Okinawa Day 3

Day 3 in Okinawa was a little different. I decided that rather than trying the beach again and getting drenched, I'd do some sightseeing and then catch another movie. I was delayed in leaving the hostel though because while I was doing some after breakfast reading I started watching one of the other guests making a string bracelet, and ended up making one of my own. In hindsight, the rough black twine I though would look macho and manly just ended up looking a bit ratty and was harder to make.

For my sightseeing I headed over to Ryuku Castle. The castle has been built and rebuilt many times, most recently after WWII. There are some parts that are still being restored but it was a good visit. Just before going into the main castle part, in the courtyard there was a performance of traditional dance which I hung around and watched. A bit different to the dancing I'm used to, but no-one can do fancy footwork in a kimono. Overall, the dancing was quite sedate, and the use of props was more interesting than the footwork. The inside of the castle was pretty interesting, and had a lot of English signs. You did have to take of your shoes off at the entrance though. After the castle I wandered around the lake just below the castle, and headed to the cinemas around 4:45ish.

The movie I saw was Pirates of the Caribbean 3. My advice is if you haven't already seen it, don't. During the movie I was thinking "this is bad". The story made little sense, and the humour of the original is sorely lacking. The few moments of comedy with Johnny Depp were the only positive things in the movie. I did however stick around for the little coda after the credits.

Dinner was KFC, and then I went back to the hostel for the night.

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Writing time: 15 minutes
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: None

Okinawa Day 2

My second day in Okinawa was not quite as exciting as the first. I slept in a bit, then walked down to the nearest MacDonalds for breakfast. As I got there, it started raining, so I stayed a bit longer than I normally would. When the rain looked like it was easing off, I left, but almost immediately it picked up again, so I popped into a convenience store and bought an umbrella. I went back to the hostel to wait out the rain.

At about noonish it looked fine, so I decided to walk to a nearby beach. After spiralling around for a while, I finally found the beach. I sat down on the beach and rented an umbrella (I actually just tried to open an umbrella on the beach and a guy came up and told me it was a rental, so I just gave him some money). However, after about half an hour the heavy rain came back suddenly so I and everyone else on the beach ran for the shelter of the nearby buildings. After the rain eased off again I said to hell with this and went back to the hostel to change clothes as I was somewhat drenched.

I decided that my alternative activity would be to see a movie. I got to the cinemas at about 4, and the next English movie on was Die Hard 4 at 5. So I decided to hang around (the cinema was in a mall which I wandered around in. On a related note Transformers toys for the current movie seem a lot cruder and less sophisticated than the ones I remember from my youth.) Anyway, the movie wasn't too bad, the scenario, tech and action was a bit more implausible than previous Die Hards, but it was still fun to watch.

After that I had dinner at a steak bar near the hostel, I had a nice awamori cocktail with some good steak, although the steak didn't come with anything else.

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Writing time: 13 minutes
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: Hook

Okinawa Day 1

An early start, getting up at around 6:30, to catch a 7:17 train to Kobe, and then another train out to the airport, arriving at the airport at around 8:45. Check in was no hassle, although it was a bit funny that getting your boarding pass and checking your luggage are two seperate processes over here. The flight was about two hours, and then another 15-20 minutes on the monorail. The guest house I was staying at (props to Guest House Sora, a very good place to stay if you happen to be in Naha). I dropped my bag at the guest house, and then wandered around town for a while. I had lunch at KFC (my dining habits in Naha were particularly unadventurous), then decided to visit one of the parks nearby. After a fair bit of walking (I ended up walking in a contracting spiral around the park before finally finding it. I sat in the park and read for a while as well as playing a bit of Phoenix Wright. It started raining after a while, pretty heavy rain, but I was under a shelter so it wasn't a problem. There were a lot of cicadas in the park which made a heap of noise when the rain started, and at times their flight reminded me of The Birds.

When the rain finally stopped at around five I headed back to the guest house to check in properly (pay the bill and get my key, etc), chatted with a few other guests and then headed out to dinner. I had dinner at the Cowboy Steakhouse, which was probably a bit to pricey for what you got, but had good steak and a nice and tall mango daiquiri. I then stopped into a bar called Zero Ichi K (01K on the sign) and hung out there for a while. Two marines came in a little later, and I talked with them and played darts against them (I won two games of 301, lost at cricket and a round of count up). 01K was pretty cheap, but mostly because of their very generous definition of happy hour (7pm-2am is what I recall on the sign).

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Writing time: 12 minutes
Time since last post: nominally 1 day, but since I'm retroactively posting my travel stuff, it's really 6 days
Current media: None

Good News

It looks like the typhoon has died down (it's now a tropical storm) and has passed by. Hopefully this means all systems are go.

In less good news, today I have my contract evaluation and I got hardly any sleep last night.

Ah well, I'll just drink lots of coke.

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Writing time: 3 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: None

God damn

So on Tuesday I booked my trip to Okinawa. Bought the tickets, booked a hostel, found out how to get to Kobe airport, all that shit. Yesterday I mentioned my plans at my Japanese lesson, and was informed that there is a typhoon currently heading towards Okinawa.

God damn.

It looks like the typhoon will hit tomorrow morning, and by Monday will have weakened and be passing over the main island of Japan, so hopefully I can still go.

In any case, if the planes are still flying, I'm going to go. I may however have to alter my plan of sitting on the beach and reading. Worst case scenario I sit in my hostel and read.

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Writing time: 4 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: none

Unexpected Sources

Last Saturday I was at a different school than normal and met someone new in voice. It was a housewife who was a little different. Since it was the first time I'd met her I asked the usual get to know someone questions, job, hobbies, likes, etc. The surprising bit was that she liked heavy metal music, and surprisingly, when I mentioned what would be the closest thing to my favorite heavy metal band, Apocalyptica (since they play cellos, it doesn't really count as pure heavy metal), she actually knew who the hell I was talking about. Then came the devastating blow. Apparently, Apocalyptica had performed a concert in Tokyo in May, and she had gone.

God Damn.

If I had known, I'd have definitely made the trip to Tokyo for that. To put it alliteratively, Apocalyptica are awesome.

Ah well, yet another disappointment in life.

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Writing time: 11 minutes
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: Crazy Japanese TV

Some cool pictures

Some fun pictures for those who are fans of either Lord of the Rings and/or The Muppets.

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Writing time: 1 minute
Time since last post: 10 minutes or so
Current media: None, although I might start watching The Muppet Show soon.

Okinawa Bound

Next week I get my next four day weekend. The plan for this one is Okinawa. It's summer, there are beaches, plus it seems such a waste to have so much time off and not go somewhere further afield.

Today I sorted out tickets and accomodation. All without leaving my room. The internet is a wonderful thing. The hostel will be a bit cheaper, and I don't expect to spend quite so much on trains and entry fees, so it may end up being about the same cost as my trip to Tokyo.

My main plan for what to do in Okinawa is to lie on the beach and read. On that topic, I'm not sure what to read so have decided to try a new blogger feature. There is a poll for what book I should read while in Okinawa. I may also visit Okinawa castle, but I doubt I'll do that much sightseeing.

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Writing time: 102 minutes (although I did stop for a while to go for dinner and do some other stuff)
Time since last post: 4 days
Current media: None

Awesome

This guy is fucking awesome. I wish I could make a speech this good.

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Writing time: 1 minute
Time since last post: 5 days
Current media: Heros

Fan Mail

On Thursday I got my first bit of fan mail.


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Writing time: 6 minutes
Drawing time: unknown
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: Die Hard

Manic

Today I was exceptionally genki at work today, especially the kids lessons. This is rather surprising since I got about 3 hours sleep last night. Today I was working at Mukonoso, one station away from Nishinomiya Kitaguchi, but means I couldn't catch the express from Juso, which wasn't really that big a deal.

