Happy Halloween, Everybody!

This weekend is Halloween.  It was first Halloween last year since we moved to our home in Hayward.

We had not had much children visit in past, we had not been well prepared.  We started to be in short of candies.

There were more children coming.  We drove down to Safeway to buy more Candies for children.

When we came back home, it was past 10:00 pm.  We had not had children visit after we came home.

This year, learned from our experience last year, we bought more candies than last year.

We feel we are ready for Halloween this year.


Happy Halloween, everyone!









It's NEW!  It's exciting!!  It brings you the result!!!  Web Traffic Toolbox!!!
http://webtraffictoolbox.com/


Please also take a look at my Traffic Solution, which is now a part of my Internet Business Toolbox.
http://thetrafficsolution.com/aff/1206



Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/me
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Oh, My Little Cuckoo

Please refer to the songs first as follows:

1) Oh, My Little Cuckoo, I will wait until you sing if you do not sing.

2) Oh, My Little Cuckoo, I will make you sing if you do not sing.

3) Oh, My Little Cuckoo, I will kill you if you do not sing.

4) Oh, My Little Cuckoo, I will let you go if you do not sing.

The above are songs, which described different personalities of 4 historically famous local lords. All of them are deeply involved in unifying Japan in 16th century. First one describes Ieyasu Tokugawa, who opened Shogun Government and stabilized new system. Second is the one for Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who established a new system, safety, and security. Third one is on Nobunaga Oda, who destroyed ancient regime and seeded new system. 

Let us talk about 3), first. Nobunaga was the one who destroyed ancient regime and introduced a new system. He did not show respect to religions that controlled politics in his days. He fought against established powers and authorities and destroyed them. This song shows his firm will and power to carry out his strategy. He did not mind to kill the cuckoo if it did not follow his order.

2) describes Hideyoshi Toyotomi. He was a high-level subordinate of Nobunaga. Nobunaga hired him when he was a son of farmer family. Hideyoshi became one of the most influential generals of Nobunaga when Nobunaga was assassinated. Nobunaga always gave him hard works. Hideyoshi always accomplished the hard work. The song 2) describes his confident that he could accomplish any difficult scheme.

Song 1) explains the personality of Ieyasu Tokugawa. Ieyasu was smart strategist and determined fighter. Unfortunately, however, in his early days, he always had higher ranked people than him, Nobunaga and Hideyoshi. He was patient to wait until his time to come. After both Nobunaga and Hideyoshi had died, he made a move and became Shogun to complete unifying all Japan in 1603. He was a person with patience and persistence.

They all played their own role in history when the period was chaotic from the old regime to new. Noteworthy here is that Nobunaga's speed and Hideyoshi's confidence could not stop Ieyasu to be the ultimate winner unifying all Japan. Ieyasu has a sense of time to know if it is tail wind or head wind for him. He had patience and endurance to wait until his time came. His song teaches people to be patient in difficult times.

 Finally, the song 4) describes Mitsuhide Akechi. Mitsuhide was also a high-ranked officer of Nobunaga. He could not stand Nobunaga's behavior to ignore and destroy old traditions of Japan. He did not like Nobunaga's forceful approach against his enemies. He betrayed and killed Nobunaga. He is a traitor, but the song describes his compassionate side.

Read this Article in Ezine.com:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Oh,-My-Little-Cuckoo&id=5254457

It's NEW!  It's exciting!!  It brings you the result!!!  Web Traffic Toolbox!!!
http://webtraffictoolbox.com/


Please also take a look at my Traffic Solution, which is now a part of my Internet Business Toolbox.
http://thetrafficsolution.com/aff/1206



Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/me
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Wait Until the Next Morning

Human beings are emotional animals. Reaction of people is different from time to time depending on their mood, even they face the same situation. If one had his argument with his spouse, he would be easy to be upset. If his boss raised his salary last week, he would be happy to do anything. These emotions are out of control. There are some times when we hope to manage emotions to have better analysis of the situation to make a better decision. It is impossible to control emotions. Lousy mood can affect a critical decision-making.

Although we would not be able to fully independent from emotions, there are actions we could use to avoid poor decisions due to unfavorable emotion. Here are 3 suggestions:

1. One should be ready to take his time. Do not make a hastening decision.

2. He should go to church, shrine, or temple depending on your belief.

3. He should wait to make a critical decision until the next morning.

When one is to make a critical decision, he should not make hastening decision. Be ready to take time. Do not listen to others pushing to a hasten decision. This is the most crucial point. Relax and take time.

