| FRIDAY
EVENING - 2
Back to Headlines English Class II
with Peter
Schumacher. |
| Man of the year selected by the TIME(Jan.1)
annually is Mikhail Gorbachev, chairman of the Soviet
Union. Furthermore he is not the man of the year, but a
man of the decade. The leader of the country which was
the greatest enemy of America has been selected as the
man representing the 80s. Bold or optimistic it may be,
wouldn't you know it is TIME. In 1984 when then president Reagan called the Soviet union as the Evil Empire, Gorbachev met Prime Minister Thutcher, along with Reagan who is the western conservative leader, and made her say, "This man you can talk to". From the beginning, Gorbachev knew how to associate with capitalists. So TIME praised Gorbachev all over. According to the political commentator, Michael Cremar, Gorbachev resembles Franklin Roosevelt. Roosevelt as a president revived American capitalism after the Great Depression of 1920s. Now Gorbachev is going to change the Soviet Society completely which has had 72 years' history. Apart from whether he will succeed in the domestic economical reform in USSR, Gorbachev is a born politician and has a vision. He may loose his position, however, certainly he is said to be a politician who will represent 80s. TIME(Apr.2) is the interview of the former President Nixon who has just published his new memoir. How many books will he write before he will be satisfied! "Historians clear up any person at all in one word.", says elderly Nixon. "I will be described as a man who resigned the presidency." As the judgment of history has been already handed down, you can not appeal the judgment of history. Concerning former President Reagan, "He had almost no trust for the Government Bureaucracy." The project of the Great Society raised by the Democrat Johnson Administration in 60s, because it ended in failure, Reagan thought that everything the government does is no good. However, Nixon who succeeded the Johnson Administration is said to have thought that the project was the failure but its aim was right. Concerning present President Bush, he states, "He is Joe Montana." Montana is a super star of American Football, and also famous quarterback. "His short pass is accurate and the pass completion ratio is very high." With so saying, he criticizes that he lacks a long term vision. Newsweek(Apr.2) is the special issue of Japanese view of the Americans, subtitled "A nation of crybabies". It is well-known facts that the American way of looking at Japan is getting severe. But the Japanese emotion toward America is worsening. According to a poll of the same magazine, toward the question about the possibility that Japan again becomes the enemy of America, 45 percents of the totals gave the answer that replied there is some, and 9 percents said that there is considerable. On the contrary, great majority of Japanese respect America, given a difference of degree. But that great majority does not show concrete percentage. Again 57 percents think that the American problems are bad news for Japan. There are misunderstanding or prejudices. For example, the point is that 57 percents of Japanese count the complex ethnic composition, as one of the grave problems. I think it is a misunderstanding because of single and dangerous preconception that Japan is single ethnic nation(homogeneous nation). According to TIME(Apr.9), the day is close when American whites fall into the minority. One in four Americans is already non-white. Considering that the influx numbers of immigrants and birthrate of every ethnic group do not change by the end of this century, Hispanic population increase 21 percents, Asian's 22 percents, Black's slightly 12 percents. But white increase only 2 percents. And in about 2056, non-white exceeds the majority, and there is the browning of America, which conservative whites fear. First of all, it appears in Elementary and Junior High Schools. In the public California Elementary and Junior High Schools, non-whites already occupy 51.3 percents. Not surprisingly in San Jose, California, Vietnamese called Guen exceed whites exceeds whites called John. The shift of population composition creates unexpected grave problem. For example it is a pension problem. From now on, pension receivers(the majority is white) will go on increasing. The burden of those present workers increases. But can we believe that young non-whites will gladly pay money for elderly whites? The position of black is also delicate. In 1960s minority was black. But in 1970s, women came to speak out as social minority. From now on, Hispanics and Asians will gain power. Now the simple graph of Black and White will not apply(work, get across, make sense). CITY LIFE According to US News(May 27), a magnet school is a savior of American educational systems in ruin. Ordinary public schools make it a rule to admit any children from within the school district. However, the magnet school is different. As the name says, it attracts particular student like a magnet. It puts together an appealing curriculum, and takes in children outside the school district, however, there is limitation on number of students who can enter, and depending on circumstances, it holds an entrance examination. It can't be permitted to discriminate students although it's a public school -- 20 years ago, there would be such a criticism from liberals. However, number of magnet schools increased four times in 10 years. Now it reaches to 5,000 schools all over the America. I guess the calculation is that one in five high school students goes to this kind of school. To speak ill of it, it is a preparatory schoolization and vocational schoolization of high school. However it exactly fits the Bush administration's educational diversification line. Rather than preventing drop outs, the priority is placed on cultivation of superior human resources. NEWS TimeTalk of War In the special issue of TIME(Aug. 27), dealing with the middle east crisis, what I'd like to pay attention to is the article that rated the response of Bush, the American president. Able but cautious and rather than politician like, he is beaureucratic. How does Mr. Bush change who gives such a strong impression with the counter response for this crisis? Since the outbreak of the crisis on Aug. 2, Bush is moving around dizzily. Verbally, laying down a smoke screen of fuzzy gray words, he swiftly sent a large number of soldiers into the middle east region. It's a development where, rather than information, facts go first when you notice it. It's a classical Bush style, not to show the decision making process while showing the outcome, says TIME. F. Greenstein, political historian of Princeton university, said that Bush was network type person, that is, a type counting on personal connection and money connection. He also said that present days were the time when there were many high officials in the governments of both friendly and enemy countries who had had Dr. Kissinger's lectures(ex-Secretary of State) at Harvard university, so was the great chance to make use of American personal connections having been built up for 45 years after World War II. That Dr. Kissinger says, "If he could solve the present crisis, Mr. Bush could be a strong leader of the world. Only America can settle problems, combining diplomatic power, military force and economic measures, and so far she has been making it quite well. "Of course from now on is a crucial moment. NEWS SPECIAL A letter that President Hussein did not read. Now we are standing on the verge of war between Iraq and the world. This is the war because of Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and could be ended only if Iraq complies with the UN security council resolution 678 fully and unconditionally. Because this crisis is very great and so as not to lose the chance to stop situation that will bring misfortune to Iraqi people, I am writing this letter directly to you now. Furthermore, there is an opinion that you are not fully aware how Iraq is isolated in the international society and, as a result, what fate Iraq is facing to. For that purpose, I am writing to you. There can't be reward for aggression and there is no room for negotiation. You can't bend principle. However, complying with resolution, Iraq will be given a chance to come back to international society from now on. More immediately, Iraqi troops will escape from destruction. However, as long as you do not retreat from Kuwait completely and unconditionally, you will lose more than Kuwait. Iraq has been suffering from the affect of economic sanction ordered by the UN. If the war breaks out, further great tragedy will be brought to you and your nation. I'd like to state here that America will not allow the use of chemical and biological weapons and the destruction of Kuwait oil fields and drilling facilities. Furthermore, you will be held directly responsible for the terrorist acts against coalition. I am writing this letter not for threat but for letting you know the truth. I am not satisfied with writing this letter. American people are not quarreling with Iraqi people. Mr. president, UN security council resolution 678, in order to be able to end this crisis without further use of force, made the period of goodwill until January 15 this year. Whether this period will be used as originally intended or become the prelude to further use of force, solely depends only upon you. I hope you will consider the choices and make a wise choice. For much depend upon your choice. News - Under the Gun Last week we took a break with a story of New York, however, TIME (Sept. 24), returning back to the Gulf Crisis again, is focusing on ordeal of affluent Saudi Arabia. Saudi, holding the holy place of Islam's, Mecca, and keeping the Islamic Law most strictly, has to welcome a large number of American soldiers. Undeniably an irony, it is a path that can't get around, says TIME. Getting wealthy and modernized, the life of 14 million 500 thousands Saudi Arabian has to change. Actually American style hamburger shops are doing good business, and it's American style supermarket that American soldiers go to buy foods. Now Bedouins, once nomad tribes, all have cars. (Unfortunately photos on TIME are not American cars but Toyota's.) Modernization and Arabic ethos can't both be put in practice. TIME would like to say that there is a tragedy of gulf oil producing countries where both are forcibly put in practice. Attention to Craymer's column, (contributing articles to New York magazine and US News & World Report from time to time before), that America is waiting for a pretext to start war. Craymer writes that present situation resembles England just before the Forkland war in 1982, and quotes the statement of a high US government official that Sadam Hussein of Iraq, like Argentina president at that time, makes light of the situation saying that as long as he does not advance his army into Saudi, America has no intention to fight. As Craymer sees it, the fact is opposite. America