Blogger Ipad App

Has anyone seen the blogger app for ipad? A few days ago it didn't even exist. You could download the app on the ipad, but it would be the iphone version. Well now no more! There is an actual version of blogger app for ipad.

Good Points:
1. clean style
2. easy to use (for posting and drafting)
3. can edit previous posts

Bad Points:
1. doesn't have different fonts (the ones you choose for how you want your blog to look like)
2. doesn't have editing options when writing a post therefore
3. can't move pictures to the left, right, or center, and can't add links

But otherwise I am glad they made the app.
(Hey they should sponsor me for talking about their app! Totally serious!)

It's way better than not having an app at all, and I can't wait to see if they add those editing options. Plus now I don't always have to sit in front of my laptop just to write a post, and hopefully I get more viewers now that I can make posts more regularly.

I can make a posts using my ipad when I'm in class or make a draft when I'm on the train and wait when I get internet connection to post it! There are certsi times when i'm on the train that I lose internet connection, and it jusr sucks. But at least with the app you can also save your draft and not lose any data.

交換日記

Lately I have wanted to write more, specifically in a diary. And sometimes it's a little boring to write to myself not knowing if someone is reading (in this blog), or my personal diary. So I looked if there were any apps for exchange journals, and I found the app called 交換日記, which is available in Japanese and English depending on your Iphone language settings.

Personally, I also looked online and so far have found nothing. All I find is that in 1990's in Japan exchange diaries were popular with girls in school. I didn't know this at all. When I was in middle school and high school I exchanged notebooks with close friends because I thought it was fun, and it was a way for us to talk about personal things or just things that interested us. Sometimes I would write during classes too.
I had no clue that some people in Japan also did this.

