Cherry Blossom

There are beautiful cherry trees in full bloom in Japan. I went to a neighbor park in order to see cherry blossoms today, though they are not fully blooming. Here are some photos I took.

Spring is just beginning here!

15 things I have still tried to learn

Two months ago (I think)  there was an article on the headline of Yahoo!. I'm not a child, technically...

Photo: Flickr

However, my behaviors are still like a kid sometimes. After finishing reading the article, I counted up how many manners out of 25 I know and carry out. I picked 15 manners from the article as follows (parentheses are my comments):

1. Do not interrupt grown-ups who are speaking with each other unless there is an emergency. They will notice you and respond when they are finished talking. (Sometimes I cannot wait and help but interrupting until someone finishes talking...It's not good, though.)
2. If you do need to get somebody's attention right away, the phrase "excuse me" is the most polite way for you to enter the conversation. (I don't say "excuse me." Well, I suddenly speak or say a hesitation. Just because I didn't know this manner...)
3. When you have any doubt about doing something, ask permission first. It can save you from many hours of grief later. (I see. I forget to ask any permission, and should do it.)
4. The world is not interested in what you dislike. Keep negative opinions to yourself, or between you and your friends, and out of earshot of adults. (I know, but it's very difficult not to utter what I dislike.)
5. When people ask you how you are, tell them and then ask them how they are. (I have to follow this rule next time.)
6. When you have spent time at your friend's house remember to thank his or her parents for having you over and for the good time you had. (I know it's important, but sometimes I don't do that...)
7. When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling. (It's dependent on situations because now we can know who is calling through the display on a cell phone and phone. But, I should introduce myself first anytime. It's more appropriate way.) 
8. Be appreciative and say "thank you" for any gift you receive. In the age of e-mail, a handwritten thank-you note can have a powerful effect. (Sending a handwritten thank-you latter is a fabulous way to convey our appreciation. My mother always does send a handwritten thank-you letter, but I don't...Really I should.)
9. Never use foul language in front of adults. Grown-ups already know all those words, and they find them boring and unpleasant.
10. Do not make fun of anyone for any reason. Teasing shows others you are weak, and ganging up on someone else is cruel. (OK...But I'm not sure to follow this manner.)
11. Even if a play or an assembly is boring, sit through it quietly and pretend that you are interested. The performers and presenters are doing their best. (Yes...But, pretending is my weak point because I'm naive, honestly(?).)
12. If you bump into somebody, immediately say "Excuse me." (Don't retort, of course.)
13. As you walk through a door, look to see if you can hold it open for someone else. (And, lady first!!)
14. If you come across a parent, a teacher, or a neighbor working on something, ask if you can help. If they say "yes," do so -- you may learn something new. (It's a good way to start a conversation with someone as well.)
15. When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile. (Smile plays a significant role in giving good impression. At least, we shouldn't express Pan Am smile. When we are asked something, we should do it with smile with "crow's-feet," according to a speech by Guy Kawasaki.)

A new function for Facebook

I've wondered why Facebook doesn't have a function to connect with friends' friends by a friend's recommendation.

Photo: halifaxlight

Suppose I'm looking for a person who speak English to develop my English skills via chatting on face-to-face or Skype like a conversation partner. And then, When I post that comment on the Facebook, although by far some friends see it, they usually wouldn't introduce me to their friends who have the same needs like wanting to speak Japanese to improve his/her skills -- because I'm Japanese, so both become win-win. -- as a friend (I mean as a friend who is on the Facebook, not necessarily to be a real friend.). Existing function is, for example, "Find friends." This gives us an opportunity to find a new friend through being able to see our friends' friends. However, this is not a good way to connect with people, in my opinion. Generally, when in our community friends' friends are connected with each other, an intermediary -- in this case, a direct friend between both friends' friends -- plays a significant role to this accomplishment because he/she knows information regarding both of them well. He/she can match up between them well.

With those idea, my suggestion is to create a new tool: "Want" and "Recommend" buttons. First, I'd like to explain about the "Want" function. If a person is looking for a textbook and want to know about the class at the same time, one of the best solution is to make a friend who already took that class and want to sell the textbook. First, that person posts that message on the "Want" like an usual Facebook comment. But, this "Want" function spreads that comment to all friends or friends who that person designated (This function is similar to the event function.). And then, if the friends who received that message have frieds' friends who would meet the request, they can introduce that friends' friends to him/her by using "Recommend" function. When using the "Recommend," the message is forwarded to that friends' friends as a friend's recommendation, and to the person who used "Want" too. And then, if both that friends' friends and the person agree with the offer, they can become a friend.

