There is a strange full page ad in the Personal Journal section of the WSJ today. “We Are Spreading the Truth” took out an ad unconvincingly explaining that the Sea of Japan should be called the East Sea. This is an ongoing debate. I tend to side with “Sea of Japan” because 1) I’m Japanese and 2) That’s the status quo.

Here’s an idea, however. Let market forces determine the name. They should put naming up on the auction block with the highest bidder claiming 300 year naming rights. The proceeds of the sale will fund the production of stickers which will then be distributed to school kids around the world so that they may update their maps and globes. Or…even better, let corporate entities bid, maybe the world needs a “Samsung Sea” or a “Cisco Systems Ocean” (formerly Pacific Ocean).

Maybe it should say "To anyone who reads this text"