It's seriously not a joke: The bicycle culture in Amsterdam ROCKS!!! Hands down one of the coolest things to participate in when visiting this city.

Three summers in a row here now for me, seen them bicyclers ride to and fro, and finally this year made it happen for Steph and I. Didn't grow up with heavy city riding on a bike like this before, mostly due to childhood experience on lightly traveled suburban streets in western New York.

All sorts of people ride in Amsterdam.

This is a shot from outside our 3 day 'home' within the red light district limits. I'm calling it home anyways, that's what it certainly feels like with a kitchen like this. Feels good, and it doesn't feel like any home I've ever lived in before.

Paths for bicyclers have been constructed parallel with roads, and natives with practice and momentum fly by you while you're riding at any moment on grocery getters. They also don't hesitate to offer advice under their breath as they pass you if you're 'not situated in a good place to stop'.

This city is as completely set up for urban bike riders as a city can be. Livable cities such as these deserve more credit than I suppose they receive. Amsterdam provided one of the most convenient city traveling experiences I've ever had.

Keep the faith.

What foreign teachers in Korea generally don't understand

An announcement by the provincial Kyongki-do government in Korea to lay off roughly 1,000 foreign English teachers in public schools has expats on the peninsula reeling. Some seem to be surprised by the governments decision. But not me. And it's not because I'm not losing my job.

I think the main reason foreign English teachers are frustrated is because they just don't fully understand the system here. Modern Korean education philosophy is a testing culture, and it's not just a problem in Korea. Many of us (including myself) don't like it one bit, but it's also something that we are outside of being employed in Korea. We're not here to help them pass a test, we're here to help them speak English. And to Koreans stuck within the system, this unfortunately comes in second to test preparation for those parents looking to get their daughters and sons into good universities.

A sluggish world economy can also be partly to blame. And there's a lot more to it than this. When we can get inside the mind of a culture, and understand what Korea is to Koreans, we all can more accurately judge the situation, regardless of whether we agree with it or not. And last time I checked, hardly any of us do.

Keep the faith.

Living Forever

Still seems like such a fantasy to so many. Some refuse to believe it. We are only in the early stages of actually understanding the possibilities but...

Some scientists believe they have found a cure to aging, indefinitely. I told my mother this recently, and she absolutely refused to believe me. It's an exciting prospect to think that by the 2040s we'll all have the opportunity to have thousands of affordable nano chips floating around in our brains and blood stream monitoring discrepancies, correcting any errors, and in a sense reversing the aging process. Is that really so difficult to believe?

A modern-day hero of mine is Ray Kurzweil. He has been studying how the trend of technology develops exponentially, as opposed to linearly, which is the way humans have evolved. Since our minds also think and evolve linearly, this is a concept that is still most difficult for humans to grasp.

I was turned onto Ray while at a newsstand in Kuala Lumpur. I found this issue of Time magazine, and after reading, my life has never been the same. Kruzweil (as well as I) now believe that computers are slowly (and quickly) becoming intelligent, and computing power will one day surpass that of all humanity. Fascinating. And believable.

Is it really that difficult to comprehend? No. Difficult to accept? For many, the answer is still yes. But not for me.

I will cover this topic again down the road, because this is something that is not going away.

Keep the faith.

Artic Ice Wars

This article had me flaming up as hot as Death Valley in August... until an alternative point of view occurred to me.

According to a 2008 study, some believe up to 90 billion with a 'B' barrels of recoverable oil may be trapped below the melting artic ice cap. So, who owns the rights to the resources is a question many who want the oil are asking, which is anyone who wants money really..

