Monday, November 26, 2007

Im loosing grip on my English

What is a "brizzial girl"? Im sure i was trying to write Brazilian... i dunno, but my ability to write in comprehensible english is rapidly eroding...i want to go back to school.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Assault, assualt a salt on a piece of toast

Okay, this is a weird thing to wonder, but I wonder anyway, do you think ...well first i should explain where the wonder came from. There is a nwes article today that says a 15 year old brazillian girl was left in a cell with 20-30 men for a month, and repeatedly raped for the duration of her time in the cell. I wonder though with that level of abuse if the body would reject any possibly conceived child. Of course it is possible this girl is still premenstrual. But i wonder because i recently read a very stupid article about a study that concluded women walk less sexily when they are fertile (ie ovulating); the researchers concluded that this may be to reduce likelihood of a sexual attack during the fertile period (further it may be a mechanism promoting monogamy because the signals of fertility are more subtle and could only be detected by a close regular partner...right).

I found the articles conclusion outrageous, but its got me thinking about the possibility that we have biological mechanisms that prevent unwanted pregnancies...or no thats not right... that prevent pregnancies as a result of a violence/sexual assault/ sexual act carried out without concent or from a non-commensal relationship.

The article about the brizzial girl made no comment about weather the girl was pregnant, although, judging by the severe emotional and physcial trauma she underwent coupled with the fact that she may not have been getting food (as the article stated the men would take her food and only return it for sex etc.

anyway. i wonder a bit about the world.

On a lighter note...well no its still pretty macarbre, if she is sentenced of a crime in the end im sure her lawyers can argue she has already more than served the prison time due for her original offence.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

The challenge of being Canadian...we just don't get it.

"This is not a racist party. It is a German party. We want Germany to stay German and we do not want to be overwhelmed by invaders or intruders"

That quote comes from a troubling article on BBC today, and its funny how as a Canadian I think I am ill-prepared to face these sorts of issues. For me I don’t understand how any land, any area cannot be anyone’s area. It is almost as if the confusion/complexion by the Natives when the Europeans first arrived and tried to buy the land has become ingrained in my Canadian sentiment and understanding of the world. In Canada, everyone—except terrorists (and sometimes even terrorists)—is welcome. And they aren’t just welcome with certain conditions. They are welcome with open arms New Canadians aren't welcome to fill jobs old(er)-Canadians don’t want to do (as if there is such a thing); they aren't welcome to bolster some part of our economy; they aren’t welcome because our birthrate is low and we need someone to take care of us as we grow older; they are welcome to come be Canadian, to come join the quilt. If that is to be a factory worker, so be it; a cab driver, so be it; a doctor, so be it (I wish it were easier for them too); a carer for a family member...the world is welcome, with the only condition that you come and join us in what ever facet you are capable of. So when I read statements like the one above, made by a German MP, I just don't know how to understand, I am ill prepared to understand that some places I guess aren't open. As if new people will change what it inherently is. As if by living in Korea I somehow make this place less Korean. Or by living in Germany or Japan i some how dilute the history and traidition of the place. But i chuckle, because by living in Canada I, and everyone like me, make that place more Canadian.

A similar phenomenon is being reported about in Japan. That they see their birthrate is low so they want to bring in foreigners to fill low-wage, low-skill jobs. Korea as well, believes that foreigners can only come to fill an economic role in society, but not to really join in. It’s as if we are only welcome on a short term contract. So for example the only way I would really be welcome to stay in Korea would be to marry a Korean man. I couldn’t marry another foreigner and live here…it would just be too weird. I would be invading, intruding where I am not really that welcome.
So, how to face this? I’m not really sure. But I suppose recognizing it is a first step.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Erect; according to the OED

Im looking for a new word to replace vexatiously...any suggestions?

I. trans. To elevate in direction or position.

1. To direct upwards; to lift up (the eyes, hands, etc.). Also to erect up. Obs.

1609 Man in Moone (1849) 39 Erect thy countenance, like a man. 1635 E. PAGITT Christianogr. I. ii. (1636) 61 The Bishop..erecting his hands stood all the while with his face to the Altar. a1634 CHAPMAN Revenge Hon. Wks. 1873 III. 337 Good sir, erect your looks. 1704 SWIFT T. Tub Wks. 1760 I. Introd. 26 To stand with their mouths open, and erected.
fig. 1548 GEST Pr. Masse 117 Having our mindes erected up into heaven. 1629 H. BURTON Babel no Bethel 4 Wee erect our best attention to this motion. 1690 NORRIS Beatitudes (1694) I. 54 The Minds of Men began to be more generally erected towards Heaven.

b. To put up on high; to lift up (the head); also, to hoist up. Obs.