The first kids lesson was a chibiko lesson, which is for kids between 2 and 4 years old. This was to be my first chibiko lesson. I thought it was going good 20 minutes into the lesson when the kid had not turned up. The kid turned up with 15 minutes to go so I did an expedited version of a lesson. It was really good. Mainly because the kid's mum really got into it. In fact for the first section, the Hello song, the mother knew it better than I did. The kid liked the music time (dancing around with fruit shaped shaker things to make noise). The other highlight was card time (where a few words get introduced to the kids). One of the words was swim, which ended up with us all lying face down on the floor imitating free style swimming. I think it would have been a lot different with a different parent taking part. I think next week I'll probably have the class again and I doubt they'll be 25 minutes late again. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up that level of energy for a whole 40 minutes.

The kinder class I had suggests maybe I can. I was much more boisterous and active than I normally am. Afterwards some of the parents commented that it was a really good lesson and the kids were smiling all the time. I was quite grateful that the next lesson was an empty voice. I played some Tetris and read some of Foundation.

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Writing time: 16 minutes
Time since last post: 20 minutes
Current media: Black Adder Goes Forth - Major Star

Depressive

On Tuesday night I went to a friends birthday party. At one point the conversation got round to a topic that got me rather depressed. So rather than being sociable and jovial, for a while I was bitter and moody and lurked on the sidelines. At several points I thought about making some statements which might have expressed a more than a little cynicism and bitterness, but my typical reluctance to speak kept them bottled up, which is probably for the best.

A later conversation on a related topic with someone else, while during the conversation I was very much stiff upper lippish, afterwards left me rather enraged and desiring of some cheap piece of furniture that could be destroyed without repercussions or a loss of something useful.

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Writing time: 15 minutes
Time since last post: half an hourish
Current media: Black Adder Goes Forth - Major Star

Quintessentially Fungible

For the last few days I got to catch up with a good friend who came to the land of the rising sun for a few days. JP came for a few days on his way back to Australia from China. On the few cases where it has happened it has been really good to get together with someone I've known for longer than the time I've been in Japan.

I had to work on the days JP was here, so things were a bit more rushed, but seems to have been compensated by later than usual nights.

It is significantly easier to talk about things with someone I've known for quite a while. It was quite helpful to talk about some things with another human being, rather than keeping them bottled in inside.

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Writing time: 15 minutes
Time since last post: 9 days (hypothetically)
Current media: Black Adder Goes Forth - Corporal Punishment

Tokyo Day 4

The final day in Tokyo. The plan for today was to visit Harajuku, Meiji Jingu, Tokyo Tower and Ginza. This plan did not quite get fulfilled. I first headed over to Meiji Jingu, a shrine dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken. The shrine is in another of Tokyo's huge parks. The walk from the entrance to the shrine is nice, with old fashioned fences, creeks, forest, wine barrels, torii, the barrel things they have at shrines and more. The shrine itself was nice. I also went to the museum there where there was a display of ceremonial clothing that belonged to the emperor and empress.

After this I walked around Harajuku, a shopping district for a bit. I had lunch at a Coco Ichiban (a curry house) and then decided I'd had enough of walking around and all that so decided to head home. I went back to the JR Tokyo station, got my bag from the locker and caught a shinkansen back to Osaka.

Thus ends my Tokyo trip.

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Writing time: a bit of time
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: The Chaser

Tokyo Day 3

Another day of walking around. Today, Shinjuku. The city part of Shinjuku wasn't that amazing or different to anywhere else, but there was a very nice park there, Shinjuku Gyoen. In the park was a tree wrapped in a blanket, and a traditional tea house with the traditional ticket vending machine.

After the park I headed over to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building, and up to the observation deck on level 45. The view from the top is pretty impressive. I think I may have just seen Mt Fuji. At the least, I saw to angled lines that kind of came together at a point which was in the direction of Mt Fuji, which is good enough for me.

After that I went back to the hostel for a bit of rest, and that evening went into Shibuya to catch up with Tyrone. We wandered around for a bit just catching up.

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Writing time: A while
Time since last post: 1 day (hypothetically, since I'm posting retroactively)
Current media: Hellboy

Tokyo Day 2

Slept in a bit. Got breakfast from a nearby Lawsons (cheese karage, a banana and an orange juice) which I ate while planning the day. Thanks to a map on the table at the hostel, I learnt that Asakusa shrine was quite close, and so decided that would be my first destination.

After I ate breakfast and read my emails, I walked down to Asakusa shrine. On the way, I passed a weird toy shop and a restaurant that advertised Okinawan cuisine. After about 15 minutes I reached the front of Asakusa shrine. Between the entrance and the shrine proper is a street of shops, a bit like that at Kiyomizu, but not as long. I looked at some of the shops there, mainly those selling yukatas, but they only had yukatas with patterns on them, and I'd prefer a plain one. I also saw this shirt at one of the shops. The shrine itself was pretty good, with a large main shrine and then a number of smaller shrines surrounding it.

After Asakusa, I headed over to Ueno to visit Ueno Park (うえのこえん). This park is full of statues, shrines, fountains, homeless guys, galleries, more fountains, giant heads (although not the Face of Bo), a zoo I didn't go to, cats, and more.

I then headed over to Akihabara, the Den Den town of Tokyo. Lots of computer and electronics stores, as well as comic book type shops. I saw one shop with a famicon (the Japanese version of a NES) and some old school LCD Nintendo games. The problem with the comic shops was that there was no clear separation between the ordinary comics and games which I'm interested in and the hentai which I'm not. In fact, a lot of the time they were mixed together. I didn't take many pictures here, as it's much the same as computer and comics shops all over the place.

I headed back to the hostel after that, and went to dinner at the Okinawan restaurant, which was dissapointing as the food was small (on a large plate) and expensive. It was good, but for that much money, you should get more. I went to Bar JD's Style for a few drinks, then called it a night.

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Writing time: 45 minutes
Time since last post: a few days
Current media: None

Tokyo Day 1

I arrived in at JR Tokyo at about 7 o'clock. My first act after getting my stuff was to go and buy a shinkansen ticket for the return trip. Then, I dumped my big backpack in a locker near a curry house, and got breakfast at a cafe. When I actually walked out of the station, the first thing I saw was a giant NOVA flower, and then a giant Usagi at the top of the building. I wandered around the station for a while (an area called Nihonbashi). I found a currency museum that was part of the Japanese mint which I thought I would go to, but it turns out that it was closed on Mondays. So a bit more wandering, then I decided to head to the Imperial Palace and visit the gardens there, where I intended to sit around for a while and not do much, to try and gain a bit of energy. Well, guess what else was closed on Mondays? So instead I sat down on a small garden on the street outside the palace. I read for about ten minutes, then laid back and used the book as a cushion. I lay with my eyes closed for maybe half an hour when this guy in a suit came over and told me the emperor would be driving by soon. So I sat up and got my camera ready, and waited for about 20 minutes until the motorcade went past. It was about 4 cars and I didn't see the emperor, but I did see an old lady wave from one of the cars, so I assume this was the empress.

After that bit of excitement, I walked around the imperial palace, at one time being overtaken by an old man (I blame the lack of sleep). After making the round of the palace I walked to Yasukuni Shrine. The shrine was interesting with a few statues and other bits and pieces, but the good bit was the museum. It started out with a documentary in Japanese, which I went into with the intention of trying to pick up as much as possible, but after about 10 minutes nodded off. I hope I didn't snore. Anyway, the rest of the museum had information in English and Japanese (although more in Japanese. Can't really blame them for that though.) and was quite interesting. It made me somewhat more interested in the history of Japan from about 1900-1940 (My knowledge sort of goes "samurai, samurai, something, something, Pearl Harbour").

After that it was late enough in the day for me to check into my guest house, so I headed out to Asakusa. I got my room key, and checked out the room. It had it's own toilet and sink, and four bunk beds. For Tokyo, pretty good value at 2800 yen per night. I had a bit of a nap, and then headed out for dinner. I had a curry at a surf themed restaurant, that was nice, if a bit pricey (that seems a common theme in Tokyo, nice but a little pricey). Then I tried out a bar called Bar JD's Style. It was nice and the barkeeper was friendly. The decor was mainly Jack Daniels paraphenalia. After a few drinks there, I went back to the hostel to get some sleep.

