Beautiful Dixie　クリックしてください　

1. Brussels in Bloom (youtube.com)

2. Photos by FirstPost, UK

Click here!

Youtubeでの　４４２部隊のビデオです。　　桧木さんからの提供いただいたURLです。

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRHbJP2TDuY

第442連隊（442nd Regimental Combat Team）は第二次世界大戦中のアメリカで日系アメリカ人のみで編成された部隊です。ヨーロッパ戦線に投入され、ドイツ、イタリア相手に勇戦敢闘した。その激闘ぶりはのべ死傷率314%(のべ死傷者数9,486人)という数字が雄弁に物語っている。　さらにアメリカ合衆国の歴史上、もっとも多くの勲章を受けた（most decorated) 部隊としても有名です。　文字どうり血であがなった権利と名誉だ。　余談だが、当時かなりの日系人が柔道をやってたので、白人部隊との喧嘩、乱闘には結構強かったみたいだ。

この連隊の活躍と、その後のダニエル井上を含む４４２出身者を中心とした、人種差別撤廃運動により、排日差別法案、たとえば　日本人、日系人は家を買えない、が次々と廃止になりました。　かれらの活躍によって私どもの今日があり、　良好な日米関係があるといっても過言ではありません。　ヨーロッパ戦線で、ドイツ軍に包囲され壊滅状態の２００余人のテキサス大隊を数百人の犠牲を払って救出したことは有名で、十年ほど前まではテキサス人は日本人日系人にたいして親切で友好的でした。　昔わたしを採用した研究所の所長の呼び名は　Tex（テックス）でテキサス出身、わたしにも家内にも非常によくしてくれました。　　
　　
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%AC%AC442%E9%80%A3%E9%9A%8A%E6%88%A6%E9%97%98%E5%9B%A3

追記　浦田

Cook County Correctional Center

I guess if I ever break the law, I'd better do it in Illinois!

Homeless people should have it so good!

Once again the taxpayer gets stung.

It also shows that in most cases the quality of life for prisoners
has improved considerably from what you might expect.

And I always thought prison was for punishment.!!!!!

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_cook_county_correctional.htm

This is a very important video from ABC News that all should take the time to watch. This is probably the most important thing you can learn about how the age of so called "new" tires can affect the performance of the tires. A definite "must know".

I recommend that you consider passing this on to all your friends and family. 　It's that important.

タイヤの製造年月日はどこに刻印されてるか御存知ですか。

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

When you click here(ここをクリック）, the outline of the United States will appear and frame all of the pictures slowly, in a slide type presentation. Turn your speakers up.
Absolutely beautiful!!!

ここをクリック　

ここをクリック　（window media player file)


桧木さんより

Following is an article on the coming change in TV transmission
after February 17, 2009. This government program is meant
to smooth the transition to the new arrangement in 2009. We
will send you additional information shortly.

Get ready for Digital TV:

$40 coupons to help consumers with transition

On Jan. 1, 1954, NBC broadcast the first coast-to-coast color television program showing the Tournament of Roses Parade. More than fifty years later, the greatest advance in television will happen when full-power television broadcasters switch from analog to all-digital broadcasting after February 17, 2009.

To assist households with the transition, the federal government created the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. The program will help the public continue receiving free, over-the-air television after February 17, 2009.

Why is television going from the current television broadcast technology to digital? The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 requires broadcasters to switch from analog to all-digital broadcasting after February 17, 2009. Digital television provides a clearer picture and more programming but also does it more efficiently, using less of the airwaves.

Digital broadcasting will free up some of the nation's airwaves for firefighters and police to better communicate during emergencies and will allow consumers access to next-generation wireless services.

What is the significance of the February 17, 2009 digital TV transition date?

If households receive television programs free, over the air using "rabbit ears" or a rooftop antenna, they must take action to continue to receive their television service after February 17, 2009.

By February 17, 2009, "over-the-air" television viewers will need to either purchase a new device, called a digital-to-analog converter box; subscribe to cable or satellite service; or purchase a television with a digital tuner to watch TV after that date.

