Anti-Park Demonstrations - 18th Week (Wednesday)

Today is a national holiday and hundreds of thousands of protesters in Seoul braved rain to demonstrate against President Park.

In front of Sejong Cultural Center at Gwanghwamun

Crowds From Seoul City Hall To Gwanghwamun

Wearing Raincoats 

Giant Neuron Begins In Region Linked To Consciousness

Scientists have been able to trace and image single neurons in a mouse brain and found three neurons extend throughout the brain from a region linked to consciousness. One of these neurons was found to have wrapped itself around the entire brain. Scientists believe that these neurons may relay information from the entire brain and generate consciousness.

Scientific American: Giant Neuron Found Wrapped around an Entire Mouse Brain

Marijuana Industry To Add More Jobs Than Manufacturing By 2020

According to US Bureau of Statistics, the marijuana industry will add a quarter of a million jobs in 2020, more than manufacturing, utilities or even government jobs. Jobs in manufacturing, utilities and government are projected to decrease markedly.

Forbes: Marijuana Industry Projected To Create More Jobs Than Manufacturing By 2020

South Africa Latest Country To Legalize Medicinal Marijuana

South Africa just legalized the production of cannabis for medical uses. Wonder which country is next? Probably in Europe or South America, who knows maybe Asia. Ever visit India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, and other like countries? They drink it as a drink, some eat it as a food. It almost seemed legal.

IOL: Medicinal cannabis gets the go-ahead

Anti-Park Demonstrations - 17th Week

Very large crowds are expected for today's demonstrations in Seoul which start at 6 pm. This is the first official demonstration this year in which many major civil rights, unions, and other groups are also participating. The march towards the Presidential compound and around downtown Seoul starts at 7:30 pm. 

In front of Sejong Cultural Center at 5:10 pm

Main Stage in front of Gwanghwamun at 5:15 pm

In front of Gwanghwamun at 5:20

Updated List Of Arrested In President Park Scandal

Joining those already in jail awaiting trial are Lee Jae-young (Samsung Vice Chairman) and Choi Kyung-hee (former President of Ewha University). Joining those indicted without arrest is Woo Byung-woo (former Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs). The press predict that six more people will be arrested and indicted by next week.

New York Times: Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Heir, Is Arrested on Bribery Charges
Korea Herald: Ex-Ewha Womans University President Choi Kyung-hee arrested
Joongang Daily: Blue House aide Woo Byung-woo avoids detention

Those arrested so far in the scandal are listed below;

Mr. Kim Ki-choon       (former Chief Presidential Secretary)
Ms. Cho Yoon-sun      (Minister of Culture and Sports)
Ms. Kim Kyung-sook   (Ewha U., Dean of Science and Industry Convergence College)
Ms. Lee  In-sung        (Ewha University, Professor)
Ms. Choi Soon-sil       (President Park's confidante)
Mr. Cha Eun-taek       (former Director of Creative Convergence Center)
Mr. An Chong-bum    (former Senior Presidential Secretary)
Mr. Jeong Ho-seong   (former Presidential Secretary)
Ms. Choi Si-ho           (niece of Ms. Choi Soon-sil)
Mr Kim Jong              (former Vice Minister of Culture)
Mr. Moon Hyung-pyo  (former Minister of Health)

Mr. Kim Jin-soo          (former Presidential Secretary for Health)

Mr. Kim Jong-deok     (former Minister of Culture)

Mr. Chung Gwang-ju   (former Vice Minister of Culture)

Mr. Shin Dong-chul     (former Presidential Secretary)

Mr. Song Sung-gak     (former Head of Korea Creative Content Agency)

Mr Ryu Cheol-gyun     (Ewha University Professor)

Mr. Nam Gung-gon     (former Ewha University, Dean of Admissions)

Those indicted with indifference (not arrested yet) are listed below;

Mr. Cho Won-dong     (former Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs)

Mr. Choi Gee-sung      (Samsung, Vice Chairman Future Strategy Office)

Mr. Jang Choong-gi     (Samsung, President Future Strategy Office)

Mr. Park Sang-jin         (Samsung Electronics, President for External Affairs)

Anti-Park Demonstrations - 16th Week

Hundreds of thousands of protesters marched again on Saturday in Seoul and other cities nationwide. The crowds were a little thinner than last week, but Gwanghwamun was stilled packed with families, couples, and other groups.

