Book Review - Why Software Sucks... by David Platt

Non-technial computer books are often hard to find. Most deal with the steps you should take to correct your embarrassing photos (why am I the only one not smiling in the group shot?) or how to improve your web page (in just 30 seconds a day!). Rare is the book tht deals with the social aspects of computers and how our lives are affected, in some cases controlled, by the little boxes that sit by our desks, or on our laps or in our pockets.

As I perused the local library's shelves, the catchy title jumped out at me. "Why Software Sucks..." seemed like it would be a fun romp through the problems with our current software and what changes should be made. Some enjoyable but educational before bed reading was what I was looking for.

This was not what I found. Although written in a lighthearted manner, David Platt's humour was often demeaning and less than funny. His quickness in labelling people as either geeks, idiots, or worse came off as pretentious. The book's tone reminded me of being at a party listening to someone speak pompously with too loud a voice and being unable to refill my glass to dull the pain.

Mr. Platt begins his assault on software developers (note that software is taken loosely to mean traditional software such as Microsoft Word and websites) by criticising the need for the Dummy series of books. If software was designed well enough, we would not need these books he posits. They only exist since the programmers wrote code that did not take the need of the user into account and hence we feel like dummies. Although I do understand the need to make software as user friendly as possible, the use of the term dummy is intended to indicate a beginner rather than a feeling of being mentally inferior. Primarily, it is a catchy title. Calling your book "Photoshop for Beginners" or "An Introduction to Flash" is not as arresting. As Mr. Platt knows very well, using extreme language is one way of attracting attention. He entitled his book "Why Software Sucks" rather than "Why Software is Inadequate" for a reason.

He spends the first half of the book uncovering various issues that make software difficult to use: Windows XP confirming that you want to delete something, websites that do not automatically detect your location, companies requiring that you have a unique username and password. He criticizes options and features that seem to demonstrate a programmer's prowess rather than doing anything useful.

Although these examples are interesting, the quantity and variety of them seem to be lacking. With it's title, I expected a more in-depth look at what was the reasoning behind the design feature. Was it laziness? Was there another reason? A bit of investigation would have seriously helped. Does he not know an ex-programmer at Microsoft who could detail what goes on behind he scenes? This would have been more fascinating than lambasting a company for several pages for not being able to find a coffee shop close to his house.

After the software criticism, Mr. Platt describes the requirements for security, why there is no common system at the moment, and how cooperation between web developers could help the situation. Although interesting, this was section seemed more like filler as it did not really advance the thesis of Why Software Sucks.

The book became even less focused when he wrote two chapters on "Geeks". I know that he was trying to write in a sarcastic, playful manner but having computer programmers further stereotyped is no help at all. Furthermore, he fails to balance the user side with the complexities faced by the programmer. Again, some interviews to hear what the programmer has to deal with would have been enlightening.

In conclusion, he asks everyone to make their views known, provide feedback so programmers can take the users' needs into account when they design their software. This is sound advice. It has even made me reconsider my usual refusal to send a report to Microsoft when my system crashes.

In sum, "Why Software Sucks..." is, as intended, a light read that exposes some of the issues in the software industry. However, it seemed too light on details and some footwork by the authour to procure interviews or more detailed information would have fleshed out his arguments better. Resorting to stereotypes and painting issues as black and white oversimiplied the complex nature of having software work on a variety of computers while pleasing a majority of the users.

The evolution of software has been amazingly rapid. Compared to 25 years ago when all the computer screen showed you was a blinking cursor, almost everyone can use a computer reasonably well. Back then computers were, for the most part, only expected to handle word processing and spreadsheets. Week long training seminars were held to introduce users to a piece of software. Now, we organize all aspects of our lives on the little box sitting in front of us and we are expected to learn the software on our own. 90% of the time it works as expected with a few little quirks that we learn to live with.

Mr. Platt often refers to how much cars have advanced and that they are paragons of user friendliness. It is ironic that much of this user friendliness found in today's cars can be traced to the computers inside them. No longer are they prone to stalling due to the replacement of carburators with electronically controlled fuel injection. Breakdowns are less frequent because electronic sensors know when something is out of spec and can eiher indicate the problem on the dashboard or correct the situation internally. Over the past twenty years, our ability to control the car has been taken away by computer nannies that monitor a myriad of subsystems. Is this better? Should user friendliness trump control as Mr. Platt implies.

A loss of control may make day to day operations easier but the lack of understanding of how things work and what is going on can be a recipe for problems in the future. Is the Toyota Prius' user friendliness the cause of people's inability to react when (and if) the accelerator fails to release? Do people not know how to use the emergency break, shift to neutral, turn the car off? Or has Toyota's (and other car maker's) quest to make things as simple as possible removed our ability to control the machines we operate?

Personally, I prefer the control. Layer on the user friendliness for those that need it but allow manual control for those who want it. Is software perfect? Of course not and Mr. Platt's book indicates that there are strides to be made. Is the current crop of software crap? For the most part, no. Yes, there are quirks but the ability to customize and create what was unimaginable even 10 years ago is amazing. However, a book praising software developers and entitled "How Software has Improved" wouldn't sell. Every dummy knows that.

Cash for Clunkers - Intended Consequences?

The Cash for Clunkers program in the US appears to be a resounding success if you measure it by the number of people taking advantage of the program. Although I have my doubts as to whether or not it will improve the economy, it will improve the overall fuel economy of the nation and reduce pollution output as intended. However, there is another benefit; safety especially for those who drive smaller cars.

Ford Explorers, Jeep Grand Cherokees and other popular 1990s SUVs are the most frequent clunkers that are being replaced by Honda Civics, Toyota Corollas and Chevy Cobalts. The Ford Escape is the lonely SUV on the Top Ten list and its unibody construction ensures that it weighs far less than the body-on-frame dinosaurs it replaces.

The reduction in mass and ride height is a blessing for those of us who tool around in smaller cars. Sitting in my Miata, SUVs fitted with 20" or greater wheel packages carry drivers whose buttocks are at the same level as my head. I often feel that I should attach a bright orange flag to my aerial to alert them to my presence.

By removing these monstrosities from the road, we can breathe a little easier, feel a little bit more environmental and feel a little safer. As for the economy...

A Year Without A Car

Having sold my Prelude and moved to Japan, being my stingy self, I attempted to live in a rural, mountainous village without a car. My trusty Cannondale mountain bike took me to the school board office and the surrounding schools. With saddle bags and a pack sack, I was able to carry my necessary teaching supplies and arrive at the schools invigorated, if a little sweaty. In the end, I survived three years of commuting on my bicycle to the disbelief of my supervisors who thought I could not handle the heat, the distance, the cold, the wet, or whatever else that could thwart a cyclist. Four years later, I am sure most residents remember me as the crazy foreigner who rode his bike everywhere.

While the bike proved perfect for work, it was less than perfect in many other respects. The local market, although reasonably well stocked for a town of 5000 people, was expensive and had rather inconvenient hours. Closing at 7 pm forced me into a shopping routine that I could never quite fit into. Furthermore, most of the other customers had some sort of connection to me; co-workers at the town hall, staff at the local schools, parents of students, and other community members that I had met through town events. Although I enjoyed meeting them, I was rather embarrassed when then peered into my basket to analyze my purchases.

"Ahhh, of course. Coca-Cola. Can you drink all of that by yourself?"

"You bought some cookies. All Americans love cookies, right?"

"Wow! You bought some yakisoba. Can you make it yourself? That's amazing!"

It is not unusual to have to fend off such questions when living in Japan. Even though I would remind myself that it is just honest curiosity combined with the need to make small talk, after a while, it became more and more difficult to answer the same questions in a diplomatic and civil manner. I found myself becoming more and more curt in my answers while doing my best to avoid entering into such conversations in the first place.

About half way through my first year, I discovered, without hyperbole, the cheapest supermarket in Japan. Trial had everything I needed at prices that were close to half of what the local Self Ono was charging. The only trouble was the 30 km round-trip required from my apartment. Although the trip there was easy enough, after loading the bike with 5 kg of rice and the other necessities, it was a much more labourious trip back up the valley.

My social life was also taking a hit. Although there were a number of people who offered to drive me places, I always felt like a bit of a user especially when dealing with other teachers. They had bought cars, why hadn't I? In addition, the bus service in the town was sporadic at best and the nearest train station was 18 km away. Bicycle security was always an issue. Although theft is rare it is not unheard of especially around stations when someone just needs a bike to get home. Most bikes have simple locks that place a bar through the spokes preventing movement. These are just a minor deterrent as they are easily broken. Although I had my solid u-lock that would prove more difficult, there were no structures to physically attach the bike to. Thus, even if they could not disengage the lock, it would be easy to simple pick my bicycle up and put it the back of a truck. If it was stolen, not only would I be out $1000, trying to find an equivalent bicycle in the correct size would prove difficult.

My bicycle continued to be my main source of transportation throughout my three years. In the end, I would put more than 10,000 km on it requiring a total rebuild of the drive train. It had taken me to work countless times, allowed me to explore small, mountainous rodes, and given me a lot of exercise. Despite all these benefits, I needed something more practical. I needed a car.

Is that you, Santa?

As usual, my wife and I are sitting on the living room floor around the coffee table having dinner while watching the latest Michael Jackson news, when a scuffling sound emerges from the fireplace. Yuriko looks at me. I look at her. We both cock our heads. We dismiss it. As we resume eating, we hear the noise again. "Police raided Michael Jackson's personal physician..." is muted while we listen intently again. Without doubt, there is a noise coming from the fireplace.