"Want" and "Recommend" function provides a win-win opportunity for us. But, my story is not the end here. My idea is not only to give a win-win situation to friends' friends and the requester, but also a profit to the intermediary. The intermediary is like a matchmaker. Although some people are a good matchmaker, they are not known well sometimes. So, when the intermediary did tie up between friends' friends by using "Recommend" button, their "Profile" on the Facebook lets him/her show "Matchmaking" like "Friend" and "Family" so that friends can see. As a result, the intermediaries may get a trust from friends and even make a new friend by that signaling effect as a matchmaker.

So far, I don't know such service. If you know anything like that, let me know. And, what do you think such service?

Good Definitions

I just translated a part of an article by my professor into English as follows:

1. Study: knowing what somebody revealed
2. Criticism: criticizing it
3. Education: letting people know it
4. Research: revealing what nobody knows

These definitions look like pretty good to me. I was considering about which level my blog is (Study is easiest level and Research is the most difficult). I assume this blog would be categorized Study/ Education. My goal is that someday in the future, I will engage in researching somehow. When you write a report or something, what do you think which level your report is? 

M's Won!!

The most amazing game by the Seattle Mariners in this two seasons it was!!

Photo: CosbySweaters.com

They came from behind, 7-0, and won at walk-off hit by Louis Rodriguez. During the almost entire game, I was nearly crying and the game made me crazy.

However, in the 8th inning, the situation was changing. The Seattle Mariners got five runs including by three straight based-loaded walks (actually, in the 7th inning, Bradley got solo home run.). So, at the finishing 8th inning, the Mariners was losing against the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-6.

Oh boy, boy. The drama was waiting in the bottom of 9th inning. First, Saunders doubled, and then Branden Ryan did a perfect sacrificed bunt to Saunders for the third. Adam Kennedy grounded out to short stop. And, Ichiro was given an intentional walk.

And, Louis Rodriguez, he got it!! Good for him!!

I did give up winning, because this year again the offence of Mariners had stunk, so far. But, we baseball fans are always waiting this kind of game and moment for a pretty long time. Anyway, I'm quite happy now.

Nothing Special, Nothing New

Photo: kyokke tanaka (Onyx)

Three days ago, I got an email from a person. It had some questions for me. So, I wrote some suggestions from my point of view. Although those are nothing special and new, what do you think? Are those proper way to answer the questions or appropriate answers? If you wouldn't mind, I want to hear your comment to followings (*I added a few links and fixed some sentences on the original one):

• Do you think I'm stupid about my just keeping myself busy for my family or friends?

I don't think keeping busy for families or friends is stupid. At least, everybody spends some time with their family, friends and, more say, somebody. Social networking is a part of our essential job, as long as we live in a society. But, you should consider about how much you devote your time and endeavor to your family and friends. Just in my opinion, if you need something special like your own skills and competence -- in other words, to differentiate from others, you should make your own time in order to create who you are. For me, you look like you don't recognize who you are and what difference you are from others. Our tendency is that when we are close enough to each other, we couldn't see and create difference between us because we are likely to be being similar between us. Let's think about another way. It also means if you were someone, you should be close to him/her, inasmuch as we have the nature of similarity (This nature comes from the struggle for existence.).  So, I suggest that you should consider about this way. If you want to keep busy by taking care of your family and hanging out with friends, would your ideal and future be connected with them? Remember your family and friends are very important, though, yet they are not you, they live their own life and they don't replace your life. You have to invest your future. 

• Do you think I'm sacrificing myself not thinking anything??

I partly agree with your statement, even though I don't think you're not thinking about anything. Why do we sacrifice myself? Why don't we sacrifice others? Just thought. What is your role in your family, friends, groups, and society? Speaking of a baseball, each player has diffident role. For example, second hitter is generally supposed to do most sacrificed bunt. However, they don't do every time. How come? Because what they make a decision whether they do or not depends on what situation it is. Did you look at any situations? Sometimes they do choose a different choice from a sacrificed bunt, even if the situation is absolutely necessary to do the bunt. The reason is that they outwit a rival. This is not always needed, but, especially, when we need a big change, this strategy is useful. Don't beware I don't tell you thinking longer and more careful. Use your blink.

• Have you thought I'm selfish and just pretending to be nice to others?

