Extreme Measures

All Korean men have mandatory military service at least once in their life unless they have physical or mental defficiency.

Army has been a frightening place for most young Korean kids in their late teenage years and early twenties.

Despite the fact that a mandatory service period is getting shorter, some kids are looking for a way to avoid the military obligation legally but with pain and high risk.

According to a regulation, people who have cronic problem with their shouder or people who don't have index finger are automaticaly dismissed from army duty. Everything seems fine. However, there are increasing reports of some people who are causing these injuries purposely in order to avoid the military obligation.

Not long ago, some famous TV stars were caught deliberately pulling their shoulder socket out of place to cause an injury that would release them from the service duty. Moreover, there was a report of a man cutting off his index finger with the same objective.

I believe the mandatory army obligation is being even more serious nowadays than before. However, a discussion on this issue could bring some interesting solutions for something that has become the terror of youth. Instead of all men having to going to the army, the government could define on necessary number of recruts annually and draw among the young people with age for service.

We don't use a term "must" in US?

I read an article about American social life and I have found a very interesting facts about the United States; that people do not use a term "must" frequently in their social life even though the term "must" is one of the most basic vacabularies that English learners face.

When American people advice their friends or the others they know, they do not use the term must or have to be. It is something that is cultural thing in United States, even though they advice to their friends about something, they do not force the others to do something because they believe the choice is the oppenent's freedom.

It is a very interesting article at least for me, because in South Korea, most of people advice to the others using the term "must" even though the people are not aware of the opponents if they are doing something wrong. American way to advice to the others might seem to be very kind, but I realised it that the advisor isn't 100% thinking for the opponent.
http://v.daum.net/link/4240871

Diamond Super car

Sweden's super car brand "koenigsegg" released "Trevita" on September 11th. The engineers from koenigsegg first put carbon on Trevita's surface, and coated millions of silver white colour diamonds on it.

The time requires to this car reachs 100km/h from 0 km/h is only 3.5 seconds. Also, it contains the same engine as CCXR's, 4.7L V8 Engine, with 1018hp and 108.1kg.m torque.

One thing very interesting fact is that only three of this car are going to be produced.

http://photo.media.daum.net/photogallery/economic/0803_car/view.html?photoid=2793&newsid=20090912170509318&p=moneytoday

Alien Life or Optical Illusion?

Some people believe that they are some kind of alien life or undiscovered life form. Others say that it is an optical illusion caused by the moving object in a camera lens.

The question that still stands is: what are RODS?

Rods were first seen in 1994 by Jose Escamilja who noticed them on footage he had taken in Roswell, U.S.A.

Since then, many theories have come up and these are the ones I found the most.

According to some, rods cannot be seen by naked eye because they move at incredibly fast speeds. They don't fly with wings instead they use some kind of propulsion technique. Another explaination is that they are made from some material that is lighter than air. While some argue that they could be some kind of alien life form, others believe they could be some ancient being hat has been discovered now because of modern technology.

On the other hand, some say that these strange images seen on tape are caused by reflection of light and the movement of the object, giving the sensation that it is a long object. They say that they are actually normal insects like moths, or flies caught on the camera spectrum.

Whatever they are, it is quite interesting to read and research about the subject.

I included some links to several sources of information on the web that defend both sides. Draw your own conclusions and most of all have fun.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c26_1188278734&c=1

http://www.subversiveelement.com/Rods.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_(cryptozoology)

http://www.roswellrods.com/pre.html

Real's value is increasing.

The value of Brazilian money is increasing. According to money exchange rates provided by Korean Banks, the value of Real has been increasing in past three months.
Once, the value of Real was around 500won:1Real but it is now almost 700won:1Real. In other words, people can gain more money than before if they exchange Reals to the other countries' money in present days.
Although, no one is 100% sure about predictions of how the rates would change, according to this graph, it is quite obvious there is a high possibility of the value getting even higher than now even though the growth can be slow. However, it is also true there is a risk on waiting for the exchange rates rising more than present price, because it can be decreased instead of increasing constantly.
For instance, in my case I decided to exchange in present days rather than waiting for uncertain future. However, it will still rely on your choice to exchange now or risk for more benefitial but unkown future.

Ex President Dae Jung Kim died on 2009.8.18

2009.8.18(Korean time), a dazzling star fell.

The former president of South Korea, Dae Jung Kim died. Although he was seventy-four years old, his sudden death

upsets the whole country. He was considered the symbol of democracy in South Korea.

He faced five deaththreats in his life and spent six years in a jail,because of his democratic practices and ideals. He tried out four times to be elected as a president and finally he became the 15th president of South Korea.

The ex president D.J. recieved the Novel peace price in 2000 and he was also chosen as one of the most effective leaders in Asia. Also, he created the Asian Pacific Association and worked as the chief director.

Consequently, he was also admired for his clean politics and the dignified image in front of the other national leaders. His distinct contribution specially remains in our mind because of the contrast with South Korea's current president, Myung Back Lee who has very low popularity levels.

One interesting fact is that on the night prior to the death of ex president Dae Jung Kim, my friends and I saw a shooting star fall from the sky as if anoucing the tragedy that was about to occur.

http://image.inews24.com/image_gisa/200908/1243497979834_1.jpg

http://pr.naver.com/president_DJKim

http://condolence.daum.net/kimdaejung/?t__nil_campaign=stockbox