On the Home Front

I haven't been writing enough about Korea, though Koreans have many of the same problems Americans do: a plutocratic ruling class that continues to grab more power and money, and very destructive bad weather. The cartoon above contrasts the concentration of wealth that results from construction of high-rise apartment buildings in Seoul with the losses in basement apartments caused by the recent flooding.

Tenants who usually live in half basement apartments and residents in vinyl houses incur significantly greater amounts of flood [damage], but they have been excluded from receiving compensation from the government.

According to the Hankyoreh, fifty-nine people have died in Seoul as a result of this week's massive rainstorms and mudslides, with more rain to come. There's also concern about landmines still in place since the 1960s (to deter North Korean infiltrators), which may be exposed or detonated by heavy rain. My friends over there are okay, but many people aren't.

On the Home Front

I haven't been writing enough about Korea, though Koreans have many of the same problems Americans do: a plutocratic ruling class that continues to grab more power and money, and very destructive bad weather. The cartoon above contrasts the concentration of wealth that results from construction of high-rise apartment buildings in Seoul with the losses in basement apartments caused by the recent flooding.

Tenants who usually live in half basement apartments and residents in vinyl houses incur significantly greater amounts of flood [damage], but they have been excluded from receiving compensation from the government.

According to the Hankyoreh, fifty-nine people have died in Seoul as a result of this week's massive rainstorms and mudslides, with more rain to come. There's also concern about landmines still in place since the 1960s (to deter North Korean infiltrators), which may be exposed or detonated by heavy rain. My friends over there are okay, but many people aren't.

Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall

... and it finally did. Today we had rain, real rain, for the first time since I returned from Korea in June.

And just because I'm a wicked, bitter, hateful old man, I was especially pleased, because today there was going to be a home football game. Sleep was hard to come by last night because of the drunks walking home from the bars and parties, screaming with joy and rage outside my window. I guess that's what I get for living in a student neighborhood.

This was not outside my building, and, to be fair, it was the only house in my neighborhood so decorated. But still. (Notice the brown grass, courtesy of the drought.)

I'm not sure the rain had any effect on the game -- it had pretty much stopped by the time the game began. Curses! foiled again.

Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall

... and it finally did. Today we had rain, real rain, for the first time since I returned from Korea in June.

And just because I'm a wicked, bitter, hateful old man, I was especially pleased, because today there was going to be a home football game. Sleep was hard to come by last night because of the drunks walking home from the bars and parties, screaming with joy and rage outside my window. I guess that's what I get for living in a student neighborhood.

This was not outside my building, and, to be fair, it was the only house in my neighborhood so decorated. But still. (Notice the brown grass, courtesy of the drought.)

I'm not sure the rain had any effect on the game -- it had pretty much stopped by the time the game began. Curses! foiled again.