DaMarcus Beasely signed with the Glasgow Rangers: That should be rad. The Scottish Premiere League plays a rough and tumble style which, surprisingly, suits the slight Beasely well. He has a take no shit attitude that should go well with the team. Now Beasely and Nakamura are in the same league. Left footed magic.
U.S. Prepares for Copa America: Minus most of their big stars the U.S. heads to Venezuela to take on the heavies of South American football. Should be interesting. Really not so much to lose. Plus, Mexico beat Brazil and the U.S. just beat Mexico, so that must mean that the U.S. is the greatest team in the world. Why would we need Landon Donovon?
Henry is out: That kind of sucks. Without him or Sol Campbell at Arsenal it really doesn't seem like the same team. Ashley Cole is gone too huh? I don't have much to say about the move to Barcelona as I never get a chance to watch Serie-A. Henry is a player I really enjoy watching though and...wait...oh..I just noticed he is younger than me.....fuck this shit...
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Super Maiko Sighting Ahoy!
Sadly no, I didn't sight super maikos but it was a notable sighting. I was walking to the Hankyu station to get my commuter ticket around 5:30 today. As I crossed Shijo Ohashi I looked at some of the yuka (dining platforms out over the river erected during the summer) south towards Pontocho. There was a dining party attended by at least two maiko. I am fairly sure they were the real deal as they were separate from the normal staff of the restaurant and you kind of get used to being able to tell who are just people dressed up as maiko by how they move. Real maiko kind of float around like little hummingbirds.
your music for the week
I was just going to put in "Close to Me" but this was amusing. I have been playing "Close to Me" on the end of "Johnny Appleseed" by changing the key from B to G. The rhythm is essentially the same. Alas, all I have is my bass. But it is a trusty bass.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
tatsuya and kazue had their baby!
Omedetou!!! This morning Tatsuya and Kazue had their baby. That is all I know for now.
IMDB posters are the stupidest people in the world?
Who is stupider: People who post at IMDB? People who post on YOUTUBE? Or people who post on that site about what lyrics mean?
behold:
Under the heading, "So fake! C'mon guys! "
Some super-genius blows the whole premise of Man Vs. Wild wide open.
One episode he built a raft and then set sail in the ocean. There is a shot that was taken ON the raft, then we see a wide shot of the entire raft without a camera in sight. This means there was another boat big enough to fit camera men and producers that was right beside him. He is in no way risking his life! They probably even have local guides. I'm telling you, behind that camera is like seven or eight people....all with a waiting hotel rooms and transportation. Bear probably does his scenes and heads to town himself.
Really? You think that they didn't fit the entire camera crew on his handmade raft? Thank you for opening our eyes. This is like the asshole that tells you, "Hey man, most of them homeless dudes got houses and money and shit. I know what they're up to." Wow. Keep fightin' the system man.
behold:
Under the heading, "So fake! C'mon guys! "
Some super-genius blows the whole premise of Man Vs. Wild wide open.
One episode he built a raft and then set sail in the ocean. There is a shot that was taken ON the raft, then we see a wide shot of the entire raft without a camera in sight. This means there was another boat big enough to fit camera men and producers that was right beside him. He is in no way risking his life! They probably even have local guides. I'm telling you, behind that camera is like seven or eight people....all with a waiting hotel rooms and transportation. Bear probably does his scenes and heads to town himself.
Really? You think that they didn't fit the entire camera crew on his handmade raft? Thank you for opening our eyes. This is like the asshole that tells you, "Hey man, most of them homeless dudes got houses and money and shit. I know what they're up to." Wow. Keep fightin' the system man.
oh no/ japanese education
Great. My mom read the post where I quoted the John/Kai non-sex sex scene. Nice.
