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tigristarlet
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Name: Dani
Country: Japan
Birthday: 3/4/1984
Gender: Female
Interests: Professional loitering, following Christ, my husband, singing & musical theater, anime, writing, drawing & painting, coffee, gaming, music, making up obnoxious nicknames, studying Japanese, loving everyone more than anyone is comfortable with, nostalgia
Expertise: Spending money, being uncomfortably affectionate, talking to animals, being a wild thing, being hard on myself, writing pictures and painting words. Speaking in girlish mysteries. Reading books.
Occupation: ALT
Industry: Education/Research
Message: message me
Member Since:
7/7/2003
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| One of the things that I loved about living with my girls is that we never judged each other for liking music that was basically crap. We knew it was crap, we loved it anyway. If one of us liked it, chances were we all liked it. And if we all liked it, chances were we were blasting it from our computers and dancing like idiots in the living room. In honor of my girls I've concocted a sweet feel-good, Spring Thing playlist that I'm pretty sure no one else would want to listen to but us. If we lived together right now, this is what we would be doing shimmy-dances to all over the apartment. Tracks are as follows:
1.Boyz by M.I.A.
It's so easy to imagine Kendra shaking her hips and saying "Howmany howmany" in a little voice at random moments. Plus we always liked music with an Indian flavah.
2. Many Moons by Janelle Monae
This chick is like the female James Brown+Andre 3000 with a pompadour, and she sings about androids. What's not to love?
3.She Bop by Cyndi Lauper
Token 80's tune.
4. Mercury by Bloc Party
I'm almost positive that no one will like this song but Lindsey, so I'm warning you all that she is probably the only one who should click on it. This is exactly the type of thing we would listen to all the time, in the vein of "Madame Hollywood" by Felix Da Housecat, or Kenna.
5. Radio by Beyonce
Cheesy, bass-y, catchy pop by an overplayed female pop artist- right up our alley.
6.Hussel by M.I.A. featuring Afrikan Boy
This song is worth listening to mostly because of the delightful bit by Afrikan Boy. My favorite line: "If you think it's tough now, come to Africa." But we could shake our butts to it, too.
7. Umbrella by Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
See #5. For Abby.
8. Sabali by Amadou and Mariam
I think we actually did listen to this one, Lindsey. If not, we should have. I mean, there's a foreign language sample in the background, one of your signatures.
9. Dance Parties (Mechanised) by 65daysofstatic
The one song in the playlist that Dave might like. Sounds like vampire killing and Megabusters. This is a nod to the many times I was blasting Mega Man remixes from my room while you guys were trying to watch something on T.V., only this is actually good.
10. I Don't Wanna Grow Up by Scarlett Johanssen
It's produced by Dave Sitek and it's a Tom Waits cover. We'd be all over this. It also has this kind of dreamy, happy, Flaming Lips quality to it. Good background music.
11. Mango Pickle Down River by M.I.A.
Just listen to this. It's a no-brainer.
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| After the serious and haphazardly copy-and-pasted entry I thought that I would write about some fluff. Fluffy fluff fluff.
I'm sure I've mentioned this before but when Matt is away and I have a lot of free time I usually sit down with the computer and gorge myself on beauty tutorials and reviews. With the onset of the era of my very own new lappy this has gotten even worse as I can fill up my i-tunes with all female artists (lately M.I.A. and thumpy and girly, bleep blop bloopy electro-pop) and hours apon hours of my favorite NPR podcasts, create all of my own bookmarks and Mozilla start tabs, and happily submerge myself in this fluffly little world for extended periods of time.
It's a sickness.
As I'm stuck in Asia for the next umpteen years I've come across alot of Asian beauty blogs, much to the benefit of my skin and the annoyance of poor Matty who has to wait for me to thoroughly cleanse and massage my face every night before we can go to bed.
Ricebunny has been the favorite for a long time but I've recently found a new love to check every morning: Loewemyli. This lovely British cosmetologist has completely turned around my skin care regime and my skin. So in the vein of these blogs, here is a short list of the things that keep Asian women looking so much younger than the rest of the world.
- Genetics. Too bad for us, hmm. Naturally oily skin and smaller features that tend to age well.
- Diets rich in fish. Fish oil stimulates collagen production, especially when paired with vitamin E and C supplements/skin treatments.
