몸에 좋은 까만콩~

My favoritest drink in Korea. Not even kidding, I would rave about this drink (black bean iced tea) and always buy it even though it was a tad bit pricier than the others. I've searched for it at every Korean mart and market there is in the West & East coast, yet it is nowhere to be found. There was also this amazing commercial that they always played with the most catchy song, but it is also nowhere to be found (yes, I've searched extensively in youtube and naver). Was it all just a figment of my imagination? I want it... right now...

Other noteworthy discontinued items:
Sure, you can just crush up rice krispies treats and pour them in a bowl of milk, but who would really go out of their way and do that?

I didn't even realize that this cereal was discontinued until my old roomie would have it delivered to our apt. through online orders. So delish.

Suicides.

After having a drought of television-watching back in LA, I have watched more of the boob tube in the past few weeks here in Jersey than I have in the past year. And I have been mostly watching Korean television programming, since my cousin has five channels of it. Feels like Korea all over again. Then again, Palisades Park in general feels like Korea... like the quieter, suburban outskirts of Seoul.

Anyway, this past week or so, they have been showing a lot of coverage on Park Yong Ha (Korean actor who recently committed suicide) and his funeral ceremony. Needless to say, it's been quite a downer. Also, seeing mobs of Japanese middle-aged women wailing miserably about this younger star has been a bit disturbing. Would they cry this much for their own family? I guess the passing of PYH would be like their equivalent of our John Lennon or Kurt Cobain. There has been a rising tide in the suicide culture in South Korea... it kinda scares me. I remember when I first heard Daul Kim committed suicide last year. I was interning at the library, and I think a friend texted me. I dropped my pen.

Two recent articles:
"Exit Strategies"- The Economist
"Suicide Is No.3 Cause of Death for Korean Women"'- The Chosun Ilbo