Feb
28
2006
good-bye, canadians….who will watch “brokeback mountain” with me now?
Posted by Katie | Leave a Comment
i am surrounded by the most foreign of foreigners.
we all kind of cling to each others’ company during the different stages of alienation we pass through. irish, aussies, kiwis, a fijian, a sprinkling of americans….and the canadians. god love ‘em, because somebody’s got to. but i have to say that these guys grew on me in the worst way! last week saw the end of two of my canadian pals’ teaching contracts. one moved back to north america with his newly pregnant girlfriend (to add to the ’scandal,’ his baby will be…. half-american….). the other, my pal vanessa, is taking a breather in australia for a bit but is moving back to seoul next month. i’m only an hour away from seoul but i’m taking the departure hard.
who else will i go to the canadian bar with to watch prerecorded hockey on the bigscreen, to sip a molson and hide my accent, hoping they don’t find out i’m a fraud? who else will teach me the meaning of the word “pedantic?” most importantly….who will watch brokeback mountain with me now?! the americans aren’t up for it. my coworker from texas, who wears cowboy boots and has actually dipped tobacco while teaching preschool, dug in his heels and refused to watch anything that sullied the notion of the cowboy. the aussies simply aren’t interested in the film, perhaps because it contains too much americana, or not enough sheep.
anyway, attached is a flyer i made for last weekend’s big goodbyes. in the upper left you will see a background image which looks a lot like every apartment building in korea. in the front is a k-girl, complete with this season’s footwear, black boots. skirt is 1/3 actual size. the other stuff is merely background imagery without a lot of meaning; it just looks cool. and as they say, the rest is history.
Etc. |
Feb
28
2006
i for one welcome our spicy pickled cabbage overlords…..kimchi cure for next world pandemic
Posted by Katie | 1 Comment
korean obsession with beauty and health is a strange animal indeed. for instance, a rubber bracelet stamped with the word “cleanse” apparently does wonders for the body (and for the companies that came up with the idea that rubber = health). did you know that eating a snake will help a man’s performance? that sleeping for a single night with a fan blowing towards your face will most certainly kill you? the most interesting thing i’ve heard lately is the “kimchi cure;” and this time, it’s personal. according to the impeccable sources at seoul national university, the answer to bird flu is none other than the humble dish of kimchi.
Korean dish ‘may cure bird flu’
koreans i’ve encountered aren’t as paranoid about the ‘flu as the american media back home. but even the kids are aware. just last week in class we came across a picture in the phonics worbook depicting a a cartoon chicken and chick. the text read: “the chick is sick. its chin is pink. mom wipes sick chick’s pink chin.”
student so-youn from c-block class discovers that this picture is a subtle warning about bird flu. the pink on the sick chick obviously refers to blood, and mom should not wipe the chin. “teacher, teacher! the chickens…the chickens is sick and then the people….the people eats the chickens and they people is sick and plaaaaaaack!” (students make hangman motions with tongues sticking out.)
it’s been a lot warmer lately, so perhaps the ‘flu season has passed. in any case, don’t worry about any of us here in korea. we’re busy getting our daily dose of the magic bullet that is kimchi.
Etc. |
Feb
27
2006
Mazarin - We’re Already There
Posted by luna6 | Leave a Comment
Band : Mazarin
Album : We’re Already There
Release Date : March 24, 2006
Website : http://www.mazarinband.com/
Label : I and Ear Records
Free Downloads : We’re Already There, Another One Goes By, Louise
Rating : 8.5
Interview with Quentin Stoltzfus of Mazarin
(1 Votes, User Rating: 10)
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Feb
27
2006
Sibylle Baier - Colour Green
Posted by luna6 | 1 Comment
Artist : Sibylle Baier
Album : Colour Green
Release Date : February 7, 2006
Website : http://www.orangetwin.com/sibylle.html
Label : Orange Twin
Rating : 8.0
(3 Votes, User Rating: 9.33)
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Feb
27
2006
Nobody Knows
Posted by luna6 | Leave a Comment
Movie: Nobody Knows / 誰も知らない
Release Date: August 7, 2004
Country: Japan
Director: Hirokazu Koreeda
Starring: Yuya Yagira, Ayu Kitaura, Hiei Kimura, You
Runtime: 141 Min.
Editor Rating : 8.0
(22 Votes, User Rating: 9.18)
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Plot Synopsis : Single mom, moves into a new apartment with her 12 year old son. They greet the landlord and the mom introduces herself and her “only” child Akira and explains the father is away overseas. After they get properly settled into the new apartment, out of two suitcases pops out two more of the mother’s children: Shigeru and Yuki, Akira later goes by himself to the train station to pick up his other sister Kyoko. Once everyone is together and having their first dinner at their new apartment, the mother explains the rules, no loud voices, no going outside except for Akira (not even outside on the veranda), otherwise they will get evicted like they did at their last apartment. The mother works at a department store and leaves Akira to take care of the children. The mother soon meets a new boyfriend and her absence at the apartment grows longer and longer, until one day, it seems the mother has abandoned the children for good. Akira with little money left, must take of care of his siblings, knowing that if he does not they will be seperated into foster homes. Akira has to take on these responsibilities while in the meantime balancing the natural emotions of a 12 year old boy wanting to make friends and meet girls. Read more
2004 Movie Reviews, Japanese Movies, Movie Reviews |
Feb
27
2006
Don’t Get Stampeded By The 7.1 Parade
Posted by luna6 | Leave a Comment
This is only one man’s opinion, but he gives an interesting explanation to the current situation with home theatre systems (5.1 vs. 6.1 vs. 7.1). Basically his point is 5.1 is optimum for the home because of the smaller space vs larger movie theatre rooms, and the fact that home recievers have a tendency to “clip” more while pushing the exatra channels in 6.1/7.1 modes. My take? I’ve been pretty happy with the original 2.0 stereo’s, one day will step out of the stone ages and try out some surround sound.
