Thursday, October 30, 2003
Firewalls Should Be Built
We're benumbed by the horrible footage. Which struck us as the recurrence of the tragic incident. Chills are running through the back. We're overwhelmed by the number of human casualties and the devastations of the huge acreage of land.
The volume and magnitude of wildfires in the U.S. has been a giant compared to those in South Korea, which are toddlers. The United States, who is about 48 times as large as North and South Koreas combined, has had longer mountain ranges and deeper valleys and thicker forests than such a small country as South Korea. Therefore, if any area of the big country of yours is set on fire, the power of fire transmission and of the destruction is horrendous.
Who set the fires? Evil as nature of humanity is, such barbarian brutalities cannot be justified by any excuses. The human civilization must not tolerate such heinous crimes, which should be subjected to the capital punishment.
Some basic measures should be taken, to begin with. The accesses to the vulnerable areas to fires, such as National Parks, should be blocked during specific period of the season. Firewalls just like the Great Wall of China should be built along the interstate borders, equipped with built-in fire alert and prevention systems.
We're benumbed by the horrible footage. Which struck us as the recurrence of the tragic incident. Chills are running through the back. We're overwhelmed by the number of human casualties and the devastations of the huge acreage of land.
The volume and magnitude of wildfires in the U.S. has been a giant compared to those in South Korea, which are toddlers. The United States, who is about 48 times as large as North and South Koreas combined, has had longer mountain ranges and deeper valleys and thicker forests than such a small country as South Korea. Therefore, if any area of the big country of yours is set on fire, the power of fire transmission and of the destruction is horrendous.
Who set the fires? Evil as nature of humanity is, such barbarian brutalities cannot be justified by any excuses. The human civilization must not tolerate such heinous crimes, which should be subjected to the capital punishment.
Some basic measures should be taken, to begin with. The accesses to the vulnerable areas to fires, such as National Parks, should be blocked during specific period of the season. Firewalls just like the Great Wall of China should be built along the interstate borders, equipped with built-in fire alert and prevention systems.
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
I Left the Place for Good
A rough, real rough road was in store for the Flintman. I was a strange man, an outsider, an alien. So I left the place http://brd1.chosun.com/brd/list.html?tb=TONGDAL04 for good. I closed the browser, shut down every road to the place and burned the bridge leading to the wall.
They defined me as ignorant that I am. Unendurable was the fact that I was forced to concede that every minute of it. They made a mockery of me, ridiculed me, jeered me using humanly imaginable dirty epithets.
The website of www.chosun.com has been that of a major newspaper of South Korea which takes its pride on the most circulation of 2.3 million. The newspaper, which has been rightist-Conservative-leaning one, supports Bush, of course, and has been most popular among the American citizens of Korean descent.
How come I have made such repetitions of mistranslations of major U.S. media articles? Probably out of self-conceit, over-confidence, lack of sophistication for subtleties or the absence of background knowledges.
Somebody, who had been donned by compatriot 'netizens' with the robe of authority on the interpretation of English-written documents or information for his or her foreign residence, used to post a message or two hinting at misrepresentation of a specific word or phrase. Before you know it, Phil, Annie or Bob as you name it appeared from nowhere and landed on the site and started uttering barbs at me in the form of 'ripostes'."
In a moment, grapes of ripostes hung in the pole as if they had been guilty pleas amounting to the indictment. "Stupidity again?", one prosecutor intoned, nudging my delicate ribs vulnerable to pain. "Ridiculous!", another investigator made a face. A certain guy by the name of Kim so and so would launch a funeral ceremony for the evident character, using a live electronic photo.
I knew I had outstayed my welcome for a long period of three and more years. I realized that it's time I left. I reported my leave of absence to the site, offering my sincere apologies to the visitors to and deep appreciation to the moderator of the website. The traditional parting shot in Korean society has been "chal mokko chal sarara." (literally translated as: Eat Well and Live Well)
A rough, real rough road was in store for the Flintman. I was a strange man, an outsider, an alien. So I left the place http://brd1.chosun.com/brd/list.html?tb=TONGDAL04 for good. I closed the browser, shut down every road to the place and burned the bridge leading to the wall.
