Taisei

Hold your horses!

2006-05-16T13:46:00.000-04:00

I realize that some of you (two of you) are going through Taisei withdrawal. I'm very flattered that you enjoy my blog so much, but I'm having writers block which is why you haven't seen anything new from me. Rest assured, I am working on it so stay tuned.

Immigration - History repeats itself

2006-05-03T10:43:00.000-04:00

The issue of Immigration in the US is no doubt a "hot-button" issue right now. But is this a new phenomenon, or just History repeating itself?

For those that were not alive during the last great immigration (when our Grandparents/Great Grandparents came from across the pond), this seems to be something new or unique. What we all must understand or try to remember, is that this is not the first time thousands of people looking for a better life came to the United States. When our families first arrived, they too were met with great opposition from those that were already here. Unfortunately the majority, in any situation, looks down upon the minority and the first wave of immigrants were no exception to this treatment. They had to work hard and make many sacrifices in order to survive in this new land. Their goal was not only to better their own lives, but the lives of their families and future generations to come.

This same scenario is playing out right now as I write this. Those from countries less fortunate than ours are coming to America to pursue a dream, to not merely survive but to thrive and prosper. Like our Great Grandparents a century ago, they too want a chance to live the "American Dream."

Although there is great debate about the right way to handle this new wave of immigration, one thing should be clear, to deny anyone of the "American Dream" is to deny our own existence. Whether we like it or not history repeats itself, so when some say "we should send them all back to where they came," try to remember where you came from and re-think your position (IMHO).

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." Abraham Lincoln

Book Review - "Confucius Lives Next Door"

2006-05-01T10:02:00.000-04:00

Confucius Lives Next Door is one of the best books I've read in a long time, IMHO.

The premise: what living in the East teaches us about living in the West, is a very powerful statement. Society in the East (Japan, China, etc.) is governed by a very different set of moral and ethical standards then we have in the West. Eastern societies, Japan in particular, believe that the "whole" is greater then the individual. While this may seem restrictive in terms of individual expression, the benefits often outweigh the loss by far. For example, some of the safest streets in the world are in Japan, why is that? The fact that every community, from the country side to the big cities are "unified" in their commitment to a safe and harmonious society is the answer. It is this one goal that determines the behavior of all citizens of Japan. From early on, it is not only the parents job, but the job of the Schools to instill in each child the importance of working together and creating an environment of peace. If one child acts out (as children often do) it is not the teacher, but the students peers that bring him/her back into line. From the time they can talk, children learn that keeping the peace is one of the most important responsibilities each person has in life. These "reminders" of proper behavior continue into adulthood as well. Often you will see signs on the street or over a busy highway, reminding citizens to be couteous and respectfull of their fellow man. "Please be curteous to those around you so we all have a happy day." Can you imagine that in the US? Maybe not, but wouldn't it be nice to see such a message?

In the West, more often then not, peoples actions are governed by "Guilt". If I know X, Y, or Z is wrong, then I will feel guilty about doing X, Y, or Z. Guilt is of course normal and a good thing, however it is internal and only affects how you feel about yourself. You can easily rationalize any situation to make yourself feel better about your actions. In the East however, people are governed more or less by "shame". If I know X, Y, or Z is wrong and I do it anyway, then I will be shamed by others around me. People are no longer able to hide behind their own feelings and are forced by society to re-consider their actions. Now, I'm sure you're saying to yourself "the West also shares these values, what's wrong with the West"? Nothing is wrong with the West and our moral system, it is the way we implement our values that needs to be fixed. I believe the short answer to our own shortcomings (drugs, violence, crime, etc.) is education. Children are our future, and it is important that we instill in them the importance of peace and harmony early on when they are most impressionable (IMHO). The breakdown of the "Family" is also to blame, but that's a subject for another post.

These are only two of many ideas that are found in the book "Confucius Lives Next Door." While I love the idea of a unified loving society, I also love the freedoms I often take for granted as a citizen of the US. I believe in Balance though, in all areas of life, so a combination of Eastern and Western values or implementation of these values would be ideal for myself. I'm sure not all would agree, but to disregard another cultures traditions and way of doing things, without ever giving them a chance is the greatest mistake of all, IMHO.

Definitely worth the read!

Cool New Toys

2006-04-28T10:46:00.000-04:00

From time to time I will post some Cool Toys that are either available for purchase or will be available in the near future. Below are a few of my recent favorites.

This is the Sony Reader. The Sony Reader is a ultra portable
device used to read books or other writen text such as PDF files,
word documents, etc.

A library full of books is a thing of the past. Now you can hold up to 100 full length titles in this one device that measures 6.9 x 4.9 x 0.5 (inches), and weighs in at only 8.8 oz. With the same basic idea as the iPod (books instead of music), I can't wait to get my hands on one of these! If you're looking for a Christmas present, look no further!

This little gem is the Motorola H5 Mini ("Mini Blue") Bluetooth
headset.

If you don't know what Bluetooth is, get with the program! Basically, it's a device that eliminates the need for wires. Instead of plugging your hands-free headset into your cell phone, it allows you to keep your phone in your pocket or within 30ft of your body and talk normally using the Bluetooth device. In this case the "Mini Blue" is a relatively small ear-bud that transmits sound through your ear canal to the device. In the world of Bluetooth, smaller is better, so at about 1" this is very cool! Another great Christmas idea for those looking for gifts!

Stop and Smell the Roses - thoughts on "Free Writing" as an exercise.

2006-04-27T11:42:00.000-04:00

I had intended on posting one message per day on my blog, but in writing a response to a friends post, I decided to break from the routine and post my response as a blog.

A fellow Blogger recently posted a blog about the virtues of writing freely, with no subject in mind, as an exercise to see what your sub-conscious mind is up to. (I'm assuming that was the point of the exercise, for the most part?) The following are my thoughts on that post. (original post)

I think in our busy lives and our daily routine, our minds are clouded by the many distractions around us. Although for [you] these distractions liberate your mind, which is great, everyone needs to take a break every now and then and smell the roses (IMHO). You hit it on the head when you said that it is the "unpredictability" that allows [you] to reflect on your life. For me too it's that lack of structure that helps me think, but I also find clarity in silence. At 3am I am at my peak of mental acuity. While it is exciting and refreshing, it can also be a pain in the butt since going back to sleep is usually a dream (nice pun), and my thoughts are all over the map that I end of driving myself crazy!

The most important thing, regardless of how you find clarity, is to just find it (IMHO). To never stop and take a minute to think about who you are and where you're going is dangerous. Without introspection, you run the risk of living your entire life only to die having never found your true self, and that in my opinion is tragic.

New Discovery

2006-04-26T13:34:00.000-04:00

Recently I discovered a place in Cambridge that I never knew existed. It's called The Porter Exchange Mall and it's located in where else, Porter Square. For those who would like to visit Japan but just can't afford the airfare or outrageous prices, the PEM is the answer! There are roughly 10 shops and restaurants/cafes in the PEM, all with a Japanese flavor. Here is a link to the Porter Exchange Website

When I go to the PEM I visit many stores, but my personal favorite is the Kotobukiya Market. Although it's relatively small in size, it's HUGE in content. If they sell it in Japan, most likely you will find it here. My Wife Jaime and I have gone a number of times to buy one of our favorite Japanese treats, Daifuku Mochi. For those that are not familiar with Mochi, it's basically a ball of rice. Daifuku Mochi are special in that they are filled with something in the middle. The traditional filling is "An" which is sweetened Azuki Beans. They are very very tasty, and at 270 calories each they are also very very dangerous!

Some other things we like to buy are Japanese candy like Pocky. Pocky are very skinny bread sticks with a chocolate coating. Also very tasty, but not as bad for you as mochi.

One of the most interesting things to buy at Kotobukiya are the Japanese sodas. One of my favorites is called "Ramune." The special thing about Ramune is not the drink itself, but the bottle it comes in. First of all, it comes in a glass bottle. Right off the bat, that's different. When was the last time you saw glass soda bottles, other then those limited edition coke bottles? The really unique feature though is how you open it. First you begin by removing the plastic top, which later becomes the "opener." Underneath the plastic top is the top of the bottle itself, but the hole you would normally see is sealed with a "marble", of all things? Somehow they use a marble to seal the opening of the bottle, so in order to open it you use the plastic "opener" you just removed and press down on the marble. When the marble releases it makes a loud noise and drops into a small chamber just below the opening. Now you can enjoy the soda. The bottle is designed in such a way that you can't swallow the marble, but instead it jiggles around in the special holding chamber. It's very hard to describe in writing, but that's the basic idea. If you ever visit Kotobukiya, buy a Ramune but be careful, if opened the wrong way you'll spray yourself with soda!

There are also a number of restaurants/cafes in the mall. While I have only eaten at one, I really enjoy looking at the menus. The typical fare is, you guessed it, Japanese but not the type of Japanese food you would expect. While they do offer the basics, sushi, noodles, etc. the really good stuff are the "homestyle" meals. These are dishes that you would normally find at any run of the mill restaurant or household in Japan. Most consist of a plate of rice, some meat, a fried egg, and curry sauce poured on top. It's pretty basic fare, nothing too fancy. At some point I'll actually try one of the homestyle meals and follow up with a review, so look forward to that. The other fun part about going to these homestyle restaurants is that they almost always speak Japanese, unless you look American, then they accommodate you. It's fun to hear the language spoken as it would in Japan. It makes the experience that much more authentic.

In addition to restaurants and shops, there is one bakery that sells awesome baked goods! A favorite of Jaime's and myself are the "An Pan", or rolls filled with An. Unless you get there as soon as they are delivered, the buns are a little cold. There's nothing like popping them into the microwave for a few seconds and eating them that way, mmmmm....mmm.

Well, that's my review of the Porter Exchange Mall. If you're ever in Porter Square, stop in for a look. And remember, tell them I sent you! (actually don't do that, they won't know what the hell you're talking about?!?!)

Food for Thought - Organization, is it necessary?

2006-04-26T09:08:00.000-04:00

How organized is too organized, and what does it say about a person? A few weeks ago my friend Paul and I had this discussion. Paul and I are both admitted "organization freaks". We like everything to be in it's place and have trouble functioning, at least at work, when it's not. But what does all of this mean? Is this a case of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) or do we just like order? According to a study by the University of Texas (Link to study), people who need to have everything in order are actually less organized "mentally", then those who go for the messy or less structured approach. The theory is that if your mind is organized, then there is less need to have papers, possessions, etc. Organized around you. This seems to make sense and I am somewhat inclined to believe it, however I personally believe that organization goes beyond mere productivity in ones life. I can think of many instances in my own life where I like things organized, or care less that they're organized, and it has no relation to my mental organization or productivity. For example, my desk at work is immaculate, my bedroom at home is not (until my wife cleans up). Ok, so that might not be the best example since you can argue that the bedroom and the office are two entirely different environments, but the interesting thing is that I can still function at almost the same level of productivity at work, if my desk is in disarray. I have no problem getting my work done whether my desk is messy or not, for me it is just looking at the mess that bothers me. I believe that there is a place for order and a place for chaos in life. At work I like order for many reasons. For one, it just looks good to others (especially the boss) if your desk is neat and organized. I think organization says a lot about a person. It shows that you took the time and effort to make things look nice. It shows that you have pride in yourself and your surroundings. The office is just not the place for a mess IMHO (in my humble opinion). In addition to just looking nice, it makes doing your job easier. I know, people who don't worry about such organization have everything they need in their head, but just think how you would feel not having to remember where every little piece of paper is? Whether you realize it or not, disorganized forces you to remember a large amount of info about your daily life and this can cause unneeded stress. I don't know about you, but if I can reduce the amount of things to worry about on a daily basis, I will! Like I said earlier, there is a time and a place for everything and if you follow this then your life will run smoothly, IMHO. Of course, organization may not be as fun as just leaving things where you please, but like they say "no pain, no gain".

A sub-point Paul and I discussed is whether those in Higher Management, have messier desks then those in lower positions. In the last 5 years I've observed desks of managers from many different companies (not proud of that fact) and about 99% of the time the managers had messy desks. So what's up with managers, that they can't organize their desks? Another friend of mine believes that those in higher management simply have more on their plate, so to speak. Their work load and demands for their time make it difficult to keep organized at every moment. I too believe that this is the case. It makes sense that the more you have going on, the more directions you're being pulled in, the harder it is to devote time to keep your desk, and in some extreme cases your office, neat. I have another theory that may explain what's going on here. I believe that some managers are setting a bad example. If you are a middle manager and you see that your manager is messy, then subconsciously, you may think it's ok to do the same? I'm on the fence about that theory, but the only way to discredit it would be to find an upper manager with messy subordinates. I'm sure it happens, so my money is on the first explanation.

Day 1 - my first blog post

2006-04-25T16:50:00.000-04:00

Well, here it goes my first blog! At first I was a little reluctant to start a blog but this might actually be fun, and a little therapeutic in the process.

As many of you already know, I like structure so here is the format my blogs will typically follow:

1. Random Thoughts

On most days I'll post random thoughts and ideas that come to me out of the blue. This will be fun for me and potentially scary for others especially if you don't know me very well. : ) Anyway, posts like this will be pretty standard so enjoy!

2. Food for Thought

Food for Thought are current ideas that my friends and I have recently thrown out there to discuss, argue over, or just think about. These are the most interesting posts (in my opinion) since most topics are typically controversial in nature. I'll post the general ideas presented, and then add my two cents. Others are welcome and encouraged to post comments of their own. The more voices the better!

3. Words of Wisdom

Words of Wisdom will for the most part be ideas and/or quotes that I feel are important, and should be broadcast to the world.

4. Miscellaneous

miscellaneous is anything that doesn't fall into the above 3 categories. I'll most likely put things like Book Reviews, Cool gadgets, Pictures, etc. that really have no category.

My blog is a living document, so I'm sure the format and content will change over time. Like I said above, I'm a man of Order and Structure, so for right now I'll try to stick to the above format .

Well, I Hope everyone enjoys my Taisei blog!

Jamatashita! (see you later)