tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-184694412012-02-17T02:13:50.768+01:00I blog about politics and other fun things, big and small. thanks for visiting.Mirjaminoreply@blogger.comBlogger1041100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-52598265863441745082008-10-25T18:53:00.003+01:002010-10-31T15:45:54.591+01:00

Tomorrow the fantastically exciting local elections in Finland draw to a close. I'm totally finished after several weeks of campaigning for Maija, and still I feel I could have done much, much more.Tomorrow's schedule is also quite hectic; it will be a loong day before I can join all those crazy party people to hopefully celebrate our biggest win yet. The National Coalition Party has never

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-32198811389138814392008-06-12T03:40:00.002+01:002008-09-04T21:05:16.172+01:00

I'm back in Helsinki.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-8294222565030271002007-08-23T17:36:00.001+01:002008-10-25T19:09:11.917+01:00

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-2941865984652305882007-08-15T07:22:00.000+01:002007-08-15T07:48:55.624+01:00

Back in the office on 1.9.2007.I'm starting a new job here in Helsinki soon, and although I won't be able to blog about the job directly, it'll help me get this blog back on the track, i.e the East Asian track, which it veered off some time ago.Miriam

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-39883835007475776662007-07-03T19:56:00.000+01:002007-07-09T20:20:55.970+01:00

Phil Donahue must be one of the very few interviewees entering the O'Reilly Zone who doesn't get thrown out of the studio/whose mic isn't mysteriously cut off in the middle of the interview for disagreeing with Billo over the Iraq war. Watch, if just to see the look on Phil's face at the end of the interview... is that contempt mixed with disbelief I detect in your eyes, Phil Donahue? Here's the

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-48030120091496215462007-06-25T00:07:00.000+01:002007-06-25T00:30:10.359+01:00

I got an email from David Cameron a few days ago. (No, not a personal one; I've just signed on for the group postings). He's now polishing his policies in order to take on Brown in the next few weeks. Is it just me, or is Cameron saying nothing in his keynote speech (in full below)? Why do I still not, 18 months on, have a clear picture of his policies for a possible Conservative government ?

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-43217891518100425442007-06-25T00:02:00.001+01:002007-06-25T00:22:41.753+01:00

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-51196451204819915292007-06-14T20:38:00.001+01:002007-06-15T19:49:47.312+01:00

Name all European countries in 5 minutes"You forgot: Spain, Croatia, Macedonia, Monaco, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Cyprus, Malta"I forgot nine countries out of 49. That's a little embarrassing, and I spent waay too much time on trying to remember the Balkan countries and therefore ran out of time. But: I forgot Spain?? I didn't get Azerbaijan because I tried to spell it with a 'd' (and

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-73455395316257257692007-06-06T20:58:00.000+01:002007-06-07T19:58:01.009+01:00

Jun. 5 - Robots may not be able to feel emotions but Japanese scientists have created one which they say expresses them.The newest Japanese humanoid robot, named ''Kansei'', frowns when he hears the word ''bomb'' and a smile lights up his face when he hears the word ''sushi''.The robot created by a Japanese university research team can make up to 36 different facial expressions stemming from

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-51540375198582319972007-06-05T11:45:00.000+01:002007-06-06T19:03:02.647+01:00

I was asked to post this as a curiosity from 2006. It is one of the worst book reviews I have ever read about an academic book and continues the prize fight between David Williams and Harry Harootunian. Williams is a former teacher of mine and I do remain sympathetic to his views (in addition to being pretty ace in the classroom, he opened my eyes to the politics of studying Japan, and he's an

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-65194204760753863872007-06-04T01:00:00.001+01:002007-06-04T01:00:44.274+01:00

Name all 53 African countries in 10 minutes.Embarrassingly difficult.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-50933000610311706822007-05-30T23:30:00.000+01:002007-06-05T13:24:04.439+01:00

Reporting almost live from Second Life:The first ever virtual embassy of a real life (RL) country, Sweden House (pictured), was finally inaugurated yesterday by the avatar of the Swedish foreign secretary Mr Carl Bildt, who flew to the scene dressed in purple underwear.The building quickly became a point of discussion amongst the Nordic citizens of Second Life as it was picketed by radical Danish

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-45659392672828247342007-05-26T19:12:00.000+01:002007-05-27T04:14:22.873+01:00

The Chaser's... is a political/topical/anything comedy show from Australia. The trailer for "American Baguette":"- Hello gentlemen, I'm Elder Craig, and this is Elder Andrew, and we're from Al Qaeda.":A Lesson in History. A skit with a serpent offering free apples (from the best tree in the garden!) outside churches, mosques and schuls:

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-22532159353430967972007-05-08T23:33:00.000+01:002007-05-22T02:14:26.881+01:00

