This is me. This is how i feel. Too much choice can by paralysing.
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Thursday, 18 June 2009
I am Canadian
Try living next to the US. 35 million Canadians versus 350 million Americans. They have an uninformed / stereotypical view of Canadians which is challenged in this very, very popular beer commercial of the 1990's.
Follow along and read my comments below the video:
Explanation:
Hey, I am not a lumberjack or a fur trader
and i don't live in an igloo
or eat blubber or own a dog sled
[Still...Americans think this is the image of a typical Canadian. They ask us..sometimes...those that know where Canada is...]
or i don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada, though I'm certain they're really, really nice.
[Funny because it is not uncommon if you tell an America that you are from Canada, they will ask: "Ah, from Canada, do you know Jimmy in Toronto?" -- I am not kidding. This is why it's funny. It is true. Canadians find this hilarious...but annoying]
I have a prime minister, not a president.
[they think every country has a president]
I speak English and French, not "American"
and i pronounce it "about" not "aboot"
[Very common for American to ask Canadians: "Say "about", Say "about"!". They think it is hilarious....we think it is annoying. We do have more of an "oo" sound compared to "ow" - especially in eastern Canada, where they really do say "aboot"! And I ask people from Nova Scotia to say "aboot" ;-) ]
I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack
[For many, many years Canadians traveling abroad will sew a Canadian flag on their packpack so they will not be mistaken for American. Canadians pride themselves on an excellent global reputation of not invading, attacking or overthrowing nations. In Europe, if you speak English people assume you are British, or worse: American. When you tell them you are Canadian, their expression changes, their face lights up. It is so nice. I always appreicate it and never get tired of it.
FYI - Americans know about this flag on the backpack and some American travelers sew Canadian flags on theirs. Shameful.]
I believe in peacekeeping, not policing
[Canada is a long time supporter of UN Peacekeeping missions. In fact a former Canadian Prime Minister: Lester Pearson created the UN Peacekeeping Forces for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize]
diversity not assimilation
[America's vision: E Pluribus Unum - it is on the back of the US dollar bill - it means: from many, one. People move from many countries and many cultures to America. When you move to America, you must assilimate - become American. Canada has a vision and a policy of multiculturalism. People move from many countries and many cultures to Canada. When you move to Canada, you can be or do anything you like - continue to practice your beliefs and culture. Diversity]
and that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal
[mmm....?]
a touque is a hat
[this is a Canadian word.]
a chesterfield is a couch
[From the English furniture maker. my parents always refer to the sofa as a "Chesterfield". Sound strange? What do Japanese call a stapler?...]
and it is pronounced "ZED" not "ZEE", "ZED".
[It is.]
Canada is the 2nd largest land mass
[It is.]
the first nation of hockey
[It is.]
and the best part of North America
[It is.]
my name is Joe and I am Canadian
thank you.
[Canadians are known for being very, very polite - compared to Americans. Thus the "thank you" at the end.]
Now you have a much better understanding of Canadians :-)
Thank you.
Follow along and read my comments below the video:
Hey, I am not a lumberjack or a fur trader
and i don't live in an igloo
or eat blubber or own a dog sled
and i don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada, although I'm certain they're really, really nice.
I have a prime minister, not a president.
I speak English and French, not "American"
and i pronounce it "about" not "aboot"
I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack
I believe in peacekeeping, not policing
diversity not assimilation
and that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal
a touque is a hat
a chesterfield is a couch
and it is pronounced "ZED" not "ZEE", "ZED".
Canada is the 2nd largest land mass
the first nation of hockey
and the best part of North America
my name is Joe and I am Canadian
thank you.
Explanation:
Hey, I am not a lumberjack or a fur trader
and i don't live in an igloo
or eat blubber or own a dog sled
[Still...Americans think this is the image of a typical Canadian. They ask us..sometimes...those that know where Canada is...]
or i don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada, though I'm certain they're really, really nice.
[Funny because it is not uncommon if you tell an America that you are from Canada, they will ask: "Ah, from Canada, do you know Jimmy in Toronto?" -- I am not kidding. This is why it's funny. It is true. Canadians find this hilarious...but annoying]
I have a prime minister, not a president.