How can the public obtain a $40 coupon toward purchasing an eligible converter?

All households in the United States and its territories are eligible to request coupons on a first-come-first-served basis. A maximum of two, $40 coupons per household will be allowed to help offset the cost of a converter, which is expected to cost between $50 and $70 when it hits the market in 2008.

Consumers may call 1-888-388-2009 (1-888-DTV-2009) between January 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, or go to www.dtv2009.gov to request coupons. Coupons will expire after 90 days. Where can the public buy a coupon-eligible converter?

Coupon-eligible converters will be available in stores and online where televisions and other consumer electronics products are purchased. The government will provide a list of eligible converters and participating retailers online and when coupons are mailed to consumers.

What can the public do to help with the digital TV transition?

Become informed about the digital TV transition and tell others. Details about the Coupon Program can be found at www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon and for information about the entire digital TV transition, go to www.dtv.gov.

What else can the public do to plan for the transition?

Now is the time to identify any televisions in your home that receive free, over-the-air programming through an antenna. Take a quiz to see what options are available for your household at http://www.dtvtransition.org/. The public also should help friends, parents or other family members who may have difficulty making this determination on their own so no one is left without television service after February 17, 2009.

Other organizations wanting to work with the U.S. Department of Commerce to educate the public about the digital transition, may call (202) 482-9114. Working together, we can make the digital transition a success for all Americans.

Finally, here is a definition of globalization I can understand and to which I can relate!

Question: What is the truest definition of Globalization?

Answer: Princess Diana's death.
Question: How come?

Answer:

An English princess with an Egyptian boyfriend
crashes in a French tunnel, driving a German car
with a Dutch engine, driven by a Belgian
who was drunk on Scottish whisky,
(check the bottle before you change the spelling),

followed closely by Italian Paparazzi, on Japanese motorcycles;
treated by an American doctor, using Brazilian medicines.

This is sent to you by an Iranian, using Bill Gates's technology,
and you're probably reading this on your computer,
that uses Taiwanese chips, and a Korean monitor, assembled by
Bangladeshi workers in a Singapore plant, transported by Indian lorry-drivers,
hijacked by Indonesians, unloaded by Sicilian longshoremen,
and trucked to you by Mexican illegals.

That, my friends, is Globalization!

この詐欺は　Publisher Clearing House　の賞金＄５００，０００が当たったので、諸経費を先に振り込めという詐欺です。　

We received the following email from a fellow retiree outlining a scam, which used the Publishers Clearing House as a vehicle to try to extract money from his wife. There are many such scams that are being used to try to steal money from unsuspecting victims. Remember that if you have won a prize, there should be no need to send money to receive the prize. Do not send your money to anyone who calls with such a preposterous story. Our fellow retiree did exactly the right thing under the circumstances.

************

My wife received a phone call yesterday from some one saying that he had been retained by Publishers Clearing House to get a $500,000 prize to her and wanting to come by on Thursday to give it to her. He then said that he needed that both of us be on the phone so could tell us what we had to do to receive it.

It sounded like good news until he asked how much we had in bank. (he did not ask for our account number, maybe because I gave him an almost zero amount of money in the bank.) He then told us that before he could give the prize to us we would have to pay $68,000 for government fees and capital gains fees. He would also arrange for a loan from American Bank to pay these fees if we would give him a verbal consent to do so.

When I questioned him on this he stated that the fees had nothing to do with income taxes and I would have to pay them on my own when filing tax forms. He never did have a good reason why there would be capital gains fees, just kept saying that was just the way it was. He gave me a phone number for his legal firm in Albany, N.Y. to verify he worked for them, (I never called it) as well as a number for PCH. Then he asked me to call him back and give him permission to talk to American Bank and start the loan process, which he said would come due 30 days after we received the prize.

