Tokyo Talk 101

complain

2011-04-19T11:11:00.001+09:00

I am going to miss living in Japan. There is so much to complain about here.

There’s a lot to complain about in Canada, the land of fat, stupid, knuckle-dragging doughnut eaters, but it’s just not the same.

Japan Election Special

2011-04-19T11:03:00.000+09:00

Sangenjaya 1-chome
Monday, April 18
Around 5pm

It is election time. If you live in Japan, you know what that means: vans with loud speakers
Quiet side street
Van with candidate, noisy – as usual – destroying the silence
Me – walking. Annoyed. An opportunity to chat with the candidate
I do
With fingers in my ears I announce my distaste for the noise, in English, of course:
“No one is listening to you? You are too noisy! Go away. Its all a waste of time.”
They stop driving
They stop their announcements
I don’t stop
Though I continue to walk
After several seconds, with speakers still off, they drive past me a little more quickly than the usual slow crawl.
As the van drives past, the candidate, Candidate Oba, with head down, didn’t look at me, didn’t face me, says: “This is Japan”
He didn’t instil feelings of great leadership.
Thought it was (more than) a bit of a racist statement.
“This is Japan”?
Yeah, I know, and that’s the problem.

I am going to miss elections in Japan...

Japan’s economic ripple effect

2011-04-19T11:02:00.000+09:00

It is only just starting. A ripple effect will be felt for the next couple of years. I am not negative, just realistic. it is not like the economy was moving at a healthy clip, plenty of orgs were teetering prior to the quake. Many countries are at the ready to absorb production, and Japanese companies will have to abide. If this quake had occurred 20 years ago, Japan would have had a better chance. Now in a globalized world where production, jobs and capital can move, China and others are in a very good position to eat Japan's lunch. Those (high paying) jobs are not coming back. In the middle, we have scored of unproductive white collar workers - who'd have been made redundant years ago in other G7 countries - who will be cut and join the ranks of other mid-career types who will struggle with no skills and no opportunity. Some have been cut. More are surely to follow. College grads have struggled for the past few years. The "factory" approach: high school -> uni -> job for life had been crumbling for the past several years. This, too will only unravel more resulting in masses of college grads with no job. What happens in other countries with high youth unemployment? At the lower end, I was shocked to learn about so many import workers - not "entertainment" visas but "guest" workers from China who worked on farms and who abandoned the country after the quake. Imported health care workers from Indonesia and Philippines have backed out, too. (always amazes me - a country with a labour shortage and at the same time a country that uses only half of its labour force). They may be back. But for now, all this puts a strain on farming and health care. Is the country bright enough to reallocate the unemployed students and salary men to farm work and health care? No.
People's lives have been turned upside down. This will never show up in government statistics.

Can you see any similarity?

2011-04-04T09:24:00.007+09:00

.
One is highly talented and much beloved and the other is a politician.
On the top, Martin Short's character Ed Grimly. On the bottom, Yujiro, some poor schlep with bad hair. He's an actor, too. He is pretending to care. He is pretending that he will do something to make your life better. Yes, he's a politician in a campaign.

Change for Tokyo? He's a Japanese politician. Nothing's going to change. Not for the better, anyway. "You are being lied to, I must say!"

a tipping point?

2011-03-31T09:47:00.001+09:00

“The only time you can get things done is in moments of genuine crisis and catastrophes -- there’s a small opportunity to do an extraordinary amount,” Malcolm Gladwell, author of “The Tipping Point,” who writes for New Yorker magazine, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “Japan -- a country whose politics were in deadlock and sluggish for many, many years -- I hope they can seize this moment and accomplish a lot.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-30/japan-urged-to-seize-this-moment-or-risk-another-lost-decade.html

How come gladwell shows up everywhere?
i agree with his statements, but, there will be no tipping point in japan.
there is no leadership and no on really cares. coastal communities in the north west were impacted. some factories have been affected.
the only catalyst: a bunch of soccer players shouting "gambatte nippon" on television and an endless stream of j-pop clones doing benefit concerts.
the wealth (and wealthy) of this country is unaffected. it didnt hit kanto, kansai or aichi, just some farmers and fishermen.
the event is equivalent to hurricane katrina (new orleans) and three-mile island. were there "tipping points" as a result of either of these incidents? different country, different culture i realize.

Japan is an aging salaryman - a heavy drinker and a heavy smoker who's now being treated for lung cancer. the tohoku quake is just an added case of appendicitis.

Every day and every yen spent away from truly addressing the real issues is another day that korea, china, taiwan, singapore, US, Brazil, India, Germany eat Japan's lunch just a little more.

kan and gladwell can hope all they want.

Let's Gambling - Japan's great gamble

2010-07-12T09:03:00.000+09:00

From the Japan Times. An indication that the end is nigh.

Japan's great gamble | The Japan Times Online: "Shozo Azuma, a lawmaker member of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and a member of the pro-casino Diet league, outlined his reasoning in a speech last week.

'What this country needs is a way of stimulating the economy that won't use tax money. The only way left to do that is casinos,' he said.

'In order for this country to develop energetically in the future, then I think the casino industry has potential worth exploring.'

Of course, it's not just the central government that stands to gain through tax revenues from casinos. Regional governments, which are suffering from drastically reduced revenues as their residents age and decrease in number, are desperate to host what they see as potential gold mines."

Elderly woman arrested for beating youth sitting in priority seat of bus › Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

2010-07-09T13:26:00.000+09:00

Elderly woman arrested for beating youth sitting in priority seat of bus › Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion: "Elderly woman arrested for beating youth sitting in priority seat of bus
Friday 09th July, 09:00 AM JST

NAGASAKI —
A 66-year-old woman was arrested for assault Thursday after using her umbrella to beat the face of a male high school student who was sitting in the priority seat on a local bus, breaking the youth’s nose and causing other injuries.

According to police, the woman, identified as condominium manager Tamiko Masuta, yelled at the 18-year-old youth because he wouldn’t get up and vacate the silver seat. When he refused to move, she began to kick him and hit him in the face with her umbrella, according to witnesses. The youth suffered a broken nose.

Police said that Masuta has neither admitted to nor denied the charges, and that she has been warned before by police for hitting middle and high school students."

Japan - on the bullet train to irrelevance

2010-07-07T13:30:00.001+09:00

Here in communist Japan - labour laws make it very difficult to layoff anyone, there are no strikes and the government just keeps spending money on useless road work.

The Japanese have "adopted" the American style - upper house [senate] and lower house [congress]. this month there is an election of (half) the upper house (every 3 yrs); the PM's are so spineless that they dare not say or do anything to upset anyone and, can't do anything as there is always an election around the corner in this country.

Now there are many "new religions" that have launched political parties and attract many sheep-like followers. These parties are winning the votes of the burgeoning naive as the supporter of the old guard begin to die off (literally). These “New Religions” are winning seats and upsetting (controlling) the balance of power. Now the two party system is rapidly proliferating into a sea of milquetoast gridlock.

Check out this photo from a former election: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01472/japan-election2_1472012c.jpg

There is an election every other year, and leadership that changes more frequently than the fashion (I have seen 5 prime ministers in just 3 years), no strong leadership, no strong vision, no majority, and a population more likely to vote for a small dog than for needed change.

Japan is on the bullet train to irrelevance.

But remember, on July 11th: “Let’s Voting!”

An Internet Kill Switch

2010-07-02T08:58:00.002+09:00

Manufacturing consent for internet security

Within the next twelve months there will be a major internet outage in an important region of the United States.

The Internet will go down in this region. No email, no YouTube, no iTunes, no Facebook, no Twitter, no e-commerce, no virtual meetings, no online gambling and no internet porn. The outage will occur for a short time – a day or so – long enough to attract national attention. The media will be all over this story: “The Internet, struck down by hackers”. No, by “terrorists”. The media will report that it was caused by rogue or terrorist elements from Russia or China or an “enemy state”.

Lots of discussion: “How dependent on the Internet are we?” and “How vulnerable are we?” “This is vital to our national security”.

And, there will be lots speculation as to who and how. An array of conspiracy theories will bubble up.

This event will be instigated by the US - the government, the CIA, the military. We will never know. But, blame will be placed squarely on “rogue elements”. You will never know for sure and the media will not investigate. They will go along with what the government says.

The media will discuss how important the internet has now become not only for social media but for news, information, and commerce. Corporations rely on and are deeply dependent upon the internet. They will talk about how it is important for government and politicians and how it is critical to national security. That it was originally created by the US military etc.

This temporary event will set the stage for the US government to manufacture the consent it needs to launch some sort of internet security initiative. This will spiral into a new program and the launch of a new kind of internet.

The outage might occur in August or back-to-school time in the US, though not during 9/11. Maybe this time it will be Silicon Valley or Dallas. In Atlanta or Chicago. Perhaps after thanksgiving but before Christmas.

The feeling of Internet withdraw will be palpable.

So, why is this happening? Money, of course. Power, control and any other conspiracy theories you may wish to throw into the pot. How will bankers and Wall Street make untold millions off this? That's the key. And how will the US government control us?

Here’s the plan:
US Government: “Let’s get everyone online, wired and totally dependent on the internet, and then...control and monitor them.”

Here's how:
Politicians: "We are at risk of terror attacks online that threaten our freedom. We need a better and safer Internet. The new internet will track all traffic for foreign intrusions and rogue elements."
Public: “Mmmm….yeah…mmm….ok, sure.”
Politicians: “You want to be safe and secure, right? You want to be able to continue to use the Internet in safety are freedom, right? You don’t want to be exposed to the risk of foreign terrorist groups infiltrating the Internet and compromising your freedom, right?”
Public: “Yes! You are right. Please help us!”
At this point scads of government money appears and goes to the Telco’s, and network infrastructure R&D community, universities, the US military and Halliburton, of course.

Much money is spent. More money is spent after it was originally deemed to be not enough. After sometime a new and improved Internet emerges.

Then it is announced that all users of the new internet will need to be registered. They will need to register all of their devices – computers, laptops, cell phones and all web devices.

