cal_reflector

Shriveled Up

2009-12-19T22:17:17Z

Tests done. Drove home from San Francisco today half-asleep listening to my newly burned CD, filled with songs from Bakemonogatari, Gintama, the Beatles, and some more obscure but excellent J-Pop groups like Scoobie Do and Yura Yura Teikoku. The first thing I did when I got home was drink coffee, else I was afraid I wouldn't make it till 10PM. The end of Finals, which lasted a period of over 2-3 weeks, probably expelled all the tension stored up in me; I feel like a rubber band that has lost its elasticity.

Going to go shopping. For the first time in 2 months, beer will be on the shopping list.

Received news amidst Finals that someone had plagiarized from my story again. I wasn't as upset as the first time; this time, I felt like I deserved it somewhat because I haven't updated in 5 months. I told my Deep Throat whistle blower to leave reviews on the offender's story calling him/her out. Not sure if this is the best way, but I'm no expert at Internet Diplomacy.

Flying to Taiwan on 1AM December 25. Woo-hoo. Flying back on the December 7. I should know the results of the BCS National Title Game before I get on the flight back, but mreh.

Things to do the next few days:
Pack a little for the trip to Taiwan (just a little, since we maintain homes there, the need won't be great).
Maybe take the car to get maintained.
Write.
Maybe play some GBA emulator games.
Maybe Shop for some Christmas Gifts for the family. (Thinking Electric Toothbrushes; any suggestions?).

Right now though I'm hungry and just waiting for the coffee to kick in.

Also, since I stupidly re-organized my f-list 3 months ago because the Hetalia-Community was spamming everything, I didn't realize until Aoife-Hime mentioned that there was a Christmas-Gift Exchange at Tsukimineshrine. Who will do one with me? It doesn't even have to be CCS, and you know I can write write for fandoms, even if I only got through 1/2-2/3 of the anime series (or season 1).

Heard there was a big earthquake in Taiwan today. Hope things are still standing, mostly.

Be back later guys, the coffee has kicked in.

cal_reflector @ 2009-12-17T00:52:00

2009-12-17T08:52:24Z

Two days till Evidence. Crim Law beat my ass, and this is from the same Professor who has taught these courses for 30 years. Not looking forward to it.

Read half of "A Time to Kill" by John Grisham today after International Business Transactions finals was done. For a novel about topics so ugly--Rape, Murder, Racism, Lawyers--it is a hilarious novel. John Grisham's wit is extremely cut and dry and ironic. It's not fine literature, but it's enjoyable to read, and most of the time I love the humor, which was totally unexpected.

cal_reflector @ 2009-12-08T17:00:00

2009-12-09T01:00:14Z

Taken from kawaiipinay:

If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, (even if we don't speak often or ever) please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL memory of you and me.

It can be anything you want - good or bad - BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.

When you're finished, post this little paragraph in your LJ and see what your friends come up with!

Last night was so cold I had trouble sleeping. I'll definitely seek out that new electric-blanket mom bought me next time I drive home.

Uh, Well, I'll do well on the Other 3!

2009-12-08T06:46:51Z

Property Law Exam was a meat grinder. My head hurt more than usual after 3 hours of non-stop work. The good news is I know as the first of four exams this is the one I will be least prepared for. The bad news is that this was the one I was least prepared for. The other good news was that the consensus from the people I talked to was that the exam was a real grinder (meaning good curves), which is qualified by my uncertainty as to whether the people I was talking to were in the top percentiles which I'm trying to get into (Maybe we're the bunch at the wrong side of the hill).

~~Property law is so dense and convoluted I'm tempted to turn communist, where the only property law would be: "My land is your land, your land is my land, in Communist China, la la la la la~"~~

Crim Law is on Friday. I'm out of food, the room is turning into a mess, my goatee is becoming more pronounced. Clearly, when finals come around I become a bum.

I wish I had a GF who would massage my temples right now.

cal_reflector @ 2009-12-07T13:41:00

2009-12-07T21:41:29Z

Saw someone shipping them on a Chinese forum. In a world without magical girls and boys, their story would have made a good Japanese TV drama.

Thanksgiving Wrap Up

2009-11-30T01:57:46Z

The greatest questions in life:
3. Do aliens exist?
2. What is the meaning of life?
1. How do I get Rick Steve's job?

