Last night, leaving Fran at her grandparents, Masako and I went for Korean yaki-niku. This used to be a monthly event, but ever since Frankie was born we've decided against bringing her as the glowing red-hot center of the table tends to attract little hands.

Gyu-kaku is known as one of the cheaper chain yaki-niku restaurants in Japan, yet it's decor is nice enough to be considered an acceptable date spot. The food is always beyond delicious, plates of marinated karubi, rosu and tongue with lemon, ishiyaki bibimba and of course kimchi. We always leave satisfied, full of meat and draft beer, but the most enjoyable part of the evening comes from the actual ritual of cooking your own food. Barbecuing meat, taking in the smoke and heat all the while enjoying drinks and good conversation. It's all the fun of a backyard barbecue in a comfortable booth for two in non-smoking.

Just doing my part in promoting this already well promoted website which is streaming clips from Fahrenheit 9/11, Uncovered: The Whole Truth About the Iraq War, Going Upriver and other odds and ends. They've also reprinted a few other must read articles like the profile of George W. Bush, 'Without a Doubt' by Ron Suskind originally published in the New York Times, which is guaranteed to send chills up your spine.

Polyphonic ringtone sales are expected to hit $300 million this year in the US alone. Sure, that might be small potatoes in a multi billion dollar industry -- but ringtones? Another sad sign of thing to come is Billboard Magazine's upcoming Hot Ringtones chart, that will track the top 20 polyphonic ringtone sales for each week. On one hand pop-tarts like Ashlee Simpson won't even have to lip sync anymore to sell music, but on the other hand pop-tarts like her will still be able to sell music, and more of it.

Recently I've seen a surge in people wearing these Phiten bracelets (fabric-covered PVC rubber cord containing powdered titanium) and necklaces. This so-called therapeutic brand of accessories are really catching on in Japan. My neighbourhood has its own Phiten store with life size cut out of professional athlete endorser Randy Johnson, and they were apparently worn by the entire Japanese Olympic volleyball team. Even Phiten's TV commercials run during prime-time, and seem to market to the every-person and not just as an athletic accessory, hence all the men in suits I see wearing them on the train. Through the act of "Phild Processing" titanium the super jewelry is said to relieve pain and stiffness in muscles, and improve blood circulation by regulating the body's electrical current. Alrighty then.

I've never entered any Phiten shop or bothered to listen to a sales pitch so I found this account on skeptic James Randi's site of Phiten's test for potential buyers very interesting. Phiten has a US website, but do people actually buy into this type of junk science overseas? If so, I've got some magic beans I need to get out of storage.

For those who would like to help with the earthquake relief effort in Niigata, Japan Post will send emergency relief packages for
free if you send them to the Nagaoka City Hall at:

940-8501
Niigata-Ken, Nagaoka-Shi
Sawai-machi, 2-Chome 1-1
Nagaoka Shiyakusho
Saigai Taisaku Honbu

How and What to send:
- Items other than cash (which must be sent in GENKIN KAKIDOME
special delivery) and which do not require special handling (cool
items or fragile items)
- Relief Items (clothing, blankets, non-perishable food, daily
amenities (diapers, alcohol spray, towels, saran wrap), school
items, newspapers, magazines, etc.) packable in a
small package (KOTSUTSU YUUBIN BUTSU) which doesn't require special
handling.

Pack only new items and one type of item in each box (ie.
a box of drinking water, or a box of food, or a box of daily
amenities) and refrain from sending the following:
- Used underwear or used blankets (even laundered)
- Fresh, perishable foods

Label contents on outside of package
Please mark KYUUENJO YOU (For Emergency Relief)

Other Conditions
- Sender may not request specific distribution of goods (as in
sending to a specific person, village or group.)
- Items may not be sent to gain profit.
- Packages to individuals are not eligible for this service.

Free shipping is only available until 24-Nov. You can also call the P.O.
and have them pick the package up at your doorstep. More information in Japanese here. Thanks to Kathy S. for rounding this up.

