South Korea’s first female pilots get their wings

by Karen Walrond on

Lest you think that President-Elect Barack Obama’s political win is the only milestone event celebrated in the world this week, think again: South Korea is celebrating its first two female civil aviation pilots.

Shin Soo-Jin, 39, and Hong Soo-In, 36, recently qualified to fly the B-737 airplane for Korean Air.

Said Shin of this achievement: “I’m glad that I’ve achieved my longtime dream. Just as we did, junior female pilot-hopefuls will have to undergo tough challenges. I believe in their capabilities.”

Congratulations to them both!

Gadling Take FIVE: Week of Nov. 1–Nov. 7

by Jamie Rhein on

With Obama’s win has come a round of election related posts this week. There’s an Obama musical planned in Kenya, bling to be had with inaugeration hotel packages and Obama-themed safaris.

In other travel related avenues that had nothing to do with the election, here are five other reads that range from the serious to the silly.

But, of all the posts this week that should not be missed, it’s Abha’s Stand By Me. No matter what people’s politics, the video she highlights is one with a message that is worth holding dear. Take time to watch it. The music is wonderful.

Where the Hell is Matt video used on the Daily Show to show Obama election celebrations

by Jamie Rhein on

First I recognized the music, and then I saw him. Matt Harding dancing on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

In a segment to show the world’s reaction to Barck Obama’s election win, The Daily Show wove snippets of Harding’s video Where the Hell is Matt? with footage shot in various countries of people celebrating. The song played throughout, and location names flashed with each scene change just like in Harding’s original.

In Daily Show fashion, there was a bit of fun mixed in. Sure there were the shots of real people dancing on Tuesday night woven in with the original video, but there was more. There was Jennifer Grey jumping into Patrick Swayze’s arms in Dirty Dancing in Catskill, New York, Jimmy Stewart dancing in a movie party scene I couldn’t place in Bedford, NY, a Star Wars dance scene at Third Moon, Endor, and Michael J. Fox as Teen Wolf in Beacontown, Pennsylvania.

Although I couldn’t find that video by itself, you can see it on the Daily Show web site in the November 6 episode. You’ll find it at the 9:53 marker, but start watching at 9:46 to get the lead in.

Because we’ve been longtime fans of Harding’s work (see posts), it was a pleasant surprise to see it surface in another form.

Obama’s Election Inspires Baby Naming in Kenya

by Josh Lew on

Aaron recently wrote a post here on Gadling about a production of Obama: The Musical in Kenya. The song and dance-filled bio-play shows how ridiculously popular Barack is in his father’s home country. Well, some Kenyans are upping the ante further by naming their children, and their beer, after the prez-elect. “Senator” Beer, a locally made brew, was inspired by Obama’s previous political rank. No word yet on how sales stack up against perennial favorite, Tusker.

Mothers in Obama’s ancestral homeland of Kisumu have been naming their newborns Barack Obama, or some variation thereof. Have a girl? No problem. Several female babies in the province bear the name of Michelle Obama. Sharing your name with the future president of the US doesn’t come without its share of pressures. One mother told a Reuters reporter that she expects great thing out of her pint-sized Barack Obama. “I would like that by the time he is in his 40s he becomes the president of this country.”

I know there is a lot of excitement now, but wouldn’t it be wise to wait to see how Obama performs in office before naming your child after him? I mean, what if your parents had named you after Richard Nixon?

And it appears that a few Americans are getting in on the fad as well.

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[Via Reuters]

Photo of the Day (11-5-08)

by Jamie Rhein on

Originally, I chose this shot because of the radio that is somewhere in this barbershop in India. Lecerle mentions it in his essay that accompanies his artistry at Gadling’s photo pool.

I wanted a radio shot because of a line in Obama’s acceptance speech last night. He mentioned people gathered around radios around the world listening to the news. I thought about all the people I’ve seen gathered around radios whenever I’ve traveled. No matter how remote a corner peoole are on the planet, a radio pulls them into the rest of humanity.

The shot also attracted me because of its stage like quality–a scene just waiting for the actors to show up. Plus, the essay is a lovely trip to an Indian barber. I wonder what the buzz is here today and what words are coming out of the radio?

To have your photo considered for Photo of the Day, post it here.