Japan Jottings - A Potpourri

1. Bathroom switches are still outside the bathroom. No reason for this since the power is 100V.

2. ALL toilet seats are hi-tech, electronically warmed. Even at the 13th Tee on the golf course.

3. Braille is everywhere. Beer cans, stair railings, sidewalks, carpets all have it. And I never saw a blind person anywhere.

4. Coffee is now available in most restaurants. They have machines where you dial a brew (espresso, american, latte, etc.) and the machine grinds the beans and brews the coffee into your cup. Pretty neat.

5. Japanese still try to avoid transferring money directly; it's dirty after all. So you pay by placing your money on a tray, and you receive your change in a tray, on top of receipt, or in some other way that does not involve touching hands with money. Weird.

Fore!

Well, it was snowy in Karuizawa when we awoke, but we had a tee time scheduled and, after a while, the sun came out. There we were, on the slopes of Asamayama ("yama" means "mountain", remember.) playing just about as poorly as we do back in California. Ah, well. It was fun, and the golf carts had steering wheels on the left!



(That puff of white at the top of Mt. Asama is steam, not a cloud. It's hot 'cause that volcano is active, and blows every now and then.)

Land Is Dear

We were fortunate that we had friends in Tokyo who shared their house with us. We were within walking distance of the Shinagawa train station - a big station. These folks were fortunate to have a piece of garden land available, about 16' X 16'. See above for their tulip plantings. It was beautiful.
Now, from exactly the same place in the entry, I raise the camera to view the distance (note the reflection of the flashbulb...sorry) and what do I see?



That's the 40-story Shinagawa Prince Hotel in the left distance. It is a dense city, after all.

Earthquake Resistance

Japan has not really been made beautiful by mankind, sad to say. There are buildings of true beauty, both old and new, but they exist in an ocean of nondescript sad monotony. One troubling (to me) aspect is the plethora of wiring that obscures the sky everywhere!
I finally realized that the imperial government had decided on the country's unique defense against earthquakes; Just tie everything together with wires and then earthquakes won't have a chance!
Problem is, I don't think it works. Remember Kobe?

Lots And Lots of People

There are about 12,500,000 people residing in Tokyo. That's equal to 1/3 of all the people living in California.

The only possible way that a city that large could work is with superb mass transportation, and that Tokyo has. The many, many trains run on schedules that are only 1 or 2 minutes apart; they have to, since there are a limited number of train tracks, and the trains have to be exactly on schedule or they'll collide.

And there are taxis everywhere, even cruising around in residential areas. They're not cheap, at 660 Yen ($5.50) when you step in, but they're there.

And finally there's just plain walking. Not too many overweight folks in Tokyo since they walk (or, often, run) everywhere. All ages, too.
Consider, for instance this sidewalk shot from the shopping area in Harajuku.



These folks are waiting for the light, and that mass of people behind them in the center of the picture are more, and more, people on the sidewalk behind.

Truly a wonder to behold.

Western Dining in Tokyo

There's no question that authentic Japanese food is great, and that it's most authentic in Japan.
Having said that, however, a few days for a Westerner in Japan creates a fervor to taste some comforting "familiar" food. For that purpose, we heartily recommend a visit while in Tokyo to YumYum.
It's located near to the Rainbow Bridge in the city's industrial waterfront, currently being filled and built up with a plethora of futuristic offices/ convention-centers/ condos/ etc.
From the Shimbashi Station, take the new "Yurikamome" sky-track rubber-tired train to Shibaura-futo, and YumYum is a short cab drive (660 Yen) away.
The Owner is a third-generation fish specialist, a graduate of Pomona College and of Keio University, delightfully conversant in English, and a perfect host.
The food is fish and shellfish, prepared as you would expect and also in surprising fusion fashion. The scallops, breaded, were especially tasteful. Sea Bream, steamed, was also memorable.
Wine is mostly French, carefully selected, and served at an appropriate temperature, somewhat of a rarity in Japan where most red wine arrives chilled.

Timing. . .Is Everything!

Home again! And I'm the first to admit that our only concern during two weeks in Japan (of which more, much more, later)was that our new cherry trees, planted last July, would bloom without our being able to enjoy them. Fortunately, these guys are late bloomers (remind you of anyone?) and they are 50% full as of this writing.

We could not have asked for more.

BLDGBLOG

But, just before I leave, if you're interested in plate tectonics on Mother Earth, take a look at the amazing series of pictures for North America at BLDGBLOG today.

Change of View

The steady drip, drip, drizzle over California now threatens never to stop until our liquified State dissolves into the Pacific Ocean. Wishing to avoid that occasion, I'll be visiting the exotic Home of Sushi! and other expensive delicacies. Back soon.

(The bright lights in the center are the Ginza. Campai!)

Juxtaposition

Interesting "compare and contrast" from http://bldgblock.blogspot.com

The Masters!

Guess what's going on down in Augusta GA this weekend. . .



Ah, well. Weatherman says that Northern California just might begin playing golf sometime in mid June. Maybe.

