Tax cut

I cut my thumb today (just a scratch). I was enclosing tax documents into a brand new envelope, and accidentally cut the thumb by a sharp edge of the envelope. Cutting the finger by a paper was painful, but I called it "tax cut".

This year, my tax filing was very easy because the tax treatment between the U.S. and Japan is no more applied to me. I pay a lot more tax than that of last year, but the filing process itself was much easier (Last year's filing was a real nightmare). It will be complicated again in next year, because my grant kicks in this year (Boy, I do not want to think about it until next March.....).

Vitasoy emergency.

I wrote that I love Vitasoy soy milk original very much. However, recently, the vitasoy original is sold out in all shops I visited in San Francisco! Some shops are no more selling the original (but many other derivatives that I do not like). This is an emergency situation for me, because my current body is on this drink. If anyone see the vitasoy original in the city, please let me know.

Language is your brain's OS. -Part 2

I wrote that a language is brain's OS. I still believe this is true. In my middle 20s, I tried to shut down my first language, Japanese, and rely only on second language, English. Here I write what was physically happen to me at the time.

The primary principle I learned is that you will be greatly depressed when you shut down your mother tongue. I experienced many different symptoms of the depression when I shut down Japanese; eating disorder, anxiety, loss of willingness and sleeping disorder.

The brain uses the language for its functional processes. Even when you are not talking with others, your brain uses the language. When you think of an idea, any idea (choose food to eat, stand up from a chair or pick up an apple on a tabe), the idea is quickly embodied by the language in your brain. This step is important for decision of successional actions. Since most of us do these steps without recognition, it is difficult to imagine how hard it is when your brain stalks in the middle of these processes. I recognized these processes because I change the language after being an adult, and my brain became very dull and less functioning when it stalked during the processes.

These unconscious conversations in your brain are also very important to keep your brain healthy. If the brain cannot undertake the inside conversations, it will burn out. It will burn out the brain region which is very close to the region regulating your essential body functions, such as sleeping, eating or heart pumping functions. I think this is why I experienced the symptoms of depression. I could not eat well, waked up middle of the night (you need your language to even dream during night), I slept during middle of the day and felt so unhappy.

I am very proud that I survive these difficult days. My English still has a lot of problems but I feel much comfortable with it now. I feel I became stronger by changing the language, however, I will not recommend anyone to do this. I now realized that it was a really dangerous and life threating challenge, and the outcome could be much worse than that of now.

Picture of the day.

Is paper better than plastic?

Compare to people in western Europe, people in the United States or Asia pay less attention to the environment, I think. However, eventually, all people on this planet will have to pay more attention and efforts to preserve our environment, which is now rapidly changing.

Recently, I noticed that all grocery stores in San Francisco quite using plastic bags. Three years ago, most of shops uses the plastic bags, but nowadays they all use paper bags instead. I think this is a part of the environmentalism movement, which is hitting the city.

However, I got a fundamental question about this change. Are paper bags better for the environment than plastic bags?

Quote from Stranger in a Strange Land:

MSNBC provides an educational piece about the debate of whether paper or plastic bags are better for the environment with their Battle Of the Bags website.

Paper bags are good because they are compostable, recyclable and made from sustainable resource, trees. However, it is also true that we need more energy to make paper bags than to make plastic bags. These energies are generated by burning oils, which destroys our environment. And cutting trees to make paper bags will increase greenhouse effects. Therefore, I personally do not have the conclusion which one is better, and do not totally support San Francisco's movement toward paper bags.

In the bottom line, bringing own reusable bags to grocery stores is the best way. Although, it is not convenient, I will load many reusable bags in my car trunk not to forget to bring.

A perfect day for LSD.

Today is really a beautiful day. I love California because I sometime have a day like today. Clear sky, comfortable spring air and peaceful mind. Everything is so calm today.

Today was a perfect day for LSD (long slow distance running). I run around the city very slowly today. It was about 6 miles or little more. I love running in such a beautiful day.

It has been rough.

I have been pretty busy these days and have no time to write entries. But I have a couple of ideas for new entries, so I will find time during this weekend to write.

Picture of the day.

This picture is also from flickr.

Comment again.

Ivette send me a message that she thinks I should open comment of this blog again. Ok, Ivette, although my blog traffic is still less than 100 unique access per day, I open comment again for a while and see what will happen.

How to forefoot run.

I found this video is very informative. I was recently told that I am a heel runner who touches his heel first. The heel run form is not suitable for a marathon, I want to change my running form to a forefoot run form. This video explains the difference between forefoot and heel run forms.