Some interesting Korean commercials . . . and a naughty Dutch one.

[poll update: see sidebar to vote]


I got nothing to say about this one.


Below is top star Kim Tae Hee, for an ice cream phone, gives an interesting look at cute culture here in Korea -- I brushed on this in my post about soju ads. In Japan it's called "Kawaii" culture -- the obssession with cuteness. To Canuck Schmoe, the average Canadian, it looks babyish, but believe me, to many of my Korean friends and students, this is considered cool and even sexy! It's a clever move, because women can connect to the cuteness and say "she's like my little sister," and not complain about the ad for being sexist, while men can have their sexist, dominant fantasy of the submissive girl who baby-talks and makes puppy-dog eyes. (note especially the cutesified sexual position at 1:20: you can't wiggle your bum cutely when your feet are that far apart!)


"Melong" is what Korean kids say instead of "na na na na na" when they tease each other.



when does this one (Kim Tae Hee again) stop being cute and start being suggestive?

don't know.


This one got banned for being too suggestive. Wait for the punch line.


And two funny Dutch ads:
the difficult decisions we must make in life. . .


and this one is right off the hook. (Warning: this one has a very very bad word in it. It's funny, but rude. . . and it makes a very good case for what it's selling.)


I have some special family news to share. . . but that might have to wait until after the weekend, when the weather is this beautiful.

Until then, I posted these possible future post topics before, and wrote about the most-voted-for topics. I'm putting them up again so you can tell me, what do you want me to write about next? There's also a poll in the sidebar. Cast your vote on the sidebar. I took down the topics I've already covered, and one that I no longer feel motivated to discuss.

1. the goofiest urban legend ever (formerly titled: the silliest thing I've encountered so far in Korea)

2. the most entertaining internet phenomenon I've encountered in recent times

3. why reading Lord of the Rings comforts me

4. the top five list of "Things I'd Change About Korean Culture If I Had A Magic Wand (that worked)"

5. Great Korean movies you should track down and see. . .

suggest your own topic and I'll think about it.

(Links to the previously suggested topics I already wrote about:)

Why the Internet, as it is now, will never reach its full potential as an agent for social change.
and
Why Modern Religion Deserves Richard Dawkins.