Shordan

HAPPY NEW YEAR SUNRISE!!!

2010-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Enjoyed watching the sun come up over the Daegu hills, on the new year and decade, this morning after my workout. :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR SUNRISE!!!

Panthers 41, Giants 9

2009-12-27T13:18:00.000-08:00

Go Panthers! Way to beat the crap outta the Giants!!! :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2009-12-24T19:45:00.001-08:00

It's 12:45pm on Christmas Day here in South Korea. Wishing you all the best and togetherness of the holidays! :)

ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS

2009-12-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

This cheese-fest never gets old to me! I loved it as a kid and I love it today! Of course, my crush on Harmony Star has dissipated quite a bit since then! :)

PERFECT MARRIAGES; NO MORE DIVORCE

2009-12-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

I have imagined the perfect way to ensure that no one marries the wrong person. It will eliminate divorce (because you would have to marry only someone you really love and trust) and it would eliminate divorce lawyers (the greatest of all possible outcomes). The solution is this:
After 20 years of marriage, it is perfectly legal to kill your spouse.
Wouldn't you make darn sure you loved her and she loved you?! Wouldn't you strive to be the best possible spouse you could be, knowing that your lover could kill you (after 20 years) without fear of criminal prosecution?! Damn right!!!

HARD WORK ALLEVIATES NEED FOR MIRACLES

2009-12-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

I recently saw a post on myspace that read:
"I'm being evaluated for promotion. Pray, with me, that God's Will be done."
These kinds of posts blow my mind. I want to say to these people,
"If you did your job worthy of promotion AND there is room for you and all the other people who did their jobs equally or superiorly well, then you'll get the promotion. God's Will, as it were, would be for you to do your best BEFORE the promotion opportunity and not cry in vain supplication--like every other candidate--AFTER your work is already being evaluated."
These idiots really piss me off. Work hard and take pride in a job well done. Promotion will happen commensurate with your performance, not with your ability to pray after the fact. If I were God, I'd answer your prayer by mailing you a copy of your own resume with a post-it note reading, "Would you hire yourself?"

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

2009-12-12T20:27:00.000-08:00

My son, Judah, just rattled off for me the names of the Transformers, over the phone from America. I was impressed, to say the least. That's pretty good for a 5-year-old, these days, to be enjoying the old 80's cartoon from my childhood.
However, I soon discovered that it was due to the new live-action films. I can't exactly say that I was disappointed, but I'd like to send him some of the original Transformers on DVD. :)

PERSEPOLIS 2 : [Book Review]

2009-12-12T00:01:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading PERSEPOLIS 2. More so than its predecessor, this graphic novel is exceptional precisely because it is NOT exceptional. She's just like every other human being on Earth--flawed. Drugs, sex, and punk rock. We've all been there. This books goes a long way in showing that if we take away religion and politics, we're all made from the same dirt. If you are at all interested in anything Persian, you'll love this book; otherwise, you'll still like it.

SR2

WHAT'S WRONG WITH AMERICA [Book Review]

2009-12-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

I'm currently reading a book entitled WHAT'S WRONG WITH AMERICA by Scott Bradfield. The novel is written through the eyes of an elderly lady who has just killed her husband. Interesting concept. Horrible execution (pun intended). This book is so boring, I'd rather be the husband in the book, than to be the reader.

SR2

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUDAH!

2009-12-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

This is will be your fifth birthday and I've missed them all. That's a hard thing for me to swallow, son. I hope that this will be the last duty assignment that takes me away from you on your birthday or for the holidays. I miss you so much! Words are inadequate to express this emptiness--this Judah-shaped hole.
I love you!

- Daddy

YOU CAN'T STEAL OWNERSHIP

2009-12-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

I just learned that, a few years ago, there was an electronics-theft ring that operated in the Postal Service in and around San Francisco, California. Of the many things stolen was a computer that my friend, De'Dee, had ordered from Apple. Do people not understand that you can never get any real enjoyment out of something stolen--or the money got from the sale of that thing? You might appreciate it, to an extent, but you'll never have that freedom of thought and spirit that you do when you acquire something through respectable hard work. Far better to be poor and of free conscience than to be rich with guilt and shame.

ORDERING IDIOTS

2009-12-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

If i ruled the world, anyone who reaches the front of a line and says, "Now what do I want?" then stares thoughtfully at the ordering options as if for the first time would promptly be taken outside and shot.

BUNS FROM HELL

2009-12-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

Jiminy Cricket! Why is it that we can send people to the Moon and robots to Mars, but can't get all eight hot dog buns to open evenly?! Goodness!

EXPECTING MORE FROM MOORE

2009-12-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

With Jake Delhomme out, today, with a broken finger (or broken heart, whichever), Matt Moore is starting QB for my beloved Panthers. Let's hope he dazzles!

MANUAL ADJUSTMENT

2009-12-05T00:02:00.000-08:00

Ever need to adjust yourself, but can't because it would be improper to do so in present company? That's a miserable feeling. I was walking at the river park (신천공원), today, and had a sudden need to adjust, but was very nearly surrounded by elderly ladies taking their Saturday strolls. I began walking like a duck. That didn't work. So I stopped and pretended like I was stretching. No go. Finally, with as much stealth as possible, I manually fixed the problem.

SR

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

2009-12-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

I am currently reading the Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice. When I think of P&P characters, my mental images are from the 1940 film version with Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier, which to this day remains one of my favorite films of all time.

MY ADORABLE WIFE

2009-12-04T00:19:00.000-08:00

My wife complained, today, after I approved of her recent clothing purchase. As men are apt to do, I guess I responded a little too readily, which she took as off-handed and unthoughtful. So, in protest, she said, "you always say whatever I buy looks good." To which, I absentmindedly replied, "I guess my standards are just low." Her face contorted into this adorable pout and she nearly cried. I immediately realized my blunder. "My standards aren't THAT low, baby!" I attempted, but this seemed to make matters worse. Through her cute little pooched lips she said, "You love me cuz your standards are low?" I hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead. I knew there was no way to get out of this cleanly, so I just said, "my standards for you and our children are very very high, but you look good in whatever you wear, so having standards for your clothing is moot."
Luckily, she forgave me. :)
Open mouth. Insert foot.

DISCONCERTING

2009-12-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

This excerpt from the aforementioned Bill Bryson book embarrassed me. We should be shamed into action.

"A recent survey of twenty-seven thousand people around the globe by a Canadian group called Environics International found that the people of virtually every advanced nation were willing to sacrifice at least a small measure of economic growth for cleaner air and a healthier environment. The one exception: the United States. It seems madness to think that a society would rate marginal economic growth above a livable earth, but there you are. I had always assumed that the reason to build a bigger economy was to make the world a better place. In fact, it appears, the reason to build a bigger economy is, well, to build a bigger economy."

I'M A STRANGER HERE, MYSELF

2009-12-02T04:50:00.000-08:00

I'm reading the delightful I'm a Stranger Here, Myself by Bill Bryson. At times humorous and at times poignant. I'm alternately in stitches or introspective reverie. I've laughed myself to tears over the last couple of hours. Superb text.

WHATCHA SAY, LOSER?

2009-11-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

I absolutely despise trash like Jason Derulo's "Whatcha Say" song. What kind of deluded individual forgives a guy that cheated on her AFTER being caught based on the promise of future, unseen fortune? Have our youth become that materialistic? Have we lost all moral groundings? He actually sings, to the girl, that he'll give her everything she wants after he makes it big. What about INTEGRITY you asshole?! Can you give her that?! I hope my daughter chooses a man for having things that MONEY COULD NEVER BUY!

This just pissed me off. My daughter will value a mate's worth in terms of virtue, not material value. Material fades. Virtue is forever.

Furthermore, this song plays on the ARMY radio station, which is another bone I have to pick. Why tell our fighting men and women that it's okay to live shallow existences, when we're living...nevermind...screw it...sheep are sheep.

how to END THE DRUG WAR TODAY

2009-10-22T17:20:00.000-07:00

I am so tired of hearing about all the law enforcement guys (husbands; sons; fathers) who are dying because of the so-called DRUG WAR. They're getting mowed down in the crossfire. I think all governments should legalize drugs, then the government should sell the drugs pure and for about a $1 per ounce. Those drug cartel bastards and mafia assholes would starve to death. Drug War over. THEN, we could turn our efforts and attention to HELPing those who can't control their drug appetite, instead of trying to JAIL those folks. Our priorities are all f'd up in this country!

STOP COMPLAINING!

2009-10-21T18:19:00.000-07:00

Just watched a documentary about a little girl dying of some weird disease (leprosy-like) in a hospital ward. She can't go out. She can't go home. And she's recently watched all her friends (with similar diseases) die. She's the last one alive. Yet, this little 8-year-old girl is all smiles and loves her Mommy and Nintendo DS. What an amazing example of humanity. What the hell do we have to complain about?

WHY DOES GOD SHUN STEM CELLS?

2009-10-18T14:01:00.000-07:00

What's the big deal with stem cell research? I've been hearing about stem cell research for several years and I'm very knowledgeable about the Bible. I don't see anything in the Bible that would be against the healing possibilities of born-with-it-dangling-from-your-belly stem cells. If I were God, the prominence of the umbilical cord would be my way of bringing attention to stem cells so that mankind could utilize the life-sustaining power in them. I just recently found out that--for years apparently--the Christian church has vehemently opposed stem cell research. Why?

How do you feel about stem cell research?

TRUTH IN ADVERTISING

2009-10-17T16:29:00.001-07:00

Interesting article on the similarities between a Masonic ritual and one that Joseph Smith, apparently, stole from them:
http://packham.n4m.org/mason-endow.htm

I love religion. Don't you? So much changes so often. True Christians believe the Earth is flat. True Christians believe the Earth is round. God teaches the Earth is center of solar system. God made the sun center, just like his Son was center. God says it's okay to have several wives. Nope, now religion teaches that this is immoral and despicable. Jesus hates stem cell research. It can cure cancer? Jesus is okay with that. Jesus says stem cell research is good. Of course, God nor Jesus said any of these things, but you'd think they did cuz that's what the modern church of that time taught. I wonder what fundamental religious beliefs will change tomorrow?

I HATE "SPECIAL" FEATURES

2009-10-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

I hate DVD special features that show the magic behind the making of the movie. This, without fail, leads me to be less enchanted by the films that have so endeared themselves to my imagination so as to become a genuine part of my life experience. An example of this would be JURASSIC PARK. I've seen JP many, many times and can nearly quote the film from Universal Logo to the last credit. It's the first movie that I remember watching in the theatre with my father. I fondly remember my Father joking, as we walked past the Mall's hedge bushes enroute to the parking lot, that I should walk closest to the bushes in case a velociraptor jumped out from the bushes--giving him more time to escape. Remember kids, you don't have to be faster than the bear, just faster than the guy beside you. I read the book (and its sequel) and I wore out the VHS copy that Uncle Wayne and Aunt Becky gave me as a gift. Fast forward 16 years. I recently watched a special feature about the mistakes in Jurassic Park. For example, in the scene where a tyrannasaur is nudging a jeep over a steep cliff [that had just been level ground moments before] there is a visible safety wire keeping the animatronic T-Rex from injuring the actors inside the vehicle. I will never watch Jurassic Park with the same awe, nor will it make me feel like a kid again. Most likely, I will feel like a douche for not noticing that Grant teaches that velociraptors have a long middle claw, when later in the film the claw is clearly shown on the side of the foot. I hate special features. And I vow to never watch one on Hunt for Red October, lest the same fate befall one of my favorite films of all time.

