Maum meditation is a form of meditation that was founded in South Korea by Woo Myung in 1996. The practice is built in the belief that most humans live in a false world.

The meditation is composed of eight levels with the first seven aimed at conditioning people to reject the false world and embrace the “real” world.

Level 1

This stage is aimed at helping you to know that you are one with the universe. To practice, you need to assume a comfortable meditation position (by sitting cross-legged on a floor or mat) then visualize your physical body dying. You should also see yourself floating from your body off into space.

Level 2

This stage is meant to free yourself from all the earthly emotions and memories. To do this you need to visualize yourself in a space near a black hole and then mentally throw all the memories and emotions from your life into the hole.

Level 3

Here you are supposed to visualize yourself putting all the things that define your life on earth on a conveyor belt and allow them to ride along the belt until they fall into a pit of fire. The earthly possessions that you need to get rid of are: cars, homes, and businesses.

Level 4

This level requires you to do a simple physical act such as vacuuming and associate the physical act to the virtual death of your own body. According to the program, you are supposed to engage in physical medication every time you perform household tasks.

Level 5

Also known as “knowing the original foundation; knowing the mind and body of the universe,” this level is similar to the fourth level because it requires you to mentally associate a physical act with the virtual death of your own body.

Here you are allowed to choose any physical activity that you love doing and associate it to the death of your body. For example, you can associate washing of utensils to the physical death of your body.

Level 6 and 7

These levels are basically expanded versions of the fourth and fifth levels.

Level 8

Also known as “working in the true world for the world,” this level is reached when you have “escaped” the worldly way of thinking and doing things. When you are at this level, you are said to have been enlightened and you view the world from a different angle.

Bulgogi is popular Korean dish that is enjoyed by many all around the world. The word bulgogi is derived from two Korean words; bul means fire and gogi is the Korean term for meat. So a direct translation to bulgogi is fire meat. While Bulgogi sauce can be made spicy and hot, the fire refers to the cooking method, as it’s usually cooking over an open flame. Bulgogi is usually made with sirloin and other types of Korean beef, but sometimes it can be made with chicken (dak bulgogi) or pork (dwaeji bulgogi). The meat is then marinated in a bulgogi sauce that can differ by region.

In ancient times, bulgogi was a meal for the king, especially during the Joseon Dynasty. The origins of bulgogi and bulgogi sauce are not quite clear, but many believe that it started in 37 BC-688 AD during the Gorguryeo era. Research shows that this dish used to be called maekjeok and the Korean beef was grilled on a skewer. During the Joseon Dynasty, bulgogi went by the name of neobiari, which translated, to thinly spread. So while there have been slight changes in names and cooking techniques throughout the century, bulgogi meat and bulgogi is a recipe as old as time.

Traditional bulgogi sauce is made with garlic, sugar, sesame oil and soy sauce. Other recipes for bulgogi sauce may use the ingredients of Asian pears, rice wine, honey and soy bean paste. What makes bulgogi sauce and the meal itself so popular is that it’s extremely versatile and can be made in a lot different ways. The purpose of the sauce is to be made as a marinade. This marinade adds extreme flavour and tenderness to the Korean beef.

Some people add onions and green peppers to the dish. A traditional dish will come with thin lettuce or sesame leaves, that diners will use to wrap the cooked bulgogi in. Others like to add bulgogi on top of rice. In modern South Korea there are dipping sauces that can be added to the meal. Peanut sauce is a popular choice amongst the younger generations. Dipping sauces can range from sweet to hot. Some people compare bulgogi to the taste of teriyaki, however for me they are totally different, and the taste of bulgogi is simply fantastic Being that it’s a quick and easy meal, it can be eaten as a meal, appetizer or snack. There are no set times to where Koreans enjoy a meal of bulgogi. In South Korea, you can find fast-food bulgogi burgers, made with bulgogi sauce.

For nutritional value, bulgogi sauce and the Korean beef that it is made with is extremely healthy. As with all Asian food, bulgogi uses lots of vegetables and meat. Flavouring for this dish is made with herbs, spices and oils. The optional add-ons such as lettuce, dipping sauce or rice are also high in nutritional value. The longest part of making the dish is the marinate time for the meat, but prep for the bulgogi sauce is only about 20 minutes. After the meat is done marinating, just cook over medium high heat and your done. You’ll have a delicious and yet extremely healthy meal in no time. For more information visit My Korean Food website

Science and technology are forms of knowledge utilized for different purposes within society. Science is knowledge that society uses to understand the natural world while technology is knowledge that society employs to survive the natural world. Using these definitions, it is understood that society serves as the backdrop for these forms of knowledge to propagate and that these should be studied in the context of society. The society also determines the form and direction of science and technology through three mains factors – environment (geography, etc.), historical experience and lifestyle. A prominent example of the effect of society in shaping the form of science and technology is the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Its precarious location between its enemy state, North Korea, and former colonial master, Japan, provided the impetus to its consistent effort in creating a robust science and technology capacity. South Korea’s historical experience as being one of the most impoverished states in the world during the 1960s also contributed to its development of electronics, semiconductor devices and robotics in order to bolster its economic resources.

