Looking nice out there.
Hot as hell, sure, but the skies have been absolutely stunning—see my Tumblr site for photos.
Open Thread #254
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Korea News via Yahoo- North Korea Again Fires Short-Range Missile
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- 4 LAUNCHES IN 2 DAYS: N. Korea Fires Short-Range Missiles Off Coast
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{ 89 comments… read them below or add one }
Too hot to go outside – I really hate summer.
Ah, those stunning skies . . . nearly as stunning as the heat.
First Bro.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Hmmm . . . first, I was first, but at second glance, second.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
I like Mr. Hodges’ witty remarks.
There may be hope for you yet.
So for awhile I thought it was stupid and that we should focus on more important issues. But they finally got me on this one.
I want to see Romney’s tax returns. And I’ll be laughing my ass off at all the dumb Republicans who voted for Romney if it turns out he’s indeed a tax dodger. I am betting he is. Oh, this is going to be fun.
“I like Mr. Hodges’ witty remarks.”
(Heh heh heh . . . they fall into my trap . . .)
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
iMe,
I think Mitt’s tax returns are legit. They may raise eye brows because of all his off shore accounts and the lengths he went to legally avoid taxes, but I don’t think they are illegal, otherwise the IRS would have gone Reginald Denny on his ass. Plus, the Mormons are known for being notoriously straight laced.
This is just the Democrat’s “birth certificate” moment. Hey, what do you expect? It’s an election year.
I don’t care if Romney or Obama wins. They are just pawns of bigger American power groups. There is no difference one or the other.
Fortunately for average Americans, the FRB will revive American economy eventually, applying stimulus as necessary.
American system still works.
If you go to a Chick-A-Fillet on a wrong day, a man will kiss you.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/08/chick-fil-a_flap_is_driven_by.html
Roly:
Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hello, teacher!” Then Judas kissed Jesus.
Robert:
I basically never comment any more, but some of your recent photos of downtown Seoul are just stunning! The sunset over Inwangsan; the deep purple of the northern mountains at dusk; the azure sky above Gwanghwamun…
It’s so easy to not notice the natural landscape of the city when you’re in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, but your pictures really help to bring it out. Keep up the good work!
It’s neither unlawful nor immoral to keep assets in a foreign bank.
The Max Special Hop 2012 limited edition as the Hite brewers (Olympic marketing for the can design) disappoints. I fail to taste what is special about it.
It is neither unlawful nor immoral, but it is a weasel move. He has bigger problems than tax avoidance. Even more than most politicians he changes positions based on what is convenient. He royally messed up his trip abroad. His economic plan is unfeasible. Independent economists are saying the figures don’t add up. This is the scariest thing. Why didn’t the republicans go for the sensible candidate, John Huntsman? Oh, right. Because the most lunatic wing of the party is in control. I just hope that one party, which ever one it is, gets to control the house, senate and white house. Otherwise nothing will get done. Although it will be very scary of the republicans win, since the loony fringe is in control.
Good, the moral police is here. I can sleep now.
Which country exports more cars to the U.S., list your top 1-5 countries without doing a Google/Naver etc…search.
After you list your Top 5 guesses, click below to see – SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau
Other than Autos and happy ending, finger in the booty Massage Girls, what else do you think S. Korea exports a lot of to the U.S.?
See photo #8…
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/08/03/olympic-uniforms-china-import-favorites/#photo-10
Whilst in Australia last week, I rented a little Hyundai-I-30.
Must say I was very impressed.
I am used to driving larger cars, but the small Hyundai-I-30 had plenty of room inside, and lots of power.
The price range of a new one is a bit high though, for a small Korean car – but economical, as it hardly used any gas.
The Taiwanese flag was removed from the Olympics.
It was suspected that outside pressure had prompted the flag’s removal and after an official representative of the Taiwan government approached the Olympic association, the association said it would hang up the Chinese Taipei Olympic flag.
Re: Jkitchstk’s link, are iPhone’s unable to display the photos?
Here is the first page, scroll down to find photos, does that help?
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/08/03/olympic-uniforms-china-import-favorites/
You were suppose to guess beforehand silly.
Watch the first batch of meth Walter and Jesse cook this season 5 episode 3 of ‘Breaking Bad’ to the backdrop tune of ‘On A Clear Day’…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MLJZ6x2f0Y
Or you might get to see two chicks kiss.
Just so I don’t have to see them get fille-laid!
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
So why won’t he release more tax returns? Is it because prized swing voters will reject him when they see he made millions while paying little or no taxes for years? Not illegal, not immoral, but not befitting a public servant who will enjoy all kinds of tax-funded perks for life after he leaves office.
