Volume 13, Number 11 |
As part of its activities, the Tsukuba Information Center sponsors a bilingual discussion group the fourth Wednesday of every month from 2 to 4 pm, with invited guests giving a presentation from their area of expertise or experience. With the holidays, however, this month's will be moved up a week. This month, we are pleased to have Ms. Rani Alliband, who will be speaking on the subject, How Would You Like to Live in the Desert? 2 Years in the Australian Outback.
Rani was born in Sydney, but fascinated by Japan, she came in high school and then university student exchanges. After studying Japanese language, tour guiding seemed to be a good career move after university. Little did she realize that she was going to be posted to one of Australia's most spectacular natural wonders, Ayers Rock, which just happens to be in the middle of a desert!
From heat, flies, crazy sunburnt tourists to dust storms, dunes of wildflowers and local aboriginal culture, she has seen it all. Come and hear about her desert experiences and see the album of photos of the place that changed her life.
The Coffee Hour is meant to be an informal exchange of information and opinions. English and Japanese are both used with efforts made to make sure those who can't understand one or the other are able to at least get the gist of the conversation. Likewise, you don't need to commit yourself to the entire two hours and can come and go freely. So drop by, whether for a short time or for the entire two hours, and enjoy some free refreshments along with a stimulating discussion.
Doro Ichi is the name given to a special outdoor market specializing in daruma New Year's dolls and other New Year's decorations. This special one-day market will be held in front of the Yatabe branch office of city hall on Tuesday, Dec. 28th, and should be an interesting sight even if you are not interested in actually buying any decorations for your home or apartment. If, however, you would like to pick up some unusual souvenirs to take back with you, this should be a good opportunity.
The term Doro Ichi literally means mud market and has two possible linguistic origins. One is that traditionally December was the month when dorobo (thieves, literally mud sticks) were most active. The other theory is that it had to do with the muddy roads of December and that when people went shopping on such roads, they tended to get muddy.
Here's something I think everyone will find useful and interesting: The Tokyo English Information Page www2.gol.com/users/pbw/#japan. The links on this page are really good! I especially recommend the Expert on Travel Planner to work out a train route to anywhere in Japan (including the fare).
by Bob Gavey
The Tsukuba Information Center has established a new bilingual web site with a variety of information on Tsukuba, including video on demand. The web site is http://www.info-tsukuba.org/. Have fun surfing.
Dear Cassius:
Are you still working on the Y zero K problem? This change from BC to AD is giving us a lot of headaches and we haven't much time left. I don't know how people will cope with working the wrong way around. Having been working happily downwards forever, now we have to start thinking upwards. You would think that someone would have thought of it earlier and not left it to us to sort it all out at this last minute.
I spoke to Caesar the other evening. He was livid that Julius hadn't done something about it when he was sorting out the calendar. He said he could see why Brutus turned nasty. We called in Consultus, but he simply said that continuing downwards using minus BC won't work and as usual charged a fortune for doing nothing useful. Surely, we will not have to throw out all our hardware and start again? Macrohard will make yet another fortune out of this I suppose.
The money lenders are paranoid of course! They have been told that all usury rates will invert and they will have to pay their clients to take out loans. It's an ill wind....
As for myself, I just can't see the sand in an hourglass flowing upwards. We have heard that there are three wise men in the East who have been working on the problem, but unfortunately they won't arrive until it's all over.
I have heard that there are plans to stable all horses at midnight at the turn of the year as there are fears that they will stop and try to run backwards, causing immense damage to chariots and possible loss of life.
Some say the world will cease to exist at the moment of transition. Anyway, we are still continuing to work on this blasted Y zero K problem. I will send a parchment to you if anything further develops.
If you have any ideas please let me know.
Plutonius
Assuming you're one of the many foreigners who will be stuck in your home away from home during the holidays, please read on. If you are one of the lucky ones to have your pricy reservations for a trip home, then Bon Voyage!
