Thursday, December 28, 2006

From GI Korea

This picture via LGF from a US soldier in Iraq is just priceless:




Here is the note that the soldier wrote with the picture:


This is a true story…..Check out this photo from our mess hall at the US Embassy yesterday morning. Sen. Kerry found himself all alone while he was over here. He canceled his press conference because no one came, he worked out alone in the gym w/o any soldiers even going up to say hi or ask for an autograph (I was one of those who was in the gym at the same time), and he found himself eating breakfast with only a couple of folks who are obviously not troops.

What is amazing is Bill O’Reilly came to visit with us and the troops at the CSH the same day and the line for autographs extended through the palace and people waited for two hours to shake his hand. You decide who is more respected and loved by us servicemen and women!

I have to wonder what Senator Kerry was thinking by going to Iraq in the first place? I’m guessing he was hoping he would get some good photo ops with the troops in order to show that he is not anti-military. Well it appears he isn’t going to be getting that photo op he is so desperately seeking any time soon.

Like I have always stated, I will believe the troops on the ground more than I will the media.


Ford: the accidental president

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE, Associated Press Writer

Gerald R. Ford was a man of limited ambition who, through bizarre circumstances never before experienced by the country, achieved an office that others win through the greatest determination and calculation. The nation's 38th president, Ford wanted only to become speaker of the House. History had another place for him.

Ford was comfortable in the House, representing a Michigan congressional district for 25 years, rising to Republican leader and working toward his dream of one day running the chamber, when President Nixon called.

He needed a new vice president; scandal had chased Spiro Agnew from the office.

Ford wasn't Nixon's first choice, but the president agreed that the amiable Republican would be the easiest to win confirmation by both houses of Congress. So it went, and Ford became vice president in December 1973.

Yet eight months later, the scenario got even stranger.

The scandal of Watergate drove Nixon to become the only president to resign.

Ford, who died Tuesday at 93 at his home in the California desert, again was left to fill a void.

And so the man who did not covet the presidency, who never had sought national office and who wanted only to become the "head honcho" of the House, became president by chance — unlike many since who have devoted huge amounts of time and money in pursuit of the Oval Office.

"I have not campaigned either for the presidency or the vice presidency," Ford told the nation in his inaugural address on Aug. 9, 1974. "I have not sought this enormous responsibility, but I will not shirk it."

Charles O. Jones, a political scholar at the Brookings Institution, said Ford "truly was an accidental president and he ought to be judged that way." Ford, he said, had the least political capital of almost any president because he wasn't elected.

"He had to come in entirely depending upon the difference of himself and Nixon," Jones said Wednesday.

What little capital Ford did have was quickly spent when, just a month after taking office, he granted Nixon a federal pardon for all crimes committed as president — further angering the country.

"It wasn't handled well," Erwin Hargrove, who taught political science at Vanderbilt University, said Wednesday. "He could have prepared the path for a pardon. He did it too abruptly."

Many believe the pardon contributed to Ford's loss to Democrat Jimmy Carter in 1976.

By then, Ford had come to enjoy being president. He once told Congress he would not run for a full term in 1976 even if he succeeded Nixon, but changed his mind within weeks of taking the oath of office.

"The Oval Office is large, comfortable and inspiring," Ford wrote in "A Time To Heal," his autobiography. "I knew there were many far-reaching things that I as president could do, but I never sat in the chair behind my desk and said, 'I'm a powerful man. I can press a button or pull a switch and such and such will happen.'"

He occupied the White House for 895 days. During that time, the Vietnam War ended and Ford inked a pivotal arms control treaty with the Soviet Union, regarded as a major foreign policy achievement on his watch. But it was not to last. Years later, Carter withdrew the pact from Senate consideration after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Ford promised to compromise and cooperate with his former colleagues in Congress, but relations between them were not always smooth. He vetoed 66 bills, and Congress overrode him on 12 of those.

There also were two attempts to assassinate him in September 1975.

His lack of stature as president was evident a year later during the presidential campaign, when he survived an intra-party challenge from Ronald Reagan, who was more conservative than Ford, only to lose to Carter.

On his first day in office, Ford made his own breakfast. He spent his first night as president at his ranch-style home in Alexandria, Va., taking the unusual step of directing the motorcade to obey red lights along the way.

But the perks of White House living grew on Ford once he finally moved in.

"What I hadn't expected were the little touches that so often brightened my day," he wrote in the autobiography. "The crew of Air Force One quickly discovered that I love strawberries. So when I flew somewhere, they usually had a bowl for me. They knew that I like to smoke a pipe, and they made sure the tobacco tin was always full."

Ford got a taste of national politics at Yale University, where he studied law and worked as a volunteer in Wendell L. Willkie's 1940 Republican presidential campaign. After service in the Navy in the Pacific during World War II, he returned to Grand Rapids, Mich., aspiring to do little more than play "lots of golf," enjoy life and build his law practice.

But his stepfather was the local Republican chairman, and then-Michigan Sen. Arthur H. Vandenberg was looking for a fresh young internationalist to replace the area's isolationist congressman.

Ford beat Rep. Bartel Jonkman by a 2-to-1 margin in the Republican primary and went on to win the general election in 1948 with more than 60 percent of the vote, a feat he would repeat 12 more times.

Ford rose through the House leadership ranks, becoming the minority leader. And he worked hard to turn it into a majority, and himself into House speaker. Eventually, he realized his dream would not come true — Democrats would control the House through 1995 — and he promised to run again in 1974 and retire two years later.

Then history intervened.

Gerald Ford Remembered for His 'Calm and Steady' Hand

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

WASHINGTON — Flags throughout the country were flying at half mast Wednesday in tribute to Gerald R. Ford, the 38th president of the United States, who died Tuesday at the age of 93.

Tributes poured forward for Ford, who led America out of the tumultuous post-Watergate period with dignity and respect.

President Ford's casket will begin public repose at 4:20 p.m. at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, Calif., on Friday after special services for family and friends. Ford's body will leave St. Margaret's for Washington, D.C., on Saturday morning and will be escorted via motorcade to the Capitol.

A state funeral will be held in the Capitol Rotunda at 7 a.m. ET on Saturday. Ford's body will lie in state in the Rotunda until Tuesday morning when it will be moved to the door of the Senate at 8:30 a.m. After a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral, the casket will be transported to the Ford Presidential Library and Museum in Grand Rapids, Mich., where the body will lie in public repose overnight.

Following a 2 p.m. funeral services Wednesday at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids, Ford will be interred on a hillside north of the museum.

All events related to Ford's funeral in Washington would be finished before Jan. 4, which is the opening day of the 110th Congress.

Ford's collegial character and unassuming style in the White House are expected to be reflected in his presidential funeral arrangements.

Saying the United States will be grateful forever, President Bush on Wednesday bade farewell to Ford, who died at 6:45 p.m. EST at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

"President Ford lived 93 years and his life was a blessing to America," Bush said from his ranch in Crawford, Texas. "President Ford was a great man who devoted the best years of his life in serving the United States. He was a true gentleman who reflected the best in America's character."

Bush, who will attend Ford's funeral, said the man who took over the top job after the resignation of President Richard Nixon led with honorable conduct and a sense of duty in a time of post-Watergate turmoil.

"On Aug. 9, 1974, he stepped into the presidency without ever having sought the office. He assumed power in a period of great division and turmoil. For a nation that needed healing and for an office that needed a calm and steady hand, Gerald Ford came along when we needed him most," Bush said.

"Gerald Ford brought Americans together during a difficult chapter in our history with strength, integrity, and humility," President Bill Clinton said in a statement. "All Americans should be grateful for his life of service; he served our nation well. To his great credit, he was the same hard-working, down-to-earth person the day he left the White House as he was when he first entered Congress almost 30 years earlier."

The Ford Museum lobby will be open 24 hours a day until further notice, and the museum's other areas, including all exhibit galleries and the gift store, will be closed during this period. Ford likely will finally be laid to rest on the presidential grounds at the museum.

On the Ann Arbor campus of the University of Michigan, the Ford Library lobby will be open for visitors for approximately seven days beginning Thursday. The library's research room will be closed during this period.