Anti-Park Demonstrations - 15th Week

The media has been giving pro-Park demonstrators a lot of airtime for the past few months, and several thousand show up every week. However, several hundred thousand anti-Park demonstrators also show up every week, and discuss things that aren't reported that much in the media. The atmosphere of the people demonstrating is much different than what is conveyed through media coverage. The air is full of of anger, solidarity, determination, and solemness.

Today, over 800,000 anti-Park demonstrators braved freezing temperatures and high winds to demand that Park step down, the Constitutional Court approve the impeachment, that acting President Hwang grant a 30-day extension to the Special Independent Prosecutor's investigation which ends in a few weeks, and other demands.








For some great pictures and details, click below.

The Hankyoreh: Despite frosty weather, 800,000 gather to demand Pres. Park’s impeachment

Anti-Park Demonstrations - 14th Week

Due to the Lunar New Year celebrations last weekend, there were no protests. However, this weekend, demonstrators for both sides were out in full force. 

There were several thousand pro-Park demonstrators in front of City Hall, and throngs of anti-Park demonstrators at Gwanghwamun Plaza. 

Gwanghwamun Plaza at 4 pm

Gwanghwamun Plaza at 5 pm

For more pictures and details, please click below.

Korea Herald: People take to streets demanding president's immediate resignation

Korea Times: People take to streets demanding president's immediate resignation

Yonhap: People take to streets demanding president's immediate resignation 

President Park Cut Off Funding To Opposition Supporters

President Park ordered that leftist elements in Korean society be denied government funding and positions. Her definition of leftist is anyone who opposed her administration, her father's legacy, or supported opposition politicians, groups, or causes. Her father did worse. Framed people as North Korean spies, or communist sympathizers, and put them in prison. Vast improvement, but still a long ways to go.

For more details on how over 8,000 people and 3,000 organizations were identified, and denied funding and jobs, please click below.

The Hankyoreh: Government blacklist stretched beyond culture, across South Korean society 

Park Administration Funded Right Wing Groups

President Park's administration reportedly ordered the Federation of Korean Industries to fund conservative groups for the past three years. Over $6 million were gathered from Samsung, the Hyundai Motor Company, SK and LG.

The Hankyoreh: Nearly $6 million flowed from chaebol to far right groups over three years

President Park is probably going through a mental breakdown., The breaking point will probably be the Constitutional Court decision on her impeachment, Then most normal people would go through a period of regret, guilt, remorse, and consider ways to escape.

Israel To Decriminalize Recreational Marijuana

Israel, a leader in medical marijuana research and marijuana patents, along with Britain, is taking steps to decriminalize recreational marijuana. Those caught will now be fined.

CNN: Israel takes steps to decriminalize marijuana use

All those Koreans spending all that money abroad. A lot of young people going to the US, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Amsterdam, Thailand, Cambodia., Laos, and other countries for ganja. Wonder if Korea has got even one patent for medical marijuana. It seems everyone else has patents.

All these brainwashed people think marijuana users are addicts and criminals. People use it because they have pain, emotional or physical, in most cases both, and most aren't aware they are in pain.

Many people try it and feel nothing special. Some try it and feel good, become more satisfied with life, more self aware, things become more enjoyable. more empathetic and other things.

To borrow from Scientific American -

"The English author Aldous Huxley believed that the brain acts as a “reducing valve” that constrains conscious awareness, with mescaline and other hallucinogens inducing psychedelic effects by inhibiting this filtering mechanism."

Maybe marijuana does the same thing. The brain tries to make sense of the world and is constrained by all the general assumptions that the brain has made about the world. It seems to release some of these "bonds" or "constraints", and give a broader perspective of the world and self.

Scientific American: Do Psychedelics Expand the Mind by Reducing Brain Activity?

Science Daily: Answers to how our brains make meaning, with the help of LSD

Why do people call it being high? Maybe it is because their spirits were lifted up closer to Heaven? :)

Scientists have discovered a new form of matter - Time Crystals!

Science Daily: Scientists unveil new form of matter: Time crystals

Will Canada Legalize Recreation Marijuana In 2017? Experts Say Yes.