ASININE COMMENT OF THE DAY

2009-10-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

Okay, I love CHICK-FIL-A, I do. When I worked at the JCPenney in the mall, I ate there almost every day. #1 please. I don't know if it's still around now, but they used to have a commercial that said something like we didn't invent the chicken sandwich--we just perfected it, which, I always thought, was rather humorous and witty.

As with many things, the US Military broadcasters on AFN (the Armed Forces Network) are clumsy and unprofessional. Sometimes, they say things that nearly cause an immediate aneurysm in the back of my head. Currently, they play an AFN-Radio commercial several times each day that makes me want to yell obscenities as a way to depressurize my logic before it explodes. The tagline from this commercial wins Asinine Comment of the Day.

The commercial says:
We didn't invent great music, we just perfected it.

You, AFN, are a radio station. You don't do shit but play music. You can't perfect music, because you don't make music. ARGH!!! Stab me in the eye with a spoon!!!

MOST RIDICULOUS HOGWASH EVER

2009-10-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

I have just read the most ridiculous horseshit ever:
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com

This is the most sensationalist bullcrap and people like this are why we're all headed for worldwide destruction at the hands of these mentally unstable fanatics. This mindnumbing idiot accuses everyone from Sarah Palin to Bill Clinton of being a Satanist. Just reading this moron's rantings makes my logical mind ache. Organized religion has created these kooks and I wish both categories would disappear. Go back to the rock you crawled out from under, sir! The use of the word pastor as a description for this piece of excrement is an abomination. He knows the power of the dark and sensational to draw readers/followers, so he exploits that my preaching about the darkside instead of truly uplifting material. To yell and holler about such evil things is to have gotten close to them in your heart. That's why the Bible, that this man perverts, says light has no fellowship with darkness. Thus, since Pastor Texe Marr has fellowshiped with darkness enough to know what to rail against, he then must too be darkness--not unlike that quack BOB LARSON. Hypocrite.

PERCHANCE THE DOG

2009-10-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Another great line from Byron:

What is the worst? Nay do not ask --
In pity from the search forbear:
Smile on -- nor venture to unmask
Man's heart, and view the Hell that's there.

FRINGE

2009-10-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

I really want to love this new show FRINGE. I want to love it because my wife loves it, so I want to enjoy it with her and talk about it with her. And, too, because it comes from the same creative team that gave me a new Star Trek movie that didn't suck!

However, I have the following problems with this new show:
1) The lead character is boring. I'm sorry, I love a good, strong female role, but my wife and I both agree that Anna Torv does not cut it. It's like the show's casting director tried to shoehorn a beautiful face into a serious role. Scully wasn't the perfect body, but she was tough and vulnerable and we loved her. Anna Torv is no Dana Scully. After watching a couple of episodes back-to-back, yesterday, I suddenly became aware that I got slightly irritated as soon as Torv's character (Agent Olivia Dunham) appeared onscreen. I don't care what happens to her character--I'm not emotionally invested in her--I just want to see as much of the three lab rats as I can. Peter (Joshua Jackson), Walter (John Noble), and Asteroid (Jasika Nicole) far outshine Torv's impression of Claire Forlani--if I wanted to see Claire Forlani's facial mannerisms, I'd watch Claire Forlani--and they consistently steal the show. If it wasn't for those characters, I would've stopped watching long ago.

2) The focus, of each episode, is on the investigation of that particular episode, whether it be a death or crime. This is not what is interesting about the show. The FRINGE science is what's interesting about the show and why people are watching. But the wacko science is taking a backseat to crappy plots that are uninvolving for the audience. WTF are these guys thinking? I don't care who kidnapped the woman and turned her into some morbid piece of artwork--I can watch that on CSI--what I care about is the little boy who mysteriously knows when and where the killer will strike. The show is highlighting the wrong part of the plot to be worthy of watching! They need to differentiate themselves from every other investigation TV show. I don't want to watch another CSI--I was happy with the Las Vegas crew--I want to watch a continuation of the mysterious ideas and otherworldly fun of shows like the X-FILES, THRESHOLD, or TWILIGHT ZONE.

3) The cool possibilities of humanity, which I have long daydreamed about in my heart of hearts, is made common and everyday--explainable--in this series. We were wowed when Scott's consciousness was first transferred into Dunham's mind. The six subsequent times that she went into the tank became ordinary and, frankly, boring. If she goes in one more time, I think my inteligence will be so insulted, that I might just poop in my hand and throw it at the TV screen just to prove that I'm more evolved than the show's creative staff. What's worse is that she goes into this iron tank filled with water, but Walter simply performs a normal, ordinary hypnosis on her...what the bleeping point of the tank, if she's just going to be hypnotized by a quack doctor?!

The only saving grace of this show is that my wife loves it and that it asks some great questions. Some of these questions, I have pondered for many years, myself. For example, the Bible story God giving Adam dominion over all creation raised the thought that Adam might have been able to travel between solar systems and universes at the speed of thought, so that he could keep an eye on all creation. So, as a teenager, I began to wonder, do we all still have this power? Have we simply forgotten how to use it because we've convinced ourselves that we're limited by human existence? This almost exact same question was brought up in FRINGE. A doctor posits that we are born with infinite possibility and, as we grow and are taught limitations, that knowledge, as it were, actually does limit us. I think of this like an elephant tied to a small stick stuck in the ground. The elephant's trainer teaches the elephant that being tied down keeps the elephant from moving--later, though the elephant is tethered to the smallest of objects, the elephant refuses to attempt escape knowing that it cannot.

I have long wanted to write a book based on this idea, but never have because I thought it wasn't viable. It kills me that someone else has taken this same idea and profited from it. Missed opportunity. See, I limited myself.

UPDATE: I just watched the final episode of season 1 and I take it all back; FRINGE is the greatest show on Earth. The very last scene of season 1 was such an amazing shock that I--literally--jumped out of my seat and screamed--much to my wife's chagrin! My wife, who recognized the individual who caused my reaction, felt that I was being overly dramatic. But, consider this: I had been sitting through every boring episode just to enjoy it with my wife. I hated this series. Great questions, boring plots. And, finally, this unexpected shock happens and I feel like a teenager again! It was awesome! So, no my lovely wife, it was not over-reacting. It was like unexpectedly seeing my favorite Uncle with a starring role in my favorite TV show!!! IT WAS AWESOME!!! Few things in life give you a genuine euphoria. Thank you, JJ Abrams, for giving me exactly that!!!

WHY GAY MARRIAGE IS WRONG

2009-10-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

from an email that i wholeheartedly agree with. i've taken the liberty of making a few wording adjustments.

The Top Ten Reasons Why Gay Marriage is Wrong:

1. Homosexuality is not natural. Real people always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, air conditioning, and McDonald's.

2. Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall, or being around women will make you effeminate.

3. Legalising gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behaviour. People may even wish to marry their pets because, as we all know, animals have legal standing and can sign marriage contracts.

4. Heterosexual marriage has been around a long time and hasn’t changed at all; women are still property, and interracial marriages are forbidden.

5. Straight marriage will be less meaningful if homosexual marriage were allowed. The sanctity of Britney Spears’ 55-hour just-for-fun marriage to her boy-toy would be utterly destroyed.

6. Heterosexual marriages are valid because they produce children. Homosexual couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn’t be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren’t full enough yet, and the world needs more children.

7. Obviously, gay parents will raise gay children--just like straight parents only raise straight children.

8. Gay marriage is not supported by religion, which is absolutely necessary in a nation founded on freedom from religious tyranny. Remember that whole thing with King George III and the Church of England?

9. Children can never succeed without both male and female role models at home. That’s why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

10. Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven’t adapted to cars, urban development, or longer life spans.

NOTES:
-I have international readers. If English is not your native language, this blog post is very sarcastic.

-A final note on the presumed sanctity of heterosexual marriage: The Barna Research Group--and this data has been verified by Christian researchers seeking to debunk it--the divorce rate among Christians is more than 27%, which is higher than any other religious group in America.

VIEWPOINTS

2009-10-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

I have different views from many of those around me. I'm not politically correct by any means, but I have a very liberal take on what's societally acceptable. I like to describe myself as a financial conservative, social liberal. Which, to me, means that I like small government that keeps its hands out of my pot, and I like to let people live their lives without any commentary from me on how they should live them. Speaking of social commentary, I also dislike, greatly, organized religion, which has perverted what Christ himself called true religion: taking care of the widows and orphans. People can live just fine without religion. It is religious ideology that has convinced more than half the world that we're all headed toward doomsday...which, I believe, will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I worry for the world my children are inheriting.

A STORY: UNTITLED

2009-10-07T00:07:00.000-07:00

a creative-writing piece I wrote for a contest that was sponsored by my [Catholic] university library in early '07:

A man and his wife were abducted by terrorists while traveling through South America. After several sleepless days spent tied up and blindfolded, the terrorists, who were having second thoughts about killing a pregnant woman, decided to give the man an opportunity to earn his wife's freedom. This plan would allow the highly religious terrorists to let the pregnant woman go, without losing face.
They came into the husband's cell and told him that if he could make it through their gauntlet of torture, they would let his wife go free, unharmed. The man agreed immediately and the terrorists gave the couple a few last moments alone together. The two professed their undying love and held each other tightly. The man promised to do whatever was asked of him in order to save her. The woman, slightly doubting that the deal her husband had made with the terrorists would be honored, swore to love, respect, and honor her husband's memory and cherish his sacrifice, if she did indeed somehow make it out alive. "See you on the other side," she said to him as they came and led him away. "I love you, honey. You were my reason for living," the brave man said, "and my reason for dying." He dared to smile at the severe, impending truth of that last comment as he looked back at her. The terrorists did not push him or force him--he walked under his own power.
The woman could see into the large room they took her husband into through a good-sized hole in the concrete wall of her make-shift prison. She watched as he was beaten--raising not a finger in defense--stabbed, shot, and brutalized before he was finally soaked in fuel. The terrorist who was filming the whole bloody affair reached into his pocket and tossed the doomed man his lighter. The terrorists retreated out of harm's way. They kept filming as the loving husband and father of three--soon to be four--lit a fire that would burn in the memories of those twelve terrorists for the rest of their lives. Nearly disbelieving what they had just witnessed, the terrorists seemed to realize that they would not get any value out of showing the tape; however, they were so struck by the man's unwavering determination to save his wife that they felt they should give the tape to the wife. Only those who were present in that room witnessed this man die, and only those same twelve terrorists witnessed what happened next.
Having put out the flames, true to their word, the men released the wife. Rubbing her wrists where the ropes had been, she walked over to her husband's charred remains, stared a moment at his gruesome sacrifice, then spit hatefully in the place where his face had been. Then, as the shocked terrorists looked on in befuddlement, the woman said, "that just wasn't good enough, John." The terrorists, themselves disgusted with the woman's behavior, pulled the videotape from the camcorder and handed it to the wife. After returning home, the woman hid the tape in her closet and never talked about the incident with anyone.
Years later, one of those terrorists heard the message of Jesus Christ and believed. He is now a minister in a small country church in Chile. I will never forget the image of that man struggling to get my faulty lighter to light. It was his determination to die--so that his wife might live--that so overwhelmed me. He never once resisted. He murdered himself for his love. I sometimes tell the story in my church; always using, of course, the third person. I want people to see that each of us is just as despicable as that precious man's wife. Each of us have knowledge of Christ's great sacrifice and, instead of honoring His death through our lives, we have shoved that Bible so far into our closet and clamped our mouths so tight that probable hundreds around us will die and go to Hell because we failed to simply pass on the message of a husband (Christ) who made the ultimate sacrifice for His wife (the Church) because of which freedom (from sin) is attainable.