Government: “Now, you want to get on this newer and much better, faster and safer internet, don’t you?”
Public: “Yes! Yes, we do! Tell us how!”
Government: “Well, you will need to register yourself and all your electronic devices so that we can ensure that you are not a terrorist...”
Public: “Hey, that sounds like an intrusion on our personal freedom!”
Politicians: “It will be easy, small chips software will be embedded into every device sold. You won’t even notice.”
Public: ”what about our privacy?”
Politicians: ”everything will be in accordance with the homeland security act. It’s just like going through security at the airport. And, you want the internet grid to be safe from foreign terrorist who could infiltrate and bring down the Internet or a power grid or worse, don’t you?”
Public: “Mmm…yeah, I guess. Anyway, we can’t live without email, Twitter and Facebook, so we’ll do it.”
Politicians: “It is a small price to pay for our freedom.”
Public: “Mmm…I guess.”

Likely it will be legislated that there will be a required chip installed to activate and monitor the activities from all connected devices from now till the end of time. Exactly how? We will find out soon.

As we get more and more digital, including appliances and wearable tech, and with the coming singularity...who will control you? The Bilderbergs and any other conspiracy theories that fit: insert here.
Imagine: all individuals, all companies, all schools, all hospitals, and all airports. All data tracked all the time.

The current commercial (public) version of the Internet pre-dates 9/11. There are no controls or means of monitoring (that we know of) and no "registration". The government, officially, does not know who is coming and going on line. This, they will tell us, is an issue of national security and if we want to continue to live in digital freedom, we’ll need to adhere to monitoring. Otherwise, to channel Dubya, “the terrorists win”. Don’t worry; you won’t even know it is there. And, if you are not doing anything wrong, you’ve got nothing to worry about, right?

======
This posting was inspired by the following story and many recent like articles.
Obama internet 'kill switch' proposed ASHER MOSES
June 18, 2010 - 2:43PM

Tuna's End

2010-06-30T10:14:00.006+09:00

Tuna's End is a VERY long article in the New York Times, written by Paul Greenberg, on the eventual extinction of blue fin tuna. It is adapted from his book “Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food”

Japan unapologetically consumes 80% of the world's blue fin tuna, so have to be included in the "who to blame" list.

The usually reserved and polite Japanese take on a smug and ignorant tone when this issue of over fishing of blue fin is brought up - as if they are all-seeing and all-knowing. They are likely to throw a tantrum like a three year old, or better, a thirteen year old who feels victimized by a mother that just doesn't understand her need to have her tongue pierced.

What used to be very rare and expensive is now on every corner and in every grocery store. The same for beef and dairy - used to be special. Now it is everywhere. No halos over the heads of the beef industry - but that's a story for another time.

So, just a reminder to the Japanese, remember to take your "ECO" bag when you buy your bluefin tuna at the supermarket, you wouldn't want to hurt the planet by using one more plastic bag. Though, you should note that the sashimi they will buy from the grocery store is housed in plastic and then placed in a small plastic bag before it is placed in their ECO shopping bag.

Read the NY Times article: Tuna's End

It is interesting to read the comments written by readers of the NY Times - compared with other publications. Seems that knuckle draggers are less likely to read the NYT and wouldn't read such a long article. The comments tend to be quite long - takes a long time to write - and informed.

I live in Japan. It is an insulated world here. While people are outwardly humble, there is an underlying smugness.
I would love to hear people in government in Japan stand up and support what the countries of the world are saying. They won't. It is a pompous and greedy place. The world won't tell Japan what to do.

The future is so easy to see. The shock that is coming to the Japanese will be just like their penalty kick loss in the world cup - from let's happy, happy to a bitter wake up to reality.

Let's Ignorance!

2010-06-22T10:45:00.006+09:00

What does the world think about Canada's role in the world?
According to the Japanese: not much.

Ipsos-Reid conducted a survey in advance of the G20 summit in Toronto. It polled over 18,000 people in 24 countries asking them a dozen questions on Canada's role in world affairs, peacekeeping and human rights, international aid, economy and economic power, the safety of the banking system, and healthcare.

It is pretty easy to see that the Japanese have a very low image, likely based on little knowledge and awareness [read: ignorance], of Canada in comparison to the other countries in the survey. Most of the 24 countries has a positive image, especially the up-and-coming BRIC nations. Sweden, too, seems to have a low image of Canada. Perhaps for them it is jealousy? Likely the Japanese would have ranked Canada high if asked to respond to the statement: Canada is a global leader in maple syrup.

As a Canadian, it is an interesting report with some very surprising results. Take a look for yourself.

Read the results here:
What the World thinks of Canada: Canada and the World in 2010
International Affairs, Economy & Business

A Perfect Storm?

2010-06-21T09:34:00.002+09:00

The following is an excerpt from a submission published on The Market Oracle:

But the coast guard, the media, BP and Obama don’t seem to be aware of the caliber of disaster affecting the Gulf Coast and the nation since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20.

The BP Oil spill has the makings of a perfect storm because one can visibly see the cracks in the ocean floor when reviewing tapes of the live BP feeds. In the tape dated 6/13/2010 you can see oil spewing up from visible fissions

The pressure at the base of the wellhead deep under the ocean floor is approx. 100,000 PSI. There is no known device to cap a well with such a high PSI pressure. To further complicate things geologists using a GPS and Depth finder system have discovered a large gas bubble 15-20 miles across and tens of feet high under the ocean floor.

A bubble of this magnitude if able to escape from under the ocean floor through a crack would cause a gas explosion that can only be described as Mt. St. Helen’s under water.

The explosion would take place 50 miles off the Louisiana Coast, instantly releasing a toxic cloud that the winds would carry to the shorelines. This explosion would also create what is called a Cavitations’, sinking any ships, oil structures virtually anything floating atop the water instantly within at least a 10 mile radius, and thus could create a Tsunami which would travel towards the coast of Florida at a speed of 400-600 miles per hour. This has the potential of putting the state of Florida under water. Gulf Coast Disaster, Is it The Perfect Storm?

SOURCE: The Market Oracle, June 20, 2010

Man punched in the face by fellow train commuter over bad phone manners › Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

2010-06-15T10:49:00.003+09:00

Man punched in the face by fellow train commuter over bad phone manners › Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

Wonderful. The quiet, serene and polite Japanese culture. It's the beginning of the end.

Note the comments posted. A fair indication of foreigner sentiment.

Buy the Skyy and sell the Skyy

2010-06-07T17:04:00.006+09:00

Spotted June 2010:

A 750ml bottle of SKYY Vodka at the British Columbia Government Liquor Store: $23.75

The same bottle at Seiyu [Tokyo, Japan] Y980 [$11.13].

This is a difference of $12.62 [113%]

According to WineLaw.ca, the BC Government Tax on spirits is 163%

The Daily Yomiuri's Economic Rescue Plan

2010-05-10T20:48:00.003+09:00

The Daily Yomiuri (DY) blasted the front page of their May 8th edition announcing their plan for the rescue of the Japanese economy.
There were five recommendations:
1) End manifesto-accelerated business slump
2) Both concrete and humans are important
3) Employment is source of reassurance
4) Seek domestic and external demand
5) Stay ahead of international competition by developing higher technologies

I couldn’t see the massive front page story on their web site. This editorial comes close [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/editorial/20100508TDY02T03.htm]
It seems that the DY is more a right-wing publication. They do not seem happy with the DPJ. They ought to be reminded that the Japanese economy has been mired for the past decade. It is nothing new. The right-wing LDP had been in power for fifty years. Certainly it is they who have left the Japanese economy in a shambles.

Here is my interpretation of Yomiuri’s “rescue” plan.
1) End manifesto-accelerated business slump
Comment: I have no idea what this means.
2) Both concrete and humans are important “public works are necessary to escape deflation”
Comment: I have no idea what this means, either.
3) Employment is source of reassurance
This makes no sense. An unemployment rate of 5% means that the employment rate is 95%
4) Seek domestic and external demand
Comment: This is not new or insightful.
5) Stay ahead of international competition by developing higher technologies
Comment: Not just high technologies but higher technologies. Nice. However, to do this you need education. It doesn’t just happen. Your education system educates for conformity not for creativity and innovation. “Let’s work harder” ain’t gonna cut it. The brightest minds are in America and they are not only American, they are from India, China, Korea and Russia. Later, they take that new knowledge and return to India, China, Korea and Russia and launch new businesses.

The DY’s fuzzy, ethereal rant is tantamount to entering a grocery store and declaring: “let’s eat lunch”. There is food there, but the declaration just leave everyone confused. It is amazing, their piercing prose and obviously professional writing skills of the editorial board of the Yomiyuri. I`m kidding. It stinks. I suggest the editors read and heed the advice of The Economist. I suggest the reader of the DY do the same, along with cancelling their subscription. And finally, the government of Japan ought to do the same as well as heed my advice, of course.

The powers that be do not know how to change the Japanese economy. Or, more likely, the powers that be do not want to change the Japanese economy. They obviously want to keep things exactly as they are. It serves their purpose to keep things as they are. If it didn`t they would change. After all, they are in power, right?

So, what would you do? How would you stimulate and grow the Japanese economy?

Here’s what I would do. First, identify the problem. Second, identify what stimulates and grows an economy. Third, make recommendations that suit the Japanese situation.

First, the problem.
Japan’s strength is now its weakness. According the CIA Factbook, “the two notable characteristics of the post-war economy were the close interlocking structures of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, known as keiretsu and the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labour force. Both features are now eroding under the dual pressures of global competition and domestic demographic change. “ The world has changed. Japan hasn’t. This, coupled with the all too well known economic bubble that burst at the end of the 1980s. They have been hiding / cleaning up from it ever since. Massive public and corporate debt, massive over production and massive over hiring and a protectionist climate all make for massive inefficiency, low productivity and an inability to compete. Add to this a rapidly aging population and a tiny birth rate.

Second, consider what stimulates an economy, any economy.
Well, there is: spending, consumer spending, having money to spend, confidence that you will have a job in the future, having a job now, confidence that the price of a new home will not be cheaper in the future, creating new jobs, and creating new businesses. These are not all but they are quite important stimulants.

