No more "Love Shots" for salarymen

Now what are all those greasy salarymen going to do??? Maybe they'll have to go home to their wives and families instead of trying to ply young women with alcohol after work!!!

Court Rules Against Forced `Love Shot’
Korea Times

It's common in Korean drinking bouts that male and female drinkers gulp glasses of alcohol while tightly linking their arms to help ``elevate moods.''

But the nation's top court said forcing the time-honored ``love shot'' constitutes sexual harassment.

The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a construction company owner identified as Koo, 48, must pay a 3 million won ($3,000) fine, upholding a lower court's decision.

The businessman was indicted without physical detention in August 2005 on charges of harassing two waitresses at a golf club's restaurant in South Gyeongsang Province.

In the ruling, the court said ``Despite the waitresses' resistance, Koo forced `love shots' on them by utilizing his relationship with the restaurant's owner.'' Read More...


DON'T TOUCH THE FISH!!!!!!!!


Tokyo scales back fish tourists
BBC
Japan's celebrated Tsukiji fish market is cutting back on tourists because they are hindering the work of traders.
The Tokyo market has become a big draw for tourists, who can watch as the large tuna and other fish are sold off.

But camera flashes, which distract auctioneers, and some visitors touching the fish are causing problems, say market officials.

Tourists will only be able to watch the tuna auctions from a designated area and entry times are being restricted.

"At a place that auctions several hundred tunas in a day, this is affecting our business," said Ihei Sugita, who deals with visitors to the market.

Between 20 and 30 people visit the market each day. Foreign visitors, said Mr Sugita, were inclined to touch and photograph fish they discovered had come from their home countries. Read More...



North Korea warns South of 'pre-emptive strike'
CNN
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korea threatened South Korea with destruction Sunday after Seoul's top military officer said he would consider attacking the communist nation if it tried to carry out a nuclear attack.

The statement from North Korea's official news agency marked the third straight day of bellicose rhetoric from the North, which is angry over the harsher line the South's new president has taken against the country since assuming office last month.

"Our military will not sit idle until warmongers launch a pre-emptive strike," said an unidentified KCNA military commentator. "Everything will be in ashes, not just a sea of fire, if our advanced pre-emptive strike once begins."

On Friday, North Korea test-fired a barrage of missiles into the sea and warned it would "mercilessly wipe out" any South Korean warships that violate its waters near their disputed sea border. Read More...


Wierd....

Fukuoka sets up collection boxes for discarded false teeth
Mainichi
FUKUOKA -- The Fukuoka Municipal Government is planning to set up collection boxes for used false teeth in nine locations across the city as part of its charity efforts.

No, the dentures won't be passed on to new owners -- they will be recycled for the precious metals inside them, with 80 percent of the profits going to charities such as UNICEF Japan. Read More...

Dogs Now Considered Livestock in Korea

This was even in the Ottawa free newspaper, Metro this morning....bon apetite!!


Seoul Categorizing Dogs as Livestock
Seoul will propose to the central government that dogs should be categorized as livestock in order to properly regulate the trade of dog meat and strengthen sanitation inspections.

The proposal aims to solve the ironic situation where many Koreans enjoy eating dog meat despite the absence of regulations on the sale of dog meat amid ambiguous categorization of the animal, a city official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) said.

``The real problem is, we cannot regulate the sanitation process of how dog meat is served due to the lack of regulations,'' the official said. ``We will have a series of public hearings to discuss the issue as it's a necessary step.''

Under the current law, dogs are categorized in the same group as donkeys, rabbits, horses and deer, not as livestock such as beef and chicken. Read More...


Seoul college sues Yale for $50m
A South Korean college is suing top US university Yale for $50m (£25m) over an administrative error that snowballed into a national scandal. Read More...

What the Hell???? Next thing you know it, Seoul will be referring to dogs as livestock!!! Oh wait...they just did that too!



FINALLY...How to speak fluent Japanese without saying a word PART 2 by Ken Tanaka

See Ken Tanaka...
Ken is the KING....just watch a few vids and you'll understand!



Korean Haiku/Tanka Poets Shunned By Countrymen
Japan Probe/Herald Tribune
SEOUL: When Son Ho Yun published her poetry, South Korean writers denounced her as unpatriotic.

When Rhee Han Soo wrote his poems, he avoided discussing them with friends because he was certain he would get the same negative response.

Although they never met, Son and Rhee shared a passion for more than six decades: They each wrote traditional Japanese poetry in South Korea, where animosities rooted in Japan's colonial rule still run deep and people of their generation considered such literary pursuits little short of sacrilegious.

"Here, people look up to you if you write poetry in English and publish it in America or England," said Rhee, an 82-year-old retired dentist. "But if you write Japanese poems, they despise you or dismiss you as a fool."Read more...



Fund created to pay for manual removal of human waste from World Heritage site
Mainichi
YAKUSHIMA, Kagoshima -- Yakushima Municipal Assembly has unanimously approved the creation of a fund to pay for the manual removal of human waste products from toilets threatening the island's World Heritage-listed natural environment.