After the last weak self-titled Nirvana compilation with only one unreleased track, I figured we wouldn't be hearing anything more from the Seattle trio. The new four-disc box set to be released November 23rd and will feature 81 tracks including 68 previously unreleased recordings (read same songs different recordings) - rehearsals, outtakes, Kurt's home demos, and a DVD which is confirmed to have unreleased band home movies, live footage, rehearsal footage and 20 full-length video performances, and a 60-page booklet.

The set was originally intended to be release in 2001, to coincide with the 10 year anniversary of Nirvana�s first major album, Nevermind. but delayed because both Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic were fighting lawsuits against Kurt Cobain's widow over unreleased tracks. I've heard comparisons of how Courtney Love is to Nirvana what Yoko Ono is to the Beatles, but that's simply unfair -- to Yoko that is. I always remember hearing how Nirvana had a sizable collection of unreleased tracks, enough to fill at least a few rarities/B-side albums. So if I'm reading this correctly there are no new unreleased tracks on this entire box set, just unreleased recordings. Lame.

In other Nirvana news, Krist Novoselic recently released his book Of Grunge & Government : Let's Fix This Broken Democracy! described as "One part memoir, one part political platform." Politically Krist has been involved in electoral reform -- and in particular issues of full representation and instant runoff voting in Washington State.

An excerpt from Barbers of Belmont at soundportraits.org There's no black sheep stylist in Uri's family, well not that he's admitting to anyway. Reminds me of McSweeney's Interviews with barbers

What a huge difference it makes getting rid of that horrible brushed steel look in Safari. Safari Enhancer (freeware) does that for you plus a few other actual useful things. But banishing the brushed steel from my sight was reason enough on its own.

Yet another pop star exposed as a talentless hack. Ashlee Simpson was busted during her live SNL preformance the other night when she missed her lip sync que and walked off stage embarresed as the show cut to commercial break (video wmv). I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often. I say keep 'em coming. [via airbag]

Further reading: David Crosby on the Sad State of the Music Industry

Holy crap that was scary! I'm counting eight quakes since 5:56 p.m. between 6.8 M and 5.1 M, six of which were strong enough to get us under the kitchen table. If this keeps up we'll need to buy a larger kitchen table, something that can comfortably fit all three of us during these multiple quake sessions. No damage here but media is reporting two deaths, multiple injuries, damaged homes, blackouts, broken water mains and a derailing a bullet train in Niigata prefecture.

As of this writing (9:02 p.m.) NHK and FNN are saying there may still be another big one tonight. That makes me feel much better. Other accounts in the area Blogd, Wirefarm and Cerebral Soup.

Put away the glass and pull out the plastic. The good folks at toycamera.com have declared tomorrow World Toy Camera Day. Just what I need to get out of this creative slump, though I wouldn’t classify my Lomo Kompakt Automat as a toy. Built like a toy -- yes, but priced like the real thing. via photoblogs.org

A fascinating piece of fiction written by a twelve year old on this utopian make believe country called Japan, published in the San Francisco Chronicle the other week --- or that it would be if it were meant to be fiction by an actual twelve year old. In this perfect land of Japan the police don't carry guns and the few criminals that they do deal with, Right, and the Bushido code of honour is alive and well in the Japanese criminal community. Adam Sparks, if that's even his real name, goes on to say that there's no homeless problem. I guess Adam failed to notice the blue tarp village in Ueno park, or the bodies lined up every morning sleeping on cardboard boxes in Shinjuku station. But the final insult comes when he reveals the true intent of his article, that the Japanese Earth to Mr. Sparks, dispite that being far from the truth, when we in the international "Reality-Based Community" call someone simple and people like Bush cowboys it's not meant as a complement.

Feel free to read the entire gush and mush article in its hilarity. I do have one question for Mr. Sparks though. When you pulled all these stereotypes and assertions out of your ass, did it hurt? This is the type of fluff I would expect to read on someone's weblog (like mine) after a few days spent in a foreign land, but not from a major US daily.

