Family Members Should Never Lend Money to Each Other

“Neither a borrower nor a lender 
be. For oft loan loses both itself and friend.” - Shakespeare's Hamlet

Recently, I've had a serious writer's block. But something happened the other day that has shaken me up and I want to write about it. Today's post is an amazing story in how it displays just how stubborn and stupid people can be and, on top of that, it is a true story. 

Those are the easiest to write for me. You just can't make this stuff up. 

This story is about one of the oldest reasons people destroy their families and lose dear old friends: Money. Specifically, lending money or "borrowing" money from friends or family.

It's one of the oldest stories in the book: a family member borrows money from a sibling and, whether the money deal goes good or bad, the mere fact that there was a money exchange destroys the family because, win or lose, succeed or fail, someone feels that they were cheated in the deal.

This is what happened to my family. 

My oldest brother borrowed money ($10,000 in the early nineties) from my youngest brother to invest in some sort of new business that the older brother was starting up. 

They are both idiots; one for asking a sibling for money, the other for giving it.

The business went bad, if you ask my older brother. If you ask my younger brother, it went bad too, yet my older brother somehow wound up with a multi-million dollar court settlement. 

As I understand it from the both of them, initially, the business went bankrupt. My older brother, claims that he lost all his money when the company went belly-up. So bad were the loses that he had to sue another company for copyright infringement in court. He won, hence the multi-million dollars.

It is a complicated issue. Who won? Who Lost? Did the company go bankrupt solely because of the copyright infringement or did it go bankrupt due to incompetent management? (Give you one guess which reason I think it was...) Why didn't the younger brother share in the settlement? Why didn't the younger brother even get any of his money back?

I don't know. I wasn't a part of this and didn't want to become involved.

I became aware of this transaction a full year after it had already blown up in everyones face. I was living in Japan and had no idea that this deal had even occurred. One day, my father asked that I intervene and mediate in this case as it had turned into a full-fledged war. Upon discussing mediation with both brothers, they agreed - promised - that they would abide by whatever I decided that was fair to resolve this issue.

I wanted nothing to do with it, but my father was getting old and in poor health so, I reluctantly agreed to try to solve this issue. It wouldn't be good if this situation destroyed the family and my father passed away while this still boiled.

Now, before I go on an important point is that, at this time, there had been no court case and my older brother had not yet been awarded any settlement. This is an important point to remember. Because, conveniently for my older brother, he will claim that the court case had nothing to do with the business. The younger brother claims it does.

I have a very holistic view of these things and don't like the cherry-picking idea as it seems to lend itself to selective morality in far too many cases. Dear reader can decide for themselves.

I asked that both brothers provide me with documentation about this business deal. The interchangeable words I noticed in these mails were "loan" and "investment." Soon, I received an avalanche of emails from both brothers concerning items about "who said this" or "you said that."

It was too much of a clusterf*ck to deal with, by that point. I didn't know what to do. It weighed heavily on my mind. Who was right and who was wrong? I didn't know.

One night, I went to my favorite drinking place and there were two Buddhist priests there who I sometimes played Chinese Checkers with. We had a few drinks and I started telling them about my troubles with my family. 

These guys have always had the most calm and reasoned advice. They are great. After listening to me for a while, one said,

"I see. This is a difficult question to answer as to who is wrong and who is right. But I will say that, in spite of that, it is an ancient story that has gone on, over and over, throughout the history of mankind: A family is destroyed by money. Don't you, in the west, say, 'Never lend money to family or friends'?"

"Yeah." I replied. 

He continued, "I think we can agree on is this; there are stories about families being destroyed by money and these stories are at least 5 millennia old. I think it is too difficult to try to place blame here. But one thing we can agree on is that this situation is like a cancer eating away at your family. I suggest that it is best not to place blame, but to put things back the way they were."

A light went off in my head! I thought that was genius!

I went home and the next day I triumphantly wrote to my brothers that I had decided what the best course of action was: To put everything back. 

