tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74526242024-03-12T17:43:12.859-07:00Gambatte!Girding her loins and jumping into the fray, an American expat from Seattle muses on culture, food, activities, people — and anything else that comes to mind — in the land of <strike>the rising sun </strike> <b> glitz and neon</b>, better known as Las Vegas.Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-87163368775857129412010-01-01T19:00:00.000-08:002010-01-01T19:09:20.929-08:00Happy 2010!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHjZrfrJhrcLGzfKWoO4TMUbYR905FMqJPo3gFhr6aI1Dd6wRsFli03taAmAw0zjYyO9oGdzp75EPQm7UiCNBmjo6v763O_M1lq6V9rnqsUnt_D9apkTqQfnSEMI7toUbSOPF/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 116px; height: 116px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHjZrfrJhrcLGzfKWoO4TMUbYR905FMqJPo3gFhr6aI1Dd6wRsFli03taAmAw0zjYyO9oGdzp75EPQm7UiCNBmjo6v763O_M1lq6V9rnqsUnt_D9apkTqQfnSEMI7toUbSOPF/s320/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421973223223828194" border="0" /></a><br />It's been a long, long time since I posted anything, but I'm back to wish you a wonderful, prosperous and happy new year. The past decade has been tough on so many of us, so let's hope that cycle has ended. It's time now for new beginnings and new opportunities. May your lives be filled with love and happiness!Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-90319315594460425432009-04-18T09:52:00.000-07:002009-04-18T10:09:10.018-07:00Another year older. . .<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMaNBk-uhtrN9tWQGUNhFYhE_rgZMSXfryDF0x6_kCvDC6b9GHlpfbC_Yz1TDNtYMoLK9J3vdNsji3CxeSJkDm5yOmkVU3Afc_QgsPN6S561dTsB3REry7dHdWP-EJ2zLQG3K/s1600-h/funny-pictures-communist-cat-party.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMaNBk-uhtrN9tWQGUNhFYhE_rgZMSXfryDF0x6_kCvDC6b9GHlpfbC_Yz1TDNtYMoLK9J3vdNsji3CxeSJkDm5yOmkVU3Afc_QgsPN6S561dTsB3REry7dHdWP-EJ2zLQG3K/s320/funny-pictures-communist-cat-party.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326078318428365714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />. . .and still a kid at heart.<br /><br />After an extremely busy week in Chicago, training for my new position as Academic Director, I'm sipping coffee and having a lazy birthday morning with a snoring kitty at my side.<br /><br />Life is good.Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-38405218533661908912009-04-18T08:43:00.000-07:002009-04-18T08:59:53.170-07:00Advertising works<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1n953_YWV9TdqvcOIbZ2f0QIJgjnphqjddUOyjJfe9hniZTOhRNR1c888yAA5XY3pWokjPlOMO4OvKvjnr99lmDt0_XdbHZvjGbICXVCooAVhfF5RxIGcJqkyhd9gqKZT1lKe/s1600-h/imgdevice.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 196px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1n953_YWV9TdqvcOIbZ2f0QIJgjnphqjddUOyjJfe9hniZTOhRNR1c888yAA5XY3pWokjPlOMO4OvKvjnr99lmDt0_XdbHZvjGbICXVCooAVhfF5RxIGcJqkyhd9gqKZT1lKe/s320/imgdevice.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326060009200293426" /></a><br />So, I signed up with T-Mobile. Now I'm trying to figure out how to use my new BlackBerry Pearl. <div><br /></div><div>Who writes these user manuals? I think someone should hire me to write them because I know how to explain things much better! Most user manuals are an exercise in frustration. Of course, I know most people don't bother reading manuals, but that only works when gadgets are logically designed. </div><div><br /></div><div>After visiting numerous user forums, it appears that most fully-loaded devices are neither logically designed nor intuitive to use.</div>Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-61652535339984312372009-03-16T15:30:00.002-07:002009-03-16T15:33:28.070-07:00Can't everyone just get along?This just makes me feel so happy. Almost makes me want to sign up with T-Mobile.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VQ3d3KigPQM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VQ3d3KigPQM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-2893508198870459042009-01-24T22:59:00.006-08:002009-01-24T23:16:38.367-08:00What keyboard key am I?OK, so I'm a little bored tonight. I was rearranging my blog and started clicking on some favorite places to hang out. As I went through the first few links I discovered that either some of them were dead links or that they were places I hadn't visited in a while. Here's one of them (and so was the last post). This one, however, is kind of a weird idea. How could a keyboard key be representative of someone's personality? So naturally I took the little quiz and here's what it said, which was actually quite accurate I think. The part about not being normal sounded right, as well as the "influenced by alternative lifestyles." That might account for the part about living in Japan for a few years.