You don't know my name vol.2

Here're some more homonyms from the ones I posted last November; Japanese last name has a different meaning in Korean.

Kaji (加地): eggplant (가지)
Hori (堀): waist (허리)
Iseki (井関): son of a xxxxx (이 새끼)
Tashiro / Shirota (田代/白田): I hate 'em all (다 싫어)
Yano (矢野): hey, you (야, 너!)

Anything else?

Sorry, Sony

Dear Sony,

First of all, congraturations for your victory over Toshiba's HD-DVD. I'm not a passionate blu-ray supporter, but am so releaved to hear the news 'cause I, and many other consumers alike, don't have to worry about which high definition DVD to buy any longer. As if "a failure is the mother of success", you have done your homework after miserably defeated by the videotape format war of Betamax and VHS decades ago.

You have a reputation of always offering consumers a second option: Betamax in videotape, blu-ray in high definition DVD and omg (or Atrac3) in digital music formats. However, those options have resulted in some inconvenience among consumers.

So, after defeating Toshiba, now it is your turn to admit your loss to Apple's iPod. I've been using Sony's net walkman for more than 7 years. However, you've been betraying such a loyal customer like me for several times such that:

1. "Omg" (this doesn't stand for Oh My God, by the way), your own digital music format, is incompatible with iPod's "aac" format,
2. Mora, your online music store, had finally cut the prices after Apple launched iTunes Store virtually in Japan,
3. Mora's music coverages are still unevenly concentrated on J-pop music (I prefer Amerian HipHop), and
4. There are no available PodCasting at all.

Unless you change your arrogant marketing strategy, I have to purchase an iPod before the switching cost gets higher. This is my last warning.

my jukebox

Sincerely,

Your Loyal Customer (for now)

Wrap n' Roll

Gyoza Dumplings
Inspired by recent news about the poisoning in frozen dumplings, my wife and I cooked some 50 hand-made dumplings last weekend. Still, they were different from the ones we usually make since the round dough for gyoza dumplings was sold out!! Instead, we bought rectangular dough (for wonton) for wrapping ground pork and chopped vegetables.

Korean Rice Roll (김밥)

Also inspired by Eho-maki (恵方巻), we made a dozen of Korean rice rolls on Feb 3 (節分の日) 'cause I prefer Korean rice rolls to Eho-maki. Plus, don't know how to make the latter. By the way, Eho-maki literally means "lucky direction roll". One has to swallow a roll facing this "lucky direction", and cannot slice the roll and say a word while eating it. Of course, the roll is NOT designed for food fight.

"Good Life feat. T-Pain" (by Kanye West)

Good Life consists of, at least, "Fantastic 4" ingredients.

1. Good music like tonight's show performed by Sergio Mendes (Can't wait for the new album coming soon this month!!)

2. Good concert hall or jazz club like Blue Note Tokyo (I really appreciate its NO SMOKING policy)

3. Good meal (Don't order too many foods and drinks at Blue Note Tokyo 'cause they are a bit expensive; but delicious)

4. Company you can share your joy of music with

Welcome to the good life...

Now throw your hands up in the sky. (it's snowing again!)

www.bluenote.co.jp

www.sergiomendestimeless.com/

PS. Kanye, Congrats for your Grammy nominations! Tomorrow's gonna be your BIG day!! You "got to shine!!"

http://www.grammy.com/