‘BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Prosecutors in Whatcom County have filed vehicular homicide charges against a woman they said caused a fatal hit-and run in Bellingham.
The 25-year-old victim died in the hospital Thursday morning.
The man killed was an exchange student from South Korea who had arrived in the United States on Sunday, one day before he was hit by a van whose driver fled the scene…..’
should we start talking about what it is that causes americans to run people over and then leave for dead? should we talk about the role her race played when she was making her decision to leave? should we? no, we shouldn’t. and why? because the victim’s korean, that’s why.
That news article is similar to a Law & Order episode about how a bunch of bored white kids ordered Chinese food and beat the Chinese delivery guy with a baseball bat just for fun (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0629449/).
The jury was considering giving them just manslaughter and a light sentence at juvie just because the teens looked too much like “good white kids.” Of course the progressive script writers had DAs Jack McCoy and Abbie Carmichael throw the book at them. However, who knows if juries don’t do this sometimes outside of Hollywood contrived stories?
That news article is similar to a Law & Order episode about how a bunch of bored white kids ordered Chinese food and beat the Chinese delivery guy with a baseball bat just for fun
??? How is a hit and run similar to a premeditated beating?
the girl will get a light sentence if she is
Is she under 18?
should we start talking about what it is that causes americans to run people over and then leave for dead? should we talk about the role her race played when she was making her decision to leave? should we? no, we shouldn’t. and why? because the victim’s korean, that’s why.
. . . . . Okay, I’ll stop laughing now. Please, folks, don’t personify the internet special olympics joke by arguing with him. Just laugh.
If Pawi hates America and American whites for that matter that much, then why doesn’t he drive over to the nearest Korean consulate, apply for Korean citizenship, give up US citizenship, and get on the next KE or OZ flight to Incheon?
Robert — I attest and swear by the Spirits, there is indeed now a “Travel” category on this blog, once again, just as in the Elder Times — justice and truth have been restored by the Bloglord — excellent, thanks.
once again, just vicious attacks. the expat just can’t argue a point. shame. cho would be proud of you.
‘If Pawi hates America and American whites for that matter that much, then why doesn’t he drive over to the nearest Korean consulate, apply for Korean citizenship, give up US citizenship, and get on the next KE or OZ flight to Incheon?’
btw, slim, so what if i make caramel at home? it’s better to have the real thing rather than the chemical crap you get at the store. besides it’s easy.
just take a cup of sugar and put into a sauce pan at medium heat until it liquifies. remember to be stirring constantly. put in 6 tablespoons of butter. remember keep stirring. take it off the heat. pour in half cut of cream, stirring of course. let cool. pour on cheesecake and serve with very strong coffee.
Here’s a weird question: does anyone know of any Scottish Gaelic speakers in Korea? No basket weaving for me; just four years of Celtic history and language.
Pawi, what if the driver is Korean? Did that thought even cross your mind? Apparently not.
I won’t even get into the unfortunate irony of a Korean pedestrian being run over abroad (hit and runs are a major problem here), but to use a person’s death for race baiting? That’s low.
Pawi- I’ve reading this blog for a few years now, and until now, I figured you for a disgruntled immigrant who thought the sun rose and set in your asshole (or as we say here in Korea, a typical Korean), but now after your clear case of race baiting, I’ve figured out you most actually be mentally disabled (or as we say everywhere else, retarded)
Honestly, what role does the ethnicity of the victim play in this? Who really cares if he was Korean or not? Has this news suddenly made the front page of every newspaper and website in America because a Korean was killed in a car accident? It’s a huge difference between some dude getting hit by a car in America and the current state of affairs for foreigners in Korea. Should we start prosecuting Koreans in America for jaywalking? Make them get a criminal check because they obviously don’t know how to cross the street at a crosswalk, broke the law and forced an honest American to flee the scene and therefore forcing that American to perform a criminal act?
And as SomeguyinKorea pointed out, what if the driver was also a Korean? Better round up all those slanty-eyed people and deport them back to their little backwaters before anything else happens! We wouldn’t want to have any criminals running our dry cleaners and grocery stores. The end of America is nigh, it’s been over-run by jaywalking Korean pedestrians and shitty Korean drivers. The streets are no longer safe. I’d better stay inside and be a good little Canadian stoner with my Xbox and have deviant sex with my Korean girlfriend.
Get a life, go open a dry cleaning store or something. Contribute something to society other than a bunch of hot air. Be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem, or on this blog, THE problem itself.
Per the episode, that’s what the defense was trying to prove… that the murder wasn’t premeditated. It was because they were “bored” and it was a spur of the moment thing.
However, they were convicted of murder one and got life.
The irony of it, was the whole point, as was using the phrase about the Canadian stoner, his Xbox and his Korean girlfriend.
Who really gives a shit if some dude got hit by a hit and run driver? It happens all the time, but it doesn’t make front page news anywhere due to the ethnicity of the people involved, except here in Korea and in Pawi’s mind. It’s pointless to mention race at all.
I was watching “Most Evil” on Discovery channel last night and the subject was spree killers. Virginia Tech was mentioned as the worst slaughter in US history, but NOT ONCE did they mention that the killer was a Korean exchange student. If this had been a Korean show and something like this had happened at a Korean University, the race of the killer would have been the FIRST thing mentioned.
Anyway, enough of this. The last three signifcant comment threads here have all been about Korea=racist. We need to talk about something else on this blog. There’s more to Korea then that. Any ideas? Pawi’s turned me into a slobbering idiot…
There’s not a liberal Marmot, and a conservative Marmot; there’s just the Marmot. There’s not a Korean Marmot, and a White Marmot, and a Black Marmot, there’s just the Marmot. What we need here is a different kind of blogging. One based on the hope of greater understanding of ourselves and the countries we reside in. A blogging based not on flaming the other to death but by establishing commonality. G*d Bless you, be strong and have courage and let us cross over to that Promised Land together.
yeah, don’t blow a rod, folks. just dishing the same shit you shove right back at ya. y’all remember creating a 200+ thread that focused entirely on vt cho’s race, don’t you?
Sometimes the viewpoints in this site are not very balanced and lean very heavily out of Korea’s favor. Thus, you have the pawi’s of the world who get rather reactionary due to the lack of balance in viewpoints.
Me? I’m too old and too busy to get reactionary. Plus I favor logical arguments so I can’t adopt pawi’s argumentative style.