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-16362375245775350602007-04-17T23:30:00.000+01:002007-06-04T23:05:37.902+01:00

This is a Looney Tune from 1942 which portrays Hitler as a duck on a farm. It's the usual cartooney propaganda, but at 4.40 or so, enter the Japanese 'duck' with massive teeth who sings how he's a rittre crazy. I haven't seen this one before, so I will store this lettle gem here for now. Ducktators:

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-14273696891023172542007-04-17T23:18:00.000+01:002007-06-03T01:58:54.483+01:00

The best ever Donald Duck propaganda film made (yet). Haven't seen this in a while - nor any other good Disney flicks for that matter. I suspect Disney raided youtube at one point, but some helpful souls have put stuff out there again. This episode is also known as Donald in Naziland, if I remember correctly. UPDATE: It's off YouTube again (1.6.2007). If I could actually buy these flicks

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-83566535447952545672007-04-16T00:05:00.000+01:002007-04-16T00:06:31.967+01:00

Name all 53 African countries in 10 minutes.Embarrassingly difficult.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-41853590352275241942007-04-01T23:41:00.000+01:002007-04-02T22:15:25.465+01:00

"Cool it, big daddy"? "Supie"?? Here he's just having fun, but actually Superman is a dick.I would never have known about the biases of Supie if it wasn't for this site.This post is dedicated to the memory of Captain America. Luckily, we still have a few unashamedly ideological superheroes out there, like Captain Euro aka Adam Andros, a polyglot whose hobbies include painting *European*

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-42928990411858702732007-04-01T23:03:00.000+01:002007-04-08T22:16:58.670+01:00

I post stuff here because find it easier to work on a text if I can access it in full view, not least for language reasons: I am blind to my own mistakes until I see them in a public domain, or as others would see it. Don't ask me why this would be the case.This post is very much alive - I will be writing this essay online rather than retorting to Word, so although it seems like I haven't posted

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-87929287869324728132007-03-27T12:25:00.000+01:002007-04-04T11:39:09.489+01:00

It's not possible to satirize creationists after seeing this - their reality is weirder than any satirist could ever dream up. Richard Dawkins will have a world of trouble replying on the same high level of intellect and logic that this piece puts forth.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-5790813083897458662007-03-20T00:27:00.000+01:002007-03-20T02:51:56.974+01:00

I'm straying from Japanese politics. This might well be a long term choice. I'll have to review the general theme of my blog soon.We won in Finland. The setup of the forthcoming government is still shrowded in mystery, but we won. I held an election party last night. The invited were just me and the internet community; it was that exclusive. For some reason Nordic politics doesn't spark a fire

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-16981229914341216812007-03-12T18:19:00.000+01:002007-06-04T23:36:09.630+01:00

Back in the book of the living, as those who watched Question Time last Thursday might have noticed. No, Miriam is not a pseudonym for Margaret Hodge, nor Pierce Morgan, for that matter: I was merely in the audience, but I had my say. Please read my post before you watch my performance here (link to full programme, but I comment on the first question. It's available until Thursday, 15.3). I

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-60981457949629987692007-02-26T02:34:00.000+01:002007-02-28T17:10:00.629+01:00

Just when I get loads of important stuff to do, I get ill. I just dragged myself to the computer after an unprecedented 36 hours off-line. Will spend the next five days in bed...I think I'm dying.P.S It's 'just' migraine. Just what I needed: blood vessels in my brain acting without my permission.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-70627068911033385862007-02-21T05:20:00.000+01:002007-02-26T00:22:52.613+01:00

Kirjoitan poikkeuksellisesti suomeksi, koska päivitän parhaillaan eduskuntavaaleihin liittyviä linkkejä. EdariLinkkilistani (vasemmalla) ei ole vielä lopullinen, ja tulen laittamaan siihen kaikki vaaleissa mukana olevien puolueiden kotisivut ja, jos mahdollista, puoluejohtajien blogit tai kotisivut. Katko kestää ainakin maanataihin saakka.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-26819105241317638972007-02-20T02:03:00.000+01:002007-02-20T20:59:46.766+01:00

I am seriously thinking about changing my dissertation topic. As I have previously posted, my dissertation was going to be an inspired study of Asianism, Japanese political philosophy, and Japan's current position in promoting Asian regional co-operation and integration. But as I struggle to find the scarce sources to build my argument on, I have also become increasingly aware of the fact that

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-86862249653350117122007-02-19T20:52:00.000+01:002007-02-19T21:14:33.941+01:00

Now showing Pacific Council There might not be time to blog about the real topic of my blog, but there is always time to promote the Perry Bible Fellowship; one of the most inventive cartoons around...