Being the logical, non-alarmist I say, "Must be the neighbour messing around outside." My wife looks at me skeptically but refrains from commenting. I get up and look outside. The suspected neighbour is not to be found.

I retake my seat and soon the noise reoccurs. This time I conjecture that it must be birds on top of the chimney picking at the moss. "Those woodpecker type birds are always looking for grubs under the moss. Remember how we couldn't figure out that hammering sound in the other room a year ago? Must be the same thing happening here. Sound gets amplified and distorted as it comes down the flue." When we first moved into the house, we could not understand the periodic rattling sound that interrupted us, usually during breakfast. At first we attributed it to neighbours doing construction, but soon discovered that a friendly woodpecker was periodically inspecting our other aluminum chimney.

As I head outside to confirm my theory, I find patches of dried moss. Ah hah! Proof. However, I don't see any of the birds around. I justify myself by recalling how flighty they are. Just walking outside was enough to get them to disappear into the surrounding trees and out of sight.

I come in again. As we try to resume our dinner, we hear the sound again. I stand very close to the fireplace. Definitely,it is coming from inside the fireplace. Now, what is it?

I figure it is one of two things; either a squirrel has found its way into the flue and fallen to the bottom or a bird has done the same. Fearing that if I open the baffle a squirrel will come running out and ransack our house, I close all the doors possible and try to block off were it might run. Perhaps I have watch A Christmas Vacation one too many times.

Slowly, cautiously, I open the baffle and peer in. Thankfully, it does not coming rushing out. Thankfully, it is not a rat, nor some really big spider, nor the feared hyperactive squirrel. The tail feathers are blue. It is a Stellar Jay that has somehow fallen to the bottom and has no way of getting out.

As he seems oblivious to my presence, I fear that he may have injured himself. Falling down the flue, he could have easily broken a wing or damaged his leg. After managing to get the baffle open, I reach in with my gloved hand. Again, very little response. Eventually, he does turn his head so that my flashlight catches the sparkle of his eye. This time, as I put my hand in, his beak opens in a defensive move. I ask my wife to get a peanut to see if we can improve his mood but he shows no reaction.

Deciding that he will not move on his own accord, I gently reach in with one hand and try to wrap my fingers around his body. Birds are not the easiest animals to grab hold of with their wings, spindly legs, sharp beaks, and my overriding if unwarranted concern about their delicateness. Ideally, I would use both hands but the construction of the fireplace limits me to just one.

As I gently increase my grip, I coax the bird towards me in an attempt to free him. At first he is resistant, then, as he sees a possible escape, he bolts toward me, bounces off my chest, flies to the ceiling, bounces off the wall, and then down the hallway where he lands on the ground. Quickly, I take a blanket and smother him as gently as possible. Miraculously, he appears to have escaped injury from landing inside the fireplace and I don't want him to be injured now. The blanket calms him enough so I am able to carry him outside. There, he flies immediately to the nearest tree looking no worse for having endured this ordeal.

Feeling relieved and satisfied, we go inside to inspect the damage. Apart from ash on my shirt and wing prints on the ceilings and walls, everything appears to be in order. The ash easily wipes off the paint and my shirt comes clean a day later.

We feel thankful that the bird was not injured and that we were home when this happened. Just a week earlier, we had been in Japan for two weeks. We care not to think how long the bird would have suffered without our intervention. We can only hope that he, nor any other bird, does not suffer a similar experience.

Review of The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman

The title of this book led me astray. Expecting it to be a diatribe against those who thwart scientific advancement due to literal interpretations of the bible, I quickly realized that it was a description of the globalization of the world as a result of 10 “flatteners” and a warning to the West that this flat world may upset their current standard of living if they fail to adjust and innovate to keep pace with rivals from developing nations. While not what I expected, the anecdotes did provide an interesting look at how a wired world allows for outsourcing of something as tangible as the drive-thru window at your local McDonald's.

A bestseller, the book has been praised as forward looking and a wakeup call to the West in general, and Americans in particular, that the life we take for granted now is under threat from the developing nations, especially China and India, due to the playing field being leveled in the era of a wired world. The New York Times Book Review is typical of many.


The ultimate challenge for America -- and for Americans -- is whether we are prepared for this flat world, economic and political. While hierarchies are being eroded and playing fields leveled as other countries and people rise in importance and ambition, are we conducting ourselves in a way that will succeed in this new atmosphere? Or will it turn out that, having globalized the world, the United States had forgotten to globalize itself?

It reminded me of the doomsday scenarios and threat of economic annihilation by Japan Inc. in the early 80's. Countless books and talking heads predicted that without drastic changes to our education, political, economic and social systems, we were doomed to take over by the economic animals of that island nation. Once the bubble burst, such fears subsided and the economic successes during the 1990's, led primarily by high technology companies, seemed to resurrect the belief that America was once again unbeatable. In fact, the media that once spouted nothing but praise for Japan, began to critique their once fabled education and business systems. I cannot help feel that Mr. Friedman's book is following in the same vein as those in the 1980's. His book is full of praise for the hardworking, industrious workers of India and China. He correctly notes that the wired world has given these countries opportunities that were previously unattainable and no longer are skilled workers forced to go West to find employment and wealth. He laments the dearth of science graduates from Western universities and the sense of entitlement that seems rampant among today's youth.

Grabbing at a minor trend and then extrapolating it into a doomsday scenario is nothing new in the media. Predictions of peril and fanning of fear are what sell books. Apart from anecdotes taken from various companies, the true impact of the flattening is poorly quantified in his book and the complete lack of references indicates that the evidence for this trend is more of a gut feeling garnered from discussions with business elites than backed up by hard data. (Why the World Isn’t Flat" by Pankaj Ghemawat, March/April 2007 Foreign Policy).

In addition to the above criticisms, Friedman omitted any substantial discussion about the long term environmental, health, or social implications of this flattened world. While he waxes at length about the growing middle classes of India and China and the unlimited potential for growth that these nouveau consumers represent, he neglects to explain how the world will deal with this increased consumption of energy and resources and the certain negative effects on a already severely strained planet. As the current environmental degradation and global warming crisis proves, the world must move away from its dependence on carbon emitting energy sources. However, instead of utilizing non-carbon based energy sources, such as nuclear, both China and India are relying more and more on coal, the most carbon dense of all common fuels. http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/co2_report/co2report.html In addition, the recent introduction of the $2500USD Tata Nano automobile, developing cities are creating an infrastructure of roads and highways that represent the thinking of the past and not the future. At no time does Friedman discuss the very real limit that the environment places on economic development. Let's not kid ourselves. The earth is a sphere and we have beaten it with the most blunt of bats to make conform to our need for flatness

Also, the social costs of a world that requires workers to work long shifts and undergo constant training are neglected. Although the rise of diabetes and obesity in India and China are indicators of growing affluence, they are also indicative of poor health habits that are often exacerbated by long work hours.

Every generation laments the flagging work ethic of the youth and fears being overrun by an upstart country. To work harder and smarter is the cry that we have heard time and again and Friedman is the latest to rally the troops. Globalization is real and affects everyone on this planet. However, by glossing over threats that globalization presents to our fragile environment and the lack of leadership the developed world is offering to right our wrongs, we may all be on a course to sail right of the edge of our flattened earth.

1995 Honda Prelude SR-V

In 1995 I decided to purchase a new car. It was the first and, perhaps, my last new car. Allowing someone else to take the depreciation hit seems to be a much wiser method of making money last a bit longer. Plus, the novelty of a new car never lasts long and the first scratches are always the hardest to bear.

When looking to upgrade my Integra, I was wanted to stay within the sporty coupe class. Although I had hoped for a MR2 or RX7, they seemed beyond my reach and not quite fitting for my needs. My choices at the time were:

Acura Integra GS-R – As the Type R had not yet arrived, the GS-R represented the top of the Integra line. Powered by the now infamous B18 VTEC engine, aurally and tactilely it was a joy but it produced less than pleasurable optical signals from both interior and exterior vantage points. The projector headlights looked lost in a sea of polyurethane and the interior, though practical, seemed more dour than needed.

Eagle Talon – Loud, fast, obnoxiously styled – a Camaro for the import crowd. It certainly held a visceral appeal but I wanted to drive the car everyday for years; not driving loaner cars while it was in for repairs (hey, nice Neon!) nor feeling like I was in a red zippered Michael Jackson jacket long past its fleeting moments of trendiness.

Nissan 240SX – Yes to rear wheel drive, a beautiful chassis, and a classic design. No to the truck engine. Without the famed SR20DET under the hood, our S14 was like a good looking girl with a heart condition; promises of excitement but never in the mood.

Toyota Celica GT-S – 130 horsepower?

Then, there was the Honda Prelude SR-V.

This top of the line Prelude was, in my mind, the pinnacle of the now discontinued series. It had the best power to weight ratio, the best styling, the best handling and the most presence on the road. Many might argue that the final version was better but its styling was derivative both inside and out. Nothing in the entire product line showcased Honda’s boldness in the early 1990’s (excepting the NSX) as well as the Prelude and its proclamation of confidence has only been matched in its mainstream cars by the current generation of Civics..

