a-back

So...the heavies ejected an 82 year old man from the Labour Party Conference because he heckled the speaker. The speaker - the Foreign Secretary. And what did this old boy shout? 'NONSENSE'

.

not only did this old boy get lifted out of the 'debating chamber' but he wasn't allowed back in as the heavies were invoking the 'Terrorism Act' against him.

What sort of people have we elected.

The sort of people who don't have an opinion. The sort of people who are happy to be clones. The sort of people who scare us into thinking that there is a 'threat' but then don't tell who the threat is, where the threat or when the threat will take place. The sort of people who want to give us ID Card's. The sort of people who don't want people to think. The sort of people who supress debate.

Apparantly, 'dearest' Tony has apologised profusely for this treament of this old boy who has been in Labour for 50 years and escaped from Nazi Germany. His 'crime' was to disagree with Jack Straw, who suggested that Britain went into Iraq with the express aim of giving it's citizens freedom. This old boy is only saying what the majority of the country are saying. Isn't strange that there was no debate at the Conference relating to Iraq. I wonder why? Because 'Dearest' Tony may will have had egg on his face after the debate.

Furthermore, how come this old boy was subject to the 'Terrorism Act'? That is perhaps more worrying...Is some old boy really a threat to 'national security'?

The whole thing is a nonsense.

Melon

I was 'speaking' to 2 random Korean blokes last night. I had just been to the bog when these 2 characters decended upon me. Korean men are a strange breed as many people will testify. They honestly think that they are at the centre of the Earth and that the sun actually revolves around them. Clearly, a big generalisation BUT...
Anyway, they stop me and ask me where I'm from etc. All the usual questions. I do my best to answer them in Korean /eh, that should read 'broken Korean'/ whilst they try there best to impress me with their English ability didn't amount to much. In the end I found out that they were actually Firemen...once that had been established, they then proceeded to show me all their 'scars' that they had got from the job. Not a very pretty sight, let me tell you. They seemed to be fairly proud of the fact that they had these scars. I guess it might be seen as some form of 'trophy' or something but I couldn't help but thinkning that this pair were, based on there scars, pretty crap at their jobs.

If they had been more careful or safety conscious they perhaps they wouldn't have the scars they had. I tell you, I fear the day that there is a fire in my apartment or somewhere similiar especially if I have these kind of blokes coming round to deal with it. I'd be better off dealing with the fire myself.
I wonder though if that is merely a culture thing. In the U.K. Health and Safety issues are paramount, yet here, I definitely get the impression that such issues are not that high on the list of priorities.

The moral of the story. Don't try to cook your dinner in Korea. Get some else to do it for you.

Apt

In a blatant attempt to integrate myself into Korean popular culture, I found myself setting up a cyworld page. They are all the rage...if ur board, have a look but remember to un-block pop-ups otherwise you won't get to the page.

.

.

.

.click above.

Moog

I was reading the other that the Tears had played in Seoul last month...not a major band but an important one given they are comprised of the 2 blokes from Suede. However, the thing that was most bizarre was that they were actually playing in Seoul.
Seoul, it seems /or Korea for that matter/ is not really the place that bands come to. Japan and even China, is where 'it' all happens. There isn't even a festival like the Fuji festival for instance. It's depressing.
What makes it all the more depressing is that when a 'big' name does announce that they are playing in Korea, it's usually a pile of poo...Sting, Elton John, Mariah Carey and Ricky Martin to name but 4. Would I pay good money to see any of them. Would I bawes...

Admittly Marilyn Manson and Linkin Park have played and I seem to remember the Chili Peppers playing but that's about it. All American bands. It's depressing.

q-tip

Summer is definitely over. I can tell. Not just by the drop in temperature but by the amount of people going around sneezing or coughing near me. GET OUT OF IT ! i HAVE NO DESIRE FOR YOUR GERMS. iT was bad enough teaching kids - they just did it and didn't think too much about it. aDULTS THOUGH...come on. Behave. The countdown to the flu continues. It's not a case of whether I'll get it but when.

