So, are we gonna get the new breakfast deals of coffee and sandwich at 355 Japanese Yen ($3.95 x 90) in Tokyo starting next month as well?
"Starbucks Says Hello to a New Day With Pairings at $3.95"
If so, that would be so sweet, given that today's Tall Coffee costs at 340 Yen and Tall Caffè Latte at 370 Yen respectively!! Starbucks raised its beverages and foods by 10 to 20 Yen last July, by the way. Remember?
2/11/2009
"Bittersweet Poetry" (by Kanye West feat. John Mayer)
Valentine's Day is coming soon.
It seems to me that this annual event in Japan hasn't been so commercialized as much as Christmas. Perhaps it is because only commodities retailers can exploit are flower, card and chocolate. There are also some compilation records of sweet love songs released around this time of a year. But, as Forrest Gump's mother said, "Life is like a box of chocolate. You never know what you're gonna get." And you never know what you're getting is a piece, a whole box or nothing at all.
Hope for the best, but good to expect the worst as well.
So, what happens to those left out? Koreans have the Black Day. On April 14, those who spent unhappy Valentine's Day alone get together and eat a bowl of noodle with black bean sauce. If you aren't living in Korea, I recommend listening to Kanye West's latest album, "808s & Heartbreak", especially songs like "Hearless" and "Love Lockdown". Oh, and "Bittersweet Poetry" is a great song as well. Also, order a cup of espresso shot at Starbucks, or that of "bittersweet" Double Mocha (Mocha with an additional espresso shot) if espresso shot is too bitter. Happy couples won't need Caramel Macchiato and Honey Orange Latte, aren't they? Oh, these "sleepless in Tokyo" (NOT this one) folks won't need caffeine to stay awake in the first place!!
Happy Valentine's Day.
It seems to me that this annual event in Japan hasn't been so commercialized as much as Christmas. Perhaps it is because only commodities retailers can exploit are flower, card and chocolate. There are also some compilation records of sweet love songs released around this time of a year. But, as Forrest Gump's mother said, "Life is like a box of chocolate. You never know what you're gonna get." And you never know what you're getting is a piece, a whole box or nothing at all.
Hope for the best, but good to expect the worst as well.
So, what happens to those left out? Koreans have the Black Day. On April 14, those who spent unhappy Valentine's Day alone get together and eat a bowl of noodle with black bean sauce. If you aren't living in Korea, I recommend listening to Kanye West's latest album, "808s & Heartbreak", especially songs like "Hearless" and "Love Lockdown". Oh, and "Bittersweet Poetry" is a great song as well. Also, order a cup of espresso shot at Starbucks, or that of "bittersweet" Double Mocha (Mocha with an additional espresso shot) if espresso shot is too bitter. Happy couples won't need Caramel Macchiato and Honey Orange Latte, aren't they? Oh, these "sleepless in Tokyo" (NOT this one) folks won't need caffeine to stay awake in the first place!!
Happy Valentine's Day.
"Grammy Family" (by Consequence)
This must be a proof that I'm good at predicting the unpredictable. Or that I just prefer catchy, pop music?
This year's Grammy Winners and Nominees from my collection
After the 51st Grammy Awards last Sunday, thinking 'bout purchasing the albums of Lil Wayne and Jazmine.
2/08/2009
Sleepless in Tokyo (Not Seattle)
Notice of Night Construction WorkOh, no. They're coming back 2 work 2... a Sarah Palin and a Joe the Plumber.
Working from 8pm through 6am next week. Nice.
2/07/2009
Back 2 Work
It's been 2 weeks since I started a new job. To simply put, my job is to predict the unpredictable. It ain't fortune-telling, though! In other words, the mission of my company is, to promote international trade and investment by helping customers, mostly Japanese enterprises, manage political and commercial risks in international business.
It's great to be working such a company when the world economy is in a once-in-a-century trouble and the importance of risk management is mounted more than ever. I haven't yet analyzed such risks as do my colleagues, but so far I have found more similarities than differences from my previous job. And my previous employer is one of the biggest customers.
After the first two weeks, I still have a lot to learn. Need more time and effort to enhance my expertise. What I have learned so far is how to cope with sleepiness. I've been getting back my acting skills as well. Wonder what the skills are for? Well, it's useful for pretending to be working hard! :)
Now I'm thinking to start learning tarot card or casino. :P
Any suggestions?
c'est la vie. et les affaires aussi.
It's great to be working such a company when the world economy is in a once-in-a-century trouble and the importance of risk management is mounted more than ever. I haven't yet analyzed such risks as do my colleagues, but so far I have found more similarities than differences from my previous job. And my previous employer is one of the biggest customers.
After the first two weeks, I still have a lot to learn. Need more time and effort to enhance my expertise. What I have learned so far is how to cope with sleepiness. I've been getting back my acting skills as well. Wonder what the skills are for? Well, it's useful for pretending to be working hard! :)
Now I'm thinking to start learning tarot card or casino. :P
Any suggestions?
