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Sound of a Dog Eating Grass

개 풀 뜯어 먹는 소리 (A Korean expression denoting 'nonsense')

Very cool: Three-way chess board

Posted September 27, 2008 by Todd Cameron Thacker 
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"Enough Said"


 

Posted September 25, 2008 by Todd Cameron Thacker 
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The Twelve Lies Of Sarah Palin


To keep score:


Also, there's a nice roundup in the New Republic of McCain's campaign of lies and why he thinks lying is a patriotic thing to do...

Posted September 24, 2008 by Todd Cameron Thacker 
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Vote John McClane 2008!


http://www.votejohnmcclane.com/

Posted September 24, 2008 by Todd Cameron Thacker 
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Who's the elitist?


Posted September 22, 2008 by Todd Cameron Thacker 
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Book Preview: The Confucian Transformation of Korea

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<script type="text/javascript">
GBS_insertEmbeddedViewer('ISBN:0674160894',600,1000);
</script>

Posted September 22, 2008 by Todd Cameron Thacker 
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A good list of 100 Korean foods you have to try



 
 

via SeoulLife.net by Cat on 9/16/08

In the spirit of the Omnivore’s 100, Joe at ZenKimchi has put together the 100 Korean Foods You Gotta Try.

So, of course after two years here, I wanted to see how I would stack up. As with the original 100, the deal is that you copy the list to your blog, highlight or underline the foods that you’ve tried and put a link in the comments of the original post.

I’ve added my two cents on a few things, just for kicks. Here goes:
1. Myeolchi Bokkeum (Stir-fried Anchovies)

2. Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup) - so delicious! But I can’t understand how people eat it when it’s boiling hot (and also on the hottest days of the year) I have to let it cool off to a gentle simmer first and by then everyone else has finished.

3. Bulgogi (Grilled Marinated Beef)

4. BulDalk (Burn-your-pants-off Spicy Grilled Chicken)

5. DalkBal (Spicy Chicken Feet)

6. Korean Fried Chicken - addictive, and I truly prefer this to the commercial fried chicken American style. The Korean version is very crispy and not very greasy. It’s magic!

7. Dalk Galbi (Stir-fried Marinated Chicken and Veggies) - Yum!! And the flavoring with honey and perilla (sesame) leaves gives it a very unique flavor compared to other Korean dishes.

8. San Nakji, chopped (Semi-live Baby Octopus) - only if I were starving.

9. San Nakji, whole (Live Octopus)

10. Sundubu Jjigae (Soft Tofu Stew) - one of my favorite Korean foods.

11. Juk (Rice Porridge) - I was surprised to find that I liked this the first time I tried it. I especially like the hobak (winter squash) juk.

12. Galbi (Grilled Short Ribs)

13. Galbitang (Short Rib Soup)

14. Shinseollo (Fancy Hot Pot)

15. Gobchang Gui (Grilled Beef Intestines)

16. Seng Gan (Raw Beef Liver)

17. Galbi Jjim (Stewed Ribs)

18. Bossam (Steamed Marinated Pork with Lettuce Wraps)

19. Japchae (Clear Noodles Stir-fried with Pork and Vegetables)

20. Jaeyuk Bokkeum (Spicy Stir-fried Pork)

21. Kimchi Jjim (Stewed Kimchi with Tofu)

22. Ddong Jip (Chicken Gizzards)

23. Odeng/Eomuk (Street-side Fish Noodles)

24. Hoddeok (Stuffed Street-side Pastries)

25. GeiJang (Raw Fermented Crabs)

26. Hongeo (Fermented Skate)

27. Gochujang Samgyeopsal (Grilled Pork Belly Smothered in Red Pepper Paste)

28. Lotteria’s Shrimp Burger - meh. but I can’t think of anything else on the Lotteria menu that would be particularly Korean.

29. Sae-u Kang (Shrimp Flavored “Fries”)

30. Doenjang Jjigae (Fermented Bean Paste Stew)

31. Cheonggukjang (Stinky Fermented Bean Paste Stew)

32. Boshintang (Dog Soup)

33. Seonji Haejangguk (Hangover Stew with Clotted Cow Blood)

34. Ddeokbokki (Chewy Rice Cakes in Spicy Sauce)

35. YukHui (Raw Beef Salad)

36. MiyeokGuk (Seaweed Soup) - I did eat this for days after Susana was born, and it’s true that I found it very nourishing and easy to eat. Because I was fortunate enough to have a friend who made it with good beef and homemade soy sauce, it was also incredibly delicious.

