Activism
Many Japanese are volunteering to help after the terrible earthquake, which is a good thing. How many Japanese are demonstrating and working to change the government after their nuclear safety failure?
As an American, I would like to see more Japanese demonstrating and working to improve the government.
As an American, I would like to see more Japanese demonstrating and working to improve the government.
Frank Zappa on fighting the world
This one is from Frank Zappa:
In the fight between you and the world, back the world.
This quote reminds me of another: You can't beat City Hall.
But still we try!
In the fight between you and the world, back the world.
This quote reminds me of another: You can't beat City Hall.
But still we try!
On chopsticks
Have I talked about chopsticks before? I am not sure why Japanese compliment Westerners and other people from abroad on using chopsticks. Perhaps Japanese simply view this as a greeting or conversation filler.
Americans who use chopsticks poorly may feel patronized. So may American who use chopsticks well. Either way, we are not happy to be complimented on our chopstick use again and again and again...
Chopsticks are simply utensils for eating. I once complimented a Japanese on using a knife and fork. He thanked me and continued eating. I wonder what he was thinking. He never told me...
Americans who use chopsticks poorly may feel patronized. So may American who use chopsticks well. Either way, we are not happy to be complimented on our chopstick use again and again and again...
Chopsticks are simply utensils for eating. I once complimented a Japanese on using a knife and fork. He thanked me and continued eating. I wonder what he was thinking. He never told me...
Charles Kuralt on American freeways
Today I would like to quote Charles Kuralt on American freeways:
Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything.
This is not completely true. We can see some things from the freeways. In general though, we do miss most of America when we take the freeways and bypass the towns and cities that create America.
Charles Kuralt also fails to mention how long it takes to drive when you take other roads. Still, he has a point.
Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything.
This is not completely true. We can see some things from the freeways. In general though, we do miss most of America when we take the freeways and bypass the towns and cities that create America.
Charles Kuralt also fails to mention how long it takes to drive when you take other roads. Still, he has a point.
Disneyland to reopen
Earthquakes shake Tohoku. People remain in areas close to nuclear power plants. People remain in shelters. Homes are without water and electricity.
But life goes on. Disneyland reopens. What do they think about that near the the nuclear power in Fukushima prefecture? What do they think further north along the destroyed coast? What do they think inland without heat and light?
Life goes on while many suffer.
But life goes on. Disneyland reopens. What do they think about that near the the nuclear power in Fukushima prefecture? What do they think further north along the destroyed coast? What do they think inland without heat and light?
Life goes on while many suffer.