The Korea Herald

[Barbara Shelly] Latest battle in ‘mommy wars’ roars to forefront

ViewpointsJan 27, 2011

It doesn’t take much to rally the troops in the “mommy wars.”The latest call to arms has been sounded by Amy Chua, a mother of two girls, Yale University professor and author, most recently, of “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,” a memoir of parenting.In a pithy, take-no-prisoners style, Chua lets readers in on the secrets to raising children who will validate their parents’ decision to bring them
[David Ignatius] Ike was right; downsize defense budget

ViewpointsJan 27, 2011

WASHINGTON ― Last week we celebrated the anniversary of President Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural address, with its ringing call to “pay any price, bear any burden” for the nation’s security. But a better guide to the choices we face today is President Eisenhower’s farewell address, delivered three days earlier, and his call to restrain the “military-industrial complex.” Trimming the defense budget is on
[John Kass] Oh, c’mon, c’mon, Emanuel a victim?

ViewpointsJan 27, 2011

Rahm Emanuel as a poor innocent victim of ruthless insider Chicago politics?It seems to be the approved narrative. Especially now that he’s been knocked off the mayoral ballot in Monday’s ruling by the Illinois Appellate Court because he didn’t meet the state’s residency requirements.Now Rahm will have to troll for sympathy, and demand that the rights of the people be respected. You know, the regu
[Kenneth Roth] Eat, drink, human rights

ViewpointsJan 27, 2011

When the White House invited me to the state dinner for Chinese President Hu Jintao, I knew that I was being used as a symbol ― to signal a tougher approach on human rights. The Obama administration was widely seen as having flubbed the November 2009 summit in China. In the lead-up to his visit, President Obama had refused to meet the Dalai Lama, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had i
[Joel Brinkley] Afghanistan turns into a narco-state

ViewpointsJan 27, 2011

As Afghan President Hamid Karzai works to overturn a parliamentary election that did not turn out the way he wanted, the United States continues to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on “good governance” initiatives.This $760 million program, to strengthen government agencies, was America’s single largest non-military expense in Afghanistan over the last year. All of it was money thrown away.Th
Minister Choung vows to revive cultural power for social integration

PeopleJan 27, 2011

The power of culture and the arts will be enlisted to help integrate divided Korean society, said Choung Byoung-gug, who took office as the new culture minister Thursday.“During the past 10 years working in the cultural sector, I have realized how powerful culture and arts are in narrowing differences of language, religion and nationality,” Choung said at a press conference at the Ministry of Cult
Indie films test faith at Sundance

FilmJan 27, 2011

PARK CITY, Utah ― It takes a lot of faith to make an independent film. This year, independent films are showing a lot of faith.Among the roughly 120 features playing at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, a surprisingly large number use faith ― and specifically Christianity ― as either a critical narrative fulcrum or a key expositional backdrop. And the dramas do not always take a neutral stance.K
Sight problems growing as population grays

FashionJan 27, 2011

DALLAS ― Jennifer Tyler was driving down a country road in Oklahoma a couple of years ago when she noticed something odd. The telephone poles all had kinks in them.“I thought, ‘Wow, what’s all that about?’” says Tyler, a Dallas fundraising consultant. “They all had distinctive bends in the middle.”She pulled off the road and called a friend. “I knew something bad was happening,” she says. “It was
How to prevent and treat acid reflux

FashionJan 27, 2011

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a common chronic digestive disease that occurs when stomach contents such as acid or, occasionally, bile refluxes into the esophagus. The backwash of acid irritates the lining of the esophagus and causes various GERD signs and symptoms. Typical symptoms include acid reflux and heartburn. Acid reflux is a regurgitation of sour liquid into your mouth, and
Staying indoors may contribute to obesity

FashionJan 27, 2011

Lee Ji-hyun, a 28-year-old office worker, plans to visit Bangkok next week during the Lunar New Year’s holiday. “I just want to run away from the prolonged cold wave in Seoul. I’ve been scared to go out in recent weeks due to the very cold weather,” Lee said. Indeed the worst cold spell in years continues to grip the nation. The temperature at Christmas fell to minus 14 degrees Celsius in Seoul, i
Third-sex hostesses ready for takeoff

PodcastJan 27, 2011

Thai transsexuals were overjoyed as new airline P.C. Air yesterday took air hostess job applications from "third sex" candidates at Bangkok's Esplanade shopping mall.Among the successful applicants was Miss Tiffany 2007 winner Thanyarat "Film" Jiraphatpakorn.P.C. Air executive Peter Shan said the company had seen the potential of transsexuals to work as hostesses.After passing the preliminary roun
Dentist introduces saucy dress code for patients

PodcastJan 27, 2011

(Captured from Metro)A German dentist has come into the spotlight after introducing Alpine-style “dirndl” outfits for her staff in an attempt to distract nervous patients. According to the British Metro, Dr. Marie-Catherine Klarkowski and her assistants wear cleavage-revealing garments at the office.“The most important thing is to take away patients’ fear. The sight of cleavage gets patients distr
Yonsei draws fire over bar plans

Social affairsJan 27, 2011

Yonsei University is drawing fire from within over a plan to open a campus bar, which would be the school’s first place to sell alcohol in its 120-year history.Officials at the International Campus of Yonsei University in Incheon, expected to open in spring, were concerned with the lack of entertainment facilities nearby where students can socialize and relieve stress, and proposed that a bar be o
W552 billion allocated for 180 new public libraries

BooksJan 27, 2011

(Yonhap News)A total of 552 billion won ($493 million) has been earmarked for opening 66 public libraries and 114 small libraries, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday.The move is part of the government’s “Library Development Comprehensive Plan,” set for 2009-2013 to promote reading. The 552 billion won includes a 188 billion won budget from the central government, 349 billio
S. Korea posts 4th-largest current account surplus in 2010

Jan 27, 2011

South Korea's current account surplus widened in December from the previous month on robust exports, with the country posting its fourth-largest ever surplus last year, the central bank said Thursday. The current account surplus reached $2.11 billion in December, up from $1.93 billion the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). The current account is the broadest measure of cros