Third, here are my recommendations:
1) Introduce and enforce a 40 hour work week. If you can’t get it done in 40 hours then that’s a failure of management. If they really can’t get it done, then hire more people.
2) Introduce and enforce mandatory 8 week annual vacations for all employees, requiring at least one 4-week vacation. People are unproductive already, give them time off to enjoy life, get to know their children and spend money.
3) Deregulate. It is the end of la-la land. Open the economy right up. The reason why there is no growth is because there is no incentive to grow. Fat, bloated, lethargic, and constipated corporations need to be whacked in the side of the head. Efficient and hungry foreign firms are at the gate and they are ready to eat your lunch.
4) Reform the labour laws and allow companies to layoff all the dead weight. Sure it will be tough at first, but it is like removing a band-aid – rip it right off all at once.
5) Institute a national daycare and national eldercare system
6) Introduce hard-hitting punitive damages on companies convicted to wrongful dismissal and gender bias. Time to start utilizing and promoting the smarter half of the population.
7) In a make-work program, send the unemployed to clean up the coastline. It is a disgrace.
8) Remove all highway tolls and implement a 60% tax on all religions and triple the tax on tobacco
9) Do whatever it takes to encourage entrepreneurship – they create jobs and create wealth. Salarymen don’t.
10) And finally... my final recommendation is not to take any advice from the DY.

#1, 2 and 3 sound tough, even impossible. But this country has been through much worse things in its history and it has endured. This ought to start to bring Japan into the 1980’s at least. I’ve got more (it is so easy when there are so many obvious problems with obvious solutions) but I will stop at 10, it’s a nice round number.

Of course none of this will happen. It’s all a dream. Like election reform and universal health care in the US. The reality is people get the government they deserve. In a democracy, if your economy and government stink, it’s your own fault. If you don’t like it then change it. This will never happen in Japan and the powers that be know it. The Japanese people are getting the government they deserve.

The future of the Japanese economy?
At this point, there is no future. I am not alone in this opinion. I encourage you to read any much more informed views of any foreign economist or analysts. The Japanese economy is a rusty ship with a slow leak sailing around in circles in the fog. But there is pachinko. So, re-arrange your deck chairs, there is a fresh copy of the Daily Yomiuri delivered to your table. Enjoy the ride.

April 25th Refreshmas in Tokyo

2010-04-25T12:24:00.005+09:00

Enjoyed a lovely pre-refreshmas and pre-St. George's Day at The Aldgate in Shibuya this week. If you don't know St. George's Day it is the day to celebrate the de facto saint of England - for whom the English flag is named: Saint George's Cross.

To celebrate England's day in Japan I had a Japanese microbrew IPA (Indian Pale Ale), a California IPA and an Ale from Wales. All this while watching Barcelona play Inter Milan. All very English.

Happy Refreshmas

2010-03-25T21:43:00.005+09:00

March 25th....the first refreshmas of spring. hope it is a good one for you.

Bye, Bye Blue Fin

2010-03-19T10:26:00.004+09:00

Bye, Bye Blue Fin
Blue Fin Tragedy

It was decided this week by the 175-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES that there would be no ban on blue fin tuna fishing.

Here is a quote from the Associated Press:

“Thursday's decision occurred after Japan, Canada and scores of poor nations opposed the measure on the grounds that it would devastate fishing economies.”

This should read:

“Thursday's decision occurred after Japan, Canada and scores of other morally poor nations opposed the measure on the grounds that it would devastate fishing economies.”

It is an outright disappointment that Canada opposed this ban. Though I suppose their fishermen are desperately trying to make up for the Atlantic Cod industry they wiped out. They did not learn their lesson, they just need the money.

The word is, Japan put pressure on smaller, non-fishing countries to vote against a ban on fishing blue fin tuna. Apparently the fishing countries, save Japan and Canada, were all in favour of the ban.

Sign of the times. Rather, the sign in the Times newspaper today: “World votes to continue trading in species on verge of extinction“.

In the same article, a quote from Greenpeace spokesman Oliver Knowles:

“It is an own goal by Japan. By pushing for a few more years of this luxury product it has put the future of blue fin, and the future of its own supply, at serious risk. The abject failure of governments here at Cites to protect Atlantic blue fin tuna spells disaster for its future, and sets the species on a pathway to extinction.”

Here is how things played out in Atlantic Canada:

“The cod stocks failed because of greed,” says Dr. Richard Haedrich, a respected fisheries biologist at Newfoundland’s Memorial University, “People wanted all the money they could get out of the fish.”
After greed, the answer gets more complex, involving a tangle of government rivalries and scientific arrogance. In the end, the cod were defeated by fishermen who became too good at fishing, scientists who ignored what they didn’t know and politicians who refused to make the tough decisions–until it was too late.
By the time Canada’s fisheries minister John Crosbie closed the northern cod fishery in July 1992 and threw 40,000 Canadians out of their $500-million a year industry, decades of over-fishing had decimated the ground fish stocks and virtually emptied one of the most bountiful areas of the Atlantic.”

(Source: UNESCO)

I recall that the industry blamed the reduced numbers not on overfishing but on seals or sea lions who were eating all the cod. There was a motion to hunt the sea lions to reduce their numbers. It was madness.

Countries can’t solve anything, collectively. The UN is ineffective at halting genocide. The Kyoto accord could not be ratified and enforced. Countries couldn’t come to any useful or effective agreement on CO2 emissions at Copenhagen. I am all for discussion and rationality. It never seems to work where profits are to be gained.

It is always the case of the stronger country wielding power over the smaller ones, as is common with the US and here with Japan. It is the old adage of the big fish eating the little fish. Sadly, that idiom is set to become historic as all the big fish are fast being wiped out from the Earth’s oceans. What does that say to the “big fish” countries: USA and Japan?

3rd Refreshmas - February 25

2010-02-24T09:35:00.000+09:00

happy, happy.

2nd Refreshmas - January 25

2010-01-25T19:27:00.002+09:00

Happy Refreshmas!
Enjoy your refreshing time.

Merry Refreshmas!(TM)

2009-12-25T09:55:00.002+09:00

I hereby declare that the 25th day of every month be Refreshmas!(TM)

Enjoy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/katielips/ / CC BY 2.0

The mother tongue - bill bryson

2009-12-21T10:45:00.004+09:00

I just finished this book The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson. It is not a new release. It was written back in the 90's but I just stumbled across it during a visit to Vancouver back in the summer. It is a book about the history of the English language. Sound dry? No. It is a highly entertaining and readable volume. It is packed (packed) with great stories and histories of how the English language got to be the way it is.

Online education is more effective than classroom

2009-12-17T13:54:00.002+09:00

Read the story:
Online education is more effective than classroom

Classroom learning. The teacher-student model of learning is a highly ineffective way to learn.

How did our public education system get started? Why is this the way we are today?
A system that will create industrial discipline – show up, work, read, count

Schools resemble factories
-Show up on time
-Bells ring
-Teacher is the boss
-Commute to school = commute to work – preparing students
The education system is obsolete. Don’t reform it. Replace it.

Japan – your daily definition of insanity:
Doing the same thing over and over in hope of getting a different result

Alvin Toffler on the education system – speaking, toward the end about the Japanese school system

A laptop computer for under $100

2009-12-17T13:52:00.001+09:00

Did it come from Toshiba or Samsung? No. Dell? No. How about SONY or Apple? Hardly. The netbook did not come from these companies, either. But once it appeared and it was popular, all these big, sluggish, inbred companies jumped on it, except Apple. The netbook, by the way, was the creation of Asus, in Taiwan.

Cherrypal. Yup. Cherrypal. That’s the company that’s cracked the $100 price point for a web browsing computer. Origins are in Silicon Valley and are now owned by Tristate Lifestyle Brands (Tristate Hong Kong Group Limited).

PC maker Cherrypal has done something Nicholas Negroponte's One Laptop Per Child couldn't do: make a laptop that breaks the US$100 price barrier.

Cherrypal on Tuesday announced a no-frills laptop called Cherrypal Africa, which includes hardware usually found in smartphones. It can run the Linux or Windows CE operating systems, which are also found on cell phones.

If these catch on you will see all the fat, bloated, greasy, drooling PC makers clamouring to produce their own sub-$100 PCs, likely for $129 due to Microsoft’s bullying in on the action, appearing soon.

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/184709/cherrypal_offers_laptop_for_under_100.html

The Warmest Decade on Record

2009-12-09T12:45:00.003+09:00

Data has been collected about the Earth's temperature. Records extend back to 1850. 160 years. The Earth extends back 4.5 billion years. 160 years versus 4,500,000,000. The warmest decade on record? What can this possibly mean if records have been kept for just 16 decades versus 450 million decades. Data collected represents 16/450,000,000 or 0.0000035556% of all earth's climactic data.

The Thames used to freeze over and Greenland used to be green! The vikings named it from it's colour. In the grand scheme of history of the planet, that was not so long ago.

Past Decade Set to be the Warmest Ever

The great global warming swindle

2009-11-27T10:24:00.002+09:00

The climate is changing. The climate is always changing.

Scientists show that there is no connection between the human contribution of carbon dioxide and climate change / global warming.

Climate change is a political agenda. It is propaganda. Not science.

Why do we suppose CO2 is responsible for climate change?
CO2 = 0.054% of the atmosphere; how much CO2 is there in the atmosphere?
Humans are adding only a very small percentage.
Atmosphere has very small % of greenhouse gases.
Water vapour = 94% of greenhouse gases

IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Formal US VP Al Gore – the definitive popular interpretation; comes from ice core surveys. That's it. What is the correlation between temperature and CO2 levels?

However, the link is the wrong way around. Temperature leads CO2. CO2 follows – a lag of 800 years.

CO2 is not a pollutant. It is natural. Humans produce a small fraction.
Humans and factories, volcanoes, animals and wildlife, dying plants and vegetation, and oceans. Oceans are #1 contributors of CO2 according to scientists – if you heat the ocean, it emits co2; the cooler, the more they absorb. Shoe we have a war on oceans?!

There is no evidence that CO2 has ever determined climate change.

How about Sunspots – how reliable are sunspots as an indicator of climate change?
Sunspots v. Temperature. In fact there is a direct correlation. The sun is driving climate change.

Androgenic global warming is unfounded and a lie.

visit: Wikipedia - The Great Global Warming Swindle

Watch: The Great Global Warming Swindle

Let's Happy Engrish!

2009-11-26T22:52:00.001+09:00

Happy, happy.

Japan is the second largest economy in the world (for now). In school students are required to study English for five or six years. People spend hundreds of dollars on electronic dictionaries. There are many private English schools in Japan. It is estimated that English is an annual $4 billion industry in Japan – not including private lessons. In Japan English is cool. The language shows up everywhere: store and product names, t-shirts, restaurants and music lyrics. Despite its popularity, its prevalence and the money spent, the second wealthiest country known for hardworking, diligent students, the Japanese are amazingly disappointing.