KINDRED SPIRITS

2009-10-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

I have fully become a facebook fan. When I visited the website, at my brother's urge, several years ago, I was unimpressed by the plain structure and lack of...well, pazazz. Now, I love it. I love it because of its simplicity. I can keep up with friends and not have to go to great lengths to make my "profile" look like a veritable smorgasbord. Plus, you can find friends from any time or place in your lifetime. You're obviously not going to talk to them on a daily basis, but it's nice to know that you can drop them a line (or vice versa) whenever the whim comes upon you. I recently found a friend from New York that I'd only met online and had several conversations with more than a decade ago. It's amazing. The conversations picked up almost exactly where they left off and the connection seems to not have faded. I guess the chemistry between true kindred spirits, as Anne Shirley put it, is universal and timeless.

PS: L.A.W., you're a true friend.

WORDS CUT DEEP

2009-10-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

In an email response to a friend:

You're right [about words cutting deep], so I told Jordan, "nothing hurts you worse than talking about breaking up or getting a divorce, so when I'm really in a corner and/or losing an argument, I pull that out." Now, that I've said that to her--in essence, exposed my secret weapon--I expect it won't work anymore. So, I won't be tempted to say that stupid crap again. I'm glad we talked about the issues with your ex-ex-boyfriend because I [used to] think about going back to my ex for the sake of our son. Maybe you can never really get over the split; I didn't think about that. Maybe once it's over, it's over--even if you try to fix it. Well, Jordan and I are perfectly happy--at least once a day. We're not happy all day every day, but once a day we're perfectly happy. (I think I heard that once in a Sex and the City episode.) Anyway, arguments suck and I hope I've learned my lesson about what is acceptable and unacceptable to say/talk about. Love ya. Talk to ya later!

WEIRD DREAM

2009-10-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

I just woke up from a dream in which a racist bigot was demeaning some porn stars.

Now, I have long felt that some people do some things, which are utterly disgusting to me, but that since everybody does something that is disgusting to somebody, we should all be accepting and loving to all people--and try to steer clear of the things that gross us out, when possible.

From what I can remember, in the dream, my wife and I were turning onto this dirt road when the big red old Ford truck I was driving shut off. As I tried to turn the key and hold the clutch down and pull the choke, I suddenly realized that I was getting close to a white supremacist's house. With my Korean wife in the passenger seat, I got worried. A couple of men who had all been standing around laughing at what the old kook was yelling, came to help me with the truck. I felt like I knew them all. One guy came up to the driver's side window and said something like, "don't worry for your wife none, he's crazy in the head, but he's harmless." I don't know how, but I became aware that the old man was yelling for some people to be brought to him to be put on the "rack." In the dream, there was this four-tier-high rack which held about three naked bodies across. The rack, I think, was made of old crushed cars. Every other body was a naked porn star (including one or two males also) and every other spot was empty and the old man was yelling to get the people to fill those spaces. The empty spaces were not to be filled by porn stars, but, I think, local teenage criminals. Suddenly, after not getting what he wanted, the old man began yelling demeaning words at the porn stars and how they were all stupid and morally corrupt. At this time, one of the male porn stars got off this weird rack-display-thingy and yelled back at the old man. From my truck, which had started now, I wanted to yell, "racism is increasingly unacceptable over the world, while porn-actors are becoming increasingly acceptable," but I woke up.
What is wrong with me?
Do you ever have screwy dreams like this?

NEW BABY. NEW FEAR.

2009-10-03T00:02:00.000-07:00

As my wife is pregnant for the third time, I feel joy giving way to a feeling of doom. Could this be our third miscarriage or our first victory? At this point, I would welcome a child of any mental or physical limitation. I just want to hold life anew in my arms and say, "this is ours--we did this." I want to hold my baby to the sky and speak those immortal Kinte words, "behold, the only thing greater than yourself." What will we do if we lose this precious one? I don't know.

I also wonder what changes I need to make in my life to be a good Father. Worries about life. Finance. Education. Love. Quality time. Social awareness. Self awareness. So many things a Parent must juggle. How did my Parents do so?

I WANT TO GROW OLD

2009-10-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

I want to grow old and be that wise old fart to the local youngsters. I'm so sick and tired of seeing old people trying to be or act young. If everyone is 65 going on 18, then who can our young people look up to? I want to be the wise old man that everyone looks up to. Our society will perish, morally, if old people don't take their role seriously, if young people do not respect their elders, and if people like me remain silent.

REMEMBRANCE

2009-10-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

I hate poetry. Let's get that out there first and foremost. My wife is taking a class for which she must read the poems of George Gordon Byron--more famously known as Lord Byron. Reading his poetry is much more enjoyable than my previous expeditions into this literary genre as it is logical, yet whimsical. All other poetry that I have ever come across in courses of literature or English have been whimsical to the point of absurdity and utterly impossible to follow. Lord Byron's poem that most impresses me, to date, is one entitled "REMEMBRANCE." As I'm sure this is public domain, since the guy died in the early 1800's, I've reprinted it here (below) for your reading pleasure. Now, this is not my favorite Lord Byron poem because it strikes a particular chord within me, but simply because it caused an emotional reaction--sadness and despair. One could hardly ask more from a piece of entertainment (literature, movie, or otherwise) than to make you FEEL.

REMEMBRANCE

'Tis done! -- I saw it in my dreams;
No more with Hope the future beams;
My days of happiness are few:
Chill'd by misfortune's wintry blast,
My dawn of life is overcast;
Love, Hope, and Joy, alike adieu!
Would I could add Remembrance too?

What a depressing image. The man--who has accepted that he'll never have Love, Hope, or Joy in his life--also wishes that he could never again remember the times when he did have those things because missing them, in my humble estimation, is the hardest thing.

RECOMMENDATION: GODZILLA

2009-09-30T21:16:00.000-07:00

There's a new GODZILLA movie out on Netflix.com, which is where I rent all my movies from. Netflix has a nice little feature, which recommends movies to you based on your interest in watching similar movies or your previous enjoyment of similar films. GODZILLA: FINAL WARS (2004) has [in the last week] been recommended to me via this feature. So, as I always do, I looked at why Netflix recommended this particular movie to me.

"NETFLIX RECOMMENDED THIS MOVIE BECAUSE YOU ENJOYED:
-Shaolin Soccer
-Drunken Master
-Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker"

At first, this didn't strike me as odd. I scrolled down to look at the other SCI-FI genre (of which this new GODZILLA belongs) recommendations. Suddenly, like an aneurysm, it hit me. GODZILLA: FINAL WARS was recommended to me because I liked a Chinese soccer comedy, a Chinese kung-fu comedy, and a dark, brooding, American comic-book animation TV show. I had an immediate WTF?! moment. WTF do these three films have to do with a Japanese monster (distinctly different from a Chinese monster) fighting technilogically enhanced evil humans?

Of course, if I end up loving the dang GODZILLA movie, after all, I'm going to have to take back everything I've just written. Hell, who knows how those Netflix geniuses decide which movies are similar to others. Maybe they have some amazing matrix that...naaa! They're just too lazy to check their database to make sure that their recommendations are accurate.
Customer service is dead.
Maybe it was killed by Godzilla.

FINGERNAILS OF DEATH

2009-09-27T03:42:00.000-07:00

Why do I always forget to cut my fingernails? It's not like they're easy to forget. I use them a hundred thousand times each day. But every time I think, geez, these babies are getting too long, I realize that the snips are in another room and I'm too lazy to get them. You know what else bothers me? Milk. I never remember to get milk. And I never remember to check how much milk is left BEFORE I pour my Frosted Flakes. So, I always find out that we're in desperate need of more cow juice when I've already poured a huge-normous bowl of Tony's Goodness and then only 15 drops of milk fall from the milk carton, which is not enough to eat the flakes, but is enough to ruin them so that I can't pour 'em back into the box. ARGH! Another thing I'm always forgetting is my Military ID card, which I need to get on post. I also need it to log on to my office computer. So, there I am, waiting in line to get to the front gate, when I suddenly remember that I've left my friggin' ID card at home. So, I turn around angrily, which this close to the gate makes me feel like a terrorist who's changed his mind, and I rush home like a crazy person, pissing off 20+ other drivers and yelling at myself. I get home and realize that my ID is in my car, which I was just in, over the sunvisor. Thirty minutes of constantly berating myself later, I finally get to my office. I try to calm down, I put my card into the computer's card reader and wait for the computer to boot up. My blood pressure has receded. My nerves are calm. Then, I begin to type and my unsnipped fingernails keep hitting the keys! ARGH!!!

I AM MEGAN FOX

2009-09-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

Just took a WHICH STARLET ARE YOU quiz on facebook. Found out that I'm very much like MEGAN FOX, which doesn't surprise me. I answered the questions in the most manly way I could, expecting to find myself in league with the likes of ROSIE O'DONNELL at best. But, considering MEGAN FOX's personality, this makes sense. That girl is a man in the body of a hot chick!!!

PS: For those of you who don't know, MEGAN FOX is SHIA LABEOUF's love interest in the TRANSFORMERS movies.

THE COLOR PURPLE

2009-09-23T06:39:00.000-07:00

Just finished watching the color purple. I laughed. I cried. I hated Danny Glover. This movie is an absolute masterpiece! And should be watched by every American today, since we have gotten away from the values espoused in this film...namely, taking responsibility for your actions; damn the consequences. The film also, rightly, shows just how much life can suck, sometimes, and that we have no power over this. So, then, what can we do? Suck it up and move on. "I may be poor, I may be black, Hell, I may even be ugly, but I'm here."

AS-SALAAM ("THE BESTOWER OF PEACE")

2009-09-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

السلام عليكم,

Since I was a small boy, I have fantasized about being a Father and have long loved contemplating unique names for my future children. For example, my firstborn's name is a nod to the name JESUS CHRIST--the paramount amalgamation of the historical hero story. For my next child, I've thought to remain in the Hebrew vein with names like ENOCH (an unassumingly righteous man) or YESHUA (a common Hebrew name that equals the Greek, "Jesus"). I've also considered names that would show a connection to South Korea, my wife's native country: SEOUL (the pure-Korean name for the capital city), COREA (a feminine spelling of KOREA), HANEUL (Korean for "sky"), or HANA (Korean for "God", literally "the one"). I've even considered giving my next child a family name or just naming the child what I want my child to become, i.e. "SCHOLAR". But, recently, I have searched Arabic names as a balance to the Hebrew name we've given my first born. I would love to use some form of the word "Salaam", which means "peace" and is the equivalent of the Jewish "shalom". The name ABSALOM is Hebrew for "Father of Peace" and the Arabic AS-SALAAM means "Bestower of Peace" and is one of the names of ALLAH. (Perhaps an equivalent of Christ being called the Prince of Peace.) Anyway, the hunt continues. Any PEACEful suggestions?

Oddly enough, as I was looking for Salaam-esque names, I came across this great Muslim video by Shaikh Abu Ameenah concerning The Names of Allah--specifically AS-SALAAM, which was exactly the kind of thing I was looking for.

Shordan
"As-Salaam Alaikum"

ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL

2009-09-21T00:03:00.000-07:00

Ever feel like you're just spinning your wheels in soft mud? Like you're working really friggin' hard, but you just keep getting covered in more and more shit? Well, of course you have. Everyone has! So, I just have to keep quoting to myself that famed phrase of Christian scripture, "this too shall pass."