is waiting for Iraq's miss step, sufficiently justifying the starting of fighting. If there is a few more incident such as Iraq soldier's invasion to the French Ambassadar's residence, it will be a commencement of hostilities. That is the real intention of US military forces. ordeal; an old method of trial exposing the accused to physical dangers from which he was supposedly protected if innocent. nomad; a member of tribe having no permanent home, but moving about constantly in search of food, pasture. The Economist - Into a slump It may be indiscreet, the front cover of British Economist(Sept. 22) is interesting. Those who sit on the front line of the roller coaster named "World Economy," are the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Kaifu and the American President, Mr. Bush. The right side of the second line is the Chancellor of West Germany, Mr. Khol and the next to him with a half of the face disclosed is the Prime Minister of Britain, Ms. Thutcher. Behind Mr. Khol is The French President, Mr. Mitterrand. The seat order of Japan, America, Germany, Britain and France becomes the order of power of its own country's economy. Climbing to the top of the course altogether(The world economy has been continuing a rapid economic growth for 8 years.), it's about time for the terribly horrible sudden drop(Economic slow down is impossible to avoid for considerable part). What is worrying some is a response of the Arabian holding a drum can underneath. At the end of the developed country's coaster, sits the President of USSR, Mr. Gorbachev. indiscreet; lacking prudence, unwise TIME - Children without hope TIME(Oct. 1) is a special issue commemorating the 'Children's Summit' that was open in New York. Though referring to its commemoration, it is not a happy story. It conveys a tragic situation of children of the world that is difficult to be noticed in affluent countries like USA(or Japan). On this earth, everyday more than 40,000 infants under 5 years' old die who should be saved if appropriate treatment is given to them. Not surprisingly, 150 million children under 5 years' old are poorly nourished. 23 million children among them are starving to death. There are about 100 million children of school age who can not go to schools. There are 30 million waifs(homeless children) living on streets and also 7 million refugees because of wars and starvation. It is a sad reality that if 40 thousands of rare birds die in a day, it will be an uproar, however, even though 40 thousands' children of mankind die, no one pay attention to it. If we let them go, things become worse and worse and if we go on like this, in the year of 2000, 44 thousands' infants will die miserably in a day. In mideast Africa, children whose parents or a parent are taken by aids exceed 10 million. Everybody thinks that they have to take on some action. Just because of that, 70 countries sent head of state delegations to Children's Summit(5 years ago at the 40th UN anniversary ceremony, the attendance of head of state delegations stopped at 25 countries). However, TIME says," though the high aim is understood, it is great doubt whether or not the action follows. It seems to be a real intention that each VIP of the countries who gathered at New York wishes to exchange opinions about Persian Gulf Crisis and Cambodian situation on this occasion. It may be an ironical point of view, however, it will be a reality of world politics. Consumer Reports - Testing Soap Consumer Reports (Oct.) closes in on real nature of soap that is one of the most everyday life consumer goods. It was 2500 years ago when a soap appeared in this world, at first, it seems to have been made of goat fats and ashes. Since then various improvements have been made so far, however, the point is the content of the improvements. There has been few improvement increasing all important cleaning powers, and most of them were in order to lower the cost of raw materials or to raise the price of soap. Actually, according to the test of this magazine, one washing costs about one cent using an usual soap. When it comes to brand goods, it costs about 20 to 30 cents for each washing. Even though if it has good flavor or has beauty effects, you can understand. The worst is the goods using money for wrapping. In the present day when garbages become a big environmental problem, you can't allow excess wrapping. Among 42 kinds that were tested by the same magazine, the worst excess wrapping was Obsession, high class production of Calvin Kleine. close in on; draw, approach to, Dusk closed in upon the scene. BUSINESS Fortune When an enterprise decides the place of office and factory where it will expand into, what is the most important factor? Fortune (Oct. 22) says that at least in America now whether they can guarantee the quality and quantity of necessary workers. Because the baby bomber's generation did not give birth to many babies, the number of white workers only decreases. The unemployment rate is still at the 5 percent level, however, workers who can seriously work are rather insufficient. That's why Fortune selected best 10 of best cities for business focusing on the point whether it could provide steady good quality labor forces. No. 1 was Salt Lake city in Yuta(of course neither New York nor Los Angels). This was an unexpected result for Americans. Why No. 1 was the medium size city of population of 1 million that has no head factories of major manufacturing companies? First of all, the reason was the highest literacy rate (ability to read and write) of inhabitants in all America. Educational level also exceeds the American average. Secondary is the strong desire for work. This town is the headquarters of Mormon Teaching and the half of the population are Mormons. Furthermore they(ignoring the fashions of big cities) are giving birth to babies. Contrast to it is New York. For coming 5 years, you can only expect 1 percent of population increase, and the educational level of inhabitants in the city area except suburban housing area is low. Further the salary is high. Except for special businesses like stock dealings, it is said that it would be better for the most enterprises to escape. let on; to indicate one's awareness of a fact Fortune (Dec.3) introduces unknown area for Americans who work with Japanese enterprises. Overseas development of Japanese enterprises is increasing, however, still 70 percent of management is occupied by Japanese. It is a good contrast that foreign enterprises in Japan employ Japanese for 80 percent of senior management. Even though Japan related enterprises can not beat waves of internationalization, examples of increase of employing the gaijin management are many. Therefore, Fortune lets in on American elites on the knowledge of working in Japan related enterprises. The first one is that you should not think that Japanese companies are all the same. Just like Apple computer is different from IBM, Honda and Toyota are absolutely different. Do not want to be a star(Japanese is egalitarian). Brace yourself for a certain degree of ambiguity(Conjecture using your head). let in on; tell, teach, let into; let a person into a secret brace; to make ready for an impact, shock egalitarian; of or for equal right ambiguity; vagueness, having two or more possible meanings conjecture; to arrive at or propose by conjecture, guess Models who show off their bodies for big money 40,000$ in three days, plus 650$ sushi and a first class round trip to Hawaii. This is the compensation that popular model Sindy Cloford displayed herself nude in the playboy magazine in 1988. Furthermore it has conditions that photos should be taken by the designated cameraman, that the use of photos should be permitted by herself and that it should always appear on the front page. If she can say what she wants and gets as much as she wants, she can happily take off her clothes. These days such models seem to be increasing. Before, it was destined that becoming nude was a model who couldn't sell and that nude models appeared in the vulgar men's magazine. Sometimes dream filled future star like Madonna takes off her clothes, however, most of them are sorry afterward. However times have changed. Now leading models take off her clothes in front of the first class cameraman and the photo is recognized as art. For them, taking off their clothes is an expression of self-confidence and declaration of self-determination. Sindy says, "I lost a few jobs right after I did Playboy, and a lot of little old ladies in my hometown said things to my parents. But everybody remembers those pictures. "To shoot photos not in Studio in the city but in Hawaii or in single island of Caribbean Sea, it seems to be attractive to leading models who are daily getting on their nerves with stress. She's satisfied to have change of mood and to have photographed not her dress but herself and can receive money. get on one's nerve; to make one irritable show off(to behave in a manner intended to attract attention), go off(to go away), better off(in a better situation or condition), kick off work for 1990, I'm a little off today The Vocabulary of 1990 Several years ago, on the Wendies'( Fast food chain store) commercial, non-professional old woman, Clare Peller, made "Where's the beef?", a hit expression and became a star overnight. It's something like that. CFS(Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) Once it was also called "Yuppie disease" including a feeling of ridicules a little bit. However, it has been found out that not only Yuppie group but also every kind of people caught this disease, the label was changed. It's spreading and increasing in the strength in every layer of population, because the cause has not been understood, real situation is that there is no treatment at all. awesome is the word that, in 1982, "Vally Girld"(a daughter of a wealthy family who lived in San Fernand, valley of luxury class residential area in California, spoke in a special way and spread around the country. This made a revival this year and was best used adjective of all ages of pupils and students and became reply in one word. It means multipurposely "good", "terrific", "oh" and so forth. Read my hips In the difficult situations of diplomatic and domestic politics in the middle of October, President Bush said jokingly. In the middle of jogging, being interviewed repeatedly about the possibility of tax increase, instead of replying directly, pointing at his hips, he said, "Read my hips." In the midst of presidential election in 1988, corresponding to the tax increase, he replied, "Read my lips. No new tax.", Which became the word going down in the history. This time he replaced it. NC-17 Before "X" mark and "X-rated" words were used to indicate adult movies. What is recently used is "NC." This is an abbreviation of "no children," and NC-17 means those under 17 are not allowed to enter. I've fallen and I can't get up. It's a TV commercial of alarm machine to draw attention of people on the medical emergency. Non-professional woman of 74 years old shouted like this and became very popular. Now this phrase becomes frequently used for complaining or making excuse. 