And congrats to Hearts beating the Huns for the 1st time in however-many-years. I wonder if we'll start believing the hype. Also, it's amazing how many Hearts fans have suddenly crawled out from under the floorboards now that they have a winning team. Strange that. A couple of defeats and we'll see how they get on...

Matador

Word of the week: 'Formations'

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a 4-4-2 or it's a 4-5-1 or it's a 4-3-3. So what. It's football. Stick the ball in the back of the net more times than your opponent and you win. Simple.

Phrase of the week: 'Next week?'

'Eh, no' is the simple answer. My students typically get 2 homework assignments per semester. Nothing overly complex or difficult. All I request is that they print it out and attach their name to it. I also ask that they hand it in at the end of next class. They way the semester has panned out, some classes got an extra week to 'do' it because of Chuseok etc. But, still I get the excuses. The sorrowful eyes and the 'sorry' and even the above question. It used to wash with me but not now. If it's not done, then thats it, it's your own fault. Some of my 'best' students who have years of living in America behind them didn't hand it in. They could easily get an A+ for the semester but now that they haven't got a chance. The best they can hope for is a B+. Just stupid.

Sight of the week: 'Day off'

The sight of Chuseok and then the Univeristy festival on the horizon. Oh my, that's almost 2 weeks of not teaching. What a stress. What can I do with the free time?

Song of the week: 'Another Late Night' mixed by Groove Armada

Clearly, not a song but a whole album. Ooh. It's rather tasty and has been onrepeat for alittle while. Amix of soul, hiphop, electronica and even has Patrick Moore. Lie back and enjoy.

Pontif

A wise man here in Cheonan recently wrote on his blog, that he hates liars. (n). a person who tells lies.

I'm in the same boat. What purpose does it serve. To make one feel better?To cover ones tracks?TO deflect attention?Inflate ones ego?Make something sound different? What's the point?
It only gets you into trouble if your found out. If you're either extremely clever or extremely lucky then you won't be but chances are you'll be busted. Inconsistencies always arise eventually, no matter how well planned the execution or even how innocent the original 'lie'.

And one person has been busted. Once too many times. A female and a Korean female at that. Busted.
'X' claim was made many years ago. No reason not to believe. It seemed fair enough and completely water-tight however questions have since arose so much so that 'X' claim could actually not be all it was made out to be.
The un-named female was confronted about this. The question put was simple. All it needed was a 'true' or 'false'answer.
Neither was forthcoming. Does that sound like a response of a innocent person. If she was innocent, then the question would have been answered right away. It wasn't, hence the accusation of her being a liar...if your not, post here and tell us. The truth. Put it in the public domain.
If i'm wrong and you are not a liar, then I will post an apology, a sincere and humble one. I suspect though, that will not be necessary. Come on out from behind your 'memory loss' and your drunken haze. Set the record straight.Dareu,

Leaked

Ugh. Not feeling good. The weather has gotten much cooler particularly at night...hence the chance of getting a cold. Think I might be getting one. Can kind of feel it coming on. Hopefully, it won't but we'll see.

What was the deal with the British Army charging and destroying an Iraqi Police Station. Surely, they should be setting an example to the Iraqi's on 'how to behave' but demolishing a Police Station is not really a good example of how to behave. In fact, it's akin to the'insurgents' actions. Hmm. Strange.

But, it's well cool. A whole bunch of tanks storming a Police Station and knocking it down. Classic. Did all the other prisoners escape?___

Economic

Player

Is there an optimum time for teaching? Iask 'cos i'm hanging around waiting for a class to start. My last class finished at 4 but i've got a 'special' class beginning at 9pm...5 hours later.
It's not so much the time between the 2 classes, it's the actual time of the class. Are people more likely or less likely to learn 'something' at that time?
Or are we better learning something in the morning or in the afternoon.

I do wonder because I find that morning classes are either dead because the students have just got up or they are a well 'up for it' because they have just got up and are fresh. Yet, in the afternoon, they are either too tired or too hungry and seem distracted. In the early evening, classes seem ok. Neither, here or there but the later they are, the more dis-interested they become. It's almost as if the day is split upto cycles...certainly, i'm fine in the morning, but in the early afternoon, i'm startng to slow but then I 'reawaken' later in the afternoon.

