Chokai bus schedule

This is the bus schedule for some buses in Chokai, Yurihonjo, Akita. There are no trains in Chokai. I transcribed and translated this from Japanese ─ see http://busnavi.g.ribbon.to/line/chokai/chokai.php.

In Chokai, bus drivers will pick up passengers anywhere along the route. Even if you are not at a bus stop, wave to the driver to get on the bus. Bus drivers will let passengers off anywhere along the route, too.

これは鳥海町のバス時間割です。鳥海町は秋田県の由利本荘市の一部です。

Sarukura Line: To Chokaisō

Bus number 123
Days off Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ holidays
Starting point Chokai Town Office
Chokai Town Office 06:5511:4516:10
Chokai Medical Center 06:5711:4716:12
Kaizawa 07:0111:5116:16
Shimo-Sainokami 07:0511:0516:20
Kami-Sainokami 07:0811:5816:23
Miyanosawa 07:1012:0016:25
Sarukura Kaikan 07:1212:0216:27
Chokaisō 07:1512:0516:30
Ending point Chokaisō
   

猿倉線:鳥海荘行き

番号 1 2 3
運休 土 ・ 日 ・ 祝日
始発駅 鳥海総合支所前
鳥海総合支所前 06:5511:4516:10
鳥海診療所前 06:5711:4716:12
貝沢 07:0111:5116:16
下才ノ神 07:0511:0516:20
上才ノ神 07:0811:5816:23
宮ノ沢 07:1012:0016:25
猿倉会館 07:1212:0216:27
鳥海荘 07:1512:0516:30
行先 鳥海荘

Sarukura Line: To Chokai Town Office

Bus number 1'2'3'
Days off Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ holidays
Starting point Chokaisō
Chokaisō 07:1612:3116:31
Sarukura Kaikan 07:1912:3416:34
Miyanosawa 07:2112:3616:36
Kami-Sainokami 07:2312:3816:38
Shimo-Sainokami 07:2612:4116:41
Kaizawa 07:3112:4616:46
Chokai Medical Center 07:3512:5016:50
Chokai Town Office 07:3612:5116:51
Ending point Chokai Town Office
   

猿倉線:鳥海総合支所行き

番号 1'2'3'
運休 土 ・ 日 ・ 祝日
始発駅 鳥海荘
鳥海荘 07:1612:3116:31
猿倉会館 07:1912:3416:34
宮ノ沢 07:2112:3616:36
上才ノ神 07:2312:3816:38
下才ノ神 07:2612:4116:41
貝沢 07:3112:4616:46
鳥海診療所前 07:3512:5016:50
鳥海総合支所前 07:3612:5116:51
行先 鳥海総合支所前

Naka-Hitane Line: To Kawakuma and Shimo-Momoyake

Bus number 1234
Days off Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ holidays
Starting point Chokai Town Office
Chokai Town Office 06:0009:5011:4516:10
Chokai Medical Center 06:0109:5111:4616:11
Nagasaka 06:0609:5511:5116:16
Kuride 06:0809:5811:5316:18
Ōkawabata 06:0909:5911:5416:19
Shimo-Hitane 06:1210:0211:5716:22
Hitane Preschool 06:1310:0311:5816:23
Hitane Medical Center 06:1410:0411:5916:24
Hitane Branch Office 06:1510:0512:0016:25
Isonosawa 06:1810:0812:0316:28
Magaki 06:2010:1012:0516:30
Yamasaki 06:2210:1212:0716:32
Ogunai 06:2510:1512:1016:35
Kawakuma 06:2810:1812:1316:38
Ogunai 06:3110:2112:1616:41
Yamasaki 06:3410:2412:1916:44
Nakamura 06:4210:3212:2716:52
Shimo-Momoyake 06:4510:3512:3016:55
Ending point Shimo-Momoyake
   

