Non fiction life (post #100!)

This marks my 100th post so it feels like some sort of momentous occasion. Hurrah! I will share that lately I have been feeling inspired by words and motivated to write more myself. Recently I've been interested in some non fiction books which was always a section in the library I avoided, um... boring! Maybe it's because of my year away from the Americas or the momentum of hope that the presidential election got going, or our present economical turmoil, but I really want to hear about what people are thinking and what direction we're hoping to go into. I've also been working part-time and it's been giving me more time to think and develop some ideas that have been cooking in the ol' noggin.

One book I just finished and borrowed from the library (use the public library people, it's great! They even have DVDs and video games!) is called Snark and is written by David Denby, a film critic for The New Yorker. I found out about the book from either Charlie Rose or Tavis Smiley, both great resources for non fiction books. I love that they interview authors and journalists, people who want to start discussions about all the wrong and good things happening in the world. Anyhow, this book is about the decline of journalism and how the internet is a wonderful tool that is unfortunately being abused. He talks about how journalists used to be very careful to fact-check and write in a neutral tone and that the tone in journalism today is nasty and false because that's what sells. Blogs and comments on web sites are mean and crude and it seems the way we communicate is actually declining. (It's probably ironic that I'm writing about this book on a blog, but I do try to avoid "snarkiness" when I write.) The book also brings up the quality of political comedy which I do agree has been a good alternative to all those "snarky" political "news" shows on cable. It's not a perfect book, but it's a good read and a good discussion about where we are heading with all this negative behavior.

Today also marks the loss of John Hope Franklin, an author and historian who lived through segregation and the Civil Rights Movement and became a Harvard scholar and later a Professor of history. He also worked with President Clinton to begin a national dialog about race and was rewarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I must admit I didn't know of him until today, but I'm glad I do now because his life sounds fascinating and I plan to read his last book, Mirror to America, where he challenges us to all look at ourselves honestly to see all the negative, selfish things within ourselves and hopes we have the desire to want to improve ourselves. It also makes me miss my grandparents and wish I had more time to speak to them about their struggles and accomplishments. I think their generation also tended to keep the past silent out of respect. They never talked about the war or the prejudice they must've experienced when they came to the states. They did however take lots of photographs (my grandfather was a photographer) so I plan to go through those and rattle my parents' memories for stories. If you're lucky enough to have grandparents, get them to spill the beans before it's too late!

Being a total dork

Something very exciting happened to me this week. I've been told it is blog-worthy though it is also very embarrassing to speak about. Actually it is equally exciting and embarrassing to talk about. Anyway, here goes. At the hat shop on Tuesday, a certain renowned actor I very much admire and respect casually walked in. No, it's not Keanu, but I swear I'm getting closer and closer to meeting him (this actor was in a movie with him and I rubbed elbows with Martha Plimpton at a show once... it's going to happen).

So at first I wasn't sure if it was really him, but he definitely has a distinct face so I knew it had to be him. He browsed the shop and I nervously made some comments about our hats and then when he was close to leaving I thought to myself, you know I never talk to famous people because I feel bad about bothering them when they're just trying to live life and be normal but there's no one else in the shop and he's made eye contact with me twice so he doesn't seem to mind that I'm ogling him and he must know by now that I know who he is so damnit I'm going to say something this time not like the time I literally bumped into Steve Martin on an elevator and just stood there with my mouth open until he said excuse me and I moved and said sorry.

And after all that thinking, this is what I came up with saying, "I'm sorry to be annoying, but are you John M___?" (I'm intentionally leaving out his last name in case he or someone he knows googles this and I'm out of a job but let's just say he was in a movie called "Being John M___"). He answers in a very quiet voice, "Yes". Then I proceed to say, in my proudest moment, "You're really cool." WTF?? Man did my face turn red. Of all the things I could've said, this is what I say. Then I stepped out of his way and said (much to my own surprise outloud), "Oh no, now you'll never come back to this shop. I'm so sorry!" But he was very nice and waved his hand and said something like (he was very very soft spoken), "No, no, it's ok. I really like this shop. I'm rarely in town and when I am, I like to stop by." At least that's what I heard. In any case, I left him alone and he looked around a bit more and then waved and said goodbye to me.