I have taught at both schools now. Mikuni, where I teach Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, has been great. Most of the teachers talk to me. I am kind of part of the team after two days. Imaichi was (if you speak Japanese insert your Imaichi joke here-I'm not going to do it for you) was a little bit cold. The head English teacher looks like a Japanese Darren from Bewitched. He is pretty nice to me, but absurdly organized. He made me an all English seating chart for all of the teachers in the office. He changed it once when the vice-principal moved my desk, then he brought me a special, colored one later. No other teachers really talked to me. One, who seems like the BMOC, talked about me a few times punctuated, but he speaks Japanese so he probably understands this. I wasn't listening. The lady who teaches the "weak children" (according to the seating chart) made sure I had lunch and then asked me if I wanted to come to her class sometime. I took her up on it right then so I could get out of the office. I taught one autistic girl. She was great. All I had to tell her was, "English isn't Japanese. Just say the word like you hear me say it." She was better than 90% of my students from that moment on. This whole concept will be a stumbling block for most Japanese students throughout their lives. They are hammered so hard about the right way to do things that they can't just let go and do things.
One of the English teachers came over to speak to me. I thought he might just be really shy. No. He can barely communicate. Not just in English. The autistic girl had better communication skills than him. He seriously can't speak English. Let me emphasize the word 'CAN'T.' As in cannot. Is incapable of. He is an English teacher in a large middle school in Osaka. He can't speak English. He couldn't do anything with the class either. Good thing I am a super teacher. Anyway.
The principal at Imaichi is the man. He used to be the principal at Mikuni also. I heard a story about how he used to bring his dog to Mikuni. It could sleep wherever it wanted in his office, but the teachers had to wear special slippers as not to dirty the floor. When I was in his office on my first morning he asked, "Are you married?"
"No."
"You have lots of girlfriends?"
"No."
"Oh! You will soon. Japanese girls are great! GREAT! We have a lot of single teachers here, but their faces are all messed up."
At this point he starts waving his hand over his face and sticking out his tongue.
"I'm sorry. They're ugly." He says.
Actually, the home-ec. teacher ain't that bad...but I digress. Tomorrow and Friday are the national tests, so I get to go to school and do nothing all day.
I have taught at both schools now. Mikuni, where I teach Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, has been great. Most of the teachers talk to me. I am kind of part of the team after two days. Imaichi was (if you speak Japanese insert your Imaichi joke here-I'm not going to do it for you) was a little bit cold. The head English teacher looks like a Japanese Darren from Bewitched. He is pretty nice to me, but absurdly organized. He made me an all English seating chart for all of the teachers in the office. He changed it once when the vice-principal moved my desk, then he brought me a special, colored one later. No other teachers really talked to me. One, who seems like the BMOC, talked about me a few times punctuated, but he speaks Japanese so he probably understands this. I wasn't listening. The lady who teaches the "weak children" (according to the seating chart) made sure I had lunch and then asked me if I wanted to come to her class sometime. I took her up on it right then so I could get out of the office. I taught one autistic girl. She was great. All I had to tell her was, "English isn't Japanese. Just say the word like you hear me say it." She was better than 90% of my students from that moment on. This whole concept will be a stumbling block for most Japanese students throughout their lives. They are hammered so hard about the right way to do things that they can't just let go and do things.
One of the English teachers came over to speak to me. I thought he might just be really shy. No. He can barely communicate. Not just in English. The autistic girl had better communication skills than him. He seriously can't speak English. Let me emphasize the word 'CAN'T.' As in cannot. Is incapable of. He is an English teacher in a large middle school in Osaka. He can't speak English. He couldn't do anything with the class either. Good thing I am a super teacher. Anyway.
The principal at Imaichi is the man. He used to be the principal at Mikuni also. I heard a story about how he used to bring his dog to Mikuni. It could sleep wherever it wanted in his office, but the teachers had to wear special slippers as not to dirty the floor. When I was in his office on my first morning he asked, "Are you married?"
"No."
"You have lots of girlfriends?"
"No."
"Oh! You will soon. Japanese girls are great! GREAT! We have a lot of single teachers here, but their faces are all messed up."
At this point he starts waving his hand over his face and sticking out his tongue.
"I'm sorry. They're ugly." He says.
Actually, the home-ec. teacher ain't that bad...but I digress. Tomorrow and Friday are the national tests, so I get to go to school and do nothing all day.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Kamogawa Madness
The rains that had been promised came. It rained heavy all day yesterday. I left for work at about 6:30 this morning. As I crossed Sanjo Ohashi, on my way to Hankyu Kawaramachi, Kamogawa was flowing like the Yangtze in some documentary; it was nasty and brown and vicious. It is normally such a slight, shallow, peaceful river. I guess being in the valley between all of these mountains creates a violent reaction to the rain.
I started my new job today. It is so good to be back in an actual school. I have a desk in the office and the Judo Sensei already said I could come train with the team. He is old and smells like smoke and his teeth are rotting out. The kids were sweet. If you have ever taught in Japan, I already have the one boy who says, "I love you." repeatedly. All of the girls from the advanced class have made me swear that I won't forget their names. All I can remember is that one is named "Serika" like "Celica" and that she goes snow skiing all of the time. Not very Miyazaki.
Apparently the school is well known for it's strong clubs, the notables being kendo and track and field. It is a big school but, alas, no hot teachers. The lady who sits next to me, my supervisor, gave me a flyer for the Gion Matsuri and told me all about the events surrounding it and kept showing me a map of the various festivities. I kept saying, "I know. I live in Gion." (sort of) But it didn't stop her. She was very nice but...I live in Gion(sort of) for Christ's sake. If there is a giant, fuck-off float going down the street, chances are I will see it. She also told me, "Kyoto is very nice. It has lots of history." Really? I hadn't realized. I just kind of threw a dart at a map and ended up on Sanjo. It could have just as easily been Gunma.
Also, for those who have taught in Japan: I have looked at one page in the text book and it is already F'd up English. For example: What will you do in the summer vacation? Is that correct? I guess grammar wise it is feasible but.... Oh Japan....why don't they just allow foreigners to have actual careers in education and then we could get promoted up the ladder and cut this shit out. I will pause while you gaijin laugh at that bullshit.
My other new school starts tomorrow.
I started my new job today. It is so good to be back in an actual school. I have a desk in the office and the Judo Sensei already said I could come train with the team. He is old and smells like smoke and his teeth are rotting out. The kids were sweet. If you have ever taught in Japan, I already have the one boy who says, "I love you." repeatedly. All of the girls from the advanced class have made me swear that I won't forget their names. All I can remember is that one is named "Serika" like "Celica" and that she goes snow skiing all of the time. Not very Miyazaki.
Apparently the school is well known for it's strong clubs, the notables being kendo and track and field. It is a big school but, alas, no hot teachers. The lady who sits next to me, my supervisor, gave me a flyer for the Gion Matsuri and told me all about the events surrounding it and kept showing me a map of the various festivities. I kept saying, "I know. I live in Gion." (sort of) But it didn't stop her. She was very nice but...I live in Gion(sort of) for Christ's sake. If there is a giant, fuck-off float going down the street, chances are I will see it. She also told me, "Kyoto is very nice. It has lots of history." Really? I hadn't realized. I just kind of threw a dart at a map and ended up on Sanjo. It could have just as easily been Gunma.
Also, for those who have taught in Japan: I have looked at one page in the text book and it is already F'd up English. For example: What will you do in the summer vacation? Is that correct? I guess grammar wise it is feasible but.... Oh Japan....why don't they just allow foreigners to have actual careers in education and then we could get promoted up the ladder and cut this shit out. I will pause while you gaijin laugh at that bullshit.
My other new school starts tomorrow.
John From Cincinnati: three
I will pimp this show until Milch puts me on the pay role. Epsidoe three came out this week and the mystery deepens. People out there have been complaining about the kid playing Shaun's acting. I think he more than makes up for it by being an actual, good surfer. This spares us the lameness of obviously faked surf scenes. No doubt he is a little awkward and uncomfortable on the screen, but I think that works very well with the character. John finally got to 'bone' Kai. "Boning is when you put your joint in my pussy. Are we boning now John?" (I hope my mom is reading that one.....watch the show mom...it is a funny scene..trust me.) John was actually a little scary in this episode. I thought all of the scenes between him and Kai were very good though. Charlie Utter also said 'Cocksucker' which made me wistful for the days of Deadwood.