Okay, so maybe it's not something that will work in the swing states, but it should help motivate like minded to get off the sofa, put on their shoes, both shoes, clean shirt, grab some food, and vote.

This shouldn't be a fringe issue, and it's a shame the issue of pain and suffering, namely medical marijuana, doesn't rank a little higher with Americans. To be fair, Guns and Ammo Magazine and Right-Wing Christian Nutjob Monthly are rumored to endorse BC'04 any day now ;-)

link via wonkette

Living in Japan I see the English language mutilated on a daily basis. Nonsensical English on clothing, advertisements, stationary and catch phrases repeated ad nauseam. Then again, I have to give Japanese credit for not tattooing these on their bodies. We can't say the same for many in the west who, despite their best intentions, just can't seem to get it right the first time, which when you think about it is pretty imperative considering the temporary nature of a tattoo.

Personally I think Kanji tattoos are silly, but if you feel the need to show your individually in a foreign language please, please, make sure and double check your usage by those who actually speak the language. And when consulting with a native speaker be sure to watch for raised eyebrows and signs of held back laughter.

Update: Looks like the website I linked to above Hanzi Smatter, a website dedicated to the misuse of Chinese characters in Western culture, ran out of bandwidth. A little googling came up with Jeremy's take on Kanji tattoos, and a few words of caution on character stroke order.

I didn't think my opinion of Jon Stewart could get any better, but it just did. Jon Stewart was on CNN's Crossfire today and really took out the trash, accusing both Carlson and Begala of "partisan hackery", and called the bow-tied Carlson a dick.
link via waxy.org. To watch, get the torrent and download the video directly here.

Hey America, how are you? I'm fine. Just thought I'd drop you a note to let you know what's going on in the rest of the world, and more specifically how we feel about your current commander in thief George w. Bush. Here's some recommended reading from The Guardian series: What the world thinks of America.

Kirin Guarana tastes like fizzy cough syrup for long distance truckers, only worse. With my stomach churning, I started to worry after a google search yielded only what seem to be sightings of the drink in vending machines and nothing from official from Kirin. Thinking the beverage might have been recalled for whatever reason, I brought the empty can home as evidence, and was relieved to learn a message on the side of the can read that it was only meant for sale in Hokkaido.

Guarana is said to have three times more caffeine than the coffee bean, but let me warn you that three cups of coffee are needed to get the wretched taste of this stuff out of your mouth.

For those still undecided voters, I think I speak for most when I say -- What's your major malfunction? I assume these undecideds are registered to vote, which shows some commitment in that they understand their responsibility in a democracy, but what else do they need to see?

Can you imagine grocery shopping with one of these people? Be sure to wear comfortable shoes. Oy veh.

Run cold water over hard boiled egg for about a minute.

Poke a tiny hole in the end with the air pocket.

Poke another hole in the opposite end, making sure to break the thin egg membrane between the shell and egg.

Put the end that had the air pocket to your mouth, and with your lips sealed over the egg, blow hard until you feel the shell expand.

I usually let boiled eggs sit in cold water for a few minutes, but when I'm in a rush the shell always seems to stick to the egg creating an embarrassing mess. And obviously, due to hygienic concerns, only shell your own eggs with this method.

A few words from Ed Vedder during the Vote for Change concert finale in Washington DC the other night. If you missed the live webcast you can see this video and a few others here.

Just when we really start to appreciate NHK programming, a scandal breaks and another 13,000 irate viewers refuse to pay. I say 'another' because I and pretty much everyone I know have always refused to pay the extortion fee that everyone with a television is required to pay. NHK relies on 'subscriber' fees for it's programming, but unlike public broadcasting in North America, NHK doesn't hold telethons or ask for donations. NHK dispatches hired goons with combovers door to door who demand you hand over cash, even if you don't watch NHK. Every time we've moved the drill starts all over, with the new NHK pimp making a visit within a week looking for his cheddar. I usually end up politely telling him where to stick his clipboard, we part ways and I imagine him striking a big red X with skull and bones through our address. The only way you can easily get out of paying the fee is by not owning a television, and the clip board mafia always asks to come in and verify the fact you never joined the twentieth century.