Imagine that you're pushing your shopping cart down the aisle at Daiei, humming along with the Muzak-to-shop-by wafting down at you from the PA system: "I'll be home for Christmas... " when the depressing thought hits you that this year, you won't be home!!! Before you slide over the edge into a Blue Christmas, consider some opportunities which may help to make the season bright.
In addition to various public concerts and exhibits, churches in Tsukuba are hosting special celebrations. Various churches in the Tsukuba area are joining together for a Shimin Christmas (Community Christmas) in Nova Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 7 pm. An international husband and wife duet of Abraham Kist and Sayuri Okazaki will be providing much of the music, and there will be a number of groups performing, including an excellent handbell choir. There will be translations of the Japanese portions into English over headphones. Childcare will be available, but the YMCA needs to know ahead of time. Please call them at 52-4128.
The International Christmas Worship Service at Tsukuba Gakuen Church (behind the gas station across from Daiei) will be held Christmas Sunday afternoon (Dec. 19th) at 2:30 pm, followed by refreshments in the Christian Center next door. The regular 10:30 am Japanese service (which is translated into English over earphones every Sunday) will be followed by a Christmas luncheon with lots of good food. Visitors are welcome. Also, there will be a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Dec. 24th at 7:00 pm featuring a well-trained choir. It will be followed by Christmas caroling at several locations beginning at 8:15 pm. There is also a free organ and vocal concert on Sunday, Dec. 12 at 4 pm featuring soprano Junko Nakata and organist Yoshiko Ueda. The church organ is a work in progress, a completely handmade, pipe organ that is an incredible story in and of itself. While a high energy physicist by profession, Toshiyuki Mitsuhashi has put a lot of high energy into his hobby of organ building, and he has constructed one of the premier organs in all of Japan. It is well worth hearing. Another event of interest to parents of younger children will be a church school Christmas party with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 2 pm. For more information, call 55-1907.
If you are a bit homesick for Christmas lights (or if you come from a country where that isn't such a tradition, and just want to see them), the Tsukuba Christian Center/YMCA is decorated with thousands of colored bulbs, including lighted angels, etc. There will also be an open house every evening from Dec. 19th through 24th from 6 to 9 pm with various goodies and drinks prepared for those who would like to come and experience a little of the Christmas spirit. On Christmas Eve, the open house will begin immediately following the candlelight service. On Saturday Dec. 11 at 6 pm, there will be an international Christmas dinner at the Tsukuba Christian Center that is open to all. Turkey will be provided, but a side dish (or bread, drinks, etc.) to add to the pot luck food would be appreciated.
The Tsukuba Catholic Church in Matsushiro has the following Christmas/New Year's season schedule for the international community: Sunday, Dec. 19, 3 pm, Spanish Mass followed by a party; Tuesday, Dec. 21 10 am, Children's International Christmas Mass and party; Friday, Dec. 24, Japanese Christmas Mass 7:00 pm and International Christmas Mass 12:00 am midnight. On Christmas Day, there is a Japanese Mass at 10:00 am. A New Year's Eve International Mass begins at the stroke of midnight, and a New Year's Day Mass in Japanese begins at 10 am. For information, call Father Donegan at 36-1723.
The Nozomi Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tsuchiura (Komatsu 3-23-27) also has special holiday programs, including the following: Christmas Sunday will be held Dec. 26, with a bilingual service at 10:30 am. There will also be a children's Christmas program on Dec. 19 at 2 pm. The bilingual Christmas Eve service is at 7:30 pm and is followed by a pot luck. The New Year's Day service is at 2:00 pm. The church is also beautifully decorated with lights and a nativity scene that is well worth seeing. It is located a little over 1 km south of Tsuchiura Station on the edge of a steep hill overlooking the city. For further information, call Glenn Hieb at (0298) 21-3578.
The Tsuchiura Christian Church has the following activities: A bilingual Christmas service will be held on Dec. 19 at 10:30 am. A special Christmas program for both children and adults will be held Dec. 25 at 2:00 pm. For more information, contact Paul or Faith Axton at 56-2167.
