when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro

News in Brief

More News, More Briefs

Week of June 8

* I just realized I have not done a 'briefs' since October of last year. I have missed the briefs. The briefs have missed me. But as you can see, the briefs have triumphantly returned. Rejoice. 

* With a certain degree of uncertainty, a recently released album by Paolo Nutini was purchased. It is drastically different than what was expected. However, after only the first 6 or so minutes of music, it was decided that should a record better than Sunny Side Up, be somehow found to top my year-end music list in December, I will gladly eat my own face.

* My new San Marco Regal saddle arrived at Soft Cream this afternoon. It is almost too beautiful for even my shapely buttocks. Only a few more key component changes, and the humble Langster's grand transformation will be complete.

* Found myself with nothing better to do this past Sunday for lunch, but stand in line for katsudon. Apparently, for Okayama, this particular place is famous. Unfortunately for us though, the best 'famous' can muster with numerous television appearances over 65 years of pork-frying experience is a few canned peas drowning in gallstone gravy:

* More on recent busyness keeping from blogging: someone was foolish brave enough to convince me to write my own personal "Orange County." However, unlike the film, it will be exclusively of the "word and photographic" variety, contain piles of ridiculous wheelies, and will unfortunately not be starring Schuyler Fisk. Which is rather convenient, because in the event that you completely loathe it, you'll still have an attractive hardcover to prop your feet up on. 
FYI: it will not be called "Okayama County." 

* Three fascinating tidbits about the island of Shikoku: (1) It rains there, unrelentingly, every minute of every day.  (2) All the young people there are either too young to drive across the bridge, or not strong enough to swim the inland sea to reach the mainland. As a result, everyone else has escaped, save for... (3) ...The elderly, who not only outnumber the rest of the civilian population, they also outnumber all registered vehicles, stray cats, tanuki statues, and udon huts on the entire island. No small feat, either. Several metric fucktons of udon down in Shikoku. 

* Riding down at the Symphony Hall underground the other night, I ran into an old student of mine. I taught him many valuable things, but don't remember spray paint being one of them:

* There is a block of text in my blogger draft list that I have deemed to be the final DI communique from Japan. The post has been saved there, patiently awaiting dispatch for 6 months. It's under revision again. Start the countdown. I actually mean it this time.

4cogs enter, 1cog leaves

Been single-mindedly slaving all week to get this stupid pile to work. I guess tonight we'll know whether or not it was worth all the trouble. If I've learned anything in these two weeks of frenzied slapping, trimming, and pasting, it's that straight up trick videos are not my forte.

Will have pics of the event, and then hopefully the video, followed by a second bonus short up sooner than later.

Stay tuned.

calling all skeletons

News In Briefs
WYWS Edition

* Contrary to certain assumptions regarding my infrequent updates as of late, I have not spent the last 9 days in front of the television, playing, then re-playing Metal Gear Solid 4 (with its staggering level of variety), although that would have been nice. It's that good. I live close enough to readily available energy drinks and melon pan. Could probably hold out for months if the game was long enough.

The Brazilian and American students have moved with the KAKE program to Hiroshima and Kyushu, so I am left in peace and quiet for a few days or so. Three weeks of moving in and out of my apartment without actually living in it, has left everything in a catastrophic state of disarray. Spent the morning picking up clothes, doing laundry, scrubbing dishes, and clearing space for Boston.

* Finally had a chance to put the new MacLappy through its paces with Final Cut--should hopefully have some experimental video short out at some point before I make tracks for summer vacation. Still have some nice leftover time-lapse footage from my vacation in Hawaii. Unfortunately leftovers will have to do, as I haven't had a chance to pick up my camera for over a month now.

* One of my second-graders was kind enough to point out that I was in flagrant violation of Okayama city law for riding my bike while holding an umbrella in the rain last night. This, after we were passed by a college student riding a unicycle while talking on her cell phone, eating a giant wad of cotton candy, and painting her nails.

It would seem that irony is not the only thing entirely lost on the Japanese.

* I now have an urgent appointment at the bike shop. Must go. Leaving you with a recent photograph and a few hurried incomplete sentences instead. Hiked fifty billion stairs to the top of Konpira san, to retrieve a few of our more adventurous yet wayward students.
Snapped photo to justify the headache.

They call it "mini Fuji." Rightfully so.