I'm off to karaoke soon. Hopefully, I'll still have a voice tomorrow...

Now here is something interesting. I just read an article about multiculturalism in Japan which discusses whether or not this is possible. Coming from a country that has adopted multiculturalism as a policy, I wonder whether it is actually possible for a homogeneous country such as Japan to even consider having such a policy. Sure there are people all over the world living there but isn't it a stretch to call it multicultural?

I mean, sure, the young people focus on western culture attempting in their own way to emulate American styles, music and even cars, however, that doesn't create more than one culture. It just perpetuates the "we wanna be like them" attitude. The ironic thing about this though is, even though they can copy styles and such, the people are still inherently Japanese and are usually unable to get much further than the surface. They don't quite get the motivation and underlying cultural background to those styles and such. They are just shells that don't really understand that which is "hardwired" into our psyches.

It works the other way too. Just look at Gwen Stefani and her "harajuku" style. She may look the part but she sure as hell can't understand the Japanese psyche. No one can do that. We all think that we can adapt but unless we grow up in a culture, we can do little except know the surface feelings. The human psyche doesn't allow for this to happen.

That's enough of me spouting for now. I'm still caffeinated and it's still time for a nap. Enjoy the article and we'll see you soon.

Have you ever wondered why the US has never apologized for slavery when they've apologized to the Japanese that were interned during the war? Check out this video story on Reuters and see what the so-called experts are saying. Do you agree?

I'm totally zonked today... It's been a busy four or five days for me and I am really beginning to feel it. Perhaps that guy was right last week...maybe I really am old.

I went to Vancouver last Friday so that I could finish off my pottery projects at Hide's studio the next day. It was fun doing the glazing part and took me a whole lot of time to decide on colours and such. However, I did it and am waiting to see the results of my decisions after the firings are complete. In fact, it was a lot of thinking and in the end took little time to complete the actual application of colour. Then, I was on public transit and then the ferry back to the island where I met a rather interesting individual named Doyle.

I've never met anyone with that name before. It's funny because he seemed like he was in the same caffeine-induced type of "coma" that I'm in today... Strange, non?

Travelling to the big city on Friday was definitely an experience. After completing a rather slow-paced day at the office, a friend and her two children picked me up and we go onto the ferry. I feel sorry for kids when they get cooped up in the car for such a long time but it didn't help that they "overdosed" on the skittles that I got for them at the store on campus. Needless to say, they were tired and miserable by the time we got them home. Even I was feeling a little fidgety from being cooped up.

So, how do I fix that? Just pump more caffeine into my body... I went to my favourite Japanese cafe on Robson Street and had Royal milk tea and Japanese cheesecake.

The trouble is that now it's been five days straight that I've been consuming caffeine so that I can stay awake and I am close to vibrating from being so strung out on the stuff. Now, I am trying to cleanse myself by drinking lots of water yet I can still feel my attention span shortening by the second. I even had to listen to techno music to keep my energy level up. I'm tempted to eat chocolate to curb the drowsiness but I know that's not going to help the situation in the long run. Time to have another glass of water, I suppose...

Continuing on the creative side, I went to a vocal clinic last night and must say that I haven't had that much fun singing in a long while. Mostly, we did strange drills that involved just connecting with the part of the body where the true sound comes from but there was lots of laughter and some really good information. I may even sign up for voice lessons one of these days. When I do, Britney & Nelly will certainly get a run for their money... ha!

After the clinic last night, I managed to miss my bus and thus got home way later than I intended. Seriously, I think I'd better move out of the suburbs and closer to town so that I don't have to worry so much about transportation...

I went for a long walk with a friend on Sunday to try and clear out some of the cobwebs. However, all I managed to do is get stiff legs and get overtired. That said though, we laughed a lot because we were both pretty much in the same twisted frame of mind. Lucky I didn't have to really think that much, the craziness just slipped out of my head and out of my mouth. I suppose that my state of mind has some actual advantages...