Pictures are here.

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Writing time: A while
Time since last post: doesn't really count since I'm posting retroactively
Current media: Dr Who 2007 season episode 11

Tokyo Day 0

Currently en route to Tokyo. I'm waiting at a service station, a sort of get out and stretch your legs place, with a huge dose of commerce. The place is next to the highway, and there is a footbridge going across which I can not see the other end of.
Have not got much rest so far. The aircon, while not hot, is not cool enough. I bought an inflatable pillow which should help, and some coke. which won't

NOVA In Hot Water

This week NOVA got caught up in a little strife. They got punished by the Japanese trade ministry (METI - Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry) for a number of dishonest business practices, like playing tricks with calculating refunds and deceptive advertising and sales information.

The penalty is that NOVA can't sign up customers to long term contracts (contracts longer than one year or 105 lessons) for 6 months. This will be another hit to sales, but the signs I see at my school show that already they're promoting shorter term plans. As far as punishments go, it's more creative than what would usually happen in Australia, where they'd just be slapped with a hefty fine.

Such news was bound to make teachers and students a little nervous about the future of the company. Teachers were freaked out a bit more when some teacher's pay was deposited late on Friday (mine was paid before I checked at noon, I didn't find out about this bit until talking to other teachers).

So NOVA is having a rough patch, but like all behemoths, it has plenty of momentum which should see it through this difficult patch. Honestly though, I think they should tighten ship a bit. Some of the things NOVA does seem designed to waste money.

Edit: Other sources are not so optimistic.

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Writing time: 12 minutes
Time since last post: about 9 hours
Current media: None

To Tokyo

Tomorrow night I head off to Tokyo. I'm catching the nightbus (ニトーブス) which leaves at 10pm tomorrow night, which should get into Tokyo around 6am on Monday. I'll spend the day wandering around somewhat in a haze due to likely sleep deprivation (I've heard the nightbus is not very comfortable), before checking into my hostel around 3 pm. I'll probably have a nap before heading out to try and sample the nightlife. I'll also try and buy a shinkansen ticket for the return trip on Thursday.

I have no definite plans for what I'll do while there, but have a lonely planet with a big list of things to do. Plus, yesterday was payday, so I have plenty of cash at the moment to make sure I enjoy myself.

I'm not going to take my laptop, but I will be gadgeted up. I'm taking my phone, iPod and DS (mainly to check email, not to play games, although maybe while traveling to a from places). Plus the chargers for each of these items. I'm going to pack my big backpack tomorrow morning before leaving for work early (I left my keys at a different school today, so have to head out there first. Luckily it's just the next station, so I only need to head in 15 minutes or so earlier than normal.). After work, I'll come back home, have a shower, grab my stuff and head into Umeda to catch the bus. I'm going to make sure I get in early, to make sure the place I think is the bus departure point is actually the bus departure point.

Selected photos and stories will be posted upon my return, and perhaps earlier if I get so motivated.

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Writing time: 9 minutes
Time since last post: a little more than 9 minutes
Current media: iTunes shuffle - currrently Starbuck Takes On All Eight from the Battlestar Galactica season one soundtrack

Under the Umbrella

Last Sunday it rained. A lot. Suddenly. While I was on the train I noticed nothing (although I was listening to my iPod and playing on my DS so that doesn't say a lot). As I got up the escalators at the station I heard a great rumbling noise and looked up through the clear retractable (though not at that time) roof to see a great downpour. So great that I decided I could not just run through it and be acceptably dry for work. And so I bought an umbrella. Of course by the time I got into the open, I perhaps could have run quick enough, but I had the umbrella so I used it.

Sidetrack: I don't really like using umbrellas. I'll only use them when I'll get drenched no matter what. I'd much rather trust to a jacket and hat to keep me dry than an umbrella. Only when the rain is beyond that level of protection will I consider an umbrella.

Anyway, back on track. At the start of my lunch break, the rain seemed to have cleared up so I went out without my newly purchased umbrella. While I was eating lunch in a restaurant (I think it was Mos Burger) it picked up again. So while I was walking back to the office (school, I'm never sure which one to use. Maybe I should stick to work.) a student with an umbrella came over and let me walk under the umbrella with them. I thought this was very nice and was quite grateful, although I'm not quite sure how to act with students outside of work (NOVA's no fraternisation policy seems somewhat harsh). Usually I'll just say hi in passing, but would not stop and chat.

Not sure where else to go with this post, so here it shall end.

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Writing time: 10 minutes
Time since last post: a little more than 10 minutes
Current media: iTunes shuffle - currently La Dolce Vita by Nina Rota

What's Cooking

Or more to the point, who's cooking? The answer is me. This week, for the first time since in Japan (and probably a week or two before I left Australia) I cooked my dinner.

On Tuesday night I cooked chicken alfredo a la me, for which a vital ingredient is a continental pasta and sauce packet mix. I got one of these and a packet of macaroni from a guy at work who picked them up for me on a recent return trip to Australia.

Lesson from cooking: while beef is ridiculously expensive. chicken seems to be dirt cheap (two breast fillets for 260 yen, although tonight that much only bought me one fillet. In any case 520 yen for three fillets is pretty good). I think I shall have to explore the possibilities of chicken, and cook more often. Perhaps it is time to read the cookbook my uncle got me for Christmas (I'd been planning on saving that for when I moved somewhere I had plans to cook).

Anyway, I foresee more cooking in my future, and unfortunately but consequently, more washing up.

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Writing time: 6 minutes
Time since last post: 1 week
Current media: iTunes shuffle - currently Fix You by Coldplay

Lustful?

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Second Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	High
Level 2 (Lustful)	Very High
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very High
Level 7 (Violent)	Moderate
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Low
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

I think I'd rather be sent to Level 6. I'd much rather be a heretic than a perve. Although Limbo sounds good too.

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Writing time: 1 minute
Time since last post: 3 days
Current media: Geeknights

Situation Resolved

It turns out the right answer was past tense.

Ah well.

It was a good 4 and a half months.

Casualties of the night: My iPod headphones, ripped into half a dozen pieces and thrown onto someone's hedge, and three Smirnoff Ices.

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Writing time: 1 minute
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: The Daily Show for June 4th

Tense Situation

There is a situation. I'm not quite sure how to think about said situation.

Past tense has a set of implications I don't really like.

Present tense has a set of assumptions I'm not sure are justifiable.

And so, yet again, I do nothing.

Life would be much easier if I could just know what other people are thinking (in a controlled directed manner, no Earshot bullshit type stuff).

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Writing time: 12 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: Cowboy Bebop - The Real Folk Blues Pt 1

A New Hope

At times I see things that make me despair of humanity. Other times I see things that give me hope.

It turns out that someone started a petition to Pardon Paris Hilton. It got 30005 votes, which is still 30004 too many (Paris signed. I can't really complain about that.). The opposing Jail Paris Hilton petition got 87715 votes. (Looking at the petition site, there are many petitions on the topic, but the great majority are on the go to jail side).

Anyway, I have now sullied my blog by mentioning someone I don't like and think deserves no attention.

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Writing time: 9 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: Arrested Development

Dual Systems Not So Good

I read in the newspaper a few days ago a report on a court case in Malaysia (links here, here and here). The case was about a woman who had converted from Islam to Christianity wanting to change the religion on her national ID from Islam to Christianity, and had her request denied by the National Registration Department. The Federal Court upheld the decision the National Registration Department made and it's reasoning. I think this is a bad ruling.

To understand why, first you need to look at why the woman wanted to change her religious status. Malaysia operates under essentially a dual legal system. Muslims are subject to Sharia law, and are subject to a separate Sharia court. Non-Muslims are only subject to civil courts. One example is that Muslims are not allowed to purchase or consume alcohol, but non-Muslims may. Also, Muslims may only marry other Muslims (if a Muslim wants to marry a non-Muslim, the non-Muslim must convert to Islam).