And not that anyone is reading this, but in case you are, there's actually 3 points of view I'd like to briefly touch on regarding the newly found, not yet drilled black gold:

1. From the point of view of someone who cares about out planet
2. From the point of view of someone who doesn't believe climate change/global warming is real and
3. From the point of view of someone in power who fares to financially benefit from drilling

It dawned on me today that anyone, I mean anyone with any real power and say-so at all in the world will never stop pursuing the drilling of crude up there at any cost, no matter how hard any conservation group puts up a fight. You know who I'm talking about: the big wigs, the trillionaires of the world, Exxon-Valdez and Russian oil oligarchs... or simply put: the families of the Rothschilds & the Rockefellers. These people want this place to melt. Period. And since they already run the world, they're gonna get their way. It doesn't matter what the billions of us want.

After giving it a bit of thought, and thinking how I'd love to have more money in my bank account, I almost wish I was on their side. But alas I am not, partly because of my bank account, but really because I care about this place.

This place being the world. Keep the faith.

Summer Vacation

Europe is in sight. We leave soon.

Heading mostly to here in Spain and here in Italy.

For anyone looking to break into our house in Korea and steal our plants, don't bother. We are leaving them outside since its been raining so much.

I've been looking into filming opportunities since arranging this holiday, and a few nice ones have popped up. An artist in Italy has agreed to let me do a piece on her which is totally cool. I may also be filming some surfing and an interview with this guy. That is of I can get ahold of him beforehand, and he's around when I'm in Zarautz. I would love that.

I also going to be filming in Rome, interviewing the parents of Marco Ienna, a Italian Taekwondo expert from Italy who I've been shooting for almost a year now in Korea. How fortunate is that?

Keep the faith.

China's New Rich

Saw this set of photos on CNN.com's international edition recently, and multiple things struck me at the same time.

First, man is the pollution in China striking. Just look at photos 1 & 5 in the link above. Unbelievable. I sure hope the international community is keeping a close eye on this.

I think it's interesting how CNN tried to portray what some in China's upper class might want. CNN may even be right. However, as a non-Asian, and as a resident in one of China's neighboring countries, a few of their photos tell me a different story.

I love this one for example:

There's a cute Chinese girl in this photo stomping divots like traditional polo requires, but my expat eyes are immediately drawn to something else: the two white dudes behind her to the left. I think it's obvious that they do not represent the upper class in China. Again, I might be wrong. Maybe they're loaded, and like to dress frumpy like that on purpose to make people like me look like a fool. CNN tried earnestly to portray what's happening in China, and it looks to me like they hit the nail on the head without even trying to.

Regarding the pollution problem, I can attest by personal experience that it isn't as bad in Korea as that which appears in these photos from CNN. But maybe we should be concerned anyways. I mean if pollution from China can make it all the way to California in decent amounts, not only does that mean it's floating above Korea to get there, but maybe it's also affecting the entire world. But what do I know?

Keep the faith.

Filming at the Korean Folk Village

I thought it would be a good idea to take one of my students who accepted my offer to do a piece on here to the '민속촌', or Korean Folk Village.

I visited one once, and it's mostly a simple place. A few huts, a few shops, and a nice look back into what Korea once was. Because of it's simplicity, I figured it wouldn't cost more than a few bucks to enter the place. I was wrong. If you haven't been to a Korean Folk Village recently, allow me to enlighten you: prepare to shell out about $14 American per person. So $28 to film a good piece on education (because I'm a gentleman), and it was raining the entire time.

Anyway, the point is not to complain about the price. The young lady was brave to tell her story. She's someone with a secret that most everyone who shares a similar secret would never want the general public to know. I couldn't believe her courage, because she opened her heart and let me film the entire thing. She hasn't had the most success educationally in her life, mostly because of a educational system that caters mostly to auditory learners and test-takers. Furthermore, her mother has done mostly nothing but put pressure on her for most of her life.

Long story short, it was a good idea to go there. They are going to have to lower that price though if they ever want me to return. And, when her story is ready I'll be posting it right away, because it'll be a good I reckon.

In the meantime, here's another good one for ya.

Keep the faith.