My theory is this. Americans like to gripe and they are free to do so in many mediums back home. However, the outlets for griping are more limited in Korea hence the blogsphere world ends up being a toliet of expat belly aching.
ugh… the start of the year is busy for myself and the firm. My participation has been spotty. I was also in Montreal last week and recovering the first part of this week.
i think people who are intelligent never need to tell people they’re intelligent.
‘Plus I favor logical arguments so I can’t adopt pawi’s argumentative style.’ wanggon
it should pain you to know that a baffon like me isn’t so easily fooled. i don’t think you’re intelligent. i think you’re a show-off. now, ain’t it something that the two i consider the brightest here (dogbert, blueballs) often say horrible things about koreans?
i respect them because of their intelligence. but i don’t respect you no matter how many times you tell us how smart you are.
‘Me? I’m too old and too busy to get reactionary…’
you’re too old? i’d say you’re too young.
you’re too busy? i’d wonder if wikipedia isn’t taking too much of your time.
wanggon, people aren’t even grown till they past 40. you gotta lotta growin up to do.
I was just searching for “marmot’s hole” in Google and came up with this interesting article. I was wondering if it is the same Marmot’s Hole
RVer who sued for stepping in marmot hole loses award
A RVer who twisted her ankle by stepping into a marmot hole in a Wyoming RV park is not entitled to damages from the operator of the park, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled on Nov. 2. The court reversed an award that Pamela Tessman of Riverton had won in Hot Springs County District Court against the Fountain of Youth RV Park in Thermopolis.
According to the court decision written by Chief Justice Barton Voigt, Tessman was staying at the RV park in 2003 when she stepped into a marmot hole and twisted her ankle. Tessman sued in District Court in Hot Springs County and was awarded more than $259,000, which was reduced by 25 percent “for contributory negligence,” the court ruling states.
In overturning the District Court award, Voigt stated that landowners do not have a duty to protect guests on their property from “a naturally occurring, known and obvious hazard.”
I must have gained 10-15 pounds the past two months from all the food i’ve been eating. If I keep things up, i’ll gain another 10 within the next two months and will become your regular fatty. I’m still able to lose weight as quickly as I gain it (I think), but at my age I might be reaching the point of no return, and apparently I have acquired an ineluctable taste for junk food. My (stereotypical) resolution for the new year: go back to eating like a diabetic and work out like the crazy animal that I know I am.
@33, Yes, I most definitely agree that the Marmot’s Hole is a naturally occurring, known and obvious hazard. But I take the M H to mean something different from you, perhaps. Kekeke.
Go back and read that thread again. The vast majority of people were doing either of three things, 1) pointing out that Korean Americans shouldn’t worry about a ‘backlash’, 2) discussing why the Korean media seemingly hoped there would be a ‘backlash’, 3) responding to your race baiting.
#23, Well, Americans may be able to gripe here and throw shit over Koreans, but one can understand that they don’t have much to be happy about the way things are going in their country with the falling dollar and home prices. Whoever gets elected this year as the new President, their economic situation is not going to improve much. America is on the downhill. All they can hope for is how to make the decline proceed more slowly. America’s best days are behind. Perhaps here is a clue.
#24, I’m not sure whether I should be frowning or grinning.
#35, The Chinese are a freaking silly bunch. How often do we hear Korea stole this and that, or their scream over a silly shop sign or some silly logo of a ship?
# 41: I’ll never complain about the Korean mercury as long as I can’t see it. In terms of baleful particles in the sky, how does Korea fare among other Asian nations?
‘they’re stealing our culture!’ whined the young chinaman as he sat there dressed in western clothes, munching on western food, using western machines, and dreaming about making it with a blond haired lady 5 inches taller than him.
Well, whatever. Sean Hayes is certainly welcome to exclusive hold over the hophead-in-trouble and accused-GI market segment, as well as to his opinion that comedic use of colorful language in barroom joshing or in the comments section of the Marmot’s Hole makes one an “unprofessional” lawyer. I’ve got my own concerns and opinions about Sean too, but they’re not focused on whether or not he uses mean or intemperate language.
His thesis concerning “legal professionalism” is one with which I generally agree, actually (although I believe that most discussions of “legal professionalism” and “civility” focus on lawyers’ interactions with the court) — subject to one caveat, perhaps shaped by my experience in the military. There is a limit to civility, and it is found when one comes into contact with obtuse jackasses. Those characters need to be forcefully put down. So it seems Sean thinks I’m a jackass. That’s an opinion to which he’s certainly entitled.
But I’m not going to get dragged into a squabble with the guy. Sean Hayes may be any number of things, but he’s not a pawikirogi-style jackass, regardless of what he thinks of me.
Anyway, a link from the Marmot’s Hole will be great attention for Sean’s blog. A good link from here can swell the traffic by thousands of daily hits.
I posted those quotes for one reason. I always thought of Brendon as a friend, but he made numerous remarks about my job, my career, and capabilites. He does the same to others. If he is challenged he responds with personal attacks- not logical arguments. Check out my blog http://www.ahnse.blogspot.com for more oft color attacks and quotes from Brendon.
These blogs are for the discussion of topics — not attacks. I feel like I have to defend my good name and also make others realize that most lawyers don’t act in this manner.
The most unprofessional comment, with regard to me, is that he accused me of stealing his and other’s work product.
He noted on his blog that: “Today a colleague brought me Sean Hayes’ ‘Lex Pro Bon’” column in the Korea Times “Preliminary Attachments Encourage Settlements.” Having seen KoreaLaw.com, and this very entry on Korea Law Blog three weeks before Sean published, the content is strangely familiar.”
Actually that article was a slightly modified reprint of an article I wrote 4 years ago in the Korea Herald — not a copy like he contended. The article is entitled “Repo in the ROK” with a date of 2003/08/29 and an article entitled “He took the money and ran” which was posted a few months after the article.
Brrr. Chilly around here. 90 minutes and nothing, so I Googled the phrase “what do you call two lawyers…”. Results were disappointing, but here we go anyway:
What do you call two lawyers flying through the air?
Skeet.
What do you call two lawyers in a Mercedes going over a cliff?
You think about that jackass quite a bit, don’t you? Perhaps, it’s because you want to do this:
‘If he is challenged he responds with personal attacks- not logical arguments.’