Though when I tried to find exchange diaries (交換日記) online, I got the impression that the information online was saying that the idea from exchange diaries came from Japan? Regardless, I think this has also been a popular thing in other countries.

~~~~This is where I transition~~~~

Does anyone want to do an exchange diary with me? I really want to do one, and I think it would be interesting to write to someone.

It's almost like being penpals right?! I love doing that too. And if you know spanish or japanese, I can do in that language too. But probably my japanese is still (I think) weak, my japanese diary will be limited... >__<

Still, I encourage you to contact me or leave comments with your thoughts. ^^ Stay warm this winter!

数字だけを欲しがる外国人社長: Foreign Company Presidents Who Only Want To See Facts and Figures

Hiragana Times, 1997年1月号（株式会社ヤック企画）

■Foreign Company Presidents Who Only Want To See The Facts And Figures（数字だけを欲しがる外国人社長）

One of the things about the foreign-owned companies in Japan is that, in general most company presidents who are sent from abroad to run them are usually on only 2-3 year, short-term contracts.（日本の外資系会社の一般的事項として、日本へ派遣される社長は2～3年の契約社長である場合が多い。）
Because of this, they only have a short time to bring about some results and transform their achievements into another step up the ladder to their promotion, so they spend about the first two years getting results and the last year in submitting self-praising reports in order to win themselves seats as stockholders, and they end up neglecting to mediate the work in the company in Japan.（従って任期中に成果を出して、日本での実績を次の昇進のステップにすることを考えるため、実際は2年程度の結果を基に最後の1年は欧州の株主への、出世のための自画自賛のレポートの提出に追われてしまい、日本での社内まとめの仕事はおろそかになる。）
As a result, they end up wanting only results, using powerful carrot and stick policies, going after facts and figures only, and they do not make investments based on a long-term view of the future of the company.（この結果、短期間でとにかく結果が欲しくなり、勢いアメとムチの政策になり、数字だけを追う事になり、長期的展望にたった投資が行われなくなる。）

The company president's instructions become something like, "I don't want excuses; I want only results!", and no one thinks about the mid-term efforts or bothers to plant the seeds for future good results.（従って社長からの指示は「私は言い訳は要らない。結果だけが欲しい」となり、誰も途中の努力とか、数年後の成功のための種まき的仕事をしなくなる。）
What ends up happening is that those people who think only about immediate results end up getting the carrot and, for the Japanese, it becomes a very difficult and restrictive place in which to work because human relations are fraught with friction and selfish opinions and ruled by the facts and figures.（最終的にどうなるかと言うと、単なる数字の結果だけを出した人がおいしいアメをもらうことになり、日本人側から見ると、数字がすべてを支配するギスギスした自己本意の人間関係が幅を利かす職場になってしまう。）

Let us show you some concrete examples of the types of actual intercultural clashes that occur in such companies.（では実際に異文化がもろに衝突する会社では具体的にどんなことが起こるのか触れてみよう。）

JA（Japanese）: The company we delivered the goods to have complained that three out of the one hundred products we sent were defective, and the Japanese, who are sticklers for quality control, say that "a 3% rate of defectiveness is much too high." What should we do?（納品された当社の製品が100台中3台不良との事で品質管理にうるさい日本では、「この3％の不良率は高い」とのクレームがついていますがどうすれば良いでしょう？）

NJ （Non-Japanese）: Well then, if we send them 103 products and they are able to get their 100 good quality items, then we will be able to satisfy their demands and they will have no reason to complain.（それなら最初から103台を納品すれば、お客は100台の良品を手にできる。これで彼らの要求に対して100％応えることになるのだからこれで文句はなくなるだろう。）

JA: The same company has also complained that the nameplates have not been placed in the same position.（同社から同時にネームプレートの取り付け位置が一定していない、とのクレームも来ています。）
What shall we do about this?（これはどうしましょう？）

NJ: The products we sent were all dispatched having met the specifications in the catalog, so there should be no problem here.（カタログ上の性能はクリアしているのだから何も問題はないはずだ。）
The location of the nameplates is not guaranteed in the catalog, so even if they bring a suit against us, we are fully within our rights, so there is no need to worry.（ネームプレートの位置までカタログ上で保証している訳ではないから、訴訟されても十分訴訟に耐えられるから心配するな。）

JA: Our customers would like to know more about the quality of our products and have requested that we send them not only someone from the management but also someone from the quality control department to explain things to them.（お客から製品の品質について説明を聞きたいので、営業だけでなく品質保証課（QC）の人も来社して、彼らに説明するように要請がありました。）
What shall we do?（どうしましょう？）

NJ: Our company has a budget system and the budgets for business trips for each department have already been determined.（当社は予算制で出張旅費は各課ですでに予算が決まっている。）
If someone from quality control were sent on the advice of the managing department, how would anyone be able to determine whether the funds for that trip had been sent from management to the quality control department?（営業の都合でQCが出張するなら、その金が実際、営業課からQC課へ振り込まれたかを経理では一体どのように確認するのかね？）

JA: Can't the departments in the same company accommodate each other even this much?（同じ社内でそれくらい相互の融通を効かすことができないでしょうか？）

NJ: What kind of stupid thing is that to say?（何をばかなことを言っているのかね？）