Tsuchiura Megumi Church, located near the junction of Tsuchiura-Gakuen Sen and the 6-go Bypass will have three Christmas services on Dec. 19th at 9 am, 10:45 am and 7 pm. Their candlelight service on Christmas eve will begin at 7:00 pm. Christmas caroling is from 8 pm. For further information, call 22-2244.
The newly opened Assemblies of God church will feature a Christmas program on the 19th at 10:30 am followed by a pot-luck. Activities at this church are mostly in English. For further information, call Pastor Richard Swan at 36-0993.
Baha no Mori (Bach Grove), located at Tokodai 2-7-9 (tel. 47-8696), will celebrate the Christmas/ Holiday season with several different activities: On Dec. 12 at 3:30 pm, there will be a Christmas concert for organ, recorder, a soprano soloist and the Bach Grove Choir, with tickets costing 3000 yen. On Dec. 19 at 3:30 pm, a Christmas Fantasy will be presented with slides and live music (narration in Japanese). Cost 1000 yen (800 yen children). On the 23rd, from 6 to 8 pm, there will be a banquet with a home concert featuring a variety of music. Bach Grove members are charged 1500 yen (700 yen for children), with double that for guests.
If it's the secular shopping hoopla that you miss, you'll love getting yourself trampled while checking out the seasonal offerings at the department stores. The real stampede, however, is in Tokyo, and for merry masochistic madness, a day at Akihabara or Harajuku is unsurpassed as pure holiday inSANTAty!
Christmas cakes have become a Japanese tradition as well established as New Year's omochi. Our advice, however, is to go easy on these white, strawberry-topped concoctions, sweet enough to give Santa diabetes. You may well be invited to one or more bonenkai (forget-the-year parties), where you will be enticed to down enough beer and sake to make you forget not only the year, but your name and how to get home. While we naively hope for sobriety in this season, we realize that there will be some plastered gaijin here and there. If you end up being one, don't drive! The Tsukuba gendarmes (police) are lurking in wait to lift your driver's license.
For those of you who have not experienced a Japanese style New Year, you need to be prepared for the closing down of practically everything for at least 2 days. Most stores close down early on New Year's Eve and don't reopen until the 2nd or later. This is much shorter than in the good old days when stores were closed down until the 3rd or 4th, but one still needs to be sure to stock up on the basics, such as bread and milk. Of perhaps greater significance in this cash society is that the banks will be closed from December 31st to January 3rd. The cash card (ATM) machines will not be operational on Jan. 1, 2 and 3, and so you need to have enough cash on hand for your expected expenses (plus some for the spur-of-the-moment purchases at the various New Year's sales you'll run across). With the Y2K scare, it's probably a good idea to have a bit more in cash than you would keep in a normal situation.
A popular tradition in Japan is hatsu moode, the first visit to a shrine to pray to the local gods for good luck in the New Year. Many try to combine this with a sunrise vigil on New Year's Day. One popular place to do this is on Mt. Tsukuba. Sunrise is at 6:49 am, and the cable railway from Tsukuba Shrine and ropeway from the Tsukuba San Keisei Hotel going to the top of the mountain begin operating at 4:30 and 5:30 am respectively. The Mt. Tsukuba Shrine provides Ama-zake (sweet alcoholic drink made from fermented rice) free of charge to all visitors beginning at 6 am on the first of January and continuing to the third. If you really want to go gung ho on the Japanese experience, you can even fork over 3000 yen for a go-kitou Shinto New Year's prayer for success in business, health, a passing grade in school or whatever your heart desires! (No guarantees!)
