So the Olympic Torch came through Seoul today. While not really looking to be a protestor, if there was going to be one, I was going to be damned if I wasn't there. It started in Olympic Park at around 2pm local time with the torch being lit from the eternal flame from the 1988 games that were here. After it ran on its way, the crowd of 99.99% Chinese People turned slightly violent toward the great minority of Tibetan protesters.
I was a few feet from this man who was riding on his bike shouting pro-Tibetan things until he was kicked off his bike and his head slammed off the ground. I will have some pics of this incident of my own up on flickr tomorrow hopefully.
Then we made our way over to the Tibetan protest area, which had turned into a contained platform for the other masses to throw things ranging from rocks, to hamburgers and drinks to freaking bolt cutters -- I shit you not. This video is a pretty good example of what it was like. I was in that mix, but a little further down to the right of where the camera man is. Unfortunately, we sort of all got boxed into the Chinese side of the protest, and while I was most certainly not a vocal member of that group, I would have still felt less dirty being on the side having stuff thrown at them. Despite a complete lack of a plan on how to keep the pro-Tibet people safe, the Seoul police did a really good job of keeping their cool. During the parade route, a couple N.K. refugees tried to set themselves on fire, and the police stopped it and kept on going. There was no pepper spray, there was no violent resistance. I know of no real injuries. They did a good job.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is scum (UPMC)
The fucking University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is one of the worst fucking instituations in the world.
Not only are UPMC human resources agents incompetent and rude, they have now lowered themselves to downright liars. At the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, they like to send out mailings after a person resigns, telling them that they have money in savings plans and asking what said person would like to do with it.
Wellllllll, when I called the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, also known as UPMC, and talked to someone, they then told me I did not actually have that money. I had not worked there long enough...alas.
Forward to 10 days ago. My father receives a phone call saying that I do (!) have the money, but can relaly tell him no more because, well, he's not me. However, 2 days later, he receives a letter from UPMC (The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) saying that I DID have the money and then forfeited it. I assure you...I did nothing of the sort.
Forward to this evening. I call UPMC Human Resources and speak to two very sweet women who were surely still living in southern Texas. I tell them my story of woe and deception. They do a thorough 30 second background check on me...and tell me that I DO NOT (?!) have the money. The letter simply stated what I COULD have had. And they have Nooooo record or explanation of the phone call. Aparently the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center did NOT have this money for me, and was instead just dangling several hundred dollars in my face only to yank it away when I call from fucking Korea. See...the University of Medical Center (UPMC) Human Resources department is concerned for the well being of their employees, past AND present. I've certainly bent over and taken it from them in BOTH statuses.
See...I worked there 2 1/2 years and only received one "annual" raise, which is ensured to every employee every 12 months...do the math. Thank you Judy Kirkdorfer, HR rep. for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Then I was written up for an offense that didn't happen, by people by admittedly did not see it. That offense was then taken to HR people who NEVERRR interviewed ANYONE. Yet, still somehow found me to be in the wrong. Thank you Human Resources at UPMC. And now....Now now now now now...they dangle this in my face and jerk it away.
I hope that I put University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in this post enough that it will show up on SOMEBODY'S google search.
Not only are UPMC human resources agents incompetent and rude, they have now lowered themselves to downright liars. At the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, they like to send out mailings after a person resigns, telling them that they have money in savings plans and asking what said person would like to do with it.
Wellllllll, when I called the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, also known as UPMC, and talked to someone, they then told me I did not actually have that money. I had not worked there long enough...alas.
Forward to 10 days ago. My father receives a phone call saying that I do (!) have the money, but can relaly tell him no more because, well, he's not me. However, 2 days later, he receives a letter from UPMC (The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) saying that I DID have the money and then forfeited it. I assure you...I did nothing of the sort.
Forward to this evening. I call UPMC Human Resources and speak to two very sweet women who were surely still living in southern Texas. I tell them my story of woe and deception. They do a thorough 30 second background check on me...and tell me that I DO NOT (?!) have the money. The letter simply stated what I COULD have had. And they have Nooooo record or explanation of the phone call. Aparently the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center did NOT have this money for me, and was instead just dangling several hundred dollars in my face only to yank it away when I call from fucking Korea. See...the University of Medical Center (UPMC) Human Resources department is concerned for the well being of their employees, past AND present. I've certainly bent over and taken it from them in BOTH statuses.
See...I worked there 2 1/2 years and only received one "annual" raise, which is ensured to every employee every 12 months...do the math. Thank you Judy Kirkdorfer, HR rep. for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Then I was written up for an offense that didn't happen, by people by admittedly did not see it. That offense was then taken to HR people who NEVERRR interviewed ANYONE. Yet, still somehow found me to be in the wrong. Thank you Human Resources at UPMC. And now....Now now now now now...they dangle this in my face and jerk it away.
I hope that I put University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in this post enough that it will show up on SOMEBODY'S google search.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Living in a country at war
For those of you who are not historically inclined, Korea is still technically at war. Korean War
It sort of made me smile a little when I heard the first air raid siren around the middle of March. I'm living in a country at war. Not like in the states, where we are at war in a more imperial sense...like Napoleon was at war in Russia (And how did that go?). South Korea is still technically at war and I'm 30 miles from the front lines.
I smiled slightly less last weekend when I read this. Now, don't get me wrong, I am FAR from concerned or anything. It is what it is, and I realize that. But, the idea of being in a city 40 miles away from the last Stalinist state with a certifiably insane person who has a couple dirty nukes....far out. If he gets Alec Baldwin on his side, we're all fucked.