1552 ABP. HAMILTON Catech. (1884) 52 Moyses..made & ereckit a brassin ymage of a serpent. 1567 Trial Treas. in Hazl. Dodsley III. 273 That thou are nat erected, in faith, it is pity, As high as three trees and a halter will reach. 1611 CORYAT Crudities 9 A little chappell..wherein is erected the picture of Christ and the Virgin Mary. 1696 TATE & BRADY Ps. xxiv. 7 Erect your Heads, eternal Gates. 1767 Babler I. 224 However we may erect the crest upon the superior dignity of manhood.
2. To exalt in consideration or dignity; to raise to eminence or importance; elevate to office; in earlier use, to raise to (a kingdom); to set up for, to be (an emperor, king, etc.). Also to erect up.

1432-50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 283 Grete Charles..was erecte to the kyngedome of Fraunce after the dethe of his fader. 1549-62 STERNHOLD & H. Ps. lxxxix. 20 A man of might I have erect your king and guide to be. 1583 Exec. for Treason (1675) 27 Bishops, who in the Popes name had erected him up. a1592 GREENE Jas. IV, Wks. (1861) 198 He shall erect your state and wed you well. 1611 SPEED Hist. Gt. Brit. VI. xlii. 3 The Ægyptians erected one Saturninus a Captaine..for Emperour. a1631 DONNE in Select. fr. Donne (1840) 16 Thou shalt find..as many records of attainted families..as of families newly erected and presently celebrated. 1656 BRAMHALL Replic. vi. 238 Lawfull for the King and Church of England..to have erected a new Primate. 1709 STEELE Tatler No. 130 2 We have seen..Monarchs erected and deposed.
b. To elevate into or unto (a specified condition). Obs.

1508 FISHER Wks. 254 They were erecte vnto eternal lyfe. 1589 R. ROBINSON in Farr S.P. Eliz. (1845) II. 364 Erect my spirite into thy blisse.
II. To raise to an upright position.

3. To raise, set upright (the body, oneself, etc.); to rear (a standard). Also fig.

1573 TUSSER Husb. (1878) 5 Erecting one most like to fall. 1602 MARSTON Ant. & Mel. II. Wks. 1856 I. 25 Ladie, erect your gratious simmetry. 1646 SIR T. BROWNE Pseud. Ep. II. iii. 74 If unto the powder of Loadstone or Iron we admove the North pole of the Loadstone, the powders or small divisions will erect and conforme themselves thereto. 1730 A. GORDON Maffei's Amphith. 93 The Charioteers sometimes bowed to the Ground, then erected themselves on high. 1750 JOHNSON Rambler No. 6 3 The necessity of erecting our~selves to some degree of intellectual dignity. 1774 GOLDSM. Nat. Hist. (1776) VII. 49 The muscle..is capable of erecting itself on an edge. 1818 JAS. MILL Brit. India II. IV. iii. 97 Erected against Aliverdi the standard of revolt. 1877 MRS. OLIPHANT Makers Flor. xiii. 325 His weak frame erected itself.

b. Optics. To restore (an inverted optical image) to an upright position.

1831 BREWSTER Newton (1855) I. x. 245 Without using two glasses, the object may be erected.

c. intr. for refl. To straighten oneself, assume an upright position.

1626 BACON Sylva (1631) §827 By Wet, Stalkes doe erect, and Leaues bow downe.

4. To set upright (a member of the body); to prick up (the ears); also Phys. (chiefly in pass.), to render turgid and rigid any organ containing erectile tissue.

