Pirates vs. Ninjas

I was on wikipedia doing some research, and the Ulimate (sport) tab caught me eye. Ultimate Frisbee? Sure. The article had a great diagram, I couldn't resist! Notice the team names! This is what separates Ultimate from other international sports..."The Spirit of the Game."
Who do you think would win? You probably are thinking "Ninjas. They throw things all the time." True...their skills are probably superiors. However, the Pirates have the advantage. Why? Because everybody will be rooting for Pirates to win. They are the ultimate underdogs (that win) They are the villains you like. Even the Ninja's want the pirates to win. Therefore, any gap in skill would be cancelled by this. But I'd like to hear your opinions on it too.

The Emperor of Japan (and the Empress)

--Miki, Japan
The Emperor and Empress of Japan came to Miki today, with a caravan of the many of the most important people in science and politics in all of Asia with him, driving right past Kansai University of International Studies. Adam Frank is on the scene reporting.

"Ah, hello there everyone in Studio 6! Things are looking pretty lively here in Miki, today! There are crowds lining the streets awaiting the emperors arrival! Police are everywhere!"


"Clothes are being taken down and people are being kept away from balconies by everyone from the lowest security guard to members of the secret service itself! Ah, here come some of the first contact between the Secret Service and our KUIS chief executives now!"


"It looks like all is well underway for this project. All buses for KUIS have been forced back to the school to be parked and emptied due to the threat they might pose in the hands of terrorists or assassins. Oh, more Secret Service members! They are being unloaded by the bus-full, literally. It's like a clown car...the size of a bus! They just keep pouring out of bus after bus!"


"I have seen no less than 2 helicopters scouting the area, 10 motorcycle secret service as well as at least 3 other full-size Japanese Secret Service Buses! In addition to the entire police force of the local city and some surrounding precincts. This is a multi-million dollar effort every few hours the emperor travels with his caravan of important politicians."

"Oh, here come the first bus full of VIPs now!"



"Ah, and now more special-ops vehicles! You wouldn't know the difference if not for the hard faced, clean cut uniforms and half of each vehicle being composed of military technology."


"Ah, here comes another Japanese Secret Service bus! Where do these things keep coming from? Metal windows, high tech interiors and 50 highly trained warriors ready to respond at any threat to the Emperor. He must be approaching now!"


"Ah, there is his car now! Small, stylish, and well protected. The Emperor makes a distinctive impression on us all. Back to you Tom."


Phew. So that was exciting. I saved my spot for almost 3 hours before he finally came. He had just come from the Kobe Earthquake Disaster Memorial Park, where they--get this--simulated an earthquake with dozens of the most vital people in Japan in and around large heavy, traditionally-styled buildings. Designed to withstand earthquakes. Don't ask me how they simulated an Earthquake, but whatever they did, everyone is pretty convinced today marks the beginning of a safer Japan.

One of the most important issues in politics in Japan today is that of the safety of Japan. Currently, people in cars and cancer are the largest killers of people in Japan, and it is safer in the biggest metropoli than some of the most peaceful American towns. People are concerned however, that now that they have rebuilt after the Kobe Earthquake in 1996 that devastated many and killed 5300 people that if it were to happen again, that this would be...well, disastrous.

With technology that efficiently meshes into traditional architecture, the traditional folks can feel safer, and so can the technophiles. So it was a big win-win today. Plus, I got to see the Emperor and Empress...kinda. He's never been to greater Miki in his life. To have been within 40 meters of him puts me in something less than the top 1% of all people in Japan. Oh yeah. I'll stop rubbing that in now.

In other distressing new, Abe was elected to be the next Prime Minister by the diet. There are about 700 members in the diet. Abe is known by some as (a rough English equivalent here) "the most right-wing and extremist" member of the diet. Luckily, the Japanese people do most of their governing through public concensus, and hopefully, it stays that way while this man is in office. Well, they've thrived under corrupt politicians for a while, so things probably won't change too much. If only our country didn't listen so closely to its politicians...hahaha.


The history of the Middle East in 90 seconds. Completely unrelated to the rest of the blog, but still cool. I could see this being useful to use in History classes...Nathan :D

A Fra Out.

Going Postal--Japanese Style

The Japanese postal system is cheaper and easier to use than the US Postal system. They also handle international delivery services of other kinds, and there are almost no lines, maybe ever. Even without hardly any communication skills, I was in and out of there in less time that if I was mailing something in the US. Rad.

Yep. That's it. I'm reviewing lesson plans for teachers today.

~A~

Engrishes 3.0 (and other "stuff")

For those that can't read the tiny Japanese print, or the pictures which I took that were fuzzy, I've decided to run a caption along with the pictures. Hopefully they are not annoying and don't spoil it for anyone. If I get even one complain, I'll probably just drop it for the sake of convenience. If anyone is attached to it I'll keep it. In conflicting situations, we'll just have to see.

"Nicopa"(nikopa) Think it's a nicotine patch? Think again! It's a bus pass. For smart people. Who can read...but probably not understand English. Unless "Nice Intelligence Convenience Original Pass" is now a grammatically acceptable proper noun...

For some reason, putting confused or skeptical looking Americans on things is common in advertising. Don't you at least want a reassured or happy looking person to help you choose the right one, if it is going to have any at all? Well, at least Tommy Lee Jones looks like the results of drinking this can of beer has left him pleas--er...hap--uh...braindead. Wait. What kind of marketing is this again?

"This expresses our life vision??" A very plain plastic garbage can...great. Some people might want to expand their horizons a little...

Wow. A zinc plated bucket. astonishing. But what is a trad? Trad? Is that supposed to be "trend?"

The WAVE BUCKET and the LET'S SUPREME CAN. Note: Rubbish bins on display are one of the easiest places to find Engrish.

"COLORED collector." (Comes only in white.)
CLEAN PAL COLLECTION. (you didn't need to yell.)
CREEN DUSTBOX OF EVERY DESCRIPTION (trury? *erherm* truly? You just spelled clean right a moment ago...okay. Dustbin maybe? And why does this clean other dustboxes? It is a small, plain looking trash receptacle, any way you turn it.

Room of tea Donq. A sentence composed of French, and a very likely made-up English word. Shudder, intense shudder shudder. However, that last word sounds like something Brian Warwick name someone. If that makes it any funnier for a few of you.

These things aren't exactly Engrish, but they are on every escalator. Basically, they are a sign that tells you to beware of itself or else it might hit you. So you should avoid it. I'm not sure if it has another purpose. It seems likely.



Steel-toed high-heels. With rhinstones. In the steel tips. Protects against: nothing. Shiny? Yes. Poorly balanced for use on the grooved brick, grillwork, and grippy-bumps of Japanese streets? Most definitely. Popular? Incredibly. Practical? Not even occasionally.

These last two are for my *awwww!* Too early. Let's try that again. *clears throat* These last two are for my Mom. *cricket cricket* *clears throat again.* *awwww!* Better.

Sad, sad humour. Sad but almost identical to a real cover story, but without the euphemism.

At current costs, I might be able to pay for Gonzaga this year without even taking out student loans. That's the announcement! I start more seriously teaching and possibly taking a big class in Japanese on Friday. I hear it's bonkers. So that'll be interesting. (That was the other announcement, oops, there were 2!) And in final announcement *coughmakingitthreecough* I have presents for 5 of the most important females who happen to have birthdays within about a month and a half of each other. Yes you're related except for Brandy. I will be sending them to mom tomorrow. Yes, if you'd like to trade for which present you want with anyone else you can.
Yes they are for Mom, Nicole, Grandma, Viv, and Brandy.