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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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Tag Archives: Paternity leave
Spice Girl to Daddy: This food is bland!
Lately, my daughter has begun to reject food. At first my wife and I thought she might be coming down with something — especially after our hospital episode, we have been carefully monitoring our daughter’s sleeping and eating habits for … Continue reading
Posted in eating, parenting, sickness
Tagged allergies, allergy, at home dad, baby food, child care, child-raising, GMO, Japan, Japanese, Paternity leave, pediatrics, politics
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Leave Starts
It’s official. Today I have become the first male worker ever at a Japanese National College of Technology to take Child Care Leave. I have been granted official leave from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011. The term in … Continue reading
Posted in parenting, Paternity leave, roles
Tagged Blair, child care, family leave, family leave laws, Japan, Japanese, Narisawa, parental leave, Paternity leave
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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
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Taking Leave 