They defined me as ignorant that I am. Unendurable was the fact that I was forced to concede that every minute of it. They made a mockery of me, ridiculed me, jeered me using humanly imaginable dirty epithets.
The website of www.chosun.com has been that of a major newspaper of South Korea which takes its pride on the most circulation of 2.3 million. The newspaper, which has been rightist-Conservative-leaning one, supports Bush, of course, and has been most popular among the American citizens of Korean descent.
How come I have made such repetitions of mistranslations of major U.S. media articles? Probably out of self-conceit, over-confidence, lack of sophistication for subtleties or the absence of background knowledges.
Somebody, who had been donned by compatriot 'netizens' with the robe of authority on the interpretation of English-written documents or information for his or her foreign residence, used to post a message or two hinting at misrepresentation of a specific word or phrase. Before you know it, Phil, Annie or Bob as you name it appeared from nowhere and landed on the site and started uttering barbs at me in the form of 'ripostes'."
In a moment, grapes of ripostes hung in the pole as if they had been guilty pleas amounting to the indictment. "Stupidity again?", one prosecutor intoned, nudging my delicate ribs vulnerable to pain. "Ridiculous!", another investigator made a face. A certain guy by the name of Kim so and so would launch a funeral ceremony for the evident character, using a live electronic photo.
I knew I had outstayed my welcome for a long period of three and more years. I realized that it's time I left. I reported my leave of absence to the site, offering my sincere apologies to the visitors to and deep appreciation to the moderator of the website. The traditional parting shot in Korean society has been "chal mokko chal sarara." (literally translated as: Eat Well and Live Well)
Where Will All They Be Gone?
Life in the rustic hillsides and canyons turned out to be too risky at times. The sudden wild fires, caused by winds, lightning or by the anonymous play of hateful hands, results in gargantuan damages and traumas. The destruction of fires is so complete that the victims of the conflagration--humanity and nature in general involved in the disaster--cannot return to the peace and happiness of yesterday.
The beautiful scenery has turned into the denuded rustic mass. The routine amicable encounters with the wild beasts are no longer plausible. Neighbors in the canyons have been scattered all over. Where will all they be gone?
Life in the rustic hillsides and canyons turned out to be too risky at times. The sudden wild fires, caused by winds, lightning or by the anonymous play of hateful hands, results in gargantuan damages and traumas. The destruction of fires is so complete that the victims of the conflagration--humanity and nature in general involved in the disaster--cannot return to the peace and happiness of yesterday.
The beautiful scenery has turned into the denuded rustic mass. The routine amicable encounters with the wild beasts are no longer plausible. Neighbors in the canyons have been scattered all over. Where will all they be gone?
Monday, October 27, 2003
The Flagrant Arsonists
Arsonists are in action these days. They set everything in sight on fire. They set their place, their once beloved and belongings on fire. Everybody and everything in there are consumed in mad flames.
It's a horrible experience to see the footage in which cars have been burnt down to skeletons. More horrible is something else in store for what we, as members of the community, have not been allowed to witness. Some bodies, which had existed as members of society in the form of human shapes, have disappeared from sight.
Arsonists are in action these days. They set everything in sight on fire. They set their place, their once beloved and belongings on fire. Everybody and everything in there are consumed in mad flames.
It's a horrible experience to see the footage in which cars have been burnt down to skeletons. More horrible is something else in store for what we, as members of the community, have not been allowed to witness. Some bodies, which had existed as members of society in the form of human shapes, have disappeared from sight.
Fires Everywhere!
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- Wildfires that have burned for days merged into walls of flame stretching across miles in parts of southern California yesterday, leaving at least 13 people dead, burning 650 homes, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people, and frustrating overmatched firefighters who worked relentlessly against fierce winds. (Chelsea J. Carter, Associated Press, 10/27/2003
Fires are everywhere on the global village. There have been too many these days, raging through the fields, through the subterranean tunnels, through the subway cars. It's a horrible alert that they have not been caused by winds alone. Human tragedy is that considerable part of the conflagrations has been caused by artificial efforts.