1626 BACON Sylva (1637) §266 You..erect your Eare, when you would heare attentiuely. 1718 ROWE tr. Lucan I. 540 At ev'ry Shout [the horse] erects his quiv'ring Ears. 1796 BURKE Regic. Peace Wks. VIII. 318 That this faction..does erect its crest upon the engagement, there can be little doubt.
5. fig. from 3, 4. To rouse, stir up, excite, embolden (the mind, oneself). Obs.

a1568 COVERDALE Treat. Death I. xvi, We ought to erect and comfort ourselves with the resurrection. 1605 BACON Adv. Learn. II. iv. §2 It doth raise and erect the mind. 1654 R. CODRINGTON tr. Hist. Ivstine 314 With this Victory the courages of the Sicilians were erected. 1665 J. SERGEANT Sure-footing 201 His Book coming forth..my Expectation was now erected. a1668 DENHAM (J.), Why should not hope As much erect our thoughts, as fear deject them? a1734 NORTH Lives (1826) II. 131 He found his spirits low, and thought to..erect them by a glass or two of sherry.
b. occas. To stimulate (in a physical sense).

1620 VENNER Via Recta (1650) 273 It..erecteth the digestive faculty of the stomack.
6. To elate with pride. Obs.

1631 R. H. Arraignm. Whole Creature 137 Least..the contemplation of their proud plumes and feathers too much erect them and puffe them up.
III. To set on a foundation, construct, establish.

7. To set up (a building, statue, framework, etc.); to rear, build. Also to erect up.

1417 in Ellis Orig. Lett. II. 19. I. 59 He hath erected a new tower upon the same for a warde. 1555 EDEN Decades W. Ind. I. IV. (Arb.) 80 The inhabitantes sawe newe buyldynges to bee dayly erected. 1570 ABP. PARKER Corr. (1853) 372 Intending..to erect up certain iron mills. 1593 SHAKES. 2 Hen. VI, III. ii. 80 Erect his Statue, and worship it. 1664 EVELYN Kal. Hort. (1729) 229 Erect on the out-side Wall your Stove..of Brick. 1692 O. WALKER History Illustrated 288 Gallus lamented much his death, and erected him a Sepulchre. 1701 DE FOE True-born Eng. I. 1 Where~ever God erects a House of Prayer The Devil always builds a Chappel there. 1796 H. HUNTER tr. St. Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) I. 446 He erects trophies. 1825 J. NICHOLSON Operat. Mechanic 190 An engine was erected in the vicinity of Bath..on this principle. 1848 MACAULAY Hist. Eng. II. 16 A more peaceful class erected silk manufactories in the eastern suburb of London. 1856 FROUDE Hist. Eng. (1858) II. ix. 382 The scaffold had been awkwardly erected.
¶To build (a vessel).

1650 SIR J. BURROUGHS in Wealth of Gt. Brit. (1749) 33 By erecting two hundred and fifty busses..there will be employment for one thousand ships.
b. fig. To build up (a theory, conclusion, etc.), set up (a pretension). Also absol.

1646 SIR T. BROWNE Pseud. Ep. I. vii. 25 Our advanced beliefs are not to be built upon dictates, but..[we] are to erect upon the surer base of reason. a1704 LOCKE (J.), Malebranche erects this proposition, of seeing all things in God, upon their ruin. 1818 JAS. MILL Brit. India II. V. ii. 350 The pretension erected by Mr. Hastings..would destroy one great source of the evidence. 1864 J. H. NEWMAN Apol. 195 It was necessary for us to have a positive Church theory erected on a definite basis.
8. a. Geom. To set up or draw (a perpendicular to a given line); to construct (a triangle, etc. upon a given base). b. Astrol. and Astron. To ‘set up’ (a figure of the heavens).

a1646 J. GREGORY Assyr. Mon. in Posth. (1650) 215 This was the figure of the Heavens..Astronomically calculated and erected according to Tycho's tables. 1660 BARROW Euclid I. x, Upon the line given AB erect an equilateral triangle. a1672 WOOD Life (1848) 73 After Lillie (the astronomer) had erected his figure, he told her, etc. 1715 KERSEY, To Erect a Figure, to divide the 12 Houses a-right. 1815 SCOTT Guy M. iv, He accordingly erected his scheme, or figure of heaven. 1828 J. H. MOORE Pract. Navig. 44 On B erect the perpendicular BA. 1887 T. B. REED O.E. Lett. Found 182 He [Moxon] professes to be able to erect in any other square..the same letter.
9. To set up, establish, found (an office, court of justice, corporation, institution, etc.); to initiate, set on foot (a project, scheme). Obs. or arch. exc. in Law.