Any culture of the world shows that their kings, knights, priests, and politicians had their own God and prayed whenever they needed to make a critical decision. They prayed not for getting their decision from their God, but for having purified so that they would not have made any mistake or wrong decision. When one feels purified, his mind is so clear that he could not have made a critical decision. Point is; "Don't pray for asking God to give an answer. Ask your God to help purifying to make a right decision.

As one will hear no God word giving him his desirable decision, the one will obtain His help and guidance when he purifies himself and humbly seek His help to guide him.

Morning has the same effect to human beings as praying for God. Morning makes one feel better and fresh than any other time in a day. In one sense, morning purifies people. He has departed from yesterday's garbage. He has not yet landed on today's chaos. He wakes up, play favorite music, exercise a bit, eat lightly. He is ready to explore, think, and make a decision on difficult issues.

By waiting until the next morning, one can make a decision under clear mind instead of hastening conclusion or decision with disordered thinking.

In this way, there are several methods to avoid hasten conclusion on one's a difficult issue. If you need to make a difficult decision, or you cannot make a decision on something, wait until the next morning.

It was Sunday Morning, 7:30am, when Church Worship Program from my car radio, gave me these advices. If I did not wake up early Sunday, I could not catch these advices. Morning gives advantages to the people who wake up early, this way. The early bird catches the worm.

Read this Article in Ezine.com:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Wait-Until-the-Next-Morning&id=5127296

It's NEW!  It's exciting!!  It brings you the result!!!  Web Traffic Toolbox!!!
http://webtraffictoolbox.com/


Please also take a look at my Traffic Solution, which is now a part of my Internet Business Toolbox.
http://thetrafficsolution.com/aff/1206



Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/me
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Gung Ho, the Movie

It was the Paramount Picture movie released on March 1986. Director was Ron Howard. It was starring Michael Keaton, as an American Car Maker Liaison and Gedde Watanabe, as his Japanese counterpart. This is one of those movies that one can enjoy watching over and over again. When a Japanese car company buys an American automobile manufacturer, the American liaison and his Japanese counterpart must mediate the clash of work attitudes between the foreign management and local labor. In the process of mediating the clashes, they started to build understanding and friendship.

It is a comedy movie. There were exaggerations and fictions. The audience, however, can still clearly sees the cultural differences and strengthen the understandings. A local auto manufacturer in Mid-West, USA was in financial trouble. They needed someone who could help to rebuild the company. They held union meeting and decided to send Michael Keaton to a Japanese car maker to request to take over the company and play the role of "White Knight" for this US Auto maker. He went to Japan and succeeded in bringing Japanese management staff to US. Gedde Watanabe, a young management candidate, was the head of Japanese team.

There were lots of funny scenes in this movie. First one was the name of this Japanese car maker. It was "Assan Motors". The film showed even Japanese-Chinese Character of this company name. It meant "Pressured Miserably Motors". There were lots of misunderstandings due to the language difference and cultural difference. A Japanese secretary was typing when Michael Keaton came into the office. He asked the woman: "What are you cooking?" The woman answered: "I am not cooking. I am typing."

When Michael Keaton and Gedde Watanabe were arguing in their office, Watanabe started to climb to his office chair and to his desk. He, being an Asian, was shorter than his American counterpart. He did not like his American friend kept looking down from higher position. Keaton also climbed to a chair and desk. When Watanabe declared that Michael would be fired, he fell from the top of the office desk.

After misunderstandings and fights, they started to understand the other party's position and support their counterparts. They inevitably made the enemy of their own side. They worked hard to convince their own side, American Union member and Japanese team. Watanabe's boss flew from Japan and gave both of them a difficult target. American workers and Japanese team finally worked together to accomplish this difficult target.

Trying not to go into too much detail so that readers can enjoy watching this movie, this movie teaches the following 3 lessons:



1. There will be misunderstandings and fights when people from different cultural background, cross-cultural people, work together.
2. Cross-cultural people can work together if they do not give up trying to work together.
3. The key to be successful in cross-cultural relationship is to think about their counterpart, not just your side.

My American Boss used to say to me: "You need to turn the table around and think in your counterpart's position." He taught me that cross-cultural people should enjoy the difference.

