Like Nails on a Chalkboard

 

For the most part I am an easy going person.  Okay, that's probably an exaggeration, or probably an outright lie.  A lot of stuff bothers me.  I created this blog so I would have space to vent my frustrations with the world.  Today, it has to do with things people and their inability to pronounce things in Japanese.

What's so difficult?

I know it is already too late for words that entered English in the 1980's.  Nobody will every pronounce karaoke correctly.  The same goes for words like karate, sake,  and hibachi.  Sometimes there is nothing we could do; our inability was decided by companies and names were changed to reflect that.  Words like Mazda, Datsun, Godzilla (all of which are not written, spelled, or pronounced that way in Japan) were given to us, already altered.

The sad facts are that we change lots of words to English friendly pronunciation.  I certainly don't pronounce Volkswagen the way my German/Austrian/ Swiss students do.  I could (though I let them think it is impossible) but I don't.  It wasn't until I was in my mid twenties that I realized the word Braun, sounded exactly like brown. As a Canadian, I try a little harder to pronounce things in French--but don't we all?  I can't do that lisp like sound from Spain...though I have tried.

But I digress.....

Having a fondness for Japanese, I do wish it were pronounced better on television.  Maybe I am playing favourites, but it's my blog and I can do what I want.  And I want people to pronounce things in Japanese better.

Several things sparked this rant.  The first is that stores are now selling Japanese style breadcrumbs.  I think this is great, because the breadcrumbs are a great product.  What I don't think is great is that people can't pronounce "panko".  It drives me absolutely nuts every time that commercial is on.  It has gotten so bad that I have to quickly change the channel.

The second thing is the TV show American Ninja--no, I am not going to blather on about the word ninja, and stuff like that.  On the show, the final obstacle is called Mount Midoriyama...... yama means mountain.  Mount Midori Mountain.   It's worse than fingernails on a chalkboard.  Couldn't anyone do some research before they decided that was the title of the final obstacle.  Mount Rushmore Mountain?  Mount Everest Mountain?  Are your ears bleeding too?

Am I asking too much?

Making Life More Difficult

 

 

Sometimes modern electronics are frustrating.  Who thought that charging things up while you are using you computer is in any way easier than plugging them into the wall?  I don't have an unlimited number of USB ports.  I can't plug in everything.

Yes, it isn't difficult.  I agree.  However, every time I unplug the printer to plug in my MP3 player, or my Kobo, or my camera, or any other device, the printer decides to go into test mode and waste my ink spitting out a useless piece of paper.

Basically, it's a pain in the ass.

I have seen iPhone users utilize some kind of wall charger, but that seems to be the exception as opposed to the rule.  Of course, I have also seen a bunch of these people forget their charger in the wall and walk away.  So I guess that really isn't a solution.

I guess, in the future, homes and offices will have USB charging plugs right alongside the electrical outlet.  I am eagerly awaiting that day.

Snowplow--More Priorities Out of Whack

Isn't it always the way.  You get all your winter crap on:  your boots, your gloves, your toque (winter hat, for all you non Canadians).  You get out there, work up a sweat (even worse sometimes, but I don't really want to joke a bout some poor old guy having a heart attack) and finally the driveway and sidewalk are clean.  Then, you hear that dreaded noise.

The snowplow.  Invaluable for making the roads clean, driveable and safe, and perhaps the most frustrating device ever created for the man or woman who has just finished plowing their driveway.  All that work gone for nought.

I have no idea  when the snow plow was invented.  I know they have been around since World War II at least.  I live in a country where they come in all shapes and sizes.  I've seen huge ones, and ones that fit onto an army jeep.  Someday, some half drunk backyard mechanical MacGyver wizard will probably rig one up to a bicycle. (I did a quick google search, and its already been done...I should have known)

Nevertheless, despite years of innovation, despite incredible engineering, the snow plow still manages to plow me into or out of my driveway.  Finish cleaning and it will come past my house and form a perfect barrier between me and the street.  Go out for a quick errand (maybe to the beer store) and come back to find that I have to shovel my way back onto my driveway (or try to ram myself through, and get stuck, and not get to drink the beer I just went out to get).

I have heard that there is an invention to prevent this, but I have never seen it.  If it exists, please tell me, or better yet tell the town council, how I can get this machine to plow my street.  We have superfast internet, but we I still face a mountain of snow  before I can go to work.  Once again, our priorities seem completely out of whack.

Goodbye Penny

 

 

I am not sure how I feel about it.  I understand the government's position, but at the same time, I don't understand it.  I use my pennies, and never had a problem using them.  Unlike a lot of people, I do not have a jar of pennies that I have been meaning to roll and take to the bank.

I have some pennies that I consider lucky, and probably wouldn't spend them even if I could.  I have probably found them on the ground while walking, or maybe the date was special... I don't know.  Since we are not talking millions, they will probably just sit in my drawer for the foreseeable future and beyond.

I haven't had my final total rounded up or rounded down yet, but I am sure that it will be weird the first time it happens. I certainly am not looking forward to it, but there really isn't anything I can do about it.

Goodbye penny, goodbye.

Cruel Mother Nature

Oh Mother Nature.  You are a cruel one.  This time, perhaps, you have gone too far.

Today, I awoke to an incredibly warm and sunny day.  Sunny is not unusual, but to be so warm in January only gives us pause to consider.

I heard some people blame this on global warming.  Ah, if only it were that simple.  If only I could find some scientific theory that really accounts for it.  No my friends, this is Mother Nature playing with us.  This is Mother Nature having another laugh at our expense (I was going to write last laugh, but no, this won't be the last time).

All the snow was gone from my front and back yard, revealing all the leaves I wasn't able to pick up before the blanket of snow forgave my lack of gardening ambition.  It was such a cruel reminder that I was shamed into going out and picking up those leaves (in all honesty, these aren't your ordinary leaves, these are more like pods, pods from hell) that littered my yard.  Now, I have a yard waste bag full of leaves that will have to inhabit my garage until the spring.  Oh Mother Nature, why?

Of course, I appreciate the warm day.  I appreciate the chance to have a beer on the deck (maybe fire up that barbeque again).  I appreciate the opportunity to fill my system with vitamin D.  I just fear that you Mother Nature are going to make us pay for this.

Now What?

 

 

So, a deal is done.  Does that mean we forgive and forget?  The answer to this question is no.  I am not proposing we boycott the games, or even turn off the television, or give up the season tickets you've had since you were a child.  I am talking about making some kind of stand.

What that means for people going to the game is a boycott on the merchandise and concessions.  Wouldn't it really hurt them more if they didn't sell any popcorn, or beer, or jerseys?  Wouldn't you be sending an important message that you love hockey, but you don't have to support the marketing, the merchandising, or the price gouging.

Yes, we will be hurting some of the little people by this action, but I don't see a way around it.  Sorry concession stand worker.  We've got to stand up for ourselves and not just meekly go back and suck it up.  We have to show them that we've been the ones hurt in this.  We're the ones that need some kind of compensation.

I don't know what part of merchandising and food sales are included in "hockey related revenue" but I suspect this action will have an effect on both sides. I still side with the players on this deal, but they need to know they are not innocent.

No shirts, no pucks, no family sized cokes, no programs.

Time to take a stand.

Ego and Greed

 

So, after all this time, there is finally movement.  I guess the whole point was to wait until there was no time left to finally get a deal done.  Are these negotiators like high school students waiting until the last minute to do their essays?

Nothing is certain yet, but there seems to be more optimism than at any time this year.  At the very least, sports commentators finally have something to talk about.  Until now, there really hasn't been a lot to report on.   They've talked to every possible person they could.  They've talked to players, to owners, to fans, to the dentists of the players, and even the dog walkers of the players.  If nothing else, I hope this stops.

If it takes a couple of days to get this deal done, then, most likely. they'll talk to all these people again to get their reactions, and fill up air time.

Should it have taken this long?  No, of course not.  Did I think it would take this long.  Yes.  Congratulations ego, greed, and strategy.  You ruined the season for all of us.