CULTURE MATTERS

Straight teeth in the U.S. = good. In Japan, not so much.

A result of tooth-crowding commonly derided in the United States as “snaggleteeth” or “fangs,” the look is called “yaeba” in Japanese or “double tooth.” Japanese men are said to find this attractive: blogs are devoted to yaeba, celebrities display it proudly, and now some women are paying dentists to create it artificially by affixing plastic fronts to their real teeth.

Thanks to Tyler Cowen for the link.

OCCUPY HONG KONG?

Now things are getting interesting (link to pics found here).

Of course what will be really interesting is if we see an "Occupy P'yôngyang" movement. The KCNA publishes opinions and observations that might not be too incongruous with what has been seen on signs of various "Occupy ____" movements

There is no doubt that capitalism is waning. It is on its decline and our leaders are unable to take any measure to stop it.

They are increasing credit loans as a relief measure but the capitalist system is getting weak day by day.

The loan of the rich is gradually on the increase and the surplus fund is used for speculation.

The customers are mired in evil cycle of debt and politics have become hollow unable to advance any creative initiative.

But I somehow doubt that the DPRK would welcome large numbers of protestors with "V for Vendetta" masks in front of Kumsusan Memorial Palace.

AWESOME

Pizza was originally Korean!

CHECK "IT" OUT

Entirely unrelated to history or Asia but the "Blog" of "Unnecessary" quotation marks is worth a look (and a laugh).

CANINE IMPERIALISM

Read the summary. Then, buy the book.

LOST GENERATION

They are told to work hard and go to college, yet after graduating they find few permanent job opportunities?

Many of the jobs that are available are part-time, temporary or contract labor?

These insecure jobs pay one-third of what their fathers earned?

Sound familiar? A report on the Occupy Wall Street movement or similar protests throughout the U.S.?

Not quite, this is a piece from a year ago about Japan.

NORTH KOREAN FOOD CRISIS

Serious or not?

UPDATE: More on the "serious" side of things here (complete with heart-wrenching photos; more photos here).

UPDATE II: And, on the "not so much more serious than last year" side of things, there is this.