Mark Russell
@markrussell.bsky.social
Former journalist. Sometimes writer. Usually in Korea
Reposted by Mark Russell
Just gonna keep banging this drum until *someone* does *something*.
South Korea and US just announced that Korea will be permitted to reprocess spent nuclear fuels. EXCUSE ME?? THIS ISNT NEWSWORTHY???? Are we just ok with nuclear proliferation now???????
South Korea and US just announced that Korea will be permitted to reprocess spent nuclear fuels. EXCUSE ME?? THIS ISNT NEWSWORTHY???? Are we just ok with nuclear proliferation now???????
Actually, I don't think I stated this strongly enough.
With the nuclear sub commitment, this is a big, big inflection moment for US-ROK alliance. The choices made at this moment will lead to dramatically divergent consequences in the next decade. And the Korea experts in DC have nothing to say.
With the nuclear sub commitment, this is a big, big inflection moment for US-ROK alliance. The choices made at this moment will lead to dramatically divergent consequences in the next decade. And the Korea experts in DC have nothing to say.
Not too long ago, the DC blob was screaming bloody murder when the liberals in South Korea pushed for the wartime OPCON transfer. Now, with Trump admin fully backing it, the blob has nothing to say about it. Curious how that happens.
english.hani.co.kr/arti/english...
english.hani.co.kr/arti/english...
November 17, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Just gonna keep banging this drum until *someone* does *something*.
South Korea and US just announced that Korea will be permitted to reprocess spent nuclear fuels. EXCUSE ME?? THIS ISNT NEWSWORTHY???? Are we just ok with nuclear proliferation now???????
South Korea and US just announced that Korea will be permitted to reprocess spent nuclear fuels. EXCUSE ME?? THIS ISNT NEWSWORTHY???? Are we just ok with nuclear proliferation now???????
Maybe this is why I’m not a highly paid political consultant (well, one reason among many), but I remain convinced that not only could Michelle Obama win the US presidency, she’d curb-stomp the competition. She has even more of that magic political mojo than her husband.
www.msn.com/en-us/politi...
www.msn.com/en-us/politi...
MSN
www.msn.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Maybe this is why I’m not a highly paid political consultant (well, one reason among many), but I remain convinced that not only could Michelle Obama win the US presidency, she’d curb-stomp the competition. She has even more of that magic political mojo than her husband.
www.msn.com/en-us/politi...
www.msn.com/en-us/politi...
Wait, is “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence” considered Christmas music? Just heard it at Starbucks (sandwiched between two holiday songs) and was confused.
November 15, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Wait, is “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence” considered Christmas music? Just heard it at Starbucks (sandwiched between two holiday songs) and was confused.
I have a favorite French restaurant in Seoul, close to my home, that’s crazy about giving freebies. I just ordered some food and a steak, but also get a great terrine and a duck leg confit. Basically 2 meals for 1. Happy.
November 14, 2025 at 10:24 AM
I have a favorite French restaurant in Seoul, close to my home, that’s crazy about giving freebies. I just ordered some food and a steak, but also get a great terrine and a duck leg confit. Basically 2 meals for 1. Happy.
Korean conservatives trying to “whattabout” Lee Jae-myung for its response to last December’s attempted coup is some Hall of Fame-level chutzpah.
“Holding people accountable for attempting an authoritarian takeover? That’s like authoritarianism!”
www.chosun.com/english/nati...
“Holding people accountable for attempting an authoritarian takeover? That’s like authoritarianism!”
www.chosun.com/english/nati...
Civil Service Seethes Over Government Insurrection Probe, Communist Accusations
Civil Service Seethes Over Government Insurrection Probe, Communist Accusations Investigation of 750,000 officials sparks blacklisting fears, coercive probes, and comparisons to Park Geun-hyes impeach...
www.chosun.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Korean conservatives trying to “whattabout” Lee Jae-myung for its response to last December’s attempted coup is some Hall of Fame-level chutzpah.
“Holding people accountable for attempting an authoritarian takeover? That’s like authoritarianism!”
www.chosun.com/english/nati...
“Holding people accountable for attempting an authoritarian takeover? That’s like authoritarianism!”
www.chosun.com/english/nati...
Okay, that was weird. I just found myself thinking about the great webcomic Oglaf, so I did a random Google search … and lo’ and behold, The Comics Journal published an interview with the creators only a day ago. Quite the coincidence.
…Great (smutty) comic, though…
www.tcj.com/talking-ogla...
…Great (smutty) comic, though…
www.tcj.com/talking-ogla...
Talking Oglaf with Trudy Cooper and Doug Bayne: 'We'd stay up all night drawing stuff to make each other laugh' - The Comics Journal
Other than some time off every year for Christmas, Trudy Cooper and Doug Bayne have delivered a new Oglaf comic, skewering fantasy tropes with absolutely not safe for work humor, every week since 2008...
www.tcj.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Okay, that was weird. I just found myself thinking about the great webcomic Oglaf, so I did a random Google search … and lo’ and behold, The Comics Journal published an interview with the creators only a day ago. Quite the coincidence.
…Great (smutty) comic, though…
www.tcj.com/talking-ogla...
…Great (smutty) comic, though…
www.tcj.com/talking-ogla...
