Just returned from my whirlwind journey to Phoenix. The “train the trainer” training was good and I will busy getting ready to share my new found knowledge of the National Security Personnel System with my USFK compatriots. I got a little irked with the political commentary of one of the instructors…not really commentary but pot shots at the President, Rumsfeld and DoD. You know, I’m always up for a politcal debate, but the classroom in a DoD sponsored training course is not the time or place. I gave him a little constructive feedback in my course evaluation and let it go at that.

I had a couple of days before my flight back to Seoul, so I drove across the Mojave desert. I can get my taste of mountains here, but you just don’t have access to the great wide open spaces in Korea. It was good to have the feeling you get by being alone in the emptiness again. Oh yeah, my road led me to Laughlin, Nevada. A great place to gamble on the Colorado river. Turns out I dropped a little cash, but had a great time doing it. There was a fun married couple at my blackjack table and we spent the hours drinking, laughing, and razzing each other. So, if I figure the “free” beers were actually $20 each, I did ok.

I left Laughlin and took the long way back to Phoenix via Yuma. I got the hankering for some Mexican food and seeing as how Mexico was right there I ventured across the border. Been a long time since I had visited one of these border towns. Reminded me of Itaewon a little but the vendors were actually more agressive. My Spanish is better than my Korean, but everyone spoke good English of course. I was amazed to see the number of pharmacies, dental and doctors offices. Apparently lots of folks come down for cheap drugs and medical care. I think I would be a little nervous about doing that, but it appeared they were doing a land office business.

Anyway, the flight home was uneventful (although delayed) except the plane was full again which makes the long trip that much more uncomfortable. My connection was through Los Angeles, and it was surprising to see so many Koreans in the “non-Korean” line at immigration. And it was a LONG line to boot.

I was never able to adjust my sleep pattern on this trip, so I was always tired. I’ve done nothing but sleep since I got home. Nope, back for two days and I have not had one beer or visited any of my bar haunts in Itaewon. Even blew off playing pool last night. Just slept on the couch with the TV blaring.

So as you can see my life is as exciting as ever. I think I might be in some kind of transition. I know what I don’t what to do now, but I am not sure what I will be doing to fill these hours.

Stay tuned.

Ok, I *think* I have the problem fixed, so here’s some more photos from my week in NYC.

Let’s see, we left off somewhere in the middle of Times Square….

And for those who like chocolate, the Hershey store is inviting….

I didn’t actually try to get tickets to see Letterman, but I did get this picture….

Um, I didn’t see a comedy show at Caroline’s either. I really took this photo in honor of my friends at Sweet Caroline’s, one of my Itaewon haunts. A friendly place where everyone knows my name (well, that’s what I tell myself anyway)….

As long as I am posting boring pics of business marquees, here’s the new Hard Rock Cafe in TS. I did go inside and buy some trinkets as gifts for my Korean friends who like “authentic” American pop culture. Which means they were easy to please….

I was wandering around the streets of Manhattan one afternoon and came across this sign (which my lack of skill with a camera makes hard to read, it says Korea Way in English and Hangul) quite by accident. Lo and behold I had discovered “Korea town”. It was quite fascinating to be amongst Koreans again. I even took advantage and had a lunch of bulgogi bimbibap with all the sides. Not as spicy as I have become accustomed too, but still good…

Like a true tourist I also visited the Empire State Building….

Actually, I had tried to go to the observation deck on a previous visit to NYC but because of low cloud cover I was advised to save my money. This day had clear skies, so up I went. And here is what I saw….

Later in the week, I took the ferry to Ellis Island. Damn, the security was more rigid than at the airport, which made for an hour wait to board. I took some photos while I waited, including these buildings surrounding Battery Park in Lower Manhattan….

And the Merchant Mariners monument. My father was a merchant marine so I thought this was pretty cool…

Made it on board the ferry finally, and caught this view of the skyline as we pulled away. Something will always be missing, but I take strength in knowing that the blood spilled here is being avenged. Our response to the haters of freedom was to help bring freedom to the oppressed. Two towers, two freed nations. It’s the American way….

Lady Liberty in all her glory….

On the approach to Ellis Island, I thought of all the people who had passed this way, following the call of the heart that yearns to be free….

God bless the USA….

Ok, I finally got around to getting my photos from New York City together…nothing you haven’t seen in postcards before, but these just scream “I was there!”

Actually, I have been to New York several times, but never got all that touristy like this time. I guess I just felt a lot more confident walking the streets after spending the past few months in an even bigger city….Seoul.