1565 J. CALFHILL Answ. Treat. Crosse (1846) 24 A pilgrimage in Wales was straight erected. 1570 in Strype Ann. Ref. I. lvii. 626 The Divinity lecture, erected by the noble lady Margaret. 1602 WARNER Alb. Eng. X. lviii. (1612) 254 This League was halowed..gainst all That worke the gospell to erect. 1651 HOBBES Leviath. I. xv. 73 There is no Civill Power erected over the parties promising. 1663 MARVELL Corr. Wks. 1872-5 II. xl. 88 Courts of Merchants to be erected in some..ports of the nation. 1683 Royal Proclam. in Lond. Gaz. No. 1856/1 The Office of Post-Master General hath been Erected by Act of Parliament. 1743 TINDAL tr. Rapin's Hist. Eng. II. 151 note, This year Queen Elizabeth erected the East-India Company. 1761-2 HUME Hist. Eng. II. xli. 415 The Jesuits, a new order of regular priests erected in Europe. 1792 N. CHIPMAN Amer. Law Rep. (1871) 12 The statute has erected a summary jurisdiction. 1818 JAS. MILL Brit. India II. V. ix. 702 The ministerial board erected by Mr. Pitt. a1862 BUCKLE Civiliz. (1869) III. iii. 125 Two Courts of High Commission were erected. 1865 H. PHILLIPS Amer. Paper Curr. II. 56 Congress resolved to erect a lottery.
b. To raise (an armed force); to form (a nation). Obs.

1480 CAXTON Chron. Eng. III. (1520) 24/2 These two erected an hoost ayenst Hanyball. 1598 BARRET Theor. Warres II. i. 20 When a Companie is newly leuied and erected, etc. a1618 RALEIGH (J.), He suffers seventy-two distinct nations to be erected out of the first monarchy under distinct governours. 1680 HICKES Spir. Popery 71 The Cess..for erecting and maintaining the foresaid additional Forces. 1698 J. CRULL Muscovy 123 A new Body of Militia should be erected in their stead.
10. to erect into [cf. Fr. ériger en]: to constitute or form into (e.g. an organization, municipality, territorial division, etc.); to set up as (a rule or precedent); to invest with the rank or character of; to represent as.

1670-98 R. LASSELS Voy. Italy Pref. 1, I had not the least thought..of erecting myself into an Authour. 1710 STEELE Tatler No. 56 1 For the Sharpers..are by Custom erected into a real and venerable Body of Men. 1718 Col. Rec. Penn. III. 58 The sd. town might be Erected into a Borough by a Charter, etc. a1768 ERSKINE Inst. Law Scotl. (1773) 345 By secularizing, or, in our law-style, erecting most of the monasteries into temporal lordships. 1796 H. HUNTER tr. St. Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) III. 455 The Officers of an inferior order..erected themselves into seignorial proprietors. 1818 JAS. MILL Brit. India II. V. viii. 669 He could erect every interference in that sovereignty into an act of guilt. 1821 SCOTT Kenilw. vii, Her majesty was minded to erect the town into a staple for wool. 1822 M. A. KELTY Osmond I. 158 You..erect him into a standard of right and wrong. 1839 J. YEOWELL Anc. Brit. Ch. xi. (1847) 110 Valentia..was erected into a province. 1860 MILL Repr. Govt. (1865) 54/2 That portion..whom the institutions of the country have erected into a ruling class.
¶11. ? Used for ARRECT, DIRECT.

