a history of me

It's raining again. It may rain all week because of an incoming typhoon. What's the different between a typhoon and a hurricane? It's entirely a geographic distinction; the phenomena are the same. "Typhoon" is actually derived from the Japanese word taifû (台風). While I can't seem to find out if this is a particularly "big" storm, nobody seems too worried about it so I can assume I'm not looking at a Katrina-esque situation.


Image stolen courtesy of Japan Meteorological Agency

Speaking of Katrina, we get a version of CNN here so I have seen my share of footage of devastation from New Orleans. Nearly every other blog I've read has had something to say about the situation but I don't. I've never been to New Orleans and I don't know anyone who lives there, so the whole thing is horribly abstract to me. In a way, I just don't care and I guess that sounds horrible. My dad has been writing to me asking me what the Japanese press is saying about it. While I am trying to watch Japanese news whenever possible (and not just because I have a class on the subject), much of it is still completely unintelligible to me. The focus is clearly on the upcoming election which I don't quite understand either.

Speaking of the election, we spent today's News In Japan classtime learning all about the Japanese government and the very specific rules that control how candidates are permitted to campaign. Basically, they can't spend any money on advertising at all; the government provides all candidates with a set number of TV, radio and print ads so that the field is completely equal. Any posters for the candidate must conform to a specific size and only be displayed on one government-sponsored board in each town (see below). Sounds nice, doesn't it?



Of course, there's a catch (there always is). The political parties may advertise as much as they damn well feel like so long as no specific candidate of their is named. They can still be pictured though, so that's why Hirakata is covered with shots of these clenched-fist folks from the New Komeito Party.


Here's Katsuya Okada of the Democratic Party of Japan, the main opposition party to the Liberal Democratic Party who are, in fact, conservative.
Notice that his name is not mentioned...well, I guess you'll have to take my word for it.

Now do you see why I called today's post "Dullsville?" I've got nothing here folks, nothing. The only quirky photo/moment of the whole day was this strange poster I saw in the cafeteria:


Is it For or Against the consumption of alcohol? I have no idea.