We laughed so much that day about things like what I'd heard about Amy Winehouse heckling Bono at some awards ceremony. Not that we were there but it is amusing that the big-headed Bono gets heckled whilst someone was trying to give him an award... So, despite the sore muscles and brain, I really had a great time out walking by the ocean on such a brilliantly sunny day! I'm sure that my friend enjoyed it too.

Anyway, that's about all I can recall right now. The mind is clouding over and the eyes are becoming heavy. It must be time for a nap...

I don't know about you but I really am fascinated by Beck. I couldn't help posting this thought because of an article I read in the Japan Times online. I found it an interesting read about his feelings on his upcoming tour in Japan.

He commented in this article that he thought that he felt the rest of the pack were well behind the innovations of Bjork & Aphex Twin (info on Warp Records found here). It's interesting that an innovator such as Beck would say something like that. However, being that I'm a fan of all of these people, it's pretty cool that he would feel that way.

One's just gotta love Beck's whole puppet idea though. I think it's freaking brilliant!

For those of you who are bored with your day-to-day banal lunches, please check out e-bento.com. This is a site about the latest obento (lunchbox) ideas from Japan. If you can read the Japanese, that's great but if not, just click around. Some are absolutely amazing! I'd really like a recipe book or two in case anyone out there is looking for gift ideas (hint, hint!)

Now, if I could only find the time...

Image uploaded from that e-bento.com.

While surfing my usual blogfriends' spaces today, I was reminded that I wanted to post something here. It's funny that the old memory isn't what it used to be. That said, I wanted to share a new found musical taste with you.

I wanted to say that I'm kind of diggin' Amy Winehouse and her music.

So those of you out there that are tired of the Britneys and the Nellys of the world, check her out. After all, you gotta appreciate someone who's not afraid to heckle the likes of Bono... And, while it looks like she is most likely going to nosedive considering all of her "issues", she's got an amazingly kick-ass voice!

Thanks to Radmila for the reminder.

Today is the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Read about it here.

Perhaps this is the kind of thing we need instead of pointing fingers at one particular group. Let's face it, racism exists everywhere and it's everybody's problem. And it needs to be dealt with with respect.

I know that it's a long shot but if we all took initiative, then it wouldn't be tolerated and we'd all get along better. Or perhaps I'm just a little naive...

You know, while I was on my lunch break, I was recounting an amusing story that reminded me of something that I have to share with all of you. It goes with the whole "generational" thing that I was discussing the other day here in blogland.

I was out for dinner with a couple of friends and then another friend of theirs that I've met only on a couple of occasions. It was during the course of a conversation about music and in particular, this rather annoying Canadian singer that seems to have become famous in other parts of the world (which, I cannot for the life of me figure out being that she's changed her image to be like virtually any other "pop tart" on the planet now). I won't mention her name this time but I am sure that many of you who know my disdain for the woman know who she is (They've even misguidedly dedicated a day to her here in this city)

Anyway, the three others at the table told me that they like her music, which I accepted because, well, someone out there has to be buying her records. However, I did put my 25 cents worth and say that I didn't think she was really anything special and after I did, this one person who I had only met on a couple of occasions shared his thoughts that it must be because I was from a different generation and that's why I wouldn't understand her popularity. It's funny when people use things like that she's uber-popular in Europe so she must be great.

To me, if an artist is like everyone else, then there is nothing original or even special about them. It doesn't warrant the special attention that they get. It also irritates me because there are lots of truly talented folk out there that don't get the recognition that they deserve because people seem more interested in the "pop tarts" of the world.

This whole situation amused me a great deal. After all, I think that it's the first time that someone has blatantly pulled the old generation gap thing on me despite them not really knowing my tastes or opinions. I suppose the ageism is something I can no longer hide from. I will have to now admit to being old.

Actually, I've never ever hid the fact that I am no longer in that young demographic. However, I'm not going to be pigeon-holed because of my date of birth. Not ever. I'm not going to feel inferior either because I have the experience that gives me an advantage in the whole "knowing who you are" thing.

After all, if we let age get to us, we wouldn't have Bjork, the Beastie Boys, Chuck D., The Cure, Duran Duran, Madonna, REM, the Rolling Stones, The Who or the many others that have proven themselves over and over again.

