Music: Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth

Mood: Magnolia

OK... So I was sitting down to a nice leisurly lunch of steamed carrots and broccoli, with olive oil, miso, Herbamare seasoning, and sesame seeds with some tamari almonds afterwards yesterday, reading the paper as I often do, when I came across an article in the paper, buried on page six I believe, entitled, "Japanese Claim Blood Type Bias." It's written by the assosiated press, and I read it in the May 6th edition of the Fargo Forum... I'll reprint it here:

TOKYO- To many Japanese, the key to their personality lies bnot in their stars, but in their blood type. Type A's, they believe, are perfectionists and make good accountants; Type B's are sociable but selfish.

Now one of Japan's favorite pop beliefs is running into accusations of abuse and discrimination, with critics saying it is being used to assign jobs, match couples, even pigeonhole schoolchildren.

Irate scientists are attacking the theory in books and webpages. The debunkers point out that blood type is determined by protiens in the blood - hardly a determinant of character.

"It's mere superstition," says Tatsuya Sato, associate professor of psychology at Ritsumeikan University. "Linking blood type and personality is not only unscientific, it's wrong."

RyochiKikuchi, of the Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization says his watchdog group has fielded hundreds of complaints.

"Viewers are now complaining about their children being bullied at school, couples breaking up, and bosses treating underlings unfairly - all because of blood type predjudice," he said.

Newspaper polls show that only 20% of Japanese say they're convinced that blood type influences personality. But the theory, imported by it's Nazi supporters and adopted by Tokyo's militarist government in the 1930's, is wildly popular, nonetheless. It is also widespread in South Korea.

Blood type personality analysis appears regularily in Japanese women's magazines. Last year alone more than 50 television shows dwelled on the subject. Dating agencies offer blood type compatibility tests.

It is considered perfectly acceptable to ask a person's blood type and make it public. Blood types are listed in Japan's, "Who's who in politics and government." Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is an A, though his permed hair, in-your-face political style, and his fondness for pop music hardly fit the accountant sterotype.

Japanese television recently showed children at the Oi Nursery School in Saitama, just outside Tokyo, being divided into four groups according to blood type to compare how they eat snacks, clean garbage, or take off their shoes at the door. The school declined arequest for comment.

About 40 percent of Japanese are type A, 30 percent are O, 20 percent are B, and 10 percent are AB. O's are said to be decisive and curious, while AB's are supposedly complex, and suited for research and art. End of Article.



Oh man.... When I read this I just about threw up. Clearly the AP reporter had never heard of something called the HUMAN GENOME! Obviously never been to the house located at Q934!! And most certainly had never delved into the genius compiled in LIVE RIGHT 4 YOUR TYPE, by our friend , Dr. Peter D'Adamo.



Had he ANY knowledge of the fact that the gene that determines your blood type is closley situated next to the gene that regulates the endocrine system and hormone production in the brain, he would realize that the levels of seratonin, melatonin, adrenaline, etc., PROFOUNDLY affect brainwave patterns, stress response, nitrous oxide uptake, cortisol release, sleep cycles, etc., etc., etc., ALL of wich have a MASSIVE impact on the way we behave, respoond to stress, respond to odors, tastes, other people, moods, and YES, PERSONALITY! I could go on and on!

Although I believe that the Japanese do take the concept a bit far at times, I believe that this article was done on the fly with very little research, a complete lack of support form anyone in the scientific community that supports the theory, an unforgiveable ammount of ignorance, and terrible bias. It's tunnel vision reporting like this that makes me dread picking up a paper many days... Well... That, and all the CORRUPTION! Anyway... Have a beautiful day my friends. Any Q's lemme know. I'll answer them asap. Peace and be well~ James

Not spell checkin this! I'm in a hurry... And Happy Mother's Day to all you Mom's out there! The omniverse loves you! Ha ha...