2020-01-06 My super fan!!!!

Have you ever had a fan?

I mean, the kind of fan who is surprised to learn you walk on water--because she thought you could fly.

The kind of fan who reads everything you write, then summarizes it for others who were not lucky enough to have read what you wrote. Then she constantly reminds you about what you wrote.

The kind of fan who even makes a calendar just for you.

Yes, I have that kind of fan, and her name is Eben Appleton!!!!

www.lovetnkr.org/donate

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Yesterday I gave a speech to North Korean refugee adolescents at a refugee alternative school. Thanks to TNKR co-founder Eunkoo Lee for translating!

The topic: Volunteering! The kids had heard about volunteering, but not much, based on what they said!

The feedback they gave after the speech.

* It was fun! I didn't know anything about volunteering, but I learned so much.

* You gave a great explanation about volunteering, for the first time I can understand what it really means.

* After hearing your speech, I want to volunteer. My heart says it is a good thing to do.

* It was helpful. I see that volunteering can be good for society and it can also be good for me.

* I learned a lot about volunteering. It is a good way to help others.

* I'm sleepy.

* I can see that Koreans don't really volunteer. I will volunteer so I can help raise the percentage!

That's right, one of the kids said he was sleepy, and he probably also was thinking, "And this boring lecture interrupted my nap." Eunkoo laughed out loud when she saw that I had included that comment. But then she remembered that I don't respect the opinions of kids under the age of 25.

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Eben Appleton!

Eben Appleton has done it again! This time, she made separate 2020 calendars for TNKR's co-founders! Eunkoo Lee will definitely put it to good use, she is still a digital immigrant.

Eben loves everyone and everything. Somehow, I still seem to beat out everyone except her hubby Charlie, her kids and grand kids.

Sometimes I must AVOID her because if she hears that we need money for an event or project, then she is the first to donate, and I must tell her to STOP. I never thought the day would come that I would tell a donor to stop, but I must do so with Eben!

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NEVER GIVE UP

We had a planning meeting yesterday with Hwang In-Cheol to discuss his campaign about his father being kidnapped to North Korea. One thing is clear: He will never give up!

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Tour of the Yongsan Army base

The Yongsan military base in downtown Seoul will be shutting down most of its operations. I went on a tour with two long-time friends. Things have definitely changed. I remember going on the army base years ago, taking photos was forbidden.

Mike says that I am one of his mentors. It took me by surprise the first time he said it, which reminded me that my actions can inspire others.

www.lovetnkr.org/donate

Yesterday, finally, my short trip to the USA was confirmed. This is not a sight-seeing trip, I need to take care of some things related to TNKR, and I must do one key one in person.

Park Jin welcoming remarks to FSI (and Casey Lartigue)

National Assembly member Park Jin makes the welcoming remarks at FSI's conference featuring North Korean diplomats. Park Jin | Greeting message to FSI and Casey Lartigue mention - YouTube

Does a flower turn to the sun?

I tend not to address points raised by people commenting on posts. In the back-and-forth of such discussions, people sometimes say things they don't mean or take extreme positions. In other cases they are just trying to be provocative, especially when they can remain anonymous. But a discussion on Greg Mankiw's blog caught my attention. That's because a couple of the folks suggested that parents don't really have the knowledge to make decisions about the quality of schools. Between 2002-2004 I was actively involved in the fight to get school vouchers for families in DC. I often heard the argument that parents don't know how to choose between good and bad schools and that, anyway, parents had enough choices with the school system's "out-of-boundary" options and charters (that had also been opposed). Without getting too deep into the out-of-boundary program, I'll point out that Woodrow Wilson HS, considered one of the best schools in the city, recei...

2018-09-28 Not everyone at KFC cooks chickens

Most of the people who contact us at TNKR naturally want to tutor North Korean refugees. Many potential volunteers are shocked shocked shock ed to learn that they can volunteer with TNKR in other ways. I tell many of them: "Not everyone at KFC cooks chickens. There are also delivery people, accountants, marketers, personnel, and a host of other positions." Earlier this year, we began developing the TNKR Volunteer Leadership Academy. I'm still waiting for someone to take over that little project. Until then, I will continue with developing it. And be developing it, I mean telling people, "Don't write me a long business plan about what you would like to do. Just start doing it, keep me updated and in the conversations, then let's talk and update." We have had a recent influx of volunteers who want to help TNKR in other ways. Jackie Cole is now running our Instagram. She constantly surprises me with the flyers and videos she posts. I made it clear from the ...

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 scenes in Seoul

Yesterday morning I stopped by to buy some kimbab 김밥 at one of the places that sells rolls for 1,000 won (about $.80, depending on how much the Korean or U.S. government have screwed up their respective currencies). I stop by there often so of course the woman there recognizes me. Of course, they probably recognized me from the first time I went there... Yesterday, she asked in Korean if I liked tan mu gi 단무지. I said yes, that I loved it. As I was trying to pay, she hurriedly cut some up right then, then fed it to me, like I was a 6 year old child... I could see everyone in the shop watching... then, I said, "맛있어요!" delicious! I could see everyone smiling. I'm surprised they didn't start applauding. * * * Friendly fights Saw a funny fight the other day. Two guys in a restaurant were wrestling with each other, knocking over at least one table. I watched, not really interested in getting involved. They could be two friends fighting over a woman or for some other reason,...

The Casey Lartigue Show!

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