Sandy Hook. and Clackamas Town Center.

    Like everyone else, I am absolutely shocked, saddened and outraged at the senseless violence that took place yesterday in Newtown, Connecticut.  Some sick bastard forced his way into a school and murdered several children and teachers.  In my home state of Oregon, at the time of the Newtown shooting, we were still mourning the shooting at Clackamas town Center, one of our malls. 2 people and the shooter were killed and one was injured. We were shocked enough by that, but only a few days later, Newtown happened. In Connecticut  the death toll is devastating. It is the second worst school shooting in American History, second only to the 2007 attack on Virginia Tech.  Many people have blamed guns for these tragedies. I refuse to join that bandwagon, because I know what the real issue is, just as I did nearly five months ago when the shootings in Aurora, Colorado happened.  At the time, in my previous blog "Rotten Slice Of Americana" I pointed a finger directly at the only other people responsible for these shootings, other than the murderers themselves.    The media.   At the time, I predicted we would soon see other tragedies of this type, because of how the media covered the shootings in Colorado. Sadly, I was right.

       There was a time in our history, when journalists were concerned with being the watchdogs of democracy, as was the intention behind "free journalism."  Instead they are enablers of murderers and maniacs who seem feast on the blood of dead children. "If it bleeds, it leads." has long since been the unofficial credo of many ambulance chasing reporters, and what has come of it?  A culture where the media, in it's pursuit of some kind of bullshit award in journalism, turns murderers into heroes, and turns sad loners into psychotic assholes who want to become the next monster in our nation's closet.   Columbine is considered the first "big one" as far as this current trend of shootings go. But they were inspired by the shootings like the one here in Oregon at Thurston High. Why? Because of  the mammoth size of the media coverage. It is not enough to simply announce what happened. They have to try to get in as many angles as possible for their big story. (In the Clackamas shooting, they even interviewed Santa Claus.) People who choose to take out 15- 30 people are assured to be celebrities now, and that will inspire pathetic sickos to form a fan club to honor them.  Many of these murders are committed in a quest for notoriety. Why indulge them, media?  You are fueling the fire.I hope you're happy. You've created a culture of blood-thirstiness. If you could tell the story without making the shooters anti-heroic figures, we would see tragedies like this wind down, but you refuse to report in moderation. You pulled the trigger on all of those poor children with your coverage in July. And when the next shooting happens, (which it undoubtedly will) it will be because of the trigger pulling you are doing now.  As I said before, the cycle of death rages on. 

Lets reset the clock. We are now zero days without a media inspired shooting. (A shooting in Alabama happened today by the way. No casualties, besides the shooter.  Just three wounded. Not many people died, so you may not have heard about it. They get their meal ticket when people die.)    


  Final note- this is not an indictment of all journalists. Several of my friends have gone into Journalism, and  there have been some who have chosen to take a moral high ground.  This is more directed at the general trend of journalistic sensationalism in the face of tragedy.   If any of my journalist friends read this- I have faith in you and your integrity.  I know you'll bring dignity back to media. 

Rotten Slice Of Americana- My Thoughts On The Recent Aurora Theater Shooting. More to come.

  The problem isn't so much the guns. The problem is the attention these maniacs get. They become a dark folk figure. Call them a rotten slice of Americana. To some deeply twisted individuals, they become folk heroes and role models. Some people try to emulate or imitate these "folk heroes". The Virginia Tech killer, and countless other would be mass murderers have offered the names of the Columbine killers as inspiration.
   Why are these people heroes to others/why do people continue the thread of violence? Two reasons: 1. Because these people are deeply disturbed individuals to begin with. 2. Because of the attention they get from the media. These people are generally loners. They feel disenfranchised, or abandoned and they think the only way to get attention is by doing something violent and drastic. They love leaving all of these things behind for people to talk about and analyze. They love being a puzzle for others to discuss and solve. They love having their ugly mugs plastered all over the news and internet. When some other depressed, psycho loner sees the legacy built up by somebody else's sins against humanity, they decide they want a piece of the action as well. They want to build their own legacy. The Columbine kids looked to Thurston High and Paduca for their inspiration, and in turn others have looked to them.
   It is a viscous cycle that has caught way too many lives in it's teeth. Is this about guns? Hardly. It is about twisted hero worship. And it needs to come to an end now. The media should keep coverage of the Aurora shooter to a minimum. They should cease referring to him altogether. Keep cameras out of his face, because with every click of the camera, you are feeding the beast. Do not give this sicko what he wants. Let him rot in obscurity. If you take away the notoriety, you will take away the motivation to kill from other glory seekers, and many, many lives will be saved. Please note I have not mentioned the name of any of the aformentioned murderers. That is how it should be.
   In fact, I plan to learn the names of everyone who was fatally hit at Aurora, and I may write a blog about them. They are the ones who deserve to be remembered. Not the smirking psycho who is now enjoying his day in the spotlight. All this coverage is going to bring is more death. Sensational courtroom drama is fascinating to read, but is it worth the terrible price we know some poor group of people will have to pay again in the future? Even now, the cycle of death rages on.