Spent Sunday watching Rick Steve's Europe on TV. Yesterday he was in Iran. Today he was in Munich (including the Disney Castle), France, Italy, Switzerland, Norway. And then he visited London, Burgundy, Rome, Paris, and some tiny Swiss town for Christmas. Apparently, when you're Rick Steves, you can spend Christmas in 7 countries simultaneously. Lucky Bastard.

Received a lovely gift fic today from mellowcandle, whom I asked to write Asagi/Koiwaii from Yotsubato! The difficulty of writing this pairing, we acknowledged, was hovering somewhere above Stick/Rock. Read it! It's really good.

http://community.livejournal.com/lchanfics/21092.html

****
My Thanksgiving Party was actually on Black Friday to accommodate people's schedules. Nijiya Supermarket, which like so many other places had prepared ready-eat dishes for Thanksgiving, had a sale the day after. I took advantage for lunch.

The Cal Special, which I made for the Oktoberfest party. Potatoes, onions, and double the bacon.

The Cranberry Citrus relish. I kind of messed this up; the sauce was kind of bitter, either from too much grapefruit/lemon zest or the grapefruit juice itself. Freezing the leftovers for latter use, maybe in a cake.

The Bird! Miraculously, it was cooked through and browned nicely. In fact, the bird was kind of dry despite 24 hours of brining. 3.5 hours for 16 pounds was clearly too long, but without a meat thermometer I was playing it safe.

A view of some of the offerings brought by the guests. There were cheese biscuits, risotto, moist mushroom rice pilaf, chicken corn soup, cauliflower casserole, and mini sandwiches with Grueyer cheese and pears.

My legs and back were sore from standing all day Friday night. After the main meal and a few rounds of Rock Band, I went in the kitchen to clean up, which was as much work as cooking the bird itself. The following morning the entire cut up carcass went in the slow cooker for soup and congee. The result was far more delicious than the meat itself.

Now time for finals.

Battle of the Demon Bird Part 2

2009-11-27T06:41:09Z

10:30 Pacific Time. I experience a brain wave and reconfigure my brine set up.

The change from the flimsy aluminum roast pan (of which I only had one) to a sturdy plastic wash basin as a container was a major, major upgrade. Made moving things around easier, and also had the advantage of being a tighter fit, which made it easier to submerse the entire bird in brine.

I swear, next thanksgiving will be like:

Guest: Wow, D, this Turkey looks beautiful!
Me: Yeah, well, they don't call me the King of Thanksgiving for nothing.
Guest: Gosh, it's delicious. As if it were restaurant made!
Me: Ha ha ha. Every man should be able to handle himself in the kitchen; I just take it up a notch. (Stuffs Boston Market receipt in pants)

Never doing Turkey again

2009-11-26T23:09:36Z

Hectic, chaos everywhere, at Safeway, at Wholefoods. I am never, ever doing this again. Had to remodel half the fridge in order to make room. Had to go out a second time to buy a food-safe bag for brining; ended up buying a turkey baking bag, so now I have that option. Finally, with 28 hours till serving time tomorrow night, I managed to get the Demon Big Bird from That Hot Place Where Satan Lives and its brine in the fridge.

My brine was some wicked punch combining salt, peppercorns, tons of ginger and garlic, sliced lemon and orange, and some brown sugar. It's definitely a weird combination, but at this point I'm past caring.

Me: Larry, cut the turkey out of the bag and rinse it.
Larry: Okay. *Turns on Cowboys v Raiders*
Me: Larry get over here.
Larry: Okay.
Me: Rinse turkey and pull its guts out of its ass.
Larry: What?
Me: Just do it.
Larry: I'm not pulling anything out of anything's ass.
Larry: I'd rather donate the Bird and eat Chinese tomorrow.
Me: You're useless.

Will follow with pic of the Demon Bird in its Bath shortly. Still to come: The gravy, the cranberry, and my world famous German potato with American-portion bacon.

Real Life

2009-11-25T00:38:11Z

Blahest day in a long time. I blame going off coffee for a while and then downing two 8oz cups when the Student Bar Association put out free Noah's bagels and coffee yesterday morning. The coffee tasted a bit acidic. That shouldn't be, right? As I result I tossed and turned in bed yesterday and got to school later than usual today.

Did Sudoku during most of the final Evidence class, which was talking about Judicial Notice, which is the delightful debate people occasionally have (I hope it is occasional) in court about whether Prosecutors have the burden of proving that apples grow on trees, or that the Earth is round, or that cars have wheels and an engine, or whether we can just assume those facts. The short, irresponsible answer that would endanger me with malpractice is: Sometimes, depends on whether the fact that apples grows on trees is specifically relevant to the case. If it is and it is a criminal case in federal court, the Jury has the option of choosing to ignore the fact that apples grow on trees. Try it next time you get summoned for Jury Duty, kids.

