"G-d Bless the Nihon-Jin (Japanese People).."

I have found myself with tears in my eyes many times  since seeing all the news and images of the recent Japanese earthquake and tsunami

The Japanese are very proper people, with this being said, It makes  me not believe what I see on the news.

The prime-minister is acting calm like it's a problem but not a huge catastrophe, the possibility of a nuclear meltdown.

I know the Japanese nationals better than most Japanese Americans born in this country, living and teaching there in  2002-2003 was one of the most enlightening experiences of my life.

I know when they say no it means yes and when they say yes it means no. They do not want to bother others.

When this first happened the prime-minister said 200-300 dead. I knew and every Japanese National knew this was false, it's just their way of communicating.

To understand the Japanese mind-set, I will quote you out of my 2004 book, "Planet Japan.

"Bowing not handshakes or hugs provided a more hygienic way to greet a person. People consumed raw fish and cooked their vegetables, answered yes when they meant no, no when they meant yes and maybe when they meant never. The emergency phone number is 119, not 911. Japan is opposite land, another planet."

G-d Bless the Nihon-Jin (Japanese People), please say prayers send positive energy and if you have time and money go volunteer and help our great neighbors in whatever capacity you can.

Arigato Gozaimashita!

Garbage-men making more than teachers!

The local Kaua'i Newspaper  reported that some solid waste employee's, also known as garbage-men, make close to $40,000 in overtime alone, not to mention their salary which is close to the same.
Garbage-men making more than teachers, where's the logic or justice?

You've got to love it, overpaid council-members looking into overpaid garbageman! This should get interesting as this battle continues we will get to see whose garbage smells worse, the garbage-mans, or the county-councils. Another case of the pot calling the kettle black.

I remember when I was a kid, the joke was that you could make $1.50 an hour and all you could eat, if you wanted to be a garbage man.

Now Garbage men make more than many PhD's.

There's something wrong with the system when garbage-men, bus drivers and part time county council members make more than teachers.