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M.I.A. Raps Colombo

Even having to endure Bill Maher's condescension, Anglophobia, and his Sicily insult, I believe I'm in love - not with Maher. But, he had a point about Buddhists. Powered by ScribeFire. alternate frame of change©2009 Left Flank. All Rights Reserved..

Planning the Next War in Sri Lanka

Now, the United Nations calls for action!The U.N. human rights chief called on Tuesday for an international inquiry to determine if Sri Lankan government forces and Tamil rebels committed war crimes in the last burst of their conflict.Ensuring accountability for abuses committed in the recent fighting should help the island nation's reconciliation after decades of [...]

Pyongyang, Suck My Kiss! (Cut/Paste)

(I sincerely apologize for associating any serious authors with this miserable attempt at blowing off...steam!)* [Kaplan]So North Korea has tested a nuclear bomb. What should President Barack Obama do about it? Ideally, nothing. A shrug may be the response that Kim Jong-il fears most. [Lake]The test served in some ways as North Korea's full induction into a [...]

Daejeon, Seodaejeon (Moonhwa 1 Dong) - Sinchon Sauna

This one is tough. I'll be visiting it soon, so more details are yet to come. I scoured the internet, only to find brief references to this place with no real info given. For now, I'll post a map and you can head over to check it out yourself.

I can tell you that via word-of-mouth, I hear this place is decent, and my boss goes there rather often since it's near our school. The building looks big, but I'm not sure how much is occupied by the sauna. Anyway, like I said - more to come soon :)
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So, I went there on Thursday evening. Had the place to myself, (save for a few old ladies and two other people in the jjimjilbang!) and just spent enough time to check it out. I'll be going back though.
The Sauna is basic. Basic basic. Just a couple warm tubs, an ice tub, a dry sauna room, and a lot of showers. I gather the main purpose of most peoples' visit is to scrub oneself. The distinctive feature is that the tubs themselves were built with beautiful, natural stones. Instead of enjoying them on the walls, you can feel them right under you.
The jjimjilbang is also basic, but really pretty as well. There is one central area with a TV and snack bar, the ice room (with a cute door like a walk-in freezer!) is on one corner, and the restaurant is in another corner. The segregated sleeping areas can be found lofted in the other corners, and along one wall of that main room is glass with a door. Through that door you'll find the warmer area: an anteroom with TV and 3 stunningly-tiled dome-ceilinged hot rooms.
Overall, it was small, but had such a nice look I'd love to visit again for the cozy feeling.

신촌사우나찜질방
대전 중구 문화1동 1-182
Daejeon, Jung Gu, Moonhwa Dong 1, Building 1-182
042-224-4545

Wikimap of Sinchon Sauna

Pork Skewers: Today wasn't a good day.



To paraphrase Ice Cube, today wasn’t a good day.

My troubles started when I when I went to see the Doctor to inquire about vaccinations for my upcoming trip to South East Asia as I’m short a Hepatitis B and Japanese Encephalitis jab. Despite assuring him I’d never had any sort of Hep B vaccination, the good Dr nevertheless insisted I have a Hep B blood test, to the tune of 10,000 won.

I’ve had my doubts about this guy for a while – he never seems to close the office door no matter what state of undress is required, and he once removed a fish bone from my throat without any gloves on. Despite my qualms however, before I could object this happened (I know this photo is a little gross for a food blog but bear with me.)



Afterwards, I took the bus to PNU (home of Busan’s best Takoyaki) to get one of those spicy Pork Skewers I’ve been thinking about so much recently.



They weren’t how I remembered. The pork was creepily soft and tender, leading me to the conclusion that it was in some way reformed. It was also for that matter cold inside, something that wouldn’t have bothered me too much if it wasn’t a balmy May evening. As for the spicy barbecue sauce slathered on during cooking, it did little to stimulate my taste buds. And I was left holding a skewer I had no means to dispose of.

Then I got my ass kicked in Tekken 6 (I'm the one with no shirt on.)

Worse Than Chimps (Except for Diet)

I recall as if it were yesterday Jane Goodall's periodic updates on chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park in National Geographic when I was young boy. Frodo, Flo, and Goliath were like characters in a sit-com. And then, Frodo became violent. Shortly afterward, a war broke out between rival clans of chimps. An image [...]

Fresh Voices on DPRK

If I had to offer the most thought-provoking debate on DPRK's recent provocations, it's this three-way discussion between Ray Suarez, Douglas Paal, and Joel Wit on the PBS Online Newshour. Firstly, what's to be done?RAY SUAREZ: Is it worthwhile to head back to the table?DOUGLAS PAAL: Not soon. We rushed back to the table after [...]

Cool, Calm, and Pleased

It looks like the Obama administration might need another special negotiator for Northeast Asia.Yang Jiechi, the Chinese foreign minister, in a meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Yu Myung-hwan, at the Asem summit in Hanoi called for the international community to deal with the latest example of Pyongyang’s brinkmanship in a “calm and cool-headed manner”, [...]

More Roh Loving

There's just one question I have for Aidan Foster-Carter in this hagiographic obituary of Roh Moo-hyun.In 1971 he had married his childhood sweetheart, Kwon Yang-sook; her father was once jailed as pro-communist. At first more upwardly mobile than political – with a comfortable tax practice, he joined the local yacht club – in 1980 Roh [...]

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