You Sure Got a Lot of Cranium Accesories!

Last month, Dennis asked me what the strangest thing about Korea is. I still am not sure how to answer that question. There are a lot of strange things going on over here in the Hermit Kingdom, but what is the weirdest? Perhaps it is the physical affection between boys (they hold hands, play with each other's hair in class, and engage in other behavior which wouldn't necessarily make an American feel uncomfortable, but would surely make them look askance). Perhaps it's the fact that every sign -- whether corporate or official -- has to reach a certain threshold of cuteness (Tom has said that he doesn't trust any smiling Korean cartoons with heads bigger than their bodies...there are a lot of untrustworthy mascots here then).

However, I can tell you what I think the stupidest thing about Korea is. As silly as I think it is every time I see the spectacle of people walking down the street screaming into their Bluetooth headset, it can't compare to this:

(I didn't take the picture, only found it on Google.

 It is, however, something I see at least eight times a day.)

Yes, that is the Samsung Galaxy Tab, Korea's answer to the iPad. People use their Galaxy Tabs here to do everything -- including taking phone calls! Imagine trying to have a conversation with an iPad on your head. Even better, imagine trying to have a conversation with a book on your head, because that's what you look like every time you commit this technological faux pas.

Did the '80s come back without me noticing?