My first step was to get PCH's phone number from one of their prize offerings. When I called, I navigated their answer machine menu until I got one for suspected scams. I then spoke with a live person who asked for our client number, (on all the junk mail they send to us). They came back and told me that it was a scam. Also for future reference they do not use a third party to give out prizes. Prizes under $10,000 they mail to the winner. Prizes over $10,000 they call to set up a time so that they can knock on the winner's door and give out the prize. They have arrangements with the IRS for payment of income tax on large prizes. They took down all the information I had, but told me that in most cases when they went to check up on this, it was either bogus or they had moved on.

Just to see what the phone number for PCH (the one that the scammer gave me) would say, I called that phone number. A live person answered, with lots of noise of several people in the background. They did verify what the scammer was saying, however when I told him I had already contacted PCH he hung up, and not very gently.

I contacted the Washington State Attorney Consumers office to report it. They took the information I had and also told me the same thing as PCH had, that they were not having any success tracking them down.

ここをクリック　（window media player file)


桧木さんより

年の瀬の歌

前律師俊宗
藤原為家
藤原定家


冬の漢詩

冬夜下澱江（とうやでんこうをくだる）藤井竹外（ふじいちくがい）江戸時代の人
除夜作（じょやのさく）高適（こうせき）盛唐の人

郵送版はここをクリック

ジャパンクラブの会員へ

The email pasted below is the sort of phishing scam that is now being sent around during the　Christmas season. During this season, you often come to expect that some of your friends　and relatives could be sending you eGreetings. (Emails with a link to another site where greeting cards are available) Since this is the case, you could become more vulnerable to the greeting card scam because of your expectations.

If you click on this scamming email, you could inadvertently install software containing malware　(malicious software) on your machine. The current generation of malware making its way　around the Internet is not benign software containing pranks, but could be the result of malicious criminal activity, with the aim of. installing programs that look for passwords and financial information, and further making your computer part of a large scale "bot-net", which is used to relay spam and other potential criminal activity using your computer.

Genuine greeting cards should always tell you exactly who sent the email greeting to you.　
Further, the email greeting card should never be sent by "A friend" or "A relative" or any other generic phrase such as that. This is to advise you to be wary and thoughtful, and to be diligent　in your screening of this type of email.. There is no reason to stop using eGreetings, Holidaycards, Americangreetings, BlueMountainArts or other greeting card providers. There　is reason to pay attention and when in doubt, do not click on the link to the suspect greeting　card site. Instead, email the sender asking whether they did indeed send you the greeting card link. .

***********************************
Example of an unsolicited greeting card:
Delete and do not click on the link!!

Dear friend,

A dear friend has sent you an ecard from http://www.xxxxxx.com
Your ecard will be available with us for the next 30 days. If you wish
to keep the ecard longer, you may save it on your computer or take a
print.

To view your ecard, CLICK HERE

Your ecard number is
PZ19495693635247
Best wishes,
http://www.xxxxxx.com

 This is very good for those of you in earthquake prone areas. Not a joke.
Click here

桧木さんから

This is good information for all INCLUDING THE KIDS. Read below and then watch the short video.
These 34 seconds could save your life should the need ever arise. It is
very good to watch and remember. 桧木さんから

火の着いた鍋に水をかけてる映像はすざましいですね。　わたしの専門分野では、水蒸気爆発といって、水気のある容器に高温の油とか、溶けた金属をそそいだときに起こり、要注意の産業災害のひとつです。　水が一瞬にして　５７０　倍の体積の蒸気になり火薬爆発と同じ状態になります。　浦田

クリックしてください。

ーーーーーーーー　タイトルーーーーーーーーーー
アルムロック地震で目覚める緊急連絡網
着々と進む新年会の準備, ますます盛んになるホームページ
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
ここをクリック（ホームページの下のほうにありますが）
　

809 Area Code Fraud

Some scam artists are using the 809 area code to trick consumers into running up high charges on their phone bills. Be alert when responding to e-mails, phone calls, numeric pages or voice mail messages that tell you to call a phone number with an 809 area code to collect a prize, find out about a sick relative, etc.

