10-23-2003, 09:41 AM
Heya...
Well, after a couple of weeks of studying, I've now passed the second Japanese Securities Dealer's Association Exam. It now means that I can sell all of you futures, options and other "speculative" investments...or will, when the registration bit is completed sometime next week. Life, recently, hasn't been really all that interesting --too much studying and hanging around in Tokyo...
So, some interesting bits on Japan. There are these groups schoolgirls roam the streets selling red feathers for charity. They seem to run in groups of three. But this isn't like the states. Here, they are coordinated like a pack of velociraptors waiting to strike their prey with their savage ritual.
They are all dressed the same. Each pack wears the familiar school-girl uniform. There is no variance in the uniform, with everything being specified right down to the buckle on their shoes. The only difference between the various groups prowling the streets is how high their bright white socks are pulled up, but within each pack, it is uniform; some at the ankles, some to the knees...but each of the three is exactly the same. When they shout out what they're raising money for, it is never just one random voice. It is all three of them. In unison. On pitch. In rhythm. Perfect three part harmony. The Saint Olaf Choir could learn a thing or two from them.
But what is more amazing is the ritual for the exchange of money. When someone feels sufficiently sorry for them and decides to purchase a red feather, a ritualistic dance in sues resembling the mating habits of avian species. The donor approaches the girls. They bow, in unison. The donor bows. The girls bow back. A mutual interest has been established. The girls have lured in their prey.
The person politely asks what the girls are raising money for. Not that you haven't heard it 1,000,000 times already while walking. The girls tell her, in unison. And bow, in unison. The donor bows. The girls bow back.
The donor goes for their wallet and produces a couple of coins, probably about Y100 (or about $1 in real money). The girls bow, extending a ceremonial vessel in which to place the money. The donor half bows and deposits the money. Then, the girls bow properly. The donor bows. The girls bow back.
Then, a red feather is produced from the stock. This is greeted with some kind words of thanks. The girls bow to the words of thanks, the donor bows, and once again, the girls bow back. The feather is then inserted in the vict...donor's lapel or pocket. The donor then bows. The girls bow. The donor bows back.
With the mating ritual complete, a fond "thank you" is now sung by the girls. In stereo, whatever that is, all on key, again with perfect three-part harmony. The girls then bow as the donor steps back. The donor then bows. The girls bow back, even deeper then before, with multiple "thank you"'s being said. The donor bows again, saying "Thank you thank you thank you". The girls keep bowing as the donor steps back into the traffic. 14 bows later, the exchange is over.
The donor has escaped.
Afternoon comes around, and Advanced Techniques start showing up. First, there is the "Passing Wave" -- where the girls space themselves about 2' apart and then bow as a potential victem passes. Then, there is the sandwich bow. Here, the middle girl makes an announcement and bows. As she rises, the two flanking her, in stereo, say "thank you!" and bow slightly inward, creating a triangle effect. And finally, there is the multipack -- 4 groups of 3 stake out an intersection and then proceed to hit everybody up at least twice, sometimes three times. Cries of "Donate to *US* to proove this corner is better!" radiate outward.?
Well, after a couple of weeks of studying, I've now passed the second Japanese Securities Dealer's Association Exam. It now means that I can sell all of you futures, options and other "speculative" investments...or will, when the registration bit is completed sometime next week. Life, recently, hasn't been really all that interesting --too much studying and hanging around in Tokyo...
So, some interesting bits on Japan. There are these groups schoolgirls roam the streets selling red feathers for charity. They seem to run in groups of three. But this isn't like the states. Here, they are coordinated like a pack of velociraptors waiting to strike their prey with their savage ritual.
They are all dressed the same. Each pack wears the familiar school-girl uniform. There is no variance in the uniform, with everything being specified right down to the buckle on their shoes. The only difference between the various groups prowling the streets is how high their bright white socks are pulled up, but within each pack, it is uniform; some at the ankles, some to the knees...but each of the three is exactly the same. When they shout out what they're raising money for, it is never just one random voice. It is all three of them. In unison. On pitch. In rhythm. Perfect three part harmony. The Saint Olaf Choir could learn a thing or two from them.
But what is more amazing is the ritual for the exchange of money. When someone feels sufficiently sorry for them and decides to purchase a red feather, a ritualistic dance in sues resembling the mating habits of avian species. The donor approaches the girls. They bow, in unison. The donor bows. The girls bow back. A mutual interest has been established. The girls have lured in their prey.
The person politely asks what the girls are raising money for. Not that you haven't heard it 1,000,000 times already while walking. The girls tell her, in unison. And bow, in unison. The donor bows. The girls bow back.
The donor goes for their wallet and produces a couple of coins, probably about Y100 (or about $1 in real money). The girls bow, extending a ceremonial vessel in which to place the money. The donor half bows and deposits the money. Then, the girls bow properly. The donor bows. The girls bow back.
Then, a red feather is produced from the stock. This is greeted with some kind words of thanks. The girls bow to the words of thanks, the donor bows, and once again, the girls bow back. The feather is then inserted in the vict...donor's lapel or pocket. The donor then bows. The girls bow. The donor bows back.
With the mating ritual complete, a fond "thank you" is now sung by the girls. In stereo, whatever that is, all on key, again with perfect three-part harmony. The girls then bow as the donor steps back. The donor then bows. The girls bow back, even deeper then before, with multiple "thank you"'s being said. The donor bows again, saying "Thank you thank you thank you". The girls keep bowing as the donor steps back into the traffic. 14 bows later, the exchange is over.
The donor has escaped.
Afternoon comes around, and Advanced Techniques start showing up. First, there is the "Passing Wave" -- where the girls space themselves about 2' apart and then bow as a potential victem passes. Then, there is the sandwich bow. Here, the middle girl makes an announcement and bows. As she rises, the two flanking her, in stereo, say "thank you!" and bow slightly inward, creating a triangle effect. And finally, there is the multipack -- 4 groups of 3 stake out an intersection and then proceed to hit everybody up at least twice, sometimes three times. Cries of "Donate to *US* to proove this corner is better!" radiate outward.?
Gullible isn't in the dictionary.