So here we go (I hope my bandwidth can take it, but then I have alienated most of my readers by a proven combination of infrequent posts and boring ones like this)….

Let’s start in Central Park, an amazing greenway amid the urban sprawl:

You can’t really see them in this pic, but this pathway is lined with the statues of the great writers in Western literature….

I also had a little sax in the park….

And then wandered over to Strawberry Fields and checkout the John Lennon shrine….

And then it was on to Times Square. Actually, I stayed in a great hotel, the Marriott Marquis, which is right in the middle of Times Square on Broadway….

Samsung is everywhere, even the billboards of New York…

Good Morning America studio. You can’t of course get the full effect of Times Square without seeing it at night. You won’t see that here though. They have turned entire buildings into lighted billboards, don’t know how exactly…maybe a projector. You will just have to go see for yourself….

Hmmm, none of my TS images are posting….I’ll be back when I figure out why…..

A really nice slice of American Pie from the Ford Motor Company. Cindy Sheehan notwithstanding, THIS is how the vast majority of Americans feel.

And we can never say thank you too much.

Via Instapundit

Went into to DC last night to catch some major league baseball action. Seeing “real” baseball is something I have definitely missed. Oh, I have watched some of the Korean league games on TV, but the level of play is not much better than class “A” minor league ball in the states.

Anyway, for years I had been waiting for DC to get its own team again. I would go up to Baltimore two or three times a year to see the Orioles, but it was a major pain in the ass. Plus, I am not really into the American League with that wussy DH rule and all. So DC finally gets its team and I move to Korea. Go figure.

Last nights game between my hometown Nationals and my former hometown Dodgers was a classic. A real pitchers duel through eight innings, with the Nats clinging to a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the eighth, the Nats loaded the bases, and with two outs and a 3-2 count, Wilkerson hit a grand slam. So I got to see some great pitching and some offense.

It was miserably hot and muggy, but being at the ballpark with a beer, a dog, and some peanuts was still a joy. I’m glad I got to see a game at RFK. I mean, it’s a pretty decrepit stadium built in the early 60s and it doesn’t have much charm (I really do like the modern throwback stadiums they are building now) but I thought of the history of some of the great Senators players who passed through here. Yeah, there were a couple. It’s good to have baseball back in the capital city where it belongs. We will have one of those fancy new stadiums in a couple of years. Last night we had 35,000 at the game and season attendance is nearing the 2 million mark, so all those naysayers who believed DC would not support a team can bite my shorts.

I grew up going to Dodger stadium during the glory years in the ’60s–the Koufax-Drysdale era when the Dodgers would scratch out a run and win 1-0. Dodger stadium is really beautiful and remains my favorite ball park overall. Although I must say Coors Field in Denver with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop is a close second. Fenway Park in Boston is also a great place to see a game.

Well, that’s my baseball report. I have other news from my vacation in the good ol’ USA to share, including my son’s wedding in South Carolina. As soon as I get around to uploading my photos I will do a post on that. Sunday I leave Virginia for a week in NYC then it is back “home” to Seoul.

More to say soon.

Well, my hope for relief from the soggy heat of Seoul has been dashed. Damn, it has been hot here in Virginia too. Still, it feels good to be back among things familiar.

Haven’t done much but soak up the ambiance of home. The tourist trinkets I brought home were a big hit. Last night I drove into DC for dinner with a couple of friends. It was a good time. I’ll be heading down to South Carolina tomorrow. Son’s wedding is Saturday.

Oddly enough, I find myself missing Korea a little. I guess it is just a matter of what you get used to.

I plan to just keep going with the flow. Life has a way to taking care of itself. It’s only when you presume to have control that you get disappointed. Least that’s how it has worked for me.

Carol went to the Washington Nationals home opener this week. Saw the Prez throw out the first pitch and watched the Nats defeat the Diamondbacks. It is ironic that for years I anxiously awaited the return of baseball to our nation’s capital city, and the year it finally does I move to Korea. Alas. Well, I am glad that Carol was able to attend in my place.

Over at Powerline, Paul Mirengoff offers this bit of DC baseball tivia:

Question: What city has had the best ex-ballplayers manage its baseball team back-to-back? Answer: Washington, D.C. — Ted Williams and Frank Robinson.

