I don’t feel I’ve written enough lately about desiring to change the world… so, here goes. In my quest to better understand the world around me as well as to be entertained, I’ve watched a couple of documentaries lately as well as read a great book. These are the ones I feel everyone should see in order to understand the possible limitations and disadvantages of civilization as we presently know it.
Three pieces of media I recommend.
#1. Watch the documentary “The Corporation”
It has an official download version available as a torrent. It’s a thought-provoking movie that explains the process whereby the modern Corporation has been formed. Find out how a type of business received the power to be an unincarceratible individual.
#2. Read the book “Guns, Germs and Steel”.
Read this book to learn a great deal about the history in the world and how most aspects of the society we know at present have been formed.
#3 Perhaps watch “An Inconvenient Truth”
It’s well researched and fairly balanced, but I’d say seeing “The Corporation” is more important for understanding why I dislike certain types of advertising that are largely responsible for how the world works today. This stems from my belief that today’s commonly rampant consumerism is a non-trivial global matter, (just take a look at the average credit card debt per person in the states) and is much more a result of large companies molding society than society molding large companies.
Life has been full of little thoughts lately. Though, when is it not? Most of these have been brought about by my moving apartments. The new apartment is closer to the school, and is by far the nicest place I’ve ever lived in my life, (out of three places :) ). Here’s a list.
Detail #1: People are creatures of habit
Ordinarily, I’d be browsing the internet, calling home and playing music this Monday morning; however none of these options are available to me at the moment, so I feel a sort of withdrawal. Part of it is a natural desire to communicate with others, part of it is a desire to create and part of it is just intensity of habitualness. I recall when I first arrived in Korea I felt an intense desire to cycle nearly every day.
Detail #2: Natural light is fabulous
The new apartment would be considered an upgrade for many due to little details such as it being nearly new, having a nice bathroom and considerably more space. I’d call it having more space a less efficient floor plan. There’s definitely more square feet, but that just means there’s more empty space in middle. I don’t know how I’d configure this place to comfortably fit a piano. That said, I love the large windows. I love being able to work with just natural light, something that would be straining even midday in the old place. It’s invigorating to be under sunlight!
Detail #3: Clothing makes a huge difference on the acoustics of a room
As I was packing up the old apartment, I was amazed at how the sound of my voice changed as I packed up my wardrobe. Yes, I talk to myself a lot. I’ve read about acoustics being strongly affected by small treatments, but was completely amazed at the difference. It was as if I’d thrown out a carpet. On a completely unrelated note, I have yet to spot a carpeted room in this country.
Detail #4: Lighting differences between Korea and North America
In Korea, Fluorescent lighting is not considered to be institutional lighting, it is the obvious choice. Part of this may be a result of the technology being pushed more strongly here. Whereas In North America T12 bulb fixtures (1 1/2” in diameter, the number refers to the bulbs width in eighths of an inch) are still being sold, I’ve not witnessed a T12 bulb in my time here. My last old decrepit apartment had T8 bulbs which are just being introduced in the Americas. T8’s are being phased out. The new apartment of course has very compact high power T5 cartridges. The like of which would be consider special use in the Americas.
Detail #5: An observation from a recent discussion regarding corruption of language
Before I came here I’d assumed that people from the United States referred to their country as the states or the U.S.A rather than as America. After all, there are a lot of countries in America. In Korea the states is almost unanimously referred to as America. Why? A discussion with some American and Irish folk the other day, where we discussed what we disliked about the U.S. which given the situation where the majority involved in the discussion were US citizens which I found to be highly amusing brought up how contentious it is to refer to the US as America. Anyway, it turns out that from the people involved that the majority of people in the US refer to it as the states. In Korea in Konglish it is generally referred to as America, so much in fact that when US citizens move here, they as well begin to refer to their country as America despite it being an inaccurate name. Useful, useless, you be the Judge. I find this fascinating.