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- Wildfires that have burned for days merged into walls of flame stretching across miles in parts of southern California yesterday, leaving at least 13 people dead, burning 650 homes, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people, and frustrating overmatched firefighters who worked relentlessly against fierce winds. (Chelsea J. Carter, Associated Press, 10/27/2003
Fires are everywhere on the global village. There have been too many these days, raging through the fields, through the subterranean tunnels, through the subway cars. It's a horrible alert that they have not been caused by winds alone. Human tragedy is that considerable part of the conflagrations has been caused by artificial efforts.
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
A Filial Dog Named Chanhee
He has been known to be a very smart dog. The dog, who has been resoundingly famous, around a small village of a southernmost town of South Korea, for his filial piety, is called by the endearing human name of Chanhee. In the era of ungrateful sons and daughters, the canine piety has become the talk of the town.
SBS TV (www.sbs.co.kr), a comparative broadcasting novice, aired a very impressive footage, in which this canine loner commutes several times a day to a pond at a distance of scores of gallops. He takes a seat near a specific angler who he presumes will have a good catch of the day. His composed posture and intensive stare was touching.
"He is looking forward to a handout from an expected angler," one angler said to a TV camera. His serious and pathetic patience is rewarded by a trout or something. As soon as the game is thrown to him on the thick grass, Chanhee runs to it and grabs it with his bite.
A surprise is in for you when you see that Chanhee does not eat the fish on the spot but takes it to his father's house. An old woman and a son in his forties live there. The man calls the dog "my dear son." The dog, arriving there, puts the game onto a small container filled with water, where you'll find it is still alive, swimming.
A hot gourmet fish soup is prepared with Chanhee's filial efforts. Chanhee has had more to do. He makes a routine scout of the periphery. On top of that, he is so smart that he is good at making errands, fetching this thing or that. "We are very safe because our son is standing steadfast guard," the old proprietor of the remote house smiles with pride on his face.
He has been known to be a very smart dog. The dog, who has been resoundingly famous, around a small village of a southernmost town of South Korea, for his filial piety, is called by the endearing human name of Chanhee. In the era of ungrateful sons and daughters, the canine piety has become the talk of the town.
SBS TV (www.sbs.co.kr), a comparative broadcasting novice, aired a very impressive footage, in which this canine loner commutes several times a day to a pond at a distance of scores of gallops. He takes a seat near a specific angler who he presumes will have a good catch of the day. His composed posture and intensive stare was touching.
"He is looking forward to a handout from an expected angler," one angler said to a TV camera. His serious and pathetic patience is rewarded by a trout or something. As soon as the game is thrown to him on the thick grass, Chanhee runs to it and grabs it with his bite.
A surprise is in for you when you see that Chanhee does not eat the fish on the spot but takes it to his father's house. An old woman and a son in his forties live there. The man calls the dog "my dear son." The dog, arriving there, puts the game onto a small container filled with water, where you'll find it is still alive, swimming.
A hot gourmet fish soup is prepared with Chanhee's filial efforts. Chanhee has had more to do. He makes a routine scout of the periphery. On top of that, he is so smart that he is good at making errands, fetching this thing or that. "We are very safe because our son is standing steadfast guard," the old proprietor of the remote house smiles with pride on his face.
Sunday, October 19, 2003
On Wife-Swapping Practices of South Korea
What did they exchange? Gifts of toys? Negative. If not, did they give seeds and toils to the soil and take crops and fruits for their efforts, or did they give 100 marks to their superiors and take praises for their performance? Neither.
They exchanged 'wives.' In professional terms, they "swapped husbands and wives." The prime time news of major television broadcasting companies aired a few days ago the hazy footage of human shapes naked and lewd. Along with routine suicide news from the absence of resources for survival.
