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Recent Posts: M Thomas Apple Author Page
AI scammers — stealing our work then trying to trick us again for PR
“As a science fiction author, I’ve always loved hearing from fans of my fiction,” [US based author Jason Sanford] tells the Guardian. “But now when someone emails saying they loved one of my stories, my first thought is that this is yet another scammer setting me up for the kill.” https://www.theguardian.com/books/ng-interactive/2026/mar/12/ai-book-scams-publishing-fraud?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Yet another reason I […]
“Don’t worry about it” — Van Allen A to burn up tonight
“For the average person, it will be a nice light in the sky if you get lucky and, otherwise, don’t worry about it,” Dr. McDowell said. “We have much more scary re-entries that happen. Occasionally, there is a 20-ton Chinese rocket stage that comes down. Those are much scarier for me.” https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/10/science/space/nasa-satellite-earth-re-entry.html?unlocked_article_code=1.SVA.dk5d.09lMgapDCbYq&smid=nytcore-ios-share OK, granted that the odds […]
Dear Diary – October 5, 2003
I feel as if I have two personalities, one which speaks English and one which speaks Japanese. The one which speaks English can never get past being a high school geek. The one which speaks Japanese cannot get past being a “strange foreigner.” The only time I feel comfortable now is when I am teaching. […]
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© Matthew Apple and Taking Leave, 2009-2020. Duplication of this material without express and written permission is strictly prohibited. If you would like to post or copy brief excerpts from the blog, please provide a link to the original URL along with an author’s credit.
Category Archives: day care
Where no toddler has gone before…
Now that our daughter has stood up on her own (albeit for seconds at best), and has shown signs of beginning to walk, my wife and I started “baby-proofing” the apartment. We were particularly worried (of course) about the kitchen, … Continue reading
Posted in child safety, day care, parenting
Tagged child care, child safety, child-raising, Japan, Japanese, Paternity leave
3 Comments
Note to self: Never call “parenting,” “babysitting”
Last Friday, my wife went out to dinner in Osaka with a couple friends. This meant that I was home alone with our daughter for the first time. Well, not the first, first time. But I was faced with the … Continue reading
Posted in babysitting, day care, parenting, roles
Tagged at home dad, child care, fatherhood, Japan, parental roles
1 Comment
A Baby Room of One’s Own
Our baby has finally (at the age of 9 months) shown signs of crawling. Or at least turning around and scuttling backward, then turning around again. She can also sit on her own (with occasional falls to either side, depending … Continue reading
Posted in baby toys, day care
Tagged at home dad, baby toys, child care, family leave, Japan, Paternity leave
3 Comments
Taking Leave 