Tag: 2017

KBS TV Korea: Bring My Father Home

Mr. Hwang’s ongoing crusade to have his father, pictured above with a very young Mr. Hwang, released from North Korea some 50 years after his plane was hijacked by a North Korean sleeper agent was the focus of a KBS1 report that aired on Saturday May 13.

I spoke about my involvement with the NGO Teach North Korean Refugees and its efforts to help Mr. Hwang raise awareness of what is almost a forgotten crime. My contribution primarily involves the accompanying Bring My Father Home website and its English language blog which functions as an archive of related articles dating back to December 11, 1969, the day of the hijacking.

The 8-minute show can be viewed here, but because Korea, Internet Explorer is the best browser to use. The video doesn’t play when viewed through Chrome.

Teach North Korean Refugees (TNKR)Prince Party Fundraiser!

I’m really excited and proud to be performing at and hosting a fundraising event for TNKR, an NGO I’ve been volunteering at for well over two years now. My band is playing; plus, the event provides me opportunity to perform with some of my many musical friends beyond my band mates. The date is June 3, the location is The Hidden Cellar, and here are the links: Facebook event and associated fundraiser for those that can’t attend but would still like to donate.

2017 Reading Diary Part 2!

MAY TO AUGUST

I have been reading Kim Stanley Robinson’s latest, New York 2140, since March 25. Come May, I’m still reading it. The huge drop off in my daily reading isn’t due to the book, which I am enjoying. If I were to put it down to one cause, that would be “work”. On May 7, I just passed the half-way point, so I’m hoping that will result in a return to more normal reading speeds. I finally finished it during the final minutes of Tuesday May 16, some seven and a half weeks after starting it.

Continue reading “2017 Reading Diary Part 2!”

Korea’s Heavenly Mother in New Zealand

Thank you to Rosel from the Otago Daily Times for inviting me to contribute to her article on Korea’s Heavenly Mother and her cult’s activities in New Zealand. Rosel’s article is entitled “Korean Cult Recruiting in Dunedin“.

We spoke for about 25 minutes on the phone last week from 7:30 one morning. I’m not at my best then, so frankly, I’m glad just a couple of sentences made it into the piece. I’m more familiar with other Korean cults like JMS and Shinchoni, but I have been collecting bits and pieces about this cult off and on over the years. Here’s the part of my site dedicated to this cult.

May 2017 Fitness Diary!

Monday, May 1: I made it to the gym after a huge power nap in my office and despite a lingering, annoying cold. The nap did me good though, and I ended up completing a pretty impressive – by my standards – workout: lats, biceps, back, abs, lower back, and 68 treadmill minutes. Not a bad start to the month. (Cumulative Total: 68)

Tuesday, May 2: Seventy-four treadmill minutes, and unless I’m mistaken, that’s my nagging cold taken care of. (Cumulative Total: 142) Continue reading “May 2017 Fitness Diary!”

Welcome to Seoul, Steve Vai!

Just a few months after guitar hero Joe Satriani performed in Seoul, his most famous student, Steve Vai, follows suit, and he’s bringing a few friends with him under the banner of Generation Axe. Here’s Steve discussing the show just ahead of his arrival in Korea.

Continue reading “Welcome to Seoul, Steve Vai!”

My Site referenced in New Book About Cults

I just happily discovered that the JMS cult along with material I collected and shared as well as an article I instigated were mentioned in the book Terror, Love and Brainwashing: Attachment in Cults and Totalitarian Systems by Dr. Alexandra Stein.

April 2017 Fitness Diary!

Saturday, April 1: April began in fine fashion with a record-breaking 116 treadmill minutes split over two sessions separated by a shower and half a protein bar. (Cumulative Total: 116)

Sunday, April 2: My first home workout in years consisted of push-ups, shoulders, and calves.  Continue reading “April 2017 Fitness Diary!”