中直根線:川熊・下百宅行き

番号 1234
運休 土 ・ 日 ・ 祝日
始発駅 鳥海総合支所前
鳥海総合支所前 06:0009:5011:4516:10
鳥海診療所前 06:0109:5111:4616:11
長坂 06:0609:5511:5116:16
栗出 06:0809:5811:5316:18
大川端 06:0909:5911:5416:19
下直根 06:1210:0211:5716:22
直根保育園 06:1310:0311:5816:23
直根診療所 06:1410:0411:5916:24
直根出張所 06:1510:0512:0016:25
礒ノ沢 06:1810:0812:0316:28
馬垣 06:2010:1012:0516:30
山サキ 06:2210:1212:0716:32
大宮内 06:2510:1512:1016:35
川熊 06:2810:1812:1316:38
大宮内 06:3110:2112:1616:41
山サキ 06:3410:2412:1916:44
中村 06:4210:3212:2716:52
下百宅 06:4510:3512:3016:55
行先 下百宅

Naka-Hitane Line: To Chokai Town Office

Bus number 1'2'3'4'
Days off Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ holidays
Starting point Shimo-Momoyake
Shimo-Momoyake 06:4710:3712:4716:57
Nakamura 06:5010:4012:5017:00
Yamasaki 06:5910:4912:5917:09
Ogunai 07:0210:5213:0217:12
Kawakuma 07:0510:5513:0517:15
Ogunai 07:0810:5813:0817:18
Yamasaki 07:1111:0113:1117:21
Magaki 07:1311:0313:1317:23
Isonosawa 07:1511:0513:1517:25
Hitane Branch Office 07:1811:0813:1817:28
Hitane Medical Center 07:2011:1013:2017:30
Hitane Preschool 07:2111:1113:2117:31
Shimo-Hitane 07:2211:1213:2217:32
Ōkawabata 07:2511:1513:2517:35
Kuride 07:2611:1613:2617:36
Nagasaka 07:2811:1813:2817:38
Chokai Medical Center 07:3311:2313:3317:43
Chokai Town Office 07:3511:2513:3517:45
Ending point Chokai Town Office
   

中直根線:鳥海総合支所行き

番号 1'2'3'4'
運休 土 ・ 日 ・ 祝日
始発駅 下百宅
下百宅 06:4710:3712:4716:57
中村 06:5010:4012:5017:00
山サキ 06:5910:4912:5917:09
大宮内 07:0210:5213:0217:12
川熊 07:0510:5513:0517:15
大宮内 07:0810:5813:0817:18
山サキ 07:1111:0113:1117:21
馬垣 07:1311:0313:1317:23
礒ノ沢 07:1511:0513:1517:25
直根出張所 07:1811:0813:1817:28
直根診療所 07:2011:1013:2017:30
直根保育園 07:2111:1113:2117:31
下直根 07:2211:1213:2217:32
大川端 07:2511:1513:2517:35
栗出 07:2611:1613:2617:36
長坂 07:2811:1813:2817:38
鳥海診療所 07:3311:2313:3317:43
鳥海総合支所前 07:3511:2513:3517:45
行先 鳥海総合支所前

Sarakawa Line: To Sarakawa

Bus number 123
Days off Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ holidays
Starting point Hottoin Chokai
Hottoin Chokai 09:3512:1014:15
Jinego Branch Office 09:3712:1214:17
Fukujima 09:4212:1714:22
Bunabuchi 09:4312:1814:23
Harimizu Kaikan 09:4912:2414:29
Akakura 09:5612:3114:36
Tōgenozawa 10:0012:3514:40
Sarakawa 10:0512:4014:45
Ending point Sarakawa
   

皿川線:皿川方面行き

番号 123
運休 土 ・ 日 ・ 祝日
始発駅 ほっといん鳥海
ほっといん鳥海 09:3512:1014:15
笹子出張所 09:3712:1214:17
福島 09:4212:1714:22
模渕 09:4312:1814:23
針水会館 09:4912:2414:29
赤倉 09:5612:3114:36
峠ノ沢 10:0012:3514:40
皿川 10:0512:4014:45
行先 皿川

