Once more on the bandwagon

Seoul's Air Pollution Worst Among OECD Members

Seoul’s air pollution is the worst among countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Environment Ministry said yesterday.

The capital’s particulate matter (PM), which can cause various respiratory problems, was measured at 71 micrograms per cubic meter at the end of 2001, the ministry said.

Now this data was from 2001. I've Googled and used other search engines to try to find something more recent, but 2001 is the only thing that comes up. I find it hard to believe that no one is doing research now (Well, actually, it's not that hard to believe.). 71 micrograms in 2001 - although I can't prove it, I think that the air is worse now than it was when I came 3 years ago. Bangkok has 43 micrograms.

I thought about this again because I've just returned from Bangkok, and this morning I read this article (Bangkok's template for an air-quality turnaround) in the International Herald Tribune. While Bangkok still has the pollution that one would expect in a city of 10 million, it is a 100 times fresher than Seoul, a city of about 12 million. Now, I know that there are some environmental differences that make some difference in pollution levels, but Bangkok has nowhere near the level of public transport that Seoul has. Seoul has an excellent subway system that spreads like a spider web throughout Seoul. It also has an extensive bus system. However, the number of SUV's and other large private cars in Seoul far outnumbers the number in Bangkok. The streets in Bangkok are orderly and seem less crowded. In Seoul, traffic jams often leave tens of thousands of cars idling on the roads.

I know that some of the air pollution blows in from China and there is little that Korea can do about that. But, most of the problem is vehiclular (in my humble opinion).

Perhaps it's time that Seoul looks at the model that Bangkok provides. Unfortunately, every time I talk to my Korean friends about this, they just give me a blank look as though they don't know what I'm talking about. "Air pollution? In Seoul? Really?" If the people don't care, the politicians won't.

Korean Volleyball League and misbehaviour

Several days ago, I was watching a volleyball match on TV. The Hungkuk Life women's team was playing, and their best player ended up in a shouting match with the referee over what, on instant replay, was clearly the correct call by the referee. The player ended up with both feet almost completely over the center line. This was NOT a toe-on-the-line type foul. She was clearly well over the line. She ended up getting a red card and was ejected and suspended for one game. The coach also got upset and pulled his team off and put them in, then pulled them out again - for a good 5 to 10 minutes, this went on before he finally let them continue. It turns out that he was suspended also. He was clearly wrong to let his player continue arguing and then to continue disputing the call himself.

Today, I am watching the same team play and the coach, who was suspended, is sitting in the stands calling strategy down to his assistant coach. This coach was clearly wrong. I'm sure he watched the replays. He must know he was wrong. Here he is ignoring his punishment (probably correctly believing that nothing will happen to him).

For the league to let him in the building when he is suspended seems bizarre. For the league to let him continue coaching from the stands is also bizarre. Now, he was caught on camera. If he doesn't receive a further sanction, the league will lose credibility (with me at least).

I'm back

Actually I got back last Wednesday. I'd like to say that I've been busy, but, the fact is, I ordered Seasons 1 and 2 of Numb3rs from Amazon and just had to watch Season 1 over the last couple of days.

On vacation in Cambodia, I spent endless hours with a couple of friends wandering through ruined temples. I've added pictures from the first day to the sidebar. We went to Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Bayon. I had wanted to go to Angkor Wat for many years, so I was really looking forward to finally seeing it. I wasn't prepared for the vast scale of Angkor Wat and all of the other temples and buildings around it. It was really mind boggling to think of the many tons of stone that were moved from the distant sites and the 10's of thousands of stone blocks that were hand carved using the tools available a thousand years ago.

I will definitely return some day soon for a more leisurely tour of the sites. I'd first like to study the history and then tour the temples in the chronological order of their construction.

I was awed by what the people of that region did, but, as with all grand religious edifices (temples, cathedrals, and mosques), I was uncomfortable when I imagined what it must have been like to be a common person forced to do that work and use those resources when I could have spent my time better growing crops or building a house. I guess the fact that I don't have any really strong religious beliefs to support with a house of worship may make me a poor judge of what is necessary. (As a lazy Taoist, I think that you should just be - don't do.)

I really enjoyed Cambodia. I don't think that I met a surly or unfriendly person the whole time I was there. The hawkers and touts at the sites were sometimes a little too persistent, but they never got angry.

While on vacation, I did a little bit of reading. My first book was superb and I highly recommend it. The Kite Runner is a wonderfully moving tale of friendship and betrayal. It was both sad and uplifting. It was an unflinching look at real people's frailties. The author has a style that I really like. His characters are well-developed and interesting. The plot very plausible. In Bangkok, I picked up the lonely planet story. I've used many of The Lonely Planet travel guides over the years and I've always found them useful and interesting. I thought it would be interesting to read the founders' story. However, the lonely planet story is one of the most boring and poorly written books I've read in recent years. I've gotten about halfway through and I keep going because there are a few little interesting tidbits and I keep hoping that it will get better, but it hasn't yet. It's just a long, boring list of "We went here and felt good, and then we went there and there and felt bad." The story itself may be interesting, but the writers' style is not interesting. I also read A Loyal Character Dancer by Qiu Xiaolong. This was just a light murder mystery of the type that I often read when on vacation. It was okay, but a little too clever (or perhaps I'm just not smart enough to get it). However, when the main character has to take the whole last chapter to explain how he figured out who did it, I think the author is a little too clever.

Vacation

I've been in Bangkok for a couple of days. It's a little different from when I was here 31 years ago. It's very modern and pleasant. Now, I'm in a huge PC room in a huge mall with a multiplex theater and an incredible food court.

People here, as in Cambodia, are generally so pleasant and relaxed that I'm dreading my return to gloomy city next week.

The Cambodia part of the vacation was excellent. Angkor Wat and the surrounding area was incredible. When I get back to Seoul on the 21st, I'll post some pictures (more that 300 - all excellent, of course) along with a full description.

I went to Jim Thompson's house this morning and I have to say my silk boxers are tres comfortable.

Light blogging

I've been on vacation for what seems like forever. I've been spending far too much time at home. Since I haven't been out and about much, I haven't been taking a lot of pictures or doing much of note. So, there hasn't been much to blog about.

As well, I've been working on HTML and CSS (which is actually really cool). When I go out, I often take my laptop and my computer book and sit in a coffee shop.

Next Wednesday (the 7th), I'm off to Cambodia to see Ankor Wat, something that I've wanted to do for a long time, then a few days in Bangkok, where I haven't been since 1976, and then a few more days somewhere in that area - no firm plan yet.

I'll be back in Seoul on the 21st. I'm sure that I'll have a few gigabytes of great pictures to share.

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I've also decided that I need a news break. I know that the news tends to be negative, but I'm finding it very depressing.

Kids here have a hard enough time (lost childhood and all that) without this.

"Study Pill" Abuse Rampant Among Korean Students

There's already enough pressure on them to do well in school. This seems abusive, though. I know that parents will say that it is for the benefit of the kids, but it makes me sick.

A medication used to treat sufferers of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is being abused by Korean students who want to improve their concentration. Called a "wonder drug" for its power to improve study abilities, increasing numbers of students are taking methylphenidate (MPH) to boost the grades.

I'd like to recommend that Korean parents take a sedative themselves and leave their kids alone - or perhaps if they legalized marijuana we would all lighten up. Forget the soju and poktanju. I would like to recommend the calming effect of a night out combining grilled meat and a bong.