1991 TIME - Scientology Scientology, what's that? It's quite natural that you do not know because Scientology is a rather new religion. TIME(May 6) describes the reality of this religion as the cult of greed. They only fatten the religious organization instead of saving their believers. The founder of the Scientology was American SF writer, Ron Habert. Borrowing TIME's expression, he was a "moderately successful writer of pulp science fiction". However his books, even now 5 years after his death, are along on best sellers' list. According to TIME's research, the religious group seems moving their believers to buy them systematically(there is also suspicion that the religious group once buys up books bought by the believers and again wholesale them to the stores). Without exemption of the cult way of business, this religious group (originally advocating a true psychotherapy replacing existing psychologies, they've come to call themselves a religion since the medical credibility of the therapy was denied by the authority) cheat believers out of much donation in the name of practices. It costs several hundreds thousand dollars to be a supreme believer. Former believers and former executives of the religious group sometimes appeal to the religious group, however, this requires considerable courage. "Don't ever tamely submit to an investigation of us....rough on attackers all the way", thus preaches the founder, Habert. It's unnecessary to say, actor John Trabolta is a believer of the Scientology. pulp; a magazine printed on rough inferior paper stock made from wood pulp, usually containing sensational stories of love, crime, etc. be along; be in a line cult; devoted attachment to, or extravagant admiration for, a person, principle, etc. especially when regarded as a fad[the cult of nudism] advocate; to speak or write in support of; be in favor of appeal; to make a law case to a higher court tame; changed from a wild to a domesticated state, as animals trained for use by man or as pets; like a domesticated animal in nature, gentle and easy to control submit; to allow oneself to be subjected TIME Orland If you say Orland, state of Florida, it's a town where Disney World is. West Coast Disneyland is already in Tokyo(and it will be finished in Paris someday), but the Disney World is only in Orland. Memorial Day in the end of May(Memorial Day of War Dead) is the day that announces the curtain opening of summer tourist season. Preceding real holidays, there are many families going on small trips together. So TIME (May 27) is focusing on Orland, the hottest tourist location in the United State now. Since the Disney World was open 20 years ago on Oct. 1, 1971, the number of tourists visiting the town has been increasing. Now it reaches to 1 million and three hundred and thirty thousands. 76,300 hotel rooms boost of occupancy ratio of average 79 percent. Along with tourists boom, neibours increased and the population of the area in 10 years increased nearly 1 million. Because there is NASA's space launching base near by, to the place where originally there were aerospace and military industry, the population increased. When population increases, employment also increases. Now in Orland district, there exist together the Patriot missile factories and tourist sites. According to TIME, here is community that imitates an imitation of a community. That is a make believe town constructed by Disney at the center, a town that has been developed being dragged down by that. So the most habitants are white middle class, and the roads are as clean as those in the Disney facilities. As the America becomes more multiracial country, those whites who want to escape from racial and ethnic tension escape to this town. In that sense it's a strange town where non-ordinary becomes ordinary. City Life - The Palm Beach Story Palm Beach! From November to April this warm resort is crowded with celebrities who come escaping from the severe winter of the East. Surely new gossips arise. It was here, Palm Beach, that the Kennedy's relatives brought in a woman in a villa whom they happened to get to know and raped. This incident made a sensation to the mass media all over the states, however, locally it did not become a very much topic conversation.(Maybe because it often happens here?) Instead what made the local celebrities frown was a couple of declining new rich Donald Trump and his young lover Marla Maples, says New York(May 20). "Donald became intimate with another man. Now he is trying his hands at interior decorations, they say, he also became intimate with that workman." "Marla is always stewed. she drinks during the daytime and drunken in the evening. She didn't show her face at dinner."...In many senses it's not easy being the celebrity. stew; to be oppressed with heat, crowded conditions, to be vexed or troubled steep, to immerse, saturate, absorb or imbue stewed with alcohol beverages The Face (May)'s front cover is Wendy James, a vocalist of famous British Rock Band, the Transvision Vamp. She is aiming at seriously advancing the American market. Her greatest weapon is the daring stage costume and the sexy body. She, 25 years old, says, "OK, I'm really old. But...what would be sexy to me is some cheekbones and a good guitar and some skinny legs and a tight little bum." Now in the age when music video is booming, she well recognizes that in the pop music scenes, body speaks more than voice. bum; the buttocks, either of the two fleshy, rounded parts of the back of hips New York (June 3) says, "Recent culture of victimization hasn't gone too much, has it?" If something inconvenient happens, they shout "Don't blame me." and escape saying "because I'm victim of ....." and pin responsibility on others. This is recent fad of self-victimization. In Japan when an illegal possession of cocaine was disclosed, certain famous actor's words of "The pants are to blame." is the classical one. In America, there is Mario Bally(then mayor of Washington) who was also arrested on the suspicion of cocaine and was forced to resign. Bally who was surprised by the police at the scene of sniffing cocaines, at first, put the blame on a woman with him that he was forced to sniff, and when it was not accepted he onesidedly blame the police saying that the police investigation was racially discriminatory. After he was released, he is openly developing on TV argument of victim of racial discrimination. A woman who got lung cancer because of heavy smoking blamed tobacco company for the responsibility and bring an action of damage and compensation. This is the result of excess trend that someone who apologizes first becomes a loser. The cases of the certain actor or former mayor are laughable stories, however, if the case of lung cancer woman increases, business activities in America become harder. US News - Making Kids Smarter According to US News (May 27), magnet school is savior of American Education System in ruins. Ordinary public schools as a rule take in anyone if children come from within the school district. However, magnet school is different. As the name says, it attracts certain pupil like a magnet. It puts together appealing curriculums different from the usual ones and takes in children from outside the school district which has limitation on number of students who can enter, and sometimes holds an entrance examination depending on the circumstance. It can not be permitted to discriminate pupils although it is a public school- If it's twenty years ago, such a criticism would have been risen. However, number of magnet schools increased four times in the 10 years and there are 5000 ones all over America now. I guess the calculation is that one in five high school students goes to this kind of school. To speak ill of it, it is preparatory schoolization and specialization of high school. But this gets along with the diversification of education introduced by the Bush Administration. Rather than preventing the drop outs, cultivation of human resources has the priority. New York Woman, June; The Evolution of Newsweek "If you want to write, go someplace else. Women cannot write at Newsweek." It was 20 years ago when executives of Newsweek said like this. Whether you say already 20 years ago or only 20 years ago, it differs depending upon persons. Anyway 20 years go, there were many women staff in the editorial section of Newsweek. However most of them were researchers who only confirmed facts and relations and even if they advanced, it was only limited to reporters who covered the news of the scene and wrote up data for manuscripts. Above them there was a writer who finished articles based on reporters' manuscripts and a senior editor who had decision making authority. It became a men's special territory where women could not enter. Even in those circumstances, women were doing pleasantly. Because they forgot the fact that by the Article 7 of Civil Rights Law in 1964, sexual discrimination on work was prohibited. It was in March in 1970 that they realized the right. Ironically it was when Newsweek made a special issue of woman's liberation. 43 women staff made a class action and won the abolition of discrimination in 2 years. Before the trial, only one, as a woman, was employed as a special correspondent to Paris. However, when she asked, "Because I am promoted, there is salary rise too.", the editor at that time replied, "What do you mean?... Think of honor we are paying you." 20 years later. Now one in three senior editors is woman, conversely one in three researchers is man. Instead new discrimination of women researchers by women editors is arising. TIME - Lady in waiting Whether you write Burma(present Myanmar) or Myanmar(former Burma). Writer's position is delicately called into question. Myanmar is a country name given by the military administration that repressed the democratizing movement with force in 1988. If you use the country name with no doubt, it means that you virtually approve the military administration. Therefore TIME(Oct. 28) still writes it as Burma. It may be a small resistance, however, the Nobel Peace Prize Award to Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi is, politically and similarly, a small resistance. According to Malaysian well-known person, "It might prick the consciences of a few propels, but it won't change anything." Also Nobel officials could not even telephone Suu Kyi to inform her. According to TIME, Asian neighboring countries are rather moving to recognize defacto existence of the military administration. Korea is continuing an active economic exchange through trade and investment and Thai's military people are earning excessive profits importing Burma's teakwoods through dummy companies. China has been selling a billion dollars worth weapons to Burma's military administration. In short, several countries