Stories about Humor from February, 2009
The Greatest Street Party on Earth: The Brazilian Carnival
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.
Trinidad & Tobago: Living for Carnival
This Beach Called Life suspects that Trinidad Carnival may have a positive impact on longevity.
China: Bush maize ad
Sunbin posted a photos showing an ad making use of Bush for selling maize.
Gulf: How things work
Smile O Smile shares this joke on “how things work” in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
Malaysia: Many are not satisfied with their sex lives
Myhorng links to an article which shows that many Malaysians are not satisfied with their sex lives.
Brunei: Cartoons about the floods
Cuboiart posts two cartoons describing Brunei's experience with flash floods for the past two months.
Cambodia: Female Python pet
A Cambodian family has a female Python for a houseguest. They believe the giant python brings good luck.
Google's April Fools’ Hoax Gets the Best of a Syrian Newspaper
Google is in the habit of launching spoof services on April Fools’ Day. Diya’ from Syria reports [ar] that a prominent Syrian newspaper, Al Watan, has taken the bait and reported on Google's TSIP service, WiFi through toilets, as an actual service.
DRC: When it rains in Kinshasa
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Japan: Online Facemark Dictionary
A website, evoticon.net, has been launched recently to collect Japanese emotion icon. (via Japan Probe)
China: PS Photos on CCTV Fire
Fauna from ChinaSMACK has a selection of PS photos on CCTV Fire happened on Monday night.
Trinidad & Tobago: Be Advised
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.”