<br /><br />But, the best part of all was the reference to the knowledge stored in my "big brain. . .but most of it useless." So true, so true.<br /><table width=350 align=center border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2><tr><td bgcolor="#EEEEEE" align=center><br /><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" style='color:black; font-size: 14pt;'><br /><strong>You Are "alt"</strong><br /></font></td></tr><br /><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><br /><center><img src="http://www.blogthingsimages.com/whatkeyboardkeyareyouquiz/alt.jpg" height="100" width="100"></center><br /><font color="#000000"><br />Some people might find you to be strange, mysterious, and even a bit off putting.<br />You tend to be drawn to and influenced by alternative lifestyles. You're definitely not normal.<br />Once people get to know you, they realize you're interesting, intriguing, and very intelligent.<br />You have a lot of knowledge stored in that big brain of yours. Most of it is useless knowledge, but some of it is very useful.<br /></font></td></tr></table><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/whatkeyboardkeyareyouquiz/">What Keyboard Key Are You?</a></div>Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-91408815610374897092009-01-24T22:50:00.003-08:002009-01-24T23:17:34.464-08:00Really?<table width=350 align=center border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2><tr><td bgcolor="#EEEEEE" align=center><br /><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" style='color:black; font-size: 14pt;'><br /><strong>You Belong in the Baby Boomer Generation</strong><br /></font></td></tr><br /><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><br /><center><img src="http://www.blogthingsimages.com/whatgenerationdoyoubelonginquiz/babyboomer.png" height="100" width="100"></center><br /><font color="#000000"><br />You fit in best with people born between 1943 and 1960.<br />You are optimistic, rebellious, and even a little self centered.<br />You still believe that you will change the world.<br />You detest authority and rules. Deep down, you're a non conformist.<br /></font></td></tr></table><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/whatgenerationdoyoubelonginquiz/">What Generation Do You Belong In?</a></div>Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-65824393611742187542009-01-18T13:49:00.004-08:002009-01-18T13:58:09.098-08:00One way to celebrate!Tomorrow's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. If I may take the liberty of borrowing his famous words: "Free at last. Free at last. Thank God I'm free at last. <br /><br />As much as I'd love to experience what it's like to be free to take flight like a bird, there's NO WAY I'd try this!!!! How about you?<br /><br /><object width="400" height="219"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1778399&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1778399&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="219"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/">wingsuit base jumping</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/thedoctor">Ali</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-88895601053989348682009-01-11T14:59:00.010-08:002010-08-13T10:02:42.858-07:00Chance of purrs with intermittent petsGerman Weatherman Joerg Kachelmann never skipped a beat when studio kitty Lupin needed some affection.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V5LjHtmAAwo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V5LjHtmAAwo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-11096275634759289352009-01-11T08:09:00.011-08:002009-01-11T09:45:17.267-08:00Bargain travel destination?According to The New York Times, <a href="http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/travel/11frugal.html?em&exprod=myyahoo">"Sin City's lucky streak,</a> it seems, has gone sour."<br /><br />Unemployment in Las Vegas has reached 7.9 percent and bargains are everywhere, but who cares about bargain hotel rates when people are losing their jobs by the thousands? Layoffs are imminent or already underway at most of the hotels, including the one where J works. If she's lucky, she'll be up high enough on the extra board to continue working, but will have to call in every day to see if they need her. She could be called to work any of the three shifts, which means she'll never be on any specific sleep schedule. How can people be expected to do that?!!