The New York Stock Exchange will close in observance of Ford’s death, which has long been tradition, most likely on the day of his funeral.

Although Ford had moved to California after leaving the White House, his ties to his native Michigan remained strong, and in his boyhood home of Grand Rapids a steady stream of people lit candles, draped flags and placed flowers Wednesday at a makeshift shrine outside the Gerald R. Ford Museum. The museum opened condolence books for visitors to sign in the vestibule.

"The country was in scandal and war and he used the opportunity to heal the country and become one of the most important people in history," Joseph B. Niewiek, 31, a used car lot owner from Grand Rapids, said as he lit a candle at the museum.

Ford's lying in state at the Capitol Rotunda will take an act of Congress. Republican leaders could come to Washington to seek unanimous consent from empty chambers if the family wants Ford to lie in state.

Ford's chief of staff called Bush Chief of Staff Josh Bolten at 10:25 p.m. EST. The president called Ford's widow, Betty Ford, to express his condolences just after midnight.

'Outstanding Statesman'

Other notables also expressed condolences for the death of the president who served in the aftermath of Watergate and was known as a healer for a nation suffering after the Vietnam War and political scandal that forced Nixon's resignation.

"I was proud to know President Ford and to have served in the White House as his chief of staff," Vice President Dick Cheney said. "He was a dear friend and mentor to me until this very day. I feel a great sense of loss at his passing, and Lynne and our daughters join me in offering heartfelt sympathy to Betty Ford and her entire family."

Ford was "one of the most admirable public servants and human beings I have ever known," said former President Jimmy Carter, who defeated Ford in 1976.

"An outstanding statesman, he wisely chose the path of healing during a deeply divisive time in our nation's history," Carter said. "He frequently rose above politics by emphasizing the need for bipartisanship and seeking common ground on issues critical to our nation. I will always cherish the personal friendship we shared."

"Ronnie and I always considered him a dear friend and close political ally," said former first lady Nancy Reagan.

"His accomplishments and devotion to our country are vast, and even long after he left the presidency he made it a point to speak out on issues important to us all. ... I know the days ahead will be very difficult for Betty and my love and deepest sympathy go out to her and the entire Ford family."

"Gerald Ford was a man of modesty, decency and national healing. Although he never aspired to America's highest office, once there he renewed our faith in our nation's system of government. He also earned our affection and respect," added Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the incoming Senate minority leader.

"Gerald Ford and I came from different sides of the aisle," said Sen. John Dingell, D-Mich., "but we forged a wonderful friendship as we served Michigan together in the House of Representatives.

"When his nation called on him to serve this country in the most difficult of times, he rose up and held the country together. It will certainly be his legacy," said Dingell, who will lead the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the 110th Congress.

"President Ford made Michigan proud as he led our nation through one of the most challenging times in our history. Our prayers go out to his family," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.

Incoming House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Ford provided "the steady leadership and optimism that was his signature" and said he displayed "fair and reliable leadership" during his service in the House.

"He recognized that however much we may disagree on political questions, we serve all of the people of the nation in a great institution: the House of Representatives," she said.

Painful Pardon

Though often remembered as clumsy, especially after the famous trip down the staircase out of Air Force One, Ford was one of the most athletic presidents. He was a star on the University of Michigan football team and rejected an offer to join the National Football League in order to attend law school.

"He was the best athlete that has ever been in the White House, at least in modern times," said former ABC news director Hal Bruno, who added that Ford got a "bum rap" as a klutz.

Several people said Ford will be known as a very honest and good man who did what he thought was right and didn't bow to political pressure despite his decision to pardon Nixon for crimes related to the Watergate scandal.

"There are just some people who are what they appear to be," said Doug Bailey, one of Ford's political media consultants, who added that Ford's earthy demeanor disarmed people suspicious of him after Nixon had let down so many.

"He demonstrated a completely different kind of presidency" than Nixon, Bailey said. "He was a very, very down-to-Earth guy."

Ford himself said he was frequently misunderstood regarding his decision to pardon Nixon, who was the only president to resign from the post.

"If I had not granted a pardon, Mr. Nixon would have been indicted and convicted and there would have been at appeal and there would have been a three- or four-year period ... that issue would be the headline," Ford said in an interview with FOX News a few years ago.

"We had to get that off the front page. The only way to do it was to make a decisive mood, grant pardons, and get on with the business of the country," he continued. "At the time, the public did not generally understand the reasons for the pardon. Time has convinced most people, well over a majority."

Ed Nixon, the former president's brother, told FOX News on Wednesday that it took courage for Ford to do what he did, although that may not have been the only thing that cost him the presidency.

"He's a great man and we really, really miss his honorable life — a wonderful person," Nixon said of Ford.




I was 8 years old when President Ford took over as the US President. What I remember most was each Saturday Night, SNL Chevy Chase would always make fun of him and I usually laughed at it.

Later while studying his history, I grew a deep respect for this man who helped a nation unite after the debacle of "Water-Gate"

My Father always liked President Ford and when I was able to secure a Presidential Tie-Clip with his signature, for his Christmas present one year. He always liked that clip, so much that we buried it him with wearing it on his favorite tie.

Rest well now President Ford. A grateful nation says. "Thank You"

Monday, December 25, 2006

To my friends who are stationed in our US Armed Forces and who are stationed all over the world. If you are away from your loved ones today, please remember a grateful nation todays thanks you for your service to assist and to protect our great country.

Come home safe and the next round will be on me.

Merry Christmas My Friends. When I first read it,it reminded me of my days far away from the ones that I love on special holidays. Next year may you all be home with the ones that you love. Enjoy the Poem.



Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.
I had come down the chimney with presents to give
And to see just who in this home did live.

I looked all about a strange sight I did see,
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures of far distant lands.

With medals and badges, awards of all kind
A sober thought came through my mind.
For this house was different, so dark and dreary,
I knew I had found the home of a soldier, once I could see clearly.

I heard stories about them, I had to see more
So I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping silent alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one bedroom home.

His face so gentle, his room in such disorder,
Not how I pictured a United States soldier.
Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean shaven, his weathered face tan,
I soon understood this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night
Owed their lives to these men who were willing to fight.

Soon ‘round the world, the children would play,
And grownups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
Because of soldiers like this one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone
On a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
"Santa don’t cry, this life is my choice;
I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more,
my life is my God, my country, my Corps."

With that he rolled over and drifted off into sleep,
I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent and still,
I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill.

So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
And I covered this Soldier from his toes to his head.
And I put on his T-shirt of gray and black,
With an eagle and an Army patch embroidered on back.

And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
And for a shining moment, I was United States Army deep inside.
I didn’t want to leave him on that cold dark night,
This guardian of honor so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over, whispered with a voice so clean and pure,
"Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas Day, all is secure."
One look at my watch, and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night!



Merry Christmas My friends, and to all a good night!
Merry Christmas 2006.

It was a nice time today. I saw a few movies and I am watching, "It's A Wonderful Life." I tried to call the kids today and the phone # did not work. I have no idea if they got the Christmas boxes. I hope that they did and I hope that they realize that their daddy loves them both very much.

I had Xmas dinner 23rd December at "The Brickhouse" and I ate allot of Turkey, I know big surprise.

We had dinner on the 24th @ T.G.I.F with Dan, Greer, Trey, Megan and a few others. We also went to Santa Claus Bar and OMG did we drink allot. I did about 5 shots of Tequila, and I felt it this morning.

I went to the movies today. It's Christmas and its a couples day so I kept to myself, I hope that my friends here in Korea has a great day today.

Enjoy the Cartoons for today.














Tuesday, December 19, 2006



Well if you run out of Christmas Ideas, You can always try this.


I was LOL when I saw it.

Monday, December 18, 2006

PS. This is version 2.0 of an earlier article that I wrote for Socius. I have trimmed and added a few comments.


When I usually write for Socius, I stick with the movies, because that what I like and that’s what I know. Within the last few weeks here in Korea I have seen a few things that, frankly, have had me wondering what in the heck is going on here in Korea?

I would like to make this remark right now! These are my own views of what is going on here in Korea and do not reflect the noble views of Socius. This article will cover a lot of material that I have seen on different web sites.

