Open Thread #220

by Robert Koehler on December 10, 2011

in Open Thread

Dress warmly, folks—it’s pretty cold out there.

{ 94 comments… read them below or add one }

1 numberoneoppa December 10, 2011 at 11:26 am

Last I heard, about -6. How’s the first snow of the season been treating you all?

2 Bobby McGill December 10, 2011 at 12:14 pm

Happy Birthday Robert

3 Mryouknowwho December 10, 2011 at 12:22 pm
4 robert neff December 10, 2011 at 12:39 pm
5 babotaengi December 10, 2011 at 1:14 pm

Man, was just about to take the dog for a run up the old mountain. Minus six! Oh, dog: I love you; I love you not; I love you; I…

6 jefferyhodges December 10, 2011 at 2:57 pm

This cold is neither a pretty cold, nor an ugly cold, but a cold in the middle: a pretty ugly cold!

Jeffery Hodges

* * *

7 hamel December 10, 2011 at 3:31 pm

Yeah, Bobcat, happy birthday!
Many happy returnsendings!

8 McGenghis December 10, 2011 at 6:25 pm

Keep an eye on the skies tonight and around 11:30 you should be able to see a lunar eclipse. The moon is full or close to it and the sky is clear so it should be good viewing!

9 Apodyopsis Gymnophoria December 10, 2011 at 7:48 pm

That happened 24 hours ago…. (last night – not tonight)

10 McGenghis December 10, 2011 at 8:13 pm

AG: I believe you are mistaken. Here in Korea we are supposed to get a good viewing before midnight. It should start shortly actually.

11 McGenghis December 10, 2011 at 10:55 pm

Go outside and look now. It is pretty impressive.

12 babotaengi December 11, 2011 at 12:58 am

I went out. The eclipse was okay, but what really impressed me was that with the moon dimmed, I could actually see well over a dozen stars in the sky. I thought they’d all turned their backs on Korea for good.

13 PineForest December 11, 2011 at 1:22 am

I got a flu shot for teh first time this year, and now I’m sick at home with a sore throat and stuffy nose… and it feels like a fever is coming on. Damn. It’s frustrating. I hate being sick. Of course it didn’t help that our office heater was finicky this week and that I was really cold at work all day Thursday.

In other news, did you all see the vid with the white guy and the SE Asian guy asking directions in Kangnam? I was surprised at how thoroughly the the asian was ignored.

14 Charles Tilly December 11, 2011 at 1:36 am

With the glasses, I like to think that 오인혜’s giving us her version of “hot nerd.”

15 aaronm December 11, 2011 at 1:57 am

@#13, don’t be too quick to judge. I showed to my wife who spent two years in Korea with me and is Indonesian like the chap in the video.

She said that was in no way her experience and I concur. When our son was born in Cheongju it was almost embarrassing how our Korean friends fell over trying to take care of her (even though we’d flown her mother up to help out with the birth). My wife probably befriended more Koreans than me in her two years than I did in six. Skin makes no real difference in her experience. Maybe its a female thing though.

16 PineForest December 11, 2011 at 2:17 am

That is heartening to hear. I wonder if the tv crew cherry picked the responses to the Asian?

17 belair716_ December 11, 2011 at 3:00 am

For those of you who’d like to take the TOPIK (한국어 능력 시험) in Jan. 2012,

Check out the link below:
http://www.topik.go.kr/

You can submit your application during these two weeks: Sat. 10 Dec. 2011 through Fri. 23 Dec. 2011 and 6:00 p.m. is the deadline (접수 기간: 2011. 12. 10 (토) ~ 12. 23 (금), 18:00 마감).

The TOPIK is generally offered at 164 test sites in 49 countries in April and October around the world: however, if you’re in south Korea, you have two additional test-taking opportunities in Jan. and July. And this is one of them, the 25th TOPIK test (Sun. 29 Jan. 2012), offered for those in south Korea (See http://www.topik.go.kr/ under ‘시험 일정 안내’).

If there are any test-takers, I wish you the best of luck :)

18 belair716_ December 11, 2011 at 3:06 am

The second link in #17 does not show the page I linked… :(

Just go to the home page here, http://www.topik.go.kr/ and click on 수험 안내 and look for 시험 일정 안내.

