FAQ--July 31 Friedman event

I am organizing the one and only official Seoul celebration marking the 100th anniversary of Milton Friedman's birth. Here's the Facebook invitation page.

This is an unofficial FAQ that will be updated as other questions are asked:

WHAT'S THE DRESS CODE?

Business casual.

Isn't that what people usually say? But what does business casual mean? According to Wikipedia. "Many people and organizations have offered definitions....The interpretation of business casual differs widely among organizations and is often a cause of confusion."

After reflecting upon this for years, I have a suggestion. Business casual should mean: Dress as your mother would approve.

So for the July 31 event, if you think your mother would approve, then dress that way. It would help if you could provide a hand-written note from her or another adult guardian in your life, along with a working phone number. If you show up to the July 31 event in a way that I think your mother would not approve, then I will give her a call to tell her that you attended dressed Business Clown instead of Business Casual.

Of course, I know the "dress as your mother would approve" standard doesn't apply to everyone everywhere. I just returned from Shanghai. Whereas many stores in America have signs reading, "No shoes, no shirt, no service," there were some small shops in Shanghai in which merchants were shirtless. No kidding. It is quite an experience buying a soft drink from a shirtless man who is not working at a beach. So the next time I give a speech in Shanghai, I may post a sign reading, "No shoes, no shirt...no problem!"


 

DO I HAVE TO TALK?

Many Koreans who are shy about speaking in English ask me if they must speak at my events. The answer is: Of course not! Join anyway. If I happen to point at you, then just answer in Korean, you can be sure that I'll leave you alone after that. As someone who loves speaking at events, the questions and comments are an interruption to my flow. You might notice a pattern:

I was born to talk, you were born to listen.

I was born to sing, you were born to applaud.

I was born to dance, you were born to hold my jacket.

When I go singing with Koreans who are shy, they will ask: "Do I have to sing?" I usually answer the question with my own questions:

"Do you have any money?"

"Can you applaud?"

"Can you play the tambourine?"

"Can you pretend that I sound as good as Will Smith?"

"Are you sure you have money?"

If they answer "Yes, yes, yes, yes," and "Yes, I already told you!' Okay, then let's go.

LISTENING TIPS

Very often people are given public speaking tips. In this case, for people who are shy to speak at events, I would like to offer public listening tips:

1) Have a serious, thoughtful look on your face.

2) Nod your head up and down from time to time to make it appear that you are thinking deeply.

3) Laugh whenever the speaker laughs or seems to be telling a joke, but you might want to wait for a few other people to laugh in case the speaker was being ironic.

WHY JULY 31?

Milton Friedman was born on July 31, 1912. That means he was born 100 years ago. Media love numbers and anniversary dates that improve the chance people will pay attention.

WHO IS MILTON FRIEDMAN?

Milton Friedman (July 31, 1912 – November 16, 2006) was an American economist, statistician, and author who taught at the University of Chicago for more than three decades. He was a recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.

WHO IS G. MARCUS COLE?

G. Marcus Cole is the Wm. Benjamin Scott and Luna M. Scott professor of law at Stanford Law School. He is an expert on the law of bankruptcy, corporate reorganizataion, and venture capital. Cole studied law at Northwestern University, where he received his J.D. in 1993. He joined the faculty of Stanford Law School in 1997. He also teaches for Law Preview, the law school prep course.

WHO IS CASEY LARTIGUE?

A dangerous man wanted in several countries.

To women: He's a heartthrob, a modern-day Heathcliff out of a Bronte novel, a man among men.

To men: Who you would want to be if you weren't stuck being you.*

* editor's note: Obviously, the text above was written by Casey Lartigue. We regret any hurt feelings (even though, he notes, it is 100% true).

COST OF THE EVENT?

10,000 won per person. Milton Friedman often said "There is no such thing as a free lunch." So he would be overjoyed that people were willing to pay money to attend an event about him.

HOW DO I PAY?