If you dial the 809 area code from within the United States, you'll be connected to a phone number outside of the United States. Most victims don't find out about the higher international call rates until they receive a large phone bill.

The 809 area code (a legitimate area code in the Caribbean) can also be used as a toll number, equivalent to 900 numbers in the United States. Scam artists take advantage of the fact that the public may not know the 809 area code is a "pay-per-call" number.

Minimize Your Risk

To minimize the risk of 809 Area Code Fraud:

Be wary of messages or pages to the 809 area code.
If suspicious of area codes you do not recognize, check the telephone directory or call the operator to determine the location of the area code before making your call.
Get Help

If you've been scammed, first contact the carrier with whom the charge originated, whose name and toll-free telephone number should be printed on the same bill page as the charge in question. Often, the problem can be resolved with a single phone call.
If the carrier with whom the charge originated does not agree to resolve the problem, contact AT&T www.sbc.com/contact_us. AT&T will work with the customer and the carrier to help get fraudulent charges removed from the phone bill.
To file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission about this and/or related phone scams, visit:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/809.html.

パスポートの有効期間が切れた後、新たなパスポート申請に際しては戸籍謄本が必要ですが個人情報保護法のために、本人以外が本籍地の市町村役場に出向いても申請者本人の委任状がなければ発給してもらえません。　日本に親戚や頼める人のいない場合、総領事館では「戸籍謄本（抄本）還付願」の書類を作成、必要な人に配布しています。
総領事館　領事セクションの窓口で用紙が入手できます。　当地から本籍地の市町村役場に申請する場合、その用紙に必要事項を記入し、費用１通につき４５０円を返信用切手（２００?３００円）として同封して郵送すると戸籍謄本が入手出来ます。
同封する手数料などは日本円が必要です。手持ちのない場合はPOST　OFFICE　で日本円のマネーオーダーを作成してもらうか日本円をお持ちの場合は１０００円札を同封して送ると、差額は日本の切手ですが、謄本と一緒に返送してもらえます。

サンノゼ地区地震（アルムロック地震）
まず１０月末発生した地震（アルムロック地震）に際しての情報システムについてジャパンクラブ緊急連絡網の不備、もしも被害者が出た場合の対応など反省すべき点が露出した点をふまえ、今後の対策などについて活発な意見が出されました。以下結論をまとめました。
（１）緊急連絡網地域担当者は自分の担当する地域の会員の安否被害状況を統括責任者の木村滋さん、古田紘一事務局長に連絡します。その内容によって会長、副会長と協議して対応策を決めて下さい。（地区担当者が不在の場合は担当補佐がこの任に当たります）
（２）地域担当者の方は自分の担当地域内の会員とのコミュニケーションを日常的に取り、お互いの意志の疎通を計ってください。　又会員の方々も担当者からの問い合わせに頼らずに自分から情報を伝えるなど自助努力を忘れないでください。いつでも緊急連絡網リストが活用できる様、身近な場所に置いて周知徹底をお願いします。（緊急連絡網リストはすでに全会員に配布していますが、なくした人は事務局または地域担当者に連絡してもらえばお送りします）
（３）不幸にも災害にあった場合、ジャパンクラブが経済的な支援をすることは難しいですが居住地区内の会員同士でお互い助け合うようにしましょう。また災害復旧に必要な支援、金融機関などの情報を調べておいてください。（インターネットで各地域の市役所などの情報が取れます）こうした情報を共有してください。
以上ですが、サンノゼ地域での地震から、今回学んだリスク管理について対策が話し合われたことは大事の前の教訓になりました。