19 CactusMcHarris December 11, 2011 at 5:53 am

I saw Secret Sunshine (밀양) last night. Strange movie, but sad; still, it’s better than any Steven Segal movie….

Are train station plazas really having singing Christian groups on them most of the time? It’s so different than the Korea I remember, but why shouldn’t it be, eh?

And what was the dialect of the male protagonist – he was hilarious, in a quiet way. I loved the way he said ‘That’s right’ (in Korean, not the Jesse Cook version).

20 Apodyopsis Gymnophoria December 11, 2011 at 9:58 am

re# 10, 11 Sorry, You were 100% correct!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_2011_lunar_eclipse

It was the 10th December. That will teach me to NOT read the news one day early. (I read it on the 9th December saying it would happen tonight (9th)).

21 pawikirogii 石鵝 December 11, 2011 at 10:05 am

i hope the republicans elect newt as their choice for president. that way there aint no way obama can lose against a short and pasty guy who has a round face. newt for president!

22 Nomad December 11, 2011 at 10:26 am
23 setnaffa December 11, 2011 at 3:32 pm

BTW, Seoul was much warmer (in many ways) this week than New Mexico and Arizona…

24 Apodyopsis Gymnophoria December 11, 2011 at 4:10 pm

Due to elevation. Arizona is actually slightly closer to the equator than Korea, but the Arizona desert at almost sea level has many cold pockets.

25 keith December 11, 2011 at 6:53 pm

@21 Wow, Pawi and I actually agree on something. Newt is a disgusting human being and his given name is very appropriate for the slimy reptile-like character that he is! Obama has been a disappointment, but better than having a republicunt in charge by a long shot.

The lunar eclipse was pretty uninteresting last night. I had the privilege to see a total solar eclipse a few years ago in the UK @ Lizard and that was a truly eerie and spectacular event.

26 Brendon Carr December 11, 2011 at 7:05 pm

keith — If you’re using childish language like “republicunt” then I don’t think we’re too worried about reaching you, no matter who the GOP nominee may be.

27 keith December 11, 2011 at 7:40 pm

Ron Paul seems the most respectable politician on the right wing side of American politics. Why is he being ignored? Is he too sensible? Ron Paul and Jesse Ventura are some of the few contemporary American politicians who seem to deserve any respect.

Brendon, your political views are pure comedy. To call my cute nickname for most of the GOP ‘childish’ is rather pathetic on your part. Weren’t you a ‘birther’? Aren’t you someone who actually believed that Sarah Palin was a decent choice for a future POTUS? Do you still believe Saddam was harbouring weapons of mass destruction and that Iraq was an ‘imminent threat’? Don’t you think the ‘Tea Party’ are rather cool?

As I said wrote ‘comedy’, but a very sick joke indeed.

28 Brendon Carr December 11, 2011 at 7:45 pm

keith — You’ve got most of it right.

Birther: No.
President Sarah Palin: Yes.
Saddam WMDs: Dunno. (But I know Saddam himself thought he had some.)
Iraq Imminent Threat: Dunno.
Tea Party Cool: Yes.

And I agree that Ron Paul is a respectable politician; I just disagree with him on foreign policy. But Jesse Ventura?! I don’t know how you can approve of Ventura and be disdainful of Palin. They’re cut from the same cloth as politicians of the people, except that Ventura is certifiably both dumb and crazy.

29 Apodyopsis Gymnophoria December 11, 2011 at 9:13 pm

The Bushes and Obama are freemasons (along with most of the worlds leaders and all the Catholic and Jewish leaders)….

Gadaffi was also freemason –

http://dok.do/hO1QMv

http://dok.do/PRwYAh

http://dok.do/4aL32n

http://dok.do/JPYeiV

http://dok.do/5LN0Qm

How could the USA help to take him out? when Masons are supposed to protect each other?

30 jefferyhodges December 11, 2011 at 9:51 pm

Enough of Ms. Palin already!

Send her off on that pushmi-pullyu palindromedary she rode in on!

No one knows if she’s coming or going anyway . . .

Jeffery Hodges

* * *

31 wiessej December 11, 2011 at 11:11 pm

In response to #29 –

One must wonder whether any of this comment is based on reality. After all, Apodyopsis Gymnophoria wrote: “The Bushes and Obama are freemasons (along with most of the worlds leaders and all the Catholic and Jewish leaders)….”