It's difficult to make a choice [about your life and its direction] that is unpopular but one that you feel is the correct one. In the Army, I'm always telling my Soldiers to choose the hard right over the easy wrong. But this tenet is heart-breaking to live by. Why? Because it takes a certain amount of self-confidence and pride. First, you have to be confident that your choice is the right one. Then, you have to have the pride to stand up for it despite hurtful words by well-meaning loved ones who will stop at nothing to make you change your mind. This, of course, includes hurtful, even damning, words spoken in frustration by the closest members of your family, when you've failed to budge from your perch high atop I'm-doing-the-right-thing-leave-me-alone mountain.

I've recently come to better appreciate patience, which is sometimes called a virtue. Living abroad, at the moment, I've discovered an interesting phenomena that we, in the United States, could scarcely fathom. It is the traveling of a child (ages 7 and up) to an English-speaking country for educational purposes. Let's face it, Britain's far-reaching influence has made English the global language and studying in Britain, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand greatly furthers the marketability of a child's future labor. So, the dutiful Father stays in the home country working hard and sending money to the Mother, who has accompanied the child to the caucasian motherland of choice to do the cooking and cleaning, so that the child can focus solely on study. The separation is excruciating, but necessary in the minds of the Parents, who feel that their pain is less important than the child's future success. If you boil it down, it reminds one of those MARTY STOUFFER films where the Mother animals push baby out of the nest for the good of baby.

I've been fighting this fight with my Mom for quite some time now. I haven't seen her since I was shipped out to Korea {c/o THE UNITED STATES ARMY} in mid-August 2006. (More than three years.) She refuses to believe how much I long to be near her. However, as you may have guessed, I've made an unpopular decision that, I feel, is right for me and my family--the details of which I shant recount here. Suffice it to say that I have used my time, in Korea, wisely and completed two Bachelors and started work on a Masters. All the while, building a strong resume of on-the-job experience and [the much sought after] military background. Unfortunately, I sometimes still feel like I'm getting nowhere fast. I've got degrees and changed from the fickle boy that left home into a self-aware man, who fulfills obligations and takes responsibility, but I feel like I'm just getting covered in more and more proverbial shit. I haven't made very much outwardly visable progress and, let's be honest, that's really all that counts [to others], since it is observable and measurable.

What about you? Are you still working that same job that 10 years ago you swore was a temporary means to an end? Also, and I know there's comfort in knowing that your children are at home, around the roost, but is this good for the child? When should one cut the umbilical cord? When did your Parents cut yours? Or have they?

Shordan

PS: When I first started writing this blog, it was supposed to be a self-loathing rant; however, that song "ALL FOR ONE" by BRYAN ADAMS, ROD STEWART, and STING began playing and it completely changed my attitude to the I-CAN-DO-IT, I-CAN-BEAT-THIS variety. Not bad for a song from a Disney movie--THE THREE MUSKETEERS. Even more interesting, the MP3 was on "shuffle." It reminds me of something CLINT BLACK once sang, "Ain't it funny how a melody can...completely change your state of mind."

KANYE WEST IS DEAD...TO ME

2009-09-20T06:09:00.000-07:00

Kanye West. What a complete loser, in every sense of the word. He interrupted an award show in Europe and one in America to rush the stage and rant about his own agenda.

If he did that in Korea, he'd be banned from TV and radio for years. But, in America, you can show your vagina or beat up your girlfriend (i.e. Rihanna) and profit from the media buzz you create. In other countries, the citizens would be so outraged that they would boycott his albums and any TV shows he might appear on. Even if they like the music, they refuse--as one big group--to support bad behavior. And the saddest thing, to me, is that one day countries like Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines will become so Westernized that these morals may be completely lost to history. Hypocritical Christianity has already destroyed the moral core of the West--mainly by causing a backlash of indecency--so, when Asia goes, the whole of humanity will be devoid of morality.

As for me and my house, we will not watch/listen to/support Kanye West nor those of his ilk.

SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN

2009-09-19T03:16:00.000-07:00

For all Christians, Muslims, Catholics, and Mormons who live and love by the standards they believe, the following does not apply:

I am sick and tired of Christians, specifically, who talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. Now, this wouldn't be so bad if these guys didn't judge every single person they come in contact with like they're John Marshall reincarnated! Lately, these judgmental hypocrites have pushed me so far over the edge of reasonable tolerance that I may never step foot in a church ever again. They make me want to use the strongest language possible to describe my disdain for them. But, of course, I don't because that would be stooping to their subhuman level. What are we, as human beings, if we cannot be understanding of others' feelings and perspectives? Must we always be right?! Jeez!

-Shordan

PS: I love both the Kristofferson and Cash versions of Sunday Morning Coming Down. Great, great song!

ARE WE KILLING OURSELVES?

2009-09-18T02:17:00.000-07:00

When will we, as human beings, stop hurting each other? We have become masters of war and hatred, instead of lovers of history, art, knowledge, and understanding. Peace and hope are spoken of by only those naive enough to dream--these poors souls are rewarded with scorn and disdain. "Stop dreaming, treehugger! Welcome to reality!" Why has peace become something divided by party line? How can not everyone want health and knowledge for their children and for their neighbors' children? If this is the fate we've chosen for ourselves, I hope to die before the end we've created. Sometimes, I feel like society is my friend who is dying of alcoholism and drug addiction. He knows that only sobriety can extend his already shortened life, but even staring into the eyes of his self-fashioned demise, he cannot stop himself from taking the poison that is killing him. We are doing exactly this and I don't want to be around to watch ourselves disintegrate into putrifaction. Another way that I look at it is that our pride is killing us. Every government has to have the most land, the biggest toys, the secretest agenda. Maybe, rock'n'roll was right...

Is it better to burn out than to fade away?

DELUSIONAL YOUTH

2009-09-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

A 12-year-old boy just broke the Guiness World Record for High Score on the video game ROCK STAR, now in its fifth edition, which requires the youngster to tap fret buttons with one hand and string buttons with the other. In order to reach this level of achievement, he has played hundreds of hours on the game at home. When asked, by CNN, why he hasn't learned to play the REAL guitar, the boy replied, "I tried, but you have to strum and hit notes and it takes too long to learn." Yeah. Our society is going to Hell in a handbasket for not heeding warnings--like those devilishly self-absorbed children described in the book CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY--and allowing our offspring to become these mindless zombies. Darwin would cry. Survival of the poorest (AKA those who had to go outside to seek fun and adventure) will be tomorrow's reality. How have we let our children become this self-deluded?!

I also heard that three boys were kicked out of a minor league baseball game, in June of this year, for not standing during God Bless America. Hell, I'd have kicked them out, too! But, no. This is America. Land of the I'll-do-what-I-want-thank-you-very-much. These boys are suing that their constitutional rights were violated. The idea of "constitutional rights" has become a parody of itself, used by the most flippant abusers of the phrase in terms of its original intent.

What do you think? Are our children become the evil spawn of our innermost ignorance?

CELEBRITY ROLE MODELS. AN OXYMORON?

2009-09-16T00:59:00.000-07:00

My wife's September issue of COSMOPOLITAN just arrived in the mail. If you're thinking, "that's a bit late, since the October issue is already on stands," well, that's because the mail is slow to arrive over here. Or not. My Netflix.com DVDs come in three days. So, it would only stand to reason that my wife's fashion magazines are consistently 3 to 4 weeks late! No?! Well that's makes perfect [Army] logic.

Anyhoo, my wife may never actually see this issue. "Why?", you ask. Because KRISTEN MFin BELL is on the cover! I don't care what anyone says, I love her! I would take VERONICA MFin MARS, herself, over ANGELINA JOLIE any day of the week! And, of course, I would take my wife over any of them!

The funny thing is that BELL has been in several other shows and movies--I've never seen them. I've never seen her in anything other than VERONICA MARS. That's because I don't watch TV. I watch DVDs, but not many of the more popular shows or blockbusters. I like to watch off-beat stuff or indie films. I like discovering sleepers for myself. I'm sorry, I started to ramble there. Where was I? Oh yeah, VERONICA MFin MARS. The character that KRISTEN MFin BELL plays is smart, witty, and beautiful in an unassuming way. In other words, my dream girl--when I was in high school anyway. So, while I'm very happily married and would never dream of having any naughty thoughts about another woman--even a celebrity--I am enamored with the diamond in the rough that KRISTEN MFin BELL represents to me. It's like just seeing her brings out the teenager in me. Watching VERONICA MARS makes me feel 17 all over again. Which is funny since BELL is my exact same age, playing someone who is nearly 10 years younger than we actually are.

In a world where many of our stars and celebrities are devoid of morality and fail to add any intelligence to the dialogue of human history, it's nice to have celebrities like 19-year-old TAYLOR SWIFT who have, at least until now, kept above the fray and are true role models to our youth. KRISTEN BELL's VERONICA MARS is such a character.

What about you? Who's your favorite celebrity/character?

POWERHOUSE (1-1)

2009-09-15T00:18:00.000-07:00

My football team is 1-1 after last night's fiasco against our rivals. We lost 14-0. They scored two touchdowns in the first half, before we caught our stride and held them to a second half goose egg. But our offense was stifled as well. I saw that the excellent leadership we have was overwhelmed by trying to be coach and player. This is too difficult! So, I stepped up to the challenge. I stayed up last night writing simple plays that can be used over and over simply by changing the receiver. I talked to the team and I'm now the coach. I also held a short practice today to go over plays and see if I should make any changes to the ones I drew up. To my surprise, the team was really happy with the play designs and made only one change with regards to a receiver's route. I am excited about tomorrow night's game! My plays will be put to the test. My fingers are crossed!

SHELFARI

2009-09-14T04:20:00.000-07:00

How cool is this! In a web full of pointless, mindless gadgets and widgets, I've finally found one I actually LIKE! See my new SHELFARI bookshelf on the right? It's the most perfect widget ever created--to date. I can now show off my favorite book selections of all time! And, of course, the textbooks for any current courses--which, right now, include: Natural Hazards and Disasters and Disaster Medicine. For an avid reader, it doesn't get much better!

For the sake of clarity, here are my top favorite books of all time (at this time):

1) Euclid's Window by Leonard Mlodinow
This book changed my life. Forever.

2) Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
I was 13 years old. It blew my mind. I read this book all night long--on a school night--because I couldn't put it down. I was exhausted from reading all night, but I was exhilarated and hungry for more. I read LOST WORLD immediately after and loved it almost as much as the first. I was, subsequently, very pissed off at the 2nd and 3rd movies, as they both took parts of LOST WORLD's plot, but were not true to it.

3) Raise the Titannic by Clive Cussler
First man movie I ever watched with my father. An avid fan of Clive Cussler, my father wouldn't shut up about this book, when I was a kid. I read it, for myself, and had to agree with him. It's one of the best. Too bad Cussler has been overshadowed by Tom Clancy due to the success of Clancy's books-to-film (i.e. Hunt for Red October; Patriot Games) and the, relative, failure of Cussler's (Raise the Titannic; Sahara).

4) Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery
This is, without a doubt, one of the most beloved books of all time. I've read it several times. It is probably on EVERYONE's top ten list.

5) Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy
I've actually never read this book. But I've stared at the cover of it every time I go into a library or bookstore. I love the movie so much--it's possibly my all-time top favorite, or close--that I can't bring myself to read the novel.

6) Klimt by Alfred Weidinger
This is another book that I haven't read a damn word of. But I own it. The book is full of Klimt's paintings. How could one ever pull herself away from the glorious art to read simple words?

7) First Blood by David Morrell
This book is very, very well written. It is amazing! A cheezy movie and even cheesier sequels damaged its reputation, but this book is awesome! I read it in 2008 and it totally renewed my faith in surprises! I'm jaded. I thought surprises were only to be had in youth. This book surprised me and I read it feverishly until the excellent ending! A true page-turner!