Sarakawa Line: To Hottoin Chokai

Bus number 1'2'3'
Days off Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ holidays
Starting point Sarakawa
Sarakawa 10:1012:4014:50
Tōgenozawa 10:1512:4514:55
Akakura 10:1912:4914:59
Harimizu Kaikan 10:2612:5615:06
Bunabuchi 10:3213:0215:12
Fukujima 10:3413:0415:14
Hottoin Chokai 10:3613:0615:16
Jinego Branch Office 10:4013:1015:20
Ending point Jinego Branch Office
   

皿川線:ほっといん鳥海行き

Bus number 1'2'3'
運休 土 ・ 日 ・ 祝日
始発駅 皿川
皿川 10:1012:4014:50
峠ノ沢 10:1512:4514:55
赤倉 10:1912:4914:59
針水会館 10:2612:5615:06
模渕 10:3213:0215:12
福島 10:3413:0415:14
ほっといん鳥海 10:3613:0615:16
笹子出張所 10:4013:1015:20
行先 笹子出張所

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For attribution of this work, link to this page and include my name, Douglas P Perkins.

Show me the evidence

The following is a letter I wrote that appeared in the Grand Forks Herald on August 17th, 2010. The title it was given (not my choice) is, "Show me the evidence against gay marriage".

YURIHONJO, Japan — In his Aug. 16 column, Herald columnist Lloyd Omdahl makes the same mistake Proposition 8 supporters made in the trial ("Judge missed the compelling state purpose," Page A4).

Omdahl says that bans on gay marriage ought to be constitutional because they promote a compelling state interest — "safety of the public" — but he presents no facts to back that up.

Omdahl writes, "[Judge Walker] went far afield with a number of unfounded suppositions and conclusions without recognizing any compelling state purpose for protecting the benefits of traditional marriage."

But to be constitutional, Prop 8 needed to have a basis in something other than a private moral or religious belief.

At the trial, Prop 8 supporters argued two key points: that Prop 8 promotes stable relationships because men and women naturally produce children, and that Prop 8 promotes optimal households for raising children properly.

But expert witness testimony showed that these claims are mere guesswork, unsupported by evidence.

Thus, the judge struck down Prop 8.

Here, Omdahl briefly mentions "public safety" but never says what that means. If gay and lesbian couples get married, are they going to do something dangerous? Omdahl never explains how gay marriage is a public safety issue — probably because it isn't.

In fact, evidence in the Prop 8 trial showed that gay and lesbian parents are as good at raising children as heterosexual parents. Also in the Prop 8 trial, even the star witness for Prop 8 admitted, "Gay marriage might contribute over time to a decline in anti-gay prejudice [and] a reduction in anti-gay hate crimes." This is the exact opposite of Omdahl's claim that legalizing gay marriage threatens public safety.

States can't discriminate based on sexual orientation without a "compelling state purpose." Religion doesn't qualify, and neither do vague and unfounded assertions of "safety of the public."

If Omdahl wants to oppose gay marriage, he might start by looking for a reason grounded in fact, not thin air.

Douglas Perkins

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For attribution of this work, link to this page and include my name, Douglas P Perkins.

Cornbread

This is a nice recipe for cornbread. It's a modification of the 1979 Fannie Farmer Cookbook recipe.

  1. In a big bowl, mix 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal, 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup sugar, 3 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt.
  2. Add 1 cup milk, 1 egg (beaten), and 2 tbsp melted butter. Mix well.
  3. Pour into a hot buttered 6" or 8" cast iron fry pan.
  4. Bake at 425°F (220°C) for 20 minutes.
  5. Let cool and eat.

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This work (the text and images of this blog entry) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
For attribution of this work, link to this page and include my name, Douglas P Perkins.

Chocolate chip cookies

This is an old and wonderful recipe for chocolate chip cookies. It's a modification of the 1979 Fannie Farmer Cookbook recipe, which is actually much older.

