"Same ol'...Same ol'..."

I was writing a long response to a comment from the last post and decided that it might be better to make it a whole separate blog post.

I've been reading about this all morning. It's terrible. I hope you are okay? What does this mean for future relations between the South and Norther? They aren't possibly going to war, are they?

http://gogloh.blogspot.com/2010/11/north-korea-bombed-south-korea.html

Yeah, we're fine here in Seoul. I don't really know how serious this will get, but right now everything has already settled down. I know people are upset with what happened, but I think South Koreans are very accustomed to crazy behavior from their northern neighbor. I talked about this a bit with some of my club students and one of them, a political science major (although she has two other majors as well), said that analysts think this happened because the new successor is trying to establish his power and place in the regime.

The incident rattled diplomatic nerves in capitals not only in the region but also around the world. Residents of Seoul, however, seemed to display only a mild anxiety on Wednesday, caught somewhere between calm and dread, and maybe breathing a collective sigh of relief that things had not escalated.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/25/world/asia/25seoul.html

In any case, it's quite sad because so many people were hurt, even four deaths due to the shelling has been reported. The club students told me that one of the soldiers who died was only 20 years old Korean age, which means he was probably 19 years old. And he had just been given his first vacation leave a day before the shelling. He delayed his departure for a day due to weather. The other soldier who died only had a few months left before he was finished his compulsory military service.

They also found two civilian bodies and supposedly one high school girl is missing. I haven't been able to confirm the latter bit of information through the news, however.

At least four people, including two civilians were killed and dozens of houses destroyed on the island in the heaviest attack by the North since the Korean War ended in 1953.
It marked the first civilian deaths in an assault since the bombing of a South Korean airliner in 1987. North Korea said the shelling was in self-defense after Seoul fired shells into its waters near the disputed maritime border.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL3E6MN0SQ20101125

Even with so many big and little crazy things going on in the world, I hope everyone has a wonderful day, particularly today, whether or not you celebrate Thanksgiving Day. While there's always work to be done, I certainly have a lot to be thankful about.

North Korea bombed South Korea...

Just a couple hours ago, North Korea bombed an western island of South Korea. North Korea sent about 50 or so bombs, according to Korean news sources, to Yeonpyeong island, right off the coast of Incheon, a major city. South Korea exchanged fire, retaliating with about 30 bombs.

Residents of the island are being evacuated to bunkers, as about 60 to 70 buildings are on fire, and some building are collapsing. Some South Koreans have been hurt.

I haven't received anything from the U.S. Embassy yet, so I don't know how seriously the South Korean and American military are taking this attack, but since people are hurt, I presume there will be some action taken.

Crazy, huh?

My guess at this point is that North Korea is looking to gain some negotiating leverage after revealing their nuclear capabilities recently. They also recently named a new successor, so that might have been another factor in this recent activity.

Update: At this point in time, one Korean marine has been killed.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AM0YS20101123

Withstanding Wintry Weather With Wonderful Warm Whatchamacallits

The weather has been rather chilly for a while now, but with the cold weather comes the opportunity to make use of one of my favorite Korean things: underfloor heating or the Ondol (온돌) system.

The Ondol system is a traditional Korean heating method, where the heated water is channeled through pipes beneath the floor. In the past, it was a way of heating the water while also heating the home. It can be both now as well, but we can choose to send the hot water through the pipes first or have the hot water go directly to the bathroom and kitchen.

It's an expensive system to install, but it is very energy efficient. And it's so nice to just feel the warmth emanating from beneath you, whether you're walking or sitting. And of course, if you have a traditional style Korean bed, which is more like a mat, your blankets will be all ready cozy and welcoming when you're ready to hop in. And I know I'm not the only one who loves the Ondol system.

It did snow briefly already this winter, but not much.
This photo was taken last February.

There are only two problems with the system I've encountered so far. Sometimes it's hard to get the right temperature and I often find myself opening the windows sometimes to cool the air a bit. Another problem is that if the system isn't built to be controlled for each room, i.e. there is only one thermostat and it controls one huge Ondol that runs through the large apartment, running it can get rather expensive. It's still surprisingly cheap to run the system, even for a large place, but I'm a forgetful person and often left my heating system on by accident when running out to get to work back at my old place.

And, on a slightly related note, I was looking through Wikipedia for some information on the Ondol system, I found out that there is a similar heating system used the the middle ages ... named after me! Oh me oh my. I am very pleased with the people of the Iberian Peninsula, I am. Very pleased indeed. ;)

Eleven Eleven = Pepero = G20

Pepero Day is on November 11th, because the four ones are supposed to look like Pepero sticks:

11 11

Ta-da.

People exchange Pepero sticks to show their affection or appreciation. Mainly, couples give each other the snacks, but a lot of people bestow the tasty chocolate covered cookies to their friends or teachers. It's seriously one of the most ingenious marketing schemes in Korea, and I don't mind it at all (as long as I receive some).

The 2010 G20 Summit in Seoul began on Pepero Day and has subsequently ended, but the lead up to the two day event started months before the actual event. For example, there was the G20 Asia Song Festival.

At the concert, we were given a free blanket, CD of the Korean collaborative pop G20 theme song "Let's Go!", and a battery powered glow stick to wave around during the concert if we donated to UNICEF.

I haven't used my blanket set yet, but it's sitting in my office in case I need a nap. :)

The city was turned inside out preparing for possible G20 related emergencies, as well as trying to welcome and impress the international community. First hand, I witnessed many stores holding special discounts for G20 passport holders, and buses being rerouted throughout Seoul to avoid any potential problems. I didn't realize the latter and got being stuck on a bus that didn't stop where I was hoping to go because it went straight from one of the earlier stops passed several subway stations and a major US military base (or two?), in heavy traffic, to a bus-stop-less corner in an unfamiliar area. I ended up shadowing a mother and her daughter down several eerily quiet and highly secured blocks to get to the nearest subway station and head back toward my original destination.

... I hope they didn't think I was stalking them.

One of my internet addictions...

Hello. I have a problem. I'm addicted to internet videos... but not just any videos... like really nerdy videos. I spend way too much time watching lectures, talks, infographics, and the like on the internet. Actually, they're rather intriguing, thought provoking, inspiring and surprising.

I sent a list of very interesting videos to my friend Jenny and decided that perhaps I should also post them here:


http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/kor/joachim_de_posada_says_don_t_eat_the_marshmallow_yet.html
This is really cute, as well as informative. :) It's about learning self-control and delayed gratification.


http://fora.tv/2010/05/06/Jeremy_Rifkin_The_Empathic_Civilization_Animated
This is about how we're wired to feel what others feel and empathize rather than be aggressive, etc.


http://fora.tv/2010/03/25/Philip_Zimbardo_The_Secret_Powers_of_Time_Animated
On how people are oriented in their sense of time and how different cultures have different paces of life because of the sense of and orientation toward time.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7E-aoXLZGY
About the mechanics vs. meaning of language. :)


http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice.html
On how having too many choices are making us less happy.


http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/barry_schwartz_on_our_loss_of_wisdom.html
This is about how wisdom and morality differs from knowledge and rules and the importance of wisdom and moral development.


http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
Sir Ken speaks on education and how the way it's done now discourages creativity and the development of our individual gifts.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo
A very moving lecture given by Randy Pausch, who knows he's going to die very soon... Actually he passed away less than a year after giving this speech.

:) They're all really really interesting. Hope you both enjoy them.