8) Animal Farm by George Orwell
I read this in September 2009. It was short and it lived up to the hype, despite my misgivings about reading it. Another wonderful literary surprise!

9) Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley
Tarnished by the fact that Alex Haley plaigarized others and lied his ass off, this book's reputation has taken a beating. However, it is truly a masterpiece! And it began a cultural revolution of blacks seeking their African ancestry (or "roots"). If Haley had just been honest and said "this is how it might have happened" and sold the book as fiction, Roots would be even more revered than it is, despite Haley's ego. The book is amazing and well-written. The masterful telling of the story of young Kunta Kinte's journey into manhood should be required reading for every man alive before the age of 12. After reading the book (September 2009), I tried to watch the mini-series. What a disappointment. I'm sure it was greatly entertaining in the early 80's, but [other than watching a young Jeordi LaForge] it stunk. I turned it off before the first episode had finished.

FICKLE BREAKFASTER

2009-09-13T07:49:00.000-07:00

I bought some of that gotta-really-actually-cook-it oatmeal.
It's still in the box.
When I bought it, at night, I was motivated.
"Sweet!"said I. "I shall make for myself a real breakfast. No more of this fake, instant crap."
But I'm not that motivated at 7am.
"Sweet!" said I. "I've still got some packets of instant oatmeal. I don't have to bother with this cook-it-yerself oatmeal crap."

TALKING CRAP

2009-09-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

How ridiculously silly are community sites going to become with these "update the world about your life right now" comments. TWITTER, of course, being the most useless of these.
Here's my latest TWITTER quote:
"I've been pooping a lot lately. I think it's the shit-ton of vegetable-based soup I've been eating, here in Korea."
Um, yeah, I know this is gross. But what are these sites for anyway, if not for sharing the most personal details?
"Listening to City of Angels soundtrack. Crying like a 13 year old girl in 1998. I'm so gay."
If it doesn't further the cause of human understanding or, at least, have some academic value, what's the point?

9/11

2009-09-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

It is impossible to forget the sacrifices of those who were unknowing victims of the attack, nor the sacrifices of those who knowingly went into battle to avenge the loss. Today is the 8th anniversary of the [al Qaeda] attacks on the Pentagon, Flight 93, and the World Trade Center. I think it's appropriate to mark the day by remembering where I was when it happened.

I had just taken a late morning shower and was getting ready for something--I can't remember if it was university or work. The TV was on, but the sound was off. When I sat down to put on my socks, the screen was focused on a smoking skyscraper--at the time, I wouldn't have known the WTC from any other tall building--and the words LIVE: PLANE CRASH AT WLC, or words to that effect, were in bold. Intrigued, I turned up the volume to find out what was going on. Soon after, the second plane hit and I was terrified. I knew we were under attack on a large scale. I watched the ensuing chaos for several more minutes, then drove to my girlfriend's house. There, I watched the news for the rest of the day. That night, as I sat in the swing, outside, fighter jets flew checkered patterns in the skies over South Carolina. It was an amazing sight and I felt like World War III was starting. Of course, the insanity seemed to subside quickly and a month later, in October, we attacked Afghanistan's ruling Taliban.

Though the memories have faded and will fade further, we should never forget those who've died. I am adamantly anti-war, but will never devalue the human lives lost in the earnest attempt to secure freedom and fair-government for those in desperate need of normality. While democracy cannot and will not work for all, fair government should be the right of all who inhabit this planet with us. To that end, I hope we will never back down in fear from those who would deny it.

THE GETTING OF WISDOM*

2009-09-10T14:56:00.000-07:00

Still drunk from last night. PT kicked my butt this morning. Drinking coffee and licking my wounds. Wish I hadn't'a said what I said last night. Sometimes, LOVE IS knowing what hurts your partner and choosing NOT to say it. Guess I need to learn to love more.

* Title changed per suggestion for Geoff.

TED IS DEAD

2009-08-26T01:52:00.000-07:00

Senator Ted Kennedy died today. His family released a statement saying, "We've lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever." I don't want to take anything away from their family's loss and current pain, but the choice of words--"irreplaceable center"--struck me. It is a parent's duty to raise children who can step in and replace the parent as the center of the family at a moment's notice. This is done through leadership and mentorship. If the Honorable Ted Kennedy is truly irreplaceable, in those regards, then he was a poor family man.

Nothing is more important than family.

2,800 MOVIES

2009-08-25T23:41:00.000-07:00

I have watched over 2,800 movies.
[I rate every movie I've seen on IMDb and NETFLIX.]
I don't know whether to be proud or embarrassed.
I don't play outdoors enough.

WLC LESSON #1

2009-08-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

I've graduated WLC with a GPA of 92.8;
barely missing the Commandant's List.

The #1 lesson learned was:
ADMIT NOTHING,
DENY EVERYTHING,
AND MAKE COUNTER-ACCUSATIONS!

WARRIOR LEADER COURSE

2009-07-06T01:15:00.000-07:00

I'm off to learn me sumfin about this here man's military.
I'll be back the second week in August.
Try not to miss me too much!

:)

IT'S NOT ABOUT ME

2009-07-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

This morning, I was thinking about how much of my life is spent thinking about things that either don't matter or won't matter for long. I was thinking that I needed to be more diligent in focusing on the big picture and less on my personal comfort. My wife and my son are my responsibility. Responsibilities that I chose and want! I need to stop thinking about what I want and don't want--although there is a place for those concerns--but I should think more about the current and future needs of my family.
This life is not about ME.
It's about them.

4 JULY 2009

2009-07-04T04:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Judah,
Today was INDEPENDENCE DAY!
I spent the day thinking of you.
This distance is killing me.
I daydreamed about grilling hotdogs and burgers with your mom and our "diversified" family.
But it was just a dream.
You are so far away.
But always in the forefront of my mind.
I miss you.
I love you.
-Love Dad

SHUSH! QUIET IN THE LIBRARY!

2009-07-03T01:52:00.000-07:00

I was cleaning out my office, prepping for the next four weeks. While I'm at this month-long school, I don't want my office to be in disarray--someone might need to go in there and I don't want to be embarrassed.
My wife calls from the library.
She's studying there.
She wants to eat.
There was some miscommunication on the exact time.
She got impatient and ate alone.
I finished at my office and wanted to eat before I went on my next errand.
I called her to eat.
She had already eaten.
I yelled into the phone, "I don't care! Meet me outside now!"
I made her sit and watch me eat.
At Subway, I had a 6-inch, Veggie Delight, on Honey Oat.
And a Sprite.
She was pissed.
I was pissed.
We walked stoicly from the Food Court back to the Library.
I told her she should have called before she ate alone.
"Tell me exactly what you want! Don't make me guess!" I angrily mumbled, trying not to make a scene.
"Your problem is that you're selfish and lazy! I have a test this weekend! You should've done whatever it took to facilitate my study! Don't come pick me up from the library tonight! I don't want to see your face."
With that, she turned up the stairwell and walked toward the library entrance.
"Don't make me come up there and make a big scene in that g**d*mned library!" I yelled, half-heartedly.
Just as she disappeared into the library, I stormed up the stairwell--taking care to be as loud as possible. (Although, I skipped every other step so as to not be too loud for too long. I didn't want to disturb other readers.)
As I reached the open door, she had turned toward the bathroom.
The look on her face was the look of someone trying to hold back tears or laughter.
In this case, I was sure it was the former.
I bowed politely to the librarian-on-duty and tried not to look upset as I picked up MUSE magazine from the magazine rack located just outside the ladies' powder-room.
I listened to see if she would audibly cry.
If so, I'd have to stay to take her home because she wouldn't be able to study if she started crying.
I had a momentary feeling of remorse for being so upset with her.
Momentarily.
I quickly became interested in the magazine and forgot that I was supposed to be pissed off.
When she emerged from the latrine, I had to force the angered face back into position because it had faded as I'd gotten interested in some story.
The awkward moment made her laugh.
I laughed.
We walked to the table where she had been studying.
We kissed.
I promised to come back around 1930hrs to pick her up.
I left.
When I got home, I text-messaged her a picture of my bare bottom and subtitled it "my face."
She texted me in return, "you always know how to make me smile. I love you."

ALMOST READY

2009-07-01T01:37:00.001-07:00

Getting ready to go.
Wish I didn't have to.
This "warrior-leader" school seems an almost waist of my time.
But I'm packed and will make the best of it.

GOOD MORNING

2009-06-29T15:21:00.000-07:00

Mountain Dew and Star Trek.
The perfect morning.
Well, almost perfect.
All that's missing is Frosted Flakes.

Mmmm.

HOT

2009-06-28T23:18:00.001-07:00

It is sweltering hot outside! It's so hot that I break a sweat just looking out the window! My wife and I don't usually use the air conditioner (AC) in our house. Pretty much the only time we use the AC is if it's still hot at bedtime--it's hard to fall asleep when you're drowning in your own sweat! I've got the windows open, the fan on, and Star Trek on the tube.

:)

[Right now, in Daegu, South Korea, the temp is consistently over 90 degrees fahrenheit.]

M.J.

2009-06-27T01:28:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson died. I am a huge MJ fan! I had hoped that he would make a comeback like Elvis did in '68. Alas, he passed away before that dream could be realized.
Love ya, Mike.
We'll miss ya!

LAZY

2009-06-24T23:19:00.000-07:00

Lazy. That's a word that few people are proud to describe themselves as. It is, however, a word that much of the rest of the world would use to describe the average American. We're all looking for fast money, fast success, and fast lives. These days, if you can't get rich quick, then you have two options: 1) kill someone and take theirs, or 2) spend your life trying to get rich quick but never building the foundation upon which to earn success on your own right.

I have been lazy. I was lazy in high school and didn't fully consider a college career. I was lazy on the varsity football team and didn't push myself as hard as I could have. I was lazy in college and failed to graduate after nearly six years. I was lazy at my civilian job and was nearly fired for not reporting to work with regularity. I was lazy in Basic Combat Training and was nearly kicked out. I got lazy at the DLIFLC and did get kicked out. I was lazy in my marriage and it failed.

You would think that, with that kind of personal history, I'd have learned my lesson by now and would be motivated and not lazy. But you'd be wrong. I am very happy in my 2nd marriage. I have done well for myself in my current posting, but time brings about old habits and, again, I have become lazy. I have schools and training requirements, but I haven't been able to force myself to actually DO anything. In fact, it's gotten hard just to get up in the morning. I drink every night. I feel depressed and dejected. I don't understand why I am this way. What's wrong with me?!

But here's the one point of optimism that keeps me going: Despite my shortcomings, the truth is that I have more potential for success than most of my peers. My genius is non linear and, thus, applicable over a wide spectrum. I often surprise even the most jaded supervisors with my intellect. If my laziness ever gave way to motivation, I'd be one helluva force to be reckoned with.

CAPTAIN BUN

2009-06-23T18:15:00.000-07:00

Star Trek: Voyager is the last of the Star Trek series for me to really get into. I watched Star Trek: The Next Generation when it was originally broadcast and caught Deep Space 9 on DVD. Because I'm in the Army, I missed the original Enterprise broadcasts, but caught them on DVD as well. Now, that I have a little extra time on my hands, I'm finally watching VOYAGER. It sucks. But it's growing on me! :) The Doctor, in my opinion, saves the whole series and deserves his own role in a future Star Trek series/movie. Hell, he's a hologram, so it's possible, right?! Paris annoys the heck outta me, but the Paris-Kim relationship is starting to feel like Bashir-O'brien...which is great! I still hate the captain. Her only redeeming quality is that she is so reminiscent of Katherine Hepburn, whom I love dearly. Kate Hepburn is one of my top favorite actresses of all time. I hate the bun, though. Can't get over the bun.

