2019-12-17 What a Coincidence that you're ready this (2)

I'm not famous, but there are some times that I get recognized. Today was one of those days.

* The taxi driver this morning looked at me in the rear-view mirror several times, then shortly before dropping me off, he asked me if I had been on TV. It turns out that he saw both the TVN special and On My Way to Meet You. What's the likelihood that I would get in the taxi of a Korean taxi driver who had seen me on TV, twice? Not likely, but it happened today! Last month and the month before, I also had taxi drivers recognize me. So either it means I am world-famous among Korean taxi drivers and/or they are spending a lot of time watching TV. One of the drivers had a TV in his taxi, so the chances were pretty good in his case.

***

I had two hours of interviews with graduate students, then rushed to the subway for a meeting with a TNKR donor. I had agreed to meet at the wrong subway exit, resulting in me walking a long distance. As I was messaging, I noticed someone walking along with me. HEY! Chanyang Ju! Yes, the lovely lady behind the 꽃미남 KC article and video was again teasing her favorite Yankee Bastard.

It must have been an incredible coincidence? Well, not if you have read Alain de Botton. In his book Essays on Love, he had a fantastic chapter challenging the idea of a coincidence.

Bouncing off his idea, Chanyang and I have known each other since early 2012. In those many years, this may be the first time for us to bump into each other like this. We saw each other at a TNKR forum on 11/30 she spoke at and I moderated. And right before that, we spoke on 11/26 at the KAIST College of Business. Subscribe to her YouTube channel!

If we had messaged in the last few days, we might have found out that we would be in the same area today. And it is possible that we have both been coming to the same location for weeks, but passing each other like two ships in the night.

If I had been more aware of the closest subway exit, I might not have bumped into Chanyang. The extra walk may have been the reason we met. As de Botton wrote in his book, the coincidence might not just be the time you met, but the many times that destiny kept you from meeting.

***

I mentioned the de Botton book to Chanyang. That then led to a conversation about de Botton's fantastic book about media. She had read a chapter in that book for one of her university classes. I read his book on media, twice, and used it as part of a Korea Times column.

Chanyang's major is media, I was a reporter in college, worked as a media specialist in DC and have been interviewed many times and arranged many interviews for others. So we had a lot to talk about that was unrelated to NK refugees.

So then we were in the coffee shop--and it turned out one of the young ladies there knows who I am. She thinks I am famous and seemed to be in awe that I had somehow landed at her coffee shop. How could I explain that I was meeting a TNKR donor at the wrong exit so I walked 100 meters out of the way so I bumped into Chanyang who then took me to the coffee shop.

Coincidence?

***

Today was the last day of my classes, I have been teaching public speaking and discussion to graduate students. There were so many coincidences that it seemed we may all be related. One of the students loves NPR, she has listened to it for years, even dreamed about being a host on NPR.

Could she have imagined that her professor was a regular commentator on NPR's News and Notes a decade ago? But I also complained about NPR, especially lousy reporters who contact us, use TNKR for their stories, then don't mention us at all.

***

I have occasionally bumped into some of my previous students at conferences. I asked the students to stay in touch with me. It won't be such a coincidence if I bump into them in the future.

www.lovetnkr.org/donate
Chanyang Ju's YouTube channel

Rich talking back

The rich are talked about very often in negative terms, but how often do the rich respond in kind? Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart, who inherited most of her money but apparently has also done very well with it, recently railed against class warfare and had some advice for the non-rich : "There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire," she writes. "If you're jealous of those with more money, don't just sit there and complain. Do something to make more money yourself - spend less time drinking, or smoking and socializing and more time working." She complained about politicians raising taxes, regulations that slow investment, and other anti-business policies that harm the poor. "If you want to help the poor and our next generation, make investment, reinvenstment and businesses welcome."

Common Sense on North Korea (Korea Times, April 2, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. As interesting as Kookmin University professor Andrei Lankov’s writings are, there is nothing quite like attending one of his lectures. He can barely restrain himself behind the podium, often pointing and waving his arms. I also enjoy his unscripted speeches, but his answers in Q&A sessions are like the difference between watching Michael Jordan shoot baskets in warm-ups and an actual game. I have finally discovered the secret behind Lankov’s consistently solid analysis about North Korea: Use common sense. At an Asan Institute conference last summer, he argued that North Korea watchers should try to understand North Korea from its perspective. Don’t most people know that you must understand the mindset of others you are dealing with? Yet, common sense in theory gets ignored politically. From the North Korean perspective, nuclear weapons are the best thing they’ve got going. They will NOT give them up easily, even if President Obama ...

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...

To be a good volunteer, use your brain (Korea Times, December 5, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. There is probably an unwritten rule that a celebrity offering to do volunteer work for a good cause should immediately be embraced. Well, that’s not what happened to Jeong So-dam, the glamorous Korean cable TV announcer when our paths crossed on Nov. 29. Ms. Jeong was the MC of an event about American political philosophy hosted by the Association for Economic Evolution. During my speech about American libertarianism since 1940, I discussed my volunteer work for North Korean refugees. After the speech, Jeong approached me, asking how she could help. I gave her the same tough love I give to potential volunteers by asking: “Who are you?” After all, if you are Bill Gates, then open your wallet. If you speak four languages, then help with translation work. So I first stress to potential volunteers: Use your brain. Tell us about your skills and interests so together we can figure out your initial role. Jeong was good-natured about it, rather than c...

Why I won't go to North Korea (Korea Times, December 27, 2012)

By Casey Lartigue, Jr. “Have you ever been to North Korea?” This is the question I am almost always asked here in South Korea when people learn that I have become an activist for North Korean escapees. My response is curt: “No.” “Do you plan on going?” they ask next. My answer remains the same: “No.” When they start to ask a follow-up question, I cut them off: "No." People are often just trying to make conversation, I know, but I am blunt for a reason: I am not interested in going to North Korea as long as North Koreans are held captive. I could go one day, but for now, I can do without a government-guided tour by " men-stealers and women-whippers ," to borrow a phrase from American abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. I don’t mean to criticize people who have gone to North Korea for political, educational, business, religious reasons or just plain curiosity. However, some people push me on the issue, ― and I push back. A good friend wh...

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