June 2009 Archives

Violence

 
By aristotle on June 27, 2009 10:58 PM | No Comments
Last year, Amnesty International issued a report chastising the Korean riot police for inciting violence with the anti-US beef protests.  Most of us here in Seoul called shenanigans, having seen the riots firsthand. 

Pyeongtaek is currently the center of protests, with demonstrations against US army base enlargement as well as labor unrest over the closure of Ssanyong Motors.  In case there was any question of who is unleashing the ultraviolence, look no further:

Tanuki

 
By aristotle on June 25, 2009 10:14 PM | No Comments
Thanks to an article at Salon's How the World Works, I was reintroduced to tanuki and their amazing *ahem* testicles.  The tanuki, in reality, is a wild, unterritorial dog that looks like a raccoon or badger (exhibit A)



Like kitsune, the tanuki is a shapeshifter in Japanese mythology.  As such, they are mischevious but not necessarily mean-spirited, and can be absent-minded or stupid. 
But, the most memorable aspect of the legendary tanuki are their enormous testicles.  Witness these woodcuts from a famed Japanese artist of yore.


The Gods Smile Upon Us

 
By aristotle on June 18, 2009 2:30 AM | 1 Comment
Using some serious voodoo, one of my absolute favorite shows has been resurrected.  Comedy Central has order a new season of Futurama.


Alice and Kev

 
By aristotle on June 18, 2009 1:41 AM | No Comments
A game design student in the UK has done something both innovative and heartbreaking.  With the newly released Sims 3, Robin Burkinshaw set up a homeless family consisting of dad Kev and daughter Alice.  Kev is crazy, inappropriate and hates children.  Alice is unlucky, clumsy and a loser.  Life is not easy for them.  Read the stories and see just how depressing life can be for the daughter of a homeless crazy virtual person. 

30 Rock vs. The Muppets

 
By aristotle on June 18, 2009 1:22 AM | No Comments
Brian Lynch examines the hit show 30 Rock and finds its true inspiration: the Muppets.  Consider the evidence:  Liz Lemon puts on a weekly sketch show that often goes awry; sounds an awful lot like what Kermit did on the Muppet Show.  Ms. Piggy and Jenna are so similar its even been brought up on the show.  Read for yourself!



The 80s Rock

 
By aristotle on June 7, 2009 9:42 PM | No Comments
Found at Boing Boing, this is a fan-made video pairing Phoenix's Lisztomania with clips from the Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink and Footloose.  It's good, nostalgic stuff. There's also a Rolling Stone article about it that's worth reading. 

After the Tank Guy Photo

 
By aristotle on June 5, 2009 2:03 PM | No Comments
Also on NPR this week is a collection of photos from Jeff Widener, one of the few photographers to get film from the Tiananmen Square protests out of China.  Check out some of his other fantastic shots, including one from a Korean protest.

June 4th, 1989

 
By aristotle on June 5, 2009 12:55 PM | No Comments

June 4th is the anniversary of the brutal crackdown on students in China's famous plaza.  Despite a general softening of the Chinese rulers attitudes, it is still quite difficult to learn about the massacre within China.  The Great Firewall blocks searches related to the incident, and few texts have been allowed to contain mentions of it.
From NPR, a conversation with Tiananmen Mothers. 

Fun

 
By aristotle on June 5, 2009 1:43 AM | No Comments

US Journalists On Trial in North Korea

 
By aristotle on June 5, 2009 1:16 AM | No Comments
As you have probably heard, two reporters for Current TV, Laura Ling and Euna Le, were arrested by North Korean authorities in MArch, allegedly having crossed into the reclusive state.  Their trial is starting, but oddly enough, Al Gore's Current TV isn't covering the story.  Gawker asks the question why.
From the NY Times article:

Experts say the pair could face a sentence of 10 years or more of hard labour in the reclusive state. They add a guilty verdict is almost certain in a North Korean justice system that protects the unquestioned rule of leader Kim Jong-il.
Analysts said the two had become bargaining chips in high-stakes negotiations with the United States, which has long sought to end the North's nuclear ambitions.
"The country is being very careful in dealing with the two U.S. citizens and is aware of international attention and the implications of the case," said Park Jeong-woo, a law professor at Kookmin University and an expert in the North's legal system.

Also, this is by far the most common picture of the two women I found on the net...

Daggering

 
By aristotle on June 4, 2009 11:21 PM | No Comments
Jamaican men are suffering a rash of fractured penises thanks to a new dance craze...Article here

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