It’s a trick question, of course, because the two managed different franchises 34 years apart. But that was just a technicality tonight, as Washington celebrated its first regular season home game since 1971. President Bush threw the first pitch, renewing a tradition that goes back to William Howard Taft, but had ended due to circumstances beyond our control, with Richard Nixon in 1969. (I should note that the president didn’t always throw the pitch — at the one home opener I attended, in 1967, Vice President Humphrey did the honors). Tonight, President Bush used the last baseball thrown in the Washington Senator’s final home game. It was presented to him by the pitcher who hurled it, Joe Grzenda, a journeyman left-handed reliever who kept it all these years (Joe could sometimes get lefties out — today he’d probably make, what, about $2 million a year?).

In the first inning a kid in the stands caught a foul ball. He and his mom started jumping up and down deliriously. It reminded me of how much joy has been absent from this city for the past 34 years.

Ah, there is much that I miss about my homeland, but baseball is right up there. I caught a bit of the Yankees-Red Sox game on TV last night (commentary in Korean, which was no worse that what you usually get from the Americans–both ununderstandable (hmm, is that a word? I don’t think I’ve ever had occasion to say ununderstandable, but that’s pretty much how I feel when I am out and about in Korea–the street signs, the store signs, the people talking–all ununderstandable).

Anyway, I have watched some of the Korean “major leagues” on TV too. It appears to be the minor league equivalent of AA (at best) in the States. Still, there are some good players, and baseball is baseball. I plan on catching some games in person this summer. It’s funny, the teams here are all corporate owned, so you have the Hyundai Unicorns, the SK Tigers, the Kia Dragons (I might have the nicknames wrong, I’m still learning the teams). Koreans are really proud of their countrymen who make the majors. And as I learned from another American bloggers’ experience, it does not pay to be critical of Koreans playing in the US, even if their talents are suspect. Read this post from Ruminations in Korea for a good laugh. For the record, Kim, Byung Hyun, does suck, he single handedly killed my fantasy team one year.

I present 10 beautiful American women. Guess amongst this group my vote would go to Angelina Jolie. But that’s just me…..

or does something seem just a little unbelievable about this story?

Now here’s something you don’t see much of in Korea. Plenty of women here of course, but they just don’t grow them like this, if you get my meaning.

Anyway, nothing like a little Mardi Gras magic to put you in the mood to unwind and let it all hang out. Me, I just like the art.

Since some might not find these appropriate for work, you can view them on page 2.

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According to this story in the Wall Stree Journal, the Democrats do have a plan for Social Security reform, and the reality of that plan may actually be worse than doing nothing. The window for the Republican controlled Congress to push through a sensible plan is rapidly closing. Now is the time for action, or we may be dealing with the consequences for lifetimes.

That’s an opening Republicans might try driving a reform plan through. But in granting this opening, Mr. Hoyer has revealed a broader political strategy. Without control of Congress or the White House, the left has been looking for a new power source, and they may have found one in large pension funds. The AFL-CIO and other labor unions are testing the waters by publicly protesting against Charles Schwab, Edward Jones and other investment houses in hopes of scaring them away from the Social Security debate. The Labor Department is now looking into accusations that Big Labor is threatening to pull pension funds from investment houses that refuse to play along. Making such a threat may violate a union’s fiduciary responsibility.

Regardless of what the Labor Department finds, this is where Republicans might want to start considering what will happen if they do not pass Social Security reform this year. One popular theory in Washington is that President Bush has firmly implanted the idea of reform in the national consciousness, but that it now must take root there over the next four years or so–into the next president’s term–before it can be enacted into law. There’s even a sound bite: President Hillary Clinton will sign Social Security reform into law, just as Bill Clinton signed welfare reform.

The symmetry is appealing, but misleading. The danger in losing the Social Security fight this year isn’t that President Bush’s reform agenda will die along with it, but rather that it will live on. President Clinton had to be brought to welfare reform kicking and screaming. But President Hillary or another Democrat will likely be more shrewd and embrace reform. Doing so would allow Democrats to infuse those reforms with Mr. Hoyer’s ideas of using the government to invest funds in the stock market. We’ll likely get a mix of higher taxes, reduced benefits for some, and “diversified risk” with publicly invested money. It will sound like a middle-of-the-road compromise. But if it comes to pass, it will give the secretary of labor and the other trustees a new tool to influence financial markets for political reasons.