The problem for the woman who converted starts with the part of Sharia law which deals with those who turn away from the faith of Islam, the apostates. In some states of Malaysia, apostasy is a criminal offense, and at best to get labeled an apostate requires at least a year of counseling with a Muslim cleric, who must be convinced that you no longer truly believe. And this leads to the National Registration Department's reason for not allowing the woman to change her religious status. She had not been labeled an apostate, and since she was a Muslim subject to the Sharia courts, only the Sharia courts had the power to declare her no longer a Muslim. Without the say so of the Sharia court, they would not change her religious status. This is the decision that was upheld by the Federal court.

I see two big problems with this situation. The first is the existence of two different legal systems in the one country. If the woman had wanted to convert from Hinduism to Christianity this wouldn't have been a problem, but since she was a Muslim subject to Islamic law, she cannot do so. All people should be treated equally by the law, and to maintain separate systems for whatever reason undermines that principle. The second is that this goes against the freedom of religion clauses in the Malaysian constitution. Under this ruling, a large percentage of Malay are unable to choose their religion, but are assigned one based on their circumstances of birth, and cannot change it.


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Writing time: 30 minutes
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: Cowboy Bebop

Killing Time

So it's been a while since I wrote anything on my blog (Japanese text excepted, but that's not that much good to my readers. It was more of an exercise for myself, but may be repeated later on.) so I should probably do so.

So what has been happening in the world of EsonLinji? Some stuff, but not a lot.

Work continues much as it has. This month I get a second kids school, and am doing help shifts at another school on Saturdays (This has the advantage I get to sleep in a little on Saturday mornings). The extra kids school and help shift is due to another school having half the teachers quit in a period of about a month with no new teachers arriving. Sometimes it seems NOVA is a sinking ship with the rats jumping ship (although since I'm a teacher I don't really like referirng to teachers as rats).

Recent sightseeing. Last week on Tuesday I went to a Mummy (ミイラ) exhibition in Kobe. It was pretty good. They had a 3d video looking inside the mummy based on CAT scans of the intact mummy. Rather interesting. Then there was a number of Egyptian artifacts (jewelry, statues, etc). There were three human mumies as part of the exhibit (the one from the video, and two others), plus a sampling of other mummified creatures (cat, crocodile, bird, and others I don't remember).

Then on Wednesday I went to Mino-o with my new housemate Carl and a guy he met on the flight to Japan, Chris. It was a pretty good walk, but we messed up finding the place at the start. We initially went up this giant elevator, which we thought would help us get to the top of the hills. Unfortunately, the lift only lead to a health spa type place. We followed a rather steep road up from the spa for a little bit, but it only lead to the tennis courts. So we went back down and found the actual entrance of the park, and followed the walk. At the other end of the walk was a nice waterfall. Also, as promised there was a monkey getting into mischief. The monkey tried to steal a tray of food from one of the shops , and was then chased off by the shopkeeper. I managed to get two photos of the monkey from a distance.

On Sunday was a work party, which was OK. Nothing too amazing or dreadful occurred. The novelty of the night was everyone wrote a haiku and recited it. I managed to write three, which I will now reproduce in order of composition.

The weather is fine
I am in my box teaching
Why oh why oh why?

カツ丼を
めちゃたべました
すきですか？

(translation (not in haiku)
Katsudon
I eat it a lot
do you like it?)

first five syllables
then there's seven syllables
last line there's five more

So, I'll never make poet laureate.

This Tuesday I went hunting down the Ice Cream Festival that was allegedly happening in Osaka. I saw an article about it in the paper a few days before, and thought it was going to be something big and exciting. I was greatly disappointed. It turned out to be four small booths in a food court. However I did try the stretchy Turkish ice cream which was a bit bland, but the serving of it was done with a modicum of style and panache.

Wednesday was spent trying to remember how to use Blender. With the recent update to 2.44, I've downloaded the mac version and started playing with it again. I've started up the second project I'd thought of back in Oz to practise with. It's a scene of a spaceship traveling through space. This is going to be expanded into a large battle scene as I get better and can manage more objects. The source material I'm basing it on requires 386 ships (385 will look remarkably similar). Anyway, it will be a challenge bringing the ROU Killing Time to life.

In a few weeks I'm heading up to Tokyo as I've sorted out a 4 day weekend. This will be my first time to Tokyo, so I'll spend most of the time sightseeing. I still have to sort out where I'll stay (hostel or capsule hotel) and how I'll get there (shinkansen or night bus). I do want to find the Godzilla statue. I think I'll have a look through the lonely planet and see what else looks interesting.

Anyway, it's about time I start getting ready for work, so I'll finish up here.

End Post
Writing time: 46 minutes
Time since last post: 6 days
Current media: Cowboy Bebop

日本語のブログ

けつよぅびぼくのアパトでそうじをしました。
にじじゅうごふんからろくじさんじゅぅぷんまではたらきました。
西北でいちじゅぎょうをおしえました。
仁川でさんじゅぎょうをおしえました。
キンダとジュニャとシニャをおしえました。
キンダのじゅぎょうさんにんせいといます。
ジュニャのじゅぎょうろくにんせいといます。
シニャのじゅぎょうひとりせいといます。

かようびこうべのミュジアムにいきました。
ミイラのてんじをみました。
さんたいミイラはありました。
いちばンミイラはコンスのそうりょでした。
コンスはイジプトのかみでした。
たくさんきんほぅせきをみました。
ミイラのビヂオをみました。
ミイラのビヂオホ３−Dでした。
ねこのミイラをみました。
ワニおミイラをみました。
てんじのせつめいをよめました、でもてんじのせつめいをわかりませんでした。

すいよびみのおにいきました。
ぼくとカルのクリスがみのおにいきました。
豊中からみのおへ阪急でんしゃでいきました。
みのおでヒキングをしました。
たきをみました。
さるをみました。
さるはみせのたべものをとりました。
みせのひとはおこりました。
みせのひとはさるにぼうをなけあした。
さるはにげました。

Summary for the Japanese impaired:
On Monday I cleaned my room and went to work.
On Tuesday I went to the Mummy exhibit in Kobe.
On Wednesday I went to Mino and saw a monkey get into mischief.

End Post
Writing time: 34 minutes
Time since last post: 5 days
Current media: none

Addendum: New keyboard layouts are tough to learn. Stupid Dvorak.

An Interesting Idea

In the New York Times on Sunday there was an interesting op-ed piece about marriage and the privileges that go with it. The suggestion it makes would solve much of the current debate about gay marriage. All in all, I think it is a good idea.

The idea is pretty simple. Take all the special privileges a married couple gets (priority in inheritance, shared income for tax purposes, immunity to testifying against, shared liability, etc), and make these available to everyone such that each person could nominate who they would share that privilege with. So to give an example, John Smith could share his income with his girlfriend, have immunity from testifying against and share liability with his business partner, and want his best friend to get his stuff if he dies.

As a practical matter, certain of privileges would have to be used in a mutual manner. Income sharing for tax purposes for example (if A shares with B, B has to share with A. A sharing with B who shares with C wouldn't work). Others would work one way (inheritance priority).

Also, practically, most people who would get married (or enter a marriage like relation) would assign such privileges to their partner. However, getting these privileges would no longer be dependent on being married, and would be more flexible.

The reason that I like this proposal is that it takes the whole idea to a more fundamental level. It takes a lot of things that need not be bundled together and allows them to be used independently. It also removes a major discrimination point in the legal system of many countries. A married couple receives privileges that other pairs of people do not. This idea is fairer and more flexible, which all round is a good thing.