- Loads of drinks that are made especially to improve the quality of your skin, with collagen, aloe and vitamins. They taste pretty horrible, by the way. I've even seen spaghetti made with collagen!
- Diets that are (generally) low in dairy products, such as butter or milk. Apparently dairy products break down acidic. Foods that break down acidic tend to aggravate skin that is prone to acne.
- Skin care lines formulated with Q10 enzyme.
- Gallons and gallons of green tea, rich in polyphenols and antioxidants.
- Shouyu! Show me! Like green tea, soy has tons of benefits for the skin, like evening the skin tone and providing moisture.
- Asian facial massage. It's supposed to help recontour the face muscles, and I'm not too sure about all of that stuff, but as loewemyli has said it increases blood circulation and moisture. I think two of the biggest mistakes we make as Westerners are over-cleansing and over-exfoliating. Dry skin ages faster, yo!
- A more than mild obsession with sun screen. In Asia white skin is generally thought to be the most beautiful so SPF 50 is all over the place.
Thanks for bearing with me, guys.
Because of debt or the recession, my prefecture is dropping about half of the JETs next year. As a fourth-year I have an opportunity to be observed and interviewed. If this evaluation goes well I'm very likely to be recontracted. I'm wondering if this is the best idea for me and I'm considering telling them, you know, never mind. The Japanese school year begins in April and the JET contract ends in July. This makes it very difficult to get a good job after JET. If I recontract I'll just be in this position again next year. Plus if I do recontract I'll have to visit two or three different high schools, and the working conditions would worsen in many, many aspects.
Please be in prayer about that!
Have I mentioned how tithing totally rocks our world? Despite expensive trips, periods where Matt didn't have any work at all, and excessive worrying about exactly where the money will come from the money HAS come through one opportunity or another. Every month we end up with way more money than we should. God has provided for us and it's aMAZing.
I love you guys. I love you guys all de time.
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| I have been talking about various stuffs with a fellow xangan, and the result is a maze of c o m m e n t s, replies to c o m m e n t s, everything scattered everywhere. So I am going to post the entire conversation in just in case anyone wants to see things as they have happened. The original entry that inspired this conversation can be found here. It all actually started when he responded to Matt's c o m m e n t:
I'm going to be different here. I'm a Christian, and I do not approve this message. It seems like everyone else has been a bit too quick to agree."...for the most part, all religions have
almost identical moral codes." That's a pretty bold statement. Just how much do you know about all religions? Check out this handy-dandy chart. It doesn't say anything specifically about moral codes, but the "life's purpose" column highlights some pretty big differences between religions' core beliefs. "So, take away the literature and stories of the respective religious
texts, because, true or not, they are only in there to reinforce the
morals and ideals that the religion is founded on. They are not
important..." I won't speak for other religions, because I don't know their scriptures so well, but in the case of Christianity scripture is far more than ridiculous stories or unnecessary support for a moral code. The Bible is arguably, if not certainly, the most influential book of all time. The misinterpretation and abuse of the truth contained in the Bible has led to the destruction of countless lives. Faith in the truth contained in the Bible has led to and will continue to lead to the salvation of countless lives. I'm sure that scriptures of many other religions have (had) huge effects on their respective societies, as well. The popular thing to say these days is that all religions are basically the same. I get kind of tired of hearing it and seeing people fall in line with the idea so easily. To say that the religions around the world share many similarities would be accurate, but the foundation of each religion is pretty unique from what I have seen, as
are the effects that each religion has on society. There are enough
differences in morals and critical beliefs to choke a donkey. A really
big one. Your main point seems to be that "the labelling and segregation of religions" is the cause of all our religion-related woes. Are you really so bothered by the fact that people have different
beliefs and identify those beliefs through language? That's just
unreasonable. The problems that arise from religion are rooted in 1) people's selfish manipulation of others' faiths and 2) people being too stubborn to question their own beliefs and disrepecting others'. That's pretty obvious, isn't it? DID says to the_greatest_pip - That chart doesn't tell me anything besides confirming what I had already said. The Life's Purposes for every religion is a focus on becoming a better person as an end result. Anyway, to be arguing that religions are different, but then to say that you don't know much about other religions is kinda contradictory and kills any chance for a valid point you may have had. Yes, the labelling and segragation of religions is a problem, because, hell, as you even pointed out, people manipulate other religions for their own selfish ideas. What I'm saying is if people just acknowledged that a person is religious and therefore assume they are striving to become a better person, and not go into details of what they follow, there'd be quite a bit less hate and violence.
