Crossing Oceans

In a few hours My plane leaves in a cross Ocean journey back to the United States. I’m going to miss Japan, Tokyo the most I was not that impressed with Osaka, but I have a good feeling that I’ll be back to live here again. While I would not like to make this my permanent home like several others have here I would like to come back and experience this country again. I think that I have given Cassie and her mom a great time (we didn’t eat at one place in the guidebook!!). My next entry will be in the United States.

A visit to a site where one of the worst war crimes was committed

I’m in Hiroshima and we went and visited the A-Bomb dome and the park around it. It is a very sad place. The dome is a building that was destroyed by the bomb, but because the bomb exploded above the building the walls continue to stand but the inside is gutted. All the people inside were killed instantly.

War is something idiots wage. War sucks. If (G)god doesn’t forgive us because of war, and using our intellect to continue to find new ways to kill each other, I do not blame him/her/it.

Adios Osaka

Went to Himeji a couple days ago and saw a Japanese Castle, Himeji Castle is one of the castles that was not destroyed during allied bombing.

The Forget Paris Shot

Yesterday we went to Kyoto and it rained all day (like it is supposed to do today). Kyoto was awesome though I wish that we had a few more days. We walked around until the temples closed, it became too dark to walk around and read a map.

Kiyomizu Temple which is the most beloved temple in Japan


Zen Garden at Shoren-in. This temple had a wonderful garden but by the time we got there the darkness was settling in and the rain was picking up.

I want the knife...

Viva Osaka

Google locked me out of my account for a few days for reasons unknown. Currently I’m in Osaka. We got here by taking the monorail (しんかんせん) which was a really good ride. The ride took about 3 hours and was really smooth. After we got to the Osaka train station a woman grabbed Cassie’s mom and started to chat it up with her, I think that she was so happy to have another Japanese woman talk to her in English. Well the woman was a Jehovah’s Witness and handed mom some pamphlets and (literally) ran off before she could be sacked. We arrived at the hotel a little late so there was little to do so we went to the aquarium which was really cool because you start off at the top and slowly make your way down and you get to see several different tanks at different levels. Today we’re going to Himeji to look at one of the most magnificent castles in the world.

I made it!!

Republicans can't win?

Once again the Republicans lose to a dead person, just like Ashcroft.

Happy Guy Fawkes Day (5 days late!)

Yes, 5 days ago is where the teachers packed schools full of candy and wrap it in paper mache, then the children blew schools up and pick the candy up off the ground. I forgot!!

Today is the final day of my internship. Besides a presentation that I’m giving about investing in India in the afternoon there is not much for me to do. I still need to finish packing because tomorrow Cassie and her mom arrive and I’m switching hotels.

I almost finished doing laundry last night while watching the last episode of Lost for a while (another 14 episodes this season) and I must say I am a little disappointed with this series. The end of this episode was predictable and the clue that was left to Locke was stupid (as was the full two minutes with that group). Nothing was revealed though it did have Nathan Fillon from “Firefly” in it. I know some people are fed up with the show but I think that I’ll keep watching but with much less excitement, I even forgot that there was a new episode this week until late last night. Battlestar Galactica though is still hands down the best show on TV. I try to explain that to people and they give me the “star-wars geek” look (true) but this show can really be enjoyed by people who don’t like science fiction because it deals with real issues.

I am looking forward to going back to the United States, but mostly because I miss watching movies every week. There are a stack of movies that I’m looking forward to seeing including “Shut Up and Sing”, “The Prestige”, “Borat”, and “Babel”. Also when I get back the winter movie season begins… with a new James Bond.

Tomorrow Cassie arrives whooo hooo!

A Toast, to the Future

I seems strange to me that an entire year and a half has finished with my year in Hawaii and some time here in Japan. Next week I graduate with my MBA and tomorrow is my final day of my internship. I must say that I came into the program a little cocky, or too confident depending on how you want to phrase it. In the end I learned a lot and it is all still settling down in my mind.

I miss Hawaii a little bit, but don’t think I could ever move back there to live. Some people think that I’m crazy but those people have not lived there. Japan I will miss despite the fact people can not seem to ride their bikes straight and the subway is too crowded in the morning. In all honesty I hope to be back here someday and feel that it will happen.

A year and a half where I made new friends and missed my old friends and family; but in the end it seems strange that this is about to end, nor do I want it to continue. I’m a little eager now to find a job and get back home (not particularly in that order). I remember after high school hearing all those speeches about life just beginning (blah blah blah) and hearing the same crap my first college graduation and now I may feel a little of that.

I guess the future is pretty cool, I’m all for it.

