Sorry for being gone so long, but not much new has been happening here. The last month has been all about beef, beef, beef, beef, beef, beef, etc etc etc etc.
But, with the third oil shock upon us and the very fabric of our world (possibly) coming apart I thought I would highlight the difference between the Taiwanese way and the TiK way.
In this corner the Taiwanese plan of higher prices and rebate incentives to reduce power consumption:
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/07/01/2003416235
And in this corner, TiK plan of cutting taxes, drilling more, opening strategic reserves and subsidising prices to "protect" Koreans. This plan looks like it was written by Dick Cheney and the CEO of Exxon:
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806300009.html
Which one will work in reducing energy consumption, hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
TiK!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Man, you have a huge.....
You know, my family always asks me what living in South Korea is like. My response is always the same, you know North Korea? Think of that mentality but run by Americans!
So here is a double play of TiK!
1st: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2008/06/160_25545.html
This quote sums up the TiKness of it all:
" Those looking for symbolism needn't look far. An attempt by Kim II-sung to visualize his own power? The concrete embodiment of Juche ideology? The ultimate middle-finger to the rest of the world? North Korea's prolonged failure to finish it undermines everything it stands for, whatever exactly that may be."
While the Western author avoids saying it, this is a classic TiK penis envy story. Most political decisions, military decisions, business decisions, etc etc seem to have an underlying phallic element. Whether its the tallest flagpole in the world (North Korea), the tallest building in Asia (the 63 Building in Seoul for a year), to the new rush of Korean cities building super skyscrapers (see Incheon and Lotte), the penis is never far from the minds of the Korean decision makers, especially when comparing it American, Japanese and Chinese wangs!
#2 http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806100018.html
This one is a classic TiKer cause it has penis envy (versus Australia and Japan, in this case) and the Janus-like desperation for love from America despite hating everything about there "control" over Korea. And the best part is, it seems like it just might be a vocabulary/diplomatic language cockup. Then again, it might be the evil Megooks subtly poking Korea for the county's almost complete failure to live up to its international obligations.
Hmm, lets let the crazy netizens sort it all out! TiK!
So here is a double play of TiK!
1st: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2008/06/160_25545.html
This quote sums up the TiKness of it all:
" Those looking for symbolism needn't look far. An attempt by Kim II-sung to visualize his own power? The concrete embodiment of Juche ideology? The ultimate middle-finger to the rest of the world? North Korea's prolonged failure to finish it undermines everything it stands for, whatever exactly that may be."
While the Western author avoids saying it, this is a classic TiK penis envy story. Most political decisions, military decisions, business decisions, etc etc seem to have an underlying phallic element. Whether its the tallest flagpole in the world (North Korea), the tallest building in Asia (the 63 Building in Seoul for a year), to the new rush of Korean cities building super skyscrapers (see Incheon and Lotte), the penis is never far from the minds of the Korean decision makers, especially when comparing it American, Japanese and Chinese wangs!
#2 http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806100018.html
This one is a classic TiKer cause it has penis envy (versus Australia and Japan, in this case) and the Janus-like desperation for love from America despite hating everything about there "control" over Korea. And the best part is, it seems like it just might be a vocabulary/diplomatic language cockup. Then again, it might be the evil Megooks subtly poking Korea for the county's almost complete failure to live up to its international obligations.
Hmm, lets let the crazy netizens sort it all out! TiK!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Do they want us to change their diapers too?
Wow! Just, WOW!
I saw the headline and clicked to check out the story. And I hadn't finished the first paragraph before the oh my god alarm started to sound.
The offending passage: U.S. Ambassador to Korea Alexander Vershbow has weighed into the beef controversy, sparking an outcry with what critics say was a display of rudeness and arrogance.
Rudeness? Arrogance? These are the same people who spit everywhere, smash into each other as they walk, don't wait for people to get off the subway/elevator before barging forward etc, saying this is arrogance. FUBAR!
Now you might be asking what possibly could have prompted the Koreans to react this way. Here's the offending comment:
After meeting with Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan on Tuesday, Vershbow had said, "I can't deny that we're disappointed" at the Korean government's decision to delay U.S. beef imports. "We hope Koreans will begin to learn more about the science and about the facts of American beef." He also rejected reopening beef talks saying, "We don't see any need for re-negotiation of the agreement."
So, what is the offending comment?
A) Americans are disappointed a key export is still being held up costing them hundreds of millions of dollars--- I would say that this is something that's easy to see why they'd be disappointed over.
B) They want Koreans to learn the facts and science about something.--- How dare they! Question the intelligence of a people who elected a man who wants to build a massive canal down the center of the entire country. Koreans clearly know what's what.
C) no renegotiation is needed.--- If the Koreans are allowed to scream, yell and cry about the need to renegotiate, surely an American official is permitted to calmly and coherent state their view that no renegotiation is needed.
To sum up:
rude= calmly stating your opinion which is supported by science, facts and international trade regulations.
