Days of yellow dust.

I look out my window and see a sunny day smothered by dust. It settles like fog, blown in from the Gobi desert it filters the sunlight into a sickly yellowish green. Heavy metal contaminates are infused in the dust, making it not the sort of thing you want to be out in. A perfectly nice day ruined. Guess I'll clean some, Doh!

Down with the sickness

One of the downsides of working with Koreans, is their inability to take sick time. It's not that they don't get sick days, it is viewed as a sign of weakness to take them. This is an alien concept to me, if I have sick days they will be used. One very big reason is I don't want others catching the bug I have. Which brings us to the big cultural difference, and why myself and many of my coworkers are currently sick. Have also noticed here that when someone coughs or sneezes they do not put their hand in front of their face. Nothing like hearing a sneeze behind you and feeling the spray. Think I'm gonna get a big can of Lysol spray and start returning fire.

Irritating to say the least..

Certain things grind on me abit. These are not the grand problems of life, just the little irritants that cause grumbles. Here is a list of the ones that are vexing me at the moment.

Windows VISTA- 300 bucks for bug ridden piece of software. Let's see my Ipod software is flaky at best (hmmm....the Zune is crashing and burning and suddenly there are compatibility issues with the competition's mp3 player). Other software that I use quite abit is now useless, Photoshop CS, my photo printer, system mechanic, and quite a few others can't be installed. Now to try and find time to reinstall XP.

Political correctness- It is every person's right to be an asshole. If something offends you, tough deal with it. Get over yourself, drop the mock righteousness and just insult them back or ignore it. Making it illegal to say "certain" words just makes the underlying ignorance and resentment stronger.

Activist Actors- You played the president in a movie so that makes you an expert on international relations in what way? Wow, I wish I was rich and famous so that I could know how the whole world works. Two words for you "Bite me", you are an entertainer nothing more. With the bile that Hollywood is putting forth these days (with exception to Tarintino, Peter Jackson, Frank Miller, and a select few others), you should be expressing sorrow to the poor sods that watched your film.

Lack of common courtesy- I may be a brash person, but I am aware of the people around me and try not to be intentionally rude. I seem to be one of a dying few in this, it takes nothing to at least acknowledge another person's existence. It takes only a little more to just act civilized, try it sometime.

As I said, just somethings that irk me. There are plenty more, but those are for a later time.

Angels, Demons, and Addiction

"To know ones self is knowledge,
To know knowledge is enlightenment,
To know when you've had enough is enough,
You will have enough."

This is a mantra that I was taught over a decade ago, by one of my first martial arts teachers. It is a basic truth, You have to know yourself and your limitations. I've been noticing that the last couple months, I have not known who it was walking in my shoes and speaking with my voice or acting in my guise. I did not even notice the stranger until a friend (ironically enough, a sympathetic bartender) asked me what was going on and why the change.

In the few months there has been a rage in my eyes, that he had never seen before, and an aggressiveness to my body language and actions. This has caused me to take a step back and look at myself, I'm an addict. Not to any drug, but to certain people. When I am with them the world is great. If their attention is diverted to someone else then the aggression comes on strong. When they are not there, withdraw.

Remember in cartoons, the little angel and devil that would appear on people's shoulders? Well little bit of that adding things to the mix. Certain friends try to guide me one way or the other. Angels who see it coming and try to cheer me up, and Demons who try to bring it out.

Time to step back, and get back to being me.

Writing way more melodramatic than it really is. Gah, rereading this sounds like I'm turning into emo-boy (wonder if that comes with a cape). Must fight the urge to listen to the Cure and dress in black.

Fair winds and following seas

Saying goodbye to a fine old lady. The USS John F. Kennedy has been decommissioned after 40 years (All ships, no matter the name are referred to as female.). I spent 8 months aboard her supporting Iraqi Freedom, and am a bit melancholy about her retirement. On one hand she is at a well deserved rest, on the other she will never again stride the world. Goodbye old girl, you will be missed. Fair winds and following seas.

And now for something completely different...