I was still mortified, but I take it as a good sign that he didn't blast out of the store the second I harassed him and we actually had a sort of conversation. Now I've decided never to bother a celebrity again because I obviously have nothing good to say anyway! Though I do think there are certain circumstances when it is okay and not okay to bother someone famous. I think the elevator thing with Mr. Martin would've been really awkward, him stuck in the elevator with a crazy fan, not good. I think the John M thing was okay because we were alone in the shop, I wouldn't have done it if there were other people in the shop causing a scene. Also, when I was in high school, I went to a taping with some friends of the TV version of "A League of Their Own". The show didn't last, but that day Tom Hanks was the director and there was a monkey on set which was unintentionally funny. So after the show was over, my friends and I were all freaking out that Tom Hanks was standing right there so out of nowhere I shout out, "Hi Tom!". He turned, smiled and waved... at me! Or not, who knows, but I think that situation was also appropriate. Those are my two shining celeb harassing moments. Let's hope I can keep my pride intact in any future encounters.

Classic alternative

Yeah... I couldn't resist going up to see "U2 Way" up on 53rd and Broadway. I still enjoy the U2 and I believe the excitement around them is called for. There's something about them, they're able to create this positive energy wherever they are. It's infectious. Electrifying even. I want to be cynical about it, but I can't help but get pulled into it. I was lucky to experience it firsthand when I saw them at Madison Square Garden just a couple months after 9/11. It was the most uplifting, energetic show I've ever been to. I'd always wanted to see them having seen videos of their live shows growing up and was hoping it wouldn't disappoint. It was more than I ever anticipated. I totally cried when Bono came out! Really wasn't expecting to be that moved.


Anyway, back to the present... I had the day off yesterday and was just running errands and walking around so I made it up to U2 Way and took a nerdy pic of it (incidentally it's only temporary). I did not however stick around with all the kids anxiously waiting outside with guitars and other paraphernalia hoping they'd come out and sign after the Letterman taping. See, I'm not that bad. I did talk to a couple of high school lads who informed me of the exact, approximate time U2 was supposed to come out and that they did sign autographs on Monday after the taping except for Larry who apparently doesn't sign anymore after getting elbowed in the face by fans in the past. Thanks for the info boys. I haven't heard the whole album yet, but so far I'm feeling lukewarm. Their performance on Good Morning America was pretty amazing though.

Speaking of music from my youth, at the hat shop we've been listening to the "classic alternative" station on Sirius radio. I'm still offended that 80s/90s rock is now considered "classic" but I'm digging the station. Plus, Richard Blade DJs on it! I totally was devoted to him growing up on KROQ. It was so good to hear his voice again. Radio lives! I also hear that the new Morrissey album is pretty damn good. The Onion gave it 4 stars. I'll have to look into that.

Man, if anything good can come out of this global recession, I sure hope it's an all-out renaissance.

Keepin it raw(men)

So what is up with this ramen trend in NYC? Frankly it baffles and annoys me. I just saw a review of the latest ramen shop to open in the city in Time Out (incidentally it's the same issue that Arth got featured in. Yeh!). I firmly believe ramen should cost less than $10 at all times, if not at the most $7. It's just so strange to me that it got so trendy that it deserves fancy restaurant settings and has crowds of people waiting in line for it on Saturday nights. In Japan, it's a very basic dish, perhaps the equivalent of chicken noodle soup. You can grab a bowl at any corner (photo is outside of a train station in Tokyo) or as we all know, an instant package of it at the convenience store (I still love Cup Noodle). At the same time it is special, every region has its own soup base that they're quite proud of and often a person's preference is a direct response to where they grew up or where their family is from. I feel like this is being diluted (pun intended) with this whole cool, trendiness of ramen. But with any trend, I'm sure it will fade and then something like peanut butter & jelly sandwiches will be the "it" thing and cost $15.