The history of science as knowledge dates back from ancient times when natural philosophers such as Thales of Miletus and Democritus would observe and theorize about the occurrences in the natural world. It was in places where Islam was practiced where science first emerged. Eventually, science gained momentum in Europe when the Protestant Reformation transpired which emphasized the value of individualism in the search for the explanation of various natural phenomena. This age of science would then be replaced with the occurrence of the Scientific Revolution three centuries ago when science developed into what it is known today. According to Michael Mosley’s The Story of Science, The Renaissance which paved the way for an unprecedented influx of scientific discoveries and inventions and the Reformation which opened the minds of Europe to individual search for knowledge are the two main factors which serves as catalysts for the Scientific Revolution. This revolution is one that began in Prague where Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, two brilliant medieval astrologers, began making their astronomical and planetary observations which ultimately led to the debunking of the geocentric view of Earth and shifted to the heliocentric viewpoint of Earth. Isaac Newton and Galileo Galilei led the Scientific Revolution to its height.

In defining the term knowledge, it must be noted that legitimate knowledge is information that can be processed by human senses, externally verifiable by others, and backed up by acceptable evidence. In Habermas’ Typology of Knowledge, knowledge is said to be classified into three, namely: empirical knowledge, historical knowledge and critical knowledge. Empirical knowledge is concerned with understanding the material world, historical knowledge is concerned with understanding the meaning of historical texts, and critical knowledge is concerned with uncovering sources of domination. Scientific knowledge can be classified under empirical knowledge. Therefore, it can be surmised that scientific knowledge is not the sole form of legitimate knowledge and that there are other forms of knowledge. One of these forms of knowledge is literature. In Lewis’ The Poet’s Way of Knowledge, poetry was cited as one of the forms of literature and that it operates in a field which is closed to science. Language scientifically used cannot describe a landscape or face. It is said that literature improves us by showing us images of perfection which is the end of all earthly learning being virtuous action. Therefore, literature is said to complement science because what science cannot do literature can and vice versa. Literature as knowledge is empirical, hermeneutic and critical knowledge all at the same time.

After defining knowledge, the question of how new knowledge is created arises. This question is answered by the scientific method in which science acts as a mode of inquiry. The basic technique of the scientific method is observation which uses the five human senses to gather qualitative data about the natural world. The scientific method consists of the identification and definition of the problem and formulating and testing a hypothesis. This method is geared towards the discovery of facts and principles. As such knowledge is produced by the scientific method through empirical verification – using empirical data and observations to confirm the truth or rational justification of a hypothesis. Although the scientific method offers a reliable mode of inquiry to produce new knowledge, it also has its share of drawbacks. Some of these disadvantages include its inability to capture the phenomenon in its natural setting, the possibility of flawed or manipulated design, the reality that not everything can be subjected to experimentation, and the limitations presented by scientific equipment and resources.

Science and technology allow humans to understand and survive the natural world. The scientific method is used to produce new scientific knowledge. Modern civilization is founded on scientific and technological achievements of the past which makes science and technology indispensable in today’s time. However, scientific knowledge which is a type of empirical knowledge is not the only form of knowledge in the world because it has certain limitations. One of the other forms of knowledge is literature – empirical, hermeneutic and critical at the same time. Both science and literature complement each other. Lastly, science is a form of knowledge and is also a mode of inquiry.

6645569There are many tourist spots to visit in Seoul. Picking where to go for Seoul sightseeing may be a hard choice. Some of the popular tourist sites are listed below along with a brief history of the area and what you can expect when you visit them.

DMZ

The DMZ, or the Demilitarized Zone, is a unique 6km stretch of land that runs across the Korean Peninsula and serves as a buffer between North and South Korea, two countries that are technically still at war. It’s an iconic reminder of the tragedy of war, separation of people, and is one of the saddest legacies of the Cold War.

Korea was initially divided into northern and southern halves following the end of World War II. However, after the ceasefire arrangement following the countless destruction and loss of 3 million lives from a Soviet-approved invasion of the South by the north, the country was indefinitely divided.

The DMZ’s uniqueness makes it Korea’s most popular destination for foreign visitors. However, visitation to the DMZ is strictly prohibited. Due to this prohibition, the area has become one of the most well-preserved stretches of wilderness in the world. Direct visits may be prohibited, but there are several tourist agencies that provide tours to Panmunjeom, or the Joint Security Area where the armistice between North and South was signed in 1953. The unification observatory, tunnels North Koreans have constructed under the DMZ and Woljeongri Station, the last train station before the DMZ, can also be visited.

There are several reasons for DMZ’s uniqueness. It stands as the last bastion of the Cold War and visitors can learn about peace and conflict. Also, it is a place where one must visit to gain understanding of Korean psyche, which as be largely formed through the occupations, wars and division the nation has suffered. Most of the popular DMZ attractions are located within 90 minutes of Seoul.

Gyeongbokgung

Three years after the Joseon Dynasty was founded, the first royal palace built was the Gyeongbokgung in 1395. The location of the Gyeongbokgung was appointed capital of Seoul, back then known as Hanyang, and represented the sovereignty of the Joseon Dynasty. Gyeongbokgun is the largest of among Gyeonghuigung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggun, and Changdeokgung, the 5 Grand Palaces, and served as the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty.

Until the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592-1598, Gyeongbokgung continued to serve as the main palace. All the palaces were severely damaged and Gyeongbokgun was not reconstructed until 1868. The palace was expanded to a 410,000 square meter complex with over 500 buildings. Gyeongbokgung flourished for several decades until the Japanese once again destroyed the palaces during their occupation of Korea in 1910-1945. Restored buildings were torn down, Gwanghwamun Gate was relocated and the Japanese General Government Building was contructed in front of the main area of the palace.

Since 1990, there has been an ongoing effort by the Korean government to rebuild and restore the buildings destroyed. The 40 year restoration project aims to fully restore Gyeongbokgung Palace to its original form. The palace is currently open to the public and houses National Palace Museums of Korea and the National Folk Museum of Korea. Only 40% of the buildings have been restored, but there are many beautiful things to see at the palace.

