Of The Importance of Being Sane and Live Healthy

I'm sorry for not writing for quite a while. It's not that I'm have nothing to write, I do have so much to tell about, but maybe I'm just lazy.

There are two major news that keep floating around the news in Japan recently, the pandemic swine flu and one of SMAP's member arrested by police for being heavily drunk and nude in public.

The swine flu pandemonium started in Mexico and soon after it spreads to United States and Canada. The outbreak happens fast and quick, and in a very short time, there are many cases already reported all over America and certain parts in Europe. The virus strain origin remains unknown but it is believed that the virus strain migrated from Asia or Europe through people and migratory birds, although many speculated that it comes from pig factory farms in Mexico. The virus developed to be infectious from human to human contact (and no longer through animals like it used to) and that starts the pandemic warning globally.

The WHO has give few recommendations to prevent the outbreak of swine flu (especially in affected country):
1. Avoid crowded places
2. Avoid close spaces
3. Avoid salutations with the hand and kisses
4. Wear tissues to cover mouth and nose
5. Go to the doctor at the minimal sign of flu
6. Enhance your immunologic system
7. Wash your hands with soap and water frequently
8. Sneeze in the arm, under the elbow, instead of doing it in the hand
9. Try to stay at home.
10. Never self-medicate
11. Eat fruit and do not drink alcohol nor smoke
12. Avoid sick people



And the next major news is the arrest of one of the SMAP member, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi. He was arrested for public indecency, appear naked in public (in Akasaka, Tokyo to be exact) after been heavily drunk (he was believed to consumed more than 10 mugs of beer and shochu, the Japanese traditional wine). It brings the shock to Japanese media (considering the massive popularity of SMAP in Japan and also because of the gentle and clean image of Kusanagi throughout his career in Japanese media industry.

Unlike the West part of the world, such behavior normally would increase the popularity of the artist (for example, Paris Hilton sex video) but it is almost impossible to see the same effect happen to celebrity in Asia. Especially Japan, which famous for the clean image of every public figure and the strictness of being a role model of the society (remember Shoichi Nakagawa case? Where he was drowsy and slurring his words during G7 meeting), such case as public indecency is a big no-no. The effect of Kusanagi bad move; all his commercials and feature in media has been taken back and he receives critiques from all over the country.

Some of my Japanese friends has asked me why Islam prohibits the Muslim to eat pork meat and consume alcohol. I let Kusanagi and swine flu to answer that.