But don’t look now, drag to Australia and they have several cases developing as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). South Korea has already begun monitoring at airports. Google is capable of integrating both reporting (and search) data to track developing diseases (and/or pandemics) in real time. Kind of breathtaking, but only in small, short breaths so as not to induce panic or breathe someone else’s pig germs.

View H1N1 Swine Flu in a larger map

U.S. version at [Gizmodo]
[Google Maps]

Sounds like the crux of the Lee Myung Bak government’s argument is: “It’s 10pm, do you know where your children are?” As the debate grows between hagwon groups and the government, most teachers seem to favor the idea of having dinner at least by 11pm. What do you think?
[Korea Times]

If you want to write and publish teaching/Korea-related articles on Ratemyhagwon.com drop us a line or two. (more…)

For your random Friday moment of Zen, we re-present Gizmodo’s attempt at eating the World’s Largest Cheetos over the world’s largest keyboard.

(video inside…)

Here’s a North Korea exclusive that managed to escape the censors, covered by alternative journalists who during their day jobs usually mix tongue-in-cheek fashion commentary with interviews with pornstars or brain surgeons. From the guys who brought you Vice Magazine, funded by MTV, and art directed by Spike Jonze, we found this fourteen part report on North Korea to be a kitchy* look at how weird it can be to travel to North Korea. *by saying kitchy, we mean, entirely accurate. (watch more…)

[VBS.tv]

…

Korea has the world’s largest number of TOEFL test-takers, and after billions spent on private education, the average ranking is near the bottom at 136th place out of 161 nations.

[Korea Times]

What’s the secret to perfect ramen? Well, it’s in the soup, of course. Here’s a quick recipe for the best tasting ramen! (more…)

Yes, this is our second Wondergirls video. But we couldn’t resist after spotting this on YouTube. A global fan compilation, which strangely evokes the long lost popularity of the Macarena in slowmo. Pretty amazing the musical tastes of kids halfway around the world, thanks to the Internet.

[Youtube]

We don’t know why ddeokbokki, the spicy sweet rice cakes boiled in red pepper sauce with odaeng (fish cakes), has changed its name to ‘topokki’. But perhaps this is all in the name of trying to globalize a street food into a corporate, pre-packaged export snack? (more…)