As seen on a menu at a one coin bar in shibuya:

“Omlet that sSpicy Cod roe entered”

Just like that. I couldn't get a good photo. I'll have to go back...

Universities: The next threatened industry?

2009-11-25T12:30:00.001+09:00

The internet has transformed (read: shaken up) the music industry, the film industry, long distance telephone calls, the travel industry and most recently it is chipping away at the newspaper industry.

Which sector is next to face the threat? Would you believe: universities?

What are we paying for? Student loans in the United States are outrageously high.

$5000, $10,000 or higher per year in tuition, then there are living costs

University education will soon be free, or very, very affordable to say the least.

The end of high-price university tuition.
What are you paying for?

The question is not: "Why is college so expensive"

2009-11-25T12:21:00.002+09:00

The question is: "Why go to college at all?"
read a book. find it online. join online communities. join offline communities. ask questions. develop a portfolio of your learning. in the past universities were repositories of knowledge and wisdom. they were central, physical meeting places of learned people. now, they are everywhere. unless you are studying for a professional designation like a P.Eng., or M.D., why waste your time and money? Why do people still go to university? they're expensive. It is well past time to re-think universities and their function.

Discombobulated

2009-10-12T22:18:00.003+09:00

"Discombobulated". Do you know this word? Likely not. If you type it into a word processor the spellcheck will not catch it. Why? Because it is a regular English word. What does it mean? Mmmmm....

So, if Discombobulated is a word, then how about : "combobulated", the past tense of "combobulate". They will show up as unknown.

Deliver
We use this word often. How about "liver"? If you deliver, isn't the opposite to liver?

Antidisestablishmentarianism
Here is another one that will pass your spellcheck. Amazing.

First post since the eclipse!

2009-09-16T09:48:00.002+09:00

Wow. I was so surprised today to see that I have not made a posting here since the solar eclipse back in July. It is not that I have no topics to write about or no opinions to give. I have been writing, just not posting.

After some time off in August and a relaxing time spent in Vancouver, I have had a hard time to get back on track and get motivated again. This reminded me of a quick note I'd created recently. We are a society with an attention deficit.

Attention deficit society
People are losing a MASSIVE amount of time, because they are not focused, me included. Tools and methods are useful. Getting in the habit is CRITICAL.

To change? Change you habits. Model your behaviour against those who are succeeding. The best people have a coach. Perhaps you should get a coach, too.

Decide - from Latin dēcīdere, to cut off

Longest Total Solar Eclipse and its impact on Ocean Temperature

2009-07-21T22:33:00.002+09:00

July 22, 2009. The Longest Total Solar Eclipse of the 21st century will pass over India, China and through the Pacific Ocean off the Southern tip of Japan. What is its impact on ocean temperature and current. An eclipse is an amazing natural phenomenon. The sun's light is blocked by the moon. During this time sunlight is dimmed, the air cools. Birds are tricked into flying back to their nests and flowers close. How much will this change in direct sunlight and cooling affect ocean temperature and air along the path of the eclipse. It is the longest solar eclipse and passes over significant swath of ocean. We will soon find out.

Free Education: The end of schools?

2009-07-09T08:32:00.005+09:00

For a while I have been thinking, planning, researching the prospect of launching an online education business. It is a real challenge to determine the right business model in the massive sea of other online education, training and eLearning sites. I know there are opportunities, I'll keep thinking.

Recently The Obama government announced a program to develop free online courses at American community colleges.

U.S. Push for Free Online Courses

In fact, now there are a vast array of free online learning resources - either courses or even textbooks.

More than 100 free places to learn online and counting

The question is: Are they being used? Well, really, there are an array of questions: Are they being used? By whom? How? Are they used only by those who have access? How long will it take for a shift (if it happens) toward these free resources and How will this change 'formal' education?

You can learn for free now: go to a library.
You can explore a vast array of information and knowledge: use the Internet
Need to learn a process?: Watch a "how to" video on YouTube
Thousands of parents who do not like the public school system have opted to "home school" [Home Based Learning] their children

What role does formal education fulfill? What was it's purpose in the first place and where is it going? Are schools fast becoming outdated?

Well, before we consider this, we need to think about the role of formal education.
This is a topic to be explored in future posts.

Paralyzed by choice

2009-06-23T14:18:00.000+09:00

This is me. This is how i feel. Too much choice can by paralysing.

2009-06-21T21:56:00.001+09:00

The Future of the Internet

2009-06-21T14:35:00.001+09:00

200808 the Future of the Internet

I am Canadian

2009-06-18T11:33:00.005+09:00

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:

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?

2009-06-18T11:14:00.012+09:00

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

2009-06-18T11:05:00.002+09:00

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.

Head in the Clouds

2009-06-04T11:49:00.002+09:00

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/

World No Tobacco Day

2009-05-29T09:17:00.000+09:00

Here's an idea I can get behind. It's an event called: "World No Tobacco Day". In 1987 the members of the World Health Organization [WHO] created this event in an attempt to bring awareness to the 5.4 million people who dies annually from smoking related illness. That's the population of Yokohama.

I found this statistic on a web site: In Japan, smoking is the leading cause of death and is responsible for 20% of all cancers. 50 percent of men and 14 percent of women smoke. The leading cause of death. Shouldn't the government, who's job it is to protect its citizens do all it can to reduce its nation's leading cause of death? Well...shouldn't it?

Lots more statistics here.

Japanese attitudes toward smoking is amazing to me as a Canadian. With all we know about the effects of smoking on health. For many years in Canada smoking in all public buildings - including restaurants and bars - has been illegal.

One package of cigarettes in Canada costs over Y1000, there are no vending machines for tobacco, there is no advertising for tobacco, all packages must contain a very large label (50% of the package). Visit here for a list of the array of very large images that appear on cigarette packages in Canada. It is quite disgusting, I think you will agree.

You can argue that it is about freedom to choose: If adults choose to smoke, that's their decision. Ok. However, it has long been known that second-hand smoke is as lethal (deadly) as smoking, itself. This is the reason why indoor smoking is banned in all areas - including restaurants - in Canada. In America - the land of freedom of choice - many states including New York and California, indoor smoking - including bars and restaurants - is banned. Even in staunch France, from 2008 public smoking bans - including restaurants and bars - are in effect. The law is supported by 70% of the population.

Where is Japan in all this? A wealthy, developed, educated country where smoking in restaurants continues and cheap tobacco is prevalent.

I feel that there is one good thing about being a smoker: it takes the mystery out of how you are going to die.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_No_Tobacco_Day

an idea I can get behind - to get behind something means to support it.
takes the mystery out of - to become known

Some advice for a returning adult learner

2009-04-17T16:22:00.000+09:00

I was writing to a student recently and thought I'd share it here.

I always respect a person’s decision to improve their education and improve themselves.

You will find that "formal" education does not have all the answers. In fact, people learn best "informally" from stories, from talking to others, from their own 'tacit' experiences.

Consider the knowledge that is important to you, beyond what is required. Also, I find that it is important to keep things in perspective.

A formal course of study can provide you with direction and knowledge and a piece of paper that looks good on your resume.

Thousands, or millions, of others have come before you. They have struggled at times. So will you. They got through. No one was born knowing any of this stuff. We all had to learn it at some point.

So, please bear this in mind. Formal education is directional and not final. It is a beginning and not an end in itself.

South Paws

2009-04-17T10:19:00.001+09:00

Are you left-handed? Do you know someone who is? How about someone who can use both hands in the same manner: for writing or throwing?

You will be surprised to learn that one job in the United States has a very high incidence of left-handed people. Can you guess? I will tell you later.

In western history, there has been a strong bias against left-handers. Look at the word 'left', and where it is derived from in various languages, to see this. In French 'left' is gauche which can also mean 'ugly', 'clumsy' or 'uncouth'. In Italian 'left' is sinistra which is where our word 'sinister', meaning evil, comes from. This is similar in many other Latin-based languages. The English word 'left' comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lyft, meaning 'weak'.

A 'left-handed compliment' actually is an insult. However, someone's 'right-hand man' means their most important, loyal and useful follower. Pictures of Satan, the devil, depict him as a left-hander.

Because of this, left-handers were treated differently, as outcasts or evil people. In the past, probably due to Satan being a left-hander, they were said to have been 'doing the devil's work'. Many left-handed people were forced to write and eat with their right hand. Changing a person's handedness forces them to use a different brain hemisphere, and often causes stuttering or other learning difficulties.

A left handed person is commonly referred to as a lefty or south paw. Why south paw?
The origin of this term is in the United States and it is connected to baseball. A long time ago, before flood lights and night games, all baseball games were played in daylight. Baseball fields were designed and built to accommodate the sunlight. In order to keep the bright setting sun out of the eyes of the spectators and the batter, home plate was oriented west. As the afternoon turned to evening, the sun would set, in the west, behind home base. The pitcher faced west. East was behind him. His right hand was on the north side of the field and his left hand was…south. Left handed pitchers became known as south paws. A paw, in case you don’t know, is what we call the hand (foot) of a dog or cat.

We have a special word for someone who can use both hands. They are ambidextrous. This is a rare word. Ambi means both and dextri means use. They are rare people, indeed.

Here is a collection of 1000 famous left-handed people from history. This UK website sells products for left-handed people.

So, how about that job in the United States with a very high incidence of lefties? In fact, it is President of the United States! Five of the last seven presidents have been south paws. Here they are: Gerald Ford, Ronald Regan, George Bush, Sr., Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. Amazing. Why do you think this is the case? You might find some answers here in this CBC article from 2008.

Left handers have their own day. It is August 13, 2009

Pizza vending machine

2009-03-31T14:28:00.003+09:00

TOPIC: Pizza vending machine

Japan is the land of the rising sun and the land of 5,400,000 vending machines, the most anywhere on the Earth. Most of these are beverage machines. Now, a new vending machine is set to be introduced that will make and bake a pizza in 3 minutes. You won't find this vending machine in Japan, a country that prides itself on gadgets. Rather, this machine was created in the land of pizza: Italy.

QUESTIONS
Why do you think this machine was developed?
Aren't there many places to buy pizza in Italy?
What possible problems do you see with this machine?
Do you think that a sushi or onigiri vending machine might succeed in Japan?