Experts think that Canada will legalize recreational marijuana in 2017. It was a campaign promise of Prime Minister Trudeau, and medicinal marijuana is already legal in Canada.

Benzinga: When Will Canada Legalize Weed? Experts Weigh In

Park Administration Ordered Funding Of Right Wing Groups

According to TV news, Lee Seung-chul, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), testified that President Park's administration ordered the funding of ten right wing groups.

There have been very outspoken and aggressive conservative right wing groups at demonstrations, government offices, parliament, and other places. For a long time, it was rumored that the groups were funded by and received orders from the Park administration. The rumors turned out to be true., These right wing groups were fanatical and sometimes violent. They were paid demonstrators.

According to Vice Chairman Lee, FKI did not have enough funds, so he had to ask the federation members for an additional $3 million annually in order to fund these groups.

No articles in the press on this topic yet.

Medical Marijuana Legalized Unanimously By German Parliament

Legislation legalizing the use of medicinal marijuana was just passed unanimously by the German parliament. The bill becomes effective March 1. 2017.

CNN: Germany becomes latest country to OK medical marijuana legalization


Korea locked up 313 drug users and arrested around 1,800 last year, according to TV news. Most other countries are releasing them.

CNN: Obama cuts sentences of hundreds of drug offenders

Korea Demonstrations - 13th Week

Over 350,000 in Seoul and around the country braved freezing snow to participate in the 13th week of demonstrations against President Park's abuses.

There are no demonstrations planned for next weekend, since it is the Lunar New Year Holidays, which is like Christmas for Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese and muc of Southeast Asia, a time for families to gather.

If Lee Jae-young is convicted of bribery, then Samsung would have to pay penalties to many countries that have laws against foreign corruption. Maybe it would be better to lock them up on other charges, overlook bribery. Bribery is so hard to prove, when the main suspect didn't receive any bribes directly, but through companies, or foundations and the assets are in other people's names.

President Park Scandal Arrest List Update

Four more people, listed below just arrested recently;

Mr. Kim Ki-choon        (former Chief Presidential Secretary)
Ms. Cho Yoon-sun       (Minister of Culture and Sports)
Ms. Kim Kyung-sook   (Ewha U., Dean of Science and Industry Convergence College)
Ms. Lee  In-sung        (Ewha University, Professor)

Those arrested so far in the scandal are listed below;

Ms. Choi Soon-sil       (President Park's confidante)
Mr. Cha Eun-taek       (former Director of Creative Convergence Center)
Mr. An Chong-bum    (former Senior Presidential Secretary)
Mr. Jeong Ho-seong   (former Presidential Secretary)
Ms. Choi Si-ho           (niece of Ms. Choi Soon-sil)
Mr Kim Jong              (former Vice Minister of Culture)
Mr. Moon Hyung-pyo  (former Minister of Health)

Mr. Kim Jin-soo          (former Presidential Secretary for Health)

Mr. Kim Jong-deok     (former Minister of Culture)

Mr. Chung Gwang-ju   (former Vice Minister of Culture)

Mr. Shin Dong-chul     (former Presidential Secretary)

Mr. Song Sung-gak     (former Head of Korea Creative Content Agency)

Mr Ryu Cheol-gyun     (Ewha University Professor)

Mr. Nam Gung-gon     (former Ewha University, Dean of Admissions)

Those indicted with indifference (not arrested yet) are listed below;

Mr. Cho Won-dong    (former Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs)

Lee Jae-yong            (Samsung Vice Chairman)

Choi Gee-sung          (Samsung, Vice Chairman Future Strategy Office)

Jang Choong-gi         (Samsung, President Future Strategy Office)

Park Sang-jin             (Samsung Electronics, President for External Affairs)

Mr. Kim Ki-choon and Ms. Cho Yoon-sun were arrested and indicted for blacklisting artists and other people (abuse of power, perjury, etc.).

Korea Herald: Kim Ki-choon, Cho Yoon-sun detained

Korea Times: Culture minister, ex-presidential chief of staff arrested over blacklist of 'left-leaning' artists 

Yonhap News: S. Korea's culture minister arrested over blacklist of cultural figures 

For a long time, many though right wing groups were backed and given directions by the Park Administration. This was just proven true and Minister Cho Yoon-sun was behind it, most likely after receiving directions from President Park. 