I'll let you know how the series grows on me.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

2009-06-22T08:22:00.000-07:00

Father's Day came and went almost without notice. I am half-a-planet away from my son...from my father. I love this Army, but sometimes the price we pay feels higher than it should...hurts more than it needs to. I hope, against hope, that this is the last year that I have to be away from my son on Father's Day. It seems a bit pointless without him.

BIRTHDAY EVENTS

2009-06-19T19:17:00.001-07:00

My wife and I have the same birthday. Here's something else that happened on our date of birth:

In 1991, one of my favorite Saturday morning cartoons, Pee-Wee's Playhouse, was cancelled. It was brilliant, interesting, and never dumbed down for its young audience. I loved the in-jokes! [Especially how "Reba the Mail Lady" would always look at Pee-Wee weird, like he had some kinda mental problem because he was always acting so fruity.] The show's cancellation was due to a mutual agreement between Paul Reubens and CBS. However, CBS refused to allow reruns after the subsequent indictment against Reubens for obscenity in an adult theatre in Florida. The final episode of Pee-Wee's Playhouse aired on our birthday in 1991.

To me, the most irreverant thing on Pee-Wee's Playhouse (in that it was for small children) was the half-naked pool boy with ripped abs. I also appreciated the fact that there were an abnormally high number of African American co-stars, such as the black cowboy, known as "Cowboy Curtis" and played by Laurence Fishburne...that's right, Neo, Morpheus was on Pee-Wee's Playhouse!

INCESSANT BULL$H!T

2009-06-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

The worst part about Army life is that it is incessant. You are constantly hounded by duties and mission taskings. Your mind and motivation get beat up and beat down until your spirit is broken; then, when you've reached the breaking point, you're told to suck it up and drive on. [Most famously, the phrase used is: "Drink water and drive on, Private!"] It's this constant barrage of the most innane bullshit jobs that are as pointless as they are over-complicated--it drives you crazy! We're all going looney in here! Then, when you get out, IF you get out, you can't operate with any normalcy within the civilian sector because you're so indoctrinated into this life that you can't understand reasonable requests, deadlines, or bosses that don't breathe down your neck! You're suddenly free and you don't have the skills to survive because you've never had to use those skills--logic, for example. Logic has no place in the enlisted ranks of the Army! If they had wanted us to use our logic, they would have given us a class on it in Basic Combat Training (BCT). Speaking of BCT, as an NCO you must also go through the Warrior's Leadership Course (formerly PLDC) and Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course. Both of which are vaguely disguised miniaturizations of BCT. Like I said before, it's incessant, pointless, endless bullshit.

That said, there is no better "job" in the world than serving my country! There is no greater organization of people on the planet than the United States Military! I am proud to serve (not "work"!) in this Army and would never consider working elsewhere! You want civil service? You want to serve your fellow man? You want to change the world?! There is no better place to accomplish all those tasks than from within the ranks of the women and men who serve in uniform! And, despite all my belly-aching, griping, and complaining, I LOVE THIS JOB!

BEVERLY HILLS, 90210

2009-06-04T04:47:00.000-07:00

I've only watched the first season of this show (on DVD) just recently.

Yes, I know I'm a little late. :)

It is AMAZING!

Positively one of the greatest shows on TV!

Ever!

Stories of family togetherness,

Making tough decisions,

And done in love and humor.

Perfect.

Too bad they don't make shows like this nowadays.

Too bad He-Man and She-Ra aren't telling kids how it really is at the end of each episode of LOST or HEROES.

Are we going to Hell in a handbasket?

Or are we already there?

COINCIDENTAL SHORDAN: YES MAN

2009-05-13T18:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I've been telling you guys about these weird coincidences in my life where I will go for years without hearing a word, then I'll notice this phrase/word/situation twice within a day or two. Today's phrase: Munchausen by proxy.

I made a rash decision to buy an energy drink, today. Something I haven't bought in months. When I went into the PX. I did something else I haven't done in months--bought a DVD at random. They had a copy of Jim Carrey's YES MAN sitting on the counter, so I just bought it on the spot. $5. Well, in the movie, Jim Carrey starts saying YES to every yes/no question. So, he learns KOREAN and he goes to a show by a band named MUNCHAUSEN BY PROXY. Here's why this is weird. Last week, I graduated and this week I've started learning Korean. Last night, my wife and I, who are watching the X-Files series on DVD, watch an episode where Mulder and Scully suspect a grandmother of Muchausen by proxy. Weird, right?

Well, it gets a little weirder. Toward the end of the movie, Carrey's character and his quirky girlfriend take a spontaneous flight to Lincoln, Nebraska, and visit a chicken processing plant. The X-Files episode that immediately follows the one about Munchausen by proxy deals with cannibals and a chicken processing plant. Unbelievable! I got goosebumps as soon as the scene came on.

Any weird coincidences in your life?

VOYAGER

2009-05-12T23:10:00.000-07:00

I've been reacquainting myself with Star Trek: Voyager this week. I watched a couple of episodes when it first ran, but never really got into it or Deep Space Nine back then. I was loyal to Star Trek: The Next Generation and despised all other incarnations. Just after Basic Combat Training, I bought the 4th season of Voyager from the Fort Leonard Wood PX, as it was the only Star Trek DVD collection they had. I didn't like the series, even then, but I watched that entire season over the next few days as I transitioned from basic training to the language school in Monterey, California (DLI). Those first few weeks at DLI would have been very lonely if not for the the crew of Voyager. So, while I still think the plot lines are a bit contrived, the show holds a special place in my heart because of the environment it helped me escape. On that note, Star Trek has been helping people escape for decades. Whoopi Goldberg cites Nichelle Nichols, the black Communications Officer on the original series, as one of her heroes. Whoopi says, as I recall, that Nichelle was the first black television series regular that didn't talk like a slave or stupidly act as comic relief for all the white folks. Nichelle's portrayal of Lt. Uhura helped many aspiring black actors escape the onscreen image of their predecessors. For me, the hardest times in my life were experienced in Basic Combat Training. I was miserable, lonely, and outcast. Mentally re-playing my favorite moments from Star Trek movies and series helped me escape the gloom of my predicament and push through the pain to a successful Army career.

One of my favorite quotes of the series comes from an episode in Season Two, Parturition, directed by Jonathan Frakes.
Kes: "On my homeworld it's so much simpler. You choose a mate for life. There's no mistrust, no jealousy, no envy, no betrayal."
EMH (Doctor): "Hmm. Your world must have very dry literature."

What thoughts help you escape from your tortured moments in life? Please comment.

A WARNING

2009-05-11T04:57:00.001-07:00

This morning, I pulled into the gym parking lot, turned off the engine, got out of my car, and tried to ignore the Military Police vehicle--replete with flashing lights ablaze--that had just pulled in behind me. I gave the "you want to talk to innocent little me" face to the MP who called out to me.

"Sir, you do realize that the on-post speed limit, between 0530 hrs and 0730 hrs, is 25 KPH, right? This is to protect the personnel conducting PT*. I'm not going to cite you. Just let this be a reminder. Have a good day, sir."

I was speechless. I've never gotten a warning. I've always been a first-time zero on speeding tickets.
Sweet!
"Thanks, man! Have a good one!" I finally forced out.

Wow. Those Military Police bastards aren't all bad. :)

*PT = Physical Training (morning exercise)

ALCOHOL: PSYCHOACTIVE DRUG OF CHOICE

2009-04-30T17:25:00.000-07:00

Did you know that ALCOHOL is the world's oldest psychoactive drug?
You do now.
Also, due to alcohol abuse, it is also the world's second most destructive drug in terms of health consequences (after tobacco) and social consequences.

*Inaba & Cohen (2004)

UHF

2009-03-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Watching this movie was an absolute delight. I haven't laughed this much at clean comedy in years! I was on guard duty today (US Army) and bored out of my mind. Maybe because of this I thought this movie was hilarious! Mindless, feel good, and over the top! My favorite line is a promo for an upcoming talk show series, "lesbian nazi hookers abducted by aliens and forced into weight-loss programs...all this week on Town Talk." Now who can't enjoy a movie with classicly comedic dialogue like that! Listening to the comentary with Weird Al, himself, is just as entertaining as the film itself.

SR2

R.I.P. NEWSPAPERS

2009-03-23T13:01:00.000-07:00

I just read this story at CNN.com:
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/03/19/newspaper.decline.layoff/index.html

We are bailing out banks, which I agree we shouldn't let be put asunder. We are bailing out companies, which I disagree with on the grounds that consumers should decide who lives and dies. Why aren't we bailing out the newspapers? In the last year (and some change), over 120 newspapers nation wide have buckled due to low readership. This cannot be allowed to stand! For our nation's 200 year history, newspapers have been a vanguard against corruption and iliteracy. We should bail out the newspapers, keep them going, abandon those companies who made poor and/or unethical decisions, and prove that we still have the guts to do the right thing, even if it doesn't benefit our bottom line, per se.

BAILOUT ANYONE?

2009-03-22T16:55:00.001-07:00

I have friends that work, make their living, in the car industry. So I say the following with some degree of apprehension.
Why the hell are we bailing ANYBODY out? Our economy is based on people. Sometimes people wanna spend. Sometimes people wanna save. And if people don't like your company, they'll vote with their feet and leave. So, the economy got bad. People suddenly started voting with their feet. They didn't stop going to the grocery store or the gas stations. First, they stopped spending their money in the places least necessary to that individual person. The had companies that over-inflated themselves. We had companies that didn't have many real-world assets but were propped up on the idea that they would have future growth. What the hell? You can't bet on the future, jackass! It's the future! We don't know what's gonna happen in the future! Well, it's no wonder that these companies were the first to go. And we had hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs waiting in the wings, full of American ingenuity, ready to fill the void. They would have learned the invaluable lesson that you don't prop yourself solely on what MIGHT happen, but solidly on what tangible assets you have. These new businesses that would have sprouted overnight would have created enough jobs to more than make up for the lost ones. But they never got the chance. No. Our government decided to bail out these massive loser companies. The government, by and for the people, decided to save the companies from the consumers. The same consumers that had decided to pull their money from that company or had decided not to patronize that company. Does this make any freaking sense? We're teaching our companies that, if the consumers don't support you, we will. In other words, we have simply propped the companies up, hoping that down the line the consumers will again decide to patronize that company. Of course, if they don't, what then? Another bailout?
And what about my bail out? We've pumped over 780 billion dollars into these companies which IN-directly helps the people. You want to stimulate the economy? How about sending that $780 billion to our citizens that make less than $100,000/year. That would be around $10,000 per individual (in that tax bracket). AND all that money could be taxed, which puts some of it BACK in the government's hands. But most of all, you're giving the power to the consumer! Remember, America is by the consumer, for the consumer. So, some consumers save the money...CASH on-hand for the banks. Some consumers spend the money...CASH flow into the companies that the consumers have chosen and decided are worthy of their money. In this way, you give the consumers the cash and say, "go ye therefore and give your money to the companies that you deem are worth saving. Some may fail, and that's okay. You have the power."

GREAT QUOTES: BLAISE PASCAL

2009-03-22T02:11:00.000-07:00

"The more intelligence a man has, the more he will recognize the distinctiveness of other people. Ordinary people do not see any differences between men. "

"Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor the lack of contradiction a sign of truth."

"Perfect clarity would profit the intellect but damage the will."

"I have discovered that all human evil comes from this, man's being unable sit still in a room."

"Kind words do not cost much. They never blister the tongue or lips. They make other people good-natured. They also produce their own image on men's souls, and a beautiful image it is."

- Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)
French mathematician and child prodigy

GREAT QUOTES: BUDDHA

2009-03-21T23:11:00.000-07:00

I have recently really become fond of saving quotes that touch me in some way. Usually I add them to my email signatures, but what I don't like about that is I eventually get tired of seeing the same quote and change it. But what happens to the lost ones?! Well, I've decided to "save" my favorite quotes by blogging them. Later, I can go back and see which quotes I liked enough to commit to memory and share with others...you. I remember when I was young that I had a friend, who was a girl, who kept a quote notebook, in which she wrote down all the quotes she liked. I can't remember who that was, but I do remember thinking that she was weird for doing so. Now, I respect that she was writing a book of knowledge coming from a seat of wisdom in human history. I think collecting quotes from those wiser than ourselves is something every future adult should do.

While doing research for my Psychology 355 class, this morning, I came across the following two quotes in a book on Tibetan Mandalas. While I'm not a self-proclaiming Buddhist, I appreciate the wisdom of these two quotes and the depth of understanding we can earn simply by listening.

"From the moment of birth, every human being strives for happiness and tries to avoid suffering. In this, we are all the same."
- His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

I wish the Palestinians and Israelis, fighting over the dome of the rock and divided by religion, would heed this gem of wisdom:

"There are no holy places and no holy human beings, only holy moments, moments of wisdom."
- Gautama Buddha (500 B.C.)

PECANS

2009-03-15T03:04:00.000-07:00

If, in childhood, you had a bad experience concerning a certain thing or activity, you may avoid that object or activity for the rest of your life or for a very long time. This avoidance behavior, as psychology terms it, keeps you from realizing that the object or activity isn't really as bad as you think it is.
I have avoided pecans, as if they spread herpes, my entire adult life. This is because I hated them, in childhood, and nearly vomited at the very sight of a pecan. All they were good for was throwing them at my brothers or hitting them like baseballs--the pecans, not my brothers.
About three weeks ago, my wife, who was feeding me cashews out of a bag of mixed fruits and nuts, challenged my manhood, after I recoiled at the sight of her mistakenly offering me a pecan from the bag. I quickly snatched the pecan from her hand and said, "See, I'm a brave warrior!" then ate the dadblamed thing. Well, I loved the taste and we've eaten about three bags since--mostly as a topping on my morning bowls of Grapenuts cereal. So, my avoidance behavior kept me from the wonderful taste of pecans for about two decades too long. One extra piece of irony is that I remembered not being able to chew, and eventually gagging on and spitting out, Grapenuts cereal at my Aunt and Uncle's house, when I was about 8 years old. I avoided them until, in a fit of nostalgia, tried them last September (2008) -- I have eaten a bowl every morning since.
If there's something you've been avoiding because you had a bad experience, give it another try--unless, of course, it's smoking, chewing tobacco, having unprotected sex with prostitutes, joining the Baghdad Police Department, or some other unhealthy habit.

다까이

2009-03-15T01:06:00.000-07:00

My wife and I had a little misunderstanding in the library, just now, and I thought you might find it amusing.

S: What do you want to eat, baby? Taco Bell, Subway, Burger King, or the bowling alley? I want to eat nearby because I want to hurry up and get back to studying.
J: Hmm. I don't know. What about the KATUSA snack bar? I'm in the mood for Korean food.
S: It's Sunday. It's closed. What about Hilltop (res/bar)? They've got semi-Korean food. You wanna eat Chicken 안주? (think chicken fried rice)
J: 다까이.
S: What's 다까이?
J: Too expensive.
S: No, baby. Whatever you want to eat! Nothing is too expensive. What is 다까이?
J: Expensive.
S: Baby, you're hurting my feelings here. How expensive can it be? We're not poor. I'll buy you whatever you want. I'm the man. I take care of my wife. Don't tell me it's too expensive. You're worth any cost for anything you want. Now, for Pete's sake, what is 다까이?
J: 다까이 is expensive. It's Japanese for "expensive."

We had a good laugh.

READING RAINBOW

2009-03-15T00:51:00.000-07:00

Little known fact about Jordan (wife) and myself. We treat the library as if it were just another room in our house. Furthermore, it's the room we spend the most time in.

MOVIE REVIEW: FIRED UP!

2009-03-14T05:07:00.000-07:00

Fired Up! / PG-13 / 2009

Jordan and I just came back from watching the on-post movie. When I say "the" on-post movie, I mean exactly that. There's one theatre, one screen, and if you're going to watch a movie, you're watching whatever's playing! We had intended to see MARLEY & ME with Owen Wilson and Jennifer "Brad Pitt is a Moron for Trading Down" Anniston, but I got the times wrong. As the title card for FIRED UP! flashed on the screen, we considered walking out, but Jordan wanted to give it a shot. I'm glad we did. The movie is raunchy and ridiculous, but doesn't take itself seriously and has a lot of fun along the way. Maybe the reason we liked it was because we actually don't ever watch stupid, moronic crap like this. So, for us, it was a nice change of pace. Add to that the film has a heart and ends with the moral that you should be a good friend, which sometimes means choosing the hard right over the easy wrong. This film is worth watching! I give it five stars; mostly for the fun experience of watching my wife shoot popcorn from her nose during one of the more hilarious physical comedy sequences. We had a blast!
Panthers out!

IN LIKE FLYNN

2009-03-14T02:09:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching THE SEA HAWK (1940) starring one of my all-time favorite actors, ERROL FLYNN. I'm motivated to share with you my favorite Errol Flynn pictures, in order of preference:

#1: They Died With Their Boots On (1941)
#2: Captain Blood (1935)
#3: Santa Fe Trail (1940)
#4: The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)
#5: The Sea Hawk (1940)
#6: The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
#7: Dodge City (1939)

Feel free to disagree...

SURVIVAL OF THE FATTEST

2009-03-13T19:38:00.000-07:00

Van Gogh has been my favorite artist for years. I was introduced to his art through listening to a punk version of Don McLean's "Vincent" on a compilation disc from Fat Wreck Chords by a little band named NOFX. This was in high school, in 1997. Vincent Van Gogh has been my favorite artist ever since. My favorite painting, of course, being Starry Night. I just found out, today, 14 March 2009, that Van Gogh shot himself, in the chest, in 1890 and died of his wound two days later. His last words were "La tristesse durera toujours"; French for "the sadness will last forever". He shot himself on 27 July. My birthday.

The album Survival of the Fattest (the Fat Wreck Chords compilation) also introduced me to two other songs that became all-time favorites for me: California Dreamin' and Take Me Home, Country Roads.

SENDING SAYONARA

2009-03-13T02:13:00.001-07:00

I loved the movie SAYONARA (1957) so much that I sent my parents a rental copy (Netflix.com). The plot really hit home for me. Soldiers in Japan, after WWII, met and fell in love with a bevy of Japanese ladies, but the US Military would have no part of it. They met with harsh reprisals and discrimination from the highest levels. Today, the same situation is recurring in the Republic of Korea, where Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen must jump through 4-6 months of hoops in order to marry their foreign love. The reasoning is of course a good one: too many Servicemen leaving their brides with fatherless children and no way to support themselves. However, the cure is worse than the punishment in several respects. Being married to a Korean lady, whom I met stateside, without having to jump through these nonsensical hoops in place now, I feel for the men who must. This film, SAYONARA, hits very close to home for those men whose leadership have, using the new guidelines, effectively blocked their "happy ever after." Marlon Brando, the male lead, was a self-serving sonuvagun, but he made some great films. This is probably his best moral-dilemma picture. God love Marlon Brando! Last but not least, I would be remiss in my duties as a TREKKIE to not mention RICARDO MONTALBAN, STAR TREK's KAAAAHHHHHNNN!, who makes an appearance, in SAYONARA, as a Japanese...well, you'll see.

BOOK REVIEW: "MY HERO"

2009-03-12T02:22:00.000-07:00

My Hero: Military Kids Write About Their Moms and Dads
Edited by Allen Appel and Mike Rothmiller
Forward by General H. Norman Schwarzkopf
2008 / St. Martin's Press

The notes and drawings in this book, written and drawn by the children of my military comrades, truly touched me. My son is back home and I miss him dearly. I read each page fighting back tears. I only sat the book down to blow my nose. Once you start reading, you have to finish the entire book. It is that gripping! The joyful comments are evenly distributed between the writings of the children of fallen heroes, who live on in their hearts and memories of their children. This book is a must have for servicemen, servicewomen, and the children of our heroes!

TV SERIES REVIEW: "BAND OF BROTHERS"

2009-03-11T12:43:00.000-07:00

Band of Brothers / TV / 2001

10 out of 5 stars! An outstanding television series! I can't even begin to describe the amazing...I can't even write the review. I'll have to think of what to say. The only word that comes to mind at this moment is MASTERPIECE!
It's been a few days, now, since I watched the 10-episode miniseries in a two-day marathon. I cannot get the images of the camaraderie of these men out of my mind. I feel as though I was a part of the experience with them. The final comment, which ends the final episode, broke me down in tears and I can scarcely repeat it without suffering the same effect now. One old Soldier recalls that his grandson asked if he had been a hero in the war, "No," he replied, "but I was in the company of heroes." There are no words to describe just how important this series is, not only to the previous generation, but to the men and women fighting today. I am proud to wear this uniform, but I was made more proud by viewing this series. Thank you Mr Spielberg. Thank you Mr Hanks. You've done your country a great service. May we never forget!

MOVIE REVIEW: "PERSEPOLIS"

2009-03-09T03:36:00.000-07:00

Persepolis / PG-13 / 2007 / France

A wonderful find! Great film with terrific emotion! The slow plot and character build up is worth the wait, as the twists and turns never disappoint. This hand-drawn animation film is about a young girl, who is waiting for her flight to leave Iran for the last time, looking back at her life, via flashbacks, to see where her journey has brought her. A very moving story told masterfully! Don't rent, buy! This is not just a film to enjoy, but an experience to learn from!

MOVIE REVIEW: "IRAQ FOR SALE"

2009-03-06T23:39:00.000-08:00

This is a review of the film "Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers" by Robert Greenwald. The movie's website is www.disinfo.com.
[I am in the US Army.]
This is not a documentary. It is made up of interspersed interviews with people who fit into four categories: families of civilian contractors who died, civilian contractors who survived an attack, eyewitnesses of wasteful spending by companies with government contracts, and former Soldiers of unknown character complaining about the use of civilian contractors in Iraq. Wrongdoing should be punished. This film never clears up whether it is against wasteful spending or against the use of civilian contractors altogether. The film’s arguments are too broad and, sometimes, random and confusing. Several times, the statement is made that “this war has been privatized to a greater extent than any other war in history.” This is an asinine comment. With a new type of war being fought over the course of almost a decade, now, of course private companies will be employed more than before. Statements like these are devoid of value in the greater debate of how to regulate wasteful spending by these large corporations. Another frustrating element of this film is that the images from Iraq are not related to the story being told at that time. It’s confusing for the viewer. Interviews with people who had first-hand knowledge of the wasteful spending were effective, but few, and as a result, the filmmaker spread them throughout the film, which watered down the effectiveness of their accounts. Unfortunate.
As a Soldier, I found the complaints about contractors living in better quarters than tent-bound Soldiers ridiculous. Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen have given their lives to their Country and are willing to sleep in muck and grime for the sake of the cause. Civilians, brave and heroic them all, need a softer touch. The men and women of the U.S. Military are happy to sleep wherever the mission takes us. Keep your pity to yourself. Of course Soldiers are going to living in the suck, suffer, bleed, and die; that’s our calling. We love it! We’re here, on the wall, so you don’t have to be. Just say thank you and move on.
The emotional outcry against Halliburton as a demonic overlord is very compelling; however, not backed by enough evidence to be completely persuasive. The speakers are mostly just making accusations that sound reasonable, but are not substantiated within the film itself. (This only makes the fact that there is a special feature on the DVD aimed at organizing protesters more laughable. Is it possible to organize protesters based solely on unsubstantiated claims, reasonable or not?) Someone is going to make money on the privatization of jobs by the U.S. Government. The American economy is built on the concept of companies doing what they can, within ethical boundaries, to make money. That shouldn't be discouraged. Only wrongful profiteering should be punished. This film does not clearly delineate between the two, so the viewer is never sure which is under attack.
There are two redeeming qualities in the film: First, the opening story of the Blackwater employee, who died in an ambush, was touching. The family’s argument that an ambush, by definition a surprise attack, could have been avoided was heart-wrenchingly naïve. The second redeeming comment was the argument that more Iraqi civilians should have been hired, thereby getting them off the street and winning a PR battle, was very enlightening. (This approach worked in Germany and Korea.) Too bad the rest of the film is simply an emotional debate and not one backed up by actual evidence, but rather logical assumptions on the part of the individual interviewees. Pass this one up.