I'm selfish too. Who cares? Probably you care. What's the matter? If you were pretending to be nice, I don't know and even care. I want to ask you what the difference between pretending and not is. For me, it's more significant that what someone or I did something nice was really so? If not, and then the cause was the pretentious attitude. Think about it. But, this is just in our mind. Who really knows the truth? The opposite case could happen high possibility. We do not handle everything, especially invisible things. And, we are easy to lie! Anyway, overall I'm really no concerned about the argument whether or not selfish and pretending is. If you are interested in it, you should ask Onyx (He is a shiba dog.). He is a really well socialist. In addition, we don't know what he think about, you know.

Thank you,

Take a Break

He is amazing!! How hilarious he is !!

He, a 3 years old kid, is one of the greatest conductors I've ever seen. He knows the music, 4th movement of Beethoven Symphony 5th. Especially, the end is my favorite! Don't miss it!!

And, if you need more laughing, visit Funny or Die -- there is also an interview with its founders on @KatieCouric.

"Laugher is the best medicine."

Resolution

A happy new year! How was 2010 for you? For me, it was a wonderful year. A reason for that was that I stayed five countries: Austria, China, Japan, Canada, and U.S.. This was definitely a precious experience for me.

On other hand, I had a lot of regret and failure. But, it is fine because we are able to learn from our own failure and also others', and we will be able to do the better job next time. Jay-Z, who is a famous hip-hop singer, said the same kind of thing in the one of OWN programs. Moreover, he stated that he doesn't know how to learn from success. It is a very difficult problem for us, especially when we would like to sustain our success, although it is totally different between getting and sustaining success as he pointed out. Anyway, we at least want to avoid going on the following situation by learning from our own experience or others'.   

Article: The Seattle Times by Glenn McCoy

 I hope that the situation which is depicted in the above comic strip would never happen to me. So, what is your new year's resolution? A piece of advice from me is that there is no resolution in the toilet!

Enjoy 2011!

Marathon Race

I completed the Honolulu marathon with six hours and five minutes last Sunday. It was good weather to run a marathon, which means moderate warm not too hot but not too cold. The start time was 5AM. Actually, I was sleepy. Anyway, This marathon was the first time for me to run a marathon and complete 42.195km (although I did not keep running throughout the race...). I felt like 26.2mile was too long. In fact, during the race I did want to give up from time to time.

So, how was I motivated? According to last my blog, hot joggers was supposed to make me enhance my motivation to run the race. However, unfortunately, this did not work well for me because during the race, especially in the second half, I was too exhausted not to be able to afford to look for hot joggers. Rather, my eyes stayed on looking at the road, of course though it was boring. I could not look up! Instead, I was encouraged by the runners who were the same situation as me which is too tired. When seeing them, my feeling was that I did not want to lose them because they were from younger than me to older such as they looked like 80 or something years old. They were amazing for me because they were much faster and tougher than me who is 24 years old. At that point, I realized that I should train for the race a lot, but it's too late to regret because I don't like something to lose.

Eventually, I completed the race as a result of maintaining my motivation to run. After the marathon, I wanted to appreciate everybody who participated in it including the volunteers. This accomplishment was by not only my effort, but by others' support such as cheering me up at the roads, distributing water on the aid stations, and running with me regardless of intentionality. Thanks everybody!

But, I would never try to run a marathon. Thanks again.

An Unfortunate Day

I was pulled over by a police officer today. This was the first experience for me to be stopped by a cop, even in JPN I had never had. At that time, I was so nervous, because I was driving within the speed limit! What the heck was going on? The reason for that is that my licence plate was not updated. I had to update it, but actually I didn't know that because I've never received a letter to let me know running out the limit of my plate. Fortunately, it was not a serious case. However, I do never want to be stopped by police officers, even though she who made me pull over was kind. 

Don't Think About Reasons Too Much

Photo: Frontier Academy Art

From time to time, people ask me "Why?" or "How come?" And then, I answer "I don't know." Many people dislike my saying "I don't know." What I mean is that people want to know a reason for something. Of course, I know having a reason for something is important when making a decision and doing something. However, in this story, I want to emphasize "a reason is made after we do or behave something." This is shown by some studies in the field of Neuroscience (Actually, I knew the fact by reading a book by Takeshi Yohrou.). In addition, today I found an article to reinforce my opinion.

It is "Typing Errur? Your Fingers Know Even When Your Brain Doesn't." It says our fingers do something, and then our brain recognize it. I suspect that a mechanism of our speaking can be explained by the same analogy. This is because we sometimes are speaking something without thinking. Our mouth knows, maybe. This unconscious process is what I want to say. In short, our brain doesn't know, but we have behaviors by the other organs: hands, foots, mouth, ears, and nose.