That’s your own colleague, Mr Carr. And as someone who holds a professional license himself, I’d be concerned if a colleague of mine admonished me in such a public manner.
Lastly, you can call me a jackass, but I’m not the one looking like a jackass right now, Brendon.
****
Someguyinkorea, why would you be concerned about my comments towards the Chinese?
Whatever culture Korea got from China is Korean culture. Just like whatever culture Japan got from China and Korea is still Japanese culture.
Does anyone know if any of the Korean sports channels are showing the NFL playoffs live this year? I couldn’t find them anywhere on my cable TV last night. Only ping pong, repeats of the 2007 Korean baseball playoffs and an EPL game from 2 weeks ago. Any help???
This is just in order to divert attention from the bitch-fight Sean is trying to have with me, but the loss of televised sports-viewing opportunities for those of us on the outside is the great tragedy of the AFN satellite television package.
I remember some great televised sports moments on AFKN/AFN back in the day, but with only the free cable channels showing sports Asians and Europeans like, one is left choosing between World Cup 2002 re-runs, golf with a Chinese announcer jabbering over a muted English-language track, baduk, and of course, several channels of Korea’s greatest Starcraft performances.
It could be worse: We could be in Canada where the people look and sound like regular American human beings, but would mysteriously change the channel away from the tipoff of Michael Jordan’s basketball comeback as No. 45 against the Indiana Pacers in order to catch televised curling (a bloodcurdling true story — those fiends).
Is the #1 line in the Seoul subway the only line where the trains drive to the left?
No, they also do so on parts of line 4 and (I believe) line 3. Korail operates its trains on the left track, so on the sections of the Seoul subway that are operated exclusively by Korail, that’s where the trains run. Seoul Metro runs their trains on the right, however, so on the sections of the track that are shared by Korail and Seoul Metro trains, the trains all run on the right track.
You’ll be happy to know that we’ll be able to see the games up here (in BC) at the same time that my brother and sister ‘Merkins down south will.
And your comments about televised curling are spot on - I’ve long felt the only thing worse is going to see it in person. Drinking a lot while you’re there is encouraged.
Traditionally, all around the world — at least in the Old World — trains run on the left and metros on the right. And since Korea got its train tech from Japan, which got it from the West, their trains run on the left, and their metro on the right.
Hey… what’s wrong with curling? Lol… When I actually sat down and watched it, I found it strangely exciting and interesting. Although, I was in the company of 5 Canadians going crazy over the game.
Because on the Korail lines, subway trains share tracks with regular trains. If they didn’t run the same direction on the tracks, disaster would ensue.
The trains switch from left to right (or vice versa) at certain places. For example on Line 4 one or two stations south of Sadang the train is on the left at one station and then when you arrive at the next station it is on the right (going north). I guess this is as it moves from tracks owned by the railway to those owned by the subway system. This switching is noticeable at a few places around the system, but I can’t remember the others off hand.
1. When did Korea switch from using 110V to 220V, how, why, and on whose orders?
2. Did Korea originally use 110V?
3. I know that as recently as the 1990s, some new apartments were built with both 110V and 220V outlets (and why are these called “consents” in Korea? I’m assuming it is from Japan, but why “consent”?), yet I can’t recall having seen exclusively 110V home appliances sold then. Why is that?
Why does Korail run its subways on the left?
Because Korail is a train [as opposed to subway] company. Tradition and all that.
As for electricity. The first nuclear power plant is American, Kori-1 [1978]. Kori-2/3/4 came in 1983/5/6. And the Canucks built Wolsung-1 in 1983. From 110V-using countries. Then came Uljin-1, 1988, by Framatome, a French company [France is 220V]. Uljin-2, 10 years later [a friend of mine spent 6 years on this project]. I figure 220V entered the picture when non-US power plants were first built.
As for electricity. The first nuclear power plant is American, Kori-1 [1978]. Kori-2/3/4 came in 1983/5/6. And the Canucks built Wolsung-1 in 1983. From 110V-using countries. Then came Uljin-1, 1988, by Framatome, a French company [France is 220V]. Uljin-2, 10 years later [a friend of mine spent 6 years on this project]. I figure 220V entered the picture when non-US power plants were first built.
Thanks for the background. I think an account of the building of those plants would make a good post.
I’m not an engineer, so please forgive my ignorance, but what would have had to have been done to the earlier, American and Canadian-built plants then if the construction of the French-built plant prompted a switchover?
1. Korea started changing to 220V starting from the early 1990s. As for whose orders and why, I haven’t heard or read anything about it.
2. Yes
3. My guess is to accomodate appliances brought during the 1980s which were 110V. As for “concent”, it’s a shortened version of the English word “concentric plug.”
I’m not an engineer, so please forgive my ignorance, but what would have had to have been done to the earlier, American and Canadian-built plants then if the construction of the French-built plant prompted a switchover?
Actually, voltage is stepped up to a couple hundred kilovolts for transmissions, and stepped down to distribution-level voltage (220V) at local transformers, so the make and model of the power plants has very little to do with what house voltage in your area is.
Yeah, the Japanese constructed the railroad grid, and had the trains on the left, the Koreans continued the system. Subway Line #1, the first line to be constructed, was linked to the train grid and ran trains on the left, as well. But, when the Seoul subway build #2, the loop line, they ran the cars on the right, and continued to do so for the other lines, but of course, it created trouble when they linked up to the train grid, and so you have lines like #4, where one track has to go under the other one, in order to have cars switch from the right side to the left. While I understand why for feelings of patriotism, Koreans want to run subway cars on the right, and not the left, they sure created a headache for themselves by having trains and subways cars on opposite sides. Wonder who came up with the brilliant idea of running line #2 on the right.
It could be worse: We could be in Canada where the people look and sound like regular American human beings, but would mysteriously change the channel away from the tipoff of Michael Jordan’s basketball comeback as No. 45 against the Indiana Pacers in order to catch televised curling (a bloodcurdling true story — those fiends).
I sure as hell didn’t change the channel that day! Anybody living close to the border or with cable (i.e. most of the people in Canada) could have watched the game on NBC, just as I did. Curling may have been a poor choice, but it would have been one of several options, including the game you mention.