Read this Article in Ezine.com:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Gung-Ho,-The-Movie&id=5170200

It's NEW!  It's exciting!!  It brings you the result!!!  Web Traffic Toolbox!!!
http://webtraffictoolbox.com/


Please also take a look at my Traffic Solution, which is now a part of my Internet Business Toolbox.
http://thetrafficsolution.com/aff/1206



Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/me
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Asura, Buddhism God of War

Asura is the name of god. Asura is god of war in Buddhism doctrine. He can be equivalent to Mars in Roman gods and goddess. Buddhism doctrine shows some gods of war, despite its base principle of love and mercy. They are "Tai Shaku Ten", "Ma Ri Shi Ten", "Ji Koku Ten", "Zou Cho Ten", "Kou Moku Ten" "Bi Sha Mon Ten", and "Asura". All the gods of war are for defense of Buddha and Buddhism doctrine against all monsters. Ancient paintings and sculptures describe them as masculine features of human generals and worriers. They look dreadful, tough, and powerful as their statues. Asura is different.

Typical feature of Asura for Japanese is from the statue in Ko Fuku-ji Temple in Nara prefecture. This statue is approximately 5 feet tall. It has 3 faces and 6 arms. There is nothing masculine about the body. Its body is rather slim. 6 arms are thin, too. The most notable is Asura's face and appearance. Despite that, any other gods of war have masculine, fierce and angry appearance, Asura's face looks relatively calm. It appears almost sad. His face looks almost like one of a young woman. According to historians, it is one of Japanese historical mysteries that the ancient sculptor made Asura this way.

Asura in Buddhism doctrine was a monster that fought against "Tai Shaku Ten". After several violent conflicts, Asura realized that he never wins against the defense of Buddha. Asura became spiritually awaken how foolish he was to fight against Buddha. He realized that he was fighting against justice. He could never win against justice. Asura repented his sinful fights. Asura became a god of defense for Buddhism doctrine.

In some folklore, people respected Asura as a god of yield. He is a protective god for Mother Nature's production and reproduction. This story reminds me Hindu's Ruling God Siva. Siva is famous to be a god of destruction. One can call Siva to be the only God who has right of destruction. Siva destroys human society when human world becomes corrupted. He will, then, produces, nurtures, grows, and leads new world. Siva is the highest god for demolition and reproduction as Asura is a god for fighting and breeding.

People may find another similarity of these 2 gods in their statues. They both do not at all appear violent in their pictures and statues. Dancing Siva is one of this god's typical figures. He is rather slim and dancing cheerfully. His face looks like a woman's, as the one of Asura's. Asura is like as described above. He has a face of sad girl. In accordance with his myth, he may be trying to teach people sadness, vanity, and meaninglessness of fighting. Asura keeps attracting people. The name Asura had been used for cartoon stories' heroes and heroines several times. This year was a celebration for 1300 years history of Ko-Fuku Ji Temple. Ko-Fuku Ji brought Asura's statue Tokyo for the exhibition. The exhibition marked world record of 15,000 visitors a day, total 946,172 visitors.

Read this Article in Ezine.com:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Asura,-Buddhism-God-of-War&id=5195432

It's NEW!  It's exciting!!  It brings you the result!!!  Web Traffic Toolbox!!!
http://webtraffictoolbox.com/


Please also take a look at my Traffic Solution, which is now a part of my Internet Business Toolbox.
http://thetrafficsolution.com/aff/1206



Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/me
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Yokozuna, Haku-Ho, Saved Japanese Sumo

It started from an article of a Japanese magazine. The article reported that Japanese Sumo wrestlers committed a crime of illegal baseball gambling provided by Japanese organized crime group. Some of them are high-rank wrestlers; including Oozeki (2nd Highest Rank), and Stable Masters, who are in a leading position of young wrestlers. There were Sumo wrestlers gamble problem in the past. This time, however, was different since it was involving major Sumo Masters and Wrestlers. The order restoration committee suspended activities of the chairman of Sumo Association and replaced the chairman. Japanese people consider this as the largest disaster of Sumo history.

Nagoya season started on July 11 through July 25 as scheduled. There was even opinion that Nagoya season should not have held. Japanese National Broadcasting did not carry live broadcasting as they usually do. The chairman of Sumo Association appeared to apologize on the first day. Number of sightseers reduced by 10%. About 8000 people canceled their tickets. Emperor's office decided not to give the largest award for the champion, Emperor's Trophy to the champion of the season.

