Friday, July 30, 2004

I suck at taking pics of fireworks

My goodness... Not a single picture of mine came out good from the fireworks Wednesday night. Here's the best one:

Bright... Posted by Hello
Unbelievable. Every single shot sucked... Bleh, I'll get another chance on Wednesday night next week. :) If you didn't get the e-vite, let me know.
But this vid clip turned out ok. Actually, all the vid clips, except for the finale turned out ok. Which really sort of sucks because the finale was awesome. I'm not going to post any more because they range from 14 to 32 MB each. I have only 100 MB on my webspace, you know... Maybe it's about time I actually purchased some from a web host. Always was interested in getting If you can't download the video fully, it's because it's still uploading. Wow, this is slow....
Met up with Lawson again, who I hadn't seen since Christmas Conference. Great guy. Hanging out with friends and lying on the beach got me thinking about how summer seems to be so different from the other seasons. Unique because I was trained on summer vacation. Kids always got it in school. We still get it in university. Of course, you have summer school options in high school and university, but summer still seems to have this carefree aspect, even if you're in school. I blame it on the sun. Reflecting on past summers, I wonder how summers will change in the future, as I get more settled in life. I wonder. But I can't wait for the winter to come and the ski season to start. :D
Summer of '69
Bryan Adams
I got my first real six-string
Bought it at the five-and-dime
Played it till my fingers bled
It was the summer of '69
Me and some guys from school
Had a band and we tried real hard
Jimmy quit and Jody got married
I shoulda known we'd never get far
Oh when I look back now
That summer seemed to last forever
And if I had the choice
Ya - I'd always wanna be there
Those were the best days of my life
Ain't no use in complainin'
When you got a job to do
Spent my evenin's down at the drive-in
And that's when I met you
Standin' on your mama's porch
You told me that you'd wait forever
Oh and when you held my hand
I knew that it was now or never
Those were the best days of my life
Back in the summer of '69
Man we were killin' time
We were young and restless
We needed to unwind
I guess nothin' can last forever - forever, no
And now the times are changin'
Look at everything that's come and gone
Sometimes when I play that old six-string
I think about ya, wonder what went wrong
Standin' on your mama's porch
You told me it would last forever
Oh the way you held my hand
I knew that it was now or never
Those were the best days of my life
Back in the summer of '69

Friday, July 23, 2004

The 9/11 Report

Here you go.
This will probably be the most comprehensive, objective, and factual report on what actually happened and why. I'll read it after August 6. :) But you can read it right now, if you wish. Anyone who wishes to say a THING to me about 9/11 and subsequent events better have read this report first, or I'll be very reluctant to take their point of view (unless it corresponds with my own, of course).

Show me some determination

Cecilia's murderer caught?

I think I've been talking about the problems of the human race enough lately. Let's talk about something on the other side of the emotional spectrum.

Who do you think will win?

Going back to ludicrous situations. I recall this time when I was in Toronto for a CCC summer urban ministry project. I was eventually delegated the photocopy guy, among other things. So one day I'm given this poster to photocopy. I walk outside and it's a REALLY windy day. What happens? The wind pulls the poster out of my hand and sends it flying down the street. Fun. Providence had the street clear because of some red lights on both sides of me, but you have to consider where I was. I was at Bloor and Spadina, not exactly the quiet corner of downtown. And this paper was happily dancing down Bloor, one of the busiest (if not the busiest) streets downtown.

So I'm running after this paper and can't catch up. Then the lights in front and behind me turn green and the cars start coming. Yippee. So I start sprinting as hard as I can and finally get the poster into my hands and my feet on the sidewalk before I get hit by a car. Surprisingly, the paper wasn't dirty at all, and I recall the street actually being quite clean. How strange.

Thank you Rodi for bringing back memories I'd prefer not to keep.