End Post
Writing time: 29
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: iTunes Shuffle - currently Cowboy by Eve and Fatboy slim

Dubious Morality

A few days ago I righted a wrong that has been standing for a while. Just before I left Australia, I ordered a t-shirt from a website, and when it arrived at my uncles place, there were actually two t-shirts. Since it was a website I liked, I didn't want to rip them off, but at the same time, I had a huge credit card debt and was settling into Japan and living off less than my full wage, and then I was saving up for a computer, and so on. So anyway, since a few days ago was payday, and I'm now hassle free finance wise (other than working out how to send some money back to Oz to finish off paying the credit card off) I contacted the website to let them know of the mistake and rectify it. So, in short order the debt was paid, and life goes on.

I think I'm writing because I expected to feel a bit better about finally resolving the situation. Perhaps I've watched a little to much of My Name is Earl, but the main feeling I've gotten from this is the sense I should have done it sooner. It's not like US$24 is that huge an amount. The most correct thing to do would be to have notified them as soon as possible and pay the money then. However, I put things like buying a computer and eating food fancier than instant noodles ahead of that. I guess the thing I'm concerned about is where does this put me on the morality scales. Is my soul lighter than a feather, or is it tarnished by this and other misplaced priorities?

Maybe people will comment and I'll be able to get a bit of holier than thou righteousness on, or maybe I'll be shown as the scumbag I am.

End Post
Writing time: 15 minutes
Time since last post: 8 days
Current media: None

Failure

Regular readers may recall that at the end of March I put forward a plan for April. You can read it here if you forgot, but the general idea was that I would eat dinner at 30 different restaurants during April, with exceptions for social events being allowed. This was not achieved.

The list of places I went to runs as following for the first half of the month went as follows (I made notes)

• Crepes & Desert Cafe Aphrodite (now a fixture on my lunch menu)
• Captain Kangaroos (regular Monday night haunt)
• Hankyu Soba across the road from the station
• The Ramen place down the road

So far so good. Then came a bad headache, which caused me to revise the rules. Instead of all new places to dine, I downgraded to no repeats during April. This then allowed

• MacDonalds
• KFC
• The 280 yen Bar (everything is 280 yen, plus tax)
• Karage bought at a stand during a Hanami party
• Captain Kangaroos
• Convenient Food (instant noodles)
• Yoshinoya
• CocoIchiban (a curry restaurant)
• Saizeria
• Mos Burger

This is where I stopped taking notes, as it's around this time I gave up and started repeating places. So, I failed in my plan for April. I have not made such a bold plan for May, however I will be going to some of the new places I tried (the ramen shop and the crepe place).

My main plan for May is to keep jogging. I bought some running shoes in late April (jogging in steel caps is just plain stupid). I've been running around the nearby baseball diamond, usually just 3 or 4 laps. It's the only piece of non paved ground that is of a decent size that is publicly accessible and not in front of a shrine. It's also across the road from a convenience store, so I usually grab breakfast from the convenience store. This is a plus as normally on the days I go jogging is are those where I start late or don't work and so have a relatively late or non-existent breakfast.

End Post
Writing time: 21 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: The Colbert Report

Despairing of Humanity

Sometimes I'll read something in the news that makes me just wonder how fucked up humanity can be. This is one of those things.

End Post
Writing time: 1 minute
Time since last post: about half a day
Current media: none

Extreme Dodginess

In December 2005 the first report that the NSA may be performing warrantless surveillance of persons within the US. Since then numerous news articles have been written, justifications made, lawsuits filed, explanations avoided and other activities.

One of the more recent parts of this whole mess was when it was alleged that several phone companies just gave vast quantities of customer data to the government without requesting any sort of due process from the government (like getting a warrant for the data). One of the big companies, Verizon, is facing a joint suit from customers.

In the last week two worrying developments have occured with regard to this case. The first is a rather interesting defense strategy Verizon are trying to use. Free Speech. Verizon is arguing that they have a right to Free Speech, and this includes telling the government truthful information about its customers. This is malarkey for several reasons. First, it has long been established by the American courts that Freedom of Speech is not absolute, or at least is not freedom from the consequences of your Free Speech. One of the exceptions to Free Speech is commercial speech, speech by a company. Also, I am sure that America, like Australia, has privacy laws that specify when and how a company may disclose customer information to other parties, and that such laws require the government to get a warrant to obtain such information. Such a law is clearly a restriction on commercial speech, and one I'm sure most people are glad to see exist. There is also the whole debate on corporate personhood, and if a company can really claim to have a First Amendment right to Free Speech.

The next worrying event is a bill being proposed by the Bush administration. Buried at section 408 (why are laws always so long and complicated?) is the following:

Notwithstanding any other law, and in addition to the immunities, privileges, and defenses provided by any other source of law, no action shall lie or be maintained in any court, and no penalty, sanction, or other form of remedy or relief shall be imposed by any court or any other body, against any person for the alleged provision to an element of the intelligence community of any information (including records or other information pertaining to a customer), facilities, or any other form of assistance, during the period of time beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on the date that is the effective date of this Act, in connection with any alleged classified communications intelligence activity that the Attorney General or a designee of the Attorney General certifies, in a manner consistent with the protection of State secrets, is, was, would be, or would have been intended to protect the United States from a terrorist attack.

What does this mean. Well it means that any company providing the government with assistance in pursuing the "War on Terror" would be immune to liability for its actions, regardless of the legality or illegality of what they did. And, this applies since September the 11th, 2001. This would be really handy for Verizon. the conversation in court would go a little like this

Verizon: Your honor, this action was taken to assist the government in pursuit of the "War on Terror", and so we bear no liability for our actions.
Judge: Case dismissed.

No actual discussion of the case, no deciding if the acts were illegal, a violation of privacy, etc, just case dismissed, no questions asked.

The problem with laws like this is that they don't need to exist. The only reason to create this section is if you're scared of something. This is very much like the bill that gave senior government officers immunity from prosecution for charges relating to torture. If they weren't torturing anyone, as they claimed, why did they need immunity from prosecution? And if the phone companies aren't doing anything wrong, why do they need a blanket immunity from liability? Retroactive laws should be anathema to any nation claiming to follow the rule of law. If the rules for today can be changed tomorrow, how am I to know what to do? To quote Penn and Teller out of context (although I'm sure they'd agree) it's Bullshit!

End Post
Writing time: 1 hour 12 minutes (includes research and some other activities)
Time since last post: 3 days
Current media: iTunes collection ordered by track number, currently playing the Right Here, Right Now by Fatboy Slim

Joining In

For no particular reason I feel like stating the following:

09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

End Post
Writing time: 5 minutes
Time since last post: 1 hour 19 minutes
Current media: Little Miss Sunshine

Evaluated Again

Today I had my six month mid contract observation. It was a mid level lesson which I was grateful for (too high and it's hard to stick to the standard lesson plan, too low and it's hard to give instructions). The lesson went OK, but the follow up was a bit dodge.

The main thing I didn't like was the way the AT started by saying there was lots of good things about the lesson, but they way he said it made it clear that there was a but coming. It wasn't that I don't think there are things I can work on, it was more just the way he presented it. I got the impression of false sincerity, like the positive comments were just there because that was part of the whole observation review plan (NOVA has plans for pretty much everything).

Anyway, I'll try and incorporate the advice I was given so I do a better job teaching, but am a bit disheartened at the attitude shown by the AT.

End Post
Writing time: 18 minutes
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: Little Miss Sunshine

Long Day

Yesterday was unintentionally a rather long day. A few weeks ago I had agreed to swap my shift today from 10-6 to 1-9 with one of the guys at work since his parents were coming to Japan last night. Now yesterday, I got up nice and early and headed into work at the normal time. As I was getting off the train, I ran into the guy I did the swap with which is when I remembered the swap.

Since my commute is about 50 minutes, there didn't seem much point in going home, since I'd only have about an hour before having to head back in to work. So I hung out around Nishikita. I started out at McDonalds for a leisurely breakfast and a read of the newspaper. After an hour or so, I headed over to Starbucks where I spent the rest of the morning. There I did some Japanese study, played some tetris and read some of War and Peace.

On that, the first 35 pages of War and Peace is really boring. I'm going to give it more time, but I really hope it improves.

