A Happiness Report from Columbia University has been published. It is intersting that those countries with higher tax burden occupy the higher positions. Japan is the 46th in this report.
In Japan, the tax rate is generally low. The sales tax was balanced with the tax reduction enforced at the same time. There has been no tax increase since 1980s. The middle class has not, however, enjoyed much service by the governments, national or local. With the scheme of civil engineering driven economy collapsed, the people has had the feeling of paucity for public services.
It has lead to distrust of the people to the government, bureaucracy and, eventually, to the people in the society themselves. In this situation, the politicians won't be able to increase the tax but only would find out any expense, which they insist to be redundant, to be cut in the budget. The results are the astronomical amount of debt in the government and one of the lowest positions in happiness among the developed countries in the world.
The high tax countries are ranked at the high positions in this report. It is reported that the peoples in those countries enjoy much more for the public services, so that they could be content with the politics and won't resist paying the huge tax.
Once certain amount of income is secured, the relationship with the others in the society determines the happiness as this report says. Could we reach or realize the anthropocene, a new term quoted in this report, by any means?
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/sitefiles/file/Sachs%20Writing/2012/World%20Happiness%20Report.pdf
9/11/2013
9/09/2013
The Fukushima nuclear plants are still far from control
A most recent news told that they had detected 3200 Bq/l radioactivity in the underground water from a well close to the 1st reactor at Fukushima nuclear plant. It has been reported the cooling water was contaminated by radioactive substances. I suspect it is not the case with the present situation. The major radioactive substance is Cs, which could be absorbed easily by soil. If the underground water is generally contaminated, the source of contamination must be close to the underground water path.
The nuclear fuel has been melted. Nothing is known yet to what extent it got through. Since the casings are known to have been broken, we could speculate that the fuel got through the concrete beneath the casing. If the underground water are contaminated by sources close to the water path as told above, the melt down fuel must be the most likely cause for that.
The power line planned to take the fuel out of the reactor after it is fully watered. Since the casings are all damaged, however, it won't be possible for them to do that. Another project to do that in dry environment is under consideration. It could be quite difficult due to extremely high radioactivity from the fuel. They should manage to take the used fuel out and place them under control. But no exit for that solution yet at all.
At the IOC meeting a few days ago, our prime minister has made an obvious lie in his address saying that the Fukushima nuclear plants were under control. The accident is still least dealt with now. Even if he wanted to invite the Olympic games to Tokyo by some means or other, he should not have told about it in that way. It hurts the people in Fukushima.
The Fukushima nuclear plants are still far from control.
The nuclear fuel has been melted. Nothing is known yet to what extent it got through. Since the casings are known to have been broken, we could speculate that the fuel got through the concrete beneath the casing. If the underground water are contaminated by sources close to the water path as told above, the melt down fuel must be the most likely cause for that.
The power line planned to take the fuel out of the reactor after it is fully watered. Since the casings are all damaged, however, it won't be possible for them to do that. Another project to do that in dry environment is under consideration. It could be quite difficult due to extremely high radioactivity from the fuel. They should manage to take the used fuel out and place them under control. But no exit for that solution yet at all.
At the IOC meeting a few days ago, our prime minister has made an obvious lie in his address saying that the Fukushima nuclear plants were under control. The accident is still least dealt with now. Even if he wanted to invite the Olympic games to Tokyo by some means or other, he should not have told about it in that way. It hurts the people in Fukushima.
The Fukushima nuclear plants are still far from control.
9/05/2013
Arleen Auger in St Matthews Passion
Music is a mysterious experience. It is connected with the memories on the deepest phase. We could recall the atmosphere in the concert hall and, of course, the performers when we listen to the same music later however long it may have passed since the experience with it.
I have been to a concert of S. Matthews Passion in '80s. It was held at a chapel of a college in Tokyo. The ensemble and chorus were some japanese groups. The solo soprano was Arleen Auger, who sung the part with most impressive way. Serene and beautiful. I could remember very vividly how her voice sounded at the chapel at that time. Even though I have listened live performances of this music for many times since this concert, it was one of the best experience with this music.
