May 10, 2021 08:27
Eight out of 10 officials of the Seoul Metropolitan Government have been to the U.S. and the U.K. on lengthy furloughs billed as training or study programs over the past five years.
The city government spent about W16 billion in taxpayers money on the programs that were justified by a vague goal of expanding the international network and fostering global talent (US$1=W1,117).
According to city government data, 136 or 81 percent of all 168 officials who were sent abroad for training since 2016 went to the U.S. (94) and the U.K. (42). Next came Singapore (nine), Japan (six), and China and Australia (three each). The jaunts cost an eye-watering average of W97 million per official.
Three reasons to watch Tacoma Defiance at LA Galaxy II with us
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Courtesy of Seattle Sounders FC and Tacoma Defiance
Tacoma Defiance open their third season on the road. Facing an LA Galaxy II squad that crushed Las Vegas Lights 5-nil on Friday, Defiance look to carry the spirit of the First Team with them in this road match. Los Dos and Tacoma have been evenly matched in history with a 3-3-3, -1 record. An early road point would help Defiance’s 2021, as they are on the road for five of their first seven matches.
Reasons to Watch
Six takeaways from the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup
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Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Portland Thorns FC were crowned 2021 NWSLChallenge Cup Champions on Saturday. Christine Sinclair opened the scoring in the eighth minute as the Thorns utterly dominated NJ/NY Gotham FC throughout the first half.
In the second half the game opened up and Portland would rue all of their missed chances. Gotham’s Carli Lloyd rose above Becky Sauerbrunn to head in an equalizer. The match was decided from the penalty spot.
Both teams stepped to the spot with confidence. Through six rounds there were only two misses, both of which hit the post. Adrianna Franch made a one-handed stop in the seventh round and Morgan Weaver converted to give the Portland the title.
Updated May 10 After a year of virtual shows, Chamber Music Northwest’s Summer Festival is returning this year with some in-person concerts. The weekslong festival is the chamber music organization’s biggest event, featuring both regional and international musicians. Last year, the pandemic hit only a few months before the event was scheduled to take place. Chamber Music Northwest managed to quickly transition to a digital format, one of the first local festivals to do so. This year will be partly digital, but will also include more than a dozen in-person concerts. As usual, there’ll be a mix of classic and new commissioned works, including one in honor of artistic director emeritus David Shiffrin, who retired last year. All live shows will take place at Reed College’s Kaul Auditorium, except for two free performances by pianist Matan Porat, who’ll improvise a live score to a series of Buster Keaton movies at the University of Portland and Gresham Arts Plaza.
The Seminaryâs man of letters
Q & A with Father Stephen Rowan, professor of literature at Mount Angel Seminary Fr. Stephen Rowan is a professor of literature at Mount Angel Seminary. He also gives popular public lectures on Dante, Shakespeare and other literary topics. (Courtesy Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary) 5/10/2021 12:56 PM
select A well-written, contemporary account of the life of Jesus. Lohfinkâs other books are also recommended. A meditative novel on the power of a blessing. This book is related to Robinsonâs other novels, âHome,â âLilaâ and âJackâ but can be read on its own. An intelligent, spirited, even jaunty account of how people kept their faith under the trying circumstances of persecution in the Soviet-occupied Czech Republic. Halikâs thoughts have implications for all Christians in the modern world.