Another popular excursion is to visit Kashima Shrine, located about 75 min. by car east of Tsukuba in the coastal town of Kashima (home of the Kashima Antlers of the J-League professional soccer league). Purported to have been founded in 660 AD, it is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in all of Japan. The grounds of the shrine are spacious, with many interesting buildings and other points of interest, and are worth a visit any time of the year. If you go on New Year's Day, be prepared for huge crowds! The Narita Temple is another very popular destination for Japanese wishing for a heavenly blessing, and well worth a trip for those wishing to experience the spectacle.
Another interesting New Year's outing that lets you experience a Japanese tradition is to visit the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to see the emperor and empress (from a distance, of course). The main gate of the palace will open to the public from 9:30 am to 3 pm on the second of January. The emperor, empress and his family will greet the crowds 7 times during the day. And when we say crowds, we mean just that; so if you're interested, go early! This is just about the only day you can actually get inside the Imperial Palace grounds.
There are plenty of other interesting places within walking distance of the Imperial Palace if you still have time after your royal greetings. And since businesses are generally shut down for the day, the streets (and of course, the trains) are empty. If you've ever thought about driving around in Tokyo in your car, this is the time to do it since there is no traffic and easy parking.
Another popular New Year's custom in Japan is the flying of kites. The stiff breezes make this time of year good for getting some really big and heavy kites airborne, with the bigger ones taking many people to control. One good place to see them is at the Toride Tonegawa Dondo Matsuri on January 12 (or following day in case of rain). This festival centers around the burning in a giant bonfire the various New Year's decorations (such as kadomatstu, the bamboo and pine branch decorations used to welcome the New Year). In the coals of the bonfire, people roast senbei (and perhaps even marshmallows these days) on long sticks. While you are warming yourself by the fire, then, you can watch the kite flying contest on the river bank, far away from power lines and tree branches. Kite flying basically takes place between 10 am and 2 pm, while the giant bonfire starts from around 4 pm through 6 pm. For further info, call 0297-74-2141.
It all started innocently enough: a beautiful Sunday morning with the sun streaming through the windows of a country cottage - my sanctuary from the chaos of modern life; Bach's Brandenburg concertos playing softly on the stereo; freshly-brewed coffee; comfortable conversation with a friend I had known for many years.
She asked if I was still seeing the woman that I had been seeing for the last while. After my affirmative, she asked how she was doing. "Fine" was my reply. So far, we had both been obeying the rules for comfortable Sunday morning conversation.
"I hear that Cecile has gone back to university."
"Yes," I said, taken a little aback at the mention of a previous girlfriend. I took a big sip of coffee, wondering if this was going somewhere.
"And, how is Cecile?"
My mind racing from the unexpected direction of the conversation, I came up with the perfect answer.
"Fine," I said.
"Let's see," my friend continued. "In the 6 years I've known you, you've gone out with the Salvadoran woman who spoke hardly any English. There was the French Canadian that could stop any conversation in its tracks with the mention of Quebec separatism. And now, there's Marie. She's from France, isn't she? Well, her English is quite good; considering..."
Oblivious to the 'Cliff Ahead' sign that I had just rocketed past, I continued on. "Yes," I said, unaware that my fate had just been handed over to gravity.
"Interesting . . ." she said. "Interesting how you seem to go out with women that you can't talk to."
"Hmmm" I said, finally recognizing the danger that lay ahead. "Hmm, interesting..."
You know that moment when the cartoon character Wile. E. Coyote realizes that he is well past the cliff edge? When he looks down, then back from where he came? When he knows that no matter how much he scrambles, going back just isn't an option? It's too late; all that's left is down - again.
At this moment, I take on Wile E. Coyote as my totem. After years of cheering for the roadrunner, I finally understand his predicament. What I want to say is, "My Spanish got to be quite good, you know " I want to say, "My Quebecois girl friend spoke English better than some of my Anglo friends." I want to say, "I also went out with the university-educated, English as mother tongue, feminist. For two years, no less." But, it's too late for any of these responses. At this point, the only question yet to be answered is whether it will be the anvil, the piano or the safe that lands on my head once I finally hit bottom.