Geunjeongjeon is the throne hall of Gyeongbokgun where the king was formally briefed by his officials, issued proclamations, and greeted foreign envoys and ambassadors.

Gyeonghoeru is a highly prized architectural structure used as a pavilion. It is located next to Geunjeongjeon on an artificial island in the middle of a rectangular lake with 3 stone bridges stretching out to the palace grounds.

Hyangwonjeong is also a pavilion located north of the palace site. The hexagonal pavilion was constructed by the order of King Gojong on an artificial island in a lake and was connected to the palace grounds by a bridge.

Geoncheonggung Palace was once the royal residence of Emperor Gojong and his wife and is located within Gyeongbokgung complex.

Located south of the palace is the main gate of Gyeongbokgun, the Gwanghwamun Gate. Comprised of 3 arched gates called Hongyemun, the middle gate is reserved for the king and the other 2 gates for his officials.

The second gate that is seen after the Gwanghwamun is Heungnyemun, the second largest gate of Gyeongbokgung.

The changing of the royal guard and the patrol rituals are reenacted everyday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. in front of Heungnyemun Gate. The guardsmen perform several ceremonies including the opening and closing of the royal palace gate and the changing of the guard. Followed by the reenactment is the Patrol Ritual in front of Heungyemun.

Gwanghwamun Square

Stretching from Gwanghwamun to Sejongno Sageori, is Gwanghwamun Square. The area was once Yukjo-geori, the center of Hanyang, which was the capital city during the Joseon Dynasty. Now it is home to Government major administrative departments.

Gwanghwamun Square is divided into 6 sections. The square’s focal point is the center and holds the statue of King Sejong the Great, the fourth and most respected king of the Joseon Dynast and creator of Hangeul, Korea’s alphabet. The main inventions from King Sejong’s reign are on display in front of the statue. That includes the Hangeul alphabet and scientific instruments such as the sundial, rain gauge and celestial globe. A nearby gallery tells the “Story of King Sejong,” and features a variety of materials and artifacts portraying the life and achievements of King Sejong.

The statue of Admiral Yi Sunshin also stands at the center. A naval commander noted for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592-1598, he is a hero among Koreans. The 12’23 Fountain and Yeoksamulgil (“Waterway of History”) stands near the statue. The 12’23 Fountain commemorates the victory the great victory in 1597 when Admiral Yi defeated 133 Japanese naval ships with only 12 ships, and won 23 battles without a single loss. The Yeoksamulgil flowing on either side of the square tells the history of Korea from 1392 to 2006 on the east side. The other side is left blank for future events to commemorate.

Han river (hangang)

Hangang is a site for rest and relaxation whether its day or night. Numerous parks dot the embankments of Hangang and is a place for those on the lookout for leisure, sports and a lesson in history. An oasis of recreation awaits those in the heart of the city at almost every location.

The Hangang Cycling Trail stretches almost the entire length of the riverside and covers a total of 80km. Popular for both leisure and as a commuter route with eco-friendly travel, the cycling trail is increasingly becoming important to Seoulites. Cycle rental shots operated by Seoul’s 8 adminitrative districts are found along the route. With several parks found along the trail, there is always a place to take a break.

The ever-changing seasonal scenery of Hangang Cycling Trails is one of its greatest attractions. Watch the sunset as you cycle alongside the river and watch Seoul’s nightscape emerge as it is punctuated by stunningly light bridges, bright car headlights and twinkling street lamps.

Every park alongside the Hangang offers refreshments and restrooms for its visitors. The asphalt and concrete road surface ensures that cyclists will experience a smooth and safe ride, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government is constantly installing additional facilities along the trail for a positive experience.

The parks alongside the cycling trails of Hangang offer a variety of facilities that include a water sports center, other sports facilities and shaded rest areas. Everyparks besides the Seonyudo Park offers cycle rentals. The operation hours vary depending on the season, but they are usually open from 9 a.m. to sunset. Cycle repairs are also available for Korean-made brands.

One of the best ways to enjoy the Hangang is the Hangang Cruise. 8 different docks are available to board the cruise, including Yeouido, Jamsil, Yangwha, Ttukseom, Sangam, Seoul Forest, Jamdubong, and Seonyudo. Each cruise has their own themes to entertain the passengers with, including live performances and fine dining with beautiful scenery. The romantic setting makes the Hangang cruise popular among lovers throughout the year.

Lotte World

Lotte World is a major recreation complex that opened in 1989 in downtown Seoul. It consists of the world’s largest indoor theme park, Indoor Adventure, an outdoor theme park, Magic Island, a luxury hotel, the Korean Folk Museum, shopping malls, department stores, sports facilities, and a movie theater all in one place.

Indoor Adventure is the world’s largest indoor theme park which hosts a variety of seasonal festivals and parades all year round, including the Masquerade Festival, the Rio Samba Carnival, The Halloween Party, and the Christmas Festival. Themed with “Little World Village”, the Indoor Adventure features 22 different rides, and visitors can access the outdoor theme park, Magic Island, through a connecting passageway on the 2nd floor, and the Folk Museum on the 3rd floor.

The Folk Museum is located on the 3rd floor of Indoor Park. The Folk museum holds exhibits about Korean history and culture through animation and small scale models. Visitors can also enjoy traditional performances at Norimadang, a performance hall, or browse through stalls at Jeojageori, a traditional market street.

The outdoor theme park, Magic Island, is an artificial island located in the middle of Seokchon Lake, and can be accessed from the 2nd floor of Indoor Adventure. Designed with a medieval European style with a Magic Castle in its center, Magic Island holds 17 different rides.