  1. Soften 2 sticks (200 g) butter.
  2. Add 1 cup (235 cc) white sugar and 1 cup (235 cc) brown sugar. Mix well.
  3. Add 2 eggs and 1 1/2 tsp vanilla. Mix well.
  4. In a separate bowl, mix 2 1/4 cups (530 cc) flour, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tsp baking soda. Add to big mixture.
  5. Add 1 cup (210 cc) walnuts (or chestnuts or almonds) and 2 cups (475 cc) semi-sweet chocolate chips. Mix well.
  6. Place on buttered cookie sheet.
  7. Bake at 375°F (191°C) for 8-10 minutes or until light brown.
  8. Let cool, eat, enjoy!

Creative Commons License
This work (the text and images of this blog entry) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
For attribution of this work, link to this page and include my name, Douglas P Perkins.

Yashima-Jinego bus schedule

This is the bus schedule for the Yashima-Jinego Line, Chokai, Yurihonjo, Akita. There are no trains in Chokai, and this bus goes along Highway 108, the main highway. This list is a translation from Japanese ─ see http://busnavi.g.ribbon.to/line.php?line=28.

The only other buses in Chokai go to Naka-Hitane, Sarukura, and Sarakawa. The information is online in Japanese ─ see http://busnavi.g.ribbon.to/line/chokai/chokai.php.

Yashima-Jinego Line (Line 28): To Jinego

Bus number JNK01 JNK03 YSM05 JNK07 YSM15 JNK11 YSM21 JNK15
Days off Sundays
holidays
Saturdays
Sundays
holidays
Sundays
holidays
Sundays
holidays
Starting point Yashima Bus Station Honjo Bus Station Yashima Bus Station Honjo Bus Station Yashima Bus Station Honjo Bus Station Yashima Bus Station
Yashima Bus Station 06:30 07:10 09:30 11:25 14:30 15:50 17:10 18:50
Tatemachi 06:30 07:10 09:30 11:25 14:30 15:50 17:10 18:50
Aramachi Corner 06:30 07:10 09:30 11:25 14:30 15:50 17:10 18:50
Yashima Station 06:32 07:12 09:32 11:27 14:32 15:52 17:12 18:52
Toyomachi Corner 06:32 07:12 09:32 11:27 14:32 15:52 17:12 18:52
Toyomachi 06:32 07:12 09:32 11:27 14:32 15:52 17:12 18:52
Sakaemachi 06:32 07:12 09:32 11:27 14:32 15:52 17:12 18:52
Ōkawara 06:33 07:13 09:33 11:28 14:33 15:53 17:13 18:53
Aramachi 06:34 07:14 09:34 11:29 14:34 15:54 17:14 18:54
Shinjo 06:35 07:15 09:35 11:30 14:35 15:55 17:15 18:55
Kami-Shinjo 06:36 07:16 09:36 11:31 14:36 15:56 17:16 18:56
Gonai 06:38 07:18 09:38 11:33 14:38 15:58 17:18 18:58
Dōbutsuzaka 06:39 07:19 09:39 11:34 14:39 15:59 17:19 18:59
Tsubofuchi 06:41 07:21 09:41 11:36 14:41 16:01 17:21 19:01
Yanomoto 06:42 07:22 09:42 11:37 14:42 16:02 17:22 19:02
Tsurugataira 06:43 07:23 09:43 11:38 14:43 16:03 17:23 19:03
Shimo-Fushimi 06:45 07:25 09:45 11:40 14:45 16:05 17:25 19:05
Naka-Fushimi 06:46 07:26 09:46 11:41 14:46 16:06 17:26 19:06
Chokai Town Office 06:49 07:29 09:49 11:44 14:49 16:09 17:29 19:09
Chokai Medical Center 06:49 07:29 09:49 11:44 14:49 16:09 17:29 19:09
Fushimizawa 06:49 07:29 09:49 11:44 14:49 16:09 17:29 19:09
Sagenabe 06:49 07:29 09:49 11:44 14:49 16:09 17:29 19:09
Shimo-Hirane 06:50 07:30 09:50 11:45 14:50 16:10 17:30 19:10
Hirane 06:50 07:30 09:50 11:45 14:50 16:10 17:30 19:10
Kami-Hirane 06:52 07:34 09:52 11:47 14:52 16:12 17:32 19:12
Shōdeyachi 06:52 --:-- 09:52 11:47 14:52 16:12 17:32 19:12
Naranokidaira 06:55 --:-- 09:55 11:50 14:55 16:15 17:35 19:15
Kogawa 06:57 --:-- 09:57 11:52 14:57 16:17 17:37 19:17
Okanai 06:59 --:-- 09:59 11:54 14:59 16:19 17:39 19:19
Tōge 07:00 --:-- 10:00 11:55 15:00 16:20 17:40 19:20
Shimo-Neko 07:01 --:-- 10:01 11:56 15:01 16:21 17:41 19:21
Neko 07:02 --:-- 10:02 11:57 15:02 16:22 17:42 19:22
Sannotsubo 07:04 --:-- 10:04 11:59 15:04 16:24 17:44 19:24
Seme 07:05 --:-- 10:05 12:00 15:05 16:25 17:45 19:25
Motoyashiki 07:07 --:-- 10:07 12:01 15:07 16:27 17:47 19:27
Kami-Sugisawa 07:08 --:-- 10:08 12:02 15:08 16:28 17:48 19:28
Hottoin Chokai 07:12 --:-- 10:12 12:07 15:12 16:32 17:52 19:32
Kami-Jinego 07:12 --:-- 10:12 12:07 --:-- --:-- 17:52 19:32
Nakamura 07:13 --:-- 10:13 12:08 --:-- --:-- 17:53 19:33
Tenjin Kawakuma Corner 07:14 --:-- 10:14 12:09 --:-- --:-- 17:54 19:34
Hinotosō 07:16 --:-- 10:16 12:11 --:-- --:-- 17:56 19:36
Tagabana 07:18 --:-- 10:18 12:13 --:-- --:-- 17:58 19:38
Kami-Noyake 07:21 --:-- 10:21 12:16 --:-- --:-- 18:01 19:41
Ending point Kami-Noyake Kami-Hirane Kami-Noyake Hottoin Chokai Kami-Noyake