Hooked On Ho-Speak - The best video clips are here

Why idiots should not see movies

Well, Iran is miffed about the movie 300. What happened to the days when you could go to the movies and enjoy one without some hyper-sensitive jackass claiming that it offends them? Not everything is a political/cultural/racist/sexist/whatever statement. IT'S A MOVIE!!! No hidden agendas (according to the creators), no political jab at anyone, no slight on any one's culture.

"The movie has fabricated the history," the IRNA news agency said. Maybe because it is a MOVIE based off a COMIC BOOK. I am pretty certain Spiderman, Superman, and X-men did a little bit of history fabrication as well (radioactive spider attacks, meteors with babies inside crashing into Kansas, and I'm almost positive the Golden Gate Bridge has not been ripped out of the ocean).

"The film has also been criticized in the United States as a thinly veiled attack on the Bush administration because it allegedly depicts Spartan King Leonidas as waging an illegal war." Again it is from A COMIC BOOK. The Iraqi war started in 2003 (trust me I was there for the kick off), the comic book was released in 1999, do the math. With the exception of couple scenes dealing with the queen trying to get help from the Parliament, the film was pretty much spot on from the comic. (So if anything the film is a thinly veiled attack on democrats for trying to halt support for the soldiers in Iraq)

Quit trying to ruin my fun at movies, get over yourselves and try to enjoy life. Some times a movie is just a movie, now let me enjoy my popcorn.

Yet more randomness

I just saw a can of Coke that had instructions on how to use the pop top. I'm not the smartest person on earth, but damn.

Why is it that people who call others fascists, are the first to try and stop any view that is opposed to their own?

Did they really need to make a "Fast and the Furious 3"? Wasn't the first two installments enough of this tripe?

WWJD for a Klondike bar? (Thanks tshirthell.com)

Why do women ask you "Why can't I find a nice guy like you?" and then go for the asshole? (just a tip, I am a guy like me)

Life isn't fair. Why do people whine and cry about this, instead of working to overcome it?

If you have nothing that you would die for, do you have anything to live for?

The weekend...

St Patrick's Day has come and passed. Looking like the final tally for folks at my party is 41, not bad turn out. The neighbors are not the happiest, but what can you do? As usual, the next day was time for cleaning and recovery.

Not all Saturday night was fun, there was some drama. At one point (after leaving my place and heading downtown to the normal bars) a friend found out the guy she had been talking to all night was married , so helped her down to a cab and saw her off. While down there, I see a really drunk (almost unconscious) girl sitting on the sidewalk next to the door to the bar. This is someone I had met a couple times, so helped her into a cab and sent here home. At this point the drama starts.
Some guy saw me do it, and comes up all puffed up like a rooster. Apparently he had been spending alot of money to get the girl in that state and was unhappy that I had ruined his chance to have some fun (he stated in much less nice words). I responded with my view of men who need to get women semi-comatose to have a chance of getting laid (also in very non-nice words), and quite frankly was itching for a fight (very unusual for me, but I really hate guys like this). Two of his chums dragged him away before things could get interesting.
So then it's off to grab a quick bite to eat with some friends, after seeing them off I do a quick trip back in the bar to say goodbyes and then head to the house as the morning sun rises.

Suspension of belief

Discovering that knowing too much about how real aircraft work, can sap some of the enjoyment out of watching tv and movies. Watching the first episode of lost, the plane has crashed and people are reeling from the event. I see the jet engine lying on the ground still running and sucking in wreckage and all I can think is "That's not right, that engine has no fuel and no power controls like that. Not possible for it to be running.". Then there is the classic explosion of jet fuel and instead of enjoying the loud boom and pretty colors the brain kicks in again "Hold up, jet fuel is highly stable and has a higher flash point than gasoline.". Sometimes knowledge can ruin your fun.

Recipies for eeevvviiillll....

In my ever continueing quest to find new and exciting ways to get folks inebriated, I have come up with some quite interesting jello shots. Be warned some of these are not for the faint of heart. Still working on the names, so bear with me. For most of these make jello as normal and substitute 1 half the water needed with booze.