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-51102574380977108852007-02-18T03:09:00.000+01:002007-02-19T15:36:07.429+01:00

Here are are couple of clips from "Jesus Camp", a recent documentary on the evangelical movement and its grip on children. I really hope it will show in a cinema near me soon. These kids are brainwashed. The mastermind behind the camp (Pastor Becky Fischer) is happy to admit that since the muslims and other faith groups are indoctrinating their young ones, then so should Christians. Listen to her

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-78393876872186752322007-02-16T01:01:00.000+01:002007-02-21T05:19:48.183+01:00

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-55794800013995031512007-02-12T23:00:00.000+01:002007-02-16T01:04:16.112+01:00

I love this Swedish entry by Marie Lindberg. She's through to the national final.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-32409052778225652922007-02-12T22:35:00.000+01:002007-02-12T23:14:40.316+01:00

Text Message Novel Published in FinlandThursday January 25, 2007 2:16 AM The GuardianHELSINKI, Finland (AP) - A novel in which the entire narrative consists of mobile phone text messages was published Wednesday in Finland."The Last Messages'' tells the story of a fictitious executive in Finland who resigns from his job and travels throughout Europe and India, keeping in touch with his friends and

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-81875091674087628012007-02-09T23:54:00.000+01:002007-02-10T04:01:10.050+01:00

I could blog about North Korea and the seemingly successful six-party talks. However, since DPRK's willingness to negotiate doesn't come as a surprise to me, I'd rather highlight Francis Fukuyama's recent article on identity and migration, published in Prospect Magazine. I like Frank. He's one of those rare thinkers who are ready to admit that they've been mistaken in their previous (and

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-18936161832824394132007-02-05T07:12:00.000+01:002007-02-05T18:47:27.601+01:00

Has anyone else noticed just how many companies there are advertising through their own 'blogs' in Blogger nowadays? It takes the fun out of bloghopping.Now that I find myself complaining about corporations and companies, I'd also like to log my protest against the infiltration of film production companies and media corporations into YouTube. Some of my absolute favourite clips are no longer

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-59624177514445350412007-02-04T18:53:00.000+01:002007-02-05T01:34:11.924+01:00

When I moved to Newcastle about 7 months ago I thought it would be interesting to get involved in local party politics. Not that I would have joined any singular party because a) I'm most probably not eligible due to already belonging to a party back in Finland, and b) I don't really feel like having to defend the policies of any British party. Rather, my intention was to get a closer look at

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-39221508015519782822007-01-30T01:54:00.000+01:002007-01-31T23:41:59.035+01:00

I had an exam on modern China last Friday. I answered three questions: on the key factors determining the Sino-Japanese relationship in the past 20 years; on how the Chinese courts handle human rights questions; and on the economic legacy of the Cultural Revolution.Exams aside, I am now more worried about how I'm supposed to pay my rent in the months to come. Finding a job isn't made easier by

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-21390350434001459832007-01-23T14:24:00.000+01:002007-01-29T21:10:10.537+01:00

The quality of Finnish pop music has shot up in the past few years from embarrassing to listenable. I don't really follow the scene, and thus Husky Rescue is a fairly new acquaintance. This tune swings like a moose. I like the video, too.P.S Saturday: Was just reading the Guardian and noticed an ad for Husky Rescue's new album... Proof of just HOW out I am of everything pop music, both here and

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-67322332668601705882007-01-22T21:32:00.000+01:002007-01-23T02:26:18.961+01:00

I have another exam on Friday, this time on modern China and its politics and economics. Possible questions (and therefore the topics I'll concentrate on) include Mao's economic reforms and their successes/failures; China's economic development from 1973 'til today and its consequences for the State; human rights in a Leninist state which has a very particular understanding of the rule of law;

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-15987994427823018892007-01-15T22:12:00.000+01:002007-01-19T04:31:34.420+01:00

I had an exam on East Asian security policy and international relations theory today. And as if that wasn't bad enough, I learned that I got a 62 for the module on post-war Japanese politics. The lady who told me my mark actually congratulated me on the result. 62 is a shit mark and I don't particularly fancy being congratulated for an obvious failure. The exam was the final written (closed book)

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-30372056426290805472007-01-10T18:25:00.000+01:002007-01-11T03:37:21.650+01:00

If China does not abandon one-party rule, will it stumble under the stresses of state capitalism, or will it show that there can be a successful authoritarian road to modernity?This was the question posed in the latest issue of Prospect Magazine and discussed in the below dialogue between Will Hutton, who has written a critical account on the Chinese political economy (The Writing on the Wall;

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-43160265109736162282007-01-07T02:26:00.000+01:002007-01-08T01:30:07.663+01:00

This is the classic clip where Triumph teases Star Wars nerds who queued up for the films a few years ago. For those of you who don't know Triumph, he's a special reporter for Conan O'Brien. Triumph's genre of comedy is insult comedy. Those easily offended might want generally to stear clear of Triumph.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1663502408172325322007-01-07T01:58:00.000+01:002007-01-09T03:46:51.686+01:00