End Post
Writing time: 10 minutes
Time since last post: 12 days
Current media: The Colbert Report

The Prayer

Sometimes a song will get stuck in my head. Not the annoying stuck in your head, but more that this fits perfectly with the way you are feeling. Or changes the way your feeling for the better. In any case, once the song finds it's niche, I listen to it over and over again.

For a day or so, that song has been The Prayer by Bloc Party. It has found a groove in my mind and slotted in neatly.

Another song that has done this (a few months ago, not so much recently) has been Faraway Vol 2 by Apocalyptica.

End Post
Writing time: 10 minutes
Time since last post: 4 days
Current media: The Prayer by Bloc Party

Japan isn't the only crazy country

From the good old US of A I give you Threat Alert Jesus. To those who don't want to follow the link, this is a Jesus figurine whose halo lights up in the color of the current terror alert level. Tacky, paranoid, bible-thumping, and more in one convenient package for only $19.95 plus tax and shipping.

End Post
Writing time: 2 minutes
Time since last post: an hour or so
Current media: iTunes shuffle - currently America - Fuck Yeah from the Team America soundtrack (there is a certain synchronicity in that song playing now)

Perth Pink

A few weeks ago I bought a new book. In Japan, my strategy for buying books has mainly been to go for quantity that is quality. This has meant that I've mostly been perusing the classics section of the English shelves. My most recent purchase is somewhat the epitome of this buying philosophy, the canonical long book. The book is none other than War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy.

I've yet to start reading the book. It is sitting on my shelf, still in the bag from the book shop (honya). To paraphrase Monty Python: "This is not a book for reading, it is a book for laying down and avoiding."

I do plan to start reading it soon. This was not helped by my birthday though. From a friend over here I got another book of the lay down and avoid variety; Crime and Punishment (can anyone think of a non-daunting book with a title of the form x and y?), and from my Aunt I got 5 Ben Elton novels. Elton has got a good reputation as a writer and since he is somewhat responsible for Blackadder 2-4 (he was one of the writers), so those are looking tempting. A lot lighter than what I've read lately.

The book I have been reading for the last few weeks (I think I borrowed it from the Takarazuka school the day after I bought War and Peace) is Mobile Suit Gundam, a novelization of an anime series. It didn't seem that great as a novel, but I think giant robots flying around and fighting in space is always going to be better in a visual medium. I might try and acquire a few episodes to watch if I can.

I'm going to try and start on War and Peace soon, and see how I go.

End Post
Writing time: 37 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: iTunes Shuffle - currently Floating Away by Velvet Chain

First Earthquake

On Sunday April 15th, at 12:19 pm an earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale stuck Kameyama city in Japan. The earthquake caused on minor damage, but was felt as far away as Nishinomiya.

The school where I work is in Nishinomiya. I started work at 11:40 am yesterday. The first lesson ended at 12:20. The schools clocks must be a little off the official time, as just after my first lesson ended, the building started shaking. Not a lot, but obvious to everyone.

I will admit I was a little nervous while it was happening (I backed into the corner (not that hard) and put my arms next to the wall in preparation to having to brace). The wobbling went on for about 30 seconds to a minute. After one of my students got out his cell phone and checked the news on TV (some cell phones are also mini TVs. I've seen people watching shows on their phone on the train) to find out where the epicenter was and how strong it was.

End Post
Writing time: 29 minutes
Time since last post: 3 days
Current media: None

Cherry Blossoms - Part Two

Last week after going to the cherry blossoms in Shukugawa on Tuesday, I didn't end up going to Kyoto as I'd planned. I slept in quite late and then decided it was too late to go to Kyoto. Instead I went into Osaka and walked along the river and then went to Osaka castle. The river was OK, but my impressions weren't as good as Shukugawa. This wasn't helped by the fact that the weather was cold and wet. It was however a river as opposed to a hyped up drain. Osaka castle did not live up to what I'd heard, but then I was mostly walking around with my head down so my glasses didn't get covered in rain, so I may have missed some of it.

To top it off, the next day I woke up with a bad headache (the most accurate description is that it felt like a metal spike going in through my forehead and out the back of my head where the head meets the neck), and a cough.

No pictures for Wednesday to show. I took some, but there wasn't anything great.

End Post
Writing time: 13 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: My Name is Earl - Season 1

Pure Evil

While I like the idea in this comic, and may even give it a go some time, the sheer evilness of the ending is just awesome.

End Post
Writing time: 1 minute
Time since last post: 8 days (I was surprised)
Current media: None

Cherry Blossoms - Part One

At the moment it is cherry blossom season. And for what was probably the first time in my life, I thought "Lets go look at the flowers." Today I went to Shukugawa park, which is one station away from where I work. The park is a narrow (about the width of a road) stretch of land on both sides of Shukugawa "river" (the river has built up banks, paths, stepping stones and would be more aptly described as a canal, in that it seems quite man made). I'm thinking of going to Kyoto tomorrow, which is also reputed to be quite nice. Anyway, the flowers were quite pretty. Here are some photos.









More pictures are here.
End Post
Writing time: 16 minutes
Time since last post: half a day or so
Current media: 2010

Distorted Map

Here is an article with some maps that have been distorted to show how countries compare on things other than simple geographical area, such as alcohol consumption, military spending and more. I was initially surprised at how large Japan is on the alcohol consumption map, but after thinking for a few moments, it's not that surprising. Anyway, here is the map.



End Post
Writing time: 2 minutes
Time since last post: half an hour or so
Current media: still Fantasia

Since Reconstruction?

I was just reading a list of 10 less well known facts about Barack Obama, and was a little puzzled by the language used in fact number 4. It reads as follows

4: Obama is the third African-American senator since Reconstruction.

Reading up on the topic on Wikipedia shows that he is actually the 5th, but that's not what I'm wondering about.

The thing I'm wondering about is why they make the point of starting to count African-American senators at the time of the Reconstruction. Why not just go from the founding of the US. It doesn't make the number that much bigger. To be blunt, there isn't a whole swath of pre-Reconstruction African-American senators that people are trying to hide. Why make the distinction?

Wikipedia states that there have been 5 African-American senators, the first of whom was Hiram Rhodes Revels who served the last year of another senators term in 1870. He has been followed by Blanche Kelso Bruce, Edward Brooke, Carol Moseley Braun, and the aformentioned Barack Obama.

While it is true that all the African-American senators have served after reconstruction, it seems odd to say the he is the 5th African-American senator since reconstruction, instead of just the 5th African-American senator. If Obama were to become president, he'd be called the first African-American president, not the first African-American president since reconstruction.

And yes, I realize that the Reconstruction was a big time of change in the status of African-Americans in America, but I still don't see why you should start counting at that time.

End Post
Writing time: 32 minutes (includes research)
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: Fantasia

The Alligator Which It Waited Into The Tire

The title is something that was on a students t-shirt. It's unrelated to what follows.

Talking seems to be very effective. I need to do it more.

End Post
Writing time: 5 minutes
Time since last post: 30 minutes
Current media: Red Vs Blue Season 1

Tyrone in Osaka

Last week Tyrone, a friend from university who is doing the Nova thing in Tokyo came down to Osaka for a few days and we caught up on Monday night. This is the second time I've seen someone I've known for more than 6 months in Japan (the first was Mum).

He joined the regular Monday evening gang at Captain Kangaroo's and then the B-Trip. We mostly just talked and caught up, comparing experiences in Japan and what's been going onback in Australia.

I even managed to get my own Beaker photo.




End Post
Writing time: 30 minutes
Time since last post: 6 days
Current media: 30 Days - An Atheist among Christians

Proving Photograhy to a Blind Man

Here is an excellent article that everyone should read.

End Post
Writing time: 1 minute
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: iTunes shuffle - currently Navras by Juno Reactor

Shut Down

So I managed to get through shut down day without incident or difficulty. However, it mostly turned into watch TV evening, so I really just substituted one electronic device for another. Probably not what the organisers intended, but every little bit counts. I'm thinking of maybe one day a week just leaving the computer off on a regular basis, as I know I spend too much time on it.

