Something About Lennie Briscoe

Jerry Orbach (a.k.a Lennie Briscoe)
1935-2004

Law and Order would not have been the success it is without him. Here is Jerry's mini biography, taken from Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia :

A Tony Award-winning veteran of the New York musical theater ("The Fantasticks," "42nd Street"), this quintessentially Noo Yawk character actor made his film debut in 1958's Cop Hater and later became a staple on episodic television. Usually cast as double-dealers, gangsters, or cops, he offered memorable support in 1981's Prince of the City 1986's F/X and 1989's Crimes and Misdemeanors He took the leading role in a movie just once, in the adaptation of Jimmy Breslin's The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971). He has since costarred in several TV series, including "The Law and Harry McGraw" (1987-88, a spinoff from "Murder, She Wrote") and "Law and Order" (1993- ), in which he replaced Paul Sorvino.

Something About Appearance

Those who live in Korea know that Koreans seem obsessed with their appearance. One of my adult students is a bit shorter, but really not that short. I would say he is 5'5. He told me that his height bothers him because most Koreans look down on him (no pun intended). Because he doesn't want his kids to go through the same "persecution", he has them go for growth hormones once a year. It is a joke in the class that my kitten is my daughter. I asked him that, given my daughters size, should I bring her in for hormone injections? Speaking of my cat, the current song playing is an ode to my "daughter." If you don't recognize the song you won't get the joke. Oh well. This is a picture of a me and a couple of students from my adult class. It was taken November 17, 2004.

Something About Christmas

This is a timeline of my Christmas weekend.

Friday: The trip to Daegu University took me just over 5 hours. I finished teaching at 8 and then took a taxi to Nonsan Station. I then took a train to Seodaejeon Station. That was followed by a taxi to Daejeon Station, which was then followed by a bullet train to Dongdaegu Station. Finally I took a taxi from Dongdaegu Station to the University. The actual traveling time did not take long; it was the waiting for trains that took the most time. Daejeon Station had some really cool trees outside that I just had to get a picture of:

When I got to Daegu University Janice showed me what she had been up to lately: toilet training her cat "Caticus." Look at the intensity on that cats' face!

Saturday: We started off by opening our presents and eating breakfast at Jen Jordans's apartment. By mid afternoon we had a pot-luck dinner at the dorm. Here are the pictures:

Sunday: We went downtown to buy kitten food for my new kitten, "Venus." Did I forget to mention that? Our second cat, Lester, was named after "Les Nestman" from the television series "WKRP in Cincinnati." My new cat is named after "Venus Flytrap" from the same show. On our way we saw a very interesting store:

Gross. Anyways, this is a picture of me and Venus:

Anyways, that was my Christmas. How was yours?

Something Strange

Over the past couple of months I've been receiving Christmas packages from Canada. I am going to Daegu right after class tonight so I am packing this morning. As I was putting the boxes in my suit case one of them said "Stop! Alien! You do not have clearance for this sector!" Needless to say the entire building heard my scream.

Something Cute

Enough said.

Something Illegal

One of my favorite T.V. dramas is Law and Order. Usually the crime takes place within the first few minutes. The next half hour has the detectives eventually finding a suspect and bringing them in for questioning. I would say that 1 out of 3 episodes has the detectives drilling the suspect without his/her lawyer. The lawyer then barges into the room and says "my client doesn't have to answer any more your questions, gentlemen!" The law states that when arrested you are entitled to a lawyer. Imagine then how deep my jaw dropped when I read that a year after his capture Saddam Hussein is just now meeting with his lawyers. Look, I know the guy is pond scum, but what gives the United States the right to decide when to and when not to enforce international law? It's not just with Saddam either. Some inmates at the infamous Guantanamo Bay Prison have yet to be charged with a crime let alone been given access to a lawyer after spending more than a year in holding. I can't fathom how on earth "King Bushy" (nickname in Korea) was able to win another election. Check out this site: http://www.sorryeverybody.com/ .

Something New

Instead of sending emails that people may or may not want to read I decided to post my thoughts and happenings on a blog. If you want to read it, go for it. If not, that's fine too. Want to comment on what I say? Please do! I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas holidays. It doesn't really seem like Christmas here in Korea. All of my students have the day off from school (they usually go to school from 9-12 on Saturdays) . Most will watch t.v. or play computer games. Some will go to their ancestors tomb to pray and bow. A few will go to Church. More or less Christmas is not a big deal in Korea. I will once again miss everyone this year and hope you all have a good time with your family.