Conan O'Brien is the king of Late Night comedy. I haven't decided wether I think this skit is slightly racist or not, but it sure as hell made me laugh.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-82106373646625156072007-01-06T19:08:00.000+01:002007-01-08T01:33:54.304+01:00

A group of people must sit through an 'English' lesson. If they laugh, they get an arse-whipping. As simple as that.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-11155845596504452472007-01-04T17:28:00.000+01:002007-01-04T22:30:13.982+01:00

I am officially reading up on the successes and failures of UNTAC (1992-1993), but I could not help stopping for a moment to fume over the conservative forces in Japan which are hell-bent on keeping Princess Aiko from the throne. (See JT story below)You know what? You conservative posers (you know who you are, you Imperial Household Agency retards) can keep those silly little institutions to

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-62289774376095591472007-01-04T00:13:00.000+01:002007-01-04T03:29:43.401+01:00

Taking a wintry dip in Yenisei river, Siberia. (Ilya Naymushin/REUTERS)

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-78283857253303423432006-12-31T19:39:00.000+01:002006-12-31T21:29:28.715+01:00

(photo from maison-de-stuff.net )

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-45287293372369028002006-12-15T20:23:00.000+01:002006-12-17T01:51:03.804+01:00

This blog is, more than anything, my notepad. 2 parts.1. The discourse around the Kyoto School- the crumbling of a paradigm. 2. Building an active regional identity: The legacy of the Kyoto School in Japanese contemporary politics?- reactive or active?(Liberal IR theory - building a state personality/ identity and using it in international relations.)Introduction/abstractThis essay is divided

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-10544005735513575622006-12-13T18:11:00.000+01:002006-12-24T03:46:33.420+01:00

I'm sorry, but I have to take a proper break again. That's just typical: the second I think everyhting's okay, things bloody crash again.To cheer myself up, I've been watching the worst music video that was ever made. It's the Finnish 80's duo Armi and Danny with the classic I Wanna Love You Tender. Originally a massive hit in Finland, they recorded it in English in order to break abroad. And to

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1163866443103219482006-11-18T17:06:00.000+01:002006-11-24T19:43:44.706+01:00

The following article is by Gavan McCormack, a well known scholar of Japanse politics, security policy and constitutional affairs. I put it up here to read later, so that I won't forget. For now I'm reading up on Mao.This article and others like it (ie academically sound and always topical, but not too theoretical) can be found at ZMag .The election for Governor of Okinawa on 19 November is

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1163780563579152462006-11-17T17:17:00.000+01:002006-11-17T21:33:40.503+01:00

Anonymous, thanks for the comment regarding nuclear attacks. You have an answer in the comments under the DPRK posting.Phew. After a week of illness, I'm getting back on track again. I'm getting busy with my studies, which is great, but will leave me even less time to blog.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1162856020583660572006-11-07T00:33:00.000+01:002006-11-07T01:41:26.086+01:00

I haven't really heard any of their new songs. Their gigs are FUN.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1162768074343275862006-11-05T23:57:00.000+01:002006-11-07T01:36:21.263+01:00

I went to the Baltic Mill today to see an exhibition on urban art called Spank the Monkey, and simply fell in love with Chiho Aoshima's work. Her 'organic' buildings and the entire world she depicts is just a-may-zing. The headline is simply a link to the Google images I got when I Googled her. http://www.balticmill.com/ Our lovely, lovely local centre for modern art.http://

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1162154300574675642006-10-29T21:33:00.000+01:002006-10-29T21:49:12.210+01:00

See the interview where Dubya comes across as a thoughtful bleeding heart liberal in comparison with Bill O'Reilly.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1162133474359991772006-10-29T15:48:00.000+01:002006-10-29T18:25:49.546+01:00

This is a classic. I saw it first well over a year ago, then lost it, but never forgot it.It's a piece of an interview about workplace safety being compromised by drinking in a Russian mine. The interview is not important; the presence of the man in the background says it all.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1162081984882973192006-10-29T00:37:00.000+01:002006-10-29T01:44:03.266+01:00

I had a great night tonight at a place called Camp David. I go there quite often, and it's a fab place. It has a lovely heated roof-top area, they play really good music, and they play the host for the most freakish bachelor parties in town. It has a fault, though: the women's loo is located in the basement, and there's only one of them. Any female reading this knows what I'm talking about. All

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1161907038375286132006-10-27T00:31:00.000+01:002006-10-27T10:32:01.183+01:00

I'm sorry I still haven't commented on the really interesting shifts in Japanese right-wing ideology (see articles below). My working hours are ridiculous, and when I get home at night I am too spangled to even blog. Sad but true. I watch America's Next Top Model instead. With broadband I received about a dozen digital TV channels, and there is always something on. It's quite distracting, and

