Bikes do not run faster than automobiles, so Bikes are safer than automobiles.
Automobiles are bigger, heavier, and faster than bikes. It is dangerous when a bike collides with a car. If there were few automobiles on the road, bikes would be much safer.
Some European countries forbid cars to enter the center of city in order to decrease traffic accidents. The Netherlands and Germany are famous for their bike policies which promote using a bike.
On the other hand, the Japanese government has not placed emphasis on using bikes.
Japanese transportation mainly consists of automobiles. Japan is a backward country in this respect.
6/18/2009
The tumble
I tumbled off bicycle yesterday when I was cycling in Yonezawa city. This tumble was the second tumble in my life after riding sports bikes. The first tumbled happened 3 years ago.
My bike's left handlebar bumped against a guard rail, and I was thrown out into the street. My right arm and my right shoulder came into contact with the street. These parts were scratched and were internally bleeding. The would was not serious since I was wearing a bike helmet and gloves.
I went to a surgery, and was examined. The doctor disinfected the wounds with alcohol. It was very painful. There was a possibility of broken bones, then the doctor took X-rays of my right arm and right shoulder. Fortunately, there was no broken bones, but there was still a possibility of a dislocation of my right shoulder. The doctor told me that I should visit the doctors office tomorrow.
It is rather ironic that I wrote about the advantages of cycling yesterday, but I injured myself while on a bike!
My bike's left handlebar bumped against a guard rail, and I was thrown out into the street. My right arm and my right shoulder came into contact with the street. These parts were scratched and were internally bleeding. The would was not serious since I was wearing a bike helmet and gloves.
I went to a surgery, and was examined. The doctor disinfected the wounds with alcohol. It was very painful. There was a possibility of broken bones, then the doctor took X-rays of my right arm and right shoulder. Fortunately, there was no broken bones, but there was still a possibility of a dislocation of my right shoulder. The doctor told me that I should visit the doctors office tomorrow.
It is rather ironic that I wrote about the advantages of cycling yesterday, but I injured myself while on a bike!
Advantages of bicycle commuting
Bicycle commuting has become popular in Japan recently. I am going to write about the merits of bicycle commuting.
There are 3 advantages to bicycle commuting.
The advantage list.
1.Health advantages
2.Economic advantages
3.Quality-of-life advantages
1.Health advantages
The best thing about bicycle commuting is that you can exercise daily. Most people do not exercise daily after graduation. Many people get fat because they do not exercise.
Satoshi Hikita, a celebrity in Japan, was quoted as saying that bicycle commuting was attractive because one could lose weight. He lost 15 kg. Another celebrity named Haruka Takachiho lost 24kg, and I lost 15 kg in six months. These figures are so attractive that people get interested in bicycle commuting when they hear these stories.
2.Economic advantages
If you make use of bicycle in stead of a car or train, then you can save money.
Having car is particularly expensive. Bike commuters can save on gas, oil changes, brake repairs, tires, car washes, parking fees, and a gym membership.
3.Quality-of-life advantages
You notice the change in seasons clearly when you cycle. You become familiar with your town through cycling. I cycled 3,000 km in Nagoya city in a year. I know Nagoya city very well like the locals because of the cycling I had done while living there.
Bikes are the best measure for the environment, possible even more than walking because walking takes more energy than cycling.
Bikes are good for not only yourself but also earth.
There are 3 advantages to bicycle commuting.
The advantage list.
1.Health advantages
2.Economic advantages
3.Quality-of-life advantages
1.Health advantages
The best thing about bicycle commuting is that you can exercise daily. Most people do not exercise daily after graduation. Many people get fat because they do not exercise.
Satoshi Hikita, a celebrity in Japan, was quoted as saying that bicycle commuting was attractive because one could lose weight. He lost 15 kg. Another celebrity named Haruka Takachiho lost 24kg, and I lost 15 kg in six months. These figures are so attractive that people get interested in bicycle commuting when they hear these stories.
2.Economic advantages
If you make use of bicycle in stead of a car or train, then you can save money.
Having car is particularly expensive. Bike commuters can save on gas, oil changes, brake repairs, tires, car washes, parking fees, and a gym membership.
3.Quality-of-life advantages
You notice the change in seasons clearly when you cycle. You become familiar with your town through cycling. I cycled 3,000 km in Nagoya city in a year. I know Nagoya city very well like the locals because of the cycling I had done while living there.
Bikes are the best measure for the environment, possible even more than walking because walking takes more energy than cycling.
Bikes are good for not only yourself but also earth.
6/16/2009
Folding Bicycles
The best thing about folding bicycles is that they can be broken down into a more compact size. You can fit the bikes into a car or train easily.
The bad thing about them are that they cannot cycle fast as well as Cross bikes or Road bikes. They are more expensive than Cross bikes as well. They usually cost more than 100,000 yen at a minimum.