I told my older brother to apologize (because family should never borrow money from family) and to give back the $10,000. I told my younger brother to apologize and accept the $10,000 and never complain about it again.

My younger brother reluctantly agreed (after I berated him for a money transaction with a family member). My older brother reneged on his promise and said he would never pay back the money nor would he apologize. He claimed that he needn't apologize because the younger brother was trying to make money too. I countered that the apology wasn't for that. I said the apology was for the entire situation and causing so much trouble for the entire family. 

Hell, I had nothing to do with this crap and I was sorry it happened.

L'Enfant Terrible

My older brother was adamant. He said that he would never apologize. He said, "I haven't done anything wrong, so I'm not going to apologize." Once again I said, "It's not for doing anything wrong, it's not accepting any guilt. It is apologizing for the entire mess."

He would have none of it.

That just shows how obstinate my older brother is. Imagine, you witness some old lady walking across the street. She is hit and killed by a car driven by someone else. You see her family later and they ask you what happened. Isn't it normal for most people to say, "I'm so sorry!" Of course it is. "I'm sorry" isn't an admission of guilt. It is showing some empathy for people.

On a side note, I think my older brother has a problem with serious denial and telling the truth. If this deal were such a 'great deal' like he claimed, when he first asked my younger brother for money, then why didn't he invite me to join? - I had much more money than either of my brothers at that time....

But I digress....

I realized then that my older brother didn't have the money and I suspected that this excuse of not apologizing was actually a cover for not having the money. No problem. I then told him, "Look to make peace in the family and to try to fix things for our nearly 80-years-old dad, I will secretly give you the $10,000 and you give it to our younger brother. You don't have to pay me back. Then you say, "Sorry for the entire mess" (not admitting you did anything wrong) and hug and make up for the problems.

"If anything, do it for our dad." I added

But my older brother wouldn't do it. He refused. Saying sorry was a mountain too high to climb for this person. I was appalled.  My patience with this little child was nearing an end. 

By this time, this problem had grown to crisis proportions. My younger brother had fought over and over with both my dad and older brother about this. Though my younger brother I have always enjoyed a good relationship, he was no longer speaking to either of them. My younger brother was angry that, even though he felt that he was 100% in the right, my father always took sides of my older brother.

I did admonish my father about it. But, bless his heart, my dad wasn't the kind of guy who would put his foot down. Had my mother still been alive, my older brother would have never been able to get away with this.

I took no sides. I just tried to make it right. (If my mom had been alive, I know what she would have said. I'd have taken her side).

I was asked to mediate. I did. I offered the $10,000 (Free. Not a loan. A gift) and asked that my older brother give the money to the younger brother and apologize. I told my younger brother that, if he gets the $10,000, to accept and to apologize too. 

My younger brother accepted the terms, my older brother refused. Time went by and, after continued fights with my older brother and father that just kept making things worse, my younger brother's heart grew harder and colder still.

Finally, I gave my older brother an ultimatum. I told him that,

"This families problems are your making. Everyone knows that you don't borrow money from family and friends, yet you did. Then, when this problem became great, you came and asked for my mediation, I didn't want to get involved, but you asked. I did it for the family. You said you'd follow my decision. But you don't.... You have no honor.

Our father is sick and would like to see peace in the family, but, in your narcissistic obstinacy, you refuse. It's been nearly ten years, you asked for my help, you lied and refused. 

This borrowing money from family and friends is an old story and we all know what will happen. Father will die someday and you will still be the one responsible for this mess.

Now, until the day you fix this problem, I have no way to force you into doing what is right. So, until you do apologize to your younger brother and fix this mess you created, I will never speak to you again." 

That was at least 15 years ago.

My father died on Saturday night Sept. 25, 2011.

My brothers still haven't spoken to each other in about 20 years.

I have no intention of ever speaking to my older brother until he does what he said he would do. I am astounded that a guy who gets a multi-million dollar settlement cannot fix a $10,000 problem with his brother. I seriously think this person has some serious issues.

What do you think?

(This article originally appeared in 2011 - dates have been altered for today)

What Happens When Grandmother Has a Stroke...