"You'd make an interesting case study for a psychologist." (It's the anvil - definitely the anvil.) Not yet ready to leave me to my misery, she continues, "If l didn't know you better, I'd think that you were a male, chauvinist pig."
In the silence, I can hear the Allegro of Concerto #6 playing in the background. The sun reflects in my l cup of coffee. But, there is no safety in this sanctuary.
In high school, my Biology teacher taught me that the Latin name for the human species is Homo Sapiens. Much to my surprise however, I had just been told that I am not actually a member of this advanced and noble species but am, rather, mired in the gene pool of a much more humble species.
l am a pig. It's not that I'm a member of the genus baconus sogoodforbreakfastus. Actually, I am from that far less respected genus malus insensitivus.
What bothers me about all this is that at this point there was just no way to defend myself as a human being with any morality. I already had been classified and judged. No amount of thoughtful or insightful commentary could lift me from the sty.
My friend is, of course, a feminist. Feminism in this century has accomplished many things. Politically, it has changed the legal status of women from property to voting citizens. Economically, it has brought to public attention the discrepancies in pay and promotions. Sociologically, it has forced the examination of gender roles. I believe these to be valuable accomplishments and agree that further change is necessary.
Unfortunately, just like every other 'ism', feminism carries with it the implicit belief that no other point of view has any moral value. As long as I stay within the guidelines set out for me, I am accepted - although that damn Y chromosome remains problematic. But, anytime that I deviate from the role of sensitive, new-age guy, I wallow in the moral muck hole and am susceptible to that most horrible of feminist epithets - male, chauvinist pig.
Sensitive, new-age guys like to talk to their significant others about their relationships. They like to berate themselves about their 'problems with intimacy'. They even like to be told how close they are to being pork chops, so that they have the opportunity to reform themselves. Sensitive, new-age guys believe that there is no greater joy than nurturing intimacy with their partner and thrill at the knowledge that this is a lifelong prospect. For them, gender differences are the spice that make this such a delicious challenge.
l, however, am of the opinion that men and women don't have problems because we are different genders. Although I disagree with my friends classification, there is some truth to her comment. I believe that we have problems because we are different species.
But, I can't say that without suffering moral condemnation. I can't say that I think the best resolution to all the gender problems is to put all the men on the continents of North and South America, all the women on Africa and Asia, and leave Australia for procreation and recreation.
I can't say this even as a joke. If I challenge the notion that there is a sacred and immutable connection between sex and intimacy, I am just a pig. If I point out that the majority of examples of the fools who have reached for this romantic ideal end up not with intimacy but with anger, resentment, bitterness, and sometimes abuse, I am somehow morally inferior. If I suggest that intimacy and honesty should be reserved for your friends rather than your lover; if l suggest that the quickest way to have a good relationship founder on the rocks is to listen to the siren song of hormones, I risk being skewered on a spit, hung over glowing coals and served to voracious cannibalesses with applesauce and mashed potatoes.
Not wanting to make things worse, I kept all these thoughts to myself. But, perhaps out of a morbid sense of curiosity (or was it a death wish?), I decided to continue the conversation.
"Why is it," I asked my friend, "that women think that men telling them what they think, being honest with them, telling them the truth somehow makes the relationship better? Truth and honesty don't necessarily facilitate intimacy."
Big gulp of coffee, and then, "I think that if men really told the truth, there wouldn't be enough pig farms on the planet to house us all."
"Oh? And what is the truth?" she asked.
As my fate had already been determined, I decided to finally tell a woman the truth. "The truth is," I continue with bravery that comes only with fatalism, "that men wish all women looked like Pamela Anderson or Bo Derek and were available at their beck and call. The truth is that men wish that they had been Gilligan-stranded on that tropical isle with Ginger and Marianne. And, that wish is not just the function of socialization. That is a biological truth - that's how we're built." Something else that I Iearned in Biology. "And why haven't any of your boyfriends ever told you this? It was shortly after the first time a Neanderthal woman asked her Neanderthal mate 'Does this zebra skin make me look fat?' that honesty was deselected as a survival strategy.'