There are six mountain area toilets on Yakushima, all of which use sewage tanks, the contents of which are buried in the mountains.

There has been a massive and constant increase in tourists to the area since UNESCO added it to the World Heritage list in 1993. The increase in people led to fears that their wastes would adversely affect the area's unique natural environment.
Read More...

Geek Heaven!!! I bet there's more than a few scary creatures visiting this place!! "Otaku" as they are called in Japan..."absolutely bizarre" here in North America!
Tokyo International Anime Fair 2008

A visitor to the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2008 looks at cartoon figures on display in Tokyo, March 27, 2008. The world's largest anime fair expects to have more than 100,000 visitors from around the world. (AP)

Perverts of Korea Rejoice!

Apparently...according to Korea's Supreme Court...it's A-OK to photograph the legs of women on subways with your cameraphones! It's not hard to imagine what creeps, such as this "Mr. Ahn" who take these pics, do once they get home!!!
Photographing Legs is NOT Sexual Harassment in Korea
Asian OffBeat
Does taking a picture of the bare legs of a woman in a miniskirt constitute sexual harassment or not? Korea’s top court said, ``No.’’

The Supreme Court acquitted a 34-year-old man of charges that he sexually harassed a young woman by taking a picture of her legs on the subway last December.

The man, identified as Ahn, photographed the legs of the woman in her 20s using his mobile phone. She was sitting in front of him while he was standing.

During questioning, police found the photo saved on his mobile phone and charged him with sexual harassment. The picture shows legs with a skirt covering her thighs 10-15centimeter up from knees, according to the court records.

The key in this case was to establish whether Ahn’s act constituted a violation of that law. But the photo presented as evidence does not reveal the face of the woman and only features her legs below the short skirt. The Supreme Court said the picture did not fully prove that Ahn wanted to gratify his sexual desire or to cause the woman humiliation by taking it.

The top court supported an acquittal by a lower court which said, ``It is hard to say that the defendant took a picture of a part of another person’s body that can cause sexual desire or shame.’’

Under the law on sexual harassment, those found guilty of photographing parts of other people’s bodies in a way that can cause sexual desire or shame can be jailed for up to five years or fined a maximum 10 million won ($10,000).

Prosecutors had demanded the accused be fined 500,000 won.

A lawyer approved the Supreme Court decision, saying the man had not taken photos of intimate parts under the skirt and had not spread the photo on the Internet. Therefore if he had been found guilty, his personal freedom would have been limited excessively.

Women rights advocates criticized the ruling. ``No matter which part of the body the man photographed, it is an infringement of human rights if he took the picture without her permission,’’ said Kim Eun-kyung, a director of Korea Women’s Associations United.

``It is regrettable that recent court rulings are lenient to violators of women rights,’’ she added.
Asian OffBeat
Women's rights...I'm sure these supreme court judges don't even know the basic definition of the term!

This story reminded me off this BIZARRE sight...a men's room at a pub in Busan, South Korea. I came across it during a night of beers with my friends about 2 years ago. I thought it soooooooo very warped...I had to share it with the wider world.

This Somyeon pub bathroom in Busan, Korea makes it "easy" to see why some male-type folks might think it ok to take candid photos of women on trains...Freakin Warped stuff...in my opinion!

Korean fasion designer touches english teacher's johnson!!??

This is too funny!!! Talk about a curious and creepy situation! I hope the teacher's emotional scars will heal quickly.

Curiosity Killed the Cat… Or Made You Touch the Foreigner’s Johnson
A 28-year-old fashion designer by the name of Mr. Park has been booked on charges of sexually assaulting an American man in a Mapo-gu sauna.

According to police, Park assaulted (which probably means in this case inappropriately touched) the American, a 27-year-old English teacher, as he slept in the sauna jjimjilbang. The victim had his loins covered with a towel as he slept.

Park pleaded with the police for leniency, claiming he did it “out of curiosity since he was a foreigner.”
Marmot's Hole...

Why is it that this type of media NEVER makes it to Korea's English media. It's in the Korean Chosun Ilbo, but not the English edition? (Damn funny story though!)


English Teacher Union Bad News for Hagwon?
With demand for English teachers skyrocketing, foreign English teachers are now pushing for the creation of their own union, reports the Hankyung Shinmun.

While there’s no legal problems with foreign teachers establishing a union, the paper reports that should they become a pressure group and demand things like, oh, boosting wages, it could drive up private education costs.

According to people in the English education industry, some 40 foreign teachers have recently created a group called the Association for Teachers of English in Korea (ATEK), and are gathering members in order to form a labor union.

The union would be open to E and F visa holders involved in the public and private education fields.

According to members of ATEK, the group’s aim is to improve the position of foreign English teachers working in Korea.
Read More...


Korean-American Instructor Arrested on Murder Charge
A second generation Korean American was arrested here after evading an FBI search for nearly nine years on charges of killing a retired policeman in the United States.