Duh Kuh Bee: A Taste Of The 38th Parallel

A border fence runs between the two Koreas at the 38th parallel. This politically inspired structure permanently separated families and caused a lot of pain in different communities in the two respective Koreas. We have seen images of Korean people standing at the 38th parallel tearfully looking through the fence at the other side. Perhaps they are wondering about the fate of a long lost love, or maybe they are just home sick. Sadly, their misery does not end there. In North Korea, the citizens are forced into compulsory worship of a successive bloodline of tyrannical leaders. People are slaughtered at the slightest murmur of dissent the atmosphere of governmental intimidation is so thick, you can barely manage to cut it open with a machete. If you are anything short of absolutely reverent to the "Dear Leader" you are guaranteed to be snuffed out like a flickering candle.

The South does not have it much better, largely thanks to the North. The South Koreans have obnoxious neighbors who play with missiles like they are tinker toys.

Despite all of their hardships, Koreans on both sides of the 38th parallel have one escape from their problems, no matter how temporary it is- their delicious barbecue. (Mostly on the south side, since a lot of them in the North are starving) I would not recommend going to North Korea, because it will likely take nothing less than a former President of the United States to get you out. I would not recommend going to South Korea either, because it is so close to North Korea.

Instead, why not go to Duh Kuh Bee. It is a tiny hole in the wall restaurant that is so unassuming, that you might need a map to find it if you are standing right in front of it. When you walk in for the first time, you will be astonished by the atmosphere. Aside from the color Television set at the end of the restaurant playing American television, you will think you were magically transported to Korea. The place looks just divey enough to have a cute "slumming" quality about it, but it isn't dirty, and it does not look unsanitary. When you walk in, a barrage of random aromas immediately hit you in the face. Your hunger is brought to a peak when teased by the pleasing scents. If you look directly to your left, you will see a display with photos of random customers. That already gives you a sense that they appreciate your business. When you look inside of the building, you might feel astonished by the small size of it. On the first immediate glance, you might feel like you are in a Korean themed semi truck trailer. You can rest assured, this is an illusion. When you walk in a bit further, you will see to your right, a little bar you can sit at, replete with soy sauces and other garnishments, that has a direct, full view into the kitchen.

When you are seated, you are presented with what looks like little square pieces of Honeydew, and a salad that was churned in a garbage disposal. Again, the Koreans triumph with their illusions. The "honeydew" tastes like cole slaw, and the garbage disposal salad is delicious. Unfortunately, I forget what both of these are called. You are brought a jug of water with a close-able lid, and two smallish glasses. The menu tends to have the items pictured. They have the expected items of noodles and rice. If you have a direct view of the kitchen, you can see them make the noodles right there, so you know you are getting quality food. I recommend the shrimp rice, and the medium vegetable noodle. Aso, get a side of meat. They have Korean beef ribs, and other delectables.

The service is usually perfect. The only time when it wasn't, was when a remiss young waiter actually came chasing us down the street asking for a tip. (We usually pay tips, but were running a bit short that day.) But, if you go there more than once, you can count on them recognizing you, and welcoming you back like an old friend. Maybe my friend Ben and I are easy to recognize because we seem to be the only non-Asians who ever show up. Who knows? Either way, when an Asian food restaurant is full of Asians, you can almost bet on it's authenticity.