Read the story and watch the video here:

VIDEO:YouTube video clip
STORY: The Independent - Pizza vending machine

Wide Girls - Japanese stocks - The Economist

2009-03-31T14:24:00.001+09:00

TOPIC: Japanese stocks

Wide girls
Mar 26th 2009 | TOKYO

"Mrs Watanabe is tiptoeing back into Japan’s stockmarket"

“NOT trusted” is how Japan’s Prime Minister Taro Aso described stockbrokers this month, before calling them kabuya, or “wide boys”. And with the Tokyo stock market scraping 26-year-lows in mid-March before soaring 20% in the past fortnight, the reputation of equities as an investment is shoddy at best. Yet some Japanese investors are throwing caution to the wind and beginning to buy.

QUESTIONS
Do you invest in equities (the stock market)?
Is it a good time to invest? Has the market bottomed out or do you think that the markets will get worse before they get better? In Japan, individual investors are rushing in to the market. Why are they doing this now? Do they know something the rest of the world doesn't?

LANGUAGE
wide boys / wide girls
tiptoeing
scraping
fortnight
shoddy at best
throwing caution to the wind
net buyers
tip the trend
A lot rests on Mrs Watanabe, the fabled retail punter who plays the markets
wade in
she and her kind
a big fillip
it elicited only cynicism from seasoned hands

Bullish on Japan? Nonsense

2009-03-27T23:20:00.000+09:00

Why I am bullish on Japan

I want to thank Mr. Koll for writing as his view highlights a way of thinking that is no longer effective.

It is clear to me that Mr.Koll has the wrong perspective on Japan and on the world going forward. As a former economic analyst with a major investment house, he is seeing the world in ways that no longer apply. He is looking at the world through the rear view mirror.

The R&D argument is easy to refute. As is the case with the education system in the US where more money is spent per child than in any other country. You would expect the results to be stellar. Far from it. It is not how much you spend, it's how you spend it.

If patents are a measure of economic success, does it really help the wealth of the nation if these patents pertain to some functionality of a vending or pachinko slot machine? sheer numbers of patents indicate nothing nor do patents on a vast array of technologies that may never be adopted. The number of patents in relation to economic output over the past 10+ years tells me that their systems are misaligned. They are out of focus. If,however, they are continually dominating patent awards and clipping along at 3-5% growth in GDP, then I'd say, yeah, they are really onto something and all countries would be rushing to Japan to study their success. They are not.

"The future will be designed and invented in Japan" Should read: "The future will be designed and invented in by a few companies in Japan for a little while longer until the Indians and Chinese have fully ramped up."

Creativity has been bred out of Japanese. That is no great revelation. The ability to get things done is clearly here, but those steering the ships are largely inept and inbred - in politics and in business - large and small. Ability, profit motives, efficiency and effectiveness are clearly absent from Japanese business. If the Japanese economy comes back it will take another 20 years. That's the amount to time it will likely take for all the deadwood to retire from the system.

Japan has been coasting for years on an explosion of wealth, savings blanketed in protectionism. Now that wealth is dwindling, the savings are going fast, and the population is ageing.

Japanese are not any more "hard working" than anyone else. They work long hours. Are they any more productive? Look at all the overtime, no holidays, no layoffs and economic growth that's been sliding for years. This is a very ineffective economy. Look at the other G7 countries where overtime is much less, people have holidays and there has been economic growth.

Japan today is the rich, spoiled child, now fully grown with no career, smokes, drinks, gambles and is living off a trust fund that's soon to run out.

All the "wa" in the land will not help Japan, the nation, regain it's former position.

At best, Japan will find its position in the world as the ageing engineer uncle who used to be wealthy, still knows a few things, but who no one takes seriously as the world has moved on while he still talks about the old days.

There is no vision in japan, no inherent spirit or drive like post-war Japan.

India and China will soon regain their positions as world leaders that they held a few hundred years ago.

Sadly, Mr.Koll is analysing the wrong things. The world has changed. Governments are and will continue to fall, banking systems are and will continue to collapse. Riots - have started and will continue. what we see now with bailouts is a necessary but short term window dressing. The media uses the word: recovery. This, too, is a misnomer. It's a whole new world emerging and we have to see it in a different way. The way that it is and not the way we think it is (or was) or the way we think it ought to be.

The Incredible Shrinking Polar Bear

2009-03-24T22:52:00.004+09:00

Read the article here:

The Incredible Shrinking Polar Bear

I have long known about the fate of the noble Polar Bear. I learned years ago that the polar ice cap is shrinking, that the annual ice floes do not last as long as they used to and as a result, polar bears can not feed long enough. They are getting thinner and female bears cannot sustain enough fat to bear (excuse the pun) as many cubs as they used to - three became, two and two has become one.

I have been know, for years, to refer to SUVs as "polar bear killers".

Vocabulary and Phrases
turning to cannibalism
to draw up an action plan
to subsist
to congregate
to recede

a vital fattening-up time
to see them through
a long summer fast
chair (a person and a verb)
delegates

desperation
deliberately
denning (den - noun, to den - verb, denning)
over-optimistic

A Lender

2009-03-24T22:31:00.004+09:00

Today I became a lender.

Today I lent money to person I've never met.

Her name is Tagi.

She is 49 years old, has six children and lives in Samoa.

Read about Tagi and why I am lending her money.

What to read - March 2009

2009-03-10T14:54:00.008+09:00

From the BBC

Dalai Lama renews autonomy call
The Dalai Lama has repeated his demand for "legitimate and meaningful autonomy" for Tibet.

Your ability to discuss this issue is very good practice.
Some good language here:
"legitimate and meaningful autonomy"
a climate of fear
a bloody uprising
feudal society
serf
emancipation
"mutual benefit"
legitimate and meaningful autonomy
enable
within the framework
exile
prevail

On a lighter note...
Short article. Key terms are emboldened.
Love letters from Prince Charles to Canadian woman listed on EBay
Friday, March 6, 2009 Canadian Press
You, too, can own love letters apparently written by Prince Charles to a Canadian woman - if you have a minimum of $30,000 to spare.

The six letters are up for grabs on the online auction site EBay with a starting bid of $30,000. So far, there are no bids. The letters are written to a Montreal woman named Janet and most were written in 1976. But the latest letter is dated June 8, 1980 and in it, Prince Charles discusses how he was under tremendous pressure to get married, but assured Janet he would give her fair warning before that happened.

He married Lady Diana Spencer in July 1981.

Looking for a new career? How about as a Bee Inspector? :-)
From The Guardian
Bee parasite devastates colonies as hives go unregistered and uninspected

Millions of insects could be wiped out because thinly staffed inspectorate does not know where half the country's beekeepers are.

Cows - Their Impact on the Environment

2009-02-20T13:54:00.003+09:00

What is the impact of a cow on the global climate? In fact, collectively, they can have an impact. The food we produce - how we grow it, and not so much how it get to us, has a significant impact on CO2 emissions. This according to a recent article in New Scientist.

Deliver us from Cheeseburgers
New Scientist

Check out Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions and see that food production accounts for 15% of greenhouse gases. 5% of global CO2 emission comes from livestock. This stat from the World Resources Institute. How do they know?

Food for thought
Household Greenhouse gas emission account for double that of driving! Check out this chart.

Read the story: What is your dinner doing to the planet?

Namaste

2009-02-20T13:48:00.001+09:00

Namasté is a common spoken greeting or salutation in the Indian subcontinent.

It is commonly used in India and Nepal by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists, and many continue to use this outside the Indian subcontinent.

In Indian and Nepali culture, the word is spoken at the beginning of written or verbal communication. However, the same hands folded gesture is made wordlessly upon departure.

In yoga, namasté is said to mean "The light in me honors the light in you," as spoken by both the yoga instructor and yoga students.

Taken literally, it means "I bow to you". The word is derived from Sanskrit (namas): to bow, obeisance, reverential salutation, and (te): "to you".

Namasté is one of the few Sanskrit words commonly recognized by Non-Hindi speakers. Namasté is particularly associated with aspects of South Asian culture such as vegetarianism, yoga, ayurvedic healing, and Hinduism.

In recent times, and more globally, the term "namasté" has come to be especially associated with yoga and spiritual meditation all over the world. In this context, it has been viewed in terms of a multitude of very complicated and poetic meanings which tie in with the spiritual origins of the word.

Some examples:
• "I honour the Spirit in you which is also in me." -- attributed to author Deepak Chopra
• "I honour the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, I honour the place in you which is of Love, of Integrity, of Wisdom and of Peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One."
• "I salute the God within you."
• "Your spirit and my spirit are ONE." -- attributed to Lilias Folan's shared teachings from her journeys to India.
• "That which is of the Divine in me greets that which is of the Divine in you."
• "The Divinity within me perceives and adores the Divinity within you."
• "All that is best and highest in me greets/salutes all that is best and highest in you."

The Google GDrive?

2009-02-19T23:04:00.002+09:00

It is very mysterious, the Google GDrive.
The posting on Wikipedia and the audit / edit trail are quite mysterious.
Check it out.
GDrive [on Wikipedia]

Whirlwind

2009-01-20T16:34:00.001+09:00

The recession in America is now being branded as a whirlwind? Is that what they're calling it now? Did Madison Avenue do another spin job?

A recession (or whirlwind) in Tokyo? Here is a definition: There is a recession in Tokyo when the line up to pay for your designer clothes is shorter than usual.

In Japan, well, Tokyo, people make money people spend money. It flows. the yen has jumped quite a bit as a result of the banking meltdown in the US, so foreign products are cheaper and i get a great rate when i send $ home. People are flying to Seoul to shop 'cause their currency has dropping making the difference even more extreme.

That being said, people -are- being affected here. Though nothing like in North America.
Areas outside of Tokyo and Osaka have been hard hit for a long time.

I'd say that I am affected by some corporate training contracts that are "pending", so it is not losing work, rather, not getting proposed work.

Here in Japan and especially in the US there was what I call a false economy for years: People spending money they don't have on things they don't need. Too much credit. People kept buying. Companies scaled up production and operations based on this. Now that it's crumbling, 'false profits' are going and 'false jobs' are now gone.

Everything goes in cycles. Economies go in cycles. When times are good people think they'll never end. When times are bad, likewise.

