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Showing posts from 2010

2010-12-04 Harvard Alumni Dinner

  December 4, 2010, wow, what a busy day! I was in South Korea, but not determined to stay here. In the morning, I joined an English language discussion group with some South Korean working professionals. Had lunch with some friends. After that, I taught a swing dance class to beginners. During a short break, I checked my flip phone to find a message from a friend who graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education checking to see if I was joining the Harvard Alumni Dinner. She had mentioned it to me a few weeks before.  I was dressed for a swing dance class, not the Harvard Alumni Dinner. Instead of going home, I toughed it out... and turned out to be the most popular non-speaker at the dinner. During the raffle, Yoonsun and I both won... although when I checked the contents, I wasn't sure that I had really won. I tried leaving the stuff on the subway a few times, but people kept catching up to me and forcing me to take it with me. Hong Jong-wook, a member of the National

Casey Lartigue speech in Seoul

I will be speaking in Seoul on October 26 from 7-9 p.m. at the TOZ Business center (Shinchon subway station, line 2, near Yonsei University). The working title of the talk: "Rome is Coming to You: Living in a Globalized World." CJL

Mayor Fenty booted out

1) I already knew it four years ago I've read the various analysis about why DC Mayor Adrian Fenty got booted out of office by voters just four years after winning a landslide election., In addition to all of the other explanations, I'll add one that I have yet to read, but knew four years ago: He's an asshole. 2) Would they boo his kids, too? I was at Fenty's inauguration party back in 2006. People were protesting him that night. That's because he waited until after he won the primary in 2005 to announce that he was taking over the schools. A lot of the people who supported him would not have voted for him if he had mentioned he would take over the schools. So he lied his way into office anyway. Not the first to do so, I know. 3) Activists in DC want a listener I have mixed feelings about Fenty getting kicked out. Yes, he's an asshole, but then, he did some stuff as mayor that was pretty good. Such as taking over the schools (actuall

Fan Death homicide attempt?

the air conditioner is broken at work... my coworker located a fan, and pointed it directly at me--then closed the door when he left. is this an attempt on my life? Check out fan death , still one of my all-time favorite Web sites. I wonder, have there any been any attempts at killing someone through fan death? Such as, a wife closing the door and turning on the fan while her drunk husband slept. Or attempted fan death suicides? CJL

Accidental crimes on the rise in South Korea?

Updated: Korea Herald, April 24, 2013  The key numbers here (from yesterday's Korea Herald ) in an article about rape in Korea. * In 2011: 22,034 rapes were reported, according to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in Korea. * Of those, 18,591 cases resulted in arrests with a total of 18,880 offenders being convicted. *Only 12 percent of those found guilty, or 2,289, were sentenced to jail time. * Based on a 2010 survey by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, it is believed that the sexual crime reporting rate in Korea is about 10 percent. The article provides some information about what to do after getting raped, phone numbers to call. I don't mean to dismiss those things, but obviously the reporter ran out of space addressing: "How to protect yourself" or "How to reduce the chance you'll be raped." Sun-Flower Women and Children’s Centerl. (Lee Sang-sub/The Korea Herald) This site (in an article written by James Fenske) advises: * B

Walter E. Williams on Rush Limbaugh

Professor Walter E. Williams will be hosting the Rush Limbaugh Show 8/24/10 from noon-3 p.m. EST. Thomas Sowell will be his featured guest the second hour. In case you can't hear the show or can't wait, you can listen to me interview him back in 2007 (hit the free user button, wait for countdown, then download). We discussed reparations for slavery during one show and the minimum wage on another. By the way, I was really thankful that he agreed to be on my show twice during the three months I was on the air. I interviewed him another time when I was a guest host and he interviewed me on the Rush Limbaugh about a paper I wrote about education in Washington, D.C. When I contacted him and told him that I was going to have my own show and that I would be delighted if he would come on from time to time, he hesitated at first. I waited. He then said it would be okay. I know he won't do anything if it is inconvenient for himself, so I asked if there was a conflict. He said he had

Memorandum 46

The Root lists its top 10 racial conspiracy theories . How can there be a list of racial conspiracy theories on a black website without Memorandum 46 being highlighted, if not #1 on the list? Here's the memo . Here's a piece Eliot Morgan and I wrote about it in 2007. Here's a rebuttal from Rev. Walter E. Fauntroy, a former member of Congress. CJL

North Koreans love me--really!