Honestly though, I wish there was a way for us to make one time donations just as I would with public broadcasting in Canada if Fran was watching their children's programming. Call me stubborn, but I just don't respond well to threats or lectures about "you now in my country".
NHK: We Break Remote Controls.

Howard Fineman on the desperation of the Bush campaign. Sure, but that Kerry fellow -- you know, he looks French and flip flops and stuff...

I've always had a thing for the graphic designs covering skateboard decks, same goes for the t-shirt designs. These deck designs are now being appreciated as art rather than sports equipment at an exhibit traveling across Canada, making stops in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal. 32 Inch Canvas is featuring hand painted decks from 65 artists from across North America. Vancouver being the next opening for the show, October 16th at Livestock in Gastown.

If you caught the debates you might have heard VP Dick "The Dick" Cheney's slip-up recommending the name of a website (factcheck.com) owned by George Soros. The same billionaire, philanthropist George Soros dedicated to preventing another disastrous Bush presidency. In honour of Dick's slip I've compiled a little list of web URLs that he might find interesting.

Warning, open these addresses at your own risk as they may not be suitable for children, the blind, and undisclosed location dwelling fear mongerers.

A big smile on my face today when I learned SNFU recently played a cd release party in Vancouver celebrating their tenth album, In The Meantime and In Between Time.

Sample mp3 *Cheap Transistor Radio

For those scratching their head, SNFU is one of Canada's longest running punk rock acts. I saw them live in 1996, and clearly remember how the bass player hung his instrument just above his ankles, and how crazy Mr. Chi Pig (singer) looked when he climbed this tower structure on the side of the stage when they preformed Fate (Real Video). I still get chills listening to that song.


I don't know who comes up their album and song names, but they're bloody clever. And if you take a look throughout this here weblog, you may find a few shameless hidden references. A few favorites, Canadian music is often overlooked in the American market, and when fake, overproduced crap (Avril Lavigne et al) makes it into the mainstream it really makes me wonder. Know that there are many real musicians in Canada, SNFU's just one of many.

Update: Having a hard time finding this album here, so if anyone from the band is reading this I'd sure appreciate a copy to review in full.

A little known fact (was at least to me) is that during a thunder storm, Japanese children are taught to lean forward and cup their hands over their belly buttons to protect it from the thunder. Apparently, in Japanese folklore, the god of lightning and thunder (Kaminari-sama) is thought to steal belly buttons. I'm not aware of any preference for innies or outties, but I would assume the smell of fear plays a big part (e.g. dogs, bees).

On the way home this evening, I sat across from a woman wearing a t-shirt with the following revolutionary message. look, sparkly!

A massive condominium has been in the works near my office for more than a year now, and it looks like they're putting the finishing touches on now. Being a mostly residential area the majority of buildings don't even come up to its knees, so it's safe to say it sticks out like an infected thumb. As floor after floor was being built, I wondered if they had decided before hand on an actual number of floors or were just winging it according to budget. For a moment I imagined my daughter supervising the construction --- ordering floor after floor built in record time until the structure came crashing down in a fit of giggles.

Thanks to Greg, Andrew and Shimokitazawa's Antena Cafe for giving me the opportunity to show some of my work last month. If anything it was a good experience in printing and framing. Now I have to figure out what to do with all these photographs in an apartment with walls that have a difficult time holding a towel rack.

Comedy Central may not have the most in depth coverage from the first presidential debate, but they do have by far the funniest.

Right after posting this last entry I see our coffee machine (Delonghi CoffeeCappuccino) is struggling to produce even half a cup --- sputtering, coughing, creating plenty of steam but little in the way of beverage.

Shocking news in USA Today, "Hello, my name is Mark and I have a problem." "Helllo Mark."

But don't flush your stash down the toilet yet.
and this final encouraging piece of advice,