This world disasters alert map is strangely addictive. When I look at it I sort of feel like I am sitting at a steel desk in some underground lair feeding a blue crow white gummy bears.

We become used to being informed about cases of crisis and pain around the world and perhaps, besides a bit of “wow that would suck”, we are mostly desensitized to it. The map brings about a different perspective - perhaps the flashing icons make the situations feel more urgent? or maybe it is making me visualize and sympathize more because I can position myself on that map and suddenly something that is happening on the other of the world is so much closer because it is also on that map, somewhere relative to me. (Yeah that might sound cold but I believe I sympathize more when I can relate.) On the other hand, it kind of looks like a video game and there were a few tiny moments where I questioned the data presented.

On a completely unrelated note: my sister came to Japan last Saturday for a two week visit. I took her to Kamakura on Sunday and have been working since then but tomorrow (Friday) I have a day off and we will go to Kyoto for the weekend. I have no clue what we are doing there. I think we’ll figure that out on route but I am really looking forward to staying in the ryokan we have reservations with. I might even be in my yukata by 8pm on Friday night.

I hope you all sleep as much as I will this weekend…have a good one : )