Category: Weekly Links

Koreas
– Kaesong workers or rather Kim Jong-il has received a raise courtesy of the SK government.
– I don’t have a high opinion of Korean police, but they should be recognized when they do a good job.
– Korean scientists have concluded that Fan Death is not real, however Korean netizens remain unconvinced.
– This is why I take public transportation as much as possible in Korea.
– Everyone has an opinion on the upcoming 2nd Inter-Korean summit and Donald Kirk offers his.
– Choe Sang-hun offers his take on the fight over the Yanghwajin Foreigner Cemetery.
– Pooping on boshintang and dog penis soju. 
– Anyone had any cow fried pork lately?
– After all the news about Rain and the other K-pop types invading the US, who would have thought a dreadlocked, tatooed Korean in need of a t-shirt, Cho Sung-jin, would have more of an impact on the charts.
– It looks like Wentworth Miller continues to be making it big in Korea.
– Interesting list of the Top 30 English webpages related to Korea.
– Finally here is something quite spooky for everyone to check out. 

Japan
– Here is a list of the 20 most popular English webpages in Japan.
– A more muscular Japan?
– Just another example of Japanese militarism, Japanese UN peacekeepers may soon be able to use their weapons to defend other soldiers.  It is clear a Dokdo invasion is just around the corner with such a provactive development.
– Preparing for Ultimate FutiLity.
– Some interesting new film of ground zero at Nagasaki has been revealed.
– An American first in Japanese baseball.

China
– I definitely like the Chinese Army’s new secret weapon.
– Weird story, but Korea could use a guy like this minus the criminal history.
– Visa regulations tightened in China.
– Foreign journalists detained in China.

Milblogs
– John Soltz is still a wanker.  By the way did you hear he was in Iraq?
– Canada has announced plans to upgrade their polar defenses after the Russian announcement of planting a flag under the North Pole.  Is dog sled infantry around the corner?
– By the war the Reuters had to admit the photo they used of the flag planting was actually from the movie Titanic.
– A reserve colonel who served as a chief of police in Georgia was fired by the city council because they could not regularly contact him by cell phone in Iraq.   
– Reports that Syria is negotiating with the US after a number of Syrian border guards are being killed by Al Qaida.

F.D. Postings
– Misinformation Campaign to Remove US Special Forces from Afghanistan
– News from the Frontlines
– Troop Withdrawals from Ninevah Province Announced
– The Tuscon Boneyard
– Update on Ambushed Marines

Koreas
– The deadly "Korean Wave" in North Korea
– Would you like some dung with that beef?
– Attacked by protesters, but got the shoes.
– It is always important to keep the moral high ground.
– Shark warning issued for the Sea that Cannot Be Named.
– Riding on Gadoekdo Island.
– I wish more Korean ATMs would do this.
– Good advice on what to pack for a trip to Korea.

Japan
– More debate on the legitimacy of dropping the A-bomb on Japan.
– One busy intersection in Shinjuku.
– The mysterious toilet money donor of Japan. 
– The McPork burger is on its way to Japan.

China
– Anybody want some Chinese cardboard meat buns?
– Starbucks has been booted from the Forbidden City.
– Are the Chinese supplying armor piercing bullets to the Taliban?

Milblogs
– You won’t hear this in the MSM, but murder charges against a US Marine have been dropped.
– Make sure to read Michael Yon’s latest posting.
– The surge against the surge.
– I never get tired of listening to this speech.
– The whole Pat Tillman saga has been one big screw up after another.

The Koreas
–  Here is some testimony from a Korean-American in "enemy territory".  This woman has serious issues. 
–  It appears there is a good chance the ROK-US FTA is dead and you can read some good reasons why here & here.
–  Will there be a "Body by Kim" book on the way after Kim Jong-il’s successful weight loss program?
–  Transformers are absolutely dominating the Korean box office by garnering 75% of all ticket sales.  Incredible.
–  Speaking of Transformers Gdog has some good things to say about it and corn ice cream.  Yes, corn ice cream.
–  Are you an expat and want to be on TV?  Well click here to find out how.
–  The vedict is Not Guilty.  Congrats.
–  Global Korea – Top Ten Tips
–  Don’t miss Jackass North Korea style.

Japan
–  Despite all the issues between Japan and Korea, more and more Koreans are deciding to visit Japan.
–  Looks like Japan may deploy the SDF to Darfur.  Now if only they would take George Clooney and the rest of Hollywood with them. 
–  Dog weddings the new trend in Japan?
–  I actually stayed in one of things one time and it really wasn’t that bad.

