wild cow milking. Tried to get Kevin Haney to join a team but he wouldn't go for it.
Leaving the house at 4 tomorrow morning for the airport. Next blog posting will be from Seoul.
Hey, what is Wiki and does anyone out there do it? staticvoid@hotmail.com
Also, would anyone be interested in hearing me and other characters on a brief weekly podcast?
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Down the Catwalk
One of the Gallagher brothers remarked prissily that the lead singer for Franz Ferdinand reminds him of Right Said Fred. Do U see any resemblance?
Seoul Man
In the big countdown for departing for Seoul this weekend. Brand new car needs to go back to the shop for the SECOND time. Hope it will be OK by the time we ship it this Friday.
The hideous Phuket-, Thailand-style heat finally broke in DC today, nice and rainy. Good morning jog before coming in to meet old friends and colleagues at the main office today.
The hideous Phuket-, Thailand-style heat finally broke in DC today, nice and rainy. Good morning jog before coming in to meet old friends and colleagues at the main office today.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
That sainted dude from Hippo says...
It is one thing to rise quickly from a fall, another not to fall at all.
Arcadia Is Cooler Than Beavers?
Party This Sunday
Farewell party this Sunday if U can make it to my mom's house. staticvoid@hotmail.com for details.
Tomorrow's News...
Not quite yet, dear Malcolm and Allwyn, but you can view front pages from several hundred newspapers around the world at the Newseum's web site:
http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/default.asp?page=2
No papers from Vietnam. Hope the editors from Thanh Nien, Tuoi Tre or Saigon Giaiphong will try to get their papers onto this service too.
http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/default.asp?page=2
No papers from Vietnam. Hope the editors from Thanh Nien, Tuoi Tre or Saigon Giaiphong will try to get their papers onto this service too.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Decision Finally
After a month of agonizing road trips and Internet searches, we just clinched a deal to buy a little over three acres in the foothills of the mountains in North Carolina. We even have a tiny corner of lake waterfront too.
Jerry R., hope you can buy something close by!
Jerry R., hope you can buy something close by!
Hooker!
Great album: John Lee Hooker's Van Morrison-produced 1997 CD, 'Don't Look Back.' An od aside, but I never realized how much the late great Rootboy Slim sounded like JLH till I really listened to this CD. I pcked it up in a little used record store n the Fells Point area of Baltimore last weekend. Also got Skeeter Davis's album with NRBQ, 'She Plays, They Sing.'
I Think He Means Knowledge...
...when he is talking about 'sciences' in this quote:
For although we may have all the sciences of the world stuffed into our heads, of what use will it be when life fails us?
--J. Calvin
For although we may have all the sciences of the world stuffed into our heads, of what use will it be when life fails us?
--J. Calvin
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Too Much Dam Vinh Hung?
My daughter still has a crush on the Vietnamese heart throb Dam Vinh Hung, so I have been listening nearly nonstop to his CDs and iPod tunes in my car whenever we travel. His songs echo through my head all day long. I try switching to Quang Dung or Hng Nhung and she blows her top.
At least she doesn't have a crush on Mitch Miller.
At least she doesn't have a crush on Mitch Miller.
The Devil's Broker
That's the name of a history book I am reading now About a 14th century English mercenary in Italy.
Also reading the libretto of Wagner's Ring Cycle.
And just finished REVENGE OF THE SITH. Really ties the whole Star Wars quilt together. The main point is don't be fooled by Yoda's appearance. He is jammed full of Force, like a huge sail packed into one of those little sail bags. Hard to pull the sail out of the bag, but when you do you can use it to sail around the world.
Also reading the libretto of Wagner's Ring Cycle.
And just finished REVENGE OF THE SITH. Really ties the whole Star Wars quilt together. The main point is don't be fooled by Yoda's appearance. He is jammed full of Force, like a huge sail packed into one of those little sail bags. Hard to pull the sail out of the bag, but when you do you can use it to sail around the world.
Trying Again
One last road trip in search of retirement property, this time to the coast of North Carolina. Have gotten really used to packing on very short notice; this time I heard an ad on the radio and we pile din the car a few hours later, reserved a hotel room on the fly, and tooled on down as far as Newport News. NC this morning.
Big disadvnatage has been no time to see any friends or have any fun this home leave, but hopefully this search will all be over soon.
Big disadvnatage has been no time to see any friends or have any fun this home leave, but hopefully this search will all be over soon.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
More Wanderings
On the road yesterday, but not in a Kerouac or even Waylon-and-Willie sense. Went to rural parts of Virginia hunting for waterfront property. Here is my conclusion:
Forget Md. or Virginia..North Carolina is the place to be
Forget Md. or Virginia..North Carolina is the place to be