Is that an evoluationary thing. Are we meant to go from morning til night or do we actually go in cycles of doing, resting doing resting?
I think the latter.

Phar

Soo the Premiership is dull and boring and the attendences are falling...the bubble had to burst at some point. It has in Scotland but we are showing signs of recovery with most teams looking like they could be each other on any given day. The money still isn't there but then this season is looking like an exciting one with Hearts sitting pretty at the top of the league with a decent 1st time. Whether or not they have the strength in depth to last the season remains to be seen. In fact, saturdays game with Rangers is going to be a good pointer of how far they have come in a short space of time.
Anyway, enough about the SPL...the Premiership has been dubbed the 'best league in the world'. A few years ago, yes. Now. Not so sure. Money talks. Chelsea bought the best players and the best manager and essentially bought the championship. Ths season, it looks like it could be over already with Chelsea sitting unbeaten and haven't even conceded a goal yet. Ominious for the rest.

However, the questions remains about falling attendences. Even the bigger teams are losing punters and I can't help but thinking that that is a direct result of 2 factors. The biggest being the price of tickets. It's not cheap these days. GOne are they days when an under 18 could get into a game for a fiver, adults for 10 to 15 quid. Can clubs continue to justify 30, 40, 50 quid a ticket? Perhaps but then the punters will vote with the feet by picking a choosing the games they want to spend their cash one. That's only to be expected. Yet, on the continent clubs charge half the amount the English clubs charge and as a result have better attendences. Surely, that's not rocket science...anybody could see that happening.furthermore_______________
___________________the formation talk. Teams are more defensive - the fear of losing outweighs the urge to go and attack. No-one wants to lose and no-one wants to get relegated but by the same token teams need to get goals. It's a vicious circle. It appears that this 4-5-1 thing is en vogue with teams playing 1 upfront at home...it doesn't get any worse than that, surely. But, this is changable into a 4-3-3 but only if you have the players to play it. Chelsea have the players to interchange. Arsenal. Hmm. Man. U. Sometimes. But, closing the space by having 5 midfielders isn't going to get you goals. It'll stop them, no question but your lone striker is very isolated.
I'm sounding like Hanson, so i'll shut up...
But.

Utopia

Wait a minute...the march of time continues unabated but some things must stay the same. The World Cup must be on the Beeb, the Cricket must be on Channel 4, Off the Ball must stay on Radio Scotland, the Sun must continue being the 'moral conscience of Britain', Lee, Hyori must continue to be cute. They have no option. I decree that it must not change.
Yet...I read an alarming report that Mr. Bond is to be reincarnated as a 28 year old in a remake of Casino Royale.
Remake the film by all means as the orginal was a 'spoof' but making 007 a 28yearold. Now that's a step too far.
All the other Bonds have been well in their 30's and even their 40's when they 1st started...and that is the whole premise of the story. He is alittle older and more mature - not elderly like Moore in A View TO A Kill and that's it. He just is.

That coupled with the fact that in this 'remake' there will be no Q and no gadgets means that it isn't a Bond movie.

I wonder if all these alleged changes have something to do with marketing and making money. Seems like it. After all who are the people that go to the cinema...teenagers and people around the age they want to make Bond.
It's all money.

Come on, stop mucking about. Cast a new Bond, get a new movie underway, get the gadgets and women in, get marketing and hype going and there it is. Sorted.

Dot

Word of the week: 'Rain'

And did it ever. I've never seen rain like it. And thunder and lightining. Apparantly, the 'rainy' season has come and went. Clearly not.

Phrase of the week: 'Traffic Jams'

The majority of Korea will be stuck in one over this holiday period. Idiots.

Sight of the week: 'Matching'

Since it was Chuseok /harvest festival/ we went out for a 'quiet' beer. There we were, just drinking and chatting when suddenly this bloke started walking towards us. Nothing unusual in that given that is the nature of people. The thing was though what he was wearing...a kind of salmon and orange striped v-neck top. Again, nothing unusual in that. Metrosexuals are very common here. No, the thing that was most alarming was the fact he was wearing a a matching 'thin' scarf. Strange.