One cool, Japanese trend that would be good to catch on is their environmental awareness (the photo is from my Aunt's neighborhood in Tokyo, it's a playhouse made entirely of recycled milk cartons. Brilliant!). Tokyo is a crazy, insanely crowded city and yet, the streets are impeccably clean. Japan also has these awesome, mini cars that use alternative gas and get around great. Super easy to park! NY1 is doing this series called Green Samurai (not so sure how I feel about the name) that reports on Japan's latest green efforts. I just checked it out today. Hopefully this makes up for the horrible, video game that was splashed on all the papers this week. Sigh...

Flavor flav

I officially have a new favorite snack. Pumpkin flavored Pretz! It is a unique blend of... I don't even know. It's just tasty as heck. They're little stick crackers, much like Pocky and they're a little salty and a little sweet. To be more precise, it is kabocha flavored, which is a type of Japanese pumpkin. Growing up, I was sort of on the fence with kabocha. My mom loved to cook it with just a little bit of soy sauce and sugar which is delightful, but my father always hated kabocha because he says it was one of the few things they had to eat during the war when he was a kid in Japan so he grew to hate it. It wasn't until we lived in Japan that I had a newfound love for it. Now it's used in pastas and all kinds of dishes in Japan. We even found mini ones in the produce shop by our house in Kunimi. So in conclusion, I highly recommend this new flavor of Pretz. Next on my list is tomato basil Pretz. Hmm...

Scene and heard...

... on the Subway

After you settle into a new neighborhood in NYC, you get to know the same subway "performers" on your usual commute home because they are VERY consistent. There's this one guy on the F that Scott despises. He plays medleys, really long medleys on this little keyboard, you know the kind you blow into? And it's always the same set of songs. And it really does go on. The only time I heard him switch it up was when he did a Christmas medley which is even more horrifying than the usual.

But the other day, I was nearly brought to tears by this other regular who's thing is Sam Cooke songs. I think it was all the optimism of the inauguration and the hope that's been floating around that things are going to come around for the better if we all just stick together. He was singing acappella, "It's been a long, long time coming... and a change gonna come. Yes it is."

It's moments like this that make me happy to be back. Every subway ride has a story. I have so many, I've been jotting them down. Will have more to share...

I pledge allegiance to...

President Barack Obama! At last, at last he's been sworn in and it's all happening now, history is now. It's officially Day 3 already. You'd think with my countdown I would've written the day of the inauguration, but I needed some time to absorb it all. (I also wrote a little diddy on the Arth blog that corresponds). So, where were you on Day 1? I was stuck at the Blue show thing for work so I was kind of bummed that I couldn't go to one of the rallies in Times Square or Harlem or in Queens. I was ready to bring the radio, but thankfully there was a lounge at the show with a big screen and everyone started gathering inside.

I made it just in time to see President Obama sworn in, which despite the awkwardness (I guess they had to do it over again to be official), was still exciting and the applauding, hooting, and smiling began. It was such a great energy to share together with others. Then came the speech. Man, a speech of a lifetime. It was well paced, intelligent, open minded, and so poetic. It will definitely be quoted for years to come. My favorite part was this (so beautifully written):
"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

I thought he covered all his bases well and at times, his speech was even solemn which felt honest. He spoke to each of us from his heart and we all felt it. I do hope, if anything, President Obama will restore a positive energy to us Americans and to other nations. With his support, we have to do better, we have to think better. His last words are unforgettable:
"America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words; with hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come; let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

At the end, my boss (who has been living in the US for 5 years, originally from Japan) said to me, "This is a great country. You're so lucky to be an American." Let's not forget that.


p.s. Google people, you are going to have to update your spell check to make "Obama" an official word!