End Post
Writing time: 1 minute
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: None

Shutting Down

It turns out that tomorrow is Shutdown Day, where people are encouraged to turn off their computers for one day. Since I managed to go about a month without too much difficulty, one day should not be too much of a problem.

End Post
Writing time: 1 minute
Time since last post: 5 minute
Current media: None

A plan for April

Recently I've decided on a plan for April. I'm not going to eat dinner somewhere I've eaten before. This is really just a way to make myself try some new places, as there are a number of places around my apartment that I've meant to try and have not yet done so. I'm going to make exceptions for social gatherings, and if I break down and actually cook, that won't count as well (The odds of me cooking twice in one month are small enough I doubt this will be a problem). Also, chains of restaurants count as one, so there will be no cheating by finding a new MacDonalds or Yoshinoya.

We'll see how I go.

End Post
Writing time: 3 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: None

Sumo Do Sumo Don't

The spring sumo tournament is currently being held in Osaka, so yesterday afternoon I went into Namba and to the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium where the tournament is hosted. I had a general idea of where to go and a tiny map on my phone, but in the end found it pretty easily. The point at which I started to be unsure of which way to go was when I looked left and saw the following, which solved the problem.

Getting a ticket wasn't too tricky and the line wasn't too long. The seats we got were pretty good, on the diagonal of the gymnasium. I got a bit of a sore neck from looking off to the right for most of the afternoon, but that is only a minor complaint.

I took a fair few photos (102 in total, although some have been culled before uploading to Flickr), and now I'm not so glowing in praise of camera phones. The phones OK for general sightseeing, but is limited when trying to zoom in a long way, for example from seat D7-107 to the dohyo (sumo ring). A few of the better ones will be at the end of this, and all but the worst are here.

Sumo is a very ritualised sport, and the actual sport part is only a tiny part of the performance. One bout had about 3 minutes of build up and 3 seconds of actual sumo fight. Sometimes the build up had the feeling of "I don't want to fight this guy", and some of the fighters who had this done to them would play to the crowd acting cocky, which always got a good response from the crowd. The longest actual fight went for only about 30 seconds. There were only a few fights where one wrestler was thrown out of the ring and landed on some of the spectators (the best seats are only a few feet from the ring, so being squashed by a falling sumo is a very real possibility.

The crowd in general was pretty quiet, although for some of the big (pun unintended) fighters the crowd got more vocal. Also, there was a little kid near us who would yell out the name of a lot of fighters, which helped us keep track of the bouts. Names I remember being yelled out were Ama, Hakuho, Tochiazuma, and Asashoryu.






End Post
Writing time: 38 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: iTunes shuffle of unplayed songs, currently From the Sea by Eskimo Joe

Reconsideration

I may have overreacted a little last week.

End Post
Writing time: 30 seconds
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: None

Cool video

Here is a video of several sand castles being blown up. For extra fun the film has been played backwards. It's pretty cool.

End Post
Writing time: 1 minute
Time since last post: 5 minutes
Current media: None

The sin of self righteousness

Yesterday morning I watched the movie Death Note. It's based on a manga series and was one of the most popular Japanese movies released last year.

The story is another illustration of how power and the belief in the rightness of ones cause can lead one into the path of evil. The story starts with a university student finding a notebook that when you write someone's name in it they will soon die. The student starts using it to kill criminals who appear to have evaded justice.

Now I can't say I don't enjoy vigilantism. I'm a big fan of Batman, who is nothing if not a vigilante. In fact, most comic book heroes are vigilantes. However, the student takes things a step further. The police notice the pattern in the killing and start investigating the person behind the deaths.

The start of this investigation involved a press conference in which a spokesman announces to the world that the police are hunter the killer. Angered by the idea that the police are hunting them, the student uses the book to kill the spokesman. As it turns out, the spokesman was a criminal sentenced to death, but that does not change the intention of the students actions.

This is just the start of the students self serving actions to get away from the investigators and follow his own plans. His schemes to thwart the investigators includes killing numerous investigators, and at the end of the movie in a scheme to infiltrate the investigation he sets up an elaborate situation that ends with the killing of his girlfriend.

While you can have a certain amount of respect for the student for his cunning and clever schemes, but his actions are nothing but reprehensible. And the justification for his actions is that he has a plan to make the world a better place that has no crime. This sort of self justification is dangerous as it allows the believer to justify nearly any action, no matter how despicable. No matter what the situation, no matter what the cause, there are some actions that cannot be justified, and no ends that justifies the means.

I'm not sure if I'll watch the second movie that concludes the story, I probably will, but mostly because I hope that the student gets caught and dealt with in an appropriate means.

End Post
Writing time: 23 minutes
Time since last post: 5 days
Current media: Absolute Power 2x05

Fuck

Fuck, fuck fuckety fuck.

End Post
Writing time: 10 seconds
Time since last post: who cares
Current media: None

Cowboy Bebop

I've started watching the full series of Cowboy Bebop. I've watched a few episodes in the past, but not in a regular fashion. I started watching because I wanted something in Japanese so I could do some more listening to spoken Japanese outside the context of trains and bars.

So far it is really good. The animation is great, and the music is fantastic. The stories are pretty good, but so far there hasn't been much of an overall story, although reliable sources have stated that there is one. I'm only up to episode 5 out of 26 so it probably hasn't had time to develop and become clear yet.

Anyway, I'm going to keep going through listening to the Japanese audio. Later on I may try the English audio, as I have noticed a few times when the English words don't exactly match up with the English audio.

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Writing time: 5 minutes
Time since last post: 15 minutes
Current media: Cowboy Bebop episode 5

A Good Idea

Today on Slashdot there has been a discussion of an idea I think is definitely a good one that should be implemented. The idea is that legislation should use a Version Control System to manage bills introduced and the amendments made to them.

This is a really good idea as at the moment there are too many instances of self serving or clandestine legislation being done (see here and here for but two examples, and pork barrelling n general). I've have written before that excessive amendments to bills is a bad idea, and these sort of actions reinforces those points. Having a publicly accessible record of who introduced what changes and when would be a valuable tool for the public to keep an eye on their elected representatives.

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Writing time: 21 minutes
Time since last post: about half an hour
Current media: Cowboy Bebop

Whither Turkey?

Bad news from Turkey via the BBC today. A Kurdish politician Ahmet Turk has been sentenced to 6 months in jail for referring to Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan as "Mr Ocalan". Apparently using Mr is a sign of respect for Mr Ocalan, who I don't know enough about to make a judgment call on. In any case, the use of Mr is a pretty standard thing, which usually doesn't make much claim about the person being referred to.

All of this of course is prevaricating before dealing with the main issue. This is of course a massive violation of Mr Turks right to freedom of speech. Mr Turk has the right to respect whoever he wants, and to speak about other people in any manner he sees fit. 6 months in jail for saying Mr Ocalan is outrageous.

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Writing time: 28 minutes (I was a little distracted)
Time since last post: about half an hour
Current media: Cowboy Bebop

More for EMACS

When it comes to VI vs Emacs I tend to sit in the Emacs camp, although I have been known to use VI on occasion. But today I found out something new that Emacs can do. You can now post to blogger using an Emacs extension. The text editor that can do everything can now do even more. Take that notepad.

I won't be making use of this, since I have only just installed Emacs on my macbook, and am still looking for my .emacs file, and where to put it since they've changed some things around for the mac version. I also am more than satisfied with the web browser interface so don't feel the need to mess around with this just for the heck of it.

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Writing time: 14 minutes
Time since last post: 5 days
Current media: None

Good Idea Coonan

I read in Crikey today that communications minister Helen Coonan has put forward the brilliant idea that all media in Australia should be classified in a scheme similar to that currently used for films. This includes newspapers, magazines, books and of course the Internet.