Climate Change

I'm sorry, but anyone who doesn't believe in 'Climate Change' hasn't spent the past month in Korea. Personally, I couldn't care less what anyone believes anymore, but if you watch Fox News then you are definitely not on my side, and guarantee you're not reading this.

Like Bill Maher has recently proclaimed: we have to stop calling it 'Global Warming', and start calling it what it really is: 'Climate Change'. He couldn't be more correct.

It doesn't really matter what I believe, or what any of us believe for that matter. When the world blows up because too many of us were too stupid to do anything about it, it won't matter what anyone thinks.

The most ridiculous rain I've ever seen in my life is happening right now in Korea. This is a place known for its monsoons about this time of year, but what's happening now is hardly what normally 'happens' during the monsoon season. For the record (my record anyway), it's rained everyday since about June 15th, everyday. At some stretches it has rained 3-4 days straight without letting up. I haven't seen blue sky in over a month, unless online videos and photos count.

The weather in Korea is just one tiny weather example to pile on top of overwhelming evidence.

I don't care what anyone thinks. But if you're reading this and you still think 'Climate Change' isn't real, then maybe you ought to reassess what you read, or what news you watch. After all, Fox News really isn't fair and balanced like they claim to be.

Keep the faith.

PS- Of course, if you do watch Fox News, think it's fair and balanced, and are reading this, shoot me a quick email at the address above, or drop a comment below. I want to personally thank you myself for taking the briefest of moments to read some common sense.

Summertime

A few days ago I taught my last class for the summer. Summer classes are popular where we work because they pay so well, and are over in 3 short weeks. Competition for getting two (both a morning and afternoon class) became so fierce recently that the school put a stop to any foreign professors teaching two classes.

It took me until the last class to somewhat understand what I was dealing with. Seriously, if I'm seeing them everyday, and there are only 25 or so students, it should be much easier to get a read on the culture of this particular class versus a class I only see twice per week like during the regular semester. This class was a diverse bunch.

What I finally figured out that last day I should have known all along: these were (generally speaking) the students that avoided taking the 'required for graduation' university English class until the very last possible moment. A conglomeration of students, most likely very good in their respective majors, that possibly disliked English class from previous experience, and therefore avoided taking English for a long as humanly possible.

I hit them hard, just like I always do. Higher level thinking assignments, reading and writing assignments to be completed as homework, a 15 min. long individual presentation to boot, speaking assignments using real English language in every class, and all with very fair, strict grading according to my requirements laid out in the beginning. I suspect that not a single one of them expected my class to be a legitimate 3 week long English course, and many may have possibly entered the first day believing they'd breeze through without doing much of anything except attending.

How dare I provide a proper English class, with real assignments, while I attempt to teach something they may actually take with them for life.

Keep the faith.

PS- Has anyone seen this in the news recently?

accepting criticism

Lunch the other day was shared with a Korean friend who's actually a former student. She's one of those rare Koreans that doesn't have the standard 3 syllable name. Love that shit. Parents in this country do their children a favor by naming their child accordingly.

It was mostly a social lunch, but at one point I got serious, and asked her what she really thought of my movies. Koreans are either overly blunt, or too polite. She listened carefully to my question, and then took a deep breathe before telling me that Korean people might not be interested in the movies I make. As much as hearing such a thing deeply bothers me, I still felt reassured from her honesty.

So I ask myself: What am I actually striving for in this world? According to this particular isolated incident, it would be honesty. Of course, honesty can't be the only thing I'm striving for..... can it?

PS- Lunch was good by the way, we had this: this.

Keep the faith.

Reality TV

Recently, I made an appointment with a relatively well known music producer in the foreign (and Korean) community in Seoul to film a short documentary about his life. What ended up happening was the makings of my first 'real' reality show I've embarked upon. Not going to mention his full name at the moment, but great first time experience following someone around like that.

The first true opportunity to film professionally was actually a 'reality style' show filmed in conjunction with the university where I work. You can also see episodes here and here.