A person who cannot stick to the determined budget for his department in the first place has no business being in management.（そもそもすでに決定された自分の課の予算も守れない人間はマネージメント能力がないと見なすのだよ。）

JA: !!??（！！？？）

NJ: Of course personnel expenses are also in the budget system, so the budget also limits the amount of overtime we can pay every month.（当然、人件費も予算制なのだ。だから毎月の残業代だって予算上、支払上限がある。）

JA: But sometimes people have to do overtime out of necessity...（でも、必要に迫られて残業が必要な場合もあるのでは…）

NJ: Japanese people sure do like to accumulate overtime pay, don't they?（本当に日本人は残業代稼ぎが好きですよね？）
If you have to do overtime, then that means that you are not doing a good enough job of managing your work in the first place.（残業するという事は結局君の仕事の処理能力がないからだよ。）

JA: !!??（！！？？）

NJ: In the monthly meetings, most of your people do not say anything.（月例会議をやっても、日本人は何も発言しない人が多い。）
If you don't have any opinions of your own, then you are not qualified to be a manager.（自分の意見を持たないようでは、マネージャの資格はない。）
Such people need not attend the meetings from now on.（そんな人は今後会議に出る必要はない。）

JA: There is a language barrier, and for Japanese people, it is very difficult to present an argument to the company president's suggestions in English.（言葉の問題もあり、社長の提案に英語で反対意見を言うのは日本人として難しいのです。）
Besides that, the Japanese, through the process of nemawashi, had already come to a general agreement over the items on today's agenda anyway.（それに今日の議題について、日本人の間ではすでに根回しである程度結論が出ているのですが…）

NJ: You don't need to go through the nemawashi process.（ネマワシは要らない。）
A meeting is already designed to be a place where everyone can argue their own opinions and thereby come to a better conclusion.（相互に自分の意見を戦わせて、より良い結論を導き出すのが会議というものだ。）

JA: Logically, this may be so, but if we did this in Japan, we would never come to any agreements...（論理的にはその通りなのですが、それを日本でやったら何もまとまらないのでは…）

JA: If some of the staff is absent, then there is too much work for the people present to do.（もし部員に欠員ができたら、今の人数では仕事量が多過ぎて苦しいのですが。）

NJ: Even if it is difficult, it is better that the work is being done.（苦しくても回っているのなら、それでよい。）
Doesn't it show the people how easy they have had it up until now?（今までいかに楽をしていたかという証明ではないか？）
It's better if you think of it as a good chance to decrease the budget and increase the effectiveness of the workers.（予算を減らして一人当たりの効率を高める良い機会と考えればよいではないか。）

JA: The staff say they are going to quit, so who should we promote to be the next section chief?（スタッフも辞めると言っていますが、次は誰を部長へ引き上げましょうか？）

NJ: It takes too much time to promote someone from the ranks and groom them for the position.（内部の人を引き上げて育てていると時間がかかる。）
In order to bring about results during my term of office, I want you to go out and scout for another suitable section chief immediately.（私の任期中に結果を出すには、すぐにどこかから部長をスカウトしてこい。）

JA: Won't people begin to see the limitations being put on their own advancement and lose sight of their incentives?（それでは社内での出世の限界が見えてしまい、社員の励みにならないのではありませんか？）

NJ: The present subsection chief is only good enough to be a subsection chief, so he will retain that position.（今の係長は能力が係長どまりだから係長の地位に留まっているのだ。）
The nationality of the workers and the managers are different after all.（現場のワーカーとマネージャーとは、しょせん人種が違うのだ。）
You need to scout a person who is most suitable to be a section chief.（部長には部長にふさわしい人をスカウトすることが必要なのだ。）
This is what a society with separate jobs in separate companies is all about.（それが職種別企業社会というものだ。）

JA: Don't you have a lot of problems with that kind of personnel system?（そのような人事では問題が多いのでは？）

NJ: As the company president, I try to interpret the decisions made at the shareholders meeting.（これは株主総会の決定事項を、社長として伝えようとしているのだ。）
In Japan it's different.（日本とは違う。）
There, no one can oppose the decisions made at the shareholders meetings.（あちらでは株主総会の決定事項には誰も逆らえないのだ。）

JA: （silence）（（沈黙））

JA: If you give bonuses based on the amount of the proceeds to the management only, doesn't that upset the equilibrium with the other sections in the company?（営業だけ売り上げに比例してボーナスを出すのは、メーカーとしてほかの部門との兼合いでまずいのではないでしょうか？）

NJ: Profit is proportional to the amount of the proceeds.（利益は売り上げに比例する。）
In Japan, it's the Japanese management who increase the proceeds, so it's only natural that they can give a bonus to whichever section they believe made the most efforts.（日本で売り上げを伸ばすのは日本人の営業なのだから、努力した部門へボーナスを払うのは当然ではないか。）
In our company, all the plans are perfected in the main branch in the West and are used all over the world.（当社の製品は、設計はすでに欧州で完璧に行われており、世界中に売られている。）
There is a manual for the structure of the branch in Japan, and there will be no problems as long as we follow that framework.（日本での組み立ても、マニュアルは完成しており、これに従って組み立てれば何の問題もない。）
The factory section does not need to make as much effort as the management, so it is clear that they are not worthy to be included in the assessment.（営業と比べれば工場部門は努力は要らないのだから評価に値しないのは明らかだ。）

JA: With that kind of system, you will lose all feeling of unity among the company workers.（このようなシステムでは、社員の一体感がなくなってしまいます。）
If the manufacturing section has to increase its production in order to increase the company's proceeds, then they have to make an effort, too, and so they should be assessed along the same lines as the management.（製造部門も、売り上げが増し生産台数が増えればそれなりの努力が必要なのだから、営業と同様に評価すべきではないですか。）