I can’t speak for the Bushes or Obama or whether Jewish leaders are freemasons; however, it is ridiculous to imply that “all the Catholic leaders” are freemasons.

The Catholic Church has for centuries been a strong critic of Freemasonry. members of the Catholic Church are prohibited (with threat of excommunication) from membership in Freemasonry. Since the mid-1700′s the Vatican has issued warnings banning membership As recently as 1983, the Vatican reiterated that Catholics who become Masons are in a state of grave sin and may not receive Holy Communion. So tell me, how is it that “all” the Catholic leaders are Freemasons? maybe you were talking abotu world leaders who happen to be Catholic? If so, which ones of them are Freemasons?

32 frogmouth December 12, 2011 at 1:06 am

Did anyone watch Frank Mir bust Big Nog’s arm on UFC140 this morning?

What about the death grip choke Bones put on Michida?

Yikes!! How long before someone gets killed in the Octagon.?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voZQ9XsLdV4

33 CactusMcHarris December 12, 2011 at 1:48 am

#28 Brendon,

Which is why I can’t totally ask you to be the godfather of the seven adopted native children that my wife and I are going to adopt – how is it that you, an otherwise cogent man o’ the world and a decent human being (most of the time – when you get into it with The Sergeant Commodore you do reveal your inner Cro-Magnon, but I ask as an aside – who doesn’t have one?) can ever think to offer her as a candidate for one of the most important jobs in the world. She doesn’t have the knowledge (OK, you can get smart people around you) but, mostly, she has no understanding – she’s not very bright at all, and she has an idealized vision of ‘Merika that hasn’t existed in forty years, if ever. She would be the worst ever, make no mistake. I mean no disrespect, but she has got to be the worst ever suggestion (other than Newt or Rick, but at least he’s smart). And I hope she’s nominated – or those other two clowns, because it will mean four more years of your buddy Barry*.

*Frankly, I’m not completely happy with him, either…but he certainly was the best choice at the time, and he’ll be the best choice next year, too.

34 Charles Tilly December 12, 2011 at 2:12 am

@CactusMcHarris (#33):

I think that one thing that Sarah Palin definitely has going for her is her raw political charisma. That ain’t nothing. Love or hate her, that’s one thing you can’t deny or take away from her.

But you’re dead on about her lack of knowledge. And that’s really the deal breaker here. I don’t ask-nor demand-that our political leaders be intellectuals per se. But they do need to be able to talk intelligently about major issues facing the nation.

And I don’t think that’s so much to ask for.

35 judge judy December 12, 2011 at 2:49 am

Birther: No.

that’s rich.

36 gbevers December 12, 2011 at 3:30 am

Juan of The Dead” that looks like it could be pretty funny.

37 Charles Tilly December 12, 2011 at 4:09 am

I’d normally just file this in the “Asian Students=Boring, Uncreative, Grinds” folder.

But still…Since conversations about the topic have come up from time to time, I thought it would be worth putting up here.

Also, Robert Griffin III? Really? Admittedly I don’t follow the Heisman race that closely, but still…I thought Andrew Luck was going to get it this year for sure.

38 Sonagi December 12, 2011 at 5:14 am

@#23,24:

The mountains and hills of northern AZ and NM host popular ski resorts. Arizona’s best kept secret is the peaceful beauty of the Grand Canyon in winter, bathed in soft light from the low sun and sparsely populated with visitors. I snagged a room with view of the rim for $60 a night. Nighttime temps dip below freezing, but the dry cold doesn’t chill to the bone like it does in the more humid winters of the Great Lakes and northeast regions.

39 belair716_ December 12, 2011 at 5:37 am

Cactus (#19),

I haven’t watched 밀양 yet. I know it’s a shame, especially considering that the female lead actor, 전 도연, received the Best Actress Prize at Cannes Film Festival (2007).

Whoever the protagonist may be (I think it was played by 송 강호), he had to speak in the film the local dialect of 경상남도 (cos 밀양 belongs to the province of 경상남도).

40 CactusMcHarris December 12, 2011 at 6:30 am

#39 bon aire,

Something like 그렇시더이 ?

And you nailed the actor – that’s him, all right, the big lug.

