"Jump Around" by House of Pain

Since this song is stuck in my head, I thought it only fair I inflict the same punishment on you.

Actually, I like this song, despite the Irish gangsta wannabe posing. I once had so much hope for White hip-hop. What happened?



Actually, I kinda like how these guys wear their Irishness on their sleeve. I see nothing wrong with that kind of thing as long as (a) you're still an American/Canadian/Brit/Mexican/etc first and (b) it doesn't lead you to committing acts of violence or hate crimes against someone else.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, one and all!

I've already written as good a St. Paddy's Day post as I ever will, back in 2006, so just go there.

I suppose this year I could put up a picture of my ex-girlfriend Shannon, but instead, in honor Koreans being the Irish of Asia and the Irish being the Koreans of Europe, here is a true Korean-Irish to end xenophobic anti-miscegenation arguments once and for all, Ms Moon Bloodgood.

Good blood, indeed.

Irish-American activists prove the "Koreans of Europe" meme

Oh, my effing Lord, it's worse than I thought. I made a glib reference to the Irish potato famine in this post on Denny's offer of unlimited pancakes and fries (and I still don't get that), but I had no idea how deep this went: Irish-Americans are up in arms about an ad Denny's has been running in relation to the offer, one that makes light of the death of a million people in the 19th century during the aforementioned Irish potato famine:

Until they fully explain themselves and make a decent apology, I still believe any Irish American with a trace of pride in their heritage will support a boycott of the Denny's restaurant chain after their disgraceful Irish Famine ad currently running on television.

They had announced that in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the end of the Irish Famine, they would be offering unlimited pancakes for customers. Yes, you read that right.

It is disgraceful.

One million people starved to death in the Great Famine, one million more fled Ireland, most to America. To make fun of the greatest human tragedy of the 19th century in Europe is unpardonable. Whoever created the ad, whoever approved it, whoever decided on it it should go on television should be fired forthwith.

Will Denny's also feature an ad joking that they are also offering pancakes in celebration of the end of the Holocaust and the deaths of six million Jews? Perhaps they can celebrate Armenian Genocide Day with some free pancakes as well.

Remember, this is the company that lost a massive suit because of the way they treated African American customers and staff.

What would you expect from a pig but a grunt?

Wow. Just wow.

And they do make a valid point. Maybe there's no statute of limitations for the mass death of so many people. I can't imagine, post-DPRK demise, that making fun of millions of North Koreans starving to death would be considered copasetic.

It also serves as a reminder that it's not just Koreans who get sensitive about past wrongs. But then again, the Irish are the Koreans of Europe.

St. Patrick's Day redux

3... 2... 1... It is now officially St. Patrick's Day here in Hawaii.

I've already written as good a St. Paddy's Day post as I ever will, back in 2006, so just go there.

Otherwise, there's little for me to write about. Here's a brief history of the Irish in Hawaii — sort of vague stuff, like how there must've been Irish aboard Captain Cook's ships. There's an Irish club here.

There are probably even fewer Irish in Korea, though there are a lot more Catholics. Here's a site dedicated to the Irishmen and Irishwomen who gave up their lives during the Korean War. The Korea Herald lists some Green Day activities, though they've mostly passed. The Marmot in 2008 had a nice post on the Irish legacy in Korea. And here's the site for O'Kim's at the Westin Chosun Hotel, a reasonably authentic Irish pub (like I would know) that used to (still does?) have in-house live Irish bands.

A military retiree friend of mine would drag me down there on every major Irish holiday for a drink (spread out over two hours, as I was the designated driver). He'd also try to drag me down there for the minor holidays, which for drinking purposes was any day that wasn't a major holiday. No walking stereotype of a hot-headed, boozing Irishman was Mr Buckley, no.

[above: Irish Pride parade in Taehangno (대학로) in 2007. Snagged from DJ Malone's Flickr site. I'm pretty sure the guy on the right is holding up a sign declaring the Tokto is also an emerald island and it's ours.]