Struggling to
understand NE Asia while keeping a sense of humor?
If the answer is yes, this site is for you.
This site began in 1996 as a vanity site as well as a means of learning more
about the Internet. It has become a minor institution for those people
interested in NE Asia with a sense of humor as well as professional and
academic concerns.
I don't take this enterprise
too seriously but I do try to keep it as current as possible. Should you
have any contributions, I hope you may share them with us all care of the below
left e-mail button.
O-genki de, chal isseo,
slán go foill...Tom Coyner
Our topics are organized as follows:
True Facts- a series of accounts illustrating that the truth is
weirder than fiction
Tall Tales- jokes,
poems, photos, graphics and essays
Top Ten (and Other Lists)- originally about computers, this section lost its way as
funnier lists were sent in.
Understanding Japan-
this was the first section devoted to learning about this part of the world; it
is now quite huge.
Understanding Korea- this soon followed the Japan section with an especially
large section on North Korea.
Serious Stuff -
serious topics that don't fit into other sections are included here including
religion, economics, politics, etc.
RPCVs Korea - for
Korea Returned Peace Corps Volunteers - with e-mail directory along with
photos/contributions of and by RPCVs--recently expanded.
Friends of IBEAR-devoted
to alumnae and friends of the University of Southern California IBEAR MBA
program; includes extensive e-mail directory photos/contributions of and by
IBEAR alumnae.
*Doing Business in Korea: An Expanded Guide, a
totally updated and greatly expanded guide over its predecessor, Mastering
Business in Korea, is now on sale. To
get an introduction and to place an order for your copy, click here.
*
New U.S. Thinking Needed
on N. Korea -
America needs to reassess its policy options after
viewing matters from N Korea's perspective, by Tom Coyner, JoongAng Daily,
June 22, 2010;
*
Bosses Shouldn't Fear
Foreign Media- Korean firms are missing a golden chance when they
refuse to meet with foreign journalists, by Tom Coyner, JoongAng Daily, May 26, 2010; *
How to Select an
Attorney in Korea- Legal costs can by managed in
Korea when the client consumer monitors and controls legal services, by Tom Coyner, Journal of the
American Chamber in Korea, 2nd Quarter
2010;
*
A Hidden
Trade Barrier- South Korea's
large law firm oligarchy unnecessarily inflates the cost of doing business
in Korea, by Tom Coyner, JoongAng Daily, March 1, 2010.
- The sight of
Mongolian-born Asashoryu playing football when he was on sick leave, and rumours
that he wants to retire, have caused uproar, The Independent, Published: 07 August 2007;
* Japan's Subtle
Etiquette Code- How to survive in Japan's virtual 24X7 cocktail
party of a society,
International Herald Tribune,
July 10, 2007.
Serious
Stuff:
*
Welcome to This
Brave New World
-
Tom Coyner attempts to
puts recent events into their historical context, suggesting just now have
we entered the 21st century, Korea Times, November 27,
2008;
*
What
is anti-Americanism?
Anti-Americanism doesn't deal with reality, but many admirers of the United
States aren't dealing with reality, either, JoongAng Daily, May 18,
2007;
* A Forensic Psychologist's View of the VA Tech Massacre- Interview
of Dr. Michael Welner, Hugh Hewitt Show, April 2007; * Who Are the Quakers? -
Tom's frequently updated illustrated, hypertext essay on the Quakers' role
in society
A graphic example of why abolitionism failed;
*
Woman
Busted in Crack Whinge, News.com.au,
December 20, 2006;
*
Flatulence Causes Emergency Landing -
How to get banned from flying on an airline for a very long time, Agence
France-Presse, December 7, 2006;
*
Man cuts off penis in drunken bet-
A man who cut off his own penis in a drunken bet had it stitched back on by
Latvian doctors, The Australian, July 21, 2006.