I happened to have found this clip in Youtube. Sadly, she seemed to pass away at pretty young age in early '90s. I still feel thankful to her for such a valuable experience with this music.
Answers to Karsten DL8YBK as for the ham radio activity in Japan
Karsten DL8YBK asked me how the amateur radio was doing as for the activity/number of operators. In his image, Japan has many more hams per certain general population. Since the number of hams in Germany is dropping now, it would be of interests to them how japanese ham radio is maintaining its activity.
I answered him that the numbers of ham radio operators is still rapidly decreasing in Japan as well. The reason could be multiple.
One is that there are less young people interested in this hobby. They are mainly doing with the internet. This should be the same as in Germany.
The 2nd point is that the licensing system is too complicated and too costly in Japan. As explained below, there are two kinds of licences necessary to operate radio here, the operator licence and the station licence. Oddly enough, we should apply for the guarantee of each equipment to a private company. The private company named TSS is believed to guarantee the legal validity of each equipment. This guarantee process is done only on a paper basis. They require certain cost for each guarantee. I believe such a rigid and bureaucratic licence process won't promote ham radio but suppress its activity. There must be a few more points to discuss about but should not be the major reasons.
He has answered to me that there were still 3,000,000 hams in Japan. He wonders what they are doing in ham radio. In his opinion, such an activity holding that great number of hams in Japan could be a role model for Germany.
The following is my answer to him. I quoted the accurate number of each category. The conclusion is not very optimistic.
quote my answer to him;
Karsten,
You should be careful about the difference of the numbers between the operator licensee and the station licensee.
The operator licensees in 2011:
1st class 26683
2nd 75229
3rd 195122
4th 3002920
total 3299954
There should be those who hold multiple licenses. Actually, I have all the class licenses by myself. The operators licence is valid throughout our lives. So this number is only an accumulation of each class from the past.
The station licensee in 2011:
457190
This license is only valid for 5 years. So this figure might mean how many hams have their set ups irrespective of their activities. This number is told to have been decreasing as well. It's almost half of the max numbers in 1990s at present.
The JARL members in 2013;
68787
No classification according to the operator classes. Maybe, roughly proportional to the numbers of the operator licensees. There are the 3rd or the 4th class operators active on HF. But most of DXers must hold the higher classes. But again no definite data.
From next year, owing to the bad finance of JARL, it will impose the life members membership fee. It is against the contract. So there must be a portion of the current members dropping off from the roll.
I hope Germany won't follow us as for the activity/number of hams.
Shin
I answered him that the numbers of ham radio operators is still rapidly decreasing in Japan as well. The reason could be multiple.
One is that there are less young people interested in this hobby. They are mainly doing with the internet. This should be the same as in Germany.
The 2nd point is that the licensing system is too complicated and too costly in Japan. As explained below, there are two kinds of licences necessary to operate radio here, the operator licence and the station licence. Oddly enough, we should apply for the guarantee of each equipment to a private company. The private company named TSS is believed to guarantee the legal validity of each equipment. This guarantee process is done only on a paper basis. They require certain cost for each guarantee. I believe such a rigid and bureaucratic licence process won't promote ham radio but suppress its activity. There must be a few more points to discuss about but should not be the major reasons.
He has answered to me that there were still 3,000,000 hams in Japan. He wonders what they are doing in ham radio. In his opinion, such an activity holding that great number of hams in Japan could be a role model for Germany.
The following is my answer to him. I quoted the accurate number of each category. The conclusion is not very optimistic.
quote my answer to him;
Karsten,
You should be careful about the difference of the numbers between the operator licensee and the station licensee.
The operator licensees in 2011:
1st class 26683
2nd 75229
3rd 195122
4th 3002920
total 3299954
There should be those who hold multiple licenses. Actually, I have all the class licenses by myself. The operators licence is valid throughout our lives. So this number is only an accumulation of each class from the past.
The station licensee in 2011:
457190
This license is only valid for 5 years. So this figure might mean how many hams have their set ups irrespective of their activities. This number is told to have been decreasing as well. It's almost half of the max numbers in 1990s at present.