MOVIE REVIEW: "WHY WE FIGHT (2005)"

2009-03-05T03:28:00.000-08:00

While this film includes thoughts and opinions from those sympathetic to the war effort, the heavy-handed anti-war sentiment goes far beyond the hatred of senseless violence and borders on disrespect for our Country and our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines. As a Soldier, I've seen WHY WE FIGHT firsthand. I am not imperialistic. The women and men beside me are not imperialistic. This film not only hurt my feelings, but puts my life at risk. I would bet that this film would be translated (subtitled) by the enemy and spread throughout extremist communities as propaganda against us. I could be shot and killed, leaving my wife and son alone, by a fighter who was moved against the US by watching crap like this.
While you're asking "Why do they hate us?"
I'm asking, "Why do you hate me?"

BREACH OF CONTRACT (MY BUTT)

2009-02-14T21:49:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I try to keep my blogs about mundane stuff and keep my frustrations with the Army out of it. And let me say first and foremost that I do appreciate the Army as a whole and how the Army has helped me, which is a lot. However, the way that the system works can hurt you sometimes. For example, you sign away your life on a contract that can send you to Iraq or Afghanistan to die for your country. I see that enlistment contract as you giving yourself to your country...putting your life in her hands...well, not the Army. The Army sees it as you signing up for a particular MOS (job) and if you can't learn to do whatever job you or (in many cases) the Army chose for you, then that's your problem. Sometimes the MOS that you sign up for has a bonus that sometimes goes with it. When I signed up, my college work and the length of time I enlisted for (5 years) and the job I agreed to learn (linguist) came with a $20,000 cash bonus. I would have gotten that bonus after about a year of serving in the "real" Army. That is to say after serving the Army while doing the job I was trained to do. Unfortunately, I didn't complete my training in that job. I wasn't very good at it and eventually had to reclassify my job into something more compatible with my ability...a job that I was better suited to do. I was given a list to choose from and I chose paralegal--a job that I'm very good at and serving the Army in that position is very fulfilling. Well, the Army considers that job change a BREACH OF CONTRACT. Let me say that again as it infuriates me; they consider it a BREACH OF CONTRACT. Can't you feel the bile rising in your throat?! The Army then revokes any and all bonuses or deals they've made with you (like paying back your student loans), but makes you serve out your promised time--in my case, that was 5 years. 5 long years. This will piss you off and break your spirit. Worst of all, you lose all motivation to work hard and pursue a career in the Army. Why? Because you feel betrayed. You feel betrayed because you tried your best, failed, and are being punished severely for that failure. What makes the pain even deeper is that use of the phrase BREACH OF CONTRACT. That phrase sounds like we've committed a criminal act. It's infuriating! Of course, then perhaps the patriot in you takes over and you serve faithfully anyway. This is my case. I know the Army didn't intend to screw me because the Army is a corporation built to defend this nation and doesn't harbor any personal feelings toward me or anyone else...hero or not. So, I swallowed my hatred for what happened to me and, although very bitter about that lost money--(a small fortune to a poor boy from the swamps of South Carolina)--I drive on and fully intend to serve this Great Nation's Army through to retirement as a Sergeant (now) and an Officer (later). I love this country and her Armed Forces, don't misunderstand my frustration, but I sure wish they would change the absolutely ridiculous policy above, which is a financial rape of her Soldiers. In fact, if the news of this hit the airwaves in mass, I'm sure the Army would find itself in some hot water and have to change the policy or back-pay all who've been hurt by it or both. I hope both. I bought a car based on my excitement about the bonus that I was "sure" to receive...I have been burdened with the payment for the last three years. It's a monthly reminder of how the system hurt me--my family. This ridiculous policy should be changed immediately. It would renew my faith in the goodness of the system and go a long way in erasing the bitterness I have over losing that cash bonus. Thanks for reading my rant.

YEAR IN REVIEW: 2008

2008-12-31T23:59:00.000-08:00

I ASSEMBLED THE FOLLOWING ART PUZZLE:
Henri Matisse's GRAND INTERIOR ROUGE (1,000 piece)

I READ THE FOLLOWING BOOKS:
THE SECRET by Rhonda Byrne
FIRST BLOOD by David Morrell (Loved it)
[and a host of university texts]

{this skim post is the start of (I hope) a tradition for me}

Coincidental Shordan

2008-11-11T15:49:00.000-08:00

I hate to post two similar blogs back to back, but you'll never believe the coincidence that happened to me today!

Last Thursday, I was surfing my NETFLIX.com account and found an old TV show starring Steve McQueen called WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE. I'm on a western movie kick, so I queued the movie at the top of my list. [NOTE: Before last Thursday, I'd never heard of or known about this TV show.] Well, the DVD came in the mail today. I watched the first episode and was really impressed! Although the Bon Jovi song of the same name came about 20 years after the TV show, I found myself singing their 80's rock hit all afternoon, while making a mental music video out of scenes from the episode I'd watched earlier.
As you know, I'm a US Soldier stationed in South Korea. As coincidences go, I'm going to say that the probability of seeing anything having to do with WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE are pretty damn slim. And that goes for the American TV show, the American WANTED posters of the old west, and the American rock song. In fact, how many times have you seen a reference to WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE in recent years? Not very many.
But, no shit, there I was with my wife looking for Peppero (a brand of Korean chocolate cookie-sticks) at the neighborhood grocer's. As popular as these little snacks are, we couldn't find any. So, we asked for help. The young lady that came out to help us find the Peppero, which were right in front of our eyes the whole time in a big display that we didn't notice, was wearing a sweatshirt with WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE printed on the front just above a picture of Steve McQueen. What is the freaking probability of that Korean wearing that sweatshirt on the very day that I received a DVD of that same TV show?! And one other thing to consider is the probability of my wife and I being completely blinded to the huge Peppero display, causing us to ask for help, which if we hadn't she would never have come from the back room to help us and I'd have never seen her sweatshirt!

This kinda stuff happens to me all the time!
And I'm not making it up!

Coincidental Shordan

2008-11-10T07:24:00.000-08:00

Tonight, my wife and I had coffee and green tea cake at the Angel-in-Us coffee shop in downtown Daegu. (Pics on MySpace; Vid on YouTube) Before we left, I used the bathroom. There, above the urinal was a reproduction of my favorite painting of all time. While I was urinating, I began to sing, to myself, a song written about the painting and the artist who rendered the original. When I walked out of the bathroom, Jordan was waiting. As we walked down the stairs, I told her that my favorite painting of all time was hanging in the bathroom, and asked her to guess what famous, classic painting was my favorite. I gave her three guesses and began humming the song aloud as a hint; if she knew the song, she'd know the painting. She didn't use any of the guesses. Instead, she asked me to guess who her favorite artist was. As I was thinking of who her favorite artist could be, the song...the very friggin' song that I had just been humming began to play over the shop's sound system! I pulled her back into the restaurant because we had almost made it out the door when the song began. I asked her to listen to the song as I explained, in complete astonishment, about the painting and the singing and the humming and the fact that the song, which goes, "starry, starry night / paint your palette blue and grey / look out on a summer's day / with eyes that know the darkness in my soul," was written about Starry Night, my favorite painting, and Vincent Van Gogh, my favorite artist. Jordan then told me that Van Gogh was the answer to the question she'd posed earlier. He was her favorite artist too.

This kinda stuff happens to me all the time.

Then, when we got home, my wife asked me to email my parents some pics that we took. One set of photos we sent were of me dressed as TARZAN, taken last month. Then, in a moment of boldness, I decided to finally email my extremely devout Christian parents photos of me getting a tattoo. I've been sitting on these tattoo photos for over two years, afraid of the severity of their reaction to the revelation that I'd gotten my body, a temple of God, tattooed. There, in the photograph of me getting a tattoo is a Disney blanket covering my legs (I had to take off my pants to get the tat and it was cold out). The blanket, belonging to the female tattoo artist, was from the Disney movie TARZAN. Within 10 minutes, I'd sent pictures (taken two years apart), to my parents--one with me dressed as Tarzan, the other with me wearing Tarzan.

This kinda stuff happens to me all the time.

Favorite STAR TREK Quotes

2008-11-09T19:49:00.000-08:00

In the episode THE IMMUNITY SYNDROME from Star Trek: The Original Series, a star ship carrying over 400 Vulcans suddenly perishes. Spock, a Vulcan character, becomes suddenly stricken with pain as he can sense the deaths of so many of his people, not unlike Obiwan feeling a disturbance in the force. After checking Spock's condition, Dr. McCoy is skeptical that Spock, whom he has always considered to be a bit cold-hearted and robotic, can truly feel the deaths of other Vulcans.

Here's the quote (paraphrased):
"I've noticed that about humans, Doctor, you find it easier to understand the death of one, than the death of a million. You criticize the objective hardness of the Vulcan heart, yet how little room there seems to be in yours."
"Suffer the death of thy neighbor, eh Spock? Now, you wouldn't wish that on us would you?"
"It might have rendered your history a bit less bloody."

Afghanistan: Mission Accomplished II

2008-11-08T22:25:00.000-08:00

I just watched an interview with President Karzai (Afghanistan) on CNN International. Amanpour asked about the sudden resurgence of Taliban presence in Afghanistan and asked if President-Elect Obama's plan to surge American troop numbers in Afghanistan would be welcomed. "First of all," President Karzai responded, "we have already had victory in Afghanistan. It took about one and a half months to defeat the Al Queida linked Taliban. Now, what we want from American involvment is schools and infrastructure. The Americans have spent much of their tax dollars here, so we realize it's a bit presumptuous to request where they spend it, but we could really use some schools. A troop surge is not necessary. Afghanistan is at a point where we are self-sufficient militarily. We don't need any more help defeating an enemy which has already been defeated. The reports of a 'Taliban resurgence' are not exaggerated, but we can handle that internally at this point. American troops are no longer needed to fight a war that has been won. Now, all we need are schools and to say thank you to the American people for their help." What he didn't say directly, but I felt I could hear him say was, "thank you, now leave."
How wonderful! We've won the war in Afghanistan! So, why are we still fighting there? Why are we still losing lives there? They don't want us there?! So, let's get our military men and women the hell outta dodge and let the democratic people of Afghanistan sustain themselves!

Easily Distracted

2008-11-08T18:01:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to focus on my study, but I'm easily distracted by thoughts of who might be commenting on my YouTube videos or MySpace profile, or ideas for blogs to post here...like this one. ARGH! Okay, I'm stopping now. I'm going back to studying.