Jkitchstk, c’mon man, obviously I already scrolled down. After the last sentence (“… to see where they’re actually made.”) there’s a small gap, and then, “Get info on stocks mentioned in this article.”
I wonder if it’s an iPhone thing?
Why won’t Barack Obama release his college records?
Romney demanded to see Ted Kennedy’s tax returns in 1994.
I think Romney’s tax records are of more significance than Obama’s college records.
That’s what Mr. Dogbert call ‘Hope’.
Because it’s not customary for presidential candidates to release college records. George Bush didn’t release his; they were leaked. It is customary to release recent tax returns. I have a feeling you already knew this, though.
I can’t wait til December..
Brendon Carr,
Do not waste time defending a crook. Just like Obama is a front man for Chicago mob, this guy is dirty.
All politicians are dirty. That is why they are in for this game called politics. Honest people are out.
The SaeNuri (=Bird piss) party just got found out that they sold nomination in the last election. What else is new?
American politics is just the same.
I was being too harsh. He’s not a tax dodger like Tim Geithner? I have nothing against Romney making and keeping every penny he makes. I’m for all Americans keeping everything they make. That said, he should’ve released his tax returns and moved on already. Not having done so is a big mistake that’s going to cost him dearly. There is a big difference between Romney’s tax returns and Obama’s birth certificate or college records. People demanding Romney’s tax returns aren’t being met with derision and our fair and balanced media is obsessed with Romney’s wealth. This is a bad, bad move by Romney.
The Godfather had a lawyer in his mob. They called him “consigliere”.
Obama and Romney are just oversized consiglieres. The Godfather press buttons and these dolls sing.
American public can never know who is behind these politicians. No public media will publish anything along this line. Not even a hint. And, public is led to believe these guys are independent.
No. Not at all. American presidency is not a kid play. Or, a daytime sop opera that some media love to portray it as.
It is multi-trillion dollar event and big players in. Some may be foreign.
Very serious, indeed. People die. Just look Vince Foster.
gotta love Ireland and U2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5xvAQ7e7Co
“Other than Autos and happy ending, finger in the booty Massage Girls, what else do you think S. Korea exports a lot of to the U.S.?”
Had a lot of experience with paying for a finger up your booty?
@28 Obama was president of the Harvard Law Review, I’m guessing he did pretty well. What law school did you go to again?
Don’t complain about Koreans stereotyping foreigners in Korea.
On a different MH post (the multiculturalism one), Eujin asked for my further views on multiculturalism, so I’ve posted a few blog entries over at Gypsy Scholar: Multiculturalism.
That link provides links to the other posts, so to read in sequence, scroll down to the end of the post and follow those links.
If the link I’ve provided here on the MH doesn’t work (for linking didn’t work the other day), then go to my blog entry for Sunday, August 5, 2012. You can reach my blog by clicking on my name above.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Incredibly, South Korean soccer team defeats the British team in a pretty intense penalties shootout. Way to go, Lee Bumyoung for that save!
Yeah, good show, Korea.
I was blogging while my wife and son watched — suddenly came a roar from outside (Koreans all over Seoul cheering) and clapping from the other room (my wife and son).
I checked in to confirm the victory that I already knew from the noise of celebration.
Congratulations!
Jeffery Hodges
* * *
Take off your wife/husband beater shirts people…
’1 Is 2 Many’ PSA(public service announcement)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2012/06/21/1-2-many-psa
“President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden join with Eli Manning, Jeremy Lin, Jimmy Rollins, Evan Longoria, David Beckham, Joe Torre and Andy Katz in this PSA to raise awareness about dating violence.
One in five young women has been sexually assaulted while in college…”
“In response to these alarming statistics, Vice President Biden launched the 1is2many campaign last year. This campaign focuses his longstanding commitment to reducing violence against women specifically on teens and young women ages 16-24. By targeting the importance of changing attitudes that lead to violence, and educating the public on the realities of abuse, this Administration is leading the way to stop violence against women before it begins.”
http://www.whitehouse.gov/1is2many
Of course no Korean President ever has, but has any popular Korean males spoken out through PSA’s against wife beating/dating violence?
When I first read “1 is 2 Many PSA” I thought it was referring to Obama’s presidential term.
This guy make me want to visit Busan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obi2uQLA8IY&feature=plcp
bumfromkorea,
Nothing incredible about it. British team sucked. Koreans were better dribblers, passers and had more talent.
