Category Archives: Food

Life In Japan: Planting Rice

Posted on April 5, 2019 by johnrachel

Preparing the soil to plant rice is a wet, muddy, mucky mess. l know because I’ve watched them prepare the fields directly in front of my house several years on and off. It’s astonishing how quickly the rice grows. Soon our entire valley is an intense, vibrant green, going from almost incandescent lime to the rich, deep emerald of a mature plant. Maybe I have too much time on my hands and too little excitement, but when I ride my bike through the fields of viridescent rice, I’m struck by the incredible beauty of it all. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Bamboo

Posted on March 31, 2019 by johnrachel

Unbeknownst to me in the dark days of my bambooless ignorance, this rather simple tree has a whole host of applications. Anyone from Asia needs to just bear with me here. This is all so obvious to you. But I’m embarrassed to have to admit, before I started traveling this hemisphere, I had no clue about bamboo. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: JA

Posted on January 20, 2019 by johnrachel

JA stands for Japan Agriculture. JA is a huge, sprawling organization, with hundreds of stores, facilities, and offices across the entire country. But … it’s not a corporation. It’s not a government facility, branch, or department. It’s a COOPERATIVE! Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Persimmons

Posted on October 27, 2018 by johnrachel

Ever had a persimmon? You should try one! I’m glad I did. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Western Food

Posted on May 5, 2018 by johnrachel

Though my taste buds were born, raised, and trained in America, I love Japanese food! I really do. I now regularly eat many things I would have considered very special treats for very special occasions — sushi, tempura, edamame, teriyaki — and eat some things I never would have attempted before — octopus, squid, rice daily. Continue reading →

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How do we confront abuse of power and restore democracy?

Posted on May 31, 2017 by johnrachel

We either take charge or suffer more indignities and abuse at the hands of the ruling elite and their pay-for-play lackeys, the folks we send to Washington DC to do a job but who end up ignoring the very citizens they are supposed to be working for — that would be you and I! Fortunately, candidate contracts afford a bulletproof method for guaranteeing results and guaranteeing that anyone running for office who will not warranty their allegiance to the voters who put them in office will never have a shot at being elected. Continue reading →

Posted in Corporatism, Deconstruction, Democracy, Economics, Food, Political Analysis, Political Rant, War and Peace | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

What’s wrong with this picture?

Posted on March 19, 2017 by johnrachel

Want to make America safe? Want to make America loved and respected throughout the world? Halt the famine that is now developing in Africa and put a permanent end to world hunger. Our nation will no longer be looked at as the propagators of death and destruction but be heralded as saviors and saints. Continue reading →

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NEAR agenda . . . does not include hypoallergenic lipstick.

Posted on October 31, 2015 by johnrachel

The agenda of the NEAR Foundation offers a breathtaking vision for social, economic, and political reform. On the other hand, what kind of world would it be without hypoallergenic cosmetics? Continue reading →

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Creativity: Creating Memorable Characters

Posted on November 21, 2014 by johnrachel

People often ask me: “John, how do you come up with your characters?” Continue reading →

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Starts With ‘C’ Rhymes With Dancer

Posted on October 17, 2014 by johnrachel

The food in America is toxic. Maybe not as poisonous as rat poison but ultimately just as lethal. Continue reading →

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