For people who are not familiar with this Sumo wrestling sport, Sumo is Japanese traditional wrestling style. 2 muscular guys fight to push the enemy out of field or cause him to fall on the ground.

Many foreign people love Japanese Sumo I know. For these out of Japan Sumo fans, the situation seemed hopeless. They must have worried about what would happen with the Sumo. It was quite fortunate for entire Sumo community that they had this Yokozuna (Grand Champion, highest-rank wrestler). His name is Haku-Ho. During this confusion of illegal baseball gambling of Sumo Association, Yokozuna, Haku-Ho continued to fight quietly and kept winning. His record for consecutive winning before Nagoya season was - No.4 in the history after No.1 Futaba-Yama, 69, No.2 Chiyo-no-Fuji 52, No.3 Tai-Ho 45. In this Nagoya season, Haku-Ho continued to win and recorded 47 continuous. He became No.3 record holder overcoming his own teacher, Tai-Ho. Haku-Ho was the winner of Nagoya season, but he could not get some rewards centered on Emperor's Trophy, due to this illegal gamble scandal. He looked a little bit sad despite his own outstanding record of consecutive win and championship. He did not comment on the scandal when an interviewer asked.

Time has passed. Sumo Autumn Season started on September 12. There were still some people who were talking about the scandal. The association decided to fire one Ohzeki (2nd Rank next to Yokozuna, 1st Rank). Some others disappeared forever. The damage from the scandal was obvious. The people's center of interest, however, had already shifted from the scandal to the consecutive win record by Haku-Ho. People talked about how many wins Haku-Ho can achieve, if he could win Autumn Season without losing. Haku-Ho looked like Blue Wild Wolf, from Mongolian Prairie, who does not bark, who does not growl, but just attack and fight. He was quiet. When a reporter asked about his pressure, he just said that he fights doing his best.

7th day of the season, he won the match and became official No.2 of the historical record. He continued to win and finished the entire season without losing once again. His continuing win after this season was 62, next to No.1 record of 69. Seniors and former Sumo wrestlers are saying that they cannot imagine anyone who can win Haku-Ho.

People do not talk about the news of Illegal Gambling by Sumo wrestlers any more. People say just about how many more Haku-Ho can win. They talk about if he could replace historical record of 69 wins. If there were no Haku-Ho, if there were no his continuing winning record, the popularity of Sumo would not have recovered this quick. It must not be just me who believe that this Mongolia born young Yokozuna saved Japanese Sumo.

Read this Article in Ezine.com:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Yokozuna,-Haku-Ho,-Saved-Japanese-Sumo&id=5116188

It's NEW!  It's exciting!!  It brings you the result!!!  Web Traffic Toolbox!!!
http://webtraffictoolbox.com/


Please also take a look at my Traffic Solution, which is now a part of my Internet Business Toolbox.
http://thetrafficsolution.com/aff/1206



Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/me
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

How Do You Use Evolved Internet?

Internet has been and still is intriguing space. Since its beginning stage of all texts in 1990's, it has attracted my attention. It cost me more than $1,000 to build an infrastructure to gain access to Internet in 1993. There were PC communication methods even before Internet. There were some information available with their computer communication sites, such as CompuServe, AOL, and UUNet. People could exchange email and participate in BBS through their proprietary services.

Internet took off, then. Internet in early 90's was just a text format and data warehouse which was not properly maintained. It used to take me hours to arrive at the information site which I needed. Still Internet was extremely useful tool for me. All patent information was available to search. 10K, 10Q, companies financial information was available in sites. Even with the time to access appropriate information, it was still faster than my office colleagues who went to company library or public library to get the same information I gathered from Internet.

Soon, Internet became the symbol of graphics in Computer Communication with lots of pictures and arts decorated companies' sites. Internet was abundant information source for a businessman like me to look into financial data of customers and competitors. This time, there was nobody called Web1.0 or Web2.0. There was no such a nicknames of services, yet.

Those were the days that Internet was just a place for visitors to explore. Only companies who can afford to expensive web-creators' cost could build their websites. No individual business owners, small organizations, local businesses could have their own websites. YET. Remembering those days, this period may be called as "Web1.0". Although this name was given after this period ended.

This way of calling services in Internet started from "Web2.0", which supported member sites. SNS and Blogs have already been started, but they were not as popular as today. It appears nobody has given clear definitions on these version 1.0 - 3.0. The ones most clearly describe each characteristics are the following one from my friend.