The murder suspect, identified as Nam, 31, an ethnic Korean with American citizenship, was caught at a private school in Gyeonggi Province where he was teaching English, police said.

The suspect has worked here as an instructor at private language schools in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Jeolla and Gyeongsang provinces since fleeing the United States while on bail.

``He changed his workplace every two or three months in order not to be caught,'' Lee Jae-sool, the spokesman for the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency, said. ``He will soon be extradited to the United States after appearing in a Korean court.''

He was initially arrested in January 1997 in Pennsylvania, with three other accomplices on charges of killing a former U.S. policeman with the victim's own gun.

The suspect was granted bail for $1 million and confined under house arrest, but he fled to Seoul the following year.

Police had searched for the suspect since 1998 at the request of the FBI and arrested him on March 4, 1999. But he was soon released as an extradition treaty between Seoul and Washington did not exist at the time. The treaty took effect on Dec. 20, 1999.

Police resumed their search for the suspect from April 2000 and uncovered his whereabouts in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province after focusing their investigation on popular locations for foreigners and private language schools.

``He first arrived here as a tourist but worked as an English teacher,'' Lee said. ``Most small-scale private language schools usually hire native English speaking teachers without checking their personal background because they cost less than qualified teachers.''
Korea Times....

Check out his FBI Wanted poster!


NOW...Let the good times roll!

Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura stands with Doraemon and Nobita -- characters from the popular comic series "Doraemon" -- at the foreign ministry in Tokyo, Wednesday, March 19, 2008, after the minister named the robotic bluecat as Japan's first Anime Ambassador. Doraemon will work to promote Japan's pop culture to the world.

Korean Anti-Semitism and a Rat Head in your Shrimp chips!

Rat Head Forces Producer to Recall Popular Snack
The nation's largest snack maker, Nongshim, made a public apology Tuesday for one of its best-selling items containing the head of a small rodent. The company shut down the snack production line, and supermarkets are already removing them from their shelves.

The apology came after gray skin-like material, 1.6 centimeters in length, was found last month inside a jumbo-sized Nongshim snack, ``Saewookkang'' (shrimp snack). The Food and Drug Administration on Monday issued a correctional order to the snack manufacturer.

The ``material'' was very hard and covered in oil and burnt hair, and it also had the remains of eyes and a nose, which led the administration to conclude it to be the head of a rat.

A customer had reportedly called Nongshim asking for a refund and a recall on all of its product made on that day. Initially her requests were denied. However, later the company tried to compensate her and recalled all the products in the market, she said.

The company explained that a factory in China makes the dough and sends it to a factory in Busan to fry, pack and distribute it. ``I doubt the frying process in Busan is unhygienic, but we are looking into the possibility of the material being added during the dough process at our factory in China,'' a Nongshim spokesman said during the public apology.

However, the market has already plummeted over the news. E-Mart, Lotte Mart, Home Plus, Homever and several other large supermarket chains decided on Monday to stop selling the snack indefinitely.

The online world is abuzz over how the matter could have passed the three-step inspection at the Busan factory and how Nongshim should be punished. The FDA has only given a correctional order.

``What gets me angry is that the company tried to play the whole thing low key and I ate several bags of Saewookkang,'' an angry netizen (ID: KTU) said.

The fact that Nongshim has raised the snack price by 100-200 won due to rises in raw materials prices earlier this year is adding to public anger, experts said.
See original...


Why does this not in any way surprise me!
Korean Comic Book Condemned as Anti-Semitic by US Govt

A series of cartoons in the America volume of ‘Far Country, Neighbor Country’ saying the reason Arab terrorists hate the U.S. and carried out the Sept. 11, 2001 attack is because ‘Jews use money and public discussion as weapons to make WASPs do what they want!

Recently the South Korean comic book 먼나라 이웃나라 aka ‘Far Country, Neighbor Country’ has been defined as anti-Semitic in a U.S. State Department report. The book is from a series called "Distant Countries and Neighboring Countries" and is about the U.S. And the author Rhie Won-bok has been cited in the anti-semitism department's report as Korea's representative of Contemporary Global Antisemitism.

In a report on contemporary global anti-semitism submitted to the U.S. Congress on Saturday, the State Department said the book "recycles various Jewish conspiracy theories, such as Jewish control of the media, Jews profiting from war, and Jews causing the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center attacks."

The series, written by Rhie Won-bok, a professor at Duksung Women's University, was designed to teach youngsters the history and culture of other countries in comic book format. The "best-selling" children's book series sold more than 10 million Korean-language copies, according to the report.

The report cited two examples of anti-Semitism in the book. One comic strip shows a newspaper, a magazine, a television, and a radio, each with a Star of David, and is captioned, "In a word, American public debate belongs to the Jews, and it's no exaggeration to say that [U.S. media] are the voices of the Jews."

Another strip shows a man climbing a hill and then facing a brick wall inscribed with a Star of David and a STOP sign. The caption reads, "The final obstacle [to success] is always a fortress called Jews."

