iPad is really cool, but...

Apple's iPad was finally unveiled. Apple freaks praised the new device. I think it's really cool, too. My friend who has iPhone, Mac Air and Mac Mini really is excited and seems not to be able to wait to get it.

But, I'm sorry Steve Jobs, I won't buy that. Honestly speaking, I don't like software keyboard. I must be clumsy. It's true, but it's me.  It's only reason I like Black Berry better than iPhone.

My little two questions

Why Americans are so surprised as they know I don't like peanut butter?

Why Australians are so surprised as they know I like Vegemite?

FAX server is convenient than I thought.

They say facsimile is old fashioned already. I have a phone with facsimile function in my home. But it's rare to use it, and ink-sheet isn't inexpensive. I ran out of the last ink-sheet for it last month.  I built a fax server instead of buy a new ink-sheet. I didn't buy anything. I only installed a free facsimile software and a facsimile modem which was unused. 

Unexpectedly, that is very convenient. The FAX server send email to me when it received a facsimile, and I can received the email with my cell phone.  That means I can get them anytime anywhere.

Facsimile is originally a paper-based tool, but if you don't use paper, you make it  one of convenient communication tools more.

I'm moving.

I rent this house for six years, and the contract will be end this March. But I don't want to renew because the the house owner is really stingy and doesn't want to do house repair.

I am looking for a new apartment near here for a couple of weeks. I need a wide living room, two bed rooms and if possible one study for me. Some is too big, some is too small or expensive. It isn't so easy to find a  good property.

WiMax is out of service area

In Japan, WiMax service has begun last year. And I have to move next month. I thought I changed the broadband service in my home DSL to WiMax. A WiMax service company provide free trial service. I ordered the service from the website and a WiMax terminal has been sent after three days.

I tried it soon. But there was "WiMax is out of service area" appeared. I don't live in Tokyo City center, but this is Tokyo! Do you say I live in the wrong place? I brought it to a Star Backs, then I was able to connect Internet but that said "signal is very weak".

I gave up the project. I will continue DSL service.

Google may pull out of China?

When I heard the news, I remembered one of my Chinese friends.

He live in US after graduated from college. I drunk with him, and he said it in a low voice that honestly speaking, almost all Chinese people didn't believe Chinese government, and Chinese government didn't believe Chinese people, it was China. The population of China is about 1.3 billion. He is only one of them. But I was impressed of his opinion. I thought I could explain many, at least some behaviors of Chinese government and Chinese people with his opinion.

China is very important country for all over the world now. But we have to understand what kind of country China is.

What to do in commuter train?

Almost all business people in Tokyo metropolitan area are commuting to Tokyo city center by public transportation system, especially train or subway. Riding allows you to multitask by reading, sleeping or working on your way.

What to do in commuter train is very important issue for us Japanese who live in Tokyo area. I have not only paperbacks but netbook PC, portable DVD player, iPod, Amazon Kindle and so on to spend the time effectively. Yes, commuter train is one of my study or library.

The first snow in Tokyo

I had the first snow of this season in Tokyo Tuesday afternoon.

The snow in Tokyo came 10 days later than the average year and three days later than last winter.

The 22th Mt.Takao hike

I went on a hike to Mt. Takao to Mt. Jimba trail. It's the first time this year. This winter is not so cold, and I have not had snow day yet. Of course winter is winter. The mountaintop is very cold. But I like winter hiking especially this trail. Only reason is the view of Mt. Fuji from the trail is really beautiful. In winter, there are many day the sky is clear and I can see far away beautiful scenes like this picture.

The top of Mt. Fuji from my office

In sunny day , I can see far away the top of Mt. Fuji from my office like this picture. It's very small but really beautiful.

How do you think about Nexus One phone?

I am really excited to hear Nexus One phone is finally released. I am a Googler. I can't imagine my everyday life without Google for personal and business. I have a HTC smart phone, but that is a Windows Mobile phone. I think that is not so bad, especially from when I could connect to Google with Active Sync. But I am not satisfied enough. Unfortunately, I can't buy Nexus One from Japan now. I sure buy it if I can immediately.

An old photo

I found this old photo a couple days ago. I can't remember where and when I took this. I guess I  went on a picnic to somewhere with my family and took a rest in a riverside. It seems my son was 3 years old and my daughter was 2 years old. They both are grown-ups now.

Tonjiru for Cold Nights

I want to eat Tonjiru at cold night. Tonjiru is a kind of Japanese miso soup with pork and lots of vegetables. Ton means pork in Japanese.

You can see the ingredients I used below but again, feel free to mix and match as you please. Mushrooms wouldn’t be a miss here either – use some fresh shitake or enoki. The recipe is very easy and dinner was on the table in about half an hour. It’s ridiculously comforting with the pork giving a rich flavour to the soup. It’s also very healthy what with all the vegetables in there!

serves 3-4

200g pork, not too lean – I used a pork chop
1 small carrot, peeled and cut into bite-sized chunks
1 small potato, cleaned and cut into bite-sized chunks
3-4 inch length of daikon, peeled and cut into bite-sized chunks
half a leek, sliced
3-4 inch chunk of lotus root, sliced and cut in half if too large
3-4 inch piece of burdock (gobo), sliced thinly
a medium sized chunk of firm tofu, cut into bite-sized cubes
2 tbsps sunflower oil
dashi (I used water and dashi powder)
red miso
2 spring onions, finely sliced
Soak the sliced burdock in water for 5 minutes. Slice the pork into thin strips and cut up all the vegetables.

Heat a large pot over medium heat and add the oil. Saute the pork until just cooked and then add all the vegetables, except the spring onions. Saute for another minute or two and add enough water to cover (or more if you like soup!). I used 4 cups of water. Bring it all to a boil and then turn down the heat and let it all simmer for about 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

For each cup of water that was added, you’ll want to use about 1 tbsp of miso paste – so, 4 tbsps was how much I used. Dissolve the miso paste into the hot soup – take care not to boil the soup after adding the miso. Sprinkle with the spring onions and serve with white rice.

What is Grand Circle?

I have a plan to travel to Grand Circle this year. And I am collecting information to the hiking there.

The Grand Circle is located in the Southwestern US. Encompassing portions of five states Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Nevada; the Grand Circle contains America’s largest concentration of national parks and monuments.

That is a vast area and I can not go there all. I have to choose three or four destinations.  I want to go on a hike to Canyonlands and Arches national park in Utah this July or September.

Canyonlands NP

Arches NP