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.)

Risk Preference

Recently I read a book "What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20" by Tina Seelig. This book provides a lot of fascinating examples and is well organized. I found and got some useful insights from the book. Also, it was very easy to read. I'd like to mention a thing from the book, anyway.

The author introduces a thought of risk in a chapter. According to the book, there are five types of risks:

1. Physical risk: such as being willing or unwilling to bungee jump off a bridge.
2. Social risk: like being willing or reluctant to start a conversation with a stranger. 
3. Emotional risk: revealing own emotion and feeling.
4. Financial risk: a big financial risk taker or not.
5. Intellectual risk: willingness to take risk in pursuing scientific inquiry.

According to the finance, risk is the probability that actual return on an investment will be lower than the expected return. And, suppose a financial assumption -- which is the more you take risk, the more you get the return, and vise verse -- is correct (For example, high-risk, high-return research is here). That is, the more we take risk, the more we will get something successful or big, as the following comic strip shows.

Comic Strip: Frank & Ernest published on June 23, 2011

With the above idea, I'd like to consider about my risk preference, that means which types of risks I am willing to take. I'm comfortable to take physical risks because I don't think about risk of fracturing a born which some people may worry, while taking social risks are uncomfortable for me as I confessed before: "Shy is not Shine". Also, I'm willing to take intellectual risks such as I like casting doubt on theories and common thought regardless of whether my critics for them are correct and pertinent or not, but I'm not a big financial and emotional risk taker so I may be a cheapskate and an expressionless face...

As Tina Seelig points out, although we are taking a big risk, we don't see ourselves as big risk takers on certain types of risks. For instance, unlike me, some entrepreneurs and bankers don't assume themselves as big risk takers despite spending huge money for investments. On other hand, if someone paid one million dollars for you to play a sky diving, you could never try it out. I think a message comes from these things. That is, "Don't be afraid of failure and shame." But, I know easier said than done. As for the first step of action, take a look at your own risk profile. Which types of risks are you willing to take and don't you see as a big risk? Though it is just a starting point, it would be easy and sometimes helpful for you to go ahead. 

Dogs and cats love watching television shows as well as human being does?

Photo: Hanna watching her favorite show on TV

Recently I have observed my family's dogs, Mikke and Hanna (in the left photo). Although Mikke is a nice dog, Hanna is an interesting dog because she has a weird habit. It's to watch TV with smacking, punching, and heading onto it like the below video, while Mikke isn't seemingly interested in watching TV.

Even when I showed the video to Hanna, she was trying to punching the cat -- particularly, she loves cats.

By the way, some TV shows are known as affecting our behaviors in the social psychology. For instance, a study shows that viewing television violence can subsequently numb people's reactions when they are faced with real-life aggression (called the numbing effect). In the study, those who had watched the police show were more likely to allow to observe a verbally and physically aggressive interaction between preschoolers than those who had watched the volleyball game. Thus, violence shows influence "human being" to response an aggressive behavior.

On other hand, my concerns are as follows:

• Do TV shows have an effort on animals' behaviors?   

To begin with, TV shows are really interesting and an influencer for animals like dogs and cats to change their behaviors? For example, my dog really likes seeing a cat and even a wild felid (Once I watched a documentary about a cheetah, Hanna had an interest in it.). If Hanna's behaviors are changed like a cat by TV shows and she duplicates cat's behaviors, I could assume that dogs are influenced by TV shows. But, is it right? I don't know. The best way is that I'd conduct an experiment for that, anyway.

• Do animals understand TV shows like us?

Are violence programs able to influence animals to change their behaviors more aggressively like human being? Or if I show sexual programs to my dogs...Oops. Anyway, if they understand TV shows like us, violence materials would tend to lead them to take more aggressive actions. But, the cat seems to me to immitate what boxers are doing in the below video (I heard cats are recognizing the world as black and white without colors.), and interpret their aggression. It's really difficult for me to understand waht dogs and cats are doing. I hope to understand correctly. If not, it might be a disaster.

I'll keep observing my dogs because they give me so much fun!

Real Nokanshi

Photo: IMDb

Have you ever watched Departures, a Japanese movie? Basic story is the below:

"Daigo Kobayashi is a devoted cellist in an orchestra that has just been dissolved and now finds himself without a job. Daigo decides to move back to his old hometown with his wife to look for work and start over. He answers a classified ad entitled "Departures" thinking it is an advertisement for a travel agency only to discover that the job is actually for a "Nokanshi" or "encoffineer," a funeral professional who prepares deceased bodies for burial and entry into the next life. While his wife and others despise the job, Daigo takes a certain pride in his work and begins to perfect the art of "Nokanshi," acting as a gentle gatekeeper between life and death, between the departed and the family of the departed. The film follows his profound and sometimes comical journey with death as he uncovers the wonder, joy and meaning of life and living."