This whole thing started out to me with a great article written by Stephanie Shimko about a play in Busan, the article was called Babopalooza and it told of some foreigners in Busan who told stories about their time here in Korea. It was not done for profit and any extra money that was made was to be donated to a local orphanage. I thought, well isn't this a great idea and this made people laugh.

It is when a few days later that the shit hit the fan and I will give the links of what followed next.

People, not Space Invaders!
Foreigners in Busan busted for ‘anti-Korean’ performance
Foreigner Discrimination in Korea
(Seriously Stupid Department) KBS ‘foreign beauty’ program slammed for racism
AND HERE IT COMES...
Howdy
Just the Facts
Police Story Korea Style

I know it’s a lot of links but please take your time and read these and then you wil have an idea of what in the hack is going on.
Now please read Steph's article

People, not Space Invaders!

Next was my reply to her article and I would like to add some more to this


I am not sure if this will make sense but this is how the Korean Police explained to me why I should never volunteer for anything here in Korea.

We do not believe you when you will say that you will work or do anything for free. (Even though it would have been for the orphans) this goes against Korean thinking and understanding. (I was never sure if this is what he was thinking because it was translated to me).

So needless to say, I have never volunteered to help with the kids.

You really are asking a legitimate legal question with the cool bar, because, what happens if there is a raid and the foreigners are playing, based on my experience they will be fined because they, the police, will think that they are doing this for $, even though no $ has changed hands.

You are also correct in that, even thought this is the truth, could you be detained because the truth cast a bad light upon Korea. To be honest, I wish I knew that answer.

So my guess is that, we are not allowed to do anything except work and if we act, or sad to say, write columns, that could give the appearance of us getting paid. In actually we do it for free and for the love of doing it. I guess that is also illegal here in Korea.

Food for thought. Great article Steph.

Now Lets pay special attention to this part of her article....

they were fingerprinted and asked to sign wavers stating that they did not request their respective embassies to be informed about them being detained. Afterwards one of them was talked to "off the record" about how it is inappropriate to make fun of other people's cultures.

Now do you notice the off the record comment here? Please remember this because it will be brought back again into the story later.....

Now for those who know me, know that I was a Military Policeman in the US Army and when I saw drug use, I had to write one hell of a statement and if I lied in my report, my butt could have gone to jail. My question and comment is this, someone reported that there was drug use at this play and that some of the people had to give a urine sample. The entire tests came back negative on these people. My comment is now to the police, do you realize how foolish you actually will look when these people start to contact their embassies and they will demand who reported the drug use and who made a false statement and will this person be jailed or fired. Any claim of high ground is gone and this looks bad a very unprofessional.

Now this is from The Marmot's hole and this is his story, now the number of the audience was wrong and so was the fact of the $ charged and where it went to, looks like the Korean press link was wrong or they just deliberately printed false information, to be honest I do not know why they printed the incorrect information.
Foreigners in Busan busted for ‘anti-Korean’ performance

Now pay attention to this part……

In addition to claims of violations of E-2 visas, these guys are being prosecuted (persecuted?) for putting on an illegal performance. This is an issue that affects everyone, including bloggers, since right now there appears to be some question as to what kinds of activities foreign workers can do other than work, defecate and sleep. When these guys went in to the police, the police also discussed the illegality of another local event–a regularly-held Poetry night at a local bar where foreigners and Koreans would get up on stage and read poetry and play music to an audience for free. Guess what? The police said that was illegal. Are you in a band that plays in Itaewon on the weekends, or a mix-master at a Shinchon dance club? Guess again! You're breaking the law according to Pusan police. Talking to a small group of Korean friends on the street? Who the heck knows, right? Could be illegal. This has a HUGE chilling effect on what we foreigners can do in Korea. Frankly, I'm not really sure anymore we can do.

Chilling.

THIS WAS the exact question that Stephanie asked in her article, WTF can we do here in Korea? He brings up the exact same questions that Stephanie does and to tell the truth I do not have a clue here for any correct answer.

Now the next 4 deal with one of the promoters of this event and what he had gone through and his attempt to correct the incorrect information that was initially reported.

AND HERE IT COMES...
Howdy
Just the Facts
Police Story Korea Style

Now please pay special attention to this comment…
USINKOREA

What gets me about this, and again, I haven't had time to read all the comments, is how these expats can be rounded up for offending Korean sensibility, and when Koreans read about it in the papers, the mildest form of reaction will be simple agreement that the police did the right thing and the expats should be deported and fined, but a typical reaction would be to off-handedly say the teachers should be roughed up or something.

Yet, this same society can't get much energy flowing across the masses when it is reported that a Nazi bar is doing business in one of its major cities - that the waiters and waitresses wear brown uniforms aka Hitler's fanatically political supports/intimidation troops - complete with swastika armbands.

Something like that comes out, and the expat community reacting to it just doesn't understand Korean culture - it really isn't meant the way it looks, it’s just a concept, yada yada yada…

But I guess they are making progress…

Judging by the limited amount of attention I was able to give to the TV foreign beauties posts here and elsewhere, it seems a fair number of Koreans were upset at what happened there.

Give it another 100 years……and you'll see….

Now to see what he was talking about please click on to this (Seriously Stupid Department) KBS ‘foreign beauty’ program slammed for racism Link and please beware this actually happened live on Korean TV. So far I have told a story about what happens when expats makes fun of Korea. Now look at what happens when it’s the Koreans making fun of the foreigners and look at the aftermath of it.

Now to be honest here my original intention was to write a Korean Movie Industry review and I was going to ask a heck of allot of questions. I may still do that one. I started doing research and these 2 stories came up and I was thinking, "WTF?" One group makes fun of and they are given pee tests and then asked to sign papers not informing their embassies. Then I see the Korean do the exact same think that the Busan police stated...

...Afterwards one of them was talked to "off the record" about how it is inappropriate to make fun of other people's cultures. So my question is why have not these fools been dragged into a police station and given pee tests, if they did the exact same thing that the people in Busan did?

Now this is what I really could not believe.....

* What was the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in Korea?
* What kind of things do Koreans do that you can understand least?
* What dating places have you gone with your Korean boyfriend?
* When have you felt, "Ah, I've become a real Korean now"?
* What are five good things about Korean men?
* What Korean entertainer would you like to have as a boyfriend?

It was like the Koreans were trying to sell the fact that Korean men are the best in the world. I do not know if anyone has noticed lately but there have been ads with White females and Korean men and I have always wondered if this is trying to sell that same point that I have listed above. With these questions is sure does make one wonder.

This is what has me wondering about the future of Korea. Stephanie told me a story awhile back about a little girl at our last school and how she wished that she could look just like Stephanie (Blond Hair and Blue Eyes) when asked why it was because she did not think that she looked beautiful and that is she looked like Stephanie that she could be beautiful.

I really started to think about what she said. In the ads here in Korea we see, White females, selling all kinds of beauty products and I cannot imagine what this is doing to the little Korean girls feeling of worth and self respect. I always thought that she was a very beautiful little girl but she did not believe it because she was being told by the ads in print and on TV that this is beauty and what she has is not fashionable and this made her believe that she was not beautiful.

The real Korean quote is what made me do a double take... Earlier this year when Hines Ward mania was gripping this nation, one of the parents of one of my students at my last hogwan made this comment, "It's not Hines Wards fault that he is only half-Korean." It just left me dumbfounded and left a bad taste in my mind. Once again the narrow view of Korea reared its ugly head. I sure did not like what I was seeing.

Overall this has been a large look at a huge problem that all of us who live here are real soon going to have to ask ourselves. Why are we in Korea and can we really do anything except go to work, go home and never do anything to interact with Koreans, because just by talking to them in English, are we violating our visa status? With this case we may get an answer that none of us want like.