The truth was out; there was no turning back now. Risking a piano on my head, I continued. "What's worse is that, even though I recognize that this is just my opinion, I can't say it out loud. Nowadays, men no longer have reasoned beliefs; we have fascist outbursts designed to bring a return to the days of domination and exploitation. Men no longer have well-considered opinions; we have reactionary diatribes motivated from bitterness and nostalgia for the days of the smoking room with its leather armchairs, cigars and cognac. Any opinion that does not conform to the Sensitive Male Handbook of Politicall Correct Thought is judged hostile and heaped with moral approbation."
"Hmmm. I hadn't really thought about it like that," she said. "I guess there's some truth to what you say."
Then, she paused and I knew what was coming next.
"You have been very honest with me. I feel as if I know you much better. I guess you're not a pig after all."
"Of course l'm not," I said, as I tried to look down her top.
The following is a Public Service Announcement. While perhaps not much of a threat here in Japan when working in English, the following story is something you should share with your kids. It will help them to be more internet savvy.
Shannon could hear the footsteps behind her as she walked toward home. The thought of being followed made her heart beat faster. "You're being silly," she told herself, "no one is following you." To be safe, she began to walk faster, but the footsteps kept up with her pace. She was afraid to look back, and she was glad she was almost home. Shannon said a quick prayer, "God please get me home safe." She saw the porch light burning, and ran the rest of the way to her house. Once inside, she leaned against the door for a moment, relieved to be in the safety of her home. She glanced out the window to see if anyone was there. The sidewalk was empty. After tossing her books on the sofa, she decided to grab a snack and get on-line. She logged on under her screen name ByAngel213. She checked her Buddy List, and saw GoTo123 was on. She sent him an instant message:
ByAngel213: Hi I'm glad you are on! I thought someone was following me home today. It was really weird!
GoTo123: LOL. You watch too much TV. Why would someone be following you? Don't you live in a safe neighborhood?
ByAngel213: Of course I do. LOL I guess it was my imagination cuz' I didn't see anybody when I looked out.
GoTo123: Unless you gave your name out on-line. You haven't done that have you?
ByAngel213: Of course not. I'm not stupid you know.
GoTo123: Did you have a softball game after school today?
ByAngel213: Yes and we won!!
GoTo123: That's great! Who did you play?
ByAngel213: We played the Hornets. LOL. Their uniforms are so gross! They look like bees. LOL
GoTo123: What is your team called?
ByAngel213: We are the Canton Cats. We have tiger paws on our uniforms. They are really kewl.
GoTo123: Did you pitch?
ByAngel213: No I play second base. I got to go. My homework has to be done before my parents get home. I don't want them mad at me. Bye
GoTo123: Catch you later.. Bye
Meanwhile.......
GoTo123 went to the member menu and began to search for her profile. When it came up, he highlighted it and printed it out. He took out a pen, and began to write down what he knew about Angel so far. Her name: Shannon. Birthday: Jan. 3, 1985. Age: 13. State where she lived: North Carolina. Hobbies: softball, chorus, skating and going to the mall. Besides this information, he knew she lived in Canton because she had just told him. He knew she stayed by herself until 6:30 pm every afternoon until her parents came home from work. He knew she played softball on Thursday afternoons on the school team, and the team was named the Canton Cats. Her favorite number 7 was printed on her jersey. He knew she was in the seventh grade at the Canton Junior High School. She had told him all this in the conversations they had on-line. He had enough information to find her now.
Shannon didn't tell her parents about the incident on the way home from the ball park that day. She didn't want them to make a scene and stop her from walking home from the softball games. Parents were always overreacting, and hers were the worst. It made her wish she was not an only child. Maybe if she had brothers and sisters, her parents wouldn't be so overprotective. By Thursday, Shannon had forgotten about the footsteps following her.