１０月３０日サウスベイ　 アルムロック近くで発生した地震についてのリンクです。

第１５回海外安全対策会議　サンフランシスコセミナーが１１月７日午後１時からサンフランシスコ日本町カブキホテルにおいて、日立製作所リスク対策部　小島俊郎氏、警察庁外事情報部国際テロリズム対策課　島倉善広氏、同　組織犯罪対策部　森山慎一氏、全国暴力追放運動推進センター担当部長 中林喜代司氏、日本企業のリスク対策担当者に加え当地日本総領事館の中嶋正浩副領事らをパネリストに、サンフランシスコ市警のディビットタンバラ捜査官らを特別講師に迎えて、公共政策調査会第１研究室長 板橋功氏をコーディネーターとして開催されました。
このセミナーは（１）暴力団対策　（２）テロ対策　（３）当地における安全対策　がテーマで各パネリストが担当テーマについて実例やスライドを使いながら詳しく安全対策について発表されました。このセミナーは日本企業を中心とした内容で構成されていましたが私たち在留邦人や日系人にとって参考になった部分を列記しました。今後のリスク対策に役立てたいと思います。
１％でもリスクがある場合は安全対策はどうするか、日頃からマニュアルを作成し反復、訓練をしておく事
危機管理の基本は平時こそ大切で、小さな事故の後は大きな事故が起きることを想定し小さな事故を教訓に安全対策を考えておく事
情報管理が大切で、必要な情報は企業間、在留邦人の間で共有しておく事
もっとも大切な事は、自分の身は自分で守ると言う自覚を常に忘れない事
当地における関係部分では、サンフランシスコはオークランドに比べ大きな犯罪は少ないものの、かっぱらいや置引きは北加で最も多く、サンフランシスコ市内で最も犯罪が多いのはテンダロイン地区で、こうした危険な場所には出来るだけ近づかない。常に安全を確認する事を忘れず生活する事が必要との事でした。
５時間を越える今回のセミナーでは不測の事態に日頃から常にリスク対策をする事がいかに重要かを出席者に伝ました。　
このセミナーは過去１４回、主としてテロや犯罪発生率の高い東南アジアを中心に催されていますが、北米での開催はニューヨーク　ロスアンゼルス　に次いでサンフランシスコが三番目との事でした。　主催は財団法人公共政策調査会他で、当地では北加日本商工会議所が共催、在サンフランシスコ日本総領事館などが後援して行われました。
　　福光哲史　記事　２００７年１１月７日

詐欺の手口は　VISAないしMASTER　CARD等のセキュリティーを名
乗る電話で、クレディットカードの裏側の下三桁の数字を確認のためと称
して聞き出す手口です。　巧妙なのは詐欺師が前もって調べたあなた
のクレジットカードのインフォーメーションを言ってあなたを信用させるこ
とです。

Credit Card Scam - Snopes.com verifies is true.

See this site for verification-http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one
piece that they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information
is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit
Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One employee was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and others were called on
Thursday from "Master Card". The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is
(name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge
number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and
I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by ( name of
bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing
company based in Arizona?" When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we
will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and
the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags
most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your
address), is that correct?"

You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have
any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card
(1-800-VISA) a and ask for Security.

You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number.
"Do you need me to read it again?"

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, "I need to
verify you are in possession of your card". He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look
for some numbers". ; There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the
next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are
the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card.

The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3
numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost
or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?" After you
say no, the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do", and
hangs up. NEVER GIVE ANY CALLER ANY INFORMATION REGARDING
YOUR FINANCIAL INFORMATION!

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after
the employee was called on Wednesday, he called back within 20 minutes to ask a question.
Is he glad he did! ;The REAL VISA security Department told him it was a scam and in the
last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to the card.

Long story - short - he made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is
reissuing a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back
of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly
for verification of their conversation. The real VISA explained that they will never ask for
anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you
give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However,
by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchase you didn't make, and by
then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, there was a call from a "Jason Richardson
of Master Card" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time he was not allowed
to finish. He hung up! He filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are
taking several of these reports daily! They also urged him to tell everybody he knows that this
scam is happening.

Please pass this on to all your family and friends and other retirees who do not use email.. By
informing each other, we protect each other.

私が所属する　Sallaried Retiree Association　からの　回覧メールです。　ジャパンクラブの皆さんにもお知らせします。