Republicans didn’t have to let this genie out of the bottle. But they were sent to Washington to make fundamental changes to the welfare state, and now they have a limited time to get their ownership society wish. If they miss this opportunity, it may turn out that all Republicans will have succeeded at doing is setting the stage for a massive expansion of the federal government.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Hat tip: PowerLine

Cross posted at The Wide Awakes

A reader noted some of the serious problems America is facing these days. Staggering deficits, trade imbalances that boggle the mind, the weak dollar, exporting jobs, crime, poverty, unaffordable health care, involvement in an expensive war against terror that is probably still closer to the beginning than the end. Yep, we do have our share of problems and our society is a long way from perfection.

But let us pause and give thanks for our many blessings. One of which is we are not Europe. Admittedly, like many Americans I don’t pay a whole lot of attention to the goings on in the land of my forefathers. Face it, Europe is increasingly irrelevant in the global scheme of things. But one can’t help but notice how Europe’s death spiral seems to be escalating. Demographics that will not support the socialist programs they love to tout and a lack of political will to deal with the problem. Immigration and birth rates that will likely lead to Muslim majorities in a generation. Double digit unemployment. Crushing tax burdens. A lack of moral compass or vision. Antiquated militaries that are incapable of projecting power and likely could not even provide adequate self defense from a determined enemy (absent American intervention). Societies every bit as sick as ours (although admittedly less violent). And a blind unwillingness to recognize these threats, let alone the courage to face up to them. In short, Europe is an ostrich, and the wolves are on the hunt. It’s gonna get real ugly sooner rather than later.

While I am sometimes offended by the arrogance of our European cousins, I don’t take the ramblings of doddering old fools much to heart. Despite their grand dreams and delusions of grandeur, Europe’s time has passed. Their contributions in science, art and literature will certainly live on in history books, but I see little evidence that these pathetic welfare states will have much to say about the shape of the world in the 21st century (although I expect there will be many headlines as they fall one by one under the oppressive boot of Islamofacism.

So America needs to look east. It is in Asia that we will find our greatest opportunities and our greatest challenges. China, not Europe, will provide the counterbalance to American power that Mr. Chirac has been dreaming of. Other great democracies like India will fill the void in world leadership that Europe has abdicated. And that is as it should and must be.

It has been said that all things must pass. Perhaps that is true. But unlike Europe, America will never surrender. We are still ascending (hell, we are only two hundred years into Jefferson’s great experiment). Our current problems will be overcome and new ones will appear. But we thrive on that kind of dynamism.

These are interesting times indeed. And I will always be thankful for having the good fortune to be living them as an American.

Oh yeah, I was inspired to write this post after reading this article and some gentle goading by the irascible EuroYank. America will neither repent nor perish, my friend. We‘ve only just begun, and our best days still lie ahead of us. Today’s problems are simply tomorrow’s victories. Bring it on. Let’s roll. Remember the Alamo. And all that jazz.

Hat Tip: Asymmetrical Information

I noticed that one of the commenters over at The Wide Awakes stated that Congress’ intervention on Ms. Schiavo’s behalf was an unwarranted intrusion on state’s rights. And of course she accused the conservatives who have championed states rights in the past of hypocrisy.

Ann Althouse, a law professor at the University of Wisconsin has some great perspective in a post that deals with just the points the above referenced commenter made.

It is well worth the read.

I have not previously weighed in on the Terri Schiavo fiasco. Not that I don’t care, but I just could not get a handle on what it was that made me so conflicted on this. I would personally not want my life artificially extended (yikes, I guess I just put that in writing, didn’t I? Carol, just be VERY SURE before you pull the plug, ok?). But something else bugged me about this case. A nagging doubt. And Ms. Andrea Harris captured that perfectly in this post. And as she says it is so obvious even a child would know why it is wrong. Death by starvation is inhumane. It really is that simple.

So Carol, morphine or a pillow if you must. Don’t make me starve. It would take quite awhile in my case.

In today’s civics lesson we will review the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Freedom of expression consists of the rights to freedom of speech, press, assembly and to petition the government for a redress of grievances, and the implied rights of association and belief. The Supreme Court interprets the extent of the protection afforded to these rights. The First Amendment has been interpreted by the Court as applying to the entire federal government even though it is only expressly applicable to Congress. Furthermore, the Court has interpreted, the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as protecting the rights in the First Amendment from interference by state governments.

The right to freedom of speech allows individuals to express themselves without interference or constraint by the government. The Supreme Court requires the government to provide substantial justification for the interference with the right of free speech where it attempts to regulate the content of the speech. A less stringent test is applied for content-neutral legislation.