<br /><br />January 2008 served up the fire that laid everyone off for over a month at the Monte Carlo, and before that it was the devastating 9/11 layoffs. What ever happened to the certainty of our parents' generation when they knew they would have a job for life if they wanted it, even when there were economic downturns? Or maybe that's just a figment of my imagination. Maybe people have never had any job certainty. . .<br /><br />All of this job uncertainty is making 2009 seem pretty dismal already. On top of that, I'm sure the crime rate is going up. Thieves targeted T's "vintage" Camaro Thursday night--incompetent car thieves who only managed to steal the T-top sunroof and car cover, and tear out some wiring under the dashboard. It was the night of his birthday. Totally bummed him out. He filed a police report and posted notices around the neighborhood about the crime, but within hours all the notices had been torn down. No doubt the thieves live right here, and probably drive by our house a few times a day. Nice.<br /><br />(Their truck had already been burglarized, and the built-in TV stolen a couple of years ago, and then since I've been here, someone did another moronic attempt at stealing it but only managed to mutilate the lock on the driver's side. This is why auto insurance in Las Vegas is among the most expensive anywhere in the U.S.)<br /><br />Things with my job haven't been going so great either. When our academic director left a couple of months ago, I applied and was selected to be the acting AD until a decision could be made. After six weeks of teaching full time and doing the AD job half time--but not getting the AD pay or knowing when, if ever, they would actually hire me permanently for the job--I withdrew my application. Things have been deteriorating rapidly since then, but only in the past week did I find out they had no intention of hiring anyone because our student numbers have been falling. Our students come from all over the world, and the entire world is experiencing a dramatic economic downturn. While I think the school will probably survive, it's not going to be easy. I'm the most senior teacher, so if I get laid off, that means the school closes completely.<br /><br />I hope, for everyone's sake, that things turn around quickly once Obama takes office, but I don't see how they could. We should all be asking how this mess happened in the first place! Why was there so much unaccountability within the <a href="http://online.wsj.com/video/end-of-wall-street-what-happened/1F02EFEC-569A-4FED-9BF9-D89CD6E57AD0.html">financial sector </a>? Why was the SEC asleep on the job? For a lot more info about how this happened and what's ahead, check out <a href="http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/"> The Big Picture. </a><br /><br />For now, however, the world is focused on Gaza, and rightfully so, but it seems that every time congress starts turning up the heat and asking questions about how this meltdown took place, some other world event intervenes. We may never get any real answers, and in the meantime millions, maybe hundreds of millions, of people around the world are losing their jobs, their homes, and any hope for the future.Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-89847989016842014262009-01-10T07:00:00.004-08:002009-01-10T07:05:44.480-08:00Just for gigglesNora has been playing the piano since she was one year old. She's now four and very famous on YouTube, with over 16 million hits!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/v0zgQAp7EYw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/v0zgQAp7EYw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-89736083495157522162008-12-31T06:14:00.005-08:002008-12-31T06:20:12.585-08:00Happy 2009!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgdyhc-7HZIfHYNohjbQV6NDKPXpq6Oir8LTz6RYkbeuMMdUB2H1Ugr7XYX2VrMlf-GTejb8VkR0DpP2t59mxvsZfhttRYythq_ZvVI_XKY1exZIf9p6OfRts8DmrUWepQ95c/s1600-h/happy_new_year.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgdyhc-7HZIfHYNohjbQV6NDKPXpq6Oir8LTz6RYkbeuMMdUB2H1Ugr7XYX2VrMlf-GTejb8VkR0DpP2t59mxvsZfhttRYythq_ZvVI_XKY1exZIf9p6OfRts8DmrUWepQ95c/s320/happy_new_year.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285957903610759746" /></a><br /><br />Let's hope 2009 is a kinder, gentler year.<br /><br />Best wishes to all!Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-2387007264950512832008-12-24T05:49:00.003-08:002008-12-24T05:56:57.446-08:00Merry Christmas to All!