Articles on a boy losing his father in the 9/11 attacks, Japan finding its way, divorce Japanese-style, the desperate acts of central banks, the new shape of the global econonomy and Google buys Zagat.

Whether it is a car accident, or a sudden illness, or a public event like what happened to the 2,977 victims of the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, for me the most important lesson is to make sure that the people you love know it.

Never part without a kiss.

New York Times – Growing Up in A Hurry
It took a few weeks for Annette Vukosa to finally break it to her elder son, Austin, that his father would not be coming home, and for a long time after that, the two spoke only sparingly about him. 

Hopeful thoughts about Japan after an earthquake that claimed 15,780 with 4,122 still missing. 

Wall Street Journal – Japan’s Way Back
A Japanese magazine recently declared that, after six decades, sengo Japan had been replaced by saigo Japan—that is, the postwar era had given way to the post-disaster era.

Divorce ceremonies in Japan.

New York Times – Untying the Knot in Japan
On a Saturday night in Tokyo’s Asakusa district, a woman in a floral kimono and a man in a boxy dark suit silently waited side by side. First, one black rickshaw pulled up to them. Moments later, another cart arrived.

Desperate times in the global economy.

Financial Times – Global Economy: Desperate Times
When even eternally neutral Switzerland enters a war, you know things have turned bad.

Something to think about.

Economist – Spheres of Influence
A NEW book, discussed in this week's Economics focus, by Arvind Subramanian of the Peterson Institute for International Economics argues that China’s economic might will overshadow America’s sooner than people think. Mr Subramanian combines each country’s share of world GDP, trade and foreign investment into an index of economic “dominance”.

 

Google eats Zagat.

Financial Times -- Zagat buy offers Google wealth of ratings
In the bathroom stalls at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California, fliers posted on the doors reading “rate while you wait” beseech employees to contribute to Hotpot, the company’s fledgling recommendation engine for local restaurants and shops.