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piggydc
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Name: Derek
Gender: Male
Interests: hanging out with friends, movies, blogging, being a "shrink", US military, exercise, community service, swing dancing
Expertise: Being your friend!
Occupation: Quality
Industry: Medical Manufacturing
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
AIM:  KARHOE
Member Since:
1/2/2003
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| "Missing home" in North Korea
I've been keeping close tabs on news of the two Asian-American journalists who were detained by North Korea near the NK-Chinese border. In March, the journalists, who work for Current TV (which Al Gore co-founded), were trying to interview refugees coming into China. But I guess they got too close to the border, or close enough for N. Korea to arrest them. They claim that Euna Lee & Laura Ling were spying via filming their lands.
Then there were reports that the women were undergoing "intense interrogation." Geez, that could mean anything. Even torture maybe? I wouldn't be surprised. At least the US State Dept. knows about this case, but we don't have diplomatic ties to N. Korea. So some Swedish diplomat was able to visit on our behalf and meet up w/ the journalists, but wouldn't comment (at least not publicly) on what he talked about, or what the women's conditions were.
And then N. Korea says that they're indicting the women for espionage charges or something like that. And that'll end up with them being thrown into jail for 20 years or so.
I'm sure the N. Koreans don't believe any of the crap they themselves spew out, but they want to be tough & intimidating on the int'l stage. So this is one way of doing it. Some analysts say that Lee & Ling won't actually be harmed, but they're now additional pawns of a big chess game that has been long played between the US and N. Korea. That's a pretty accurate assessment. I just hope that the journalists don't get harmed and get returned safe soon through diplomatic means. It's been done before -- but just after a long of wrangling and talks with the last relic of the Cold War.
I'm interested as anyone in hearing what refugees from N. Korea have to say about their experiences, but I think the journalists overstepped their risky bounds, unfortunately.
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| the best news article
According to Batman Begins, the article was pushed back to Page 8 (a shame), and was written by "Julie Ochipinti".
Some excerpts from the article (after much squinting):
"... in Billionaire style, [Bruce] Wayne threw a huge party, no expense spared."
"Wayne Manor has been in the family for five generations and was thought to be worth over $5 million and housed many antique..."
"Most of us can recall a time when after a heavy night, waking up with a banging headache, the dreadful memories flooding back....and then rolling over in shame..."
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| names
My sis, Denise, and I just found these tidbits out from our parents:
1) She was named after a waitress.
2) If I were born a girl, my mom would've named me Amanda, or Mandy for short. Somehow, she just likes that name. So the next time I hear the nickname "Manda Panda" even, it's gonna subtly remind me of "what would've been".
Please don't start calling me Amanda the way Dr. Cox calls J.D. girls names in Scrubs.
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| baby?
So my oldest cousin, who resides in Hong Kong, has just had her baby. I guess this makes me.... what, an uncle? Goodness, that term has an aging feeling to it.
I heard that the baby doesn't have a name yet though. First time I meet her, I'll give her an American (gwai-lo, a rough Cantonese translation) nickname. >=)
Congratulations to Gina & Martin | | |
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So there's this major gang in the Bay Area who named itself after the Islamic movement in Afghanistan, and it was responsible for all these felonies/homicides/druggies/etc. But just recently, the FBI, local PDs, & SWAT forces have closed in on them, and looks like the gang's done for good.
Man, I hope so. They were present in East Palo Alto, which is right across Highway 101 from Palo Alto, where I'm from (the 2 are completely separate cities, btw). Hopefully, no other gangs will take the Taliban's place.
Too bad it's counterpart in Afghanistan hasn't shared the same fate.
Major, major props to the law enforcement ppl involved in the busts! | | |
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