I have a piece in today's Korea Times . CJL Surprise — North Koreans love me! By Casey Lartigue Jr. Irish novelist Oscar Wilde once quipped, ``Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.” I can’t help but conclude that my friends, while professing love and concern for me, believe that others are unhappy whenever I ``arrive.” When I was first leaving America to live and work in Taiwan, I was warned by friends that the locals might discriminate against me. I had a great time. Before I later left Taiwan for South Korea, I was warned by Korean friends and others in Taiwan that I might get discriminated here. Again, I had a great time. Things came full circle when I was leaving Korea to return to America. I was warned that rather than the preferential treatment I had received as a coll

What do you like to do?

I have an article in today's Korea Times . I wrote it Sunday afternoon as I ate lunch at the Isaac sandwich shop in Suwon. In it, I mention meeting Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. I'm sure that most Koreans will have no idea who he is. But according to surveys, most Americans don't know he is, either, and aren't familiar with the other 8 justices . What do you like to do? By Casey Lartigue Jr. When I was working as a policy analyst and radio talk show host in Washington, D.C., I had the honor of meeting U.S. Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas on several occasions. The first time, at a dinner party, I listened as others asked him serious questions about recent court cases. When it was my turn I started to introduce myself, but he interrupted me to say, ``Casey, I know who you are. You are that young man at the Cato Institute causing so much trouble about school choice." What a surprise! Justice Thomas knew who I was! Instead of

Reporting live, from Hankook

The Republic of Hankook Michael Breen suggests that South Korea should change its name to differentiate itself from North Korea. It may make sense, but it is so unrealistic that if it happened, Breen would probably be the most surprised. He suggests the name be changed to Hankook. Okay, I'll play along. Mathias Specht writes about the importance of branding Hankook for tourism purposes. Specht, unfortunately, is not a very clear writer. He does finally say: "I n the case of Korea, a similar storyline could rather convincingly (and truthfully) be built around its recent economic achievements, which are nothing short of breathtaking." Does he seriously believe that people will want to visit Korea today because of its economic improvement? * * * Suppose you were an idiot. Suppose you were Charles Schumer. But we repeat ourselves Charles Schumer, idiot Congressman from New York, is determined to force American consumers to pay more for honey. Of course, that's not wha

Upcoming events

I'm scheduled to be a featured guest on Mind Yo' Business hosted by Brian Higgins on XM 169 The Power. Briwn will be interviewing me from America, I'll be talking on my cell phone from South Korea, I should be on the air from 9:15 or 10:15 a.m. ET (10:15 or 11:15 p.m. Korea time). I'll be talking about a number of things related to South Korea, including traveling and working here, Korean politics, North Korea, education. * * * June 18 I will be the MC for a Wine Business Party of Korean and American professionals in South Korea. Will give more details. I've convinced them to give a discount to anyone who mentions my name. * * * At the end of the month I'll be speaking to a group of freshmen reporters at one of the universities here. CJL

I (still) believe North Korea!

I (Still) Believe North Korea! The Korea Times (May 26, 2010) by Casey Lartigue, Jr. I believe North Korea when it says the South started the Korean War in 1950. I didn't believe former Russian leader Boris Yeltsin in 1994 when he released declassified documents revealing that North Korea started the War. I believe North Korea didn't send 31 commandos into Seoul in 1968 to kill Park Chung-hee. I believe North Korea didn't send armed guerrillas onto the East Coast area of Uljin and Samcheok in 1968, or Heuksan in 1969, or Heukchon in 1970. I believe the assassin who killed the South Korean first lady in 1974 wasn't a North Korean agent. I believe several North Korean agents did not cross the border in October 1979. I believe the Earth moved and they only appeared to be in South Korea. I believe that three North Korean agents shot nea

Shooting loudspeakers

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT? Some days I really enjoy the things I eat here. This is one of my favorites, I ate it last night. Koreans constantly tell me that it is a summer dish and that restaurants don't serve it now. Yet, for the past few months, I have constantly found places that serve it year-around. I guess I am one of those people who likes what he likes when he likes it, I don't wait for a particular season or time to eat something. That is not just about Korean food. I don't particularly like turkey and would never choose it at a restaurant. I don't like it more on Thanksgiving Day than I do on other dates. But...I'm not even sure what those things below were. I didn't bother asking. I just made sure those things were cooked thoroughly when they got to my table a few minutes later. * * * PROMISES, PROMISES I happened to be in South Korea in 1994 when North Korea's founder, Kim Il-sung, finally kicked the bucket. North Korea closed the border for a m

Random political stuff

I agree with Rand Paul's point that private businesses should be exempt from the Civil Rights Act. That should be a restriction on government, not on private business. I can say that because I'm not interested in being a politician and my job doesn't depend on me keeping myself from saying what I think. Nevertheless, if I had been alive in 1964 and somehow found myself in Congress then I would have voted to pass the Civil Rights Act even though it was not been perfect. There's a difference between political decisions and what's correct. * * * WEW hosting RUSH Walter E. Williams will be hosting the Rush Limbaugh Show 5/25/10 from noon EST. * * * KWAME CONTINUES TO FALL I briefly met former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick at an education conference a few years ago. He was bigger than life, had a Marion Barry larger-than-life type of personality, and he greeted everyone, including me, like they were long-lost friends. He was booted out of office a few ye

