Are there hidden messages in BBC Newspod?

I usually use iPod for listening to podcast programs such as CBS evening news (video), BBC Newspod (audio) or NBC nightly news (video) to improve my listening ability. In particular, Newspod is interesting. Topics related to Japan are taken up sometimes. One day, I noticed that there existed certain deviation in the topics taken up related to Japan. I was intrigued about the reason why such deviation came up. The reason why deviation occurs can be explained by following factors. 1) Unintentional bias, which exists in the correspondent, editor or producer. 2) Existence of topics, which is not urgent or pressing but inserted to imply something, which couldn’t be expressed directly in words. For example, if a correspondent caught a rumor that aged person would be next Japanese prime minister but there was not sufficient credible assurance, a topic on aging society in Japan would be chosen. And the possibility of aged person being an important position would be discussed partially in the topic. Though this is only a guess of mine, owing to this finding, I can stop dropping out of listening to Newspod regularly.

Trying out WIFISNAP of Netvision Corp

WWDC 2009 is coming up. Though I want to be a user of iphone, choice of WIFIsnap on 03 + iPod touch also seemed attractive. As to routerizing of 03, it worked easily. But, I still can’t succeed in accessing internet from Safari on my iPod touch. Meanwhile, WIFIsnap on 03 + hx4700 +i.e. worked easily. So far, I scarcely used hx4700, but it could change. Hx4700 has become attractive with WIFIsnap on 03. Compact flash card and SDHC can be attached in parallel. Total file management efficiency seems to be better under overall system containing Windows-based equipments and various kinds of single item hardware such as digital cameras with SDHC. There are many industrial instruments, which adopt only compact flash card as a storage medium. In addition, reserve batteries are available. When I think about these points carefully, I notice that its attractiveness is the reverse side of iPod’s excellence. The success of iPod is standing on top of the sacrifice of industrial, heavy-duty and scientific field's possibilities.      

Abolition of Kure-Matsuyama ferry line was decided.

Major newspapers reported yesterday that the formal decision was made to discontinue the Kure-Matsuyama ferry line. The line will be unavailable from July 1st 2009. The reduction in ETC’s fare since this spring seemed to accelerate the deteriorating financial condition, which had already been caused by the opening of Shimanami expressway in 1999 and price hike of oil in 2008. This ferry line was started in 1964. If other remaining ferry lines continue to vanish one after another in the days ahead, it may surely lead to undermining the valuable image of this area formed over long period of time. If the ferry services were lost completely, this area would lose one of the unique appealing images.

Carriage of bicycles on this ferry is allowed by paying an additional charge. An additional charge of 600 yen per a bicycle is required.

Hostel Referrals through a newly published book.

This book introduces 250 unique hostels to such a reader as is interested in going one’s own trips. Three hostels located on the Inland Sea islands are also included in 250 hostels. After flipping through the pages, I notice the difference of activeness between every region in Japan. Several articles on Hostels located at Highlands in Central Japan attract me in particular. I think that new segment of tourism will be born there and become popular in future. Though such styles as Central Highlands may not apply directly to the Inland Sea islands, we can learn something from their cases. Written in Japanese. In the article of each hostel, there is a WEB address of the hostel on the pages. 1,429Yen.

Route two along the Inland Sea.

Route one connects between Tokyo and Osaka. Route two connects between Osaka and Kitakyushu. The coastal cities located on the north side of the Inland Sea belong to zones around Route 2. This photograph shows a traffic sign on the Route 2. The names of three major cities are on the board. Himeji city is famous for Himeji-jou castle. Kobe city was hit by big earthquake in 1995 and recovered from the damage of the earthquake. Okayama city occupies an important position in railway transportations. From a viewpoint of tourism, Kobe is an independent tourist destination solely, though included in the Inland Sea zones. Himeji too. Meanwhile, we should not require Okayama to be like Kobe or Himeji. Strategically, Okayama should not be a tourist resort but play important roles as a Hub supporting the Inland Sea area.

 I would like to express my sincere condolence to the earthquake victims in Italy.

The Collectors.

A series of rituals accompanying with the 62nd Sengu of Ise shrine are going to reach the final stage in 2013. The Sengu of Ise has been conducted every 20 years since 1300 years ago. The previous 61th Sengu was conducted in 1993 and various memorial goods were sold then. Those memorial goods, I predict, will be promising targets for some kind of collectors. The memorial items sold in 1993, 1973, 1949 (postponed to 1953), 1929, 1909, …… can be found in Yahoo auctions. Perhaps, numbers of specialized collectors may increase in this field. As regards 1993, existence of various telephone cards symbolized the era. In 1973, the time before last, telephone card had not been sold.

 I think 59^th will be interesting segment in particular. In Yahoo auctions, a book on 59^th is sold for 1,000 yen. At least scholars in 22c will pay for it more than future value of 1,000 yen today. Even in the era of search engines, book would still continue being a contemplated existence for scholars related to history.

Ingredients in rice balls sold at convenience stores (2).

Sea tangle takes up a quiet position among the various kinds of ingredient contained in rice balls. As regards its taste, in my opinion, using sea tangle as an ingredient of rice balls is quite difficult, because their seasoning requires very delicate adjustment. For me, most sea tangle in rice balls sold at convenience stores tastes too sweet and every time I occasionally eat them, I feel as if I eat candies. But, if they were sold without strong seasoning, the sales would soon drop. In today’s cookery, the condiments are excessively used and the equilibrium point of sweetness is set too high. In such conditions, subtle difference of the taste of the stuff become under noise level. Innovations in seasoning methods are required.