The author later acknowledged his mistake and pledged to write "in a more responsible way," the report said. In March 2007, the book's publisher agreed to pull the controversial book from stores, the report added.
Original...
Also see...

What can I say? For those Koreans wishing to isolate Korea from the rest of the world...you're doing a bang-on job!!!!

ESL Teachers and rappin in Korea!

This made me laugh my ass of for a good 5 minutes. Some ESL teachers in Geumchon, Korea made a hip hop video about the "Life of a Waygook" in Korea. FUNNY STUFF!!!!

"Kickin' It In Geumchon"

See the original here!

I love the ajumma visors they wear in the vid!! hehe


Thanks to my buddy Arin for sending the like to me!

The Best Gift and the Worst

First Korean Astronaut Switched to Woman

A 29-year-old female mechanical engineer was belatedly filled in Monday as the first South Korean in space, after Russia's space authorities dismissed Seoul's original choice on security rule violations ahead of next month's mission.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology told a news conference that Russia's Federal Space Agency asked for Ko San's replacement, as the 31-year-old repeatedly broke training protocol by taking sensitive training material outside of the Russian space center. Back-up candidate Yi So-yeon will take over.

``The main reason for the cut is Ko made two consecutive security violations,'' said Lee Sang-mok, the head of the ministry's space technology bureau, adding that both events appeared unintentional.

He explained that the Russians regard abiding by the rules as critical since even a small and innocent mistake could lead to serious consequences in space.

Paik Hong-yul, president of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, said local authorities made the final decision early Monday to tap Yi after Moscow sent an official request for a switch on Friday. Read More...

This Ko San guy sounds like a knucklehead to me!!! What a stupid way to lose a chance at going to space! Ko San apparently, on one occasion, he "accidentally" mailed a manual....not meant to leave the Russian base....back to South Korea...then he fucked up again and removed some other crucial documents! I have to admit that this makes me feel good. I originally thought the only reason he was given the seat to space was due to gender! Now...I think I am correct....doesn't sound like he won the spot on due to his "shining" intellect!!!! hehe Well, it's really nice to see a female taking such an important role....especially when it is the person who desreved the role in the first place.


Now...here we go....officially the WORST graduation gift ever!!!! WTF!???

Pupils polish potties as elementary school graduation gift

SAZA, Nagasaki -- Dozens of 6th grade pupils from Saza Municipal Elementary School got barefoot and cleaned the toilets at their school as a mark of gratitude for the six years of learning they obtained there.

The 68 pupils scrubbed the restrooms following an idea from local volunteer cleaners and worked under a motto of "scrubbing up your toilet will also scrub up your heart."

Initially, some children complained of the smells, but eventually most became absorbed by the task as they ground away at the cisterns with a scrubbing brush.

There was one reluctant girl chided for being "gutless" and another boy who remained frightened until the very end of the exercise to come into contact with a urinal, but another pupil was delighted when the job was over.

"It was like I could wash away my cowardice of the past together with the water we used," the pupil said. Original


Wow...a story that answered so many of my questions!!
Japanese scientists discover traffic jams are caused by too many cars!

Foreign Teacher Dies of Injuries From Fire

Foreign Teacher Dies of Injuries From Fire

William Kapoun, 26, an American teacher who sustained severe burn injuries in a fire at his apartment, passed away Saturday.

He had been in intensive care at Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, since Feb. 24.

The young American’s parents asked for repeated cardiopulmonary resuscitation after concurrent cardiac arrests to be stopped.

His father Dan Kapoun, a retired soldier, plans to hold a memorial service at the U.S. Army Base in Yongsan as soon as his son’s body is conveyed to the family from the hospital after the settlement of treatment fees, estimated at 77 million won (about $80,000) in total.

Donators and supporters extended their helping hand to the Kapoun family through the blog site www.billkapoun.com. They also made direct donations to a bank account that was opened here under the name of Warren Franklin William Fund. The donations have reached about $60,000 in total, according to his friends.

``Thank you all of you, from our entire family for your support and good wishes. The Korean people have been very kind to us,’’ Judy Kapoun, his mother told The Korea Times. His parents will return to the United States after the memorial service here.

On top of donations from various people around the world, his family found that part of treatment costs would be covered by South Korea’s National Health Insurance Corp. following a retroactive payment. About 30 million won was covered by the insurance.

His death has alerted other foreign teachers here about their working conditions and safety. ``The unfortunate tragedy awoke me to the fact that foreign teachers should make plans for their own safety. They must make sure that they are covered by insurance,’’ said Michale John Bodnar, one of William’s friends.

Meanwhile, police said it appears the fire was ``accidental.’’ But they said they have yet to officially determine the exact cause of the fire that killed Kapoun and his girlfriend.

``We have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire. But it appears the fire broke out accidentally and chances of arson are low,’’ a police official said.

Kapoun, a graduate of Indiana University, had been teaching students English as a part-time teacher at Bulam Elementary School in Northern Seoul. The fire at his apartment left him with third-degree burns over 70 percent of his body.