To say that they are essentially the same would be to assume that they each have the same idea of what is "good" and to grossly oversimplify very different bodies of religious thought and the world-views of those who follow them.
DID says to (some guy) I'm sorry, but you couldn't be more wrong. Islam is not the only religion in which people justify killing in the name of a God. The crusades alone should be proof of that, but there are radicals in all religions that have a diety that kill in the name them and consider it justified. For one, Scientology states that it is completely acceptable and expected to kill anyone who threatens scientology.
I single out religion, because as opposed to scientific or historic truths, religion is a social philosophy based off of what was considered "right" in the times that the scriptures were written. A time where slavery was cool, the earth was flat, and the sun revolved around us.
I say to DrugInducedDuck - The Bible was not written in a time when "slavery was cool, the earth was flat and the sun revolved around us."
It was written during a time when slavery happened, but a) it was a part of their culture and had a very different connotation from the slavery of the Civil War, more like indentured servitude, not based on race and b) many other things were written during that time. Some condoned slavery, some did not. The Bible does not.
Christian scriptures were written some 300-1000 years before the ideas of a flat earth and the sun revolving around the earth ever came about. The Bible, incidentally, doesn't promote either concept. It does, however, mention a round Earth in Isaiah 40:22. Isaiah was written 300 years before Aristotle proposed the idea.
He says to realungabunga - See, the part where you think people following a different religion is a "mistake" is the point of this post. Do you really think that if there is a God, he or she would be so selective that even though someone follows another religion, lives a great life and helps others, that person is damned no matter what because they chose wrongly out of the hundreds of religions out there? If that's your God, your God is a douchebag bigot, and seems a lot more like a trait of those writing the scriptures rather than a God. As for archaeological evidence, nope, there is nothing there to prove the stories true, because they're not. They're based on stories formed by older religions, the same religions that christianity have declared to be wrong. The stories aren't important, though, that's what I'm trying to say. They, like fairy tales, are there to provide morals for the reader. Just because they found an old wooden boat does not mean it's the Ark, it's just an old wooden boat. I say to DrugInducedDuck - "As for archaeological evidence, nope, there is nothing there to prove the stories true, because they're not."
Now that's just downright untrue. There is bountiful archaeological evidence for claims made in the Bible. Geographical information, information about battles, genealogies, languages and cultures, information about rulers, the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt, the falling of the walls of Jericho, even the existence of a person named Jesus who led a radical group and was crucified (in secular, Roman records); all of these and more are backed up by hard archaeological finds. DID says to tigristarlet - Saving Private Ryan used historical events, locations, and other true information, too, but that doesn't mean it's not a work of fiction. Also, there is no evidence that Jesus ever existed, the first claims came about 200 years after he would have lived.
I say to @DrugInducedDuck - "Saving Private Ryan used historical events,
locations, and other true information, too, but that doesn't mean it's not a work of fiction."
Fair enough. You will be hard put to find hard historical evidence of the authenticity of miracles themselves (though the walls of Jericho did fall from the inside outward, and Gomorrah is known to have been destroyed by fire). You made a claim that there was no archaeological evidence supporting the stories, and I disputed that claim.
It is important to note that though there were plenty of people who were alive at the time who had every reason in the world to dispute the miracles that he performed, none has been found. Also to date there has been absolutely no archaeological evidence found to disprove any claim made in the Bible.
"Also, there is no evidence that Jesus ever existed, the first claims came about 200 years after he would have
lived."
Most historians and paleontologists do agree that, at the very least, a person named Jesus lived and died under Pilate. Records exist by Josephus, Tacitus and others. These records range from 70 AD to 100 AD. Josephus at least lived within a time to have met first generation Christians. Most historians agree that though at times the authenticity of these sources were questioned, few now maintain that they are not reliable.
Some guy says to tigristarlet - Yes, most historians agree there was a guy, named Jesus, who started a religion, had some followers, and died. Most historians agree there was a guy, named Muhammad, who started a religion, had some followers, and died. Most historians agree there was a guy, named Appolonius of Tyana, who started a religion, had some followers, and died. Most historians agree there was a guy, named Siddhartha Gautama, who started a religion, had some followers, and died.