The Hankyoreh: Culture Minister orchestrated right-wing demonstrations when serving as Blue House Senior Secretary 

Expect even more arrests and indictments in the coming weeks!

Best Place To Buy In Seoul - Butane Gas

The Cheongnyangri Fruit and Vegetable Market is the cheapest place to buy many things, including butane gas canisters.



The general grocery stores sell a butane gas cans for 3,000 won per four can pack. Most places charge more than 4,000 won for a four can pack. They also sell butter at the cheapest prices. I bought a 450 gram packet of Seoul Milk Butter for 7,000 won. The owner told me that prices were just raised, so it will cost more next time.

Butane Gas Canister 4-Pack

Butter (middle shelf)

The market is also the best place to buy fruits and vegetables, but you should shop around for the best buys and stores. Most places do not accept credit cards. Some do and charge 10% extra. Some of the larger stores accept credit cards without extra charges. The stores wholesale, and also retail on the side. If they do not accept credit cards, they can cut out the VAT, credit card processing fee, and reduce margins.

I bought a box of 16 apples (medium size, much bigger than at Home Plus, Emart and other stores) for 15,000 won from this store.

At the west end of the market, there are stores that sell meat, mushrooms, ginseng, nuts, seeds, grains and other foodstuffs at prices much cheaper than discount stores.

I also bought a 10 kilogram box of sweet potatoes nearby for 20,000 won. Really good quality.

Some stores are great, some are rip offs. So, shop around.

Samsung Vice-Chairman Lee Jae-young Indicted

The Special Independent Prosecutor's spokesman just announced that an arrest warrant and indictment were submitted to the courts for Lee Jae-young on bribery, embezzlement, and perjury charges. Three other Samsung presidents Choi Ji-sung, Jang Chung-gi, and Park Sang-jin were also indicted. The indictment hearings will be held on January 18, 2017.

New York Times:  South Korea Prosecutor Seeks Arrest of Samsung Group Leader in Bribery Case

Korea Demonstrations - 12th Week

This week's demonstrations were in remembrance of Jung Won, the Buddhist monk who immolated himself last week in protest and died a few days later, and Park Jong-cheol, a student who died while being water boarded to give up the whereabouts of a student protest leader 30 years ago on January 14, 1987. His death started nationwide protests which ended the reign of military generals posing as Korean Presidents.

TV news and other media are only giving airtime to pro-Park protests. There were almost no coverage of the anti-Park demonstrators, but there were a lot of coverage of the pro-Park protesters. Due to minus 10 degrees Celsius temperatures, both groups had much smaller numbers of protesters.

CBS News: Monk burns to death protesting deal on WWII sex slaves

New York Times: SEOUL STUDENT'S TORTURE DEATH CHANGES POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

Joongang Daily News: Eye witness speaks on Park Jong-cheol case

Korea Times: Protesters demand President's ouster in 12th weekly anti-president rally 

Updated - List Of Arrested In President Park Scandal

Those arrested so far in the scandal are listed below;

Ms. Choi Soon-sil       (President Park's confidante)
Mr. Cha Eun-taek       (former Director of Creative Convergence Center)
Mr. An Chong-bum    (former Senior Presidential Secretary)
Mr. Jeong Ho-seong   (former Presidential Secretary)
Ms. Choi Si-ho           (niece of Ms. Choi Soon-sil)
Mr Kim Jong             (former Vice Minister of Culture)
Mr. Cho Won-dong    (former Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs)

Mr. Moon Hyung-pyo (former Minister of Health)
Mr. Kim Jin-soo         (former Presidential Secretary for Health)
Mr. Kim Jong-deok    (former Minister of Culture)
Mr. Chung Gwang-ju  (former Vice Minister of Culture)
Mr. Shin Dong-chul    (former Presidential Secretary)
Mr. Song Sung-gak    (former Head of Korea Creative Content Agency)
Mr Ryu Cheol-gyun    (Ewha University Professor)
Mr. Nam Gung-gon    (former Ewha University Admissions Dept. Head))

For details on some of their crimes, please read the following articles. 

