Patto said...

Patto at 11:36 AM JST - 20th July

Organic farming, home cooking, reducing use of car, hiking for fun, bringing my own shopping bags and chopsticks, unplugging and reducing usage of electronics, installing windows in ceiling to eliminate need for lighting during day, sleeping and rising early. These are all common sense, and as prices rise, more people…

Posted in What do you do in your day-to-day life to conserve energy and protect the environment? at 11:36 AM JST - 20th July
Patto at 01:25 PM JST - 19th July

I admit to feeling better after Coligny's beautiful rant! Republic, I've been a translator in Japan for 20 years, but even I don't know how the Japanese communicate with each other! I am beginning to believe in ESP.

Posted in No substitute for human touch in translating at 01:25 PM JST - 19th July
Patto at 11:21 AM JST - 18th July

I'll be more impressed when wh puts impeachment back on the table. Until then, it's just sweet nothings.

Posted in House Speaker Pelosi calls Bush 'a total failure' at 11:21 AM JST - 18th July
Patto at 01:17 PM JST - 12th July

The Emperors and Empresses are supposed to be gods and goddesses--constantly playing their roles for the benefit of the Japanese nation. Always giving, never receiving except in a ceremonial sense, like the shrine gods, in front of whom we bring the finest gifts, then take them away and consume them…

Posted in Crown prince seeks public understanding for ailing wife at 01:17 PM JST - 12th July
Patto at 11:10 AM JST - 11th July

I miss the long summer evenings spent with friends, but Japan has its own culture, and it is no good asking Japan to be just like America or Australia. Rather than enjoying a long evening, it makes sense to get to bed at an early hour, then get up at…

Posted in What are your views on daylight saving time? at 11:10 AM JST - 11th July
Patto at 03:43 PM JST - 9th July

The comments so far seem to be focused on the perceived privelege of not having to work, suggesting that many here are so unhappy with their jobs they would prefer the trivialization of involuntary homemaking. I think many people are unaware of what the OECD is criticizing in Japan. I…

Posted in OECD raps Japan female underemployment as waste of human resources at 03:43 PM JST - 9th July
Patto at 01:33 PM JST - 6th July

I think the situation has worked out very well from the government's point of view. Students are kept too busy to develop an independent point of view and they develop an aversion to education by the time they reach college age because they have been forced to memorize so much…

Posted in Why don't Japanese speak English better than they do? at 01:33 PM JST - 6th July