41 CactusMcHarris December 12, 2011 at 6:32 am

ba,

But this picture (which he could sit for easily) made my day – I need to get some money and commission it for the bar here (serving only the best tequila, at least until after the 3rd shot).

http://nixon.egloos.com/1803692

42 YangachiBastardo December 12, 2011 at 6:57 am

other than Newt or Rick, but at least he’s smart

Who ? Newt, Rick or both ?

43 Mryouknowwho December 12, 2011 at 7:07 am

RG3!!!

44 YangachiBastardo December 12, 2011 at 7:20 am

I haven’t watched 밀양 yet

I know it’s a great movie with excellent acting, but truth to be told i could barely stay awake through half of it

45 belair716_ December 12, 2011 at 7:39 am

Haha, thanks so much for ‘고흐와 송강호가 만나면’ (#41), Cactus!

* * * * * * *
yangachi,

Really…? you could barely stay awake through the HALF of it?

Well, I’ll try my best staying awake all the time… (*sigh*), thanks for the warning though!

46 yuna December 12, 2011 at 7:51 am

I know this is just on the news from the sidebar but
it’s funny because I am thinking about a getting a Christmas tree..

Earlier on Sunday, North Korea’s state-run Uriminzokkiri website said that lighting the first tree was a form of psychological warfare and would trigger an “unexpected consequence.”

Maybe Rudolf might show up with a brown nose..

47 yuna December 12, 2011 at 7:53 am

South Korea does not need a Saturday Night Live. They have it already on Uriminzokiri. It’s pure comedy gold.

48 yuna December 12, 2011 at 8:35 am

And before I get corrected, I did mean Rudolf, the German cousin of Rudolph who also suffers from the same condition.

49 YangachiBastardo December 12, 2011 at 8:41 am

bel: ehm i’m not generally a big fan of introspective arthouse flicks :)

that’s the kind of Korean flicks i enjoy the most:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-4vtIFgpEw

50 Apodyopsis Gymnophoria December 12, 2011 at 9:51 am

re # 31

The Catholic Church has for centuries been a strong critic of Freemasonry. members of the Catholic Church are prohibited (with threat of excommunication) from membership in Freemasonry.

I understand your feelings, however please explain these handshakes to me…

http://dok.do/hO1MBo

http://dok.do/OiyTx7

http://dok.do/WWMpKM

http://dok.do/KRjDbW

http://dok.do/scy7og

http://dok.do/HdVs5w

(Not hard to find – I could find you a 100 if you wanted me to)…

51 gbevers December 12, 2011 at 10:20 am

Sugar Plum Fairy,” by P. Tchaikovsky, on a Glass Harp. Amazing.

52 PineForest December 12, 2011 at 10:41 am

@ Sonagi, bravo, good for you! I didn’t know you were anywhere near there, but then again I know almost nothing about you. Except that you’re a teacher. Congrats on the find. I was born and raised in the west and have been to every state west of the Mississippi, but haven’t made it to the grand canyon yet. Maybe winter is the time..

@GBevers, thanks for the link. That is the most magical piece of music ever written, for these ears. When I was a kid I had a recording of it on LP that I listened to again and again. It transported me. It still does.

53 The Sanity Inspector December 12, 2011 at 11:03 am

I have a respectfully submitted suggestion for Robert: Consider changing the comments from WordPress to one of those multiple source comment platforms, you know, the ones where you can pick to log in with your account from WordPress or Disqus, Google or Intense Debate, etc. Thanks for considering.

54 코리아 December 12, 2011 at 11:06 am

Breaking News:
A coast guard commando has died and a second injured after being stabbed during the arrest of illegal Chinese fishing crews:
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2011/12/12/55/0301000000AEN20111212003500315F.HTML

55 Wedge December 12, 2011 at 11:25 am

And on the lighter side, a dustup among our “progressive” buddies:

http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2945438&cloc=joongangdaily|home|top

Hwaiting!

56 Wedge December 12, 2011 at 11:36 am

#47: Korea actually does have an SNL clone. I somehow stumbled on it two weekends ago. At the end of the show, they all got on a very familiar-looking stage and looked quite proud of themselves, just like the NYC version.