Daylight Saving Time

That canny Bill Gates & Co. snuck into my computer last night while I was asleep and changed the computer clock for me. Thanks, of course. However, next year we'll do this in mid-March, as explained here. I wonder if Gates et.al. have accounted for that? Or have downloaded a patch? Or will blow it? We shall see: : :

Sand Dollars

I am often, and always, amazed at the complexities that attuned minds can make the computer accomplish. For instance, just click here

Springtime Cherry Blossom

This is getting to be fun. Our weeping cherry tree started blossoms last Saturday (thanks, HSW II), the 1000-year-old cherries in Tokyo did it last Tuesday, 21 March, and the guys at the Tidal Basin in D.C. are scheduled for Thursday, 30 March. I never became this interested in the cycles of Nature at our former manse. (Is that age or our new location? I'll have to get back to you on that.)

Brazil On Wednesday?

NASA has a full explanation of Wednesday's total solar eclipse. Unfortunately it will be seen only from points in South America, Africa, and then across southwest asia. Ah, well.

French Fries

UPDATE: More here from Power Line Power Line: In France, On the Other Hand...


Even I am a bit boggled. These elite students at the Sorbonne are rioting against a law that would permit an employer, during the first two years after the students' graduation, to fire them. No kidding, just read it here down about 13 paragraphs.

Mon Dieu! At least their cheese is pretty good.

Lat 37*53' Long 122*05'

Today's daylight is 11:58 hours. Friday's daylight is 12:01 hours. At this geographical location, it's already Spring! Official Spring, however, is on Monday, 20 March.

Weather!

Well, we're in our 10th day, or 14th day, whatever, of rain, and I'm somewhat tired of it. It's beginning to feel like Bromsgrove, or Seattle! So, I was really pleased when I read this. Fulghum (try pronouncing that name.) is a delightful writer.

Now I'm ready for California sun.

Pi Day

UPDATE: It's also Al Einstein's birthday anniversary (1879)

RKW reminds us all that today, at least on this side of the Atlantic, is Pi Day, or 3.14 :: ::

Go here:

http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/pi

(I'm reminded that back when we were designing projects for clients of various nationalities in locations around the Pacific and Middle East, we established an office policy for dating documents to avoid misunderstandings. Day (2 numerals)/Month (3 letters)/Year (4 numerals) Thus, today would be 14 Mar 2006, impossible to confuse with any other date.) (Unless, of course, you're using the Jewish or Muslim calendar, but that's a whole 'nother story.)

Freeway Fibrillations

Interesting contemplation of the uniqueness of the Los Angeles freeway system here. Read especially the high-tech disabling stuff toward the end of the article.

Interesting Newspaper Stuff

Another UPDATE 3/11/06 No NYT Stocks
UPDATE 3/10/06 'Washington Post' To Cut 80 Newsroom Jobs, Sources Say

I'm an old geezer, and I grew up with newspapers. Delivered them, worked at them, etc. But, WoW, do times change.
Last Saturday, on the sidewalk outside Trader Joe's in Lafayette, a card table with a guy offering free S.F.Chronicles. Later that day, a mail from the S.F.Chronicle offering a huge discount for subscribing.
Sunday, on the internet, an anecdote from a guy, fully fed up, calling the NYTimes to unsubscribe, and being offered a 50% off resubscription.
Today, in my email, an astonishing offer from the MercNews offering 2/3ds off for a print subscription.
Do we detect a sea-change?

Just wondering.

Just A Slapback. . .

at TempDisplaced in Bromsgrove UK (nice place.)

If You Can See The Arrow...

in the FedEx logo, then you may enjoy studying the profiles here.

(Someone had way too much time on his hands, I fear.)

Mark Who. . .?

Dinner in Danville II. On the main drag, Hartz Avenue, lies Amber Restaurant a somewhat elegant but casual creation by Chef Mark Dantanavatanawong, who formerly was the Chef across the parking lot at Bridges, (of which more later, I suspect.)

His name betrays his Thai/Chinese heritage, as does his food.

This a small-plates place, with asian-california fusion anything-goes stuff. . .fresh, flavorful, tuna, potsticker, lamb chop, beef satay, whateverturnsyouon. It's fun, it's not too expensive, and it's nouveau designed interiors.

No good for kids; no good for romance; this is for food and enjoyment. Easy parking.

Earthquake Hazards Program

Interesting earthquake stuff from the Gummint for us all. I have linked to the Bay Area here, but you can find links to similar pages for the entire U.S. on the same page. On the Bay Area page, as you scroll down, the collapsed apartment house in San Francisco's Marina District (see above) is the one that MWM designed a replacement for back in the early '90's.

Dinner In Danville

Isn't that a sweet-looking Rolls? One of 90 or more on two floors of the Blackhawk Automotive Museum that hosted our celebratory annual real estate evening on Friday. Good banquet food (roast beef or bird-flu-free roasted chicken) catered by Scotts in the totally-flat-black museum surrounded by these magnificent sparkling paeans to the wonderful pinnacle of automobile design. Compared to today's all-the-same styling, the classic cars made for a truly a wonderful venue. I could comment on the wringing out of excitement from human endeavors as they proceed toward maturity. . .I could, but I won't.:-)

Where In The World . . . ?