NJ: Why do the Japanese always have to include everyone like that?（なぜ日本人はそんなに横並評価が好きなのか？）
The most just and fair system is the one where the section that made the most effort receives the most reward.（努力した部門だけを評価する事こそ真の公正な評価システムではないのか。）

JA: !!??（！！？？）

Whew! We can understand what they are saying theoretically, but it is difficult to accept all the cultural differences they have with the Japanese, based on different histories, religions, and moral views.（いやはや、理論的には彼らの言っていることは分かるのですが、なぜか受け入れ難い。というのは、やはり日本人とは異質な歴史、宗教、道徳観からくる文化の違いなのでしょうか。）
Arguing like this every day would exhaust anyone.（毎日こんな議論をしていると、誰であろうと疲れてしまいます。）
Understanding another culture really is a lot more difficult than most people think.（本当に異文化を理解するということは、人が思っているより大変ですね。）

Translator: Ellen Iwasaki（訳 エレン・イワサキ）




Llesi's Opinion:


   First of, this article shows the non-japanese person as selfish, thus only caring about himself and not others who work under him. And it would be best to not generalize all non-japanese managers who come to Japan like this, since I think there are some people who are not like that. 


   At the same time, based on this example, I do think this non-japanese person is being very unreasonable. This person doesn't care anything about how business is conducted in Japan, and doesn't care about cultural differences. In simple terms, this person is being ethnocentric. I would hate to have a manager like that. Probably I wouldn't even listen to this person and just continue with the work me and others have agreed on.


   I do know someone from my moms office who had a short period job in Japan, but I have no idea what he did. All I know is that the company provided him with the same living space he was accustomed to.


   But anyway, it is a huge part of this article that the non-japanese person really didn't care about cultural differences, but isn't it also how this company runs their managers? Do they really need a manager that's only gonna stay there for 3 years?


   So hopefully no one has to deal with such a situation with such a jackass. xD
What do you think?

URL change and.....that's it

  So on my other page, I have written about my worries and possible outcomes that came about from me changing my URL here, and so......yea that's it. Maybe I should write it here too, really big. :D  drama312.blogspot.com

  That doesn't really affect this blog though, since I made this one separate from my other one, which I still update and look if I have any comments and what not. I made this separate one because 1) blogger or blogspot doesn't have that feature where you can have different pages like wordpress does without it actually being another website or just a plain page with one post (that's just boring)! And 2) because I felt that I wanted to write about my own life and opinions and just other things that didn't have to do with dramas, movies, manga, nor anime.

  I mean it's fun to talk about those things and to give my tips and perspectives, but other times I just want to write about how much of a shitty day I had or whatever happened to my life that has absolutely no affect on your life. You know, simply shit. Definitely not the diarrhea kind. xD

  But anyway, I have a paper to finish that is not even half way done.

  Until next time. ^.^

5000 Question Part 11

UPDATE: If it's a stupid question, or it is not relevant, then I will not include it.

1001. What has caused you to reinvent yourself or reevaluate who you are?
i haven't reinvented myself or reevaluated myself

1002. Name three annoying bands:
hmmm.....I'm not sure actually. I don't listen to annoying bands, so I don't have any to say.

1003. Have you ever been to a foam party (a big dance floor full of soap foam that people dance in at a club)? If yes did you get into the foam?
I have not.

1004. Who do you take for granted?
no one

Who makes you feel taken for granted?
no one?

1005. Short, knee, or ankle skirts?
all are ok. it depends also on weather, person, situation, etc.

1008. What do you like that is NOT part of pop culture?
i'm not sure?

1009. What music makes you feel:

Sexy? clothes

Passionate? doing what i like to do

Violent? ignorant and stupid people

Romantic? being with someone i like

Sad? thinking about things that upset me

Happy/joyous? doing what i like to do

ecstasy? sex probably?

1010. Who's your favorite cartoon character?
um. the mickey mouse and other characters from the short 5 minute films

1011. Does break dancing impress you?
no

1013. Would you rather be a police officer or a criminal?
police officer

1014. Do you believe that government decisions should be made based more on economics or more on social reform?
both are important

1016. This summer have you

Been to the beach? there is no beach in illinois

been to the movies? yes

Played mini golf? no

Gone for a walk? yes

1017. Would you rather lay in bed all night talking or have sex all night long?
sex duH!

1018. Have you ever eaten tofu?
yes

1019. Who needs a brain?