57 Yu Bum Suk December 12, 2011 at 11:48 am

Just a reminder:

Michael (Mick) Milne, a NZ teacher who taught in Miryang for five years, is in PNU hospital recovering from a liver transplant operation. The costs will be in excezs of W40,000,000 . The last I heard was that 19.5m had been collected. Please do what you can to help out someone greatly in need:

If you are sending funds from within Korea:
Nonghyup Bank (National Agricultural Cooperative Federation)
Name: 마이클 (Michael Milne)
Account – 811057 52 067773

… If you are sending funds from another country to Mick’s Korean account:
Bank name: National Agricultural Cooperative Federation
Name: Michael Milne
Account number: 811057 52 067773
Swift Code – NACFKRSEXXX
Address: 75, Chungjeongro 1 Ga
Jung-Gu, Seoul, Korea
Phone: 82-10-7552-1964

58 Yu Bum Suk December 12, 2011 at 11:53 am

In other news Chinese fishermen killed a Korean coast guard??? Possibly now something might happen to an illegal Chinese fisherman?

Next time just sink their boat.

59 Wedge December 12, 2011 at 12:15 pm

A man won note says the Chinese fisherman-murderer does less than a year in the Korean clink. Any takers?

60 yuna December 12, 2011 at 12:21 pm

I hope this news (Illegal Chinese fisherman kills a South Korean Marine Police) gets a lot of international coverage, especially in the West. It needs to be made aware of. Maybe being named and shamed outside the region is the only (semi) effective way for the Chinese government does something of its own.

61 Yu Bum Suk December 12, 2011 at 12:26 pm

Lee Youngpyo signs for Vancouver. Does this mean SBS Sports will start showing Whitecaps games?

62 dokdoforever December 12, 2011 at 12:48 pm

That’s horrible about the coast officer being stabbed and killed. The Korean coast guard ought to use stun guns on the Chinese and sink the boats – something to make the Chinese fisherman think twice before violating Korean waters. This is the stabbing death in the last three years at the hands of Chinese fishermen. Absolutely unacceptable.

63 dokdoforever December 12, 2011 at 12:49 pm

the second stabbing death in three years

64 belair716_ December 12, 2011 at 12:58 pm

yuna wrote (#60),

“I hope this news (Illegal Chinese fisherman kills a South Korean Marine Police) gets a lot of international coverage, especially in the West. It needs to be made aware of.”

I doubt it. China knows that it’s the next super power and even now it’s as good as the super power in terms of economy: China knows it, the West knows it and the whole world knows it.

From the YonHap News:
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2011/12/12/0200000000AEN20111212003300315.HTML

quoted from the above link:

“INCHEON, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) — One South Korean Coast Guard commando was killed and another was injured in stabbings by Chinese sailors caught for fishing illegally in the Yellow Sea off Incheon, west of Seoul, Monday, the Coast Guard said.

The 41-year-old corporal surnamed Lee, who was stabbed by glass fragments wielded by a Chinese fisherman during the Coast Guard’s raid on the ship in waters about 85 kilometers off Socheong Island around 7:00 a.m., died after being rushed to a hospital in Incheon, the Coast Guard said.”

If (our) south Korean Coast Guard commondos are such an easy target, not even by north Korean soldiers, but by Chinese sailors (in other words, CIVILIANS!), I’m really worried about my country’s national security. This is a horrible situation and, let me repeat, I’m extremely worried about my country’s national security on the whole.

It’s 11:00 p.m. (EST) in America, so

Good night all.

65 Apodyopsis Gymnophoria December 12, 2011 at 1:05 pm

The Chinese need to be executed, to send a message back to China.

Will it ever happen?

No, of course not.

66 fanwarrior December 12, 2011 at 2:07 pm

Really? Where was it supposedly cold? It was warmer saturday than it was friday. I’d heard all this doom and gloom that saturday was supposed to be a really cold day, and it was nothing.

67 numberoneoppa December 12, 2011 at 5:50 pm

@17: Thank you.