It is possible, not only to survive but thrive, during a recession. Where there is crisis, there is opportunity. You have to think differently. With the wipe out of the banking system, when it gets restored, it will not be the same as before. When the economy recovers it will not be the same as before. Things will be quite different in the future. Expect change. Don’t expect that a 'recovery' will look like things did before.

I predict that as I write now in January 2009, things will get worse before they get better. We have not seen the worst of it yet.

I’ll be ok. I am used to it. Here's why:
For the past 10 years, all my work has been on contract. I generally work 2-4 different places. Sometimes I am really, really busy. Sometimes I am not. When I am not working, I have no income. It happens. I've learned to expect it and manage it. Eventually it comes back.
Compare me to a Japanese "salary man" who has worked 10 years at the same company. If / when he loses his job tomorrow with wife, family and no savings (they've spent it all on Disneyland, Louis Vuitton bags and a host of other useless things). And, never having been in that situation, it's major stress. he's likely to jump in front of a commuter train (which happens far, far too often here).

Me? I'm fine. just inconvenienced by the train delay. Most Japanese, like Americans -- with way too much unwarranted credit -- have lived in a happy-happy world too long. Time to wake up, read a newspaper and learn what's really going on in the world.

Christmas in Japan

2009-01-06T13:15:00.000+09:00

It's a funny place, Japan.

Japan is not Christian. It is "officially" Shinto, but largely Buddhist. No one understands any of it until someone dies, though. In Japan, Christmas is for couples.
Dinner for a "North American" Christmas is roast turkey. Turkey is not a Japanese food. Japanese have a severe affinity to borrow culture from Americans. However, the closest thing to turkey is chicken. KFC has Christmas promotions. I tell Japanese that in England people eat goose as a traditional food at Christmas. They look quite disgusted. They seems happy with their deep fried chicken.

I discovered the "Christmas cake" in Japan is, in fact, sponge cake, not heavy fruit cake. Japanese are surprised by this, of course. As Christmas is for couples, it stands to reason that it is a "romantic" holiday. Gifts are a must. What's the big gift to celebrate the birth of Jesus? Jewelry. And what beverage could go better with your jewelry, sponge cake and KFC than champagne? It's the beverage of choice for the most holy of Christian days. So, to review, KFC and champagne - that's Christmas in Japan. Weird, weird country.

The love hotels get long line ups during Christmas, apparently. I'll have to wander through Dogenzaka, Shibuya to check it out.

Christians in the west are not off the hook. Christians continue blindly to use Christmas trees, holly wreaths and mistletoe - all pre-Christian, pagan symbols; and continue to celebrate Samhain (Halloween), the pagan new year. I think Christians are confused as well.

The best investment in yourself

2009-01-05T18:53:00.003+09:00

What is the best investment you can make in yourself?

Many people would answer: Education.
As an economist, I know there is a direct positive correlation between education (formal education) and income. The higher your education, the higher your income. What is formal education? It's "school". Lessons, lecture, assignments, examinations: a formal and recognized course of study. However, any education - formal or informal - is a valuable investment in yourself. You do not need to go to school. Read. Talk. As questions. Get curious. It may improve your income. It will enrich your life.

Some would say: Your health.
Shouldn't you always put the best things in your body that you can? It is you only body, after all. There is an endless selection of bad food easily available to us. Somewhere in and amongst all the processed foods, chemicals, and additives we lost our connection with the land. We lost our connection with real food. To invest in yourself, reconnect with your food. Take time. Plan your meals. Learn what goes into your food. Know what's good for you. Less animal fat, more leafy-greens, moderate exercise. Enjoy time with family and friends. Reduce your stress. Manage your stress. Be away of the effect that stress has on your body. This is something you can control. Drink less alcohol. Stop smoking. Stop smoking. Smoking will kill you. It's your body and it's an investment worth making.

Others might say that travel is the best investment you can make in yourself. Many of us in the developed world are in a position to travel to distant and far off lands. The experiences gained from exploring new places, discovering new things and meeting new people can be enriching and life-changing. Travel teaches you about the world, it teaches you about your own country and culture and it teaches you about yourself. There's a big world out there to discover. Yours to explore.

I resolve…

2009-01-01T23:20:00.002+09:00

In North America the beginning of the New Year signals a new and fresh beginning. It is a time that people decisions to start anew – to make a change. These decisions are called New Years Resolutions. The most common resolutions one hears are:

- To quit smoking
- To go to the gym
- To lose weight
- To spend more time with family and friends
- To get out of debt

This time of year, early January, memberships to gyms and health clubs jump and how-to-stop smoking commercials appear on television. I am reminded of “Reveen” a stop-smoking hypnotist who always seem to come to town in January.

While making resolutions to improve oneself is noble, the vast majority of people are not successful. The likely reason is that New Years resolutions are imposed at one time of the year: January 1st. Rather, the preferable time to set goals is when you are ready and not when the calendar tells you it’s time.
What happens in Japan? Do Japanese make New Years Resolutions at the beginning of the year? Is there some custom?

Drinking in English

2008-12-31T10:00:00.005+09:00

Visit English, Irish, Scottish, American pubs and restaurants in Tokyo
The cost of food and drink are not included.

Y1500 to participate each week for up to a 3 hour session. (8-11pm)

Discuss, sample and enjoy beer and other beverages from around the world.

It is easier to speak English in a social setting. And having a drink can't hurt the conversation,either. The focus is English conversation and an opportunity to practice speaking and listening. Topics can include aspects of beer, wine and whiskey (tasting, making, regions etc.), Pub culture, English-speaking culture, and travel.

Venues will vary:
- Aldgate - A great English pub in Shibuya
- Braeburn - A special Scottish bar in Shinjuku
- The Nelson - A one-coin bar in Ginza
- T.Y. Harbor Brewery - A micro-brew pub in Shinagawa.

Would you like to join? Please email me, post a comment or watch for more details here.

Do you know a great English / Irish / Scottish pub in Tokyo?

Post it here.

Shinnenkai -- John's Class - January 10, 2009

2008-12-18T21:58:00.014+09:00

Date: Saturday, January 10, 2009
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Place: Wataminchi in Shibuya
Cost: Y3200

Please reply to this blog posting by January 7, 2009 if you can come.

George Carlin – The Modern Man

2008-12-02T12:18:00.002+09:00

Think you understand English language and culture?
Try this:
George Carlin – The Modern Man
George Carlin was an American Comedian who passed away earlier this year. For over forty years he entertained with a very unusual style. He is very intelligent and highly opinionated about major social issues. His unique perception and ability to communicate made him very popular with people who see the world in a different way (like me). He was brilliant, unique, an original.

Watch this. He speaks very quickly. I encourage you to watch some of his other videos on You Tube. There are many.

Two countries, two ambassadors

2008-09-16T09:09:00.006+09:00

Two countries made appointments of goodwill ambassador appointments recently. One in the United Kingdom and the other in Japan. Perhaps we can learn a little about each culture by the assignments they've made?
United Kingdom: Dignity Ambassador for the Elderly

Source: BBC News
In an announcement made May 20,2008:

Broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson has been appointed a "dignity ambassador" in a government campaign to encourage more respect for older people in care.

Japan: Hello Kitty as Ambassador
Source: Japan Times

One day earlier, May 19, 2008, the Japanese government made an announcement of their own.

The cartoon character Hello Kitty will be appointed Japan's goodwill tourism ambassador to China and Hong Kong, according to government officials.

...No word of an announcement about a Japanese dignity ambassador for the world's oldest and fastest aging population...

Republican National Convention?: Happy to be Canadian

2008-09-04T11:23:00.002+09:00

Watching the Republican National Convention makes me really happy that I am Canadian. Notice I didn't say "proud". I am so happy that my grandparents chose to immigrate to Canada in the 1920's. Why do I react in such a way? Seems that America is all about guns and god. And everyone's white. Frankly, it's creepy. That being said, I think McCain will win in November. That's America.

Math, Stats and General Equations

2008-09-03T05:41:00.001+09:00

Math, Stats and General Equations

ROMANCE MATHEMATICS

Smart man + smart woman = romance
Smart man + dumb woman = affair
Dumb man + smart woman = marriage
Dumb man + dumb woman = pregnancy
____________ _________ _________

OFFICE ARITHMETIC

Smart boss + smart employee = profit
Smart boss + dumb employee = production
Dumb boss + smart employee = promotion
Dumb boss + dumb employee = overtime
____________ _________ ________

SHOPPING MATH

A man will pay $20 for a $10 item he needs.
A woman will pay $10 for a $20 item that she doesn't need.
____________ _________ ________

GENERAL EQUATIONS & STATISTICS

A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
____________ _________ ________

HAPPINESS

To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot
and love him a little. To be happy with a woman,
you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all.
____________ _________ _________

LONGEVITY

Married men live longer than single men do, but married men
are a lot more willing to die.
____________ _________ _________

PROPENSITY TO CHANGE

A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, and she does.
____________ _________ ________

DISCUSSION TECHNIQUE

A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

____________ _________ _________ _________ _

HOW TO STOP PEOPLE FROM BUGGING YOU ABOUT GETTING MARRIED

Old aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs and cackling, telling me, 'You're next.' They stopped after I started doing the same thing to them at funerals.

Google Chrome Browser Launch

2008-09-02T22:08:00.004+09:00

Google launched a new browser today called: Chrome
Read about it here.
and get a real overview of this new open source browser at google: Google Chrome Story.

Download Google's Chrome Internet Browser

Stories as seen in the Search Engine Journal

Do you think this might help?
Download Chrome Browser, download google plate Browser, google browser, download google chrome, download google plate browser,Download Chrome Browser, download google plate Browser, google browser, download google chrome, ...

George Carlin - Remembered - "Save the Planet"

2008-06-29T13:01:00.000+09:00

George Carlin - Remembered - "Save the Planet"

Are you superstitious?

2008-06-11T08:22:00.003+09:00

Friday the 13th is coming.... on June 13th
13 is an unlucky number in western culture. In East Asian countries "4" is thought to be unlucky and avoided.

Read more about superstition

Artist File 2008 - The NACT Annual Show of Contemporary Art

2008-05-01T13:19:00.002+09:00

I've been so quiet here over the past several weeks. Not that there is nothing to write about. On the contrary, there is plenty! I've been so busy online and offline. Hope things are settling now for a couple of weeks. I look forward to writing again. Before I do, I want to introduce a great show - ending soon! - at the NACT.

