[January] California could be next oil boom state

Steve Hargreaves. California could be next oil boom state. CNN , 14 January 2013 . Web. 14 January 2013.
http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/14/news/economy/california-oil-boom/


I think God must have blessed Amrica. Now they have North Dakota's Bakken, Texas's Eagle Frod, and California's Monterey Shale! According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Monterey is thought to hold over 400 billion barrels of oil. Some parts are allowed to get the gas or oil, but the way to take the oil from the shale rock is still problem. Plus, there's air pollution, road congestion and other issues that go along with an oil boom. I don't think California regulators and people who live in Cali would not let that happen. I can't believe they have plenty of oil in ther own land. I often reminisce about driving my car in the states. The oil price too expensive in Korea, so I can think of getting a fast fancy sports car. I hope Korea could find oil in the east sea are in the future!

[January] China's one-child policy impact analysed

Rebecca Morelle. China's one-child policy impact analysed . BBC , 10 January 2013 . Web. 13 January 2013.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20976432



An Interesting research has been done by an Australian team that they compared people who were born just before the one-child policy to those who were born after. They found that people who were born after the one-child policy were significantly less trusting and  less likely to take risks and less competitive than those who were born before the policy. Other Experts from Oxford said it might not be solely down to the policy. I also do not totally agree with that. I think it is not because of the policy, but it's the environment. Single child in any country can be selfish and less risk taking and so on. Also This study has been conducted for 421 adults and there could be a lot of other people who are not like the researchers said. Though the conclusion is not trustworthy enough, it would be good data when China change their policy on one-child birth.

[January] What's up with the $1 trillion coin?

Leigh Ann Caldwell. What's up with the $1 trillion coin?. CBSnews , 11 January 2013 . Web. 13 January 2013.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57563428/whats-up-with-the-$1-trillion-coin/

 

When I first saw this article, I thought it very curious, and it was not about economical issues. This $1 trillion coin idea is from  a Georgia lawyer called Beowulf in the comments section of an economics blog, and the economists said it is possible but stupid. The proposal is to evade the default, by minting coin from the Treasury Department, and declare it worth $1 trillion, deposit it in the Federal Reserve and then use the money to pay its bills when it hits the debt ceiling. It was hard for me to understand the whole article, but I do get the idea of $1 trillion coin, and it is not going to happen. I wish I had that coin or half-worth coin though.

[January] Japan Approves $116 Billion for Urgent Economic Stimulus

HIROKO TABUCHI.  Japan Approves $116 Billion for Urgent Economic Stimulus. The New York Times , 11 January 2013 . Web. 13 January 2013.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/12/business/global/japan-approves-116-billion-for-urgent-economic-stimulus.html?_r=0
 


Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan approved spending ¥10.3 trillion to stimulate Japan's economy. The Japanese government will spend $116 billion on public works and disaster mitigation projects, subsidies for companies that invest in new technology and financial aid to small businesses. It is one of the largest spending plans in Japanese history, and he hope it would stop deflation. I'm surprised that Japan's economy is having a hard time, and they had to do this extreme decision. I don't know the deep knowledges, but I can see that Japan needs to deal with asset bubble, number of jobs, and consumptions. I do not hate Japan when they do not say some things about Dok-do. They are great country and still they are strong. I hope they figure out the problem and get back to there phase. Yen should be lower though!

[January] Six suspects arrested in rape of another bus passenger in India

ASHOK SHARMA ,Six suspects arrested in rape of another bus passenger in India, The globe and mail, 13 January 2013, Web, 13 January 2013
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/six-arrested-in-rape-of-another-bus-passenger-in-india/article7294221/



Another gang rape of a bus passenger happened in India, four weeks after a brutal attack on a student on a moving bus. 29-year-old woman was raped by six guys in a desolate location, and shocking thing is that bus driver took her to the place. One of suspects is even 17 years old. How this could happen after the big protest of angry citizens. People in India claims for more serious actions to the government. I heard that rapes are not dealt as a serious problem and police also didn't care severely. It has been a big problem in Korea these days, and strong actions need to be taken for the sexual offenders. It is unacceptable in this planet !!

[Prediction for 2013] ‘Laws of the Jungle 3′ beats out ‘KBS Music Festival’ and ‘Birth of a Great Star’ in viewer ratings by a large margin

3.  Entertainment : Kim Byung-man will win the 'Grand prize' in SBS entertainments award.

 

It is time for Byung-man Kim to get the 'Grand prize' in entertainments award. He has been nominated for the grand prize in KBS by performing "Expert" in Gag Concert untill 2009. He moved to SBS starting new show named "Laws of the Jungle", and it is totally different in format and in stories than other shows and it is hot. It is already season 3 now, and people are super excited about it. Among the show, especailly for the reality show, friday is like a hell to get high rate of views. However, Laws of the Jungle beats out other TV programs and they are the first place in rate of view. He did a great job in Gag Concert, but it seemed hard to win the grand prize as a comedian which it was won by MCs. Nevertheless, he did not give up and started a new show not as a comedian but as a MC. I'm a big fan of the show that he is performing, and it seems a right time to give him the prize regards on his effort and challenge. I'm sure he is going to win the grand prize in SBS entertainment award this year.