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkdW53mvKxlNYsSByZcUhV-DeI61Rg3PeRiadgYE3YFMiOOQVsEwKoKp48XSDg5onrmRcrG9lg4DYrfcUerHvR32qr5IyRfrZA6SNQJlabotpm-Xb9JgdpGrIoxvauN-QkWst/s1600-h/las_vegas_snow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrkdW53mvKxlNYsSByZcUhV-DeI61Rg3PeRiadgYE3YFMiOOQVsEwKoKp48XSDg5onrmRcrG9lg4DYrfcUerHvR32qr5IyRfrZA6SNQJlabotpm-Xb9JgdpGrIoxvauN-QkWst/s320/las_vegas_snow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283354974518038530" /></a>Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-60782934060656248762008-12-22T19:16:00.004-08:002008-12-22T20:26:59.090-08:00RefocusingTrying to get into the holiday spirit. Must try harder. <br /><br />Work has been a complete nightmare and I'm trying hard not to let it do my head in but. . .it hasn't been easy. How is it that so many incompetent people rise to the top and hold jobs for which they are not even remotely qualified?<br /><br />Maybe I need to refocus my attention and think about the things that I should be thankful for, such as:<br /><br />1. My daughter, who makes me a better person.<br />2. My son-in-law, who actually likes me.<br />3. My <ahem> job. At least I've got one, considering so many people right now do not.<br />4. My health. I'm pretty darn healthy, although the cold winter air has stirred up my asthma a little. Never knew I had asthma until I moved to Tokyo.<br />5. My friends, even though I don't see any of them unless I or they get on a plane.<br />6. Food to fill my belly, a roof over my head, and a warm bed. An alarming number of people around the world don't have those basics.<br />7. My computer and Internet connection, without which I would be lost.<br />8. A belief in something greater than myself, that guides, inspires, and comforts me.<br />9. A sense of humor that often gets me through the day.<br />10. The ability to see, feel, and hear the world around me, and to make my way through it relatively unscathed.<br /><br />When I re-read my list, I realized that my life is really quite basic. The older I get, the more I accept the simplicity of my life, and the less I need. I've gone from living a somewhat privileged life in an exclusive, expensive neighborhood of luxurious homes to living in a tiny one-room, cockroach-infested Tokyo apartment. I lost everything I had in the stock market crash of 2001 where I had invested heavily in technology but didn't have the safety cushion of wiser, more cautious investments to soften the blow of a world turned upside down after 9-11.<br /><br />For three years I was unemployed, though not for lack of trying. Then, through a chance meeting, I found an opportunity to work in Japan, which I grabbed.<br /><br />I look around me at people my age and wonder what their lives have been like. Did they ever lose anyone they loved? Do they ever wake up in the middle of the night, wondering what they would do if they didn't find work soon? Do they have someone to love them, to be with for a lifelong commitment? What kind of old age will they have--one of freedom to do the things they've always wanted, or one of desperation, trying to make ends meet?<br /><br />Maybe I'm feeling a little nostalgic tonight. Thinking about my youth. Thinking about the things that used to make me happy, and realizing now that while life is a series of ups and downs, not much of it is all that important. It's the basics that count. It's sort of like the family whose house catches on fire and the only things they manage to save are themselves and a box of pictures. When you boil it down to its essence, life is nothing more than that box of pictures. Everything else can fall away or disappear because none of it has real significance. It's the basics that count--our families, good health, and a job.Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-32377711454383187162008-12-07T20:56:00.002-08:002008-12-07T20:58:17.798-08:00Whadda mousie!Haven't felt like writing much lately, so here's a fun little video to watch. What a little champ!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/txq_BogA1NM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/txq_BogA1NM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-62418238358451344782008-12-05T19:53:00.004-08:002008-12-05T19:58:08.124-08:00Rainbows<a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/2008/12/04/funny-pictures-rainbow-i-tastes-it/"><img class="mine_2657101" title="funny-pictures-snow-cone-cat-tastes-the-rainbow" src="http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/files/2008/12/funny-pictures-snow-cone-cat-tastes-the-rainbow.jpg" alt="funny pictures of cats with captions" /></a>Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-12251829923820450482008-11-29T10:06:00.003-08:002008-11-29T10:38:13.127-08:00Why I stayAs I let my fingers do some online shopping this morning, I realized that this will be my second Christmas back in the U.S. Can't believe it's been that long already, and that I've been in Las Vegas the whole time. <br /><br />Now that Vegas has "gown up" a little, I had hoped it would grow on me and that I'd learn to like it just a wee bit, but that hasn't happened. In all honesty I have to admit that it hasn't gotten any easier to live here. So, why do I stay? Easy answer: I have a job and a home. In this economy, those two things are pretty important, so I'm thankful to have them.