Sunday, December 17, 2006

The Truth...So Far

Pusanweb has spoken to various cast members of Babo-Palooza! and has created this report of


“Just the Facts”

On December 1st and 2nd at 10:00 pm, a group of foreigners, under the name ‘Round Face Productions’ performed a sketch-comedy show called ‘Babo-Palooza!’ The event was held in a small black-box theater in Namcheon-dong, near Kwangalli Beach that had bench seating for approximately 65 to 70 people. For each of the two performances, the show was over-sold. Approximately 75 to 80 people were in the audience each night for a maximum total of 160 people. Tickets to the event were 7,000 won and beer was on sale for 2,000 won a can. The show included 8 sketches and ran a total of 1h30m. The sketches are summarized on this blog site

There was never any hope of making money on the show as the expenses exceeded the income. The actors never expected to get paid, and the organizers hoped only to break even. The organizers stated in their introduction at the beginning of the show that if there were to be extra money made that it would be donated to a local charity (probably an orphanage). After all the accounts were in, the organizers were approximately 200,000 in debt after the costumes and props were bought and the sets, equipment and theater were rented.

All of the cast members except for one female Korean woman are teachers with either E1 or E2 visas and are from Canada, the USA, Ireland, and the U.K. On Monday, December 11, the actors started being contacted by the International Crime Division of the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency. There is some contention as to whether or not they were:

a) being interviewed/questioned

b) being booked for a crime(s)

c) arrested for a crime(s)

It seems now, however, that the Korean legal system’s “arrest” is a different concept than that of the west and in all likelihood, they were in fact ‘arrested’ according to Korean law. They violated both Immigration law by performing in public, outside of the parameters of their visas (which was exacerbated by selling tickets and beer), and criminal law by participating in a performance not approved by the Korean Media Rating Board, for not getting the proper permits for staging a show.

Between Monday, December 11 and Friday, December 15 nine members of the show had separately been to the International Crimes Division and were interrogated individually for between 1 hour and 3 hours. Very satisfactory translators were provided for the members. Throughout each interrogation, everyone was fingerprinted and everyone signed a statement. Three of the members were asked for urine samples, which they provided. All three tested negative for any illegal substances. Everyone was let go at the conclusion of their interviews.

Throughout the course of the interrogations, it was noted that one of the police officers had been an audience member on opening night. She had attended the show on the Friday and when asked by a cast member on her way out of the theater if she enjoyed it, she said yes, she had. During the interrogations, however, the police officers mentioned that they felt the content was offensive to Koreans or inappropriate.

Currently, no sentencing has occurred. The police investigation is still apparently continuing. After their investigation is complete, the normal course of Korean law is that the evidence will be submitted to a prosecutor who will then make his/her judgment (fines, deportations, etc.).

At this time, no cast member has been fined or deported. No sentence has been passed on anyone. Any site that reports otherwise is in error.

There is a lot of misinformation in the Korean media stories about Babo-palooza! as well as on the Korean blogs and on the forums. Most of that has, hopefully, been addressed above. Over the weekend, Pusanweb will try to address individual points of misinformation from the blogs, media and forums.

Friday, December 15, 2006

When I usually write for Socius, I stick with the movies, because that what I like and that’s what I know. Within the last few weeks here in Korea I have seen a few things that, frankly, have had me wondering what in the heck is going on here in Korea?

I would like to make this remark right now! These are my own view of what is going on here in Korea and do not reflect the view of Socius. This article will have a lot of cutting and pasting and will cover a lot of material that I have seen on different web sites.

This whole thing started out to me with a great article written by Stephanie Shimko about a play in Busan, the article was called Babopalooza and it told of some foreigners in Busan who told stories about their time here in Korea. It was not done for profit and any extra money that was made was to be donated to a local orphanage. I thought, well isn't this a great idea and this made people laugh.

It is when a few days later that the shit hit the fan and I will give the links of what followed next.

People, not Space Invaders

Aftermath of the show.

Foreigner Discrimination in Korea

KBS ‘foreign beauty’ program slammed for racism

And here it comes

Police Story Korean Style

First from Stephanie's story...

In addition to this, another interesting situation has arisen concerning a few of the foreign residents who participated in "Babopalooza", the sketch comedy show in Busan that I reviewed last week. Throughout the beginning of this week, various foreign participants were approached in their workplaces and taken to the police station where they were interrogated for several hours. To the best of my knowledge, the Korean participants have not been approached. Although they say that they were treated kindly while in police custody and were provided with a translator who was not employed by the police, they were fingerprinted and asked to sign wavers stating that they did not request their respective embassies to be informed about them being detained. Afterwards one of them was talked to "off the record" about how it is inappropriate to make fun of other people's cultures.

The two foreigners producers are now being fined one million won each. The police say this is because they worked outside of their teaching contracts, which is untrue. None of the actors were paid for their participation. They did charge for admission, but this was only to recover the associated costs, and any profits made were to be given to a Korean orphanage. I hardly find this reprehensible. They ended up losing money in the end, which doubles my confusion on the issue.

This is just my opinion, but I found the show to be quite good. It took shots at Koreans, but it also took shots at foreigners. A good portion of the skits, including "18!", "The Steam Irons of Busan," and "Gogo on the Rocks" had nothing to do with Koreans or foreigners. I was sure that they most offensive skit would have been "So, Jew!" but I guess it's ok to make fun of foreigners, including Jews as long as they're not Korean as well. From what I have been told, the "Immigration" and "Boshintang" skits were the ones that caused the most offense, but if this is a visa issue, why is the offensiveness of a sketch even relevant?

I fear that this may be a very slippery slope in regards to free speech and the rights of foreigners in Korea. At what point is doing something other than our work considered illegal? Is it illegal when a foreign band plays for fun (and for free) at the Cool Bar on a Saturday night because it's organized? Is it illegal when I go out with my Korean friends because I'm talking to them in English without being on the clock? Should I worry about being interrogated by the police because I'm writing something now that could be considered negative against Koreans, even if it's the truth?

I understand that choosing to live in a foreign country requires me to accept parts of their culture that I may find less than savory. However, if Korea truly wants to be "dynamic", it must first develop tolerance for groups and cultures other than its own in a genuine way. The libel/slander double standard illustrated in the two examples I have stumbled upon in the last few days will do no good for Korea's reputation in the foreign community and our contacts throughout the rest of the world. I know I came here against the advice of my friends and family back home in the first place and have worked hard to praise the benefits of this culture as well as vent my frustrations. I know that not all Koreans behave in such a xenophobic manner, but it only takes one rotten apple to make the whole bushel look bad. The same can be said in regards to the comments about foreigners from the hagwon mentioned at the beginning of this article. It's definitely a two way street. It is my hope, on behalf of all the Korean people I know that are open minded and kind, not xenophobic and uninformed, that these situations will not continue.

This was my reply to her article......

I am not sure if this will make sense but this is how the Korean Police explained to me why I should never volunteer for anything here in Korea.

We do not believe you when you will say that you will work or do anything for free. (Even though it would have been for the orphans) this goes against Korean thinking and understanding. (I was never sure if this is what he was thinking because it was translated to me).

So needless to say, I have never volunteered to help with the kids.

You really are asking a legitimate legal question with the cool bar, because, what happens if there is a raid and the foreigners are playing, based on my experience they will be fined because they, the police, will think that they are doing this for $, even though no $ has changed hands.

You are also correct in that, even thought this is the truth, could you be detained because the truth cast a bad light upon Korea. To be honest, I wish I knew that answer.

So my guess is that, we are not allowed to do anything except work and if we act, or sad to say, write columns, that could give the appearance of us getting paid. In actually we do it for free and for the love of doing it. I guess that is also illegal here in Korea.

Food for thought. Great article Steph.

Now Lets pay special attention to this part of her article....

they were fingerprinted and asked to sign wavers stating that they did not request their respective embassies to be informed about them being detained. Afterwards one of them was talked to "off the record" about how it is inappropriate to make fun of other people's cultures.

Now do you notice the off the record comment here? Please remember this because it will be brought back again into the story later.....

now this is from The Marmot's hole and this is his story, now the number of the audience was wrong and so was the fact of the $ charged and where it went to, looks like the Korean press link was wrong or they just deliberately printed false information


Foreigners in Busan busted for ‘anti-Korean’ performance

Police in Busan have booked nine foreigners in Busan for putting on an unapproved performance that allegedly degraded Korean culture, reports the Kyunghyang Shinmun.

The paper noted that they were booked (but not detained) on procedural grounds (you must seek permission from authorities before holding a performance), but controversy was expected since it was possible police were more concerned about what was said during the performance than the paperwork before it.