With all the brouhaha about this Port Security Deal (and Jonah Goldberg wonders when we will get around to Cognac Security. . .)I thought it might be good to see what we're all talking about. Dubai is an emirate, one of the seven that together form the United Arab Emirates. It is almost crime free, a sophisticated amalgamation of East and West, with Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Farsi, Tagalog, Malayam, and Russian languages being spoken. It is hot, but it is on the Persian/Arabian (your choice)Gulf, so it is somewhat scenic. The amazing thing, as you can see from these pictures, is the modernity of the architecture. It's a wow for any architect!

I'm Okay . . .

but sometimes I find myself wondering about you.

F-14 Is Retired

Don Sensing reminds us all that a famous USAF attack aircraft has been retired. Lots of history here

Mother Nature

Awoke this early morning to a "thump!" Hmmm, that was interesting. Unusual. Oh, well.

On the radio today, "a 3.8 shaker; epicenter 11 miles East of Oakland; 4:39 a.m." Whee! That's just about directly beneath HiltonHouse.

And then, once the sun came out. . .

Behold! Snow on Mt. Diablo!

Oyasumi

Rhapsody has Oyasumi, and I've blogged the tracks here.
Oyasumi: "1. Oborozuki yo (Moonlit Night) - Aiko Shimada And Elizabeth Falconer
2. Fursato (My Heart's Home) - Aiko Shimada And Elizabeth Falconer
3. Sakura, Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) - Aiko Shimada And Elizabeth Falconer
4. Momji (Scarlet Leaves) - Aiko Shimada And Elizabeth Falconer
5. Takeda no Komoriuta (Takeda Lullaby) - Aiko Shimada And Elizabeth Falconer
6. Aiko's Lullaby - Aiko Shimada And Elizabeth Falconer
7. Aka Tonbo (Red Dragonfly) - Aiko Shimada And Elizabeth Falconer
8. Aogeba Totoshi (Song of Gratitude) - Aiko Shimada And Elizabeth Falconer
9. Umi (Vast Ocean) - Aiko Shimada And Elizabeth Falconer
10. Mimura nu Angwa (Girls from Three Villages) - Aiko Shimada And Elizabeth Falconer
11. Hatsu Yuki (First Snow) - Elizabeth Falconer
12. Kirakira Boshi (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) - Aiko Shimada And Elizabeth Falconer
13. Hama Chidori (Plovers on the Shore) - Aiko Shimada And Elizabeth Falconer
14. Hagoromo no Komoriuta (Okinawan Lullaby) - Aiko Shimada And Elizabeth Falconer
15. Komoriuta (Japanese Lullaby) - Aiko Shimada And Elizabeth Falconer
16. Oyasumi (Goodnight) - Aiko Shimada And Elizabeth Falconer"

I don't know what you can do with this info. Hey, the music is good, however. I like it!
UPDATE: Click on "Oyasumi" link above, and it will take you to Rhapsody, where you can sign up for a free trial, and hear the music for yourself. (I think.)

Springtime in California

Record snow and wind on the East coast, wonderful warm sunshine for Pebble Beach and the West coast. We'll have some more cold and rain, I'm sure, but, in the meantime it's neat to see the new growth outside making itself known.

Birthday Balloon

I got this way-cool fish for my birthday celebration, but then an attractive young blond talked me into giving it to her. And she didn't even thank me properly! (But, she smiled, and she does have a winsome smile. Good enough for me.)

One Really Awful-Ugly Weekend Pup

Thanks to Lucianne, who always seems to come up with winning pix.

Google Fight : Make a fight with googleFight

Hey, this is fun! Try, say, "Britney" vs. "Paris", or "Hamburger" vs. "Hotdog". Whatever. Click here:Google Fight

'Nuff Said II

h/t: http://bidonotto.journalspace.com

B-2 Spirit

A few more, major, startling photos of military airplanes, taken by Richard Seaman, are at:
B-2 Spirit
Make sure you maximize your screen!

Proud Papa

Well, I'll be darned (he says, blushing impishly.)

(What's a lounge suit, anyway? It doesn't sound like something that I would wear to Buckingham Palace. Maybe to Bellagio in Vegas.)

Nice Digital Picture

Save This For Next Xmas

This Is Exciting

I just love websites like this, packed with exciting photographs. AIRLINERS.NET - Just Like Flying But Without The Peanuts

There are some really wonderful photos herein, including many scary shots. Some really close calls are illustrated with photos from the landings at the old Kai Tak Airport right on the edge of Hong Kong Bay with buildings lining both sides of the tight approach, crosswinds constantly pitching the plane to and fro, and a short 5000 ft. runway. I actually experienced that a few times and remember them well.

Windows ME

Just for laughs, please click on this.
Instapundit.com -

Down On The Farm

You are going to have to cut and paste this link (My fault. Sorry.) But, it's worth it.

http://itunes.stanford.edu

This time, you can graduate. Enjoy!

Racing Around The Internet

You might wish to try this:

I'm a Mazda RX-8!

You're sporty, yet practical, and you have a style of your own. You like to have fun, and you like to bring friends along for the ride, but when it comes time for everyday chores, you're willing to do your part.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.