<br /><br />But, if wishes could come true, this is what I'd wish for: A villa in Tuscany; a job writing travel articles; a red mini-Cooper; a size 4 body. <br /><br />And, of course, world peace, and the end of hunger, poverty and global warming.<br /><br />I don't think that's asking too much at all, do you?Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-30376047124976777452008-11-09T08:09:00.007-08:002008-11-09T09:54:10.147-08:00President-elect ObamaThis truly is a historic time, and I have to say I never thought I'd see such a moment in my lifetime. Seeing Barack Obama become our president elect has given me hope that America can be saved from the path of destruction laid out over the past eight years by the Bush administration.<br /><br />While no one could possibly expect Obama to fix everything that's broken with America in one or two terms, he seems to be the most capable of bringing about some much-needed change. Let's hope he'll restore our Constitution, get the country busy developing alternative energy and all the jobs that will be created from that endeavor, appoint more liberal Supreme Court Justices that will keep their hands off women's bodies and uphold the laws instead of playing politics such as appointing presidents! Let's do everything we can to help him get this country moving again and bring our troops home.Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-17142632124405626922008-11-07T06:24:00.001-08:002008-11-07T06:25:27.785-08:00Yes we can!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-PJa3jaEVyM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-PJa3jaEVyM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-10237879184827049462008-10-26T14:21:00.009-07:002008-10-26T15:17:28.863-07:00The big countdownNine days to go before the election and I'm already a nervous wreck! I can't bear the thought of another stolen election, like in 2004 and 2000. Every time I think about those elections it makes me wonder what might have been. I know that's wasted energy and none of it can be changed now, but, if we learned nothing from the past, that will be the final nail in the coffin for democracy. We've already lost so much. I just hope that everything goes smoothly and all the votes are counted--this time.<br /><br />This has been one of the nastiest campaigns in America's history, which shows how desperate the Republicans are to stay in power. Between you and me, I think McCain made a Faustian pact to do or say anything if he would be given the election. That included picking Sarah Palin as his running mate, a pick that turns my blood to ice just thinking about what she would do as president. Just to add a little comic relief here, take a look at <a href="http://www.palinaspresident.us/">Palin As President</a> and click around on various objects. They're adding more stuff every day and it's hilarious.<br /><br />On a more serious note, Naomi Wolfe has written quite a bit about what it takes to create a <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/apr/24/usa.comment">fascist government </a>, and it appears that we've met all 10 criteria. Scary thought!<br /><br />She's also reported--and this is on the <a href="http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/army_homeland_090708w/">Army Times website </a>--that on Oct. 1, the 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team (which trained in Iraq for 35 of the last 60 months) was commissioned to active duty on U.S. soil. "This new mission marks the first time an active unit has been given a dedicated assignment to NorthCom, a joint command established in 2002 to provide command and control for federal homeland defense efforts and coordinate defense support of civil authorities."<br /><br />This seems extremely troubling to me and should be to any American. Why do we need Army soldiers patrolling on U.S. soil? I also read that since the Patriot Act, all soldiers have signed new oaths that no longer include any language about upholding the Constitution of the United States. It now includes something about "completing the mission." What mission? Equally troubling is that they are<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/naomi-wolf/the-battle-plan-iii-deplo_b_133662.html"> answerable only to George Bush </a>--and not to Congress or to the governors of the states to which they have been commissioned (which is also unknown, although there have been reports of these troops in Georgia and Alabama).