30

Open Thread #52

 

I can’t wait for this election to be over. I just want to vote already! Unless things go horribly awry and I am forced to look into Canadian work visas for the next four years.

Gah, it’s October and I just saw Christmas decorations out in the stores. Yeesh, this year nobody’s got enough money to even DO Christmas, much less get all cheery about it two months in advance. We’re all getting lumps of coal, folks, at least metaphorically. (And even if it were literally, we probably ought to be grateful to have a free fuel source for once.)

SONG OF THE DAY

Saves the Day – “Cars and Calories.” Remember when emo was good (and not all whiny faux-goth-morbidness)? (And yeah, I know the easy joke is: It was never good, but I think it was, for a very very brief tiny moment.) This has got to the be the cheerfullest song about anorexia ever. [ Download ]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

RELATED POSTS

 

30

Required fields are marked *

wow - 1st to comment! - well, maybe. anyway, i heard stores are putting out their christmas stuff now, since they're not sure if the market & economy will tank or not. basically, get people while they still have money, since who knows what will happen by the time the usual "black friday" rolls around. it might even be red friday, for all we know.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

http://www.kollaboration.org/images/stories/news/flyer_cause.jpg

If you live in LA and haven't registered to voted....go to the link above!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I have a question for the readers... I have a 5-hour layover at Incheon coming up. I could:
A) take one of the 2-hour transit tours that go to a nearby temple or shopping... or
B) I could spend the whole time in the airport... or
C) I could take the 1 to 1.5 hour trip to Seoul, walk around on the streets going "eeeeee!!" for 15 minutes, and get back on the train.

Most people don't understand how much someone like me loves Korea, so I thought I'd ask some other hallyu addicts. :)

The airport does have its draw - I could visit the area where Lee Junki ran around in episode 1 of TODAW, or see the place where Lee Da Hae cried her eyes out in My Girl... etc etc. hehe. So what should I do?

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Invisibelle--I'd be tempted to do one of the two hour tours. You could get to see a little of Korea (or buy a little of Korea, hee!), and then still have enough time to do the airport fangirling ;)

Urf. Christmas. Don't remind me. I've got a job, but uggggghhhh I'm still going to be broke before it's over.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm part of a family of 7 with 5 nieces and nephews. I'm going to have to sell my car to afford Christmas this year.

Sarah Palin scheduled to be on SNL this weekend. At least it'll answer an age old question, how can you parody someone who is a parody in and of themself? Should be interesting. First year as an official citizen so I'm looking forward to my first vote and hopefully move past this colossal flop of a Presidency. Can you imagine if Bush and Palin were on the same ticket? Actually no, don't imagine, even the thought has me contemplating fleeing to Switzerland.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I told my mom I'm moving to france is a certain candidate wins.

As for the economy - I'm a shrewd to say it, but it's helping me. I just threw 10K into the stock market and am opening escrow on a house sometime this month. I feel like a vulture now.

Who knows, I'll think about christmas when it rolls around.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

welll Canada is not a bad place to live. I'm speaking from experience!
We are very welcoming people so the more the merrier.
As for christmas, it is crazy. I always wait till November 11 before putting up the decorations. Let us honor our veterans.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Ahhhh! Reminds me once again I've not reprinted out and faxed my absentee ballot D: I plan to do that Monday then. Yeesh, I need to get that done so I can get my vote in on time. Sarah Palin for SNL is pretty hysterical. Which makes her scary for real life. She automatically causes my fear of McCain in office. I'm voting for a third party this year I figure.

X-mas thankfully is just us buying gifts for immediate family and not all the other relatives. We'd go broke during a GOOD economy trying to do that with the amount of family we have between my mom and dad! So its nothing too crazy for x-mas. I think the most expensive thing will be my plane ticket home. I'm waiting on the final schedule to be posted so I can immediately start looking for tickets.

Invisibelle I'd vote on the tour too. Plus you don't have to worry about any suddenly timely things that might cause you to fret about missing your plane.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

lvuson - congrats on your first vote! My first vote was for Clinton-Gore in 1996, and it felt good so good to vote.
javabeans - I also wish that the election were today. Mainly because 2.5 weeks is a long time, and I just want whoever is ahead in the polls to win now!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Ah, we just finished our election call here in Canada.
Come to Canada Sarah, it's a beautiful country and Canadian are very nice.