Finally, maybe some people would wonder "Hey, what are you doing when you really need a reason?" For this, I have a tip to make reasons for something immediately. Before explaining about it, I want to introduce kinda another thing but related. Kenichi Omae, a famous business person in Japan, said in his book (although I forgot which books it was written.) "In a presentation, if you mention the three cogent reasons for your opinion, then you could persuade your audiences." In my opinion, this would be right. Also, An experiment written in a book by Noah Goldstein, Steve Martin, and Cialdini Robert depicts that you want to copy soon, but some people are getting in a line in front of a copy machine. Suppose in the situation you want to cut the line because of your hurrying so much. To be succeeded it, adding a reason for cutting the line when you ask someone who is the front of the line a favor for that is much more likely to be acceptable to your favor than not saying a reason, even though the reason is not reasonable (It was surprising for me!). Anyway, we would need to make something reasons to persuade somebody. In my case, I categorize reasons into two groups: dispositional (internal) and situational (external). For example, suppose I went to watch a movie, Public Enemies, in a theater yesterday. Next day, one friend asked me "I heard yesterday you went to watch a movie. I was surprised! I thought you didn't like going a theater. Why did you go?" I answered " Because I like Johnny Depp (this is a dispositional reason), and also yesterday was special day for the theater. So, the ticket was very cheap (this is a situational reason)." And... maybe readers think you should pick one more reason! Please hold on... I have one more strategy. It is called as connectional reason by me lolol. It is a little bit difficult, compared with dispositional and situational. However, I think it is very effective to persuade people. So, let me back the conversation. I would say "My friend invited to me. He said if we go to the theater, we watch the movie starred by Johonny Depp at low price. So, I decided to go!" A hinge of connectional reason is to use aforementioned information, and to combine with these information.

This might seem so systematic. However, really useful. Try it!

But, to be honest, I don't want to make reasons. So, when I am asked reasons, saying "I don't know" is my honest feeling. Ironically, saying something reasons is a kind of compromise for me. If I thought about reasons too much, I could NOT do anything and never move as if becoming 'The Thinker' by Auguste Rodin.

Scandal Capriccio

I have no idea about political things. However, I want to introduce one article of analysing Japanese politics. This article, by Newsweek: Scandalmania, was really interesting for me, I think it was the best I have recently read.

Unfortunately, the article was written in Japanese, so I am going to summarize it. It divided into four parts. First part was explained about a difference of political scandal between Japan and the other developing countries, and was depicted Japanese history of scandal in the political world. Next and thirdly, a idea introduced to explain about why our politicians are losing the job due to happen only one scandal. Finally, the author picked an example to reinforce his opinion. It was the case of Suzuki Muneo, who lost the status as a politician due to politics-and-money scandal.

Most interesting part for me was the explanation why scandals are directly connected with dismissing the politicians who caused the scandals. The author picked two reasons for that. First, we, Japanese people, are less likely to look at a good result than a scandal. Second, we expect that the politicians are clean which means no sextual, no money, and no violate scandals. Of course, clean persons are wonderful, but, unfortunately, we have some problems as usual, not excepting the politicians. Recently our country keeps to discussing scandals by the politicians, even though we have a lot of problem, such as the exchange rates, the territorial disputes, pention problems and so on. I agree with his idea that we should see the performance and ignore a smaller problem. And, we should focus on more important problems.

I hope this piece of music will end quickly. This is because I am tedious to listen to the news. Next music would be a great concerto, I hope!

Very Very good Piece of a day

Unfortunately, it was not good weather today, actually rainy. However, I had a good experience to make a berry pie. It was very fun!

First, my host mom, L who lives together, and I went to pick blackberries in the morning. It was a lot of fun, even though we got thorns on the branches of blackberry's trees, ouch. Meanwhile, host mom and I suddenly tried to freeze in order to surprise L. But, I think we didn't do well. Anyway, maybe I have never been to pick blackberries. I think in Japan a blackberry is less popular than a blueberry and a strawberry. So, I really enjoyed picking them.

After the picking, we made a berry pie at home. Making a pie is also the first experience for me, so I was a little nervous. But, it was no problem to cook the pie because my host mom helped me a lot.  The process of cooking referred allrecipes.com. But, making crusts referred another recipe. However, unfortunately, this is a secret between host mom and me..

The result was that it smells good and looks good. And... also tastes good! You want to eat this one! I'm sorry we don't have enough to give it to somebody.

Nest time, I will try to make a tart! So, could you wait by the time?

Thanks, J and L!!