Takeshi Yamada

Impeccably dressed crafter of stories

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Every day, better and better in every way.

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Citing eroded confidence in the government and public institutions, the EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit) has rated the USA a "flawed democracy" for the first time since the inception of their Democracy Index back in 2008.

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I love it. A standard for companies to serve the interest of society in addition their stakeholders.

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7 Earth-like planets found orbiting star 39 light-years away

Scientists have discovered seven Earth-sized planets orbiting a small star 39 light-years away, with several planets believed to be capable of having water.

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"Get it right, get it fast, get it out, get it over."

Warren Buffett on solving problems

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When I discover a storyteller as compellingly skilled at King, I find it impossible not to try understanding through analysis what makes his writing so damned good. 

Take this line for example, from the beginning of King’s epic horror novel IT:

“George sprinted to catch up. Over his head, a grim gust of October wind rattled the trees, now almost completely unburdened of their freight of colored leaves by the storm, which had been this year a reaper of the most ruthless sort.”

Below are some points worth noting about the excerpt above:

Notice the alliteration in “grim gust” and “reaper of the most ruthless sort.” Alliteration is most satisfying when it subtle and not forced. Here it is both.

The foreshadowing in the choice to call the wind a “reaper of the most ruthless sort.” As we find out later in the novel, there is another reaper, and it too is indeed ruthless.

King switches from a short, simple sentence to a longer, literary sentence, full of dramatic devices. This spices up the flow of his writing, keeping it from becoming monotonous.

His narration alludes to a change in the world – that this year the October winds have been especially strong. Such narration gives the world a sense of change and, therefore, life.

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A good conversation is like a miniskirt; short enough to retain interest, but long enough to cover the subject.

Celeste Headlee’s Sister

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Control

I've come to expect that I can usually completely control my emotions. I’ve always prided myself on my ability to enjoy successes without getting a big head and learn from failures so that I’m always focused on getting better each day.

But today I received my second short story rejection in a row. I can logically understand that it’s nothing personal. I can understand that if getting paid for writing were easy, it wouldn’t be as satisfying a goal to work toward. But I still feel that disappointment and self-doubt, and the feelings inside me are tumbling around somewhere just outside of my control.

Guess I’m human after all. I suppose that’s a good thing.

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Up and Down

Why does looking up feel better than looking down?

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Stop Normalizing The Alt-Right

This Chrome Extension changes "Alt-Right" to "White Supremacy" on Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia and any other website you visit.

this is really cool and innovative and REALLY FUCKING IMPORTANT

go download the google chrome extension!! the link is on the site

@fandomsandfeminism @marinashutup

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A “Final Solution” for the Alt-Right shenanigans.

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Recent developments have put the so-called "alt-right" movement in the news. They highlight the need for clarity around use of the term and around som...

A white supremacist movement by any other name would smell as rank.

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When Love Matters

It is when love is the most difficult that it is the most necessary.

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Learned today a bit about ‘hygge’ (pronounced something like ‘hoo-ga’). It’s the best kind of word – one you could learn in a minute, but take a lifetime to really get to know.

It literally means ‘cozy’, but is used to describe something like “having a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people.” That’s something I could get onboard with. 

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By the time two hands reached for twelve on the aluminum Suntory clock hanging over the hotel’s first-floor bar, Jiro had drunk just enough Torys Whisky to make the worst decision of his life. Dick Mine’s baritone voice crooned “Night Fog Blues” on the radio sitting behind the bartender–one of the new No.1 Receivers by Televian. Standing, Jiro pushed the wooden stool under the counter.

“Any rooms?” Jiro’s speech slurred ever so slightly. 

“We’re pretty crowded,” the man said, eyeing Jiro’s dusty uniform sideways. “Just a cramped one on the second floor. I’m sure another place could offer better.” He wiped the counter nonchalantly with a white rag, eyes burning holes in the graining of the wood there.

“How much?”

The bartender stopped wiping. “500 yen.”

Jiro wasn’t stupid. He could take a hint. The price was high. He had seen this before, but he didn’t care. He didn’t give a damn about this bartender blaming him for the war and who knows what else. Emptying his pockets on the table, he didn’t even bother to count, knowing it was plenty and he wouldn’t need it anyway.

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Industrial Section of Tokyo. March 9, 1945.

Incendiary bombing by Allied forces destroyed everything not built of stone or concrete. We often hear about the atomic bombings, but the incendiary attacks on Japan’s industrial cities were just as destructive, if not more so.

I found this picture while researching for a crime novel I’m writing set in Tokyo two and a half years after this picture. It is such an interesting period in Japan’s history.

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夏草や 兵どもが 夢の跡

The summer grass. ‘Tis all that’s left, Of ancient warrior’s dreams.

Written by Bashō Matsuo, June 29, 1689 Translated by Inazō Nitobe

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If writers help each other, then more good books will get written and sold, more readers will be drawn to this bounty, and all of publishing will prosper.

Jonathan Maberry