Published inILLUMINATION Gaming·Sep 1The Best-Selling Video Games on 21 SystemsThese are the games that swallowed consoles whole. — Video games are big business, and we‘re always interested to know exactly how big. Major releases now sell well into the eight-figure range, and the baseline for what constitutes a best-seller just keeps getting higher. That growth is mainly because the industry itself is much larger than it once was…Videogames6 min readVideogames6 min read
Published inCounter Arts·Aug 22Member-onlyIn Praise of Buskers and Street PerformersMusic is best when everyone is involved. — One of the delights of travel is finding something unexpected, and one of the most serendipitous discoveries is music. I realize that many people disagree with me on this point. There are those who find buskers to be an annoyance. For the kind of person who is forever encased in…Culture3 min readCulture3 min read
Published inSNAPSHOTS·Aug 21Member-onlyFields of the SunThe sunflower is a commonly recognized symbol of the state of Kansas, but it’s a rare pleasure to see a field of them. This particular…Photography1 min readPhotography1 min read
Aug 15Member-onlyAn Open Letter to the Chinese Government, Who Want Me To Stay OutThis is the end of an era, at least for me. — I really thought we had a reasonably good relationship here. For six years, I lived and worked in your country. That’s a lot longer than any romantic relationship I’ve ever had, longer than any friendship for that matter. …China7 min readChina7 min read
May 9Korean Pizza: The Ongoing QuestI’m not a pizza snob, though I‘ve been known to play one for the internet. Mainly, I find pizza interesting as a phenomenon: An incredibly simple food with countless variations that’s a classic American comfort food despite originating (in very different form) in the Old World. Also it’s tasty, but…Korea5 min readKorea5 min read
Published inSNAPSHOTS·May 2Member-onlyThe Ceiling of DaejeonKorea can be a bit of a hiker’s paradise. As a nation built up between mountains, one is never more than a brief bus ride away from a footpath, a mountain park, or some other geographically superior position. …Photography2 min readPhotography2 min read
Published inCounter Arts·Apr 27The East Asian Fast Food Beverage BagIt really is the little differences that you notice the most. — The first time I ordered takeout in one of China’s ubiquitous KFCs, I received something a little unusual. I received a fountain drink as one usually does, but rather than carrying it out myself, the person at the counter gave me the cup in a small, thin plastic bag. It…China3 min readChina3 min read
Published inEast Asia·Apr 21Member-onlyFive Distinctions I’ve Noticed Between Korea and ChinaHey, did you know that they have ice here? — I’ve been in the Republic of Korea for about two months. That’s clearly not enough time to really understand the culture. On the other hand, I was in the People’s Republic of China for six years, and that’s enough time to get painfully familiar. China and Korea tend to get…Korea5 min readKorea5 min read
Published inThe Expat Chronicles·Apr 18A Brief Look at the Korean Selfie StudioIf there’s space for people, then there’s space for amusement. — I’ve made it this far without indulging in analysis of anything as tedious and shopworn as “selfie culture.” It’s just been done. …Korea3 min readKorea3 min read
Published inCounter Arts·Apr 10Member-onlyStreet Politics in South KoreaThese are the things you miss living in China. — One of the biggest differences between South Korea and China is the presence of political activism. While it does exist, activism in the PRC is (as you’d imagine) very rare and certainly not something you see on a daily basis. …Travel2 min readTravel2 min read
