Bush Speech, Nothing New
KCRW today interrupted NPR’s All Things Considered to air a live speech by President Bush at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, where he was to be giving a “major speech on American foreign policy.” Unfortunately, when they switched over to the sound of applause from the event, a gentleman’s voice asked the audience to remain standing “for the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Attorney General John Ashcroft.” KCRW quickly switched back to NPR’s programming, saying they’d go back to the speech once it actually started. One can only hope Ashcroft choked on the “with liberty and justice for all” section of the Pledge.
Listening now to Bush’s speech, and reading pre-released excerpts on the web, it appears this is the beginning of yet another shift in emphasis in the Bush administration’s ongoing efforts to convince Americans that a war against Iraq is necessary. Saddam’s purported ties to Osama bin Laden are so last week. Now it’s time to talk again about how America has a moral obligation to liberate the Iraqis because they live under an oppressive regime. It’s all about liberty and democracy, don’t you know?
Loud Boys On Bikes
So, we have these motorcycle gangs in Nagano. They’re not dangerous, just obnoxious. These gangs consist of skinny teenage boys who ride around on souped-up noisemakers wearing surgical masks. To prove their outlaw status, they rev their motors to ear-splitting levels, run red lights and impolitely weave as they casually motor through downtown streets. They also ignore mandatory helmet laws. They’re universally detested for the noise and anti-harmony they create. But almost every night of the week, they’re out hoping to scare a little old lady or two.
Where are the police, you might ask? Word on the street is that they are under orders from national law enforcement not to chase these malcontents because to do so would be too dangerous (considering the damage caused during the LAPD’s numerous and infamous high-speed chases, this policy might have some merit). But instead of finding other creative ways to tame the boys and their bikes (talk to their mothers? grab them while they’re having a group smoke outside the convenience store?), the police merely circle the downtown area with their lights flashing (Japanese police cars always seem to have their lights flashing) in what seems to be a slow-motion and never-ending dance.
Well, tonight something changed. Along with the familiar oncoming roar of one of the bikes, a siren filled the air. Then, at relatively low speed, a bike passed, followed by a police car in lukewarm pursuit. Normally, everyone pretends to ignore the boys on bikes. But tonight, everyone turned to look at the “chase.” And the crowd reaction? Everyone laughed.
I wonder why the change? Did word come down from on high that it was finally time to start cracking down? Or did some local cop finally snap and decide he’d had enough?
Cabin Fever
Spring feels just around the corner, although in reality it’s still another month away. I remain deep in hibernation mode, sleeping longer hours and having little luck dragging myself out of the apartment in the morning for some exercise before work.
The Siren Call
Nagano is abuzz with talk about the Starbucks that will be opening this summer near the station. Poor Tully’s (already established here) just doesn’t have the sexy brand power of the green and white siren.
An article in a local paper last week told of a woman who collected 3,000 signatures on a petition asking Starbucks to come to Nagano. Turns out, according to a Starbucks rep, the company already had plans to do so. Hurry up, the impatient fans cried! Hosting the Winter Olympics was so last millennium; in order to be a truly important city, Nagano must have a Starbucks.
Be Very, Very Afraid
I can’t decide whether to laugh or cry about how pathetically easy it is to mock the U.S. government’s new ready.gov web site.
The site, created by the Department of Homeland Security, offers tips to help Americans prepare for the terrorist attacks that are expected ANY DAY NOW!
Apparently, (and, to paraphrase Johnny Carson: I did not know this) you should move away from a nuclear blast.
In an effort to be a good citizen, I added some additional text to the original (see orange text above) that should clear up any misunderstandings.
Ready.gov also helpfully informs us that there is less radiation the further you move away from the epicenter of a “dirty bomb” blast. Please, for the love of god, stay as far away from these bomb targets as possible (The only target currently listed on the web site is Austin, TX, but I’m sure that’s just a temporary oversight and more target information will soon be added.). Also, you should minimize time spent frolicking in radiation.
Random Links
Domo Darko. Starring Domo-kun, and set to Gary Jules’ beautiful remake of Tears For Fears’ Mad World, which was used in the movie, Donnie Darko. (Another Domo-kun site, this one explaining that when domo-kun is in a bad mood, he breaks wind.) Thanks for the Domo Darko link, Greg.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The Kids look more gorgeous than ever. Someone please put them back on TV on a regular basis.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
If there’s anyone (after the Bush administration, of course) that deserves to be relentlessly mocked, it’s television news. Here’s a recent bit from Jon Stewart’s excellent The Daily Show that manages to kill two birds with one stone.
Governor Domoto In A Poppy Garden
I really like this photo, which was taken by Joi Ito. I had to crop the original photo to work in this context; unfortunately, the crop doesn’t look as good as the original, full-sized photo (which you can find here).
The woman in the photo is Chiba Governor Akiko Domoto, one of a rare breed of independent, reformist leaders in Japan. Chiba Prefecture borders Tokyo, and appears to have a relationship to that famous city similar to the one between New York City and New Jersey (at least in terms of popular perception).
I like her pose (and poise), and the camera dangling from her neck. And I like that even though I can’t see her face, I can imagine a smile.
What America Wants…
More than 90 percent of the Turkish public opposes allowing U.S. troops to use their nation as a northern front from which to wage war on Iraq. And yet the U.S. government continues to use strong-arm tactics and financial bribery to convince the Turkish government to go against the wishes of its people.
How can the U.S. act this way and still claim to support freedom and democracy? This is only the latest (and certainly not the most egregious) in a long line of American foreign policy actions which contradicts the values America supposedly holds dear. How can Americans be surprised at the rising tide of anti-American sentiment throughout the world?
The U.S. government is certainly on a rampage when it comes to trampling the free will of sovereign peoples (Americans included) as well as trashing the remaining vestiges of good will toward America.
When exactly is it that we’ll all start feeling safe?
Scissor Sisters
Keep your ears open for Scissor Sisters. Their debut album will be out sometime soon. An advance copy of said album mysteriously ended up in my possession here in Japan, and I’ve been listening to it non-stop for the past week.
Their cover of Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb as channeled through the Bee Gees has already been generating interest. But the whole album is excellent.
A few songs from the album are posted on the band’s site, but the quality is not so great. Head over to their label’s site for a chance to listen to (or download) a few good-quality MP3s.