68 iMe December 12, 2011 at 6:58 pm

to obama supporters,
if you’re not that happy with obama, why would you consider voting for him again?

there’s a guy in this race who is offering real change – dr. ron paul. everyone respects him for his consistency and i know even you democrats agree with at least half of his ideas. it’s just that other half you’re not so sure of.

well, what has obama done to earn your vote? he has waged more wars in his first three years than george w. bush did in eight. he’s firmly in the corrupt wall street’s corner. he offered you private healthcare and then made you buy it. he squandered our AAA rating. he took our tax dollars and gave it to his highest bidder that went bankrupt. he turned the USA into a police state. he’s itching to wage war against iran for all the wrong reasons and now he wants the power to put away or just simply assassinate americans at his whim. ha! can you imagine that? i’d be pretty nervous if i had known him in the past and i was mean to him or something.

you know what? i bet the terrorists are celebrating victory and laughing at us right now. i am pretty sure we’re the laughing stock to every thinking person on this planet. we’ve given up all of our rights and freedom. we’ve become serfs and prisoners to the government. how can those scary brown people always fantasizing about bringing misery to our lives not be elated? all because people like you kept falling for these same old crooks and liars over and over and over again.

don’t you think they’ve done enough damage already? don’t you think that if they can’t quit doing what they’re doing to screw you and the country, maybe you should quit them? obama, romney, newt, palin … what the fuck is the difference? they’re all going to wage more wars, take away more of our freedom, pick and choose winners and losers in the economy, play endless politics instead of doing any real work and generally fuck up the country even more anyway. all of them! same old song and dance bullshit for four more fucking years while the country crumbles and become a fifth world nation.

so, ask yourself again. if you’re not happy with obama, why keep him on the job? forget your party allegiance. america is in a very, very bad place right now. if you’re not frightened or at least spooked by this unlimited power being sought by our government, i don’t believe you deserve the right to vote because you are a threat to all of us as a group. i’d suggest you pack up and move to china immediately because i am sure you’ll find it to be more to your liking.

if not, stop settling for nothing with obama, disenfranchised liberals and democrats. ron paul may not give you everything you want but he’ll give you at least half. can you imagine living in peace? can you imagine living in a society where your individual liberty and privacy are respected and honored? once you try out freedom and liberty, you’ll really like it. it’s free and you have nothing to lose but bureaucrats telling you how to live your life.

69 wiessej December 12, 2011 at 7:16 pm

To Apodyopsis Gymnophoria @#50 –

Uhhhh….is this a trick question? Looks to my like you found a few pictures of various Popes shaking hands with various world religious and political leaders. Am I missing something? Or are you implying that because the Pope met with these individuals he was somehow endorsing freemasonry? That’s not your point, is it? Tell me it’s not. Take a look at this:

http://digitaljournal.com/image/45527

That’s John Wayne Gacy on the right. I doubt it means that President Carter’s wife Rosalyn was endorsing the kidnapping, sexual abuse and serial murder of young boys and men. I mean, after all, that’s what Gacy did.

70 Apodyopsis Gymnophoria December 12, 2011 at 8:24 pm

It’s all the same freemason handshake – I found the chat about Obama totally screwing you guys around more interesting…

71 Apodyopsis Gymnophoria December 12, 2011 at 8:43 pm

was the choco-pie a copy of the moon-pie or wagon-wheel pie?

The chocopie and moonpie are almost identical.

72 hoju_saram December 12, 2011 at 8:52 pm

On the campaign trail already iMe?

You know what’s worse than US election talk (especially if you’re not American)?

US primary talk, 11 months out from the fucking elections.

73 wiessej December 12, 2011 at 11:21 pm

To Apodyopsis Gymnophoria @#70 –

OMG – I thought you were KIDDING. I had a great aunt who died at age 88. She used to shake hands that way. She sure as hell was not a mason! People who are not Masons shake hands like that all the time. It’s not at all proper to take the Pope by the hand and give him a “how ya doin’, buddy?” kind of handshake. He’s considered one of the holiest men on the planet and a gentle reverent handshake greeting is the accepted method.

But hey – go for it if it keeps you engaged.

There’s a “moon landing was fake” conspiracy you can toy with as well while you’re at it.

74 Bipolar Mindscrew December 13, 2011 at 1:39 am

36 / gbevers – looks good, thanks!

19/ Cactus – 밀양 is great. If you like that style of movie, another great Korean director is Kim Ki-duk: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1104118/ – I recommend Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring. Stunning movie. And 3-Iron. He’s quite sexist but his style is fantastic. The lack of speaking means lack of subtitles… and despite that, his Korean-ness shows through every movie he makes.

75 iMe December 13, 2011 at 2:05 am

Haha! No, I’m not campaigning for Ron Paul, hoju_saram. I wish I could!