Poor Chelsea

There is a report that Chelsea Clinton was denied a ballot because her name was sent to the wrong polling place. It’s okay Chelsea we still love you. The same article also had a report of a bunch of guys with guns stopping Hispanics from voting in Arizona. This is some of the stupidity that perpetrates the myth that those “Minutemen” are a bunch of fanatics… never mind this proves that they are a bunch of fanatics.

The word from Billings is their counting machines are broken. I’m confident that Tester won there but the problems in Virginia, where I’m confident that Webb won there too. I do have some ideas about how we can solve this issue because going to the courts and recounts may be civilized but it certainly doesn’t seem like that.

1. Greco-Roman Wrestling
2. Cock fight
3. Twinkie eating contest

BTW Al Franken for Senate in 2008!!

The world turns towards Billings Montana

81% of the districts have reported in for the Montana election, Tester is still ahead but only by a percentage point. Yellowstone county is one of the two counties that have not reported in yet so I decided to check them out and found a petition to abandon a road.

Abandon a road? Hell can I do that, why would you do that?

Well Billings in Yellowstone county which means there is still some number of people that need to report their vote. Billings even has an international airport: Billing’s Logan International.

This may be better news because Tester is doing 18% better in urban areas and I think that Billings is the largest urban area in Montana.

No Jinx No Jinx!!

Damn, I spoke too soon. Montana is starting to get close...

Almost time for a celebration!

Did the Democrats do it? As of right now Missouri just turned Democratic. Montana is on their way, I don’t have a doubt about Tester winning there. Virginia is going to be a media field house as they count the absentee ballets and Allen is refusing to concede. This margin was razor thing but Webb’s margin is growing as the final ballots are coming in from Northern Virginia which is Democratic territory. This promises to pan out for a day or two with some recounts and a possible legal challenge or two. That should be 6 Senate seats as per my prediction, and the exact ones I predicted too.

As for the House CNN is reporting 27 seats and MSNBC is reporting 29 seats are going Democratic. Those exceeded my predictions.

This is a victory for three primary reasons for me. First, the Rove experiment of trying to have a minority rule the country is at an end (for two years at least) and it may be possible for the Republicans to reclaim their party. Second, it shows that democracy somewhat works better than some thought. People were pissed, Bush has dismal approval ratings, Congress had dismal approval ratings, the incessant redistricting that keeps House members in power has failed a tiny bit and all of this is accurately reflected (somewhat). Third, the Bush White House has a choice now, enact a dialogue or fight the Democrats. I think he’ll choose the second option. If he doesn’t then it is likely that the Democrats are going to spin it that way because they want to win again, and Bush doesn’t deserve dialogue.

Will there be hearings about the Bush team’s conduct? I hope so but don’t think it will happen. Will Rums retire? Also don’t think so because as long as he’s around he takes a major hit instead of Bush. Will Dick Cheney shoot another Republican who will live only to apologize for being in the way? You never know

I hope that Rick Santorum cried when he saw he lost, and that he wets the bed tonight. What does he get for his legacy? A slang term that was needed but will not be repeated here, but is still number one when you look him up on Google. everyone will giggle when his grandkids introduce themselves.

An American Holiday

Election Day is here, Paul Revere will ride through towns handing out presents and John Paul Jones hands out piñatas to deck hands on every dock on in the United States. It is a patriotic holiday where only Americans celebrate, and that is United States American not from one of those other countries. I’m encouraging everyone to vote, I did about a month ago.

My prediction: Democrats take 6 Senate seats to retake the Senate (Missouri, Montana, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island). The house is more difficult to predict but I think it is safe to say that the Democrats will take Congress, I’ll say 26 seats go to the Democrats.

What happens afterwards, nothing; a government lockdown. Bush isn’t going to be willing to play nice and will only fight with the Dems. On the other hand saying thing like (paraphrasing) voting for the democrats is a vote for the terrorists is not going to make the Dems want to work with the president. This is what (I think) many people want, just a stop to a hugely corrupt political machine. The bigger question is if Republicans get the hint now and reorient back to a more Libertarian party and kick out the social conservatives. Let them form their own party. Personally I think that it will take another election to give them a proper slap on the side of the head.

I have really gotten into Bill Maher and he said something on his show that many people need to think about; (paraphrasing) that we need to stop looking at what America accomplished fifty years ago and beating our chest and shout how great we are. America is not the most democratic country, not the most educated country, not the best on human rights, and we are not a free trade country.

I’m tired of hearing about how we saved Europe in the Second World War, yes it is a great thing but it was also over 60 years ago. Living in Japan now it is difficult not to think about the fact that the United States is the only country to ever use a nuclear weapon against another country (and against civilian targets); not to mention the firebombing of Tokyo of Dresden (once again civilian targets). I bring these things up because I don not want them to happen again, and there is no justification to ever use these tactics (which is terrorism) even if we think we are on the cause of right.