I believe that my folding bike is well worth the cost and have traveled a lot with it.
The bad thing about them are that they cannot cycle fast as well as Cross bikes or Road bikes. They are more expensive than Cross bikes as well. They usually cost more than 100,000 yen at a minimum.
I believe that my folding bike is well worth the cost and have traveled a lot with it.
The review of “A major poverty country; the United States (貧困大国アメリカ)”
The paperback pocket edition, “A major poverty country: The United States(貧困大国アメリカ)” had received the 2009 paperback first prize in Japan.
The book included five big problems in the US.
The problems list
1.The obesity in poor people. Poor people can't buy healthy foods because of poverty. They have to eat junk foods which is high in calories, but isn't nutritional.
2.The privatization of State-Owned Firms. The result of the privatization led to the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief, and the fall of educational quality.
3.People had to pay a lot money to get insurance, and many people went bankrupt because of the insurance fees.
4.Poor high school students choose the military option, in order to escape their poverty.
5.The working poor took part in the Iraq War as private citizens.
Through this book, you can learn the aspects of the US which are not usually broadcast on TV.
Japanese sometimes regards the US as a model of development. The Japanese government has tried to follow the U.S policy in many ways.
We have to know the present situation in the U.S. The privatization and free competition may not be the best solution.
The book included five big problems in the US.
The problems list
1.The obesity in poor people. Poor people can't buy healthy foods because of poverty. They have to eat junk foods which is high in calories, but isn't nutritional.
2.The privatization of State-Owned Firms. The result of the privatization led to the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief, and the fall of educational quality.
3.People had to pay a lot money to get insurance, and many people went bankrupt because of the insurance fees.
4.Poor high school students choose the military option, in order to escape their poverty.
5.The working poor took part in the Iraq War as private citizens.
Through this book, you can learn the aspects of the US which are not usually broadcast on TV.
Japanese sometimes regards the US as a model of development. The Japanese government has tried to follow the U.S policy in many ways.
We have to know the present situation in the U.S. The privatization and free competition may not be the best solution.
6/12/2009
Phonics
I am learning Phonics. Phonics is the method which teaches how to connect the sounds of spoken English with letters or groups of letters.
I had learned the phonetic symbol once before, but I could not pronounce them well because the phonetic symbols were not connected with words. Then I couldn't make use of the phonetic symbols.
It is too strange for Japanese to understand English pronunciation, because there are many unknown sounds in English like voiceless sounds (consonants) and unknown vowels.
Phonics can teach us how to pronounce English correctly, and give English learners confidence regarding of pronunciation. I think that this is the most useful effect aspect of Phonics.
Phonics is not well known in Japan. Japanese do not learn Phonics in both compulsory schools and high schools. I regret that Phonics is not taught in Japan.
***reference
Japanese Google search result
276,000hit, Hatsuon kigou発音記号 (phonetic symbol in Japanese)
85,000hit, fonikkusu フォニックス(Phonics in Japanese )
19,000hit, Phonics
Phonetic symbol is more popular than Phonics in Japan.
I had learned the phonetic symbol once before, but I could not pronounce them well because the phonetic symbols were not connected with words. Then I couldn't make use of the phonetic symbols.
It is too strange for Japanese to understand English pronunciation, because there are many unknown sounds in English like voiceless sounds (consonants) and unknown vowels.
Phonics can teach us how to pronounce English correctly, and give English learners confidence regarding of pronunciation. I think that this is the most useful effect aspect of Phonics.
Phonics is not well known in Japan. Japanese do not learn Phonics in both compulsory schools and high schools. I regret that Phonics is not taught in Japan.
***reference
Japanese Google search result
276,000hit, Hatsuon kigou発音記号 (phonetic symbol in Japanese)
85,000hit, fonikkusu フォニックス(Phonics in Japanese )
19,000hit, Phonics
Phonetic symbol is more popular than Phonics in Japan.
Cross bike (Hybrid bicycle)
Cross bikes are suitable for bike beginners. They have the characteristics of road and mountain bikes.
A feature of cross bikes is that it is designed for general-purpose utility or commuter cycling on paved and unpaved roads, paths, and trails. You can cycle 15 to 30 k.p.h using a cross bike.
Cross bikes are inexpensive. You can buy a good cross bike if you have 50,000 yen(about 500 dollars). Road bikes are much more expensive than cross bikes. Road bikes usually cost more than 100,000 yen at a minimum.
You should buy a high quality bike after you have become familiar with cross bikes. You should know what you really prefer in bikes by that time.
My first bike was a Raleigh cross bike. Raleigh is a British bike. That bike got me into bikes.
A feature of cross bikes is that it is designed for general-purpose utility or commuter cycling on paved and unpaved roads, paths, and trails. You can cycle 15 to 30 k.p.h using a cross bike.
Cross bikes are inexpensive. You can buy a good cross bike if you have 50,000 yen(about 500 dollars). Road bikes are much more expensive than cross bikes. Road bikes usually cost more than 100,000 yen at a minimum.
You should buy a high quality bike after you have become familiar with cross bikes. You should know what you really prefer in bikes by that time.
My first bike was a Raleigh cross bike. Raleigh is a British bike. That bike got me into bikes.
The operation
I had an operation last Monday to remove an Atherom from my neck. Atherom is something like a pimple. I had never been operated on before, so this operation was the first in my life.
The operation procedure was simple. The doctor used a local anesthesia, cut open the affected part, removed Atherom, and sewed the affected part back up. That's it. It took about 30 minutes to finish the operation.
The most painful procedure was the injection of anesthesia. The rest of the procedures did not hurt because of anesthesia.
Two doctors and two nurses performed the operation. It cost about 5,000 yen. I thought it was cheap. I saved 70% off the top because of the national insurance scheme.
The operation procedure was simple. The doctor used a local anesthesia, cut open the affected part, removed Atherom, and sewed the affected part back up. That's it. It took about 30 minutes to finish the operation.
The most painful procedure was the injection of anesthesia. The rest of the procedures did not hurt because of anesthesia.
Two doctors and two nurses performed the operation. It cost about 5,000 yen. I thought it was cheap. I saved 70% off the top because of the national insurance scheme.
6/09/2009
The review of The Others
I thought “The Others” was a good horror film. The story was set in 1945 after the WW2. The main characters lived in an old Western style house. The atmosphere was pretty weird! I loved it.
Nicole Mary Kidman played the leading part. Her acting was good, especially when she was annoyed and frighted. I have become a fan of her.
This movie was my favorite. “The Others” was the best movie that I have seen recently.
Notice!
If you have not seen this movie, do not continue to read this article which includes spoilers.
I deduced that the three servants were dead, and the family all was dead, and I thought at first that this story was the same as other major horror films.
However, I could not have predicted the last mystery; who opened doors, who played the piano, and opened the curtains. I thought other ghosts did that. It was apparently wrong.
Other living people who Nicole could not see did it! This movie was described from the viewpoint of dead people. I was surprised at this fact. I was misled. I was deeply impressed by this story. So the number of stars I give it is 5 based on the Amazon rating system.
PS
The English used in the movie was British English, wasn't it? Their pronunciation seemed different from the U.S. This old polite English seemed favorable to me, though.
Nicole Mary Kidman played the leading part. Her acting was good, especially when she was annoyed and frighted. I have become a fan of her.
This movie was my favorite. “The Others” was the best movie that I have seen recently.
Notice!
If you have not seen this movie, do not continue to read this article which includes spoilers.
I deduced that the three servants were dead, and the family all was dead, and I thought at first that this story was the same as other major horror films.
However, I could not have predicted the last mystery; who opened doors, who played the piano, and opened the curtains. I thought other ghosts did that. It was apparently wrong.
Other living people who Nicole could not see did it! This movie was described from the viewpoint of dead people. I was surprised at this fact. I was misled. I was deeply impressed by this story. So the number of stars I give it is 5 based on the Amazon rating system.
PS
The English used in the movie was British English, wasn't it? Their pronunciation seemed different from the U.S. This old polite English seemed favorable to me, though.
Are Japanese websites disappointing?
Mochio Umeda, a celebrity regarding internet culture published an article a few days ago which has been discussed in certain circles lately.
He said that Japanese culture was not as good as the U.S. He stated that few people preferred to talk about intellectual topics, but rather talked about trivial matters.
Many people rebuked the article. One opinion was that he did not know enough about Japanese sub-cultures which was major topic on Japanese websites, and did not know about the cellular phone web culture.
These fields were highly advanced. I also can rebut his opinion easily. A web-sharing site called nico-nico douga is better than Youtube. Japanese high school students can and do offer counter arguments from the view point of the cellular phone web culture.
I think it is true that intellectual fields are not as progressive when compared with the U.S, but other fields may be better.
He said that Japanese culture was not as good as the U.S. He stated that few people preferred to talk about intellectual topics, but rather talked about trivial matters.
Many people rebuked the article. One opinion was that he did not know enough about Japanese sub-cultures which was major topic on Japanese websites, and did not know about the cellular phone web culture.
These fields were highly advanced. I also can rebut his opinion easily. A web-sharing site called nico-nico douga is better than Youtube. Japanese high school students can and do offer counter arguments from the view point of the cellular phone web culture.
I think it is true that intellectual fields are not as progressive when compared with the U.S, but other fields may be better.
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