New Excavations at North Korean Nuclear Test Facility

Recent satellite imagery has exposed new tunnel entrances which are being excavated at the Punggye-ri nuclear site.  This is the same location that North Korea used to test nuclear weapons on two occasions in the past.  Discovery of this new activity is leading to speculation as to when (not if) a new test will take place.

Cover art debate

Recently, I experienced some debate over the magnitude of high-quality book covers.  It is my belief that quality cover art is a critical component of the overall novel packaging.  Is the value of the writing and the packaging (cover art) on the outside of the book not equally important?  I know that a poor cover can be overlooked if the writing is superior, but how does a newer writer get noticed.  Unless you are already listed as a bestseller you have little recognition and must find a way to standout among the masses.  

Is it not the packaging that draws the reader in and encourages them to pick up the book?  There are thousands of books contained on the shelves of a bookstore – how do you demand a potential reader’s attention?  I surmise that it is through the cover art and professional look of the product that holds your masterpiece within its bindings.  What are your thoughts on this?  What draws you to pick up a new book?  

North Korea sending spies into overseas restaurants?

North Korean women sing at a North Korean restaurant in Dandong, China. (AP)

U.S. and Western Intelligence Agencies reported today that North Korea restaurants (most in China) are espionage hot beds.  These spy operations have placed tens of thousands of agents overseas which help bring in more than $100 million per year to Pyongyang.  

According to North Korean defectors, these restaurants have become important in bringing in additional currency for the nation.  These restaurants are making payments annually to Pyongyang with amounts ranging between $10,000 and $30,000.

Gives you something to think about next time you order some samgye-tang.

North Korean Cargo Ship Caught with Missiles

When all seems quiet on the North Korean front - they must be up to something.  A North Korean cargo ship, the Chong Chon Gang, was carrying "undeclared military cargo" from Cuba and was intercepted in Panama.  It was reported that the ship was carrying sugar, but was turned in as a drug vessel.  Upon seizure in the Panama Canal it was discovered that the vessel was actually carrying "sophisticated ballistic missile equipment".  The Panamanian president was kind enough to Tweet this picture of their cargo.

North Korea Fooding

Over the last three days, North Korea has been pounded by rain which has caused extreme flooding.  The already impoverished population 24 million has been starving for decades and this recent catastrophe is only making their situation dire.  Current reports are that hundreds are homeless and two have been killed by this flooding.

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Pardon my rant....

Who’s driving…

Pardon My Rant, but…  who is driving the cars out there today?  I know it isn’t the people sitting behind their steering wheels.  Screw Gun Control, let’s exercise Driver Control!  Everybody is so concerned about the dangers of my guns or the multitudes of drunk drivers, but nobody seems to be talking about the risks posed by the masses of stupid people with (and sometimes without) driver’s licenses.

Just today, I counted twenty-eight ‘drivers’ actively engaged in tasks that were NOT driving.  In a thirty+ minute drive, that is just under one driver per minute that I personally witnessed aiming two ton bullets at anything near them.  Frankly, I’m disgusted by the drivers I see on the roads during those trips.  I’m fed up with texters.  I’m tired of left-lane sitters.  I’m enraged by merge lane cutters.  The rules of the roads are simple.  Pay attention, be courteous, and follow them.  If you can’t, then stay off the roads.

My recommendation is that any driver caught texting/applying makeup/doing touchdown celebrations/cutting into merge lanes/sending emails/driving in the left lane two miles under the speed limit/reading newspapers/tossing cigarette butts/watching movies/eating five-course meals/or any other general act of idiocy should be required to stand out on the middle stripe of a busy two-lane road to take their chances with their fellow distracted and dumb drivers. 

So…  if you have to talk, then buy a Bluetooth device and CALL.

If you are bored, buy a sports car.

If you missed your daily comics, read them at work.

And…  if you wear a lot of makeup, DON’T.

Let’s hear your rant on Distracted Drivers.

Another tantrum from North Korea

Some days I feel like Kim Jong-Un is channeling Whitesnake's song Here I Go Again,  from the 'hair band' era.  When I read yesterday's news, it appeared that maybe China would be able to reel in the rogue North.  Unfortunately, today it seems as if they are going on a tirade again against South Korea's president by slamming their leader by calling her a "confrontation maniac" and will face "deadlier retaliation" if she doesn't stop slanderous talks about the Northern regime.  Sometimes the North makes my head hurt - much like the hair band era did.