Joongang Daily News: Kim blacklisted liberal artists

The Hankyoreh: Prosecutors say there are “reams of evidence” 

Many more arrests are expected in the coming weeks!

Dissonance Therapy For Eating Disorders

Stress and pain can cause eating disorders. So can cognitive dissonance about beauty and health. Now, they are successfully treating people with dissonance therapy!

Science Daily: Research reveals help for eating disorder patients

Korea Protests - Week 11

The slogan for this week's demonstrations is "Come down Park. Come up Sewol Ferry".
January 10 will mark the 1,000th day of the Sewol Ferry sinking and the ship has yet to be salvaged from the bottom of the ocean.

Gwanghwamun Plaza at 6:00 pm

The weather is very mild. There should be a big crowd tonight.

Gwanghwamun Plaza at 7:00 pm

Protest organizers say around 500,000 have participated in Seoul. There should be a few hundred thousand more people before it ends.

Post Truth Politics

Koreans are appalled at all the lying being done by President Park and her associates. Some of the lying is to avoid jail and delay the court process, but most seem to be post truths trying to rally her supporters.

Post truths are opinions that are aimed at emotion (which is the main factor in decision making), even though they may be false or untrue.

The Saenuri Party has done this for decades. Trump did it. To these people, if lying is beneficial to them, they will lie.

I hope the everyone reads up on post truths and how emotions influence voter decisions more than facts.

Wikipedia: Post-truth politics

The Guardian: Broadcast news is losing its balance in the post-truth era

President Park's post truths are detailed in this next article;

Joongang Daily News: Some serious self-deception 

By stating that North Korea was behind the candlelight demonstrations and other lies, President Park is trying to stir up the fear of North Korea and communism. This works well with Koreans in their 60s and above who lived through the Korean War and military dictator Park's propoganda. That is why President Park's approval rating has risen to 10%. Remember the days of dictatorship? Time and Newsweek with sections blacked out. Long hair was illegal as were mini-skirts. People were framed as spies. Curfew. Martial law. Torture. The good ole days.

There are even TV commentators raging about the opposition trying to stir up indignation and other emotions. Nowadays, they are lying low, but elections are coming up and they will be out in full force. I used to get very frustrated watching all this and knowing, but now, it is starting to get interesting.

The following is a very informative article on President Park and corruption in Korea.

New York Times: As Scandal Roils South Korea, Fingers Point to Mixing of Politics and Business

Korean Intelligence Implicated Again In Domestic Espionage

The most interesting piece of news on TV was that the Special Independent Prosecutor carried out search warrants and from the phones that were confiscated, they managed to find out that people in the Ministry of Culture worked together with the Korean intelligence in making and updating the blacklist. Korean intelligence agency caught red handed again! They have been doing this for decades and still get away with it.

There is evidence that Korean intelligence spied on the head of the Supreme Court, a judge or prosecutor (I forget), and now the entire cultural and arts industries (movies, writers, TV, cable, theater, artists, dancers, musicians, etc.).

Another news flash. The Special Independent Prosecutor just announced that they have evidence that Korean intelligence spied on the National Pension Service to find out committee meeting results, political preferences, and how they would vote on the Samsung merger. The Special Prosecutor said that they found instant phone messages with Korean intelligence officials on ex-Presidential Secretary Ahn Jong-bom's phone and related notes in his notebook. They had this information for a couple of weeks. I think they are releasing this information now in retaliation for President Park's statements to the press, yesterday, claiming innocence. The Special Prosecutor also stated that ex-Presidential Secretary Ahn's notes also show that President Park asked Samsung's Lee Jae-yong, and the chairmen of Hanhwa and SK to donate money to various foundations under Choi Soon-sil's control. There is testimony that President Park raged at Samsung's Lee Jae-yong during a meeting for not donating to the foundations as he had promised ten months earlier, and asked that he donate about $8 million. In the same meeting, President Park said that she hoped that Samsung's merger would be completed during her term in office. Samsung paid $9 million promptly.

Joongang Daily News: Spy agency’s endless abuse of power 

Finland Giving Away Free Money Emulating Seoul Mayor Park Won-sun

Finland is giving about $500 a month to 2,000 unemployed as an experiment into Universal Basic Income. Seoul Mayor Park Won-sun introduced a watered downed version where they give a few hundred dollars a month for a few months to young unemployed, so that they can use the money to find jobs or get training. He tried to do more, but the Park administration opposed him, took him to court and other things.