Still talking 'bout Steel
The world has been keeping its eyes on those "Steelers" at the Capitol Hill who try to make the last minute touchdown by including a Buy-American (iron and steel) provision in its economic stimulus package. We'll wait and see whether they are as good as Pittsburgh Steelers that made it at last Sunday's Super Bowl. If the bill includes such a provision, other countries are most likely to retaliate with "Bye American". They are neither "Bestbuy" nor "Good-bye".
The shifts to protectionism is mounted all over the world. The increases in tariff and of government loan/guarantee are here and there. Professor Paul Krugman, a laureate of the latest Nobel prize in Economics, also discusses the benefits of "protectionism", but only when some specifications (contained, short-run one during a global liquidity trap) meet. The news reports from Davos in the past one week were colored by the criticisms on American capitalism for spreading the financial crisis.
Yet, fewer reports highlighted Putin's speech in his blame on the U.S. than in his remarks on the importance of economic liberalization. Interestingly enough, the premier emphasized the importance of free trade and so on. It's a bit self-contradictory while observing his country having increased its tariff on car imports and the state interventions in Sakhalin gas projects. Still, it's obvious the world needs market economy and the U.S. to come back with a solid, economic growth.
It's been a while since the Iron Maiden has gone. Now where is the "Iron Man" who save the world?
The shifts to protectionism is mounted all over the world. The increases in tariff and of government loan/guarantee are here and there. Professor Paul Krugman, a laureate of the latest Nobel prize in Economics, also discusses the benefits of "protectionism", but only when some specifications (contained, short-run one during a global liquidity trap) meet. The news reports from Davos in the past one week were colored by the criticisms on American capitalism for spreading the financial crisis.
Yet, fewer reports highlighted Putin's speech in his blame on the U.S. than in his remarks on the importance of economic liberalization. Interestingly enough, the premier emphasized the importance of free trade and so on. It's a bit self-contradictory while observing his country having increased its tariff on car imports and the state interventions in Sakhalin gas projects. Still, it's obvious the world needs market economy and the U.S. to come back with a solid, economic growth.
It's been a while since the Iron Maiden has gone. Now where is the "Iron Man" who save the world?
1/31/2009
Fit for Office?!
After a long, long coffee break, I'm back to work now.
Ever since I quit my job, Nikkei dropped by approx. 40%; Sony, Toyota and numerous, other companies announced thousands of jobcuts each. The unemployment in Japan has been up to 3 million, or by 0.5% to 4.4% last December. For those living in a country with unumployment rate of 6% or higher, the figure isn't that impressive, but this is the highest monthly jump in 41 years. Economic outlook is so dim that IMF has just lowered Japan's GDP growth rate in 2009 to -2.6%. Given such circumstances, I'm grateful to my employer for giving me this job opportunity.
I'm not as "fit for office" as Obama. From Day One, the new president of the U.S.A. immediately implemented his new policies by shutting down the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and working on $800 billion sitmulus package. On the other hand, I did nothing but greeting my new colleagues and reading some employee manuals on my first day. Still, I felt extremely exhausted. Hopefully, I'm fit to work physically like Obama's shirtless photo in Hawaii, though.
After only a week at a new office, it's hard to say I'm fit to the job, and able to get along with my colleagues (esp. my boss). At least the business is quite similar to my previous job, and the people are likable. I'm doing my best to be more polite and more respectful than usual. After all, one thing for sure: weekend's coffee break is, priceless even though such a break is far shorter than that long, long one.
Ever since I quit my job, Nikkei dropped by approx. 40%; Sony, Toyota and numerous, other companies announced thousands of jobcuts each. The unemployment in Japan has been up to 3 million, or by 0.5% to 4.4% last December. For those living in a country with unumployment rate of 6% or higher, the figure isn't that impressive, but this is the highest monthly jump in 41 years. Economic outlook is so dim that IMF has just lowered Japan's GDP growth rate in 2009 to -2.6%. Given such circumstances, I'm grateful to my employer for giving me this job opportunity.
I'm not as "fit for office" as Obama. From Day One, the new president of the U.S.A. immediately implemented his new policies by shutting down the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and working on $800 billion sitmulus package. On the other hand, I did nothing but greeting my new colleagues and reading some employee manuals on my first day. Still, I felt extremely exhausted. Hopefully, I'm fit to work physically like Obama's shirtless photo in Hawaii, though.
After only a week at a new office, it's hard to say I'm fit to the job, and able to get along with my colleagues (esp. my boss). At least the business is quite similar to my previous job, and the people are likable. I'm doing my best to be more polite and more respectful than usual. After all, one thing for sure: weekend's coffee break is, priceless even though such a break is far shorter than that long, long one.
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