The exterior was a marked departure from the classic shape of the third generation Prelude. Lower, wider, yet shorter than before, this Prelude was radical. The low, wide nose had a narrow band of lights that looked a bit like the second generation Integra but without the blandness. Inboard of the lights were nostrils that allowed more air into the engine bay while a protruding proboscis provided a further element of intimidation. A fourth generation rapidly approaching in your rear view mirror is an impressive sight The hood was wide and smooth with two character lines starting at the nose and spreading across the hood to the base of the radically raked windshield which offered a panoramic view. A short roof quickly became glass again, much like the fastback coupes of the muscle car era. The trunk was short and radically tapered capped by daringly styled triangle shaped lights on either side that mimicked those on the NSX. Even the sides of the car were stylized with a protruding lower portion of the door that precluded the need for side skirts.

Although some may decry the car as a styling gimmick, it stands out among the previous and later generations as the only adventurous Prelude in the marques 22 year and five generation history. In addition, the Prelude’s purity of design can be shown by how good it looks without any add-ons. Except for a de rigueur trunk spoiler, side sills, front splitters, rear diffusers were all absent. Of all the various body kits I have seen, none help improve the look.

Inside the Prelude continued its radical theme. Rather than the standard and staid instrument pod, the dash was spread across the entire cabin. Despite some critics decrying it as more Buicky than sporty, the necessary instrumentation was directly in front. The speedometer and tachometer were easily read and the lack of unnecessary dials added an air of simplicity. The fuel and temperature gauge were located farther to the right. Although not in the direct line of sight, they were big and bright enough to attract attention when needed. The idiot lights were located just below. Again, if something was wrong, you quickly noticed their presence as the previously dark area became alight. In addition, this being a Honda, the only light that ever appeared was the low fuel warning.

Compared to the Integra, you felt like you were in more than a fancy Civic. It worked wonderfully and broadcast to the passenger that this was not a regular Honda. There were a few drawbacks most notably, the lack of storage space. Although somewhat rectified with an interior redesign in 1994, the glovebox was only spacious enough to house my insurance. The manual (useless anyway) stayed at home. The centre console did provide a cup holder (passengers have two free hands!) and a small cubby hole good for a variety of small objects. As I wasn’t someone to carry around a lot of things requiring storage, it suited me fine. The back seats were a joke. I always thought that they should have either saved weight by removing them and locating the engine further back in the chassis (front mid-engine a la S2000) or go very radical by introducing a mid mounted drivers seat flanked by two recessed seats like a McLearen F1. Impractical in reality but sublime in concept.

In 1995 there were two models to choose from. The SR was the base model with a 2.3L 16 valve four cylinder pumping out 160 horsepower. This car was an impressive performer and many were sold especially since it could be optioned with an automatic for the proverbial hairdresser. However, for $3000 more, one could have the SR-V.

First the amount of extra kit you received for $3000 was substantial; the aforementioned rear spoiler ($800 option on the SR), factory leather interior, heated seats and exterior mirrors, and a subwoofer between the rear seats. There was, however, a 0.1L reduction in engine displacement.

This decreased displacement however, was worth every cent of the extra three grand since, lying atop the block, was Honda’s ingenious and drool inducing VTEC head. Pumping out 30 more horsepower despite the smaller displacement, the H22A was a miracle of both smoothness and power. Unlike the smaller but more popular B18 found in the Integra, the big block in the Prelude provided both power and torque. It also had a Jekyll and Hyde personality.

Around town, the engine was flexible, torquey and smooth. It never felt flat footed and it remained the most docile partner. A bit like a poor man’s Lexus SC400. However, when the tachometer crept above 5700 rpm, the monster awoke. With the big cam activated, the power surged, the noise double and the fun factor quadrupled. In wet conditions, traction would be lost when the big cam came on, even in third gear. Taking it up the Cut on Highway 1 in North Vancouver, few cars could keep up especially above 100 km/h. The power kept on coming.

Even now, five years after selling my Prelude, the sound of an H22 transitioning between valve timing sends shivers down my spine. Sounds are notoriously hard to describe but imagine the sound of a regular engine being suddenly replaced by a ripping, low pitched hammering sound.

Performance was credible with 0-60mph time in the mid to high sixes and, due to its exceptional high rpm operation, even more impressive 0-100mph times. Handling was stable and secure with only minor obligatory understeer especially when adding power when rounding wet corners. Unfortunately, it came shod with all season tires which were not in keeping with the cars sporting personality. Although I applaud Honda’s tendency to refrain from specifying larger than necessary tires, fitting all season tires to their second sportiest offering at the time seems like a poor decision. Most owners would gladly purchase a set of dedicated winter tires rather than enduring 4 seasons of compromise. Due to my conservative driving style, the Michelins lasted me the entire 7 years of ownership. I never was able to enjoy the Prelude with the tires it deserved.

Without an LSD and limited grip from the tires, wheel spin in the corners was a problem but torque steer was minimal. The steering felt nicely weighted and accurate. The car had a deliberate solid feel that differed from the light and tossable feeling of the Integra. Normally, I prefer lighter cars but sense of quality between the two was great enough for me to much prefer the Prelude. The clutch was a bit heavy and the shift action deliberate but the short throws and good feel more than compensated.

Compared to the ’89 Integra, the Prelude felt amazingly solid, quiet when driven sedately and much more powerful when the revs climbed. Due to their relative scarcity, most drivers were surprised at its acceleration while merging or sprinting away from a stop light. Although I managed to avoid a ticket through judicious use of the gas pedal and some luck, it was one of the fastest cars on the market.

In the summer of 2002, I was heading to Japan and needed to sell my car. In the 7 years and 80,000km that I had it, I only performed regular maintenance and changed the timing belt. Otherwise, it rode on its original tires and stopped with its original brakes. Although the A/C had stopped working (probably due to lack of use more than anything) and the central locking system was ineffective (see an upcoming blog), nothing had really gone wrong. However, the new owner probably had to replace these soon along with a clutch that was beginning to slip.

Overall, it was a wonderful car. Despite its front wheel drive and cramped cabin, it satisfied me emotionally and its reliability and economy kept money in my pocket. Unlike my Integra, I was certainly sad to see it go and admonished the new owner to look after it and not mod it beyond recognition. .

I hoped that my Prelude was a prelude to an S2000 but that was not to be.

1989 Acura Integra LS Special

Do you remember the first car you purchased? Undoubtedly you do. For me, a car fanatic from birth, my goal for many years was to buy a car. At first, I longed for an old Datsun 240Z, a first generation Mazda RX7, or a AW11 MR2. Although not powerful by today’s standards, they were the attainable high performance cars of my youth. However, to my parents, these cars were not acceptable (read likely to get me killed).

When my father’s co-worker had their 1989 Integra for sale, my father recommended that we take a look at it; front wheel drive, practical, sporty. It had been well taken care of and carefully driven, something that could not be assured with the other cars I had looked at. Although it wasn’t exactly what I wanted, Honda’s reputation, Car and Driver recommendations and the cachet of owning an Acura while in high school persuaded me to part with my hard earned money.

The styling was a typical 80’s design. The requisite pop-up headlights graced a short, low front end. The greenhouse was large with a large, panoramic windscreen and big windows all around. However, the elongated roof that accommodated a power sunroof resulted in a relatively steep glass hatch and tall hatch that created a relatively tall looking car. The polyurethane spoiler attached to the back did help alleviate some of the awkwardness, but the look was tall and narrow despite the ground effects.

The colour scheme was black and with gold coloured badging and wheels; bling before bling was popular. But no, those wheels were not 20 inches, nor even 16 inches in diameter. Just two inches over a foot, they left lots of room around the wheel wells further contributing to a look of instability. Long after selling the car, I learned that you could reduce the ride height quite easily but such information was hard to come by before the advent internet and the rise of tuner culture.

The inside was typical Honda; not luxurious but clean and efficient. Sport-style seats with reasonably bolstering allowed for a lot of support and comfort. The uprightness of the body ensured a lot of headroom despite the sunroof. The five speed manual transmission sat low and felt a little ropy. I distinctly remember missing quick shifts between first and second. Grouchy synchros or a common flaw of this transmission, I never found out. HVAC controls were logically arranged on the centre stack although they were the old style mechanical type requiring hefty tugs to change the ventilation setting. Beneath, lied the stereo along with a graphic equalizer. Boasting 4 speakers and Dobly Noise Reduction for those high-fidelity tapes, the sound was reasonable and much more impressive than the 1 speaker AM radio in the Celica. A meaty, leather wrapped 4 spoke steering wheel framed a set of easy to read gauges bathed in white light. And there, to the left of the speedometer, was why I came love the car.

Today, the norm is multi-valve engines with redlines well over 6000rpm. However, my sport car experience had been limited to a 1980 Toyota Celica GT. Boasting a 5 speed transmission (written on the outside of the car, no less), the engine was the venerable 22R. Reliable? Yes. Sporty? No. With a redline of 5000 rpm, the cacophony of a threshing machine, a supposed 95 horsepower and a fly wheel that seemed to fear circular motion, sportiness was more imagined than perceived. In addition, my father warned of the engine’s dislike of “high” revs and admonished me to go no higher than 3500 rpm. Of course, I did venture higher but there only seemed to be wince inducing noise up there; no power.

Stepping on the gas of the Integra for the first time, the tachometer rose with a fluidity that I could not imagine. The sound was sublime. Even in the upper reaches, the sound was smooth and sporty, nothing like the mechanical agony that emanated from under the Celica’s hood. 9 years later, 8 more valves, a computer, carburetion replaced by fuel injection, another cam and a plethora of other engine advancements graced the 1.6L that resided under the Acura’s hood. The 7000 rpm on the tachometer held me spellbound. Could a car actually rev that high? With only 118hp and little more than 100 pound feet of torque, the engine was not powerful, but it pulled the lightweight Integra without much effort and made fantastic sounds as it went.