All in all, nine foreigners, including a 37-year-old American English instructor at a Busan university, were booked on violations of Korea’s performance laws, while seven band members, including a 30-year-old Canadian, were told to leave the country for violating immigration laws.

The Busan Nine—all apparently English teachers—had formed a performance group called “Right Down” and staged a one-act play called “Oriental Story” on Dec. 1 and 2 at a small theater in Namcheon-dong.

According to the Kyunghyang Shinmun, the performance was made up of 10 short skits that lampooned or degraded aspects of Korean culture foreigners found repulsive. One of their targets, apparently, was Korean immigration officials. During the performance, they ridiculed the entry process, joking (?) that Korean immigration officials ask if you know the Dokdo islets or bosintang (dogmeat soup) or kimchi and claiming that Korean civil servants demand that foreigners adopt the Korean way of thinking (Marmot: Koreans expecting people to do things the Korean way in Korea? The horror! The horror!).

They also lampooned Korea’s “strange” (so the Kyunghyang quoted them) number culture, including Koreans’ insistence on doing things three times (”They even shit three times,” they are quoted as saying), the taboo on the number four, and the use of “18″ as an obscenity. They also ridiculed Koreans’ “saucepan disposition” (naembi geunseong, the tendency of Korean society to boil over quickly about a particular issue but just as quickly simmer down), calling it a “steam iron” (Marmot: I fail to see the association). Finally, they chose to express Korea’s dogmeat culture by pretending to eat with tortured expressions, throwing up, and eating again.

Oh, they also referred to middle-aged women as “stubborn ajuma.” Or something like that. Or so the Kyunghyang Shinmun said.

At the police station, they foreigners in question said about the dogmeat routine that they were just trying to express their displeasure with some Koreans who “force” foreigners to eat bosintang.

Entry to the performance was 7,000 won. Four performances were held, with some 600 people attending in all. (here is where an error is on this article.

Police said the busts were made because it was an illegal performance, not because of the content of said performance.

Actually, I got an email this morning about the performance, which was apparently called “Babo-palooza.” There are discussions going on about it at Busanweb and EFL-law Said one poster at ESL-Law:

Just walked in from Babo-Palooza! at Beach Town on Gwangalli — What a friggin’ joke. More down and out English teachers than you could poke a stick at mocking Korea and Koreans with purile humour barely fit for a mental (###) camp. The organiser “teaches” at a Dong university in Busan and can be seen propping up the bar at O’Briens on any night of the week) spent the night thinking he had a Konglish accent when instead he sounded like a Pakistani. The rest of the losers (including a big chested woman from down under with a gut to match and some gutter baboon who looked like he’d swallowed a sheep) were just pathetic. Ten thousand won to see these monkies performing their favourite hogwan routines with added venom? No friggin’ way! This debacle only confirms my suspicions that Busan is home to the dregs of ESL in Korea. Next time, maybe someone should invite immigration and get these fools shipped home.

Not everyone felt that way, however. This STEPH'S BLOGsaid the show did a “wonderful job walking the impossibly thin line of being witty and occasionally sarcastic without being spiteful or mean towards the Koreans and their culture.” Then there is this BLOGGER, who is apparently one of the Busan Nine. Lamenting his position, he writes:

There is a good possibility that I will be fucked off out of this country. This makes me sad. I don’t want to leave. I’m not done with this place. I’m on the cusp of becoming functionally fluent in the language. I love the food, and most of the folks who I met have been ace.

But this is a nation that disguises itself as a modern industrialized democracy. It is the tenth largest economy on Earth and is a miracle of sorts. But peel the onion and you will see that Korea is still a patriarchal Confucian society, one that tolerates little true dissent or satire, especially from a foreign tongue. We are finding this out now.

If anyone has a detailed account of what was said or—praise be to God—video footage, I’d love to read/see it.

This is usually the point when the comment section flamewar begins.

UPDATE: Here is the NoCut News version of what happened (in Korean). Not really different from the Kyunghyang Shinmun account. The police were quoted as saying, however, that while the show did look at Korean culture from a fairly negative angle, it didn’t really amount to “degrading Korea” and, at any rate, was covered under free speech and hence not subject to punishment. But they added that holding a performance without permission from the Korea Ratings Board and engaging in activities outside your visa status are another story.

UPDATE 2: PusanWeb has posted corrections to what it claims to be inaccuracies in the Kyunghyang Shinmun piece (as summarized here). Be sure to check them out. Also, I should note that I did make one mistake in the beginning of the summary—rather than “arrested,” it should read “booked.” The summary has now been corrected. I’d also like to suggest that it might be better—at least for the sake of accuracy—to write up a refutation based on a full translation of the piece rather than the abbreviated summary you see above.

UPDATE 3: Commenter “Spook,” who says he is “intimately connected to the story,” has some very interesting things to say in the comments, and this, if true, should make a lot of people nervous:

In addition to claims of violations of E-2 visas, these guys are being prosecuted (persecuted?) for putting on an illegal performance. This is an issue that affects everyone, including bloggers, since right now there appears to be some question as to what kinds of activities foreign workers can do other than work, defecate and sleep. When these guys went in to the police, the police also discussed the illegality of another local event–a regularly-held Poetry night at a local bar where foreigners and Koreans would get up on stage and read poetry and play music to an audience for free. Guess what? The police said that was illegal. Are you in a band that plays in Itaewon on the weekends, or a mix-master at a Shinchon dance club? Guess again! You’re breaking the law according to Pusan police. Talking to a small group of Korean friends on the street? Who the heck knows, right? Could be illegal. This has a HUGE chilling effect on what we foreigners can do in Korea. Frankly, I’m not really sure anymore we can do.

Chilling.

THIS WAS the exact question that Stephanie asked in her article, WTF can we do here in Korea? He brings up the exact same questions that Stephanie does


Now from one of the Organizers of the above event and his story...

AND HERE IT COMES...
What a day... man oh man. Have you ever had a day when you sensed that things you have built for years were evaporating before your eyes? I don't mean to be dramatic, but I get that sense.

There is a good possibility that I will be fucked off out of this country. This makes me sad. I don't want to leave. I'm not done with this place. I'm on the cusp of becoming functionally fluent in the language. I love the food, and most of the folks who I met have been ace.

But this is a nation that disguises itself as a modern industrialized democracy. It is the tenth largest economy on Earth and is a miracle of sorts. But peel the onion and you will see that Korea is still a patriarchal Confucian society, one that tolerates little true dissent or satire, especially from a foreign tongue. We are finding this out now.

I know. I am not in America. I should not apply the same standards here, and I don't. I will take whatever punishment is meted out. In fact, as a comedian, there are worse fates in the world than to be banned because of the content of your comedy. In the least, it proves that that something is potent, something is hitting the mark.

The Korean media is already picking up on the story. The snowball is forming. Let us hope that the articles probe deeper than "foreigners disrespect Korean culture."

Here are the links from Koreas two most popular web portals. They're in Korean of course, but check 'em out:

http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=200612141808581&code=940100

http://news.media.daum.net/society/others/200612/14/khan/v15057204.html

http://news.media.daum.net/society/region/200612/14/nocut/v15056270.html

And here is what is being said in the English speaking webland/blogosphere over here:

http://www.socius.or.kr/content/view/438/

http://metropolitician.blogs.com/scribblings_of_the_metrop/ (He even links yours truly. Finally.)



This is what's up so far. It's bound to be fruitful and multiply. For those of you here on the Peninsula, check out the Korean Herald on Saturday. We're rumored to be on the front page.

And if deportations actually happen, I will do my damnedest to get the Western press involved. I may even have a contact or two.

Keep posted. There is surely more to come. This was his next comment

Howdy


I am one of the producers of the show. There are several inaccuracies the Marmot’s post. I figure he got a lot of it from a Korean article, so it’s no surprise.

First off, we did TWO performances in a small theater that only fit 80 people. So only 160 people saw the show. NOT 600. I have no idea where they came up with that figure. We spent 1,500,000 won on the show. We took in less, so we LOST money. Do the math. We never tried to make money on this thing to begin with. It was for fun, and any profit made would be donated to an orphanage. There’s a reason we only charged 7,000 won.

