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Another collaboration meeting over. This really is a very exciting time for T2K, as we are in the process of turning on our experiment at last! Indeed, by the time of our next meeting, in April, we should actually have some [very preliminary] results! Getting to that point is going to take a lot of work... so I anticipate the next three months being insanely busy. Also exciting and fun!
I am writing this entry whilst sitting in Narita Airport and waiting for my flight from Tokyo to Chicago. The amusing thing about flights from Japan to the United States is that, due to the large time difference, one actually lands a few hours before one departs! Thus, I expect to be in Chicago about two and a half hours ago!
This flight marks the beginning of the end for my current trip -- I am now reversing my travels to retrace a path back to Oxford. I leave Japan shortly and return to the Event Horizon for Monday and part of Tuesday. Then it is back to New York City for Tuesday evening and Wednesday. Finally, on Thursday, I fly back to Sunny Olde England and return to Oxford, the Flat With No Name, my kitties, and my beloved![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cheshcat.
Although I have been to Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom all in the same week more than once before, I realised that this will be the first time that I make both a trans-Pacific and a trans-Atlantic flight in the same week! That makes for a nice little start to the new decade!
Looking in my wallet last night, I realised that the contents accurately reflect my coming week. Six bills[*] within -- none of which are the same -- representing the "coin of the realm" for three different countries. Take a look for yourself:
I'm all right, Jack, keep your hands off of my stack!
As long as travel is on my mind, this may be a good place to summarise what my major plans are for 2010. Of course, Robbie Burns may strike at any moment -- so consider this all subject to change. Still, looking forward from the start of the year, this is where in the world one might expect to find everyone's favourite Nomad[**]:
Jan 01 - 03: Chicago, USA
Jan 04 - 11: Tokai, Japan
Jan 11 - 12: Chicago, USA
Jan 12 - 13: New York City, USA
Jan 15 - 17: Ironbridge, UK
Feb 01 - 05: Liverpool, UK
Feb 06 - 07: Manchester, UK
Feb 08 - 12: Liverpool, UK
Feb 12 - 14: Chester, UK
Apr 19 - 30: Tokai, Japan
May 01 - 03: Seoul, Korea
May 28 - 37: Scotland, UK
Jul 09 - 27: USA (various locations)
Aug 06 - 16: Japan (various locations)
Aug 17 - 23: Tokai, Japan
Aug 25 - 30: BiCon (London, UK)
Oct 01 - 17: USA (various locations)
Dec 23 - 31: USA (various locations)
Again, this is all a very rough snapshot of current plans. Travel later in the year needs to be refined in terms of both dates and specific locations. Existing plans are always subject to change... and, of course, other plans will certainly be added to this list as the year develops. Still, from this early January perspective, this is an outline of what 2010 looks like for me.
Speaking of travel, it looks like boarding is about to begin for my flight. So time to hop on board, gentle readers! See you on the other side!
[*] Or "notes", if you prefer.
[**] Usual haunts like Oxford, London, and Ringstead have not been included on this list except in the case of a special event (e.g., BiCon). This list is for travel, not for where I normally hang out!
I am writing this entry whilst sitting in Narita Airport and waiting for my flight from Tokyo to Chicago. The amusing thing about flights from Japan to the United States is that, due to the large time difference, one actually lands a few hours before one departs! Thus, I expect to be in Chicago about two and a half hours ago!
This flight marks the beginning of the end for my current trip -- I am now reversing my travels to retrace a path back to Oxford. I leave Japan shortly and return to the Event Horizon for Monday and part of Tuesday. Then it is back to New York City for Tuesday evening and Wednesday. Finally, on Thursday, I fly back to Sunny Olde England and return to Oxford, the Flat With No Name, my kitties, and my beloved
cheshcat.Although I have been to Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom all in the same week more than once before, I realised that this will be the first time that I make both a trans-Pacific and a trans-Atlantic flight in the same week! That makes for a nice little start to the new decade!
Looking in my wallet last night, I realised that the contents accurately reflect my coming week. Six bills[*] within -- none of which are the same -- representing the "coin of the realm" for three different countries. Take a look for yourself:
As long as travel is on my mind, this may be a good place to summarise what my major plans are for 2010. Of course, Robbie Burns may strike at any moment -- so consider this all subject to change. Still, looking forward from the start of the year, this is where in the world one might expect to find everyone's favourite Nomad[**]:
Jan 01 - 03: Chicago, USA
Jan 04 - 11: Tokai, Japan
Jan 11 - 12: Chicago, USA
Jan 12 - 13: New York City, USA
Jan 15 - 17: Ironbridge, UK
Feb 01 - 05: Liverpool, UK
Feb 06 - 07: Manchester, UK
Feb 08 - 12: Liverpool, UK
Feb 12 - 14: Chester, UK
Apr 19 - 30: Tokai, Japan
May 01 - 03: Seoul, Korea
May 28 - 37: Scotland, UK
Jul 09 - 27: USA (various locations)
Aug 06 - 16: Japan (various locations)
Aug 17 - 23: Tokai, Japan
Aug 25 - 30: BiCon (London, UK)
Oct 01 - 17: USA (various locations)
Dec 23 - 31: USA (various locations)
Again, this is all a very rough snapshot of current plans. Travel later in the year needs to be refined in terms of both dates and specific locations. Existing plans are always subject to change... and, of course, other plans will certainly be added to this list as the year develops. Still, from this early January perspective, this is an outline of what 2010 looks like for me.
