Monster Island (actually a peninsula)*

Pearls of witticism from 'Bo the Blogger: Kushibo's Korea blog... Kushibo-e Kibun... Now with Less kimchi, more nunchi. Random thoughts and commentary (and indiscernibly opaque humor) about selected social, political, economic, and health-related issues of the day affecting "foreans," Koreans, Korea and East Asia, along with the US, especially Hawaii, Orange County and the rest of California, plus anything else that is deemed worthy of discussion. Forza Corea!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Daily Kor for March 4, 2010

People are still giddy about the Olympics, seeing it as a boost for Pyongchang's (Pyeongchang's) bid for the 2018 games. Seriously, if you want a better chance, change the spelling to Pyongchang. Pyeongchang just looks daunting.

There's also speculation of a visit to China by Kim Jong-il, while his nuclear envoy is trying to head to Washington.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to visit Beijing in late March (links here)

North Korea's top nuclear envoy to visit US early this month (Reuters via WaPo, Yonhap)
ROK foreign minister says direct US-DPRK talks are possible, but within six-party framework (Yonhap)

South Korean military suspends operation of all fighter jets following yesterday's deadly crashes (Yonhap, Korea Times, Korea Herald, Joongang Daily)
South Korean industrial output rises 36.9 percent in January (Yonhap)
US Trade Representative says FTAs with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama should be top priority for Obama administration this year (Yonhap)
Speaking to triumphant ROK winter Olympians, President Lee promises "active support" for winter sports (AFP, Korea Herald)

President reaffirms bid for 2018 winter Olympics (Korea Times)

Kim Yuna returns to Toronto, Canada, to train for world championships (Yonhap)

South Korea defeats Ivory Coast, 2-0, in pre-World Cup soccer friendly (BBC, ESPN, Yonhap)
South Korea defeats Argentina, 2-1, to move to the semi-finals in the World Cup of field hockey (IBN)

If only these last two headlines were turned around.

ROK sports ministry pushes for human calligraphy to be offered as demonstration sport at 2012 London Summer Olympics (Yonhap)

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Ask Kushibo.

My Google/Blogspot data shows that a lot of the 2 million people who have landed on my site (yes, that's the real number) are looking for cultural information on Korea (e.g., “When did Syngman Rhee die?” “What did the Indians bring to the first Chusŏk?’ etc., etc.), as well as practical or historical stuff.

That got me thinking that, hey, I have a master’s degree in Korean studies and a minor in Japanese studies, I’ve lived in Seoul far longer than most foreans my age (whether they're kyopo or non-kyopo), I teach introductory courses on Korea and its cultural trappings and history, so why not offer a free service where I attempt to answer people’s questions, point them in the direction of where they can get them answered, and/or offer my regulars (that’s you!) a chance to take a stab at some of this stuff, too.

So if there’s something you’d like to know from a “contrarian scourge,” click on ASK KUSHIBO and just ask a succinct question in the comments section below.

Oh, and play nice. Please don’t make me regret this.

九十五大怪獣란? 쿠시보의 몬스터 아일랜드란?

Pearls of witticism from 'Bo the Blogger: Kushibo's Korea blog... Kushibo-e Kibun...
Now with Less kimchi, more nunchi. Random thoughts and commentary (and indiscernibly opaque humor) about selected social, political, economic, and health-related issues of the day affecting "foreans" ("foreigners" in Korea be they kyopo or non-kyopo), Koreans, Korea and East Asia, along with the US, especially Hawaii, Orange County, and the rest of California, plus anything else that is deemed worthy of discussion. Forza Corea!

* Monster Island (actually a peninsula)

The name of this blog comes from a line in "Lisa on Ice," a beloved episode of The Simpsons, perhaps my all-time favorite television show (even though for several seasons there, it really did suck). Lisa is imagining being sworn in as president, but at the last minute, it is discovered that she failed P.E. (physical education) and she is thus "sentenced to a lifetime of horror" on Monster Island. "Don't worry," the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court confides in her, "It's just a name."

Fast forward to Lisa and other prisoners running in panic through a tropical jungle, chased by Godzilla-like creatures, including a monster turtle and a monster firefly.

"He said it was just a name!" Lisa screams to the man next to her. While he, too, runs for his life, the unidentified man calmly says, "What he meant is that Monster Island is actually a peninsula."

Anyway, I thought in some ways that punchline summed up modern-day Korea in a nutshell. For many people—foreigners and Koreans—the ups and downs and everyday travails of the Republic of Korea make it as precarious as a Monster Island would be (and with the DMZ being the only land border, it really is like an island). But it actually is a peninsula. Okay, it made sense in my head.

So as you can see, despite the hits I get from people looking for Japanese tentacle porn, it has nothing to do with anything salacious as that.

Monster Island (actually a peninsula)*

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Daily Kor for March 4, 2010

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