Studio Apartments Still Vacant

Two five-story studio apartment buildings were completed about six months ago. Blocking my view of downtown Seoul.

The one room studios are very small. Bathroom, kitchenette, enough space for a bed, desk.

Advertised as slightly under $2,000 a month with about a $20,000 deposit. ALL of the studio apartments are still empty. 

Tons of commercial buildings with 'for rent' signs, but the rent prices have not come down at all.

Some have been vacant for a couple of years.

These Korean landlords are stubborn. Properties have been vacant for years, but they won't lower rent. 

Probably waiting to see if business picks up after the coronavirus pandemic weakens.

Let's see what happens after two years.

One vacancy was taken up by a cosmetic surgery clinic. Logical, they can certainly afford the rent.

Decades of Sanctions Against North Korea Didn't Work

China and Russia has and will keep supporting and trading with North Korea.

So?

China, Russia, North Korea, and other authoritarian states vs democratic countries?

Looks that way. 

Already cut them off from semiconductors, advanced software, and other technologies.

People in power need to have yearly mental checkups and removed from power if they are not logical, do not keep their word, or lie blatantly

Why do people vote for liars (Trump)? Many seem to be disenfranchised, feed up with the system, and are expressing it by voting for people who appear to be rebellious. 

Conservatives Barely Won Korean Presidential Election

Luckily, the liberal party holds a firm majority in the National Assembly. 

Lost by less than one percent. A lot of people don't believe what most media tell them. LOL.

From what the media was saying, I thought the liberal party candidate would lose by a much larger margin of about 7-8%.

If the liberal party can maintain a majority in the coming elections for the National Assembly, there is no way the conservative party candidate will be able to fulfill many of his promises.

Roles could be reversed now. But the liberal party doesn't block almost all of the opposing party's legislation and policies.

The younger 20-30 age bracket apparently believed what most media fed them. Hopefully, they will get wiser. 

Things are looking up. Almost all of the people above 60 years old are conservative. A small percentage die every year...

Hey, I am over 60.

Media Control In Countries?

North Korea, China, and Russia are well known for control of media.

Lesser known is the control of media in Japan, Korea, and other countries.

Though democratic, most media in many countries are controlled by conservatives or wealthy.

Many are owned outright by the wealthy, or are puppets to wealthy advertisers.

At least we have social media and the internet nowadays. Sort of counteracts the negative aspects of traditional media but has its faults. 

China, Mongols, Japan, North Korea. Throughout history, many have tried to take over Korea, which is just a very small 3-hour drive wide and 5-hour drive long peninsula.

When North Korea (supported by Russia) invaded South Korea (vice-versa in North Korean media and schoolbooks), the US and UN stepped in at the last moment when only the southern port city of Pusan was left. 

Thankfully, a lot of people from all over the world fought in the Korean War. Tragically, too many died. 

The USA, Great Britain, Canada, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Colombia, Ethiopia, South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, Greece, Thailand, Philippines and Luxembourg sent armed forces to fight in the war. Many other countries sent medical supplies and aid. 

South Korea was extremely fortunate. Russia was boycotting the UN and China did not have any power in the UN. Otherwise, they definitely would have vetoed sending the UN forces to South Korea. 

Koreans say that we succeeded because of hard work and stuff, but I think it is mainly due to the relations and trade we have had with the US (even through trade frictions, mainly due to unfair Korean practices and large trade surpluses for Korea). 

Imagine if we were sanctioned... 

Another perspective. Lots of Christians in South Korea. Lots of Christians in the US. Lots of Christians in the Philippines. Lots of Christians in China, Japan, Indonesia, all over the place. 

Still, Christianity is less prevalent than before.

Donate for Ukraine Yet?

Company started a JustGiving page and is matching contributions, so I donated. 

Have donated monthly to UNHCR for years. Barbaric wars have gone on for ages. 

Imagine a world where everyone helps others, monetarily? 

Charity has steadily grown over the years, yes?

Have an aversion to negative things, even things like "I don't think, isn't it? don't you think? no?"

Avoiding negative things helps to expand mental and imaginary horizons.

Imparts a slightly different mental perspective, which can lead to unexpected thoughts, insights, and will/desires.

"I don't think that..." is nonsensical. It is commonly used to mean "I think that something is not", or "I think that something does not". I can understand a phrase like "you don't know if he did it", but phrases like "I don't think that he is smart." could lead to cognitive dissonance.

Next time, someone says "I don't think that is so", might be just living without any deep meaningful reflection.

Nowadays, punctuation marks are put before the ending quotation mark. Fifty years ago, that was not so. I guess it's a matter of style. 

"If the universe is only 14 billion years old, how can it be 92 billion light years wide?" is the title of a Youtube video. A widely accepted theory is that the universe suddenly expanded much faster than the speed of light at the very beginning and then slowed, but the expansion is continuing.

The universe could be larger than 92 billion light years wide, no one knows.

Recently changed mind about the brain, it could be responsible for consciousness, empathy, and more. 

Still uncertain about why 'good' and 'truth' are associated with mental wellness, wisdom, will/desire, and other things. Still think it has something to do with a dimension, force, metaphysical energy, or cause.

Bought a spin bike with an 18kg flywheel. Fantastic for easing into exercise right after waking up. 

Definitely helps to lose/maintain weight with the least effort when combined with some leg lifts and other exercises. 

Hurt back and got out of shape. Took about three weeks to regain fitness. 

Korean Presidential Election

Signs point to a win by the conservative party candidate in the Korean presidential elections next week. 

Just FYI, most of the presidents from the conservative party have been served jail time or are in jail for corruption. The conservative party changes its name for almost every election. Erasing associations with past scandals, maybe?

Amazing what money can buy these days...

Hoping the signs are wrong. Praying doesn't seem to be very effective. Wish it was.

Lack of National Health Insurance to Blame?

Canada, Korea and other countries that handled the coronavirus pandemic relatively well have national health insurance and, for some reason, much lower medical costs than the US.

Wonder if the uninsured population resent the "establishment" and take unenlightened actions, such as refusing to wear masks and the like? Could be. Could it be statistically proven? 

Will the US ever solve its health insurance problem? Have to find a way to include existing US health insurance companies. Close to impossible? Government buyout or partnership?  

Life saving medical care should be free, if possible?

Climate change? Very pessimistic. Probably more intense weather related disasters coming up? Definitely.