necoandjeff wrote:

> B Robson wrote:
> 
>>necoandjeff wrote:
>>
>>
>>>B Robson wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Since when did Korean TV become cool?
>>>
>>>
>>>Where the hell have you been?
>>
>>One of the things I like about Japan is I can generally avoid
>>mainstream "culture" only tapping into the things I am interested in.
>>For instance I don't think I have ever heard a Brittany Spears song.
>>One draw back is I didn't know how big the Chutetsu earthquake was
>>until I sat next to a guy on the train and saw his newspaper.
> 
> 
> But at least you've heard *of* Britney Spears.

"at least"?!?!!

Well I am sure there is a long list of American and Australian 
celebrities that I haven't heard of, of course I can't give you a list 
because I don't know what I don't know. In emails to friends I am 
frequently asking things like "what is Australian Idol".

On other hand I can give you a long list of both Japanese and 
international bands that I like.

> 
> So you mean you actually live in Japan and haven't picked up on the Korean
> boom that has been going on for at least a year now (and even longer if you
> count back to the jointly hosted World Cup)? 

Yes. I haven't watched Japanese TV for 6 months. I do read the Daily 
Yomiuri and the Asahi Shimbun, plus music press but they don't talk 
about fads at all.


> And you didn't know how bad the
> earthquake is? Do you live in a cave somewhere? Dude, you need to get out
> and mingle with actual people a little bit more.

Yes I live in a virtual cave, and I do mingle with people but they have 
similar attitudes to me. Tonight I was at a live show, we sat and talked 
for hours but we didn't talk about Korean TV.

The earthquake was Saturday night of a long weekend I think. I was at 
home and felt it. No big deal. That night I was home studying. The next 
day I bummed around the house, went to the gym to swim, shopped a bit, 
played guitar for several hours. Monday I went into see a friends' band 
and that is when I found out. I didn't watch TV at all in that time.


> 
> Well, I'm kind of assuming that you haven't had any contact with Japanese
> women of the "meaningless" variety...
> 

In fact I prefer it that way ;)