Long live us all! And hopefully, the youngsters can keep up!

I'm always here diggin' it... Glad that you could join me!

Sorry about the delay in writing. To tell the truth, I've had a cold. I'm also a little down because yet someone else I know has left town. I hate goodbyes. That is why that "G-word" is now banished from my vocabulary.

To the person who left, take care of yourself and keep in touch, alright?

Not much is really that interesting these days, mostly because of my head being congested and the fact that if I don't get enough sleep, I just seem to get worse. Kind of sucks, really. But, as the days pass, the weather seems to improve and I can see good news on the horizon. Clouds & silver linings and all that.

It seems that there has been an increase in Slovak hits on my blog and they've brought Slovakian into the "Top Twenty" countries that visit my blog. Thank you to all of you new visitors. Also thank you to Ms. S from Slovak for introducing my blog to your country.

Perhaps Slovakia will even give Hungary a run for its money being that that Hungary has now overtaken even the UK & Iceland which were top visitors to my blog. Visitors from THAT country will soon overtake those from Japan, which is currently my number three. So, all of you folks from Japan, the UK and Iceland, I hope that you are now contemplating a competition with Hungary. We could call it the "Can You Dig It Blog World Cup"! Sorry, no prizes but it'd be fun, don't you think?

To T, who is Japanese and is now studying French and music in Paris, I'd like to share this article on the Japan Times Online about uproar over a rather outspoken governor's comment on the French language. This particular governor is always in some sort of hot water because he speaks before he thinks. Some people really should be more careful.

Finally for Robert... I've been thinking about the list of 100 things about Lola. Can't say that I'll actually get around to it but I've certainly been giving it some thought.

Take care everyone!

Hey! My blog was reviewed on TAG today...

It's funny, as I was reading it, I couldn't actually remember how I stumbled onto the guys at TAG's site but I do remember that I really enjoy reading it. So, Evil Derek's guess is good as mine about how our blog "relationship" started. All I do know is that I appreciate guys who can say what they're thinking (I won't say "feel" because someone told me that guys generally live in the moment and aren't all that comfortable expressing their "feelings") and do it in such an entertaining and inspirational way.

I'd like to thank Derek for capturing the essence of my little piece of cyberspace.

Have a great weekend everyone and we'll see you soon!

It's interesting how some people's perceptions come across as being a bit on the misinformed side. How, they can paint a picture of one thing and then with the other side of the brush fail to recognize that their judgments don't really hold water. I'd like to share an experience I've had about this to demonstrate.

Yesterday, someone I know mentioned that her instructor told her class that the only people that are able to racially discriminate were white people. I, knowing the instructor, was a little surprised that she had said this. It seemed a little strange to me.

This person also said that all of the white students in the class were quite shocked by this and that she thought that is the kind of shock that white people need to prevent them from being racist. It was as if she, herself, believed it to be a good idea. It also made me wonder how I had ever thought that I had known her that well.

It has been my experience that racial discrimination really does exist with groups that are non-white. I have seen more than a few examples of this in my life and I cannot believe that people think it's just a disorder for whites. While talking with her, I mentioned that the country from which she emigrated from has discrimation that is sparked from what seems like its governments attempt to keep the country "pure".

In my country, if you are born here, then you are Canadian however, in her country, if your family is Korean and you are unlucky enough to be born there, you are still Korean. You cannot get a passport from the country where you were born, you must have a Korean one - even if you have never been to Korea in your life. You are able to work and pay taxes but you have no right to vote there. This is not the only example of non-white discrimination either. Sadly, there are so many other examples.

I couldn't understand the logic of her thoughts but she said that Canada is supposed to be a Multicultural country and that is why there shouldn't be racism here. However, in the country of her birth, it's alright to discriminate because it's widely accepted that the kind of discrimination exists. In our conversation it becomes clear that this person believes that it's only whites in a multicultural country that can discriminate...