Over the course of three years, I enjoyed the Integra immensely. However, gradually, the love affair began to grow tepid. The ride was sporty but body roll was quite pronounced owing to the relatively soft suspension, narrow track and relatively high centre of gravity. The suspension itself, though tuned smartly, was quite a simple setup with struts and torsion bars up front and a coil sprung rigid rear axle. The steering, though communicative was a variable assist unit that had only two settings. Around town, it was light and comfortable but, at highway speeds, the boost was reduced and the steering suddenly became unnaturally weighty. Although not bad in theory, with minimal need to drive on the highway, it was always a bit of a shock to discover that the steering wheel weight had suddenly increased and I needed to adjust. Body rigidity seemed low and the rattling hatch did not help to allay this feeling. A failed fuel pump and ripped CV boots were the only mechanical problems I encountered. The engine, though smooth, provided very little punch. The styling had not aged gracefully and the black and gold colour scheme was becoming less and less appealing by the day. The new Integras were lower, wider and more powerful. I knew it was time for a change.

Overall, the Integra was a great starter car for me. A great engine but not powerful enough to get me into trouble; a sporty suspension that had no hidden vices (apart from a bit of tail happiness when lifting the throttle during aggressive cornering); a practical body shape that accommodated friends and sports equipment.

In retrospect, I wish I held out for an MR2 or a Mazda RX-7. These are classic sporting cars and the driving pleasure would have been much better However, at that time, front wheel drive was the future and rear wheel drive seemed to be a thing of the past. Even the Mustang at the time was a candidate for front wheel drive (Ford product planners decided to keep the Mustang rear wheel drive and introduced the Mustang replacement as the Probe). In addition, overt sports cars are probably not the best for a new driver. Something forgiving that provides some thrills in a safe way is probably the how everyone should learn to drive.

With the dreams of a Toyota MR2 Turbo and a Mazda RX-7 Turbo gracing my garage, I began plotting the demise of my Integra Although there was some sadness in letting it go, I never regretted my decision to abandon the Integra since I stayed within the Honda family and moved up to it’s angrier, more satisfying older brother.

Four More Years?!?

As the results seem to indicate that Mr. Bush has won four more years with a far clearer mandate than in 2000, the world has to wonder what qualities Americans see in their leader that the majority of the world is cannot see.

From my perspective, Bush is a bullying, ineloquent anti-intellectual who uses religious imagery and fear to reach his voters. The debates portrayed a man who cannot deal with criticism, has a weak grasp of issues of consequence, and cannot conduct himself in a professional manner that is expected of a major world leader. His folksy “charm” and ability to reduce issues to their simplest denominator might make him a good mayor of some small unimportant isolated town, but they are serious handicaps when on the world stage. Rather than engaging people on an intellectual level, he taps into their deep fears and religious beliefs to intimidate and coerce the citizens into voting for him. By invoking the name of God and by creating an image of steadfastness and unwavering conviction, he portrays himself as a crusader for God and a defender of “good”. Meanwhile, the corporatists and chicken-hawks that compose the rest of the Bush administration, use this religious veil to make themselves and their friends richer.

According to ABC News, exit polls were reporting the most important factor influencing the voters were the moral issues such as abortion, stem cell research and gay marriage. The war in Iraq, the more general war on terror (yes, they are separate) and the economy were apparently of far less importance. The rest of the world, however, viewed the election generally as a referendum on the war in Iraq. The world’s support for Kerry was founded more on their disgust with the circumvention of international law and blatant unilateralism flaunted during the initial invasion of Iraq, the obvious lack of planning to deal with the reconstruction of a devastated country, and the future American intentions in Iraq given the oil-lust that drives the two boys from Texas. People outside of the U.S. hoped that a new president would be able to heal some of the division and hatred that the Bush administration has created.

Since most people outside of the United States would not have considered moral issues when deciding between Kerry and Bush, this would help explain the sizable discrepancy between international and American opinion. However, it does not excuse many Americans from failing to understand the narrow mindedness and ego-centric nature of their decision to renew and strengthen George Bush’s mandate on the basis of moral issues rather than international policy.

Many Americans will argue that international opinion is inconsequential and should not influence their decision. However, as a country that professes to be the world’s judge, jury, and executioner, failing to understand the anger and distrust that pervades the international community with regards to the Bush administration is a failure of Americans to think beyond their borders and act as global citizens.

The Blinking Bush

As I noted in my last post regarding the second debate, Bush seemed to have trouble controlling the muscles around his eye lids. A pesky mosquito on Monday night awoke me at 4 am and urged me to turn on the TV to watch ABC's This Week. At the end of the program it showed an excerpt from the Late Show with David Letterman. In a span of less than 20 seconds during the third debate, the Bush Blink Counter registered about 30 blinks. Perhaps a call to the Guinness Book of World Records is in order.

The excessive blinking almost exclusively occurred while Mr. Kerry was levelling criticism at Bush and his administration. Blinking seems to be the way he deals with stress and is a physical manifestation of his discomfort.

Others, perhaps more cynical than me, have suggested that it is a form of Morse Code and George was signalling out SOS. However, there is a much more plausible explanation. After they were caught with the radio transmitter installed on George's back, Karl Rove and company needed another method of convincing the public that George could put together a couple of coherent sentences. A quick call down to the basement of the CIA gave Karl access to a top-secret optical transmission device that sends signals and imprints them directly on the retina with enough energy to short-circuit the brain and directly connect with the nerves controlling the vocal cords. Thus, without Bush's brain impeding the proceedings, he was able to make it through the debate looking only slightly simian. However, the side effect of transmitting information directly to the retina is excessive blinking. Perhaps some effectively applied Botox around the eyes would help calm this. Something to look into for next time.

On a slightly more serious note...

Perhaps it was due to the bright lights, exhaustion or just being George Bush, but the debates made me wonder if George is taking psychological medication. When he looked directly into the camera to answer what he had learned from the powerful women in his life, his eyes looked completely lifeless, his affect muted, and his response slow and unnatural. Certainly, few can match the polished persona of John Kerry, but there is something disconcerting in the mannerisms and conduct of George Bush. As I never paid much attention to US politics until recently, I cannot make comparisons but it would be interesting to study his facial movements and general affect over time to see if there has been any significant changes.

A quick serach of the internet shows many other people have questioned the mental health of the President. Furthermore, there have been rumours of erratic and "conduct unbecoming of a president" during his tenure. Perhaps, his aides are slipping some pills into his morning coffee?

Surplus!!

During the last debate, the two candidates sparred over the ever growing US debt. Although I forget the exact figures, the yearly deficits were certainly in the hundreds of billions of dollars and growing the national debt at a staggering rate. Bush portrayed Kerry as a tax and spend liberal who will most certainly raise taxes. However, through the magic of debt financing, Bush can simultaneously cut taxes and increase spending.

North of the border, Canadian politicians are distraught over the surplus that has been generated this year. Admittedly, the paltry $8 billion dollars wouldn't cover the bill for Halliburton but it does demonstrate that the current economic conditions do not necessitate running huge budget deficits each year. Canadian politicians are up in arms that the surplus is greater than expected and the money must be spent at reducing the national debt rather than being spent on increasing the health care or other public programs.

But wait, isn't the war in Iraq a significant contributor to the deficit? Yes, it is but the US had the opportunity to reduce its costs if it had worked in concert with the United Nations rather than acting unilaterally in a "coalition of the willing". Canada, traditionally an ally of the United States simply because of its geographic proximity, opted out of joining the coalition but would have contributed some of its budget surplus to the cause if the UN felt the military action was justified.

Although Bush derided Kerry for ignoring the contributions of the coalition members during the debate, many of these "willing supporters" have in fact been bribed for their support. Turkey received $30 billion in aid while numerous other governments have been promised compensation for their rubber stamps. What is the net contribution the coalition members have made once the financial compensation and other promises are deducted? It would not surprise me that the coalition costs the US more than it contributes with the possible exception of the UK.

Veneer of a coalition isn't cheap.

Memories of Debates Past

During the late 80’s, I was a big fan of Saturday Night Live. Their political sketches in particular were a brilliant commentary of the times. I still vividly recall the debate between George H. Bush and Michael Dukakis. Dana Carey’s portrayal of George Sr. was uncanny and John Lubitz with his deadpan demeanor and bushy eyebrows proved to be a credible Governor Dukakis. As the men took their positions behind their respective podiums, Dukakis began to elevate accompanied by the sound of hydraulics. Unfortunately, he held the switch a little too long and instead of gaining the few inches he required to look his opponent in the eyes, he had acquired the height of an NBA star. Thus, more hydraulics were required to bring him down to the desired height.

As the debate progressed, George Bush repeatedly asked the moderator (Jan Hooks as Diane Sawyer) if his allotted time had expired. Inevitably, George Sr. still had considerable time remaining and was forced to continually repeat the mantra “Stay the course, a thousand points of light” while interlocking his fingers, a gesture his son mimicked at the end of the second debate. After watching the vice-president struggle and wax ineloquently, Mr. Dukakis looked into the camera, shrugged his shoulders and said, “I can’t believe I am losing to this guy.”

I am sure Mr. Kerry looks into the mirror every morning and says the same thing.

Presidential Debate Part 2

A rainy Saturday afternoon provided me an opportunity to watch the second presidential debate in its entirety. It gave me a fuller appreciation of the time limitations, the nature of the questions asked and the way the two men conducted themselves over the full 90 minutes. Limiting myself to highlights, especially when coupled with “expert” commentary, certainly influences my opinion and I was grateful to have viewed the debate in its raw form.

