Healthy Drinking Tips (extract from CK & DK's Alcohol Zine)

1. Sip and enjoy your drink-Do not speed up; drinking for speed and quantity would skyrocket your blood alcohol content. This would only decrease the pleasurable effects of alcohol and increase the risks.

2. Space your drinks-Your body needs time to process alcohol. Do not drink so much all at once.

3. Drink water while drinking-Quench your thirst with water. Water reduces the amount of alcohol absorbed by the body, and it helps excretion of alcohol.

4. Eat sufficiently before and while drinking-Food slows down the absorption of alcohol.

5. Count your drinks-Be aware of how fast you are drinking. Stop drinking when you have reached your limits.

6. Avoid drinking games-Competitive drinking puts pressure on you, which will make you
drink more than the right amount.

7. Stick to one type of liquor-switching drinks can really make you sick.

8. Remember that straight liquor contains much more alcohol than beer or wine-drink it in moderation or not at all.

9. Take multivitamins before drinking-This better prepares the body for the depletion of vitamins caused by frequent urination.

These are a few tips that would protect you. They will reduce the risks of many health problems due to alcohol. However, always keep in mind that drinking in moderation is the most important thing to do. Follow the tips and stay healthy, since health is the most precious possession!

Korean Soju (extract from CK & DK's Alcohol ZIne)

Soju is the most popular Korean liquor in Korea. At evening, when you go in a restaurant, you can always see empty Soju-bottles remaining on the table. Most of Koreans drink Soju. Soju is quite easy to buy, because it doesn't cost so much. Due to the cheap price, soju is a beloved liquor, and they are called 'A friend of life' or 'Common people's drink'.

There are two kinds of Soju; distilled Soju and diluted Soju. Diluted Soju is easier to see because Soju is manufactured by diluted way different from Whisky or Brandy. Usually, Soju has 25% proof of alcohol, but under 20% proof Soju has became more popular. Such a low alcohol proof made it possible for Soju to be sold in the lowest price.

What people generally called Soju was a distilled, transparent, hard liquor made from potatoes and grain with high alcoholic content. However, the Soju manufacturers started to produce diluted Soju in 1965, due to a policy that intended to save rice. (1965 was when Korea had a very hard time.) Besides, diluted Soju is easier to produce too.

Soju tastes slightly bitter and a bit similar to ethanol. It is a taste that always fits very well to your mood; no matter you're happy or sad. The alcohol proof of Soju is getting lower and lower, so everyone can enjoy it. Try some Soju with roasted pork, and you'll love it!

Epiphany in Earthquake

Natural disasters are things that are really terrifying and deadly. They mostly kill thousands and millions of people and destroy our homes. How would you feel when one happens where you live? You might be extremely scared. You'll even want to rely on somebody like your parent. “Earthquake”, a short story written by Jack Hodgins, is about what people experience and what happens during an earthquake.

In the story, a boy, who is the protagonist, gives a detailed account on what happened in his town during the earthquake, what happened to his uncles Neddie and Tobias Desmond, and one that occurred when he was eight years old. Uncle Neddie is a guy who was startled and terrified due to a strange coincidence, which was the earthquake beginning at the same time as he pulled the inaugural switch of his electric fence. Uncle Tobias is a guy who witnesses a lake entirely draining down the crack during an earthquake, which makes him exhilarated and incessantly talk about it. After referring to their stories, the boy tells his own experience as a narrator.

The earthquake began at morning. Milk was sloshing in the pail and the chimney was breaking down. The boy was so scared that he thought that it was the end of the world. His brother was giggling as if it was an entertainment, though his mother was screaming. They tried to escape, and got out to the verandah.

I'd like to know, still believing that the earth would stay steady beneath
your feet forever, fathers stay capable for heroic rescues forever,
mothers stay calm in any sort of emergency forever, and houses you
lived in stay solid and still and safe and true till the end of time? (335)

The passage above shows what the boy thought during the earthquake. Since he had reached the age of reason, he was able to realize that the earth beneath his feet can't stay steady forever and his parents aren't always heroic and calm in a way that keeps him away from danger. This passage shows the boy's epiphany, which is the theme of the story, that your parents can't always protect you. Ultimately, it means that a person must take care of him/herself and be responsible.

After a while, the earthquake stopped and the family got together. They see their house collapsed. After 15 minutes, Uncle Neddie and his housekeeper Grace came to see how much damage had been done. Uncle Neddie tells them about the strange coincidence that frightened him, and everyone laughs. Soon, when Uncle Tobias comes along, the boy's father says, “You see anything here that's changed?” (358), which is a joke. This part implies another theme of the story, which is laughing although having a hard. This means that maintaining a positive attitude will helps you overcome problems. During the frightening and tense moment of earthquake, the boy must have learned many things.

