"Majide?! Kore wa nan desu ka? Totemo baka desu yo!!!" Translation: "Majide?! What is this? This is really stupid!"
Yeah, that's what I would say if I chose to use only my grade-school-level, basic Japanese. My wife pretty much said the same thing, albeit a bit more eloquent than my butchered lingo (and yes, she is Nihongo). One would think that a nativ-er (if that's even a word) would be proud to see this show air in the U.S., but hell nooooo!
Great! Another show displaying misconceptions about the Japanese. Stereotypes galore to ensue I'm sure. But the funny thing is...it's produced by the Japanese mega-producer Toho Studios themselves. Of course, it's not indicative of the entire Japanese population. But just to give a perspective of the other side of the fence; imagine if you will (quick Twilight Zone reference), a small village in Tibet...families crowded around the TV...watching an episode of MTV's Jack-ass...laughing...then some couldn't wait to visit the U.S. Then they arrive. Yeah, I'm sure you know what happens next.
"Showing your country's best." My wife says she's not proud of it, but unfortunately shows like these are part of normal prime-time television in her homeland. Some of which are equal to the same "majide-ness" of MTV's Jack-ass. Is it representative of Japanese culture as a whole? (Say "yes" and I'll put a blight on your microwaved lunch.) But like any corporation with delusions of grandure to expand overseas, only the craziest of shows will do...I suppose. I guess it can also promote tourism, but man...what a way to freakin do it by televising "majide".
So...I'm using my American freedom. Where's that remote? *CLICK!* "Welcome to MTV's Jack-ass!"
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
F***ed-up excuse from a diabetic: The In-n-Out "philosophical" experience.
OR
Real-life Analogy of what Carbon Credits really are.
OR
The REAL reason why health care in the U.S. is so damn expensive.
(Regarding the titles...take your pic)
My wife and I went to our twice-a-month treat at In-and-Out over the weekend (we're addicted to this stuff...but who isn't? So we set up a rule to only consume this heavenly, good-for-the-soul, bad-for-the-body dish every pay day.)
As I sink into my double-double-with-cheese bliss, we heard a guy at the counter complaining that the diet coke fountain was actually serving up regular coke. He was right. Portly, face red with boiling rage like a pressure cooker about to pop, he started to convey his dissatisfaction to the manager almost to the point of screaming, "You guys gotta get your $**t together cuz I'm a diabetic. If I fall and break my neck I'll sue your ass!" Good argument, but may be invalid...how can you sue if you die from breaking your neck?
But I digress. So…point taken: diabetes is serious. But one has to wonder, "What the f*** are you doing in an In-n-Out?" A quick glance over the gentleman's booth and I noticed that the In-n-out-trademark white of his table was barely visible thru the multitude of wrappers and tasty variations of pretty much the same item from its limited menu. "Perhaps he has dining mates" I wondered...giving him the benefit of the doubt. Nope. Just him. Just him and all 6 items.
I began to pontificate the many similar tangents this situation portrays (that's a fancy schmancy way of saying, "That's just like what's wrong with _____________________ *fill in the blank*).
Painfully obvious in his hypocritical ways and just begging to be ridiculed, I just sat there silently and tried to prevent myself (and my wife) from spoiling our meal by talking and "philosophizing" what had just happened. But I began to wonder, this situation is definitely like what the titles I presented earlier suggest:
1.) Carbon Credits are like Diet Cokes: "It doesn't really help if all you eat is crap!" In the words of AL GORE, "Oh I know I consume 20,000 watts of electricity per month at my house and I fly private jets all the time, but it's all offset by carbon credits! You should buy some and save the PLANET!" OK, he didn't really say that, but it's pretty much what he did....and still doing.
2.) "Give me health care because I'm too stupid to take care of myself!" OK, that really isn't the complete story of America's health care situation, but you gotta admit there's a lot of people who try to eat and drink their way to a supposedly better health instead of working their asses off.
I felt sorry for- but at the same time angry at- the red-faced guy. But my wife was with me and I must keep composure. So I sank right back into my double-double-with-cheese bliss and let the tasty pleasure take me away. "After this I'm gonna have to put in some serious Wii Fit time," I thought to myself. Virtual work-out. Wait...that's another analogy (...to be continued).
OR
Real-life Analogy of what Carbon Credits really are.
OR
The REAL reason why health care in the U.S. is so damn expensive.
(Regarding the titles...take your pic)
My wife and I went to our twice-a-month treat at In-and-Out over the weekend (we're addicted to this stuff...but who isn't? So we set up a rule to only consume this heavenly, good-for-the-soul, bad-for-the-body dish every pay day.)
As I sink into my double-double-with-cheese bliss, we heard a guy at the counter complaining that the diet coke fountain was actually serving up regular coke. He was right. Portly, face red with boiling rage like a pressure cooker about to pop, he started to convey his dissatisfaction to the manager almost to the point of screaming, "You guys gotta get your $**t together cuz I'm a diabetic. If I fall and break my neck I'll sue your ass!" Good argument, but may be invalid...how can you sue if you die from breaking your neck?
But I digress. So…point taken: diabetes is serious. But one has to wonder, "What the f*** are you doing in an In-n-Out?" A quick glance over the gentleman's booth and I noticed that the In-n-out-trademark white of his table was barely visible thru the multitude of wrappers and tasty variations of pretty much the same item from its limited menu. "Perhaps he has dining mates" I wondered...giving him the benefit of the doubt. Nope. Just him. Just him and all 6 items.
I began to pontificate the many similar tangents this situation portrays (that's a fancy schmancy way of saying, "That's just like what's wrong with _____________________ *fill in the blank*).
Painfully obvious in his hypocritical ways and just begging to be ridiculed, I just sat there silently and tried to prevent myself (and my wife) from spoiling our meal by talking and "philosophizing" what had just happened. But I began to wonder, this situation is definitely like what the titles I presented earlier suggest:
1.) Carbon Credits are like Diet Cokes: "It doesn't really help if all you eat is crap!" In the words of AL GORE, "Oh I know I consume 20,000 watts of electricity per month at my house and I fly private jets all the time, but it's all offset by carbon credits! You should buy some and save the PLANET!" OK, he didn't really say that, but it's pretty much what he did....and still doing.
2.) "Give me health care because I'm too stupid to take care of myself!" OK, that really isn't the complete story of America's health care situation, but you gotta admit there's a lot of people who try to eat and drink their way to a supposedly better health instead of working their asses off.
I felt sorry for- but at the same time angry at- the red-faced guy. But my wife was with me and I must keep composure. So I sank right back into my double-double-with-cheese bliss and let the tasty pleasure take me away. "After this I'm gonna have to put in some serious Wii Fit time," I thought to myself. Virtual work-out. Wait...that's another analogy (...to be continued).
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