The swappers consisted mainly of the professional people who were doctors, lawyers, university professors and journalists, the anchor said. "In this era of economic recession and national plights, such behaviors of the high society people are blameworthy," he added. "Nevertheless, they're such matters of privacy they can't be punished," he concluded, quoting the 'professional opinions' of some lawyers.
Unpunishable? Tension prior to and after sexual orgy takes its toll. The protracted feelings of emptiness attendant on transient pleasure prick every body organ of those involved. The destruction of normal human senses of those related to the experiment with a taboo of the commonsensical world might make spousal sex lives impossible. They're in for these punishments which they have incurred.
What did they exchange? Gifts of toys? Negative. If not, did they give seeds and toils to the soil and take crops and fruits for their efforts, or did they give 100 marks to their superiors and take praises for their performance? Neither.
They exchanged 'wives.' In professional terms, they "swapped husbands and wives." The prime time news of major television broadcasting companies aired a few days ago the hazy footage of human shapes naked and lewd. Along with routine suicide news from the absence of resources for survival.
The swappers consisted mainly of the professional people who were doctors, lawyers, university professors and journalists, the anchor said. "In this era of economic recession and national plights, such behaviors of the high society people are blameworthy," he added. "Nevertheless, they're such matters of privacy they can't be punished," he concluded, quoting the 'professional opinions' of some lawyers.
Unpunishable? Tension prior to and after sexual orgy takes its toll. The protracted feelings of emptiness attendant on transient pleasure prick every body organ of those involved. The destruction of normal human senses of those related to the experiment with a taboo of the commonsensical world might make spousal sex lives impossible. They're in for these punishments which they have incurred.
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Iffy and Murky
His gait looks unsteady. Both shoulders of his are undulating. His walk on the whole gives you the feeling that he is very nervous about something.
Getting back to his facade, his eyes are wavering. He has had so many wrinkles on his forehead and has had to do some aesthetical workings on them. His pronunciation of his mother tongue is shaky. His shrill voice of short breath evokes the impression that he is a man of short temper.
His behaviors are trendy and frivolous. His statements are fuzzy. His pledge of loyalty and honesty is hazy. His assurances and reassurances are iffy.
He has been moody. He is sulking from time to time. He cowers at the idea of his triviality and impotence. Then at another moment, he turns to you and scowls. How could you do about this guy?
His gait looks unsteady. Both shoulders of his are undulating. His walk on the whole gives you the feeling that he is very nervous about something.
Getting back to his facade, his eyes are wavering. He has had so many wrinkles on his forehead and has had to do some aesthetical workings on them. His pronunciation of his mother tongue is shaky. His shrill voice of short breath evokes the impression that he is a man of short temper.
His behaviors are trendy and frivolous. His statements are fuzzy. His pledge of loyalty and honesty is hazy. His assurances and reassurances are iffy.
He has been moody. He is sulking from time to time. He cowers at the idea of his triviality and impotence. Then at another moment, he turns to you and scowls. How could you do about this guy?
He Is Always Whining
He is always whining. He says he is being unfairly attacked from the press. He calls the major press "the gangs of the crime organization."
He thinks he is being beleaguered by hostile forces--the major press, the political establishment, the opposition parties and the big businesses. He imagines himself on the throne of virtues, which he thinks entiled him to define the others around him.
He kept complaining, "I cannot handle this; I cannot manage the Presidency; I cannot run this country." Why? Because too many hostile forces are in his way. In natural courses of events, he decided to put his Presidency to the test of a referendum on the issue--threatening to resign if the people did not vote him full confidence. He is the maverick President of South Korea.
He is always whining. He says he is being unfairly attacked from the press. He calls the major press "the gangs of the crime organization."
He thinks he is being beleaguered by hostile forces--the major press, the political establishment, the opposition parties and the big businesses. He imagines himself on the throne of virtues, which he thinks entiled him to define the others around him.
He kept complaining, "I cannot handle this; I cannot manage the Presidency; I cannot run this country." Why? Because too many hostile forces are in his way. In natural courses of events, he decided to put his Presidency to the test of a referendum on the issue--threatening to resign if the people did not vote him full confidence. He is the maverick President of South Korea.
