Postracial

I don't know if you've been following the Crowley-Gates affair, but this is an excellent and I think somewhat touching clip:

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/07/27/must-see-cambridge-cop-says-she-wont-vote-for-obama-again-after-gatesgate/

Racial issues can be tough, and it is nice to see the officer's coworkers/friends standing by him.

JADJ

Please check out my new blog:

http://jadij.blogspot.com/

Woot!

Toilets

Jeff, I will try to have a new video up by Monday. Also, it will be featured on my new blog.

North Korea keeps pushing

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/07/08/north-koreas-cyber-war/

Our Allies

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/world/20090625TDY05308.htm

Yeah, I love France.

Think think

As motivation has become an issue both for me and anyone who used to read this blog, I'm considering ending this one but perhaps making a spinoff focusing on Japan.

Snippy

Man, you work and you work and you work, and some people still call you m'am.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/06/17/boxer_asks_general_to_call_her_senator_and_not_maam.html

Unspecified Crimes

Damn. Are we going to let it go at that - imprisoning American citizens for something as vague as "grave crimes"?

Cowed by Communists

There is a lot of talk in the news and political blogs these days about how Reaganism is dead. No kidding. Do you think Reagan would have been apologizing for America and trying to court favor with Islamic nations (at all, true, but especially) while North Korea, a crazy communist despotism, were spitting in our faces?

What has (or will) become of us and our American way? We used to believe we were right. We used to be a beacon of freedom and justice. Now North Korea thumbs its nose at us, testing nukes and threatening war if we try to interfere, likewise threatening our allies, and meanwhile holding American journalists as prisoners. They will be tried in a North Korean court and could be sentences to up to 10 years in a labor camp. What are we doing about it? Hoping that negotiations go well. Seems change has come to this country. We've really lost our nerve. We are speaking softly and it seems we've put down the stick. 

Anyone remember why Hitler was able to start s*#t in Europe? There are many textbook reasons, but bottom line - no one wanted to step up and stop him. Mr. Obama really is moving us closer to European-style democracy. Here comes the appeasement.

Words

Ok, ok - name these speakers:

1. "How does each of us remain firm in our principles, and fight for what we consider right, without, as Father John said, demonizing those with just as strongly held convictions on the other side?"

 

2. "I am shocked and outraged by the murder of Dr. George Tiller as he attended church services this morning. However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence."

Give up? Well, number one is President Obama at Notre Dame. Number two is President Obama just the other day. So, we're not supposed to be demonizing each other, but...that doesn't mean we can't make broad brushstrokes about the other side, right? Some nutjob murdered Dr. Tiller (the notorious abortionist), so of course that means pro-lifers are prone to heinous acts of violence. 

First off, I'd like to point out that there is a subtle yet very important difference between "pro-life" and "anti-abortion," which is quite visible in Tiller's murderer. Second, this is too subtle for many people to notice, but Mr. Obama is a master of words. That doesn't mean that he is sincere.

Wasting Time

Adding this website to my links bar: Sporcle.com.

My friend Patrick brought it to my attention, and while most of the, uh...puzzles? Activities? I'm not sure what to call them...Anyway, while most of them are geared more towards relieving boredom, several have scholarly value, if you use them as study tools. Patrick can now name all the countries of the world. 

Mental Yawn

Trying to get my act back together and make some posts, but a lot of interesting news combined with my general lack of motivation recently has made it difficult to pin down anything to write about.

Yesterday I bought plane tickets for my trip home in August. I tell you now, those twelve days will see much Mexican food. It'll be good to see family and friends and pick up some supplies.

I guess the most newsworthy of recent events, in my mind, is the Notre Dame commencement address by President Obama and the delivery of the honorary law degree. I am completely disgusted with the whole thing, yet I can't stop reading about it. Train-wreck syndrome, I suppose. Obama and Fr. Jenkin's talk of "dialogue" is empty rhetoric. If you haven't read their speeches, I would consider it worthwhile to do so. Fr. Z gives some excellent critique at his website. 

Here's a nice motivational poster-style graphic from Curt Jester that nicely displays Notre Dame's commitment to "dialogue." 

It's hard for me and others to understand why so many people, especially on the left, are so enthralled by what Obama says. When most politicians speak (especially conservatives), they are, of course, liars and thieves - undeserving of our trust. But when Obama opens his mouth, honey flows from his silver tongue, and all that is forgotten. Why is it that none of his followers seem to notice that his words only mask his actions? It's all a political game. He is a brilliant player, and he has gotten away with much so far. It remains to be seen how long he will enchant the majority of Catholics...

Here is an interesting analogy. I do love Lord of the Rings. Obama as Saruman? Doesn't seem that far-fetched to me.

Pig Flu II

This is going to be a long week...

I walk in the door, and a bunch of teachers ask me if I'm ok. Of course - I'm a foreigner, so I must be more prone to swine flu, or something. I dunno, maybe it's because I fly home to America on weekends.

Pig Flu

Well, now that swine flu has spread to Japan, and more specifically the Kobe/Osaka region, many schools have inevitably closed. My schools have canceled classes for the week, although, surprise surprise, we teachers must still go in. I guess I shouldn't be bitter, as I'm being paid for it, right?

I suppose authorities are worried because no one has antibodies for this thing and thus many people could get sick, but I wish the clamor over it would drop a level...it's not any more severe than normal, seasonal flu.

I live

It's been a while since my last post, but I've been busy. Last week was Golden Week over here - several holidays that fall in a row, making for a meaty holiday - and my friend Jeff visited. Perhaps more on that another time. 

For now, just wanted to let you know my status and add another link to the sidebar, to the Creative Minority Report, a witty and well-written Catholic blog I've been reading lately.

Fun with pennies

Yay math!

ND Scandal Escalates

I knew the controversy would continue to rage until after the ceremony, but I didn't expect this. Mary Ann Gledon, the former US Ambasssador to the Vatican was to receive Notre Dame's Laetare Medal on May 17th in recognition of her outstanding service to the Catholic Church and society. She has just announced, however, that she has declined the award in light of the Obama invitation scandal, and particularly the fact that it was argued by ND's administration that she would balance out Obama's presence (her being strongly pro-life).

Coverage here at LifeSiteNews.com.

Fr. Jenkins and the White House have both expressed their "regret," and ND intends to quickly find a new recipient. I can't wait to see who they choose. No doubt this time they will choose someone less deserving who won't make a fuss about Obama's invitation.

An American Catholic

Over at American Catholic: a telling of a Civil War atrocity and of the loving example of Fr. Peter Whelan.

I find Donald McClarey's posts about inspirational American Catholics very interesting and often moving. Worth a read.

Japan and Foreigners

This article provides an interesting look at the Japanese government's take on foreign labor, and how short-sighted its priorities are. Mind you, this has nothing to do with my personal experience here, but I find it quite relevant to the future of Japan and the global community. Countries like the US, Japan, and the EU member states really need to get their acts together and start looking at long-term policies that will foster growth and stability in their respective economies in the decades to come. The way things are going now - policy-wise, demographics-wise, ideology-wise - many countries are heading for colossal problems that are easily foreseeable. 

In Japan's case, eventually its going to be forced to dillute its largely homogeneous culture with immigrants. Why? Because Japanese people aren't having babies. When you can't sustain your population, you either import people or your economy suffocates and then your country collapses.

Update:

Read this one, as well. Thanks for the link, Ben.

Just this:

Happy Easter!

It's a beautiful day out, so I'm going to go take advantage of it.