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1161554588430137602006-10-22T23:01:00.000+01:002006-10-22T23:05:33.846+01:00

A van belonging to an uyoku group.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1161548223065782832006-10-22T21:15:00.000+01:002006-10-22T22:47:34.483+01:00

Japan Times staff writer Eric Prideaux has written a series of articles on the Japanese Right (uyoku), which is the best stuff to come out of that rag for a while. Here is a sample article from today's JT, and under the article are links to his other articles on the same topic. I'll comment on them in the next few days.RIDING WITH THE RIGHTISTSSymbols of freedom of speech or signs of social

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1161535377703995462006-10-22T17:36:00.000+01:002006-10-22T21:54:58.426+01:00

Benevolent InventorAnother lazy Sunday and yet another personality test.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1160928054364274382006-10-15T16:56:00.000+01:002006-10-15T17:05:03.770+01:00

I'm messing with the template. I am still trying to figure out how to add a third column to the blog...

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1160835649128459082006-10-14T15:01:00.000+01:002006-10-14T17:43:53.056+01:00

http://songun-blog.blogspot.com/A great patriot, comrade Banner of Songun successfully uses the evil capitalist site YouTube to spread the word about our Dear Leader. Comrade Songun deserves a medal for bringing sunshine into our lives. Seriously, thanks. This is priceless.The moving song "We rely on the General as our god", or words to that effect.This is the 3rd part of a propaganda documentary

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1160774265531453252006-10-13T22:09:00.000+01:002006-10-15T15:40:40.023+01:00

Just a note if you do stumble across my blog more than once: my posts live. I go back to recent posts and change them frequently. I use the blog as a kind of a note pad and diary in which i simply jot down ideas. They do not always make up a coherent whole. I'm not sure I'll be continuing this post anymore tonight, but I'll publish it regardless. The focus of world politics has been on Asia

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1160497203630726732006-10-10T17:09:00.000+01:002006-10-12T20:33:09.026+01:00

Aah, the familiar feeling of keys beneath my fingers, the rhytmical patter so pacifying and soothing.I had broadband installed today and my life has meaning again. I am finally home after a bewildering and lonely existence in what those in the know call the 'real world'. Writing letters by hand and having to walk around town just to find information about things has done my head in for the last

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1154961918403104832006-08-07T15:31:00.000+01:002006-10-10T17:09:38.630+01:00

Hi,and apologies to Norway and Iraq: I no longer have internet at home so I can't blog properly.I WILL get back to blogging asap.I now live and work in Newcastle in northern England (Renny, apparently there are ferries from Oslo and Bergen to N and I bump into Norwegian tourists in Newcastle all the time. From afar I recognise them from their woollen jumpers, even in the summer:)). The last few

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1152385464755095192006-07-08T19:53:00.000+01:002006-07-09T11:00:11.546+01:00

Gomen nasai, I've still no time to blog. I'm in Finland. I was very impressed with Jun-chan's diplomatic skills last week, though: Elvis Diplomacy is obviously simple enough to keep GWB (aka 'the Decider') "happii".See below for an article on how the Decider and Jun-chan make a huge deal out of the DPRK missiles that refuse to fly anywhere near Japan nor the U.S.Japan must lobby U.S. to talk

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1151697632656983852006-06-30T20:52:00.000+01:002006-07-06T16:55:32.726+01:00

These past few weeks my blogging has been too light on politics, but you must understand that I am a damsel who thought she was in distress. However, things always seem to work out. I keep forgetting that. I am in a right pickle, but things will be fine. Saturday the 1st of July will be a fun-filled day. I will:- try to hand in keys, hoping that the University accommodation office opens at 7 am-

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1151614991517500432006-06-29T21:59:00.000+01:002006-06-29T22:59:44.323+01:00

I've managed to get myself in a right pickle - my contract runs out on Saturday and I have nowhere to go! It turns out I can't renew my contract, and I have to move out. In some ways that's not even the worst part: I own slightly too much stuff, and I need to get up to Newcastle on Saturday to view this flat but have nowhere to leave my things, and have no place to come back to. I've almost

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1151454983134436682006-06-28T01:28:00.000+01:002006-06-28T02:13:40.873+01:00

I am starting a new life and therefore I have no time to blog right now. I'm trying to find a job, a flat and a life in Newcastle within one week, so do wish me luck, because I'll need it. Seeya!