The interesting thing is that this person chose to immigrate here. I suppose that she felt that it would be better to be here than the country of her birth. And I also suppose that these feelings could have very much to do with her not having been prepared for the problems that exist here. I am sorry to say that my country isn't perfect however, I also realize that there is nowhere in the world that is perfect.

I am lucky to have met many people who have chose to immigrate to this country. Some started out as international students and others came to work or to be with the one that they love. Many have told me of their long struggle to become permanent residents or even to get their citizenship. It wasn't easy and I know that many suffered discrimination however, most took responsibility for their decisions to come and make this country their home. They didn't play the "blame game" instead choosing to get on with their lives. I know that it truly couldn't be easy leaving their homes and families and most have flourished here.

I am suppose that in some cases, that a person can realize that they are over their heads and they end up transferring the blame so as not to make it their fault when things don't work out. Lots of people do this for many different reasons. It's really just human nature. People make life-changing decisions without knowing whether they can handle the results. We all have these dreams of having a better life if we do something drastic. I think that we all have to rethink this notion.

An important lesson is that one should be prepared to live with the consequences of our decisions or be willing to work for positive change in regards the issues that we feel passionately about. And there should be no room for misguided actions in these cases of fighting for what we believe in. It has to be done in a positive and understanding way. For ALL sides.

I am not suggesting that newcomers to this country give up the culture that they were brought up with. What I am proposing is that we learn to accept new cultures that are entering our country. Howver, that has to work both ways in that those who have made the decision to leave their country to live here should be accepting of the existing cultures of their new home. After all, if it were so great in their own country and not here, then why did they decide to come?

And no, I don't deny that discrimination happens here. That said, discrimination takes many forms. It can be the way that you dress, your age, the colour of your skin, your faith, your sexuality and can even be your sex. However,it's time for us to admit this kind of discrimination exists everywhere and is not specifically a white issue. It's everyone's issue.

Anyone got any ideas on this? How about ways to rid the world of discrimination? I'd love to hear them.

I was interested to read this article about how Icelanders are trying to stop Alcan from expanding their smelter any further. It seems that it is destined to become an election issue. Why the heck should this Canadian company be there in the first place? So we can have more aluminium foil?

Last Sunday, I went to see the film Snow Cake after some plans to do something else were cancelled. I'm glad I did.

It's funny how it's taken so long to get to my neck of the woods however, it started showing at one of the local small theatres that shows some great film. In case you haven't heard, it stars Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver and Carrie-Anne Moss and it's about a man who, after picking up a hitchhiker, gets into an accident that fatally injures the young woman. After going to meet the girl's mother, he gets involved in her life and the life of the small town of Wawa, Ontario that she lives in. There's some great acting and it is both bittersweet and amusing.

I must say that I became quite aware of the generation gap between myself and the young people working at the theatre. When told that this was going to be a great film by the concession stand kid, I told him that I was a huge Rickman fan.

The kid said to me, so I suppose that you've seen the Harry Potter films to which I responded that I had as well as a whole lot of other films he'd been in. He asked me "like what?" and I started to list them off. His reaction was that he'd not seen any of them - definitely giving me a clearer idea of his age. "Wow, was he really in Die Hard?"

Just goes to show you that, no matter how old you are, there is always some kind of age gap. Go figure...

Well, leave it to an American inventor to create a fridge that catapults cans of beers to lazy drinkers.

The sad thing is that I can actually see people buying one. Now, you can get away from actually burning off any calories by getting up off one's ass for a beer... You can actually just linger in your chair and score one for the "fat" fairy.

Wow. No wonder we'll never effectively prevent obesity on this continent...

I was reminded by Olivia about a music video that I'd seen a few days ago and thought I would share it with you.

The video was by Mika. I must say that I didn't know that much about him until today but I like his voice. It kind of reminds me of Freddie Mercury except that that the music is much more pop.

I especially wanted to bring this to the attention of my musical collaborators (you know who you are) because of what it says in his "bio". This kind of thing make our collaborations even more realistic. After all, it means that anything is possible.

Speaking of music, "headphone boy" got on the bus without his headphones and chose to sot on the upper deck of the bus. Maybe he really DID get the point...

