How Many Mistakes? ― 2012/05/17
I found this article in a local newspaper (Nishinippon Shimbun, 2012/05/12, retrieved from http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/item/301823, bootleg translated by me) How many mistakes, or idiotness, apart from my English usage, do you find in this incident caused by city councillors?
(Note: As I am not intended to attack particular political party or individuals, I omit some proper nouns. If you are interested, the original article is available online.)
Last Saturday, plagiarisms were revealed in an observation report by a group of four city councillors who travelled some European cities on public money. The councillor who was in charge of writing the report said, “I forgot to include bibliography in the report. In this manner, it is unavoidable that I seem to have plagiarised.” The councillor in concern indicated his willingness to correct the report.
Other than this councillor, three city councillors joined the eight-day observation tour from 29, January. The tour visited Liverpool and London, the UK, and Barcelona, Spain, which cost about JPY 700,000 per person including travelling and lodging expenses.
In the 35-page report, there were numerous plagiarisms of Wikipedia and the book titled Barcelona Kyu Shigai No Saisei Senryaku by Daisuke Abe, regarding Barcelona and the outline of the city Liverpool. The report even commented on an area where they only drove through as “Urban problems and public safety have been worsened,” as if they actually had observed the area on their own. The plagiarist councillor explained, “The deadline of the report was so close that I did not pay enough attention to append notes.”
Fukuoka City councillors are allowed to spend up to JPY800, 000 of public money for their observation tour, and are required to submit report on their tour to the president of the city council within two months after their return.
After above article was published, three out of the four councillors in concern have not publicly commented about their plagiarism on their own websites, blogs, and Facebooks (as of 17th May, 2012). And as long as I know, there have been no news coverage on what kind of punishments they were given, or whether they gave up their posts as city councillors.
As I keep saying, I am neither a political person, nor someone who demand councillors to be perfect sages. To be 100% honest with you, I probably would indulge in the perks if I were in their position, which would never happen in my life. But I think they apparently did what they are not supposed to do as public servants, or adults with common sense.
I think their mistakes are:
1. Using Wikipedia for a public, formal report , not a blog;
2. Trying to concoct such a long report (35 pages!). Is it possible to write such a long report based only on an 8-day trip? You must need extra information other than what you have actually seen to fill the pages;
3. Not making convincing excuses (are they schoolboys who didn’t do their homework?), or not hiring their personal PR person;
4. Travelling on public money;
5. Becoming councillors.
You will find the rest!!
Mamegohan ― 2012/05/13
While I was in the USA, one of my concerns was whether I could back home before this year’s pea season ends.
Although frozen or canned varieties are available throughout the year, in this area, fresh, locally grown (which is important in shopping peas, as peas can lose their freshness very quickly. Therefore, in theory, the shorter distance they travel, the better their taste and flavour should be) green peas appear on the market only between late spring and early summer, April to May. I firmly believe, or was imprinted , or brainwashed, that freshly cooked green peas is one of the season’s must-eats. And Mamegohan, literally peas with rice, is an easy and delicious way to enjoy the flavour of early summer.
As long as I know, there are two methods of cooking mamegohan. One of them is cooking peas and rice together. In this way, the rice will absorb the maximum flavour and taste of the peas, but the peas will discolour and lose the texture and shape during long cooking time. As the result, the outcome may be less appetising—dull colour mashed peas mixed with rice.
The other, which is usually used for good presentation purpose, is cooking peas and rice separately and mix the two ingredients just before meal. Boil peas in slightly salted water, and use the water in which the pea were boiled to cook the rice. This makes the colour of the peas remain brilliant and the shape intact.
But, despite the appetising appearance, the taste may be less delicious as the rice can be colder being mixed with the room temperature peas that had been set aside while the rice was being cooked.
I prefer mamegohan cooked by the “cooking-together” method, but can’t abandon the appearance of the “separate” method. Which mamegohan would you like?
Today's Cat ― 2012/05/12
Water Lily ― 2012/05/11
On my way to the city centre, there is a park where always some flowers are blooming attracting Obachans with camera (needless to say, I am one of them). This week’s feature was water lilies.
Is it only me who didn’t know the difference between the lotus and water lilies until I reached this age?
(Note, just in case)
Water lilies (Claude Monet, inedible roots, seen in a pond near NHK Fukuoka branch)
Lotus (Buddha, edible roots, seen in the old moat around former Fukuoka Castle)
Today's Cat ― 2012/05/10
Asiatic Dayflower? ― 2012/05/09
When I see this type, from my 40++ experience as a Japanese living in a western part of Japan, I sense rainy season is approaching.
Today's Cat ― 2012/05/09
What was he apologising for?
A Big Fall! ― 2012/05/07
As well as stock markets worldwide, Fukuokan strawberry market has been experiencing a big fall. But this fall in price of strawberries is expected at the end of strawberry season every year. Probably it is only my household who fuss about the price.
Amao (a brand name for a locally selective bred strawberry) in this size (fruits tend to be priced according to their size, and very roughly speaking, the bigger the more expensive) used to cost JPY 500 per pack in the beginning of this year.
Today I got them at JPY 200 per pack at a local fishermens’ and farmers’ market. A sharper fall than Nikkei.
And this pile of unsorted strawberries (2.5kg, for jam-making) was JPY 800.
I will have strawberries until my face literally turns red!
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