Tag Archives: Black Friday

Life In Japan: Western Holidays

I admit, at first I had mixed feelings when I encountered Western holidays in Asia.  Wasn’t it cultural pollution?  Wasn’t any place safe from Ken and Barbie dolls, the Easter Bunny, Superman, Santa Claus, Ronald McDonald, Taylor Swift? Gradually, however, I’ve adjusted to the fact that in Asia, Japan in particular, the modus operandi tends to be a sponge more than a condom.  The cultural roots here are so deep, a little cross-pollination actually reinforces the uniqueness of the region’s distinctive features. Continue reading

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The Lizard Brain Has Imposed a No-Fly Zone Over the Cerebral Cortex

Stress is bad. Here it is the time of year when we should be enjoying life, celebrating the birth of a future carpenter who would fall victim to a sting operation by the Roman secret police, make a wholly embarrassing and painful exit from the dusty scene in Jerusalem, then become the iconic figurehead of a world-class religion, and what are we doing? Fighting over the last Iron Man Avengers Age of Ultron Toy at Walmart with an open-carry rodeo queen who left her 18-wheeler diesel engine idling in the parking lot. Well, you tense and frazzled folks, I’ve found the perfect Christmas gift for you and your whole stressed-out family! Continue reading

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