The JARL members in 2013;
68787
No classification according to the operator classes. Maybe, roughly proportional to the numbers of the operator licensees. There are the 3rd or the 4th class operators active on HF. But most of DXers must hold the higher classes. But again no definite data.
From next year, owing to the bad finance of JARL, it will impose the life members membership fee. It is against the contract. So there must be a portion of the current members dropping off from the roll.
I hope Germany won't follow us as for the activity/number of hams.
Shin
9/02/2013
Lost my life, I start singing
To Jim、
This is it. It was on a web site titled "Celiist Gosh and the company". It is a site in Japanese.
A latin poem engraved on an old cello translated by myself:
"I kept silent while living in a forest. Now, lost my life, I start singing with serene voice."
I love this poem. It expresses the fact a string instrument gets a life once it is made from wood to its shape. That is why we should deliver the instrument to the next generation.
This poem is so attractive to me that I would publish it here.
Even though anyone could question if mine has a value to be treated in that way...haha
This is it. It was on a web site titled "Celiist Gosh and the company". It is a site in Japanese.
A latin poem engraved on an old cello translated by myself:
"I kept silent while living in a forest. Now, lost my life, I start singing with serene voice."
I love this poem. It expresses the fact a string instrument gets a life once it is made from wood to its shape. That is why we should deliver the instrument to the next generation.
This poem is so attractive to me that I would publish it here.
Even though anyone could question if mine has a value to be treated in that way...haha
8/31/2013
My cello
It was already 4 years ago when I decided to purchase this cello made in Italy. Having used a German cello for years, I needed a bit powerful one as I was told to play the top of cellists in an orchestra. There was the famous "Swan Lake Suite" by Tchaikovsky in the program, which includes a real lengthy solo by cello.
I don't know if it is common among Italian instruments or not but this one had some scratched injuries on the front board which had been well repaired. The placements of peg holes were not correct as well. It required a fairly big repair to make new holes later. I was aware of those defects in this cello but did not care for that. This Italian sounded powerful as well as sweet. I have not hesitated to buy this one. In addition to its power on all range, it sounded mellow and sweet especially on D string, which most other cellos are not very good at. I fell in love with this cello as soon as I played it for the first time at an instrument dealer in Tokyo.
I have practised a lot with this instrument. I could not forget playing all movements of the Nr2 piano trio in C dur by Brahms at a small concert. I loved it so much that it was a real fun for me to play it. Whenever I listen to the 2nd movement of variation, it really touches me. In the big earthquake, this cello being laid on the floor fell on the flower and buried beneath TV set, books and CDs falling down on the floor. It has not got any serious damage except for a few injuries on the front board. I have indulged in playing with it even more since the experience of the earthquake. This winter, however, having had a family event as well as having felt that I won't make any progress any longer, I have quit playing it. For the past 7 months, I have touched it only twice.
For the past few days, I again felt I should practise it again. I won't care if I clould not make any progress. Playing for myself is good enough. Dave K6XG, a fine baroque brockfloete and violin player, told me a few days ago that it was often good for musicians to take a month off from playing instruments. He said our synapses would get connected during that period. It might mean conversion from explicit memory to inplicit one requires a length of time in a particular person. Though I was quite suspicious of its validity in this old amateur cellist and my days off was too long for that psychological process. I decided to come back to cello.
I would start practising scales in C, D dur and e moll. My goal is to play some of the unaccompanied suites by Bach and that e moll sonata by Brahms. I used to play all the movements in my med school days. I wonder how far I could go from now. No complaint if I stay at the same stage or even regress a bit. It is just for my pleasure.
8/29/2013
Two dishes served by a house husband
Chicken cooked with onion, potato and eggplant tasted by balsamic vinegar.
Fried codfish with vegetables mixed by Japanese powdered starch in chinese style.
I could brag myself for these dishes, if the taste won't be questioned, which I have finished cooking in 45 minutes. It was after I had worked for a full day as a parttime. It is by househusband costless labor haha.
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