The first day of class, every teacher went through the motions they are required to go to. One of those was that the door to the class always had to remain locked and shut for "security reasons" (meaning: in case of school shootings). Mr. Lynn was a little different. It's been a few years but I'll never forget the gist of what he said: "We have to keep these doors shut in case a homicidal manic opens fire on campus. There's plenty of cover on campus. In the event a homicidal maniac opens fire on campus, and you are outside, try if you can to make your way to my truck in the parking lot over here where we will then - return fire!" Continue reading

A year and two days ago (March 9th, 2011) after deliberating all week, I decided to move my big move to Japan back 3 months. I had originally planned on coming here in July of 2011. For a number of reasons, I felt it was best I move it to October. I contacted the people involved accordingly. A year ago from right now (3:47pm), I was asleep. An hour before (2:46pm), the 3.11 Tohoku earthquake happened, causing a devastating tsunami I am sure most everyone knows about, which also triggered a nuclear crisis at Fukushima. When I awoke, the impending... Continue reading

We all (should) know that bias exists in the media. Sometimes it may be poltically motivated. Sometimes it may be accidental. Sometimes details may be cut out in order to conform to editorial standards. Bias in the media is discussed quite frequently, and frankly, it is a horse that's been beaten to point where it's tender enough to eat. But I'm not going to talk about media ethics and bias and all that. I just want to point out an example where the omission of a few minor details changes the entire tone of a story. I'm not going of the motives of the parties involved. I'm just going to talk about the emperical and tangible aspects of the reporting. Continue reading

I mentioned Blindside last week. This is a track from their newest album scheduled to be released early next month. Blindside used to be my favorite band back in the early 00s. I like it. I've listened to some of the other tracks on the new album. It hasn't changed my life, but it's still pretty groovy. I like the electronica elements. It seems most of the bands/artists I like are gravitating towards including such elements as ancillary instrumentation. All in all I may pick up the album. Continue reading

Decided to go old-school this week. I imagine most people have heard this song. This is the amazing amazing music video that went along with it. It features an intense ping pong match. A bit of trivia: the team in blue is the Swedish rock band, Blinside. They were my favorite band back in the day. It's funny how things from the 00s can now be deemed as old-school. It doesn't seem that era was all that long ago. Continue reading

Israel Houghton - Others Israel Houghton: a musician and songwriter who I respect like no other. I just heard this song for the first time today. I got it off the Love for Japan charity album ($4.97 of each album goes towards Japan relief). I love this song for the following reasons: Israel Houghton can sing, the piano, and the strings. Adding a lush string section/quartet to songs in a manner such as this one makes me like a song approximately ~45% more right off the bat. Enough said. Akihiko Matsumoto - Overture of the Summer Wars I decided to... Continue reading

The newest from THE BAWDIES. The song has a Ain't No Mountain High Enough vibe to it. I initially wanted to say that Roy Watanabe's vocals lacked energy, but I've concluded they they're just more relaxed than in other songs. I guess that's kind of saying the same thing. I'm not the biggest AI fan. Her last single (collab?) didn't jive with me. But I like her accompaniment on this track. I think the actual recording of the vocals is weak. Or maybe I'm just used to listening to the louder music we typically have in this day and age... Continue reading

iTunes Japan has once again announced their picks for 2011. I was curious. I hadn't heard of most of... Continue reading

2010 is coming to a close, so I'd thought I'd share my favorite albums from this year. Here is the rule: I have to own the album, either physically, or digitally. Thankfully, this year, some of my favorite international artists were vigilant in making themselves available on iTunes. I've heard a lot of other albums that would have normally made this list. But for whatever reason I didn't make purchase. Here we go. Continue reading

This past month, I was working on this massive DVD concert project with some friends of mine. We were waiting for some videos to render and playing Borderlands in the meantime. I thought this was a funny conversation that transpired. Me to my friend: So, when does True Grit come out? Friend: Uhh... Friend's sister: December 22nd! Me: ... Friend: ... Me: I was not expecting that to come from you... Sister: Matt Damon is in it! <3 Me: Oh, I see. So is Josh Brolin. Sister: I know! And so is Jeff Bridges! <3 It's also a remake of... Continue reading

Lonestar is one of the many new tracks on the album Dirty Words from the new duo PND which is comprised of Sareem Poems and DJ Dust. Poems is (was?) a part of one of my favorite hip hop groups from back in the day: L.A. Symphony. DJ Dust is one half of Mars Ill, another favorite of mine. Continue reading

Quote of the Day: "Mmm. New York Peppermint Patties.*munch*munch* I feel like I'm skiing down a slope." I'm not sure what this means, but it was really funny. My friend said it had something to do with Eddie Murphy. He was eating all of the patties out of a cup on my other friend's desk. After we left the office, he suddenly decided he needed to eat the last two. So I let him back in and handed them to him. I'm going to try to do more quotes of the day, and more blog posts in general. If I... Continue reading

Just a random quote I saw over at OiNY. Here's Dan Brown to Explain Native guide: All these subways go north-south, see, north-south, north-south. So we have to get the shuttle, which goes east-west. Tourist #1: Shuttle, shuttle! Sounds like something you'd say to someone when you're upset. Oh, shuttle! Tourist #2: I don't really understand this whole north-south thing. --1 Train Overheard by: Rose Fox via Overheard in New York, Jan 9, 2010 Continue reading

I'm sure most everyone has heard of the snuggie by now. It's pretty much a blanket you can wear with sleeves. As with everything I see on cheesy TV infomercials, I write it off as ridiculous. But these snuggies have caught in in America. They now sell them in different colors and patterns. They even have football team themed snuggies. If you can break into the football paraphernalia market in America, you are pretty much set. While perusing Google Reader a few moments ago, a friend of mine shared this. The Japanese snuggie. I honestly do not know what to... Continue reading

No matter which political stream you find yourself a part of, it's clear to see that most mainstream media outlets lean one way or another. MSNBC leans far left. CNN leans left, but not as far as MSNBC. And Fox News leans right. We Americans often talk about this and make a big deal out of it. (I personally do not prescribe to any of the Big 3 mentioned above.) And because of that, it is easy for me to forget how balanced our media is. In comparison to Europe. When I was in Israel and Germany these past few years, I watched quite a bit of news. Mainly CNN Europe and Sky News. Although, when in Germany, I did not allow myself to watch TV after PM. If you know what I'm talking about, then you know what I'm talking about. The rest of you, pay no mind to that statement. Continue reading

An absolutely brilliant post for an even more brilliant idea for recovering one's misplaced (or stolen) digital camera. Mr. McDonald uses a series of photos, a whiteboard, and funny facial expressions to convey a humorous, tongue-in-cheek message requesting that the missing camera be returned. Is this method actually pragmatic? A lot of work goes into creating these photos. And for one to leave these photos in the camera at all time. I myself am a bit of a minimalist, so leaving photos like this in my own camera would irritate me to no end. I simply can't get over the... Continue reading

For a few years now, my friend and I have a tradition where every year on Christmas at midnight; we go and see a movie. This year, we are eying Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr. Honestly, I think the movie is going to be too Hollywood-a-tized, if that makes any sense. In the trailer below, you'll find lots of action, fighting, and explosions. Things one does not normally associate with classic character of Sherlock Holmes. But I've never read any of the old books or anything. I'm no purist that will be upset at the liberties the creators of... Continue reading