Speaking of travel, it looks like boarding is about to begin for my flight. So time to hop on board, gentle readers! See you on the other side!
[*] Or "notes", if you prefer.
[**] Usual haunts like Oxford, London, and Ringstead have not been included on this list except in the case of a special event (e.g., BiCon). This list is for travel, not for where I normally hang out!
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Also, Why does everyone look so miserable on the bank notes?
Safe journey home, mate.
*big hugs*
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Also, I love your observation about the people on the banknotes! That made me laugh -- thank you, hon!
P.S. Check out the hair on the guy on the 1000 yen note! *grin* (Although maybe I'm not one to talk...)
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Wot? No Euros?
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As for the lack of Euros in the picture: What? Is hitting Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom not enough for one week?? ;-D
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Do you lose a lot in exhange rates for all your traveling? Or is that something you just learn to budget for, like food and lodging?
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Thanks! It was very much meant to be a snapshot of a wallet-in-action. Since taking it, the three Japanese bills have all been spent[*]... and I expect that the twenty dollar bill will be spent in a little while, when I go out to grab lunch! :-D
Do you lose a lot in exhange rates for all your traveling?
Although the system is set up to drain people on this, I don't lost as much as one might expect. I still have a very small income in the United States, so I spend from my dollar accounts when here and from my pounds sterling accounts while in the UK.
That still leaves the yen, of course! I do get hit a bit there... but my Japan trip was primarily for business, so the exchange rate expense actually gets passed on to my university when I do my trip accounting.
In contrast, when I take a trip for fun -- like my upcoming trip to South Korea in May -- the conversion expense is mine and mine alone.
Hope 2010 is treating you well so far! *hugs*
[*] Although I do have seven 1000 yen bills left in change for my April Japan trip.
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Niiiiice. :)
So far, 2010 has been treating me very well. We had our first handbell rehearsal of the Spring season yesterday and it was a blast. Show tunes and movie music, whee!!
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Am quite happy you're en-route back to Oxford now. I have missed you! :)
Made me smile to see this entry appear as more recent than the "arrived in Chicago" one... although that one was obviously written afterwards...
Love xx
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I am indeed on my return to Oxford now, albeit making a few stops along the way. And, yes, I have missed you, too, Sweetheart! Glad to see that you have not forgotten me whilst I have been away!
Very glad that you enjoyed seeing the time swap between this entry and the one that came after (before?) it. Each was posted at the time that it was written! *grin*
Love you, too, hon!!
xxXxx
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The hundred dollar bill is still awaiting its revision, whilst the one dollar bill has not changed during the past few revisions. So, for the moment, these two only come in basic green.
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(What a shame, then, that I am likely to spend that particular fifty at the vet this afternoon!)
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somebody wrote on it too!!
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Ironically enough -- or maybe typical of such things -- it was the first[*] of those bills to make it into my wallet... and it shall also be the last[**] of those bills to remain there! As mentioned above, all three of those Japanese notes -- acquired after my arrival in Japan last week -- have now been spent. I just got back from the vet, where that fifty was spent (along with several of its brethren not featured above). And I am shortly going out to grab some lunch, which shall be paid for with the twenty. That leaves just the ugliest of the notes featured above to live in my wallet. At least until Friday, when I expect that it, too, will be spent.
[*] Not 100% sure of this. It definitely made it into my wallet before all three Japanese notes and the fifty dollar bill. I'm not positive when I got that twenty, though.
[**] Thus proving that the first shall be last and the last shall be first!
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I often wondered how many (foreign) people get confused when using dollars because they were the same colour. Color.
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On the other hand, size still is a bit of a bugaboo. All US bills are the same size. This has led to a lawsuit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Reserve_Note#Suit_by_sightless_over_U.S._banknote_design) alleging that they are discriminatory towards the blind. So perhaps that, too, will be changing in the future.
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Can't imagine why you would think something like that. It wouldn't have anything to do with this (http://anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com/228842.html), would it? *grin*
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*shakes head and sighs*
More than once, I have found myself wishing that Robbie would take his poetry elsewhere and let me get on with things!
Ah well, at least he is good at what he does...