The name of the show was “Babo-Palooza!”, not “Oriental Story.” And I will withhold the band’s name, so as to avoid incrimination, but they are not called “Right Down.”

And NOBODY has been punished yet. They have brought many of us in, questioned us, taken our urine samples and fingerprints, but no charges have been filed. They will take everything to the prosecutor, who will then make the decision.

It is apparent that we broke the law by staging a production and charging an admission fee. As one of the producers I’ll take responsibility for that and accept whatever punishment is meted out. But the vigor in which the cops are going after us suggests a motivation deeper than just busting us for visa violations. They were offended by the content of the show (a lot of Koreans loved it, btw) and are using these other laws as a pretext to punish us for dare poking fun at some local sacred cows.

This thing is taking on a life of its own in cyber-land, but please make sure your facts are correct before wagging your finger and blowing your horn.

CT

Now from another blog that I read

Comment

USINKOREA

What gets me about this, and again, I haven’t had time to read all the comments, is how these expats can be rounded up for offending Korean sensibility, and when Koreans read about it in the papers, the mildest form of reaction will be simple agreement that the police did the right thing and the expats should be deported and fined, but a typical reaction would be to off-handedly say the teachers should be roughed up or something.

Yet, this same society can’t get much energy flowing across the masses when it is reported that a Nazi bar is doing business in one of its major cities - that the waiters and waitresses wear brown uniforms aka Hitler’s fanatically political supports/intimidation troops - complete with swastika armbands.

Something like that comes out, and the expat community reacting to it just doesn’t understand Korean culture - it really isn’t meant the way it looks, its just a concept, yada yada yada…

But I guess they are making progress…

Judging by the limited amount of attention I was able to give to the TV foreign beauties posts here and elsewhere, it seems a fair number of Koreans were upset at what happened there.

Give it another 100 years……and you’ll see….


So far I have told a story about what happens when expats makes fun of Korea. Now lets look at what happens when its the Koreans making fun of the foreigners and look at the aftermath of it.

Stupid is that stupid does

(Seriously Stupid Department) KBS ‘foreign beauty’ program slammed for racism

UPDATE #2 (Brendon Carr, 14 Dec. 2006): Video of the KBS program is available by BitTorrent which you may download (if you have a BitTorrent client) at the following Link Thanks to commenter “ihaveseoul” who posted the link in the comments section of related Marmot’s Hole entry Sign Letter Demanding Apology from KBS.

UPDATE: The NGO Cultural Solidarity has released a statement blasting the production team of “Minyeodeului Suda” for its failure to take seriously what it [Cultural Solidarity] considered a pretty overt display of racism. Frankly, I rarely agree with much of anything Cultural Solidarity says, but when they are right, they’re right, and the statement they issued—together with the viewer and netizen condemnation of what they saw on the show—is a great example of just how much things have changed. The key points in the statement, IMHO—regardless of the “intention,” the very idea that to use racist language and actions directed at an individual of a particular race in such an open manner to “improve the show’s mood” is itself indicative of society’s racism; this incident could happen because Korean society is racist in that it favors white people while holding people of color in contempt; and the worst part is that the producers are seemingly clueless as to just how racist what happened was.

I know some commenters have stated their belief that this isn’t a big deal—the joke may have been of bad taste, but it was still just a joke. Before, I would have said this incident was born more of ignorance than actual racism, but if the Hines Ward craze should have taught us anything, it’s that while there are exceptions, the fact remains that not all “foreigners” are treated equal. Many Koreans acknowledge as much, and there is no point pretending anymore that negative stereotypes concerning blacks and other “dark-skinned” ethnic groups (and conversly, generally positive stereotypes about white folk) don’t exist.

Another thing about this whole mess irks me (as it did the Kyunghang Shinmun reporter I linked below), and it’s this—the show seems like an opportunity for Korean male entertainers to flirt with a bunch of foreign female exchange students and Russian models. I have to wonder what KBS2 might think of a show featuring a panel of five Korean female entertainers covorting with a bunch of foreign male exchange students and English teachers.

Somehow, I doubt that would go over real well.

ORIGINAL POST: KBS2 is under fire from viewers and netizens for what many consider to be racism during its “global talk show” entitled “Minyeodeului Suda” (The Beauties’ Chatterbox).



The program brings together 16 lovely and unmarried young women residing in Korea to discuss Korean culture and Korean men, and in the process hopes to break down cultural barriers. The show includes a panel of five (Korean) men. Among the questions (from the website):

* What was the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in Korea?
* What kind of things do Koreans do that you can understand least?
* What dating places have you gone with your Korean boyfriend?
* When have you felt, “Ah, I’ve become a real Korean now”?
* What are five good things about Korean men?
* What Korean entertainer would you like to have as a boyfriend?

The show also apparently has “corners” featuring foreign women doing all the stupid little things foreigners are supposed to do on Korean TV, including a song-and-dance section, a “trying Korean food” section and a Korean dictation section.

All was as it should be—maybe—until lovely African-American Leslie Benfield was performing a rendition of a Korean song. It was then that one of the panel—singer Cheon Myeong-hun—jumped up on stage wearing a rasta wig and began chanting “sikameos, sikameos,” a reference to a black-face routine made famous by comedian Lee Bong-won.




Not cool, said many of the program’s viewers. Not cool at all.

Especially since Ms. Benfield had confessed on the show’s first episode that she’d been disregarded by her boyfriend’s parents because she’s black.

The show’s production team, however, told StarNews there was no racist intent behind Cheon’s stunt. They explained Cheon did what he did to give the show’s atmosphere a bit of a boost. They also said they have no intention of dropping Cheon from the show.

This isn’t the first time the show has run into problems—viewers had criticized previous episodes for incorrectly explaining Korean culture and Korean sayings. Others have criticized it for “sexually commercializing” foreign women and seemingly emphasizing physical contact between the panel and the guest women over actual discussion.

Now to be honest here my original intention was to write a Korean Movie Industry review and I was going to ask a heck of allot of questions. I may still do that one. I started doing research and these 2 stories came up and I was thinking, "WTF?" One group makes fun of and they are given pee test and then asked to sign papers not informing their embassies. Then I see the Korean do the exact same think that the Busan police stated...

...Afterwards one of them was talked to "off the record" about how it is inappropriate to make fun of other people's cultures. So my question is why have not these fools been dragged into a police station and given pee test, if they did the exact same thing and the people in Busan did?

Now this is what I really could not believe.....

* What was the most embarrassing thing to happen to you in Korea?
* What kind of things do Koreans do that you can understand least?
* What dating places have you gone with your Korean boyfriend?
* When have you felt, “Ah, I’ve become a real Korean now”?
* What are five good things about Korean men?
* What Korean entertainer would you like to have as a boyfriend?

It was like the Koreans were trying to sell the fact that Korean men are the best in the world. I do not know if anyone has noticed lately but their have been ads with White females and Korean men and I have always wondered if this is trying to sell that same point that I have listed above. With these questions is sure does make one wonder.

The real Korean quote is what made me do a double take... Earlier this year when Hines Ward mania was gripping this nation, one of the parents of one of my students at my last hogwAn made this comment, "It's not Hines Wards fault that he is only half-Korean." It just left me dumbfounded and left a bad taste in my mind. Once again the narrow view of Korea reared its ugly head.

Overall this has been a large look at a huge problem that all of us who live here are real soon going to have to ask ourselves. Why are we in Korea and can we really do anything except go to work, go home and never do anything to interact with Koreans, because just by talking to them in English, are we violating our visa status?

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Well The semester is over and I have all of the grades turned into the office.

It took awhile but its finally done. I know it doesn't sound that complicated but the grades here were just slow but it finally got completed.

So here is what's going on. I am coming back home to Texas for 1 month from Feb 3 to the 28th. i will fly Japan Airlines, American Airlines and Asiana Airlines. Its been 2 years since I have been back home so I am kinda looking forward to it.

We start winter mini-mesters today and I have no idea who I will be teaching and what their English level is. So this week will be fun.

Not much going on at the moment here in Korea, I am trying to catch up on a few films for the end of the year list for mikes movies and I will be doing that for next few weeks.

