Another day, another yen.
I got about nine to ten hours of sleep last night and that seems to have sated my chronic tiredness - at least for the past couple of hours.
If you're like me, you really don't read or understand much about global economics. I've been wading through this summary of the global financial crisis for a while. I know it's important to understand but it's not sinking in a whole lot... I'll keep plugging away though.
It's good to see that the entrepreneurial spirit is not dead... errrmmm...
Japan's going down the same route as a lot of other Asian countries, in overloading and over scheduling their kids' childhoods with activities, lessons and the like. Playtime looks like becoming a thing of the past - especially when it's spent with a robot minder. The implications of that are mind-boggling...
Drinking beer is now a protest against globalization and capitalism?
Paris Hilton can't even make a decent bad movie.
Aah, so the expansion into biofuels really just helps inflate the profits of "the giant grain, biotech and oil companies". Gotcha.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Another day, another load
I came down with quite the fever at work yesterday. I thought it was the flu coming on since my lower back and legs were really sore and stiff, but no, at around 7 I started to feel my head warming up and starting to feel quite woozy. Crap. I only just got healthy again! So, as soon as I could, I hit the supermarket for Vitamin C (C.C. Lemon!) and hit home for some Panadol and bed.
I'm glad to report that I'm feeling a lot better today. At least the fever has died down so I'll be able to go to work.
Hey, if the USA had never invaded Iraq, they could afford to pay off the credit crisis in one easy payment! (Yeesh...)
This site really caught my eye. It's just a simple idea, but one which most of us would have thought about at some point in our lives as consumers. The idea is 'Advertising vs. Reality' and it just involves pictures from the packaging of various food products and what the contents actually look like in comparison. If you eat a lot of processed food, then the results could be nothing new, but for me it was simultaneously interesting and scary. It's certainly put me off the idea of eating a lot of this stuff.
Today's unfolding global environmental catastrophe is brought to you by the heavyweights; the Amazon, Antarctica, the North-West Passage, and the oceans in general. That takes in about 80% of the surface of the Earth...
One small piece of good news amongst the chaos; more and more communities are doing something about it - such as starting projects to put solar panels on every house.
The US military's response? "We're gonna burn coal".
Thought for the Day: "[T]oday - people think of the world as a network of cities - not a network of countries. We visit London, Paris and Rio De Janeiro - rather than England, France or Brazil."
It's true. I've lost count of the number of times that people have told me that they're off to some city or other for a holiday - not the country. Me included (Dubai). Good thing is a lot of people are bucking that trend and really doing some travelling. I always make a point of telling Japanese students who are thinking of coming to Australia to avoid the cities as much as possible and to see the countryside; the 'real' Australia.
It brings up another point though. The world is steadily becoming a place where people live in cities. In fact more than half the current human population of the world lives in one. This website ponders some of the implications but since countries like China are actively pursuing developing more 'super-cities' as a matter of course, it's going to become a larger issue for people this century. Perhaps the megalopolis contained within various manga is not such a far off reality.
A reminder that China isn't the only country to have indulged in some pre-Olympic whoop-ass.
Here's another article about rising food prices around the world. The interesting thing is that it's hit the mainstream press in Japan. With the price of mayonnaise going up 30% suddenly, it could become the spark that starts a food riot in downtown Tokyo amongst the 'マヨラー' (pron. ma-yo-ra; Mayo-lovers) devotees.
Another thing not to do in Japan; have a baby.
But, it might be a good idea to invest in some weight loss companies here...
This would be a good idea for a short film.
Conspiracy theorists would have a field day. Maybe they are already.
Will there come a day when a skipping a shower (or two) becomes the norm?
Time for work...
I'm glad to report that I'm feeling a lot better today. At least the fever has died down so I'll be able to go to work.
Hey, if the USA had never invaded Iraq, they could afford to pay off the credit crisis in one easy payment! (Yeesh...)
This site really caught my eye. It's just a simple idea, but one which most of us would have thought about at some point in our lives as consumers. The idea is 'Advertising vs. Reality' and it just involves pictures from the packaging of various food products and what the contents actually look like in comparison. If you eat a lot of processed food, then the results could be nothing new, but for me it was simultaneously interesting and scary. It's certainly put me off the idea of eating a lot of this stuff.
Today's unfolding global environmental catastrophe is brought to you by the heavyweights; the Amazon, Antarctica, the North-West Passage, and the oceans in general. That takes in about 80% of the surface of the Earth...
One small piece of good news amongst the chaos; more and more communities are doing something about it - such as starting projects to put solar panels on every house.
The US military's response? "We're gonna burn coal".
Thought for the Day: "[T]oday - people think of the world as a network of cities - not a network of countries. We visit London, Paris and Rio De Janeiro - rather than England, France or Brazil."
It's true. I've lost count of the number of times that people have told me that they're off to some city or other for a holiday - not the country. Me included (Dubai). Good thing is a lot of people are bucking that trend and really doing some travelling. I always make a point of telling Japanese students who are thinking of coming to Australia to avoid the cities as much as possible and to see the countryside; the 'real' Australia.