Korea Times



Just can't get enough news about Japan's Obama City???
Well then....here you go!


All I can say is, "WTF?????"

I Can't Hair You
Mar. 8 - An Indian man makes it into the Guinness Book of World Records for a hirsute feat he complains isn't appreciated enough.

Growing hair out of your ears to a head-turning length isn't everyone's idea of an attractive look. But it's got a man from India's northern Kanpur a long-standing entry in the Guinness Book of World Records.

HOLY CRAP....ThE WEATHER!!!!!

The Prelude to the storm...(this is supposed to be Ottawa's worst snw storm in recorded history!)

original...

Wow...the SHIT has hit the fan weather wise...sometimes you can see a Good Samaritan during this kind of weather....

See original vlog...

Storms, Storms and other Poopy Things!

Teaching Overseas
There’s more to teaching overseas than paying off those student loans
Vue Weekly

Immediately following four years of university, few people are psyched for the prospect of getting a real career, settling into a mortgage and paying off those sizeable student loans. It’s pretty easy to understand the desire for adventure: the spirit of adventure is encouraged in institutions of higher learning, and unfettered from the routine of classes many people want to, to quote a friend of mine, “do something crazy and exciting.”


It seems that everyone knows at least someone who has taught English overseas, but not many people are clear on what actually goes on over there, and there are a lot of misconceptions for would-be teachers about the reality overseas.

It should be obvious that every country has a different system—what with them being autonomous and all—but a lot of people incorrectly assume they’re all the same. The qualifications that you’ll need depend on the country you wish to teach in.

If you want to teach in China, Indonesia or in many Arabic countries, you only need to have been born in a country that speaks English. If you want to teach in some other countries, including Japan or South Korea, you will need a degree; however, it doesn’t really matter what the degree is in. Surprisingly, you don’t need any real training in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), unless you want to go to places like Hong Kong or Prague. You will need some kind of certification to get a higher-up position in any country, though. Read More...


The Shit's About to Hit the Fan!!!!!

Kevin's VLog#8


Massive blizzard could last up to 36 hours
CTV News
Eastern Canada is seeing the first traces of a storm that could bring up to 50 centimetres of snow before Saturday night, just days after the region recovered from a serious winter wallop.

Environment Canada has issued storm warnings for much of Ontario, Quebec, calling for massive snowfalls across the region and freezing rain in some locations.

The storm system pounded the United States on Friday, slamming unlikely southern places like Texas and Alabama, and spawning tornadoes in Florida before up the Eastern Seaboard and into Ontario. Snowfall began in southern Ontario on Friday afternoon, with the system expected to build to a crescendo Saturday afternoon, when the majority of the precipitation is expected.

The storm could last for up to 36 hours, say forecasters. More...


Ottawa's winter, by the numbers
Ottawa Citizen
First snowfall: Nov. 20
Number of days since first snow: 108
Number of days with snow: 83
Number of days without snow: 25
Number of days with snow cover: 108
Number of events with 10 or more centimetres: 10

Average number of 10-plus-centimetre events: 4
Average March snowfall: 39.8 centimetres
March snowfall to date: 47 centimetres
Number of teaching days in March if there are no more snow days: 13 secondary, 12 elementary
Number of school snow days to date: 5
Average number of snow days annually: 3
City snow-removal equipment: 700 plows and trucks
Snow removal budget 2008: $65 million
Snow removal budget 2007: $62 million; overspent by $5.2 million
Amount of salt used: 220,000-plus tonnes
Average amount of salt used: 150,000 tonnes
Amount of snow moved: 2.4 million cubic metres
Latest recorded snowfall in Ottawa: June 27, 1950
Latest measurable snowfall: May 25, 1961, 2.3 cm
Latest and heaviest snowfall: May 10, 1963, 15 cm
Number of days to spring: 15 (including today)
Original...


Japanese whalers clash with activists in Antarctic
Mainichi
TOKYO (AP) -- Anti-whaling activists threw rotten butter and bottles containing an unidentified liquid at a Japanese whaling vessel in the Antarctic Friday, and the Japanese Coast Guard responded by throwing sound-emitting "warning balls" back at the activists.

A leading protester claimed he was shot at but was saved from injury by his bulletproof vest. Japanese authorities denied firing any gun shots.

The high seas clash is the latest incident involving the anti-whaling Sea Shepherd group and a fleet of Japanese whalers now in Antarctic waters on their annual hunt.

In this photo released by The Institute of Cetacean Research, anti-whaling activists aboard the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship throw glass bottles purportedly containing butyric acid and other substances towards the Japanese whaling factory ship Nisshin-Maru in Antarctic waters on Friday. (AP Photo/The Institute of Cetacean Research, HO)
Read the rest of this story....



Love Grows 'Ugly' for U.S.-Korean Couple
series of plush toys inspired by love letters between an American man and a Korean woman has become a huge hit with sales of more than 100 million units. The toys are called Ugly Dolls and are the creation of illustrator David Horvath, 36, and his wife Kim Sun-min, 30.
With their iconic big heads and short legs, Ugly Dolls became famous after Hollywood celebrities including Robin Williams, Christina Aguilera, Ashlee Simpson and Paris Hilton said on TV they would give them as gifts to family and friends.