"Artist File 2008 - The NACT Annual Show of Contemporary Art" Exhibition
Venue: The National Art Center, Tokyo
Schedule: From 2008-03-05 To 2008-05-06
Open April 29th (Tues) & May 6th (Tues). Closed April 30th (Wed).
Address: 7-22-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-8558
Phone: 03-5777-8600

Using English

2008-04-10T10:00:00.002+09:00

This is a good site. Simply put. Lots of resources for students and instructors.

http://www.usingenglish.com/

Rice Cost Creating Fears of Asia Unrest

2008-04-10T09:53:00.004+09:00

Recently availability of food is becoming a broader issue. Staples such as rice and bananas are becoming more and more expensive.

Business / World Business
High Rice Cost Creating Fears of Asia Unrest
By KEITH BRADSHER
Published: March 29, 2008
The price of rice, a staple in the diets of nearly half the world’s population, has almost doubled on international markets.

Do you think you understand English?

2008-03-30T10:16:00.002+09:00

A priest and rabbi and a minister walk into a bar. The bartender says: "Is this some kind of joke?"

Get it?

If you understand English culture you'll get it.

Higher education rates

2008-02-19T10:56:00.001+09:00

Here is an interesting of higher education rates among several countries. Can you explain it?

English Grammar Games

2008-02-18T23:27:00.002+09:00

A great collection of English Grammar Games
Free. online. Offered by the British Council

Rule Britannia...

http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/grammar/archive/grammar_games_index_page01.html

A man walks into a bar

2008-02-18T22:39:00.002+09:00

A man walks into a bar and asks for a drink. The bartender pulls out a gun and points it at him. The man says, "Thank you," and walks out.

(I like this one. It's got a real bizarre feeling to it. Though the answer makes sense... Need a hint?)

Prison Break

2008-02-18T22:35:00.001+09:00

Two prisoners are locked in a prison cell. There is an unbarred window high up in the cell. However, even if the two men stand on the bed or one on top of the other they can't reach the window to escape. They decide to tunnel out. After digging for a long time they give up with the tunneling because they realize that it will take too long. Finally one of the convicts figures out how to escape from the cell.

What is his plan?

English Grammar Site

2008-02-18T22:31:00.003+09:00

This blog and this blogger is not about English grammar. However, I could not resist posting this link that I discovered recently. It is a plain, text-based on-line English grammar guide / text. No graphics, no advertising, nothing "flashing". Just English.

http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/durrus/153/gramtoc.html

Scotland Quiz

2008-02-08T12:55:00.000+09:00

What do you know about the bonnie land to the north of England?

1) What’s the capital city of Scotland?
a) Glasgow b) Aberdeen c) Edinburgh

2) Scotland used to be an independent state. When did it lose its independence and become part of Great Britain?
a) 1507 b) 1707 c) 1907

3) What colour is the Scottish flag?
a) Blue with a white cross b) White with a blue cross c) Green with a white cross

4) What’s the name of the famous lake where a monster is said to live?
a) Loch Monstro b) Loch Grass c) Loch Ness

5) What’s the name of the type of skirt that Scottish men sometimes wear?
a) Kilt b) Scot skirt c) Skilt

6) What’s the national drink of Scotland?
a) Vodka b) Gin c) Whisky

7) What’s the name of the musical wind instrument that is from Scotland?
a) Wind pipes b) Bag pipes c) Scottish sax

8) When did Scotland get its own Parliament?
a) 1899 b) 1959 c) 1999

9) How many languages are spoken in Scotland?
a) 1 b) 2 c) 3

10) What’s the name of Scotland’s national poet?
a) Robert Burns b) Robert Louis Stevenson c) Walter Scot

Logial Puzzle: The Murdered Husband

2008-02-06T13:56:00.000+09:00

A woman has absolute proof in court that her husband was murdered by her sister. The judge declares, "This is the strangest case I've ever seen. Though it's a cut-and-dried case, this woman cannot be punished."

Idioms about the body

2008-02-04T09:09:00.000+09:00

Match the idiom with its definition

1. You did it. You have to face the music.
2. Yes. You hit the nail on the head.
3. You two don't see eye to eye.
4. You have to learn it by heart.
5. You are an old hand at teaching.
6. That's great! You keep everything under your thumb.
7. You don't want to stick your neck out, do you?

a. You have to memorize it.
b. You're experienced.
c. You have control of the situation.
d. You don't want to take the risk.
e. You have to accept the consequences of you actions.
f. You don't agree with each other.
g. You're absolutely right.

English News

2008-01-30T21:57:00.000+09:00

Sources of English news

Japan Times

Daily Yomiuri

BBC – British Broadcasting Corporation

CBC – Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

ABC – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Learning English – web sites
BBC Learning English

World's Top 100 Cities (according to Businessweek)

2008-01-28T16:32:00.000+09:00

Mercer a global HR recruiting company ranks world cities by their livability. A good topic for discussion. Does your city rank? Me? I'm from Vancouver (#3 in the world). Tokyo is #35. How do you think the rankings are done. How many of these cities have you travelled to? Which ones would you most like to visit? How do you think Mercer arrived at these rankings?

Here are the top 10 cities
2007
1 ZURICH Switzerland 108.1
2 GENEVA Switzerland 108.0
3 VANCOUVER Canada 107.7
3 VIENNA Austria 107.7
5 AUCKLAND New Zealand 107.3
5 DUSSELDORF Germany 107.3
7 FRANKFURT Germany 107.1
8 MUNICH Germany 106.9
9 BERN Switzerland 106.5
9 SYDNEY Australia 106.5

http://bwnt.businessweek.com/interactive_reports/livable_cities_worldwide/

10 Famous Movie Quotes

2008-01-23T16:27:00.000+09:00

How many of these quotes do you know? Do you know the film that it came from? Have you seen any of these classic American films?

1 Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.
GONE WITH THE WIND 1939

2 I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse.
GODFATHER, THE 1972

3 You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.
ON THE WATERFRONT 1954

4 Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.
WIZARD OF OZ, THE 1939

5 Here's looking at you, kid.
CASABLANCA 1942

6 Go ahead, make my day.
SUDDEN IMPACT 1983

7 All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my closeup.
SUNSET BLVD. 1950

8 May the Force be with you.
STAR WARS 1977

9 Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night.
ALL ABOUT EVE 1950

10 You talking to me?
TAXI DRIVER 1976

Valentine's Day

2008-01-22T22:32:00.000+09:00

Do you want the real story of Valentine's Day or the jaded commercial story?
The jaded commercial story is that modern valentine's day was created by Hallmark- yup, the card company - to sell cards. They did a nice job of it.

For the real story of St. Valentine's Day through out the ages and around the world, visit the Wikipedia entry.

Idioms - Working

2008-01-22T11:50:00.000+09:00

Working idioms
work, work, work

1 all in a day's work
2 all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy)
3 a nasty piece of work
4 do someone's dirty work
5 do the dirty work
6 give someone the works
7 run/work like clockwork
8 grunt work
9 have your work cut out (for you)
10 in the works
11 make hard work of something
12 make short work of something
13 Nice work if you can get it!
14 work miracles
15 throw a spanner in the works
16 work your fingers to the bone
17 work against the clock
18 work your arse/backside off
19 work both ways
20 work hand in glove with someone/something
21 work your magic
22 work like a charm
23 work like a dog
24 work like magic
25 work out
26 work something out
27 work your socks off
28 work (yourself) up
29 work up a sweat
30 work wonders
31 the (whole) works

Idioms - The English Language in colour

2008-01-22T11:13:00.000+09:00

How well do you know English idioms? There are thousands of idioms in the English language. Learning some can help you to understand how we speak and communicate and to better communicate with others. Idioms are colourful ways to explain a situation, to describe a feeling or to solidify a point. Idioms are used very often in daily English conversation. When you hear English spoken by native speakers chance are that their sentences will be riddled with idioms and slang. The language we speak is not "textbook" English.

I have introduced idioms in class and to private students. Students are always keenly interested in learning idioms and "real" English.

How to teach Idioms? Keep them guessing. Rather send them guessing. Have students individually or in pairs guess the meaning of a set of idioms. It gets them thinking. It gets them talking.

Like Sumo?

2008-01-21T10:12:00.000+09:00

If you've never watched or talked about it, it a topic worthy of discussion - rich in history and an enduring symbol of Japan. I was fortunate to attend the opening day of the 2008 Winter Basho in Tokyo. I'm not a huge fan but I enjoy and respect the tradition and spectacle of it all. It was a great experience.

Like it or not, it is a worthy topic of discussion. The world knows about Sumo and it is a strong image of Japan. So there is interest as you travel and meet people in your travels outside Japan. People are likely to ask you about it so it's helpful to talk about it in class or conversation to work out your views, experience and opinions.

For a great English website on Sumo, visit the GOO Grand Sumo Home Page.

Quotations -- Mohandas Gandhi

2008-01-20T08:44:00.000+09:00

Quotes are a very good way to engage discussion. The language may be simple yet the meaning may be deep and worthy of exploration, understanding discussion. Quotations are good focal points to discuss the life and work of the speaker, the meaning and importance of the statement and the impact of the statement on the culture. Often I would begin a class discussion with a quotation and often they are challenging to students. That's fine. Help them to understand the meaning and importance.

Quotes are readily available. Watch for a vast collection to be made available here. Let's begin with the very prolific Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi.

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

"Those who know how to think need no teachers."

"We must become the change we want to see in the world."

"A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes."

Mohandas Gandhi

English Tutoring Availability - January 17, 2008

2008-01-17T16:06:00.000+09:00

A few adjustments to my tutoring availability...For rates and to reserve time, please contact me directly.

A man walks into a bar...

2008-01-17T15:55:00.000+09:00

A man walks into a bar and asks for a drink. The bartender pulls out a gun and points it at him. The man says, "Thank you," and walks out.

This is a good one, and a tricky one. My students got it after a couple of clues... Need a hint?