But this brings to mind an interesting thought.
Taken from the Stanley Cup Journals General Doug Brown talked at length about the key to success being mental toughness. This struck a resounding chord with John Tortorella, who listened intently to the general. "I've got to get this through to the guys," Tortorella said. "General Brown, would you come speak to my players at some point?" Brown agreed, and gave a special medallion to Tortorella and Wilkinson.
What does it mean to totally give your all? Watching Game 6 of the Canucks-Flames series made me feel like I was about to have heart attacks multiple times throughout OT. Throughout the game, these guys were pushing each other so hard and the Canucks were able to finally prevail in triple OT. What poise by Morrison to wait out Kipper and put that puck home. But in the end, the Flames won on pure guts and determination and were able to advance all the way to the Stanley Cup finals in the same fashion. Every game was grueling and the level of attrition soared. In the end, the Flames just couldn't close it out, they had spent EVERYTHING.

It reminds me of the time I was at Whistler with YJ and Arthur. YJ had inadverdantly guided us towards a mogul run earlier in the day and I sucked at it. It must have taken me 20 minutes to get down. So when we hit another mogul run, what could I do but tackle it? Then my skis slipped and I thought, what the hell, and I went straight down the slope, daring the mountain to make me fall. Mental toughness. How much can we accomplish if we had even a little mental toughness? It seems to me that you have to push yourself physically to truly understand what mental toughness is all about. You have to understand what that little bit more is, why willing yourself forward can give you the edge you need to beat the odds. Even for something as trivial as a blue ski run.

Or as trivial as chasing a piece of paper down the street, with cars closing in behind you.
How much can we accomplish in everyday life if we applied a little mental toughness? Working through the night to meet a deadline. Staring an audience in the eye while making an important presentation. Knowing how not to unnecessarily give in to pressure during a negotiation? Et al?

And what do people need to do to gain that mental toughness? Does it sometimes go too far? My arm is still killing me from the volleyball tournament. I really should make my workspace more ergonomic... it's not helping my arm at all. Should I have continued playing through the pain in the first place though? /shrug
And when will my level of mental toughness finally truly be tested?

Monday, July 19, 2004

Oh, the frustration

Do you have any idea how frustrating this is?

Almost won... Posted by Hello
Well, I guess it's not that frustrating. What I find more frustrating is when I try to explain something but they just don't get it, no matter how I try to explain it.
A: If Jimmy comes along and tells me that Tommy spilled salt on the table, and then Pat comes along and tells me that Tommy spilled pepper on the table, is that a contradiction?
B: Yes.
A: Um, no, it's not.
B: Why not?
A: Because it's possible that they could both be telling the truth.
B: Obviously, it's a contradiction.
A: Did you hear me?
B: Obviously, it's a contradiction.
A: Um, ok....
OK, this didn't happen to me; it happened to a friend of mine. But things like this do happen to me now and then. Usually, it's in a situation where I'm trying to correct somebody's fallacy. When do you determine that it's not worth trying to explain anymore? What if that person's very important to you and their way of thinking can create some dangerous situations and consequences? But I get especially hung up on technicalities, and I know I should stop that.
1. I get to be a pretty big jerk.
2. Nobody appreciates it.
3. It wastes everyone's time.
4. It creates enemies.
5. I get to be a pretty big jerk.
But sometimes I see these technicalities as such core important issues that they need to be dealt with then and there. But as my father once said, if you end up making the other person close their ears to you, you have failed in your mission, no matter how right you may have been. I gotta stop doing this.
But these small points can allow for some pretty bad situations to come about if the logic is not corrected. What's the best way to handle it? I'm still trying to figure that out, I suppose.

Saturday, July 17, 2004


Did you ever have one of those experiences when something catches you totally by surprise and you ask yourself, "What on earth is going on here? How did I get here??" This level of bewilderment is experienced in only very specific scenarios. Like the time Joel, Doug, and Jordan wrapped me up in duct tape. Like the time Joel, Doug, and Jordan dared me to eat the hottest sub they could make at Subway, which gave me ulcers all the next day. Like the time I hosted the ACE fashion show and tried to stop the shock from showing on my face when a girl came in wearing a skirt that looked like it was about to fall off. Dang, I wanted to die that time... or at least become invisible. Like the time I found out that Tom in Colorado was getting married. Like the day after I ate that taco from that Mexican place near Hastings and Granville. Like the day I sat on my cousin's $300 sunglasses. Like the day I almost sunk Mr. Suderman's sailboat, as his Laser passed mine.