3 Alley Pub will be showing the Super Bowl live, I believe with English commentary, commercials, etc. If past years were any indication, it should be a great time. For those less inclined to booze it up with a crowd of football fans on a Monday morning, I think one of the Korean sports channels might show it live, but with local (i.e. Korean speaking and mediocre-at-best) commentators. Until then, unless you have some kind of slingbox or NFL Network package for your computer, try the Sopcast p2p application. (Doesn’t always come through, and I don’t know about this morning, but the Packers/Seahawks and Patriots/Jags games worked fine yesterday.)
My Dad and I were in Victoria, BC and rather than watch in the hotel room we foolishly thought we’d pop over to the sports bar.
That day was a big basketball day — Jordan’s return followed by the NCAA Tournament second-round tussle between Missouri and UCLA. UCLA won 75-74 on Tyus Edney’s 4.8-second dash to drop one in over the outstretched arms of hapless Buck Grimm and the other Missouri defender.
Not that anyone in Victoria was interested in that noise, so far as we could tell. Hey, France was playing Ireland in soccer on the satellite! And the curling. There must have been something really strange going on in that bar if they were making those choices among the myriad programs available on the satellite.
Since that harrowing day I’ve always feared and distrusted Canadians. It must have been really hard growing up in a place like that if your name was Steve Nash.
I have to admit that Victoria doesn’t strike me as a happening sports bar kind of place, so I’m not the least bit surprised you didn’t have much luck with watching basketball. Maybe things have changed a little since hometown boy Steve Nash has made it big?
While lacking in sports bars, there are plenty of cougars on Vancouver Island, but they are likely found in more rural settings, or, come to think of it, hanging out in bars in Nanaimo, instead of in Victoria.
Count yourself lucky it wasn’t lawn bowling that was being shown. Victoria, last I checked, was the retirement home capital of Canada, or something like that. Lots of retirees move there because of it’s relatively mild weather.
1. Korea started changing to 220V starting from the early 1990s. As for whose orders and why, I haven’t heard or read anything about it.
Late 80s rather, since by 1990, 220V was available everywhere I looked.
Actually, voltage is stepped up to a couple hundred kilovolts for transmissions, and stepped down to distribution-level voltage (220V) at local transformers, so the make and model of the power plants has very little to do with what house voltage in your area is.
True, but switching progressively to 220V is probably linked to their acquiring French tech. They bought the production tech and the transformation equipment too [Framatome has a separate branch that does just that and is still in business in Korea, whereas the power-plant making unit has closed shop].
I’m loving this little lesson in supply and demand. This ain’t advanced policy-making, this is chapter 1, page 1 of any introductory economics textbook.
“The teacher asked for a raise of 300,000 won [$320] from her previous monthly pay of 2 million won, and she left after I told her our financial situation does not allow that,” said the 45-year-old hagwon owner…“Everyone says it will be harder to get English-speaking teachers because of the new visa rules, so teachers are asking for more pay,”
True, but switching progressively to 220V is probably linked to their acquiring French tech. They bought the production tech and the transformation equipment too
That seems likely, though it looks like the conversion started happening a lot longer ago than the 90s (if the Taipei Times is any more reliable than the Korean Times, that is…)
2 million a month at a hagwon in Seoul? No wonder the teacher asked for a raise and left when she was turned down. Last I heard, the standard was 2.4 million–and this will probably increase thanks to the new visa rules.
Take a look at the job boards on various sites. You’ll still see them wanting female teachers within a certain age. Alot of them are still only offering two mil a month.
This whole thing is going to turn out good. The hagwons that don’t adapt will be cutting back classes in a couple months and within a year will be shutting their doors, scratching their heads in bewilderment. Who knows? Maybe the ones that are left will be using the quality of the teacher as the main criteria for hiring. Perhaps some will even hire men, (gasp!), teachers with a few gray hairs, (eeek!), hispanics, blacks or middle-eastern applicants, (say it ain’t so).
Ironically, the hysteria generated by the sensationalization of hagwon teachers run-amok is going to come back and bite the parents who bought into it right in the ass.
Not too sure. I’m guessing this is what will happen: Average salary will go up 100 000 or 200 000 won per month (but more classes/less vacation for the teacher). The hagwons will increase tuition under the guise of having to pay more for their teachers and pocket a hefty profit.
Well Someguy, I’m simply imagining another overbearing parent showing up at the hagwon complaining about a bump in the tuition. “Sorry Mrs. Kim. The new rules have forced us to pay higher rates for our staff. By the way, this is your daughter’s new teacher. His name’s Mohamud and he’s 52 years old. He’s got a clean criminal record and he’s a virgin so his AIDS test came up negative and he’s probably not an IV drug user.”
That, I think, will put Korean parents more at ease.
Oh, I meant all this satirically. I was merely dredging my brain to conjure up something that might force these parents to confront their reactionary ways. Not that they often visit the old MH.
I’m curious to know what is the average stay in Korea for an E2 visa holder. I’m guessing it’s about one year, which would make things very interesting in 6 months or so.
100 Comments
First –
Robert, why is there no longer a “Travel” category on your blog, for the kinda stuff I usually post? There used to be…
There should be one now. Check.
from the wire:
‘BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Prosecutors in Whatcom County have filed vehicular homicide charges against a woman they said caused a fatal hit-and run in Bellingham.
The 25-year-old victim died in the hospital Thursday morning.
The man killed was an exchange student from South Korea who had arrived in the United States on Sunday, one day before he was hit by a van whose driver fled the scene…..’
should we start talking about what it is that causes americans to run people over and then leave for dead? should we talk about the role her race played when she was making her decision to leave? should we? no, we shouldn’t. and why? because the victim’s korean, that’s why.
the girl will get a light sentence if she is…
white
pretty
blond
wealthy
If you’re having problems logging into your Gmail account like I am, try this link, which works for me:
https://mail.google.com/mail/#inbox
Pawi,
That news article is similar to a Law & Order episode about how a bunch of bored white kids ordered Chinese food and beat the Chinese delivery guy with a baseball bat just for fun (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0629449/).
The jury was considering giving them just manslaughter and a light sentence at juvie just because the teens looked too much like “good white kids.” Of course the progressive script writers had DAs Jack McCoy and Abbie Carmichael throw the book at them. However, who knows if juries don’t do this sometimes outside of Hollywood contrived stories?
??? How is a hit and run similar to a premeditated beating?
Is she under 18?
Here’s your snow:
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/s.....0000000001
Global Warming? The same thing happened in deep South Texas a couple of years ago. We had our first snow in over 109 years.