Dan and Greer seem to be linking their new school and I hope that they have fun this year. They live far out but when the subway line finally opens up (May 2007?) it will be a short ride.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

For those who do not know, I attended The University of North Texas and obtained my teaching degree. I have mine in History and maybe one day, I would like to teach high school history. But as for now I am happy at Woosong University.

When I started an UNT, it was a small Division 1 Football team that played in the Big West Conference. The next year the Big West abolished their football ties and UNT was left to join the Sun Belt Conference, where they still play as of now.

I had usually followed The University of Texas as my College football team but I had no real ties to them. I knew a few of the players and coaches who had gone to the school, but that was about it.

This changed for me on Oct. 2001 when I went and saw 0-5 UNT beat 5-0 Middle Tennessee State 24-21 at Fouts Field in Denton Texas (Where UNT plays their home games at). The students, me included, stormed the field after the game and we tore down a goalpost and carried it to Fry street (Where the college bars are at) and had a great night of drinking.

Later on that year, UNT had to beat Idaho ,at their home, to clinch the Conference title and get to go to a college bowl game for the first time in 50+ years. I went to the main college bar and we all watched the game on Fox Sports Southwest. When UNT won the game 50-27, we went nuts and yelled and jumped up and down and someone went streaking outside the bar (No it was not me)It felt like, OK, we are finally on a big stage and maybe just maybe this school will have turned a corner. They lost the game but hey, they got to go to a bowl game.

The next year I went to all of the home games and watched and cheered and they won all of the SB conference games and played The University of Cincinnati in a bowl game, Once again I went to the main college bar and we watched, (at this time I was living in the dorms, so it was a small walk to the bars on Frey Street) I watched and cheered and went insane when the final score was, UNT 25 U of C 19. The whole Fry street erupted and we partied until the bars closed down.

What I will always remember is that on the way home, I told the campus police that we were walking home and that we lived on in the dorm and we just gave a little nod, because the party I was with had a least 4 men under the age of 21.

So I wear the UNT shirts and am honored to say that I am an "UNT Mean Green" and every now and then I will play, Kermit the Frog's "Its not Easy Being Green" and it always brings a little smile to my face.

So you can imagine when I was following this season and it had not gone well and then I read this and when WTF...



Are Wayne Brady and Mike McStay Gonna Have to Choke A Bitch?


Fired North Texas Coach in Black Mood

By Rogers Cadenhead

My alma mater, the University of North Texas, made national news this past week when a booster for its football program threatened to withhold a $1 million donation after the team fired Coach Darrell Dickey.

In nine seasons, Dickey led the Mean Green to four straight Sun Belt Conference championships and the first bowl trip since 1959. He's one of the most accomplished coaches in the school's modest football history, but two losing seasons and criticism over recruitment led to his ouster. He's receiving a buyout in excess of $540,000 for the remaining years of his contract and agreed to coach through season's end.

UNT Mean Green player in black jersey for 2006 Florida Atlantic game



Two incidents that took place during Saturday's North Texas-Florida Atlantic game show how wildly things have spun out of control at UNT since the firing.

According to parents of current players, right before Saturday's game Coach Dickey snuck new black uniforms onto the team without the school's permission. The rec-league quality jerseys, pictured here, didn't contain the names of players or the school and conference logos. They weren't cleared with Athletic Director Rick Villareal or announced to the press before the game and might violate agreements with the school's uniform supplier.

During halftime of the game, offensive coordinator Ramon Flanagan allegedly started a physical fight with wide receivers Coach Chip Garber after being told he should play seniors because it was their final home game. The incident got so out of hand the offense received no instruction before going back out to start the third quarter.

As you might have guessed, North Texas lost the game, 17-16, and fell to 3-8.

I'm a small donor to the Mean Green Club, the school's booster program, and a longtime fan of UNT football. Because I've been digging into these incidents on the GoMeanGreen.Com message board, I've gotten independent corroboration from sources affiliated with the program. I'm withholding their names at their request.

I can't recall a situation where a head coach sprang new uniforms on a Division I college football team to "piss off" his athletic director, as Dickey reportedly acknowledged to players before the game. Combine this with a coordinator putting another coach in a choke hold until being pulled off and it's a meltdown of historic proportions.

Dickey, who also abandoned his customary attire for all-black clothes and a black cap.



He told reporters it "wasn't anything other than kids liking that color," drawing the ire of parents who didn't like the stunt being blamed on players. When I saw game photos on Sunday I thought Dickey had declared a period of mourning for his job.

I left two messages today with new UNT President Gretchen Bataille to relay these events. The departing seniors on the team deserve a better send off than childish stunts from coaches nursing a grudge, fans deserve better, and a school paying Dickey another half-mil not to coach deserves better.

I'll be disappointed if Dickey and Flanagan make the trip Saturday to finish the season against Louisiana-Monroe. I was on the fence about Dickey's firing, but I think he's shown his true colors. (UNT LOST 28-3 vs. L-M)

I really could not believe what the heck I was reading and when i went to the web site Go Mean Green it kinda confirmed the above story, I just wanted to go back to UNT and choke a fool or fools in this case.

Hopefully next season will be better. There are 2 young coaching prospects who are interested in the job, so we shall see, but if this happens again we really need to think about cleaning house at UNT.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Well a general update blog.

I have not written much in the last few days due to me being sick, I feel better so this will be an interesting update.

First, yes I am going back to Texas for 1 month between 3 Feb and 1 march 2007. I will try and go to California to see the kids, if the ex will let me, if not I will go to El Paso, to see the parents graves.

Well we had T-day here once again and once again I went to the USO Club in Seoul and had a very delicious dinner. The day before, Stephanie had a T-DAY party at her house, I brought the rotisserie chickens from Costco. We had mashed potatoes and other things. The Canadians there had never celebrated the American holiday before so it was a fun day.

On Trey's blog, he did the woe is me, I am away from home for the holidays blog. I left a comment on his but he deleted it. I told him to quit whining because it will does more harm than good and that if he wanted a holiday dinner he could have had asked me and I would have had taken him to the USO with me.

I also stated that Steph had a party and that he should try and have his own with his friends. I also told him that we are not back in Texas and that, from a man who has missed too darn many holidays due to being stationed all over the place, he should just make himself one very different Korean t-day with his friends and have fun.

Guess he did not like the comment! Sorry, but I have no patience for those who whine and do noting to alleviate the problem at hand. I had 2 great dinners on Wend and Thursday and would always love some more.

I just about have all of the xmas gifts mailed out, one box looks like it will be late but I can mail that one with express here in Korea and it will take 1 week.

next week I will have to go back to Seoul and finish up the paperwork for the airplane ride back home. They need a copy of my passport.

Next week are finals for my students and I hope that they are ready for their final exam. I have 3 of them on one day, Tuesday Dec. 5th 1 will be on Monday December 4th and my last one (the 2 different projects) will be spread over Wend the 6th and Friday the 8th.

I will miss seeing most of my students. I have been lucky, I have some really good kids.

Looks like I might be playing Santa, again this year. Once again, if I do, photos will follow. Hey I'm tall and big. The look on the Korean faces last year when I was walking in Song Chon Dong with me yelling "Merry Christmas" was priceless.

Now for some sad news, a few people have had to leave Korea because of family problems back home. One girl left because her mom was dying, she made it back in time to say goodbye before her mom died. The other young lady was Nichole's replacement and she has a family crisis and she had to return home. I hope that everything works out for them both.

Thats about it for now, please remember its the Christmas season and lets try and be better people this years end. Please remember if you can not find any Chirstmas cards, try the E cards.






Transformers Movie

Well talk about just being at the right place at the right time. This is the first shot from the above linked movie. It sure looks a lot like Starship Troopers to me. Looks like a July 2007 release date in the USA. (No date listed for Korea yet)

Enjoy the photo.

Thursday, November 16, 2006



Well take a look at the new Harry Potter film.

What a nice poster

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Well It slowly getting towards xmas here in Korea.

A few updates, after 3 years of hearing nothing, my ex has made contact and I know something more about my 2 kids. I am trying to decide what to get my son for Xmas, what he likes as toys, they do not sell in Korea so I will try and email the ex and see what else he likes.

I have the daughters gift allready and I hope that she likes it.