Song of the week: 'Don't call me blur' on 2many DJ's

Kindly supplied by G. A hybrid of Blur's Song2 and Madison Ave.'s Don't call me baby. Unexpected but utterly excellent 2 minutes of music. Perhaps DJ's aren't that bad after all.

Everlong

All thingsmust pass...and so it goes. Out with the old style and in with a new style.
The blog has had a revamp. Gone are the circles and in it's place are well, colours. And that's about it really.

Fingers

and toesand heads and shoulders.
I'm not sure if it is living in a non-English speaking country or what but sometimes, I have episodes in which i'm writing and I pause because i've actually forgotten how to spell and particular word or I've spelt it and it just doesn't look right. The amount of times I've had to dig out the dictionary to check. I wonder if I'm losing my English ability...and if I am losing my English, then my god, thats awful. I might get to a point where I can't effectively communicate and if I can't do that, then what is the point?

I wonder if anyone has actually lost their language ability through not using it. If a monk, for example, has taken an oath of silence for 20 years, can he still physically say words out loud. Presumably, he can still say words 'internally' but if he is not using his vocal chords perhaps it's possible for them to simply become redundant in much the same way as a moles eyes are because they simply don't need them underground.

And could the same be applied to the written word. If you didn't write for x amount of years, one would 'forget' and would have to 're-learn' the ability again.

Such questions at such an early hour. At this rate, I might have THE answer by lunchtime.

Aroma

So, he needs to pee then...Mr.Bush that is. Of course, we all do at some point. In Primary and High School we had to ask for the privilege. These days, I can just go. Bladder control is something that has been worked on for years. I'm not an expert but there is always a time and a place when you can go. Inbetween classes. Inbetween beers or when someone dull is talking to you and you want to escape. All tried and tested means of relieving oneself.
But, picture the scene. At the UN. Important meeting regarding 'Terror'. Your specialist subject and something that has been a cornerstone of your thinking for 5 years. The world is there. TV cameras pointing at you.
What do you?
Relax? Smile? Listen? Give a speech?

No. You write on a little piece of paper 'Can I go to the bathroom' and pass it to your Secretary of State infull view of the world.

One word. Knobhead.

BURning

Wednesdays are fast becoming unbearable. They should be a day to rejoice given that the majority of the teaching week is over alas, its a day to fear.
It's my class of 'Child Development' student's. And guess what...it's all women. In many warm blooded males eyes, it's heaven. 42 women, 1 guy. Me.But, thats the problem. Have you ever heard 42 women talking at the same time. It's not pleasant. It's at the exact frequency that makes you scared. It's a sort of wailing that starts out quite quiet but then slowly builds and builds into a shriek as they all try to be heard. Of course, all women need to be heard and when you have 42 women in competition, earplugs are required.

But, in actual fact, they are fundamentally a great class. When they are quiet, they listen. When you ask them to do some activity or task, they do it. They are friendly and sincere. They are close-knit class who don't have any particular airs and graces - apart from the 'usual' i'm a 21 year old Korean women and my make-up must be perfect and I really must have a mirror next to me on my desk just to make sure that it remains perfect at all times mentality.

They do though, express their feelings in no uncertain terms. A collective groan goes up if I even hint at homework or if I move them around in order to change their partners...furthermore, they are quick to ask me 'stuff'. Recently, one of the questions in the textbook was 'When did you last give someone a kiss?' Every other class just let this question pass but this class?not a chance.they wouldn't stop until they had their answer. One student blurted it out 'Teacher, when did you last give someone a kiss?' In a controlled but sly manner, I tried to usher the class onto the next point in the book. It failed miserably, The rest of the class had been listening and the question was repeated. There was no way out. I had to answer it. I tries to ignore but the cascade of wailing was growing...answer it or die. I couldn't very well die and that moment - i've got too much to do - so i had to answer it. I said 'last month'. The wail was frenzied. Ooooooh! Who? was the simple 1 word question. I was in too deep. There was no way out. 'My mother' was the shy response. Then came the 'no waaaaaay! cry.