China
–  China covering up bad news about their pollution problems.  Anyone surprised?
–  Dinosaur bone medicine anyone? 
–  This craziness in Taiwan over a handbag has to be seen to be believed.
–  Six Chinese prostitutes were held as hostages in the Pakistan mosque standoff. 

Milblogs
–  You won’t read about the Al Qaida massacre of villagers in Iraq in the MSM any time soon, but Michael Yon continues to provide updates on it here & here.
–  Most inspiring re-enlistment I have ever read.
–  Off duty servicemembers take down Las Vegas casino gunman.

The Koreas
-  I wonder how long this is going to last?
-  Somebody pinch me because I actually agree with Hilary on something.
-  You can tell it is nearing election time because the sunshiners are sure getting desperate for this second inter-Korean summit.
-  NK slave labor in Czech Republic has finely come to an end.
-  Some advice on the best places in Seoul to take a nap.
-  I mentioned in my previous posting about my trip on the Incheon Airport train.  Well the train service is about to improve as the line is being extended all the way to Seoul Station.

Japan
-  Yes the Japanese have mastered the art of the convenience store.
-  Japanese media pushes the Tokyo government to create the city’s own Cheongyecheon.
-  Is the Imperial Japanese Feng Shui attack on Korea true?  Opposing viewpoints can be found here.
-  Burger King is back in Japan.

China
-  The Tiananmen Square mining disaster?  This is why when the Chinese complain about historical revisionism from the Japanese their complaints seem extremely hollow to me.
-  The Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo has been a source of controversy for years.  Well the controversy is about to get a whole lot bigger. 
-  First Koguryo, then Shilla and Paekche; now the Chinese want to try and steal taekwondo as well.

Milblogs
-  Michael Yon has as another great series of postings about his time embedded with the British in Iraq.  Read his first two dispatches in a four part series here and here.
-  The story of the civilian truck driving Rambo.
-  Liquid Armor?  Interesting.
-  What if D-day happened on June 6th, 2007?  Find out here.

Koreas
-  The world’s most expensive mango.
-  Just when I thought every area of anti-Americanism in Korea has been covered an enterprising adashi exploits anti-Americanism in a new way to make a buck.
-  Korea’s troubled export: babies.
-  If you haven’t read Richardson’s post on the Gwangju Incident yet, you really should just for the fact he draws Tim Shorrock into the debate and does a David Albright to him. 
-  Is a Norkipedia on its way?

Japan
-  A look at linguistic similarities between Korea and Japan
-  News from Japan I like to read about.
-  Beware of the Viagra Vamps of Chiba.
-  Korea isn’t the only "land of four seasons".

China
-  Profiting from death in China
-  Mass protests over one child policy turn violent.
-  Chinese government steps up crackdown on NK refugees.

Milblogs
-  This is one of the best rhetorical smackdowns I’ve ever read courtesy of a Canadian no less.
-  Will this guy ever go away? 
-  A good look at the media in Iraq from Michael Yon.

Korea
– Has living overseas effected your English speaking ability?
– OFK reminds everyone that North Korea has now gone over 20 days in their most recent violation of a signed agreement with the international community.
– Anyone has any plans to attend the Hi Seoul Festival?
– I agree, Kim Pyong-il sure does look like his dad and probably is the reason why he is in Poland.
– Do you have a scooter?  Well here is one way to secure it.

Japan
– The Japanese have a long holiday break this weekend and many Japanese are spending it in Korea for reasons you may not expect.
– Congressman Mike Honda has now commented on comfort women in Japan for US soldiers after World War II.  To sum things up, he could care less.  I do wish Congressman Honda would answer what he thinks about the modern day Korean comfort women in China?
– Has anyone heard about the sheep poodle story in Japan?  Guess what, it is not true.
– Death penalty issue rises in Japan again with the hanging of two criminals this week.

China
– The killers of a journalist in China are actually being held accountable for the killing or are they? 
– Environmental pollution in China has been linked to infertility in China.
– I don’t like my neighbor’s dog that barks at night, but damn I would never set the dog on fire.
– Here is a good post on the riots happening in Macau that are being successfully covered up by the Chinese media censors. 

Milblogs
– The US Naval Academy is creating a whole new definition for the term an "independent contractor".
– Make sure to read the latest excellent dispatches from Michael Yon, here and here.

News
-  Of course the big story this week was the shooting at Virginia Tech.  The best write up about the shooting and it’s effect on the Korean community is without a doubt this comment left on Michael Hurt’s site.  A must read comment.  Additionally the Big Ho has a good write up on who is really responsible for the tragedy.
-  After reading this posting, "If the Koreans are Our Friends, Why Do They Dislike Us So Much?", I’m beginning to think that USinKorea’s comment that the backlash against Korea won’t be because of Cho, but rather from more people becoming aware of the anti-US sentiment in Korea due to the Cho shootings, may be correct.
-  Speaking of backlash there is definitely a YouTube backlash over the Cho shooting.

