Life & Bike

Christmas illumination

2009-12-21T19:52:00.003+09:00

In this season, Christmas season, we can see illuminations in many places, including private house. This a nearby house with decorative lights.

I am not interested in decorating my house with this type of illumination, but I like seeing them.

good weather for surfers

2009-12-13T17:52:00.003+09:00

Today, it was cloudy, and a little bit rainy. But, I rode my bike for about 2 hours in this bad condition.

However, I saw a lot of surfers enjoying this bad weather on my way. Big waves make it possible for them to ride surf boards.

acute hepatitis

2009-10-18T09:40:00.013+09:00

Last Thursday, I went to a nearby "clinic" to see a doctor because I could not recognize any improvement on my disease. He said that people who have got influenza have normally about five days high body temperature. "Do not mind!"

But, the blood tests showed the abnormal level of the ability of my liver.

Quickly, he introduced me another doctor in a relatively big hospital to get more detailed diagnosis.

Finally, a new doctor diagnosed my disease as "acute hepatitis" . He said that generally the main cause of acute hepatitis is by infection of virus, but in this case he could not identify it. The treatment policy is "to rest quietly", staying in a bed or sitting on a chair. There is no special treatment for it, like injection, drug.

I will go to the hospital tomorrow to see the doctor, hoping to hear good result of my blood tests.

P.S.

Day-------AST-----ALT-----ALP-----CRP-----γ-GTP

10/15-----245-----406-------561-----3.25-----210

10/19-----279----- 517----- 1106-----2.16-----306

10/22-----308-----545-----1542-----0.58-----311

10/26-----230-----465-----2116-----0.19-----344

10/29-----179-----362-----2364-----0.52-----309

11/05-----113-----257-----1427-----0.11------187

11/19------28------52------489-----0.01-------78

*The last day, the doctor said me that "you are just recovering, you do not have to see me again."

"hisashiburi"(for the first time in a long time)

2009-11-28T18:50:00.004+09:00

IMG_2596.JPG, originally uploaded by bikenglish.

Today, I rode my bike for the first time in a long time. I had decided to abstain doing it for a while in order to treat acute hepatitis. I could not do it for about 45 days. It was a little bit cold, but fine, so I enjoyed it for about an hour.

"Saudi de Oo-ame"(flood in Saudi Arabia)

2009-12-01T06:01:00.004+09:00

I have learned that it was heavily rained in the end of November in Saudi Arabia. The news said the amount of rain in the day was over the total amount of rain that they have in a usual year.

I wonder that it might be by the effect of climate change.

”Matsumoto-sarin-incident”

2009-12-09T05:06:00.008+09:00

Yesterday, I had a chance to listen to a lecture by a victim in "Matsumoto-sarin-incident"（松本サリン事件） that happened in 1994. He talked about his valuable and very hard experience in his speech. He was certainly one of victims, but at first the police and media had treated him as a suspect. And this wrong condition continued for about one year. He had become a true victim after the police announced that the true criminal were the believers in "Aum-Shinrikyou"(オウム真理教).

After the lecture, I saw a message written by the speaker in the hall. I was a little bit impressed with it. I try to translate it into English.

「人を憎んだり、恨んだりする行為は人生をつまらないものにしてしまう」

"Hate, or grudge lets your life something dull."
"To hate others, or to hold a grudge against others spoil a person's life."
I am not confident in this translation, so I welcome your correction.

Obama's "ojigi"

2009-11-23T07:46:00.006+09:00

Several media said American conservatives got angry after seeing this photo. They said that it seemed that Obama expressed apology to Japanese Emperor. But I don't think that most people in Japan thought so. They only thought he is a very polite man.

I also have learned that he said in an interview that "I would like to go to Hiroshima or Nagasaki in his this presidential term". I am very interested in whether he would express apology about using atomic bomb by the USA during World War 2 when he visit to Hiroshima or Nagasaki or not. Or, he does the visit without expressing any apology to create "the world without nuclear weapons"?

a wedding ceremony

2009-11-25T20:37:00.002+09:00

IMG_2561.JPG, originally uploaded by bikenglish.

Last Monday, I took part in my nephew-in-law's wedding ceremony. The bridegroom is 20 years old and the bride is 21 years old. So, they are a very young couple. They have a special reason to hurry their marriage, but I cannot write it here.

After the ceremony, the party called "Hirouen"（披露宴） in Japanese was held. It was filled with very happy atmosphere. But, unfortunately, there was an unpleasant thing to me in this party. The participants were permitted to smoke, there were a lot of smokers in the party. I don't have a habit to smoke and dislike it. Recently, in Japan, smoking is banned in almost public area. I inhaled bad air in a long time.

very expensive "Eda-mame"

2009-11-12T16:39:00.001+09:00

On October 10, I took part in "Eda-mame-gari"（枝豆狩り） at "Syousuke-mura"（正助村） in Munakata-city with my daughter. The "Eda-mame-gari" is not so popular like "Mikan-gari"（みかん狩り）, so this was my first experience. But, an accident happened before we got to "Syousuke-mura".

"Syousuke-mura" locates in countryside, so there aren't so many signals on its near roads, we can drive smoothly. On a straight part of a road, I drove my car over legal limits.

Suddenly, a police car appeared on my way. A police man stopped me. He said "you were speeding, 20km/h over, the fine is 15,000yen!!"

Of course, I regretted that I was speeding. But, I thought that I have to pay more attention to the speed during driving because recently I had a tendency to drive without considering legal limits.

People call this kind of patrol by police "nezumi-tori"（ネズミ捕り）, a mouse trap, in their slung.

"Eda-mame-gari" was very enjoyable. Its fee was 500yen, a staff gave us a 80cm-long rope and said "you can get as many stems with "eda-mame" as you can tie them with the rope. Finally, we got a lot of "eda-mame" that was worth more than 2,000yen in store' price.

The day's evening, my friend who loves fishing gave me a fish named "matou-dai"（マトウダイ） that he fished on the day. I processed it into "sashimi"（刺身） and ate it with "eda-mame" at dinner.

*But, two days later, I developed acute hepatitis and convalesced at home for four weeks.

global warming creats a new kind of rice

2009-11-14T10:30:00.007+09:00

Recently, I have learned a new kind of rice that was developed by a laboratory in Fukuoka prefecture. The rice's name is "geknki-tsukushi", and its feature is to resist hot summer and to produce good amount of rice with good taste.

These days, I often feel the influence of climate change. But, I am impressed with the effort of engineers in laboratory to develop the new rice that adjusts to climate change.

I have already eaten the rice, it is very good, I think.

I try to translate this Japanese sentence on the labeling information into English.

「『元気つくし』は、温暖化に強く、おいしいお米です。近年、温暖化の影響で８～９月の気温が高い状態が続いています。この影響で、米粒充実不足により、食味や品質が低下する傾向が見られます。そこで、福岡県農業総合試験場では、平成10年より新品種の開発に取り組み、その努力の結果、暑さに強くおいしい新品種が誕生しました。」

""geniki-tuskushis" is rice that is strong against global warming and tastes very good. In recent years, it has continued that the temperature in every August and September is higher than usual years under global warming. We have recognized a tendency that the shortage of rice piece makes rice's quality and taste. So, the agricultural laboratory in Fukuoka prefecture 【in my direct translation】（福岡県農業総合試験場） had started to develop a new kind of rice since 1998（平成20年）, as the result of its efforts, the new rice that is strong against hot weather and good taste was born."

New Infuenza

2009-10-12T20:31:00.002+09:00

I might have got "New Influenza", my body temperature has been more than 38.5 Celsius.

Please wait for new archives until I will recover from this bad condition.

"Hiraodai"

2009-10-04T20:30:00.009+09:00

平尾台０９

Yesterday, I took three women to "Hirodai" to see "susuki". They are about thirty years old, but do not have ~~"steady"~~ a significant other,so they are seeking good relationship with a man. So, in this excursion, there was another purpose that I gave a chance them to meet with good men.

But, this time, I was sorry that I could not introduce suitable men to them. I will make another meeting chance to them at the end of November.

However, I was a little bit satisfied with that day's result because they seemed to enjoy the nature of "Hirao-dai" in spite of the lack of good meeting. I took several photos and you can see them on my web album.

"Ojigi"

2009-10-06T20:37:00.004+09:00

We often see a poster that shows a worker doing "ojigi"（お辞儀） at a construction site. But, last Sunday, I found a moving version of "ojigi" on a road. It is very interesting, I think.

My new bike got here!

2009-09-29T10:48:00.012+09:00

I had ordered a bike shop to replace the frame of my bike from "Klein" to "Anchor". The new bike came on last Sunday!

The Klein's frame is made from aluminum, so it is a little bit bold to keep its strength. I had wanted a thinner frame bike because I thought that it looks better.

The new frame is made from chromium molybdenum steel that is said to keep strength with thinner pipe. The frame maker is "Anchor" that is a well-known company, Bridgestone's bland name for bike.

I have not yet ridden this bike for a long ride, I am looking forward to riding it next Sunday.

"Ashinaga-bachi"

2009-09-22T20:08:00.004+09:00

Several days ago, I found "Ashinaga-bachi no su"（アシナガバチの巣）, paper wasp's nest in my house's garden when I got rid of weeds. It had very good size, so I took this photo.

Paper wasp is said a kind of "Eki-chu"（益虫） in Japan because it catches caterpillars in fields to eat them. In this case, "Eki" means "beneficial" and "chu" means "insect".

P.S. I have learned this word "paper wasp" just when I would write this article. But, in this case, I think that the Japanese word "Ashinaga-bachi" gets its feature better than the English.

"Chewing-gum"

2009-09-19T20:06:00.007+09:00

Last Thursday, I came across this article in Asahi newspaper. I thought it was a little bit interesting. We often can see this type of headline using "word play".

In this case, the chairman told the mayor not to chew gum during the mayor's speech. In Japanese, "議長は市長に対して「答弁中は（チュウイン）ガムをかまないように」と注意した"(gichou-wa-shichou-ni-taishite-toubenchu-wa-gamu-wo-kamanaiyouni-to-chuui-shita). The writer used this headline because both word's pronunciation are similar.

”Higan-bana”

2009-09-16T19:54:00.012+09:00

Yesterday, I found these "Higan-bana"（彼岸花） in the neighborhood. "Higan-bana" is a representative flower in this season, but it is a little bit earlier than usual, I think. We often see the flower near a rice paddy.

In my Japanese-English dictionary, "Higan" is translated into "the equinoctial week". In this period, most people in Japan visit their family grave to honor their ancestors.

P.S. There is a song named "Man-jyu-sya-ka"（曼珠紗華）. "Momoe Yamaguchi"（山口百恵）" sung it and "Man-jyu-sya-ka" is another name of "Higan-bana".

Jero sings "Kiku-masamune"

2009-09-12T07:59:00.005+09:00

When I heard his this song on a TV program, I was a lttle impressed that he is a very talented "Enka-kasyu"（演歌歌手）. How dou you feel from it?

Kiva

2009-09-08T22:31:00.007+09:00

I have loaned $50 to small entrepreneurs in developing countries through "Kiva". $26.04 has been repaid, and I withdrew $15 from it. This time, I decided to buy a wristband and a lanyard by using it and I received them on this Monday.

I have learned about "Kiva" through the VOA Special English. It is a very good way to support people in developing countries, I think.

"Nori-pi" beat out "politics"

2009-08-23T08:29:00.008+09:00

Campaigning for Aug. 30 Lower House election officially started on Aug. 19. But, ordinary people (including me) are more interested in the "Nori-pi" issue than politics.

This is an ad of a Japanese popular weekly magazine named "Syuukan-Bunshun"（週刊文春） that I came across on Aug. 20. I thought that it is interesting that "Nori-pi" issues occupied more space than the prediction for seats of Lower House when I saw it. Japan is a very peaceful country, and I like this situation very much.

"Nori-pi" is a nickname of actress Noriko Sakai who was arrested on Aug.9 on suspicion of possessing illegal stimulants.

This time, I try to explain about "Manmosu-rari-pi" that you can find in upper-right place in this ad.

Noriko Sakai used to use her unique speaking style called "Nori-pi-go"（のりピー語） when she acted as a pop idol. In "Nori-pi-go", if you want to say that "I am very happy"（（わたしは）とてもうれしいです。）, it is translated into "(I am) Manmosu-ure-pi"（マンモスうれピー）.

Manmosu is "mammoth" that means "very". And "pi"（ピー） is placed for the last part of "ureshii"（うれしい）, "shii"（しい）.

"Rari" is a very slung word. We use this word to express a condition that people look very drunken because of some drug. It is used usually as a verb,"rari-ru"（ラリる）.

But, an adjective, "rari-sii" does not exist, so "Manmosu-rari-pi" is not right expression in "Nori-pi-go". But, the writer of a magazine used it as a kind of "word play".

P.S. I have another explanation about "Monmosu-rari-pi". An idol once called "Nori-pi" has become a suspect who is said to use illegal drug. So, now, "Nori-pi" become "Rari-pi".

a stranger's visit

2009-09-06T11:26:00.005+09:00

Last night, my daughter found a bat in my house before going to bed. I captured it and released it out of my house.

I was sorry that I had not taken a movie of a bat circling in a room.

"Ikebana"

2009-09-05T07:32:00.003+09:00

IMG_2665.JPG, originally uploaded by bikenglish.

A group of women at my work office have a self-learning class for "Ikebana"（生け花）, flower arrangement, every Thursday. It is a good way to enjoy every day life, I think.

I will continue to add photos of "Ikebana" to my "photostream".

"Shiroi-Kusuri"

2009-08-29T18:02:00.003+09:00

Now, I can find songs named "Shiroi-Kusuri" in Youtube. A "Vocaloid" sings changed lyrics on a melody of "Aoi-usagi" that is Noriko Sakai's hit song. Of course, it tells her story about illegal drug.

I think this is the best one of several versions.

a scene in a train

2009-08-25T20:45:00.003+09:00

I took this photo in a train this morning. If he sitted in the seat in right form, and right young man placed his bag on his knees, three person could sit in their seats.

Pelosi has already visited Hiroshima

2009-08-04T20:19:00.008+09:00

~~In recent days,~~ Recently, I often come across the query of whether Obama will visit Hiroshima ~~find a question that the visit to Hiroshima by Obama will realize~~ or not. This dispute can be seen in media in Japan many times after the President refereed in Plague about the responsibly of the USA that used the first atomic bomb.

By the way, I have learned that Nancy Pelosi has already visited Hiroshima last year when I read the article in Asahi several days ago. I had never known the fact by that time. As my excuse, most of people in Japan paid their attention to the sudden resignation of the former prime minister when Pelosi visited Hiroshima.

In this article, she said that "it was a very impressive tour. I would like to take my family members there next time." This visit is a private one, not an official? I am a little bit surprised at her this saying.

If she was really impressed with the exhibit at Hiroshima, she should say that "I strongly recommend the next president to visit Hiroshima."