After what seemed like an eternity, the question was turned onto the student who originally asked me. She didn't want to answer but finally, she did. She was embarrassed...we quickly moved on. And the end of class she said sorry...
But, this is what I need to put up with during the hours of 2 and 4pm every wednesday. The end of semester can't come soon enough.

Tip

Age makes no difference until you open your mouth.

Discuss.

shift

Bit confused...today, it's been well humid even though we're into september. To University, i have to wear a shirt and tie which isn't really a big problem. Not the most comfortable thing to be waering in the summer but with Air-conditioning, it's bearable. However, the walk from my office to the classrooms requires me to leave the cool bubble and head to another building. It is this journey which causes the problem given the humidity. You sweat. Not alot but enough. And on the return trip, it's almost the same. So anyway, I was returning to my office when I bumped into the Professor in the next office. I told him it was hot today etc. and he argeed but then suggested I wear a short sleeved shirt as well as my tie instead of my normal, long sleeved shirts. Fair point. However, i'm not convinced. Does the removal of that piece of fabric that runs from your elbow to your wrist going to make any difference. I mean, will it make you cooler. Will it stop me from sweating on my journey too and from class?

If I didn't wear a shirt, then perhaps I would concur with his theory but 30cm of fabric? I'm not convinced. Is this another Korean myth, similiar to the 'fan death' in which leaving a fan on overnight can kill you in your sleep by sucking all the air up.
Answers on a postcard.

Libertine

Word of the week: 'Coooooome on!'

That'll be Scotland then. 4 points out of 6 and an England defeat. Miracles do happen.

Phrase of the week:

"I understand if you're saying to yourself, well, it's hard for me to realize
what George W. is saying because I've seen the rubble and I know what has
happened to my neighbors."

Actual George W. Bush quote, Poplarville, Miss. September, 2005.

Pardon? What was that? You're an idiot?
If there are any English speakers out there, could you translate - I seem to have misplaced my comprehension skills.
To think that he is the leader of the 'free word'. Who's the most dangerous man on the planet?

Sight of the week: 'Whooooooooooooosh'

Could be a couple of things. Miller's 2nd against Norway. It could be the Irish winner flying past Robinson in the England goal or it could be a Flintoff ball flying past the edge at 90mph. Take your pick...

Song of the week: 'War Child'

Not an actual song but a compliation. The orginal was came out 10 years ago with the likes of Radiohead, Oasis, Blur et al on it. The album was a critical success and monies raised given to children affected by the Bosnian war. This week saw the 2nd War Child being recorded, mixed and released in 1 week. Hope this one has the same effect.

Cup

A minute of cheering and applause for the great man - Mr. Jock Stein, Scotland boss and Celtic legend - who died of a heart attack immediately after Scotland played Wales in Cardiff 20 years agotoday.

Cosmopolitic

Tiredand weary.
During such times, it's hard to get into doing anything constructive and creative. You just plod along. That and things that people say or do invariably annoy you or bother you. Short temperedness. Sometimes it's hard to bit your tongue from saying something that you really want to say but dare not to for fear of it hitting a nerve and creating world war 3. In class, I almost did on a few occasions...
One 'team' of 4 was mean to have prepared a short talk. They were given a week in order to get ready, yet they came to class with nothing. They were told to get out of my sight before I really kicked off. Also, the same class got a telling off because they they hadn't one as I had asked. We were practicing a bunch of questions and possible answers. Last week we had started the exercise. I had asked them if they were 'ok' with it. 'YES' was the answer. This week, I wanted to check. Could they do it. No they couldn't. Why? Because they hadn't practiced it despite everything being on the board for them in size 100 type. I feel sometimes as if i'm banging my head against a brick wall. I give my student's everything they need. All I ask is that they practice it in class. It's not rocket science. It's English. And it's what they will probably get tested on...this though doesn't seem to matter. But, i bet during the tests they cock it up.

