Thursday, July 31, 2014

Open Campus

My son is going to visit a high school tomorrow. There will be an open campus event for middle school students. He is looking forward to the visit because he can take part in a sports club event. He wants to join the high school's table tennis club, so he will participate table tennis activity.  I bet he'll enjoy the open campus event. If he wants to enter the high school, he has to study hard. Can he study hard? I hope he can.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Firefighter

My wife and my son had a parent and child meeting with my son's teacher at schol today. The teacher said my son might be hard to enter his first choice high school. I understand it's because he hasn't studied enough. But it's ok. He want to be a firefighter for now, so he would study hard to realize his dream.

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Concentration

While learning English, I lose my concentration easily. I don't reach the point what I wanted to get. In addition, my wife often interrupts me when I study English at home. Help me!

Monday, July 28, 2014

Sunburn

My son went swim in the sea with his friends yesterday. It was hot and sunny. He wanted to get a suntan because he thought tanned skin was cool. 
He stayed on the beach to get sunshine for a long time and he got too much suntan. As a result, his skin was just burned and looked red. He promised that he won't get too much suntan at once, but it might happens every year.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

The Giver 3

The story of "The Giver" goes sad for me. To realize the ideal society, they get rid of humanity from their world, but they are trying to keep human memories in a selected person. I don't want to revile the story, so you should read it. It's worth to read. 
Shearing memories, emotions, happiness  and even sadness to others is natural for human beings. 

Saturday, July 26, 2014

The Giver 2

I've finished reading "The Giver" for the first time in eight years. I almost forgot about the story at first, but gradually came up the vague memory of the story. My understanding of the story was limited at that time because of the lack of vocabulary. My vocabulary building has little progressed, so I could read it smoothly than before.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Vocabulary

I bought three vocabulary building books at BOOKOFF today. I've been really frustrated with my poor vocabulary, but I didn't want to use word books before. I have some vocabulary books, but I rarely used it.
I'm not good at memorizing new words, but I feel I can do that now because I really want to expand my vocabulary.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Heatstroke

The whether has been extremely hot these days. This dangerous heat causes heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
You will die if the body temperature rises higher than 42C. Before that immediate treatments are needed. Cool the body as quickly as possible.
To prevent the deseases, you should stay out of the sun and drink lots of water. Take care and stay safe everyone.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Vehicular Heatstroke

Another hot summer has come. Every year, I hear some bad news about deaths of children from vehicular heatstroke. They were killed by their parents because they were left in a hot car. During that time, the parents often go inside a pachinko shop. There are some people who mustn't have children. These parents are that kind of person. I hope I won't hear those kind of terrible news this summer.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

BOOKOFF

As my bookshelf looked messy, I decided to sell some books to a second hand book store, BOOKOFF. 
I selected 88 books and brought them to near BOOKOFF. I thought I could get 2500 yen for the books but they turned out only 2000 yen. I was a little disappointed but it was okey.
After that I bought some glossaries like cabege, mashrooms, pasta and so on. I spend the 2000 yen for them. Using them, I cooked spaghetti for lunch and Okonomiyaki for dinner. That meant my 88 books turned into my family's meal.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Goodwill Guide

I went to Matsue castle for volunteer guiding. It was hot day. 
I got to there 1:00pm. Until then, a senior member stayed at the information desk and he said no one came to the office.
After that, I atayed there for three hours. Again, no one came there, but a Japanese woman who wanted to be a volunteer guide came. I told her how to contact the chair person of Matsue Goodwill Guide.
I'd be glad lots of people join the group, and of course, lots of tourists come here.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

The Giver

I'm reading "The Giver" for the second time. I read the book nine years ago for the first time . At that time I just restarted to learn English, so I couldn't read the book well. Even though I had poor English skills, I was really moved by the story.
After that, I've been trying to improve my English skills. I'm really glad that I can read the book so clearly now. I really enjoy reading the novel for now. 

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Missing Girl Returns

A kidnaped girl in Kurashiki has found tonight. I really feel relieved that she returned safety. A middle age man seized her to his home and kept several days. 
Sometime, kidnaped children found dead or injured recently. Japan became a dangerous country. I'm really sad about that.

Friday, July 18, 2014

Malaysia Airlines Crash

A Malaysia Airlines jet crashed in Ukraine. Some authorities said, the Boeing 777 was shoot down by a missile. All 298 passengers were killed by the attack.
I don't know why the plane flew the dangerous area but, at least civilian airplanes must be protected. 
At the present moment, who did the I humane attack, but the crime against humanity should be investigated as soon as possible.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

High School Baseball

I read an article about a high school baseball player. He is a talented pitcher. Many professional baseball team would nominate him for the draft meeting in this year. 
Unlike other Koshien pitchers, he is trying to avoid to pitch too much. He never pitch two days in a row becaus he doesn't want to get hurt in his body. Many professional baseball team scout persons feel irritated about his attitude. They think he should play for the team as much as he can. 
I definitely support his thought. Youth baseball players should be protected from injuries. Sometime, those young players have to pitch terrible numbers of pitches and break their shoulders or elbows. I don't want to watch that players anymore. 