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1151016131191849502006-06-22T23:32:00.000+01:002006-06-24T00:31:16.790+01:00

I subscribe to a weekly e-newsletter from PM Junichiro Koizumi (www.kantei.go.jp). His e-letters are usually embarrasingly nice and non-offensive, but this week he actually talked about something relevant: Below is a statement from Jun-chan about the redeployment of the Self-Defense Force in Iraq, followed by a pretty pointless interview on cuddlier things.JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI :The Japanese

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1150815263290588322006-06-20T15:51:00.000+01:002006-06-23T00:42:40.500+01:00

">UPDATE: I'm going to Manchester tomorrow. Work on blog won't continue until Saturday. (c) full original template from which I copied my new header: Isnaini @ http://freetemplates.blogspot.com/ I'm generally quite happy with this new colour scheme. I've spent hours picking through colours at http://www.ibdguy.com/colors.shtml and http://tx4.us/mr/mr4d.htm . The old black one ('Minima Black' as

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1150717045823793112006-06-19T12:34:00.000+01:002006-06-21T00:39:29.553+01:00

I've been template hunting for hours now, and nothing seems to work! I found a website (the title is a link) with html codes for probably all the colours in the world, so I've been experimenting with the colour scheme a bit. I had no idea it was so easy to play around with the html on the blogger template! This requires further exploration.http://www.ibdguy.com/colors.shtml is another colour

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1150634281528106432006-06-18T13:33:00.000+01:002006-06-19T17:20:28.636+01:00

Gambatte, ne! It's time to leave the study and find a sports pub in time for the Japan-Croatia game.(It's getting somewhat cheesy with all these dolls on my page, but it's just a temporary fad. I'm happy with my new avatar, though. I think it might be a keeper) Update 19.36 o'clock: What a load of rubbish the game was. Both teams were slow and clumsy. I look forward to the England-Sweden match on

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1150472345596936432006-06-16T16:35:00.000+01:002006-06-19T17:28:18.330+01:00

Below is the completed essay on Japanese post-war politics. I handed it in today.The term is now officially over and I'll have to start thinking about the rest of the year. I'm planning on moving up NorthEast (as mentioned in previous posts), taking a part-time job doing whatever and concentrating on writing the rest of the time. I recently had an article published by a newspaper in Finland. It

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1150363209233362342006-06-15T10:16:00.000+01:002006-06-16T16:45:35.750+01:00

Go England! Enjoy it while you can: next Tuesday you'll get mangled by Sweden... :) who, I just read, won 1-0 over Paraguay! Two of my three home teams are doing okay so far, but Japan is playing Croatia on Sunday. Now there's a worry...

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1150232814099083182006-06-13T22:04:00.000+01:002006-06-19T18:09:33.883+01:00

I seem to have a complete block when it comes to writing academic essays - I can't do it. I love studying, but suck at it so much that it's unbelievable. No-one is suggesting I'd stay to do a PhD anymore, which is both a relief and really depressing. I've obviously not done as well as people think I could've done. I haven't done anywhere near as well as I think I should've done. University is too

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1150064916880852652006-06-11T22:37:00.000+01:002006-06-19T18:10:02.610+01:00

My weekend in Newcastle was a welcome break from Sheffield. I stayed with good friends and generally just fell more in love with the place. And yes, I have visited Newcastle in wintertime, so it's not just the sun and heat messing with my mind.I noticed a clear Norwegian presence in Newcastle. I've heard that they go shopping there, which doesn't surprise me in the least.I'm considering moving to

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1149783874921509902006-06-08T17:21:00.000+01:002006-06-19T18:10:48.496+01:00

I'll be spending le weekend in the Pearl of the North-East: Newcastle! A weekend of shopping, wine, chats with best friend, duck in plum sauce, salsa, clothes and makeup and other girlie things, and ABSOLUTELY NO FOOTBALL :P !!!I think Sweden will win this year. Or England! (Fingers crossed. Top tip: dress up the team as monsters!). I'll be watching games a bit later in the tournament, especially

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1149601083000888352006-06-06T14:10:00.000+01:002006-06-08T12:35:01.670+01:00

*damn, no images can be posted right now. Imagine a beautiful view of Sakurajima right here*I noticed from my visitor map that someone from Kyushu might have visited my blog. The map isn't that exact to tell for sure, but it reminded me of something that happened in Kyushu five years ago. Everyone is warmly welcome here, but I have a special place in my heart for Kyushu and the people there. One

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1148689849972290012006-05-27T01:28:00.000+01:002006-06-08T10:58:45.376+01:00

An estimated 100,000 people came to Market Square in Helsinki on Friday to celebrate Lordi's victory in the Eurovision song contest. Mr Lordi (on the left) and president Halonen on stage together.It was an emotional night for many Finns.sources www.hs.fi , www.iltalehti.fi

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1148663102698120452006-05-26T18:02:00.000+01:002006-05-27T20:26:42.140+01:00

Here it comes, the propaganda film I mentioned in the previous post: Donald destroys a Japanese air base all by himself.COMMANDO DUCK:And here's 'Steamboat Willie', just because it's such a classic. Some nutjob had it flagged on YouTube (no doubt someone who objects to animal nudity and/or cruelty to animals, even if only in cartoons). You'll see what I mean if you watch the orchestral part. The