This place is open quite late usually, so if you feel like a midnight snack, Duh Kuh Bee is your hook up.

Ultimately, I have to recommend this place to anybody who likes to eat wholesome, authentic Asian food. It is worth every penny, and you do get your money's worth. It is like being at the 38th parallel, except without the isolation from family members, or fear of getting killed. It is just a happier place to be than the 38th parallel.

Service A

Food A+

Environment A

Recommendation- Go there. NOW

Duh Kuh Bee: A Taste Of The 38th Parallel

A border fence runs between the two Koreas at the 38th parallel. This politically inspired structure permanently separated families and caused a lot of pain in different communities in the two respective Koreas. We have seen images of Korean people standing at the 38th parallel tearfully looking through the fence at the other side. Perhaps they are wondering about the fate of a long lost love, or maybe they are just home sick. Sadly, their misery does not end there. In North Korea, the citizens are forced into compulsory worship of a successive bloodline of tyrannical leaders. People are slaughtered at the slightest murmur of dissent the atmosphere of governmental intimidation is so thick, you can barely manage to cut it open with a machete. If you are anything short of absolutely reverent to the "Dear Leader" you are guaranteed to be snuffed out like a flickering candle.

The South does not have it much better, largely thanks to the North. The South Koreans have obnoxious neighbors who play with missiles like they are tinker toys.

Despite all of their hardships, Koreans on both sides of the 38th parallel have one escape from their problems, no matter how temporary it is- their delicious barbecue. (Mostly on the south side, since a lot of them in the North are starving) I would not recommend going to North Korea, because it will likely take nothing less than a former President of the United States to get you out. I would not recommend going to South Korea either, because it is so close to North Korea.

Instead, why not go to Duh Kuh Bee. It is a tiny hole in the wall restaurant that is so unassuming, that you might need a map to find it if you are standing right in front of it. When you walk in for the first time, you will be astonished by the atmosphere. Aside from the color Television set at the end of the restaurant playing American television, you will think you were magically transported to Korea. The place looks just divey enough to have a cute "slumming" quality about it, but it isn't dirty, and it does not look unsanitary. When you walk in, a barrage of random aromas immediately hit you in the face. Your hunger is brought to a peak when teased by the pleasing scents. If you look directly to your left, you will see a display with photos of random customers. That already gives you a sense that they appreciate your business. When you look inside of the building, you might feel astonished by the small size of it. On the first immediate glance, you might feel like you are in a Korean themed semi truck trailer. You can rest assured, this is an illusion. When you walk in a bit further, you will see to your right, a little bar you can sit at, replete with soy sauces and other garnishments, that has a direct, full view into the kitchen.

When you are seated, you are presented with what looks like little square pieces of Honeydew, and a salad that was churned in a garbage disposal. Again, the Koreans triumph with their illusions. The "honeydew" tastes like cole slaw, and the garbage disposal salad is delirious. Unfortunately, I forget what both of these are called. You are brought a jug of water with a close-able lid, and two smallish glasses. The menu tends to have the items pictured. They have the expected items of noodles and rice. If you have a direct view of the kitchen, you can see them make the noodles right there, so you know you are getting quality food. I recommend the shrimp rice, and the medium vegetable noodle. Aso, get a side of meat. They have Korean beef ribs, and other delectables.

The service is usually perfect. The only time when it wasn't, was when a remiss young waiter actually came chasing us down the street asking for a tip. (We usually pay tips, but were running a bit short that day.) But, if you go there more than once, you can count on them recognizing you, and welcoming you back like an old friend. Maybe my friend Ben and I are easy to recognize because we seem to be the only non-Asians who ever show up. Who knows? Either way, when an Asian food restaurant is full of Asians, you can almost bet on it's authenticity.

This place is open quite late usually, so if you feel like a midnight snack, Duh Kuh Bee is your hook up.

Ultimately, I have to recommend this place to anybody who likes to eat wholesome, authentic Asian food. It is worth every penny, and you do get your money's worth. It is like being at the 38th parallel, except without the isolation from family members, or fear of getting killed. It is just a happier place to be than the 38th parallel.

Service A

Food A+

Environment A

Recommendation- Go there. NOW