everyone

1020. Who needs a heart?
everyone

1021. Does the moon have an affect on your mood?
no. this is a superstision. 

1022. Do you feel pressure on Friday and Saturday to have fun, go out and party?
no. i do whatever i want 

1023. Many people will say that the Harry Potter books are pure fluff with no literary value. Do you agree?
actually i don't really care

1024. Is Harry Potter comparable to The Chronicles of Narnia and the Lord of the Rings?
i guess so. they are all in the fantasy genre

1025. What are you doing next Wednesday?
taking my Japanese art final ><

1026. Why do so many people think Elvis is still alive?
cuz they're stupid

1027. What couldn't you live your life without?
water, food, shelter, clothes, friends/family/support system

1028. Are your hands cold?
most of the time yes

1029. Is your heart warm?
it should be. if it was cold i would be dead

1030. Palm trees or snow storms?
palm trees

1032. What fantasy book would you like to see made into a movie?
Brave Story

1033. Do you avoid risks and if possible stay at home?
no.

1034. What SCI-fi books do you read?
its not about the genre but if the book is good. if the book is good, the genre doesn't matter to me

1035. Would you be on that who wants to marry a millionaire show as a contestant?
ha! no way

1036. Who's the best secret keeper you know?
no one thus far

1039. Have you ever belonged to a sorority or a fraternity?
no

1040. Would you want to join one?
no

1041. If your friend were doing dangerous drugs would you tell their parents?
it depends what type of friend they are. if they are really close, and i care about them, then no i wouldn't tell their parents, i would just go straight to the police

1042. Would you rather be a unicorn, mermaid/man, or a sorceress/er?
mermaid

1043. Are leather pants sexy?
yes

On you?
definitely

1044. Did you tell someone you love him or her today?
no

1045. Have you ever given blood?
no but i want to try

1046. Have you ever been thrown out of someplace?
no

1047. What do you daydream about?
love

1048. Are you a miracle?
no

1049. If America is one nation under god then are atheists citizens?
if you mean that literally, then anyone who doesn't belong to the abrahamic religions, atheists, and agnostics are not citizens

1050. Should they be?
religion should not be required to become a citizen

1051. If you could pick any rock star to replace the Ozbournes in their reality show, whom would you pick?
larc en ciel

1052. What are your feelings about Mel Gibson's movie The Passion of Christ?
never seen it

1053. What did you think about the last episode of Sex in the City?
i don't watch that show

1054. What is your favorite movie with Adam Sandler in it?
adam sandler is not my favorite actor

1055. What is your biggest problem?
loosing weight

1056. Have you ever been arrested?
no

1057. Can musicians be held responsible for influencing people to behave badly?
yes

1058. Do you believe that there are subliminal messages embedded in some TV shows, movies & music?
no

1059. Is there anything that you believe should be banned for any reason?
no

1060. How often do you eat too much?
i eat enough

1061. Have you ever descended into pure madness?
no

1064. If you died tomorrow, what mark would you have left on the world?
nothing probably

1065. What movie would you NEVER want to see?
hmm there are many but i dont remember their names

1066. What annoys you the most about yourself?
nothing

1067. How do you feel about capitalism?
shit

1068. How do you feel about socialism?
awesome

1069. How do you feel about communism?
its not realistic

1070. Has anyone ever tried to injure you?
no

1071. Has anyone ever tried to kill you?
no

1072. How do you know when it's time to break up with someone?
when they are not adding happiness to your life, its time to walk away

1073. What is your opinion of the Janet jackson/Justin Timberlake superbowl exposure incident?
no big deal

1074. What's the most annoying sound?
nails scratching chalkboard

1075. Who was your childhood hero?
no one

1076. With nearly 100 channels why is NOTHING ever on?
because nothing is interesting

1077. Would you adopt a stray kitty wandering through your neighborhood?
no. i have cat allergies

1078. Describe what you look like: a human

1079. Describe what you ARE like: a human

1080. What bad habit do you have that affects other people as much as it affects you?
i'm not really sure

1082. Does second hand smoke bother you?
yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1083. Have you ever:

Dumped a drink over someone's head? yes

Dumped a drink over your own head? yes

Bit someone? yes

Torn at someone's clothes? no

Made out in the bathroom? no

1085. Do you have any interesting scars?
not really.

1086. Is it better for people to change and evolve their ideas or always be consistent?
both are good.

1088. What are you missing in your life?
my other person

1089. Do you ever know when someone is thinking about you?
no. i am so oblivious to it actually.