The story is about the boy and his uncles' experiences during an earthquake. During the earthquake, he started to be aware that he can't always be protected. After the earthquake, the whole family feels relief and talk to each other. The boy's father even makes a joke, which shows people laughing, to get over the damage. This story shows how life can be or how life is very well. The world is not merely a safe place, and sometimes we'll have to laugh and be optimistic, even though we're facing hardship.

Nothing Special Today (During the Chinese new year holiday)

Yesterday, I stayed up very late, so I over slept and got up about 11 o’clock A.M. Since it was Chinese New Year Holiday and I didn’t have any lessons, I was free for the whole day. As soon as I got up, I thought that I shouldn’t waste any of my time, and turned my computer on. I decided to stay home, because my friends went somewhere and the sky was cloudy, which can make people feel melancholy, so I didn’t feel like going out.

The first thing I did was drawing the curtain, which made my room very dim. It was the best environment to watch animations. I forgot to sign out my MSN messenger, so some stupid guys were interrupting me while I was watching the animations. After I signed out my MSN messenger, there were nothing but watching animations left. I think I watched animations for about six hours. I had a wonderful time, because usually I couldn’t spend that much time on something I like.

After dinner, I went back into my room, grabbed a book, and read for about three hours. Then I fell asleep. There were nothing special today, but it was not boring. I think I will enjoy the rest of my holiday as well.

A memorable event in my Childhood

People experience many things, and a number of events take place during their lives. Everybody has his or her own childhood, and the impressing happenings during their childhood. I have quite a lot of memorable events during my childhood as well. There is very much, and no matter how trivial or significant, they have had an influence on me. Here is one below:

It occurred at my 7th birthday, which would be in 1997. I was living in Beijing, and I was in kindergarten. Like everybody does, I was really happy and excited because it was my birthday, and I was looking forward to receiving gifts and eating a sweet birthday cake. I was in my room, playing with my toys and reading books after breakfast. When it was lunchtime, I was still excited, I did stupid things. I can’t remember exactly what I did and what happened, but I can tell that I got injured, because of the doorknob. I got a cut right beside my eyebrow. It didn’t hurt that much, but it bleed; enough to scare my parents and myself. The joyful atmosphere of the house suddenly changed, urgent and full of tension. I was crying. Then, my parents took me to the hospital. Some of Chinese hospitals are quite dim and spooky. The hospital I went was just like that. Al kids fear hospitals, especially when they need injections and a stitch. I was nearly scared to h. the injection for tetanus did hurt very much, and the stitches I had on the cut looked terrible and disgusting. After the operation, my parents and I headed home. Finally, I had my cake and got my gifts, but I was still frightened. Since this day, I became a careful and deliberate boy. I also got a pointy-stuff phobia. Now, I have a scar right beside my eyebrow, and every time I look into a mirror, I recall the day I got this. I think I learned a good lesson that day.
Now, when I go back to this part of my memory, it is very funny and ridiculous, though I got stitches instead of candles on my birthday cake. It taught me a good lesson, and made me into a cautious person. It can be a trivial one, but it is quite significant to me. I think that I’ll never forget this ludicrous day.

Hello, World!

Hello world I'm David! My Korean name is Dong Ki Kang, but because "Dong Ki" sounds like "donkey", I made an English name for myself. I was born in August 16th, 1991, and came to China when I was six years old. I lived in many cities in China, which are Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. To tell the truth I don't like living in China. Now I am living in Shenzhen, studying in grade ten. My school is called ISSC. School life used to be very exciting, but because all of my friends have left, it's extremely boring.
I like to play basketball play computer games, watch animations, and read books. During weekends, I spend most of my time doing these. I can say that a world without these would be banal and tasteless. Usually, I am to busy to do these. I also enjoy living busily because I feel like I'm obtaining many things. My dream is to be a CEO of a huge multinational company and profit a lot. I would like to donate millions to charities and help the poor. I am striving to reach my objective. However, now, my closest goal is to enter a famous university in Canada or The USA. What I am waiting and desiring the most is the summer break when school term ends and I go back to Korea. I am really eager to go to Korea, because I can meet my relatives and friends and study a lot. Anyway, I am looking forward to introduce myself to the world in medias like the TV or newspapers, as a renowned CEO.

About David

Hi, I'm David. I'm Korean, and my Korean name is Dong Ki, which sounds like "Donkey". I was born in August 16th, 1991, and now I am in grade 10. I was hospitalized for three weeks and I couldn't come school for almost a month. New students who came in April might not know me. I like to play basketball or play computer games in the internet cafe. When you are bored, just call me. Let's hang out and have fun.