37. Mae-eunTang (Spicy Fish Soup)

38. Nakji Bokkeum (Stir-fried Baby Octopus) - this is good. As long as the ‘nakji’ is no longer ’san’ I’m good.

39. Ojingeo (Dried Cuttlefish) - great drinking snack and surprisingly very tasty.

40. Beondaeggi (Silkworm Larvae)

41. Golbaenggi (Sea Snails)

42. Jangeo Gui (Grilled Eel)

43. Jaratang (Turtle Soup)

44. Bogeo (Blowfish)

45. Sae-u Sogeum Gui (Salt Grilled Shrimp)

46. Deodeok Root

47. BindaeDdeok (Mung Bean Pancake)

48. Pajeon (Green Onion Pancake)

49. Bibimbap (Mixed Rice and Vegetables)

50. Boribap (Mixed Barley Rice and Vegetables)

51. Marinated Garlic

52. Patbingsu (Shaved Ice and Red Bean Treat)

53. Dotorimok (Acorn Jelly)

54. Naengmyeon (Chilled Noodles) - when we first moved here, I couldn’t stand this, especially mul naengmyeon. Now, I am addicted to it in the summer, although, of course, it’s traditionally a winter food.

55. Makkoli/Dongdongju (Rice Beer)

56. Bokbunja (Raspberry Wine)

57. Soju (Rice Whiskey)

58. Andong Soju (Strong Rice Whiskey from the Andong Region) - definitely the good stuff.

59. Jogae Gui (Grilled Shellfish)

60. Haepari (Jellyfish)

61. Gyeran Jjim (Steamed Egg) - long-time favorite. If you like an omelet you will like this.

62. Corn Ice Cream

63. Dolsot Bibimbap (Mixed Rice and Vegetables in a Sizzling Stone Pot)

64. Mandu (Stuffed Dumplings)

65. Ddeokguk (Chewy Rice Cake Soup)

66. Songpyeon (Stuffed Chewy Rice Cakes)

67. Hot Bar (Fried Fish Batter Street Food)

68. Shikhye (Sweet Rice Punch)

69. Any product with Green Tea in it - this could be its own list, how many products have you tried with green tea in them. I can count about 10, I think.

70. Gujeolpan (Nine-section Dish)

71. Yogurt Soju Cocktail

72. Baechu Kimchi (Cabbage Kimchi)

73. Any Kimchi that’s over 3 years old

74. Baek Kimchi (White Cabbage Kimchi)

75. Shake-’em-up Dosirak

76. Mul Kimchi (Water Kimchi)

77. Oi Sobagi (Stuffed Cucumber Kimchi)

78. Ggakdugi (Cubed Radish Kimchi)

79. Sae-u Jeot (Salted Tiny Shrimp)

80. Myeongran Jeot (Salted Pollack Roe)

81. Changran Jeot (Salted Pollack Guts)

82. Ssamjang (Mixed Soybean and Pepper Paste)

83. Kalguksu (Hand-cut Noodle Soup)

84. Ramyeon (Ramen Noodles) in a Tin Pot

85. Entire Hui Meal (Korean style Sashimi)

86. Gimbap (Seaweed Rice Rolls)

87. Jokbal (Pigs Feet)

88. Sundae (Blood and Noodle Sausage)

89. Yeot (Traditional Korean Candy)

90. Naengi (Shepherd’s Purse)

91. Kimchi Jjigae (Kimchi Stew)

92. Budae Jjigae (“Army Base” Stew, traditionally including hot dogs and Spam) - for me, this is the opposite of my experience with naengmyeon. I cannot for the life of me understand what people like about this. It just tastes like ramen with added hot dogs and spam to me.

93. Agu Jjim (Stewed Monkfish)

94. Haemultang (Seafood Soup) - the best way to have this is to eat it at a small seaside place on the southeast coast, preferably after a long day at the beach. The day we did this will probably end up being among the 10 best meals of my life, maybe in the top five. Amazing.

95. Nurungji (Hot Water Mixed with Rice Scrapings in a Stone Pot)

96. Sujebi (Rustic Dumpling Soup)

97. Janchi Guksu (Thin Noodles in a Seaweed Broth with Condiments)

98. BungeoBbang (Goldfish-shaped Stuffed Pastry)

99. Raw Ginseng or anything with Ginseng in it

100. MakHui (Chilled Sashimi Soup)

Hmm. My total is 66. Not bad. By the time we move, maybe I’ll have gotten around to most of these (minus the live octopus, dead cow intestines and that fermented skate, though).

