Seinfeld

Something reminded me of Seinfeld a few weeks back and somehow I got to looking it up on the internet. I wish I could remember why I did that. Anyway, I read that Seinfeld was voted the best sitcom ever, or something close to that, and that inspired me to download the whole series to watch during the school holidays.

I remembered the few episodes that I saw on SA Television were quite good, but after watching the first series I was starting to doubt my own memory. The first season sucked big time. I am wondering how this show ever got in to a second season. The characters felt forced, Jerry’s jokes at the beginning and end of the show were terrible and the people laughed at nothing. Worse, they felt the need to show people laughing at his nothing. Despite all of this, I endured in to the second season where everything took a turn for the better. The second season was more like the Seinfeld I remembered and by the third season they were on full throttle.

One of the things I find remarkable about the show is the number of now well known and even famous actors who appeared as guests. In almost every episode there is an actor whom I would imagine was relatively unknown at the time, but who I have seen in quite a few things by now.

In a 1993 episode you can see Stifler’s Mom in her very first TV appearance. She was not that bad looking back then. Courteney Cox made an appearance as Seinfeld’s fake wife. This was about 6 months before the first episode of Friend. She had about 25 TV and Film appearances by then, but I am sure most people will agree that it was Friends what made her truly famous.

Interestingly, “Janice” from friends also made an appearance. I was amazed to hear her normal voice, and the woman is quite good looking. Did you know she auditioned for the role of Monica in Friends?

One of the most interesting moments so far was when Teri Hatcher, from Lois & Clark fame, was asked my Elaine if her boyfriend thought that he was Superman. There was no audience laugh, so I have no idea if it was intended to be funny, but I sure found it funny.

When I finish all nine seasons of Seinfeld, I think I will move on to an audio book. I found The Satanic Verses online. I think I will give that a go.

One up for Korea!

One doctors visit, three day’s oral medicine and one physical therapy session for a hot pack, ultra sound and electro therapy, only 7000 KRW (50.58 ZAR, 5.10 USD).

Another New Year

Next to Chuseok the Lunar New Year seems to be the most important event on the Korean calendar.

From the little bit that I know, the only difference between the two festivals is the date and something small like the number of times you bow to your elders. Other than that everything is supposedly the same. I think I have to ask my adult students if this is true. What I do know for a fact it that when you bow to your elders their give you envelopes with money inside. I was joking saying that I want to do that. I was told that I was welcome to do it and get money. Somehow I think the student was quite serious.

A big difference in the Korean celebrations is that it is quite boring. I am saying this from a visitor’s point of view, of course. There are no parades, parties or fireworks. Just huge meals offered to the ancestors. Of course, the ancestors never take the food, to the living end up eating it all.

I was planning on going up Seolbong Mountain early in the morning to take a photo of the first sunrise, but I was unable to fall asleep last night and by the time I had to get up I had a headache. I don’t think it is good to go out in cold weather like this when you feel even slightly sick and tired to boot. Nothing seemed to be wrong, so I will try again tomorrow. For those who read the blog, pretend that I actually took the photo today. For the rest of the world I will just have to tell a little white lie.

Update: I was mostly lazy to do a proper write up on what I would have been able to find with a little research, but here is a bit of interesting reading from Samedi. First the basics, and then a bit on the table layout and also a mention of Christians partaking in this celebration.