(This is a difficult post to write. If my immediate family sees this, they might get angry... But please read until the end... Even in this mis-fortune our loved one brings us good things...)

My mother-in-law had a stroke. Her condition is rapidly declining... She hasn't long on this earth. I thank God she isn't in pain.

I will miss her. She was always kind and good to me and a very fair person. If there is a heaven, I know she is going there.

The immediate family shudders under the stress. They become irritated at how each other handles grief... What should they do when the matriarch is dying? What will they do when the glue, the love, that held the family together for so many decades disappears?

I try to help anyway I can... But there's not much I can do but listen and try to make things a bit more convenient...

Friends send condolences...

I remind everyone and myself of an old story: 

"An ancient Zen Buddhist story goes like this: 

A very wealthy family in China bought a large farm and built a beautiful home, a 'palace' upon it. 

They wished for good luck, health, and fortune, so they decided to ask a famous Zen priest to write a scroll for them to hang in their den. After meeting the entire family and discussing the scroll, the priest accepted the job and went back to his shrine to pray for enlightenment. 

After a few days, the priest returned with the finished scroll and the entire family gathered around in great anticipation to see the words of good luck and fortune that the priest had written for them. 

The priest said a short prayer for all and then proudly opened the scroll and hung it on the wall. 

The scroll said: 

"Grandfather dies. Father dies. Son dies. Grandson dies." 

The entire family was furious at the priest. The elders were shocked and enraged! The younger ones were at the brink of violence. 

They all shouted and demanded that the priest go back to the shrine and rewrite the scroll for them. 

Rolling up the scroll, the priest sighed and said: 

"I will rewrite the order of names on the scroll in anyway you wish. But I think there can be no other sequence. If all die in this order, I think that is true prosperity."

・　・　・　・　・

My mother-in-law had a stroke. Her condition is rapidly declining... She hasn't long on this earth.

I believe that, age-wise, I am next in line... 

As it should be....

The family grieves and supports anyway they can... They are spending important time together. When I shot this photo, my daughter asked why I did that. I replied, "In a way, I envy you all. You get to spend this time together and hold her hand and say the things you want and need to say. My mother died suddenly and painfully in a freak car accident, I wasn't able to be with her in her last hours. So, like I said, in a way, I envy you all. Everything happens for a reason. Good things can come from this too if you try to find them."

True Prosperity: Grandfather dies. Father dies. Son dies. Grandson dies.

An ancient Zen Buddhist story goes like this: 

A very wealthy family in China bought a large farm and built a beautiful palace upon it. They wished for good luck, health, and fortune, so they decided to ask a famous Zen priest to write a scroll for them to hang in their den. The priest accepted the job and went back to his shrine to pray for enlightenment. 

 After a few days, the priest returned with the finished scroll and the entire family gathered around in great anticipation to see the words that the priest wrote for them. The priest said a short prayer and opened the scroll and hung it on the wall. 

The scroll said: 

Grandfather dies. 

Father dies. 

Son dies. 

Grandson dies. 

The entire family was furious at the priest. They shouted and demanded that he go back to the shrine and rewrite the scroll for them. 

The priest sighed and said: "I will rewrite the order of names on the scroll in anyway you wish. But I think there can be no other sequence. If all die in this order, I think that is true prosperity."

My own mother died in a freak car accident in 1994. Of course, I was crushed. I was in Japan and she was in America. 

After the car accident, she was taken by ambulance to the hospital. I understand that she floated in and out of consciousness before she died. Since I was so far away, I had no way of seeing her, holding her hand, and saying: "I love you mom. Thank you for everything." But at least I can be thankful that my father was there to do so when she went away. Many people who die are not fortunate enough to have a loved one with them, to hold their hand, to whisper in their ear: "I love you. We all love you.... Please rest. You may go now." And with words like these, my mother "let go" and passed away. I will always regret that I couldn't be there with my mother in her time of need. I thank God that my father could be. 