But today was really stupendous. I taught a little girls class at church today. Well, sort of. One girl got really mad at me and the whole class ended up getting mad at me. And then this girl started crying. Imagine sitting in awkward silence for half an hour with four girls, aged 7 to 10, all mad at you. And you're trying to present a lesson and engage them in dialogue. That sucks. The whole time, I could only think, "What on earth did I do wrong to her??" Despite her constantly telling me why she was mad at me, I still didn't get it, because I didn't see how I was doing that at all; she complained of me ignoring people and not caring about other people's feelings. @@

Here I was trying to be fair to everyone and make sure that everyone was free and able to talk when they wanted. And she accused me of excluding people. It boggled my mind. Especially because we were all such good friends with each other. They're like my kid sisters, we have a lot of fun together.

So sitting there for half an hour in awkward silence... I learned a lot tonight. Especially after one of my female peers talked with the kid after class. But I still don't understand how it got to the point that it did. Things all became good after, I apologized and they forgave me for whatever I did, but it still boggles my mind. Yeah, I don't think I'm cut out to be a dad yet.... Many, many years away.

Wednesday, July 14, 2004

Patience is a virtue

Any normal person must think that this type of thinking is folly. I do as well at times. But I never was one for the dating game, going over to a nightclub and picking up women. It seems too much like Russian roulette, you know? When we first heard Dave read this poem at guys night, we were all speechless. It just hit home.

Be Satisfied With Me

But to a Christian, God says, "No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled, and content with being loved by Me alone, with giving yourself totally and unreservedly to me, with having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone.

Only by discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found will you be capable of taking part in the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you.

You will never be united to another until you are united with Me, apart from anyone or anything else; disregarding any other desires or longings. I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best!

Please allow Me to bring it to you. You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest thing.

Keep experiencing the Satisfaction that I am.

Keep listening and learning the things that I tell you.

Just wait, that's all.

Don't be anxious. Don't worry. Don't look around at the things others have gotten, or that I have given to them.

Don't look around at the things you think you want.

Just keep fully concentrating on Me, or you'll miss what I want to show you. And then, when you are ready, I will surprise you with a love far more wonderful than you would ever dream!

You see, until you are ready--and the one I have for you is ready, you will not fully be able to grasp the perfection of My plan. Even now I am working to have you both ready at the same time. Until that point,--until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life that I have prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me. And this is perfect love.

And, dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love. I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me; to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection, and love that I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love you utterly.

For I am God. Believe it, and be satisfied."
--Author Unknown

Monday, July 12, 2004

How far can you fall?

Self-pity is way overdone in our society. There are so many people who feel sorry for themselves when they're actually in relatively good situations. Do they have the right to feel sorry for themselves then, whine and complain about life? I wonder how hard and how low you need to fall before you can identify with Sarah here. So many people that I see complaining about life seem to have such trivial and insignificant troubles compared to others that are even in the same society, let alone those in more despondent societies. Self-pity's gotta be one of the worst self-inflicted limitations on humanity, mainly because it's so easily rectifiable and yet isn't rectified. Don't get me wrong, grief is different from self-pity. Grief is warranted when something happens. Say your parents die when you're 10, leaving you an orphan. Or perhaps you just found out how your loved one lied to you your entire life. But self-pity? That's just being lazy, selfish, irresponsible, defeatist, and wanting things to be handed to you on a silver platter. Heck, I should know. I do it all the time.

By Sarah McLachlan

Heaven bent to take my hand
And lead me through the fire
Be the long awaited answer
To a long and painful fight

Truth be told I've tried my best
But somewhere along the way
I got caught up in all there was to offer
And the cost was so much more than I could bear

Though I've tried, I've fallen...
I have sunk so low
I have messed up
Better I should know
So don't come round here
And tell me I told you so...

We all begin with good intent
Love was raw and young
We believed that we could change ourselves
THe past could be undone
But we carry on our backs the burden
Time always reveals
The lonely light of morning
The wound that would not heal
It's the bitter taste of losing everything
That I have held so dear.

I've fallen...
I have sunk so low
I have messed up
Better I should know
So don't come round here
And tell me I told you so...

