Monday, November 16, 2009
Three Stages of the Flu
So, long story short, my wife had swine flu this past week. Daniel and I were also sick, though we didn't test positive for it.
Click here to read about it. I tried to have a fun time with the experience, but it was a hard tone to maintain throughout.
Click here to read about it. I tried to have a fun time with the experience, but it was a hard tone to maintain throughout.
Labels: Expat Issues, humor, Life Updates
Sunday, November 15, 2009
North Korea Watch: Here Comes the Sand
Last week's naval skirmish apparently hasn't disrupted North Korea's efforts to do business with the South, as this Yonhap News story indicates:
North Korean cargo ship discharged a load of sand in a South Korean port on Monday in the North's first commercial trip across the volatile inter-Korean maritime border since last week's naval skirmish.
The voyage of the 1,296-ton vessel Kumpit suggests Pyongyang's intent to carry on profitable inter-Korean business projects, treating them as a separate issue from military warnings toward the South.
North Korea has long been in the practice of playing two cards at once: One that makes them appear threatening and another that appears inviting. It appears that will not change.
Labels: north korea
Monday, November 02, 2009
North Korea Watch: If It's Broke ...
According to Reuters, Kim Jong-il's vow turn North Korea into a "strong and prosperous nation" by 2012, the 100th anniversary of his father's birth, is going seriously crimp his brinkmanship.
For some time now North Korea has played the same game, which is to make a concession and then rattle a saber, thus maintaining the status quo. This piece suggests that Kim's hopes for 2012, which also when he may announce that his youngest son will succeed him, may make this game untenable. Perhaps more concessions from NK are coming.
Currently, North Korea has an economy worth $17 billion, 2 percent of South Korea's.
"This puts pressure on the regime to get as much aid as it can, as fast as it can," said B.R. Myers, an expert on the North's state ideology at Dongseo University in South Korea.
"To say that it will be a strong and prosperous country and to say that will be achieved by 2012, and to raise expectations, is actually a very risky thing."
For some time now North Korea has played the same game, which is to make a concession and then rattle a saber, thus maintaining the status quo. This piece suggests that Kim's hopes for 2012, which also when he may announce that his youngest son will succeed him, may make this game untenable. Perhaps more concessions from NK are coming.
Currently, North Korea has an economy worth $17 billion, 2 percent of South Korea's.
Labels: north korea
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Adventist Today column
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