Yashima-Jinego Line (Line 28): To Yashima and Honjo

Bus number YSM54 YSM56 YSM58 JNK08
Days off Sundays
holidays
Saturdays
Sundays
holidays
school holidays
Saturdays
Sundays
holidays
Starting point Kami-Noyake Kami-Hirane Kami-Noyake
Kami-Noyake 06:05 --:-- --:-- 07:25
Tagabana 06:05 --:-- --:-- 07:25
Hinotosō 06:06 --:-- --:-- 07:26
Tenjin Kawakuma Corner 06:08 --:-- --:-- 07:28
Nakamura 06:09 --:-- --:-- 07:29
Kami-Jinego 06:10 --:-- --:-- 07:30
Hottoin Chokai 06:14 --:-- --:-- 07:34
Kami-Sugisawa 06:14 --:-- --:-- 07:34
Motoyashiki 06:15 --:-- --:-- 07:35
Seme 06:17 --:-- --:-- 07:37
Sannotsubo 06:18 --:-- --:-- 07:38
Neko 06:20 --:-- --:-- 07:40
Shimo-Neko 06:21 --:-- --:-- 07:41
Tōge 06:22 --:-- --:-- 07:42
Okanai 06:23 --:-- --:-- 07:43
Kogawa 06:25 --:-- --:-- 07:45
Naranokidaira 06:27 --:-- --:-- 07:47
Shōdeyachi 06:30 --:-- --:-- 07:50
Kami-Hirane 06:30 07:05 07:35 07:50
Hirane 06:30 07:05 07:35 07:50
Shimo-Hirane 06:32 07:05 07:35 07:52
Sagenabe 06:33 07:06 07:36 07:53
Fushimizawa 06:33 07:06 07:36 07:53
Chokai Medical Center 06:33 07:06 07:36 07:53
Chokai Town Office 06:37 07:10 07:40 07:57
Naka-Fushimi 06:37 07:10 07:40 07:57
Shimo-Fushimi 06:37 07:10 07:40 07:57
Tsurugataira 06:39 07:12 07:42 07:59
Yanomoto 06:40 07:13 07:43 08:00
Tsubofuchi 06:41 07:14 07:44 08:01
Dōbutsuzaka 06:44 07:17 07:47 08:04
Gonai 06:45 07:18 07:48 08:05
Kami-Shinjo 06:46 07:19 07:49 08:06
Shinjo 06:47 07:20 07:50 08:07
Aramachi 06:48 07:21 07:51 08:08
Ōkawara 06:49 07:22 07:52 08:12
Sakaemachi 06:50 07:23 07:53 08:13
Toyomachi 06:51 07:24 07:54 08:14
Toyomachi Corner 06:51 07:24 07:54 08:14
Yashima Station 06:54 07:27 07:57 08:17
Aramachi Corner 06:54 07:27 07:57 08:17
Tatemachi 06:54 07:27 07:57 08:17
Yashima Bus Station 06:56 07:29 07:59 08:19
Ending point Yashima Bus Station
(Honjo Bus Station)
Yashima Bus Station
(Yuri Technical High School)
Yashima Bus Station
(Honjo Bus Station)
Yashima Bus Station