The weekend is upon us. I have a small cold and am hoping it doesn't affect me over the next two days... Have a great one everyone!

There's this young guy on the bus who listens to his headphones way too loud. It's so bad that on several occasions, people have asked him to turn it down. He begrudgingly obeys them but I think it goes down one notch and the whole bus can still hear his songs.

This morning, his mobile phone rings incessantly with some rap song and he doesn't even hear it. Someone finally asked if it was his phone and he shut it off. No apology and no embarrassment for having disturbed everyone's morning.

It's not even funny anymore. I mean if he damages his hearing and has to get hearing aids then it's all of us that pays in the long run. Our medical system is already overextended and then we have these fools who just seem to be oblivious of the resulting damage they will suffer. It's the same with smokers... I'm wondering if we should even offer medical assistance to these people. Hey, while we're at it, why don't we do the same to people who eat at McDonalds.

I'm actually surprised that this kid hasn't been lynched by his fellow passengers. The message is not clear to him even though people tell him every day to turn his music down. Actually, I was thinking that we should all have a bus sing-a-long or a drum-a-long just to prove to him how loud the tunes really are. I would find that truly amusing.

But, then again, it doesn't take much to amuse me.

I'll tell you what doesn't amuse me though. It's that idiot Sasha Baron Cohen and his recent character. I've gotta wonder if he creates these idiotic characters just because he hasn't inherited that rare British quality of intelligent humour. I mean, he comes to North America where people will laugh at virtually anything to make his money. Does this mean that he's just a bad comedian?

It's no wonder kids turn out the way this one on the bus does...

Okay, so I am totally disgusted. First, because they have yet another idiotic reality show that we can do without and secondly, because I tuned in for a while to check it out. The show? The Search for the New Doll. My favourite part of last night's show was when many of the hopeful contestants who were auditioning puking their guts out because they caught some virus from one of the twinkies that started out on the show.

Funny as well, that The CW are now casting for a mother/daughter beauty contest.

I suppose I could ask when all of this will end but what a redundant question. If we keep watching this crap, they will continue to show it...

This past weekend, I went to see the film Factory Girl, not because I like Sienna Miller, or not because I was that interested in the whole Andy Warhol thing. Mostly it was because it seemed like a pretty good way to waste just over 90 minutes of my Sunday afternoon...

I must say that even though I was a child in the 60's & 70's, I was familiar with Warhol's work even though I was never really a huge fan. He seemed to be more about hype than producing anything truely substantial. In a way, he just personified what the media was about to become in the next 30 years - slanted, self-important and obsessed with wealth & fame. And because of this, it seemed that many of the population of the world have become the same.

I was not surprised that the story of Edie Sedgwick was embellished and that the film did not accurately reflect the life of this troubled woman. There seems to be all sorts of controversies swirling around it such as Edie's supposed relationship with Bob Dylan and other such unproved ideas. Still, the acting was great and I must say that I can never get enough of Guy Pearce (who played Andy Warhol in all of his annoyingness.)

What I did come away with was that it is so easy to get caught up in things that distract one from their path in life. Fame, money, and love seem to be the most distracting especially if they are all-consuming and passionately pursued. And, coming from someone so easily distracted by many things, I just felt the loss of abandoning one's dreams for someone or something that virtually leeches the desire.

Whether it was true or not, the Warhol character in the film seemed to take this muse he'd latched onto and used her up. It seemed from the perspective of the writers that this great, famous artist often took the ideas of those he surrounded himself with and made them his own. When he was finished, he simply spit them out much like they were the flavour of the week. In short, he was a dickhead of the biggest kind...

It appears, though, that it was all dramatized to make the film although it appears that it did truly reflect the leech-like qualities of Andy Warhol. I left the theatre wanting to believe it. After all, wasn't he just famous for hanging out with the rich & famous? No substance just a hanger-on.

Anyway, it didn't cause any life-changing epiphanies for me, it just made me think that life is to short to waste one's creativity and naivety. It's something that I should remember more often...