I am more worried about preparing the Thanksgiving Turkey than I am about the Finals. I haven't even seen the turkey and I'm already sick of the bastard. It's not exactly cooking, it's more like a science project. And like a science project you will be judged and graded on it, more so because it is the centerpiece of such an important occasion. No similar pressure applies to whoever is bringing the cauliflower or the yam--people can overlook the cauliflower and yam, but like diamonds, a bad Turkey is forever.

I'm hoping my negative feelings towards the Turkey will translate into my utmost effort to see to it that it is completely vanquished come Black Friday, when our dinner party will be held. First I'll pull out its innards from its rear orifice, then I'll drown in it sea water, then I'll shove some stuff up its butt and then roast it. Mmmmm-mmmm.

Ending with some cartoons I drew for the Law School Magazine.

Damn Germans are Good

2009-11-23T05:50:45Z

I have a sudden urge to do things to this German speaking Kyouya.

I think I could kill tons of time just watching everything I've watched in the past in different languaged dubs and comparing them. It's a whole new experience.

My firt Jack Bauer Birthday

2009-11-20T16:26:15Z

God willing, I'll have another 2 full productive seasons of 24 left, plus a few episode of extras if I'm lucky. God willing, by the end of my next season of 24, I'll be married with kids and have a clear, clear idea of what I want to do with life. Perhaps I'll have even written a Lawyer Novel by then.

Heartscientist: I read of huge rain and flooding in UK and Ireland. Hope you are able to cope, even if you may not have Internet.

Next week I'll have half day on Wednesday and then it's time to prep for Thanksgiving. Having a couple of friends over. Never done a Turkey before, but I'm sure it'll be okay. I mean, being optimistic is half the Game in cooking. News also reported worldwide pumpkin shortages because Nestle, which supplies 90% of the world's supply of canned pumpkin, had their fields flooded by rain. No skin off my nose; pumpkin has always been low on my list below all the berries and apples and cherries and peaches anyways.

Anyone have Thanksgiving Turkey tips? Side Dish recommendations?

Food and Love; one can substitute for the Other

2009-11-14T03:51:56Z

Will have time to write this weekend. That'll be something; for the past week I've been rising at 8 and sleeping at 11, 10:30PM, because by the time I come home from law school I'm too expended to do anything else. On the plate right now: My almost dead Code Geass story, L-Chan's request fic, and Aoife-Hime's ongoing Birthday fic, which should be done before her next birthday.

Dinner tonight: Stir-fried Gobo (burdock), which is a ultra healthy food. Cooking it was simple enough--stir fry with water soy sauce and sugar--but prepping the thing was a pain in the butt. Ultimately worthwhile though, I could've eaten the whole 1.2 meters of it but decided to save some for tomorrow.

Tried an anime recipe from Astro Fighter Sunred, hot somen mixed with butter and kara tarako, spicy fish roe. Was okay; original recipe called for spaghetti. Will do that next time.

Toaster ovens are more useful than I thought: Foil wrapped salmon, some variety of Japanese mushrooms, and giant leek, poured some sake on and threw it in there. Easy and more energy efficient than using the big oven. Have some Japanese sweet potatoes I'll do tomorrow.

For the rest of the weekend: Foil baked rock cod and shitake and leek (same recipe), sweet potatoes, Sake kasu shiru (soup) with lotus root, Japanes mountain yam, carrots, radish, and pork.

Theology On Tap

2009-11-12T02:55:04Z

A dialogue hosted by the St. Thomas Moore Society in a bar close to school, attended by one of the Jesuit Faculty from the Undergrad side and the Dean of the Law School. I had one pint, listened to some of the talk, then ran back to law school in time for Criminal Law. Interestingly, the Dean of our Jesuit Law School (just how Jesuit it is/ought to be was a matter of discussion; generally leaning towards more Jesuit) is a Jew from Brooklyn/Queens. He and the Friar (who had a legal education) are the best of friends. It's a interesting combo.

For some reason, drinking before Criminal Law class seems oddly appropriate. I'm sure I'll learn well tonight.

Shock

2009-11-11T02:36:28Z

Watched "Food Inc." Holy Crap.

Everything in the movie makes sense. My law school leagues who screened the film (and prepared a delicious spread of organic food) even contested the notion that Organic/Local Grown/All Natural/Sustainable food costs significantly more than Industrial Food.

Shopping and cooking yourself is a sure way to start down the path of a healthier, more environmentally sustainable, and surely more delicious food life. Prior to this movie I've already been staying away from processed foods. I am however aware that cooking (and shopping for) is extremely time consuming. I am also aware that processed foods are more convenient, often cheaper, and certainly taste worse.

My problem is now is:
1 I like animal protein, fish and meat, which by their nature are much more difficult to acquire organically/locally/sustainably.
2 I like Japanese food/ingredients, which have to be brought in from 6500 miles away.

Clearly, I should move to Japan in order to eat the foods I love locally.

Bi-Monthly Therapeutic Homemaker Shopping Nippon Experience

2009-11-08T23:06:45Z

Other than lawyering, I may consider a career in house-husbanding.

Bought a small seafood hotpot set with salmon, crab, shrimp, bay scallop, and best of all Black Rock Cod from Japan, which was light and delicious and melted in my mouth. Bunches of Mizuna and Shungiku. Umm, that's green leafy stuff (one of the two is some kind of Chard) that's supposed to go in hotpot; I saw it in an Anime somewhere, probably Minami-Ke. More sujiko for Ikura, Spicy Mintaiko, packs of konnyaku/konjac. The other good thing about Japanese supermarkets (aside from their exotic and tempting offerings) is that so much of the stuff is organic/relatively natural , even many of the processed foods. The Japanese potato chips, for example, might have had 1/4 as many ingredients listed compared to a bag of lays.

Went a bit nuts on the oyatsu (snack stuff); sweet senbei rice crackers and Japanese potato chips were on sale. Also bought frozen mochi, which I've not gotten the hang of preparing yet, and a rectangle of red bean Yokan for Tea.

Some special things this time: Packs of all natural dashi powder, which is shaved and powdered katsuo and konbu for making the soup base used in most Japanese cooking. Also bought Sake kasu, or Sake Lee, the fragrant and healthy leftover from making sake that gets goes well in Miso Soup, Sweet Wine, and other Winter occasion hotpots. Also bought several pounds of persimmons and mikans/tangerines. Those sufficiently acquainted with Japanese lifestyle (through Dramas or anime or in person) will recognize much of the food stuffs above as those associated with and eaten while huddled in a Kotatsu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotatsu). I love how Winter gives me the excuse to pig out.

In 12 days I'll turn 24. Not exactly looking forward to it, especially after hearing news that another one of my friends from Middle/High School recently got engaged. Like exercise and 8 hours of sleep, flirting should be part of a healthy, all-around lifestyle, and I'm concerned about how it is completely absent from my life.

Ah well, I'll worry about it when I'm accused of shaming and threatening the Hwu Family bloodline with discontinuity. (Returns to watching the Forty-Niners whilst munching on persimmons)

Edit: The Kasu Shiru (Sake kasu, Dashi, Daikon, carrots. konnyaku, and black cod) turned out excellent. I feel warm throughout.

Shootings at Fort Hood

2009-11-06T17:32:09Z

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/06/texas.fort.hood.shootings/index.html

Very very, upsetting. The repercussions for this shooting may become the biggest since 9-11, on American society and especially within the Military. I'm not worried about another Japanese American Internment, but the fact is: the Supreme Court Case which found constitutional FDR's executive order authorizing the Internment remains good law, and that lingers in the back of my mind.

Hopefully, Taiwan will never go to war with the United States.

Spring 2010 Law Class signup

2009-11-05T21:00:24Z

It might be due to the smaller student body, but I've never been at a corporate/academic setting which such streamlined IT services. Both Foxconn and Berkeley fall well short of the user friendliness of USF Law School's online services.

Debated whether to take Corporations or not; for now opted instead for Federal Income Tax, since it is a pre-req to Corporate Taxation, International Taxation and some other courses, whereas Corporations is always available as a California BAR　course. So for now the line up looks like this:

Constitutional Law
Criminal Procedure
Federal Income Tax
Negotiations, Mediation, and Client Counseling Skills (Pass/NP)
Wills and Trusts

16 Units (Max allowed)

Man, what a boring lineup. Federalist Society is hosting this afternoon a debate between a Proponent for the positives of Guantamo Bay and a Critic. Middle Eastern food will be provided. I'm sure it will be a enjoyable experience.

If I were to write a Novel or do NANO

2009-11-04T23:56:19Z

****
The protagonist is a consultant who works for OPIC, which stands for Overseas Private Investment Corporation, a little known federal agency which provides Political Insurance.

For example, an American company wants to set up a business in a country with shaky political stability. They're worried that the foreign Government may freeze currency exchanges, expropriate their investments, even initiate violence against them. OPIC provides insurance against these risks of investing internationally, charging a premium up to 1.5% of the face value of the investment for complete coverage. OPIC also tries to prevent these risks from taking place by negotiating with the foreign countries in question. Due to the volume of American investments abroad in unstable regions, OPIC has an excellent record for payment and is very profitable, with a reserve of $65 billion USD.

The story begins in Guinea, where a worker in a Bauxite mine owned and operated by an American company discovers the richest vein of platinum in the world. Platinum is a strategic resource and essential to many industries and is 20 times as rare as Gold. The news has repercussions around the globe. The Protagonist enters the story when the Ruling Military Junta of Guinea expropriates the Mine and expels the Company for trumped up charges of official bribery, and the American Company claims against OPIC for a staggering sum in the Tens of Billions, threatening the Corporation's long term solvency. The protagonist is sent to investigate the truth of the claims, and if possible to persuade the Junta to negotiate.

Meanwhile, China's Ministry for African Development and Investment, which has become the leading economic force in Africa and has strong ties to many governments in and around Guinea, sees an opportunity and considers encouraging a People's Revolution in order to gain access to the ore. The State Department catches wind and begins to exert overt public pressure upon the Junta to return the Mine, or else. The expropriation becomes a cause celebre in the US as tensions rise domestically and internationally.

The protagonist, who strongly resembles Keifer Sutherland, has to navigate between these pressures while attempting to unearth the truth in a small African nation besieged by external forces and internal strife.
****

If someone can suggest a female partner or heroine for the story, I'm all ears.

Drop in the Bucket

2009-10-29T23:42:00Z

Annnnnnnnnnddddd... some more (but still not all) of that birthday fic I promised you, Aoife-Hime! Including the opening from last time.

Fandom: CCS
Character: Fujitaka, Sonomi
Genre: Chick-flick-ish

****
It was one of the oldest tricks in the Shonen Mangaka's playbook; the infallible fallback that generations of authors--deserted by their muse and hounded by their publishers--have resorted to: One day out of the blue a beautiful girl shows up on your Everyman protagonist's doorsteps and begins to dwell with him. Innumerable fan service opportunities follow, a parade of trips and slips and bumps and shared physical proximity that draws the teen couple inexorably into love...

... A scenario which bears no resemblance whatsoever to the situation Fujitaka found himself in one tranquil Sunday night, after he answered the doorbell that distracted him from his beloved Discovery Channel.

"Termites."

He blinked at the woman in striped suit and black heels standing outside his door with suitcase in tow. "I beg your pardon?"

Sonomi's sighed as though she were being forced to repeat the explanation, even though she was only explaining for the first time. "My mansion has termites. The cleanup will take a week at least and I've been forced to clear out."

"Oh. Well, that's... awfully inconvenient."

He winced when she glared daggers into him. The accusatory look soon faded however as she cradled her arms and averted her gaze; sheepishly, even. Fujitaka had never seen Sonomi Daidouji--the woman said to have the most balls in a boardroom filled with men--look so insecure.

Clearly, there was only one option left to him. "Would you like to come in?"

****

"So you two are living together?"

Fujitaka shut his eyes--sharing the news was harder than he imagined. "We are not. She's just staying until the work on her house is done."

"So you are living together."

"Not in the way you're thinking of." He was too old and wise to be embarrassed this way by his son. "Anyways, I let her have my room. I'll be sleeping in the library the next few days."

"Good thing Sakura just left for their graduation trip."

"And why is that?"

"You two have the house to yourselves for at least a whole week."

Five minutes after he hung up Fujitaka’s mind remained plagued by his son's deadpanned remark. He stood in the aisle of the supermarket and glanced down at the contents of his shopping basket: Moisturizing body soap, small bottle of deep rinse shampoo, conditioner, tooth brush and toothpaste, and other essential feminine toiletries that he'd been tasked with purchasing. Because unlike him, a Professor who only had to teach 11 hours a week, she was a full-time working woman with no time to spare.

The gravity of his situation--the direct result of his rash decision caused by the low light that made her body language seem like pleading the evening before--sank in like a battleship scuttled for an artificial reef.

****

It had been years since Fujitaka lived with a woman.

In the months after Nadesico passed on, Fujitaka slept on the sofa in his book-filled study, the empty space to his right at night too much to ignore. His current move to the couch however was not prompted by grief over a woman no longer here, but a woman who was here in full, and whose presence made herself felt in every corner of the Kinomoto residence: Four pairs of dark business heels in the doorway, fresh aroma from the $12,000 coffee maker in the mornings, and the different fragrance lingering in the bathroom (she always went first).

Objectively, the size of the house and their widely varying schedules granted them room well clear of each other, and yet the signs of an additional body living here could not be ignored. So after living as a widower for so long, Fujitaka could not help but be aware of how Sonomi entered and altered his space and routine.

“Good morning.” He smiled at his housemate as she descended the narrow stairs with briefcase and jacket in hand.

Sonomi reached inside the refrigerator just when he set down two plates of scrambled egg, sausage, hotcakes and a colorful bowl of salad. She glanced at the hot food and then at the plastic bag of sliced bread in her hand—conflict crossed her face before a sound of protest from her stomach betrayed her. Closing the fridge door, she smoothed down her skirt and joined her host at the table. “I never asked you to cook for me.”

“Food tastes better with two people.” He poured coffee for them both. “Besides, quality coffee like this should have a full breakfast to go with it.”

“The best coffee there is.” Sounding pleased but otherwise not showing it, she began to eat.

****

It had been years since Sonomi lived with a man.

The last and only time was such a distant and fleeting memory that she did not remember the bastard’s face, an achievement helped by conscious, paid professional effort to help her ignore and forget.

It should not have come as a surprise to her that Fujitaka’s house inherited so many characteristics of its master. Still, she found herself marveling at how clean and inviting and cozy the home was, and the ease with which she fit into the strange new surroundings. Physically, the house was far smaller than her super-sized mansion, a result of her need for independence, freedom, space. Yet despite the presence of him everywhere—the kitchen’s aroma of sugar and flour and tea, the hint of aftershave in the bathroom, the signature of his scent of in bed even after fresh sheets and pillow covers—she did not feel crowded in.

Still, there were limits to her ability to accommodate his existence, as she discovered one afternoon when he was teaching and she was home early and answered the door. Seconds passed as she wondered why the woman looked so intimidated before she realized she was glaring. “Yes?”

“Um, is Sensei home?”

Sonomi glanced at the woman’s apron and the Tupperware she was holding. She was automatically annoyed. “He said he wouldn’t be home till past six.”

“I see. Excuse me, but who are you?”

“I’m his friend.” She saw that the woman was gauging her—she had changed into a comfortable pair of sweat pants and T-shirt after getting off work. Sonomi planted her feet and crossed her arms across her chest. “And who are you?”

“I’m a neighbor. This is some pork and potatoes I made… Um, please give this to him when he comes home. Bye!”

After the visitor politely fled, Sonomi took the small box into the kitchen. She had just removed the lid to inspect the contents when the doorbell rung again; this time, a different woman brought yam and lotus root boiled in soy sauce and sugar. The incident repeated itself two more times, each time a homemaker or housewife startled to find her answering the door and leaving quickly after they left their offering. Later she learned from Fujitaka that he knew them all from some circumstance of being asked for help in their home; replacing a fluorescent light, a quick sink repair, an out of reach jar, etc. And when the housewives learned he was a widower the food started coming.

Sonomi decided the neighborhood was more dangerous than she thought.

To be Contd.
****

WEEKEND!!!!

2009-10-24T02:20:38Z

Am home in Los Altos; standard of living in rented room at SF had been getting progressively worse as food ran out and I had no time to shop or cook because I was going 9AM-9PM every day. So the afternoon after I drove down I went shopping at a Kinokuniya bookstore and a Mitsuwa Japanese super market. The effect was therapeutic and immediate: I bought 3 volumes of Sangatsu no Lion (Like I said I would), Gunslinger Girl volume 11, and Victorian Romance Emma Volume 9 in Chinese.

Here's something remarkable: This Kinokuniya carries manga in 3 languages; traditional Chinese, Japanese, and American. The same volume of Yotsubato! #8 cost: $6.50 for the Chinese version, $8.80 for the Japanese Version, and $10.99 for the American release. I was very surprised. To buy the same manga in California, you pay nearly twice as much for a local version than a Chinese one.

I can read all three languages, but after a few run ins with shoddy Chinese translations (depending on the work, a lot may get lost in translation) I started buying Japanese versions. But then some titles (like Black Lagoon) have such complicated dialogue that my Japanese is not good enough. So for some FAVORITE WORKS (Everything by Kei Toumei and Kaoru Mori, plus a few others) I end up buying both Chinese and Japanese versions. I haven't bought any English ones. For one, I'm afraid the nuance can't carry over as well, and price is also a concern. Like I said: 1 volume of English Yotsubato! = 2 volumes of Chinese Yotsubato!

Also: Did you know they have English translated Yaoi manga now?? Holy Crap! I wonder if I could get a job as a translator.

Mitsuwa was fantastic. A Japanese department store/super market. They were having a Autumn Foodie Theme going on, and there were special offering and samples, from a variety of fried fish cake to rice balls to salt dried fish to mochi stands. I got the following:

3 salted pike fish and 2 salted mackerel for grilling.
1 Katsuo Tataki (a kind of charred broiled sashimi)
1 box of Uni (sea urchin)
1 box of Sujiko
Oyster Mushrooms, Octopus head, Shiitake mushroom, small avocados
Japanese cucumbers, Shoga red ginger,
Persimmons, Leek, 4 mochis (Sakura leaf, black bean daifuku, red bean Ohagi, and another daifuku).

http://www.japaneserestaurantinfo.com/columnsp/shokuzai/111507/index.html

Sujiko (fresh or salted salmon roe still in the egg sac) was definitely the most adventurous item I bought. And kids, I wouldn't recommend trying to prepare at home; you might get grossed out. Turning Sujiko into Ikura was not unlike trying to get the seeds out from a pomegranate, just ickier. By morning though I will have fresh HOMEMADE IKURA!!!

The Tako head (much cheaper than the preferred legs used for sashimi but just as meaty) went with the oyster mushrooms into seasoned steamed rice (half brown/half white). I left the flavor deliberately bland so I could add Shoga or red chili to flavor.

I ate the Katsuo Tataki and one of the Avocados with Ponzu sauce, and Trader Joe's lager.

Am now going to eat some of my fresh made mochi with hot green tea.

This is the way to start a weekend: Manga and Japanese food.

Edit: Emma Volume 9 is FRIGGING AWESOME. I am however going to ignore the last chapter and try my best to pretend it never happened, and that I never read it, for reasons which will be obvious to anyone who has read it.

New love

2009-10-22T06:11:22Z

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_Comes_in_Like_a_Lion

Read Umino Chika's new work after Honey and Clover: Sangatsu no Lion, or March Comes in Like a Lion. It sucked me in right away; the power of Umino's stories is her characters whom the reader can RELATE TO on a heart-to-heart level. Specifically, the struggles and heart ache and longing and relief which the characters experience. I also think the art has improved over her previous work; the lines are cleaner and more powerful now.

Surprisingly, the story contains little Romance; the story is about the main character Rei's quest to live his life after the loss of his family as a boy, and shows his ongoing struggles with his past as well as the acceptance he gradually finds in a neighboring family of three sisters. He's also a prodigy Japanese chess player and a rookie in the professional circuit.

The story prominently features two completely opposite women, both of whom have a very large impact on Rei's life. Both are several years older and beautiful, but while one tries to take care of and provide him with a new place of belonging, the other continually seeks to guilt trip and torment him emotionally. The first (the eldest of the three sisters) is almost too good to be true. The latter is a Bitch with the capital B and an awesome character (from a writer's standpoint) whom I'm surprised Umino came up with, as her stories usually contain such lovable characters.

Go read this guys. As for me, I'm off to Kinokuniya to grab my three Japanese copies tomorrow.

Ruling The People's Republic of the United States

2009-10-17T06:18:19Z

Spent all day playing Tropico: Where you are the El Presidente of a Carribean Island nation. It's a management type of game; get an economy up and running from minerals, vegetable, industry, keep your growing subjects and immigrants fed, working, and happy. I admire the game for its balance of complexity and the tongue and cheek moments: One measure of your score at the end of each "Reign" is how much money you managed to siphon off to a Swiss Bank Account. To build political consensus, you can also arrest and shoot charismatic opposition leaders dead in the street; you can also declare them a heretic. Also, if you choose "Alcoholic" as one of the two Personality Flaws of your dictator, the USSR has improved relations with you (although the Religious faction likes you less). The game allows you choose from a portfolio of famous such rulers (Castro, Che, Peron, etc, etc) and adjust the traits as you desire. The last lady I played with was Kleptomaniac; I think she was the Argentinian lady?

Speaking of factions: It's a good thing that environmentalists are generally one of the less numerous factions; really hard to pay attention to the environment when you're trying to keep up with housing and creating employment for a rapidly rising population. Often I'm forced to close the border to immigrants so I get a chance to educate the local populace first.

Until now I've played the benevolent Developmental Authoritarian State (Think 4 Asian Tigers) model. I provide my workers food, education, subsidized quality apartments (rather than Project Housing) to live in, Social Security, movie theaters, TV, nightclubs... and in return they reelect me every 8 years in consecutive landslides. I've never even had to rig an election or give a tax cut, which in the game is treated like a bribe; a short term boost to your favor best used in an election year for $100 to each member of your population. Only drawback to this is that your respect amongst the Intellectual community takes a big hit.

In fact, if you opt to receive kickbacks on construction projects, siphon money for Swiss bank, or are too enthusiastic about religion, the intellectuals like you less. No wonder all the Commie bigwigs and little wigs purged them; they're smart asses with a different opinion on how government should be run.

I'm only realizing now that the population (every tiny person has a name and background and personality) and jobs are genderized; the engineers who run your all important power plants have to be women, for example. Construction workers may be both genders. Union Teamsters who haul everything around have to be men. High school teachers have to be women, college professors men... but yeah, I'm not going to stir that up.

Given a choice between aligning with the USSR and the USA (either can invade you and end your reign resulting in game over if you piss them off too much) I usually go US; they give more generous foreign aid and provide Tourists, which is a whole other Economy I haven't explored yet. However, once you ally with them and let them build a Military Base on your island the USA starts demanding you conform to their ideals; usually, promoting capitalism with your Radio, News Paper, and TVs. Pompous, but the Russians have little dinaro to spare, so...

Naturally; in the absence of cocaine, coffee and rum seem to be the best cash crops for a Latin/Carribean island nation. Followed by Cigars, and then Pineapples, then Papayas and Bananas. Chopped down trees are sold as logs, lumber, or furniture. Typically, mining is the dirtiest but most easily accessible wealth, followed by industry... the more efficient it is the dirtier it is. Any environmentally friendly measures decrease industrial efficiency and increase expense. Al Gore would be proud.

I haven't been able to get the religious faction happy enough to invite the Pope, which is supposed to be a super boost to my popularity with that segment of the population; having an economy than was 75% Rum based was probably the cause. In this game, religious satisfaction is a trade off with freedom to get drunk.

Oh yeah, ways you can lose the game; you forget to pay-raise your palace guards or soldiers, they over throw you. The income disparity between the higher-educated earners and proletariat becomes ridiculous, they population turns rebel and goes into the woods and starts attacking your infrastructure. You don't feed or pay people, same result. USA or Russia invades you because you were hard on Capitalism/Communism in your rule, you lose.

It's a tough game of political survival and pleasing everyone. The best way? Have no principles, pander to everyone.

The Cost of Living: Food

2009-10-15T17:42:39Z

What food can $4.00 USD buy you where you are living?

Here in the SF and Bay Area...

12 doughnuts of any variety at Safeway
1 Nutella Crepe from Japan Town
Breakfast Special at Taraval Cafe (2 eggs, 2 bacon or sausage, 2 hot cakes)
2 pieces of nigiri sushi (not including Tuna and more expensive varieties)
2 half Poor Boy sandwiches from Lucky's
4/5 of a Subway foot long
2-4 pounds of Broccoli, depending on season
1 Pint of beer at a bar

I was simply struck by how the same amount of money could buy such different quantities of food. Clearly, based on caloric value alone, the doughnuts are the best option. Health-wise Broccoli wins, but you'd starve. Such a discrepancy may shed some light on food and health and hunger in the market system, a measure of how many calories/essential nutrients one can buy with a fixed amount of currency.

Question 2: Should I feel guilty about eating sushi?

cal_reflector @ 2009-10-14T19:31:00

2009-10-15T02:34:37Z

Let the record show that when the office lady walked into Criminal Law class at 7:45PM announcing that the Professor had been stuck on the Bay Bridge since 3:00PM due to a overturned Safeway big rig and was not going to make it to class, I politely groaned rather than burst into applause like my colleagues. I was devastated; I was completely looking forward to being called on to make sense of California's hair splitting of Felony Murders and Misdemeanor Manslaughters and implied malice, etc, etc, etc.

To deal with my grief, I shall use the 2.5 hours to work on fic and play computer games.