It brings up another point though. The world is steadily becoming a place where people live in cities. In fact more than half the current human population of the world lives in one. This website ponders some of the implications but since countries like China are actively pursuing developing more 'super-cities' as a matter of course, it's going to become a larger issue for people this century. Perhaps the megalopolis contained within various manga is not such a far off reality.
A reminder that China isn't the only country to have indulged in some pre-Olympic whoop-ass.
Here's another article about rising food prices around the world. The interesting thing is that it's hit the mainstream press in Japan. With the price of mayonnaise going up 30% suddenly, it could become the spark that starts a food riot in downtown Tokyo amongst the 'マヨラー' (pron. ma-yo-ra; Mayo-lovers) devotees.
Another thing not to do in Japan; have a baby.
But, it might be a good idea to invest in some weight loss companies here...
This would be a good idea for a short film.
Conspiracy theorists would have a field day. Maybe they are already.
Will there come a day when a skipping a shower (or two) becomes the norm?
Time for work...
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Gaping and choking
See what happens when you go away for the weekend? You come home and there's so much interesting stuff to read that you end up not cooking your lunch (oops) and realize that your post is going to be HUUUGE!
Open up, Memory Hole. Here comes a big load for you to swallow!
Just change "World's" to "Tatsuno's" and you might have an idea of the freakshow that I am.
Royal families really have it tough. Not only do you have endless money and never have to work, but you get to go to the best schools in the country and have your friends chosen for you... ummm... wait.
Hey, Spitzer was heading an investigation into why Bush was intimately linked to a $200 billion publicly funded bailout of the banks (why do taxpayers have to pay for business mistakes anyway?) and then suddenly he gets busted for sex with a prostitute and has to quit. Oh gee, that investigation has to stop too. What a shame. Even though Spitzer had the morals of a drunk Japanese salaryman on a Saturday night (had to preserve that one in print, Pav), at least he had more ethics than the rest of the government. Goes to show what a bunch of crooks they all are.
Hey, it turns out the voting machines that gave the Republicans an improbable victory in an Ohio state election were also the same ones that gave Bush victory in 2004. Strangely the company that built those machines is a staunch supporter of the Republican party. Gee, what do you think happened there?
Look for the next neo-con project after Iran to take place in space.
Obama makes a speech about the 'elephant in the corner', Racism, after his pastor said something about racism still being endemic in the USA. This article superbly tears apart the speech and looks at what Rev. Wright has also had to say. Despite his wishes, Obama looks less and less like Martin Luther King every day, and more like just another politician. Choice? What choice?
The longer the Democratic Party's battle for the nomination goes on, the likelihood of a Democrat moving into the White House diminishes day by day. That would give us a McCain presidency and a continuation of the wild west style of leadership the world has come to know and love over the past seven years.
The invasion of Iraq has entered its sixth year and the death toll of US troops has passed four thousand. We may never know how many Iraqis have died since the toll from the radioactivity and chemicals used as armaments will cause untold death and suffering for generations to come. That and the press aren't interested in how the occupation is affecting the locals since they can't leave the Green Zone. Don't mention Afghanistan. The comparisons with Vietnam continue and I won't stop talking about it since it's becoming a dead story on the news and it's going to resonate as a story for years to come and will continue to affect millions of people either directly or indirectly. You need to be aware of what's going on. I can't stress that you need to read and read and then read some more. Do something if you have to. (I don't know if dancing for peace is today's equivalent if fiddling while Rome is burning, but anything that keeps the occupation in people's minds is something at least) This is why I don't have time for fiction, in books or films. Yes, it's depressing. It's reality. Pull your head out of the sand.
Stephen Colbert has nuts the size of watermelons. I was almost late for work thanks to this.
I told you it was a big one.
The American economy is continuing its downward slide into recession or depression. Things are really getting difficult for those at the bottom - which nowadays is anyone middle-class or lower...
Don't look to GM crops for the answer to our problems, now or in the future. In fact, look for an increase in armed conflicts, wars, genocide and terrorist attacks as battles for basic resources intensify.
In Japan, teachers in Tokyo are still being punished for refusing to support a neo-jingoistic/imperialistic/nationalistic regime determined to turn students into automatons willing to die for the emperor.
Also, don't get old or sick in Japan. Looks like I will be retiring in Australia after all.
In brief.
Spiritual Rock.
The Japanese assault on the English language continues.
Go to Beijing. Maybe die.
Silent pubs.
This operation was brought to you by...
Wizard.
Sugar Pushers.
Push Presents!?
Ninjas ride for free.
Atheists can defeat black magic by smiling.
Done. [Burp!]
Open up, Memory Hole. Here comes a big load for you to swallow!
Just change "World's" to "Tatsuno's" and you might have an idea of the freakshow that I am.
Royal families really have it tough. Not only do you have endless money and never have to work, but you get to go to the best schools in the country and have your friends chosen for you... ummm... wait.
Hey, Spitzer was heading an investigation into why Bush was intimately linked to a $200 billion publicly funded bailout of the banks (why do taxpayers have to pay for business mistakes anyway?) and then suddenly he gets busted for sex with a prostitute and has to quit. Oh gee, that investigation has to stop too. What a shame. Even though Spitzer had the morals of a drunk Japanese salaryman on a Saturday night (had to preserve that one in print, Pav), at least he had more ethics than the rest of the government. Goes to show what a bunch of crooks they all are.
Hey, it turns out the voting machines that gave the Republicans an improbable victory in an Ohio state election were also the same ones that gave Bush victory in 2004. Strangely the company that built those machines is a staunch supporter of the Republican party. Gee, what do you think happened there?
Look for the next neo-con project after Iran to take place in space.
Obama makes a speech about the 'elephant in the corner', Racism, after his pastor said something about racism still being endemic in the USA. This article superbly tears apart the speech and looks at what Rev. Wright has also had to say. Despite his wishes, Obama looks less and less like Martin Luther King every day, and more like just another politician. Choice? What choice?
The longer the Democratic Party's battle for the nomination goes on, the likelihood of a Democrat moving into the White House diminishes day by day. That would give us a McCain presidency and a continuation of the wild west style of leadership the world has come to know and love over the past seven years.
The invasion of Iraq has entered its sixth year and the death toll of US troops has passed four thousand. We may never know how many Iraqis have died since the toll from the radioactivity and chemicals used as armaments will cause untold death and suffering for generations to come. That and the press aren't interested in how the occupation is affecting the locals since they can't leave the Green Zone. Don't mention Afghanistan. The comparisons with Vietnam continue and I won't stop talking about it since it's becoming a dead story on the news and it's going to resonate as a story for years to come and will continue to affect millions of people either directly or indirectly. You need to be aware of what's going on. I can't stress that you need to read and read and then read some more. Do something if you have to. (I don't know if dancing for peace is today's equivalent if fiddling while Rome is burning, but anything that keeps the occupation in people's minds is something at least) This is why I don't have time for fiction, in books or films. Yes, it's depressing. It's reality. Pull your head out of the sand.
Stephen Colbert has nuts the size of watermelons. I was almost late for work thanks to this.
I told you it was a big one.
The American economy is continuing its downward slide into recession or depression. Things are really getting difficult for those at the bottom - which nowadays is anyone middle-class or lower...
Don't look to GM crops for the answer to our problems, now or in the future. In fact, look for an increase in armed conflicts, wars, genocide and terrorist attacks as battles for basic resources intensify.
In Japan, teachers in Tokyo are still being punished for refusing to support a neo-jingoistic/imperialistic/nationalistic regime determined to turn students into automatons willing to die for the emperor.
Also, don't get old or sick in Japan. Looks like I will be retiring in Australia after all.
In brief.
Spiritual Rock.
The Japanese assault on the English language continues.
Go to Beijing. Maybe die.
Silent pubs.
This operation was brought to you by...
Wizard.
Sugar Pushers.
Push Presents!?
Ninjas ride for free.
Atheists can defeat black magic by smiling.
Done. [Burp!]
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Not much fun
As the weather warms and my heart lightens a bit, it's important to keep rampant optimism in check. Why? Well, a wise man once said that wisdom brings sadness - and I'm inclined to agree that knowledge built upon sober reflection and consideration will bring seriousness where it should be; that is prominent in our minds. Much better to live your life seriously that frivolously...
Dick Cheney is making a good case for him to be put away for reasons of insanity. Only a madman could be in a city while a 40 year-old woman blows herself up in an attempt to take as many others with her as possible and say that things are going well.
If you want to get an idea of how much the Iraq has cost the US, take a look at this chart.
The Bush mismanagement of the US economy is having a number of knock-on effects. Some are quite direct like the fact that tourists in Amsterdam are unable to change dollars at small exchange counters. Some are more general and wide-reaching, such as those documented in this article about the malaise affecting the general state of American management.
The Iraq War / Global War on Terror has changed the way the US tries to run the world. Certainly a remote drone dropping bombs on civilian homes would never be tolerated in our countries, so why is it a matter of policy when applied to others? The wider ramifications are scary indeed. This article sums things up rather well, but this and this take in some of the wider issues such our personal freedoms and choices that are being eroded. It also says something that the best journalism on this subject is coming out of Canada, rather than the US.
An example of how an invasive affront to personal freedom takes place nowadays on a daily basis - workplace urine tests.
Despite the cold winter, glaciers are still melting at record rates.
Another good article on the culture war taking place in England - this time over the local pub.
Thinking of moving to Japan? Get ready for the possibility of not being able to eat want you want. Even soy sauce and sake may be out of the question. Also, don't get sick.
Should I go back to Australia? Sydney would be nice if I want to commute for four hours a day. Even unions are starting to push for this time to be included as part of the work day.
At least someone may be soon producing an affordable electric car.
Finally, ladies and gentlemen, Henry F**kin' Rollins.
Dick Cheney is making a good case for him to be put away for reasons of insanity. Only a madman could be in a city while a 40 year-old woman blows herself up in an attempt to take as many others with her as possible and say that things are going well.
If you want to get an idea of how much the Iraq has cost the US, take a look at this chart.
The Bush mismanagement of the US economy is having a number of knock-on effects. Some are quite direct like the fact that tourists in Amsterdam are unable to change dollars at small exchange counters. Some are more general and wide-reaching, such as those documented in this article about the malaise affecting the general state of American management.
The Iraq War / Global War on Terror has changed the way the US tries to run the world. Certainly a remote drone dropping bombs on civilian homes would never be tolerated in our countries, so why is it a matter of policy when applied to others? The wider ramifications are scary indeed. This article sums things up rather well, but this and this take in some of the wider issues such our personal freedoms and choices that are being eroded. It also says something that the best journalism on this subject is coming out of Canada, rather than the US.
An example of how an invasive affront to personal freedom takes place nowadays on a daily basis - workplace urine tests.
Despite the cold winter, glaciers are still melting at record rates.
Another good article on the culture war taking place in England - this time over the local pub.
Thinking of moving to Japan? Get ready for the possibility of not being able to eat want you want. Even soy sauce and sake may be out of the question. Also, don't get sick.
Should I go back to Australia? Sydney would be nice if I want to commute for four hours a day. Even unions are starting to push for this time to be included as part of the work day.
At least someone may be soon producing an affordable electric car.
Finally, ladies and gentlemen, Henry F**kin' Rollins.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Please
Please, please, please read this.
Then read this.
Something interesting about finding affordable housing during a housing crisis. I'll give you a hint - it's not in London.
Repeat after me; Iraq is not Vietnam. (with John McCain creepy quote scariness)
And this may turn out to be my last post...
Then read this.
Something interesting about finding affordable housing during a housing crisis. I'll give you a hint - it's not in London.
Repeat after me; Iraq is not Vietnam. (with John McCain creepy quote scariness)
And this may turn out to be my last post...
Friday, March 14, 2008
At last
Apparently I'm psycho.
The weather is getting warmer, so I can finally turn off the heater and put the big winter coat away. My home town, Adelaide, is going through a heatwave at the moment - 40 degrees today! Yoiks!
Today is White Day in Japan. It's when hordes of salary-men who got chocolates they didn't want from their female co-workers last month have to buy chocolates for them, which they'll eat and then obsess over for the next month.
My school is having some events for Easter to draw in some publicity and hopefully get some new students. I think it's the first time I've been aware of when Easter is while I've been in Japan. It's a non-event in a country that is predominantly Shinto-Buddhist.
The general state of eikawa (the English teaching business in Japan) is not good at the moment for a number of reasons. Nova's demise is just part of it. The declining population, the ongoing perception that the economy isn't doing well, the fact that salaries are stagnant while costs are starting to go up all contribute to people not wanting to make the investment. Smaller schools will likely bear the brunt of the downturn. Hopefully larger schools like mine will be able to pull through.
This is different to the situation with cram schools, or 'juku'. They're still booming. Parents often prefer to let their children learn English there rather than shell out the extra for specific lessons. The problem is that the lessons there follow the dry, boring, grammar-based curriculum that the schools use, so kids rapidly become tired of learning English, and cease being able to speak it.
Economics became a bit of a theme for my reading this week, with good articles on what the US might do about Iraq to keep the dollar alive, as well as the general state of the US economy. One guy had a proposal to end the Iraq war in a single day by not buying anything. I don't think it'd work, but it might be an interesting experiment to try...
A couple of Japanese women have been arrested for trying out an interesting economic experiment of their own. I might have to take up looking through garages here as a hobby...
Tim Berners-Lee has been pushing the semantic web for a long time now. Still waiting for it. Then we should start building underground cities...
Gotta love science, when it isn't being assaulted by crackpots. This is an interesting list of stuff. Also there was this about how most Native Americans can trace their lineage to just 6 women. Also a lot more people are living to be 100 years old these days. There's also a great line about George Bush and a superb photo!
Some interesting lessons for life and a lot of food for thought...
This moment in history. Interesting stuff!
I've got some interesting travel ideas for you (or not) - and some places to avoid, unless you like the idea of a long and painful death.
The Japanese police are continuing their campaign against the maids of Akihabara.
This is a sad story about one of the horrible lingering consequences of the problems Cambodia has experienced over the past century; the child sex trade. One film maker is trying to do something about it though. I saw her film, Sacrifice, about girls from Burma who were sold into prostitution and exploitation in Thailand. Aside from being absolutely confronting with the truth, it was also profoundly moving and respectful of the women's stories, as well as achieving a kind of lyricism and poetry through the use of image, editing and sound. I recommend it.
And to finish, a quadruple serve of weirdness. The 20 biggest record company screwups of all time, a man who dresses like a bunny to spread happiness, kosher Coke and predicting the future through asparagus!
The weather is getting warmer, so I can finally turn off the heater and put the big winter coat away. My home town, Adelaide, is going through a heatwave at the moment - 40 degrees today! Yoiks!
Today is White Day in Japan. It's when hordes of salary-men who got chocolates they didn't want from their female co-workers last month have to buy chocolates for them, which they'll eat and then obsess over for the next month.
My school is having some events for Easter to draw in some publicity and hopefully get some new students. I think it's the first time I've been aware of when Easter is while I've been in Japan. It's a non-event in a country that is predominantly Shinto-Buddhist.
The general state of eikawa (the English teaching business in Japan) is not good at the moment for a number of reasons. Nova's demise is just part of it. The declining population, the ongoing perception that the economy isn't doing well, the fact that salaries are stagnant while costs are starting to go up all contribute to people not wanting to make the investment. Smaller schools will likely bear the brunt of the downturn. Hopefully larger schools like mine will be able to pull through.
This is different to the situation with cram schools, or 'juku'. They're still booming. Parents often prefer to let their children learn English there rather than shell out the extra for specific lessons. The problem is that the lessons there follow the dry, boring, grammar-based curriculum that the schools use, so kids rapidly become tired of learning English, and cease being able to speak it.
Economics became a bit of a theme for my reading this week, with good articles on what the US might do about Iraq to keep the dollar alive, as well as the general state of the US economy. One guy had a proposal to end the Iraq war in a single day by not buying anything. I don't think it'd work, but it might be an interesting experiment to try...
A couple of Japanese women have been arrested for trying out an interesting economic experiment of their own. I might have to take up looking through garages here as a hobby...
Tim Berners-Lee has been pushing the semantic web for a long time now. Still waiting for it. Then we should start building underground cities...
Gotta love science, when it isn't being assaulted by crackpots. This is an interesting list of stuff. Also there was this about how most Native Americans can trace their lineage to just 6 women. Also a lot more people are living to be 100 years old these days. There's also a great line about George Bush and a superb photo!
Some interesting lessons for life and a lot of food for thought...
This moment in history. Interesting stuff!
I've got some interesting travel ideas for you (or not) - and some places to avoid, unless you like the idea of a long and painful death.
The Japanese police are continuing their campaign against the maids of Akihabara.
This is a sad story about one of the horrible lingering consequences of the problems Cambodia has experienced over the past century; the child sex trade. One film maker is trying to do something about it though. I saw her film, Sacrifice, about girls from Burma who were sold into prostitution and exploitation in Thailand. Aside from being absolutely confronting with the truth, it was also profoundly moving and respectful of the women's stories, as well as achieving a kind of lyricism and poetry through the use of image, editing and sound. I recommend it.
And to finish, a quadruple serve of weirdness. The 20 biggest record company screwups of all time, a man who dresses like a bunny to spread happiness, kosher Coke and predicting the future through asparagus!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Phew
Another weekend nearly over.
I went and settled my tax today. Went to the tax office and enjoyed the thrills of the waiting room for an hour. Tatsuno City Hall had rigged up a temporary tax office in a hall to put through all the last minute submitters such as myself. They had a disco ball suspended from the ceiling! A most un-disco-like affair though. My number was called and I was ushered to a desk only to find that since I'd lived in Himeji all last year they couldn't do my tax there! D'oh!
They pointed me to the main tax office where I enjoyed the thrills of waiting for another half hour or so. Then one of the office staff took me through the online tax submission website. Interesting how they do the whole thing online, print it off - on copy for them and one for you. and then you can go! That part took about ten minutes I reckon. Not bad for about two hours work!
Then I went and paid my water bill - which I hadn't been charged for the past two months since they hadn't billed me! I had a nice guy from the water company come over last week and get to the bottom of why I hadn't been paying.
That done, now I have a cold beer on the desk (which is good for you again!) and Shuggie Otis on the stereo. Cool.
I had to read this story just for the headline alone.
It's the 30th anniversary of Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Swords!
And completing the geek trifecta; Natalie Portman!
This was an interesting insight into how the Chinese internet works - or doesn't work.
HD-DVD players are now hot property it seems.
It's now OK to use plastic bags again - maybe.
US Christians are finally getting organised to speak out about Bush.
Here's another story about imported workers being exploited in the US. Rule #1 of slavery; Don't bring in workers who can speak your language!
Now's a good time to invade Australia.
I feel sorry for Americans, in a way. They have a selection of people for the next president who hardly represent a 'choice'. Much like the past few elections, really. Whoever wins, they're going to preside over the financial, political, ecological, environmental and personal disaster that is Iraq. Just to look at the economic side of the disaster makes for fascinating and horrifying reading. Don't forget the land is strewn with depleted uranium and people who 'live' there are not only coping with that but also a lack of clean water, food and power as well as facing constant death from civil strife as well as from their occupiers.
The supposedly more left-wing Labour government of the UK is steadily eroding civil liberties left, right and centre. Take this for example.
Sorry, no stupid story to end on. Buy Shuggie's CD though. It's a good 'un.
I went and settled my tax today. Went to the tax office and enjoyed the thrills of the waiting room for an hour. Tatsuno City Hall had rigged up a temporary tax office in a hall to put through all the last minute submitters such as myself. They had a disco ball suspended from the ceiling! A most un-disco-like affair though. My number was called and I was ushered to a desk only to find that since I'd lived in Himeji all last year they couldn't do my tax there! D'oh!
They pointed me to the main tax office where I enjoyed the thrills of waiting for another half hour or so. Then one of the office staff took me through the online tax submission website. Interesting how they do the whole thing online, print it off - on copy for them and one for you. and then you can go! That part took about ten minutes I reckon. Not bad for about two hours work!
Then I went and paid my water bill - which I hadn't been charged for the past two months since they hadn't billed me! I had a nice guy from the water company come over last week and get to the bottom of why I hadn't been paying.
That done, now I have a cold beer on the desk (which is good for you again!) and Shuggie Otis on the stereo. Cool.
I had to read this story just for the headline alone.
It's the 30th anniversary of Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Swords!
And completing the geek trifecta; Natalie Portman!
This was an interesting insight into how the Chinese internet works - or doesn't work.
HD-DVD players are now hot property it seems.
It's now OK to use plastic bags again - maybe.
US Christians are finally getting organised to speak out about Bush.
Here's another story about imported workers being exploited in the US. Rule #1 of slavery; Don't bring in workers who can speak your language!
Now's a good time to invade Australia.
I feel sorry for Americans, in a way. They have a selection of people for the next president who hardly represent a 'choice'. Much like the past few elections, really. Whoever wins, they're going to preside over the financial, political, ecological, environmental and personal disaster that is Iraq. Just to look at the economic side of the disaster makes for fascinating and horrifying reading. Don't forget the land is strewn with depleted uranium and people who 'live' there are not only coping with that but also a lack of clean water, food and power as well as facing constant death from civil strife as well as from their occupiers.
The supposedly more left-wing Labour government of the UK is steadily eroding civil liberties left, right and centre. Take this for example.
Sorry, no stupid story to end on. Buy Shuggie's CD though. It's a good 'un.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Want some more??
It's Saturday and it's the first working Saturday of the new school year. It's going to be a weird one methinks. I have a class with two three-year-old kids starting to learn English for the first time today. Listen for the screams for mummy...
Here was something looking at the growth of personal DNA analysis for your kids. A step closer to Gattaca - which the article alludes to - which is something I've commented on in the past. Get ready to be sequenced, that's all I can say...
I always wondered what kind of experiments the Japanese scientists did with all the whales taken from the seas each year apart from if they tasted better grilled or fried. Now I know, and it confirms a few suspicions about the whole program. Firstly it confirms that the whole thing is a ruse. Secondly it shows that some Japanese are very weird indeed!!
This article from a book about the 9/11 Commission raises a lot of pertinent points about how much the Bush administration knew about al Qaeda leading up to September 11, 2001. It especially sets its sights on Condoleezza Rice and her ineptitude in her role as National Security Advisor. One wonders what could have been if they'd had someone competent in that role, not to mention the Presidency.
It's a good time to think about what might happen if there was another 9/11-type attack in the US. There might not need to be another terrorist attack to turn the US into a dictatorship. Scroll to the bottom for some scenarios - scary reading. Some say that the US is already on the road to some kind of totalitarian government, where the rule of law is suspended and the government does as it wishes. Stories like this only give greater cause for discomfort.
This was an interesting summary of what led to the Great Depression. Pertinent reading for a world in a time of walking a fine line between prosperity and economic disaster.
The UN also sees a widening of problems stemming from the fact that prices for food are increasing. This is partly due to more agricultural land being turned over to the production of biofuels. Other factors include the increase in transportation costs (ie. oil), climate change, speculation in futures markets and the influence of demand from India and China. What's scary is that the UN here is talking about people who have money but simply can't afford to buy food due to its cost - not unavailability.
Aaaargh.... I think I'll just buy a ukulele and watch the sun set...
Enjoy
Here was something looking at the growth of personal DNA analysis for your kids. A step closer to Gattaca - which the article alludes to - which is something I've commented on in the past. Get ready to be sequenced, that's all I can say...
I always wondered what kind of experiments the Japanese scientists did with all the whales taken from the seas each year apart from if they tasted better grilled or fried. Now I know, and it confirms a few suspicions about the whole program. Firstly it confirms that the whole thing is a ruse. Secondly it shows that some Japanese are very weird indeed!!
This article from a book about the 9/11 Commission raises a lot of pertinent points about how much the Bush administration knew about al Qaeda leading up to September 11, 2001. It especially sets its sights on Condoleezza Rice and her ineptitude in her role as National Security Advisor. One wonders what could have been if they'd had someone competent in that role, not to mention the Presidency.
It's a good time to think about what might happen if there was another 9/11-type attack in the US. There might not need to be another terrorist attack to turn the US into a dictatorship. Scroll to the bottom for some scenarios - scary reading. Some say that the US is already on the road to some kind of totalitarian government, where the rule of law is suspended and the government does as it wishes. Stories like this only give greater cause for discomfort.
This was an interesting summary of what led to the Great Depression. Pertinent reading for a world in a time of walking a fine line between prosperity and economic disaster.
The UN also sees a widening of problems stemming from the fact that prices for food are increasing. This is partly due to more agricultural land being turned over to the production of biofuels. Other factors include the increase in transportation costs (ie. oil), climate change, speculation in futures markets and the influence of demand from India and China. What's scary is that the UN here is talking about people who have money but simply can't afford to buy food due to its cost - not unavailability.
Aaaargh.... I think I'll just buy a ukulele and watch the sun set...
Enjoy
Friday, March 07, 2008
Got some time?
I got reading for you!
A timeline of British history.
Moses was high (likely).
Rooftop gardens look like a good idea. This, however, was not.
A funny story about how the US government forced the closure of a website because they kept sending top secret information to it - even though they'd been told about it.
More Obama stuff. Some Bush stuff too.
Microsoft doesn't know what day it is. I know that's not news to most people, but...
Japan update! Japan may actually increase tobacco taxes. Japanese people are having less sex because virtual partners are more satisfying and less work. Losers. They need to learn the benefits of a good screw (or maybe not). They'd better hurry up as small communities are turning into ghost towns. At least in the cities you'll be able to get something good to eat - if you can afford it. You'll be able to get there and back quickly.... oh so quickly.
Some people are crazy.
I don't know how any Israeli politician could use the word 'holocaust' to talk about what they'd like to do to another people without understanding the hideous implications of such a statement. Or maybe they do - which is even worse.
I found this rather scary, but not as scary as this.
Somehow Mullet is ranked number 11230 out of 11070 on Reverbnation in Alternative. Check us out and drive us up. I'd love to be ranked in the top 10000....
All we need are 1000 true fans and we could all go down the street for a milkshake. We won't be trying any of these!
I'm falling in love with They Might Be Giants all over again...
Finally, the New Nova is hiring. Read it and laugh at the wages and conditions on offer. Or just get angry.
A timeline of British history.
Moses was high (likely).
Rooftop gardens look like a good idea. This, however, was not.
A funny story about how the US government forced the closure of a website because they kept sending top secret information to it - even though they'd been told about it.
More Obama stuff. Some Bush stuff too.
Microsoft doesn't know what day it is. I know that's not news to most people, but...
Japan update! Japan may actually increase tobacco taxes. Japanese people are having less sex because virtual partners are more satisfying and less work. Losers. They need to learn the benefits of a good screw (or maybe not). They'd better hurry up as small communities are turning into ghost towns. At least in the cities you'll be able to get something good to eat - if you can afford it. You'll be able to get there and back quickly.... oh so quickly.
Some people are crazy.
I don't know how any Israeli politician could use the word 'holocaust' to talk about what they'd like to do to another people without understanding the hideous implications of such a statement. Or maybe they do - which is even worse.
I found this rather scary, but not as scary as this.
Somehow Mullet is ranked number 11230 out of 11070 on Reverbnation in Alternative. Check us out and drive us up. I'd love to be ranked in the top 10000....
All we need are 1000 true fans and we could all go down the street for a milkshake. We won't be trying any of these!
I'm falling in love with They Might Be Giants all over again...
Finally, the New Nova is hiring. Read it and laugh at the wages and conditions on offer. Or just get angry.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
La
It's nearly time to head off for another week of imparting my glorious language on the unsuspecting masses. We've switched days off now so I have Sundays and Mondays free to pursue what I pursue. I need to do my tax forms this week, which promises to be interesting. Piles of paper and struggles with the Japanese language will no doubt be the order of the day.
On Sunday I went to the Himeji Science Museum with a friend. They have a working Foucault's Pendulum there, which we got to see slowly move its way around the compass. We also both fell asleep in the planetarium - despite the warnings not to do so!
I'm almost over this cold.
Speaking of which, there's now some hard data to back up the anecdotal evidence that this was a really cold winter. It makes for some interesting reading - especially the stuff about the sunspots, and the graphics. We'll have to wait and see if this is part of some wider trend. Nevertheless, I'm planning on investing in some warmer undergarments in preparation for next year...
Continuing the science theme, a scientist is designing an organism that can change atmospheric CO2 into methane, which can be used as fuel. It's a very interesting idea but there are a couple of interesting drawbacks to it. Firstly, you're still putting CO2 (back) into the atmosphere. Secondly, methane is a terrible greenhouse gas in itself, so containing the end product will also be very important.
Another science-ish article is about this hybrid car from Italy, which may (or may not) be the sexiest thing on four wheels. I certainly wouldn't mind driving it!
Scary article of the day comes courtesy of China, which is accelerating its military buildup.
Only one in five families has sit-down meals together nowadays. This may be in part due to the fact that so many people are now in prison...
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails is trying an interesting version of online distribution.
Finally, as I get older I keep on thinking about my role as a man. I haven't had the chance to be a father yet, and I think I'd like to. In the meantime, what's the best thing for me to do as a man? It certainly isn't doing things like playing sports or climb mountains - my body simply isn't up to it any more thanks to hernias in my lower spine... so this was some food for thought.
Another kind of thinking person's sustinence - this interview with the creators of Battlestar Galactica looks at some of the legal issues within the universe of the show. A very interesting read.
On Sunday I went to the Himeji Science Museum with a friend. They have a working Foucault's Pendulum there, which we got to see slowly move its way around the compass. We also both fell asleep in the planetarium - despite the warnings not to do so!
I'm almost over this cold.
Speaking of which, there's now some hard data to back up the anecdotal evidence that this was a really cold winter. It makes for some interesting reading - especially the stuff about the sunspots, and the graphics. We'll have to wait and see if this is part of some wider trend. Nevertheless, I'm planning on investing in some warmer undergarments in preparation for next year...
Continuing the science theme, a scientist is designing an organism that can change atmospheric CO2 into methane, which can be used as fuel. It's a very interesting idea but there are a couple of interesting drawbacks to it. Firstly, you're still putting CO2 (back) into the atmosphere. Secondly, methane is a terrible greenhouse gas in itself, so containing the end product will also be very important.
Another science-ish article is about this hybrid car from Italy, which may (or may not) be the sexiest thing on four wheels. I certainly wouldn't mind driving it!
Scary article of the day comes courtesy of China, which is accelerating its military buildup.
Only one in five families has sit-down meals together nowadays. This may be in part due to the fact that so many people are now in prison...
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails is trying an interesting version of online distribution.
Finally, as I get older I keep on thinking about my role as a man. I haven't had the chance to be a father yet, and I think I'd like to. In the meantime, what's the best thing for me to do as a man? It certainly isn't doing things like playing sports or climb mountains - my body simply isn't up to it any more thanks to hernias in my lower spine... so this was some food for thought.
Another kind of thinking person's sustinence - this interview with the creators of Battlestar Galactica looks at some of the legal issues within the universe of the show. A very interesting read.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Mmmmm yes....
I'm whipping up a big pot of Butter Chicken. Looks good so far. There's nothing like the smell of real butter to get the heart racing and the arteries hardening. Hopefully it'll see off my cold(s) which I've been dealing with for the past month.
Blink and you'll miss it.
Housing affordability is on the steady decline in Australia. Inflation is on the up, fuelled significantly by the rise in rents. It's starting to hit Australia's largest and most expensive city to live in, Sydney, with people starting to look at leaving.
I guess you can always turn to God for help...
Whatever happened to the action hero?
In Japan, the electronics mecca of Akihabara is undergoing a massive change thanks to unbridled development, the changing demographics of the visitors there, as well as some heavy-handed bullying by the police and government. It looks like Nakano, which is near Shibuya, is becoming the new otaku haven in Tokyo.
While in Japan, here was something interesting about the boom in Chinese brides for Japanese men. Also, thanks to the boom in resources, Japan's homeless are now making better money.
While the campaign of Hillary Clinton looks to be over in everything but name, the main contender for the Democrats is hardly squeaky clean, as this article on his ties to the nuclear industry shows. Maybe he should be talking to the Scottish Board of Education... I didn't know teaching English could be so dangerous.
Tomorrow is National Grammar Day. I'll be doing my part by imparting the glorious English language on some of it's students. (Yes, that was intentional!)
Sometimes the conspiracy theories start to get just a bit too real and scary.
Russians seem to be quite happy to sacrifice democracy for wealth - so why aren't the Americans trying to liberate them? (Gee... I wonder...)
Sad headline of the day - Childhood is over by age 11.
A little brightness to finish on though. An Indian man has an airliner in his yard, and takes kids on 'flights' without leaving the ground to give them a taste of flight that they would never probably experience otherwise.
And this guy just makes me laugh. I wish I was that creative with my time.
Blink and you'll miss it.
Housing affordability is on the steady decline in Australia. Inflation is on the up, fuelled significantly by the rise in rents. It's starting to hit Australia's largest and most expensive city to live in, Sydney, with people starting to look at leaving.
I guess you can always turn to God for help...
Whatever happened to the action hero?
In Japan, the electronics mecca of Akihabara is undergoing a massive change thanks to unbridled development, the changing demographics of the visitors there, as well as some heavy-handed bullying by the police and government. It looks like Nakano, which is near Shibuya, is becoming the new otaku haven in Tokyo.
While in Japan, here was something interesting about the boom in Chinese brides for Japanese men. Also, thanks to the boom in resources, Japan's homeless are now making better money.
While the campaign of Hillary Clinton looks to be over in everything but name, the main contender for the Democrats is hardly squeaky clean, as this article on his ties to the nuclear industry shows. Maybe he should be talking to the Scottish Board of Education... I didn't know teaching English could be so dangerous.
Tomorrow is National Grammar Day. I'll be doing my part by imparting the glorious English language on some of it's students. (Yes, that was intentional!)
Sometimes the conspiracy theories start to get just a bit too real and scary.
Russians seem to be quite happy to sacrifice democracy for wealth - so why aren't the Americans trying to liberate them? (Gee... I wonder...)
Sad headline of the day - Childhood is over by age 11.
A little brightness to finish on though. An Indian man has an airliner in his yard, and takes kids on 'flights' without leaving the ground to give them a taste of flight that they would never probably experience otherwise.
And this guy just makes me laugh. I wish I was that creative with my time.
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