with the most leverage on Burma have refused to rock the boat. There is an official residence of Soviet ambassador next to Ms. Suu Kyi who is detained under house arrest. However, the Soviet Ambassador says that he has never seen Ms. Suu Kyi for a year. detain; keep in custody, keep from going on, hold back in custody; in the keeping of police, under arrest Fortune(Nov. 4) reports that the turnover of spirits makers in the world is still in good shape as before. In Japan popularity for spirits of high alcohol is declining and in America sales of spirits have been decreasing annually since mid 80s. Consumption of both beers in England and wines in France is decreasing. Anyway in the developed countries, refraining from alcoholic beverages seems to be prevailing. However, international brand goods represented by British Scotch Whisky are rather increasing the sales, exported to East Europe sphere or the 3rd world. Asiaweek - Here comes world TV As for the TV satellite broadcasting, south east Asia possibly has made more advancement than Japan. Now is an age when you can see American CNN and Britain's BBC in your home around Hong Kong, if you have one dish(that is, a parabola antenna.) According to Asiaweek (Oct. 25), STARTV, Hong Kong's commercial station, has started such a grand TV broadcasting as to transmit signals to 38 countries from Japan in the east to Egypt in the west, using multipurpose satellite, AsiaSat I, launched by a Chinese rocket. Different from some hard satellite stations, as they don't scramble the signal(accordingly reception is free), if you have only an antenna, anyone can receive it. They plan to start 24 hours broadcasting channels of exclusively music, sports, news and so forth by this December. Originally there are many countries in Asia that restrict mass media because of political and religious reasons. Nervous about sexual description. However, Malaysian Information minister says, "We don't know whether the programs transmitted via satellite are good or bad for us." Satellite broadcasting may inevitably (willy-nilly) liberate Asian TV broadcasting. TIME - The global baby chase Is it proper to pay $200 in expense to a pregnant woman who has agreed to give up her child in a country where the average annual income may be $300? TIME(Nov. 4)'s special issue is a serious story. It reports that developed countries' couples suffering from sterility have been adapting children of the world one after another. Of course there is no need to deny the international adaptation system from the beginning. It balances the drop of birth rate in the developed countries and population expansion of the developing countries and it may be happier for the children to grow in an affluent family in an affluent society than to grow in a society where you suffer with poverty and hunger. However no matter what label it is, what if money is involved in it? Couples in advanced countries pay the handling charge of nearly ten thousands' dollars to the agency or the lawyer. However the amount of opting rate that mothers in the developing countries receive is 40 dollars in Philippines and 65 dollars in El Salvador. A portion of the difference may become the bribe for the officials at the time of children's departure. Now every year, about 20 thousands' children is adapted from developing countries to advanced countries. The most supplier is Colombia and the most buyer is America and it is held that there have been 140 thousands' children during the past 20 years. Ten thousands' children has been brought out abroad in a year and a half from Rumania where the communist dictatorship fell down. Because parents charmed by captivating capitalism let their children go for money. TIME - Stolen If it goes on like this, museum becomes empty, laments TIME(Nov. 25). Art museum thieves with an eye on famous painting are rampant. Last year only in Europe, 60 thousands' art works, each of which costs more than 10 thousands' dollars, has disappeared. In this year in April, there was an incident that the van Gogh Museum was robbed and about 20 works were brought out. 500 million dollars' loss at the value - However at that time, a car used by the criminals for running away went flat on the way. All of them were returned safely in 35 minutes after the crime. In June in Switzerland 2 works of Picasso disappeared in front of its care taker. They were displayed in a certain gallery in Zurich and it was a crime taking advantage of a moment while the master was in conversation with another client. 41 million dollars' loss was estimated. The conditions for the increase of art objects' thieves are too perfectly set up, says TIME. Confusing after the democratization in east Europe produced the trends that money is everything and it becomes everyday thing that the government and the party put guarded art objects on sale in black market route. China is also in a similar situation and precious eastern arts are secretly brought out to Hong Kong and Singapore. Integration of EC market is convenient for thieves. Without country borders it gets easier to bring out art objects. According to TIME, art objects' thieves become a gigantic business of annual 2 billion dollars in America alone, and it comes to 6 billion dollars in the world. Would you pay a man for sex?(marie claire, UK) Basic charge is 100 pounds, in case you spent a night, it costs 350 pounds. I do not know whether this rate is high or low. According to marie claire English edition, this is the price of a man who sells his body for a woman in London. Off course prostitution is illegal whether it is done by female or male. Outwardly it is escort service. Basic charge includes dinner and theatre going. Additional charge after that will be fixed between a gigolo and a client, however, the basic charge is paid to the office of the gigolo's agent. According to the same magazine, some agent deals with such simple payment as that of mail order sales. Simply orders by telephone and tell the credit card number. The payment is automatically withdrawn after the service is done. A certain woman, catching the fact of husband's unfaithfulness, called the male escort service agent in revenge for that, and paid the charge with her husband's credit card. What kind of woman is it who buys a man with money? A 29 years' old gigolo says,"They are not unattractive, just frustrated. Their husbands are working away, or drinking all the time. The wives want a bit of a change, or to get back at their husbands. The kids were old enough to be involved with their own lives, and... he had been running around young girls." Business week - The Quality Imperative Business week(Dec. 2) says that companies now realize that quality is not just a catch phrase, but a way of life. Don't say why now? Actually enterprises in America and Europe have not done much for quality improvement for these years. They acknowledged that the secret of high competitive power of Japanese enterprises lies in its high quality control, however, they have likely taken the easier measures (such as cutting off workers or setting import restrictions) than competing quality with Japan. However cutting off workers and protective measures finally seem to end. At last American and European enterprises are taking seriously the high product quality. American automobile makers' movement introducing the lean production in place of existing type of mass production system on the model of Toyota's kanban system shows it. However Business Week says, "You must not lower your guard. The problem is, Japan knew that all alongand is now that much further ahead." 1992 TIME - The search for Mary The only one who does credit to herself is Holy Mother in the religious world that is still in the men's first order. TIME(Dec 23, 1991) proposes a new question whether the Holy Mother is a handmaid or a feminist with the background of grassroots level popularity of Mother Mary. Off course this is not a problem to be proved scientifically. Catholic churches traditionally have taken the role of Mary lightly. Therefore if there are reports on miracles in various places that a statue of Mary wept, or Mary appeared, they have been reluctant to acknowledge them. According to this public view, Mary was nothing but a handmaid who loaned her womb to give birth to Chist. This is not right from the liberal point of view in the world of Christianity. Originally it is a mistake to understand the immaculate conception(virgin birth) literally. Should we rather recognize that Christ also must have had a human father and there is the greatness of Mary becoming pregnant with a child of ordinary person and giving birth as a messiah .---This is Mary equals Feminist argument. Far eastern economic review - Fortune tellers of Asia on the year of Monky Even if you use English, what makes you feel Asia is Asia, is the front cover of FEER(Dec. 26). Because you are Asian people, you feel somewhat relieved accepting that 1992 is a year of monkey. Prominent fortune tellers prophesy the Asia in the year of monkey in this special issue. Hong Kong where it is decided to be returned to China after 5 years. Here fortune has been told that when the weather is fine, butterflies dance. Butterflies indicate bright future, however, the problem is the condition that the weather is fine. To reverse it, it can be taken in the meaning that Asia in 1992 is not always limited to fine weather. Actually in Hong Kong from May to September, they must be careful. This period is unstable and stock prices will decrease. Chinese senior statesman Deng Xiao Ping will die in three years, but not this year. However, Mr. Bush will not achieve reelection. Conversely it is an Indian fortune teller who prophesies the reelection of Mr. Bush. It is a prophecy combining palm reading and star reading. Although India in 1992 will be visited by strikes and plagues, politically stability seems to continue. A Korean fortune teller who once really prophesied the establishment of Nakasone administration or Takeshita administration, says that Chairman Kim Il Song of North Korea(Democratic People's republic of Chose) hasn't much longer to live and after his death integration of North and South Chosen will become possible in 1994 or 1995. In China Deng Xiao Ping will die by the new spring in 1993, and military authorities intervene the politics in the turmoil after that and this military coup d'師at revitalizes the market economy. According to Thai fortune teller Iraqi circumstances fall into turmoil with demarcation of the general election in March in 1992, however, new prime minister is said to be a man of the Lion(constellation). Couples who break the age taboo(marie claire, U.K.) It's not different to being a father at twenty, except, I suppose, I was a little more nervous the first time. It is the statement of a man who became a father at 92 years' old. Naturally the first son is now 72 years' old and the newest sister is 8 weeks old after birth. This sister's mother is 30 years younger than the first son. It may look strange to an onlooker, however, it is quite natural for the persons concerned(92 years' old father and 38 years' old mother). Marie claire(English edition) is making a special issue of witnesses of 10 couples who broke the taboo of age. There is a woman who married a man of 61 years' old when she was 21 years' old and there is a man who lives with the mother of playmate from primary school days. They are not a matter of man and woman, there is a 32 years' old grandmother who brings up a child of her daughter whom she gave birth to when she was 14 years' old. From worldly common sense they are all strange couples, however, persons concerned are very bright. When we were in Germany I asked for a double room in a hotel. The people just couldn't understand me, because they couldn't believe we were a couple, says 21 years' old Lynda who married 61 years' old man. 92 years' old father says nonchalantly, "I am a teenager." 