Feb
27
2006
Mardi Gras 2006
Posted by Ki | Leave a Comment
Well Mardi Gras season has come upon New Orleans, and for people outside of the area, they may be curious to know how this season is fairing, after the effects of Hurrican Katrina. Besides the season being shortened to only 2 weekends, the Mardi Gras parades seem to have the same crazy character as before and there seems to be a lot of people attending the parades as usual. Can’t compare it to seasons past accurately, because in general, I avoid the parades like the plague, but because of Hurricane Katrina, I was curious myself to see how the parades would come out. My personal highlight, I guess, would be seeing “Willie Nelson” riding on a float (the guy has to pay off his taxes somehow).
My initial impressions while standing in front of the passing parade, was to keep my hands in my pocket, and think “Alright why are all these people getting excited about catching a bunch of plastic necklaces/beads?” One bead zings by my head and I try to duck in a daft manner. I see another slower moving bead floating in the air, and I almost bring my left hand out to try to catch it, but I maintain my composure and let it pass. I see another big fat pearl’ish bead moving in slow motion towards me, instinctively my left hand comes out of my pocket and lunges into the air to grab the bead, but alas the person behind me was a little faster and grabbed the bead. Ok, god damnit, this is kind of fun, and I want some of these things, I roll up my sleeves and scream “Whooooooooo …Throw Me Something!!!”
Etc. |
Feb
26
2006
Saint Etienne - Tales From The Turnpike House
Posted by luna6 | Leave a Comment
Artist : Saint Etienne
Album : Tales From The Turnpike House
Release Date : January 24, 2006
Website : http://www.saintetienne.com/
Label : Savoy Jazz
Free Downloads : Side Streets, A Good Thing, Sun In My Morning, Milk Bottle Symphony, Dream Lover
Rating : 7.0
(Click The Stars To Rate - if it applies)
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Feb
26
2006
Artic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, Thats What Im Not
Posted by luna6 | Leave a Comment
Artist : Artic Monkeys
Album : Whatever People Say I Am, Thats What Im Not
Release Date : February 21, 2006
Label : Domino
Website : http://www.arcticmonkeys.com/
Rating : 5.0
(1 Votes, User Rating: 9)
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Feb
25
2006
Tender Forever - The Soft And The Hardcore
Posted by luna6 | 2 Comments
Artist : Tender Forever
Album : The Soft And The Hardcore
Release Date : December 6, 2005
Website : http://www.takemybreathaway.net/
Label : K Records
Free Downloads : Then If I’m Weird I Want To Share Take If Off
Rating : 8.5
(2 Votes, User Rating: 8)
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Feb
25
2006
Josee, The Tiger and The Fish
Posted by luna6 | 1 Comment
Movie: Josee, The Tiger and The Fish “/
Joze to tora to sakana tachi /ジョゼと虎と魚たち”
Release Date: December 13, 2003
Country: Japan
Director: Inudo Isshin
Starring: Satoshi Tsumabuki, Chizuru Ikewaki
Runtime: 116 Minutes
Editor Rating: 8.5
(11 Votes, User Rating: 8.55)
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2003 Movie Reviews, Japanese Movies, Movie Reviews |
Feb
25
2006
Parks And Recreation - What Was She Doing On The Shore That Night
Posted by luna6 | 1 Comment
Band : Parks And Recreation
Album : What Was She Doing On The Shore That Night
Release Date : February 14, 2006
Website : http://parksandrecreationhq.com/
Label : Hush Records
Free Downloads : Maybe The Moon Knows Something
Rating : 7.0
(Click The Stars To Rate - if it applies)
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Feb
25
2006
Google takes on Ebay/PayPal
Posted by luna6 | 1 Comment
Competition is a good thing. Hopefully Google could bring some competition into the online payment business and at least get PayPal to lower their prices a bit.
http://googlebase.blogspot.com/2006/02/buying-on-google-base.html
Etc., Technology |
Feb
24
2006
Well considering I was born with two left feet, I have always admired people that knew how to dance and had some rhythm. My philosophy is that it is never to late to learn and so I decided to ask a friend (Trang) who is probably the best dancer I know. Here is lesson one (it is in xvid format), download and play in your video player of choice.
Etc. |
Feb
24
2006
Apple iPods taking over the world..Japan at least…
Posted by luna6 | Leave a Comment
Damn those ipods…everybody has one, except me :(
Feb
24
2006
The Fiery Furnaces - Bitter Tea
Posted by luna6 | 1 Comment
Band : The Fiery Furnaces
Album : Bitter Tea
Release Date : April 18, 2006
Website : http://www.thefieryfurnaces.com/
Label : Rough Trade
Free Downloads : Benton Harbor Blues, Nevers, Waiiting To Know You
Rating : 7.0
(Click The Stars To Rate - if it applies)
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Feb
23
2006
Caroline - Murmurs
Posted by luna6 | Leave a Comment
Artist : Caroline
Album : Murmurs
Website : http://www.carolinelufkin.com/welcome/
Label : Temporary Residence
Free Download : Where’s My Love, Sunrise
Rating : 7.0
(2 Votes, User Rating: 9.5)
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