Yashima-Jinego Line (Line 28): To Yashima and Honjo (continued)

Bus number JNK10 JNK12 YSM74 JNK16 JNK18
Days off
Starting point Kami-Noyake Hottoin Chokai Kami-Noyake
Kami-Noyake 10:30 12:25 --:-- --:-- 18:05
Tagabana 10:30 12:25 --:-- --:-- 18:05
Hinotosō 10:31 12:26 --:-- --:-- 18:06
Tenjin Kawakuma Corner 10:33 12:28 --:-- --:-- 18:08
Nakamura 10:34 12:29 --:-- --:-- 18:09
Kami-Jinego 10:35 12:30 --:-- --:-- 18:10
Hottoin Chokai 10:39 12:34 15:39 16:40 18:14
Kami-Sugisawa 10:39 12:34 15:39 16:40 18:14
Motoyashiki 10:40 12:35 15:40 16:41 18:15
Seme 10:42 12:37 15:42 16:43 18:17
Sannotsubo 10:43 12:38 15:43 16:44 18:18
Neko 10:45 12:40 15:45 16:46 18:20
Shimo-Neko 10:46 12:41 15:46 16:47 18:21
Tōge 10:47 12:42 15:47 16:48 18:22
Okanai 10:48 12:43 15:48 16:49 18:23
Kogawa 10:50 12:45 15:50 16:51 18:25
Naranokidaira 10:52 12:47 15:52 16:53 18:27
Shōdeyachi 10:55 12:50 15:55 16:56 18:30
Kami-Hirane 10:55 12:50 15:55 16:56 18:30
Hirane 10:55 12:50 15:55 16:56 18:30
Shimo-Hirane 10:57 12:52 15:57 16:58 18:32
Sagenabe 10:58 12:53 15:58 16:59 18:33
Fushimizawa 10:58 12:53 15:58 16:59 18:33
Chokai Medical Center 10:58 12:53 15:58 16:59 18:33
Chokai Town Office 11:02 12:57 16:02 17:03 18:37
Naka-Fushimi 11:02 12:57 16:02 17:03 18:37
Shimo-Fushimi 11:02 12:57 16:02 17:03 18:37
Tsurugataira 11:04 12:59 16:04 17:05 18:39
Yanomoto 11:05 13:00 16:05 17:06 18:40
Tsubofuchi 11:06 13:01 16:06 17:07 18:41
Dōbutsuzaka 11:09 13:04 16:09 17:10 18:44
Gonai 11:10 13:05 16:10 17:11 18:45
Kami-Shinjo 11:11 13:06 16:11 17:12 18:46
Shinjo 11:12 13:07 16:12 17:13 18:47
Aramachi 11:13 13:08 16:13 17:14 18:48
Ōkawara 11:14 13:09 16:14 17:15 18:49
Sakaemachi 11:15 13:10 16:15 17:16 18:50
Toyomachi 11:16 13:11 16:16 17:17 18:51
Toyomachi Corner 11:16 13:11 16:16 17:17 18:51
Yashima Station 11:19 13:14 16:19 17:20 18:54
Aramachi Corner 11:19 13:14 16:19 17:20 18:54
Tatemachi 11:19 13:14 16:19 17:20 18:54
Yashima Bus Station 11:21 13:16 16:21 17:22 18:56
Ending point Yashima Bus Station
(Honjo Bus Station)
Yashima Bus Station Yashima Bus Station
(Honjo Bus Station)
Yashima Bus Station