Also, outside of University...one other thing bothers me. Why don't the hairdressers - when they have completed your cut - get a mirror out and show you the back of your head? In over 3 years of haircuts here and different hairdressers, I can't recall it happening once yet at home, it happens every time. Is this another sly 'he's not Korean so won't complain' attitude. Next time, i'm going to take my own mirror in and show myself...and then ask for a discount because of it.

Midnight.

Aftermath. The consequences of an unpleasant event. If your English, then thursday morning will be the full realisation that Sven - dearest Sven - isn't upto the job of being England manager. How else can you explain losing to a country such as Northern Ireland who are ranked 118th in the World?

They were crap against Denmark. They were crap against Wales and now they were crap against the Irish. Worldbeaters. I think not. They might not even automatically qualify. All this talk about formations 4-5-1 or the 4-3-3 is nonsense. Sven is a 4-4-2 man all the way, yet he changes it as a panic move. He probably has the best England players ever but still can't coax a win out of them. He needs to get back to the 4-4-2. It's boring is this that and the next thing but then it gets results. Get Beckam back out on the right. Get Lampard and Gerrard in the middle and get Cole out on the left. Owen and Rooney upfront. Sorted. Stop messing around. But, what do I know. I'm not even English. The Irish though, still to there guns and pulled off a major upset. They didn't allow England to play and won because of it. The Irish crowd were chanting 'Are you Scotland in disguise? Cheeky b__________________ds.

And us...well, there is a god. Oslo was win or bust and we won. By all reports it was a very good performance, one which might be up there amongst the 'legendary' Scottish games. Hmm. But, a win overseas is a win that is welcomed with open arms. Next stop, Hampden against Belarus and finally an away game in Slovenia. If a miracle happens, I'll be wriing to the Vatican asking for Walter Smith to be made a saint 'cos he deserves it even if we fall at this late stage...

Oh yeah, and a happy Birthday to my brother...

Meatrack

So the Mercury Music prize was announced...Antony and the Johnsons scooped the big prize. Never heard of them was my 1st response but then that shouldn't come as a big shock as the Judges have a reputation for awarding the prize to bands that are considered 'underdogs'. The smart money was on the Kaiser Chiefs but leasts face it, the judges were not going to let them win because A. They sound too much like Blur and B. Blur have never won it and C. They are named after a football team.That's not to say that it's a bad album because it's not. And there is Coldplay who wouldn't win it because they are Coldplay. Million sellers don't win this prize. Period.

Of course, past years had thrown up some surprises, so this years choice should not have really been a big surprise. I mean, how else can you explain M-People winning it instead of Parklife or Roni Size Reprezent sweeping it with his D'n'B. I wonder though if it isn't some big marketing scam. Nothing would surprise me.

gATE.

Apparantly, we have a typhoon coming...there have been reports on the news that the rain and high winds have hit the south of the country, although these same reports suggest that the typhoon is actually heading towards Japan. The Koreans will be pleased with that.

limp

Can just feel that this week could go either...it's either going to be cracking or it's going to be a nightmare. I have a sneaking suspicion that it might be a 'mare.

The honeymoon period is over at Uni. with full classes kicking in and no excuses for 1. me or 2. the student's/ Then there is a this other class which I need to do...about teaching English to Kids. I've done it before so really there shouldn't be too much to fear but I've changed parts of it around and i'm always worried about whether the changes will be o/k/. i guess I won't know until I'm actually there in the class trying to do it. Furthermore, there is the small matter of the football. It could be all other this week with regard to World Cup qualification. Depending on the result, my thursday classes might be getting it in the neck...

Kangaroo

Word of the week: 'Korea'

This country. Revolution. Need I be any clearer.

Phrase of the week: 'No, never'.

Not really a phrase but coming from my student's, it might as well be. One of the questions in the textbook was 'When was the last time you kissed someone?' It's amazing how many student's haven't kissed anyone. Perhaps though they are all a bunch of lying ba________ds. My money is on the latter.

Sight of the week: 'F__________k the paparazzi.'

