Michael T. Miyoshi's Blog, page 8

Life without Internet

Life without the internet is a pain.

I know it seems obvious, but life without the internet is a pain. Even when it is just out for a little while. Of course, what you define as a little while is a totally different point. But nowadays it sure seems like a disconnection for any amount of time is a pain.

I am writing during a time of such disconnection. The problem with the current internet outage is that it is the day when I usually post my blog. I would be uploading my picture(s) and my w...

Second Place!

Photo courtesy of Marc Hillestad

Last weekend, the Cedarcrest High School Girls Track and Field team won second in state! It was an amazing weekend of competition.

The state Track and Field (T&F) meet is a crazy weekend of competition. There are running events and field event going on for three days. Jumpers and throwers and runners from all over the state gather to see what individuals and what teams will be the best. It is a crazy three days. And even though people try and figure out the...

Big Brother and Little Sister

George Orwell thought that Big Brother was always out there listening. He was somewhat prophetic, but it is not Big Brother who is listening, it is Little Sister.

(Before I start, I must apologize if you or your child is named Alexa or Siri. No. I am not going to complain about those cute names for insidious devices, but I will mention them a time or two. Oh. And just for fun, you might want to read this blog post out loud. You never know what might happen.)

It has been a long time since ...

No Errata

The nice thing about print on demand is that there are no errata.

When you publish a book or paper, you might later publish a list of errata. Errata are those pesky little errors that you or your editor did not catch before publishing. No matter how good you are, they seem to crop up. The nice thing about self-publishing and print on demand is that you can just fix the errata and nobody is the wiser. At least nobody who gets the book after you made the correction.

I came across one of these...

Idiotic Idioms, Mixed Metaphors, and Yogi (Berra)-isms

I love language. It is obviously the way we communicate, whether in oral or written form. And the way we communicate can be so interesting. Especially, when we communicate so colorfully. Especially, when we use idiotic idioms, mixed metaphors, and Yogi (Berra)-isms.

I already talked a little about idiotic idioms. You know. Those silly sayings we use that are supposed to communicate something in a unique or pleasing way. Packed in like sardines. Filled to the gills. Dead as a doornail. ...

May the Fourth

I almost passed up an opportunity to write about Star Wars Day.

Our middle son, Thing 2, hates Star Wars Day. Rather, he hates that his birthday coincides with Star Wars Day. Rather, he hates that people think May the Fourth is Star Wars Day. Maybe “hate” is the wrong word. Loathe is probably closer to how he feels.

(By the way, if you are like me, you might not know why May the Fourth is Star Wars Day. And by like me, I mean, clueless. After all, if you have even heard of Star Wars, you ...

Idioms Can Be Idiotic

I do not know if other languages have many of them, but English has so many idiotic idioms.

Idioms are quaint little sayings that we take for granted when we are native speakers. We just know that other people know what certain phrases mean. Even though they do not seem to have anything to do with the subject we are talking about.

“Packed in like sardines.” (Lots of people in this place.)
“Filled to the gills.” (Overate.)
“Dead as a doornail.” (Dead.)
“You know the drill.” (You know what ...

Inherited Idiosyncrasies – Peeling Oranges

Trying to peal oranges with a continuous peal is a strange idiosyncrasy that I inherited from my dad.

I am not sure that you can actually inherit idiosyncrasies, but it does not really matter. I am going to say that I did. After all, if we had a discussion about it, it would be a silly argument about nature versus nurture, and since I am just writing a blog, I would win the argument anyway. After all, a blog is, by its very nature, just a one way street. I know. People have the opportunity...

The Cross Dangling from My Neck

I wonder about the cross dangling from your neck. You see, I have a cross dangling from my neck too. I do not display it prominently. It usually dangles beneath my shirt rather than over it.

Many people are sporting crosses these days. Tattoos and jewelry are most noticeable. And when I see them, I always want to ask the wearer, “What does that cross dangling from your neck mean to you?” I want to ask the question because I want to have a discussion. And I want to know because I had to a...

Four Inches

If you know me or have read my blog for long, you know that I coach athletes who throw the shot, discus, and javelin. I often say that I coach the throws, but in reality, I know that I coach the athletes who do the throws. Which means that I deal with personalities. Which is the best part of coaching. And perhaps the most challenging.

We all know that everybody is unique. I know. Some people think that they have doppelgangers out there. People who look and maybe even act just like them. ...