history — Reality on a Stick

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Category Archives: history

David Graddol discusses English in the new world order

June 11, 2008 – 1:19 am

You REALLY should listen to this. I might not be in the wrong line of work after all!
Just click the photo and press the play icon [on the British Council podcast site].

I have to say I am pretty stoked that David Graddol will be one of the PAC7 at JALT2008 plenary speakers this November in […]

By Steven Nishida | Also posted in debate, perspective, career, efl, autonomous learning, economy, community, education, teaching, language, japan, learning | Comments (2)

landrobot’s eye-rod exerciser III

January 17, 2008 – 6:37 pm

By landrobot | Also posted in japan, animation, drugs, otaku, Sinbad, money, art, science, environment, Tech, film, technology | Comments (0)

Big Bang on the Brane.

November 15, 2007 – 2:17 am

Last year, I read an article on the emergence of Brane theory (called M theory in some cricles), which posits the existence of parallel universes, each consisting of far more dimensions than the average cookie can conceive. I get excited just thinking about it. So excited, in fact, that I haven’t once managed to […]

By Steven Nishida | Also posted in debate, perspective, philosophy, science | Comments (2)

Defining Anti-Nationalism and Welcoming Americans to the World: Arundhati Roy’s “Come September” (2002)

October 15, 2007 – 5:51 am

I don’t want you to think like me….I just want you to think.
I almost didn’t post this, because it’s more politically charged than my usual fare, and might be perceived as slightly off topic. After lengthy consideration, however, I realized that I needed to clarify where all that anti-nationalism talk was coming from […]

By Steven Nishida | Also posted in human nature, parenting, perspective, debate, autonomous learning, baby, community, politics, learning, video, teaching, rants | Comments (5)

The Name-bearing Son

September 5, 2007 – 4:18 pm

26 years ago, an aging and weary Masahiro–”John” since the 2nd World War–sat down next to his then 7-year-old grandson and said, “I have to talk to you about something very important.”
“What?” I replied, still giggling, thinking another game was on the way.
He continued, “Well, Steven, you are my only grandson, and you have to […]

By Steven Nishida | Also posted in relationship, pregnancy, human nature, perspective, parenting, baby, health, japan, personal | Comments (12)

Explanation of 2001: A Space Odyssey

August 28, 2007 – 8:41 pm

If you haven’t seen Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey, go watch it now and then come back. Gahead, we’ll wait;-) (If you need convincing, read the user comments on IMDB).
OK, now that we’re all on the same page, check out this site to see a thorough flash interpretation of the movie.
What’d ya […]

By Steven Nishida | Also posted in animation, human nature, perspective, media, science, art, technology | Comments (3)

English Proficiency: Japan vs. the Philippines

July 9, 2007 – 9:46 am

Here’s a tangential comment I wrote over at Autono Blogger which I thought might be interesting to the readers here.
In response to Autono Blogger’s post–which was itself a response to a recent post over at jarinefl–I stated the following…
I can really relate to your feelings here:
my growing awareness of a belief among Japanese students of […]