Heaven bent to take my hand
Nowhere left to turn
I'm lost to those I thought were friends
To everyone I know
Oh they turned their heads embarassed
Pretend that they don't see
But it's one missed step
You'll slip before you know it
And there doesn't seem a way to be redeemed

Though I've tried, I've fallen...
I have sunk so low
I have messed up
Better I should know
So don't come round here
And tell me I told you so...

Sunday, July 11, 2004

While the world focuses on Iraq

So Saddam Hussein's trial in an Iraqi court is currently underway. Having just watched the Nuremberg miniseries a little while ago, it's amazing the similarities I see between Hermann Goering and Saddam Hussein's court antics. I believe that Saddam Hussein needed to be removed from power. Whether it was done in the most optimal way will be forever up to debate; there are certainly many details that I had difficulty condoning. But whether or not you agree with what happened (I'm at least happy with the end result and support it fully), there is a major crisis in Sudan. With all the world's attention focused on Iraq, this really is passing under the radar of a lot of people. It's unfortunate.

Dang. I'm going to influence matters in this world if it kills me. Of course, I'd probably cause more harm than good. Isn't it ironic. People are sick, being able to do this to each other. But nobody's innocent, as everyone's done it to some degree or other during their lives. From the bully in elementary school to the Washington DC sniper (who sniper hobbyists decry as someone that tarnished their hobby, doing something that snipers should never do), we've all taken actions that hurt others for our own selfish reasons.

Stupid world we live in.

I remember a few weeks ago, during snack break time, a bunch of kids started having an interesting discussion. If you found $100 on the street, would you keep it or give it to the police? These kids range from six to ten years old. It wasn't something you came across every day, so I decided to sit there and watch what happened. They were getting really heated up, arguing what was the right thing to do. Finally, they decided to have a vote. The vote was tied, with half the kids saying they would keep the money, while the other half decided that they would give the money to the police. So who do they ask to break the tie? One of the kid's LITTLE SISTER! This baby is only JUST learning how to talk and carry a conversation. She can barely sing her ABC's. And SHE of all people had the swing vote as to what was the right thing to do. "Julia, give or take? Give or take??" "Say take! Take!" "No, Julia, give, give!"

Scary thought that such a small little entity could hold so much power. But it gave me interesting insight into how people justify their actions; kids at that age are perhaps the most innocent and pure you can get, unaffected much by the world around them.

So I wonder how the people in Sudan committing these atrocities justify themselves. The issues are extremely complicated and have a long history. Is it worth analyzing and explaining? Or would you rather jump in and bulldoze all the criminals? Action is necessary for sure, but it's a murky question. Take for example, the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Taliban was put there by the American government, pretty much, to fight against Communist movements during the Cold War. Now it bit them back, so we go in with an international coalition to dismantle them. That's great and all, but when should other entities take responsibility for their own actions?
Reminds me of two kids at a picnic a while back. Kid A has his shirt ripped by Kid B. But Kid B was upset that Kid A led him into a trap to be ambushed by other kids with a bunch of water balloons. But Kid B's major issue was that the other kids didn't want to play with him, and this ambush seemed to emphasize how they treated him as an outcast. But Kid B was annoying, which was why they didn't want to play with him. It gets complicated. But they were both obviously at fault.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you; stop the selfishness. It solves a lot of issues. Though in certain times it may not be that simple, it still forms a solid basis for good policy. Then again, some people I know hate this policy structure because it didn't pay dividends for them; the other parties always ended up burning these people in the end for selfish reasons. Does it need to be quid pro pro? Who says you have to conform to a society with selfish individuals? Your own selfishness says so.

Pushing Me Away
By Linkin' Park

I've lied to you
The same way that I always do
This is the last smile
That I'll fake for the sake of being with you

Pre chorus:
The sacrifice of hiding in a lie

The sacrifice is never knowing
Why I never walked away
Why I played myself this way
Now I see your testing me pushes me away

I've tried like you
To do everything you wanted too
This is the last time
I'll take the blame for the sake of being with you

Pre chorus

Chorus (2x)

The sacrifice of hiding in a lie
The sacrifice is never knowing

Chorus (2x)

Pushes me away…(2x)

I can't remember what Julia decided to say in the end.

Thursday, July 08, 2004

Personal Integrity

Argh, so I can't sleep. Why not? Because stupid YJ and Dammon are keeping me awake with messages. Although I could stop at any time... :p Go see a clinic already, man!