76 Apodyopsis Gymnophoria December 13, 2011 at 5:32 am

#73 Your great aunt never told you many things.

She never told you she landed on the moon did she? (it was a secret NASA operation to see the effects of moon living on females).

That’s why she was “great”!

77 hoju_saram December 13, 2011 at 8:25 pm
78 gbevers December 14, 2011 at 11:01 am

I just heard Bill O’Reilly pronounce Olongapo as /o-lon-GAP-o/ while reading the e-mail to “The Factor.”

79 nayaCasey December 14, 2011 at 11:21 am

Don’t forget to turn off your billboards and turn down the heat, your active participation is necessary:

Seoul to regulate billboard lighting, indoor temperature
Store owners caught for excessive lighting on outdoor billboards and heating of their buildings will face fines of up to 3 million won ($2,622) starting later this week, as part of nationwide efforts to save energy during the winter season, the Seoul city government said Monday.

“We will also toughen the existing power-saving steps such as maintaining the indoor temperature under 18 degrees in the public buildings,” a city official said. “To prevent energy shortage problems, active cooperation of all citizens is necessary.”
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/12/113_100597.html

80 Wedge December 14, 2011 at 12:37 pm

#79: Good to hear. Those buildings won’t be the usual saunas they are in the winter. Now if they could just run some air con in the summer…

81 thekorean December 15, 2011 at 12:59 am

The “If I were a poor black kid” meme.

Reminds me of “if I were a North Korean, I would have democratized the country” BS that some people here said.

82 DLBarch December 15, 2011 at 1:19 am

TK,

That Coates essay was excellent. Thanks for the link.

Ah, the little gems of surprises of regularly checking in on MH never cease….

DLB

83 WangKon936 December 15, 2011 at 5:25 am
84 Charles Tilly December 15, 2011 at 5:37 am

I’m inclined to think that Zbig’s smart as well. But before I double down on that notion, I’d like for him to give a satisfactory explanation to this.

85 nayaCasey December 15, 2011 at 11:36 am

thekorean #81–
1) Eddie Murphy already did the “I couldn’t been no slave. They’d a had to kill me!” jig. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg3eCHFLoTo . At least Coates could have footnoted EM.

2) On one level, I can related to what Coates wrote, that most people talk big but don’t act in their own times, yet they are sure they would have had courage in past times. Still….there were people who DID strike the blow for their own freedom and others, so how in the hell does Coates know what others would or would not have done in his “I would have,” “no you wouldn’t have, you ain’t nuthin special” parlor game.

3) I really was born a poor black child, unlike Steve Martin. Writings from Coates remind me of the time in my life when I was consumed with race and racial analysis of everything. I must say that for all of the word wizardry that Coates routinely showcases, the advice from the person on Twitter is much more useful for people trying to improve their lives than anything I can recall from Coates.

86 dogbertt December 15, 2011 at 11:56 am

Sounds like the Metropolemician could learn much from you.

87 Mryouknowwho December 15, 2011 at 12:07 pm

18c for indoor temperature is too cold. 20c or 21c is much better.

88 Wedge December 15, 2011 at 12:09 pm

#86: Nice one. I notice you don’t have a trademark on that moniker.

89 wiessej December 15, 2011 at 1:07 pm

To Charles @#84 –

I started to read the article from your link, then quickly realized – this article is written for people whose mental processes are so “Commodore 64″, it’s not even funny. I can understand how you felt compelled to post the link here, however – a continuing confirmation of the level of your intellect. No doubt you got a real rise out of it. Somehow, I think it was a way you could have a sort of “Penthouse Letters” kind of experience (Kraft Miracle Whip is a great lubricant, I am told) without having to subscribe somewhere online. Enjoy.

90 belair716_ December 16, 2011 at 2:07 am

It looks like some of the MHers are going to take the TOPIK in Jan. 2012.

And there is a good Twitter account to follow: you can ask questions and get answers. Please follow @urimal365 on Twitter.

Or just click on the link below
https://twitter.com/urimal365

The above Twitter account is run by 국립 국어원 (korean.go.kr), which is the official and governmental office of the Korean language, has the final authority in all matters considering the language and runs the authoritative dictionary, “표준 국어 대사전”, in south Korea.