What immediately struck me was how the candidates used the questions, no matter how specific, to launch into prepared rhetoric that either twisted the question grotesquely or avoided it all together. Both Kerry and Bush were guilty but the final question to George Bush still resonates in my mind. A member or the audience asked Mr. Bush to provide three examples of mistakes that he has made during his four years while president.

First, he made light of the fact that he makes thousands of decisions a day, some trivial, others of great significance. Then, in an attempt to obfuscate the question, he theorized that in the future, historians might judge some of his actions to be mistakes. However, Mr. Bush insisted that in his mind, all his decisions have been correct and he would not categorize any of them as mistakes.

Admitting a mistake is always a hard thing to do and one might postulate that for a president to do so would be political suicide especially when you purport yourself to be the all-seeing, all-knowing, never-wavering Commander-in-Chief and “leader of the free world”. However, with the recent revelations concerning the multiple failures in intelligence, the premature declaration of “Mission Accomplished”, the inability to capture America’s Number One enemy, Osama Bin Laden, and the lack of precautions taken prior to September 11th despite the warnings of an imminent terrorist attack, Bush certainly had many mistakes to choose from; yet, in his political mind, he had done everything correctly.

Could Bush have admitted to three mistakes and survived politically? That is a difficult question given how the media and competition would have jumped on a clip of Bush saying we made a mistake and replayed it ad naseum. It would have been particularly damning for Bush as he always portrays himself as a strong leader and someone who reduces issues to simple yes-and-no, black-and-white dichotomies.

In the debate, Bush hammered home this simplistic view of issues throughout the evening particularly when criticizing Kerry’s voting record in the Senate. Frequently, Bush would point to a vote in the Senate and deduce Kerry’s position from how he voted. For example, during the debate over abortion, President Bush criticized Kerry over not voting for the bill ending funding for partial birth abortions. Bills are not simple documents. They contain complex legalese and often deal with multiple, but related issues, at once. Thus, included in the partial-birth legislation were other anti-abortion-related articles that Mr. Kerry did not agree with. Thus, he voted no and he explained his reasoning in the debate. As Mr. Kerry spoke, Bush, rather than listening politely, turned to the audience, shrugged his shoulders, whispered the word “What?!” and shook his head in apparent mock of his opponents reply. Again, sophomoric debating techniques were on display.

During the debate on stem cell research, Bush made a remark that he does not believe in sacrificing the life of an unborn in an attempt to cure diseases that afflict the living. Thus, he endorsed a bill that severely limited embryonic stem cell research to the currently available stem cell lines. Although he may be against the “killing of the unborn”, Bush seems to have no qualms about sacrificing the living in his quest to rid the world of “evil” and deliver “freedom”. His sponsorship of the war on Iraq has murdered thousands of Iraqi children, women, and other innocent civilians, not to mention over 1000 young Americans. It seems severely hypocritical to prevent the killing of unborn embryos while simultaneously sanctioning the murder of the living.

Regarding abortion, Mr. Kerry made it clear that he does possess religious beliefs having been raised as a Catholic. He emphasized, however, that he cannot press these views upon everyone and legislation should be free of religious ideology. He commented that an ideal judicial decision should be unbiased and the background of the author indeterminable. In other words, there should be a clear separation of religion and government. I do not recall Bush directly commenting upon the issue of religion and government but the final two words of his closing statement were “God Bless”. I have never quite understood this phrase. To me, it seems something that should only be uttered by a religious leader who deems himself to be doing the work of god and not someone who should be looking out for the interests of all Americans, regardless of religion. Certainly, the term god can mean many different things, but I am sure that the god George was calling on to bless his audience was very defined, was spelled with a capital “g”, and particular to his religious views.

Overall, I do feel Kerry won this debate although I felt he could have been more pointed in his criticism of George Bush. However, given the time limitations and the pressure of having to compress everything into two minute statements or 30 second rebuttals, many things must be left unsaid. In terms of character, I cannot recall John Kerry making a joke or cracking a smile throughout the debate. He came across as concerned, serious, and eloquent but perhaps unable to connect with the average person. George Bush seemed confident during his prepared monologues but seemed to falter when required to formulate his own rebuttals which usually began with a light-hearted joke. In contrast to the mask of composure that covered Kerry’s face while being criticized, George looked far more uncomfortable; his hands were clenched and the frequency of blinking increased markedly. It would be interesting to watch the face of each candidate throughout the debate regardless of who was talking since it would give a more revealing picture of each man.
Overall, I found the debate interesting and relatively entertaining. Realizing the structural limitations, I did not expect to be dazzled with in-depth discussions or have my opinions of the two men radically altered. In Canada, given the multi-party nature of our parliament, there are usually four or five candidates vying for airtime in a televised debate. Thus, each person is allotted a limited amount of time and it often becomes a contest over which opposition party leader can deliver the sharpest barb at the incumbent leader and score the most points with the electorate. A televised debate between just two leaders seems to be far more effective and entertaining format. This certainly does not mean I favour a two party system. How two parties, especially when they both lean to the right of the political spectrum, can possibly represent the interests of all Americans is unfathomable and a probable cause of the apathy towards politics in general.

Sports Day!

Late September and early October is the Sports Day season in Japan. Usually, the heat of the summer is subsiding and the sun shines frequently. This year, however, has seen an excessive number of rainy days forcing the delay, and in the case of some schools, cancellation of the event.

A week ago I was able to attend Innai Chubu Elementary School's Sports Day while yesterday I involved myself in KamiInnai Elementary School's Fureai Taikai (ふれあい大会）. Unlike the other schools in my area which have student enrollment of 50 to 120 students, KamiInnai possesses only six students, and perhaps more amazing, four staff. Last year, the student to staff ratio was 1:1, with the seven students being matched by three teachers, a principal, a vice-principal, a health teacher, and the ubiquitous tea lady who always ensured my tea cup was brimming with hot green tea. Needless to say, the school is unique and the atmosphere could be described as magical.

Obviously, a sports day involving six students, their parents and the teachers would prove to be a little lonely. So, members of the local community are invited to attend as well. As you can imagine, with only six kids at the school, the local area's average age probably approaches 70 years. Therefore, the elderly of the area come out in force and make it a joy to watch. Where else can you see a 80 year old lady putting on a firefly costume and running around a track?

Events exclusively for the students are interspersed with numerous events involving the adults. The children help officiate and watch the adults make fools of themselves as they pop balloons with their asses, make themselves dizzy by spinning around a baseball bat, and cover themselves with a strong foundation of flour and water in the search for an elusive candy.

The event brings the community together and allows for interaction between the youth and elderly something that I feel is extremely important especially given the aging population.

Other fellow bloggers have commented on the overt militarism that pervades these Sports Days as if the Imperial Army could be ressurected at a moments notice by simply blowing a whistle at a school. Certainly, the marching and coordinated cheering can be construed as miliaristic but so can most sports events throughout the world. American football is a case in point. The entire game is infused with militarism and overt aggression is not only permitted, it is applauded. The language of the military and football are so entwined that it came become difficult to discern which was the original source. Furthermore, marching bands, a staple of high school and college football events , are certainly of military origin.

Regardless of the military overtones, the dedication that both the students and the teachers demonstrate is unseen in my North American experiences. The teachers have the day's events planned to the minute while the students spend countless hours perfecting their cheers and practicing for events. If you have a chance, I highly recommend attending an event. This is where the importance and effectiveness of teamwork begins.

Some advice for Dick

Dear Dick,

I know that you will be engaging in a debate on public TV with John Edwards shortly. Although I am sure Karl Rove and the others are busy filling your mind with the lies and deceptions you need to disseminate on that night, let me give you a bit of advice.

I heard you talking to Senator Pat Leahy a couple months ago. You told him to "Go fuck yourself." With all the recent hoopla about the vulgarity of TV degrading American Christian morals, you should be careful with that wicked tongue of yours.

Here is the advice; using "fuck" as an adjective rather than as a verb might help keep the FCC at bay. Thus, please note the following instructive examples.

EXAMPLE 1
“John Edwards! Go fuck yourself” This is bad. THE WORD has been used as a verb and the FCC will be hounding you. You could claim that it was a vocabulary allocation failure. However, on the positive side, it might increase your popularity amongst those hip, hard-to-reach, MTV demographic. But, please, please refrain from flashing a nipple. I enjoy keeping my partially digested food within the confines of my digestive tract.

EXAMPLE 2
“John Edwards! You are a fucking, feeble, French-loving faggot” Perfectly acceptable as THE WORD has been used as an adjective. Furthermore, you will have appeased fans of alliteration, religious right gay bashers, and Freedom Fry fans.

If you are still confused, ask Bono. He knows the difference.

My take on the debate

Media coverage of US politics in Japan is surprisingly extensive. In the past months, both the Democratic and Republican conventions were broadcast live on BS1, NHK’s free satellite channel, in addition to the usual CNN, ABC and PBS news programs. When I lived in Canada, I usually ignored the US news stations in preference to news with a Canadian perspective which demoted American politics to 3 or 4 minute stories rather than hour long programs. However, given Japan and America’s unique relationship, it is understandable that a significant percentage of air time is consumed with issues concerning American politics and economics.

I was unable to watch the debate in its entirety but did see the highlights. As I suspected, John Kerry conducted himself as a refined debater using relatively sophisticated techniques to broadcast his ideas to the public. Bush appeared to be an accomplished high school debater and nothing more. When Kerry mentioned the need for the US to apply a “Global Test” before acting preemptively, the best rebuttal Bush could enunciate was a shrug of the shoulders and a dimwitted “What’s a Global Test?” accompanied by his trademark smirk.

