Caught this in an article by Tim Dickinson about the Iowa caucus on Rollingstone.com and found it to be particularly interesting:
"The turnout on the Democratic side was unreal. It soared from 124,000 in 2004 to 230,000 in 2008. And that’s all about the man who won.
Obama’s been drawing record crowds from San Francisco to Des Moines — but there was always the question of whether he could produce a similar effect among real live voters.
He did so in a way that no one predicted. 57 percent of the caucus goers tonight had never caucused before. Most impressive: As many people under thirty showed up as senior citizens.
That’s fucking nuts is what that is. That’s the Rock the Vote political wet dream that never ever comes true… actually coming true. What this portends for Obama as a national candidate is something truly special. He’s not only proven that he can draw the support of independents and open-minded Republicans. He’s the one guy who can make the Democratic pie higher, bringing new, unlikely voters into the fold. If he could replicate this kind of support among young people in a general election, it’s game over."
Not giving you my views, just chasing the intrigue.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Nihonjin of the week: Noriyuki "Pat" Morita
Who he is: Mr. Miyagi, Academy Award nominee (1984)
Why he rules: While he technically lived nearly his entire life in the United States, Morita made The Karate Kid's Keisuke Miyagi an iconic symbol of the East in America. Not only did Morita gain fame and a best supporting actor nomination for his work on TV and film, but he also overcame spinal tuberculosis at age two and the detainment of his family in a WWII internment camp by age eleven. Although most people will remember him for his famous "wax on, wax off" mantra, I will choose to remember Pat Morita for drunkenly approaching Brett Favre during a Monday Night Football game, and for kicking the asses of these guys, presumably for saying "it's party time":
Why he rules: While he technically lived nearly his entire life in the United States, Morita made The Karate Kid's Keisuke Miyagi an iconic symbol of the East in America. Not only did Morita gain fame and a best supporting actor nomination for his work on TV and film, but he also overcame spinal tuberculosis at age two and the detainment of his family in a WWII internment camp by age eleven. Although most people will remember him for his famous "wax on, wax off" mantra, I will choose to remember Pat Morita for drunkenly approaching Brett Favre during a Monday Night Football game, and for kicking the asses of these guys, presumably for saying "it's party time":
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Dondake?!
What is "dondake?!" What does it mean? It's a damn good question, and one that I still haven't quite put my finger on.
Here's what I've surmised thus far: There's this Japanese television personality named Ikko who pops up on variety shows now and then. Ikko is an okama, a Japanese drag queen, and about every ten seconds or so she wags her finger and snaps and exclaims "dondake?!" If this all sounds terribly strange and unfunny to you, it's because, well...it is. But "dondake?!" is a tour-de-force in the way that "Who Let the Dogs Out" stormed through the US, and as such it's intrigue is at least worth a short study.
"Dondake," it appears, is not a Japanese word. Nor is it a likely candidate for catch phrase of the year. However, the word originally bred from the Shinjuku 2-Chrome gay scene has caught fire in the past six months and has become nothing short of a cultural phenomenon. What this means, naturally, is that my students - inspired by the effeminate Ikko (think Perez Hilton with his own television show) - have taken every chance to bombard me with calls of "Dondake?!" since my arrival. What began as something perplexing and unfunny is now simply, well, unfunny.
So what does it mean? Essentially, the phrase seems to boil down to the Japanese equivalent of "WTF?" (or "who cares," or "whatever," or something entirely different depending on who you ask) but after investigation, I'm not sure the meaning is the important part. I sat down to write an entry intended to rail against the sheer stupidity of "dondake?!," but upon review what's come out is, at the very least, an acknowledgment of the staying power of a catch phrase.
I may not understand it, but what the hell. Dondake?!
Here's what I've surmised thus far: There's this Japanese television personality named Ikko who pops up on variety shows now and then. Ikko is an okama, a Japanese drag queen, and about every ten seconds or so she wags her finger and snaps and exclaims "dondake?!" If this all sounds terribly strange and unfunny to you, it's because, well...it is. But "dondake?!" is a tour-de-force in the way that "Who Let the Dogs Out" stormed through the US, and as such it's intrigue is at least worth a short study.
"Dondake," it appears, is not a Japanese word. Nor is it a likely candidate for catch phrase of the year. However, the word originally bred from the Shinjuku 2-Chrome gay scene has caught fire in the past six months and has become nothing short of a cultural phenomenon. What this means, naturally, is that my students - inspired by the effeminate Ikko (think Perez Hilton with his own television show) - have taken every chance to bombard me with calls of "Dondake?!" since my arrival. What began as something perplexing and unfunny is now simply, well, unfunny.
So what does it mean? Essentially, the phrase seems to boil down to the Japanese equivalent of "WTF?" (or "who cares," or "whatever," or something entirely different depending on who you ask) but after investigation, I'm not sure the meaning is the important part. I sat down to write an entry intended to rail against the sheer stupidity of "dondake?!," but upon review what's come out is, at the very least, an acknowledgment of the staying power of a catch phrase.
I may not understand it, but what the hell. Dondake?!
Monday, December 31, 2007
The year in pictures
Spent the past week away from the blog getting fat and happy and laying low until 2008 hits. No more sentimental talk from me, just a look at some of my favorite snaps and moments from the past year. Happy New Year!
Bozeman, MT, March
Minneapolis, MN, March
late night jam session, April
UW graduation, May
Black Hawk Middle School, June
Door County, July
Awa Odori, August
Naruto, August
Tsurugi-san, October
Shodoshima, November
Sydney Harbor, November
Tokushima-shi, December
Bozeman, MT, March
Minneapolis, MN, March
late night jam session, April
UW graduation, May
Black Hawk Middle School, June
Door County, July
Awa Odori, August
Naruto, August
Tsurugi-san, October
Shodoshima, November
Sydney Harbor, November
Tokushima-shi, December
Pete Weber: Bowling Hero
Was taking in some ten-pin at the local lanes last night when I happened upon this match from 2006. The championship final of the 2006 Japan Cup featured upstart Walter Ray Williams Jr. vs. real life "Ernie McCracken" Pete Weber. Weber, described by Wikipedia as a "power stroker" and an "avid WWE fan," is at his showboating best throughout the match. Be sure to watch to the end to see his best material.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
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