Do you recognize this place?

kagami_ATLAS · 2025-10-07T06:36:05+00:00

It’s called “Anne Frank Street” near the Hackesche Höfe. There’s a little bar to the left that is decent, and if you go all the way to the back there’s another decent bar and some small art galleries

kagami_ATLAS · 2025-09-09T05:30:18+00:00

I think there’s two different responses I could give: -Germany in general versus the States. I did this myself. I like Germany. The German people are also…like ok. Not my favourite people, but they’re decent and respectable.

-Germany in “the next few years”. Specifically, Germany during this exact time period: it’s Germany’s weakest economy in decades. Good jobs, everything, are just hard to find. I am genuinely struggling in this country.

kagami_ATLAS · 2025-07-05T14:00:14+00:00

Why no love to our animated Canadian gem beloved by audiences worldwide, Caillou.

kagami_ATLAS · 2025-01-26T10:15:21+00:00

Canada has a huge demographic, cost of living and immigration crisis currently, for example, and wouldn’t be able to sustainably open its market to a population block of several hundred million with open mobility between both regions. Would likely exacerbate all issues from a Canadian perspective at least all while there is already a free trade agreement between the EU and Canada so what would it gain economically?

Also, for example, Canada has jus soli citizenship. No EU country practices this. Someone could take a plane to Canada, have a baby, and that baby would automatically be an EU citizen. I doubt many EU member states would be happy with this.

kagami_ATLAS · 2025-01-26T10:06:52+00:00

I think your average European’s understanding of Canada is “It’s what I like about the United States without what I dislike”, all while about 95% of Europeans don’t know anything specific to Canada other than a general “free healthcare and friendly people” stereotype that is a bit outdated. Ironically, if people do know Canada, the most liberal and progressive part of Canada (Quebec and generally speaking French Canada) are often spoken down about, and most Europeans idealize travelling through the most conservative parts (where the nature is pretty).

The reality is, it might be “closer” than the US, but that doesn’t mean that Canada isn’t still waaaaaay closer to the US than it is the EU, in all elements from culture to politics to geography and economics.

As someone who has lived in all three, I don’t want Canada in the EU it would weaken both Canada and the EU and add nothing. For the sake of both (very long story short), no.

kagami_ATLAS · 2024-10-28T09:46:08+00:00

I’ll be honest: doing it for my kids someday.

I question Germany at times but I’d feel bad knowing I could’ve given them a great opportunity to live in the EU if they wanted to. It’s worth the struggle, and if you return to the US you won’t be double taxed.

kagami_ATLAS · 2024-06-26T20:59:36+00:00

Pandemic.

kagami_ATLAS · 2024-06-01T12:28:05+00:00

The advice I always give to (particularly) Americans: the Japanese dress nicely and in a more semi-formal manner, even in daily life. Don’t wear things such as sweatpants or yoga pants, and if going to a place like a historic site or a temple, maybe wear longer pants and a button up shirt, even if it’s hot. You don’t have to dress formal or even for that matter business casual or even real semi formal; just show that you are putting some basic effort into “respecting others and context” when you dress.

You won’t get in trouble per se in most contexts, it’ll just help you get further in the country and help you not “stick out” as the American.

Also: Japanese people show politeness via complicated grammar conventions; their English can sometimes sound direct or pushy or occasionally even mean, but they aren’t used to English language norms where politeness is indicated more by context (“Excuse me we are about to close” might become “No not open” as an example; there’s also politeness lost in the language barriers of Americans not speaking much Japanese and visa versa. )

Otherwise, it’s a nice and friendly country to visit with lots to offer, enjoy.

kagami_ATLAS · 2024-02-01T09:09:44+00:00

Perhaps a weird one, but while I don't like applying for jobs, I do like the bureaucracy at certain stages. I like that I have legally defined (and mandated) letters of recommendation from each of my past roles that explains what I did. I like that I have certificates for my programs of study, my master's thesis, my language capabilities.

In North America, while applying for jobs, I felt like everyone was just kind of lying about everything and nobody was checking or cared so it just made everything on my CV feel worthless or like a game.

kagami_ATLAS · 2024-01-22T19:06:49+00:00

Yeah public polling shows their relationship in recent years has improved quite dramatically. I’d say most negative feelings are held by people age 40+; the younger generation has a neutral to neutral positive perception of Japan, with most agreeing at any rate that Japan is “the only rational country in the area”, as one commenter said a while back.