[they think every country has a president]
I speak English and French, not "American"
and i pronounce it "about" not "aboot"
[Very common for American to ask Canadians: "Say "about", Say "about"!". They think it is hilarious....we think it is annoying. We do have more of an "oo" sound compared to "ow" - especially in eastern Canada, where they really do say "aboot"! And I ask people from Nova Scotia to say "aboot" ;-) ]
I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack
[For many, many years Canadians traveling abroad will sew a Canadian flag on their packpack so they will not be mistaken for American. Canadians pride themselves on an excellent global reputation of not invading, attacking or overthrowing nations. In Europe, if you speak English people assume you are British, or worse: American. When you tell them you are Canadian, their expression changes, their face lights up. It is so nice. I always appreicate it and never get tired of it.
FYI - Americans know about this flag on the backpack and some American travelers sew Canadian flags on theirs. Shameful.]
I believe in peacekeeping, not policing
[Canada is a long time supporter of UN Peacekeeping missions. In fact a former Canadian Prime Minister: Lester Pearson created the UN Peacekeeping Forces for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize]
diversity not assimilation
[America's vision: E Pluribus Unum - it is on the back of the US dollar bill - it means: from many, one. People move from many countries and many cultures to America. When you move to America, you must assilimate - become American. Canada has a vision and a policy of multiculturalism. People move from many countries and many cultures to Canada. When you move to Canada, you can be or do anything you like - continue to practice your beliefs and culture. Diversity]
and that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal
[mmm....?]
a touque is a hat
[this is a Canadian word.]
a chesterfield is a couch
[From the English furniture maker. my parents always refer to the sofa as a "Chesterfield". Sound strange? What do Japanese call a stapler?...]
and it is pronounced "ZED" not "ZEE", "ZED".
[It is.]
Canada is the 2nd largest land mass
[It is.]
the first nation of hockey
[It is.]
and the best part of North America
[It is.]
my name is Joe and I am Canadian
thank you.
[Canadians are known for being very, very polite - compared to Americans. Thus the "thank you" at the end.]
Now you have a much better understanding of Canadians :-)
Thank you.
High Tech Japan?
Japan is a wealthy country, isn't it? It is, in fact, the second largest economy next to the United States.
Japan is known for high technology, isn't it? It is, in fact home to dozen of global technolgy leaders such as Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, Casio, Nintendo, Sharp and Mitsubishi. It is a nation that prides itself on high tech innovation.
Why, then, has this wealth and high tech talent not shown up in Japanese television? I am not talking about the television sets. I am talking about television content. It's pathetic. Production values from the 1960's. Something that American high school kids would do. No. Strike that. American high school kids would use far more computer graphics than TBS, Fuji or NHK.
It is a regular scene to see TV presenters holding up a cardboard sign and pealing off pieces to reveal the content beneath. This reminds me of very early days of American television.
In America, CNN has adopted a very cool technology called the "Magic Wall" that was introduced during the US Presidential election race.
Meanwhile, back in Japan, The Daily Yomiuiri website regularly crashes my browser.
But wait, I really must be careful what I say. It is not that Japanese television does not use any computer graphics. They do. In fact they use too much. Too many words on the screen, too many spinning kanji characters. Grotesquely sized and colours subtitles. Endless annoying pinging and sparkling sounds. Utterly intrusive and annoying. Just endless visual pollution and noise, noise, noise.
It is not confined to one type channel or one type of program. The problem is wide spread.
It is bewildering that a culture known for Zen and peace and serenity behaves this way. Why do they?
And, it is wildly ineffective. People just drown it out.
I recommend to the television industry in Japan get a Mac Powerbook and learn to use the very basic computer graphic and video production software. It is a small step to take, but it will go a long way in taking your production values out of the 1960's. Then, take a basic course in design. Less is more. This won't solve all of your problems - there are many - but it is a start.
learner versus learned
In a time of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.
— Eric Hoffer
What does this quotation mean?
The speaker is talking about the importance of learning. The ability to learn and to continue to learn. The world is changing and will continue to change. Those who have the ability to learn will be successful - they will inherit the future - while those who have stopped learning, now live in a world - in their minds - that no longer exists in reality.
As an educator I agree with this. Nothing is more pointless and useless today in education that rote memorization. Information and facts are important. But, so too is a content, a framework and the ability to synthesize new knowledge and apply knowledge to problem solving. This is the ability to learn and this is valuable.
