Spending a week with my family in America was a great pleasure. It was worth the trip to spend time with my parents while they can still enjoy life. The handwriting is on the wall, as they say, and it will not be too long before they will be too infirm to do the things that bring joy to their life. So the cost and hassle of visiting them now was worth it.
As usual, when spending time in America, observing what was going on in society was a bit shocking. People were giddy, absolutely joyful, smirking, laughing and smug about what had happened to the most recently declared evilest man in the world, Libya's Coronel Kadhaffy.
With each gruesome report, I witnessed more nudging, more smirking, and more self satisfied moralizing. He was killed, so it justified the attack, even though the original stated goal of the military intervention was said to be establishment of a no fly zone so citizens could be made safe. Who cares, they said, when reminded of the fact.
As the horror increased, this persons hair pulled out into a bloody mess, the shooting death after having been captured, the corpse being paraded around on the hood of a car, and the dead body desecrated in the rectum with a knife, the volume of nervous laughter in America kept on increasing. I was encouraged to participate in the public celebration of smug self congratulation, but I met each offer to join the mob with my silence.
An empire, with its propaganda and violence, leads to a sick society. It affects nearly all, liberals, conservatives, Republicans, and Democrats (who MUST SUPPORT THE DEAR LEADER, without thinking for themselves ever). Of course, the evil Republicans stand by and complain that there isn't enough death and destruction, so let's attack Syria and Iran and wherever else.
When the empire falls, and it will, America will not only be ruined economically, but it will be a nation filled with a vast majority who have no sense whatsoever of a need for civilization, where the inherent dignity of human beings is respected.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Driving
A reader and friend who lives in Japan suggested I convert my driver's license into a Japanese license. You used to be able to do this with ease, simply turning in the one and receiving a new Japanese license in exchange. For Americans, however, the rules have changed, and the Japanese authorities no longer convert USA Driver's licenses into Japanese licenses.
My old International Driver's License was usable in Japan for a year, then I had to get a Japanese license to legally continue driving.
Thus, I had to get my California driver's license translated into Japanese, be interviewed, approved, and then take and pass both a written and driving skills test in order to get my Japanese license. Don't forget the vision test!
During the interview, they asked important questions about what type of car I drove when I first got a license in 1977 and how many possible answers were on the multiple choice test I took back then. They were not at all curious about whether I had a bad driving record, lot's of speeding tickets, or whether I had been involved in any car accidents. Good thing my Japanese wife was able to go with me to translate. About a week later they called to let me know I was approved to take the tests.
At least they offered an Engrish language version of the written test. The English language study guide had hysterically bad and laughable translations. (for example, when it is raining you must open the car window). I easily passed the written test, which appeared to have been made intentionally easy in order to be polite to inconvenienced foreigners.
Sadly, I failed the driving test the first time, but at least I passed the second time. About an hour before the test, they give you a map showing the off street course. The course is different each day and you must memorize all of the turns if you want to pass. There are roughly 12 turns, perhaps more.
Apparently, I drove in the left lane for maybe 100 meters when I should have been in the right lane instead, when preparing to make a right turn. Good thing I remembered to look under the car before getting in. Otherwise, I would have failed both times. I am not making that up. Like a Kabuki theater: Open door partially, look behind you, get in, close door, adjust seat, adjust mirrors, check door lock, release hand brake, foot on regular brake, start engine, look in all directions, put on indicator, look in all directions again, go. If done in the wrong order, you fail.
I received the license, but they will force me to sit through up to 3 Japanese language classroom seminars when the license needs to be renewed next year.
Does any of this make anyone safer? I am sure it wastes an extraordinary amount of time, costs me money, and there are many many people who get paid for what they do at the Japanese DMV. At least they are polite and helpful while they waste my time.
My old International Driver's License was usable in Japan for a year, then I had to get a Japanese license to legally continue driving.
Thus, I had to get my California driver's license translated into Japanese, be interviewed, approved, and then take and pass both a written and driving skills test in order to get my Japanese license. Don't forget the vision test!
During the interview, they asked important questions about what type of car I drove when I first got a license in 1977 and how many possible answers were on the multiple choice test I took back then. They were not at all curious about whether I had a bad driving record, lot's of speeding tickets, or whether I had been involved in any car accidents. Good thing my Japanese wife was able to go with me to translate. About a week later they called to let me know I was approved to take the tests.
At least they offered an Engrish language version of the written test. The English language study guide had hysterically bad and laughable translations. (for example, when it is raining you must open the car window). I easily passed the written test, which appeared to have been made intentionally easy in order to be polite to inconvenienced foreigners.
Sadly, I failed the driving test the first time, but at least I passed the second time. About an hour before the test, they give you a map showing the off street course. The course is different each day and you must memorize all of the turns if you want to pass. There are roughly 12 turns, perhaps more.
Apparently, I drove in the left lane for maybe 100 meters when I should have been in the right lane instead, when preparing to make a right turn. Good thing I remembered to look under the car before getting in. Otherwise, I would have failed both times. I am not making that up. Like a Kabuki theater: Open door partially, look behind you, get in, close door, adjust seat, adjust mirrors, check door lock, release hand brake, foot on regular brake, start engine, look in all directions, put on indicator, look in all directions again, go. If done in the wrong order, you fail.
I received the license, but they will force me to sit through up to 3 Japanese language classroom seminars when the license needs to be renewed next year.
Does any of this make anyone safer? I am sure it wastes an extraordinary amount of time, costs me money, and there are many many people who get paid for what they do at the Japanese DMV. At least they are polite and helpful while they waste my time.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
License
My California drivers license will expire in 2 weeks and they will not let me renew it unless I go to a DMV office in California, swear I still live in the state, and risk they will try to tax my income as a California resident. No way.
So I went to to get an International Drivers license today. In the prefecture where I live, there is only one government ordained place to get one, and its a 3 hour round trip. Yippee, I can hardly wait.
So off we go to the Japanese DMV office, heading directly to window 8. Now this is Japan, so there really wasn't a line and the DMV employee was polite and helpful. He asked for my photo and measured it carefully, ensuring it was precisely the size the DMV requires. Then he checked my drivers license and gave me a form to fill out. Ok, my wife filled it out as it was in Japanese kanji.
We were instructed to bring the form to window 2, along with the money. You didn't think it would be free! At window 2 they took our money, made a copy of the form and told us to bring the copy back to window 8, along with a second form we had to fill out.
Back to window 8 to the same person with a copy of the frst form and an original of the second form. He needs to see my drivers license a second again, and my passport. Just 30 minutes later I have my International Drivers License in hand. But wait, there's more.
The guy calls me back to the window. Window 8 if you are keeping track. He shows me one more form. I have to sign it to acknowledge I received the license.
The system works perfectly. As in America, it is horribly inefficient so that the government employees can justify their existence and cost tax payers as much as possible for their non-service. But in Japan, the people are polite and waiting is kept to a minimum, so the "customer" does not feel as if he/she is being abused, unlike in California where you must wait for hours to see a crabby, rude, nincompoop government employee who treats you like dirt, or worse.
Japan is , once again, proven to be better than America.
So I went to to get an International Drivers license today. In the prefecture where I live, there is only one government ordained place to get one, and its a 3 hour round trip. Yippee, I can hardly wait.
So off we go to the Japanese DMV office, heading directly to window 8. Now this is Japan, so there really wasn't a line and the DMV employee was polite and helpful. He asked for my photo and measured it carefully, ensuring it was precisely the size the DMV requires. Then he checked my drivers license and gave me a form to fill out. Ok, my wife filled it out as it was in Japanese kanji.
We were instructed to bring the form to window 2, along with the money. You didn't think it would be free! At window 2 they took our money, made a copy of the form and told us to bring the copy back to window 8, along with a second form we had to fill out.
Back to window 8 to the same person with a copy of the frst form and an original of the second form. He needs to see my drivers license a second again, and my passport. Just 30 minutes later I have my International Drivers License in hand. But wait, there's more.
The guy calls me back to the window. Window 8 if you are keeping track. He shows me one more form. I have to sign it to acknowledge I received the license.
The system works perfectly. As in America, it is horribly inefficient so that the government employees can justify their existence and cost tax payers as much as possible for their non-service. But in Japan, the people are polite and waiting is kept to a minimum, so the "customer" does not feel as if he/she is being abused, unlike in California where you must wait for hours to see a crabby, rude, nincompoop government employee who treats you like dirt, or worse.
Japan is , once again, proven to be better than America.
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