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Election Scandal

According to the news paper, Takamatsu Election Management Committee made a calculation error intentionally at the 2013 upper house election.
This must not be happened in any democratic countries. I'm really angly and feel embarassd this scandal. We should carefully watch the election process more.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

A Massacre in Huston

A 15-year-old girl was survived under a mass shooting by former her aunt's husband. Sadly, she lost her parents, two sisters and two brothers. She was only surviver of the rampage. 
At her family's memorial service, she quoted a line from the Harry Potter series. "Happiness can be found in the darkest of the times, if only remembers to turn on the light."
This kind of tragedies happen in the US so often. Obviously, severe gun control is needed. 

Monday, July 14, 2014

Congratulations!

The 2014 World Cup was won by Germany. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to watch the lat 15 minute of the final on TV. But I was relieved that it didn't go to a penalty shoot out. Anyway congratulations, Germany!

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Collective Self-diffense

I read some articles and opinions about Japan's collective self-defense. Many Japanese people opporse the government new policy for the issue. They say Japan will attack the third countries or send troops to other countries. In addition, they said some Asian countries object the changing. 
I believe they are wrong. I think Japan has already used collective self-defense right before. Some peace keeping activities for U.N were exactly that things. And if you carefully read the cabinet's statement on the right, you could understand Japan won't use military power for attacking other countries. The government use troops only when our country face severe crisis that will destroy Japan completely.
Of course, I believe Article 9 of the Constitution should be changed. That would be better.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Religion or Philosophy?

I've finished a book about Buddhism for beginners in English. I'm really interested in religion especially Buddhism. I've read some books about primitive Buddhism or Theravada Buddhism in Japanese before.
Compare to other religions like Christianity or Mahayana Buddhism, primitive Buddhism seems philosophy. The teaching is simple but deep. I'd like to understand it someday.

Friday, July 11, 2014

After Typhoon

Typhoon Neogri has passed. My city didn't get strong wind nor heavy rain thes time but some areas got severe damages  because of this typhoon. 
After the typhoon passing, it was very hot and humid today. Has the rainy season gone away already? 

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Buddhism

I've got a kindle book about Buddhism for free. The author wrote about Buddha and fundamental Buddhism. I'm really interested in Buddhism especially the primitive one. I read some books about primitive Buddhism in Japanese. If I have chances, I'll read that kind of books in English and I'd like to talk about Buddhism in English someday.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Special Issue

The last week's TIME was a special issue. It was thicker than usual. I wasn't aware of that so, I was wondering TIME hasn't come this week.
I think why TIME skipped this week is because of the Fourth of July, American Independence Day. Many Americans might take their holidays around this time.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Typhoon Is Coming

A massive typhoon will swallow Okinawa tonight. The authorities said the Typhoon Neoguri would be the largest typhoon ever to Japan. We have to take care of it. 
Because a typhoon is approaching, it's very hot and humid here tonight. I don't think I could sleep well tonight. 

Monday, July 7, 2014

A Big Typhoon

A massive typhoo is approaching to Japan. It will hit Okinawa tomorrow. After that the typhoon might pass through the Japanese sea. I hope everyone stays safe.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Collective Self-Defense

Japan's PM Abe and the Cabinet members announced that Japan has the right to collective self-defense and will use military power under the right in some severe cases, despite Japanese constitution doesn't mention the right on it.
I believe we have to change our constitution first, but the real situations don't allow to wait its changing. In fact, some of our territory was already conquered by neighboring country. I think every nation has the right to collective self-defense, so it's time to admit we have and use the right.

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Got a Mouth Burn

I went to have dinner with my son. I ate in a hurry and I got a mouth burn. I should not eat in a hurry that much. I feel strainge in my mouth. 

Friday, July 4, 2014

Beetles

My younger son has been rising beetles for several years. New born beetles has hatched today. He didn't care much about them, so they have become small beetles. But they look cute. 

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Vocabulary

I didn't study much about English words. I'm thinking about taking Eiken, so I have to practice English vocabulary. I don't want to, though. 

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Short-wave Broadcasting

I listened VOA radio yesterday. An announcer told on a program that they ended their short-wave broadcasting service until the end of June. 
I've never listened any radio program with short-wave radio receiver. I remember that listening short-wave radio show used to be popular for some people many decades ago. My cousin would listen short-wave radio program whe he was young. He often sent some report to the radio stations and got some cards from the stations.
Time flies. We can listen countless radio program through the Internet now. Some people might miss the noisy radio sounds. 

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

High School

My younger son will be a high school student next April, but befor that he has to take entrance exams. 
He attended a school introduction event at his middle school today. He is not good at studying. Can he find a good school for him? I hope he can.