Daily parades are held at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., and are the star attraction of Lotte World. Different parades are held every season and holiday, and for each theme. Popular parades include the Masked Festivals and the Passionate Dance Parades.

N Seoul Tower

Built as Korea’s first integrated transmission tower beaming television and radio broadcasts across the capital in 1969, N Seoul Tower was opened to the public in 1980 and has since then become a much loved Seoul landmark. N Seoul Tower’s main attractions include multi-colored digital art projected onto the tower at night, a digital observatory, a roof terrace, the HanCook restaurant, the n.Grill restaurant, and the Haneul Restroom. Surrounding the N Seoul Tower is Namsan Mountain, increasing its popularity with locals and tourists alike.

N Seoul Tower comes alive at night with a breathtaking array of light shows from the “Reeds of Light” whose 70 lights create dynamic displays changing with each gust of wind, to the “Shower of Light” where lights rain down from a shower head for 3 minutes for every 100 won deposited. More lights are beamed from the transmission tower, observation platform, main tower and the tower plaza. They’re constantly changing colors and patterns with the season and weather, making N Seoul Tower a true nighttime spectacle.

There are numerous viewing platforms in Seoul, where visitors can enjoy the view of the city’s nightscape or gaze onto the Hangang. But N Seoul Tower differentiates itself from the others through their 360 degree panorama over the city, and 32 CD screens recounting the 600 year history of Seoul.

At the top of N Seoul Tower lies the Roof Terrace, a spacious wooden viewing deck. It is popular with couples for their exotic atmosphere and their “Locks of Love”, where thousands of padlocks are attached to the fence by romantic Seoulites to symbolize their undying affection.

Guided tours are available in English, Japanese, and Chinese for groups of up to 20 people with prior arrangements 3-7 days in advance.

Namsangol Hanok Village

Namsangol Hanok Village is a collection of 5 hanoks, traditional Korean houses, recovered from different parts of the city and relocated at the northern foot of Namsan. They were built during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Each of the 5 houses reflect the social class of the owners, from middle class to the yangban, who were mainly high government officials, noblemen and aristocrats. Visitors can enjoy the hanoks of many important figures from the Joseon era.

Most hanoks are built in rectangular shapes with an outdoor courtyard centered in the middle. Each side of the rectangle was a different area of the house, with the main areas of the hanok including a sarangche for greeting guests, an anchae, where the lady of the house would rside, and a daemunganchae, which is just inside the main gate of the house. The hanok also featured special doors to partition areas of the house into separate rooms. These doors allowed for rooms, such as the sitting room and the master bedroom, to be joined into a single large room when necessary.

The Namsangol Hanok Village also includes a Taekwondo experience program for foreigners. They are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 5 p.m. Foreigners who wish to experience taekwondo rather than simply watch may participate in their practice sessions by making a reservation.

Seoul City Tour Bus

If it is your first visit to Seoul, your best bet would be the Seoul City Tour, a convenient hop-on, hop-off bus tour that hits all the major tourist attractions in Seoul. One ticket allows you to visit markets like Dongdaemun Market, shopping districts like Myeongdong, ancient Korea palaces like Gyeongbokgun, and major landmarks like N Seoul Tower. They also provide discounted admission fees to many of these attractions.

Every bus comes equipped with wide reclining seats consisting of audio guides. The audio guides are available in several languages, including Korean, Japanese, English and Chinese. They provide detailed information on every stop of the route.

There are 4 tours available: the City Circulation Tour, the Cheonggyecheon (stream)/Palace Tour, and 2 Night Tours.

City Circulation Tour

This tour is done on a single-decker bus and stops at all of the major tourist attractions in central Seoul. The tour lasts for 2 hours and the adult admission ticket is 10,000 won and 8,000 won for high school students and younger. The bus runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and departs at 30 minute intervals. The last bus departs at 7 p.m.

Stops: Gwanghwamun->Deoksugung (palace)->Namdaemun Market->Seoul Station->USO->Yongsan Station->National Museum of Korea->War Memorial of Korea->Yongsan Army Base->Itaewon->Crown Hotel->Myeongdon->Namsangol Hanok Village->Grand Ambassador Hotel->National Theater of Korea->N Seoul Tower->Hyatt Hotel->Shilla Hotel->Dongdaemun Market->Daehangno->Changgyeonggung (palace)->Changdeokgun (palace)->Insadong->Cheongwadae (Blue House)->The National Folk Museum of Korea->Gyeongbokgung (palace)->Gwanghwamun

Cheonggyecheon/Palace Tour

The double-decker bus tour stops along Cheonggecheon, a beautiful 11km long man-made stream that flows through downtown Seoul, and each of the 5 Grand Palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty. The tour is 1.5 hours long and adult tickets are 12,000 won and 8,000 won for high school students and younger. The bus tour runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1 hour intervals. There is no tour at 2 p.m. During the off-season, March, June, September and November, the tour runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Stops: Gwanghwamun->Deoksugung (palace)->Cheonggye Plaza->Cheonggyecheon Museum->Seoul Folk Flea Market->Daehangno->Changgyeonggung (palace)->Changdeokgung (palace)->Insadong->Seoul Museum of History->Agricultural Museum of Korea->Gwanghwamun

Night Tour 1

The Night Tour 1 is a single-decker and a double-decker bus tour and is perfect for those who enjoy romantic nighttime views of the city. These non-stop tours offer great views of the Hangang. The tour is 1.5 hours long and is 5,000 won for adults and 3,000 won for high school students and younger. The bus only runs once at 8 p.m.

