Cancun

This month’s retro photo album is called “Cancun, Jan 11 – Feb 15, 2007.” I used a terrible point-and-shoot camera back then and the pictures are of rather low quality, but I like looking back and seeing what I was trying to capture. I am fascinated by archaeological ruins. I love imagining what life must have beenContinue reading “Cancun”

Tales From the Crypt

I attended the annual “Tales From The Crypt” event in Columbus, MS in 2017. Perhaps the coolest, most unique thing ever. Students pick a name of someone that is buried in Friendship Cemetery, spend time researching that person and write a paper about an event in that person’s life. Then they make their paper intoContinue reading “Tales From the Crypt”

Taiwan Beliefs

Most commonly, Taiwanese practice a syncretism of Buddhism (Fo Jiao), Taoism (Dao Jiao) and Chinese Folk Religion. Buddhism is the most common religion in Taiwan with about 35.1% of the population confessing to adhering to the religion. Taoism is a religious, philosophical, and ritual tradition that originated from the Chinese and forms the second most followed religion in Taiwan by 33% ofContinue reading “Taiwan Beliefs”

Taipei 101 Damper Ball

728-Ton Tuned Mass Damper 1 ton = 2000 lbs 700 tons = 1,400,000 lbs. Sitting just 660 ft. from a major fault line, Taipei 101 is prone to earthquakes and fierce winds common in its area of the Asia-Pacific. The engineers had to design a structure that could withstand gale winds up to 216 km/hContinue reading “Taipei 101 Damper Ball”

Changdeokgung 

Changdeokgung was originally built in 1405 as a secondary palace, but when Gyeongbokgung (Seoul’s principal palace) was destroyed during the Japanese invasion in the 1590s, it became the primary royal residence until 1872. It remained in use well into the 20th century. Like all Joseon palaces, it has a mountain behind it and a small streamContinue reading “Changdeokgung “

Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty

The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty form a collection of 40 tombs scattered over 18 locations. Built over five centuries, from 1408 to 1966, the tombs honoured the memory of ancestors, showed respect for their achievements, asserted royal authority, and protected ancestral spirits from evil. By being entombed in the nation’s dynastic capital, itContinue reading “Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty”

Living Too Close to North Korea

In many large Seoul subway stations, there are cabinets that say “relief goods storage” that contain gas masks and other emergency-preparedness equipment. Many of these stations also serve as bomb shelters to protect the population from North Korean attacks. How prepared are we for nuclear war? Read this article to find out. Spoiler alert: the results areContinue reading “Living Too Close to North Korea”

La Brea Tar Pits Notes

La Brea Tar Pits dates from the Pleistocene era. La Brea tar pits, containing one of the richest, best preserved, and best studied assemblages of Pleistocenevertebrates, including at least 59 species of mammal and over 135 species of bird. The tar pit fossils bear eloquent witness to life in southern California from 40,000 to 8,000 years ago; aside fromContinue reading “La Brea Tar Pits Notes”