There are too many people in this world who die alone. Could there be a more woeful way to die, than when loved ones cannot be there by your side to say their last, "Good-bye"? 

After my mother died, though, I was angry. I was angry at the world and I was angry at God. For months after my mother's death I had recurring nightmares and the most bizarre dreams. Many of the dreams involved times when I was a boy. I would be playing in a playground and I would see my mother on the other side of a fence. I would cry out, "Mom! You're back!" And I would begin to sob uncontrollably. My mother would grow angry at me and she'd start to leave. I'd cry out again, "Mom! Come back!" As she walked away, she would turn around, look at me, and always say the same thing: "I cannot come to visit you, if you are going to cry every time I see you." And with that, she'd disappear into a field of tall grass. 

I would always promise not to cry the next time. But I couldn't keep my promise. I think I saw this same dream just about every night for at least six months. 

Then one night, I had the most bizarre dream of all. My mother, as usual, walked away because I was crying, I was on my knees. I had my head in hands to try to hold back the tears. And then suddenly, I found myself in a huge chamber. It was like a colossal courtroom. I looked up and there was an old man sitting in a chair, looking quite frustrated and irate at me. He was massive in size. He was huge, at least 40 or 50 feet high and he was sitting down! He was brushing his beard and looking at me as if he was considering what to do. 

I knew exactly who he was, yet I was not afraid of him; I was furious. 

I shouted: "It's not fair! It's not fair that my mother died in an accident. My mother was still young and healthy. She should still be alive you bastard!" The old man just stared at me. I continued to shout at him. And I began to cry. 

Then he calmly said: "So you think it is unfair that your mother has died?" 

"Of course it's unfair!" 

The old man sighed and said, "Very well then, I shall allow you to be reborn and I will give you a different mother, and that mother will still be alive today. Would you find this acceptable?" 

"A different mother!?" I said. "No... No, thank you." 

I suddenly awoke from my dream. My pillow was wet with tears. I pondered this strange dream for many weeks after that. Then it dawned on me: Instead of being angry that my mother died in an accident. I should be thankful for all of the wonderful times we spent together, all the hugs and bedtime stories. All the laughs and the great dinners. All the special times that my mother made me feel special, and all the other times she cheered me up when others did not. I should thank God for all the wonderful memories I received from being the son of this loving woman. She was always there for me when I needed her. And now, whenever I see her in my dreams, I do not cry. In fact the dream I often have with her now is one where I am on her side of the fence and we are sitting in the field and having a picnic and smiling together. 

My mother and father around 1952

I haven't seen my mother in a while, but I look forward to the next time I do. I told this story to a priest who has become my friend. He asked me to show him a photograph of my mother. I did. He said: "Your mother was a very beautiful woman. Always keep this image of her in your heart. You are most fortunate that it is you, and not her, who has but memories and a snapshot." 

"How profound!" I thought. And I have always kept his words of wisdom in my heart. I share these words with my friends whose parents have passed away. 

....And the children can hold photos of their parents too...True treasures of life!

I wouldn't trade those photos for anything in the world. Would you? 

------------------

Thanks once again to Anthony Gregory for advice and the editing of this article. This article originally ran on Lew Rockwell on Sept 23, 2004

I am rerunning this article for my dear friends Red and Sue

Fukushima! Super Typhoons! The Destruction of the Entire Northern Hemisphere!... And the Most Deadly Subways in Tokyo!

Oh God! Monster Typhoons! Nuclear fuel rod pools that are about to fall over and destroy the entire Western civilization! The greatest short-term threat to world civilization! (Wait a minute, you guys just said the radiation had a half-life of 30,000 years! I don't know about you, but I don't think 30,000 years is very "short term.") 


What's a citizen to do? It's the end of the world!

Tokyo subway. (Use this photo freely as you wish!)

You are going to die!!! Well, yes. You are going to die. But before you do, we in the mass media are going to do our best to make you miserable with worry before you do.