I am going to try and go home for 4 weeks in Feb to March. I will call home later if they allow me to have the 4 weeks off at a time. I will try and see my kids, if possible. So I will keep you updated on that.

Ben has returned to work one more year in Korea, He was telling me that people did not belive that we ate dog a few months ago. Hey its true and the photos are posted on this blog.

I still havent written my frist article for twitch yet, I am wating to do the review of I'm A Cyborg and Thats OK, So it looks like that will be the first one that I do for the site.

I am still doing the movie reviews for socius, so as always, check them out. I still need to see 4 more films and write up one that I have allready seen. Thats the funny thing about Korea, the film come in Waves, here, some weeks alot of english films and some weeks nada.

Saw the preview for Spiderman 3 and wow it looked good. Next year should be intresting for films with the next chapters of Shrek, Spiderman and Harry Potter ready to go. I so wish that CGV would make an IMAX here in Daejeon.

Now for some sad news, they interviewed the president of YUM Brands (They own KFC PIZZA HUT AND Taco Bell) They are talking of expanding more into Korea but Taco Bell will not be comming back anytime soon to Korea. (in the mid 90's they tried but it did not work out.) Yum please, I want a taco bell here in Korea that is not on the military base.

Well to say I was sad about the elections would be a lie, Our enemies cheered at the result of the elections, this is never a good thing. I wonder what the Democrats response will be to terrorism, give them a hug, or burry their heads in the sand and claim that nothing is wrong and that appeasment is great, like the video I posted on the Dredge report commercial. It should be intresting to see.

I got to see the Reskins game vs Dallas and to be honest I still can not believe that we won that game. It was a good game and so much for TERELL OWENS, Man I can not believe a man with all of that tallent is such a cancer.

Sad to report that Daejeon lost in the Korean world series finals 4 games to 1

the ticket cost me 25,000 won, but hey, it was the championship! for all of the 5 playoff games I saw live the total cost was less than 100$ try that for the MLB Baseball playoffs in the USA. I had a ball watching and cheering for the Eagles, I even have a baseball cap that I am wearing of them, my students love it.

speaking of the university, I have my sophmores final doing a real world senario tied in with their text books. One class is going to try and update the Korean ebay into english and their ideas for that.

in my 40 student engineering class i have divided them into 2 projects.

Wend test will make me a Sears store in Korea. (I know that they is not a store here, but I wanted the student to research online)

Fridays test wanted to make me a new city hall for Daejeon. The results should be intresting next month, and I will post some of their efforts online.

Well thats all of now,say prayers for the soldiers in the US Military that are doing their best.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Its been awhile since I have updated this but today is Nov. 11. Here in Korea its Peppero Day. To me its Veterans Day. In awhile I will poor some brew for the friends of mine who died while they served in the army, Those who went before me in the Army, those who did time with me in the Army and for those who serve on the US Army.

Last year I told you Matt's' story and I thought of him today, he is still 20-22 in my mind, and in my mind he will always be that age. In the review I talk about "Trip" and how he became a hero and how he wanted nothing of it.

I saw Flags Of our Fathers and I did the review for Socius. Please see it if you get the chance. Tonight, whereever you are in the world, buy a vet a drink and say thanks!


Movie Review: Flags Of Our Fathers

Written by SPC(p) Flynn Michael McStay

Tuesday, 07 November 2006

Flags of Our Fathers


Opens up In Korea: Unknown


How I saw it: VCD Screener


Opening Weekend in USA. $10,245,190 (22 October 2006) (1,876 Screens)


Plot: The life stories of the six men who raised the flag at The Battle of Iwo Jima, a turning point in WWII.


For Information on the 6 men who raised the flag and what became of them and a look at the battle please check out this website. Iwo Jima Battle

In the film “Flags of our Fathers” we are asked one question throughout the film, “What is a Hero?”


With the war in Iraq the US Army has attempted to give us 2 heroes who initial clams of super hero feats to inspire the US public. The stories we were told were of Pat Tillman and that of Jessica Lynch In both cases the initial US Army claims were no where close to what actually happened and recently Pat’s brother Kevin, so disgusted with his brothers death, recently wrote this article at the truthdig web site. Kevin's Tale

While I was watching this movie, I recalled a story from my past on how we had a hero in my unit and how it actually happened was no where close to the truth.


One day we had a murder, suicide on Ft Sill and because of a leader in charge, who should have never become one in the first place, the person in question ordered the search everywhere but the area where the witnesses said that the person went into and they heard a shot. The search lasted a few days and we were catching hell because the Military Police had not yet found the body, finally the command realized that we had never searched the area where the body might actually be. So they sent in a new soldier and by his not paying attention he tripped over what he thought was a tree and in actually, he tripped over the dead body.


The chain of command was so happy that they gave him a medal and praised him for being an excellent person to have on searches and what a great future he would have in the US Army. He actually tried to tell the truth that he tripped over the body but that was not the story that the chain of command wanted to be told. He got a real nice easy job after that and soon he met and fell in love with a real nice young lady. When asked how he met her, the unit reaction was that he must have tripped over her. For as long as he was in the unit, his nickname was “Trip” I recall when he left Ft Sill he was so happy to put that, trip, story behind him.

The movie tells about, how in 1945, 6 soldiers, were given an order to raise a second flag at Iwo Jima. The film tells you what happened to the 3 survivors in the following months after the battle and you are shown how the other 3 men died in the battle of Iwo Jima. Please watch how Ira Hayes life stars to spin out of control and see how he deals with being called a hero.


If you are thinking that this film is Pro-US Army or you don’t want to see the film because you think its anti-US Army. Then you need to check those ideas at the door and go into this film with an open mind. The film tells us a truth of how these 3 men became heroes and they never wanted any of the attention and when you see how it effects them all for the rest of there lives, you will ask the question, “If this is what a hero is all about, why in the hell would anyone want to be one? “

“Doc Bradley” (One of the 6 men who helped raise the flag, played by Ryan Phillippe) said this of his day in the sun, “People refer to us as heroes--I personally don't look at it that way. I just think that I happened to be at a certain place at a certain time and anybody on that island could have been in there--and we certainly weren't heroes--and I speak for the rest of them as well. That's the way they thought of themselves also."


Clint Eastwood directs this film and in Feb. 2007 Letters From Iwo Jima

Will be released and told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.


What I really enjoyed in the film was then actors’ reactions to the insanity all around them. The moment of the film is when Ira Hayes meets the mother of his friend, who died on Iwo Jima, and you see him just break down and cry. That happened in real life and it was well shown here in the film. What I also liked was that the film told the story of Harlon Block (played by Benjamin Walker) When his mother Belle saw the Flag Raising Photo in the Weslaco Newspaper on Feb. 25, she exclaimed, "That's Harlon" pointing to the figure on the far right. But the US Government mis-identified the figure as Harry Hansen (Played great by Paul Walker) of Boston. Belle never wavered in her belief that it was Harlon insisting, "I know my boy." No one--not her family, neighbors, the Government or the public--had any reason to believe her. But eighteen months later in a sensational front-page story, a Congressional investigation revealed that it was Harlon in the photo, proving that indeed, Belle did "know her boy."


There is also a small story of what haunted “Doc” the rest of his life, with his friend “Iggy”

Iggy


The film does not show any of this taking place nor the aftermath, all you see is Doc’s look of horror when they find Iggy’s body, The next film (Letters..) may show this scene. Doc later said in life, he remember how his friends lived, not how they died. Please stay for all of the credits and you will see more, on one half of the screen is a montage of incredible photographs from the actual battle and it ends with the famous shot that the movie is all about.

Grade. A+ (While Bradley had a public image as a war hero, he was a very private person. He avoided discussion of his war record saying only that the real heroes were the men who gave their lives for their country. The Global Media reported the death of a World War II icon on January 11, 1994 at the age of 70. But his hometown newspaper best captured the essence of Bradley's life after the war: "John Bradley will be forever memorialized for a few moments action at the top of a remote Pacific mountain. We prefer to remember him for his life. If the famous flag-raising at Iwo Jima symbolized American patriotism and valor, Bradley's quiet, modest nature and philanthropic efforts shine as an example of the best of small town American values." ---Editorial, "The Antigo Daily Journal")