Today's roundup: Can't tell the womens from the mens!

* This chick was once a dude.

* Wouldn't that be something? The sexy supermodel of your dreams may have once been a guy.

* I suspect there are some Korean women wondering if they can have the same surgery to look like the former Mr. Choi.

The woman pictured on the left is now a contestant in a Super Model Contest in Korea. According to the Korea Times: "Choi Han-bit, 23, was among 50 participants selected from a list of 1,200 candidates at the preliminary stage of the contest on July 2. She still has to pass another preliminary on July 28 to be included in the final selection, but if she does, Choi will be Korea's first transsexual super model. A dance major at the Korea National University of Arts, Choi underwent a sex change operation in 2006, and was legally recognized as a woman by a court."

The article also mentions: "In 2005, before undergoing the sex change operation, she appeared in a television show as a man who was disguised as a woman."

* * *

Diet a great success!

I stepped up my diet plan last night, spending quite a bit of time walking around lost last night. I even showed the map (in Korean) to some Koreans who were pretty sure the place was nearby, but they weren't quite sure where it was.

I guess I should feel better. Yesterday when I was out looking for a new place to live I noticed that the real estate agent had trouble finding the location.

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Today's National story of the day

"Teachers Come to Blows in Front of Students"

According to the Korea Times: "Two apparently inebriated high school teachers got into a fist fight in front of the school gates ― leaving onlooking students in a state of shock.The pair, who teach at a school Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, are now facing disciplinary action after the incident, which occurred at around 6 p.m. on July 7, led to one of the alleged culprits taking time off due to the injuries he incurred, according to the provincial office of education.

"The drama unfolded as the teachers arrived back at the school after an argument developed at an event to mark final term examinations, the office said. But the verbal volleys quickly turned physical and a fight ensued at the school gates, the office added. Students who had stayed on campus to study were reportedly shocked, a report filed by the office said. The school is planning to file disciplinary action against the pair after the wounded teacher returns to work. The educational office said both had blamed the alcohol and each other for the incident. "

Unfortunately, there is no video of the incident.

* * *

They can call me as often as they want!

No Night Calls From Loan Sharks

I say that anyone who teaches them English should be sentenced to death.

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Stop breaking the law, assholes!

One of the funnier scenes in the movie "Liar, Liar," was when the lawyer (played by Jim Carrey) shouted into the phone to one of his troublemaking clients, "stop breaking the law asshole."

Apparently there needs to be a line like that in the Korean Constitution. As noted in today's Korea Herald: "Crime surge mars Constitution Day."

"The number of minor offenses in the first half of this year rose by 24.1 percent to 473,936 cases from the 381,716 last year, the National Police Agency said yesterday.

"The greatest leap was in public order offenses, with 92,871 cases identified, a 67.1 percent rise from last year. The number of acts of violence under the influence of alcohol rose to 41,289 cases, a 62.8 percent rise. Traffic law violations also saw a 74 percent rise, from 1.18 million cases to 2.06 million cases. "

CJL

"Yoegi Anjuseyo!"

* I have a short reflection in today's Korea Times about an encounter with an unfriendly looking Korean man on the subway. It was a reminder not to be too quick in judging people in Korea. 09-13-2011 16:47 'Yeogi Anjeuseyo!' By Casey Lartigue Jr. The recent incident in which an American English teacher bullied an elderly Korean man and other passengers on the bus reminded me of a more pleasing incident from years ago. I was on the subway, taking the train outside of Seoul for a work assignment. I have the habit of standing on the subway to strategically position myself near the doors in case my stop magically appears. On that particular day, there was a Korean man STARING at me. Not just looking at me, but intensely staring at me. He had an incredible frown on his face. Not just for one stop, but for several stops the guy just kept staring at me. If I had known more Korean then I would have been able to curse him ...

Michael Breen discussion at 10 Magazine

Yesterday I attended a discussion with writer Michael Breen, hosted by Barry Welsh. Very often, when I attend a speech or discussion about a topic I know a lot about, I often think about ways the speaker/facilitator/discussant could have done better. But I didn't feel that way about Breen, it was one of those times that I really felt like I had a lot to learn and should listen more than talk. He's been in Korea for three decades, working as a reporter, commentator, communications specialist. He reminds me of Andrei Lankov in that his analysis seems to be based on observation of how things work rather than trying to get the world to fit his biases. I don't know him, so his friends may say he is a raging ideologue, but that's not the impression I had yesterday and based on his writings. Michael Breen (L) and Casey Lartigue I first read his book The Koreans about a decade ago. It was a delightful read, that was both warm to Koreans but also critical at times. Yes...

Inspiration from a lousy visitor (The Korea Times, December 31, 2013) by Casey Lartigue, Jr.

2013-12-15 It was a great occasion yesterday. A group of us held a Christmas party in the cancer ward of severance hospital. So many people to mention. The man who inspired it all: Nick Adams. It was his trip to Korea last month that inspired me to organize the party. He had cancer when he was a child, and he insisted that as part of his itinerary that we stop by the hospital. I was so moved that I contacted the best party planner I have ever known. The man behind the motion: Edward M. Robinson! As I've said several times: If you are looking for someone to hold an incredible party for kids, then contact Eddie! I look forward to big things from HOPE now that he has taken an even more active role with the organization (and was smart enough to name me an International Adviser, for example). The staff members at Mulmangcho are still talking about the incredible Halloween party he hosted, and they are looking forward to the Christmas party he has planned this weekend! The lady behind t...

2020-11-26 My basketball story

This photo was uploaded today by my aunt Annette. This was back in the day, when 1) I had a head full of hair and 2) played basketball a lot. That first year of playing organized basketball, I focused on playing defense. It seemed that everyone wanted to shoot the ball, so I passed the ball and played defense. I probably led the league in steals, rebounds and blocked shots. I enjoyed taking on the best player from the other team, I felt like I would get better, quickly. The second year, I was a different player. I will never forget the first game that second year--we lost 29 to 26, I scored 18 points. I probably led the universe in scoring that second year, although we didn't win much. One thing I learned from that experience is that one great player 9 (at least in his own mind) can't beat a team. An eye injury ended my pro career before it began, to this day I still have floaters in my eyes because of the injury. I started wearing glasses, but the problem never went away. On t...

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."

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