Since March 11 of last year and the Fukushima disaster, Japan has had nothing but "Super Typhoons" that all were going to go directly over Fukushima and probably destroy the entire northern hemisphere of the world! ENENEWS (a site that survives on sensationalist headlines) reports in: 150 mph Super Typhoon Sets Aim at Japan: Fukushima near center of forecast track — “Expected to intensify” and already the highest category storm.


And, as usual with ENENEWS, the headlines have zero to do with the story. Let me quote word for word:

Guchol, a tropical cyclone in the western Pacific, rapidly strengthened Saturday afternoon, local time. Winds are now in excess of 150 mph, making Guchol a super typhoon, the highest classification for tropical cyclones in the western Pacific.

If Guchol were an Atlantic Hurricane, it would be considered a Category 5 storm.

[...]

the storm is also expected to intensify further over the next day or two.

[...]

Guchol will still likely be a very powerful tropical cyclone upon reaching the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. Powerful winds, torrential rain and intense surf will be among some of the problems expected for the islands.

[...]

In fact, the main threat the storm poses to the main island of Japan will be its torrential rains. Heavy rain could lead to mudslides and flash flooding, especially in the mountains just west of Tokyo.

[...]

You see anything about Fukushima there? No? Me neither.

But we all know that doesn't matter. What DOES matter is sensationalist headlines that scare stupid people and sell advertising.

And what does matter is not super typhoons (we have those all the time nowadays - every typhoon is now called a "Super Typhoon")... It's not spent fuel pools (they didn't collapse in a 1 in 1000 year 9.0 quake; a 6.0 quake - that is 1/3000th the power of a 9.0 quake - isn't going to knock them down)... What is going to kill you is the dangerous Tokyo subway system and the "People-eating danger traps" that they are (cue ominous music here).

Oh, fear for your lives people! Never forget that the next time you ride a Tokyo subway, it could be your last! 

Josei Jishin, the oldest and most popular women's magazine in Japan has the scoop in "The Top 50 Most Dangerous Subway Stations in Tokyo."


The most dangerous subway stations in Tokyo! It's kind of like old East Germany and West Germany... I mean, how it sizes up for Tokyo subway stations; the stations on the "old" east side of Tokyo are death traps! The higher the score (#1 Sumiyoshi) has a score of 61.6.... What does that mean? Hell, if I know... But 61.6 spells, "Death trap!" "Game Over!" "Dead as a Doorknob!" "Fin!" "Owari!"

Notice that all the death boxes are on the East end. 

I circled Shibuya for your reference....

Be afraid. Be very afraid!

The top ten death traps subway stations in Tokyo are:

#1  Sumiyoshi on the Hanzomon Line

#2  Morishita on the Oedo Line (What!? They just built that train line!)

#3  Suitengumae on the Hanzomon Line (Going to Narita to fly in a jet plane? Ha! Hope you actually make it to the airport!

#4  Kinshicho on the Hanzomon Line

#4  Oshiage on the Hanzomon Line

#4  Kiyosumi Shirakawa on the Hanzomon Line 

#7  Hamacho Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line 

#8  Tsukiji Ichiba on the Oedo Line 

#8  Nishi Oshima on the Shinjuku Line

#10 Higashi Ginza on the Hibiya Line (actually, I'm surprised that there's not more stations on the Hibiya Line here on this list. They all seem like death traps to me!)

#10 Morishita on the Shinjuku Line (Your chances of dying at Morishita station are double!)

Here's the next 11 ~ 50.... Look, I'm not going to translate this for you. If you live in Japan long enough to care about this nonsense and you can't even read your own station's name in Kanji, then you deserve to die!

Trust, citizen, that you are going to die someday! It is a proven medical fact that every single person who has - and ever will - ride a Tokyo subway has died or will die! Sometimes, and some rare cases, those are a painful and incredibly excruciatingly painful death!

Could that be you? I think it might!

Be afraid. Be very afraid!


Sure, you are going to die, citizen.... 


But before that, we are going to make damned sure that you worry to death... 


Please make sure you tune in next week (or buy next week's issue for more "dangerous man-eating subways!")