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1148661975353432352006-05-26T17:44:00.000+01:002006-06-12T18:19:48.296+01:00

I HAD TO REMOVE THE FILMS IN AN EFFORT TO FREE SOME MEMORY SPACE ON THE SERVER. JUST GO TO www.youtube.com AND SEARCH FOR BANNED DISNEY CARTOONS AND YOU'LL FIND THEM.I still don't have much time for blogging, so I'll post two real rarities: They're both anti-Nazi cartoons by Disney from the 1940's. They were both banned after the war, but are available in Disney film anthologies nowadays. However

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1148163404047634282006-05-20T23:14:00.000+01:002006-06-13T12:57:51.926+01:00

source: www.hs.fiIt's a proud day for Finland and for monster heavy rock. This is great! Go Lordi!! Over 40 years of Eurovision humiliation have been wiped away by five monsters. I was in Finland this weekend, and although I watched this historical moment at home with the oldies, I later heard stories of people crying of happiness in pubs all over Helsinki; no doubt it's true. Besides, the song

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1146424220781938132006-04-30T20:07:00.000+01:002006-05-07T16:52:10.730+01:00

It's essay time and I have three deadlines looming just around the corner. In addition to that, I have to hand in a prècis of my MSc dissertation this coming week... (Ghaaah!!)Anyway, I'm trying to be a responsible adult here, and therefore I have to take a break from blogging for the indefinite future to concentrate on 'important' stuff. NO, I like university, (hello sensei...) but am finding it

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1145887244024483022006-04-24T14:56:00.000+01:002006-04-25T18:06:34.433+01:00

The thread to my previous post, Mind Your Language, doesn't seem to work. My comments haven't registered. The date is just wrong, it's not Monday but Tuesday, and the time's an hour behind as well. What do I do now? I've also had difficulties republishing my blog. See, this is why I need to get more familiar with the technical side of all this.However, once you're here, check out my new map (

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1145706183691306132006-04-22T12:40:00.000+01:002006-04-24T06:30:11.360+01:00

I blog-hopped today by compulsively clicking on the 'next blog' button, which throws you to random blogs. It offers hours of 'fun', especially when you're putting off something important like writing an essay on Japan's involvement in ASEAN+3.Anyway, I came across this: http://empiresfall.blogspot.com/It looks like YouthAgainstBush from Minnesota will be posting some of the funniest/scariest

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1145043235861724052006-04-14T20:23:00.000+01:002006-04-16T22:05:44.130+01:00

As some of you might know I'm originally from Finland, but have lived in the UK for a fair number of years (six, to be exact).I' d like to think my English accent as fairly good. It usually takes around ten minutes into a conversation for a new acquaintance to realise that I'm a foreigenr and then ask me where I'm from, but no-one ever expects me to be specifically from Finland even though other

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1144628731934996692006-04-10T00:47:00.000+01:002006-04-13T20:08:49.423+01:00

The Japan Times is shit. It is a compilation of stories whose readership is made up of seriously conservative ex-pats, both British and American, and a random number of Japanese readers who mistakenly think that an English language news story of what goes on in Japan is somehow more liberal and therefore more "neutral" or "international" in spirit than what the Japanese papers publish. This is

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1142213582193641552006-03-13T01:45:00.000+01:002006-03-15T01:32:24.480+01:00

Koizumi, my Beloved Leader, is a turn-coat!He promised to change the law to allow for a female, namely Aiko-chan, to become the future Empress, but now that Princess Kiko (the wife of Prince Akishino) is pregnant, the bastard back-pedals in case a boy is born into the Imperial family! I will neve forget this, Lionheart!As so many feminists in Japan have said, this is truly a step back for the

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1135247226916724972005-12-22T11:24:00.000+01:002005-12-22T11:27:24.946+01:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!I won't have access to the internet over the next few weeks, and besides, I've needed a break from life in general for quite a while, so see you in January the earliest.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1133834630981468272005-12-06T03:02:00.000+01:002005-12-06T03:03:50.983+01:00

- The Japan TimesCAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts -- U.S. President George W. Bush recently returned from Asia after attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit, but he should continue to pay attention to another Asian summit to which he was not invited. In December, Malaysia will host an East Asian Summit that deliberately excludes the United States. According to many close observers,

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1132418077178864072005-11-19T17:23:00.000+01:002005-11-19T17:34:37.190+01:00

An editorial in the Japan Times - I found it unsettling. I hope that the reform of article 9 will not lead to a more equal military alliance between the US and Japan, but to the US being kicked out as an unecessary military presence. I guess I'll be disappointed, then. By RICHARD HALLORAN, HONOLULU -- Much of the American and Japanese news coverage of the new security agreement between

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1132193685098480892005-11-17T03:26:00.000+01:002005-11-17T04:30:09.613+01:00

Last week I was looking for information on the Constutional Research Committee in the Japanese Diet - and found next to nothing on it's proceedings. My Japanese isn't great, so the Japanese websites yielded even less information for me than the English ones, and so I decided to email Marutei Tsurunen (former Finn now in the House of Councillors, see link to his homepage), who is on the committee.