If Pawi hates America and American whites for that matter that much, then why doesn’t he drive over to the nearest Korean consulate, apply for Korean citizenship, give up US citizenship, and get on the next KE or OZ flight to Incheon?
Robert — I attest and swear by the Spirits, there is indeed now a “Travel” category on this blog, once again, just as in the Elder Times — justice and truth have been restored by the Bloglord — excellent, thanks.
once again, just vicious attacks. the expat just can’t argue a point. shame. cho would be proud of you.
‘If Pawi hates America and American whites for that matter that much, then why doesn’t he drive over to the nearest Korean consulate, apply for Korean citizenship, give up US citizenship, and get on the next KE or OZ flight to Incheon?’
ironic.
Who’s attacking who?
btw, slim, so what if i make caramel at home? it’s better to have the real thing rather than the chemical crap you get at the store. besides it’s easy.
just take a cup of sugar and put into a sauce pan at medium heat until it liquifies. remember to be stirring constantly. put in 6 tablespoons of butter. remember keep stirring. take it off the heat. pour in half cut of cream, stirring of course. let cool. pour on cheesecake and serve with very strong coffee.
how’s that for soft side?
Here’s a weird question: does anyone know of any Scottish Gaelic speakers in Korea? No basket weaving for me; just four years of Celtic history and language.
Pawi, what if the driver is Korean? Did that thought even cross your mind? Apparently not.
I won’t even get into the unfortunate irony of a Korean pedestrian being run over abroad (hit and runs are a major problem here), but to use a person’s death for race baiting? That’s low.
#13,
I’m sending a ‘pogue mahone’ to my favorite Korean netizen.
Pawi- I’ve reading this blog for a few years now, and until now, I figured you for a disgruntled immigrant who thought the sun rose and set in your asshole (or as we say here in Korea, a typical Korean), but now after your clear case of race baiting, I’ve figured out you most actually be mentally disabled (or as we say everywhere else, retarded)
Honestly, what role does the ethnicity of the victim play in this? Who really cares if he was Korean or not? Has this news suddenly made the front page of every newspaper and website in America because a Korean was killed in a car accident? It’s a huge difference between some dude getting hit by a car in America and the current state of affairs for foreigners in Korea. Should we start prosecuting Koreans in America for jaywalking? Make them get a criminal check because they obviously don’t know how to cross the street at a crosswalk, broke the law and forced an honest American to flee the scene and therefore forcing that American to perform a criminal act?
And as SomeguyinKorea pointed out, what if the driver was also a Korean? Better round up all those slanty-eyed people and deport them back to their little backwaters before anything else happens! We wouldn’t want to have any criminals running our dry cleaners and grocery stores. The end of America is nigh, it’s been over-run by jaywalking Korean pedestrians and shitty Korean drivers. The streets are no longer safe. I’d better stay inside and be a good little Canadian stoner with my Xbox and have deviant sex with my Korean girlfriend.
Get a life, go open a dry cleaning store or something. Contribute something to society other than a bunch of hot air. Be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem, or on this blog, THE problem itself.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22612314/?gt1=10755
I’ve always wondered whether something like that has ever happened. Now I know.
@tz247
I love the irony of you accusing pawikirogi of race baiting while using phrases like ‘a typical Korean’ in the same sentence.
# 6,
Per the episode, that’s what the defense was trying to prove… that the murder wasn’t premeditated. It was because they were “bored” and it was a spur of the moment thing.
However, they were convicted of murder one and got life.
The irony of it, was the whole point, as was using the phrase about the Canadian stoner, his Xbox and his Korean girlfriend.
Who really gives a shit if some dude got hit by a hit and run driver? It happens all the time, but it doesn’t make front page news anywhere due to the ethnicity of the people involved, except here in Korea and in Pawi’s mind. It’s pointless to mention race at all.
I was watching “Most Evil” on Discovery channel last night and the subject was spree killers. Virginia Tech was mentioned as the worst slaughter in US history, but NOT ONCE did they mention that the killer was a Korean exchange student. If this had been a Korean show and something like this had happened at a Korean University, the race of the killer would have been the FIRST thing mentioned.
Anyway, enough of this. The last three signifcant comment threads here have all been about Korea=racist. We need to talk about something else on this blog. There’s more to Korea then that. Any ideas? Pawi’s turned me into a slobbering idiot…
There’s not a liberal Marmot, and a conservative Marmot; there’s just the Marmot. There’s not a Korean Marmot, and a White Marmot, and a Black Marmot, there’s just the Marmot. What we need here is a different kind of blogging. One based on the hope of greater understanding of ourselves and the countries we reside in. A blogging based not on flaming the other to death but by establishing commonality. G*d Bless you, be strong and have courage and let us cross over to that Promised Land together.
yeah, don’t blow a rod, folks. just dishing the same shit you shove right back at ya. y’all remember creating a 200+ thread that focused entirely on vt cho’s race, don’t you?
of course, you don’t.
Robert, that crooked picture gives me vertigo.
Regarding pawi…
Sometimes the viewpoints in this site are not very balanced and lean very heavily out of Korea’s favor. Thus, you have the pawi’s of the world who get rather reactionary due to the lack of balance in viewpoints.
Me? I’m too old and too busy to get reactionary. Plus I favor logical arguments so I can’t adopt pawi’s argumentative style.
My theory is this. Americans like to gripe and they are free to do so in many mediums back home. However, the outlets for griping are more limited in Korea hence the blogsphere world ends up being a toliet of expat belly aching.
WangKon, where were you on Monday? The Krypton thread was screaming for you.
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2008/.....on-speaks/
Regarding Pawi…
As far as I know, he is the only regular commenter to have announced his own mission statement. It’s a beauty.
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/.....ent-117308
ugh… the start of the year is busy for myself and the firm. My participation has been spotty. I was also in Montreal last week and recovering the first part of this week.
All I’m gonna say is that he’s got passion. Intelligence? Tact? Style? That he has less of.
Passion? If he had any charisma and played the guitar, he be a virtual Charles Manson.
i think people who are intelligent never need to tell people they’re intelligent.