38 years' old mother who will be said to be an advanced age birth in Japan, says without reserve, "I am still young." There is no way of knowing whether these happy seeming comments are from their real mind or make-believes. Business - Far eastern economic review A black woman wearing a working uniform smiles using chopsticks skillfully. The front cover of FEER(Feb. 6) makes you think considerably. Taking advantage that the apartheid is abolished and the economic sanctions against the Republic of South Africa is released, does an economic animal Japanese enterprises open a chopsticks's factory catching an eye on cheap black labors? No, actually there is an Asian island deeply involved in this country's economy while the international economic sanction was going on. It is Taiwan and the front cover photo is the Taiwanese capitalized chopsticks's factory in South Africa. South Africa has become a good country, abolishing the apartheid. European countries simply think so, however, the problem is more complicated for Asian countries. For example Taiwan. Since the mainland China joined the UN, Taiwan that has been outcasted from international society approached and deepened the economic relations with South Africa in the same situation. The export, not only of chopsticks factory, from Taiwan to South Africa reached the total amount of 700 million dollars in total last year. However, there is no guarantee that South Africa returning to the international society will treat Taiwan importantly. Perhaps South Africa will work for improving relation with Beijing and Taiwan may be shut out. India is critical. There is about a million Indian origin inhabitants in South Africa. Even though they have sympathy spiritually with the black side, the fact can't be erased that they are treated better under the apartheid regime. There is sufficient fear that they are retaliated against by blacks who hold power after the abolition of apartheid. (There is a report that an Indian origin shop is attacked by a black radical group.) Japanese position is delicate. In spite of Japanese participation in the UN's economical sanction, Japan reached nearly 1.4 billion dollar's export outcomes for South Africa last year which was twice as many as that of Taiwan. This cooperation with the white administration in the past may cause a problem for a future black administration. Love in black and white(Elle, March) Though hardly in the view field of mass media, there is an impossible racist candidate in the American presidential election. David Duke, the third candidate of the Republicans. He was the super rightist of nazism in his student days, and after that acted as a branch chief of KKK, the radical white supremacist group. Though a probability to be elected is unqualifiedly close to zero, he has gathered the vote of two digits in some of the southern states. To that extent the racial discrimination is deeply rooted. Really marriages between the black and the white tripled in this 20 years. Even at that it's nothing but a 0.4 % of the total. 17 % still think that the marriage among different races should legally be prohibited.(In 1972, 39 % thought that the interracial marriage should be prohibited.) More serious was the answer to the question that your close relatives are going to marry the black. Not generally but really questioned if you will be a relative with the black, 66 % of the white said No. (Affirmative response was only 4 %.) Really a couple of the black and the white has come to appear on TV and movies. Even at that come hate mails to the TV programs featuring those couples as main characters. Even in the world of movies, there was an example cutting a kiss scene of main black actor with a white woman. Ironically money can't buy love, but in an interracial marriage it helps. If you are economically rich, you can move to the place where there are a few discriminations, and make face that you are special. In other words, it is still hard for the ordinary black and the ordinary white to marry. Can a feminist have a facelift (Lear's, March) These days growing old gracefully means growing older without looking older. There is a word, facelift. It's an operation, a kind of esthetic surgeries, that makes you look younger removing face wrinkles. Nancy, the wife of former president Reagan also did it. Iwana, the former wife of super rich Donald Trump did it as soon as she divorced and got ten years younger. Now the facelift is called the latest fashion accessory. Why does woman want to look herself younger getting an operation? Is it a men's argument that women's beauty lies in her slim and young body. Shouldn't a feminist surrender to such a men's theory? At least feminists in 1970s had to frown to hear the words, esthetic surgery. But the times have changed, says Lear's female columnist. To speak more exactly, not the times but the feminism has changed. Originally human being is a social animal and we live in a social context, not a personal vacuum. In a world where it is a matter of course to have ten years younger face, isn't it rather unnatural to remain with wrinkle covered face? Then 90s' feminists think that Feminism is all about choice. Feminism is, in brief, the thought of freedom of choice. Woman can choose her way of life. There is freedom of giving birth and not giving birth, and freedom of working and not working. Similarly there should be freedom for a woman to look herself young. Now it is natural to think in that way. Ukraine, Russia move to resolve fleet dispute Commonwealth of Independent States(CIS) Boris Yeltsin(Russian President) has jurisdiction over the fleet. Leonid Kravchuk(Ukraine President) claimed jurisdiction over 300 ship Black Sea fleet. They will create a joint commission to settle the dispute. The dispute escalated, underscoring the tension and divisions which threaten the unity of the commonwealth. jurisdiction; authority to decide cases, authority or power in general underscore; a line drawn under a word, passage, etc. as for emphasis Arafat survives crash landing in desert On April 7, PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, nine companions and three crew members were flying from Sudan to Libya when the plane hit a sandstorm. The plane broke into three pieces and the three crew members were killed. Arafat who survived a 15 hour ordeal in the desert, was only battered and bruised and left the hospital the next day, April 9. ordeal; a painful or severe test batter; to beat or strike with blow after blow bruise; to injure (body tissue) without breaking the skin but causing discoloration Four alleged counterfeiters arrested Hong Kong police arrested four Chinese residents on suspicion of counterfeiting Japanese 10,000 yen bills and seized an offset printing press and film negatives on April 8. Polices are trying to determine whether the forgers have any connection with the recent discovery of 38 phony 10,000 yen bills in the Osaka-Kobe area. counterfeit; to make an imitation of money, picture, etc. in order to defraud forge; to imitate for purpose of deception or fraud Ex-sports stars held in gambling raid Yuji Matsuo, former rugby star, 38, and Isao Shibata, former professional baseball player, 42, are among a group of six arrested April 4 on suspicion of gambling at poker with total wagers of 7 million yen. wager; same as bet Tabloid justice(Mirabella, February) It's a modern American vision of Hell that might have made Bosch or Dante proud. It is much-liked gossip article of tabloids that the Mirabella, New York's fashion magazine, says so. American tabloids like gossips more than Japanese tabloids do. What is truth has no relation to tabloids. As long as they devote themselves to single-mindedly harassing celebrities which are liked by ordinary people, it's enough. To embrace celebrities by gossips is a revenge of the weak against the strong. Mike Tyson's case was real rape, however, the suspicion of rape by the Kennedy family was denied at least legally. Even at that tabloids boldly exploited the unlicensed sex of the Kennedy family and gave pleasures to ordinary people. Donald Trump, the real estate king, who achieved the brightest days in 1980s(described as eating a special lunch mixing up human meats) is now living pity days of horror of the aids. Or Elizabeth Taylor married Rally Fontenski, a factory worker, soon get tired with him and wouldn't touch her new husband these days. It's a skill of the tabloids to tailor anything to the taste of ordinary people. A story of the abuse of animals by Michael Jackson (which was reported in Japan) was the fact that the old pet monkey was taken over to a zoo. Unless you become extremely ill, you will not be able to get sympathy of the tabloids. In this connection, a segment of Japanese women's weekly magazines buys gossip stories abroad from these tabloids. Woman on the cover Rosalin, the wife of president Carter in late 1970s, surprised male politicians attending the meeting of her husband and his cabinet members. Nancy, the wife of President Reagan in 1980s, provoked a scandal interfering personnel matters of the high government officials with astrology. Marilin, the wife of the present vice-president, is criticized that she is maneuvering her husband behind the scene. The theory of male society that woman should not interfere in politic seems to be still alive in White House. Hillary, the wife of the democrat's leading presidential candidate, never bend to this kind of male logic. After graduating the law school of Yale university, the same school as her husband's, Hillary who worked as a staff member of house of representatives of the federal legistrature, was active as election chief for Bill. She is said to be far more superior to him in organizational skill and business ability. She is an able lawyer and in the unfaithfulness (infidelity) suspicion of her husband, protected her husband's and her own prides brilliantly. American mass media call such Hillary as a new political wife. She is a highly political conscious wife and a new type of wife of politician. So she gets