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The Broken Valley: The Hidden German Civil War of the American Revolution
This is the third of a series of posts introducing the five-part historical fiction novel Unbowed, which will be published in November 2026. All five parts are based on true events and real people – my ancestors. The first post described the outcome of the Battle of Dunbar in 1650 and one of its survivors, […]
Mind your own business!
If you had to sum up your life philosophy in one sentence, what would it be? As my Anglo-Irish immigrant ancestor Thomas Bushell wrote in his Will and Testament: “Live and let live.” Far too many people want to know what’s happening in other people’s bedrooms. You do want you want to do, and leave […]
Why do we still say camera “roll”?
Share a few recent shots from your camera roll, no context needed.
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copyright disclaimer
© 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.
Tag Archives: haafu
Getting chores done for a song and a dance
After my ranting about the isolation of Japanese men from their families and the archaic attitude toward parental roles, I thought it might be nice for a little levity… My wife and I resisted the impulse to show videos and … Continue reading
Posted in entertainment, kids shows, parenting, TV
Tagged child care, child-raising, educational TV, edutainment, haafu, half-Japanese, Japan, Japanese, Japanese kids, Japanese TV, kid shows, NHK, Paternity leave
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Half? Which half?
This weekend was a three-day weekend in Japan. Monday was “Coming of Age Day” (成人の日), which is when cities around the country hold ceremonies to inform those who have turned 20 years old of what it means to be a … Continue reading