Stops: Gwanghwamun->Deoksugung (palace)->National Assembly->Seogangdaegyo (bridge)->Seongsudaegyo (bridge)-> Hannamdaegyo (bridge)->N Seoul Tower (20 min stop)->Namsan Public Library->Namdaemun Market->Cheonggye Plaza->Gwanghwamun

Night Tour 2

The Night Tour 2 is a double-decker bus tour. This tour is also 1.5 hours long and is 10,000 won for adults and 6,000 won for high school students and younger. This bus tour runs once at 8 p.m.

Stops: Gwanghwamun->Seosomun->Mapodaegyo (bridge)->Seogangdaegyo (bridge)->Hannamdaegyo (bridge)->Olympic-daegyo (bridge)->Banpo Hangang Park->Dongjakdaegyo (bridge)->Seongsudaegyo (bridge)->Olympic-daegyo (bridge)->Hannamdaegyo (bridge)->Namsan Public Library->Namdaemun Market->Cheonggye Plaza->Gwanghwamun

Buses for the bus tours depart from the Gwanghwamun bus stop located in front of the Donghwa Duty Free Shop, but passengers may get on/off the buses at any one of the bus stops on the route. Tickets for the Seoul City Tour Bus can be purchased at the Gwanghwamun Ticket Booth or on board the buses from the driver.

Over sixty years of active motoring, one has observed with interest the changing styles followed by manufacturers in search of popularity and volume sales. From a British perspective it was always Ford of England that initiated a radical departure from the established norm, risking the derision of critics but, more often than not, capturing the imagination of a public always eager to be seen in something radically new. This pattern of progress continued virtually unchanged for five decades until it was overwhelmed by the Asian dominance of the new millennium.

In the 1950s, the new look in motor cars was ushered in by the Ford Prefect and Anglia saloons. The innovation may have had antecedents in the USA, where the evolution of private vehicles had continued while suspended in Britain during World War II, but, if so, it was reproduced without the ostentation and glittering chrome so characteristic of American cars of that era. At any rate, it proved immediately popular in Britain, and other motor manufacturers rushed to follow the new style, hoping at the same time to add some distinctive feature of their own.

The three-box style had a long life. It was amenable to great variation in detail and was readily adapted to two boxes in estate car or station wagon varieties. The influence of wind tunnel testing led to more streamlined shapes reputed to reduce air resistance and improve performance and fuel economy. Streamlines proved to be as aesthetically pleasing on cars as they were on aircraft and Ford continued to lead the way in an evolution that culminated in the universally popular KA model of the 1990s.

From there, there was nowhere to go. As far as is humanly possible, perfection had been achieved. The Ford KA inspired numerous copies from other manufacturers but all, in striving for a unique feature, degraded the beauty of the original. Many people, tired of constant pressure to buy something new, might have liked the KA to become a standard product in perpetuity. But the industry had now passed through Japan to South Korea and China, countries eager to promote worldwide sales of newly manufactured products.

Making something different from perfection means making something less pleasing to the eye and the Asian manufacturers have certainly succeeded in that quest. Yet so dominant is their global stance that the residual industry in the West has felt compelled to copy the Eastern degradation. It is an old English saying that after the Lord Mayor’s coach comes the corporation cart. In motor styling, the Lord Mayor’s coach has passed, and we are still waiting for the corporation cart.

Korean food is well-known globally for being spicy, flavourful and delicious. But did you know that Korean cuisine also offers numerous health benefits? Korean cuisine is so healthy that South Korea boasts of an obesity rate of just 3.5 percent. Now, contrast that obesity rate with the likes of the United States (34.4%), the U.K (25%), Mexico (30%) and New Zealand (25%).

Many may attribute such low obesity rate to genetics of Asians in comparison with Caucasians – the latter being bigger in build than the former etc. – but that’s not true either. Koreans are healthier than many people largely because of their diet, proof of which is the Cambridge World History of Food’s report that the average Korean meal contains 13 percent less fat than those found in the diets of Americans and Europeans.

General Health Benefits of Korean Cuisine

Aside from the fact that Korean food lends itself well to a non-obese population, it also offers many other health benefits. Said benefits to good health will not come as a surprise once the ingredients, condiments and materials used as well as the cooking tools, techniques and technologies applied are considered.

The most common ingredients used in Korean cuisine are vegetables, which we all know to be full of the macronutrients and micronutrients essential in the maintenance of good health. From the side dish to the main dish and from fresh to fermented, vegetables like cabbages, bean sprouts and spinach are generously used. Add in the generous uses of garlic, ginger and other beneficial spices and Korean cuisine is very healthy

Meat, by contrast, is used sparingly which magnifies Korean cuisine’s health benefits. Even when it is a meat dish, the Koreans prefer the lean and healthy types like lean beef, chicken breasts and fatty fishes. As a result, the risks for cardiovascular diseases are significantly lower, thanks to lower saturated fat and cholesterol content in Korean cuisine.

The cooking tools, techniques and technologies used for preparing Korean food are the healthy types. Grilling, stir-frying, stewing and fermenting are the most popular ways to cook Korean cuisine, all of which means that the foods are cooked in their own juices. In contrast, many foods in countries with high obesity rates like the United States are deep fried in vats of oil.

