Reuters Widget

JALD Orientation, More US-Japan

Had a great (though intensely packed and nonstop) weekend seeing the JALD Orientation through. Excited for the 2011 Delegation and what they will be experiencing.

Also thoroughly enjoyed going to the Consul General Ihara's residence for the JALD dinner on Friday and meeting more JBA folks at their hosted reception on Saturday evening.

In other news, an interesting article I found via Google Alerts, on US-Japan relations and the realization that the alliance is much more than about a base. Plus a good quote from Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell about how important Japan is and how much relations with them are overlooked or underestimated. (At least, that's how the quote is used in this context. One never can be too sure with media.)

Find the article, here.

January 2011

It's going to be a busy year.

The end of 2010 was mostly filled with JALD preparations - finishing up travel and hotel arrangements for the selected delegates and getting ready for Orientation, which happens at the end of this month.

Meanwhile, this week we are hosting a special members' reception here in Los Angeles at Roy's Restaurant in Downtown. Some unfortunate news though - Norm Mineta and Minister Mabuchi, who were both supposed to be in town for the HSR Seminar happening Friday - both cannot make it, due to work duties and cabinet reshuffling/Tokyo duties, respectively.

Being flexible is difficult. But USJC will deal with it appropriately, as it always has and always will. I am positive things will still go smoothly.

Have yet to read Seiji Maehara's speech regarding US-Japan.

And just got news that it all works out nicely for this Thursday's reception. I knew it would. Now etiquette-wise, at least all attendees at the highest levels are on the same plane.

2011 will hold some exciting prospects for the Council though, undoubtedly. The end of January is the JALD program kickoff with Orientation. Next month is the CG-JA Meeting in DC which should be exciting but is kind of off to a late planning start this year. March has a lot in store for JBA and USJC activities, including JBA's 50th Anniversary and the Japan trip for the Delegates. Lots to look forward to!

What to call Americans

I thought this was kind of a US-centric article, but it does raise some good points.

Read from the Economist, here.

It is definitely not the most pressing issue, and the way the article concludes by calling us "USAnians" frankly seems a little ridiculous. But, I guess that's just the nature of the topic anyway. Pretty ridiculous.

Still an interesting topic, that there isn't one all-encompassing term that refers to, or means, "from the United States." I thought that's what the word American was for. Oh well.

Irene and Saki are going to be meeting with us in the office today, so looking forward to a productive day.

JALD has gone very smoothly and rapidly thus far; let's hope that things stay this way. Plans with JANM have been confirmed and it looks like things will play out as we hope. CG-JA Meeting plans have also begun.

Off to meeting now.

China and US - Clean Energy

China has already made some big steps forward in implementing clean energy...what is taking the US so long?

Needless to say, the fact that China has already done this is being used as a way to heckle those who stand in the way of the clean energy initiatives. People here are so dumb - politics are getting in the way of everything useful and necessary. Are we being left behind?

In any case, there is now a joint US-China initiative.

Not sure what this means for US-Japan. Any effect?

A (Progressive?) Rant - or maybe a "whine"

I really think this should be on my other blog, but it doesn't matter. I'm too lazy to log out of my accounts and sign into that one.

The way the world is today is enough to make a person go crazy.

For one, internet comments on blogs drive me nuts, which is why I choose to avoid them in the first place. Just causes a flurry of unproductive emotions and then I feel sullen about our future as Progressives.

Second, there are things like black men (Tyler Perry) making remakes of plays about women of color in a way that is supposed to empower them (For Colored Girls) and then people realizing that the movie is entirely different because instead of taking on the same tone of empowerment, it's something more distorted. I mean, who would have expected that a male could do it the same way, or understand it the same way, that a lot of women have? And I'm talking about those women who were able to draw true life inspiration from that original play or story. I'm not saying it's NEVER possible for it to be done right by a man, but we shouldn't be too surprised when it comes out a different interpretation. Maybe I'm looking at this wrong...but after reading some Bell Hooks I can't help it.

On a work related note, it reminds me of the male speaker who is giving presentations on the "7 Things Affecting Women in Japan." I mean, really? Do I even have to say what is wrong with that picture?

Then third, yesterday on ColorLines, my favorite Progressive blog, I read an article on how Jesse Jackson called a CNN anchor basically "not white enough." Like, what is that supposed to mean? The interracial difficulties just throw my who perspective for a loop. The complexities are simply overwhelming.

And fourth, this stereotype - drawn from a blog entry on the "Dick and Jane" quality of a recent textbook about Mom and Jeff (two separate lessons, I take it ) that seems to be enforcing gender roles and stereotypes - of progressives as being super sensitive and whiny....

since when is it "sensitive" and "whiny" to point out legitimate problems or issues in things like books, or even in our greater society? That totally makes me angry, when instead of listening to the message that is actually being conveyed, people just pin it as not worth any attention and thus dismissing it entirely.

Granted, some progressives do harp on problems too much without adequate problem solving discourse or thought, but really, when someone is talking about these issues, as a fellow progressive, shouldn't we hear this person out? Obviously if it's being said, it's because it holds some sort of significance for this person.

Nobody's perfect, and I'm guilty of this, too. But really.

This makes me almost as mad as getting stuck behind a Prius in traffic that is going 20 mph and has 8 car lengths in front of it the whole way. I mean, really. You'd think someone who cares so much about the environment would at least know HOW to drive the right way and be considerate of other drivers.

Anyway. Back to work....

India and the US are now collaborating on clean energy, too!

California

The organization is bipartisan, but I have to say...

good job California ?

I don't really know.