Mayor Park has tried many other good solutions to solve many problems. All the time, the ruling party and President Park have attacked his policies and character. Why? The ruling Saenuri Party seems to prefer the cognitively dissonant and Mayor Park is certainly not one of those.

Very few articles in the media have been favorable to any of Mayor Park's policies and all have repeated the Saenuri Party's criticism of his policies as leftist and populist. His popularity rating for Presidential candidate is down there at 4% with Ahn Chul-soo, another good person. In my opinion, they receive a lot of bad press and flak, so the polls are sort of biased. They both led the polls at times in years past, but then were blasted by the media.

Business Insider: Finland just launched an experiment giving 2,000 people free money until 2019

Mayor Park has managed to pay off 6-7 billion dollars of debt incurred by the previous mayor's foolish construction projects and disastrous policies. President Park's administration managed to rack up the fastest rate of debt among developed countries. Where did all the money go? To big business? To President Park's associates?

Korea Herald: South Korea has fastest growing government debt in G-20

Metaphysics 201

Matter = Energy = Life = Thought = Knowledge ?

Is there more? Hmm... Structure, data, or logic could fall under knowledge.

What about time or change? Good question. Maybe time or change is the backdrop or medium against which the knowledge-matter universe is played out?

If time is forwards for matter and backwards for anti-matter, why is that? Do anti-matter and matter repel each other? Or do they just fall away down different slopes due to some force? Or is it like nothing or empty space, just a figment of the imagination? That sounds good. Just as there is no such thing as empty space, there can be no universe without time. Maybe with anti-matter going in a negative direction and matter in a positive direction?

For the uninformed, empty space and nothing are abstract concepts. You cannot make empty space or nothing. As soon as you make it, it is something.

Why do matter and anti-matter give off energy when they combine? Seems like they should just disappear. Could be something like ripples. If an opposite explosion happened in the anti-matter world, then it would cancel out to zero.

Physicists theorize that everything in the physical world emerges from vibrations. Do thoughts emerge from vibrations? Does knowledge emerge from vibrations? Knowledge emerges from assumptions made on experience. Albeit, experiences based on the "real" world which could be comprised of strings or vibrations. Where do thoughts emerge from? If they were only for survival in the beginning, why evolve so far past the point of just survival, in such a short time?

Thoughts - Possible to have many simultaneously, conscious and unconscious. Are emotions thoughts? Is determination a thought or emotion? Gimme some time on this. Remember thinking about this before. Thought generated by the body and environment vs. other thoughts (curiousness, conscience, boredom, God, etc.).

Consciousness - Maybe we run a subroutine of conscious and unconscious thoughts. We are conscious of the last part of the subroutine where we pause to add and delete parts of the routine. The subroutine is really fast and we just think we have many thoughts at once. And like in a movie with frames, these frames create the illusion of consciousness. Seems unlikely, but who knows. Can't make a computer do this yet, but the computer doesn't have mirror neurons and not as complicated as the human brain and organs.

Anyways, energy drives life, but what drives intelligence? What made emotions evolve? What drives the quest for knowledge and good?

Back to the real world -

If Korea were run like Startrek, then Dr. McCoy would have ordered a psychiatric exam and had Captain Kirk locked up in an asylum. Seriously, she could be a danger to herself.

Korea Demonstrations - 10th Week

The cumulative number of demonstrators that have participated in anti-Park demonstrations stands at around 8.9 million. Protest organizers are hoping to break the 10 million mark tonight.

The protests kick off at 7:00 pm with live rock performances by Shin Dae-chul and Chun In-kwon. Tonight's demonstration is titled "Farewell Park, Welcome New Year".

Gwanghwamun Square at 5:00 pm

Gwanghwamun Square at 6:30 pm

Around 20 Countries Have Or Will Legalize Marijuana

According to CNN, about 20 countries have legalized or looking at legalizing marijuana. Many countries are getting patents, registering trademarks, developing medicine, and other materialistic things with cannabis. Wake up Korea. Losing a lot of money and employment opportunities versus wasting money and lives locking up people.