U.S .Beats Mexico Wins Gold Cup
I have hated the Mexican team ever since the 2002 World Cup when they took whatever class they had left in a team, collectively shat it into a plastic bag and waited to hurl it at the U.S. team the next time they visited Azteca Stadium. If you haven't watched that game and think that I might be exaggerating, find it on the internets, it's out there. It was what would one describe in the vernacular as "losing your shit." The president of Mexico cried. The U.S. has had Mexico's number since. Actually the record is 9-2-1 since 200. Which makes beating them for the Gold CUp not so remarkable. What is remarkable is that it was a come from behind victory. The U.S. doesn't win from come behind victories. They get a goal early and hope for the best. This is a big big change. It could mark a major turning point. Maybe Clint Dempsey and Demarcus Beasely's fuck you attitude has finally worn off. Maybe Frankie Hejduk cremated Tony Sanneh and fed his ashes to the youngsters to remind them that that was the attitude that drove them through Korea. Europe can laugh at our soccer, but goddamn, we have to play Mexico. It's no small task. Speaking of which, Thursday brings Argentina. Lets hope the changed lineup can keep up the attitude.
Who the hell is Benny Feilhaber?
Who the hell is Benny Feilhaber?
Happy (late) Birthday Summer!
Somewhere between back hair and migraines on the list of thinks I dislike about myself is my inability to remember birthdays. I don't think I have remembered one of Susan's in the last 5 years. I don't think I have ever remembered Jennifer's and I only have a vague notion that Ed has birthdays....(august-ish?) I know yours was the 21st Summer. I know that you hit 30. I just didn't remember that June 21st was June 21st. I hope this video tribute to your life makes up for it.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
John From Cincinnati: two
Will someone else please start watching this show so you can either argue with me about how great it is, or you can support my diagnosis. I see on the internets that a lot of people are being very critical of it. The people who do seem to like it are treating it like a riddle that needs to be undone. I am going to go out on a little bit of a limb here and say that it is about exactly what I talked about in the last post on the subject. The show is, to me, about the great, wonderful, beautiful things about surfing that make you sound like a moron when you try to explain them. I could expound, but I am very close to becoming a hippy. In addition, the show features one of the greatest songs ever as the opening credits: Joe Strummer &and the Mescaleros "Johnny Appleseed."
Penn Vs. Pulver: results
Let's see how my predictions matched reality.
Wiman: TKO strikes-RD 1.
Garcia: Submission-RD 2.
Maynard: No contest for now. (Maynard won but KOd himself in the process.)
Miller: TKO RD 1. (I was completely wrong)
Lauzon: Submission-RD 2.
Huerta: TKO RD 2.
Leites: Submission RD 1.
Diaz: Submission (due to injury) RD 2.
Penn: Submission (not omoplata) RD 2.
How much more right do I have to be. I got the Wang call wrong, but I wanted to go out on a limb. Meanwhile, CNNSI will hire Arash Markazi to show up at UFC events and comment on what celebrities he wants to talk to. The man sat through a whole Karo Parisyan fight and never used the word 'Kimura.' I am a bitter, bitter man.
Wiman: TKO strikes-RD 1.
Garcia: Submission-RD 2.
Maynard: No contest for now. (Maynard won but KOd himself in the process.)
Miller: TKO RD 1. (I was completely wrong)
Lauzon: Submission-RD 2.
Huerta: TKO RD 2.
Leites: Submission RD 1.
Diaz: Submission (due to injury) RD 2.
Penn: Submission (not omoplata) RD 2.
How much more right do I have to be. I got the Wang call wrong, but I wanted to go out on a limb. Meanwhile, CNNSI will hire Arash Markazi to show up at UFC events and comment on what celebrities he wants to talk to. The man sat through a whole Karo Parisyan fight and never used the word 'Kimura.' I am a bitter, bitter man.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Penn Vs. Pulver
Is tonight on the TUF Finals. I will make my predicitions for the card. Behold: My genius.
