Sunday, January 10, 2010

Escaping the Wrath of Little Boy and Fat Man: Two-Time Atomic Bomb Survivor, Tsutomu Yamaguchi, Dies at 93


Tsutomu Yamaguchi, the only officially recognized survivor of the world’s first two – and so far only – atomic attacks during early August 1945, has died of stomach cancer at age 93. On 6 August 1945, the Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb, “Little Boy,” on Hiroshima. Somehow Yamaguchi survived. Only three days later, on 9 August 1945, Bock’s Car dropped the second atomic bomb, “Fat Man,” on Nagasaki. Somehow Yamaguchi survived – AGAIN. Once made him truly remarkable; twice made him truly unique.

The world has lost yet another model of humility, justice, and peace.

Here’s a bit of his story:

Beer, Pizza, and … Kafka?: Franz Kafka, “A Country Doctor” (1919)


Recently (ok, it was a few months ago, 23 November 2009), I sat down with a beer, pizza, and … Kafka? Yes, Kafka. I had time for a short story, so I decided to read Franz Kafka’s “A Country Doctor” (1919). How did I come to choose that particular short story? Well, I was reading an article in the New York Times by Benedict Carey called “How Nonsense Sharpens the Intellect.” In the article, Carey reviews recent research that analyzes the impact of the absurd, the illogical, the unexpected, and the disorienting on how we think about and respond to the world around us. The resulting sensation – unease or creepiness, really – apparently primes the brain, allowing it to potentially discern patterns that we might otherwise miss as it strives to impose order, meaning, and coherence. Kafka’s “Country Doctor” is proffered as one such example of the absurd that prompts the brain to think differently. I was intrigued, and thus motivated to read it. A strange, surreal, and twisted story, indeed!

To read the story, click here or here or here.

For an excellent rendering of the story into Japanese anime by Koji Yamamura, The Country Doctor (2007), click here (the YouTube version is in three parts, about six minutes each) – Part 1/3, Part 2/3, Part 3/3.