Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2011
Shane Busato
What really gives?
Regarding “What Gives” (Upfront Extra, Apr 22). Two questions:
- Since when is the European Union a country? How’s about breaking that almost-continent down lest people get the idea that the US is stingy?
- Do those figures include donations of military personnel at disaster and refugee sites involved in the rescue, cleanup, aid, and restoration process? Somehow, I doubt it. And that would certainly reflect kindly on the world’s most benevolent country. Lastly, I’d like to point out that by far the largest donating company is none other than Coca-Cola. USA! USA! USA!
—johnbox
Friedjin redux
Friedjin—noun. Person who is a misfit in their native society, leaves that society, and whose greatest fear is returning to that society, seeks to live where they are not fully understood in order to find acceptance, often residing in a country that is not of their own tongue, usually has a dislike of life, often finds the need to condemn those who think or act differently to themselves. Origin: referring to those who chose to remain under the threat of nuclear fallout, whilst fiercely condemning those who fled to the safety of their own native societies.
—Kenneth Nakamura
Downloadable goodness
Thank you so much for providing the PDF download option for issue #891 of Metropolis! When I am in Tokyo, I go every week to Tower Records to pick up my copy of your great magazine—something I look forward to before making my weekend plans. But, when back home in LA between visits, I miss your print magazine very much. Of course, I enjoy reading the stories on your website—but there is something about flicking through the pages and seeing the magazine as your staff intended, in its print layout. Now, thanks to this great new option, I downloaded and put issue #891 into my iPad, made a cup of Doutor coffee from the beans I brought home, and electronically flipped the pages of Metropolis while sitting in my California living room. Please keep providing this option to your loyal readers.
—Rich
From Canada with love
I noticed an ad in Metropolis Classifieds from a Canadian family offering to donate boxes of children’s clothing to the earthquake victims. As a Canadian in Japan, I actually knew where Edmonton was and decided to contact the donors. I put them in touch with Living Dreams, a charity that works with orphans in Japan. FedEx agreed to arrange delivery for free. The goods are due next week and will be stored at my place until distribution is arranged. It turns out there are over 50 boxes, weighing about 2000 pounds! So, this is a story of how a small ad in Metropolis turned into a very large earthquake relief donation.
—Maria Bromley
Article good, Metropolis bad
Regarding “Far From Over” (The Last Word, Apr 15): Good article, but why in f**k’s name did it take Metropolis over a month to address the quake and tsunami directly?
—outlawhorse
Excellent feature! Cheers to Megumi, Peace Boat and all the other volunteers who have been working so hard to help those in need. I hope to make the trip up there during Golden Week to volunteer as well.
—Mark Flanigan