Geraghty vs. Wiman- Wiman in the 2nd. I think his stand-up is too good. It is hard to call how much the fighters have changed since the show though.
Allen Berube vs. Leonard Garcia- Garcia by TKO in the 1st. Sorry, but Berube was garbage on the show.
Robert Emerson vs. Gray Maynard- Maynard by decision. Emerson's stand-up looks crisp, but I think Maynard will take him down and prom-dance him for 3 rounds.
Andy Wang vs. Cole Miller- Everything points to Miller winning, but I am calling it for Wang. Why? Wang fights stupid, but he is apparently a really skilled BJJ black belt. Miller seems to win by sneaky subs. I don't think he can sub Wang. Decision.
Brandon Melendez vs. Joe Lauzon- Melendez surprised me more than anybody else on the show. His loss was actually a really good fight. That being said, Lauzon is such a fucking badass. What a psychopath. The guy is just so good in every element. Lauzon by sub in the 2nd.
Roger Huerta vs. Doug Evans- Huerta in the 1st by handsomeness. Seriously, that dude is really good-looking right? Somebody? Back me up. I'm just saying.
Thales Leites vs. Floyd Sword- Leites in the 1st by having a cool name instead of a lame name. I have never seen Sword fight. His name is an awkward cross-rhyme. Leites is super skilled.
Manvel Gamburyan vs. Nathan Diaz- Damn I would be scared to fight Gamburyan. He is a 5'5" cinder-block. But-and forget this at your own peril-never,ever bet against a Diaz. I never do. Nate by decision after a war. Both have great cardio and technique so it should be really fun to watch.
Jens Pulver vs. BJ Penn- Pulver is a decent guy and a talented fighter who trains very hard. BJ Penn was deposited on earth by a higher power. BJ is not one of us. He exists outside of what is capable for mortals. Penn by being a deity in the second. If he omoplatas Pulver, you owe me a Red Stripe. Or better yet, some Hawaiian beer.
There they are. Take it to the sportsbook.
Geraghty vs. Wiman- Wiman in the 2nd. I think his stand-up is too good. It is hard to call how much the fighters have changed since the show though.
Allen Berube vs. Leonard Garcia- Garcia by TKO in the 1st. Sorry, but Berube was garbage on the show.
Robert Emerson vs. Gray Maynard- Maynard by decision. Emerson's stand-up looks crisp, but I think Maynard will take him down and prom-dance him for 3 rounds.
Andy Wang vs. Cole Miller- Everything points to Miller winning, but I am calling it for Wang. Why? Wang fights stupid, but he is apparently a really skilled BJJ black belt. Miller seems to win by sneaky subs. I don't think he can sub Wang. Decision.
Brandon Melendez vs. Joe Lauzon- Melendez surprised me more than anybody else on the show. His loss was actually a really good fight. That being said, Lauzon is such a fucking badass. What a psychopath. The guy is just so good in every element. Lauzon by sub in the 2nd.
Roger Huerta vs. Doug Evans- Huerta in the 1st by handsomeness. Seriously, that dude is really good-looking right? Somebody? Back me up. I'm just saying.
Thales Leites vs. Floyd Sword- Leites in the 1st by having a cool name instead of a lame name. I have never seen Sword fight. His name is an awkward cross-rhyme. Leites is super skilled.
Manvel Gamburyan vs. Nathan Diaz- Damn I would be scared to fight Gamburyan. He is a 5'5" cinder-block. But-and forget this at your own peril-never,ever bet against a Diaz. I never do. Nate by decision after a war. Both have great cardio and technique so it should be really fun to watch.
Jens Pulver vs. BJ Penn- Pulver is a decent guy and a talented fighter who trains very hard. BJ Penn was deposited on earth by a higher power. BJ is not one of us. He exists outside of what is capable for mortals. Penn by being a deity in the second. If he omoplatas Pulver, you owe me a Red Stripe. Or better yet, some Hawaiian beer.
