Monster Island (actually a peninsula)*

Pearls of witticism from 'Bo the Blogger: Kushibo's Korea blog... Kushibo-e Kibun... Now with Less kimchi, more nunchi. Random thoughts and commentary (and indiscernibly opaque humor) about selected social, political, economic, and health-related issues of the day affecting "foreans," Koreans, Korea and East Asia, along with the US, especially Hawaii, Orange County and the rest of California, plus anything else that is deemed worthy of discussion. Forza Corea!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Monster Island on Xbox Live on Windows Phone!

I knew I should have copyrighted the name Monster Island.

It seems Windows will be releasing a new game title for its phones. And while I probably won't get any royalties for the name, the hundreds or thousands of hits to this moderately popular blog, from people Googling "Monster Island Xbox Live Windows phone," should be consolation enough. [HT to M.A. of MS]

Here's a description of the app:

Monster Island is basically a monster-themed version of Fragger. Instead of a grenadier, you’re now a monster who must defeat invading monsters. Aim and throw five different kinds of monster grenades to destroy your stationary enemies. With four huge sets of levels, it offers plenty of bomb-throwing fun.

Change grenades to wittily pithy posts, and invading monsters to English teachers and/or other bloggers, and it's a perfect description of this site. The advantage here is that this site's free instead of charging you $2.99.

Note to visitors new to Monster Island (actually a peninsula). This is a great place to learn all about Korea, Korean politics, and all things Korea. Can't find what you're looking for? Ask Kushibo.

...

4 comments:

itissaidWednesday, April 11, 2012 9:22:00 AM
Well, you created it first, so you may still be able to file a counter claim. It's not who registers the copyright, but actually created the product first that is considered the owner. You have a lot of online evidence, so . . . I would challenge it as they could ask you to stop using the name.
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John from DaejeonWednesday, April 11, 2012 12:01:00 PM
You're a little late, not only does Japan have you beat by nearly 40 years, but so does Carmen Electra in this not so memorable flick.
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SUPER EAGLEWednesday, April 11, 2012 1:05:00 PM
well, if we're talking about things-that-mention-monster-island-that-aren't-the-simpsons, i think of kushibo every time i listen to mf doom's 'operation greenbacks.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLMNxtKpzdQ

shoutout to the monster island czars indeed, doom.
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kushiboWednesday, April 11, 2012 5:58:00 PM
Yeah, since the full name of this blog is actually a nod to The Simpsons, I doubt I'd have much luck in court against Microsoft. "Monster Island" is sort of a generic evil-sounding place, so I'd probably go nowhere with a lawsuit.

Still, at some point it is sort of a brand as a blog, so I might be inclined to go after someone trying to co-opt the name in the blogopshere.

And I would definitely go after someone using the name "kushibo."

Super Eagle, thanks for the song.
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Share your thoughts, but please be kind and respectful. My mom reads this blog.

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Ask Kushibo.

My Google/Blogspot data shows that a lot of the 2 million people who have landed on my site (yes, that's the real number) are looking for cultural information on Korea (e.g., “When did Syngman Rhee die?” “What did the Indians bring to the first Chusŏk?’ etc., etc.), as well as practical or historical stuff.

That got me thinking that, hey, I have a master’s degree in Korean studies and a minor in Japanese studies, I’ve lived in Seoul far longer than most foreans my age (whether they're kyopo or non-kyopo), I teach introductory courses on Korea and its cultural trappings and history, so why not offer a free service where I attempt to answer people’s questions, point them in the direction of where they can get them answered, and/or offer my regulars (that’s you!) a chance to take a stab at some of this stuff, too.

So if there’s something you’d like to know from a “contrarian scourge,” click on ASK KUSHIBO and just ask a succinct question in the comments section below.

Oh, and play nice. Please don’t make me regret this.

九十五大怪獣란? 쿠시보의 몬스터 아일랜드란?

Pearls of witticism from 'Bo the Blogger: Kushibo's Korea blog... Kushibo-e Kibun...
Now with Less kimchi, more nunchi. Random thoughts and commentary (and indiscernibly opaque humor) about selected social, political, economic, and health-related issues of the day affecting "foreans" ("foreigners" in Korea be they kyopo or non-kyopo), Koreans, Korea and East Asia, along with the US, especially Hawaii, Orange County, and the rest of California, plus anything else that is deemed worthy of discussion. Forza Corea!

* Monster Island (actually a peninsula)

The name of this blog comes from a line in "Lisa on Ice," a beloved episode of The Simpsons, perhaps my all-time favorite television show (even though for several seasons there, it really did suck). Lisa is imagining being sworn in as president, but at the last minute, it is discovered that she failed P.E. (physical education) and she is thus "sentenced to a lifetime of horror" on Monster Island. "Don't worry," the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court confides in her, "It's just a name."

Fast forward to Lisa and other prisoners running in panic through a tropical jungle, chased by Godzilla-like creatures, including a monster turtle and a monster firefly.

"He said it was just a name!" Lisa screams to the man next to her. While he, too, runs for his life, the unidentified man calmly says, "What he meant is that Monster Island is actually a peninsula."

Anyway, I thought in some ways that punchline summed up modern-day Korea in a nutshell. For many people—foreigners and Koreans—the ups and downs and everyday travails of the Republic of Korea make it as precarious as a Monster Island would be (and with the DMZ being the only land border, it really is like an island). But it actually is a peninsula. Okay, it made sense in my head.

So as you can see, despite the hits I get from people looking for Japanese tentacle porn, it has nothing to do with anything salacious as that.