Here are a few of the expected health benefits when one adopts the Korean mindset to food and Korean cuisine itself:

Lower risks for cardiovascular diseases like hypertension as well as neurological illnesses like strokes and dementia

Lower risks for certain types of cancer because of the anti-carcinogenic properties of vegetables

Stronger internal organs especially the liver and the kidneys

Better digestion because of increased appetite for easily digestible food

Stronger bones due to the presence of isoflavones in beans and mushrooms

Healthier skin since there are lesser amounts of preservatives

Nutrition Information of Korean Foods

Each of the popular Korean foods has its own health benefits by virtue of the ingredients and cooking techniques used on it. The following are just a few of most popular:

Bulgogi is a grilled dish consisting of marinated barbecue beef although it can also be made from chicken (dak) and pork (dwaeji). Since this is grilled over an open flame, it cooks on its own juices and, hence, no fatty oils are used. Caloric content is 310 per serving.

Jeyuk bokkeum is fiery pork served with rice, leaves of lettuce, Chinese cabbage, perilla (Sesame leaves) and other large leafy green vegetables as well as slices of raw garlic and chili peppers. Calorie per serving is 221.

Bibimbap may have slightly higher calorie content – 560 calories for a single serving – than other types of Korean food but the health benefits are still there, nonetheless, thanks to the seasoned vegetables, tofu, egg, meat or seafood in the dish.

Ddukbokki is made from rice cake combined with fish cakes, garlic and onions. Very hot and spicy has many of the benefits associated with gochujang and chilli’s, as well as being very low in fat. Calorie count is 378 per serving.

A discussion on the health benefits of Korean cuisine will not be complete without mention of kimchi, a traditional spicy Korean condiment served from morning till night in virtually all dishes. It is known to improve the circulatory system because of the garlic, fish paste and chilli as its main ingredients, click here for more health benefits of Kimchi.

It’s not just food which makes the Korean diet so healthy, South Koreans also gain a lot of health benefits from the drinks that they consume, the teas such as green and ginseng are full of anti-oxidants and aide the bodies systems while drinks containing barley like Shik-Hye and Barley tea, help the digestive system.

Adopting a Korean diet could help improve your health, help you loose weight, prevent diseases and improve your general well being, as the Korean wave continues to gather steam and spread around the world, don’t miss out of one of the worlds most interesting cultures.

The trends in weapon system innovation are fairly predictable in the near term. We can see the slow evolution and see the new technology explained online and in defense magazines. We all know that cyber war is advancing fast, and stealthy aircraft, drones, and hypersonic aircraft too. I’d like to take a few minutes and discuss some of these tools of warfare if I might.

First, let’s talk about robotics, specifically military aerial robots. UAVs and UASs (unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned aerial systems) are on a steep graphical incline in usage – nearly every nation has a UAV development program or is purchasing UAVs. China for instance is making in-house UAVs, some copies, some home-grown tech and they are selling like hotcakes across the globe.

The USA is working on CUAVs (combat unmanned aerial vehicles) capable of landing on aircraft carriers, aerial refueling and stealth capabilities too. Speaking of which the current stealth fighters may end up being the last new fighters built which are flown by actual human beings, at least that is starting to look like the case for the United States.

Hypersonic and Ballistic Missile Assets are also being developed in several nations, such fast movers are hard to hit, making them a truly lethal threat. Only a couple of nations have the capability or purport the capability of defending against them. China claims to have their “Carrier Killer” ballistic missile and although not tested against an evasive unwilling moving target, they seem to be working to perfect it as we are discussing the reality of its capability.

Stealth Fighter 5th Generation Aircraft are in production in the US and being tested, developed, researched now by Russia, China, and on the drawing board with many other nations; Japan, Turkey, India, Pakistan, South Korea, and others. However, if they are not built yet, and being tested, it’s too late for this round of 5th generation fighters, they will have to buy them from Russia, China or the USA, and then wait until the next round; sixth generation. Still, there is no such thing as an invisible aircraft, so even stealth is a matter of degree.

Thus, we can expect new missile defense systems with multiple types of radars which use AI to sort out the massive inflow of data to prevent false positives. Such is the game of new weapons throughout history – each new weapon finds its counterpart defense system and the push for technological advantage continues.

There have been some scary weapon system concepts floated recently, shipping cargo container offensive missile system — the ultimate Trojan Horse — exploiting free-trade logistics to get close to an enemies shore line, and the concept of using large passenger aircraft in a similar fashion. Indeed, I hope humans don’t go there, because such disruption in global trade, communication, and travel would send shock waves through the global economy, however in a situation of ‘total war’ if one nation is losing, they will pull out all the stops to win, rather than be conquered and forfeit their civilization. Cite: History. But pretend I didn’t go there; I’d rather keep the conversation light and on the topic of the global defense industry. If you are wondering what keeps me up at night, it would be that, and yes, the proverbial threat of an EMP throwing a modern nation back to the stone age.

There are a large number of famous and amazing festivals all over the world that we are not even accustomed to. Here is a list of the 6 most unique and amazing festivals.

6. Boryeong Mud Festival of the South Korea:

Boryeong is located in South Korea. This mud festival initiated in 1998 and always takes place near the Daecheon Swimming seashore. This festival was formed to commemorate the products that include cosmetics that were created long ago by the usage of local mud. Events in the mud festival include the mud wrestling, the mud sliding and the mud fireworks. There can be nothing more amazing than the Boryeong mud festival.

5. La Tomatina _ Spain Tomato Fight:

This festival is being celebrated in Spain. It is regarded as the world’s biggest food fight event. It is basically an event of one week. The major fight takes place on Wednesday. This food fight starts only when someone traverses the greased pole and simply knocks off the pork off its end. This fight lasts for only one hour. For this fight you must have to follow some strict rules. For instance, before throwing a tomato over the other person it must be squeezed. There are five big trucks that supply the tomatoes for this event.