Recent personal experiences have caused me to seriously consider what it means to have integrity. When you have one personal ideal, what makes it ok to be disgusted with others who don't share the same ideal when they're not necessarily doing anything explicitly wrong? And in addition, is it all right to be angry at them? Especially if one of these ideals would be staying your anger? It really becomes the pot calling the kettle black, and it would seem to me that destroys your integrity. It always appeared to me that we hate that which we are deep inside the most (negative things, obviously); consequently, when we see these things reflected in others, it becomes a target of hate.

My friend sent me a forum thread where people were discussing the 11-year-old Japanese female killer (erm, that is, the killer was 11 years old, Japanese, and female). Let's ignore the entire debate on what caused this unfortunate incident, how much responsibility the child, parents, and society each have to bear, and various topics that crop up in the thread like accusations of pedophilia. A lot of the posts in the thread are awfully incoherent and badly written, but this point is interesting (although I have no idea how he came up with it in the first place):
So what if she has a fan base. Did the fad commit the crime? You think this is gonna lead to more 11 year old girls killing classmates so they can also have an internet fan base? Whats so funny is that you are sickened by this whole thing, yet you have no problem with me being murdered.
When did anyone mention killing him? Maybe I missed it, I don't have perfect eyes, after all. But whether or not someone said it would have been ok for him to be killed, the point is there. If someone doesn't ascribe to our values (and we'd have to presume that our values are superior to make this question viable), does it give us the right to not apply those same values to that person? Or in this case, this guy previously made comments that seemed to indicate that he wasn't horrified by anything, on the verge of calling the incident circumstantial and possibly even acceptable, though not preferable. Does that warrant us directing anger and hate that is the root of murder to him?

Let's take my own example. This person (who shall go unnamed) essentially concluded that it was ok to use people without regard for their personal well-being in order to make money, so long as he wasn't directly responsible for their actions. I found a high level of disgust in myself directed at this person, growing by the second as I talked more with him. I could not believe how selfish and Machiavellian he was making himself out to be. For one who desires to care for other people from all backgrounds and worldviews, this is quite the conundrum. How can you reconcile your own values with actions in which you drop your values against people you deem lower than yourself just because they do not share the same values? We are all humans and equal. Some lose their right for respect, no doubt, but I always desired to go further and accept them and respect them when nobody else would. Yet for some people, I find myself not doing this because they refuse to ascribe to the values that I hold dear. What a contradiction. How does one in such a situation say that they have personal integrity? Especially when the other person throws that very hatred back into your face in order to say that you have no right to talk? That's hard, mainly because it's true. You become someone who arbitrarily applies values only when it's convenient and when you want. That's the inception of corruption right there.

EDIT: I would like to say that neither YJ or Dammon were this person, in order to avoid any confusion from readers.

~Exodus Chapter 2, verses 11-14 
The Lord said to Job: "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!" 
Then Job answered the Lord: "I am unworthy - how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer - twice, but I will say no more." 
Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm: "Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God's, and can your voice thunder like his? Then adorn yourself with glory and majesty. Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at every proud man and humble him, crush the wicked where they stand. Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave. Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you."
~Job Chapter 40, verses 1-14
If we are all the same and equal, I would argue that we are all must be under the same morality. The reasons why are lengthy, that would be a post for another day. Bleh, ask me if you'd like to know my reasons. But to summarize the most important premise, it'd be like trying to play soccer where every single player plays with a different set of rules. Chaos would erupt. But if we're all equal and under the same morality, then we're not easily capable of judging each other because we're all guilty of something or other. Authority needs to judge. This is why government authorities like the police and judicial court system are in charge of judging when it comes to breaking a nation's laws. The SEC in the US is in charge of judging when a public corporation breaks accounting rules, et al. And so on. Organizations that create the law do the judging. I think it's the same for moral issues. I'd argue that God would be the creator of moral laws, and therefore the only one capable of judging through them. We being under that law don't have that ability, whether or not a supreme being created it, and whether or not a supreme being even exists (although by induction, I would argue that this leads to a conclusion that some supreme being exists and created this idea of morality, but that goes back to the post that I shall not write tonight).

