Odds and Ends: Feb 10, 2010

by Robert Koehler on February 10, 2010

Nine out of 10 Korean Special Warfare Command soldiers want to go to Afghanistan.
On a related note, President Lee will reportedly ask Uzbek thug-in-chief Islam Karimov to allow the US to use Navoi International Airport as a supply base for US forces in Afghanistan. Lee enjoys close ties with Karimov.
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) says that visa issues are what trouble foreigners most.
Australia’s replacement of its “occupations-in-demand” list means a whole lot of Koreans won’t be immigrating to the Lucky Country.
The North Koreans have completed the “African Renaissance” memorial in Dakar, Senegal. Not sure which renaissance they’re referring to, exactly, but damn, that’s a cool memorial. Sure, it’s a huge waste of money, and I’d have modeled the female figure on a young Pam Grier, but as far as white elephants go, it’s easier on the eyes than the Akosombo Dam.
The Korea Herald talks to the man behind Korean News Feeds.
The Hankyoreh ran a piece on former conscripted laborers in Sakhalin Island.
Steeling booze? Really, guys?
An old Russian Jewish school in Harbin is now a school for the city’s Korean minority. Which beats turning the synagogue into a cafe.

{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }

1 DLBarch February 10, 2010 at 1:58 pm: Can you imagine any self-respecting special warfare type NOT wanting to go to Afghanistan right now? Hell, if Uncle Sam asked me to go, I’d be packed in an hour. That’s where the action is, baby, that’s where the action is.

DLB
2 gbnhj February 10, 2010 at 2:13 pm: It’s also where the promotion-applicable experience is, not to mention an increase in pay.
3 Sperwer February 10, 2010 at 10:56 pm: Can you imagine any self-respecting special warfare type NOT wanting to go to Afghanistan right now?

What’s to imagine? The report indicates that 10% of Korea’s SpecWar force doesn’t. That’s interesting.
4 dokdoforever February 11, 2010 at 7:46 am: Check out this interesting documentary by some independent journalists to North Korea. Just saw this link from CNN

http://www.vbs.tv/newsroom/vice-guide-to-north-korea-4-of-14
5 8675309 February 11, 2010 at 11:02 am: Australia’s replacement of its “occupations-in-demand” list means a whole lot of Koreans won’t be immigrating to the Lucky Country.

You should’ve put “Lucky Country” in quotes. Australia has always enforced racist immigration policies since the time of “Whites Only” and “Australia for the Australians” despite having made much ado about reforming them.

Ironically, while claiming to be a part of Asia, Australia’s anti-Asian bigotry continues despite their continuing shortage of white-collar workers and skilled laborers. Ultimately, Aussies are mired in their own laziness as well as a fear of being outdone and outsmarted by upstart Asian whippersnappers who have the wherewithal to work longer, harder, better and more efficiently than they do.

To whit, the words of one of Australia’s preeminent racists politicians and architects of their “whites only” policy, former Prime Minister Alfred Deakin said:

“It is not the bad qualities, but the good qualities of these alien races that make them so dangerous to us. It is their inexhaustible energy, their power of applying themselves to new tasks, their endurance and low standard of living that make them such competitors.”

Let’s get real — does Australia seriously think they can recruit God-fearing Anglo-Saxons from the U.K. and Western Europe as they did a century ago? Long gone are those days.

The report indicates that 10% of Korea’s SpecWar force doesn’t. That’s interesting.

Interesting? How about statistically insignificant.
6 8675309 February 11, 2010 at 11:03 am: Australia’s replacement of its “occupations-in-demand” list means a whole lot of Koreans won’t be immigrating to the Lucky Country.

You should’ve put “Lucky Country” in quotes. Australia has always enforced racist immigration policies since the time of “Whites Only” and “Australia for the Australians” despite having made much ado about reforming them.

Ironically, while claiming to be a part of Asia, Australia’s anti-Asian bigotry continues despite their continuing shortage of white-collar workers and skilled laborers. Ultimately, Aussies are mired in their own laziness as well as a fear of being outdone and outsmarted by upstart Asian whippersnappers who have the wherewithal to work longer, harder, better and more efficiently than they do.

