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October 25, 2005
I like to sit. I hope.
I'm actually going on part of the Zen retreat at the center this weekend, covering it for the paper.
I can't go at the beginning because I have to cover the Czech National Day reception, but immediately after that I do this schedule:
Friday:
8:20-8:50 Sitting
Sleep or optional practice
Saturday:
3:00 am Wake up
3:30 108 Bows
4:15 Chanting and sitting
5:30 breakfast
6:00 - 6:30 Work period
7:00 - 10:00 Meditation:
7:00-7:30 Sitting
7:30-7:40 Walking
7:40- 8:10 Sitting
8:10- 8:20 Walking
8:20- 8:50 Sitting
8:50- 9:00 Walking
9:00- 9:25 Sitting
9:25-9:35 Walking
9:35-10:00 Sitting
11:30 Lunch and rest
1:00pm-4:00pm Meditation
1:00-1:30 Sit
Walk
1:40-2:10 Sit
Walk
2:20-2:50 Sit
Walk
3:00-3:25 Sit
Walk
3:35-4:00 Sit
4:30 Dinner
6:00 Chanting
7:00-9:00 Meditation:
7:00-7:30 Sitting
Walking
7:40-8:10 Sitting
Walking
8:20-8:50 Sitting
Sleep or optional practice
Sunday:
3:00 am Wake up
3:30 108 Bows
4:15 Chanting and meditation
5:30 Breakfast
6:00-6:30 Work period
7:00-10:00am Meditation
Then I have to go cover an education fair. It's going to be intense. I'm looking forward to being totally unprepared.
Posted by b-applegate at 9:00 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
October 23, 2005
My job is to ask questions and not spend money.
Can't believe I missed this when it first came out. Timothy Noah at Slate highlighted a "press pool" at a ribs restaurant with the President in the lead-up to the election. It's unbelievably hilarious.
Remarks by the President to the Press Pool Nothin' Fancy Cafe Roswell, New Mexico11:25 A.M. MST
THE PRESIDENT: I need some ribs.
Q Mr. President, how are you?
THE PRESIDENT: I'm hungry and I'm going to order some ribs.
Q What would you like?
THE PRESIDENT: Whatever you think I'd like.
Q Sir, on homeland security, critics would say you simply haven't spent enough to keep the country secure.
THE PRESIDENT: My job is to secure the homeland and that's exactly what we're going to do. But I'm here to take somebody's order. That would be you, Stretch -- what would you like? Put some of your high-priced money right here to try to help the local economy. You get paid a lot of money, you ought to be buying some food here. It's part of how the economy grows. You've got plenty of money in your pocket, and when you spend it, it drives the economy forward. So what would you like to eat?
Q Right behind you, whatever you order.
THE PRESIDENT: I'm ordering ribs. David, do you need a rib?
Q But Mr. President --
THE PRESIDENT: Stretch, thank you, this is not a press conference. This is my chance to help this lady put some money in her pocket. Let me explain how the economy works. When you spend money to buy food it helps this lady's business. It makes it more likely somebody is going to find work. So instead of asking questions, answer mine: are you going to buy some food?
Q Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: Okay, good. What would you like?
Q Ribs.
THE PRESIDENT: Ribs? Good. Let's order up some ribs.
Q What do you think of the democratic field, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: See, his job is to ask questions, he thinks my job is to answer every question he asks. I'm here to help this restaurant by buying some food. Terry, would you like something?
Q An answer.
Q Can we buy some questions?
THE PRESIDENT: Obviously these people -- they make a lot of money and they're not going to spend much. I'm not saying they're overpaid, they're just not spending any money.
Q Do you think it's all going to come down to national security, sir, this election?
THE PRESIDENT: One of the things David does, he asks a lot of questions, and they're good, generally.
END 11:29 A.M. MST
Posted by b-applegate at 3:26 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Gurg.
I broke one of the PiA rules last night-- the one about not getting drunker than your boss. I think I shall avoid fruit-flavored liquor in the future. Hell, with how I feel right now I may stop drinking altogether. And NO THERE ARE NO PICTURES. That I know about.
Posted by b-applegate at 12:40 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 10, 2005
Nice Day Card...
He may look weak, but just try to beat him. Go on. TRY!
Posted by b-applegate at 7:42 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
October 3, 2005
Even More Pictures
Masjid
River
Arashiyama, Kyoto
Suburban Sunset
Bucheon, Korea
Posted by b-applegate at 11:21 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
More Neighborhood Pictures
These seafood stands are everywhere.
The exterior of my local cafe, where the lady gave me the rice cakes on Chuseok.
Koreans are very serious about proper waste disposal.
Encountered this placement of books at COEX and thought it was just too perfect a representation of "factory publishing."
A sunset taken from the kitchen window of my hasukjip (boarding house).
Posted by b-applegate at 3:45 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
October 2, 2005
Oh, That Cantankerous Li Zicheng
I'm reading a book on modern Chinese history, In Search of China, which is a book I kept when I almost took the class attached to it in college. It's excellent and informative. But I can't help giggling every few pages because when reading about the end of the Ming dynasty I remember when Moltar says they have to pay for a bunch of things "...and that Ming dynasty vase that Brak is about to knock over." "Take this, Ming! I'm sick of your dynasty!"
Ah, Space Ghost. Taking up such (I've been told) valuable space in my mind.
Posted by b-applegate at 3:23 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack