マンゴ園の案山子

2月14日（日）快晴

ローマ皇帝は兵士達が戦意喪失するとして若者の結婚を禁止。キリスト教の司祭のバレンタインは秘密に兵士を結婚させ、捕らえられ紀元269年2月14日に処刑されたのが起源。イスラム国家やイスラエルやインドではバレンタイン・デーはご法度。女性が男性に愛を告白したり、義理チョコを渡す習慣は日本特有の環境型セクハラ。中国では今年、情人節（バレンタイン・デー）と春節（旧正月）が重なってバラの売り上げが激減しているそうです。

同じマンゴ園の別の案山子

アインシュタイン・デー

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Scarecrow at mango farm
Sun. February 14 : fine

Roman Emperor prohibited youth to get married because that would reduce the soldier’s spirits of rivalry. A Christian priest, St. Valentine arranged soldiers’ weds secretly. He was arrested and then executed on February 14th in 269. It’s the origin of Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is banned in Moslim countries, Islael and India. The customs that women confess love to men or present chocolate out of courtesy are the hostile environment sexual harassment that are characteristic of Japan. This year in China sales of roses has been decreasing since Valentine’s Day and the lunar New Year’s Day is on the same day.

another scarecrow at the same mango farm

Einstein Day

マウント・オーガスタ

2月13日（土）快晴

夜も明けやらぬ4：50am、ユミが8日振りに戻って来たのでケアンズ空港に出迎え。一足遅れて新婚の順子夫妻も到着します。新郎新婦は、世界の中心から愛を叫びにエアーズロックへ飛びます。数年前にセカチューが日本で300万部売れたと聞き、豪州在住の責任感から本を読み映画も見て数日間偏頭痛になりました。世界一の一枚岩は写真の西オーストラリア州のマウント・オーガスタで高さ858ｍ。2番目がエアーズロックで335ｍです。

エアーズロック

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Mount Augasta
Sat. February 13 : fine

At 4:50am before dawn I go to the airport to pick up Yumi because she is returning to Cairns 8 days after her departure. The newlywed, Junko and her husband will be arriving soon as well. They are flying to Ayers Rock to shout their love at the heart of the world. Hearing that “Socrates in Love” had sold 3M in Japan, I read the book and saw the movie from the responsibility as an Australian resident and I suffered headache for several days. The world highest* monolith is Mount Augasta in West Australia with its height of 858m, in my photo. The second highest is Ayers Rock with its height of 335m.

Ayers Rock

自然の愛・造られた愛

2月12日（金）快晴
　
『先天的な情念』；①身近な人間をいとおしい、かわいい、守りたいと思う気持ち。肉親の情。②広く人間や生物や自然への思いやり。慈愛。③男女間の愛情。恋愛。（仏教や儒教では恋愛を悪とみなし、半世紀前まで日本では下品なこととされていました）。『宗教や倫理による理念』；④キリスト教で、自らを犠牲にして他人をいつくしむ心。隣人愛。（災害の援助など）。『偏った教育や強制による排外思想』；⑤郷土愛、愛校心、愛国心。（富国強兵や国防の論理、戦争の正当化に利用されます）。

忠君愛国

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Natural love and artficial love
Fri. February 12 : fine

Congenital passion; ①Spirit that wants to precious, beloved or protect, fostering ②Charity for all people, creature or nature, affection ③Love between male and female（Love was considered to be a bad thing in Buddhism and Confucian. It was presumed vulgar in Japan until a half century ago.）Idea of religion or ethics; ④Idea of sacrificing oneself and caring other people in Christianity, charity（such as aid for disasters）, anti foreignism encouraged by biased education or compulsory；⑤Local patriotism, affection for one’s school or nationalism（theory of national prosperity and defense policy, available for justification of war）.

loyalty and patriotism

建国疑念日

2月11日（木）快晴

各国の建国記念日は根拠がはっきりしています。アメリカは1776年7月4日の独立記念日。フランスは1789年7月14日の大革命。オーストリアは1955年10月26日の永世中立宣言の日。ドイツは1990年10月3日の東西ドイツ再統一の日。しかし日本は、紀元前660年の今日神武天皇が即位。韓国の建国記念日は2つ。1945年8月15日、日本が無条件降伏した日。そしてもう１つは日本同様かなり恥ずかしい。紀元前2333年10月3日、檀君が古朝鮮王国を建国した日。

檀君の遺骨

魏志倭人伝によると・・・

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National Fundation Day
Thu. February 11 : fine

The origin of National Fundation Day is defined in most countries. In the US it comes from Independent Day on July 4 in 1776. In France it comes from Great Revolution on July 14 in 1789. In Austria it comes from the declaration of permanently neutrality on October 26 in 1955. In Germany it’s based on the integration of East and West Germany on October 3 in 1990. But in Japan Jinmu Emperor coronated today, February 11 back in 660 BC. Korea has two National Foundation Days. One of them is the day of Japanese unconditional surrender. And another one is as embarrassing as Japanese one. It’s the day Dangun funded Old Korean Kingdam on October 3 back in 2333 BC.

Dangun's skeltal remains

according to The Record of Japan in History of Wei...

愛こそはすべて

2月10日（水）快晴

♪できないことしようたって無理さ。歌えないこと歌おうたって無理さ。何も言えなくってもゲームのやり方なら覚えられる、簡単さ。♪作れないもの作ろうたって無理さ。救いようもない奴を救おうたって無理さ。何もできなくてもいつかは自分らしさを身につけることはできる、簡単さ。♪未知のものを知ろうたって無理さ。見えてもいないものを見ようたって無理さ。自分の居場所でないところに落ち着こうとしても落ち着けるわけがない、簡単さ。♪愛があればそれでいい。愛さえあれば何もいらない。

愛こそはすべて

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All You Need is Love
Wed. February 10 : fine

There is nothing you can do that can’t be done. Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung. Nothing you can say. But you can learn how to play the game. It’s easy. Nothing you can make that can’t be made. No one you can save that can’t be saved. Nothing you can do. But you can learn how to be you in time. It’s easy. Nothing you can know that isn’t known. Nothing you can see that isn’t shown. Nowhere you can be. That isn’t where you‘re meant to be. It’s easy. All you need is love. Love is all you need.

All You Need is Love

ラ・マルセイエーズ

2月9日（火）快晴

1789年フランス革命により国王の支配する国から国民の共有する国へ。命後周辺の帝政国家から共和国を防衛するために、人民の領土は人民手で守らねばという愛国心を育てました。「郷土を敵の血で満たせ」と歌う国歌・ラ・マルセイエーズ。自由・平等・博愛の三色の国旗。1967年の宇宙中継「アワー・ワールド」のためにビートルズが作った「愛こそはすべて」のイントロは仏国歌。「ウイ・アー・ザ・ワールド」もハイチ地震援助のために25年振りに再録。

ラ・マルセイエーズ

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La Marseillaise
Tue. February 9 : fine

Since French Revolution of 1789 France has changed from a monarchy to republic country. In order to protect their republic from surrounding imperial countries the patriotism that insists on people’s belief that their country has to be protected by people themselves elated. Their national anthem, La Marseillaise sings that “Fill our country by enemy’s blood”. The 3 colors, freedom, equality and humanity compose their national flag. French constitution states that the resistance to tyranny of their government is people’s duty. The introduction of “All You Need is Love” that was composed by Beetles for “Our World” space relayed in 1967 is French national anthem. “We Are the World” has revived after 25 years to Haiti aid after the earthquake.

La Marseillaise

愛国者とは

2月8日（月）快晴

悪党か忠臣か評価の分かれる楠正成、天下を統一した豊臣秀吉、江戸幕府を倒した明治天皇、勤皇の志士・坂本竜馬、明治天皇に殉死した乃木大将、天皇の代わりに戦犯で処刑された東条英機、天皇を処刑から救ったマッカーサー元帥、空手チョップでシャープ兄弟をやっつけた力道山、切腹した憂国の作家・三島由紀夫、大リーグで活躍のイチロー、友愛の政治を唱える鳩山首相。日本の食文化の守護者である捕鯨人。神前式を挙げるカップル・・・　　

愛国一筋

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Who is the patriot?
Mon. February 8 : fine

Masashige Kusunoki whose evaluations split, a black hat or a loyal retainer, Hideyoshi Toyotomi who unified the country, Meiji Emperor who defeated Tokugawa government in Edo, Ryoma Sakamoto who contributed himself to the modernization of Japan, General Nogi who followed Meiji Emperor to the grave, Hideki Tojo who was executed as a war criminal instead of Showa Emperor, General McArthur who saved the Emperor from execution, Rikidozan who defeated Sharp Brothers with his karate-chop, Yukio Mishima who was a patriotic writer and killed himself by self-disembowelment, Ichiro who is flourishing in Major League Baseball, Prime Minister Hatoyama who appeals his humanity policy, the whale catchers who protect Japanese traditional food culture, the couples who take Shinto marriage ceremony….

crazy patriot

人前結婚式

2月7日（日）快晴

本日の順子の結婚式は人前式だそうです。結婚情報誌ゼクシーによると、2008年に実際に行なわれた挙式の形式の全国平均比率は、キリスト教式が64%、神前式が18%、人前式が16%。ところで文部科学省の宗教統計調査によると、神道系が約1億700万人、仏教系が約8,900万人、キリスト系が約300万人、その他約1,000万人、合計2億900万人となり、日本の総人口の2倍弱の信者数になるそうです。日本人は信心深い？

結婚式専用教会

デファクト

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Non religious marriage ceremony
Sun. February 7 : fine

I heard that Junko’s wedding today is a nonreligious marriage ceremony. According to the statistics done by Zexy, the wedding magazine, the forms of wedding receptions thrown in Japan in 2008 were: 64% in Christianity style, 18% in Shinto style and 16% in nonreligious style. By the way, according to the statistics about religions done by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, 107M people believe in Shinto, 89M in Buddhism, 3M in Christianity and 10M in other religions. The total number of believers is 209M and it is almost twice as many as Japanese population. Are Japanese people quite faithful?

church only for wedding

de facto

日航破綻

2月6日（土）快晴

日本航空と子会社2社は先月末会社更生法を申請。3社合計の負債総額は2兆3221億円。国営の日本政策銀行が3500億円を踏み倒されたのに、政府は更に5000億円以上の金融支援を検討しています。国策会社や大銀行は役人の天下り先なので、給料や年金も民間の倍額、倒産しても国が救済してくれるから大丈夫。日航の年金は900万円、パイロットの初任給は年額1000万円とか。愛国心の強い納税者が支えてくれます。

日航ベイサイド大阪

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JAL undergo a collapse
Sat. February 6 : fine

JAL and its two affiliates filed an application of bankruptcy-reorganization plan last month. The total debts of those thee companies is $29B. Although the government-managed Japan Policy Bank has already avoided their debt of $4.4B, government is still considering giving them further financial assistance of more than $6.2B. As the companies based on national policy and the megabanks are where the retired bureaucrats are sent automatically, the salary and the pension are twice as much as that of private companies. Also, they never have to worry about their businesses because the government would help them if they ever went bankrupt. The average pension is $110,000 and the starting salary of a pilot is $130,000 per year in JAL. The patriotic tax-payers support JAL.

JAL Bayside Hotel Osaka

ケアンズ空港

2月5日（金）快晴

ユミがシドニーの大学の同級生・順子の結婚式に出席するために日本へ向かいます。車でケアンズ空港まで見送り。ケアンズ空港は開港26年の国際空港。豪州第5の規模で地方空港では最大。3197ｍと925ｍの2本の滑走路があります。日本の空港と比較すると成田、関空、中部国際に次ぐ4番目の長さ。国内線の羽田から国際線の成田まで2時間なんて世界一不便。ケアンズ空港は国内・国際のターミナル移動が1分。シティーから10分とアクセスも超便利。

ケアンズ港と空港

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Cairns Airport
Fri. February 5 : fine

Yumi is flying to Japan to attend the wedding party of Junko who was the college classmate in Sydney. I sent her to Cairns Airport by car to see her off. Cairns Airport is the 26-year-old international airport. It is the fifth biggest in Australia and the biggest local airport. There are 2 runways that have 3,197m and 925m. Comparing with Japanese airports, it has the forth longest runway after Narita, Kansai and Chubu. It is the most inconvenient in the world that it takes 2hours from the domestic Haneda to international Narita. Cairns Airport has much more convenient access. It takes 1 minute to get to the domestic terminal from the international and only 10 minutes from the airport to the city by car.

Cairns Port and Airport

複合機プリンター

2月4日（木）快晴

プリンターの調子が悪い。修理より買い換えたほうが安いだろうと文房具屋へ。コピー、プリンター、スキャナー、ＦＡＸの機能が付いた複合機がインク・カートリッジ付きで8000円。買い置き用のカートリッジを購入しようとしたら何と6100円。差し引き本体価格は1900円という計算。消耗品で儲ける商法です。格安インク屋に寄って詰め替え用インクを購入。100ｍｌで3200円。20回詰め替え可能なので、1回分160円です。

僕の書斎

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Complex mechanic printer
Thu. February 4 : fine

My printer doesn’t work well. Thinking that replacement would cost less than fixing it, I went to the stationer. The complex machine of copier, printer, scanner and FAX is $99 with the ink cartridges attached. I checked the price of the spare cartridges and I was surprised because it was $75! The deduction of the complex machine is $24. It’s a dirty business that makes profit from expendables. I dropped into the cheap ink shop to buy the refill. It was $40 per 100ml. It would refill 20 times so that comes to $2 each time.

mu study

郵便配達

2月3日（水）快晴

日本では郵政改革がすったもんだの空騒ぎ。今日が「ふみの日」かと思いきや、毎月23日とはサラ金の督促状を連想させます。豪州の郵便局は国営。公共料金の支払いは可能ですが、貯金や保険は扱っていません。文房具店を兼ねていますが、置いてある商品に統一性がありません。郵便料金も係員によって色々。誰が正しいのか分かりません。配達人は短パンでホンダのスーパー・カブ。1952年発売以来全世界で6000万台以上の販売実績。

スーパー・カブ

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Postman
Wed. February 3 : fine

In Japan the Diet has made a great fuss about postal reform. I thought “letter day” was today, 2 February but it is actually the 23th of every month. That reminds me the reminder from the consumer finance. Australian Post is the government enterprise. You can pay public utility bills there but they don’t operate deposit or insurances. They are combined with stationer but there are no uniformity in stocks. If you ask them about postage, different worker would give you different answer. I have no idea who has the right answer. The postmen wear short pants and ride Honda Super Cubs. Super Cubs have had the sales record of 60,000,000 in the world since 1952 of the first release.

Super Cub

雑誌社絶体絶命

2月2日（火）快晴

友人が雑誌を4冊送ってくれました。日本の雑誌は久し振りです。写真やチャートが多くて読みやすい。しかし4冊とも大衆受けする当たり障りのない記事の羅列。活字離れ、出版不況にデジタル化が追い打ちをかけ雑誌社は風前の灯。電子辞書が辞書を駆逐したように、ペーパーレス化は時代の流れ。新聞や文庫本や漫画は電子ブックに活路を見出すでしょうが、雑誌は閲読性に難があり展望は暗い。本屋も図書館も大きく様変わりするでしょう。

本屋と図書館

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Desperate situation of magazine houses
Tue. February 2 : fine

One of my Japanese friends sent me 4 copies of magazines. I read Japanese magazines after a long time. They are very easy to read because they have a lot of photos and charts. But all of them contain only the articles that would go down well with every reader. Because of the tendency of reading less and less the deep slump in the publishing industry and digitalization magazine houses has been in desperate situations. As electronic dictionaries have expelled dictionaries, paperless publication is trend of the times. Newspapers, paperbacks and comic books will be able to find their way in e-books, however, the prospect of magazines is poor because they are hard to be transferred into e-books. Book stores and libraries will change drastically in the future.

book stores and libraries

最後はiが勝つ？

2月1日（月）快晴

宣伝上手と言えばアップルも隅には置けません。４日前にタブレット型PCのiPadを大々的に発表。世界のPCマニアが騒然としていますが、要するにiPhoneを大型化しただけ。USBにもFlashにも対応していないし、カメラもついていません。それでも昨年大売れに売れたブックパソコンは急激に勢いを失うでしょう。iPodでレコード店の廃業が進んだように、キンドルとiPadにより書籍取次店や書店の閉店が続出するでしょう。

iPhone

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Sall “i-” overcome finally?
Mon. February 1 : fine

As for skillful promoters, you cannot neglect Apple. 4 days ago they extensively advertised their new tablet-type PC, “iPad”. The computer geeks all over the world are exited about it, but actually it has been just grown in size of iPhone. It supports neither USB nor Flash and it has no camera. But still, Book PCs that became a big hit last year will rapidly decrease its sales. As iPods encouraged many record stores to be closed Kindles and iPads will powerfully induce the business of book distributors and book stores to close their businesses.

iPhone