Many visitors I have from the US really like it here. Although it's not a heaven for shopping as stuffs are more expensive than in the US.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Early voting in Texas starts tomorrow.

I figure if you are still on the fence about who you're voting for at this point in time, you're probably hung up on the color issue. If he were pure white, you would have decided by now.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I decided some time ago that if (Palin) McCain wins I'm going to move to Norway. It's a beautiful country where you can get by if you don't speak the language, the minimum wage is about $25 an hour, and even though they're going through economic troubles too, the country can afford it. They've got a $100+ billion petroleum fund which will cover their bailout....so they won't end up owned up China.

Plus, weirdly enough when I was there this summer on two of the government owned television stations they were showing Korean and Chinese dramas O.o A saeguk of some kind, so I didn't know what it was.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Wow....some serious back-up plans. Relocating to a different country. hmm....

invisibelle, I would pick the one with the least transit time round-trip and being able to spend at least one-hour at the final destination. From your choices, it looks like it would be C. 3 hours round-trip transit time and that leaves you around 1 hour for Seoul time. I hope you get back to the airport in time. It sucks to miss a flight especially intl. flight.

phiphi - At first I thought you were inviting Sarah Palin to Canada.. LOL.
Can you take the Palin instead?

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Someone said on last week's Open Thread that there's no better way to bury yourself in K-dramas at this time of turmoil and uncertainty. And I picked up - by chance - an excellent drama this week, The Lawyers of the Great Korea Republic.

When it first came out, the title really put me off and the cast did not seem particularly exciting. Upon someone's strong recommendation, I tried it and was fully captivated by the first episode which then turned into a marathon. The Great Korea Republic actually is the main character's name (Dae Hanminguo), an eccentric and compulsive character brought alive by Lee Sung Jae. This is my first time knowing and seeing him, what a star performer! He is not your handsome prince charming (and people in Soompi even compared him to the Beast as in the Beauty and the Beast), but whenever he's in a scene you just can't take your eyes off him. While the general plotline may sound familiar, it is the little twists and turns that falls outside the usual predictabilities.

What I like about it is not just the fun and warmth you get along the way but it makes you care for all the main and supporting characters. Apart from an obnoxious mother-in-law, there is hardly any evil characters. The bunch of supporting characters are all wonderful in their own ways - a hilarious mob indeed. The romance between the two main leads is adorable but not sugary - true to the two characters depicted. You just feel that they have finally found their soulmate in each other (noting of course Lee Soo Kyung originally from Soulmate).

The high production value brings much of a lift to the whole feel and enjoyment. I wouldn't have followed this drama had there not been the excellent muscial score, crispy editing cut, and great cinematography in the first episode. Seoul has never looked better - it is a thriving and gorgeous city through the lens of the director.

The second viewing was even better than the first time. I hope you people could watch it and have a great time like me!!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

If Sarah Palin moved to Canada we would then have two borders we would have to watch for illegal immigration. People would flee Canada like it was being invaded by Godzilla.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I have never been much of a Holiday person just because people seem to only care about receiving gifts and not giving any.

I do love looking at the different decorations!!!

I am so happy it is Friday, this has been a stressful week. I thought senior of college would be easy but alas it is not.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Give me my damn ballot already.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Another reason for you to move to Canada would be the excellent Boxing Day sales (Christmas, except, you know, cheaper), though crowds form quickly. :D

Sarah Palin amazes me every time I hear her speak. Does she truly believe what's coming out of her mouth? Yeeeurk. I'm still annoyed that the Conservatives decided spending 300 million on an election that resulted in a minority government (again) was okay during this recession.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

wow and here i thought i was the only one contemplating relocating to another country. i gotta give it up to gallivanter. norway sounds ideal. before the banking mess, i heard iceland and ireland were also great places to relocate to in europe but with the way their economies are stuck in limbo, i think norway with its ginormous petroleum fund reserves is the way to go. save me a seat on the plane!

as for the election, yeah, i wish it were today. i can't imagine that anything happening in the next couple of weeks will change my mind. especially after the last couple of debates - ugh. still, with as down and dirty as they can get in politics, maybe they'll discover that one of the candidates was a member of a religious sect that believes aliens will come to earth...oh wait. that's tom cruise. my bad.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

@dramabeans,

"(and not all whiny faux-goth-morbidness)?"

