The Casey Lartigue Show!

In reporting on a story, such as the one below, a reporter can decide what the focus will be. In the story below, it is told from the viewpoint of SMEs battling large companies, but the viewpoint of the consumer having choices blocked is ignored. As the Korea Times  writes in black, my edits in blue italics . Starbucks' expansion to be curbed By Kim Tae-jong Global food franchise brands, including Starbucks and McDonald’s, are expected to change their aggressive expansion strategy   plans because of government intervention  here, as Korea’s small players are urging the government to restrict their fast growth . to block the choices of consumers . The Korea Convenient Restaurant Association, representing small food and beverage outlets, last week, after finding an excuse to do what they already wanted to do, decided to ask the National Commission for Corporate Partnership (NCCP) to restrict major coffee franchise brands from opening new stores , bloc...

http://freedomfactory.co.kr/bbs/bbsDetail.php?cid=liber&wcode=1329&idx=3120 Freedom Factory Co. Ltd., a new think tank located in Seoul, South Korea, is seeking a bilingual intern for its International Relations division. The intern will support the International Relations team’s goals to: 1) expand economic and personal freedom in the world, with a focus on North and South Korea 2) connect FF with think tanks and liberty lovers around the world. Job Description and expectations: *  Multimedia and translation : Assist with video and translate (between Korean and English) newsletters, columns, other documents. *  Research : Conduct light research (internet searches, phone calls) for published articles and activities. *  Event assistant : Provide logistical support at external events. *  Office hours : Should visit the office located near the National Assembly subway station twice a week and, when necessary, attend meetings with the Director ...

In the 2008 movie “Yes Man,” actor Jim Carrey portrays a character who withdraws from society after going through an emotional divorce. Encouraged by a friend trying to bring him out of his shell, he attends a workshop given by a self-help guru who encourages him to change from being a “No Man.” He starts to say “Yes to life,” becoming an energetic “Yes Man” who tries everything ― even learning Korean. In contrast, in South Korea, “yes man” still refers to a brown-nosing employee who is obedient to superiors. It is still better to be a yes man who obeys so you won’t be blamed when things go wrong because even one failure in school, the office, or family is unacceptable. Koreans I have mentioned the movie to immediately recoiled at the very mention of yes man, thinking it is the submissive yes man (or woman) in the office. The different definitions of “Yes Man” (doing things) versus “yes man” (following the rules) are playing out now in Korea, most significantly in President Park Ge...

A few weeks ago, I noticed that Fantasy Sports is now getting billing ahead of  actual  sports. l ook at the left column..Fantasy sports gets top billing, both under sports and under the NBA menu. Years ago, a friend asked me why, as a sports fanatic at that time, I didn't play fantasy sports. I told him that 1) I wasn't interested and that 2) I suspected it would give couch potato fans the opportunity to act like they are the real coaches and general managers of teams (instead of just fans yelling at the scream about what the coach, owners, or players should have done differently). * * * I just read a  Tim Worstall article  in Forbes Magazine. Worstall notes that Chang Ha-Joon and Hans Rosling agree that the washing machine is a more important invention than the Internet. I have no doub that Worstall, Chang and Rosling all know more about economics than I do, they have forgotten more than I will ever know about it. But wait...there is a discussion ...

Korea in theory: Smile Korea Korea in reality: The beatings will continue until morale improves Korea Herald--serious news & columnists, business focused, your grandfather's newspaper Korea Times--Kpop columns, news lifted from urban legends sites, your grandfather is having sex with your teenage cousin's best friend. Weather in theory: 4 seasons year around Weather in reality: 4 seasons--every day. Education in theory: Schools should become child-centered. Education reality: National entrance exam Outlook in theory: Shaping the Future with Korea Reality: Checklist country Economy in theory: Creative economy Reality: Checklist country Hope: Carpe Diem Reality: Checklist country National branding slogan: Dynamic Korea Reality: Korea Fighting

In doing some reading, I came across a funny term in economics: "Negative subsidy." It sounds like a joke, but some smart and powerful people take it very seriously. In actual language, it is a tax or fine. But smart people use such stupid language to hide what they really mean. It is the kind of term that people would ignore in every day life, but in the make-believe land of politics and planning, such make-believe terms are taken seriously. And because people with power take the term seriously, you also need to take it seriously if they target you. * * * Employee: Boss, I'm a bit surprised. According to this document, I am not receiving a bonus this year. Boss: Let me take a look....Hmm... Employee: In fact, it says I am being penalized $100. What is that? Boss: Don't think of it as a penalty. You are receiving a negative bonus this year.

If I ever work at a zoo, you can be sure that 1) I would have a weapon 2) would it have it drawn on any animals that needed to be locked in cages for the protection of the public and employees 3) that I would be known as the trigger-happy employee who was ready to shoot at any moment because he didn't trust his idiot co-workers to properly close the cages. * * * I'm thinking about this because a Siberian tiger at a zoo in Seoul briefly escaped from its unlocked cage, and it then did what tigers do--it attacked. The unfortunate person was a 52 year old trainer named Shim who is now in a coma. I suppose after this that, assuming he survives, that he will never try to feed a tiger without confirming that the cage is locked. And he will probably take tips from me. From the Korea Times : A Seoul City official said he presumed the injured trainer failed to lock the gate of the cage while preparing for morning feeding. Of course, there is no way that I would ever work a...