In the present world of political correctness
I apologize if the above title offended anyone.Ý Having said that
there really wasn't any other title that would accurately label this
email...so here goes. ÝÝÝ As you know the Mets played the Cubs in the
first games of the 2000 baseball season in Japan.Ý The games were
broadcasted on the TV here.Ý So it's the bottom of the 8th inning of the
Opening Game...tied 1-1...a man is on second...and the Mets best power
hitter, Mike Piazza is up.Ý Strike 1....the tension mounts....Ball
1...Ball 2...What will happen?....the pitch...COMMERCIAL BREAK!!!!Ý
I stare at the TV in a look of horror...are you kidding me?Ý A commercial
break?Ý No it's worse...the broadcast of the game is finished because
the nightly program of a bunch of whiney Japanese girls, in tall
shoes that make walking more than a visible challenge (so much so
that some girls have killed themselves >from tripping in them), with
a bunch of old men, who would never have the chance to talk to these
girls in real life, had to come on...afterall it was in the schedule
and the game didn't end at exactly 9:30pm.Ý Yes it's been a couple
weeks since it happened and yes I'm still really bitter. ÝÝÝ I do my best
never to listen to the radio here.Ý Although there is a station,
that during a certain time, that does play American music (Take 6
is actually pretty big here which surprises me) I try to avoid it
and the aggravation.Ý I remember listening to it once as I was driving.Ý
I almost felt like I was home.Ý Well that was when I ignored the
fact I was on the wrong side of the car as I was driving, the wrong
side of the road, the rice paddies, and the smell of burning garbage (or
people perhaps? i.e. crematoriums).Ý Well I was be-bopping and here
came the best part and I was going to "nail" it with my top singing
voice...since no one else was in the car.Ý Here it came..."Let it....(announcer)
America de kare wa ichiban desu..." What? What?Ý The song is dying
out in the middle of it and these people are so in love with the
sound of their own voices that they have to talk over the song?Ý
Not only talk over it but ironically they are saying this singer
is the best in America but obviously that isn't good enough to have
the whole song.Ý Perhaps every song in Japan has to be 2 mins or another
specified time and if it isn't then it is cut at that time.Ý That couldn't
be a possibility you ask?Ý Check this out. ÝÝÝ The Japanese are huge on
schedules.Ý I have already told you about the ceremonies but I've
found out that it goes deeper than that.Ý I learned a little story
about when the Beatles were here back in the '60's.Ý They got their
schedule that had every minute listed..."pick up the Beatles at 10:00am...talk...proceed
to the elevator 10:03am and go down to the bottom 10:04am."Ý Isn't
that just out of control?Ý I don't blame the Beatles for doing what
they did.Ý They hid in their apartment and refused to answer the
door just so the schedule would be a little off.Ý I mean I understand
that they want everything to go smoothly for things but com'on that
is still a little obsessive/compulsive.Ý ÝÝÝ Not to mention the fact
I want to see the WHOLE GAME!!! Ý Ý