Now Japan has faced with a tough situation since the huge earthquake and tsunami hit on March 11. Through the earthquake and tsunami, many people died. In that situation, there is a volunteer, Ms. Ruiko Sasahara who is a professional encoffineer helping the families of identified dead, sharing the sorrows, and making up the face of the dead with the families.

Photo: asahi.com

Until now, she has already taken care of over 300 bodies from a 10-day old baby to above 90 years old person, according to a radio program.

Modern Pavlovian Response

Comic Strip: Frank and Ernest on May 11, 2011

In a book by Elmer Wheeler, "Tested Sentences That Sell," first chapter is "Don't Sell the Steak -- Sell the Sizzle!" Of course this is a figurative expression, but it is right to the point.

In the above comic strip, "Beep" is "Sizzle." This automatic response by human is not only increasing our appetite, but also a strong marketing tool to us -- as another type of example for that automatic response,  expense = good stereotype (Reference from "Influence" by Robert B. Cialdini). Unfortunately, "Beep" and "Sizzle" works too well, even though you don't have a feeling to buy anything or going to a restaurant. We cannot avoid our physiological instinct.

What is your sizzle to stimulate your appetite? Mine is a slam when slamming a fridge to because my favorite dessert is a grapefruit jelly (and also Bon Bons,  a chocolate ice candy). To keep my figure and health, all I have to do is to wear earplugs like him, especially when someone slams a fridge door to.

Photo: Milton Bradley

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?

Mrs. Tanaka

Since 2007, Mrs. Watanabe has been recognized as one of factors to move market trends among dealers and investors who are in active to global currency market.

Who is Mrs. Watanabe?

Photo: The Star Publications

No...(This is Ken Watanabe, a famous actor, and his wife)

Photo: Catastrophist

Indeed, Mrs. Watanabe is "a mythical housewife representing the thousands of small Japanese investors who prefer speculating on currencies to stocks" (Reference is here). She is generally doing investment activities during lunch time. As a result of her activities, at Tokyo market, a fact that after the lunch time the market price frequently turns the opposite way against that morning market price, despite no significant factor, at the foreign exchange market between dollar and yen has been confirmed. This was surprising foreign investors. And, they couldn't help highlighting Mrs. Watanabe.

Recently, Mrs. Watanabe has been crashed allegedly by hedge funds. After the Japanese big earthquake and tsunami, despite the serious situation, the yen has been risen against the dollar. This tough condition would continue to face on Mrs. Watanabe awhile.

Although some articles wrote up of Mrs. Watanabe, I would like to highlight another point these articles didn't pointed out. Many housewives include in small Japanese investors who deal in the foreign exchange -- aka Mrs. Watanabe. I guess they are majority, of course though there are a lot of college students and businesspeople engaging as side business. And, they are a key player for Japanese economy now.

Though some of them got a lot of loss by this tough situation, they would keep doing or come back because most of their money come from their husband's income -- for them, dealing in foreign exchange is a thing like earning their allowance.

For example, my mom, Mrs. Tanaka, set up a booth at a flea market like a garage sale last Sunday. When coming back home, she got some money by selling our stuffs which we didn't need. Also, she has engaged to invest some stocks and have a real estate -- the source of funds from my dad -- like many Japanese housewives do , though she is not one of Mrs. Watanabe. When she gets a profit from her business (?), she enjoys traveling and shopping by using its money.

Thus, Japanese housewives are so powerful not only in their family, particularly wives hold real power in modern family, but also in economy by their very good business mind. They will have continued to have an impact on markets and economies, albeit Japanese markets and economies have been sunk by the earthquake and tsunami. And surprisingly, they are spending a lot of money to buying clothes and even eat a great lunch at an expensive restaurant because they have a good backup giving them funds and also their return in their investment to stocks and foreign exchanges. Although Every housewife is not like that and Mrs. Watanabe, they are worth to be highlighted and they are the hinge of recovering from this bad situation in Japan.

I personally have a little hope that my mom becomes the person called "Mrs. Tanaka" who is success in business world instead of "Mrs. Watanabe." I know it's not going to happen...