As an aside, that smirk has irked me for years. To me, it is what you would find on a smug kid who would rely on his dad to bail him out when the water became too hot. It usually appears when something Bush considers witty and sharp tongued emerges from his mouth. In my opinion, it shows contempt for the general public and demonstrates his inability to intellectually engage the issues.

I will concede that the incumbent president or a former vice-president is always placed on the defensive in a debate which is often the more difficult position. Thus, Kerry, armed with ample fodder with which to attack Bush, seemed to be on the offensive most of the night. When Bush did attack Kerry’s frequent wavering on issues such as his support for the Iraq war, instead of simply defending himself, Kerry used it to effectively attack Bush’s ability to judge when American lives should be sacrificed. This effective technique allowed the viewers to directly compare who had made the greater mistake.

I enjoy intellectual arguments that take more than one or two sentences to enunciate. Too frequently, complex issues are reduced to easily digestible sound bites or are ignored completely as they are deemed not fit for public consumption. While Bush continued with his rhetoric about being a strong leader and Commander-in-Chief who supports his troops, I particularly enjoyed Kerry’s comments about the Cuban Missile Crisis when an official visited Charles De Gaulle and offered to show him the spy photographs justifying the American position. De Gaulle responded that he did not need to see the photos as he believed the word of the American president. Kerry then contrasted this with the lies and half-truths that the American government used to justify their war to the United Nations and how the current American president will never be able to regain the trust of the international community again. I thought it was an extremely effective method of conveying the distrust of the current administration that pervades the international community. However, it would not surprise me if references to De Gaulle are too obscure for the general electorate and continue the perception of Kerry being elitist. I am sure that the cry for Freedom Fries are still echoing through some cafeterias and people will wonder how Kerry could have the gall to bring up De Gaulle.

It does appear that Kerry “won” the debate in the general public according to polls taken immediately following. This must be particularly troubling for the Bush campaign given that national security which is intimately tied with the “War on Iraq/Terror” is Bush’s strength. It will be interesting to watch the remaining debates and what changes will be made. In my opinion, Bush needs to display more intellectual prowess and a firm grasp of the issues. Too often he is unable to come up with concrete examples and fumbles with important names. He is the master of repeating the same thing over and over again, much like his father’s “Thousand points of light”, “Stay the course”. However, one must wonder how effective this strategy will remain given Mr. Kerry’s demonstrated debating skills on Thursday evening.

Just a short story...

When I am not at work, I am working. Being the borderline workaholic that I am, I engage my free time in a valiant attempt to improve Japanese English abilities and line my pocket with a few more yen. On Monday and Tuesday nights, I teach a junior high school student who was fortunate enough to enjoy three weeks in Switzerland this summer participating in a summer camp.

With just three weeks of exposure to English, his ability and cofidence in the language increased dramatically. He is no longer afraid of making mistakes and actively attempts to expand his vocabulary and attempt new grammatical constructions. It is certainly refreshing for me since the majority of students are reserved and shy when I attempt to engage them in English conversation and are stumped sometimes by the most rudimentary of questions.

Unfortunately, this newfound confidence has created some friction amongst his classmates at school. Last night he recounted the story of fighting three boys who were upset over his English ability. According to my student, he is answering too many questions and speaking too much in class. Whether or not there are other factors involved, I cannot be sure but it is common for students who attempt to demonstrate their abilities to be shunned and ostracized by their classmates. Thus, most students will not volunteer an answer since it draws unwarranted attention to themselves. This perpetuates the teacher directed learning that dominates the classroom. The teacher stands at the front while the rest of the students "absorb" the information while staring "intently" at their notebook. Unfortunately, more often than not, absorb is really deflect and intently is more likely to be blankly.

Learning a language is a perfect subject for actively engaging the students. Unfortunately, it is often a struggle to involve the students in an interactive manner. In fact, a Japanese English teacher that I teach with recently lamented that he wished he taught at university since he could just lecture and not worry about class participation.

However, learning a language also requires that the students are not afraid to take risks and make mistakes. This can be very difficult in the Japanese classroom environment. Often the analogy is made to the nail that sticks up being hammered down. However, rather than the external force of the hammer, the classmates themselves pull the student back into the woodwork of conformity.

I can only hope that my student strives to improve his English while not adversely affecting his relationship with his peers. It is a delicate balance and Japanese schools are unfortunately littered with students who have been unable to conform sufficiently.

Long, long ago...

Joel recently mentioned in his blog about his thwarted attempt to register for the annual Japanese Language Proficiency Test held on the first Sunday of December. Although I do consider myself a touch more organized than my friend, I certainly emphathize with his plight. Despite the facade of high tech wizardry that surrounds Japan, much of what goes on behind the scenes in offices and governments harks back to scenes from Canadian offices circa the 1970's. The whole application process involves a lot of unnecessary aggravation.

First, one must find an application form which is not an easy task since they are not readily available. Last year, the closest bookstore in Oita that stocked the form (60km from where I live) had sold out of their allotment. So, in a pre-emptive move, I headed to the city of Kitakyushu to pick one up, using the rationale that the bigger city would have more forms and more locations. Alas, all their forms were gone. Disappointed but not defeated, I headed to another bookstore in Oita at a large shopping complex (home of the pet raccoon). Finally, I found the coveted application form although I did have to debate with the clerk for a few minutes over the deadline. He was sure that the application deadline had passed and that they had no more left. Fortunately, I persisted and after opening a few drawers, I was 500 yen poorer but in possession of the allusive form.

At first, I was a little miffed about having to pay for an application form. However, I do see the logic in trying to prevent people from casually picking up the form without any real intention of applying. The 500 yen probably provides enough of a deterent to the whimsical. Yet, the whole idea of having to locate a piece of paper and accompanying instructions at select stores throughout the country strikes me as antiquated. Given the pervasiveness of the internet, why not make the form available online so that potential applicants have easy access? This would have saved me and probably many others from the need to crisscross the prefecture in search of a form.

I was able to take advantage of my digital camera to produce the required picture for the application form. This is certainly more convenient than heading for the local photo studio as I had to do in the past. After carefully filling in the form, I headed to the post office where I had to fill in a money order, have the forms stamped, and sent away by registered mail. The process at the post office took approximately 15 minutes. Unlike Joel, I took some time between classes to attend to this business. In Innai, the post office is not open on weekends so I was unable to the experience the frustration of discovering that they don't do registered mail on a Sunday. After paying for the application form, the test fee, the money order fee, and the registered mail fee, the total price came to about 6,500 yen or about $80 CDN which is $20 more than the fee charged in Vancouver. In addition, I was able to download the form, write a cheque and send it off in the mail which was far more convenient and efficient than all the steps that I had to endure in Japan. Furthermore, the application deadline is September 27 rather than the September 12 date in Japan. Note to Joel, if your reading this, you can still take level 2 in Canada!

Japan does have a reputation for high tech and I am sure that international companies such as Honda and Sony have behind the scene operations that are efficient and modern. However, my town office still uses dot matrix printers and carbon paper to produce many of their documents. Intraoffice mail is not used and all memos are passed around in paper form where each member of the office stamps it with his personal seal. Hours are recorded with mechanical punch cards and piles of paper frequently avalanche onto my desk from the pulpy piles that periodically build on my coworkers desk. At schools, many teachers still employ word processors that are equivalent of electronic typewriters and many school newsletters are still written by hand. Student marks are submitted in paper form and the report cards are all carefully assembled by hand.

Admittedly, not everything modern is necessarily better. A handwritten newsletter feels more personal. Hardcopies of documents always feel a little more reassuring than an electronic representation. Sometimes, I do feel like I am living in the past when in Japan which is in direct opposition to the image portrayed in the media. I do realize that living in a small town probably exaceberates this feeling but registering for the test reminds me that even national level organizations still adhere to more traditional methods.

Japanese Female Degree Holders

An article posted on Japan Today's website cites a recent OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) states that Japan possesses the lowest ratio of female degree holder's among the groups 30 members. Unfortunately, the article is rather sparse in specifics and I have been unable to find the original survery at the moment. However, I will venture a few personal observations on why Japan, a country that prides itself on its education system, possesses so few female degree holders.

Observation #1
Japan has a system of female junior colleges that offer 2 years of higher education. Unlike the college system in Canada which often acts as a stepping stone towards university, once the students graduate, they generally enter the workforce. From people I have met, they tend to focus on subjects such as child care, cooking, clerical skills, and languages. Thus, after graduating, they enter the workforce until they are married. Most of my female Japanese friends tend to work in offices doing basic accounting and clerical work at hospitals or offices. Once they find or are introduced to their husband, they often quit their jobs to focus on rearing children. Once the children enter the school system, they often return to the workforce in the same position as before. Thus, the junior college system helps to ensure that females do not gain the education necessary for advancement in the workplace.

Observation #2
From magazines to television, the objectification of women is rampant in Japanese society. Even on regular daytime shows, women parade around in bikinis to advertise products. Women's roles in variety shows seems primarily relegated to either a supporting role or giving looks of surprise and shock when they are exposed to something new. With few exceptions, women are in the background while the male host is in obvious control. Therefore, female viewers are exposed to very few role models who display the benefits of higher education and, instead, are shown that exuding cuteness and innocence is what is expected of them.

