The news here tends to be more Asia-focused than what I enjoy at home. Whether that's thanks to the Party or because the continent is home to the lion's share of the world's population, I can't say. What I can say is that I deleted the phrase "filtered by the unblinking Party eye" from a previous version of the preceding sentence because the metaphor is so hilariously and clumsily mixed. I can also tell you that, thanks to jet lag that's making me feel like I've been up for days, I've also totally lost my train of thought. Fortunately, I have this link to stoke the rapidly unsmoldering fire of my brain.

The article talks about how Japanese Prime Minister Ninjohama Hirosushi today visited some Shinto shrine memorializing his nation's war dead, and I know what you're thinking about it: Japan has a Prime Minister? Of course it does. He's recognizable because he kind of looks like Shaun Cassidy, except with gray hair. And Asian. Anyway, I know what else you're thinking: 'Shinto' is a religion? To that I must admit that I have no answer. I thought it was a Korean car company. But the details aside, apparently the visit was a big deal around these parts because the shrine commemorates Japan's WWII dead, and about 1000 of those whose names are listed on the shrine's rolls were war criminals convicted and executed by the allies after WWII.

Suppose for a moment that we didn't all realize that the Germans are still unrepentant Nazis. Further suppose that Germany actually had an officially elected leader, and that he or, stretch for it now, she went to Hitler's grave and prayed over it. How do you think the Poles would feel?

If you said "confused," you win. Because Polish people are dumb!

Analogcabin @ 2:30 AM
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