10,000 won per person, wire to Woori account 1002-842-088197, then email with your name as it probably appears on your bank account.

WHAT IF I DON'T PAY IN ADVANCE?

We should make you stand in the corner with your nose up against the wall. Instead, if you show up at the door without having paid in advance then you will have to pay 15,000 won per nose to join the event.

DIRECTIONS?

Okay, so you want to join the event. Smart choice! But you aren't sure how to get there.

By subway, arrive at Yoido Subway station (subway lines 5 and 9, exit 5). Walk straight, take the first right shortly after passing the post office. Pass one intersection, then turn left while crossing the street at the second intersection. Pass one alley, then turn right. Walk about 30 meters, turn into the KB Savings Bank building.

The address in Korean: 150-890 서울시 영등포구 여의도동 44-3 KB저축은행빌딩

There will be subway pickups at 7:10 and 7:30 at exit 5 of Yoido station (ground-level).

For those of you who are more visual (this looks difficult, but it isn't):

Take exit number five from Yoido station.

You may want to stop to use the bathroom before exiting the subway. Seoul's bathrooms are often lousy. But not at Yoido station! They have the award to prove it. Even when you don't have a meeting near Yoido, you might want to stop by to use the bathroom.

As you exit the subway, you will probably want to take the escalator.

 You will want to walk straight out of the subway.

On your right, you will see a host of businesses. Do not be distracted, continue walking straight.

As you are walking straight, you will see a NongHyup bank on your right.

The Postal GS 25. This is different from the GS 25 you might have noticed as you exited the subway. it will  be on your right, keep walking straight.

On your right, you will pass the post office

Now comes your first big moment: An intersection. Think back to when you were young, and your mother would not allow you to cross the street. Don't cross the street. I repeat, do not cross the street. Instead, turn right.

You will want to walk straight. You may notice a small sign. Keep walking straight.

 You will notice some unusual art work on your right.

This time, you will see an intersection. Keep walking straight, you will see a Cafe Pascucci on your right. Excuse me, that's Caffe Pascucci.

 What trip would be complete without Samsung, Starbucks, and 7-11 along the way?

Yes, Starbucks. Coffee addicts, do not be distracted.

Major Distraction Warning: KB Star bank. You must ignore this particular bank. This is a test of your resolve. Pass the bank, keep walking.

Another big moment has arrived. An intersection that looks like the white lines were drawn by a disgruntled city worker at midnight. The lines go in many directions, including some that apparently will take you directly to the DMZ. So choose carefully. You don't want to turn right, you don't want to turn left. You want to cross directly in the middle of the street. During lunch time, this can resemble a pinball machine game.

 You will see a row of shops mostly being renovated.

Fresh Burger seems to have survived unscathed. 

 Aha! 7-11! Keep walking past that on your right.

Pass the JS coffee shop and Bar.

Yes, cross the street. Ignore your mother's voice.

You will want to walk to the end of this small street.

 On the corner you will see a Woori Bank--yes, the same bank where you sent your 10,000 won. Turn right.

A tree will suddenly pop up in the road, apparently strategically placed there to tackle people typing on their iPhones or taking photos as they walk down the street. Ignore it, keep walking straight.

 You will see a small security box on your right. Give it a big hug because that means you are almost there.

 At last! Seven minutes of wondering if you were going the right way, you have arrived. KB Saving Banks. Hallelujah! This is the building which will allow you to enter into wisdom.

Next to it is a restaurant that serves any kind of spicy food you would ever want.

 There's a security guard whose main job is to point to the elevator a few feet away. Feeling secure with no one there?

Wait! There he is! There are three of them. Grumpy, Silent, and Smiley. Smiley happened to be on duty yesterday when I went out to Yoido to take these photos.

So that's it! Take the elevator up to the 5th floor, get ready for two speeches that will change your life. Be sure to eat enough so you feel that you didn't waste your 10,000 won.