We need to move on from these things and look towards the future.

Some, including some in my own family, would say that I am “un-American” or a “traitor” (like the Dixie Chicks) and I can only be American enough to accept that because they have the right. Wednesday night, hump night, I’m going to have some sake to celebrate a Democratic victory (if my predictions are correct of course).

Election Day is the Wrestlemania of Politics

This is my last day of my internship in Tokyo. At the end of this week will be the joyful reunion of two lovers separated by the Great Plains and the Pacific Ocean (and her Mom). I have several projects to finish up, two presentations to give, and a conference call to sit in on. Overall this will be a busy week but there is going to be some fun involved…

Tomorrow is Election Day and I am planning to stay up all night for the festivities. There are several reasons for this.

1. The United States political system is somewhat of a serious spectator event. There are commentators that will give play by play coverage.
2. The said system is also somewhat a joke because of the said play by play system.
3. There is a rumor floating around that if the Democrats win the Senate then Anderson Cooper will rip his shirt off and pummel Lou Dobbs to death.
4. I still have a full package of Raspberry Newtons that needs to get in my digestive tract.
5. The simple act of watching the shenanigans on the Daily Show for a half-hour comedic synopsis is no longer available to me because of forcefully being removed from YouTube.
6. With all the problems with the electric voting machines and the close elections there is a good chance for chaos, riots, and the elimination of Western civilization will ensue; and I’m a very large body of water away.

Elections are not up there in “Sports Entertainment” yet but there will be a day soon in the future that people will talk about the WWE, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and the United States elections all in the same breath.

Election, PS3, Cassie

If this doesn't make you want to buy a PS3...



Then the baby will come for you.

CAPITAL!! Just a great commercial.

We all go crazy for FUGU

Last night I went out and ate Fugu, one of my goals that I have had here in Japan. It was really delicious, most people that I know (outside of Japan) who have tried it don’t like it very much. I need to disagree though because It was one of the best things that I ate here. We got a set meal that had fried Fugu, Sake with Fugu tail, Fugu Sashimi, and some other dishes. Those were the best. They also had Fugu Shabu-shabu which boiling several ingredients then eating them, then using the water (with egg) for soup. I’m not too much into boiled meats or fish so that was the let down.

For those who don’t know Fugu is the poisonous pufferfish that is served as a delicacy here in Japan. People die from the poison if it is not prepared right, Johnny Carson once ate it on his show.

The place was a pain in the ass to find. This one guy recommended a place and told us to get off at the station and go up the hill, and it would be on the right side. Well needless to say there were several places to go after leaving the station. We walked around for a while and finally made some phone calls. As often happens the point of view was from a different station, the JR line. So we went to the JR line East exit like our friend told us and we got lost again, so eventually we checked back and after some back and forth he led us to the wrong exit. Once again we started off and found another Fugu restaurant (one with a large tank in the front) and decided on that one, and it wasn’t the one we were “supposed” to go to.

This week is the last week of my internship and Saturday Cassie arrives in Japan. Next week is graduation.

And here is a picture of John chugging away

On Notice (Happy Day of the Dead)

John Stewart and Stephen Colbert… YOU’RE ON NOTICE!! I understand that Viacom in a silly move decided to pull your bits from YouTube may not be your fault, but you’re on notice anyway. You see when I got to Japan I thought that I would be sad because it would mean the end of daily show viewing, but then I remembered YouTube. Yes I could watch the show on YouTube. Now I can’t. I could buy the show on iTunes, but there are two problems with that. First, I don’t want to support the secret mind controlling empire of Apple; and second I don’t watch to watch your show on a 2 inch screen but rather the five inches of YouTube madness.

Count Chocula and Gay Marriage

Why do opponents of gay marriage going a little crazy? They want a ban on gay marriage put in the constitution which is absolutely absurd if you ask me. Well the answer my friend is that time is not on their side. First younger generations of marriage have a more accepting view about gay marriage. More share my view that if two people in love can not get married then that degrades marriage. Unlike economic issues where people become more conservative as they get older, people often don’t change their mind on issues like gay marriage. Second, as the world community becomes more accepting of this practice the United States gets left out. I understand that many people don’t care what the Canadians think, or what the French think; but when you are the only one that holds on to archaic and racist beliefs it gets a little embarrassing. We should also look at Massachusetts and Vermont who have already allowed homosexual unions; there is not hellfire or mass decadence dominating those states. Let us look at Ohio though which has had a huge brain drain because of the people who left their state because of their insistence to define marriage as not between two people in love.

I’m Count Chocula and I approve this statement.