A writer of AllKop news,  ‘Laws of the Jungle 3′ beats out ‘KBS Music Festival’ and ‘Birth of a Great Star’ in viewer ratings by a large margin. AllKpop, 29 December 2012 . Web. 12 January 2013.
http://www.allkpop.com/2012/12/laws-of-the-jungle-3-beats-out-kbs-music-festival-and-birth-of-a-great-star-in-viewer-ratings-by-a-large-margin

[Prediction for 2013] Seoul toughens smoking ban in restaurants

2.  Public : Banning smoking in public would create smoking room !

There are more and more smoke-free zones expanding even at the bars and coffee shops in Seoul. Also, Indoor as well as outdoor areas of public buildings will also be designated as smoke-free zones. Smoking  will be prohibited in the PC room from this June. Nowadays, many people do not want to be exposured to second smoke, and the government also wants to protect the non-smoker and execute the law right away which they wanted. I totally agree with it, but I think the government needs to see the smokers side too. There are still a lot smokers out there, and the smokers still smoke the cigarette inside and outside the bar. Police officers cannot catch them or bar manager all the time. There will be more conficts of Smokers versus police. However Law is allowing outside smoking section 10meters away, so I'm guessing that cigarette company and government will make the smoking room with perfect air exhauster in the future. I used to smoke a lot, and I know it is sometimes necessary to smoke, so there has got to be a smoking room. It is better to create this type of room than just keep conflicting with smokers.


Cho, Chung-un.  Seoul toughens smoking ban in restaurants. The Korea Herald , 4 December 2012 . Web. 12 January 2013.
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20121204000768

[Prediction for 2013] Park GeunHye said Death Sentence Should Be Needed for Sex Offenders

1.  Society : Punishment for sex offenders will be more severe


<Source of photo - http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=100&oid=001&aid=0005944821>

I think punishment for sex offenders will be more severe this year. There were too many bad and sad things happened in 2012, and it seems the worst year to me when you see the sexual crimes. Especially rape targeting little kid occured a lot and I couldn't just believe those are still happening even though all mass media broadcast and talk about it. I think it is because the laws against these sexsual criminals are not afaid enough. Unlike other countries (U.S.A, Japen, China etc) South Korea laws have no extreme punishment like death sentence and life imprisonment. S.Korea actually has those two, but laws are based on the belief of human's rehabilitation,so S.Korea does not actually execute those two sentences. However, now, first chemical castration was sentenced for the Naju city rapist case, and the rapist got the death sentence(verbally). Furthermore, Park Geun Hye said in movie conference, before she became the next president, she emphsized that death sentence should be needed for sex offenders. Since she became the first woman president, I'm expecting more extreme sentence for the sex offenders.


Dong-Hwan Kim,  Park GeunHye said Death Sentence Should Be Needed for Sex Offenders. Ohmynews, 11 December 2012 . Web. 12 January 2013.
http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001804569

[Good Bye 2012] Ryu Hyun-jin signs with Dodgers

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/09/sports/la-sp-dn-ryu-signs-20121209



Amazing left hander, Korean pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu signed with L.A Dodgers. The deal is worth $36 million over six years. It was actually believable that he had the contract with Dodgers, but I didn't expect that with that amount of money. An interesting part that people do not usually know is that he excluded the minor option, which a player can be sent by team if the player is not playing well, and that has never existed to a player in Dodgers. Even Zack Greinke has that option. I'm so proud of him playing in 'the Dream' major league. I will go to see his game if it is possible this year, and I already have the L.A Dodgers hat. I hope he plays well and break the record that Chanho Park did and makes more good impression of Korean player so that other Korean leaguer can go to MLB too.

Dylan Hernandez,  Ryu Hyun-jin signs with Dodgers. Los Angeles Times, 09 December 2012 . Web. 8 January 2013.

[Good Bye 2012] Usain Bolt wins 200m to make Olympic athletics history

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19205364



He did it again!
With no doubt, Usain Bolt won three medals in London Olympics like he did in Beijing. Not only he has the world record in 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, but also he is aiming 4 medals in next Olympics. Many experts were suspicious that his condition wasn't good enough, so he might loose to Yohan Blake, but he just won like piece of cake. I know asian can't run so fast ,but I used to be a sprinter when I was in high school, so I'm crazy about watching the sprint games. I hope he gets the tie record of winning four medals in track game. I can't wait to see the next 100m Olympics and what's his career will be.

