Love Me Tender

I don’t remember how but I stumbled upon Wikipedia’s page on the ‘V’ sign as an insult, and it had a section called “Japan and the V sign in Photographs.” It’s pretty interesting actually. I don’t know how much of it is accurate since many things need citations, but who really does studies on this. Well, maybe someone in cultural studies or social movements maybe. Anyway here is what it said:

During the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, figure skater Janet Lynn stumbled into Japanese pop culture when she fell during a free-skate period—but continued to smile even as she sat on the ice. Though she placed only third in the actual competition, her cheerful diligence and indefatigability resonated with many Japanese viewers, making her an overnight celebrity in Japan. Afterwards, Lynn (a peace activist) was repeatedly seen flashing the V sign in the Japanese media. Though the V sign was known of in Japan prior to Lynn’s use of it there (from the post-WWII Allied occupation of Japan), she is credited by some Japanese for having popularized its use in amateur photographs. According to the other theory (actually present in the Japanese version of this entry), the V sign was popularized by the actor and singer Jun Inoue, who showed it in the Conica photo camera commercial in 1972.

(Read on …)

I was checking my mail today and my friend had sent me a forward called “God’s Protection”. She sends me a lot of things like this, which is interesting since they’re usually Christian oriented and she affiliates herself (as far as I know) as a Hindu. But anyway, I opened it and it had a cartoon strip in English and Korean. I thought the Korean part was really random since it looks like the characters are all White. I just found it really interesting. Here is the cartoon.

(Read on …)

In a recent episode of Sang Sang Plus Season 2 (aired May 6, 2008), Solbi stated that she “like[d] guys with nice butts, [and] Andy has a nice butt.” I laughed so hard when I read this, not only because she’s so frank but also because I feel the same way - I like guys with nice butts too. It was one of the reasons that I liked Sungmin from Super Junior and Brian from Fly To The Sky. They had nice pinchable bottoms. From what I’ve gathered, it’s not a plus point to have a larger bum in Korea (you’ll get labelled duck butt or something like that). So sad…it’s such a nice quality. =P

Reference:
1. Coolsmurf: Solbi information

This was posted way back in October but I only saw it now. It’s so amusing.

I don’t understand what the big deal is about celebrities admitting they watch or have watched porn. Honestly, who hasn’t? And what makes people think that all those commercials, advertisement posters, billboards, music videos, and music performances AREN’T porn? Just because artists cleverly cover up certain parts of their bodies and not others doesn’t mean they aren’t also screaming “fuck me”. I think these are more sexual than “official” porn itself, although it depends on the type and genre. But really, what is the big deal? As if it’s so taboo for to people watch it when it is only a very small minority of people haven’t or don’t. Let’s just be realistic and mature about it. If a person wants to watch porn, that’s their choice. I don’t think they should be slandered because of it, like Soo Young of SNSD. Poor girl. Even though I think she’s stupid and deathly skinny, it’s not fair that people are dumbasses and blow things out of proportion. I don’t encourage people to engage in porn, but they should not be demonized for it. Anyway, that’s my two cents.

References:
1. Asian Fanatics: info on Soo Young

Have you ever watched a Korean show (usually variety shows) where they are playing, singing along to, or dancing to songs that just make you go O_O!!! Well I have. It’s amusing but at the same time you know they would be mortified if they really knew what the lyrics meant. Well, this clip reminded me of that. Don’t watch it if you want to maintain your virgin ears.

Is that a real song?

I thought this was amusing. Two British guys (Adam and Joe, obviously) are in Tokyp, Japan telling us all the things about the Japanese. It’s obviously ridiculously bias and essentializing, but it’s all in the name of entertainment. Hence, take it with a grain of salt. And on to the videos!

Ep 1 : Part 2
Ep 1 : Part 3

Ep 2 : Part 1
Ep 2 : Part 2

There are more episodes, but I’m sure you’re smart enough to find them on youtube

As I was procrastinating by reading this blog, I found myself enjoying a particular post called Korean Myth Buster. I found it entertaining enough to repost it here.

Fan Death
Yes, you read that right. In Korea people believe that fans are capable of killing people during the night in three ways: hypothermia, suffocation or poisoning. Apparently fans can suck the air from your face creating a vacuum which can suffucate you while you’re sleeping. Hypothermia supposedly occurs because of the fan dramatically lowering your body temperature if it’s blowing directly on you. Carbon Dioxide poisoning occurs because of the fan displacing the oxygen in the room.

I still can’t believe people think this is true. Fans come especially equipped with timers so that you don’t accidently off yourself while you slumber.

Read the rest of the entry.