Her game was in full swing when suddenly she felt someone staring at her. It was then that the memory came back. She glanced up from her second base position to see a man watching her closely. He was leaning against the fence behind first base, and he smiled when she looked at him. He didn't look scary, and she quickly dismissed the fear she had felt.
After the game, he sat on a bleacher while she talked to the coach. She noticed his smile once again as she walked past him. He nodded and she smiled back. He noticed her name on the back of her shirt. He knew he had found her.
Quietly, he walked a safe distance behind her. It was only a few blocks to Shannon's home; and once he saw where she lived, he quickly returned to the park to get his car. Now he had to wait. He decided to get a bite to eat until the time came to go to Shannon's house. He drove to a fast food restaurant and sat there until time to make his move.
Shannon was in her room later that evening when she heard voices in the living room. "Shannon, come here," her father called. He sounded upset, and she couldn't imagine why.
She went into the room to see the man from the ballpark sitting on the sofa.
"Sit down," her father began, "this man has just told us a most interesting story about you."
Shannon moved cautiously to a chair across from the man. How could he tell her parents anything? She had never seen him before today!
"Do you know who I am Shannon?" The man asked.
"No," Shannon answered.
"I am a police officer and your online friend, GoTo123."
Shannon was stunned. "That's impossible! GoTo is a kid my age! He's 14; and he lives in Michigan!"
The man smiled. "I know I told you all that, but it wasn't true.
You see, Shannon, there are people on-line who pretend to be kids. I was one of them. But while others do it to find kids and hurt them, I belong to a group of parents who do it to protect kids from predators. I came here to find you to teach you how dangerous it is to give out too much information to people on-line. You told me enough about yourself to make it easy for me to find you. Your name, the school you went to, the name of your ball team, and the position you played. The number and name on your jersey just made finding you a breeze." Shannon was stunned. "You mean you don't live in Michigan?" He laughed. "No, I live in Raleigh. It made you feel safe to think I was so far away, didn't it?"
She nodded.
"I had a friend whose daughter was like you. Only she wasn't as lucky. The guy found her and murdered her while she was home alone. Kids are taught not to tell anyone when they are alone, yet they do it all the time on-line.
The wrong people trick you into giving out information a little here and there on-line. Before you know it, you have told them enough for them to find you without even realizing you have done it. I hope you've learned a lesson from this and won't do it again."
"I won't," Shannon promised solemnly. "Will you tell others about this so they will be safe too?" "It's a promise!"
That night, Shannon and her dad and mom all knelt down together and prayed. They thanked God for protecting Shannon from what could have been a tragic situation.
An anagram, as you all know, is a word or phrase made by or rearranging the letters of another word or phrase. The following are exceptionally clever. Someone out there either has way too much time to waste or is deadly at Scrabble.
Look what is spelled when you rearrange these Words
Dormitory Dirty Room
Desperation A Rope Ends It
The Morse Code Here come Dots
Slot Machines Cash Lost in 'em
Animosity Is No Amity
Mother-in-law Woman Hitler
Snooze Alarms Alas! No More Z's
Alec Guinness Genuine Class
Semolina Is No Meal
The Public Art Galleries Large Picture Halls, I Bet
A Decimal Point I'm a Dot in Place
The Earthquakes That Queer Shake
Eleven plus two Twelve plus one
Contradiction Accord not in it
Astronomer Moon Starer
Princess Diana End Is A Car Spin
*AND HERE IS THE MOST INTRIGUING PART
Year Two Thousand A Year To Shut Down
As part of its ongoing efforts to improve life for foreign researchers in Tsukuba, the Tsukuba International Network (made up of representatives from numerous institutes and other organizations with an interest in the international community) has commissioned the Alien Times to collect information through a questionnaire on people's experiences with the medical system. Please take a few minutes to respond to the following questions as appropriate to your situation. We hope to get a better feel for the specific problems faced by non-Japanese speaking persons as they utilize the system. Where appropriate, please fill in specifics.