2014-02-20 Geoil Bok book luncheon

My boss arranged for me to have another great lunch. But forget about him treating me to a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Today we had a lunch at a great Chinese restaurant.

The occasion was to celebrate the publication of Geoil Bok's new book "Laissez Evoluer" published by our friends at the Korea Economic Research Institute.

During lunch, I learned a few things about the value of sitting next to the main speaker or guest at a lunch of dinner meeting.

Everyone was talking to Mr. Bok, so he didn't have much time to eat. On the other hand, for me: Head down, chopsticks up and moving in every direction. It seems that I had a pair of chopsticks in each hand. It didn't just seem that I was eating enough for two people--I actually was! For me and Mr. Bok!

I later mentioned Mr. Bok in a Korea Times column. 'Situationist' (koreatimes.co.kr)

* * *

My colleague Yoojin Lee wrote: 복거일 선생님께서 Laissez Evoluer(진화하게 하라)라는 책을 내셨다. 번역본이 아니라 영어로 직접 쓰셨다. 영어... 하아... 언젠가 넘어야 할 산이라는 생각을 십년 전에도 했었더랬지 ㅋㅋ 그때보다 지금은 좀 나아졌으려나
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1468276036721447&set=a.1428878613994523.1073741829.100006171937452&type=1&stream_ref=10

Who is the problem in this photo? The guy with no hair or the one with white hair?

They were debating, so they didn't hear us saying, "Hey! Photo time!" Or maybe they didn't care!

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Obama debating Keyes, 2004, education excerpt

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“What People Got for Christmas” Michael Breen The Korea Times December 25, 2009 At this time of year when Seoul’s bare winter trees are wrapped in beckoning lights ― blue and white are the in colors ― and Merry Xmas signs at hotels and department stores are really saying come-hither-gentle-reveler-and-empty-your-purse, and when expensive restaurants belch noisy year-end office party groups onto every street and the karaoke rooms are full, it is tempting to declare that Christmas has lost its soul. But that would be a mistake. Christmas is a time for giving, and, before they can be given, gifts have to be bought. Commerce is good. Here, as proof, is a round up of some of the gifts given and received today by people in the news. Samsung, the world’s largest conglomerate and the rock upon which the Korean economy rests, sent traditional year-end cards offering best wishes for 2010 to the country’s politicians, prosecutors and journalists, along with 50 million w...

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I recently joined the Center for Free Enterprise in South Korea as Director of International Relations. Scroll down to click through to my bio . That means that I have resumed writing and speaking and will be actively seeking opportunities. Will start with letters and opinion pieces in the local papers until I hit on something worth sending abroad. As LL Cool J said, "Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years." This has to be one of the coolest jobs I have ever had. My boss has given me complete freedom to do whatever I want. Of course, after one year, we will evaluate. To get an idea of the kinds of things I can do, check out this original rap video created by CFE . It is a pro-free trade, anti-welfare rap. Last night my boss thanked me for giving them the idea last year, even before I joined the company. * I helped bring the Harvard University men's soccer team to South Korea . They were here for 13 days, played 3 games, visited the DMZ, and had a lot...

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