Random photos from today

I went walking around today. Whereas some people like to go walking in the mountains, I enjoy walking around in the city. Well, not D.C. or other cities with many homeless, crazy and/or armed people walking around... * * * Here's where I had lunch today. About $1.90 for a hamburger hamberger.   * * * Ha-ha! Bet you never would have guessed that Batman is a drinking place in Korea! * * * Man Clinic? The Koreans walking by seemed to be very curious about why I was taking a photo of a "Man Clinic." They may know something I don't know...Actually, I wasn't curious enough to go in and find out what it was... * * * Right down the street from the Man Clinic...there's a Love Shop! I love the euphemism. "Love Shop" sounds much better than Sex Shop. I'm guessing that if you don't go to the "Love Shop" to buy condoms that you may need to visit the Man Clinic a short time later? * * * Nobo

Busy week for fakers

What about "No" would they not understand? The Korea Times identifies a new problem: freeloading Koreans visiting relatives in America. The cause: it is now easier for Koreans to travel to America because of a visa waiver. 1) I am amazed at some of the people that reporters can find and about the things people will say to reporters. Complaining because you can't say no to family? Even if I did want to complain about such a thing I would not do so to a reporter. 2) Perhaps Koreans need a return to the good old days, back to 1987 when martial law prevented most Koreans from traveling abroad without a good reason (education, religion or business). A great thing about freedom is that we can complain about trivial things, and even be taking seriously by reporters. When Koreans were living under dictators they wished for the chance to travel abroad. 3) The most obvious solution, besides saying no the first time relatives and friends ask: Say no the second and third times they

Drunk people don't whisper

ALWAYS ON DUTY ? Was talking to a friend a few days ago, she mentioned that she saw a cook from a Korean restaurant she has eaten at digging into his nose with his finger as he walked down the street. I'm sure the cook may say he was off-duty, but I think she should tell the people at the restaurant and that the guy should get fired. Of course, he may do such a thing when he is in the kitchen at the restaurant, but he should never let his customers see him do anything strange... * * * BASEBALL ANNOUNCER NAPS DURING GAME I am not a baseball fan. I do love playing softball. But I haven't watched a baseball game in years. I just read about a baseball announcer falling asleep during a baseball game. He's paid to talk about baseball so I guess it should be a problem that he was sleeping on the job. I haven't been to a baseball game since I was 12 years old. But I may go to a baseball game here in Korea. 1) Korean fans are GREAT at games. Not even dead people can

useless hoops history

There's a breaking story about Joan Sloan, a backup player on an NCAA Division II team who has applied to play in the NBA. I recall that Dick Whitmore, then a player at Brown University , did the same thing in 1989 as a junior at Brown. He also had a few minutes of fame. CJL

Random Notes: Fastest Man in Korea

Life after death...another thing I don't worry about Saw a news article saying that there is new proof of life after death. I don't doubt it. It would be a pleasant surprise. I must admit that I'm more interested in life before death. This is the only ticket on the Life Train that I'm sure of, so I'll ride this one out until I hit the end of the line. * * * Except Resigning Obama says consider everything in tackling debt * * * DELIVER DIRECTLY TO UNDERTAKER! When I was applying for my current job in Korea, one of the job application questions asked if I had any tattoos. Of course, I wrote "no." But I will admit that from time to time I do think about getting a tattoo, or perhaps a series of tattoos. That's because of "presumed consent." Some jackass A New York assemblyman has introduced a bill aimed at making the state the first to presume people want to donate their organs unless they specifically say otherwise. People aren't willi

Happy Earth Day! Please, die already (The Korea Times, April 22, 2010)

Happy Earth Day! And Please, Live, By Casey Lartigue Jr. The annual Earth Day celebration (marking its 40th anniversary today) makes one point clear about the issue of overpopulation: There are too many people who think there are too many people. Doomsayers have long warned that Earth would soon be overburdened with too many mouths to feed. Despite a continuous rise in living standards and continued success in feeding more people with less land and labor, alarmists continue to bombard us with deadlines and dire warnings. ``Our numbers are burdensome to the world, which can hardly support us," warned the theologian Tertullian of Carthage. The keynote speaker at an Earth Day rally? No. He was talking in the second century about the 190 million people he believed were rapidly depleting the Earth's resources. When British economist-cum-clergyman Thomas Malthus warned against overpopulation in 1798, there were fewer than one billion people on the planet. T