‘Plus I favor logical arguments so I can’t adopt pawi’s argumentative style.’ wanggon
it should pain you to know that a baffon like me isn’t so easily fooled. i don’t think you’re intelligent. i think you’re a show-off. now, ain’t it something that the two i consider the brightest here (dogbert, blueballs) often say horrible things about koreans?
i respect them because of their intelligence. but i don’t respect you no matter how many times you tell us how smart you are.
‘Me? I’m too old and too busy to get reactionary…’
you’re too old? i’d say you’re too young.
you’re too busy? i’d wonder if wikipedia isn’t taking too much of your time.
wanggon, people aren’t even grown till they past 40. you gotta lotta growin up to do.
ps if i’m so frickin dumb, how is that people seem to research the things i’ve said?
if you asked me where you could find the above linked post, i’d have no idea. good to see others do.
if pawi wasn’t here, this blog would be a lot more boring.
I was just searching for “marmot’s hole” in Google and came up with this interesting article. I was wondering if it is the same Marmot’s Hole
RVer who sued for stepping in marmot hole loses award
A RVer who twisted her ankle by stepping into a marmot hole in a Wyoming RV park is not entitled to damages from the operator of the park, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled on Nov. 2. The court reversed an award that Pamela Tessman of Riverton had won in Hot Springs County District Court against the Fountain of Youth RV Park in Thermopolis.
According to the court decision written by Chief Justice Barton Voigt, Tessman was staying at the RV park in 2003 when she stepped into a marmot hole and twisted her ankle. Tessman sued in District Court in Hot Springs County and was awarded more than $259,000, which was reduced by 25 percent “for contributory negligence,” the court ruling states.
In overturning the District Court award, Voigt stated that landowners do not have a duty to protect guests on their property from “a naturally occurring, known and obvious hazard.”
The Court in the above case noted that the marmot’s hole was “a naturally occurring, known and obvious hazard.”
I must have gained 10-15 pounds the past two months from all the food i’ve been eating. If I keep things up, i’ll gain another 10 within the next two months and will become your regular fatty. I’m still able to lose weight as quickly as I gain it (I think), but at my age I might be reaching the point of no return, and apparently I have acquired an ineluctable taste for junk food. My (stereotypical) resolution for the new year: go back to eating like a diabetic and work out like the crazy animal that I know I am.
This:
World’s Biggest Chinese Character Dictionary Nearly Complete
http://english.chosun.com/w21d.....90022.html
is causing an uproar by the Chinese netizens who accuse Korea of stealing Chinese writing and Chinese culture.
I wish someone can do an investigative series on the rift between China and Korea.
@33, Yes, I most definitely agree that the Marmot’s Hole is a naturally occurring, known and obvious hazard. But I take the M H to mean something different from you, perhaps. Kekeke.
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/.....ent-119945
:p
Well fuck me. Go up to 32 or 33 and click on Sean’s name. Some shit be a startin’.
Beware of Unprofessional American Lawyers in Korea
Quotes by BRENDON CARR
#21,29,
Go back and read that thread again. The vast majority of people were doing either of three things, 1) pointing out that Korean Americans shouldn’t worry about a ‘backlash’, 2) discussing why the Korean media seemingly hoped there would be a ‘backlash’, 3) responding to your race baiting.
LOL…I can hear it now, “This here town ain’t big enough fer the both of us, Carr!”
To change the topic, how are you folks in Seoul enjoying those brisk winter temperatures?
It is much warmer today and almost all the snow has melted.
Long time reader, first time poster
Guess I should have read some of the emails AmCham sent out last year.
Renewed my AmCham membership only to find out the process to get a base pass is no longer tied to the AUSA membership.
Has anyone gotten their pass through the Good Neighbor Program? I was informed by AmCham to contact them.
25° C here
And despite the flag *here* is Hong Kong.
#23, Well, Americans may be able to gripe here and throw shit over Koreans, but one can understand that they don’t have much to be happy about the way things are going in their country with the falling dollar and home prices. Whoever gets elected this year as the new President, their economic situation is not going to improve much. America is on the downhill. All they can hope for is how to make the decline proceed more slowly. America’s best days are behind. Perhaps here is a clue.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=.....re=related
#24, I’m not sure whether I should be frowning or grinning.
#35, The Chinese are a freaking silly bunch. How often do we hear Korea stole this and that, or their scream over a silly shop sign or some silly logo of a ship?
# 41: I’ll never complain about the Korean mercury as long as I can’t see it. In terms of baleful particles in the sky, how does Korea fare among other Asian nations?
Looking at Mr. Hayes’s site I reckon he’s angling for the English-teachin’ dope-smokin’ Canadian crowd.
Mr. Carr, your prayers have been answered!
BTW, this is a tad obsessive, isn’t it?
Might want to add blinking lights or spinning text to “Brendon Carr”. Just in case, ya know?
‘they’re stealing our culture!’ whined the young chinaman as he sat there dressed in western clothes, munching on western food, using western machines, and dreaming about making it with a blond haired lady 5 inches taller than him.
btw, cm, do you have any links?
#48,
Whatever, Pawi. Are you really stupid enough to believe that or are you fishing for similar observations about Koreans?
You probably don’t want to have any food or drink in your mouth when you click this link and watch the slideshow:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/O.....amp;page=1
let the shit slingin’ begin-we’ll get a good look at just how localized these two boys are.
Well, whatever. Sean Hayes is certainly welcome to exclusive hold over the hophead-in-trouble and accused-GI market segment, as well as to his opinion that comedic use of colorful language in barroom joshing or in the comments section of the Marmot’s Hole makes one an “unprofessional” lawyer. I’ve got my own concerns and opinions about Sean too, but they’re not focused on whether or not he uses mean or intemperate language.
His thesis concerning “legal professionalism” is one with which I generally agree, actually (although I believe that most discussions of “legal professionalism” and “civility” focus on lawyers’ interactions with the court) — subject to one caveat, perhaps shaped by my experience in the military. There is a limit to civility, and it is found when one comes into contact with obtuse jackasses. Those characters need to be forcefully put down. So it seems Sean thinks I’m a jackass. That’s an opinion to which he’s certainly entitled.
But I’m not going to get dragged into a squabble with the guy. Sean Hayes may be any number of things, but he’s not a pawikirogi-style jackass, regardless of what he thinks of me.
Anyway, a link from the Marmot’s Hole will be great attention for Sean’s blog. A good link from here can swell the traffic by thousands of daily hits.
And that’s all I have to say about this topic.