So here's the big question then. Is it possible for any human being to have integrity? To certain degrees, it's no doubt possible. But real, 100% pure integrity? Thought for the day. But hey, this is why I'm thinking Jesus died, ya know? Now to just follow his model of integrity.

And yeah, I do think the fanart is a bit disturbing, on top of the unfortunate incident.

Lucky Love

Lack of quality updates for a while into the future, as things are heating up with school. Note to self, never do three courses while doing full-time work ever again. Been listening to an Ace of Base CD at work these days, their gold and platinum record. Here's my favourite song from the CD.

Every Time It Rains
By Ace of Base

I see dark clouds out my window
I know the storm is coming any minute
And the thunder just confirms my fears
And i know the tears are in there
I'll be crying unable to stop
Look here comes the very first drop

'cause every time it rains
I fall to pieces
So many memories the rain releases
I feel you... i taste you
I cannot forget
Every time it rains... i get wet

Darling i am still in love with you
As time passes by it just intensifies
I know i'll never be with you again
I'll never find another with that kindness in his eyes
I'll be trying unable to stop
Look here comes the very first drop

'cause every time it rains
I fall to pieces
So many memories the rain releases
I feel you... i taste you
I cannot forget
Every time it rains... i get wet

On sunny days i'm all right
I walk in the light
And i try not to think about
The love i live without

But every time it rains
I fall to pieces
So many memories the rain releases
I feel you... i taste you
I cannot forget
Every time it rains... i get wet
'cause every time it rains
I fall to pieces
So many memories the rain releases
I feel you... i taste you
I cannot forget
Every time it rains... i get wet

'cause every time it rains
I fall to pieces
So many memories the rain releases
I feel you... i taste you
I cannot forget
Every time it rains... i get wet

Tuesday, July 06, 2004

On the Usefulness of Cell Phones

So when cell phones don't work when you want them to work, spontaneously combust, and don't allow you to have your privacy, what do you expect cell phone manufacturers to do? Diversify
the cell phone's functionality! How else are those darn companies supposed to direct your eyes off of the negatives??

On a serious note, convergence seems to be FINALLY arriving (after being predicted for what, 5 years?). This is a good thing, but there will be a major shake-out in the various product markets that make up what will be the final converged market. Smart phones already seem to be the sole reason why PDA sales have plateaued and you can bet that something similar will happen with digital cameras as soon as the technology for cell phone cameras gets good enough to displace traditional digital cameras. Storage will be a non-issue, it's expected that storage will become cheaper, more power-efficient, and have smaller physical footprints; although how long this actually takes to come to pass is up for debate. The bigger issue is power management when you're talking on your cell phone, that eats up a LOT of power.

As storage space gets up there, the MP3 player market will likewise downsize, it's only natural. Apple's doing a great job with their iTunes strategy to complement iPod sales, but this complementary goods and services strategy can only last so long, especially when you have standalone legal download options like the new Napster, RealRhapsody, and TELUS Puretracks, among others. We'll end up with convergence in the mobile market. Seriously, would you rather be carrying three devices (a cell phone, an MP3 player, and a PDA) or one device with the functions of all three? It only makes sense that convergence is the future for the mobile market.

Remember, you read it first or for the hundredth time here.

Monday, July 05, 2004

Bobby = Barbie


I've always wondered why Korean people call me Barbie instead of Bobby. Now I know. I'll let you in on this unique piece of knowledge because it's oh-so-worth-knowing.

A few weeks ago, I was in the Richmond Night Market and as we were exiting the place, one of the girls I was walking with says to her friend, "Oh, Buhbi dolls are so gross." Or something to that extent, except it was in Korean. I was like, huh? Why'd she mention my name? "Oh, no, you misunderstood! Barbie is pronounced Buhbi in Korean!" No way... "Oh, Bobby is Buhbi in Korean too...." Well, duh.

So now it all makes sense. When Korean people (around my age) try to say Bobby, it's not that they're mispronouncing it. They think of Buhbi in Korean and what comes to mind in English? Barbie does, being more famous than the name Bobby. The problem isn't their ability to pronounce English. The problem is the Korean language's limitations in transplacing English phonetics into Korean phonetics. So this explains why Korean people keep calling me Barbie.... Now I know....

Yes, interesting story for the day.