10 Facts about Australia

2008-01-17T11:18:00.000+09:00

1. Australia is a the 6th largest country by land mass (about the size of the continental US) but has a very small population.
2. The highest point is Mt Kosciusko, in New South Wales, which is only 2228 metres above sea level.
3. Australia is the driest continent.
4. Australia became an independent country on January 1, 1901.
5. Former Prime Minister of Australia Bob Hawke was listed in the Guinness Book of Records for drinking 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds in 1954.
6. The 1828 census found that half the population of the Australian state of New South Wales were convicted criminals, and that former convicts made up nearly half of the free population.
7. There are around 120 million sheep in Australia and around 20 million people.
8. Cricket is the most popular sport in Australia.
9. "Australia was founded by Convicts. Its homicide rate is 1.8 per 100,000 population. The United States was founded by religious zealots. It's homicide rate is 6.3 per 100,000. Almost 400% greater than Australia."http://www.convictcreations.com/
10. The animals of Australia consists of a huge variety of unique animals; some 83% of mammals, 89% of reptiles, 90% of fish and insects and 93% of amphibians that are found only in Australia.

Lateral Logic Puzzle - The Murdered Husband

2008-01-17T08:56:00.000+09:00

Robert Burns Day

2008-01-10T16:31:00.001+09:00

Robert Burns Day is January 25. It celebrates the birthday of Scotland's favourite son and is a celebration of all things Scot.

The Burns Supper
Haggis is eaten on special occasions like Burn’s Night, a special dinner to celebrate the life of Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet, which is held on January 25th. A Burns Supper has followed the same tradition since his death in 1796:

The haggis is piped into and around the room; the tune played is usually A Man’s a Man for a’ That.
The Address to a Haggis – a poem written by Burns – is given with appropriate flourish, cutting open the haggis at the appropriate time, followed by a Toast to the Haggis.
A knowledgeable person gives the Immortal Memory (a tribute to Robert Burns).
A Toast is made to the Lassies – outrageous, hilarious but gracious to the ladies (Burns was quite fond of the lassies).
A reply is given by a lassie.
The Selkirk Grace is said.
The haggis is piped back to the kitchen and then served, usually with champit tatties an’ bashed neeps (potatoes and turnips).

To some, haggis may look and taste foul. Before you judge it, you should try it.

Perhaps Burns' best known poem / song is Auld Lang Syne heard and sung at the end of the year in many countries or during graduation time in Japan.

If you are interested in attending a Burns' Night in Tokyo, I found one coming February 23 (hmm...). The price is more than a little steep for my Scots blood.

If you would like a lesson and key visual on Haggis, email me and I will forward the lesson to you as a PDF.

11 Facts about Canada

2008-01-10T13:59:00.000+09:00

As I wrote earlier: it is helpful to know a handful of facts about your country before you travel. Here I've assembled a collection of 11 facts about my country: Canada.

Canada is the second largest country in the world (9,971,000 square kilometres), second to Russia.
Canada has the fourth lowest population density in the world – 3 people per square kilometre
Canada has the ninth biggest economy of the world
According to the United Nations Human Development Index, Canada has the highest quality of life in the world.
Vancouver, Canada is tied with Zurich, Switzerland for the highest quality of life of any city in the world.
Contrary to popular opinion, Canada does not own the North Pole. In fact, the North Pole is not owned by any country.
Canada is the world's eighth largest trading nation.
Canada is in the top five producers of the world's natural gas, copper, zinc, nickel, aluminum, and gold.
Canada is the fifth largest energy producer.
Canada is the home of many great inventions, including: basketball, the electric light bulb, the electric range, the electron microscope, standard time, the television, the telephone, and the zipper.
Canada has the world's highest post secondary education enrolment.

English Tutoring Availability - January 7, 2008

2008-01-07T13:56:00.000+09:00

Private English Tutoring Availability in Tokyo.
For rate information, please send email.

Lateral Logic Puzzle - Chicago Park

2008-01-05T22:58:00.000+09:00

Chicago Park
It is a hot day in the middle of summer. A body is discovered in a park in Chicago. It has a fractured skull and many other broken bones, but the cause of death was hypothermia.

Happy 2008 - New years resolutions and the year of the rat

2008-01-05T12:59:00.000+09:00

Happy new year all!

Is this the year you resolve to improve your English? To achieve the TOEIC or TOEFL score that you want, or need?

In western countries many people begin the year by making New Years resolutions (NYR). A resolution is a decision and a declaration to do or achieve something during the year. The most common NYRs are to quit smoking, lose weight, get into (physical) shape, get a new job or the like. [The US government has compiled a list of the most popular NYRs] So often people make these resolutions but they quickly fade into memories - sometimes in the first week!

The beginning of a new year is a common time to set new goals - new year = new life and a fresh start. Though, for many, this is a forced start. I believe you can and should make resolutions and set goals when the time is right for you, and not to match a date on the calendar. It is important to be honest with yourself and know what is needed to achieve these goals before setting out. As well, if you are truly serious and achieving goals it is really helpful to tell people - friends and family - this way you have peer pressure and are more likely to be held to your stated goals.

Well, that's one of the things we do in the west.... in many east Asian cultures, the new year ushers in a new animal in the Chinese zodiac...

The Year of the Rat

Being the first sign of the Chinese zodiac, rats are leaders, pioneers and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Rat people are endowed with great leadership skills and are the most highly organized, meticulous, and systematic of the twelve signs. Intelligent and cunning at the same time, rats are highly ambitious and strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas, which often include money and power. They are energetic and versatile and can usually find their way around obstacles, and adapt to various environments easily. A rat's natural charm and sharp demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone, but rats are usually highly exclusive and selective when choosing friends and so often have only a few very close friends whom they trust.

Read more about the rat and the Chinese zodiac on Wikipedia.

Wordmaster

2007-12-31T12:07:00.000+09:00

Hey, this is a bit of fun.

This is a flash-based vocabulary game called: Wordmaster
The game offers three levels and thousands of words to practice. It is one of many English language games offered for free on the BBC World Service Learning English site. Check it out.

blogging by mail

2007-12-29T10:46:00.001+09:00

hey, check this out.

Lateral Logic Puzzle - The Race

2007-12-29T10:07:00.001+09:00

The Race
A man and his wife raced through the streets in their car. Suddenly, they stopped, and the husband got out of the car and ran away from the car. Minutes later he returned to the car. When he came back, his wife was dead, and there was a stranger in the car.

Lateral Logic Puzzle - Gold and Jewels

2007-12-29T09:19:00.000+09:00

A man is lying dead in a room. There is a large pile of gold and jewels on the floor, a chandelier attached to the ceiling, and a large open window.

This one's tough.
You really need to think differently about this one.
Need a hint?

Talking about film

2007-12-28T10:08:00.000+09:00

Film and movies are something we all enjoy. As a topic, this is a great way to engage a conversation and learn about each other.

What films (Japanese or Western) have you seen recently?
Describe it: What genre is it?; what’s it about?; who was in it?; would you recommend it?
What is your favourite movie and why?
Why do you think film is such an important and influential art form?
What Japanese film(s) would you recommend to non-Japanese people to give them a better understanding of Japanese culture?
Have you seen any of the films on the AFI Top 100 list?
The American Film Institute recently declared that the past decade was the worst decade in history of American film. Why do you think they said this?

For a great collection of film information visit the Internet Movie Database [IMDB]

10 Facts about Japan

2007-12-27T20:26:00.000+09:00

You meet people when you travel. Many people are interested in Japan and it is a good idea to learn about your own country before you travel. You will be surprised about the sorts of questions people will ask you.

If you can learn 10 things about Japan, then you will always have something to talk about.

I have assembled a list of 10 facts about Japan as an example. You will want to research some more. Here here they are:

Mt. Fuji is 3, 776 metres and is the highest point in Japan
The population of Japan is 127 million people
Japan is slightly smaller than the state of California
A litre of gas is approximately 150 yen or approximately $6.00 per gallon
Japan has the highest life expectancy for women - total population: 82.02 years (male: 78.67 years; female: 85.56 years)
Japan has two major religions: Shinto and Buddhist
Japan has the 2^nd largest economy in the world
You become an adult at the age of 20
Japan has a very low birth rate (ranking 222 of 223 countries)
There are 1500 earthquakes per year in Japan

Tokyo Talk 101

complain

Japan Election Special

Japan’s economic ripple effect

Can you see any similarity?

a tipping point?

Let's Gambling - Japan's great gamble

Elderly woman arrested for beating youth sitting in priority seat of bus › Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

Japan - on the bullet train to irrelevance

An Internet Kill Switch

Tuna's End

Let's Ignorance!

A Perfect Storm?

Man punched in the face by fellow train commuter over bad phone manners › Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

Buy the Skyy and sell the Skyy

The Daily Yomiuri's Economic Rescue Plan

April 25th Refreshmas in Tokyo

Happy Refreshmas

Bye, Bye Blue Fin

3rd Refreshmas - February 25

2nd Refreshmas - January 25

*Merry Refreshmas!(TM)*

The mother tongue - bill bryson

Online education is more effective than classroom

A laptop computer for under $100

The Warmest Decade on Record

The great global warming swindle

Let's Happy Engrish!

Universities: The next threatened industry?

The question is not: "Why is college so expensive"

Discombobulated

First post since the eclipse!

Longest Total Solar Eclipse and its impact on Ocean Temperature

Free Education: The end of schools?

Paralyzed by choice

The Future of the Internet

I am Canadian

High Tech Japan?

learner versus learned

Head in the Clouds

World No Tobacco Day

Some advice for a returning adult learner

South Paws

Pizza vending machine

Wide Girls - Japanese stocks - The Economist

Bullish on Japan? Nonsense

The Incredible Shrinking Polar Bear

A Lender

What to read - March 2009

Cows - Their Impact on the Environment

Namaste

The Google GDrive?

Whirlwind

Christmas in Japan

The best investment in yourself

I resolve…

Drinking in English

Shinnenkai -- John's Class - January 10, 2009

George Carlin – The Modern Man

Two countries, two ambassadors

Republican National Convention?: Happy to be Canadian

Math, Stats and General Equations

Google Chrome Browser Launch

George Carlin - Remembered - "Save the Planet"

Are you superstitious?

Artist File 2008 - The NACT Annual Show of Contemporary Art

Using English

Rice Cost Creating Fears of Asia Unrest

Do you think you understand English?

Higher education rates

English Grammar Games

A man walks into a bar

Prison Break

English Grammar Site

Scotland Quiz

Logial Puzzle: The Murdered Husband

Idioms about the body

English News

World's Top 100 Cities (according to Businessweek)

10 Famous Movie Quotes

Merry Refreshmas!(TM)