You can make sure by going to the homepage of korean.go.kr (국립 국어원) and look for the Twitter icon “t” down on the bottom: if you click on that Twitter icon, you’ll also be led to the same Twitter account.

Even if you’re a native Korean speaker, it’ll be still good to follow @urimal365. This 국립 국어원 account explains the grammar and usages of the Korean language so clearly that I’ve found it delightful to read its tweets and mentions. So far, most of the questions are asked by native Korean speakers. I hope many foreigners whose second (or third) language is Korean will also use it :)

91 thekorean December 16, 2011 at 2:25 am

Still….there were people who DID strike the blow for their own freedom and others, so how in the hell does Coates know what others would or would not have done in his “I would have,” “no you wouldn’t have, you ain’t nuthin special” parlor game.

I think Coates’ point is that vast majority of us lack the heroic constitution to rise up and sacrifice ourselves when the whole world is turning against us. Yes, there are certainly people who did strike the blow. If anything, they deserve even more praise than what we bestow upon them today, because they have done something truly extraordinary. But it is another thing to expect that all of us to become equally heroic, which is what “If I were a poor black kid” column was essentially saying.

92 Charles Tilly December 16, 2011 at 3:26 am

I started to read the article from your link, then quickly realized – this article is written for people whose mental processes are so “Commodore 64″, it’s not even funny.

One, I don’t think the piece was written as a humor piece. So much for your reading comprehension. Two, you should at least try to enjoy it. It’s probably the closest that an obnoxious piece of shit like you is ever going to get to ass worth tapping.

Somehow, I think it was a way you could have a sort of “Penthouse Letters” kind of experience…without having to subscribe somewhere online.

Nobody subscribes anymore, soldier boy.

Kraft Miracle Whip is a great lubricant, I am told…

You’re told? No. You know. You’re reminded every single time you us Kraft Miracle Whip when you’re forced into easing the shoving of your own bullshit up your own ass by those here at the MH that despise you.

93 nayaCasey December 16, 2011 at 9:24 am

thekorean #91–The person on Twitter was talking about how even young black kids can make it, and the things they can do. That’s not about being heroic, that is about doing what you can to have a better life. And Coates responds with his usual slick sophistry (in this case, about people being mediocre, meaning I guess they aren’t positioned to give advice?). Take those two opposing commentaries to the young poor blacks kids in Wards 7 and 8 of southeast Washington, D.C.–TheKorean, which column do you think will be more useful for them in the long run?

Anyway, this is not a new point for me, I find a lot of these social critics to be more interested in public defenses rather than in helping the people they supposedly are concerned about. What I have also found over the years is that those social critics will give “tough love” talk to their own kids but make many excuses for the “poor black kid” whenever someone tries to talk sense to them.
http://caseylartigue.blogspot.com/2005/12/in-chicago-defender-it-has-been-while.html

94 belair716_ December 17, 2011 at 1:15 am

Good morning!

I’ve just read a report in the Chosun (조선일보) and that is:

“이대 비방 악성댓글 네티즌 11명 입건”
http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/12/16/2011121602545.html

quoted from the report above:

“서울 서대문경찰서는 이화여자대학교에 대한 악성 댓글을 작성한 혐의(명예훼손)로 강모(20)씨 등 11명을 불구속 입건, 검찰에 송치할 예정이라고 16일 밝혔다.”

“앞서 이화여대는 지난 10월12일 학교 관련 기사에 악성댓글을 단 18명을 명예훼손 혐의로 서대문경찰서에 고소했다.”

“학교 측에 따르면 이들 네티즌은 지난 7월30일 이화여대 캠퍼스에 수류탄이 발 견됐다는 기사에 ’수류탄이 터졌어야 한다’ 등의 비방 섞인 댓글을 남겼다.”

“또 허위사실을 유포하거나 욕설, 성적 비속어 등을 섞어 인신공격을 한 댓글을 작성한 네티즌도 고소했다.”

The report is written in Korean and you have to read the whole of it to understand the charge. The reason why I quote a few sentences is that these includes words such as “명예 훼손” and “허위 사실 유포”. Writing defamatory comments online sometimes costs a lot in south Korea. Although it is not directly related, I also read these words (charges and accusations…) quite often on the Korean-Twittersphere. Not happy to see a couple of Twitterers suing each other… :(

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