Californian Sojourn

When You Don't Have Much To Post On...

    You ask a question like this: do they have car alarms in Japan or is it redundant?  Caught some Japanese cinema lately and noticed that I've never heard a car alarm go off before.  And especially with Yakuza flicks when someone drops out of a building and falls on a car, the car just goes smash (I seem to be giving away my viewing tastes here).  In a Hollywood flick you'd most likely have a car alarm go off for added effect or something.  So I was kind of curious if there is any need for alarms over there.

    I remember once being in a town near Mt. Whitney where I got out of my car, and like habit, chirped the alarm before going into a store.  As I did this a man in a rather large pickup drove by hanging out his window saying "you won't need that around here!"  He was probably right of course but being a said creature of habit and living in Los Angeles, well you just do some things regardless.

    If anyone has an answer please let me know.  It's a cultural tidbit I'm just curious about.

Does Anyone Know If....

Typepad actually supports pre-made templates?  Or am I gonna have to figure out the mystical ways of making this blog look better by my lonesome?

To The Faithful Readers, Not So Faithful, And One Timers...

Who are you?  How many of you are regular and just occassional?  I'd really like to know who is all reading my blog and all since, well, most don't comment.

So I propose this, if you read this post and you come here everywhere from everyday to once a month, leave a comment telling me how you came here or why and if I personally know you.  You don't have to leave a name, you can simply say you know me and you'd rather keep it quiet and silently torture me with knowing hidden facets of my life behind my back.  :)

I'd really like to see a response to this because, well, I'd like to get to know my audience a little better (as I'm sure most bloggers do.)  I've yet to get an email from anyone regarding this site so I'm a bit in the dark.

So let me know, it's simply 2 clicks and some typing.....EASY.

Update: I wish to thank each and every person who has so far "answered the call" on this post.  Nice to know who is taking a look at this blog and that it does indeed get some below the radar love from you (which I am certainly thankful and apperciative of).  I also wish to express my thanks for the increasing in commenting recently as I've made this blog for myself surely, but I also wanted to generate dicussion regarding my views so that they may be "put to the fire" so to speak.  Man does not learn living alone on his island so I apperciate everyone was has dropped by this island in the blogosphere and shared their own thoughts.  Looking forward to more insightful and enlightening commentary in the future.

Hmmmm...

I just thought of something, are there any Latin America bloggers out there? I must say, I've yet to come across one yet or even one mentioned at any major blogging site.

Strange...

Those Long Distance Relationships...

Do they ever work? Just came across another one via the blogosphere that bit the dust and I find myself strangely saddened by its demise. I imagine the stress of such relationships alone take some resolute people to stay focused and committed but all the same its gotta tear at ya being away from a loved one like that.

Ah well, maybe it just got me thinking about other things but I don't know.

I just want out of Cali for sometime.

Does Anyone Know What Happened To...

Mike Ferrin of Seeing Eye Blog?

The man launchs a brand new site and was a real assest to the bloggin community and then he disappears without a trace. Wish I knew what happened to the guy considering he was one of the first people I linked to.

Continuing With The "East Is Rising" Theme...

Does anyone know where I can get some honest assessments of the Chinese military and Chinese policies towards Taiwan and Mongolia? Or any recommended books? Since China seems to be getting some play in the Christian Science Monitor here and the Wall Street Journal (sorry no linkie here) I'd like to form an educated opinion on the matter. Any help is well apperciated. Thanks.

The Greater Ally? The Longer Lasting?

I have an interesting question here based on this article from Marmot that I am reading and in some ways it has me excited. Not because of the question itself or any answer given for it but rather because it comes from a certain ephiany I am having regarding whatever my future major is going to be. The question being: who is the United States' greater ally in the Far East, Korea or Japan? Which is the ally most likely to remain strong through the rise of Chinese influence in the world? I ask because I am geniunely curious as to exactly what the answer is. Japan's military is certainly not as strong as Korea's is (is it?) but Korea's current market and economic strength cannot match Japan's. But which one will be the leader of of "democratic relations" in the Far East in several years? Will Japan remain atop or will Korea take the place of the democratic voice to Asia?

I know that the answers I may get will certainly have a tinge of opinion considering we are speaking of the future, but I can accept that as long as I receive some references I can look up. I want to read up on this and the possibilites this question presents to the world and the United States whether it be via book, article, or other source of information.

Anyone think they can help me out or point me in the direction of some analyses of the situation? Tony? Jeff? Marmot?

Ayu Trance 1 - ???

Would anyone happen to know where I could get my hands on these remix compilations of Ayumi Hamasaki songs for the price of my....internet connection?

*Looks around warily*

Free Market Democracy And Amy Chua

Has anyone read Amy Chua's book "World On Fire?"

I caught her interview with John Mclaughlin (or at least the tale end of it) and found her to be quite well spoken and the ideas she was placing forward quite interesting especially regarding our situation in Iraq. If anyone has drop me a line. And if anyone hasn't I'll probably just take the dive and deliever a review for you my fine readers.