I posted those quotes for one reason. I always thought of Brendon as a friend, but he made numerous remarks about my job, my career, and capabilites. He does the same to others. If he is challenged he responds with personal attacks- not logical arguments. Check out my blog http://www.ahnse.blogspot.com for more oft color attacks and quotes from Brendon.
These blogs are for the discussion of topics — not attacks. I feel like I have to defend my good name and also make others realize that most lawyers don’t act in this manner.
The most unprofessional comment, with regard to me, is that he accused me of stealing his and other’s work product.
He noted on his blog that: “Today a colleague brought me Sean Hayes’ ‘Lex Pro Bon’” column in the Korea Times “Preliminary Attachments Encourage Settlements.” Having seen KoreaLaw.com, and this very entry on Korea Law Blog three weeks before Sean published, the content is strangely familiar.”
Actually that article was a slightly modified reprint of an article I wrote 4 years ago in the Korea Herald — not a copy like he contended. The article is entitled “Repo in the ROK” with a date of 2003/08/29 and an article entitled “He took the money and ran” which was posted a few months after the article.
grab some popcorn, folks!
Brrr. Chilly around here. 90 minutes and nothing, so I Googled the phrase “what do you call two lawyers…”. Results were disappointing, but here we go anyway:
What do you call two lawyers flying through the air?
Skeet.
What do you call two lawyers in a Mercedes going over a cliff?
A shame. A Mercedes can hold six.
This dispute calls for Sperwer to enter and lay the smack down.
‘pawi’s a jackass.’ lawyer
You think about that jackass quite a bit, don’t you? Perhaps, it’s because you want to do this:
‘If he is challenged he responds with personal attacks- not logical arguments.’
That’s your own colleague, Mr Carr. And as someone who holds a professional license himself, I’d be concerned if a colleague of mine admonished me in such a public manner.
Lastly, you can call me a jackass, but I’m not the one looking like a jackass right now, Brendon.
****
Someguyinkorea, why would you be concerned about my comments towards the Chinese?
Whatever culture Korea got from China is Korean culture. Just like whatever culture Japan got from China and Korea is still Japanese culture.
” 58.
Someguyinkorea, why would you be concerned about my comments towards the Chinese?
Whatever culture Korea got from China is Korean culture. Just like whatever culture Japan got from China and Korea is still Japanese culture.
”
Nice try, I’m not biting.
59. You just did.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/kore.....p?t=110588
Does anyone know if any of the Korean sports channels are showing the NFL playoffs live this year? I couldn’t find them anywhere on my cable TV last night. Only ping pong, repeats of the 2007 Korean baseball playoffs and an EPL game from 2 weeks ago. Any help???
This is just in order to divert attention from the bitch-fight Sean is trying to have with me, but the loss of televised sports-viewing opportunities for those of us on the outside is the great tragedy of the AFN satellite television package.
I remember some great televised sports moments on AFKN/AFN back in the day, but with only the free cable channels showing sports Asians and Europeans like, one is left choosing between World Cup 2002 re-runs, golf with a Chinese announcer jabbering over a muted English-language track, baduk, and of course, several channels of Korea’s greatest Starcraft performances.
It could be worse: We could be in Canada where the people look and sound like regular American human beings, but would mysteriously change the channel away from the tipoff of Michael Jordan’s basketball comeback as No. 45 against the Indiana Pacers in order to catch televised curling (a bloodcurdling true story — those fiends).
Is the #1 line in the Seoul subway the only line where the trains drive to the left?
No, they also do so on parts of line 4 and (I believe) line 3. Korail operates its trains on the left track, so on the sections of the Seoul subway that are operated exclusively by Korail, that’s where the trains run. Seoul Metro runs their trains on the right, however, so on the sections of the track that are shared by Korail and Seoul Metro trains, the trains all run on the right track.
Thanks Ut videam. Is there any reason why Korail uses the left?
Does it have something to do with the model of the cars used?
Brendan,
You’ll be happy to know that we’ll be able to see the games up here (in BC) at the same time that my brother and sister ‘Merkins down south will.
And your comments about televised curling are spot on - I’ve long felt the only thing worse is going to see it in person. Drinking a lot while you’re there is encouraged.
Traditionally, all around the world — at least in the Old World — trains run on the left and metros on the right. And since Korea got its train tech from Japan, which got it from the West, their trains run on the left, and their metro on the right.
#63
Hey… what’s wrong with curling? Lol… When I actually sat down and watched it, I found it strangely exciting and interesting. Although, I was in the company of 5 Canadians going crazy over the game.
dda
Most of Seoul’s subways run on the right, while a few
run on the left. Why does Korail run its subways on the
left?
Because on the Korail lines, subway trains share tracks with regular trains. If they didn’t run the same direction on the tracks, disaster would ensue.
#62
A bit late, but try this:
http://www.channelsurfing.net/
Ut videam thanks…
Do all of the Korean railroad trains run on the left?
The trains switch from left to right (or vice versa) at certain places. For example on Line 4 one or two stations south of Sadang the train is on the left at one station and then when you arrive at the next station it is on the right (going north). I guess this is as it moves from tracks owned by the railway to those owned by the subway system. This switching is noticeable at a few places around the system, but I can’t remember the others off hand.
I have another infrastructure-related question:
1. When did Korea switch from using 110V to 220V, how, why, and on whose orders?
2. Did Korea originally use 110V?
3. I know that as recently as the 1990s, some new apartments were built with both 110V and 220V outlets (and why are these called “consents” in Korea? I’m assuming it is from Japan, but why “consent”?), yet I can’t recall having seen exclusively 110V home appliances sold then. Why is that?
Why does Korail run its subways on the left?
Because Korail is a train [as opposed to subway] company. Tradition and all that.
As for electricity. The first nuclear power plant is American, Kori-1 [1978]. Kori-2/3/4 came in 1983/5/6. And the Canucks built Wolsung-1 in 1983. From 110V-using countries. Then came Uljin-1, 1988, by Framatome, a French company [France is 220V]. Uljin-2, 10 years later [a friend of mine spent 6 years on this project]. I figure 220V entered the picture when non-US power plants were first built.
Thanks for the background. I think an account of the building of those plants would make a good post.
I’m not an engineer, so please forgive my ignorance, but what would have had to have been done to the earlier, American and Canadian-built plants then if the construction of the French-built plant prompted a switchover?