Creative Commons License
This work (the text of this blog entry) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
For attribution of this work, link to this page and include my name, Douglas P Perkins.

Clean air

The following is a letter I wrote that appeared in the Grand Forks Herald on June 10th, 2010. The title given was, "Court left EPA with no choice on CO2".

YURIHONJO, Japan — Scott Hennen dislikes the Environmental Protection Agency, but his reasons are not grounded in reality ("Will senators stop EPA’s assault on N.D.?", Page A4, June 5).

Hennen says the EPA is "out to regulate" tons of things; but in fact, the EPA has not announced any such plans. Hennen simply is repeating empty propaganda, probably created by people who don’t want the Clean Air Act enforced.

He also claims the EPA is a rogue agency making a "power grab," but this is just not true. The EPA is considering rules on CO2 for two reasons: First, the agency is required by law to protect our air resources for public health, and second, the Supreme Court ordered it to. Regulating CO2 is the EPA’s only reasonable course of action.

Regarding the economy, the Clean Air Act has been around for 47 years. It didn’t stop business growth before, and there’s no reason to think it will now.

Does Hennen believe in regulating dangerous pollution at all? From his letter, it seems not. This is dangerous and short-sighted. Many studies show that if we don’t take reasonable steps to curb global warming, the cost to us and our children will be massive.

Douglas Perkins

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Karate tests

In the Japanese Karate Association (JKA or 日本空手協会 in Japanese), beginners start off at 10 kyū, with a white belt. Every few months they take a test, advancing down to 1 kyū. There are various belt colors at this point. After 1 kyū is 1st degree black belt (shodan). After 1st degree black belt is 2nd degree black belt (nidan), continuing up to 10th degree.

For kyū tests and low level dan tests, there are three parts -- kihon (fundamentals), kumite (sparring), and kata (forms). Here's a description of the JKA test requirements as of 2010, closely following http://www.jka.or.jp/english/karate/kyu.html.

LevelRequirements

10th-9th kyū Kihon: chūdan junzuki ->, jōdan ageuke ->, chūdan sotouke ->, maegeri ->.
Kumite: none.
Kata: none.

8th kyū Kihon: chūdan junzuki ->, jōdan ageuke ->, chūdan sotouke ->, shutōuke ->, maegeri ->.
Kumite: Gohon Kumite - jōdan/chūdan.
Kata: Heian Shodan.

7th kyū Kihon: chūdan junzuki ->, jōdan ageuke <-, chūdan sotouke ->, chūdan uchiuke <-, shutōuke ->, maegeri ->, yoko keage (kibadachi) left/right.
Kumite: Gohon Kumite - jōdan/chūdan.
Kata: Heian Nidan.

6th kyū Kihon: chūdan junzuki ->, jōdan ageuke+gyakutsuki <-, chūdan sotouke+gyakutsuki ->, chūdan uchiuke <-, shutōuke ->, maegeri ->, yoko keage (kibadachi) left/right, yoko kekomi (kibadachi) left/right.
Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite - jōdan/chūdan. Left/right.
Kata: Heian Sandan.

5th kyū Kihon: chūdan junzuki ->, jōdan ageuke+gyakutsuki chūdan <-, sotouke+gyakutsuki ->, chūdan-uchiuke+gyakutsuki <-, shutōuke ->, maegeri ->, mawashigeri ->, yoko keage (kibadachi) left/right, yoko kekomi (kibadachi) left/right.
Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite - jōdan/chūdan/maegeri. Left/right.
Kata: Heian Yondan.