-Thanks to Ken Nishikawa

You commit negligence and someone dies? Go to prison. The police commit negligence and someone dies? Go on vacation - with pay!

Let's talk about the "Good Ol' Boys network" of corruption and a corrupt government and the police...

What would happen to you at work if you shirked your duties and went off on a vacation leaving important matters unattended?


You'd most probably lose your job because your boss would fire you immediately upon your return (if he didn't fire you while you were gone).


What would happen to you if, in the course of your daily affairs or duties, you made a serious mistake in judgement that resulted in someone getting seriously injured or crippled for life?


You'd most probably would get sued in court and be paying money for the rest of your life and go to jail.


What would happen to you if you made a mistake driving a car and hit someone by accident and injured them or killed them?


Depending upon the circumstances, you might lose your driving license, go to jail or even lose your house, family and your job. 

What would happen to you if, in the course of your duties at work or at home, you committed negligence that resulted in death? 


You would probably go to jail for a long time... No matter what, you'd lose your job and be sued in court and be paying money for the rest of your life. You'd probably lose your house and family too.


How about if you knowingly committed negligence that resulted in the death of, not one, but two people? What would happen to you then?


Oh, you'd lose your job in disgrace, go to prison for a long time and lose everything you owned and cared for....


How about if you worked for the police department and knowingly committed negligence that resulted in the death of, not one, but two people? What would happen to you then? 


Nothing much. You'd get "disciplinary action." A slap on the wrist or two. That's it. You wouldn't lose your job. You wouldn't take a pay cut. You would basically not have to face any of the penalties that the rest of us would face in the real world.


That's how it goes in Japan (and most countries today) as, you see, there are different laws for the peasants (you and me) and the ruling classes (politicians, rich, and government workers). That's what has happened in Chiba, Japan after the facts came out that when a father reported a stalking case to police in December of last year the police were too busy to take care of it. You, see, the police were busy planning a drinking vacation up north so they told the father to come back after they were back from vacation... While the cops were away, partying on the public dime, the man's wife and his mother-in-law were murdered by the stalker.


The Mainichi News has the story in Disciplinary action taken against Chiba police superintendent in stalking probe case

A police superintendent and 20 other police members were subjected to disciplinary action on April 23 over a case in which officers put off the handling of a stalking complaint and went ahead with a pleasure trip just days before a related double-murder took place.

Chiba Prefectural Police Superintendent Satoshi Kamada was handed a National Public Safety Commission warning, after his supervisory responsibility was questioned. Action was also taken against 20 other police members including then Narashino Police Station head Hitoshi Oba, who was served a reprimand. Police officials said Kamada had not received a report on the pleasure trip, but they judged that as a superintendent heading a probe into the series of events, he bore responsibility.

He was given a "warning"? Heavens! Is there a heavier penalty? Perhaps a handwritten note? It will say something like, "Next time we'll be serious!" And then, gasp, his "supervisory responsibility was questioned"? My god!


How about firing his a*s or serving up his head on a platter?

The double-murder took place on Dec. 16 last year. Mitsuko Yamashita, 56, and her 77-year-old mother-in-law Hisae were fatally stabbed, and police arrested 27-year-old Gota Tsutsui, who had been in a relationship with Yamashita's 23-year-old daughter, on suspicion of murder.

The daughter and other family members had earlier approached police in Chiba, Mie and Nagasaki Prefectures, seeking assistance and filing reports. On Dec. 6, 2011, they visited Narashino Police Station in Chiba Prefecture to try to file a report, but police put off questioning the daughter until Dec. 12.

The police pleasure trip took place between Dec. 8 and 10 last year, leaving the section chief of the station's criminal investigation department and the head of the department's life safety division absent from the station. However this fact was not mentioned in a report on the police probe into the case. Because of this, police apparently judged that the superintendent could not avoid punishment.

"Police apparently judged that the superintendent could not avoid punishment"?! Punishment? What's that? Did they make him sit in the corner for a day? Or did his friends ignore him in the police cafeteria? How about e loses his chance to buy raffle tickets at a discount for the end-of-year policeman's ball? 


