2014-06-01 Mulmangcho: So what do you do here, Casey?

* We had seven volunteers hailing from six different countries join today. Michael Patterson (Canada), Paul Jennings (New Zealand), Rachel Lewis (UK), Alexiana EL CF (France), Maynard Villamer (Phillippines), Victoria Oh (USA and Casey Lartigue (USA).

* As a reminder, the volunteers not only hail from different parts of the world, but also different parts of Korea. Most are from Seoul, but I heard a few talk about coming from 2 hours away from down south. And the ones in Seoul, we take an express bus that takes 65 minutes, then the school bus that takes another 10 minutes or so.

* It happened again 1: A somewhat new volunteer questioned the school curriculum, suggesting it should be more rigorous. I agreed with her, as I always agree with new volunteers who have suggestions that they suggest that "somebody" should do something about. But something strange happened on the way to the always elusive "somebody" being assigned the task. She pledged to do something about it! I told her she has my permission, if she needs it, so I will be watching...

* It happened again 2: A somewhat new volunteer showed up, asking what I do there because I don't teach. Well, I didn't bother discussing how I set up this volunteer project so people like her could join, have raised money for the school, give 100,000 won a month to the school, take time every Sunday to make sure newcomers have a consistent contact point, act as a magnet for the school attracting people who set up great activities for the kids, etc. Instead, I joined her in wondering what it is that I do for the Mulmangcho School...

* Today, we had only one no-show. For anyone who has recruited volunteers, you know how incredible that is. Volunteers can be great, but, well, they aren't exactly reliable. Add in long bus rides on a Sunday morning, and I'm surprised I'm not alone at the school most weekends. Which I guess would please the volunteers who wonder what it is that I do.

* I'm the International Adviser to the school, but we now have three different expats making plans and coordinating schedules, so that means there is the inevitable double-booking. June 8 was originally going to be a regular teaching day, but I learned today that there will be a BBQ at Grace Stables. I don't know any details yet, I will update soon, but then regular teaching resumes from June 15.

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How not to get your ass beat by the police

The black president of the United States stupidly commented on the arrest of a black Harvard professor in his own home by a white police officer. Some random thoughts and memories: * I'm sure most people are still trying to figure out who Prof. Gates is. As G.K. Chesterton once wrote: "Journalism consists largely in saying 'Lord Jones is dead' to people who never knew Lord Jones was alive." * Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said Gates' arrest was "every black man's nightmare." Perhaps. But having a criminal in my house is even more of a nightmare. Also, having the president of the United States talk off the cuff about me about something he doesn't know is pretty bad. And getting shot by a cop after I escalated a situation would also be worse than getting arrested. Anyway, I have had my own dealings with the police over the years: * Back when I was a college student many many moons ago, one of my brothers and I got stopped by police in Bro...

2015-10-09 TNKR tutor flies from Jeju to Seoul

Today is a holiday in Korea, but that didn't mean that studying in Teach North Korean Refugees (TNKR) had a day off. TNKR co-directors Eunkoo Lee and Casey Lartigue joined a class by the tutor in TNKR who has won the "Came the Longest Distance" award. Afsha flew from Jeju Island to Seoul to tutor one of the learners in TNKR. The only way anyone will be able to top her will be if the person flies from a different country! Her student today has been in our program for several months, all of his tutors talk about what a great student he is! Focused, friendly, eager to learn.

Teach North Korean Refugees--directions to Mulmangcho Human Rights Institute

DIRECTIONS to Mulmangcho Institute=Easy, easy, easy. Almost like they chose the location for the people who get lost within a block from home... * Bangbae station on line 2, exit 1. Walk to the top of the stairs. * Look to your left. There will be a Woori Bank teller machine. * Standing, looking directly at the teller machine location, walk inside the building to the right of it, under the navy blue sign with the telephone number "587-4145-6..." Walk up to the 3rd floor, room 305. That's it. After you leave the subway exit, it will take you about 5 seconds to get to the building. I don't have a Naver map for it, but if you are driving, use the Bangbae subway as a landmark. Bangbae station (line 2) exit 1 Woori Bank Bd (우리은행건물) #305호 I know people won't believe me, they have been lied to so many times by people in Korea who said a location was "easy to find." I have learned that "easy to find" in Korea means: “Sure, just go down ...

Kwame charged with perjury

Kwame Kilpatrick, during happier times. He was charged with perjury earlier today. I'd love to hear a sermon by Rev. Wright about the case.

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...

The Casey Lartigue Show!

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