overwhelming support among working women and also receives strong criticism. Even at that in this year's election, women's power is strong as never before. In the upper house members' election which was said to be a strong hold of men, some women won the primary elections of the Democrats. If it runs along, it may pay off the old score of Geraldin Ferallo who was nominated as a woman candidate for vice-president in 1984's presidential election first time in history and miserably defeated. News roundup - N. Korea, cooperating with IAEA reveals nuclear sites North Korea signed an international nuclear safeguards pact April 9 which requires to submit a list of its nuclear facilities within 30 days. Pyongyang listed a total of 16 facilities, most of them previously unknown. A nuclear power research center, 90 km north of Pyongyang is a plutonium reprocessing plant which would be capable of making large amounts of plutonium for use in nuclear bombs. North Korea confirmed May 6 "a little bit of plutonium for experimental purpose" which was the first time admitting production of plutonium. It has refused to allow inspections for over six years. The first IAEA inspection is expected to take place within a month. Woman on the cover -Miriam Santiago She is really energetic. She made an early declaration of victory at the point of time of only tabulating several percentage of the ballots. She suddenly began to cry that this was unfair election at the level of around 15 % tabulating of ballots when she was overtaken by the candidate, Fidel Ramos. The symbol color of Santiago which in local language means charge is red, though the symbol color of Corazon Aquino(present president) was yellow who overturned the dictatorship Marcos administration 6 years ago with the people's power, She is persistently a fighting woman. As you expect from a former judge, she has doubly strong sense of justice. It was all she could do to straighten grafts and corruptions of her own officials, though she tried to show her ability for liberation of agricultural lands, taking the office of Land Reform Ministry under the Aquino administration. During the election fight, she criticized money politicians consistently and existing parties sharply and gained the broad support among young voters embracing dissatisfactions toward politics. But there was something of problem in her character. She spoke ill of certain male lawmaker calling him as a fungus face. I don't know what kind of face is called as a fungus face. There is freedom of criticism in democracy, but there is not freedom of insult. The more she ridicules the rivals, the more her own character is doubted. If she does not realize the fact, Santiago proves herself out of the presidential quality. Ramos leads widens as votes trickle in With nearly half the votes tabulated from May 11 election, Ramos appeared to be on his way toward winning the presidency, though there were serious accusations of voterigging from Santiago. He would take office with the weakest mandate in Philippine history and would have to govern with an opposite controlled Congress. rig; to arrange in a dishonest way mandate; an authoritative order or command NEWS - Can anybody fix the Philippines? Crushed by the legacy of the Marcos years, disappointed by the record of the Aquino era, Filipinos can be pardoned for thinking that any change will be change for the better. TIME(May 25) is fed up with the slow-motion vote count of the Philippines Presidential election. The election as that of this country was truly unprecedentedly calm and fair and the election fighting greatly boosted with the flooding 7 candidates, but it was only inside the country. This critical test for democracy demonstrated that the national drama no longer draws big audiences abroad. The strategic military position of the Philippines declined because of the end of the cold war and the economic reform made no progress under the Aquino administration. These two distanced the eyes of the world from Philippines. Japanese enterprises that are conspicuous for their active investments to southeast Asia no longer come to Philippines. The Matsushita Electric company has 25 factories in Malaysia, 10 in Singapore and 6 in Thailand but only 2 in Philippines. There can be seen a climate rather to invest in Vietnam. Things will be the same with this, whoever may be the president. If it will be the same, it's rather better to have a weak government which will not interfere the private economic activities. They say there is a feeling of resignation among a part of the nation. CITY LIFE - Rescue Fantasy The front cover of New York(May 18) is Ross Perot. He is an entrepreneur of Texas and a billionaire, the man who is trying to let fresh air in professional politics of both Democratic and Republican parties, throwing his hat in the ring of this year's presidential election as an independent candidate. So far he would be dismissed as hero like Don Quixote, this time thing is different. Perot popularity is sharply on the upswing especially after the Los Angeles riot. According to New York, the money soliciting party of Bush Camp was held in the capital, Washington, April 28, the night before the riot. The condition for basking in the honor of sitting at the same table with Bush was to solicit at least a contribution of 92 thousands' dollars. The dinner of 90 thousands' dollars and the riot in the center of Los Angeles which turned into a huge slum. American people who despaired at that excessive difference give up the existing politicians at least temporarily and are entrusting their hope to Ross Perot. Perot is, off course, not a man who can be a president, says New York. But voters' segment(so called the radical middle) supporting Perot has power to change America from now on. U.S., CIS republics sign START(Strategic Arms Reduction Talks) pact Baker and the foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan signed the agreement May 23 to implement the START missile reduction treaty in Lisbon after nearly six months of negotiations. 38 % of strategic warheads(a total of 3,000 in Ukraine , Kazakhstan and Belarus and about 2,000 in Russia) will be eliminated in the old Soviet arsenal. U.S. will cut its strategic warheads by about 30 %. Yeltsin aiming for peace pact by '94 Yeltsin said that he hopes to conclude a peace treaty with Japan by the end of 1993, according to the May 27 issue of Komsomolskaya Pravda. Japan has refused to sign a peace treaty before the territorial dispute is settled. The return of Habomai and Shikotan was agreed upon in the 1956 Soviet-Japan declaration, which the Soviet Union did not honor. Serbia facing isolation over fighting Following a widely publicized mortar attack on Sarajevo May 27, the European Community imposed trade sanctions on Serbia. At the United Nations, the United States pushed for tough Security Council sanctions against Serbia and Monteneguro. Bosnia-Hercegovina voted for independence three months ago. While Bosnia's Croats and Muslims supported independence, the Serb minority did not. Serb irregulars backed by the Yugoslav army, have been besieging Sarajevo and other Bosnian cities. Number of AIDS, HIV cases hits new high 84(15 actual AIDS cases and 69 cases of HIV<Human Immunodeficiency Virus> infection) cases were identified by the Health and welfare Ministry's AIDS Surveillance Committee in March and April. Total of cases to date stands at 2,226. Heterosexual contact is becoming the main form of transmission of the virus. CITY LIFE New York- Hot & Spicy New York(May 25) is a special issue of gourmet just before summer. Exactly when it becomes a hot and suffocating summer in a city, hot and spicy food is good. An election year always heats things up, however, this year's confusing fight is special. Foods are also spicy to that extent. Thai foods are likely to be a boom in New York this year, added to customary Mexican foods. A recommended shop is Tommy Tang in TriBeCa district in which a hot and sweet chili sauce is said to be a rare treat(delicacy). One more thing. A biography of the late exquisite(rarity) actress, Mallene Dietrich is going to be published next year. According to New York, a daughter of Mallene wrote it. The content is so shocking that the first publisher refused to publication. Business; Far Eastern Economic review- The Fire for Democracy The voice of king might have contributed to the stabilization of Thai political situation, says FEER(May 28). The impact of the anti-military demonstrations and subsequent crackdown will severely damage Thailand's image among foreign investors, bankers and travelers. Actually present Thai is carrying a huge financial deficit haunted by the bill of rapid growth. Furthermore two thirds of funds making up the deficit is a short term loan. Foreign investors would like to withdraw their money when it becomes to a political instability. You can somehow buy time in the case of long term loan, however, in the case of short term loan, the outflow of funds may take place before the impact of bloody suppression cools down. If it comes to that, it's a bankruptcy. Fortune - Ross Perot Can an entrepreneur Ross Perot be a President of America? As Fortune (June 15) sees it, the possibility is fifty fifty. A result of the poll extended to the management of big enterprises by the same magazine is deeply interesting. Originally most management overwhelmingly supports the Republicans, however, they know they are minority. So when they were asked for whom they were going to vote, they answered Bush without hesitation(78 % for Bush and 11 % for Perot). But 44 % answered Perot when they were asked who did they think would become the President. Somewhat it seems that although he is a businessman, he is disliked by businessmen. According to a certain influential businessman, "He would make a supper benevolent dictator, but that's not our system." Even though he is a businessman, he is so called an upstart. He raised himself from a salesman and became a realizer of American dream building a wealth of millions. Although he is popular with ordinary men and managers of small and medium size businesses, he is shunned by the managers of big enterprises which move America. Fortune sees that the over powerful individuality would trouble in the end. NEWS; Newsweek - President Perot? It was Fitswater, the white house spokesman, who called Ross Perot a monster, a front runner of the poll of American presidential election. The reason he is a monster is that he has an uprising support rate even though he never announces a concrete policy. It will be a comment reflecting a frustration of the Bush camp that has been criticized presenting no concrete policies as the office holder. Newsweek (June 15) raises a question that Perot can be a president, and puts out a fairly negative response. A real feeling is perhaps that they would be troubled if it comes true. He considers it good on one hand, Japaneselike industrial policies (co-operation of industries under the government direction), and is also a hawkish man against Japan who would not refrain from rule out the total ban of importing Japanese cars. Blandishing patriotism loosely, he didn't mind using military power employing private soldiers to save his own subordinates taken as a hostage in Iran. In short, although he can be a civilian hero, he is not directed to be president keeping interests of America and the western world. They say there is a personal feeling of Perot who have walked his way up against Bush born and raised as an elite. Psychofemmes(Mirabella, June) AIDS only afflicts people in modestly budgeted art films. Back here among the megabucks, what's going to get you is women. 