To whit, the words of one of Australia’s preeminent racists politicians and architects of their “whites only” policy, former Prime Minister Alfred Deakin said:

“It is not the bad qualities, but the good qualities of these alien races that make them so dangerous to us. It is their inexhaustible energy, their power of applying themselves to new tasks, their endurance and low standard of living that make them such competitors.”

Let’s get real — does Australia seriously think they can recruit God-fearing Anglo-Saxons from the U.K. and Western Europe as they did a century ago? Long gone are those days.

The report indicates that 10% of Korea’s SpecWar force doesn’t. That’s interesting.

Interesting? How about statistically insignificant.
7 Minjokjuuija February 11, 2010 at 11:36 am: Australia should be free to pursue whatever racial or ethnic policies it wants.

Just as Korea should be free to do so.
8 Sonagi February 11, 2010 at 12:21 pm: Rising unemployment, not racism, appears to the primary motive for changing the requirements. Koreans were enrolling in hairdressing and other short-term vocational courses as a means to obtain residency. Nothing wrong with this as as long as it’s legal. Modifying the list of approved occupations to reflect real employment needs makes sense. I wish the US would follow Australia and Canada and introduce a point system.
9 cmm February 11, 2010 at 12:53 pm: Minjokjuuuija, by policies, I assume you mean immigration policies? Or more?
10 hoju_saram February 11, 2010 at 4:32 pm: 8675309,

Alfred Deakin was born in 1856. If you think his comments are at all relevant on issues of race and multi-culturalism in modern Australia, you’re a complete tool.

Let’s get real — does Australia seriously think they can recruit God-fearing Anglo-Saxons from the U.K. and Western Europe as they did a century ago?

No it doesn’t. That’s why Chinese nationals make up the largest percentage of immigrants as of 2010 – at the expense of “God-fearing Anglo-Saxons”, who continue to apply en masse.

Australia has its fair share of race-relation issues (like every other country in the world). But as an Australian from a thriving multi-cultural family I find your comments pretty lame.

Why don’t you enlighten us with your own background so we can compare notes?
11 8675309 February 11, 2010 at 5:57 pm: Australia should be free to pursue whatever racial or ethnic policies it wants…

Indubitably! As I should be free to criticize and point out their hypocrisiy all that I want!

Alfred Deakin was born in 1856. If you think his comments are at all relevant on issues of race and multi-culturalism in modern Australia, you’re a complete tool.

If you are saying that mainstream Aussies are welcoming Asian-immigrants with open arms, go ahead — I dare you.

Multiculturalism is much more than a government sponsored public service announcement. Multiculturalism has to be fought for, contested, argued, and in the end, either accepted or rejected.

I’m waiting to see a civil rights movement in Oz. And while there seems to be some respect given to the Aboriginals, Asians and other minorities continue to still be marginalized and exist on the fringes of Australian society. Is this what “multiculturalism” is supposed to be? I doubt it.
12 yuna February 11, 2010 at 6:03 pm: http://2010olympic.hani.co.kr/arti/ISSUE/65/404271.html
Have you seen this? Do you think it’s real G-string showing through or just a pattern? Do short track skaters wear G-string? Puts a new meaning to 팬티보인다
13 Minjokjuuija February 11, 2010 at 6:27 pm: Indubitably! As I should be free to criticize and point out their hypocrisiy all that I want!

I’m not sure what hypocrisy you’re referring to.
14 Minjokjuuija February 11, 2010 at 6:47 pm: Minjokjuuuija, by policies, I assume you mean immigration policies? Or more?

In homogeneous or largely homogeneous societies, the immigration policies are the racial and ethnic policies.

In non-homogeneous societies, almost all policies are either deliberately or inadvertently racial and ethnic policies.
15 cmm February 11, 2010 at 8:34 pm: Why did you blockquote my question, and then not speak to it at all?
16 hamel February 11, 2010 at 11:18 pm: If you are saying that mainstream Aussies are welcoming Asian-immigrants with open arms, go ahead — I dare you.

Ok, I’ll be your huckleberry:
Mainstream Aussies are welcoming Asian-immigrants with open arms.
17 Sonagi February 11, 2010 at 11:55 pm: Have you seen this? Do you think it’s real G-string showing through or just a pattern?

It appears to be a pattern. There are darker colored insets in the upper thighs, too. A sexy outfit and a homely face is never a good combination. Best not to draw attention to your looks if they might disappoint the viewer.