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1131988397629703702005-11-14T20:05:00.000+01:002005-11-15T13:15:15.566+01:00

It's my birthday today. It's also Condi Rice's b-day, which proves that November the 14th has seen the births of many powerful people, including also, by the way, Nehru and Senator Joseph McCarthy. Hmm. I wonder what I'll be like if/when I enter politics? The precedents are pretty daunting. Will I establish a democracy; spread democracy through tough-love diplomacy and the unlawful use of force;

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1131619615000469642005-11-12T03:39:00.000+01:002005-11-12T16:30:28.366+01:00

CULTURE APPRECIATED, GOVERNMENT MISTRUSTEDChinese feelings on Japan mixedBy RALPH JENNINGS, BEIJING (Kyodo)When Li Yanmei first hears the word "Japan," she thinks of rightwingers and school textbooks that sanitize wartime history.A Chinese assistant chef stands at the sushi counter of the Japanese restaurant Shunsai in Beijing."They invaded us and gave China a lot of problems," said Li, 20, an

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1131553580951534372005-11-09T17:19:00.000+01:002005-11-09T17:28:48.126+01:00

http://www.japantimes.com/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20051108f1.htmThis is encouraging. China basically admits that the coverage on Japan is biased, unfair and as such does damage to Sino-Japanese relations. More objectivity is precisely what we need.(I'm still too IT illiterate to know how to make the linked story a pop-up window instead of reverting to a different page altogether. Please return

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1131393142775816582005-11-07T21:24:00.000+01:002005-11-08T14:15:24.433+01:00

I will have to take a couple of days off blogging. I'll return with an astounding insight into DPRK, aka North Korea! No, really, I've just read a great article on it which got me interested in the policy-laden way the DPRK is currently studied. I'll use Hazel White's analysis 'Mad, bad, sad or rational actor?' Read all about it on Saturday!It has changed the way I read the news on anything

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1131298587508695382005-11-06T18:35:00.000+01:002005-11-07T21:32:37.506+01:00

It's Saddam playing RockPaperScissors with the judge. I bet you didn't know the secret moves that conquer all. Saddam does.http://www.rockpapersaddam.com/flash/

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1131209194905134512005-11-05T17:46:00.000+01:002005-11-07T21:32:58.236+01:00

Japan Times's (guest?) editorial writer is both angry and confused today. David Wall, who formerly taught at the East Asian Institute of the University of Cambridge, is an associate fellow of Chatham House, so you would expect him to be able to analyze Japanese politics fairly objectively. Instead he gets personal. Now, David Wall thinks Koizumi is stupid for angering Japan's neighbours. Typical:

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1131099594609810362005-11-05T11:10:00.000+01:002005-11-05T17:12:46.093+01:00

Yes, I'm aware that I misspell Kitaro. The 'o' should be elongated, but I don't know how to do that, so I do apologise. I know I would scoff in disgust at a site that misspelled Kitaro..Thanks to Graham Parkes and Chris Jones and all those other scholars who rehabilitated Nishida from being a fascist (as if) to a 'real' philosopher (as if fascists can't simultaniously be good philosophers, I ask

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1131107428738749732005-11-04T15:51:00.000+01:002005-11-05T02:26:07.423+01:00

"-Japan should exhaust all other options before allowing a woman to ascend to the Chrysanthemum Throne, including adoption and the use of concubines, a cousin of Emperor Akihito said in a newsletter obtained Thursday."http://www.japantimes.com/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20051104a1.htmOur survey says: Concubines? Which century is this guy coming from? Is it even legal anymore?And what, exactly, is

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1130868575840566642005-11-01T23:45:00.000+01:002005-11-01T23:45:31.493+01:00

I have just finished reading James Heisig's (Nanzan U) review articles on two newish book on the Kyoto School of Philosophy. The first one is by Chris Jones (Leiden U), and the second one by David Williams (Cardiff U). (The reviews appeared in the Japanese Journal for Religious Studies, and if you click on the link here http://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/jjrs/

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18469441.post-1130766946960390872005-10-31T14:54:00.000+01:002005-10-31T14:58:20.806+01:00

Below a story from Asahi News. Koizumi is pushing for reform, wouldn't you believe it.Notice also the grooming of Abe. When he gets to be PM, then they'll really have a problem with China..http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200510310262.html

Mirjaminoreply@blogger.com0