Posted September 16, 2008 by Todd Cameron Thacker 
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Obama’s sticking points: Excellent post on Joho



 
 

via Joho the Blog by davidw on 9/14/08

If you’re set on voting for McCain because you agree with him on the issues that matter to you, or because you’re convinced that Obama is unsuited because of his character, then there’s nothing I can say to change your mind. Nor would I want to.

But as I’ve been asking people why they’re not voting for Obama, there seems to be a handful of basic sticking points beyond policy and character. Here’s why they’re not sticking points for me … and in one case, why it’s an argument in favor of Obama.

He’s not experienced enough.” He clearly does not have as much experience as John McCain, if only because he’s younger. Experience counts, but only when it results in knowledge and judgment. Obama has not been found to be weak or superficial in his knowledge of the world. Indeed, there are some areas — such as Constitutional law — where his own experience leaves him more knowledgeable than McCain. And, in terms of judgment, if you think the Iraq war was a mistake, then Obama ought to get marks for the clarity of his judgment. Likewise, I thought Obama exhibited excellent judgment in a choice of a running mate who has all three: experience, knowledge, and judgment.

He’s been unclear on his positions.” On Obama’s Web site, you can find detailed plans and proposals. They are at least as crisp, clear, and thorough as McCain’s. But what this criticism has meant for some of the people I’ve talked with is that McCain gives simple, unambiguous answers, while Obama sometimes seems to waffle. Part of it is that Obama likes to give fuller, more nuanced answers. That’s bad for campaigning but a good trait for a leader. But there’s a bigger issue here that I think gets at the heart of many people’s discomfort with Obama. Let me explain …

Obama was very clear in his book, The Audacity of Hope, that the change he wants to bring is to the process of politics and the tenor of democracy. Obama thinks that beneath the ugly divisions among us are some common values. To heal and to move forward, he proposes that we look for what we have in common and try to come up with positions that are not as polarized. That means he is open to re-thinking the standard Democratic positions, sometimes to the ire of the standard Democrats. Off shore drilling? Generally, it’s a bad idea, but let’s recognize that we all want less dependence on foreign oil (and on oil in general), and if there are some places we can drill that can help (eventually), without disturbing the environment, we should be open to it. But that can be only a tiny part of the solution. Abortion? There can be no compromising a woman’s basic right to control her own bodies, but let’s recognize that everyone wants fewer abortions…

The resulting positions are not compromises in which we give up some of what we want so our oppponents will go along, or ”triangulations” in which we forsake principle in pursuit of votes. Compromises are political calculations, and they have their place. But they don’t heal us. For that we need to recognize what we have in common, rather than simply what we disagree about. The positions that emerge can look like compromises or even betrayals — the Left is still furious with Obama about the FISA bill — when they are in fact attempts to listen to others with respect and reset the discussion on the basis of what we share. That is the basis of the hope Obama holds out.

(I hope, by the way, that what I’m writing right now adheres to Obama’s path of listening and responding with respect.)

He’s changed his positions.” Yes, at times he has modified his positions. But I don’t think he’s changed his values or basic proposals. He’s changed as facts have changed. And he’s changed because he not only listens to those with whom he disagrees, he seeks them out. He is a constant learner. McCain, on the other hand, has switched from one side to another on issues as big as the Bush tax cuts, an anti-gay marriage amendment, and Roe v. Wade. The swings seem to me to be much bigger and more fundamental. So, given the two candidates, I don’t see this as an argument against Obama. Am I wrong?

He’s weak.” I find this objection so odd. True, he hasn’t flown a plane in war, but I think Obama is made of steel. He is unflappable. He has remained  true to himself and to his ideals throughout trying circumstances. He has shown tremendous strength as the McCain campaign has untethered itself from issues in order to attack Obama personally. So, this seems to be a matter of perception, and thus I cannot convince you of it. Nevertheless…

Beyond policy disagreements, are there other sticking points I’m missing?

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PS: I’m not sorry to be inconsistent in tone and approach from post to post.

Posted September 14, 2008 by Todd Cameron Thacker 
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In a political campaign far, far away...



 
 

via Ironic Sans on 9/11/08

A long time ago, in a political campaign far, far away, this poster was hanging in campaign offices across the galaxy...

Star Wars Obama

...and these logos were on bumper stickers from Alderaan to Yavin:

Star Wars Politics

Posted September 11, 2008 by Todd Cameron Thacker 
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Political wrestling

Posted September 11, 2008 by Todd Cameron Thacker 
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