CNN: The global experiment of marijuana legalization

The United Nations may soon decriminalize medicinal marijuana. The first step is for the World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) to reclassify marijuana from a narcotic drug to medicine. The ECDD is conducting pre-reviews of cannabis in order to consider reclassification.

The UN takes it's advice from the ECDD. The United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol is the leading obstacle to worldwide decriminalization. If the UN amends this convention, then all 185 nations that signed it will have to follow and decriminalize medicinal marijuana.


Americans For Safe Access: Major International Victory for Medical Cannabis!

Rockers To Perform Banned Song At Gwanghwamun Demonstration

"Beautiful Rivers and Mountains" written by the late Shin Jung-hyun, the godfather of Korean rock, will be sung by his son tomorrow at the demonstrations tomorrow in Seoul.

His son, Shin Dae-chul, has asked pro-Park demonstrators to stop playing his father's song which was written in protest against the late Military Dictator Park. Park had asked his father to write a song supporting the dictator and refused. Instead, he wrote a song about the beautiful country and it was banned by the government. Several thousand songs were banned during the Park regime. 

The song starts at around 40 seconds. 

Even though it is really cold, it will be New Year's Eve, demonstrations, and live rock music. Sounds like it will be a big crowd tomorrow. 

Good news on the Park scandal, ex-Minister of Health was arrested for pressuring the National Pension Service to vote in favor of the merger. The Special Prosecutor seems to be making progress in getting testimony and evidence to back 3rd party and also direct bribery charges to President Park. It seems that ex-Presidential aide Ahn Jong-bum wrote down everything in his notes, including the President's orders after her meeting with the vice-Chairman of Samsung Lee Jae-young.

It also appears that Choi Soon-sil paid hospital bills, bought clothes and accessories for the President. Park has stated that she paid Choi Soon-sil back, but I doubt that. Someone had to pay the hairdresser, make up artist, injection lady and chi therapy lady. Yes, injection lady. An instant message from a President's aide stating that he was bringing in the injection lady to another aide was found. The injection lady and chi therapy lady visited the President around five times in 2013. 

Korea Herald: NPS chief faces arrest, admits to ordering merger approval

Matter vs. Knowledge?

Matter can be converted to energy which can be converted to life. Life can be converted to knowledge.

Can knowledge be converted by life to energy? One knows how to move muscles. By exerting will and flexing muscles, thought can be converted to energy.

Gonna have to think on this some more.

Basic universal wage. Sounds like a good start. I expect that in the future, everyone will get basic whole foods, necessities and a place to live, in return for studying and exercising. Maybe also jobs like taking care of plants.

What kind of past times will we have? Exploring the world and universe.

The Verge: iPhone manufacturer Foxconn plans to replace almost every human worker with robots

President Park Had Cosmetic Surgery Between April 15 and 17, 2014

In addition to the high resolution photographs of President Park's face on April 15, 16 and 21, 2014, the press also found a photograph for April 17. The photograph of the President's face on April 17 also show marks that could be due to cosmetic surgery,

Some doctors say that the marks are due to thread inside the skin. The thread was used for lifting the skin to eliminate wrinkles. The marks are not there on April 15 or 16. The doctors say that the marks are because the end of the thread started to poke through the skin and that the surgery happened a day or two earlier. 

The two Presidential aides who are always at the President's side have yet to testify. When the prosecutors calls on them to testify, they will most likely refuse. 

The Special Prosecutor's Office carried out a search warrant on the residence and offices of Doctor Kim Yong-jae, a Presidential Doctor and plastic surgeon, this morning. 

April 15         April 17           April 21

How did people suspect cosmetic surgery two years ago? They must be psychic.

Probably only the President, the two aides, a doctor, and an assistant knew. Who talked? The doctor? Maybe he bragged about it. Or the assistant. Someone had to assist in the surgery. In this case, maybe the doctor's wife. Did she maybe gossip a little?

Cheapest Place To Buy In Seoul - Lighters

Five lighters for 1,000 Won.

Get on Subway Line 1 or Line 6, and get off at Dongmyo station. Go out Exit 3 and it is the shop right at the corner. The lighters are on a shelf on the outside of the store.