British soccer is just plain bad. The country does not respect precision or strategic soccer. They just kick in the mid air and hope for the best. Old stogies. No clear thinking.
Hooligans, they are. Just ignorant arses.
For those still keeping track, Shin A Lam finally medaled earlier today, grabbing the silver in the women’s team epee competition.
Incredibly, fully half — 15 of 30 by my count — of Korea’s medals to date in this Olympics have come in fencing.
Move over, archery. Make room for the new kid on the block.
DLB
I was amazed to see how bad the referees were during the UK-ROK game too. The first point scored by the UK, on a bogus penalty call. was blatantly dirty.
The Columbia referee was dirty.
Both penalty kicks were ridiculously given. He was penalty-kick crazy. Definitely dirty.
The British are known to do that. Just dirty bastards.
If Koreans did that to them, they will scream to high heaven.
I am glad the Ramsey missed the second one. If he had made it and won 2-1 then everyone in the whole wide world will know the real nature of British dirtiness.
Maybe Ramsey had a pang of guilt and intentionally missed it. He did not want to be a part of dirtiness.
I want to see his original, longform tax return. Why won’t he release it, bro?
Rolypoly, lol what an arse!
Korea did well in the football. But team GB is now thoroughly kicking arse in many sports. With the incredible talent in that team it is no wonder. Some people have no sportsmanlike bone in their body and have to talk shit about others’ achievements. Number 3 in the medals table for a small nation like GB is rather impressive, 14 golds is great and there are more on the way.
If Murray beats Federer in the tennis (a long shot) it will be the icing on the cake!
This Olympics is going very well. So many athletes doing such a great job. The three athletes who have really impressed me have been the incredible Michael Phelps, the amazing Jessica Ennis and the super cool Bradley Wiggins. My favourite athlete by far simply for his down to earth personality, his humility, his incredible performances has to be Wiggins. Wiggins is the top man.
With how Britain often manages to screw things up I’m very suprised how well the games are actually going.
DLBarch wrote:
I was a little surprised to see that around 2/3 of the US’ medals (thus far) have come from swimming. I thought they were from a much more diverse range of events.
#51,
“If Murray beats Federer in the tennis (a long shot) it will be the icing on the cake!”
That was a big “if,” Andy Murray of course lost, the grand slams and Olympics just escape him vs. Roger Federer. You sound like the Korean media claiming victory when an American citizen with Korean ethnicity wins or does good in something and then calls him/her Korean. Murray is Scottish not British, GB is just calling him British.
“Number 3 in the medals table for a small nation like GB is rather impressive…,”
I know GB also takes credit for any or all medals won from Wales and N. Ireland athletes as well. How many medals does just England have?
I don’t see GB in the headlines below…
‘Rower Tom James wins Wales’ second Olympics 2012 gold medal’
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/london-olympics-2012/olympic-news/2012/08/04/rower-tom-james-wins-wales-second-olympics-2012-gold-medal-91466-31548016/
Or,
‘London 2012 Olympics: Home Nations’ simmering rivalries mean that Team GB football will never fully embrace Games’
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/football/9434820/London-2012-Olympics-Home-Nations-simmering-rivalries-mean-that-Team-GB-football-will-never-fully-embrace-Games.html
“It is all very well getting caught up in the emotion of such a special multi-sport tournament but British inclusion in the Olympics for the first time in 52 years has serious ramifications.
Some of the Welsh players refuse to sing the national anthem (deeming it too associated with England)”
“Keith” British athletes may be gracious and awe-inspiring but that ref in the soccer match was neither, and was certainly no gentleman.
@54 Murray is a Briton, he is also a Scot. Some people simply don’t get it do they? As far as I know there is no ‘team Wales’, or ‘team Scotland’, or ‘team Northern Ireland’, or ‘team England’ in the games. I’m English, but also British, what is so difficult to understand about that? I’m also happy to be half Scottish. The Scots have achieved so much in history, some of the world’s finest inventors, sports people, philosophers, artists, scientists… really the list could go on for ever. ‘The United Kingdom’ is a bunch of small countries united. If they weren’t united, individually they’d have an economic, political and social importance on par with Turkmenistan or Palau on the world stage!
The Welsh? Dylan Thomas, Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Giggs, and a reputation for their menfolk having a very special relationship with sheep and a love of arson are the best they can really manage! Have you been to Wales? There is some very nice countryside there, but most of the place is a bit of a dump really.
@55 I don’t really give a crap about referees really. Some of them make bad calls, some are corrupt and take bribes, some of them are quite good. Complaining about referees and their decisions is as futile and pointless as complaining about the weather. I’d rather focus on the individual athletes or teams’ performances.