This is fascinating, especially since I was once working on a nautical-themed documentary. The waters around Korea are really bad for preserving ships (dark waters, big currents), so a find like this is quite cool.
www.koreaherald.com/article/1061...
www.koreaherald.com/article/1061...
Korea recovers 600-year-old cargo ship in underwater excavation
A 600-year-old tax ship has resurfaced off Korea’s west coast. South Korean archaeologists have recovered the full remains of a Joseon-era (1392-1910) cargo ves
www.koreaherald.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:27 AM
This is fascinating, especially since I was once working on a nautical-themed documentary. The waters around Korea are really bad for preserving ships (dark waters, big currents), so a find like this is quite cool.
www.koreaherald.com/article/1061...
www.koreaherald.com/article/1061...
Reposted by Mark Russell
UPDATE: Canada has announced that it has lost its measles elimination status.
This is a direct result of the increase in anti-vax disinformation, which has caused large, sustained outbreaks in the country over the last year.
This is a direct result of the increase in anti-vax disinformation, which has caused large, sustained outbreaks in the country over the last year.
November 10, 2025 at 6:19 PM
UPDATE: Canada has announced that it has lost its measles elimination status.
This is a direct result of the increase in anti-vax disinformation, which has caused large, sustained outbreaks in the country over the last year.
This is a direct result of the increase in anti-vax disinformation, which has caused large, sustained outbreaks in the country over the last year.
Having a couple of children in my life … I think the music of K-POP DEMON HUNTERS is better than FROZEN.
November 9, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Having a couple of children in my life … I think the music of K-POP DEMON HUNTERS is better than FROZEN.
Reposted by Mark Russell
November 9, 2025 at 12:11 AM
I’m going to miss eastern Seoul (moving soon). On The Bread is a quality cafe with excellent views.
November 8, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I’m going to miss eastern Seoul (moving soon). On The Bread is a quality cafe with excellent views.
It’s a zombie show is the big effin secret?
November 7, 2025 at 3:01 PM
It’s a zombie show is the big effin secret?
Well, I guess I won’t be visiting my old neighborhood anymore.
November 7, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Well, I guess I won’t be visiting my old neighborhood anymore.
Reposted by Mark Russell
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Ah, Cafe Hanyakbang. Best coffee shop in Korea, hands down. It’s been too long.
November 7, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Ah, Cafe Hanyakbang. Best coffee shop in Korea, hands down. It’s been too long.
Korean hospitals and clinics typically hide one syllable of people’s names on the waiting monitors, for privacy. So “Kim Young-won” becomes “Kim *-won”.
In my case, that means “Russell Mark James” becomes “Ru* Mark James”. I’m sure no one knows who that could be.
In my case, that means “Russell Mark James” becomes “Ru* Mark James”. I’m sure no one knows who that could be.
November 6, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Korean hospitals and clinics typically hide one syllable of people’s names on the waiting monitors, for privacy. So “Kim Young-won” becomes “Kim *-won”.
In my case, that means “Russell Mark James” becomes “Ru* Mark James”. I’m sure no one knows who that could be.
In my case, that means “Russell Mark James” becomes “Ru* Mark James”. I’m sure no one knows who that could be.
Reposted by Mark Russell
This is truly end of the era of Global War on Terror. The day the architect of that strategy and the Islamophobia that followed 9/11 died, New York elected a Muslim mayor.
November 5, 2025 at 11:17 AM
This is truly end of the era of Global War on Terror. The day the architect of that strategy and the Islamophobia that followed 9/11 died, New York elected a Muslim mayor.
THE NIGHT MANAGER is getting another season?! Maybe even two more~ I really enjoyed that series, and Hiddleston was excellent. I hope they can pull it off (considering Le Carré only wrote the one book).
www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/st...
www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/st...
Tom Hiddleston and Olivia Colman on The Night Manager’s Long-Awaited Return
Nearly a decade after the Emmy-winning original series, their intelligence officers navigate a bleaker world in season two: “Forty years ago, people would write movies where the punchline was, ‘and th...
www.vanityfair.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:59 PM
THE NIGHT MANAGER is getting another season?! Maybe even two more~ I really enjoyed that series, and Hiddleston was excellent. I hope they can pull it off (considering Le Carré only wrote the one book).
www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/st...
www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/st...
Reposted by Mark Russell
Breaking: The Darkness Returns
Breaking: The Darkness Returns
WASHINGTON—With deep unease and outright horror haunting millions of Americans as a great shroud enveloped the land, late-breaking reports confirmed Monday that the darkness had returned. Bystanders f...
theonion.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Breaking: The Darkness Returns
It’s so nice having kids that wake you up early to see Venus and the sunrise. :-/
November 2, 2025 at 9:29 PM
It’s so nice having kids that wake you up early to see Venus and the sunrise. :-/
Aaaargh. Crap. Stupid game.
November 2, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Aaaargh. Crap. Stupid game.
What’s the record for players left on base in the World Series?
November 2, 2025 at 3:39 AM
What’s the record for players left on base in the World Series?
Bichette homer! Blue Jays take an early lead. Yeah~
November 2, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Bichette homer! Blue Jays take an early lead. Yeah~
Reposted by Mark Russell
OK, regardless of source, credit where due: That's a great headline.
October 31, 2025 at 10:39 PM
OK, regardless of source, credit where due: That's a great headline.