— Eric Hoffer
What does this quotation mean?
The speaker is talking about the importance of learning. The ability to learn and to continue to learn. The world is changing and will continue to change. Those who have the ability to learn will be successful - they will inherit the future - while those who have stopped learning, now live in a world - in their minds - that no longer exists in reality.
As an educator I agree with this. Nothing is more pointless and useless today in education that rote memorization. Information and facts are important. But, so too is a content, a framework and the ability to synthesize new knowledge and apply knowledge to problem solving. This is the ability to learn and this is valuable.
Thursday, 4 June 2009
Head in the Clouds
Head in the Clouds
Well, I found it.
I’ve long been searching for it, and now I’ve found it.
My new hobby. Something on which to focus my free time. There are so many things that one can see and read and do. But, where to invest one’s free time? Cooking, running, yoga, some sort of collection? There are just too many choices, too many things to collect. Where does one begin? So much choice, so hard to decide. This indecision has long prevented me from enjoying a relaxing past time and providing a confident answer to the ubiquitous question in Japan: “What’s your hobby?”
Recently, I discovered it on the Internet and I knew as soon as I saw that it was for me. This is something I can get behind. This is for me. What is it? Clouds. That’s right. As of today I am a card-carrying member of The Cloud Appreciation Society.
Sound crazy?
Sound like something only crazy, eccentric people would join?
I am member number: 16093. There are 16092 members before me. It should not be a surprise that the Cloud Appreciation Society is based in England, land of cheese rolling and other eccentricities. I think I have strong English blood because when I first saw this site I was immediately drawn to it. This was it: cloud appreciation. No expensive equipment, no special shoes or clothes, no rigorous examinations, nothing to buy nothing to collect. Just look up and appreciate and feel a connection with 16000 of my fellow members. What’s the purpose? No purpose. Why does everything need a purpose? Is there a purpose in spoon collecting? No, cloud appreciation, that’s for me.
However, now, when I reply to the question: “What’s your hobby?” I will have to learn how to respond to the head-tilting looks of confusion and the follow up questions that are certain to occur: “What?” “What’s that?” “Clouds?” What should I do?. Let’s see: Q: “What’s your hobby?”, A: “Golf”. There, sounds better. Perhaps I’ll save my true hobby for friends and any eccentric Brits I meet.
Screen shot taken to commemorate my membership: member number 16030 – before new members join.
The Cloud Appreciation Society
http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/
Well, I found it.
I’ve long been searching for it, and now I’ve found it.
My new hobby. Something on which to focus my free time. There are so many things that one can see and read and do. But, where to invest one’s free time? Cooking, running, yoga, some sort of collection? There are just too many choices, too many things to collect. Where does one begin? So much choice, so hard to decide. This indecision has long prevented me from enjoying a relaxing past time and providing a confident answer to the ubiquitous question in Japan: “What’s your hobby?”
Recently, I discovered it on the Internet and I knew as soon as I saw that it was for me. This is something I can get behind. This is for me. What is it? Clouds. That’s right. As of today I am a card-carrying member of The Cloud Appreciation Society.
Sound crazy?
Sound like something only crazy, eccentric people would join?
I am member number: 16093. There are 16092 members before me. It should not be a surprise that the Cloud Appreciation Society is based in England, land of cheese rolling and other eccentricities. I think I have strong English blood because when I first saw this site I was immediately drawn to it. This was it: cloud appreciation. No expensive equipment, no special shoes or clothes, no rigorous examinations, nothing to buy nothing to collect. Just look up and appreciate and feel a connection with 16000 of my fellow members. What’s the purpose? No purpose. Why does everything need a purpose? Is there a purpose in spoon collecting? No, cloud appreciation, that’s for me.
However, now, when I reply to the question: “What’s your hobby?” I will have to learn how to respond to the head-tilting looks of confusion and the follow up questions that are certain to occur: “What?” “What’s that?” “Clouds?” What should I do?. Let’s see: Q: “What’s your hobby?”, A: “Golf”. There, sounds better. Perhaps I’ll save my true hobby for friends and any eccentric Brits I meet.
Screen shot taken to commemorate my membership: member number 16030 – before new members join.
The Cloud Appreciation Society
http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/
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