Observation#3
In my town office, all the important officals are male. For example, in the board of education with a staff of six including me, two are females. One, as expected, plays the role of the clerical worker, making copies and ensuring that our tea cups are always full of hot green tea. The other is the assistant to the section head. She is constantly busy, answering the phone, dealing with mountains of paperwork and all her other responsibilties. Her frenzied level of activity is in sharp contrast to the leisurely paced section chief. His mornings always begin with a carefully reading of the morning paper. It is often followed by checking out the catalogue of the latest product that he wants to purchase. Most tellingly, when 5 o'clock arrives, he is the first to punch his card and make a quick exit. The assistant, however, almost never leaves at 5 and on the odd occassion that she does, other people make sarcastic comments. From what I can perceive, despite enduring long hours and demonstrating ceaseless dedication, most females are never rewarded with promotion or increases in pay. Given this lack of recognition and chance for advancement, it is little wonder that many females are content with remaining in positions that offer comparable pay but do not require a huge sacrifice in their personal lives.

Obviously, these are just personal observations and lack any rigorous investigation. However, it is sad to see obviously talented and exceptional females being unable to fulfill their potential due to a system that does not reward female's for pursuing their education and careers. Obviously, there are exceptions and many Japanese females have made important contributions in a variety of fields. However, as the survey indicates, many Japanese females are denied the ability to fulfill their potential by a society that tends to relegate females to supporting roles and looking good on TV.

Presidential War Records Part II

I don't usually watch TV at 4 o'clock on a Tuesday morning, but the howling winds of the typhoon prompted me to head downstairs and stuff a few plastic bags into the hood scoop of my car. After returning, I turned on the TV for a typhoon update. After verifying that the typhoon was indeed on course to batter my town, I switched to the satelitte channel where they were rebroadcasting an ABC news program "This Week" hosted by George Stephanopoulos. The discourse centred around the Republican Convention and focussed on using the Vietnam War Records as a central issue in the campaign.

Mr. Stephanopoulus interviewed Senator John McCain. Although I am not too familiar with the Senator, he continued to denounce the ads that attacked Senator Kerry's war record and asked for everyone to move on and put the events of 30 years ago behind and focus on the future. Later, a political strategist with the Bush campaign continued the same theme of how Bush is forward looking while Kerry continues to harp upon his past.

I do agree that the debate over presidential war records should merit only minor consideration when it comes to chosing the president. However, I cannot help but feel that the Bush campaign is again using dirty political tricks to discredit Senator Kerry while appearing to be "above the fray."

I recall reading, perhaps in Al Franken's book, about the political tricks employed by the Bush team during the 2000 election and during the transition. One trick was the insidious push-poll where pollsters would phone up potential voters and ask a hypothetical question. For example, they would ask whether they would be more or less likely to vote for Senator Kerry if he had lied about his war record. Although there is no basis in fact for the statement, the seed of doubt is planted and the voter may be inclined to believe it as true. Another trick was used during the transition between the Clinton and Bush administration. Rumours spread that the Democrats were vandalizing and damaging the White House in an attempt to thwart a smooth takeover. When asked about for more details or concrete evidence, the Bush team responded that they would not produce it because they did not want to involve themselves in dirty politics. They were, again, "above the fray". Both of these tactics allowed the Republicans to plant seeds of doubt and distrust in the mind's of voters and then portray themselves as holier and purer than their opponents by refusing to discuss the issue any further since they did not play such dirty political games.

The same strategy seems to be in operation now. After bringing up Mr. Kerry's war record, publicly questioning the validity of his decorations, accusing him of lying to receive his medals, the Republicans now want to move on before the discussion of Bush and Cheney's lack of war records becomes too heated. The damage to Senator Kerry's reputation has been done and now the Republicans want to portray Senator Kerry as someone fixated on the past and unable to focus on the future.

Whether or not Karl Rove and the Bush team was directly involved in the making of the ads that attacked Kerry's war record is a rather moot point. The ad was politically motivated and it worked to undermine the public's trust in Kerry. Now the situation is ripe for the Bush team to take advantage by denouncing the ads, giving the appearance of virtue. Furthermore, they are now able to criticize Kerry as a leader fixated on the past as he attempts to defend his past, while Bush (who conveniently doesn't discuss his war record) looks to the future and a war he cannot win.

Politics is a dirty game and the team that plays it the best is often the winner. Karl Rove and his team seem to be the most able to manipulate stories, twist the truth, and convince voters that Bush is the best person to lead the country while the Democrats seem to have trouble capitalizing on all the blunders and miscues that Bush and his handlers make.

May the best marketing team win!

My Pet Raccoon

On the weekend I visited Oita's Park Place, a medium sized retail-entertainment complex located near the Big-Eye Stadium about 20 minutes from downtown Oita City. Amongst the many shops is a pet store that often stocks rather unusual pets.

Last year I was surprised to see a praire dog sitting in a cage. I had never considered prairie dogs to be pets but then I originally thought ferrets to be unusual companions. However, after taking care of my neighbours two ferrets for about a month, their idiosyncrocies and playfulness endeared them to me. Bear and Muffin were affectionate, loved to be held (as long as your nose wasn't too close to Bear's face) and would actually chase my sister and I around the yard. When the owners returned, they were amazed at the change; the sheen of their fur, their improved personalities.

My family also acquired a particularly unique bird from a friend. A Red Lorry, the bird had been a gift to my friend's father. Although Laurel, as she became known, had all her physcial needs met, she was largely ignored and placed in a cage distinctly lacking in distractions. Consequently, she occupied most of her time making lots of ungodly noises. After a few weeks and many tears shed, Laurel gradually began to warm to us and become an integral part of our family. The most endearing trait is her ability to speak. Combined with her intelligence, she can almost engage in a simple conversation. Approaching her cage elicits a "hello" while a wave of the hand initiates a "bye-bye". Opening a cupboard causes her to cry out for a delicious cookie while giving her a kiss makes her whisper, "I love you." And, when you try to ignore her, she will ask in the sweetest voice, "What'cha doing?"

However, on Saturday, I was in for a little bit of a shock. Sitting in a cage priced at approximately $2000 CDN, was a あらいぐま which literally translates into a washing bear. This raccoon looked distraught as it paced back and forth, making whimpering sounds and occassionally stretching his paws through the bars. For me, raccoons had always been wild animals that visited at night in search of food. A neighbour who was fond of all animals, would feed a family nightly for many years. Every evening, the family would make its pilgrimage to the neighbour's back door, mounting the fence and trapezing along the top until it reached her yard. The family, always traveling in a well disciplined single file followed their route so religiously that a path was gradually worn into the lawn. Although the raccoons would approach the house without fear, they were never friendly and shied away from any contact with humans.

Certainly, raccoons are charming looking animals. Their colouring, especially the black band that covers their eyes, gives them a unique appearance. Their ability to manipulate objects with their paws gives them an almost human quality. Most importantly, the fuzziness of their fur endows them with an undeniable cute, cuddly factor.

Looking at a couple of internet sites, it quickly becomes apparent that raccoons do not make wonderful pets. Most sites recommend liability insurance, and strongly warn against keeping raccoons in captivity. Other issues include 3 to 4 months a year of increased aggressiveness during mating season, being particularly sloppy eaters due to the need to dip their food in water, and the threat of obesity as they require a specialized diet and ample exercise. Given that most Japanese live in an urban setting and lead busy lives, I cannot envision a raccoon living a happy existence inside a home.

My only hope is the pet store strongly cautions potential customers of the dangers and challenges that owning a raccoon entails. However, given its prominent location at the front of the store, I fear that the store will sell the animal to anyone with the money and the desire to have a unique pet.

Japan's Nuclear Industry

Although Japan regularly records large monthly trade surpluses, approximately 80% of Japan's energy is foreign sourced making the country extremely vulnerable to fluctuations in the price and supply of oil. In an attempt to alleviate this dependency, Japan has embarked on an ambitious nuclear program. At present, 25% of Japan's electricity is produced by nuclear fission at 53 reactors throughout the country.

However, the industry has been plagued with a series of accidents in the recent years which have called into question the safety of these operations. The latest accident occurred on August 9th in Fukui prefecture. Although no radiation was released, four workers were killed when superheated steam burst from a pipe that had gradually deteriorated from an original thickness of 10mm to 0.6mm. In 1999, workers mixing uranium in buckets caused a release of radiation in the Tokaimura power plant north of Tokyo forcing the evacuation of local residents and resulting in the death of several employees.

Web surfing on this topic lead me to an interesting article posted by the BBC concerning Japan's "nuclear slaves" in 1999. According to the article, many non-technical jobs such as cleaning around the reactors are contracted out by the nuclear power company to sub-contractors. These sub-contractors frequently hire homeless or disadvantaged people, offering them wages that are higher than they would otherwise expect to receive. The workers are then subjected to dangerous working conditions and are not educated on the risks that they are taking. Since these people are homeless, they are seen as expendible and their health woes will largely go unnoticed. An official from The Japan Atomic Power Company noted that although the company follows the national safety standards, it does not involve itself in the hiring practices of its subcontractors nor does it track the health of these temporary workers.

Another article of interest I discovered concerns the safety and training issues that lead to the 1999 nuclear accident at Tokaimura which did result in a leak of radiation. The article highlights the saftey regulations that were ignored in the interests of cost cutting, the lack of training given to workers, and the attempts to keep the accident as quiet as possible by ignoring reporting procedures and failing to give timely evacuation orders to surrounding residents.