 Olly Foster. Usain Bolt wins 200m to make Olympic athletics history. BBC, 10 August 2012. Web. 8 January 2013.

[Good Bye 2012] Newtown shooting: Gun lobby defiant as US remembers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20815130

26 kids are dead by shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School last month. The funerals have been held throughout the week, and Connecticut Governor has asked people to join the moment of silence, and churches in many other states also rang their bells 26 times. Chief executive of the NRA(National Rifle Association), Wayne LaPierre said that The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. I'm just shocked that he said that. It is not the only thing. It should be more like second or third idea. I agree that like they say the good guy such as police guy should be armed with guns, but I think banning the gun possesion should be the first idea. President Barack Obama also indicated that his administration will look for ways to tighten gun laws in the wake of the attack. I hope this tragic gun shooting never happens again.
A reporter from BBC. Newtown shooting: Gun lobby defiant as US remembers. BBC, 21 December 2012 . Web. 8 January 2013.

[Good Bye 2012] Apple and Samsung make final cases to jury in patent trial

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/22/tech/mobile/apple-samsung-closing-statements/index.html?iref=allsearch

<photo from http://www.androidauthority.com/huge-samsung-defeat-what-caused-apples-1-billion-win-u-s-patent-case-full-verdict-110226/  >

Many around the world are now using smartphones. Samsung and Apple are two main smartphone manufacturing company and they are having a huge court fight for their patent. Apple is saying that they made the round edge smartphone first and it confuses customer because Samsung immitated it. Also this patent is really important for American patent law. In Samsung's defence, they are saying they are just inspired by TV, and It should be seen as a competition for the market. Apple asked $ 2.5 billion for the patent against fee. It's ridiculously too much money. I'm not a anti-patent-idea guy, and I do know the importance of the copyrights or the patents, but you can't just ban the company of selling. My point of view, this fight is not just Apple versus Samsung. It's more like Apple wants to occupy the majority of the smartphone market. It may cause some good side of diversity on products, but cutting off the competitor isn't a good idea. I worked at Samsung as an intern this semester and there is a small part of my mind that I want Apple to lose. We'll see what happens.


Heather Kelly. Apple and Samsung make final cases to jury in patent trial. CNN, August 22, 2012. Web. 8 January 2013.

[Good Bye 2012] Invisible Children's Kony campaign gets support of ICC prosecutor

Have you watched the KONY 2012 Video? It's about a campaign to get people's attention on what is happening in Central Africa. I knew about it months ago, and I think it is pretty cool. The person in the picture above is Joseph Kony and he control the Central Africa with his military called LRA(Lord's Resistance Army). He keep expending his territoris and murdering people. The fact that makes me freak out is he made children to kill their parents and to be a soldier for him. This video hit more than 96 million views on Youtube, and it made quite success in getting people's attention. They've got support from ICC(International Criminal Court) and the president of the United States sent the troop to take down Kony, but still he has madaged to evade. I want to focus on the idea of getting people's attention. Jason Russell who is a director of this video did quite a great job on sending a message of 'Where you live shouldn't determine whether you live' and he actually made people some movement. Also, I could see the power that one little voice can change people's mind, and the way he did with his Invisible Children inc. is impressive. There still are many critics who are suspicious about, but now I have a faith that small voice can move people and be a power in this world by this KONY 2012 video.

Anna Holligan. Invisible Children's Kony campaign gets support of ICC prosecutor . BBC, 8 March 2012 . Web. 8 January 2013.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17303179

[Good Bye 2012] Whitney Houston, A 'Perfect Instrument,' Dies

http://www.npr.org/2012/02/12/146761831/whitney-houston-a-perfect-instrument-has-died



The Greatest Diva Whiteny Houston died in earily 2012. People around the world was depressed and shocked that they've lost one of the greatest singer in this era. The article is about short story of her music and life. Many women singers said they were inpired by Whitey Houston and they tributed in Grammy. I'm also said that she is gone forever. I have no doubt of calling her 'the perfect instrument'. Rest in peace Whitney Houston.

 Karen Grigsby Bates. Whitney Houston, A 'Perfect Instrument,' Dies. NPR, February 12, 2012 . Web. 8 January 2013.

[Good Bye 2012] Amanda Todd: Memorial for teenage cyberbullying victim

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/19960162



I heard the Amanda Todd youtube video few months ago, and it was so sad that there is still bullying in school and even in the cyberspace. She killed herself five weeks after she uploaded the video of decribing years of bullying. Shocking thing is that students around her bullied even after she changed her school several times. It had been done through the internet. It is so said young kid killed herself after the video of asking for help. It is also a serious problem in Korea, and people should care about bullied children and should think that what if it happens to their own child. No more bullying!