4th kyū Kihon: chūdan junzuki ->, jōdan ageuke+gyakutsuki <-, chūdan sotouke+gyakutsuki ->, chūdan-uchiuke+gyakutsuki <-, shutōuke+nukite (kokutsu-dachi to zenkutsu-dachi) ->, maegeri ->, mawashigeri ->, yoko keage (kibadachi) left/right, yoko kekomi (kibadachi) left/right.
Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite - jōdan/chūdan/maegeri. Left/right.
Kata: Heian Godan.

3rd kyū Kihon: chūdan junzuki ->, sanbon renzuki ->, jōdan ageuke+gyakutsuki <-, chūdan sotouke+yoko enpi (zenkutsu-dachi to kibadachi) ->, chūdan uchiuke+gyakutsuki <-, shutōuke+nukite (kokutsu-dachi to zenkutsu-dachi) ->, maegeri ->, mawashigeri ->, yoko keage (kibadachi) left/right, yoko kekomi (kibadachi) left/right.
Kumite: Kihon Ippon Kumite - jōdan/chūdan/maegeri/yoko kekomi. Left/right.
Kata: Tekki Shodan.

2nd kyū Kihon: chūdan junzuki ->, sanbon renzuki ->, jōdan ageuke+gyakutsuki <-, chūdan sotouke+yoko enpi (zenkutsu-dachi to kibadachi) ->, chūdan uchiuke+gyakutsuki <-, shutōuke+nukite (kokutsu-dachi to zenkutsu-dachi) ->, maegeri ->, mawashigeri ->, yoko keage (kibadachi) left/right, yoko kekomi (kibadachi) left/right.
Kumite: Jiyu Ippon Kumite - jōdan/chūdan/maegeri/yoko kekomi. Left/right.
Kata: Student's choice of Bassai-dai, Kanku-dai, Jion, or Empi.

1st kyū Kihon: chūdan junzuki ->, sanbon renzuki ->, jōdan ageuke+gyakutsuki <-, chūdan sotouke+yoko enpi+yoko uraken (zenkutsu-dachi to kibadachi) ->, chūdan uchiuke+gyakutsuki <-, shutōuke+nukite (kokutsu-dachi to zenkutsu-dachi) ->, maegeri ->, rengeri (chūdan/jōdan) ->, mawashigeri ->, yoko keage (kibadachi) left/right, yoko kekomi (zenkutsu-dachi) left/right.
Kumite: Jiyu Ippon Kumite - jōdan/chūdan/maegeri/yoko kekomi/mawashigeri. One side.
Kata: Student's choice of Bassai-dai, Kanku-dai, Jion, or Empi.

1st dan Kihon: sambon renzuki ->, jōdan ageuke+gyakutsuki <-, chudan sotouke+yoko empi+yoko uraken (zenkutsudachi to kibadachi) ->, chudan-uchiuke+kizamizuki+gyakutsuki <-, shutouke+nukite (kokutsudachi to zenkutsudachi) ->, maegeri ->, rengeri (chūdan/jōdan) ->, yoko keage/yoko kekomi (kibadachi, alternate feet), yoko kekomi (zenkutsudachi) ->, mawashigeri ->.
Kumite: Jiyu Kumite.
Kata: Student's choice of Bassai-dai, Kanku-dai, Jion, or Empi.

2nd dan Kihon: kizamizuki+sanbon renzuki ->, maegeri+junzuki ->, yoko keage/yoko kekomi (kibadachi, alternate feet), ageuke+mawashigeri+yoko uraken+chudan junzuki, yoko kekomi+gyakutsuki (zenkutsudachi) ->, mawashigeri+gyakutsuki (zenkutsudachi) ->, maegeri/yoko kekomi/ushirogeri (zenkutsu-dachi, same foot left/right).
Kumite: Jiyu Kumite.
Kata: Student's choice of kata.

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This work (the text and images of this blog entry) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
For attribution of this work, link to this page and include my name, Douglas P Perkins.