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I wear my pink
I wear my pink pajamas in the summer when it’s hot; I wear my flannel nightie in the winter when it’s not. But sometimes in the springtime and sometimes in the fall, I jump between the covers with nothing on at all! I learned that silly song at a Girl Scout summer camp but it’s…
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Helping kids with their
Helping kids with their homework is fun. I found a request in my e-mail this morning from the daughter of a friend in Pittsburgh. “What is the weather like in Japan in January? Will you write back and tell me tonight?” So I prepared a very brief summary of Japan’s weather. Because Japan is oriented…
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Being sick gives me
Being sick gives me a chance to catch up on my reading. For the last two afternoons (and probably again today), I laid my feverish body on a futon in front of the heater, covered myself with a feather duvet and read until I fell asleep. I’ve made it through one really bad military thriller…
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Japanese lunch boxes are
Japanese lunch boxes are really cute. When you bring lunch from home, it’s likely to be some of last night’s rice, topped with flakes of salmon or with pickled vegetables. Depending on what you had for dinner the previous night, you may include some bits of stewed meat or vegetables, or even a bit of…
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Well, there goes the
Well, there goes the neighborhood. Tokyo Metropolitan Police are increasing the number of cells available in local jails, according to an article in yesterday’s paper. Due to more stringent laws and tighter control over stalking and molestation, jail cells are full of detainees who must be questioned about their crimes. Questioning takes an average of…
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I think its time
I think its time to re-evaluate video editing software. I’ve been using Premiere for the last jillion years. It’s what I learned first, way back when it was at the top of its class. But technology changed and Premiere hasn’t kept up entirely. I can’t get it to properly control my camera when it captures.…
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I’m on my way
I’m on my way to joining a gym. I’ve always found gyms to be a bit intimidating–inscrutable weight machines and ultra-fit training partners. But I’m getting weaker and pudgier by the day, so it’s time to take action. A couple of aerobics classes each week, maybe a swim and a little weight training thrown in…
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Something strange is happening
Something strange is happening in the world of broadcast news. Live announcers are slowly being replaced by virtual actors and synthesized voices. Last spring, Ananova hit the scene. She reads the news for the UK’s Press Association. Shortly after Ananova began broadcasting, Sprint introduced Chase Walker, an interactive news announcer, to appear via their ION…
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Trival Difference #428 There’s
Trival Difference #428 There’s never enough toast on lazy weekend mornings. Loaves of white bread in Japan are about half the length of American loaves. During the week, this is convenient since we always finish the bread before it turns stale. By careful purchasing, I can maximise our toast. Loaves are normally pre-cut into 6…
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Corporate stupidity is mind
Corporate stupidity is mind boggling. I am writing a newsletter and one of my contacts doesn’t want to publish the names of the management team. I won’t quote her most recent e-mail, but she’s worried that things will change. Things always change. Why not give some information now and deal with the changes in the…
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