It has been reported that the police chief has been "dismissed." But don't misunderstand what that means, folks. He was dismissed from his post. He wasn't fired, nor will he lose his job or pay or retirement pay. He was dismissed from his position.


He'll be back as station chief, at that station or another district, in no time. That's how it works. This sort of thing has happened many times.


That the people are not in an uproar over this is just astounding. I've spoken with several Japanese citizens about this case and, while they are disgusted, they shrug their shoulders and basically all told me the same thing: that this sort of episode happens often. 


The basic story is as I have related: The in-charge person is "disciplined." This "discipline" is announced in the mass media... Later on, it is revealed that the extent of the discipline is a 3 to 6 month transfer to another section only to be transferred back to their former job after that time. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.


It's all a part and parcel of the "Good Old Boys network."


Though dealing with the police in Japan is not nearly as dangerous or risky as dealing with the police in the USA, it basically comes down to the same thing, ultimately: There's different rules for our rulers and for us.


As the economy worsens and the government drains to lifeblood out of the working public to pay for unsustainable government spending and debt, one has to wonder just how long this will go on until something breaks.


The people shouldn't have to tolerate this. This is Japan, not the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany or the United States.

Cellphone Radiation? Probably Worse For You Than Fukushima Because It's Stuck to Your Head!

That's right. Unless you live near or around the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plants, or the nearby areas affected, then there are many things that are much more dangerous to you and your families' well-being than crap spewing out of the Dai-ichi nuclear power plant.

People need to keep things in perspective. Of course the Fukushima nuclear accident is serious business. For me, I thank God I don't live there... Actually, no. That's not true. I thank me. I'd never live close to a nuclear power plant anyway. Neither would I live close to any sort of refinery, oil producing facilities or toxic waste dumps. I always questions the sanity of people who do... I always wonder why, when something bad happens, then the people who do live near these places complain as if they are surprised by disaster.


Seems to me disaster has a way of striking all around the world all the time.


Like I said, when it comes to your health and the welfare of your family, there's lots of things you should be concerned about... If you don't live near Fukushima then there's stuff going on all around you that just aren't as glamorous as nuclear accidents so they aren't reported by the main stream mass media, yet they have a much higher chance of ruining your health or your families' health than Fukushima ever could.


Here's a list of a few:


Did you know that For Every One Death Due to Nuclear Power, 4,000 Die Due to Coal? 


Or how about Benzene in Cars! This Will Kill More People Than Fukushima Will


And today's interesting tidbit comes from Activist Post. It is entitled Is Your Cell Phone Killing You?

An excellent infographic has been released, which covers many of the physical and mental health problems, as well as the financial burden sold to an increasing number of people who feel they "cannot live without" a cell phone.

As shown below, this obsession manifests in a myriad of ways that affect individual health and social interaction....

There is one other area key area that is not covered in the infographic, but is also worth mentioning -- the radiation effects of cell phones, especially on the young.

Experts have said that cell phones are capable of causing a number of health problems, including depression, infertility and damage to your DNA.

In 2011, the WHO/IARC released a report stating that cell phone radiation may have a carcinogenic effect on humans. In fact, the World Health Organization actually said that cell phones are in the same cancer-causing category as lead, engine exhaust, and chloroform. 

Considering the hundreds of millions who live thousands of miles away from Fukushima with how much they have a radioactive device stuck to their head all day, I'd say that this issue demands some serious consideration.

Here's more details and facts from this very interesting infographic:

1) More people can't live without their cell phone:

* The average person glances at their cell phone 150 times a day

* 68% of people experience phantom phone vibration when anticipating a phone call or notification

* 43% of iPhone users would go shoeless for a week rather than temporarily release their phones

* 22% would forego brushing their teeth

* 73% of people sleep with their cell phones

2) This obsession can lead to mental and health problems

* Fear and anxiety can increase coagulation and increase heart disease by a factor of four

* 57% feel anxiety when they run out of battery or credit or have no network coverage

* 70% of women and 61% of men fear losing their phones (it's called "nomophobia" or "no mobile phone phobia")

* 50% feel anxious when they don't have their mobile phone with them 

* 25% of nomophobia have experienced accidents while messaging or talking on the phone

3) Sleep deprivation

* People lose an average of 45 minutes a week of sleep due to cell phone usage

* 63% of smart phones users use a social networking site before going to bed

The article then goes on to suggest ways to fight back against cell phones (and I heartily agree!)

