thespecter.net http://www.thespecter.net/blog epistemic deobfuscation and assorted flotsam Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:10:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 You’re not anonymous… http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=316 http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=316#comments Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:09:57 +0000 Erik http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=316

]]> http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?feed=rss2&p=316 0 The country is governed… http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=313 http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=313#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:04:24 +0000 Erik http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=313 "The country is governed for the richest, for the corporations, the bankers, the land speculators, and for the exploiters of labor. The majority of mankind are working people. So long as their fair demands - the ownership and control of their livelihoods - are set at naught, we can have neither men’s rights nor women’s rights. The majority of mankind is ground down by industrial oppression in order that the small remnant may live in ease.” — Helen Keller, 1911

]]> http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?feed=rss2&p=313 0 Blackout Day http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=308 http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=308#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:17:06 +0000 Erik http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=308 Today is blackout day.

www.americancensorship.com

]]> http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?feed=rss2&p=308 0 Stop Internet Censorship http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=299 http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=299#comments Fri, 16 Dec 2011 03:59:32 +0000 Erik http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=299 The USA is not China. We do not need to outlaw free expression, especially for no other reason than to allow media monopolies to continue.

 

 

]]> http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?feed=rss2&p=299 0 November 5 http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=292 http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=292#comments Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:09:35 +0000 Erik http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=292 Remember, Remember, the fifth of November

]]> http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?feed=rss2&p=292 0 Feeding the Poor http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=293 http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=293#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:37:23 +0000 Erik http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=293 Even Adam Smith argued for social welfare and gentlemen businessmen.

]]> http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?feed=rss2&p=293 0 Midwestern U.S. Night With Aurora Borealis http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=290 http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=290#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:21:03 +0000 Erik http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=290 Midwestern U.S. Night With Aurora Borealis (NASA, International Space Station, 09/29/11)

Midwestern U.S. Night With Aurora Borealis (NASA, International Space Station, 09/29/11)

]]> http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?feed=rss2&p=290 0 Congratulations Chilean Miners http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=274 http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=274#comments Tue, 19 Oct 2010 02:51:12 +0000 Erik http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=274 They're just like Mario!

They're just like Mario!

]]> http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?feed=rss2&p=274 0 A new map of the Internet http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=272 http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=272#comments Wed, 06 Oct 2010 12:45:26 +0000 Erik http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=272 It's a new map of the Internet.

Ah, thank you xkcd.

]]> http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?feed=rss2&p=272 0 Seoul trip http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=256 http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=256#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:08:13 +0000 Erik http://www.thespecter.net/blog/?p=256 We visited Seoul at the end of July. Only now have I gotten around to posting the pictures.

In Seoul, we visited the largest Buddhist temple in the area. Unfortunately, the pictures we had taken weren't very good and the temple wasn't much different than Beomeosa in Busan.

We also visited one of the imperial palaces, Changdeokgung, and took a tour through the palace grounds. This palace was originally built in the 15th century and has been renovated a few times throughout history. Gung is the ending that signifies a palace, so this is "Changdeok palace."

Changdeokgung tour

Changdeokgung tour

This is the kings road to his throne. The two sides of the road are lower, and the higher(middle) section was only for the king to walk on.

This is the king's road to his throne. The two sides of the road are lower, and the higher(middle) section was only for the king to walk on.

The kings throne room

The king's throne room

This is the kings throne. Notice the picture behind it of the sun, moon, and five mountains. Its behind all the kings thrones in Korea. The sun represents the king, the moon represents the queen, and the five mountains represent five aspects of his kingdom.

This is the king's throne. Notice the picture behind it of the sun, moon, and five mountains. It's behind all the kings' thrones in Korea. The sun represents the king, the moon represents the queen, and the five mountains represent five aspects of his kingdom.

These are rooftop guardians of the throne room.

These are rooftop guardians of the throne room.

The kings living quarters. According to Confucian rules, men and women should sleep separately, so the queen had her own quarters.

The king's living quarters. According to Confucian rules, men and women should sleep separately, so the queen had her own quarters.