Speaking of, Lee Byung Hung is looking HAWT in Good Bad Weird. Who knew Panic at the Disco was big in 1900 Manchuria? "Ni hou ma. Have you slit your wrists today?"

The word emo, much like the words "pot" and "LOL" have evolved through history in the English language. For example . . .

1985: Did you see Embrace last night, Craig? sXe is rad, let me take you!!
1995: Thank God for emocore like Sunny Day Real Estate, Refused and Jawbreaker to save us from bands like Green Day and Weezer. Craig only likes Hootie and the Blowfish. I'm working on it.
2001: Craig, I can't wait for the Green Album! I hope it's as good as Pinkerton. God the last J.E.W. album sucked. What is happening to emo?
2002: Trust me, My Chemical Brothers is a one album wonder. And let me repeat this again Craig. Emo is short for "emotional hardcore." Emotional. Hardcore. Okay? Yeah, Chris Carraba was SO dreamy last night. I wish you were as in touch with your feelings as he is.
2006: Yeah yeah Craig got ALL emo last week. Have you seen his Myspace account? . He hasn't returned my eyeliner yet.
2007: Yeah, I like Hyun Bin but he can be so emo in his roles. Craig likes Snow Queen though. Says he can really relate to Binnie's feelings for 12-year old Bora. What?
2008: Remember when emo was good? *crickets crickets*

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks epyc, I'm going to watch Lawyers next!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

@katwoman, "I figure if you are still on the fence about who you’re voting for at this point in time, you’re probably hung up on the color issue. If he were pure white, you would have decided by now."

Uhm. Wow. I can't say that the 'color issue' is what [personally] has me hung up at this point. For me it's that neither of my choices is all that satisfactory, so I'm still trying to decide where I should make compromises in my opinions. Believe it or not, color isn't a huge factor for everyone. "If he were pure white" I'd still have the same issue I have right now, because when it comes down to it, for me (and a lot of people I know), color doesn't have anything to do with this. You really shouldn't make stupid assumptions like that, because color doesn't occupy everyone's mind like it seems to yours, and comments like that can be taken as offensive.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Christmas? What Christmas? Who's thinking about Christmas already?
We can't have Christmas until we have our Thanksgiving! And how can we have Thanksgiving in time like this? Sigh... It just gets harder to be grateful when you get older but not richer (hmm, even poorer?) : 0) Oh, well, it's time to watch K-dramas and forget about this mess. And thanks epyc, I'm going to watch Lawyers now.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I guess I wasn't the only person that considered relocating to Canada.
I think I would be content living there cuz I'm not really into shopping.
The problem is how to get a job there... well hopefully I won't have to relocate

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

It is my 1st year voting, too! I am excited but I am actually torn between the major parties plus their running mates are not that impressive. With all this election talk and crappy economy, I don't even want to think I Christmas. I work for State and we're not getting a raise this year. SO.. while groceries go up in prices and the holidays are around the corner, I am broke. I just want to enjoy Halloween.

I love Saves the Day! "Through Being Cool" is their best work. If we want to go back to the good emo days, I'd mention the GetUpKids, "Letters to Write Home About."

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Palin's voice drives me crazy.
I will be dancing in the streets with the rest of the world when Barack becomes president.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

*sigh* voting. All I hear people talking about are prop 8 or the presidential election these days. I'm not quite old enough to vote =[

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I went over my ballot today. Wow. I didn't realize so many people were running for president. I mean, I expected Ralph Nader, but I haven't even heard of these other people. Have they been on the news? Are they campaigning somewhere? Bet they're using those public funds.

Okay, I did think of one good thing about the economy -- it created a new topic for the candidates to sound stupid about. Everything else was just a rehash of the past 3, maybe 4 elections. Small wonder we're all so tired of this. And I agree, Palin was a big mistake. She is no Hillary Clinton, if that's what they were hoping for.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

phiphi - At first I thought you were inviting Sarah Palin to Canada.. LOL.
Can you take the Palin instead?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

@ginnie, haha....Sarah Palin can stay in the US to keep McCain companied.
We'll do just fine without her in Canada. I do hope Obama win this election and looks like he heading right down to the White House soon.

After eletion here in Canada, we wasted milion dollars of tax payers' hard earned money just to go back to status quo. Our Prime Minister was dreaming too much!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

the malls here in our country already have christmas decors and selling christmas trees since september. hehe.

hope you people will make the wise decision on your election.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *