tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71432820965643577732024-03-13T11:04:57.084+09:00A Half Day AheadI used to live in Japan. Now, I'm back in Japan. What will I learn the second time around?Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-43890590440309481742009-12-13T15:35:00.008+09:002009-12-14T22:17:07.841+09:00Which do you prefer?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6A5cFO1oS_0BN-BX9EDuC6VUnZ04cAatamhfytHtXcN9dJUl29CxeStd-ZRtr7DRwvrrHJb28e_z9YOWdN39ZizxmTfNNwSQ4HN4-c28VgmF75o4b8gO2T6_jluZocZCJdleIFUK1kU/s1600-h/one-piece-strong-world.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6A5cFO1oS_0BN-BX9EDuC6VUnZ04cAatamhfytHtXcN9dJUl29CxeStd-ZRtr7DRwvrrHJb28e_z9YOWdN39ZizxmTfNNwSQ4HN4-c28VgmF75o4b8gO2T6_jluZocZCJdleIFUK1kU/s200/one-piece-strong-world.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414609955147051682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOLyKjPGZjCghQxlzbLA_d2tmdnL_ffRUJ5iG3r19oTec_tWEW4I-iRexTYP-kFFYDfLzVFo_G5xXZieJUA4kSykMUhZzIZVJTC2hnCx4QD9ujvVS4Qh2i7lbizJXMNA3BxTcXCrRizo/s1600-h/depp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 113px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOLyKjPGZjCghQxlzbLA_d2tmdnL_ffRUJ5iG3r19oTec_tWEW4I-iRexTYP-kFFYDfLzVFo_G5xXZieJUA4kSykMUhZzIZVJTC2hnCx4QD9ujvVS4Qh2i7lbizJXMNA3BxTcXCrRizo/s200/depp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414610663939874258" border="0" /></a><br />Last night, we went to see Johnny Depp woo <a href="http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=marion+cotillard&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=yowkS8DVF5iXkQWnwoCoAw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBwQsAQwAA">Marion Cotillard</a> in <span style="font-style: italic;">Public Enemies</span>. At the theater, we found out that even though Depp may be the most attractive American movie star of his generation, he's no match for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_One_Piece_characters#Monkey_D._Luffy">Monkey D. Luffy</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.warnermycal.com/movie/sakuhinpage/1007398.html">The new <span style="font-style: italic;">One Piece</span> movie</a> opened the same day as Depp's movie. At the Ibaraki <a href="http://www.warnermycal.com/cinema/ibaraki/">Warner-Mycal multiplex</a>, all tickets to the weekend's <span style="font-style: italic;">One Piece</span> showings were sold out. We were there on Saturday night -- so it meant that all the showings for the next day had been gobbled up. Some people in front of us wanted to see it and ended up buying tickets for next Friday's show. <span style="font-style: italic;">What the?! </span><br /><br />This is not a new development, according to <a href="http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ff20091211r1.html">the <span style="font-style: italic;">Japan Times</span>' Mark Schilling</a>. Japanese films have become dominant again in their home market. One advantage they enjoy is they can be cross-promoted via different media. <span style="font-style: italic;">One Piece</span> is a manga and an anime. I'm sure there are card games and video games. And its appeal isn't just limited to teens; the people going to the last show on Saturday were in their 20s and 30s. The people in front of us who bought tickets for next week were our age.<br /><br />And what about <a href="http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fd20091213a1.html">the hot hot Depp</a>?* He was fine. The film is a bit boring but shows off its lead actor to maximum effect. Dillinger is given a very romantic treatment in the film -- he's a man of honor, a straight talker, a formidable criminal, a silver tongue and he's faithful to his friends and his woman.<br /><br />Plus, the FBI agents act like a bunch of criminals.<br /><br />---<br /><br />* I think the funniest quote from the article is the last one -- he hasn't even seen the finished film yet. Didn't it come out in the States during the summer?<br /><br />---<br /><br />An update on <a href="http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-5584">the monster debut of <span style="font-style: italic;">One Piece</span></a>.Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-59985179283250418392009-12-06T22:37:00.007+09:002009-12-07T09:31:42.344+09:00Looks Strange, Tastes GoodIt's been getting chilly here, so we've been eating lots of <a href="http://chezyusuke.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/nabe.jpg">hot pot</a> dinners. For the past two nights, we've had hot pot with chicken meatballs, oysters and the special fish of the night. Last night, we had:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMCdJspbwZTMs-I8GNdo1N_TX-aP51k-kw9GUPoEXwa_m-jeqe2taCkyuKXPaHi1j1hphnYEpieebLf93pV2pPyyDphbPCbzPNrXFw_lAtFeusCZTTWzTWM6f-pDH4RNBcY7VT_lgcjk/s1600-h/%E3%81%8B%E3%82%8F%E3%81%AF%E3%81%8E.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMCdJspbwZTMs-I8GNdo1N_TX-aP51k-kw9GUPoEXwa_m-jeqe2taCkyuKXPaHi1j1hphnYEpieebLf93pV2pPyyDphbPCbzPNrXFw_lAtFeusCZTTWzTWM6f-pDH4RNBcY7VT_lgcjk/s320/%E3%81%8B%E3%82%8F%E3%81%AF%E3%81%8E.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412117916528684146" border="0" /></a><br />This kissing fish is called kawahagi (<a href="http://www2.odn.ne.jp/shokuzai/Kawahagi.htm">かわはぎ</a>) in Japanese. It's a kind of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filefish">filefish</a>. Not bad, but we weren't blown away. The meat of the fish is kinda flaky.<br /><br />Tonight, we tried:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebtHdWJ_AUX83E11gblfOpYpsWkiuwWTDjpkDx1U3jRmJ3HC_39HSsYLP0EJLYlubW3L_g_clTAb9o2BYjAxJAEiDcvtpdODEP4L9TTtgvhZr8exvsbLUxrN3OTR4OyTz0WsLUzDNC0A/s1600-h/%E3%81%8B%E3%81%98%E3%81%8B2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebtHdWJ_AUX83E11gblfOpYpsWkiuwWTDjpkDx1U3jRmJ3HC_39HSsYLP0EJLYlubW3L_g_clTAb9o2BYjAxJAEiDcvtpdODEP4L9TTtgvhZr8exvsbLUxrN3OTR4OyTz0WsLUzDNC0A/s320/%E3%81%8B%E3%81%98%E3%81%8B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412118584741058370" border="0" /></a><br />This beauty is called kajika (<a href="http://web.city.sapporo.jp/season/002sea.html">かじか</a>). Its English code-name is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottidae">sculpin</a>. It reminds me of a smaller version of the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=64675&id=660660431#/photo.php?pid=1525065&id=660660431">monkfish</a>. You may not want to kiss it but it sure was tasty. The fins have a gelatinous texture that was especially yummy.Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-31564121691737731422009-12-03T12:17:00.009+09:002009-12-03T12:57:45.373+09:00Coming Soon!You can see lots of American films in Japan, especially if you live in a big city such as Osaka. But often, films get released a few months later here. For example, I get to see the following in the next few weeks:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0QkvtQCCSGDyZo3mje9MhTTJH0YwbgbEu2Cgb4Fn15GPiztbTy5EpT1yyD2c66rXmqx0xc1bCMNqUfPNQQpLVwWFHwBx6vCTFZ7D3wdauU8mEqM0Z_Op4Wy1dvvgydCBdgCGACIGWIE/s1600-h/Up.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0QkvtQCCSGDyZo3mje9MhTTJH0YwbgbEu2Cgb4Fn15GPiztbTy5EpT1yyD2c66rXmqx0xc1bCMNqUfPNQQpLVwWFHwBx6vCTFZ7D3wdauU8mEqM0Z_Op4Wy1dvvgydCBdgCGACIGWIE/s320/Up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410844178783131666" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.disney.co.jp/movies/carl-gsan/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Up</span></a> opens this weekend<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0iPfIW1ktNuJE7ww7ADmX4DTzmFG1XZx8NrK2uQGIZ8pIJXpiLC3EM367QL39L2nYYjr-NUZEo4RclMuFvVHaZBg9ETlNHtmn4WNpHMXMvZi-Lypi94ZN4i-IneLF-yp-PPEOg0nuUw/s1600-h/Public+Enemies.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0iPfIW1ktNuJE7ww7ADmX4DTzmFG1XZx8NrK2uQGIZ8pIJXpiLC3EM367QL39L2nYYjr-NUZEo4RclMuFvVHaZBg9ETlNHtmn4WNpHMXMvZi-Lypi94ZN4i-IneLF-yp-PPEOg0nuUw/s320/Public+Enemies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410844401030087042" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.public-enemy1.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Public Enemies</span></a> arrives a week after<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvb3I7K476hfiTg6EJDfFLyNi4wi2mc7p2JhMiSvqrBtvbvY4b6d6yEbV__VMwtcIjb5e9HhVEmlYvcwwdooyy2zux4aP7_Ue-M9VRK1ALlYPL-qZwPOFHJLTM9kZFn6weaWw2PGpXPs/s1600-h/wild+things.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvb3I7K476hfiTg6EJDfFLyNi4wi2mc7p2JhMiSvqrBtvbvY4b6d6yEbV__VMwtcIjb5e9HhVEmlYvcwwdooyy2zux4aP7_Ue-M9VRK1ALlYPL-qZwPOFHJLTM9kZFn6weaWw2PGpXPs/s320/wild+things.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410844914456039250" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://wwws.warnerbros.co.jp/wherethewildthingsare/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Where the Wild Things Are</span></a> comes in January<br /><br />So what makes <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2009/11/jim-cameron-vs-robert-zemeckis-the-inside-scoop-on-the-rivalry.html">James Cameron</a> so special?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8KfwuBeP3Ec60uVB2JxII-EdyukLu9lhKdyOcUvKiJzgyC1IPO5B1iotacHfOAQLACfJF-HclTJ9sXwImr-XomvmG9ODLJkefjamfSL4CGN4LbgfCEQD98ypUZqthR8_yI6yHdghhAQ/s1600-h/Avatar_01.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8KfwuBeP3Ec60uVB2JxII-EdyukLu9lhKdyOcUvKiJzgyC1IPO5B1iotacHfOAQLACfJF-HclTJ9sXwImr-XomvmG9ODLJkefjamfSL4CGN4LbgfCEQD98ypUZqthR8_yI6yHdghhAQ/s320/Avatar_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410853023108482610" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://movies.foxjapan.com/avatar/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Avatar</span></a> will open here around Christmas,<br />nearly the same time as in the U.S.Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-47281624594555966332009-11-30T23:39:00.004+09:002009-11-30T23:55:47.852+09:00Is it safe?<span style="font-style: italic;">Max:</span> I should go to bed. I have to wake wake up early to get to the airport by eight tomorrow morning.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Naomi:</span> Don't worry, Max. I'll drive you.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Emi:</span> Uh-oh.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Max:</span> Uh-oh?!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Naomi:</span> Don't listen to her, Max. I am a safety driver.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Max:</span> Okay...but I hope you are a safe driver.<br /><br />Lots of Japanese people say they're safety drivers. I am sure they are but actually, they mean they are safe drivers. <span style="font-style: italic;">Drivers</span> is a noun so you need an adjective -- <span style="font-style: italic;">safe</span>.<br /><br />When can you use safety? Well, this familiar sign uses "safety":<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xOFCssprBMo0ZJAazMvKpT3UekEfK11rWOiDz993At4GvJyLk6v7MOeTBQf-he7jZqJm-YOKagPZgI1Sme38oVgc6QBK4wyaNWDVavIE-Gbe9xMcDiLPILPg0uLhx7EAu8wXSIkwLzE/s1600/%E5%AE%89%E5%BF%83%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%80.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xOFCssprBMo0ZJAazMvKpT3UekEfK11rWOiDz993At4GvJyLk6v7MOeTBQf-he7jZqJm-YOKagPZgI1Sme38oVgc6QBK4wyaNWDVavIE-Gbe9xMcDiLPILPg0uLhx7EAu8wXSIkwLzE/s320/%E5%AE%89%E5%BF%83%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%80.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409908503839501074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Can you translate it? Right, it says "Safety first."<br /><br />Of course, I always think in terms of movies. Here is the scariest use of the word "safe" you will ever hear. "Is it safe?" You tell me.<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i6rP98A6BCA&hl=ja_JP&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i6rP98A6BCA&hl=ja_JP&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-64468465043704104972009-11-06T01:34:00.006+09:002009-11-06T01:56:33.290+09:00Who Had a Better Year?Let's see.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGfgPzWUUZBCrN1rVEQ_6mWWzAegIRGk5eA6eQb4zYyULUXkG9NeCk2-jPue5gaP1kSKTrsTW0LqlpZrV5q4EZP_iwl-J6vX7N_uWjIn8Po0AInCqOWO6IBO25BKaGge37m52dIM-Y_o/s1600-h/Ichiro_WBC_09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGfgPzWUUZBCrN1rVEQ_6mWWzAegIRGk5eA6eQb4zYyULUXkG9NeCk2-jPue5gaP1kSKTrsTW0LqlpZrV5q4EZP_iwl-J6vX7N_uWjIn8Po0AInCqOWO6IBO25BKaGge37m52dIM-Y_o/s320/Ichiro_WBC_09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400659774031435906" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=400085">This guy</a> delivered <a href="http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090323&content_id=4056138&vkey=wbc&team=jpn">the game-winning hit</a> in the championship game of the WBC. Then he broke an MLB record by collecting at least <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2009859737_mari14.html">200 hits</a> for the ninth consecutive season.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSvH5va-qx5ZnSL5rfwNxIYMheD9-b1rG4DVsQFfNv_L4zALbFyLqMURM26y4xSqRNnP74RAoqHCF0mZrOq22QbrLU7IAbtuU9DeOL-JgGhyUsTnoER8hjeZK0SIOXYtpQHRe4D6CKFo/s1600-h/Matsui.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCSvH5va-qx5ZnSL5rfwNxIYMheD9-b1rG4DVsQFfNv_L4zALbFyLqMURM26y4xSqRNnP74RAoqHCF0mZrOq22QbrLU7IAbtuU9DeOL-JgGhyUsTnoER8hjeZK0SIOXYtpQHRe4D6CKFo/s320/Matsui.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400662701019270418" border="0" /></a><br />And <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=425686">this guy</a> came back from an injury-shortened season in 2008 to hit 28 homeruns this year. On Wednesday night, he helped the Yankees win their 27th championship by driving in six runs.<br />Yup, that's a record for a World Series game. So of course he became <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/matsui_brings_yanks_elusive_th_title_FVpsV28Z6fppdRkHPSJscM">the World Series MVP</a>.Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-52505573847689461702009-11-05T09:07:00.009+09:002009-11-05T09:29:53.101+09:00English Lesson "Pick Up vs. Pick Out""Pick up" has many uses:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWvtseX1XCWoo-p0Z34wooJozOJ2IB1N21oVGRzhTCZCnQSxPq4gmfoeKxYhLLjLqK4ZM8J-L8eFgUQrkq0cOas9OAKQsaRy6MqdgZ8Kjhv5Kmtn095f8FyIie-wc5C0xkEXVrXYpYSE/s1600-h/airport_pickup.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWvtseX1XCWoo-p0Z34wooJozOJ2IB1N21oVGRzhTCZCnQSxPq4gmfoeKxYhLLjLqK4ZM8J-L8eFgUQrkq0cOas9OAKQsaRy6MqdgZ8Kjhv5Kmtn095f8FyIie-wc5C0xkEXVrXYpYSE/s200/airport_pickup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400405286417705746" border="0" /></a><br />My friend's son <a href="http://www.idea-sandbox.com/blog/2005/11/theredcupcom-the-airport-pick-up/">picked me up</a> at the airport.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXEreVQ9xUYaocgqXaGQNDy9YLWxdta5LcAfpWV83tZJ_n6_uOLA1-Nyx1hjLppbK422BOg-zBU-CG_Nl4_sCDJupahqQ9RzOIswbVWNTXwi4qGkFgHU_ZYgX6Ba7FwxcNF3aUebnTRk/s1600-h/milk112808.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXEreVQ9xUYaocgqXaGQNDy9YLWxdta5LcAfpWV83tZJ_n6_uOLA1-Nyx1hjLppbK422BOg-zBU-CG_Nl4_sCDJupahqQ9RzOIswbVWNTXwi4qGkFgHU_ZYgX6Ba7FwxcNF3aUebnTRk/s200/milk112808.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400407279421341074" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.observer.com/2008/media/denby-scott-agree-subway-pick-scene-milk-hot-and-james-franco-angelic-hipster">Harvey Milk picked up Scott Smith in the subway</a><br />in the beginning of "Milk."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWxZulh5_EeGwAAlciafaLrZZumGFCxzprlbfka74sU8srPpZrZ9QJQQF7dYqP-CXd8jiTyxJEfzb1enJDYAWPe5f5zAd9V6xbcKqNBQPH2DLgKyNPCS32fSX8e3X3CC9uBeIoD07shQ/s1600-h/dirty+clothes.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWxZulh5_EeGwAAlciafaLrZZumGFCxzprlbfka74sU8srPpZrZ9QJQQF7dYqP-CXd8jiTyxJEfzb1enJDYAWPe5f5zAd9V6xbcKqNBQPH2DLgKyNPCS32fSX8e3X3CC9uBeIoD07shQ/s200/dirty+clothes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400407777713102162" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, no! <a href="http://www.sybilcentral.com/Memories%20of%20Years%20Past.htm">The baby made a mess</a>.<br />Can you pick up the clothes on the floor?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_fwFmJdWZ-WSDrTPF1d2udTk20Aaqjyx9zdiDqhNTCgFQjOR_Eg1uEQB65AbYmMjum-peq2V6NaGzEcOF1MwrEPaN6pjR1wxX05zbVefhBLN2Mgh8DHbbFHhGgSFv0AwjDQRdaKBp7I/s1600-h/milk.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_fwFmJdWZ-WSDrTPF1d2udTk20Aaqjyx9zdiDqhNTCgFQjOR_Eg1uEQB65AbYmMjum-peq2V6NaGzEcOF1MwrEPaN6pjR1wxX05zbVefhBLN2Mgh8DHbbFHhGgSFv0AwjDQRdaKBp7I/s200/milk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400408223089962786" border="0" /></a><br />Please <a href="http://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/283">pick up some milk</a> on your way home.<br /><br />• • •<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">But be careful!</span> "Pick up" doesn't work here:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PfSOm2JJJd0Ou57F7mCFKPjYETWwL-q7WtBI7Ty6f_dAgzqndunW7jYexHOuje7vNENsFfbA1mCfsHpnrt6Me_vDYaaoEhr5iGP9kjZ_Fz8dzYQj2jGw4k00z5EXIQ9o3oKuC0ekmgc/s1600-h/pick-out-tie.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PfSOm2JJJd0Ou57F7mCFKPjYETWwL-q7WtBI7Ty6f_dAgzqndunW7jYexHOuje7vNENsFfbA1mCfsHpnrt6Me_vDYaaoEhr5iGP9kjZ_Fz8dzYQj2jGw4k00z5EXIQ9o3oKuC0ekmgc/s320/pick-out-tie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400409291002009138" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ken:</span> Can you help me?<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Naomi: </span>What's the matter?<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ken: </span>I can't decide. Help me pick up a tie.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Naomi: </span>???<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Ken:</span> Which tie should I wear?<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Naomi: </span>Oh...<a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_4540555_pick-out-tie.html">pick out a tie</a>! That one.<br /><br />"Pick out" = chooseItchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-28405222153213042312009-10-30T13:19:00.005+09:002009-10-30T22:47:28.283+09:00A win without a win<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcp1BYsjc-Oi1gotDxlcz4c5wNL_LeDODU2ndys1JzXyIaATEU2GCUd_yQ0nxmbuxv5Pb9m3GemSnzZEv9OwIaqFdkc93JonTUp2glIWZp2fIe8rrkEjKok5SQxrxU7kqR1wmErQZnqvg/s1600-h/joeg.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcp1BYsjc-Oi1gotDxlcz4c5wNL_LeDODU2ndys1JzXyIaATEU2GCUd_yQ0nxmbuxv5Pb9m3GemSnzZEv9OwIaqFdkc93JonTUp2glIWZp2fIe8rrkEjKok5SQxrxU7kqR1wmErQZnqvg/s200/joeg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398246399964668482" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >poor Joe<br /></span><br />What is the right choice?<br /><br />Your "Philosophy Question of the Day" is sponsored by <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp">The World Series.</a><br /><br />The Yankees won <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap;_ylt=ApTXWY_Dq_RPaGkf9.c7FD45nYcB?gid=291029110">Game 2</a> just a few hours ago, 3-1. So I guess Yankee manager Joe Girardi should have a good sleep tonight before leaving for Philadelphia.<br /><br />Not so fast. For Game 2, Girardi used a line-up with two weaker hitters (Jose Molina and Jerry Hairston, Jr.) in place of two very good hitters (Jorge Posada and Nick Swisher). Why? He used Molina instead of Posada at catcher because <a href="http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/the-catching-molinas/">the starting pitcher seems to pitch better</a> to Molina than to Posada. And Girardi decided to bench Swisher because <a href="http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/girardi-changes-lineup-for-game-2/">he has been terrible</a> in the post season.<br /><br />Baseball fans who carefully study the numbers didn't think these decision <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/1107/swisher-out-hairston-jr-in">make</a> <a href="http://www.itsaboutthemoney.net/2009-articles/october/first-guessing-game-2s-maneuvers.html">sense</a>. My favorite line is:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If it works, that doesn't make it the right move.</span><br /><br />Wait a minute. If it works, then it is right. Right? Or does the philosophically correct choice matter more than the result? Are we counting strategically-sensible wins over real wins?<br /><br />I can understand making an argument against Joe's decision. But how can you say he didn't make the right move when he got the result he wanted? Girardi's job is to win games. And his decision helped to win the game -- Molina picked off a runner and Hairston got a hit that led to a run. Cut Joe a break. Give him a pat on the back and let's resume in Philly.Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-65191020393840494332009-10-29T08:52:00.004+09:002009-10-29T12:24:59.031+09:00Did you know that...?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO21PirNJYv6NWpghYNIxDtJNhIhy5VSFliCyGqr9nEiGqKD1urSRk9_O_jjJ8dMSf8sOeehyphenhyphenY86uhdmu-3CVWsr_qCFv86DE448D07mhV6t1GG5unkSpSsfON2rXp5IXi-gLzuwtuThI/s1600-h/hoff.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO21PirNJYv6NWpghYNIxDtJNhIhy5VSFliCyGqr9nEiGqKD1urSRk9_O_jjJ8dMSf8sOeehyphenhyphenY86uhdmu-3CVWsr_qCFv86DE448D07mhV6t1GG5unkSpSsfON2rXp5IXi-gLzuwtuThI/s320/hoff.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397803424398102978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The <a href="http://catherinehickland.com/">first ex-wife</a> of actor <a href="http://stevemegan.blogspot.com/2008/10/being-david-hasselhoff-round-2.html">David</a> (<a href="http://knightrideronline.com/wiki/doku.php?id=knight_rider">"Knight Rider"</a>) <a href="http://www.scificool.com/the-new-knight-rider-can-morph-david-hasselhoff/">Hasselhoff</a> is married to a man named <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/tvsoapwed/hick1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/tvsoapwed/hick.htm&usg=__kxkwBzqshCevKutO2OCkgc5am6s=&h=376&w=255&sz=18&hl=en&start=1&sig2=cIYBLt0sh0ZS8Q4vfAJ03A&um=1&tbnid=k_cCSH8wRMCrTM:&tbnh=122&tbnw=83&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmichael%2Be.%2Bknight%2Bhickland%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26um%3D1&ei=StzoSr7SGcr-kAWgqqS9Bg">Michael E. Knight</a>.Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-86942755156764868832009-10-12T23:09:00.011+09:002009-10-13T00:24:30.770+09:00English Lesson: Tastes Great! Less Filling!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-B8qwz-Wl26eEoAeHMMHnJR-4tPugHmK9l01RwIl4YZXr-lhExLshGXUYJerlNVjCMAr-1CFpzVZ2r3zlZNS_V9a6xQVJMuvafVhHHLjB3uzu4Jvggs3-drYcU-Xbgo5d1yqWwQgvyA/s1600-h/green-tea-ice-cream.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-B8qwz-Wl26eEoAeHMMHnJR-4tPugHmK9l01RwIl4YZXr-lhExLshGXUYJerlNVjCMAr-1CFpzVZ2r3zlZNS_V9a6xQVJMuvafVhHHLjB3uzu4Jvggs3-drYcU-Xbgo5d1yqWwQgvyA/s200/green-tea-ice-cream.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391721939684062962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Max: </span>How is your ice cream?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Naomi:</span> It has good taste.<br /> I love <a href="http://www.japanguidebook.com/blogs/japan-travel/3-green-tea-ice-cream-sakura-ice-cream">green tea ice cream</a>. Wanna try it?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Max:</span> Thanks, but no thanks. I prefer chocolate.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Naomi:</span> You only like chocolate?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Max: </span>Yup. By the way, you should say, "It tastes good."<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Naomi: </span>Why?<br /><br />It is a matter of style. Americans most often use "taste" as a verb when we talk about food:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Your spaghetti sauce <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omB-HVs6sRw">tastes great</a>!</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />This bread tastes <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stale">stale</a>.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />I don't like tofu because it tastes <a href="http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061019154753AAcArix">bland</a>.</span><br /><br />We do this with the other four senses:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">You </span>look great<span style="font-style: italic;"> in your new jacket!</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />The popcorn </span>smells so good<span style="font-style: italic;">.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />My voice </span>sounded <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTNHwSMKpuw">raspy</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> after five hours of karaoke.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />I </span>feel so tired<span style="font-style: italic;"> every day after work.</span><br /><br />•••<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">How about "good taste"?</span><br /><br />One situation where people do say "good taste" is when someone agrees with your choice in something -- fashion, movies, <a href="http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%96%99%E7%90%86">cuisine</a> -- and that choice shows you have an appreciation for sophisticated things. Of course, it also means you have have "bad taste."<br /><br />For example --<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjxK6i-gl4CKAlAPC-n-JIJilrV2JjLOA2NF3hMD4Yms-PqIMGV2-9bUFCoVA3qnchEhGt-7sU1Ml8ps_GXa-C2eOauf8tr7YJokgTIeSWCSgl1QzlDiHIe-Oj4BKaK4VDI6WhguXibg/s1600-h/Hugh-Jackman_articleimage.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjxK6i-gl4CKAlAPC-n-JIJilrV2JjLOA2NF3hMD4Yms-PqIMGV2-9bUFCoVA3qnchEhGt-7sU1Ml8ps_GXa-C2eOauf8tr7YJokgTIeSWCSgl1QzlDiHIe-Oj4BKaK4VDI6WhguXibg/s320/Hugh-Jackman_articleimage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391725720798276434" border="0" /></a><br />Hugh Jackman has good taste when it comes to <a href="http://www.elle.com/Entertainment/Men-We-Love/Hugh-Jackman">picking suits</a>. Of course, when you look like Jackman, just about anything you wear is going to look good. (I don't know about that pose, though. Where was this picture taken? Japan?)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3Wmv5WOdyMVOn1ilO8GwfJNGvlIrpjDvA7NHhD1vM_f7a_Nh6AypU2kQFInmLusjWNzDujefJqgg3nqxY7FsrtB5yLe_CQP8Hn51RPEcK4PZRgNXk6w2ImZnnoIuQ2N-zpixK1R807M/s1600-h/cher1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3Wmv5WOdyMVOn1ilO8GwfJNGvlIrpjDvA7NHhD1vM_f7a_Nh6AypU2kQFInmLusjWNzDujefJqgg3nqxY7FsrtB5yLe_CQP8Hn51RPEcK4PZRgNXk6w2ImZnnoIuQ2N-zpixK1R807M/s320/cher1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391726643658630370" border="0" /></a><br />Cher, on the other hand, had bad taste the year she decided to pick this dress. But of course, if she hadn't dressed like that, we would have had nothing to talk about when watching <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjR4KR8j63U">the Academy Awards</a>.Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-23541731794423638302009-10-01T00:44:00.001+09:002009-10-01T00:46:25.532+09:00Enter Sandman<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthPszzpRHmSlwnCyqMKwdN82zkdX2mAm14DrtN4PtWqAMh6D0mJVICtmLjYgnjCeUu_wlronpcad4SLExmsmHU_ZgBeF3QcVH-NRkK1cE3rggZZ_8oIFzWStbCz3ow7P-nDozMhnnGkE/s1600-h/1005_large.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthPszzpRHmSlwnCyqMKwdN82zkdX2mAm14DrtN4PtWqAMh6D0mJVICtmLjYgnjCeUu_wlronpcad4SLExmsmHU_ZgBeF3QcVH-NRkK1cE3rggZZ_8oIFzWStbCz3ow7P-nDozMhnnGkE/s320/1005_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387287102532882642" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A story about <a href="http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=As+the+gates+swing+open+upon+another+October%2C+baseball+-+10.05.09+-+SI+Vault&expire=&urlID=411622767&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1160757%2Findex.htm&partnerID=289881">a man and his pitch</a>.Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-52991660135485886142009-09-25T11:25:00.005+09:002009-09-27T09:18:15.134+09:00English Lesson: comparativesMost students have no trouble making a sentence such as this one:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">My dog is bigger than your dog.</span><br /><br />But then, they make mistakes with sentences such as this one:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">At McDonald's, US sizes are much bigger than Japan.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AUI9vbpzLhtpvvO8pmiIeMfMzhEU9MuWb9LyVmQ2caGy5iEF1iGZTo5BqNn3DELLSjb9USPYhtzEMrhrdrTiGWP3wew9gXk-9_lPZIoFNF02kVwEoc1q407b-Fx8EUWwaWGj3RrsaAI/s1600-h/mac.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 71px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AUI9vbpzLhtpvvO8pmiIeMfMzhEU9MuWb9LyVmQ2caGy5iEF1iGZTo5BqNn3DELLSjb9USPYhtzEMrhrdrTiGWP3wew9gXk-9_lPZIoFNF02kVwEoc1q407b-Fx8EUWwaWGj3RrsaAI/s320/mac.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385229695467082882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_NGocwBFvor3YnRcWA7Bug24nzTWmnXHeLjccPLbaQLUtUxnM3bdA7y4M7lntNAF3mgW0FiNt4wwFsvLHymClC1f0DQwrFZ0B5z0GCQmRuY-mS9l7XsMRHTxWDRcOWxMUbwt8NMCFOs/s1600-h/mac-j.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 50px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_NGocwBFvor3YnRcWA7Bug24nzTWmnXHeLjccPLbaQLUtUxnM3bdA7y4M7lntNAF3mgW0FiNt4wwFsvLHymClC1f0DQwrFZ0B5z0GCQmRuY-mS9l7XsMRHTxWDRcOWxMUbwt8NMCFOs/s200/mac-j.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385230037463018162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Huh? What are you comparing? In the first sentence, you are comparing your dog with my dog. In the second sentence, you are comparing <a href="http://www.kanaday.com/mcdonald.html">US sizes with Japanese sizes</a>. So, you need to use "Japanese sizes" at the end of the sentence. Or you can do this:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">At McDonald's, US sizes are bigger than Japanese ones.</span><br /><br />•••<br /><br />Do you know how to use these?<br /><br />• mine<br />• yours<br />• his<br />• hers<br />• ours<br />• theirs<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">His voice is louder than mine.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Where are you going to stay, at my house or his?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Our team practices more often than theirs.</span>Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-22456243624257630312009-09-19T00:09:00.003+09:002009-09-19T00:34:33.501+09:00Just Like National GeographicThe big news item of the summer in Japan has been the saga of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noriko_Sakai">Noriko Sakai</a>, the former pop idol who disappeared for a week when her husband was arrested on drug charges, and then later was herself arrested for <a href="http://search.mdn.mainichi.jp/result?p=sakai&st=s">the same crime</a>.<br /><br />After she was jailed, the newspapers and TV stations gave us at least one report a day about her plight -- places where she bought drugs, people she partied with...blah, blah, blah.<br /><br />The only thing newsworthy enough to knock her off the front page was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_general_election,_2009">Democratic Party's historic victory</a> in the Lower House elections.<br /><br />Anyway, I got to thinking that maybe I could make some cash selling "<a href="http://images.cafepress.com/product/133744580v8_240x240_Front_Color-AshGrey.jpg">Free</a> Sakai/Let Her Go<a href="http://www.bustedtees.com/leavelindsayalohan">!</a>" t-shirts. Well, the authorities beat me to it. I don't mean <span style="font-style: italic;">they</span> are gonna sell t-shirts. I mean she <a href="http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090918b1.html">made bail</a>* and they freed her.<br /><br />In the States, just just deny, deny, deny. And when you get in legal trouble, you let <a href="http://www.jacoby-meyers.com/">Jacoby & Meyers</a> do all the talking. Here in Japan, you gotta make a tearful public apology once you've screwed up. Her award-winning performance was captured by what seemed like all the photographers from the last Super Bowl. They all had their good cameras with them:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCcxk-d_8JlS0RC0YUMyYjxxih8mB-0CM0E1uZTvWBcD227D5uwLY8LiX7ndLsbu9YefqOeG8sJUCufoX5Rewlo-31MGW9tpfC-K7ByfmvBNHNtkiJmy2c92PYvvv9cWRd7KlrRnqYcY/s1600-h/gnd0918000-p5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCcxk-d_8JlS0RC0YUMyYjxxih8mB-0CM0E1uZTvWBcD227D5uwLY8LiX7ndLsbu9YefqOeG8sJUCufoX5Rewlo-31MGW9tpfC-K7ByfmvBNHNtkiJmy2c92PYvvv9cWRd7KlrRnqYcY/s320/gnd0918000-p5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382830318258080546" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"> (<a href="http://www.sanspo.com/geino/photos/090917/gnd0918000-p5.htm">source</a>)</span><br /><br />Outside of nature magazines, I've never seen such a crystal clear representation of motion frozen in a frame.<br /><br />---<br />* Is it just me or does she sound like she's still using the stuff from those awful quotes? Some things just don't translate well.Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-24243498257157311112009-09-17T01:31:00.004+09:002009-09-17T01:45:01.430+09:00What if...?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvtKgnlh2UnJJyCIBkf6wqszdegb-cUYGBUhVNcRTXgHF5GvtPh1UgaibzMsLwT4I7CPNUzbeP49TMZojWXxNTXT83ygDwLxI4taXTdmuax-EQBOaAVCXoppr9KGHD5Ez1FsKGnV0ELc/s1600-h/napoleon+horse.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvtKgnlh2UnJJyCIBkf6wqszdegb-cUYGBUhVNcRTXgHF5GvtPh1UgaibzMsLwT4I7CPNUzbeP49TMZojWXxNTXT83ygDwLxI4taXTdmuax-EQBOaAVCXoppr9KGHD5Ez1FsKGnV0ELc/s320/napoleon+horse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382104278690234226" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A short man makes for <a href="http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/community/video/29678.stanley_kubricks_napoleon.htm">a long story</a>.<br /><br />Of course this one only takes seven minutes.<br /><br /><object id="veohFlashPlayer" name="veohFlashPlayer" width="410" height="341"><param name="movie" value="http://www.veoh.com/static/swf/webplayer/WebPlayer.swf?version=AFrontend.5.4.2.24.1005&permalinkId=v3956188Y4GH6qk9&player=videodetailsembedded&videoAutoPlay=0&id=anonymous"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.veoh.com/static/swf/webplayer/WebPlayer.swf?version=AFrontend.5.4.2.24.1005&permalinkId=v3956188Y4GH6qk9&player=videodetailsembedded&videoAutoPlay=0&id=anonymous" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" id="veohFlashPlayerEmbed" name="veohFlashPlayerEmbed" width="410" height="341"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Watch <a href="http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/comedy/watch/v3956188Y4GH6qk9">Napoleon Bunny-Part - Bugs Bunny</a> in <a href="http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/comedy">ã�³ã�¡ã��ã�£</a> | View More <a href="http://www.veoh.com/">Free Videos Online at Veoh.com</a></span>Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-49263053470652283392009-09-10T12:10:00.005+09:002009-09-25T11:49:49.785+09:00English Lesson: Learning English with GoogleRecently, I looked at how Japanese people use English words differently from Americans -- specifically, I talked about the word "<a href="http://itchyinjapan.blogspot.com/2009/08/english-lesson-lets-try-it.html">challenge</a>." In fact, there are many words that fit this category. Today, let's look at "renewal" and "reform."<br /><br />In Japan, these two words are often used to talk about fixing a building, a business or a home.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">renewal</span> -- Here is a site about <a href="http://www.hanshin.co.jp/koshien/renewal/index.html">improving Koshien Stadium</a> in Hyogo Prefecture, home of the annual <a href="http://itchyinjapan.blogspot.com/2009/08/english-lesson-what-rally.html">Summer HS Baseball Tournament</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">reform</span> -- Take a look at <a href="http://www.noblehome.jp/index.php?itemid=8">this site</a> for a company (with an impressive-sounding name) that will fix up your home.*<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkBjHF3t8g7MIYcZFra9C3XYdK0fakrUK6qtXyz2hoiTKmqG0q3HxpphwqeufLQs91YWsX-wSAsrosEiHaGoXsk5DjDNPFR-DKsnllwNdgr47E7T24_E3EsHR3hxMD77iWpSNqQA7X5s/s1600-h/beforeafter.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkBjHF3t8g7MIYcZFra9C3XYdK0fakrUK6qtXyz2hoiTKmqG0q3HxpphwqeufLQs91YWsX-wSAsrosEiHaGoXsk5DjDNPFR-DKsnllwNdgr47E7T24_E3EsHR3hxMD77iWpSNqQA7X5s/s320/beforeafter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379684610651698066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >(<a href="http://www.reform-yamaka.com/kitchen/index.html">from here</a>)</span><br /><br /><br />Well, Americans use "reform" and "renewal" very differently. We don't use these words to talk about homes or stadiums. How do we use them? OK. Try this. Go to <a href="http://news.google.com/nwshp?hl=en&tab=wn">Google News</a> and do a search for "<a href="http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&pz=1&ned=us&hl=en&q=reform">reform</a>."<br /><br />What did you find? Lots and lots of stories about healthcare reform. It's the hot topic of the year. And it makes <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf0bbDB7J8A&feature=PlayList&p=2BBF4EAFFF102A60&index=25&playnext=2&playnext_from=PL">some</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM64ABmhXXs">people</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cr1WXU9oU4">in</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RBuZCofohA">the</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxgLXDupHaI">US</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hoqfzwzgT8">very</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHsUi2Hu4Ug">emotional</a>.<br /><br />So, reform is a word we use to talk about improving or changing political processes and government programs. And there are lots of programs and processes that need change: Social Security reform, immigration reform...<br /><br />How about renewal? Did you check Google News? Did you find anything about buildings or stores or stadiums? Nope. Renewal has to do with licenses:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Every few years, I have to </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.ehow.com/how_5049081_renew-drivers-license-california.html">renew my driver's license</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Some married couples </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.abc15.com/content/news/webxtra/story/Valley-couple-renews-vows-on-09-09-09/f7ES4a625Uip5JICpiQ7yQ.cspx">renew their wedding vows</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> on their wedding anniversary.</span><br /><br />So, what should you use when you talk about buildings? Try "<a href="http://mocoloco.com/archives/renovate_book_cover_nov_04.jpg">renovate</a>," or "<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/6206191/Queen-wants-extra-44m-to-refurbish-palaces.html">refurbish</a>."<br /><br />• • •<br /><br />* I started to notice the word "reform" in Japan while watching a show called "<a href="http://asahi.co.jp/beforeafter/index.html">Before/After</a>," which is similar to "<a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition/episode-guide">Extreme Makeover: Home Edition</a>" except without all the excessive emotional manipulation.Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-14430470565273317732009-09-03T12:48:00.004+09:002009-10-16T00:43:26.189+09:00English Lesson: "Have you seen 'The Last of the Mohicans'?"We use "the" in noun phrases with the word "of." This often appears in titles. For example, have you seen the Indiana Jones movie where he goes to India? It's called <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_az0yaVIyU"><span style="font-style: italic;">Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom</span></a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxx2ZreZXKoM5UKO8q4SlX49lLexC3Ac4LjSk9OGqRPkHmKrX7Y2aQpWKY5Gh2jBmFs7WNZwg3wjqsgGPW-Hhb9xSIqGCW6Tep-juyabPCuAoYV_u48m8wj_qagmAU9yjOHKso_1LjeY/s1600-h/indy+jones.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxx2ZreZXKoM5UKO8q4SlX49lLexC3Ac4LjSk9OGqRPkHmKrX7Y2aQpWKY5Gh2jBmFs7WNZwg3wjqsgGPW-Hhb9xSIqGCW6Tep-juyabPCuAoYV_u48m8wj_qagmAU9yjOHKso_1LjeY/s320/indy+jones.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377085020180775138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It's not my favorite one but <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y_lkWaP0Lw">the dinner scene</a> is fantastic.<br /><br />Book titles also commonly use "the" and "of":<br />"<a href="http://www.librarything.com/work/3728592/covers/">The Count of Monte Cristo</a>" is discussed in a funny moment from <span style="font-style: italic;">The Shawshank Redemption</span>. It happens around the 5-minute mark of this clip:<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jNmBqi1tM1A&hl=ja&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jNmBqi1tM1A&hl=ja&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />I tried to think of song titles too but I couldn't come up with any. Can you think of one?<br /><br />Let's finish with the title of this blog entry. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000520/">Michael Mann</a>'s remake of "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104691/">The Last of the Mohicans</a>" tells an old-fashioned love story but with such beautiful images and well-chosen music that the movie feels fresh and new. I can watch the final sequence of the movie over and over.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dn7UHJLcPp4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dn7UHJLcPp4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I think the secret to its power is that there are so few lines of dialogue in the end. Here, actions speak. And the pace of it, measured by the music, is slower than most action sequences. The Mohicans do a lot of running at the end, and as they run, anticipation builds and builds.<br /><br />Excuse me. I'm gonna watch it again.Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-61044909309321763392009-08-30T19:17:00.005+09:002009-08-30T19:32:21.964+09:00English Lesson: "Let's try it!"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2GaBG2xjjy-c0BqCahEFGUXdIbq6cSr9WFbUgF9M2jmYDzXPCzus8JvXrHx9vvr00XXD1DlOX2QEwxZxQAUv8aAbs_UYQP_OYKVCQoDGFwx9E_VzkoC9SVdX6ZaX1jyOsaIMYFRRcLs/s1600-h/darts1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2GaBG2xjjy-c0BqCahEFGUXdIbq6cSr9WFbUgF9M2jmYDzXPCzus8JvXrHx9vvr00XXD1DlOX2QEwxZxQAUv8aAbs_UYQP_OYKVCQoDGFwx9E_VzkoC9SVdX6ZaX1jyOsaIMYFRRcLs/s320/darts1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375701871450589794" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Kelly:</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Have you ever played darts?</span></span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Naomi:</span> No, never. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Kelly:</span> Me neither. There's a British pub in my neighborhood. It has a dart board. Do you want to play?</span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Naomi:</span> Sure! Let's challenge!</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Kelly:</span> ???</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />The Japanese language uses a lot of English words. But Japanese often uses these words in ways different from their original meaning. One example is "challenge." In the case of Kelly and Naomi, "challenge" doesn't make sense. Naomi should have said:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sure! Let's try it!</span><br /><br />We use "challenge" for starting a contest or a battle:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I challenge you to a game of darts.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The contender challenged the champion but lost.</span><br /><br />"Challenge" is often used as a noun for a task or goal that will require a lot of hard work and luck:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Getting astronauts to the moon is a big challenge for NASA.</span><br /><br />You can also use "challenging" as an adjective:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The most challenging part of this exam is the vocabulary section.</span></span><br /><br />You got it? Okay. I challenge you to make three sentences using "challenge."Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-8727310000919374332009-08-27T09:11:00.013+09:002009-08-27T10:11:37.321+09:00Ooohs and Aaahs by the Lake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsahdmQ3FMJkyLVq_l74XX5q9i4hmyTCsw7GPlvqM2HjKg7pliAvFSodEU0s_yY8cd7qpTY1Cp59ZOkX47i-oD047SUbakC-YP7k-afDsU1rCqJK5_adlNfcX1nxq6GereE4TtYzKHxc/s1600-h/kansai_map.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsahdmQ3FMJkyLVq_l74XX5q9i4hmyTCsw7GPlvqM2HjKg7pliAvFSodEU0s_yY8cd7qpTY1Cp59ZOkX47i-oD047SUbakC-YP7k-afDsU1rCqJK5_adlNfcX1nxq6GereE4TtYzKHxc/s320/kansai_map.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374432650271087186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.kippo.or.jp/culture_e/water/lake/lake.htm">Lake Biwa</a> (琵琶湖), the biggest lake in Japan, is just a short train ride from Kyoto. At the beginning of August, <a href="http://www2.city.otsu.shiga.jp/english/kankou/frame.html">Otsu</a>, the biggest city on the shores of the lake, has a fireworks show that's worth seeing. So we decided to take a look. Plus it was a chance to check out the lake, which we had never done.<br /><br />The initial plan was to go early, rent bikes and ride around the lake and then, in the late afternoon, grab a spot for the fireworks. Well, the problems is, there is no bike path or even foot path along the lake in Otsu. On the closest road to the lake, you can barely see the water most of the time. It felt like we were biking in any old urban area in Japan, so the ride lost its appeal pretty quickly. I didn't even bother to stop and take pictures of the lake.<br /><br />We were gonna eat lunch by the lake but ended up at Omi Shrine (<a href="http://www.bbweb-arena.com/users/oumijing/">近江神宮</a>) instead:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fAGDsobrYtCNCi78mXLxcz1raUm126sZOt8poexulv26ZlMB1FxiwFuE68X7q3DvIJkjc65eulPSpJJSwJgz7_CkVWG3_WsvihRQSKqZHu8dnTfW4n5q0O8z3aH2nwqLelj0R-kWpuU/s1600-h/L1010462.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fAGDsobrYtCNCi78mXLxcz1raUm126sZOt8poexulv26ZlMB1FxiwFuE68X7q3DvIJkjc65eulPSpJJSwJgz7_CkVWG3_WsvihRQSKqZHu8dnTfW4n5q0O8z3aH2nwqLelj0R-kWpuU/s320/L1010462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374435279575679186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Squint real hard and you'll see that I'm wearing my "<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/74/178189691_c2b416e083.jpg">Hiroshima Loves Peace</a>" t-shirt. Unfortunately, it was August 8; I was two days late.<br /><br />After lunch, we cycled around town and found some streets near the JR station that reminded Yuki of side streets in Kyoto. Many of the buildings looked old school:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsu0gasJJW9c65lEkywUoOKKSF4H4TjcVOzJlkM4_ppEzkCe_Y5m2kvWOs8-gXFkDudMu2Bz46yPb-Z_zvwYHrLlSllk559JXfCC-DPrbXXF-ET-nYcH-qs3JlZvI9f21SlFQLGDKxWVE/s1600-h/L1010468.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsu0gasJJW9c65lEkywUoOKKSF4H4TjcVOzJlkM4_ppEzkCe_Y5m2kvWOs8-gXFkDudMu2Bz46yPb-Z_zvwYHrLlSllk559JXfCC-DPrbXXF-ET-nYcH-qs3JlZvI9f21SlFQLGDKxWVE/s320/L1010468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374436845643077154" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Bp50_tlbpLlZ6laE0jMHTuYSwXr_qa6wxezfqoNpLIjO_BFKAREpsWJgKPK37hcV1G4N6VIdqfh_YzIxflyQ1S7Ole0q09Uczjx5b9cbqqoW4CfC7ekCMhtKufOqDfhMLIDoItR5txM/s1600-h/L1010471.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 222px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Bp50_tlbpLlZ6laE0jMHTuYSwXr_qa6wxezfqoNpLIjO_BFKAREpsWJgKPK37hcV1G4N6VIdqfh_YzIxflyQ1S7Ole0q09Uczjx5b9cbqqoW4CfC7ekCMhtKufOqDfhMLIDoItR5txM/s320/L1010471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374437053217099474" border="0" /></a><br /><br />By 4 p.m., the main street from the station to the lake was closed to cars and food stalls were beginning to open. Lots of people were making their way down to the show. Crowd control was very impressive. Also impressive was the statue of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeRRAUzeT9M">the exhibitionist</a> near the station:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZG-NzzbwRuh85dlcl9nE_3rkj2C5oBrQqWQ1Kb7abLhXTh5d55OLzeDhXwWlAOhFfoENpR84XYjlmI_fre9ivCi3DkD_vNg5gCp38KHreNKqbk1LYeRJoydYMOjGTYEQuJJKOG1Cad2E/s1600-h/IMG_4105.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZG-NzzbwRuh85dlcl9nE_3rkj2C5oBrQqWQ1Kb7abLhXTh5d55OLzeDhXwWlAOhFfoENpR84XYjlmI_fre9ivCi3DkD_vNg5gCp38KHreNKqbk1LYeRJoydYMOjGTYEQuJJKOG1Cad2E/s200/IMG_4105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374438290976436386" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjk79R5zMLH_DLLzx34NJvCAOhlV5zJmPvqVuPHaIcsVEp4C-C_nQOnkIDr0NJaK5GfKV-5kFOoDUG7iL0LQg0mcuCs98ZAtL0v10-CHim9otZ_pdJrqCn1zWUPwcHgIgyZzxHbCbZDQ/s1600-h/IMG_4107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjk79R5zMLH_DLLzx34NJvCAOhlV5zJmPvqVuPHaIcsVEp4C-C_nQOnkIDr0NJaK5GfKV-5kFOoDUG7iL0LQg0mcuCs98ZAtL0v10-CHim9otZ_pdJrqCn1zWUPwcHgIgyZzxHbCbZDQ/s320/IMG_4107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374438516989401218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> now<br /><br /> you<br /><br /> know<br /><br /> everything<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />We realized we didn't have a picnic blanket or a plastic sheet to put on the ground so we ended up spending a good chunk of time hunting one down. Back by the lake, we found a spot to our liking, laid out the plastic sheet and held it down with rocks and pins and went back to the station to return our bikes. It's great that you can just leave your plastic sheet on the ground and no one would mess with it. When we picked out our spot, our part of the lakeside park was already covered with (mostly) blue sheets.<br /><br />The walk back to the park was jumble of people:<br /><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzpNJ2JqonLkn1BWOps0veAQNLxjwSyzDZqYeatDvgwRa6eR4Y3CAadswqsRk6p1rpvy6ITqi9jyzF65KOsFw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br />We grabbed some food and sat down on our sheet for a two-hour wait until the show. At dusk, I spotted the riverboat <a href="http://www.biwakokisen.co.jp/english/index.html">Michigan</a>:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5U80inJDDnYC2XPkAgpUtLvpcKtfUPj5xtrgfoYjZtKFsIHwpbiu0dxe_MQPYuutS2S0v5KBQImnIdZScj3nJl7naZD03lUzr5Cnq9Jh2vsbOWBLKtKZe0rCFLZj6MtFzyLwdmxRFbPU/s1600-h/IMG_4129.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5U80inJDDnYC2XPkAgpUtLvpcKtfUPj5xtrgfoYjZtKFsIHwpbiu0dxe_MQPYuutS2S0v5KBQImnIdZScj3nJl7naZD03lUzr5Cnq9Jh2vsbOWBLKtKZe0rCFLZj6MtFzyLwdmxRFbPU/s320/IMG_4129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374441561789504578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I wonder how much it costs to watch the fireworks from the boat. Finally, showtime arrived. The first few rockets were weak. I started to think that we had waited for two hours for a shitty show. And that's when the sky lit up with bursts:<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwYb0Gg9SY7TocHaNtZYS-S3Wi5X0dH7vtcel9gGSjPMI5e_qGVnYwy-jhc8fUtP6tOi5VnofJK6DlCtDYbHw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />I tried to get some good snaps of the show but ended up failing about 90 percent of the time. That's a horrible batting average.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtCxg0ln2XmHD_jX9V88zToplRVWCFNq4Dmg1ymRyVE6DwJ9jaNRMChKQf3Xe19cQxodpnYbqlgBlGIQSd0fmKuG78DAXqkqSOwZgmcT1sYu_lerh7DlijDjuP8pth3A1elg9iCVNLMI/s1600-h/L1010479.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtCxg0ln2XmHD_jX9V88zToplRVWCFNq4Dmg1ymRyVE6DwJ9jaNRMChKQf3Xe19cQxodpnYbqlgBlGIQSd0fmKuG78DAXqkqSOwZgmcT1sYu_lerh7DlijDjuP8pth3A1elg9iCVNLMI/s200/L1010479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374442629100284834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFXKYDlBdW7c0C3K6KIvbpBZDJtoh6w9Py89TJu7ZJSoAvkdhjHECLUBQoXfoxoNHr8snw4xAVMWd0O4_5okvQuXjuKo38rUWkdS07hHKjC31l5s9Uwk62JlXjJozqtWOSeVuKk136GI/s1600-h/L1010501.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 231px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFXKYDlBdW7c0C3K6KIvbpBZDJtoh6w9Py89TJu7ZJSoAvkdhjHECLUBQoXfoxoNHr8snw4xAVMWd0O4_5okvQuXjuKo38rUWkdS07hHKjC31l5s9Uwk62JlXjJozqtWOSeVuKk136GI/s200/L1010501.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374443109421531298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The fireworks show I can compare it to is the Niigata City fireworks show over the Shinano River. I used to think that one was the most impressive. Biwako's leaves a lasting impression, too. It's worth a trip back to the lake next year.Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-53373499128487407212009-08-25T23:45:00.010+09:002009-10-01T00:47:27.423+09:00English Lesson: "What a rally!"Did you watch the final game of the Summer High School Baseball Tournament?<br /><br />Here are the highlights:<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7UDDXFUt_u4&hl=ja&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7UDDXFUt_u4&hl=ja&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Of course I was <span style="font-style: italic;">rooting for</span> <a href="http://www.nihonbunri.ed.jp/">the team from Niigata</a>. Which team were you <span style="font-style: italic;">cheering for</span>?<br /><br />The game was really exciting in the 9th inning. The team from Niigata <span style="font-style: italic;">was </span><span style="font-style: italic;">behind</span>, 10-4. They needed <span style="font-style: italic;">a big rally</span> -- six runs! -- to tie the game. They almost made it but lost 10-9. It was an impressive effort.<br /><br />Sometimes, when a team is behind and needs a rally, the players wear <a href="http://homernews.com/stories/060905/sports_0609spo001.shtml">rally caps</a>:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-6XHzr2JJZP6w7Sj3KgSw6GPVXdNASsCbNyEYUo_qPILfI5kwpk45IWKeh_eHzV1DtCwUuMQpHQHf5ArltMtv0jyT_MGbZRHhK9ZoySCi7iTzhQXI-FcgSAkhjuaXU5pW07wd8gTqF0/s1600-h/7631_512.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-6XHzr2JJZP6w7Sj3KgSw6GPVXdNASsCbNyEYUo_qPILfI5kwpk45IWKeh_eHzV1DtCwUuMQpHQHf5ArltMtv0jyT_MGbZRHhK9ZoySCi7iTzhQXI-FcgSAkhjuaXU5pW07wd8gTqF0/s400/7631_512.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373914507426385442" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I wonder how often that strategy works.<br /><br />***<br />Do you have a favorite baseball player? Which star do you <span style="font-style: italic;">root for</span>?<br />I follow Major League Baseball so I'll introduce a few Major League stars to you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvXWaT2RcB9qppHFf8SKYNaGVnizYHut5Ql1YRcYQO-ALg_CBz3asB6ViHOMLO-yu_ovgPDFebAJHYOvr7719RuN0oVUaLvGyJ6YQU0pz9Ao9HUbKJ9VyXyiFASlOt_YP1s3TsdLONvo/s1600-h/joemauer.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvXWaT2RcB9qppHFf8SKYNaGVnizYHut5Ql1YRcYQO-ALg_CBz3asB6ViHOMLO-yu_ovgPDFebAJHYOvr7719RuN0oVUaLvGyJ6YQU0pz9Ao9HUbKJ9VyXyiFASlOt_YP1s3TsdLONvo/s320/joemauer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373917806020563714" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=408045">Joe Mauer</a> plays for the Minnesota Twins. He is one of the best hitters in baseball. This year, his <span style="font-style: italic;">batting average</span> is <a href="http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/stats/league_leaders.jsp?c_id=min&Submit=Submit&sortByStat=AVG&baseballScope=AL&statType=1&timeFrame=1&timeSubFrame=2009">even higher</a> than Ichiro's. Plus, he has 25 home runs and 78 <span style="font-style: italic;">runs batted in (RBI) </span>so far. The most amazing thig is, he is a catcher. Usually, catchers are not great hitters so Mauer is an exceptional player.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOANsbtS6_f1J9uBQezh5VBoVSfXM_ZxoGvnmetA_zv8g4hDUsrQ3rXsc94uSWTLzLZytjewtfaBCUttce5ZC5xTy3bFc2igxhFsJc5rpbNnJEpzHQEQK_7udvMmb6E5kZHhXXiEZdl4/s1600-h/puj.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOANsbtS6_f1J9uBQezh5VBoVSfXM_ZxoGvnmetA_zv8g4hDUsrQ3rXsc94uSWTLzLZytjewtfaBCUttce5ZC5xTy3bFc2igxhFsJc5rpbNnJEpzHQEQK_7udvMmb6E5kZHhXXiEZdl4/s320/puj.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373918498422712178" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=405395">Albert Pujols</a> is the best hitter in baseball. He plays first base for the St. Louis Cardinals. Pujols hits over .300 every year with lots of home runs and RBIs. This year, he's <a href="http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/stats/league_leaders.jsp?c_id=stl&Submit=Submit&sortByStat=HR&baseballScope=NL&statType=1&timeFrame=1&timeSubFrame=2009">leading</a> the National League in home runs, but it's a slim lead. If he stays healthy for his career, he can break a lot of records. Take your vitamins, Albert!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7mi02q_WKDkTHHWuktQocvzF1yyP9x2s2mnXFEh0vqBhHEKlByPDuNgLv2dlrCzautTUICvNqoYwtqZpkXQbYomtVnck8wJ3yBSk_1wdsVjBEx2zFZMk78JzEV5LzkIIpqVYFoVeZyA/s1600-h/mariano_rivera_d55s.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7mi02q_WKDkTHHWuktQocvzF1yyP9x2s2mnXFEh0vqBhHEKlByPDuNgLv2dlrCzautTUICvNqoYwtqZpkXQbYomtVnck8wJ3yBSk_1wdsVjBEx2zFZMk78JzEV5LzkIIpqVYFoVeZyA/s320/mariano_rivera_d55s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373920384260266050" border="0" /></a><br />My favorite player is <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=121250">Mariano Rivera</a>, <span style="font-style: italic;">the </span><span style="font-style: italic;">closer</span> for the New York Yankees. In November, he will become 40 years old. That's not so old, except when you're a baseball player. No matter. Rivera is still the best closer in baseball.<br /><br />When he enters the game at <a href="http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/nyy/ballpark/panoramas_2009.jsp">Yankee Stadium</a>, it feels like this:<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6vOr82QepH0&hl=ja&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6vOr82QepH0&hl=ja&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Rivera and <a href="http://www.metallica.com/">Metallica</a>'s "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=JP&hl=ja&v=Rejp5kwCdN0&fmt=18">Enter Sandman</a>" are a perfect match.Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-89833187531975167392009-08-19T00:56:00.006+09:002009-08-19T01:28:10.527+09:00Summer GiftsWe received a couple of seasonal care packages recently. Yuki's Mom sent us some <a href="http://curara.up.seesaa.net/image/B0F0C4EDA4A6A4C9A4F3.jpg">udon</a> (<a href="http://www.inaniwa-udon.jp/">稲庭うどん</a>) and <a href="http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_mall/komatuyamenbox/cabinet/shoso01/img55868362.jpg">soumen</a>. (小豆島そうめん) They're usually eaten cold in the summer; you boil and wash the noodles then eat them by dipping them in a soy-based sauce.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxxQIZY-rVYSGFb_nqNcnnA_NBKw-JqQBTDY2QgTbJqgIbRyb0NMNs-2jg9Q-lJkOxzqaurWSeI-VPG4y0w8WAe6V4vnMSE1MbpOojANT58F1fTAH52KEVGaBWhhyKQmiEFmQplDQgVY/s1600-h/IMG_4161.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxxQIZY-rVYSGFb_nqNcnnA_NBKw-JqQBTDY2QgTbJqgIbRyb0NMNs-2jg9Q-lJkOxzqaurWSeI-VPG4y0w8WAe6V4vnMSE1MbpOojANT58F1fTAH52KEVGaBWhhyKQmiEFmQplDQgVY/s400/IMG_4161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371338875735452866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Speaking of summer foods, our friend <a href="http://ayaxniigata.blog76.fc2.com/">Aya</a> sent us edamame and a watermelon.<br />どうもありがとうございます!!<br />Take a look:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufQWlfd99vaqmjJ7p6XWYWXAuqNBgnS2SH2iPDvG7sLZPn8wkoXQFrJ-TGK41SDb0Z1bk-HJv8KhjLUgCsuC9_eZFuv22LkoPhh2vPMrfEnGG2ot10t4lDOleJTpmONWqmN-8G-PXTMk/s1600-h/IMG_4160.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 330px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufQWlfd99vaqmjJ7p6XWYWXAuqNBgnS2SH2iPDvG7sLZPn8wkoXQFrJ-TGK41SDb0Z1bk-HJv8KhjLUgCsuC9_eZFuv22LkoPhh2vPMrfEnGG2ot10t4lDOleJTpmONWqmN-8G-PXTMk/s400/IMG_4160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371335128884604002" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">This kind of </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edamame">edamame</a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">, which is from </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://dave.jp/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/_mg_3281-as-smart-object-12.jpg">Niigata</a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">, is called chamame (茶豆).<br />If you read Chinese characters, you'll notice the first character means tea.<br />That character also stands for the color brown.<br />Chamame gets its name from the brownish tint of the skin of the edamame bean.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYRrA8M1NmXUFqoMqiIHObbyClRGzBe1VHzbt1otEF3LjajeXPOKpnKLzh2_KcfFbu3yzKT7qqg849RyIxLS6swsdce4LKJi8rQgLdpPtjGM9KcU-9ePDJ8v3tLeHkNu8x0RYDBm26dI/s1600-h/IMG_4164.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYRrA8M1NmXUFqoMqiIHObbyClRGzBe1VHzbt1otEF3LjajeXPOKpnKLzh2_KcfFbu3yzKT7qqg849RyIxLS6swsdce4LKJi8rQgLdpPtjGM9KcU-9ePDJ8v3tLeHkNu8x0RYDBm26dI/s400/IMG_4164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371337138024206530" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">This beauty was born and raised in </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://adachikanko.jp/yuukou/images/yuu-uonuma.gif">Uonuma</a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">, Niigata,<br />which is famous for super-expensive rice<br />(Uonuma rice is a brand name in Japan, </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/2855496721_a646727681.jpg">the Louis Vuitton of rice</a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">)<br />and the noted actor Ken Watanabe,<br />perhaps the only rice farmer ever to get an Academy Award nomination. ; )</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGrg9fn82NZbdyQcqoPniTeOwpEJz2awtiCNv86JCyciO5EYPJwknKKDq8qf1di-38bQ3mO3HlUwYHJaGnDNEm1MCJzAIyL0CnbLmuzxgX81-I2NEygMAMIH5H1pP5RCz8Ani4og8ZN8/s1600-h/IMG_4165.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGrg9fn82NZbdyQcqoPniTeOwpEJz2awtiCNv86JCyciO5EYPJwknKKDq8qf1di-38bQ3mO3HlUwYHJaGnDNEm1MCJzAIyL0CnbLmuzxgX81-I2NEygMAMIH5H1pP5RCz8Ani4og8ZN8/s400/IMG_4165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371338453136948418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">An even more beautiful view.</span></span>Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-85947102643876272992009-08-16T14:07:00.006+09:002009-08-16T15:00:39.963+09:00English Lesson: "The de Young Museum is in Golden Gate Park."Articles drive students of English crazy. How can you learn to use them correctly?<br />Practice, my grasshopper, practice.<br /><br />Learn the rules. Here's one:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Museums use "the":</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I've been to the </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.famsf.org/deyoung/">de Young Museum</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> many times.</span><br /><br />It was great living just ten minutes away from one of the best museums in San Francisco. Yuki and I went to a bunch of terrific exhibits, including <a href="http://www.culturekiosque.com/art/news/gilbertandgeorge146.html">the Gilbert and George exhibition</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=34325&id=660660431">the Chihuly exhibition</a>:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOshr0aG7k0zVEKUf3f0Q9HsJpKnwTRGRaTRxuubJhlzu_SiMcwvzwTOstxhMw0UIUjK1qw0YxhGb9yVXIpB45-FrNmbob0GSm8i_QFaCRqSsQ4-tEXoeQhlfaBslB6xknUseUnBRvacQ/s1600-h/L1010043.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOshr0aG7k0zVEKUf3f0Q9HsJpKnwTRGRaTRxuubJhlzu_SiMcwvzwTOstxhMw0UIUjK1qw0YxhGb9yVXIpB45-FrNmbob0GSm8i_QFaCRqSsQ4-tEXoeQhlfaBslB6xknUseUnBRvacQ/s400/L1010043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370427223030814642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://archrecord.construction.com/resources/images/0605edit2.jpg">The tower of the de Young</a> also has a great view of the western part of San Francisco. If it's a foggy day, you can admire the photo mural instead:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GOjQ_fMCBBAh7BK2MUE5AMItH6ptIVEU5LW5lBBVUhov3C_lbcSDVtnxMyu-MnyRjoVXafaay8E_M_48YDkJixC6eOzmiLg3TFmxdiKh_7bFTBeW6_54mmrCv9rc6KOYbKqtXV7eqcs/s1600-h/Photo0024_001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GOjQ_fMCBBAh7BK2MUE5AMItH6ptIVEU5LW5lBBVUhov3C_lbcSDVtnxMyu-MnyRjoVXafaay8E_M_48YDkJixC6eOzmiLg3TFmxdiKh_7bFTBeW6_54mmrCv9rc6KOYbKqtXV7eqcs/s400/Photo0024_001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370429444484804866" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Nope, this photo wasn't taken on a foggy day.</span></span><br /><br />My favorite museum in Japan is <a href="http://www.hakone-oam.or.jp/english/index.html">the Hakone Open-Air Museum</a>. It's a bit <a href="http://www.yourdictionary.com/out-of-the-way">out of the way</a>, which makes it an even more worthwhile trip. I've only been there once, and I would love to go again.<br /><br />Museums with nicknames also use "the." For example, <a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/">the Met</a> is the biggest museum in New York City. Just about every time I go there, I start in the cluster of rooms that contains <a href="http://www.themasterpiececards.com/famous-paintings-reviewed/?Tag=Metropolitan%20Museum%20of%20Art">Masterpieces of Western Art</a> and I get exhausted making my way through them.<br /><br />A nickname that doesn't use "the" is MoMA. It stands for the <span style="font-style: italic;">M</span>useum <span style="font-style: italic;">o</span>f <span style="font-style: italic;">M</span>odern <span style="font-style: italic;">A</span>rt. New York has a <a href="http://www.moma.org/">MoMA</a>. So does <a href="http://www.sfmoma.org/">San Francisco</a>. Do you know of any other MoMAs?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Parks don't use "the":</span><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.sfgate.com/neighborhoods/sf/goldengatepark/">Golden Gate Park</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> is the biggest park in San Francisco.</span><br /><br />Did you know that <a href="http://www.homeandabroad.com/c/11/Site/40128_Buffalo_Paddock_in_Golden_Gate_Park_visit.html">buffaloes</a> live in Golden Gate Park? Or that <a href="http://www.goldengateparkgolf.com/">you can play golf there</a>...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffZEFN6twimvsj2uYiBChD1F4QhgxEGbR87hSFOR0Ry8sg1gyKmrm-l_e_BcBVtRYhQPwAZadyHV3heb18Z4pvFOPZKNMh2dTxd_PJVDM4XEZvmSd4yESgSf_GNFD4W2_xt3xxgQeBfo/s1600-h/Photo0029_001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffZEFN6twimvsj2uYiBChD1F4QhgxEGbR87hSFOR0Ry8sg1gyKmrm-l_e_BcBVtRYhQPwAZadyHV3heb18Z4pvFOPZKNMh2dTxd_PJVDM4XEZvmSd4yESgSf_GNFD4W2_xt3xxgQeBfo/s400/Photo0029_001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370432815809564626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Yuki's mom is approaching the tee!</span></span><br /><br />...and a <a href="http://www.goldengateparkgolf.com/bbq/index.php">get a good BBQ sandwich</a>? Right, Phil? Next time, let's try the BBQ ribs.<br /><br />The U.S. has a bunch of great national parks. I've been to a number of them. Yuki and I saw <a href="http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=yosemite+pictures&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=VZ6HSui2L47y6gPRkLTnAw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1">Yosemite</a> <a href="http://www.nps.gov/yose/">National Park</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=31635&id=660660431&op=6">Zion</a> <a href="http://www.nps.gov/zion/">National Park</a>. Joe and I hiked in <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=42832&id=660660431">Lassen Volcanic National Park</a>. Which one do you like better, Yuki?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQ6UICbf_u_YQTDMznhP5RQkHf4k57PDUa8sqoGqKwy-kJ3E1eLbeXZWhGiPDVgUHezIx05uyK7jg2tgyo-3ozBEXXywyvyWSybOrJjCwy-L9pt-ffg3GTIU9UbqBGhT5TmsMxYiO-z4/s1600-h/IMG_2918.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQ6UICbf_u_YQTDMznhP5RQkHf4k57PDUa8sqoGqKwy-kJ3E1eLbeXZWhGiPDVgUHezIx05uyK7jg2tgyo-3ozBEXXywyvyWSybOrJjCwy-L9pt-ffg3GTIU9UbqBGhT5TmsMxYiO-z4/s400/IMG_2918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370434815510889730" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Yuki in action in front of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Capitan">El Capitan</a> in Yosemite.</span></span><br /><br />Do you have a favorite park or museum?Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-90636044123875628372009-08-14T14:50:00.007+09:002009-08-14T15:47:53.427+09:00Ponyo Ponyo Ponyo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6rOc3LL9JrLbogHIO3aJghcHg7WYzwWvVevkpVPzrYuaOAWWfwkXeKJ7dCXquhqGbQZfRGGVc35Oq3ljuOxsNz6AlRr_kN08IBidaFh9dA5EOHio55Bw0BqVeKZn6g3-lw_olzHJo0o/s1600-h/running-cropped.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6rOc3LL9JrLbogHIO3aJghcHg7WYzwWvVevkpVPzrYuaOAWWfwkXeKJ7dCXquhqGbQZfRGGVc35Oq3ljuOxsNz6AlRr_kN08IBidaFh9dA5EOHio55Bw0BqVeKZn6g3-lw_olzHJo0o/s400/running-cropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369696960686156146" border="0" /></a><br /><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">What does Ponyo want?</span></span><br /><br />There is a theory about the formation of the self that goes something like this: Just after you are born, you cannot tell the difference between yourself and a chair. Of course you don’t know what a chair is, but in fact, that isn’t important to you at all. You only know that you <i>are</i></span><span lang="EN-US">, and you are the only thing that there is. The chair is you. The air is you. Your mother is you.<span style=""> </span>In this state of being, you are everything and everything is you. And the only thing that concerns you is needs. You need food. You need to sleep. You need to do number one and number two.</span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">But of course you are wrong. Your conception of everything is wrong. You begin to realize that the chair is not you. It is something else. And the fact that there are other things is the first thing that we ever learn. And it is very frightening. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">It is as if you are suddenly broken into a million pieces. What was once whole and full and complete has become fragmented, forever separated. Who are you? That chair is not you. It is not a part of you. What are you?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Can you picture yourself? I mean your entire self? Of course you can. You’ve looked at yourself in a mirror. You know what you look like. You have seen the entire you. But what about when you were born? And after you realized that your idea of you had been totally wrong? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Who are you? What are you? You realize that the right arm is a part of you. The left arm? Yes, that too. And those legs. And that part near the bottom that gets wet a number of times a day. And the part where food goes into. All those parts are parts of you. But they are parts. And you can’t get a sense of the whole. What is the whole of you?<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrg5Bh-Dfn5-LO9YfrkiCSVETpuBBG5yc16DyCtBULg6pooi2MqxjB1z2DFnLIIsUCMSS4xNG5ONM9oP_x5Ov2fEjqUZu6jRDZ-aXVrCDb3cK_I43akw2CiKTayEgMP8U01RLCxGcJJY/s1600-h/L1010553.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrg5Bh-Dfn5-LO9YfrkiCSVETpuBBG5yc16DyCtBULg6pooi2MqxjB1z2DFnLIIsUCMSS4xNG5ONM9oP_x5Ov2fEjqUZu6jRDZ-aXVrCDb3cK_I43akw2CiKTayEgMP8U01RLCxGcJJY/s400/L1010553.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369693694696464978" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Sarasaちゃん asks: "Are you sure you're not me?"</span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">At first, you felt only needs. But now, you feel something different. You feel want, which is different from need. Without satisfying needs, you will die. You are sure of that. You need to end the feeling of hunger. You need to relieve the pressure of number one and number two. Without satisfying wants, you won’t die but you’ll be miserable. You want to be whole again. You want to be able to feel that you are everything and everything is you again. You want to be full and complete again. But of course it is not possible. Once you realize that your idea of you is wrong, you cannot go back to that sense of being whole ever again. You are forever separated from that content feeling of completeness. You want but you can’t get what you want. As Morpheus said:<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PreAABChTyQ&hl=ja&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PreAABChTyQ&hl=ja&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Um, welcome to spelling class.</span></span><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Wants and Needs. Wholeness and Separation. Those concepts kept coming to mind while I watched Miyazaki </span><span lang="EN-US">Hayao </span><span lang="EN-US">’s most recent film, “<a href="http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/ponyo/">Ponyo</a>.” The most powerful scene in the film is Ponyo’s storm. It’s a whopper of a storm. Maybe she didn’t mean to whip up such a frenzy. She may not even realize she had caused the mess. That storm came because she wanted something that we have all wanted since we realized that the chair was really a chair and not us. She wanted to end the Separation. Ah, but in her case, it’s separation with a small “s.” </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmgmDzNjRiXfw2lz1cnwY2hjJb3f_hO3r19tdYd2GOK3f9L1VwN8577H1AwarjtUWF8QWwijpYlMDaHE9l7FL_GZp7SJJF2tbFY4XpmlYTLNiqGqcbi6JM_bNH1RcIotiMYuBxYeii_Q/s1600-h/kiss.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 425px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmgmDzNjRiXfw2lz1cnwY2hjJb3f_hO3r19tdYd2GOK3f9L1VwN8577H1AwarjtUWF8QWwijpYlMDaHE9l7FL_GZp7SJJF2tbFY4XpmlYTLNiqGqcbi6JM_bNH1RcIotiMYuBxYeii_Q/s400/kiss.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369697989782889874" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Like <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41LO0eaDCydHxDe45Dqa15oa_o6ynDk0UXdPaZyHTvK2yVu55ylyR0Cf2THP6zhypQgQADSolO0GVBf-P8UaL58glVhIATT4PJNzw6gXAd6bYv66r2hNDZs6FwKV_FtHl_6HDLQy2BAQ/s400/Poll+Chagall+The+Birthday+1915.jpg">Chagall</a>. But, you know, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLOAXDb6fps&feature=related">for the kids</a>.</span></span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">“Ponyo” is a love story for the kindergarten set. <a href="http://hca.gilead.org.il/li_merma.html">Little boy meets little fish</a>. Little fish and little boy bond. Father of fish comes to take little fish home. Little fish wants to be with little boy again. The want that the little fish feels is the most powerful force in the film, so great that it can change a fish into a girl and create a tuna-powered storm that dwarfs fishing boats and floods a town. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The storm is Miyazaki’s way of depicting want. And maybe it is the best depiction of want I have ever seen. Want is the storm that we make and we really don’t care about what the storm does or who the storm affects. We just want to be at the tip of that storm, pistoning our chubby infant legs so that we maintain our position at the front and get where we want to go. The younger you are, the more powerful that storm can get. And the easier it is to maintain that storm.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cKoTtWmQdos&hl=ja&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cKoTtWmQdos&hl=ja&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zlGCGwNfhB8&hl=ja&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zlGCGwNfhB8&hl=ja&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Ponyo’s storm is a mighty creation because she is, after all, a child. And anyone, from children to the elderly, can understand the power of that creation. Ponyo never once looks back while she is at the front. No, because her sense of want is supremely powerful, like the want you felt when you realized that you are not who you thought. But as I watched it, I was exhilarated and at the same time horrified. It’s one heck of a storm, and it can <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAiec8cEmGY">wreak havoc.</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">After the storm, the movie loses steam. It starts to deal with another character’s want and that doesn’t seem as compelling as Ponyo’s. The moments that will stay with you are Ponyo's -- when she wills herself arms and legs; when she makes Sosuke's toy into a sea-faring vessel; when she discovers ham, and later, ramen:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjnNDLHtGEjskPTzYXcQr1LLizv7tiT19jHU118RMSF3UX0ez76F0Ii9gBnHcRTWjZTlxhG6rfbGKtMzclR3G06k3Z_VTjV-XFJKvsy7j3aJgN38VpM1yzyb0HWhsYRb5FagcvyxgSMk/s1600-h/ramen-cropped.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjnNDLHtGEjskPTzYXcQr1LLizv7tiT19jHU118RMSF3UX0ez76F0Ii9gBnHcRTWjZTlxhG6rfbGKtMzclR3G06k3Z_VTjV-XFJKvsy7j3aJgN38VpM1yzyb0HWhsYRb5FagcvyxgSMk/s400/ramen-cropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369704467086854530" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"あ〜〜〜〜〜〜〜!!" "おいしそう〜〜!!"</span></span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">"Ponyo" isn't quite up to the standards of "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBvEHJOUbjk">Totoro</a>," the last film Miyazaki made with the kiddie set in mind. It's hard to be perfect twice, I guess.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-11281857241519106192009-08-13T19:53:00.007+09:002009-08-13T20:39:09.017+09:00English Lesson: All about "Back"<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bo</span>: What did you do last weekend?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Abe</span>: I backed to my hometown.</span><br /><br />Let's look at Abe's answer because it doesn't make sense. What is the verb in the sentence? "Back." When we use "back" as a verb, it means to support or endorse. For example:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Newspapers in the U.S. always choose to support a presidential candidate a few days before the election. Last year, </span>The New York Times<span style="font-style: italic;"> backed </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newspaper_endorsements_in_the_United_States_presidential_election,_2008,_for_Barack_Obama">Barack Obama</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> while </span>The New York Post backed <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newspaper_endorsements_in_the_United_States_presidential_election,_2008,_for_John_McCain">John McCain</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.<br /><br /></span>You can also use "back" at the racetrack for the horse you gambled on.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.answers.com/topic/back-the-wrong-horse">backed the wrong horse</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> in the last race and lost $100.</span><br /><br />So, what should Abe have said?<br />Abe<span style="font-style: italic;">: I went back to my hometown.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">go back</span> = return<br /><br /><span style="font-family:webdings;">Phrasal Verbs</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">back up</span> (driving) - <span style="font-style: italic;">During the driving test, you have to show <a href="http://www.driversedguru.com/drivers-ed-training-exercises/stage-2/stage-2-backing-up/">the proper way to b</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.driversedguru.com/drivers-ed-training-exercises/stage-2/stage-2-backing-up/">ack up</a> while parking.</span><br /><br />A while back, my co-workers and I got into a conversation about what specific things turned each of us on. Yes, we were talking after work. I forgot most of the answers but there's one I still remember. One of the teachers said she really liked watching her boyfriend park his car. She said there is something very sexy about watching a guy look over his shoulder while turning the steering wheel, especially because he uses just one hand to steer. I wonder what the other hand is doing.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" ><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQBE8h0FcL_-EeUJ4smpbolZh6-Cb1WdNPPGpQ6_IEHK15xc4MADmzTtFTca4EqfpJucd_y9hcn8WzTjn3_Xb4TgyMa4xzU6azluPcJa42Ga0ldjvYQqiUn_HJxIGX0GwljJIilohUO4/s1600-h/2-34.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQBE8h0FcL_-EeUJ4smpbolZh6-Cb1WdNPPGpQ6_IEHK15xc4MADmzTtFTca4EqfpJucd_y9hcn8WzTjn3_Xb4TgyMa4xzU6azluPcJa42Ga0ldjvYQqiUn_HJxIGX0GwljJIilohUO4/s400/2-34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369411011077812370" border="0" /></a><br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:78%;" >sexy?</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> <br />back up</span> (computers) - <span style="font-style: italic;">You should always back up your files. If your computer crashes, you may lose all your work.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">back off</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;">After their first date, John called Kelly every day, sometimes twice a day. That's just too much. He needs to back off a bit. </span>Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-91963263466034402492009-07-15T10:56:00.005+09:002009-07-15T12:03:08.967+09:00The Dog DaysWe're in the middle of a run of unbearably humid and hot days in Osaka. <a href="http://weather.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/27/6200/27211/5670031.html">Daily temperatures in Ibaraki</a> are about 95ºF with the air nearly saturated with moisture. It's so bad, I'm writing sentences like a possessed weatherman.<br /><br />We were thinking that we could be strong, that we could just grit our teeth and survive the next two months without an air conditioner. But we were wrong. We're weak. Yes, we're wusses. Yuki ordered a savior for us last night and it should get installed by Saturday. We need it. The computer needs it. It gets overheated way too quickly.<br /><br />Guess who is having just an awful time?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7LJQ1AIj1NhDYZK9LmagLK-1Aff4tmbmyT4sBf4vXIFpvh5YajYeAyXYyjEqthEkn6jNAgsHNBU2DsYDbM_-uFMl7uDCpbISjmrU337x8JH7T-W8mXY8do_8SLHK28dS8QQdQI41COM/s1600-h/IMG_4055.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7LJQ1AIj1NhDYZK9LmagLK-1Aff4tmbmyT4sBf4vXIFpvh5YajYeAyXYyjEqthEkn6jNAgsHNBU2DsYDbM_-uFMl7uDCpbISjmrU337x8JH7T-W8mXY8do_8SLHK28dS8QQdQI41COM/s320/IMG_4055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358501408321713042" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Every day, she spends all her time in a never-ending quest to find a comfy spot -- some cool shady place to nap. When I open the front door to get some air circulating, she tries to take advantage:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEU9BLttTp4gZwBmwsHjGTctWQFH4xObv-8hYUPkVnnoNlXEHnUUGpyKtjeDRGlA9DF0Luo2d5XeqH6Z7PRAnK71YQH_QdMyH6WOEpuz8nelD8T0VLDV9VPgWDoW1Oqc-WLARnOu5nTaU/s1600-h/IMG_4081.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEU9BLttTp4gZwBmwsHjGTctWQFH4xObv-8hYUPkVnnoNlXEHnUUGpyKtjeDRGlA9DF0Luo2d5XeqH6Z7PRAnK71YQH_QdMyH6WOEpuz8nelD8T0VLDV9VPgWDoW1Oqc-WLARnOu5nTaU/s320/IMG_4081.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358502287598548066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Look, a chubby long-haired calico just wasn't built for a <a href="http://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1105.html">Kansai</a> summer. Don't despair, Ponzie. Help is on the way!Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-27075839811846804742009-07-02T10:00:00.010+09:002009-07-02T10:40:36.409+09:00梅酒 update with some other random picsHere's what the plum wine looks like after a month of rest in the closet:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazLjFCmsAl6goahaDurtMiwZxcjLqMA7MQhei2qLbgGmRNiNuM87HZjJ8FnW7CyAoqkrooOSbS9gGtGFGOfcphpyuzwY313Y_paIeyE8So-x3j01syelDUoxvbpE2ec5eFu9FbFkdi6Q/s1600-h/IMG_4049.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazLjFCmsAl6goahaDurtMiwZxcjLqMA7MQhei2qLbgGmRNiNuM87HZjJ8FnW7CyAoqkrooOSbS9gGtGFGOfcphpyuzwY313Y_paIeyE8So-x3j01syelDUoxvbpE2ec5eFu9FbFkdi6Q/s320/IMG_4049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353661683158490066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You can see that all the rock sugar has dissolved. The plums have lost their vibrant green and look more pickled. They're starting to wrinkle a bit also. For a comparison, just scroll down or look <a href="http://itchyinjapan.blogspot.com/2009/05/homemade-umeshu.html">here</a>.<br /><br />***<br /><br />As long as I got the camera loaded, let's empty it out and see what's there. Hmmm...not much to choose from.<br /><br />Here's a shot of the <a href="http://www.koban.fr/">police box</a> sign that I see a lot around here but never in Niigata:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNCLFbN3JlibrSYJ1hFKnq1SP1sqsIDOzEgoxbsmegyEo9aFjbgDDadesclm9tEKnJCZJYvMM-nLHRcn8KdmHdtuOT70lFK0QB5OFDrAqcoeLR5D4Fn9dDE2Ptw3GeONY7CyCjO-ZnCQ/s1600-h/IMG_4007.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNCLFbN3JlibrSYJ1hFKnq1SP1sqsIDOzEgoxbsmegyEo9aFjbgDDadesclm9tEKnJCZJYvMM-nLHRcn8KdmHdtuOT70lFK0QB5OFDrAqcoeLR5D4Fn9dDE2Ptw3GeONY7CyCjO-ZnCQ/s320/IMG_4007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353663469334184514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I don't know why but the style of the drawing looks French to me. Can someone draw a Japanese-style toilet in the bottom left coner, please?<br /><br />Next to my city is Takatsuki-shi (<a href="http://www.takatsuki-intl-assn.or.jp/english_home.html">高槻市</a>), home of factories and distribution centers. Meiji Seika, makers of the <a href="http://www.meiji.co.jp/info/cm/sweetlife/index.html">Meiji chocolate bar</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzNvalGxyrk&NR=1">カール</a>, has a factory in Takatsuki with a huge mural on the side of one of its buildings:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1oJAb_z7CqwQA3igfpyPaN1wKiIp2g8uZdKGlFfS6WUw4l4eU3EAm6d-RxT5KhXiEITf2YRrvqPhJYScZWt2tjehHeDxrFdF3_X35pXOPctGDGSztQzvQof6HCUzSGYc2_paMyNcu0I/s1600-h/IMG_4051.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1oJAb_z7CqwQA3igfpyPaN1wKiIp2g8uZdKGlFfS6WUw4l4eU3EAm6d-RxT5KhXiEITf2YRrvqPhJYScZWt2tjehHeDxrFdF3_X35pXOPctGDGSztQzvQof6HCUzSGYc2_paMyNcu0I/s320/IMG_4051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353667310563336850" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Oh, and the last box from the US to be opened was the one containing Yuki's <a href="http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/gilbertandgeorge/">Gilbert & George</a> print:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINgDX3_yEZuorsVPTmk2QMPp3XL49p24ONp4QeJIAS65ssPn5kTN29CNwNLPNU8znCcuK69QVFIqApFE7HIrvj_eckEarl9kjZ-X0vmzZk2hwrXm94fYbeiT-gp2U7sy1te6kgrr0Gq4/s1600-h/IMG_4047.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINgDX3_yEZuorsVPTmk2QMPp3XL49p24ONp4QeJIAS65ssPn5kTN29CNwNLPNU8znCcuK69QVFIqApFE7HIrvj_eckEarl9kjZ-X0vmzZk2hwrXm94fYbeiT-gp2U7sy1te6kgrr0Gq4/s320/IMG_4047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353668064897786482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.afpbb.com/article/life-culture/culture-arts/2610976/4258540">ギルバート&ジョージ</a>さん<br />日本へようこそItchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143282096564357773.post-12172186368487790622009-06-25T07:58:00.006+09:002009-06-25T08:36:10.467+09:00Race ya, Michael PhelpsHere's the next winner of the 100m butterfly at the Special Olympics:<br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CiA9EZyJ148&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CiA9EZyJ148&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />According to Yuki, the sea turtle had a traumatic encounter with a shark but thanks to some sympathetic engineers, Papa's got a brand new flap...er, flipper.<br /><br />The turtle story was broadcast on NHK, the PBS of Japan. No, that's not quite right. People in Japan actually watch NHK. Plus, everyone here has been bothered by the NHK guy coming to your house to collect "<a href="http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20051213zg.html">donations</a>."<br /><br />I watch NHK for the dubbed nightly news but usually I don't pay attention to Japanese TV. Whatever Yuki is watching, I'll watch. Recently, that has amounted to just early morning talk shows. Yuki's got her nose stuck in her textbook so there isn't much time for TV. The one program we watched recently showed a lot of wacky/horrific news clips. If your perception of the world was informed only by this program, you'd think that:<br /><br />• the preferred method of suicide in China/Thailand/South Korea is jumping off a tall building;<br />• taxi drivers hate bicyclists;<br />• only <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D_E6KzpvPo">bizarre robberies</a> occur at convenience stores.Itchy 日本http://www.blogger.com/profile/15413274023468391439noreply@blogger.com0