Despite popular misunderstanding the right to freedom of the press guaranteed by the first amendment is not very different from the right to freedom of speech. It allows an individual to express themselves through publication and dissemination. It is part of the constitutional protection of freedom of expression. It does not afford members of the media any special rights or privileges not afforded to citizens in general.

Source: Legal Information Institute, Cornell University

So now that we have re-familiarized ourselves with the Constitution’s free speech protections, we know that Congress can pass no law infringing on of freedom of speech. We also know that the federal and state government can not deny this right to its employees.

Today’s question: What in the U.S. Constitution prohibits a PRIVATE employer from terminating an employee who exercises free speech in a manner that is considered inappropriate by the employer? For example, had CNN chosen to fire Eason Jordan for what he said at Davos, would CNN have been in violation of Jordan’s Constitutional rights?

Correct answer: NO. As several bloggers have recently learned, an employer can and will terminate an employee for the otherwise protected freedom of expression. Which is why we commonly say, free speech isn’t free. In our great nation we can say almost whatever we want, but sometimes those words will carry consequences. As long as it is not the government imposing those consequences, there is nothing illegal about it.

Thank you for your attention. Class dismissed.

Ok, I missed the Super Bowl this year. Came on during working hours here Monday morning, and things are just too busy to get away. Sounds like it was a great game. NIF has kindly posted a link to the commercials so I can keep up with that particular piece of Americana. Haven’t watched them all yet, but I did enjoy the Anheuser-Busch “Thanking the Troops” spot. You can find it (and others) here.

I was at the airport in New Orleans last year and something very similar happened. I remember hearing all the commotion and figured some celebrity had arrived. Then I turned around and saw a small group of soldiers arriving in the terminal. The mixture of astonishment, pride, and happiness on their faces was priceless. It was a great moment.

When Johnny comes marching home again,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We’ll give him a hearty welcome then,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will cheer, the boys will shout,
The ladies they will all turn out,
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.

Let love and friendship on that day,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
Their choicest treasures then display,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
And let each one perform some part
To fill with joy the warrior’s heart,
And we’ll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.
—American folk song, circa 1863

Here’s an amazing little news item. Go read what Chasing the Wind has to say about it.

Me, I am just shaking my head in astonishment that people like this neighbor actually exist. That she was successful in court says more about our litgious society than I care to know. Let’s just pretend it never happened ok?

The world is full of rude awakenings
And heaven-born castles shattered to the ground,
Yet still our human longing vainly clings
To a belief in beauty through all wrongs.
O stay your hand, and leave my heart its songs!
–Amy Lowell (from the poem To a Friend)

I received this story and photos via email:

The following (first two) pictures are of a guy who works for the US Forest Service in Alaska and his trophy bear. He was out deer hunting last week when a large grizzly bear charged him from about 50 yards away. The guy unloaded his 7 mm Mag Semi-automatic rifle into the bear and it dropped a few feet from him. The big bear was still alive so he reloaded and shot it several times in the head. The bear was just over one thousand six hundred pounds. It stood 12′ 6″ high at the shoulder, 14′ to the top of his head. It’s the largest grizzly bear ever recorded in the world. Of course, the Alaska Fish and Wildlife Commission did not let him keep it as a trophy, but the bear will be stuffed and mounted, and placed on display at the Anchorage airport (to remind tourist’s of the risks involved when in the wild). Based on the contents of the bears stomach, the Fish and Wildlife Commission established the bear had killed at least two humans in the past 72 hours. His last meal was the unlucky nature buff in the third picture below. The US Forest Service, backtracking from where the bear had originated, found the hiker’s 38-caliber pistol emptied. Not far from the pistol was the remains of the hiker. The other body has not been found. Although the hiker fired six shots and managed to hit the grizzly with four shots (they ultimately found four 38 caliber slugs along with twelve 7mm slugs inside the bear’s dead body) it only wounded the bear – and probably angered it. The bear killed the hiker an estimated two days prior to the bear’s own death by the gun of the Forest Service worker. Think about this – If you are an average size man; You would be level with the bear’s belly button when he stood upright, the bear would look you in the eye when it walked on all fours! To give additional perspective, consider that this particular bear, standing on its hind legs, could walk up to an average single story house and look over the roof, or walk up to a two story house and look in the bedroom windows.

Here’s the grizzly post-mortem:

And check out that paw (and claws):

Ok, the last image is of one of the bear’s victims. It is graphic and grotesque. Fair warning, if you have a weak stomach or don’t care to view a mutilated corpse, don’t turn the page….

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