'Safe sex' is demanded, influenced by AIDS and the way of man and woman's relation is seriously reexamined on problems of sexual harassment. Now it's time it should be, but how much is such requestioning reflected in the movie world. It can't be but fairly negative. What is put on emphasis in Hollywood movies these days are violent sex and murder. Although they are old themes, the difference is the appearance of many aggressive women. "Fatal Attraction" was sensational several years ago and so was "Thelma & Louise" last year. "Basic Instinct" is extreme example this year. Mirabella calls these frightening women psychofemmes. In the past, a murder in a movie was customarily a man. Woman was in the role of sad victim in most cases. Now it's different. Woman deceives a man with sex and kills him with calculation. These movies...are really dealing with men's loss of control over women on the sexual terrain. "Basic Instinct" most clearly expressed this point. Mirabella applauses the appearance of cool woman twisting a man around her finger and playing with him. Yeltsin postpones visit; domestic opposition cited Yeltsin Sept. 9 informed Prime Minister Miyazawa of the decision in a telephone call. Yeltsin is under strong pressure not to return any land to Japan. The decision was made when hardliners in Russian Security Council strongly objected to the visit, citing an unstable domestic situation and unlikelihood of major economic aid from Japan. Man on the cover - Boris Yelstin When he came to Japan in 1990, he announced a concept of 5 steps' return giving a more flexible impression than the Gorbachev administration at that time and got on the good side of the Japanese. This time he got on the good side of Russian people at home putting the territorial dispute of Northern Islands on the shelf by abrupt postponement of his visit to Japan. Repeating this kind of grandstanding behavior, a hero of a year before may become a crown when they notice it. Iona Andronov, an influential lawmaker of the Russian Supreme Congress who early was demanding the cancellation of Yeltsin's visit to Japan, said in the interview with Newsweek early September that Russians were losing their prides, and that if we would let go off the land in this situation, our country could not be formed. It was because of the breakdown of the Soviet Union after the coup riot last August that the Russian lost their prides,(It was Yeltsin who broke the country, the Soviet Union, denying the new federation concept proposed by Mr. Gorbachev.), and the economic reform afterwards did not make any decent turnover. But there is also a problem in the strong territorial demand on the Japanese side which hurt the Russian pride. Yeltsin may blame incorporation of Japan for the slowness of economic reform and carry favor with European and American countries with an argument that japan is a bad guy. Whatever, in Europe and America, they are, there are not a few politicians who greatly love Japan bashing. It's too late to be in a hurry after the great chorus of Japan bashing started. First group of peacekeepers leaves Japan for Cambodia Japan's first overseas dispatch of ground troops of Self-Defense Force with a total of 423 personnel(34 Ground Self-Defense Force servicemen assisting in road and bridge and the rest from Maritime Self-Defense Forces assigned to transport and supply operations) and 23 vehicles and 150 tons of food and fuel took place Sept. 17. Aside from training operations, the deployment was the first time SDF troops have gone overseas since Maritime Self-Defense Forces took part in mine-sweeping operations in the Persian Gulf last year. Man on the cover - Jimmy Coners People repeat nonsenses such as old days were good or it was too early to retire, feeling nostalgic about his past days of glory retiring from active position. Everybody thinks that he/she never be such a person when he/she is in an active position. So were Viyon Borg of Sweden and John Mackenrow, the old time bad boy. However, Jimmy Coners is different who becomes 40 years old this year. It's Coners who made America of 70s into tennis kingdom along with Chris Evert. Arthur Ash who announced the fact that he was infected with AIDS and became the topic of the town, was a gentleman player unusual for Americans, however, Coners was the original bad boy. He greatly contributed to make a new fashion in the tennis world of hauling on the court and flying out at an umpire . Coners is facing a match of the century on Sept. 25 who won the first match of the American Open on his 40 years' birthday. It's a man and woman confrontation with Marthina Naburatirova. The winner's award is 500 thousands' dollars. When a man and woman match in the tennis world took place 19 years ago, a woman, Billy Jean King toppled a man, Bobby Rigs. They talked around the town that the odds are favorite for the woman at the match with 35 years old Naburatirova. Will Coners show the last determination of 40 years old man? Sagawa trial gets under way; defendants deny charges Hiroyasu Watanabe, 58, the former president of Tokyo Sagawa and Jun Saotome, 54, the former managing director, both denied charges of aggravated breach of trust at the Tokyo District Court Sept. 22. Watanabe denied the charge that he distributed to politicians 2 billion yen raised in kickbacks when he guaranteed loans for real estate companies. The arraignment does charge that Watanabe cultivated friendly relations with the late Susumu Ishii, former head of the Inagawa-kai. It alleges that Watanabe was acting on behalf of a politician -believed to be Shin Kanemaru who wanted a stop put to a rightist group's harassment of Noboru Takeshita, who later became prime minister. aggravate; to make worse breach; failure to observe a law arraign; to bring before a law court to hear and answer charges Canadian voters reject referendum TORONTO(AP)- Canadian voters Oct. 26 rejected a referendum on constitutional reforms. Only four of Canada's 10 provinces supported the reforms. Quebec voted overwhelmingly against them. The key parts of the agreement recognized Quebec as a distinct society, with the right to protect its French language and culture. It would also have guaranteed Quebec 25 percent of the seats in the House of Commons. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney had warned that rejection of the agreement could be the first step toward the dismantling of the country. Cambodian peace prospects shaky PHNOM PENH(KYODO)- On Oct. 30, Defense Minister Sohei Miyashita confirmed that Japan had received unofficial reports of a rocket attack by the Khmer Rouge on Phnom Penh. The Mainichi Shimbun had reported that United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia had kept the attack secret, for fear that news of them would hinder the peace process. Also on Oct. 30, Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Kato confirmed that Japanese and Thai attempts to persuade the Khmer Rouge to disarm had failed. Let Korean schools play, lawyers say The Japan federation of Bar Associations urged the Education Ministry Oct. 28 that the National High School Athletic League should recognize membership of Korean high schools. In a report the association said foreign residents in Japan are entitled to receive ethnic education. Thus they are guaranteed the right to participate in spots tournaments. Rift widens in top faction as Obuchi is named head Keizo Obuchi was declared chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's largest faction at a general meeting Oct. 28. In response to Obuchi's selection, Ozawa, along with Finance Minister Tsutomu Hata, formed a 'policy study forum,' to be known as Reform Forum 21. Thirty-six Lower House lawmakers of Ozawa's followers are to be its core members. This was widely seen as a de facto move to split the 109-member Takeshita faction and create a splinter group. Saudi Woman: Risking Death for Sex(marie claire) In a country that doesn't feel that it is necessary to record the births and deaths of women, even a princess in the royal household has no freedom, no vote and little control over her own. It's a ridiculous country. However, this seems to be a reality of Saudi Arabia that fought the Gulf War together as American alliance country. These confess of the princess in the royal household which was printed in the marie claire magazine had already been published in a single book, however, because this is something hard to believe, let me make bold to write it as a true seeming story. As it is Muslim country, naturally there are one husband many wives. If this system, one husband many wives, has become a cover for justifying woman abuse, this is a problem. She, an unmarried woman, tells lucidly the process of her girl friend of same age being killed by her father so called loose behavior. Even though we say loose, it is like talking to a man on the street and this was taken to belong to sexual conduct. However, when it was disclosed, her father put her in a pool inside a house and killed her. ... believed in God and thought Mohammed had been his messenger, but she thought somehow Mohammed's messages had been conveyed incorrectly by his followers. She says that the God could not have given such grief to a woman. CITY LIFE New York - Noise! New York may be the city that never sleeps, but New York probably couldn't sleep if it wanted to. According to New York(Nov. 2), this city's noise pollution is awful. For example, residents along a subway(which runs on the ground a little bit far from the city center) suffer the noise continuously all day long compared to rock concerts(this city's subway runs all night long). Suburbs which are supposed to be quiet, if it's near JFK airport, about 60 percent of residents living within a mile of the airport have reported sleep disturbances. Unfortunately humans generally interpret noise as carrying a signal that they should pay attention to. That's why you get tired when you are surrounded with noises. Naturally stresses build up. There is a theory that numbers of cigarettes increase in case of smokers. NEWS The Economist - Getting his way He has the fun of choosing a transition team and a cabinet; but the more vital task, and less fun, is to choose which Bill Clinton will be president of America. These were the words of the British Economist(Nov. 7) sent to Mr. Clinton