Californian Sojourn

Happy New Year!

Since it is already 1 hour into the New year over there in Seoul I thought I would jump the gun and wish those over the sea a Happy New Year and that may this year be a blessing to you and yours like never before.

And over here in America as well still have some 13 to 18 hours to go (well Hawaii even more) but even more importanly...it still remains my birthday! Today I turn 22 years old and I still act like a middle aged man. Don't have anything planned today and don't know if I will even be getting anything but it's alright. This blog doesn't call itself a sojourn for nothing.

It's been quite a year and many of the things that occurred this year, its affect will continue many years beyond. War came some to lands, peace to others. Dictators fell and others stiffened their back. Great men and women died and others who greatness we've yet to know were born. Hope came to some and terror yet still to many. There is much yet still to do, realities must be faced, and tough descisions must be made. There will be things out of our hands, things that we so wish we could control and yet we will not be able. But we cannot lose our own hope. Life, ever changing, stills goes on no matter what comes our way. All I know is that we do what we can and sometimes it is enough and sometimes it isn't. But never fear, that sun will shine again and like that butterfly which causes the storm across the ocean, even the littlest action can cause an incrediblde reaction.

Satellite's Eye View

Over at the Flying Yangban's we have a satellite image of Bam, Iran which was the epicenter of the recent major earthquake. Over 20,000 killed and once again in these situations many of those lives could have been saved. It is a staggering loss of life and thankfully the Iranian government is allowing aid from every nation offering it. That is except Israel.

Awww Crap!

"Pregnant San Andreas Could Be Ready To Deliver"

Not everything can be grand in "paradise" I suppose. Least they didn't mention Arizona being beach front property. I haven't bought any land yet.

Have Contrary Opinion, Beat Me

Sadly, this type of thing is becoming all the more evident. Used to be more of a college thing, but as of late high schools have seen more of this.

Question is, how do we begin to correct this? Or can we?

(Link via Instapundit)

The New Way To Wage War

Over at Marmot's I came across this. All I can say that between Norkbot Cheerleaders and the Miss Korea winners we'd have a pretty good match up going on. I love how both governments are using beautiful females (though I think the South Korean females are less rigid and prone to cry at any little perceived slight) to wage, as the Marmot calls it, "PsycOps" against each other. Almost makes you wish Canada, Mexico, and the US got into their own little battle (of this type that is). Well one could always hope.

Also I suggest you take a look at the rest of what Marmot has been posting in the last few days as he has really kicked it into high gear. If you want to know about Korean issues, he is the first place to check.

R.I.P.

Today Anita Mui passed away after a battle with cervical cancer. Anita Mui is best known to American audiences for her roles in Rumble in the Bronx and Drunken Master 2 (aka Legend of the Drunken Master) but she was also know as the Madonna of Hong Kong where she was an actress and singer. Her elder sister also passed away due to cancer in 1998. Anita was 40 years old.

I always enjoyed her acting whether it be the annoying shop keeper in Rumble in the Bronx or Jackie's step mother in Drunken Master 2. She was set to star in Zhang Yimou's follow-up to Hero even though she was battling her cervical cancer. None of her scenes had been shot. Many of Hong Kong's top stars showed up for her funeral including Jackie Chan.

Never Seen This Before

Over at Baekdu.Org widerock has posted about an interesting art form called Sand Animation. The post even comes with a video showing it demonstrated at the Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival. Pretty cool if you ask me and something I would have never of thought of. Inspiring what the human mind can conceive. Although there are always things you wish no one had even imagined.

In Other Religious Harmony News

Buddhists (!!!) attack Christians on the island of Sri Lanka.

Something seems a tad bit wrong with this. I need the Big Hominid to give me peace of mind... (Warning: Big Ho link not for the faint of heart)

D'OH!

Seems Michelle Branch has gone Maxim. Strike yet another musician off of the respected list. The list has begun to dwindle.

And yes, yes I am a stick in the mud.

Meanwhile...

In the "What In The World" Department.