The Dirty Sanchez
Lime Jello and Tequila with a pinch of salt on the side

The Dirty Jose
Lemon Jello and Tequila with a pinch of salt on the side

June Bug (mellow shot)
Pineapple jello, half scoop of Country Time lemonade mix, Bolls melon and Malibu rum (go 50/50 mix on the Bolls and Malibu)

Chocolate Cherry (mellow shot)
cherry jello and Kahlula

Unholy (keep away from open flame)
Berry blue jello and Barcardi 151

Dragon fire (from drinkmixer.com)
mix cherry and strawberry jello with scotch and vodka

WOOOHOOOO!!!

Just saw 300, let me just say one word about this film "OUTFRIGGINSTANDING!!!". After reading the original book, I can safely say it lived up to it's source material. I won't say too much more about the film since I know some may have not seen it yet. I have not left a movie that pumped up in a good long time.

Sarcasm

One of the biggest things to get used to here, in Korea, is the total lack of sarcasm. This culture just dose not have it, this is truly the most mind boggling thing to me.

Today one of the Koreans saw the empty refrigerator box and asked me if we had a new one. I told him not yet we only got the box today and it will come later. At this point he asked me when it would be delivered.

This is not the first time I have ran into this, but it never fails to amaze me.

Black Friday Rule -Flogging Molly

I want to believe in myself once again
So I dream of a man whose hopes never end
To kiss with a girl who's as lovely as you
I'd give you my heart, if you gave me the truth

And for every tear that is lost from an eye
I'd dig me a well where no man could destroy
I want to believe in a freedom that's bold
But all I remember is the freedom of old

Well I lost me a wife, so I found me a plane
Flew all the way to California
This mess in my head is a mess getting out
Ya drink too much coffee, I drink too much stout

But after a while, when my mouth's not so dry
I'll dance up a storm, sure life's looking fine
But as darkness falls, I return to my bed
Don't ask me more questions, don't fuck with my head

I've been down in this world, down and almost broken
Like thousands of people, left standing in their shoe
I've been down in this world, down and almost broken
As thousands they grieve, as the Black Friday rule

The buildings they shake but my heart it beats still
Oh mother of Jesus, I feel pretty ill
I want to go home where my feet both feel safe
But there ain't no jobs in the old free state

So I must remain in my new adopted land
I'm doing the best, Hell I'm doin' all I can
So next time you see me, don't ask for my name
For I am the King and sure long may I reign

I've been down in this world, down and almost broken
Like thousands of people, left standing in their shoe
I've been down in this world, down and almost broken
As thousands they grieve, as the Black Friday rule

I've been down in this world, down and almost broken
Like thousands of people, left standing in their shoe
I've been down in this world, down and almost broken
As thousands they grieve, as the Black Friday rule

That damn Murphy!

"If anything can go wrong, it will." Since 1949 this phrase has proven to be the bane of many people around the world. Capt. Edward A. Murphy coined this phrase, it has proved true time and time again.

How many times have you been running late for work and had every stop light turn against you? How many term papers have been claimed by inopportune computer crash, or power outage, the night before they are due?

Kinda funny that one simple phrase can give a man infamy and at least some small measure of immortality.


Edit: And in Murphy related news. Not 30 minutes after writing this post I found out I owe about $10,000 in income tax. Murphy strikes again.

St Patrick's Day approaching!!

Saturday is the one day a year when we can all be Irish, St. Patrick's Day. Next to Halloween, my favorite holiday of the year. Last year I wore a green dress (such is the life of a hasher), this year I think I will keep to the more manly clothing (not sure if it will be green, might be fun to be pinched), and will be hosting a party. So tomorrow will be buying up plenty of refreshing beverages, and Friday will be cooking up Jello shots (there's always room).

Change

If you realize that all things change,
there is nothing you will try to hold on to.
If you aren't afraid of dying,
there is nothing you can't achieve.

Trying to control the future
is like trying to take the master carpenter's place.
When you handle the master carpenter's tools,
chances are that you'll cut your hand.
-Tao Te Ching

Nothing endures but change.
-Heraclitus

Home again, home again....

Well, I seem to have made it back to Korea. The two weeks of vacation seemed to fly by way too quickly. Was a fairly good time, got to spend time with the family, did some target shooting with my dad, visited some friends, and spent way too much money.