The dolls were also used as props in the film "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" starring Dustin Hoffman and featured on NBC's "Today Show." U.S. newspapers and magazines have interviewed Horvath and Kim.

The dolls are a product of their love. The couple met at Parsons School of Design in 1997, but Kim returned home to Korea upon graduation in 2001. They kept in touch and their relationship flowered by mail. Horvath, meanwhile, worked on his dream of creating toys better than Barbie or Power Rangers. He created some characters and contacted several toy companies, but found no success.
Read more...


Nova Expanding Into University Education?
Let's Japan
Strange but true, g.education announced plans to open a Nova school on the campus of Aichi Gakuin University in April.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun, the opening of a private business on a university campus is almost unheard of. The article notes that the president of g.communication, Masaki Inayoshi, is a graduate of Aichi Gakuin and apparently this connection was used to help set up a Nova school with the university in order to boost the English ability on campus. The new Nova school will use the current 9-level curriculum and offer lessons at a discount to university staff and students.

Comment: Nothing says "excellence in education" like doing business with an old and broken brand that ripped off, abused, and deceived its customers. How is this a good thing for a university? More importantly, what does this say about the the campus's Faculty of Letters? Original

All children in Canada have the right to attend proper schools

ATTAWAPISKAT SCHOOL FIGHT

This is a video of the fight for a grade school in the Cree community of Attawapiskat (Northern Ontario, Canada). Students from across Canada are being asked to fight for the principle that all children in Canada have the right to attend proper schools with proper funding.

Watch original vid here...please add it to your site or post it on your Facebook page!

Write to Chuck Strahl and tell him what you think...(In Canada...No Postage Necessary)

Chuck Strahl
Minister of Indian Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Canada



Campaign for new native school hits YouTube
CTV News
A New Democrat MP has turned to YouTube in the fight to build a new school for the northern Ontario native community of Attawapiskat. The video has become one of the most watched political videos of the week.

Four hundred children in the community have been attending classes in portables since 2000. Parents pulled their children out of J.R. Nakogee School that year because of all the health problems reported since a massive diesel leak at the school in 1979.

The YouTube video, features stills of children holding signs such as "A school is like a heart, you need a healthy one" set to a version of "Stand by Me." At the end of the video, viewers are asked to write to Chuck Strahl, minister for Indian Affairs and Northern Development, about the school.

Charlie Angus, the NDP MP for Timmins - James Bay, said on Canada AM on Thursday that after years of broken government promises to build a new school, Strahl has put the plan on a "full stop."

Angus said that the children going to school in portables represents a major step-back in their education.

"There's an obligation that every child in this country is guaranteed the same rights to education," he said. "The only exception seems to be if you a First Nations child."
See more...

Japan's Obama city backs Obama

Japan's Obama city backs Obama
Obama in Japan cheers for Barack Obama despite his losses in Texas and Ohio.

Residents of Japan's Obama City sang special songs and danced hula to root for U.S. Presidential candidate Barack Obama as crucial primary results unfolded.



Japan blues in hip hop nation
A 26-year-old American with a hip hop blues hit is No. 2 on Japanese charts, the world's second biggest music market.

Enka music is only a fraction of Japan's multi-billion dollar industry, but Jerome White's star is rising as recent TV appearances bring his sound and hip hop look to the nation.



Oh yeah....I almost forgot....some Canadian content! Today was a miserable blizzard here in Ottawa. I had my Schooling in Society class in the morning and then strcuk out to find the school where I will do my next teaching practicum. I'll be mostly teaching Language Arts and Mathematics in a 6th Grade class....starting on St. Paddy's Day.
Kevin's Snowday!




Namdaemun Gate

The Cultural Heritage Administration installed a covering on top of the ruins of Namdaemun, which was destroyed by a recent fire, to protect the remains of the wooden structure from rain, snow and wind. The administration said a clear temporary roof will be added to the structure during restoration work. [YONHAP]


Armed panty thief teacher denies charges as trial opens
Mainichi

OITA -- A former public high school teacher accused of robbing women of their panties at knifepoint denied the charges against him as his trial opened at the Oita District Court, saying he intended to be indecent and not rob them.

Tetsuya Watanabe, 27, the former teacher, is fighting the charge of robbery resulting in injury on a technicality, saying he had no intention to steal women's underwear and therefore is not guilty.

"His interest in underwear was indecent but he had no intention of stealing cash, bags or other valuables," a defense lawyer said, announcing that Watanabe denied the charge against him.

Prosecutors, however, say that Watanabe was a habitual thief.

"From 2004 on, he repeatedly waylaid women on the streets at knifepoint and threatened them into handing over their underwear to him," a prosecution lawyer said.

Watanabe is charged with two counts of robbery resulting in injury. The first case stemmed from an incident on Sept. 11, 2004, when he was charged with threatening an Oita woman at knifepoint, demanding she give him her panties and hurting her breasts.