There they are. Take it to the sportsbook.
Six Hours of my Life Gone
I had to go to orientation for my new job in Shin-Osaka today. I came to Japan on the JET program six years ago and all of this seemed exciting and new, if a little unnecessary. Now it comes of as an odd kind of taunting torture. Everyone there looked interested and bewildered and ask questions. The guy giving the seminar on how to teach, when asked how long he had been in Japan sighed and said, "Five years." Fucking amateur. Just give me the schools, my money, and turn me loose. Well, I guess they couldn't let me skip it.
Just Watched John From Cincinatti
HBO, stop making good TV; I want to pretend that I am only into books. I watched episode one of John From Cincinnati. I wasn't going to, but then I heard it was about surfing. In Step Into Liquid, Chirs Carter says something to the effect of, "The more you talk about surfing to people who don't surf, the more they don't get it." So I will just leave it at: It's a good show. The surf scenes are rad. I can't wait to get to Miyazaki and Tanegashima.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Lalas; you da man
My boy Alexi Lalas had to lay it down. It's about time somebody took uppity football fan out to the woodshed for a little talking to. Of course what he said was slightly different from factual, but who cares. At least he was getting in someone's face. I hate English soccer fan and their dismissive attitude. Although we sucked in the last World Cup, so did they frankly. Did they play Italy to a tie? Did they do anything? The U.S. team could be competitive against England right now. What English football fans (and their obsequious American buddies) need to realize is that America could easily have the best soccer team in the world right now if more than 1% of the country gave a shit. But as long as you can bank millions playing football, baseball and basketball, why would you devote your life to soccer? I love soccer. Americans who love soccer really love soccer. But to demand that we love it the same way Britains do and then mock every way we fall short is a bore's game. A dinner conversation for halfwits. The U.S. plays a crazy, all out, counter-attacking game. They get yellow cards, don't take cheap falls and come off the field bleeding. England throws their magazine cover sweethearts out there and wait for somebody to do something. Usually Joe Cole is the only one who will take them up on their offer. Here's the thing. I support the English team all the time. I really enjoy watching them play. However, I think their fans sense the U.S. fast on their heels and fears us so they belittle us. Fine. Whatever. When it comes down to it though, the U.S. will win a World Cup before England gets another one. Mark my words. It will do it because America has a bunch of guys like Alexi Lalas who don't give a shit about asking the approval of the old soccer elite.
Maiko Sighting
Seeing as I live directly behind Gion, I should really have more of these. About a month ago I was riding my bike north on Kawabata. As I waited at the intersection of Nijo, a bus came by and I noticed a lady on it in a kimono. Then I realized they all had kimono. I tried not to stare so I am not sure if they were maiko or geiko.
Around sakura there were lots of people dressed like geisha in Gion, but I don't think they were.
Tonight, about 1:20am, I was riding my bike up around Kiyomizu. As I was going downhill On Kiyomizu street approaching Yasaka Jinja-but on the opposite side of the street- I saw a Maiko-san waddling up the hill with a nice blue/purple kimono and a piece of paper in her hand that she kept checking and looking at the doors lining the road. I was carrying my camera, but I didn't want to be that guy.
Her stark white face was really shocking. My neighborhood is pretty money.
Around sakura there were lots of people dressed like geisha in Gion, but I don't think they were.
Tonight, about 1:20am, I was riding my bike up around Kiyomizu. As I was going downhill On Kiyomizu street approaching Yasaka Jinja-but on the opposite side of the street- I saw a Maiko-san waddling up the hill with a nice blue/purple kimono and a piece of paper in her hand that she kept checking and looking at the doors lining the road. I was carrying my camera, but I didn't want to be that guy.
Her stark white face was really shocking. My neighborhood is pretty money.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
my bad summer
ed, do you remember the Yachonna where I played this and the crowd reaction was about the same as if I farted into the mic. Anyway, it was funny to me. What else did I play? It was all this kind of stuff and one Jr/Sr song, which Fiona tried to stop me from playing....i think. I just remember everyone staring at me.
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