@46 – lol at the t-shirt the white guy is wearing in the video.
The ignorance of British history and geopolitics on display in a couple of the earlier posts would make even the thickest football hooligan blush
I side with Keith here:
Congratuations to team Korea for the great athleticism displayed and congratulations to team UK for the impressive programs set up in many sports in the last few years.
Also i was in London (briefly) this week and everything seemed to work ok, it is a very low-key Olympic edition, which is perfect considering the difficult times
The same can be said about most places on earth
Amazing that a website called walesonline reporting on a guy from Wales.
And fancy not mentioning that he’s British too, something which only a moron would need too mention in a Welsh forum since all Welsh are British, as are all Scots, and all English.
I don’t see America mentioned in the headline below, but I’m just betting the state of New York is gonna credit this as an American victory. I’m wondering just how many medals New York has won on its own. LOL
I just bet those bastards in New York are gonna claim this as an American victory
Hmm, which part of “long shot” was it that threw you, the “long” bit or the “shot” bit.
Elgin, don’t really care if the Brits are gentlemen or not, but I really don’t see how they are responsible for a Columbian referee, who who thought the amount in the brown envelope was insultingly low.
#62,
Don’t see or hear about anyone from Colorado or New York refusing to sing the American anthem now do you, didn’t think so.
#56,
“Murray is a Briton, he is also a Scot.”
Isn’t that convenient. If Murray had won the Wimbledon that wouldn’t have really counted as a British person winning like Fred Perry in 1936, but go ahead and dream.
‘A reaction to Scottish resentment: Why English support for Andy Murray was not all it might have been’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2170898/Wimbledon-2012-Why-English-support-Andy-Murray-been.html
“No, Murray’s problem with the public is not personal – it is political. Or to put it even more rawly, it is ethnic. He is a proud and patriotic Scot, and as such is, ipso facto, an enemy of England, the dominant nation within the increasingly fractious family that make up the British Isles. Leave aside Murray’s reported support for the bitterly anti-English SNP (not the least enjoyable aspect of Sunday’s final was to see the usual smug smile wiped off Alex Salmond’s fat features) and you are still left with a man who, to many English, is simply not one of us. Despite the plethora of Union Flags at Wimbledon, when we think of Andy Murray it is not that symbol of Britishness that first springs to mind – but the separatist saltire of St Andrew.
Human beings are tribal by nature, and despite the artificial Union foisted on England and Scotland by their ruling elites under Scotland’s Stuart dynasty in 1603 ( when James I and VI succeeded Queen Elizabeth I); and a century later in 1707 when the reluctant nations were forced up the aisle in the shotgun wedding that was the Act of Union, the English and Scots remain two divided tribes.”
Not convenient its simple fact, he’s Scottish and British , just as Fred Perry was English and British which makes your next statement that he wouldn’t be xonsidered a real Brit if he won Wimbledon completely moronic.
Until such time as Scotland dissolvre the Union its residents will remain British
“Until such time as Scotland dissolvre the Union its residents will remain British”
Some “union,” England doesn’t even use the same currency as Scotland.
Murray won! Woop woop!
A brilliant game of tennis. Murray actually made beating look Federar easy. Considering how amazing Federar is at the game, Murray is a star. He’s a brit, he’s a scot. A wonderful performance.
A stunning performance by both men, a stunning gold! Another one in the bag for team GB. I’m supporting team GB, because I’m British and being British is kind off cool.
jkitchstk @ 67
Now you’re just taking the piss! Have you ever visited GB?
Guitard @ 53,
Yeah, pretty amazing, though I think the numbers break down to about one half, not two-thirds.
And not to take anything away from the other countries at the Olympics, but Cal Berkeley alone has something like 13 medals so far in this Olympics.
Go Bears,
DLB
It’s true. Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands all issue their own currency. Even tiny dependencies like the Falkland Islands and Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha issue their own notes. They may all be exchangeable at par value, but different currencies nonetheless. Only poor oppressed Wales (and, I guess, Cornwall) are stuck using Bank of England notes.
#71 and #69,
When I was a kid, my family regularly went to Scotland to visit all my mother’s relatives. Not sure if it’s the same today, but 20-30 years ago, not only did they have a different currency than England; they had several different currencies of their own: Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank, and I think one other all used to issue their own unique banknotes for Scottish pounds.
No its not true, the currency of the UK is pound sterling. Notes issued by the retail banks are in fact not legal tender in the UK but are in fact ‘promissory notes’.