The second count arises from a similar incident on July 4 last year, where he was indicted for waylaying a woman in an Oita parking lot and holding a paper cutter at her until she removed her panties. He is charged with injuring her hand during an ensuing struggle.

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Kobe and Yokohama ranked among Asia’s favorite spots for expats…

Kobe and Yokohama ranked among Asia’s favorite spots for expats…
In a recent survey conducted by ECA International a human resources firm specializing in expatriates and which operates in 71 countries, Kobe and Yokohama both rank in the Top 10 best locations in the world for Asian expats.

The survey takes into account things like safety, cleanliness, crime rate, housing, health etc. For Asian expats, Singapore took the number 1 spot with Sydney 2nd and Melbourne tied with Kobe in 3rd place. Yokohama also made the top 10 in 8th place. The other cities in the top 10 are Copenhagen, Denmark 5th, Canberra, Australia in 6th, Vancouver, Canada in 7th, Wellington, New Zealand in 9th, and Dublin, Ireland in 10th place.

That Japanese cities rank so highly says a great deal about the relative safety of Japan, and those cities in particular. It also says something about the level of general cleanliness in the cities… The two cities chosen are also two of the busies port cities in Japan as well as two of the earlier ports opened to Western commerce.

Are there any other reasons why you think these cities are so popular among Asian expats? What other cities in Japan should have gone ahead of them? Any reasons why these cities should not be in the Top 10?
Japan Probe


I think this is an REALLY important story. Anyone involved in the ESL world should take notice of what can happen to those unfortunate to be injured abroad.
Foreign Teachers Campaign for Colleague Injured in Fire
Korea Times

William Kapoun, 26, loved teaching kids. But the young, confident American will not be able to continue what he loves ― at least for a long while. About 10 days ago, a fire broke out at his apartment at dawn and left him with third-degree burns over 70 percent of his body.

The part-time teacher at Bulam Elementary School in northern Seoul is now in intensive care. He will have to endure reconstructive surgery on numerous occasions and a lengthy recovery. Despite the will to live, however, he lacks the means to fight the brutal battle.

The blaze not only altered his body and dreams but also laid bare working conditions that are void of shelters or insurance schemes against such terrible accidents. His full treatment is estimated to cost roughly $130,000.

His parents flew over immediately. They are also shocked by the staggering costs as he has no health insurance under his contract . ``He lived in an unsafe apartment. There was no sprinkler system or fire alarm and he had only one exit, which was blocked by the fire,’’ Dan Kapoun, 53, father of William, told The Korea Times at the hospital in Seoul.

The father lamented the absence of any clear insurance policy. ``I think whoever hires someone should take responsibility for making sure there is insurance,’’ he said.

He said his son was very happy when he decided to go to Korea. ``My son was very adventurous. He thought it would be a very good thing to teach English here, not only for him but also his students.’’

Kapoun Burn Fund

Bulam Elementary School, the employer of the victim, said that the school is not obliged to provide any insurance coverage to employees working less than 15 hours a week in line with the Labor Law. The school has some 10 other part-time foreign teachers working under similar conditions.

William initially started to teach at a hagwon before transferring to the ``after-school’’ English programs that paid him some 2.2 million won a month. He has worked here for 14 months. He holds a double-bachelors degree in history and economics from Indiana University, his home state school.

With his parents in a difficult financial situation, his friends and colleagues are joining hands to launch a campaign to raise funds via the Internet at http://www.billkapoun.com

Read More...


Misuda Shakes off Koreans'(Tries to!)Prejudices against Foreign Women

The women who appear on the KBS2 TV show “Chat With Beauties” — also called “Misuda” — are shaking off the prejudices that Koreans have regarding foreign women.

On the February 25th episode of Misuda, the topic of discussion was “myths Korean men believe about foreign women.”

The women said that Korean men think that foreign women “are glamorous”, “Japanese women are obedient”, “blondes are ditzy”, and “we came here to marry Koreans or to work”.

Australian Kirsty used herself as an example. “In Korea and Australia there is prejudice against blonde women. People think that blonde girls have cute looks but empty heads.” Kirsty, by the way, recently got married to a Korean man.

Next, Uzbekistani Guzal said, “in our country people think that blondes are dumb and sexy, and act slutty. But that’s not true. I have a lot of blonde friends and they’re really smart.”

Emi spoke about prejudices about Japanese women. “People think Japanese women are submissive but that’s not true. A lot of Korean guys think so and meet me and get disappointed.”

She added, “it might be just me but in Japan I was kind of like that and when I came to Korea and saw women doing things for men and didn’t want to be that and became a little less obedient.”

Guzal said that because of the prejudices held by Koreans about foreign women, “when I came to Korea people asked me a lot if I had come to work or to mary a Korean. But they were surprised when I said I was a student.”