1) Turn off cell phones 45 minutes before bedtime to increase sleep quality

2) Take a trip unplugged! Go to where there is no TV, network or computers! 

3) Resist constantly checking your cell phone for messages. If it's important, then they will call you

May I add?:

4) Turn it off at meal time

5) Turn it off during meetings and when you are not at work

6) Never use if for an alarm clock

7) Turn off your cell phone for 12 hours a day, everyday

Cell phones are bad news. Not only are they bad for your health, they are ruining people's quality of life. 


One person commented to me that, "... they can't be as bad as breathing in Fukushima radiation..." To that another friend said, "No. You just shove them up a hole in your head and talk on them for hours..." Good point.

Turn those damned things off! 


Refer to this great video that I wrote about at New Year's in Turn off those digital devices and learn to live again:

Not only will turning off your cell phone for at least 12 hours a day improve your life, it will improve your health.


For a related article, please read: Radiation and Reason - the Impact of Science on a Culture of Fear 

Am I the Only Person Who Doesn't Care About the Grammy Awards?

The title to this blog says it all. Am I the only person who doesn't care about the Grammy Awards? I saw this comment on Facebook and was relieved that there is someone who thinks like me. Sometimes I've wondered if I am the only person in the entire world who doesn't care about this stuff and doesn't watch it. I don't care about the Academy Awards or the Oscars or the Super Bowl either. They are all boring.

Yes. That's what I said! B-O-R-I-N-G! Of course all professional sports are boring. And, since pro sports are big money entertainment, they aren't what they seem. Big money equals big corruption (or haven't you been paying attention?). Anyway, who cares if some professional team beats another one? They really have nothing to do with your city (besides a contract with a stadium or auditorium) and their winning will not change your life in the least. Still people think they care. 

I also don't like these awards shows because of their high-brow attitude. I don't like "snooty high-brow" anything whereby people try to act like they are important or the center of the world (or even the center of wherever it is that they are at in any given moment.) It's like the folks who are in a members-only club; I don't like it.

I sometimes get invited to join these members-only clubs. Chuckle. I always use the Groucho Marx quote: "I refuse to join any club that would allow people like me as a member."

"Whatever it is... I'm against it!"

Today, I got an email from a friend in Hollywood who produces independent music, videos and films. He wrote:

"Wow, trying to watch the Grammy's, you were correct. You would have contracted jet lag (coming to Los Angeles) just to be bored to death. I like some country music and was very into rap before it got big, I don't hate music for being popular, but this is so mindless and bloated - I don't feel bad these people are on a sinking ship. 

It's sad because pop music can be a great thing but they are trying to symbolically respond to things like Etta James and Whitney Houston dying but it reduces everything to packaged cheese."


Yes. That's it. Totally like packaged cheese! The Grammy's are boring because it is a bunch of people giving awards to themselves for turning music into packaged cheese... The ones who can ruin the music the most and make it into the most bland and tasteless cheese sold to the same people who like stuff like McDonald's food gets the awards.


Great! Watching milk curdle! What excitement.


And what's even worse is that there are people who live such boring and unsatisfying lives that they think they actually care about this stuff...


It's too bad people have such uninteresting lives that they find this sort of Bread & Circuses entertaining or gratifying in the least.

Perfect timing for a ratings boost.... And crocodile tears...

We live in a very sick society that is fascinated by idol worship. Too bad people don't go out and get a life.


I think your average kitchen toaster offers a better evening of entertainment than the Grammy Awards do.


Thanks to Mickey Valentine and James Valentine (I don't think they are any relation!)