1526 SKELTON Magnyf. 2507 Unto me formest this processe is erectyd. 1655 M. CARTER Hon. Rediv. (1660) Ep. Ded., No more then the Subject of it [i.e. Honour] erects.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

I secretly want to punch English in the transitive verb

I am really troubled by the expression "I cannot forgive them for what they have done" or "We cannot forgive them" or "We can never forgive them." What do you mean....never? 
There is no possible situation that you could fathom forgiving the perceived harm that has been done? I find it particularly troubling when monks and priests say these sorts of things. Forgiveness is our greatest gift. We can always forgive someone...can't we?? Even those most heinous WWII criminal is eventually forgiven, we find the space in our hearts and minds to allow that they acted how they acted, that they were punished and repented (in some form or other), that you and i have survived, have found a better life since (and more often than not, because of) their actions. Why not forgive these people? 
Even the person who takes your life...merely sends you and those you loved (or who loved you since you are dead now) into a new place, a new world that you are not a part of, where your legacy for forgiveness love and human compassion lives on without you to practice it. 
 Even those who taunt and tease and hurt you in all sorts of imaginable and unimaginable ways are one day forgiven...it is difficult, but why not say so. "I find it really difficult to forgive this harm, this person, these deeds" or "It is hard for me to forgive them." At least this sort of language leaves space for humanity, leaves space for the possibility that through the hard work and determination of both parties forgiveness may come, and human peace for some time return.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Marching

Here the sound only of renovation, growth and change, to mark this day. And children are giving chocolates as though st valintine were watching over the thousands who stand, bound looking out on their twenty four minutes of silence.

To seems always to be filled with a strange sort of confusion, if i look behind me i can see it spanning the years. The confusion of the silence, of the tears, of the colours and sounds. The gentle tap of the drum. The long breaths through pipes.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.


We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.


Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

— John McCrae

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Radio paradise

So my successes of the day...

1. had the craziest cycling dream with 7 kilometres of stairs...and escalators that both go up and down at the same time depending what you desire...
2. safely accepted the return of a pair of socks and scarf from different hostage situations.
3. did korean homework...im such a good student :|
4. walked 7 kilometers back and forth in my apartment
5. editing with the Custodian in anticipation of her presentation that isn't worth 20% of her life.
6. decided i needed freshair and went for a walk ending up at won mart to get food
7. bought pipecleaners...for no particular reason ;)
7b. did some secret stuff
8. made kickass chicken soup
9. made apple crumble...in a tinfoil dish, cooked in a toaster oven
10. ate chicken soup with apple crumble and vanilla icecream for dessert (although i ate dessert first cause i am allowed to)
11. cleaned out my hard drive...ie moved 6000 photos to my external drive and sorted them...wow that took some time
12. well there isnt really a 12, im just chilling listening to some killer music thinking about was paradisal thing to do next. All and all a very good november the 10th. Oh isnt that funny, i think it is Casey Maxwell's birthday today. Happy birthday, child from another life. Hope life is treating you well. But stil i managed to accomplish 11 things, and i slept till 11am...can you believe it!!! i know...i must have got up and forgot that i got up...but i did, or was awoke but a hostage taker at 11.
If i learn nothing in Korea it seems i will learn how to sleep. Maybe.

Mj

Partners

It is a word with many meanings. But today i am thinking about the partnerships between people. The different types of agreements that we have with friends and looved ones with coworkers and collegues. The different connections and how the fuse and fizzel as they rub against each other.

Its kind of a lonely place out here in Asia. The temporariness of it (to make a word do what i want it to) makes it difficult to get into the business of partnering. Of making connections that have more use than someone who will split a cab back into the country with you. Though perhaps that has as much to do with my perpetual aluffness...who knows.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Partners

Its an intersting idea, to be a partner to something. the roles and changing roles of partnership. Particularly looking at some of the changing roles and partnerships currently occuring in the political world. Tony Blair is out of parliment and instead of finding anew George Brown BUsh partnership, Sarkozy has brought France back into a state of friendship, once again the US may eat French Fries...maybe. Russia as always a confusing political entity, especially for those of us who live and have been trained in the possibility of capitalism, are ever confused by their motives and their moves interntaionally. Are they past the Stalinist communist movements of the early 20th century, or the strange (for me in the wst) Cold War USSR? Is Putin's Russia still pursuing the same inhumane devotion to a great leader, a ruler to who you owe your life, who has every right to plague and annex not only his own people but the people of other nations.

I feel as though Russia is increasingly in the news as the underhand in the undermining of eastern european stability. Could it be they are seeking to sweep in and annex the whole area in hopes of expanding their empire? Im just not sure...i think Russia maybe an necessary stepping stool to understanding north Korea (a current fascination of mine)..

Anyway, im intrigued and will have to debate more about the possibilities and properties of partnership.