Published July 31st, 2003
in Uncategorized.
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Taco Yaki. If you have ever been to Osaka you have probably had Taco Yaki. If you haven’t been, allow me to describe these wonderful delights. Taco (really spelled Tako) is Japanese for octopus, Yaki means fried.
While walking through America Town in Osaka, which is odd, since I’m usually the only American in the town. I would find three or four old men with stalls. In their metal stalls they have iron plates, six inches by three–scientists most have at some point identified this as the ideal measurement. The middle has six oval holes sort of like the spaces you place eggs in your refrigerator.
The old men with lighting fast hands, pour batter into the oval holes, at least I think its batter. Next they drop small pieces of octopus with one last layer of batter. A few seconds later the batter and octopus become balls.
Quickly he plops the balls into a cardboard box and gives you plastic forks. You know the really tiny ones with only two teeth.
I don’t know why, but everyone attempts to eat the Taco Yaki immediately after getting it and inevitably burns their mouths with the first Taco Yaki. Then thinking that the others might have cooled down in the few seconds past they go one by one through the other Taco Yaki’s burning their mouth six time over.
Why do we torture ourselves so much? Why did I burn my mouth every weekend eating these small things, well…because everyone else eats it hot and it taste good. And the old men work so hard, that you feel obligated to eat it while they watch.
Continue reading ‘Introduction to Taco Yaki’
Published July 30th, 2003
in Uncategorized.
“JAPAN canceled a national computer-hacking contest scheduled for next month after the government came under fire as encouraging cyber crime, a government official said.”
This is weird because Japan isn’t a very computer security conscious society. Could that be changing? Nah…
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6823764%255E15318,00.html
Continue reading ‘Japan cancels hacking contest’
Published July 24th, 2003
in Uncategorized.
They are being sued by InterTrust. The company claims Microsoft is infringing on its patents by using their technology in the majority of Microsoft’s product line.
The piece ran in Fortune magazine:
“InterTrust’s engineers developed and patented what they say are key inventions in two areas: so-called digital-rights management and trusted systems. The technologies are essential to the digital distribution of copyrighted music and movies, and to maintaining the security of e-commerce in general.”
InterTrust is now backed by Sony Corporation of America and Phillips Electronics, so this isn’t some guy in his garage, the lawsuit could pose a serious threat.
Read the article here: http://www.fortune.com/fortune/technology/articles/0,15114,466180,00.html
Continue reading ‘Microsoft has a problem…’
Published July 23rd, 2003
in Uncategorized.
Supermarket chains and departments stores are considering the use of a new technology. A device that would some day replace bar codes.
The chip comes in sizes as small as an ant’s head and emits radio signals that can carry information such as serial number that could be correlated with price, manufactured location, or expiration date. The possibilities for use are limitless, unfortunately so are its abuses.
Some consumers, myself included, yes I’m a consumer, are concerned about having invisible microchips with information embedded into items that we use everyday transmitting data to an unknown entity.
Before these chips go mainstream consumers and business owners will need to join heads to set a few ground rules.
Continue reading ‘RFID: A moral dilemma’
Published July 22nd, 2003
in Uncategorized.
The other day I asked if anyone had information about the history of blacks in Japan, well my friend Junko sent more information about one black (samurai?) in particular who was taught personally by Oda Nobunaga, one of Japan’s great military dictators during the late 1500’s and played a crucial role in Nobunaga’s last battle “Honnou-ji no hen”.
Little is known about him other then the name given to him by Nobunaga, Yasuke.
She also pointed me out to url’s of old Japanese prints and screens of Dutch and traders in which you can see black servants carrying supplies.
http://kawa-k.vis.ne.jp/jyugyou/jipanngu/jipanngu4.htm
http://www.mirokuya.co.jp/bunka/bunka21.html
If anyone has more information, please send it my way!
Thanks Junko!
Continue reading ‘Blacks in Japan’
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