<br /><br />I certainly hope Wolfe is wrong and just overreacting, but I honestly think she's sounding the alarm after considering some very strong evidence that something is brewing. As I said, I hope she's wrong and that the election goes without a hitch. However, there's that part of me that thinks I'm being naive to think it could be that easy. As citizens, it's up to us to be vigilant about our democracy. We think just because it's been here for over 200 years that it will continue as a democracy forever, but history shows that democracies are a fragile idea. <br /><br />We must vote and stay vigilant.Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-78866932619560401572008-10-02T13:47:00.001-07:002008-10-02T13:48:30.749-07:00You've GOT to watch this!<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0vtHwWReGU0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0vtHwWReGU0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-53758776671664338322008-09-27T08:58:00.006-07:002008-09-29T06:06:58.560-07:00Can we afford to elect a short-fused president?Last night, after watching the presidential debate, I couldn't help noticing McCain's festering rage. You could see him struggling to keep from boiling over as he gritted his teeth behind that bizarre mask of makeup he wore. I'm sure he had been coached to "keep his cool" because his temper is something that's well known, and he has an exceedingly sort fuse.<br /><br />As Obama brought up rebuttals to McCain's claim to "understanding" the world, and particularly his expertise about the Iraq war, by recounting all of the times that McCain was wrong about the war, McCain seemed ready to burst a blood vessel.<br /><br />Then again, when McCain spoke to what he perceived as Obama's naivete about potentially meeting with Ahmadinejad, he was so incensed that he could barely spit out Ahmadinejad's name, and actually stumbled over its pronunciation.<br /><br />While McCain so freely slung barbs and lies at his opponent, he was incapable of even looking Obama in the eye. Obama, on the other hand, remained presidential and calm, trying on numerous occasions to make eye contact with the old curmudgeon.<br /><br />McCain is a relic of the past cold war mentality. He's still angry, 40 years after his capture, that the U.S. gave up on the spectacular mess in Vietnam that took 58,000 U.S. soldiers' lives, and maimed another 350,000--to say nothing of the civilian deaths.<br /><br />McCain is living in the past and he's dangerous because of that short fuse. He has been known to rebuke his advisors on numerous occasions, and as far as being a "maverick" goes, he's an angry maverick with his hand too close to that red button. And don't even get me started about that "maverick" choice of Sarah Palin. How much <span style="font-style:italic;">real <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>love of country does a man have to make that kind of choice for someone who could very well take his place? After seeing her interviews with Gibson and Kouric, she makes Bush look brilliant.Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-8750002142657578592008-09-27T08:35:00.003-07:002008-09-27T08:55:48.432-07:00"A mountain I couldn't climb"Teaching foreign students has been one of the highlights of my life, for many reasons. Sometimes I hear things I don't understand at all, other times I hear everyday things put into a different perspective, and occasionally I am treated to some delightful insight about another culture. For example, last week my students were given an assignment to go out and find someone who looked like a native English speaker and ask him or her a few questions. <br /><br />Now, beyond the normal difficulties of being shy or self-conscious about their speaking abilities, most students also have to overcome the major hurdles of communicating with people who speak very fast English and who don't understand foreign accents.<br /><br />One tall and handsome Asian student came back to tell about his attempt to make a conversation in a Las Vegas jazz club with what he described as "one of the most beautiful women" he had even seen. He said the beautiful woman was sitting with a "not-so-beautiful" woman and he had to make a decision about his chances for starting a conversation with either one of them. After some careful thought, he decided to try to speak with the "not-so-beautiful" woman. Here was his reason:<br /><br />"The beautiful woman was a mountain I couldn't climb."<br /><br />I, along with the entire class, burst out laughing because we all understood exactly what he meant.Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-10968827613455279272008-08-30T11:54:00.003-07:002008-08-30T22:06:02.046-07:00Lighting up the world with joyIn a world that often leaves us feeling helpless to do anything of consequence or meaning, here's a video that will bring a smile to your face.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zlfKdbWwruY&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zlfKdbWwruY&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-63303360925220909642008-08-30T08:32:00.001-07:002008-08-30T08:34:30.091-07:00Decided to take matters into my own hands!<EMBED src="http://www.paltalk.com/marketing/media/vanksen/main.swf" quality=high WIDTH="384" HEIGHT="304" ALIGN="" TYPE="application/x-shockwave-flash" FLASHVARS="firstname=Absolutely&lastname=Tokyo!&urlfin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.inews3.com%2Flanding.php" PLUGINSPAGE="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" BGCOLOR="#000000" ALLOWSCRIPTACCESS="ALWAYS"><br /></EMBED>Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452624.post-71129955034449568092008-05-31T18:13:00.004-07:002008-05-31T18:39:26.900-07:00Excuse me but I think there's someone living in my closet!This actually happened in Tokyo!<br /><b><br />Japanese woman caught living in man’s closet </b><br /><i><br />(05-30) 17:34 PDT TOKYO, Japan (AP) <blockquote><br />A homeless woman who sneaked into a man’s house and lived undetected in his closet for a year was arrested in Japan after he became suspicious when food mysteriously began disappearing.<br /><br />Police found the 58-year-old woman Thursday hiding in the top compartment of the man’s closet and arrested her for trespassing, police spokesman Hiroki Itakura from southern Kasuya town said Friday.<br /><br />The resident of the home installed security cameras that transmitted images to his mobile phone after becoming puzzled by food disappearing from his kitchen over the past several months.<br /><br />One of the cameras captured someone moving inside his home Thursday after he had left, and he called police believing it was a burglar. However, when they arrived they found the door locked and all windows closed.<p><br />“We searched the house … checking everywhere someone could possibly hide,” Itakura said. “When we slid open the shelf closet, there she was, nervously curled up on her side.”<br /><br />The woman told police she had no place to live and first sneaked into the man’s house about a year ago when he left it unlocked. She had moved a mattress into the small closet space and even took showers, Itakura said, calling the woman “neat and clean.”</i></blockquote><br />So, if you're wondering how this could possibly happen and how someone could not notice a person living in his closet, it actually wouldn't be that difficult. Japanese closets aren't like American closets. Usually they have a completely separate storage unit with its own sliding door located above the main closet. People don't often open that cupboard because it's usually where they store things like suitcases or boxes of stuff. You could sort of think of it as being an attic space where you wouldn't normally be opening and inspecting it more than once or twice a year. <br /><br />I can see how the woman could have lived up there. She must have had some sort of rope ladder or something that she could use to crawl up into that space and then pull it up so no one would see it.<br /><br />It's interesting that the guy never noticed that anyone had used his shower, but she could have wiped it down thoroughly after each use. Like the article said, she appeared to be neat and clean.<br /><br />You'd think the woman might have been caught on weekends though, when the guy wasn't at work. Although, if he's like lots of single men, he probably spent most of his time out of his apartment, but still, I'd wonder how she could know when he'd return after an absence. She must have had some close calls!<br /><br />And, not to gross anyone out, but what about middle-of-the-night bathroom visits? Seems to me that any 58-year-old woman might have to, at least occasionally, do that. Maybe she had a hardy bladder.<br /><br />I sure hope they find the poor old gal a home somewhere. Japan isn't well known for its homeless shelters, especially Tokyo, so I wonder what will happen to her. Maybe she's better off in a minimum security jail cell. At least she'd have a bed, toilet and hot meals.Absolutely Tokyo!http://www.blogger.com/profile/06956678063071700048noreply@blogger.com3