#75.
To answer your questions;
1. Korea started changing to 220V starting from the early 1990s. As for whose orders and why, I haven’t heard or read anything about it.
2. Yes
3. My guess is to accomodate appliances brought during the 1980s which were 110V. As for “concent”, it’s a shortened version of the English word “concentric plug.”
Actually, voltage is stepped up to a couple hundred kilovolts for transmissions, and stepped down to distribution-level voltage (220V) at local transformers, so the make and model of the power plants has very little to do with what house voltage in your area is.
Yeah, the Japanese constructed the railroad grid, and had the trains on the left, the Koreans continued the system. Subway Line #1, the first line to be constructed, was linked to the train grid and ran trains on the left, as well. But, when the Seoul subway build #2, the loop line, they ran the cars on the right, and continued to do so for the other lines, but of course, it created trouble when they linked up to the train grid, and so you have lines like #4, where one track has to go under the other one, in order to have cars switch from the right side to the left. While I understand why for feelings of patriotism, Koreans want to run subway cars on the right, and not the left, they sure created a headache for themselves by having trains and subways cars on opposite sides. Wonder who came up with the brilliant idea of running line #2 on the right.
#60,
Whatever.
I sure as hell didn’t change the channel that day! Anybody living close to the border or with cable (i.e. most of the people in Canada) could have watched the game on NBC, just as I did. Curling may have been a poor choice, but it would have been one of several options, including the game you mention.
3 Alley Pub will be showing the Super Bowl live, I believe with English commentary, commercials, etc. If past years were any indication, it should be a great time. For those less inclined to booze it up with a crowd of football fans on a Monday morning, I think one of the Korean sports channels might show it live, but with local (i.e. Korean speaking and mediocre-at-best) commentators. Until then, unless you have some kind of slingbox or NFL Network package for your computer, try the Sopcast p2p application. (Doesn’t always come through, and I don’t know about this morning, but the Packers/Seahawks and Patriots/Jags games worked fine yesterday.)
My Dad and I were in Victoria, BC and rather than watch in the hotel room we foolishly thought we’d pop over to the sports bar.
That day was a big basketball day — Jordan’s return followed by the NCAA Tournament second-round tussle between Missouri and UCLA. UCLA won 75-74 on Tyus Edney’s 4.8-second dash to drop one in over the outstretched arms of hapless Buck Grimm and the other Missouri defender.
Not that anyone in Victoria was interested in that noise, so far as we could tell. Hey, France was playing Ireland in soccer on the satellite! And the curling. There must have been something really strange going on in that bar if they were making those choices among the myriad programs available on the satellite.
Since that harrowing day I’ve always feared and distrusted Canadians. It must have been really hard growing up in a place like that if your name was Steve Nash.
I have to admit that Victoria doesn’t strike me as a happening sports bar kind of place, so I’m not the least bit surprised you didn’t have much luck with watching basketball. Maybe things have changed a little since hometown boy Steve Nash has made it big?
While lacking in sports bars, there are plenty of cougars on Vancouver Island, but they are likely found in more rural settings, or, come to think of it, hanging out in bars in Nanaimo, instead of in Victoria.
#84,
Count yourself lucky it wasn’t lawn bowling that was being shown. Victoria, last I checked, was the retirement home capital of Canada, or something like that. Lots of retirees move there because of it’s relatively mild weather.
#85,
Now, now. You’re giving him the wrong impression. Cougars are native to all regions of Canada, not just Vancouver Island. LOL.
Late 80s rather, since by 1990, 220V was available everywhere I looked.
True, but switching progressively to 220V is probably linked to their acquiring French tech. They bought the production tech and the transformation equipment too [Framatome has a separate branch that does just that and is still in business in Korea, whereas the power-plant making unit has closed shop].
You guys must be truly bored to be arguing about are electrical power outlets.
I’m loving this little lesson in supply and demand. This ain’t advanced policy-making, this is chapter 1, page 1 of any introductory economics textbook.
http://joongangdaily.joins.com.....id=2885106
That seems likely, though it looks like the conversion started happening a lot longer ago than the 90s (if the Taipei Times is any more reliable than the Korean Times, that is…)
http://www.taipeitimes.com/New.....2003060304
#90,
2 million a month at a hagwon in Seoul? No wonder the teacher asked for a raise and left when she was turned down. Last I heard, the standard was 2.4 million–and this will probably increase thanks to the new visa rules.
Surprisingly, they are
Thanks for the link to the Taipei Times article — very interesting.
However, if China and the U.S. both use 110V, it’s hard to say that 220V is the world standard and Taiwan would be an “orphan” if it stuck with 110V.
Japan uses 110V too.
More power (and money) to the 영어강사.
Take a look at the job boards on various sites. You’ll still see them wanting female teachers within a certain age. Alot of them are still only offering two mil a month.
This whole thing is going to turn out good. The hagwons that don’t adapt will be cutting back classes in a couple months and within a year will be shutting their doors, scratching their heads in bewilderment. Who knows? Maybe the ones that are left will be using the quality of the teacher as the main criteria for hiring. Perhaps some will even hire men, (gasp!), teachers with a few gray hairs, (eeek!), hispanics, blacks or middle-eastern applicants, (say it ain’t so).
Ironically, the hysteria generated by the sensationalization of hagwon teachers run-amok is going to come back and bite the parents who bought into it right in the ass.
#96,
Not too sure. I’m guessing this is what will happen: Average salary will go up 100 000 or 200 000 won per month (but more classes/less vacation for the teacher). The hagwons will increase tuition under the guise of having to pay more for their teachers and pocket a hefty profit.
Well Someguy, I’m simply imagining another overbearing parent showing up at the hagwon complaining about a bump in the tuition. “Sorry Mrs. Kim. The new rules have forced us to pay higher rates for our staff. By the way, this is your daughter’s new teacher. His name’s Mohamud and he’s 52 years old. He’s got a clean criminal record and he’s a virgin so his AIDS test came up negative and he’s probably not an IV drug user.”
That, I think, will put Korean parents more at ease.
Oh, I meant all this satirically. I was merely dredging my brain to conjure up something that might force these parents to confront their reactionary ways. Not that they often visit the old MH.
I’m curious to know what is the average stay in Korea for an E2 visa holder. I’m guessing it’s about one year, which would make things very interesting in 6 months or so.