• Archive for August, 2010

    In Melbourne

    by  • August 30, 2010 • SF, WRITING • 0 Comments

    I’m in Melbourne, now, and will be till next Monday morning. I have a presentation to do at the Utopias 4 conference as well as a presentation and some panels to participate in at WorldCon later in the week, along with some catching up with friends and so on. I also have to get...

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    Immortality?

    by  • August 27, 2010 • PERSONAL • 8 Comments

    The Maverick Philosopher discusses the fact that Christopher Hitchens, who is not doing so well, also has not recanted his atheism. Valicella writes: The contemplation of death must be horrifying for those who pin all on the frail reed of the ego.  The dimming of the light, the loss of control, the feeling of...

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    If Only I Were Part Robot…

    by  • August 27, 2010 • KOREA, SF • 0 Comments

    I’d have time to post constantly. But since I’m not: Here’s some vintage Korean SF action… well, for a broad definition of SF: Apparently the show is now retro-hip enough for indie rockers Go Go Star to do a musical (and cosplay) tribute: Another version of the song, with better video: As for me,...

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    What The Zen Cowboy Said

    by  • August 27, 2010 • teaching in Korea • 0 Comments

    Caveat: I know zilch about horses. But I think this says something worth saying, just the same. Been a long time in coming, too. # You wonder, how could a cowboy be so much like the zen monk in that strange book your auntie from San Francisco sent you? He rides up as the...

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    Recommended Books on Korea

    by  • August 26, 2010 • BOOKS & AUTHORS, KOREA • 4 Comments

    So, I was recently asked for a list of my top ten books about Korean history/politics, for someone who is living here and would like to know more about the country. Of course, asking me such a question is dangerous. Dangerous in two ways, mind: I sometimes have some pretty idiosyncratic views about books,...

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    “Hakwon Teachers”

    by  • August 26, 2010 • teaching in Korea • 0 Comments

    In a recent post, I made a disparaging comment about being talked to like some hakwon teacher: And it’s even worse when it’s nine at night and a couple of people come in wanting to sample the beer, just see what it’s like, and they’ve clearly just eaten dinner and tell you so, and...

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    Two Three Annoying Things

    by  • August 26, 2010 • KOREA • 0 Comments

    The two girls who politely excused their way to the head of the line at the taxi stand tonight — past a bunch of us who were waiting, and assumed they were just walking through the stand but not going to catch a taxi someone else had waited for the right to take, when…...

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