Web 1.0 was "Find Me"

Web 2.0 was and still is "Join Me"

Web 3.0 is "Follow Me"



In Web 1.0 days, Internet was your information source. The user needed to find the sites they searched. Since Web 2.0 had evolved to be membership sites for specific information one needs, one could join in membership who provide such services.

Under Web 3.0 version, today, ones, used to be users, became "the source of information" in Internet. They can post, distribute, and broadcast your information and opinion. The user is not just a follower. He became a leader in his field in Internet. That is why this version of Internet is defined as "Follow Me". Not only small-scale local companies, but also many individuals hold their own websites or blogs. Internet today enables people to build their business in its environment. Is it not just I believe the most fascinating time of Internet arrived. How would you like to use Internet evolved? How about building your side business? Get your website as attractive possible. Strategize your web traffic so that you can broadcast yourself as much as you can.

Read this Article in Ezine.com:
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Do-You-Use-Evolved-Internet?&id=5098580

It's NEW!  It's exciting!!  It brings you the result!!!  Web Traffic Toolbox!!!
http://webtraffictoolbox.com/


Please also take a look at my Traffic Solution, which is now a part of my Internet Business Toolbox.
http://thetrafficsolution.com/aff/1206



Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/me
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Website for Regular Business

It was February 1995, sales budget time in my previous employment. The president of my former employer asked his financial advisory if it was a good idea that all employees would have their own PC. One week later, his advisor came to see the president. The advisor recommended to the president that providing 1 PC to every 2 employee is the most appropriate. The president was not happy about his proposal. He told advisor that we call the device PERSONAL computer, because each PERSON has his own. 1 month later, the company decided to give 1 PC to each employee. This president had his vision how people would work in next 5 - 10 years.

PC was a gadget of technology people 15 years ago. Ordinary people did not use it if not forced to use it for business requirement. Internet and Websites were for computer geeks who were in early stage of Internet Business or large companies with deep pocket.

Almost everybody has Personal Computer, today. Everybody has a connection to Internet no matter where he happened to be. PC became the PERSONAL computer in its real meaning. As it evolves, it has changed use and user profiles. Students communicate with their teachers via emails. My wife's niece, who is originally from China, has a membership in 3 Social Networking Sites. She is planning to build her own blog, soon.

As PC became more powerful, connections to Internet are easy, there is a lot of web-design software or services everywhere, it starts to make more sense for regular small or medium size business people to make use of Internet and Website. Let me explain more in concrete. If you own a small glossary store in downtown San Francisco, carrying some ethnic products, such as Soy Soup for Japanese travelers, it makes sense for you to have your own website and promote it to Japanese travelers. Businesses, such as Gas Station, Car Repair Shops, or Car Body shops, would be greatly benefited, if they have web pages. They can broadcast their promotions for smog check special price of the week. They can put out special price of, for example, auto body cleaners.

 Restaurants and Coffee Shops are perfect people who will take advantage of their own Website, if they have one. Since their specials change daily basis, it make more sense if they to broadcast their menu through Internet. Their customers can learn know that their special of that day is salmon steak without visiting the restaurant. It will drive more customers to go to the restaurant than before.

Using Internet and Website costs less than printing paper base advertisement. If a business owner signs up with advertisement agent, he needs to pay basic cost for membership and he is not sure what is going on with his agent. Having his own website allows the owner to get statistics of visits, page views, or unique views. Business owner can analyze what he should do to promote his business. If someone asks him what business he carries on the street, airport, or train station, he does not have to make printed papers. He can write down his website URL so that the person asked will be able to take a look later. He could print his URL on his business cards. He can print it if someone requests him to do so.

 It sounds terrific for regular business people to own their websites. The next question is what will be their challenge. Yes, there are challenges. The largest challenge is to establish basic traffic to their sites and maintain it. They can use contact lists, email addresses, Social Networking Service for starting. They can use free or inexpensive web traffic solution, tools, or services available for forming and maintaining traffic. They can ask professional help to do so, too.

Read this Article in Ezine.com:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Website-for-Regular-Business&id=5108815

It's NEW!  It's exciting!!  It works!!!  Web Traffic Toolbox!!!
http://webtraffictoolbox.com/


Please also take a look at my Traffic Solution, which is now a part of my Internet Business Toolbox.
http://thetrafficsolution.com/aff/1206



Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://vur.me/shawfunami/me
http://vur.me/shawfunami/zi

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link