· February, 2009

Stories about Humor from February, 2009

The Greatest Street Party on Earth: The Brazilian Carnival

  28 February 2009

Barack Obama, Fidel Castro and the Iraqi journalist who threw one of his shoes at George Bush were just some of the characters spotted on the streets of Brazil, during this year's Carnival. See a selection of the most interesting pictures published under a Creative Commons license.

DRC: When it rains in Kinshasa

  21 February 2009

Cedric Kalonji describes Kinshasa after a heavy rain [FR].  The roads turn into lakes, but “high up in their 4x4s, the authorities are untouched by the problem, the result being that there is almost no support for making storm sewers or gutters.”

Egypt: Comedy Channels Disgraceful

  20 February 2009

“It is really a very good gesture to have a dedicated channel to air nothing but comic shows all the time and transfer some cheerful vibes. That being said I have to say that most of the material aired is extremely disappointing, and goes beyond disgraceful sometimes,” writes Nermeena, from...

China: Riding on Chairman Mao's head

  20 February 2009

On Feb19,a set of pictures that shows a girl riding on the head of Chairman Mao was circulated around the internet. Of course, what she rides is just a statue erected on the plaza in Hunan, Mao's hometown. However, the story with the pictures immediately secured the headline position in...

Ukraine: Giving the Mayor Away For Free

  19 February 2009

LJ user induktor‘s post (RUS) in the Ukrainian “Will Give Away For Free” LJ community (otdam_darom_ua) has generated three pages of comments: the blogger is giving away Kyiv's mayor Leonid Chernovetsky. (More on Chernovetsky and his policies – at Ukrainiana.)

Georgia: Eurovision Pop Protest

  17 February 2009

Writing for the new Frontline Club blog, Matthew Collin says that Georgia might use this this year's Eurovision international song contest to be held in Moscow to poke fun at its foe in last year's short lived August war with an entry entitled “Put-In Disco.”

Japan: Hetalia Axis Powers and the limits of parody

  17 February 2009

Hetalia, a satirical manga set mainly during the Second World War and featuring national protagonists of that era, has attracted attention among both domestic and international audiences for its caricature of world nations. In this post, read reactions in translation from bloggers in both Japan, where the manga originated, and in Italy, the country most strongly ridiculed.

Brazil: A Falling Castle (and Congressman) in Two Acts

  14 February 2009

Recently elected Vice-President and Ethics Magistrate of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, Edmar Moreira has resigned following only one week in the post, after a property of his – a medieval-style castle in the middle of tropical Brazil about which the tax office were not told – has suddenly come into the spotlight. Will he be investigated? Bloggers speculate on this tragic-comic plot.

India: The Pink Underwear Resistance

  13 February 2009

In some parts of India, celebrating Valentine's Day could be considered harmful to women's and couple's health, as Morality Police decide to hunt down couples and women that may be holding hands or in pubs. The Pink Chaddi campaign is a step towards demonstrating that women can and will take matters into their own hands to make sure the situation changes.

Korea: Seven Reasons Why You’re Dumped by Women

  13 February 2009

There was an interesting post in a Korean blog introducing seven reasons why men are dumped by women on a date and giving tips on how you as a man should prevent this disaster. Don’t trust this 100 percent. It won’t always be right.

China: Grass Mud Horse

  12 February 2009

Joel Martinsen from DANWEI explains the popular online term, Grass Mud Horse, which originally is a legendary beast and recently used as a political parody for the harmonious society.

Trinidad & Tobago: Be Advised

  10 February 2009

As five developed countries issue travel advisories for Trinidad and Tobago, This Beach Called Life says: “Government’s Vision is clear and that is what is so frightening.”