The remodeled interior of part of the kings quarters. Now, its just a large western-style living room.

The remodeled interior of part of the king's quarters. Now, it's just a large western-style living room.

After the kings quarters were lost in a fire (and later rebuilt), he took the opportunity to make his living quarters in the same building as the queen, and this mother of pearl couch is in the living room separating the two rooms.

After the king's quarters were lost in a fire (and later rebuilt), he took the opportunity to make his living quarters in the same building as the queen, and this mother of pearl couch is in the living room separating the two rooms.

This beautiful artwork is reserved only for temples and palaces. It was against the law for anyone else to paint a house or building in this way.

This beautiful artwork is reserved only for temples and palaces. It was against the law for anyone else to paint a house or building in this way.

This ondol fireplace is used to heat the floors of the palace. On one end of the building is the fireplace, on the other end is the chimney. There is a gap under the floor, above which is a layer of clay which rests under the actual floor. The heat/smoke from the fire heats the gap and the clay, keeping the floor nice and warm for the winter time. It is because the heat comes from the floor in this way that Koreans do everything at floor level (eating, sleeping, pretty much everything). And thats why they take their shoes off at the door, to keep the floor - the surface they do everything on - clean.

This ondol fireplace is used to heat the floors of the palace. On one end of the building is the fireplace, on the other end is the chimney. There is a gap under the floor, above which is a layer of clay which rests under the actual floor. The heat/smoke from the fire heats the gap and the clay, keeping the floor nice and warm for the winter time. It is because the heat comes from the floor in this way that Koreans do everything at floor level (eating, sleeping, pretty much everything). And that's why they take their shoes off at the door, to keep the floor - the surface they do everything on - clean.

The kings gate to the Secret Garden. Only the king could use this gate, and only the royal family was allowed into this garden.

The princes living quarters

Walkway to the Secret Garden

Walkway to the Secret Garden

This is the largest pond in the gardens; behind it is the palace library.

This is the largest pond in the gardens; behind it is the palace library.

The pond and library

The pond and library

Notice the three gates in front of the library (a big one and two tiny green ones on each side). Only the king was allowed to go through the middle gate. Everyone else had to go through the tiny green gates, which were intentionally made so small that you have to bow to walk through them. Only the king was allowed to walk upright through the gate.

Notice the three gates in front of the library (a big one and two tiny green ones on each side). Only the king was allowed to go through the middle gate. Everyone else had to go through the tiny green gates, which were intentionally made so small that you have to bow to walk through them. Only the king was allowed to walk upright through the gate.

This gate is supposed to keep you from aging if you walk through it. Its one of those long live the king kind of things.

This gate is supposed to keep you from aging if you walk through it. It's one of those "long live the king" kind of things.

This house was built for the king by the prince as a gift. The king had a tough reign, so the son built it as the kings getaway. Notice that its not painted with the colors of a palace; the prince did this on purpose, saying that in this house the king is just a regular person, without the pressures of a ruler.

A rose of sharon, the nation flower of Korea

A rose of sharon, the national flower of Korea

We also spent some time in Insadong, a tourist-centered area.

Here's the only picture we took:

The alleyway to a vegetarian restaurant that we found in Insadong.

The alleyway to a vegetarian restaurant that we found in Insadong.

We also went on what was described as a "shaman walk" up into a mountainside where there is a temple and various shrines.

A view of Seoul

A view of Seoul

These are some rocks on a mountain behind a Buddhist temple that are supposedly shaped like a monk meditating. I think that shamanists worship there, too.

These are some rocks on a mountain behind a Buddhist temple that are supposedly shaped like a monk meditating. I think that shamanists worship there, too.

The Seoul fortress wall

The Seoul fortress wall

Heres another view of Seoul

Here's another view of Seoul and the temple

These rocks are the Skeleton rocks.

These rocks are the Skeleton rocks.

We also did some shopping in Seoul, but we don't have any pictures of that, as it was really cramped and a picture wouldn't really reveal anything about the experience. Hopefully, this weekend we will be going to Gyeongju, but if we don't we will go eventually, and I will write about some of our other or future adventures.

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