(MORE)

Key points:

Thae Yong Ho is the first defector from North Korea to be directly-elected to ROK’s National Assembly. His pseudonym, Ku-min, means “saving people.”

He and fellow defector Ji Seong-ho, a human-rights activist, successfully ran under the banner of opposition conservative United Future Party in the midst of the ruling party’s landslide.

After watching DESIGNATED SURVIVOR: 60 DAYS, I hope that the social status of defectors improves as a result of voters’ acceptance of these two candidates at the polls.

(MORE)

Beware of Spoilers and Rampant Speculation

I’ve been waiting to see how the ghost plant ties in with the rest of the plot. Truth to tell, I got an inkling in ep. 1 that the clearing in which Soo-jung and Young-jin discuss the strange white plants is a dumping ground for corpses. I may be jumping to conclusions, as Monotropa uniflora is also a symbiont with the micro-roots of various tree species, IIRC. Considering how the story is unfolding, however, it wouldn’t surprise me if they stumbled across the site of the initial Stigmata Murder, which was than used by other parties to dispose of the remains of other crime victims.

The other unsettling question that arises in my mind is: why is Indian pipe growing right behind Grandpa Cha’s rickety cabin? I could easily imagine a grave being located in the shadow of that huge boulder. (What a headstone!) Maybe there’s an innocent explanation, such as the plant is ubiquitous in those kinds of woods at that particular elevation in that climate zone.

Who owns the land on which Grandpa Cha’s shack is situated? Is it now part of Pastor Im’s land acquisitions, or adjacent to them?

Is Grandpa Cha still living? He appears to me to be some kind of mountain man. A collector of wild herbs, perhaps. And a homespun naturalist. (Or is he a retired biology teacher or college professor?!) His granddaughter is a chip off the old block. I suspect that she’s forgotten about the Indian pipe conversations — and will jump out of her skin when she puts 2+2 together with the colloquial name “corpse plant.”

I very much liked how Gramps pointed out the distinction between parasites which victimize their hosts and saprophytes which render a valuable service in cleansing and purifying the environment for everyone. He implies that people are like that as well.

Lest anyone think unkind thoughts about mistletoe, it is itself a remarkable plant with many fascinating properties. Iscador is a specially-prepared extract of mistletoe that has been used in Europe since the 1920s to treat various kinds of cancers, keyed to the host tree on which it has chosen to grow.

PS: The first is an animation.

good i found you.. need a help

Harry styles – paradise
It sounds like music for yesteryears, problem is i can’t place it.. specially the music everytime lyrics reaches the “paradise” part..

it gives me the feel of .. i don’t know.. tom cruise and highway to dangerzone scene.. on his bike

You are into music.. only you can help me.. does the music sound familiar? is it a particular genre/ era/ there is sthg very characteristic about it

The first link in the article alone includes a mind-boggling assortment of films from around the world, ranging from silent movies to music videos. ALEXANDER NEVSKY and others by Sergei Eisenstein! NANOOK OF THE NORTH by Robert Flaherty! HIS GIRL FRIDAY! Ed Wood’s PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE! REEFER MADNESS! THE BLUE ANGEL with Marlene Dietrich!

I spotted the following Korean titles, most of them from The Korean Film Archive:

MULBERRY (1986) – SOPYONJE (1993) – THE DAY THE PIG FELL INTO A WELL (1996) – HOMETOWN IN MY HEART (1949)

PULGASARI (1985): A North Korean Godzilla-style film produced by South Korean director Shin Sang-ok, who had been kidnapped in 1978 by North Korean intelligence on the orders of Kim Jong-il.

The above are mainly among the drama and comedy listings. Other categories include:

Free Hitchcock, Noir, Horror & Thriller Films
Free Kung Fu & Martial Arts Films
Free Westerns
Complete collection of John Wayne films
Free Silent Films
Free Documentaries
Free Animated Films Online

Enjoy! 😉

I have been using some of their online materials for years and they are really good (but I still cannot speak Korean 😆).

I don’t understand if it’s better or worse for the production company… Due to Covid, it’s not as if a successful international commercial release could be done within reasonable time, but Netflix release only in SK seems like a phyrric victory for the korean marketing company, once it’s on Netflix, it will shwo up on all illegal streaming sites, that’s a shame for all the professionals involved.

ugh I do not know what to think of this… there is already many streaming sites providing Korean content for US watcher, so another one in the mix… since the US streaming site is not even up and running I guess it will not be available for us outside of US. The only legal option for me in Europe is VIKI. But some content on Netflix in my region. They do not even show the on air dramas before those drama are finishing airing in Korea. I just hope this do not limit legal ways to watch dramas in Europe.

(MORE)

I’m watching all 3dramas. WEATHER is the best of the lot, although up until pretty recently, I’ve been aggravated by mother, daughter, and auntie, not necessarily in that order. Alas, we got a makjang cliffhanger this week that reminds me all too much of Im Se-mi’s thoroughly obnoxious character in ABOUT TIME. Will we finally learn her back story and what made her such a manipulative so-and-so? Will Hae-won back off and give Eun-seob enough psychic elbow room so he can take initiative himself? Will Hwi hold her peace long enough for the target(s) of her blackmail affection to get a word in edgewise?

MEOW is a fantasy-cum-extended PPL for Purina with an annoying female lead, but maybe that’s just me. Your mileage may vary. I’m watching for Hong-jo in both his forms, but am creeped out by the arrival of a villain this past week. Jae-sun should just bite the bullet and get allergy shots so he can take care of Sergei himself. On the other hand, I am curious as to why the kitten turned into a boy in Seol-ah’s presence.

A PIECE OF YOUR MIND has been difficult for me to connect with. I’m mildly interested to find out what the classical pianist did that was so awful. Geeeenius AI developer is deeply invested in his pining for the fjords his flaky childhood friend who seems to have been seriously depressed and cut off all contact with him for reasons unknown. Recording engineer has a predictably tragic back story. The crew at the boarding house have their own little Peyton Place going, and a new battle axe of a tenant headed their way. — Methinks the drama is lacking in warmth or heart, because it doesn’t engage me the way that CHOCOLATE and WHEN THE CAMELLIA BLOOMS did. It feels scattered, with too many random characters.

Thanks for the interesting article.

@pakalanapikake

…That was a great book as well! (Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks)
It hits a little too close to home these days😐

Did you finish MofA? What was the verdict?