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hen we got remarried back in 2000, M and I were already well into our 40s. In fact, we were both 44 at the time. Now, the Japanese have a relatively long life expectancy; indeed, it is the one of the longest in the world, where men live into the upper 70s and women into [...]
T
oday I spoke on Japanese poetry and it made me realize how much I love talking about poetry and how it reflects who we are as humans. I truly believe that we interpret everything in our lives–consciously or not–by associating them with our past experiences. Some may be relevant, some may not, but experience influences [...]
I
like to think my taste in music is rather eclectic. I’ll listen to some Jimi Hendrix, Billi Holiday, Beethoven, Dave Mathews, Mozart, Oscar Peterson, maybe even some Gershwin. Well, maybe it’s not too eclectic. I don’t listen to Opera and country music is not really my cup of tea.
But lately, most of the music [...]
W
hen I teach Japanese Literature, I usually have to explain the calendrical issues inherent in Premodern Japanese culture. For those of us in the West, it can sometimes be confusing.
For example, the lunar calendar forces everyone to rethink the months. For most of us, the first month of the year is January and in the [...]
W
ow, we are six weeks into football season and I haven’t once posted about my beloved Bruins. Well, they are 4-1 against mediocre teams, and will be tested today against Oregon which only has the best offense in the Pac 10. We’ll see if the Bruin defense–the Pac 10’s best defense so far–is for real. [...]
T
oday is Friday the 13th, by all accounts, an unlucky day and number. You never see a 13th floor in any building in the US. Or any room number that ends in 13. Or streets. Or street numbers. Why is 13 so unlucky? I’ve read that Judas was the thirteenth arrivee to the last supper. [...]
I
n as much as I hate those who don’t flush after themselves, I am not very good at keeping my own bathroom very clean. Don’t get me wrong–I DO flush at home, but maybe I don’t clean the toilet bowl as often as I should. I don’t clean up the hair that accumulates on the [...]
T
oday, elementary, junior and senior high schools in the DC area are closed. Today, postsecondary schools are closed. Today, the banks are closed. Today, the post office is closed. Indeed, most government offices are closed, as Columbus Day is recognized as a federal holiday.
But I have a class to teach.
While it bothers me that [...]
B
attlestar Galactica is back! (No, I didn’t mean to rhyme.) After feeling let down by Lost–but I do have hope for next week’s episode–I was wary of the premier of Battlestar Galactica. Man, oh man, oh man. Last season ended with the minions of the 12 colonies settling on a new habitable planet they dubbed [...]
I
s it just me? Last night’s episode of Lost–the TV show–was very unfulfilling. After an entire summer of anticipation, all we get are the three–Jack, Kate and Sawyer–locked up in cages. I mean, it started so well when it was revealed that they Others actually have nice houses and a community of sorts in the [...]