Korea
-  Alright enough with Cho, and here is some North Korea news.  DPRK Studies has a good write up on the latest blow to the pro-engagement crowd who this past couple of weeks have taken one blow after another and yet still continue to believe North Korea is trustworthy. 
-  It is North Korea Freedom Week and OFK has details on what you can do to spread the word.
-  Anyone interested in Korean music needs check out this new reference that attempts catalogue Korean music from traditional to modern times.

Japan
-  For my Japanese readers, you better check out your toilets because I wouldn’t want this malfunction to happen to you. 
-  I never would have imagined cheating had become such a science.

China
-  It is good to see that the US is not the only place that builds bridges to no where.
-  Did anyone know Rupert Murdoch had a Chinese wife?
-  Are Chinese scholars whores?

Milblogs
-  Michael Totten is in Kirkuk and offers a great look at the ethnic conflict in that city.
-  Reports of Iran aiding the Taliban, is anyone surprised?

Blogging
-  Here is a link to a cool map of the top 500,000 blogs in the blogosphere.  I’m in there somewhere. 

-  Amazing news, Tommy Hilfiger’s long lost brother has been found in Korea. 

-  Are you an ugly American?  Well you can find out here.

-  The new Inchon airport railway is looking pretty good.

-  Speaking of looking, the Big Hominid has discovered something you really need to see.

-  Here is an important tip of what not to brief to a ROK Navy Admiral.

-  I have to agree, doesn’t Bill Richardson have better things to do?  It is all about the photo op. 

-  Here is an interesting list of what Japanese think is history’s 100 most influential people.  A few Americans made the list and a some of the selections didn’t make much since to me.  Bruce Lee in Japan is considered more influential than Leonardo Da Vinci and Julius Caesar?

-  Japan this week has also just activated their newest missile defense system.

-  Finally, speaking of advanced weapons systems, here is an interesting story about possible espionage of US submarine technology in America by an aledged Chinese spy.

Links from this week worth checking out

-  Seoul did not make any of the Top 10 lists for the best cities in Asia for expats to live.  Here is the list:

World Wide:

1 Singapore, Singapore (1), 2 Australia, Sydney (2), 3 Australia, Melbourne (3), 4 Japan, Kobe (5), 5 Australia, Canberra (4), 6 Canada, Vancouver (7), 6 Denmark, Copenhagen (6), 8 New Zealand, Wellington (8), 9 Netherlands, Amsterdam (23), 10 Japan, Osaka (10), 10 Japan, Tokyo (11), 10 Belgium, Brussels (14), 10 Germany, Bonn (14), 10 Ireland, Dublin (14), 10 Switzerland, Basel (9), 10 Switzerland, Geneva (22)

Top 10 best locations in Asia for Asian expats:

1 Singapore, Singapore, 2 Japan, Kobe, 3 Japan, Tokyo, 3 Japan, Osaka, 5 Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 6 Macau, Macau, 7 Taiwan, Taipei, 8 Thailand, Bangkok, 9 Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 10 Malaysia, Georgetown

-  If you are one of those people who think Seoul is really that bad, maybe you should take the Get Out of Korea quiz here.

-  After taking the quiz, if Seoul is still that bad you can always drive out of the city.  Check here for a historical look at automobiles in Korea

-  If you can’t drive out of Seoul, you can always fly out, which is about to get easier to do.  Here is an update on the long over due subway expansion to Incheon International Airport that is set to open soon.

-  Or you can just drink your misery away with some Korean soju and decide if it is better than Japanese shochu?

-  At least a professional wrestler is running the city yet, like in Japan where they now have their own version of Jesse "The Body" Ventura.

-  Or you could just riot like 20,000 people in China recently did and had to be put down by the Chinese Army.

Links from this week worth checking out

-  Ever wondered about differences between Korean and Japanese bath houses?  Well Ampontan has the scoop here.

-  The Western Confucian has some strong words about suicides in Korea.

-  Cool XK2 video can be view here.

-  Ever wondered where Koreans learned to drive?  Find out here.

-  Speaking of driving in Korea, a couple of excellent posts on this subject can be found here and here.

-  gdimension has the low down on Cheju Island myths and has a great sandscape photo here.

-  See douchebaggery in action here.

-  Have you taken any of the Top 10 photos in Japan?

-  Caution, a child molester is on the loose in Japan.