Daria, of Russia, said, “it seems when Koreans see a pretty foreigner they think she is Russian. And most of them ask if you came here to work. Korea and Russia are having increasing exchanges, and lots of people are becoming international students or going to Korea for cultural exchanges so I hope people don’t have such misconceptions any more.”
Korea Beat Asianoffbeat


Big breasts help actress to get conviction overturned
Mainichi
Actress Serena Kozakura's conviction for willful destruction of property has been overturned by the Tokyo High Court because her large breasts revealed flaws in the testimony against her.

Reconstruction during an appeal hearing of the 38-year-old actress's alleged crime of breaking down the door in a man's apartment showed her breasts prevented her from climbing through a door as the man testified she had done, casting doubt on his reliability.
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Japanese Survival Expressions and Tim Hortons

I've just been watching Gimmeabreakman's (aka Victor in Japan)YouTube channel and he's got some great "Learn Japanese" vids up there. Why the sudden interest in learning some Japanese??? Well, I suppose it isn't too sudden. Afterall, I am moving there at the end of next month. I do have a lot of "learn Japanese" textbooks on my bookshelf, but freely admit that I have been far too lazy to study so far this year. I keep using the excuse, "But things are so busy cause I'm in Teacher's College. I have no time to study." That's all Bulls@*%!!!

But...regardless of that. Victor in Japan has a few great vids where he teaches some basic Japanese expressions...what he refers to as "Survival Japanese."

Japanese Expressions-1-Survival Expressions


Japanese Expressions-2-Survival Expressions


Japanese Expressions-3-Survival Expressions

Victor has a lot of great vids about Japan...check them out here!



Some news I found interesting today...

Sea Shepherd activists attack Japanese whaling ship with rotten butter
Three crewmembers aboard the Japanese research whaling ship Nisshinmaru were slightly injured after anti-whaling activists hurled bottles containing rotting butter onto the ship in the Antarctic Ocean on Monday, the Fisheries Agency said.

Members of the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd aboard the ship Steve Irwin hurled over 100 bottles, believed to contain butyric acid, produced by rotting butter, onto the Nisshinmaru at around 7:10 a.m. (Japan Time), agency officials said. More...


Now, here's a DAMN cool picture!!!

This aerial photo taken from a Mainichi helicopter shows Mount Omura ablaze during a traditional "yamayaki" (mountain-burning) event in Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture on Sunday, Mar. 2, 2008. Burning off dead grass helps new shoots grow quickly in early spring. After some 100 participants set fire to the dried grass with torches at the foot of the 581-meter-high mountain, the flames engulfed the mountain in about 20minutes. The 700-year-old event drew some 30,000 spectators this year.
Mainichi


Now...since I do need some Canadiana content...or there would be no "Canadian Beer" in "Soju, Sake and Canadian beer". I should create a self-imposed "quasi-Can-Con" thing like on radio in Canada...where a certain percentage of music always must be Canadian...only some of each blog post will have Canadian content. Well then...here's me blabbering on about Tim Horton's Roll up the Rim to Win contest!

Vlog#6 Tim Hortons...Rolling up the rim

You can se more of me here...

Drinking Makes You Sad?

Nara’s New Mascot

Nara, a city of famous historic Buddhist temples and tame deer, recently unveiled a new mascot character to commemorate the 1300th Anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo Capital:

Its creators believe that the character matches well with the city of Nara, but many have been criticizing the mascot for being un-cute.
Japan Probe

I have to agree with the "un-cute" thing....pretty freaky if you ask me!


STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!
Japanese Scientists: Drinking Makes Heart Grow More Sorrowful

Researchers at the University of Tokyo concluded that ethanol — an intoxicating agent in alcohol — does not cause memory to decrease, as widely believed, but instead locks it in place.

The researchers, led by pharmacology professor Norio Matsuki, gave mild shocks to lab rats to condition them to fear. As a result, the rats would freeze in terror and curl up the moment they were put in their cages.

Researchers then immediately injected the rats with ethanol or saline.

The researchers found that rats with alcohol in their veins froze up for longer, with the fear on average lasting two weeks, compared with rats that did not receive injections.

“If we apply this study to humans, the memories they are trying to get rid of will remain strongly, even if they drink alcohol to try to forget an event they dislike and be in a merry mood for the moment,” the study said.

“The following day, they won’t remember the merriness that they felt,” it said.
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Human Trafficking Thrives Across N.Korea-China Border
A 26-year-old North Korean woman, Mun Yun-hee crossed the Duman or Tumen River into China in the dawn of Oct. 22 last year, which at that point was some 40 m wide, guided by a human trafficker. She was being sold to a single middle-aged Chinese farmer into a kind of indentured servitude-cum-companionship. Both of them wore only panties, having stored their trousers and shoes in bags, because if you are found wearing wet clothes across the river deep at night, it is a dead giveaway that you are a North Korean refugee. Read More...


On a sombre Canadian note, the great Cnandian blues guitar player, Jeff Healey, died of cancer today at the age of 41. I remember buying his first album when I was in middle school. He was simply amazing! It's a sad day for the Canadian music industry. You can read the CTV news story here...