Not rude= repeatedly violating a trade agreement. Allowing citizens to hold overtly xenophobic , out of control demonstrations based on completely inaccurate information. To openly disrespect a country that is the only reason Korea even has freedom and isn't a property of Japan or run by communist, and who lost thousands of lives making it so and who have spent billions upon billions of dollars in securing this freedom.
I say let the soldiers leave, the military aid stop and Congress start passing similar measures to what Korea has in place. See what happens then.
These people are nothing more than infants and need to grow up.
Rudeness? Arrogance? These are the same people who spit everywhere, smash into each other as they walk, don't wait for people to get off the subway/elevator before barging forward etc, saying this is arrogance. FUBAR!
Now you might be asking what possibly could have prompted the Koreans to react this way. Here's the offending comment:
After meeting with Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan on Tuesday, Vershbow had said, "I can't deny that we're disappointed" at the Korean government's decision to delay U.S. beef imports. "We hope Koreans will begin to learn more about the science and about the facts of American beef." He also rejected reopening beef talks saying, "We don't see any need for re-negotiation of the agreement."
So, what is the offending comment?
A) Americans are disappointed a key export is still being held up costing them hundreds of millions of dollars--- I would say that this is something that's easy to see why they'd be disappointed over.
B) They want Koreans to learn the facts and science about something.--- How dare they! Question the intelligence of a people who elected a man who wants to build a massive canal down the center of the entire country. Koreans clearly know what's what.
C) no renegotiation is needed.--- If the Koreans are allowed to scream, yell and cry about the need to renegotiate, surely an American official is permitted to calmly and coherent state their view that no renegotiation is needed.
To sum up:
rude= calmly stating your opinion which is supported by science, facts and international trade regulations.
Not rude= repeatedly violating a trade agreement. Allowing citizens to hold overtly xenophobic , out of control demonstrations based on completely inaccurate information. To openly disrespect a country that is the only reason Korea even has freedom and isn't a property of Japan or run by communist, and who lost thousands of lives making it so and who have spent billions upon billions of dollars in securing this freedom.
I say let the soldiers leave, the military aid stop and Congress start passing similar measures to what Korea has in place. See what happens then.
These people are nothing more than infants and need to grow up.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
If you lived here you wouldn't need to see these lists to know.
So two new rankings came out today and I just had to blog the obvious.
First: Korea Ranks Among Worst in Traffic Fatality Rate
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806040024.html
Now anyone who has ever been here knows that the driving in Korea is probably the worst outside the 3rd world (at least they have an excuse). Combine a complete lack of consideration for other human beings ("Han" "Juche" "Jung" whatever the hell you wanna call it) with the complete lack of peripheral vision, mix in a little scooter on the sidewalk and students who have never been taught to look both ways before they cross and you have a recipe to reach the bottom of this great list!
Second: Korea Ranks Near Bottom in English Exam
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806040020.html
This is one is a hat tip to all you teachers out there who go to work everyday and pull your hair out struggling to get the students to say something other than "I'm fine thank you and you?"
Now, why is this a TiK post?
Well being in touch with your inner TiK means 2 things:
1) Loving lists, any lists that rank your country with every other country in the world. Since no one on planet Earth really cares about Korea (except Koreans of course) its important to have lists to explain to your foreign friends how great the country is. If the list is bad you would never mention, but you still need to have a list at least once a day in a major daily!
2) Despite the fact that list offers solutions to the problems (go visit the countries at the top and adopt their policies!!!) Koreans will never adopt those strategies, cause let's face it, the reason we are on the bottom is 'cause the OECD just "doesn't understand Korean culture"!
First: Korea Ranks Among Worst in Traffic Fatality Rate
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806040024.html
Now anyone who has ever been here knows that the driving in Korea is probably the worst outside the 3rd world (at least they have an excuse). Combine a complete lack of consideration for other human beings ("Han" "Juche" "Jung" whatever the hell you wanna call it) with the complete lack of peripheral vision, mix in a little scooter on the sidewalk and students who have never been taught to look both ways before they cross and you have a recipe to reach the bottom of this great list!
Second: Korea Ranks Near Bottom in English Exam
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806040020.html
This is one is a hat tip to all you teachers out there who go to work everyday and pull your hair out struggling to get the students to say something other than "I'm fine thank you and you?"
Now, why is this a TiK post?
Well being in touch with your inner TiK means 2 things:
1) Loving lists, any lists that rank your country with every other country in the world. Since no one on planet Earth really cares about Korea (except Koreans of course) its important to have lists to explain to your foreign friends how great the country is. If the list is bad you would never mention, but you still need to have a list at least once a day in a major daily!
2) Despite the fact that list offers solutions to the problems (go visit the countries at the top and adopt their policies!!!) Koreans will never adopt those strategies, cause let's face it, the reason we are on the bottom is 'cause the OECD just "doesn't understand Korean culture"!
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