In any case union means union it does not mean merged into one. The states of England/Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are in Union and have various differences including their legal systems, much the same as the United States are a federation and have seperate legal and other systems.
Azerbaijan accused of paying $9 million for two gold medals in boxing:
http://deadspin.com/5931226/was-this-disgraceful-olympic-boxing-match-fixed
DLBarch,
You can thank the Australians for many of those gold. We are doing so badly it has gone from embarrassing to farcical. With that and the impending loss in the ashes, I finally understand what it would feel like to be British.
Dylan Thomas?
Is that Imogen Thomas’s brother?
I believe BBC Wales produces Doctor Who nowadays, too.
PS: Does Christian Bale count as Welsh?
As he was born in Wales, then yes under principle of jus solis. Although I believe he is also English by way of jus sanguinis
@ Brendon. British Overseas Territories are not part of GB, neither are many of the places you mentioned. I excuse your ignorance, many US people don’t have a very firm grip on basic world geography. Some BOT countries even use US dollars for their currency – well, linked to the USD anyway.
Just because it’s late, and I’m lazy with the heat I’ll just point you at the Wiki page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Overseas_Territories
As far as I know, and not everything is on that site, this is a fairly reasonable primer on BOTs. Are there any Puerto Ricans competing for Team US? Anyone from Saint Helena competing for team GB?
@ Robert. Dylan Thomas was a rather good poet and writer. Under Milk Wood was possibly his most famous work. I also forgot to mention Tom Jones, every 1970′s housewife’s favourite crooner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KUJE2xs-RE
@keefdachav: it is not a lack of knowledge of geography (I’m sure Brendon could find Las Malvinas on a map), but a lack of needing to know the arcane and confusing set of internal political rules by which the English determine the various types of governance and levels of citizenship that obtain in the BOT. I mean, really who gives a shit?
Dogdirt, it certainly matters to the poor or rich folks who happen to live in those places, or don’t want to pay tax on their wealth. Maybe even more so the rules matter to the folks who were thrown of their islands by the UK government so a US base could be built there. Any man of principle would agree, the British government’s treatment of the people who lived on Chagos is a terrible and shameful moment in British history and American history.
I’m sure such luminaries as Romney care too. He’s allegedly got quite a bit of cash stashed away in BOT countries. Paying tax is obviously a traitor’s act, so he stashes his money away in BOT countries, where nobody has to pay tax and the man in the street is usually rather poor.
In regard to ‘Las Malvinas’ nice try for a rather pathetic, even by your standards, attempt to get a rise out of me. I don’t give a shit about the place really, but the people who live there overwhelmingly want to remain a part of the British club, I support their right to choose. The right to free determination is something that should be protected, if the Falklanders want to go (they don’t) then they’re free to go.
Not one to toot my own horn often, but thought I would link to this news article from last Friday:
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120803-705371.html
And compare it to this bit of prophecy I mentioned two years ago:
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2010/08/31/samsung-on-a-collision-course-with-apple/#comment-389444
Carry on.
Stooges who buy into the class warfare narrative are intellectual pigmies. Obie has nothing to run on but class warfare and race. Anyone who has paid attention to how he has ass-raped the Republic, could not have the decency to vote for him again.
South Korea have done well in 2012 Olympics, thus far. They are currently 7th in overall medal wins, and by golds they are only 4th, behind China, USA, and the UK.
Go Korea!
South Korea have done well in 2012 Olympics, thus far. They are currently 7th in overall medal wins, and by golds they are only 4th, behind China, USA, and the UK.
Go Korea!
I’ve been following the Korean Women’s Handball, and so far it has been incredible. It has all the components of a great sports movie: an underdog team surrounded by incredibly talented and stronger team, the ace/keystone player getting severely injured in the first game, inexperienced rookies filling in for her and succeeding magnificently, the last second shots that wins/saves the game…
Just now, they beat Russia (world ranked 2) to advance to the semifinals… where they’ll face the reigning champion Norway (with their own super-ace, no less) again after tying with a last minute shot in the prelims. And the ace who had been injured will have recovered enough to play in that game.
You can’t make this kind of story up. Oh man, this is great stuff.
The South Korean women’s volleyball team has made it to the semi-finals! Woo-hoo!
Brazil – 3
Korea – 0
But of course the Ref’s were unfair to S. Korea in their defeat. They blew the whistle on S. Korean players but not those on team Brazil. Yawn.
33 Beutiful Islands to Visit in Korea
http://www.cnngo.com/seoul/visit/33-islands-korea-677487?hpt=hp_bn8
Oops. God damn it.
“beautiful”
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