Store outside Exit 3

Side of store

Lighters are on middle shelf, left of the canned beans.

2 pairs of socks for 1,500 Won

Woolen hats for 2,000 Won

Maybe Anti-Matter Moves Backwards In Time?

Does anti-matter move backwards in time? As soon as a anti-proton is created, maybe it disappears leaving only the proton.

President Park Blacklisted Opposition Supporters

There were reports on TV news that prosecutors found a copy of the blacklist on a computer in the Ministry of Health.

According to notes taken by deceased former Presidential Secretary Kim young-hwan, Chief Secretary Kim Ki-choon ordered on October 2, 2014 that leftists in culture and arts must be fought against, and again ordered on January 2, 2015 that there was a need to keep track of left leaning film makers and their connections. 

Former Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong has testified that he has seen the blacklist. He stated that about a month before he left the ministry in July 2014, he received a list of a few hundred names from the President's Office. He also stated that before this, the blacklist existed only verbally, with nothing written.

There were rumors that a list with 9473 actors, writers, artists and others in the culture and arts fields, along with their "offenses" which were mainly supporting the opposition or opposing President Park's administration. It also listed if they received any government grants or support. Most listed no government support. 

From a verbal list to a list with over 9473 names. Since 2014, it seems that President Park has censured artists, denied funding, and suppressed anyone opposing her. And this is just the surface. I am sure that it gets much worse.  

Joongang Daily: Indie counsel raids search for evidence of culture blacklist

Korea Herald: Key figures in Choi scandal probed

A mysterious citizen investigator, famous in Korea for uncovering evidence in previous scandals including Korean Intelligence Agency's illegal involvement in the previous Presidential elections. claimed that a submarine caused the sinking of the Sewol Ferry and uploaded a video with his theory on the sinking to Youtube in Korean.

On radar during the sinking an object can be seen to the right of the ferry. The authorities said this was an image of freight containers that had been swept off the ship. The citizen investigator says that containers could not have made the image, since they are travelling faster than the ocean currents. He also encourages the military to releases their radar images. At the time, the military said that these images were secret and couldn't release them. Now, they say they do not have the images. It could be something, it could be nothing. But this citizen investigator has not been wrong, so far. 

Korea Herald: ‘Submarine crash may have caused Sewol sinking’

More Arrests Likely Soon In President Park Scandal

The Special Prosecutor's Office announced that they are carrying out search warrants on the offices and residences of Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun, ex-Chief Presidential Secretary Kim Ki-choon, ex-Minister of Health Moon Hyung-pyo, Presidential Secretary for Health Kim Jin-soo and other locations.

Korea Times: Independent counsel raids home of former top presidential aide 

Yonhap News: Independent counsel raids ex-president aide, minister's homes 

Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun is said to be to President Park and also alleged to have committed offenses.

Korea Times: Culture minister Cho denies making blacklist

Yonhap News: Park's trusted confidante named new culture minister 

The search warrants on ex-Minister of Health Moon Hyung-pyo, and Presidential Secretary for Health Kim Jin-soo are related to the suspicious Samsung merger.

German Prosecutors Only Tracking $3 Million

Contrary to reports of money laundering of over $600 million, Korean news agencies reported that German prosecutors revealed that they are looking at only around $3 million alleged to have been money laundered by Choi Soon-sil.

This makes sense. Why would someone with $600 million bother with embezzlement of millions of dollar? Then again, why would someone need $3 million? Pretty selfish.

More countries are looking at universal income. Less labor, less mind hours are needed for productivity. Pretty soon, humans will not be too expensive to do labor. Companies need less workers, fewer companies will be needed. The world is changing. All over the world, developed countries are having trouble with job growth.

In the future, there will be no need for us to "work" to eat and have a place to live. Even now, if you change the system, there is no need for people in many countries to "work" in order to eat and live. Do the math, include only necessities.

Having people own land will always create class differences, and so on. In an ideal world, if the land is called a country, then the land would belong to the country and all the citizens. Why change the world? It will change eventually.

The Secret Of Consciousness

It's been a while since I read up on consciousness. However, I just happened to see an article in Scientific American on the latest theories into consciousness. Not much has happened in consciousness research.

Scientific American: The Mind–Body Problem, Scientific Regress and "Woo"