Interesting. Spotted on a t-shirt worn by a young guy. Wonder if he knew what it meant. Although, going by the 'interesting' t-shirts worn by the 'locals', I'm fairly confident they don't know what the t-shirt means or says. How else can you explain a 50 year old women going around with a Ramones t-shirt or a 'I hate Texas' t-shirt. There are others...

Song of the week: 'Kid A' by Radiohead.

Not the whole album but the song. Completely unexpected. I knew that the album was heavily influenced by DJ Shadow and electronica but this song is quite exceptional. It is the future. It's a song that appears 'sad' but far from it. It's a song of hope. If only they had continued in the same vain alas all Radiohead albums will probably end up being rock orientated. A loss.

Say

Do you know what...it's great being Scottish. I wouldn't want to be any other nationality. I think it's the 'optimistic' nature that appeals. Forever the underdog but always having that little bit of hope that despite the tag, we might actually overcome the odds. Sometimes we surprise ourselves by actually overcoming those odds however more often than not, we end u being glorious losers.
__________and that was the case today at Hampden. Italy, one of the best teams in Eurpoe nay the World coming to Glasgow to play Scotland. On paper it's an easy win for the Italians given that they are almost 70 places above us in the World Ranking's and further highlighted by the fact that we haven't beaten them in Glasgow since a John Greig header in 1965 in front of over 100,000 baying Scotsman, enabled us to win 1-0.
In no way, shape or form should be even be at the races. We lie 2nd bottom of the qualifying group and have been a dishevelled, unorganised team for more than 2 years since 'wee' Berti was the boss. Now though it's Walter at the helm and all of asudden, we're better. Not just alittle better but we look like a team who can put up a fight. The media were suggesting an upset. Even the most hardened supporter fancied our chances...see it's totally irrational. Everything points to the opposite.

But, we damn well nearly did them in. An early goal but the 'brillant' Miller - probably the 1st time those 2 words have gone together - and heading for a famous win when they score a sloppy goal. In no way should we be dispondant about that but again, being Scottish mean that we are. I am. So close but most importantly, we played and competed. Fighting with passion. And that is it. That is what it means to be Scottish.
Upward and onward. Olso, watch out. In true Scottish style...it's win or bust.

Behind

Septemberseptember september, already. my god. Have i achieved anything this year?
Not really sure to be honest. I really must try harder...All the important stuff has been achieved like not getting sacked or setting fire to my house whlst trying to boil up some noodles or not punching the next Korean who wants to extend his or her stare by more than a second. That said, I have achieved a very high level of arguements which is quite unusual in itself since I try to avoid that kind of confrontation.But, if something needs to be said, then sometimes it's better out and in the clear than kept in...but only if it's justified and if you have a decent chance of a. not losing the arguement and b. not getting my head-kicked in.

However, i do wonder if this course of action is due to a general decrease in my tolerance levels. I could put up with alot and not get worked up over some points. These days though...I'm quick to make a snap decision like he's a knobhead or that policy is fundamentally flawed.
.
.
.
.Maybe it's the heat.

ReasonisTreason

I called SK Telecom to ask them about their policy of charging 200,000Won in order to change the 'registration name' on my mobile phone since it's currently in my Korean friends name and not in my own.

ME="I'd like to speak to the President please"
THEM="I'm sorry, what was that?"
ME="The President please, I would like to speak to the President"
THEM="I'm sorry you can't"
ME="Why, i'm his customer?"
THEM="Because this is the call centre only and we don't have his number"
ME="O.K. can I get his office address or the Head Office number or address"
THEM="I'm sorry but we don't have any numbers. We are just the call centre"

And round and round we went. No offers of help or any offers of a solution. That's the policy and that's it. The call centre that represents the company has no other addresses or telephone numbers or other contact details for anyone in the entire company.

So, finally I asked if there was anyone 'higher' up the ladder I could contact about this. The answer "NO".

Does anyone know of any way that I can bring their website down - you know bombard it with a virus or something. Perhaps then I could bring some attention to the sitution and that someone from the company would take notice.

Korea will never get to the top table of the International Community because of their arcane rules and regulations. And the world will be better for it.