4. Fire Festival _ Up Helly Aa:

This event takes its start from early 1880s. This fire festival is a convention that takes place mostly in the mid of winter. This fire festival is the combination of customs from both the Vikings and the Scots. This festival then ends in ablaze of a fake Viking ship. This is, undoubtedly, the most amazing festival.

3. Summerfest of Milwaukee:

This festival is celebrated every year in Wisconsin USA. This is basically a music Festival and according to Guinness records it is the World’s biggest festival. Surprisingly, almost 800,000 people enter the gates of Summerfest to take an active part in this musical gala. Lady Gaga, Motley Crue, Matthews band, Bruno Mars and Brad Paisley are the headlines of the 2014 Summerfest.

2. Cheese Rolling Festival Of Gloucester, England:

This is the most famous festival of the England. It is such an ancient event that I can bet that no one will know it for sure that when this festival got actually started. According to an old belief, it is an ancient pagan custom. It is an extremely energetic festival but it can be somehow dangerous as this cheese rolling festival leads to numerous injuries every year.

1. Sky Lantern Festival:

In this festival, thousands of sky lanterns float through the sky at the night time presenting the world’s most beautiful sight to the eyes of the viewers. This festival is celebrated every year in Taiwan.

The 32 qualified teams participating in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa have provided a preliminary list of up to 30 players. The teams have till June 1st to provide a final list of 23 players. Provisions are made where players with serious injuries can be replaced up to 24 hours before their team’s first game.

The highlight in any footballer’s career is without a doubt, playing for his country in the World Cup. This week was “a dream come true” for many players and a massive disappointment for others. Thousands of fans in the 32 countries will contest their coach’s controversial decisions to include certain players while omitting others.

World Cup Group A (France, Mexico, Uruguay, South Africa)

Raymond Domenech, the French coach announced a preliminary list of 30 players for the 2010 World Cup. The big surprises are the absences of Benzema (Real Madrid), Nasri (Arsenal) and Patrick Vieira (Manchester City). France and the host country South Africa will face in the opening match of the tournament on 11 June.

In this same group Mexico have chosen a very young squad and will play without the talented Miguel Sabah due to injury. Bafana Bafana’s Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, also sprang some surprises for South Africa, like Israel-based defender Bevan Fransman and prodigal son Benni McCarthy.

As for Uruguay, Oscar Tabarez announced a list of 26 without any major surprises except for the non inclusion of Cristian Rodríguez, possibly for the fact that he would have missed the first two games of the World Cup due to a red card suspension.

World Cup Group B (Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, South Korea)

Diego Maradona’s selection provided some surprises for the Argentines, by picking the unknown trio of Ariel Garce, Sebastian Blanco and Juan Insaurralde, contrasting with notable absences like Javier Zanetti, Cambiasso, Gago, or Lucho Gonzalez. Argentina is drawn in Group A along with Greece, Nigeria and South Korea.

The Greek coach, Otto Rehhagel, named 30 players without any surprises, bringing in Seitaridis and Patsatzoglou after an injury filled season.

Lars Lagerback, the Nigerian coach, made no notable surprises in the 30 man list, maintaining veteran striker Kanu in the squad.

South Korea’ coach Huh Jung-Moo also made no surprises in the 30 choices, maintaining 2002 FIFA World Cup hero Ahn Jung-hwan who will play for a third consecutive appearance on World Cup.

World Cup Group C (England, USA, Slovenia, Algeria)

England were surprised by call-up of uncapped Michael Dawson, and the talented Adam Johnson. Jamie Carragher and Ledley King return to the squad. The two big names that Fabio Capello will not go to South Africa’s World Cup are David Beckham because of injury and Pal Scholes, retired from the England Squad.

The other teams in this group include the USA, Slovenia and Algeria. Coach Bob Bradley did not include Freddy Adu in the US team even though he went for the Confederations Cup. Another absence due to a serious car accident is Charlie Davies.

There were no big surprises from Algeria coach Rabah Sadaane whose team is dominated by a strong Europe based contingent. No surprises from coach Matjaz Kek after chosing 30 for Slovenia bringing in young striker Tim Matavz. This is Slovenia’s second participation in a World Cup.

World Cup Group D (Germany, Serbia, Ghana, Australia)

Joachim Löw of Germany picked his 30-man provisional squad with a few surprises. Two uncapped players, Holder Badstuber and Dennis Aogo, were chosen, while the most notable omission was that of midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, as well as Simon Rolfes, Aaron Hunt and goalkeeper René Adler.

Radomir Antic named seven players, based in England to a very strong looking Serbia squad, with no notable surprises.

For Ghana, Coach Milovan Rajevac picked Chelsea’s Michael Essien who is still recovering from knee surgery. In a similar situation as Essian is John Mensah.

Australia coach Pim Verbeek named 31 players including star forward Harry Kewell still recovering from his latest injury before July’s FIFA World Cup. One surprise call-up was 18-year-old Tommy Oar, who only made his international debut in March this year.

World Cup Group E (Denmark, Netherlands, Cameroon, Japan)

Denmark’s goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen was included by Danish coach Morten Olsen, despite suffering a dislocated elbow two weeks ago. Patrick Mtiliga was the surprise inclusion even though he had not played for his country since November 2008.

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk, left out 33 year old Ruud van Nistelrooy who admitted he was “greatly disappointed” in his rejection. On the other hand its worth taking note of 23 year old Eljero Elia who many believe is Hollands hidden gem.