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Yay for travel!
xoxoxo
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Then, Thursday morning, I take off from JFK and head back to LHR! *grin*
Hope 2010 is treating you well so far, hon!
xoxxoxxox
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In contrast, the Japanese have coins with holes in them (5 yen and 50 yen) plus the 1 yen coin is 1 cm in diameter and has a mass of 1 gram. The British coins have heptagons (20p and 50p). And don't even get me started on all the nifty variations of the Euro coins!
As for the notes? Well, you said it. Mostly black on one side and mostly green on the other. Plus all the same size and of similar design. Feh.
By the way, I object to the commonly used phrase "dead presidents" to refer to US bills. Neither Hamilton nor Franklin were ever president. One could possibly write off Franklin, as C-notes are rarely used... but tens? I don't think so!
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I do not understand why the American public refuses to use one- and two-dollar coins. Dollar bills are inefficient - they cost more to make than they're worth. Australia and Canada long ago phased out such small notes, and happily circulate coins which cannot be mistaken for smaller denominations. But the Susies, Saccies, and Andies only get used in slot machines and stamp vending machines. (At least the Susie wasn't round, but it still got mistaken for a quarter. Saccie and Andy are far too quarter-like.)
Note that I said "dead politicians", not "dead presidents" ;-)
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I have heard this but, quite honestly, I don't understand it. The US never recalls old bills... so counterfeits can still be made from the old models and used as legal tender. If anything, having more versions around makes it easier -- not more difficult -- to counterfeit!
In contrast, when the UK issues a new style of banknote, they allow the new and the old to circulate together for a period... and then they demonetize the old notes. It is always possible to send a demonetized note in to the Bank of England, who will exchange it for a current one. However, they cease to be legal tender. And, one presumes, the B of E will be more adept than your typical merchant at spotting a note that was not produced by them.
I do not understand why the American public refuses to use one- and two-dollar coins. Dollar bills are inefficient - they cost more to make than they're worth.
I don't think that it costs more than a dollar to make a dollar bill. To the best of my knowledge, only the penny fails to be worth more than the production cost (0.6 cents to produce and 0.8 cents of metal).
That said, I absolutely agree with you on phasing out the dollar bill. As far as I am aware, the US is the only first world nation that uses paper for something of such small value. You already mentioned Australia and Canada. The UK uses coins for £1 and £2, switching to notes only for £5 (worth about $8). Similarly, the one and two Euro denominations are in coins -- bills start for five Euros (about $7). The Japanese use coins for 100 and 500 yen (worth about $1.10 and $5.50, respectively), starting with notes for 1000 yen (worth $11). Other than the US, the only other nations that I can think of using small value banknotes are in the undeveloped world.
Honestly, people are resistant to change... so I think that the only way to get the dollar bill replaced would be to have the Federal Reserve stop printing them. In the UK, the pound coin was introduced by the Royal Mint in 1983... and then, one year later, the Bank of England stopped printing one pound notes. So long as the dollar bill circulates alongside dollar coins, people are going to use the bills and largely ignore the coins. Of course, in our insane political atmosphere, any attempt to do away with the dollar bill will be painted as "un-American" and "treasonous" and whatnot...
Note that I said "dead politicians", not "dead presidents"
Indeed -- well done! Though I think that we are in a minority on this one. A correct minority... but a minority, nonetheless!
P.S. What's an "Andy"?
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I found the Australian $1 and $2 coins very convenient and easy to use. Fractional-denomination coins (5, 20, and 50 cents) are thin and silver-colored, and the size is roughly proportional to the denomination. Dollar and two-dollar coins are much thicker and gold-colored, and smaller in diameter than the lower-valued coins; furthermore, the $2 coin is smaller than the $1. And a $2 coin was the exact fare on a Melbourne tram.
An "Andy" is a new(ish) $1 coin, made of gold-colored metal, bearing the likeness of Andrew Jackson on one side, and the Statue of Liberty on the other. It is just slightly bigger and thicker than a quarter - not enough to tell by feel. Its most unusual feature is that the mint date, and the mottoes "E Pluribus Unum" and "In God We Trust", are impressed around the narrow edge of the coin. I don't know whether anybody else calls it an "Andy", but it's a logical nickname, considering that the Susan B. Anthony coin was called a "Susie", and the Sacajawea coin was called a "Saccie". However, upon looking up the US Mint (http://www.usmint.gov), I see that they are issuing dollar coins with other dead presidents on them, as well as a "Native American Great Tree of Peace" circulating commemorative, with another commemorative honoring disabled veterans to be issued next month. Oy.
And it doesn't take a history buff to know that Benjamin Franklin never served as President!
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I'm not actively pursuing the dead prez series of dollar coins, but I do save them when I get them. At the moment, I think that I have Jackson, Polk, and Harrison.
I did not know about the Tree of Peace coin, though. So thank you!
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