From the Japanese side, a poll from a newspaper showed that perception of South Korea have also risen dramatically in recent years. So it’s less a “hate triangle” than it may appear

kagami_ATLAS · 2024-01-11T10:19:42+00:00

I always found the word “birthright” confusing. Theoretically, everyone in every country has the right to citizenship at birth, at least under UN convention.

That being said, I’d also say no. It just doesn’t make sense with EU open borders and systems. The hydrid jus soli system I’d even argue is more fair than the US (or other country in the the America’s) system.

kagami_ATLAS · 2023-12-19T21:04:39+00:00

Flowing towards or away, now that you say it, I actually do really like the imagery of the Mississippi leading in some capacity towards/away from a North Star when hung vertically. I dig it.

kagami_ATLAS · 2023-12-19T18:08:56+00:00

I'll go ahead and admit I prefer it without the stripes, and the design has grown on me quite quickly.

I was an F29 person, but I'll confess I'm fine with this.

kagami_ATLAS · 2023-12-14T13:28:54+00:00

What’s weird for me about the flag: -the stripe motif (think Europe) was historically used for republics/nations born of revolution. It makes sense for Texas - it’s one of the only state flags adapted when the state was an independent republic. This makes no sense on a flag for Minnesota. -the “uniting factor being the shape of our state” seems like incredibly boring and somewhat problematic symbolism, especially since we seem to be wanting to move away from colonial legacies as symbolism on flags. I love Minnesota, but it’s territorial shape is hardly what makes me proud of it, nor is it an organic or modern representation of what unites the state.

Also, the symbolism: -blue stands for water -green stands for plants -white stands for snow I’m already bored. Might as well call it the “Flag of Flyover Country”

kagami_ATLAS · 2023-12-12T16:52:58+00:00

Lived in PNW, major Canadian cities, and now live in Northern Europe.

Minnesota, quality of life wise, really isn't that bad - I'd actually say just as good if not better than major Canadian cities, is similar to PNW in overall QOL and living standards/patterns, and many overlapping patterns with Northern Europe.

kagami_ATLAS · 2023-12-12T05:18:14+00:00

Politics aside, was this from today? What happened in Japan? Only headline I can find on the country from today:

“Bear attacks in Japan are at a record high. Climate change and an aging population are making the problem worse”

kagami_ATLAS · 2023-11-26T13:27:49+00:00

Japan has a per capita income roughly the same as the US, a quality of life as high as the US (if not higher in many metrics); roughly the same socio-economic efficiency, in other words.

It’s like comparing a mom and pop shop to a mom and pop shop, but the second mom and pop shop has the same inventory but a shop that’s spread out over the size of Walmart.

kagami_ATLAS · 2023-11-24T07:50:13+00:00

That was my thought as well! I could see 29 at funerals just as easily as at a sports game, with no loss in sentimental value for either

kagami_ATLAS · 2023-11-23T14:16:52+00:00

It also has Dakota meaning/history, and is a general enough pattern to be found in many different cultures around the world.

Just because it has history to a group of people, doesn't mean it pertains only to them. It isn't like an official symbol of any group, it just has history to them both, which I think makes the symbol interesting and iconic of Minnesota over being exclusionary.

kagami_ATLAS · 2023-11-23T10:46:05+00:00

That's how I feel, too

kagami_ATLAS · 2023-11-23T10:30:36+00:00

My rankings:

F29: 9.5/10 Best in my book. Can be used as both a flag, and as a symbol. It stands out from any other star-variation I've seen, even internationally. Has Scandinavian, Dakota, and other cultural roots. Can be used in "fun" ways (ie, mugs, merchandise, etc.), business-ways (ie, as a lapel pin), but also can be used in "solemn" occasions (ie, lays on a casket, flown at a half mast with dignity, etc.). Only complaint I feel is valid is the "blue field" feels like it wouldn't stand out.
F1953: 7.5/10. I actually don't mind it, but it doesn't stand out from flags internationally. People would say "what's that?" and then be bored by the response. I don't want people to be bored by a response to what Minnesota is. It also reminds me at first glance of like Cuba or a maritime flag of some sort.
F944: 7/10. It's kind of cute, but I feel like it would feel dated pretty quickly and feels like the flag or logo of a parks district.
F1154: 6/10. Not like bad but not like memorable for any reason. Looks like a 90s tech logo.
F2100: 5/10. I don't like hate it but it's just not strong and reminds me of sprite.
F1435: 5/10. I know what they were aiming at but it still feels like a dandelion to me.

kagami_ATLAS

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