Cameroon coach Paul Le Guen included Sebastien Bassong, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Alexandre Song who play in the Premier League. Surprise is the call-up of teenager Joel Matip and the exclusion of Ngom Kome. Only three players from the Cameroon League are included.

Japan coach Takeshi Okada’s only surprise was including Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, the Portsmouth goalkeeper who has not played in the national team for 18 months after recovering from a broken leg.

World Cup Group F (Italy, Slovakia, Paraguay, New Zealand)

Marcello Lippi reserved some surprises for the “azzurri” squad when he left out Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano, Nicola Legottaglie, Luca Toni, Simone Perrotta, and most notably Francesco Totti, while American born Giuseppe Rossi was called up for Italy, the World Cup holders.

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino called Argentine striker Lucas Barrios who recently became a naturalized Paraguayan. No surprise was the inclusion of strikers Nelson Haedo Valdez and Oscar Cardozo who are in great form, while Salvador Cabanas didn’t make it due to injury.

Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss is hoping that Martin Skrtel, Filip Holosko and Robert Vittek recover from their injuries in time for the World in South Africa. Curious is the fact that this is Slovakia’s first World Cup appearance, as well as the inclusion the coach’s son Vladimir Weiss into the squad.

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert did not pull off any surprises, except for the inclusion of midfielder Aaron Clapham. This is the Kiwis second World Cup appearance, the last one being in Spain back in 1982

World Cup Group G (Brazil, Portugal, Ivory Coast, North Korea)

Brazil coach Dunga probably had the biggest pool of talented players to chose from. This inevitably led to some surprises like the omission of Ronaldinho, Adriano, Ganso, Pato and Neymar into the Selecção (squad) Surprise inclusions were Michel Bastos, and Grafite.

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz also upset many Portuguese fans by not including goalkeepers Quim and Rui Patrício as well as midfielders João Moutinho and Carlos Martins. Queiroz also picked Pepe even though he is still recovering from knee surgery. Surprise call-ups were Beto, Daniel Fernandes and Zé Castro.

Sven-Goran Eriksson of the Ivory Coast had no surprises in the 29 players to represent their country. Didier Drogba will lead the powerful attacking “Elephants”.

North Korea coach Kim Jong-Hun will count with some J-League players like Jong Tae-Se, Ahn Yong-Hak and Ryang Yong-Gi. This will be North Korea’s second participation in a World Cup.

World Cup Group F (Spain, Chile, Switzerland, Hunduras)

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque had no surprises in his provisional 30-man squad and included injured stars Andreas Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and Fernando Torres for South Africa 2010. Also included in the list is naturalized Brazilian Marcos Senna.

Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa surprised many, when he picked Luis Marin, Jaime Valdes and Charles Aranguiz. Notable names missing are Claudio Maldonado, Hans Martinez and Osvaldo Gonzalez.

Ottmar Hitzfeld, the Switzerland coach announced 30 names without any surprises. One curiosity is Johan Vonlanthen, 24, who was born in Colombia but has lived in Switzerland since he was 5 years old.

Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda had no surprises but was forced to replace the injured Carlos Costly by Georgie Welcome. The experienced Wilson Palacios, Hendry Thomas, Maynor Figueroa, David are part of the list.

Good morning folks.

A few months ago I watched a Ted Talks video on a visionary concept authored by academician Paul Romer, which he termed the Charter City, and despite the fact that he teaches at Stanford (Go Bears!), I felt the idea had tremendous potential for helping developing nations develop. Yet as I more recently was researching sustainability I realized this concept is easily adaptable to the Green Movement.

Romer’s primary thesis is that much of the poor conditions in cities in developing nations are the result of poor rules. The entrenched statutes and codes in these metropolises discourage efforts at meaningful change. As an example he cites North and South Korea, two countries with the same geographic and cultural backgrounds, who split apart 60 years ago, and adopted very divergent rules. The results have been an economically vibrant South Korea and the poor, backwards cult masquerading as a nation that we know as North Korea. Same culture, same people, different rules.

What Professor Romer proposes as a solution are multinational Charter Cities, that could be located in now uninhabited regions of poor nations. These cities would start with fresh rules, ideas and expertise from international sources that have experience working in and building successful market economies. As a successful example of this Romer offers Hong Kong. For many years this canton was administered by Great Britain, and thrived as a free market economy, particularly in comparison to most other Chinese cities prior to China opening to the west in the 70’s. China has learned a great deal from Hong Kong and many of its cities have adopted systems similar to that of the former British colony. These cities are fueling China’s tremendous economic boom.

If you abstract the idea of Charter Cities back a step, it is essentially setting up an example region, which could be of any size, that acts as a catalyst for change for its neighbors. These example regions put fresh ideas into action with fresh minds.

In many respects the United States was a “Charter Nation” that served as an example of governance by We The People for the world. The results have been incredible to say the least, and in fact many former and current monarchies whose systems our founders were trying to break from are expressing far better than the United States the principles upon which it was originally founded.

I believe that a Charter City, founded upon sustainable principles such as permaculture, zero waste and local self sufficiency, would be of enormous benefit. Romer points out a community the size of a village would not have the impact necessary spark sufficient change to business as usual. It may be necessary to have a Charter City to change a country, but we can establish Charter Zones to change our cities. Like so many of the problems facing cities in developing countries, unsustainable practices in most American cities are so entrenched in our municipal codes it is very difficult to effect significant sustainable change. Setting up Charter Zones at the periphery of our cities can show just how much smarter a sustainable city can be.

I hope my reader give this idea consideration, as I am certainly open to hearing about ways in which this could come about. Remember everyone, buy local or grow it yourself!

Love to all,

Millard