It sort of made me smile a little when I heard the first air raid siren around the middle of March. I'm living in a country at war. Not like in the states, where we are at war in a more imperial sense...like Napoleon was at war in Russia (And how did that go?). South Korea is still technically at war and I'm 30 miles from the front lines.
I smiled slightly less last weekend when I read this. Now, don't get me wrong, I am FAR from concerned or anything. It is what it is, and I realize that. But, the idea of being in a city 40 miles away from the last Stalinist state with a certifiably insane person who has a couple dirty nukes....far out. If he gets Alec Baldwin on his side, we're all fucked.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
One more thing...
I want to be the first to predict it...so that I will get the credit when it happens...Pirates 162-0.
This is the year of perfect seasons...19-0!! WOOO!
WE WILL!
This is the year of perfect seasons...19-0!! WOOO!
WE WILL!
Mini-update
Man, I haven't done a thing to this in forever.
Things here are going well and I'm still truckin' along. The biggest thing (which I've bragged to most people about already) is that I'm going to THAILAND in 10 days!!! It's looking like a couple days on a beach island south of Bangkok and then heading to Ayutthaya for a day to visit some Buddhist ruins and an ancient city (I eat that historical crap up). Then...best of all...I'M RIDING A FRIGGING ELEPHANT!!!
Jeeeez. 12 months ago, I was hoping to get a last minute invite into Temple's Ph.D. program...now I'm riding elephants in Thailand. I didn't even have a passport then.
It's funny how travel really lets the Peter Pan syndrome set in.
Things here are going well and I'm still truckin' along. The biggest thing (which I've bragged to most people about already) is that I'm going to THAILAND in 10 days!!! It's looking like a couple days on a beach island south of Bangkok and then heading to Ayutthaya for a day to visit some Buddhist ruins and an ancient city (I eat that historical crap up). Then...best of all...I'M RIDING A FRIGGING ELEPHANT!!!
Jeeeez. 12 months ago, I was hoping to get a last minute invite into Temple's Ph.D. program...now I'm riding elephants in Thailand. I didn't even have a passport then.
It's funny how travel really lets the Peter Pan syndrome set in.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
More amazing sentences
These are not from my kids, they are from my co-workers. But they are awesome, nonetheless.
Word: Frigid
Sentence: My wife tells me I'm frigid.
Word: Turn on
Sentence: Something that is a turn-on is sexually exciting.
Word: Frigid
Sentence: My wife tells me I'm frigid.
Word: Turn on
Sentence: Something that is a turn-on is sexually exciting.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Korea Goes Green
I figured that Saint Patrick's Day would be moderately low-key here. I'd find a bar, have a few Guinnesses and enjoy Irish music on my computer. Little did I know, there is an "Irish Association of Korea." This is one of the most homogenous nations on the planet...and there is a friggin "Irish Association of Korea." Anyway...I discover that there is an Irish festival planned for Saturday in one of the regions of Seoul. I head down there with Byrne and Freshman and Christine (Hyunae). Again, I figure it's going to be low-key and uneventful.
We get there right in time for the parade...which was one of the most hysterical things I've ever seen. Imagine about 2000 drunk Koreans, celebrating a holiday that 90% of them do not understand. They are all sporting their green shirts and Guinness hats (I'm pretty sure Guinness sponsored the entire thing). There was a guy dressed as a bright green dragon (east meets west), and about 40 small boys inexplicably dressed in drag. There were at least 2 marching bands, a dancing mug of Guinness and a Guinness float. This was actually the first Saint Patrick's Day parade I've ever attended...and it's in Korea.
Moreover...no open container laws here, so Mike, Pat and I are walking around, slamming beers, and in complete disbelief that we're in Korea...and there are several thousand people celebrating St. Patty's. On stage, there was a band, comprised completely of Korean people, fresh off a tour of Ireland, where they were playing Irish music. Imagine hearing "Whiskey in the Jar" wrap up and the band thanking the crowd with "Kam sa ham needa."
However, the greatest of all...was the line...of free Guinness and Irish stew. Now...the stew was nothing to write home about (isn't that the case for Irish food? Just boil it until it's edible?), but as someone who wishes it rained Guinness, there is nothing better than free Guinness. We'd get our beer...eat our stew...get back in line. Get a beer, eat some stew...back in line. All to the tune of five Koreans playing pretty good Irish music.
Pictures are up.
We get there right in time for the parade...which was one of the most hysterical things I've ever seen. Imagine about 2000 drunk Koreans, celebrating a holiday that 90% of them do not understand. They are all sporting their green shirts and Guinness hats (I'm pretty sure Guinness sponsored the entire thing). There was a guy dressed as a bright green dragon (east meets west), and about 40 small boys inexplicably dressed in drag. There were at least 2 marching bands, a dancing mug of Guinness and a Guinness float. This was actually the first Saint Patrick's Day parade I've ever attended...and it's in Korea.
Moreover...no open container laws here, so Mike, Pat and I are walking around, slamming beers, and in complete disbelief that we're in Korea...and there are several thousand people celebrating St. Patty's. On stage, there was a band, comprised completely of Korean people, fresh off a tour of Ireland, where they were playing Irish music. Imagine hearing "Whiskey in the Jar" wrap up and the band thanking the crowd with "Kam sa ham needa."
However, the greatest of all...was the line...of free Guinness and Irish stew. Now...the stew was nothing to write home about (isn't that the case for Irish food? Just boil it until it's edible?), but as someone who wishes it rained Guinness, there is nothing better than free Guinness. We'd get our beer...eat our stew...get back in line. Get a beer, eat some stew...back in line. All to the tune of five Koreans playing pretty good Irish music.
Pictures are up.
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