When I lived in Miyagi, my homestay father worked at the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant located on the Pacific Coast approximately 450km north of Tokyo. I was able to take a tour of the plant and I did come away impressed with the apparent cleanliness and efficiency of the plant. However, I realize appearances can be deceiving and I don't pretend to have any expertise in evaluating nuclear power safety. What actually goes on behind the scenes and what the conditions were inside the other reactors, I will never know. However, given what I have read, my jokes about my homestay father glowing and mysteriously being able to turn on electrical appliances may not be as far-fetched as I hoped. All I can be thankful for is that there are no nuclear power plants located close to my town. Click here to see where the closest nuclear power plant to you is located.

Another Typhoon

As #18 approaches Kyushu, I could understand if readers begin to feel that I have some unnatural fixation on this natural phenomenon. Certainly, I have mentioned typhoons repeatedly over the past month but that is because this year's typhoon season has been particularly severe.

Usually, only two or three typhoons per year actually reach land. Last year, I do not recall any typhoons approaching my town of Innai. Most vere off harmlessly into the Pacific causing little disruption to the main islands of Japan. This year, however, six have already landed and tomorrow's typhoon will mark the seventh. Furthermore, #19 appears to be headed towards Japan as well although it will not likely hit Kyushu.

As I speak, it is raining quite heavily and the winds are gusting; a sure sign that the typhoon is approaching. When I get home tonight, I will stuff a plastic bag in the hood scoop of my car to prevent a repeat of last week's damage to my car's spark plug. I am also considering taping a sign to my steering wheel to remind me of the bag's presence. I am sure that melted, burnt plastic covering my engine would be a greater evil than a little bit of water...

I am a typhoon victim

Well, not me but my car. Having thought that I had emerged from Typhoon #16 without a scratch, Tuesday night found me listening to my car perform on 3/4 time rather than 4/4.

My car is a Toyota Trueno GT-Z which I purchased a year ago for a little less than $1500 CDN. The Z in its name denotes the presence of a suerpcharger that allows the 1.6L engine to produce over 170 horsepower with minimal lag and superb low end response.

Essentially, a supercharger is a turbine that is powered off an accessory belt from the engine. The turbine compresses the air to about 8psi, force feeding extra air into the engine. As oxygen is essential for combustion, the extra oxygen allows for a more powerful explosion and thus more power. To increase air density further, an intercooler acts to reduce the air temperature and thus feed more oxygen to the engine.

Intercoolers are usually located in 2 possible locations; in front of the engine behind the bumper or on top of the engine. Cars with intercoolers located in latter position can be easily identified with a hood scoop that allows cool air to contact the intercooler. Subaru Impreza WRX's are a common example. With the intercooler located on top of the engine, my car is fitted with a hood scoop. Usually, only air and a small amount of moisture is allowed to enter the engine compartment. However, with the rain falling horizontally rather than vertically during the typhoon, enough water entered into the engine compartment to cause the spark plug to become wet and refuse to fire. Thus, instead of listening to a smooth purr, a syncopated, rough sound emanted from my tailpipe last night.

Fortunately, the fix was a rather simple matter of removing the spark plug, drying it off, and reinserting it. Without any tools however, I had to take it to my mechanic who graciously charged only $25.

When I lived in Canada, my cars were quite new and almost no repairs. My Acura Integra's fuel pump expired making it difficult to start. My Prelude suffered nothing more than a failing battery after 7 years although in the care of my father, the power steering pump failed. With my current car, this is the third item in as many months. Certainly, when you pay so little for a car, a few problems are to be expected.

The first problem was a squealing sound from the left front wheel. The noise first became noticeable when I turned the steering wheel sharply. Gradually, the noise increased to include driving straight ahead. Under acceleration, the noise disappeared but became embarrassing when my foot lifted off the throttle. The problem? Bad wheel bearings. This was diagnosed by the mechanic shifting the wheel back and forth and noticing the 1 inch of slop. The bearings were replaced and the sound disappeared.

Three weeks later, I noticed water on the floor of the passenger footwell. At first I thought it was just water leaking after a severe rain and made a mental note to check for leaks around the windows next time I washed the car. I noticed the water had a bit of an oily texture to it but didn't think too much. Much to my chagrin, it was not merely rainwater but coolant that had exited the engine through the heating system.

Cars have a heater core which is used to heat the car's interior. The heater core is essentially a small radiator that dissipates heat into the heating ducts of the car. The coolant from the engine is pushed through the heater core, heating the surrounding air. It is then mixed with a certain amount of external air to achieve the desired temperature. My car's heater core developed a hole allowing the coolant to leak out, into the ducts and into the passenger footwell. As I drove along, the insufficient amount of coolant caused the engine to overheat, stranding me at an old ladies house. By adding water to the radiator, I was able to nurse the car to my mechanic. There, I was given an option. Replace the heater core for approximate $400 or bypass it for $10. Given that winter was still 6 months away at the time, I agreed to the bypass operation. At present, I am satisfied with my decision. However, I might be cursing my cheapness on those cold winter nights.

My mechanic is a particuarly talkative fellow who takes longer to talk to me than repair the car. As he speaks rapid fire Japanese with a healthy sprinkling of technical jargon and local dialect, my comprehension of his words of wisdom is sparse. However, a few nods of my head, a couple words here and there seem to inspire him to further monologuing. I must admit to being a bit of a car nut so I do my best to understand and learn. I should take up his invitation to visit on weekends for I am sure I will learn a lot more from first-hand experience than I would ever receive by trying to absorb words and diagrams from books.

Climbing Mt. Fuji

Also known as standing in the world's longest, highest, coldest line.

I returned from my week of adventure yesterday morning and I am still grappling with the lack of sleep. Sleeping on ferries, in capsule hotels, and various people's floors isn't the best way to fulfill one's sleep requirement but what is many hours of missed sleep when you receive such memorable experiences in return?

I ascended the mountain with nine Japanese friends, only two of whom I had met before. We drove from Yokohama to Yamanashi and arrived at the 5th stage just before 9pm. Yes, we were hiking at night. The idea is to reach the summit just before sunrise and watch the sun's rays emerge while sitting atop of Japan. As I had mentioned before, I had no delusions that the hike would be an amazing natural experience like hiking the West Coast Trail in Canada. I was aware of the crowds, the garbage and the smell of septic tanks would be an integral part of the expereince. However, the sheer number of people was overwhelming.

We began our climb at 9pm and there were quite a few people around. However, you could easily pass the slower the hikers and maintain a decent pace. Occassionally, there would be bottlenecks that would slow one down but, overall, you could march to your own drummer. As the night progressed, the crowds thickened to the point where passing slower hikers became impossible. Hikers completely filled the trail and each 4 or 5 steps taken were followed by a minute or two of waiting until I could progress 4 or 5 more steps closer to the summit. Needless to say, the time (about 3am) and the cold, howling wind, made the minutes of waiting seem much longer. The sky began to brighten in the east around 4:30am and the dreams of watching the sunrise from the summit were dashed. The sheer number of people made it impossible to climb any faster.

Sunrise occurred at about 5am and I managed to take a few pictures of the sun as it shone intermittently between the fast moving clouds that swirled around Mt. Fuji's peak. After another hour of slogging, I reached the top and huddled in a shelter in an attempt to protect myself from the wind and volcanic dust. After recovering for about an hour on the summit, we gathered our gear up for the descent down. Usually I enjoy the climb more than the descent but the lack of people, the soft volcanic sand that cushioned my joints, made it more enjoyable than I would have imagined. Plus, the idea of returning to the car provided a powerful incentive for a quick descent.

It was interesting to watch people climb the mountain. Many seemed to be on auto-pilot, moving at the same pace as those in front. As I waited for my friends to catch up, I would watch one person stop for no apparent reason. Although there was room to pass on the side, those following would also stop and rest. It seemed more of a forced death march rather than an enjoyable, memorable experience. It also surprised me to see so many women making the climb. I would estimate that 60% of the climbers were female and there were many groups of all female climbers. Living in a town where I am the only foreigner, I was also amazed to see all the foreigners. On reflection though, any famous attraction attracts tourists and Mt. Fuji is no different. The hikers are certainly not reflective of the makeup of the general population.

Would I recommend climbing Mt. Fuji? Yes, definitely but with the caveat that anyone expecting a "back-to-nature" experience should steer clear. Saturday night is probably the worst possible night to climb given the hordes of climbers. A weekday night would certainly be less crowded and undoubtedly more enjoyable. Climbing during the day is also an option but there is something undeniably unique in climbing a moutain at night and watching the sunrise from the summit.

Other insights/observations:

1. Toilets at the base cost 50 yen while those on top cost 200. Manage your bladder accordingly. Also, be prepared to stand in line to use the facilities.

2. Drinks cost 200 yen at the base (already 50 yen more than usual) and rise according to the elevation. Packing your own food and drink is certainly most economical.

3. Walking sticks can be purchased at the base and branded at each of the stations on the way up.

4. Starting at the 五合目(5th stage), you work your way to the 九合目 which is the summit. Each level was usually indicated by a collection of mountain huts. However, you quickly learn that each stage has a number of substages also indicated by a collection of huts. It was a little disheartening to trudge along for about an hour, reach the huts and realize that you are still on the same stage.

5. Dress for the winter. Although it was warm enough for just a t-shirt and shorts and the base, as you climb, the temperature drops and the wind picks up. Although I did not have a thermometer, I am sure the temperature was close to 0 and the windchill made it seem even colder. Ensure you have warm headwear, a good jacket with the ability to add or subtract layers underneath and a pair of gloves. In other words, dress for winter. Most people brought their skiwear although I soldiered on with my cold weather cycling gear.