just chosen as American President. There are few media which bluntly refer to a chief leader of another country. Clinton promised anything and everything as is usual with election before winning the vote. So (or should I say that's why) his position is not clear on the vital matters. Whether he keeps free trade or runs for protectionism? Whether he acts positively as the policeman of the world like the republican administration days or calls out protection of human rights like Carter's democratic administration which appeared 16 years ago? But once the election is over, Clinton needs to show nervous markets, and anxious world, what sort of American leader they are dealing with. What is vital is the first half year after entering the office. The congress and the public opinion are wrapped with congratulatory mood for a while after the inaugural ceremony in January. At first there will be usual wait and see on the opposition side. They will not show their fangs. Whether he will use this honeymoon and express clearly his colors? Fate of democratic administration in 12 years rests on that. Lastly Economist style sharp advice - Watch out against being clumsy for repeat of Kennedy. Kennedy surely gave hopes to people of the country, however, he did little of substance because his hopes for the country were highminded, but too vague. Sawaga trial gets under way In its opening statement, the prosecution accused Hiroyasu Watanabe, 58, the former president of Tokyo Sawaga and Jun Saotome, 54, the former managing director, causing Tokyo Sagawa Kyubin to lose approximately 95.2 billion yen by guaranteeing and providing loans in the firm's name. Watanabe denied the charge that he distributed to politicians 2 billion yen raised in kickback when he guaranteed loans. The prosecution did not identify any of the politicians involved. The arraignment does charge that Watanabe cultivated friendly relations with the late Susumu Ishii, former head of the Inagawa-kai. It alleges that Watanabe was acting on behalf of a politician - believed to be Shin Kanamaru - who wanted a stop put to a rightist group's harassment of Noboru Takeshita, who later became prime minister. Watanabe began providing loans to underworld groups after this. prosecute; to conduct legal proceedings against, esp. in court for crime arraign; to bring before a law court to hear and answer charges Man on the cover - Sergei Bubukha Fortune is a part of real ability. These words may be just for this man. He made an unrecorded dishonorable way of losing at the Olympic game, however, he renewed the world record twice in two months after that. Some people think that Bubukha was abandoned by fortune who could not win the Olympic game. The Olympic game is surely the highest target for amateur athletes. One can only say it misfortune that the absolute favorite loses. But Bubukha is actually a professional player. He earns prize moneys attending tournaments. He lives with prize moneys given everytime renewing the world record. Even then, when the country Soviet Union is alive and well, the Olympic gold medal actually became a lifetime pension. There is no longer that great sport country, Soviet Union, and so called Former Soviet United Team which participated in the Barcelona Olympic games was led by Russia( Bubukha is a Ukrainian and is different from Russia in religion). What value is in such a gold medal? In Tokyo he cleared the jump of 6.13 meters once. Audiences of 60,000 naturally expected that he would challenge 6.14 meters and 6.15 meters consecutively. But he was really professional Bubukha. He knows it quite well that if he clears 6.14 meters in the same tournament the record of 6.13 will disappear. As long as there is a contract he can receive money everytime he set a new record, a new record of this human bird cutting centimeter by centimeter will repeat. Hundreds die as 747 crashes into Amsterdam apartment More than 250 people were feared killed when an El Al 747 cargo jet crashed into an Amsterdam apartment complex Oct. 4. Most of the dead were residents of the 10-story low income housing project. Two engines had caught fire soon after takeoff, and the pilot was struggling to return to Schiphol Airport some 16 km away which turned out to be impossible. 80 apartments were destroyed, however, the complex is known to house many illegal aliens; some units are thought to house up to five times the number officially residing there. This is believed to be the worst plane crash ever involving casualties on the ground. Man on the cover - Diego Maradona Powerful shoot of Diego Maradona sliced into the National Stadium's goal in May in 199x. A great shout like a scream. Japanese athletes embracing Maradona running around the field with gut pose. These sights may be seen in the J league's game in some years ahead. A soccer prodigy has come back who was suspended the athlete life with a suspect of possessing cocaine and was not heard of any more for a while. If you are involved in a case of drugs, you'll be punished by permanent expulsion if you are an amateur. Coming back to an active player is close to impossible even in Japanese professional baseball. Japan New Party strong in Tokyo polls The Japan New Party made strong gains in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly elections June 27, winning 20 of the 120 seats. Voter turnout was a record low 51.43 percent. Leader Morihiro Hosokawa announced the fielding about 70 candidates in the Lower House elections and merging with New Party Sakigake, the LDP breakaway group after the election. turnout; a gathering of people, the number of people field; to put out as a candidate AIDS No.2 killer of young men in US AIDS has passed cancer and heart disease to become the second-leading killer of young men in the United States, a government health agency reported July 1. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said AIDS is closing in rapidly on unintentional injuries, such as car crushes, as the leading cause of death in men age 25 to 44. Young black men, three times the rate of white Among Hispanics, the death rate was twice that for white For young Puerto Ricans, the leading cause of death in 1991 U.S. networks to label violent shows The four U.S. television networks(ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX) agreed June 30 to voluntary warning labels on shows depicting extreme violence. They agreed to take specific steps in response to viewer complaints of excessive violence. This revives the debate over whether there is a causal relationship between television viewing and personal behavior. Warning notices will air immediately before violent shows or movies, and throughout the shows, following commercials. Opinion - Stock market scandal by Suvendrini Kakuchi The system in Japan is the very effective demarcation between what is made public and what goes on behind the scenes. Corrupt business practices are not peculiar to Japan. People the world over are on the take. What can the Japanese do about their own particular brand of corruption? Resignation of higher-ups, along with self-declared shame and penance, prison sentences and even the near victory of the previously inconspicuous Social Democratic Party of Japan in elections. And then what happened? Life passed on its usual fashion. Kobe gorilla sent to Kyoto to mate Kobe Municipal Oji Zoo has loaned to its Kyoto counterpart Yasuko, a 15-year-old female lowland gorilla, for purpose of mating. Gorillas in the world are in danger of extinction, so much is hoped of their propagation in zoos. Officials hope Yasuko mate with either Mac, 22, or Kyotaro, 10 in Kyoto. Kyoto Zoo has seen the successful birth of three gorillas. There are a total of 46 gorillas - 25 males and 21 females in 25 zoos in Japan. At present there is reportedly little likelihood of multiplying the species at those facilities. Gunman draws crowd of police Police received a report from a woman that she saw a gunman in a video store, and seven police cruisers were dispatched to the store. The gunman, it turned out, was a life size cardboard cutout of actor Denzel Washington which was a promotion for the movie "Ricochet". Destrade to leave Lions for new Florida team Seibu announced Nov. 30 that they have given up their bid to renew their contract with Destrade. Seibu officials said he wants to play in the US because his wife's parents are ill. He is reportedly set to sign a contract with the Florida Marlins offered a two year contract worth about $4 million(500 million yen). The Cuban-born Destrade makes his home in Florida. He won three consecutive homerun-crown, starting in 1990, as well as RBI(Run Batted In) title in 1990 and 1991. Takeshita denies allegations, says he will not resign Testifying under oath before fellow legislators Nov. 26, Noboru Takeshita allegations that he sought help from mobsters in his 1987 campaign to become prime minister. He acknowledged asking Hiroyasu Watanabe in stopping a rightwing group's harassment campaign, however, denied knowing that Watanabe asked an underworld boss to intervene. Later in the day, seven committee members questioned Watanabe, under arrest for aggravated breach of trust, who refused to answer almost all major questions. On Nov. 27, committee members questioned Kanamaru at the Odawara Hospital. He said he could not remember how the 500 million yen was distributed. His testimony shed little light on the complex Sagawa Scandal. Woman on the cover - Sofia Rolen Is a goodwill ambassador of the United Nations an honorary profession of an actress? So are Ordolly Hepburn of America and Tetsuko Koroyanagi of Japan. And this time a great Italian actress, Sofia Rolen, became a goodwill ambassador of United Nations's High Commission for Refugees. Rolen went to Somalia of African east cost on Nov. 18, designated as a formal goodwill ambassador of UNHCR by Sadako Ogata, High Commission of Refugee, who is the most famous woman in the world as a Japanese woman. Mass media of advanced countries who have reported extensively the situations of Yugoslavia's civil wars and refugees are cool to Somalia which has become a hell with civil wars and starvation for some reasons. Even covering of Yugoslavia, compared to the reporting at the time of Gulf War, seems too tame. There is not oil in Yugoslavia that advanced countries demand and there is a twisted sense that East Africa is naturally poor. Breaking walls of these discriminative common senses, there will be no other way than taking advantage of brilliant stars who always have lights at the radical extreme of poverty and famine. From Somalia which became completely anarchy because of civil wars, one million refugees have flowed into neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia and even with that, there are still four and half million people left surrendering from hunger in the country. The impact of children like skeletons, of diseases, were so brutal. As soon as I closed my eyes last night these images came back and I had a terrible night. |