 A reporter from BBC. Amanda Todd: Memorial for teenage cyberbullying victim . BBC, 17 October 2012 . Web. 8 January 2013.

[Good Bye 2012] Gangnam Style hits one billion views on YouTube

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20812870

1,000,000,000 !!!!
PSY's Gangnam Style hit and passed 1billion views on Youtube, and it is just incredible. I check out Youtube everyday watching music videos, viral videos and various famous Youtuber's channel, and none of them hit billion views. Actually, if one video hits more than 10million, it is watched by many people. I'm so proud of PSY that he didn't make the English version. I knew the Korean version is more catchy when foriegner are listening. I really like PSY and I've been to his concert many times. I do support him and I hope he comes with really great songs and hit the Youtube and the world again like he always do.

 A reporter from BBC. Gangnam Style hits one billion views on YouTube . BBC, 21 December 2012. Web. 8 January 2013.

[Good Bye 2012] Korea National Team ranked 5th in London Olympics 2012

http://wstarnews.hankyung.com/apps/news?popup=0&nid=07&c1=07&c2=07&c3=00&nkey=201208131203341&mode=sub_view



Last summer in London, proud Korean National Team ranked 5th place with 13 Gold medals, 8 Silver medals and 7 Bronze medals. I want to say thanks for all the athletes who devoted themselves fight for my country. I still remember how exciting and tense the games were. I wish I were in the national team as a sprinter competing with Usain Bolt. It's really important that athletes get the good results in national games, because, in that way, people around the world would know and get more interests about S.Korea. Go South Korea !

Hyeyoung Yoon.한국 올림픽 종합 5위, 시작은 미약했으나 끝은 창대하리라 '사상 최고 순위' . 한경닷컴, August 13, 2012. Web. 8 January 2013.

[Good Bye 2012] Superstorm Sandy: Before, During And Beyond

http://www.npr.org/2012/10/31/164043372/sandy-raises-questions-about-climate-and-the-future




There was superstorm hurricane Sandy on late October hit the east coast espcially New York city. It shut down of all the cellphoens, internet, electric powers and the tranportation, also it took more than 250 people's lives and caused demages of $65.6 billion (2012 USD). In this article, climate scientist Radly Horton said that it's because that the planet countinues to warm and the ocean temperatures are going up. He suggested some perspectives that ice melting can change the jet stream and effect the warmer air around the north pole. I'm very sorry that this tregidy happened in the U.S. I'm concerning that this will be happening again around the hurricane seasons, and because of the warming air, the side effect must be more severe. I hope specialists get together and prevent the next possible horrible digaster.


A reporter from NPR. Sandy Raises Questions About Climate And The Future . NPR, October 31, 2012. Web. 8 January 2013.

[Good Bye 2012] Asian fans cheer 'Linsanity'

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/24/world/jeremy-lin-hong-kong/index.html?iref=allsearch



Any basketball fan would know the word 'Linsanity' ! It's made by fans after Asian-American NBA player Jeremy Lin made the huge impression in New York Knicks last year. He has been traded to Houston Rockets and this article is about Lin visited Hong Kong during off-season. With his incredible success in NBA, lots of asian fans are inspired by Lin that Asian could aslo be a player among the giants NBA players. Though I'm a big fan of NBA league supporting Miami Heat, I admire what he is performing now and I've always dreamed that one of Korean players could play in NBA and became world famous star. Besides, Jeremy Lin went to Harvard and he could be a lawyer! Isn't it jsut amazing? I also like to play basketball and all kinds of other ball-related sports. That's why I joined two sports clubs in University and did not care about my grades, but now I see how Linsanity did on his studying and basketball career and I will do my best in my last year in University.

Madison Park. Asian fans cheer 'Linsanity'. CNN, August 24, 2012 . Web. 8 January 2013.

[Good Bye 2012] 'Fearless Felix' dives from the stratosphere, breaks the sound barrier

http://rt.com/news/baumgartner-jump-stratosphere-balloon-416/



Can you believe that A human break the speed of sound on purpose? An Austrian skydiver , Felix Baumgartner, went up in a capsule with special balloon that can stand the low pressure, cold temperature and the speed at the height of nearly 39 kilometers in the air. He jumped with no hesitaion and reached the speed of 1,342.8 kilometers per hour, shattering the sound barrier. I'm just shocked that a person really tried skydiving nearly in the space with space suit. I've always admired people who challenge themselves to what normal people do not even imagine. It's new year and it's my last year as a I'm junior, and I have lots of things that I wanted to try but failed to start like dancing and going for a trip with no money etc. After I finish this winter semester, I am going to plan the things that I wanted to try and challenge to accomplish them for real.


A reporter from RT. 'Fearless Felix' dives from the stratosphere, breaks the sound barrier . RT, 14 October, 2012. Web. 8 January 2013.