This idea has several problems, the main one philosophical, other logistical and jurisdictional. The main objection to this is that this censorship, which violates the principle of freedom of speech. Requiring every book, magazine, newspaper and website to be classified before publication is a massive act of prior restraint.

Logistically, this is a nightmare which would require a massive increase in the staff of the department. The number of books, magazines, newspapers and websites published dwarfs the number of films and games released each year, with a frequency and speed that a government department would be hard pressed to keep up with.

Finally there is the issue of jurisdiction on material published on the Internet. If I use an American service (oh, for example, Blogger) to host a blog that I write in Australia, am I required to submit it for classification, and how about the reverse situation. What if someone visits Australia and writes a few posts for there blog based in England. Others can come up with more convoluted situations that can be used to muddy the water and show how this cannot be implemented cleanly, clearly, fairly, and efficiently.

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Writing time: 11 minutes
Time since last post: 1 day
Current media: The Daily Show

Something Good Comes of Nietzsche

I found a funny website thanks to some random browsing of Wikipedia. I was reading the article on The Family Circus and one of the external links that was in the article was for something called The Nietzsche Family Circus. It randomly takes one of a selection of Nietzsche quotes and pairs it with a randomly selected Family Circus cartoon.

The combination is quite surreal and the contrast between the pictures and the words is striking.

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Writing time: 21 minutes (I got distracted)
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: The Daily Show

Another Quiz result

Some random browsing found this quiz - Which Firefly character are you.

Your results:
You are Dr. Simon Tam (Ship Medic)
Medicine and physical healing are your game,
but wooing women isn't a strong suit.


Click here to take the "Which Serenity character are you?" quiz...

It turned out I had a tie for the doctor, the captain and the mechanic. I'm not quite sure how the quiz broke the tie (I had a look at the source and it seems to be an artifact of the sorting algorithm). I don't really see myself as the captain, but there are aspects of the doctor and the mechanic I see in myself.

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Writing time: 7 minutes (including examining the source code to work out how the tie was broken)
Time since last post: half a day
Current media: none

Wow

Wow.

That is all.

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Writing time: 10 seconds
Time since last post: one and a half days
Current media: none

Sunday Night Musings

A quiet week this week. I spent perhaps a little more time getting to know my computer than I should have, and playing Mario Kart on my DS. Next week I shall try and limit the amount of time I spend sitting in front of the computer. That doesn't mean it won't be on, just I won't be actively using it. I just need to make sure I don't find more things with it to play with. For instance, tonight I found out that the mac comes with Apache and PHP preinstalled, and so of course had to get that up and working and play with it a bit.

Work is getting to be pretty much routine. I've done most of the ordinary lessons enough now that I don't really need to do much preparation any more. Kids lessons are also no longer a major hassle, just some of the kids. For some classes I wish I had one of those adjustable gates parents use to block doorways because there is one kid who is a bit precocious and whenever something doesn't go her way she runs out of the room. The gate would be handy in preventing that.

Over the last week or two I've had some training for some of the specialised classes that Nova teaches, which have basically been 40 minute briefings on what the aims of the course are and what the lesson management plans (LMPs for those who use the things) look like. Then your on your own. I've yet to actually teach one of these classes, but we'll see how things go when I do.

I'm currently reading a book of short stories by Neil Gaiman. Most of them are pretty good. They're a bit different and are usually humorous. I particularly like the one where going out and giving presents each year is part of an eternal punishment for Santa Claus and the elves are his jailers. It's impressive what you can do with just 100 words.

I got a new game for my DS when I bought my computer. Mario Kart DS. It's pretty good, lots of fun, and so far there's always something new to try. In addition to all the different single player games, you can play online using a wireless internet connection. A pretty good challenge. I played a little bit last night and the result after 4 races was a three way tie.

Anyway, I should stop typing now as it is getting late and I haven't been sleeping much this week (too much messing around on the computer coupled with my housemates alarm clock going off early for my liking).

End Post
Writing time: 30 minute (including various distractions)
Time since last post: 4 days
Current media: silence

Switched

Yesterday I bought a new computer. A laptop. A Mac.

In the past I've been derisive of macs. This started at high school which from grades 8 to 10 had a bunch of old macs which were replaced with PCs in grade 11, which seemed to demonstrate the PC as much better. Then there were the fruity iMacs, which made the computer look like a toy.

But since then apple has come around. They got rid of the silly colours. They put out an impressive OS.

The biggest factor in getting me to consider a Mac is the iPod. 18 months ago I got an iPod and it worked great. iTunes just worked and it made listening to podcasts that much easier (on that note I have a ton of podcasts to catch up on).

The Mac is pretty good. I've had a few hiccups in getting used to the way the Mac does some things differently (e.g., installing programs) and the keyboard is a little different (although that is more likely because it is Japanese not because it is a Mac).

On the good side, setting up the Mac was a breeze. Every device I've tried with it has worked (iPod, cellphone, wireless keyboard), so I'm confident my headphone/mike will work when I plug that in as well. I also really like the remote control for the Mac, which makes it really easy to enjoy music and movies on the Mac if you want to use your computer as a media center, which is going to be one of its main uses.

Edit: I forgot perhaps the most unusual parts in the story of getting the Mac. The sales person I talked to to get the Mac recognised me. I initially thought it was just because I had been into the store a few times over the last few weeks looking at different computers. That wasn't it. She recognised me from the B-Trip, the bar I and a few friends go to on Monday nights. Of all the gin joints in all the world and all that.

End Post
Writing time: 28 minutes (I wanted to do some fact checking, but didn't use it)
Time since last post: 6 days
Current media: The Combat Information Center

A Mushless Mind

I had my third Japanese lesson tonight. For the first time I left without my brain feeling like mush. I am taking this as a sign of progress.

I'm still having problems with vocab, but I can generally get the right category (e.g. I mix up breakfast with dinner).

Anyway, my Japanese is increasing rapidly (although that may just be a relative thing in that a little is much more than none) and let's hope it continues to do so.

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Writing time: 5 minutes
Time since last post: 2 days
Current media: The Games Season 1

Twosteps forward, one step back

I think I may have messed something up. Not irrevocably, but a step backwards after several steps forward.

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Writing time: 30 seconds
Time since last post: good question
Current media: Unsquare Dance by Dave Brubeck

Scary Dream

I just woke up from a really scary dream (thank you alarm clock). The dream was that I had gone back to working at GE, which I think says enough.

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Writing time: 2 minutes
Time since last post: a day or so
Current media: none

Mummy Yummy

A funny thing happened at my kids school yesterday. The kinder class is the only one where the parents (well, mothers, although I did see a father once) bring their children and pick them up. After the kinder class yesterday my feet were a bit smelly, so I sprayed on some deodorant onto my feet and torso in the tiny teacher's room (literally a cupboard). When I came back out to say goodbye to the kids and start getting ready for the next class the mothers were all "Wow, you smell really nice" and wanting to know what the fragrane was. Not exactly the response I was expecting, but a nice surprise.

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Writing time: 15 minutes
Time since last post: two hours or so
Current media: the end credits of Once Upon A Time In Mexico

Life continues

Life without a computer continues. I seem to be getting used to it. In fact at one point the thought "Maybe I won't even get a new computer" went through my head.

I have noticed I've become more sociable without a computer, both with my housemates and with other people. I've also been going through my DVD collection, and managed to hook one of my housemates on Firefly. All in all, life in Japan is good.

News from back home has not been so good. My uncle in law (Mum's brother in law) has apparently got a brain tumor, which is very uncool. Word is it's not going to be easy to get rid of. Given how last year went for this part of my family, this means the suckiness just keeps on coming.

Today I'm doing a shift swap so I have to work on what is normally my day off, but it's worth it because it gave me more time to spend with Mum while she was over here in January.

I haven't seen much in the news I want to comment on, but there was an editorial I want to quote later on (it's somewhat time independent so it can wait).

End post
Current media: The sounds of a housemate making breakfast
Writing time: 15 minutes or so (damn stylus)
Time since last post: A week or so