Random 7: Theory, rules, and reality

There's this movement to widen the range of cars that a person can drive with a license for normal-sized cars, from lighter than 5 tons to those lighter than 6.5 tons (http://response.jp/article/2013/09/09/205954.html). The motive is that the age limit listed below hinders high-school graduate laborers to be of better use to his/her company, especially in the transportation industry, because they cannot drive trucks, prevented from applying for the license.

I think this is ridiculous. The age limits imposed upon each license is done so on the basis of responsibility and skill allocated to the age group. The license categorization of normal, middle, and large vehicles are done based on size, and the danger risks imposed by a vehicle increases with weight. So it doesn't make sense to allow people to drive vehicles for which they haven't tested their skills out for large vehicles.
(In that sense, I feel it impractical that people can drive motorcycles once they receive a normal license - you won't even get to practice riding one at the driving schools! )

 (image from: http://response.jp/article/2013/09/09/205954.html) 

There's a rift between the rules and reality, and it certainly isn't about the categorization of vehicles by weight - it is in the age restriction.  Since Japan has an established Driving School system, I believe there's no harm in lowering the overall age limit to, say, 15, with limitations such as the exclusion of students.

The good news is that the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is considering that option too.

This is so similar to the situation of "illegal" drinking that permeates the Japanese society - drinking of 18 - 20 years old, especially. 18 is the age that most people basically are considered "adults" now, finishing high school, which although isn't compulsory education is basically considered one now, and either become employed or move on to college. Either way, alcohol comes into one's life prominently around the age of 18, and it really doesn't make sense that society continues to avert its eyes from the fact, while there is silent agreement and acceptance upon that under-aged drinking.

Yuca mentioned in her presentation that there's this psychological system within us that the more one represses  a (negative) thought, the more one thinks about it. There's also another study on the reason that children around preschool like saying "vulgar" words like "poop," with the reason being the instillation of the idea of taboo in them, and the excitement they feel by breaking the taboo of saying those words in public. (Can't remember where I read about it, sorry.)

Ignorance of disparity between reality and theory will do no one any good.

Random 6: Power of Humans

Sorry for the belated post. I was seriously busy with the ICU festival, as a member of the Festival Committee.
I continued the cycle of waking up at 6 am, working all day, standing and running, returning to the senpai's house I was staying at at 11 pm, going to sleep at 1pm. By the third day, I overslept. Hence, stamina.

Ever since reading L@E, I can't stop myself from affiliating actions in real life to the skills outlined by Perkins.

My senpai, who is the head of the financial department, was also stressed out by the last day.
We were counting the goods and money accumulated from selling the goods during festival, and he answered in an angry way when I asked him a question. I didn't mind much (didn't even think that he was venting his stress out on me), but he promptly apologized.
The part that I admire about him is that he is capable of reigning in his actions.

Anyways, we managed to plan out, and fairly successfully execute the festival.
The nice part was that the weather held out :)

And then there is the always powerful dancers of ICU. I really love dance; watching it of course, but it'll be fantastic if I could somehow learn to dance. Anyways, they were as great as always; people moving in ways that I'd never imagine otherwise.

I got to perform as a member of an a capella group this festival, and the power of songs was reinforced within me. It's amazing how beautiful a sound humans can make; with a capella, you use no instruments, just the voice and harmony of the members involved.

Songs with instruments are always welcomed too.

Westlife - You raise me up

I'm interested in education and development, and here's a documentary that has recently affected me. It's about how the love of one person can change the way another person's life is heading to.

The Boy They Call Fish

Then there's always the power of humor.

I can't stop myself from watching Japanese manzai recently, and nonstyle is my best choice right now.

They're really good at making a circular manzai, and their jokes refer to other jokes within the sequence.

My favorite is "迷子" (lost child)

nonstyle - lost child

There's also this Youtube channel called College Humor which Narumi introduced me to, 

College Humor - Internet Distractions

I really should be doing my essay now, shouldn't I...