Most historians agree there was a guy, named Joseph Smith, who started a religion, had some followers, and died.
Most historians agree there was a guy, named L. Ron Hubbard, who started a religion, had some followers, and died. Frankly, people start religions all the time. People are convinced they are the savior of the world, people write books about them. Sometimes it catches on, on a massive scale, and millions, even billions, buy into it. Yet there is no more evidence for the failed religions (Appolonius of Tyana) than for the successful ones (Jesus, Siddhartha Gautama). I said to the two of them:
"Also, there is no evidence that Jesus ever existed, the first claims came about 200 years after he would have lived." This is the statement that I was contesting. I never proposed that there was evidence suggesting that other starters of religions never existed, whether the religions were successful or not. "Yet there is no more evidence for the failed religions (Appolonius of Tyana) than for the successful ones (Jesus, Siddhartha Gautama)." It's also important to consider exactly what historians say about the founders of various religions and the quantity and quality of the evidence that supports (or disproves) the founders' claims. I don't have to tell you that not all evidence or sources are equal. The main source for Mormonism, for example, has no archaeological or historical evidence to support its claims or the claims of its founder. Muhammad does have many sources that confirm his existence, but the most important sources outside of the Q`uran date to 3 or 4 centuries after he is generally agreed to have lived. (This isn't to claim that such later sources are completely invalid, it is just to show that the quality and historicity of such sources is not equal; there is more or less evidence supporting different religions.)
For many religions, the greatest source of information about their founders can be taken from their respective scriptures. It is a mistake to assume that such sources are hopelessly biased and unreliable because even these must, and can, be considered in light of their authenticity and the claims that they make. | | |
| After reading a featured xanga entry about reasons why not to vote for Obama, I was disgusted and terrified about something I hadn't heard before; apparently, Obama supports live abortions. While the description of live abortion was graphic and horrifying, and the entry itself was mildly convincing, I had actually never heard of a live abortion before and decided to look up exactly what this girl was talking about. If you like, check out this article on Obama's stance on abortion. It seems that he wasn't exactly for live abortions per se, but that he directly opposed legislation that would protect babies who were already aborted but born live anyway.
I was excited about Obama's radical pushes for change in the very nature of politics. The hope in his message was something that I felt I could support with a clear conscience, if also with a grain or two of salt. But it seems that with this issue, the change would be for the worse.
Brothers and sisters, pray for our leaders.
*edit*
Hey hey, guys. Again thanks for the thoughtful c o m m e n t s. Don't worry. I wouldn't dare base my vote on one issue, nor would I suggest that the Republican side is in the clear. I was just freaked out and really felt the need to pray for our leaders, for whoever ends up in power and the voting process as it continues. That was supposed to be the point of the entry. I only meant to voice a very specific worry about a very specific issue. I should have been more clear about that from the start. Also, I broke the link just to clear up any other confusion.
I love you guys.
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| Having no cash can be ridiculously freeing.
Okay, and it can also be pretty terrifying, but we weren't totally without money or hope. We got stranded in Sakae today with no cash (a 45 minute train ride away from home). We had empty bellies, a credit card, and almost exactly enough change to get home. After realizing that the ATMs weren't working until tomorrow (Monday) at 7, we kind of gave up and decided to enjoy it. We took advantage of the all-day tickets we had already bought and went on a no-cash tour of Nagoya. We walked around Osu-Kannon, the artsy, gritty, and young part of Nagoya. We went there to get tacos with the cash that we thought we had, but we got to do some people watching all the same. Then we went to Outback Steakhouse, armed with our credit card to get one big meal for the day. In the middle of our meal two girls from a hair and makeup college came up to me holding out a cell phone. On it, there was a translated message asking me to be their model for a show on Sunday. Craaazy. They showed me pictures. I pretty much agreed. What girl wouldn't want to be dressed up in a kimono and painted all awesome? It's like Paradise Kiss or something!
Then we went to Meijo park and fed a couple of swans with weeds, and saw tons of huge koi, sleepy cats, bouncy, tiny dogs and the outside (the good part) of Nagoya castle. It sucks that tonight we had to miss the Firefly Festival and the company of a good friend because we couldn't afford to get there, but we'll try to make it tomorrow after Matt has been paid and the ATMs start working again.
Good day.
<3<3<3
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