If the filmed reality movie mentioned above ever does make it to fruition, I hope you'll check it out and provide feedback. And, if YOU have an interesting life that you'd like to share with others on film done professionally, hit me up. I'm always open to suggestions. Anytime.

Keep the faith.

The Rich

I wouldn't want to be in his shoes.

Support for the middle class is gone, since the president must concede to and obey those who contribute campaign funds. In other words, the rich. In fact, 100% of all U.S. senators no longer represent the masses. Sadly, it's true.

Along with this, we have a fraudulent money system in place, that which is the Federal Reserve System. Simply put, it's designed to create inflation, and debt. And it's doing a heck of a job isn't it?

I probably should watch what I say, since one day I'd like to make bigger budget films, but nobody's reading this anyways.

Keep the faith.

Justice for North Korea

On a Friday evening not too far back, my lovely fiance Stephanie and I set out to attend and film a nice fella named Robb Lee at a fundraiser titled Justice for North Korea in Itaewon. I had met him a day earlier when my friend Elliott Ashby and I decided to team up and interview him for a piece we're working on for KRTV.tv.

The event turned out great. Robb's performance was terrific, and I also met and shot another talent as well which turned into an unexpected second story. Most importantly, the rain had mostly held off. We had driven up in Steph's Matiz so we wouldn't be stuck in Seoul until the trains started running again around 6am, and headed home at about 2:30am.

Long story short, the alternator goes about 2/3 of the way home. By that time it had started to rain, and we were on the 61 heading south (in Bundang if anyone is familiar, or is even reading this) which has a speed limit of 80km which no one follows. The hazards on her car weren't working, and the car stopped smack dab in the middle of the road exiting a tunnel. Thank goodness there were two lanes.

Cars were whizzing by as we weaved our way off the road searching for a dry place to call the insurance company. They answered in English, I couldn't really explain where we were, and the tow truck showed up within 15 min of my first call regardless. Amazing ser-vice-uh they have in Korea. Amazing.

Keep the faith.

Lingerie Models

I've just released the hottest video I've ever done to date a few days ago. Hot in that the ladies featured are models, and wearing Hustler Lingerie. The full length version of this film will be out later this year.

Just imagine this: full permission from the club owner and event promoter to film anything and everything I wanted that night. From interviews with the models afterwards, to the ladies getting their makeup put on professionally in their skimpies, and all the party in between, it was quite a night. I could hardly believe my eyes as the models strutted down the runaway right past me while I made sure the camera was in focus. My eyes almost popped out of my head several times that evening, smile glued to my face.

Sex sells right? There's just a wee little cause for concern on my part that too many of us are jaded because there's already too much porno on the web for this to be popular. Who really cares to see some beautiful ladies in stylish, sexy undergarments anymore..

Keep the faith.

The testing culture nobody cares about

The testing culture in Korea is ridiculous.

People from the US, educators included, get sick of hearing how bad education is. We all know how bad the inner cities of America are, just watch 'Waiting for Superman'. Or better, visit an inner city school.

In Korea, people will talk abut it over a beer, but very few people will go on record for fear of losing their job, repercussions, etc. However, I can usually get students to talk freely about it. I find the longer the conversation goes on, the more they end up feeling bad about this place. Think about it: can't really openly participate in class once middle school hits, school until very late once high school rolls around, then by the time they get to university they've literally been schooled to death. (If you haven't live here, you don't know about it, and don't listen to what Obama says about S. Korea on education, he doesn't know either.) Who the hell wants to think about that, let alone talk about it, especially when 99.9% know deep down that it will never change. If teachers here were really nations builders, why would parents rely so heavily on supplemental private education ('hagwons' in Korea) to prepare there children for the university entrance exam?

Am I a fool to think real positive change is actually possible within the next 10 years? Can real creativity be installed in the hgih school classroom environments here? Or will the masses always just be focused on the Su-neung, and the rest of the certification tests that big business has conquered?

Keep the faith.