Quite Well Balanced

"Please enjoy it - a food with well-balanced nutritians. Its very convenient as a snack to children and for picnic." 

You know, I have been lacking in my caramel intake as of late...

Magic Cookware

"This frying pan is like the wizard. Because a terrible, delicious omelet can be made also for me well." Glad I'm vegan.

Fashion Family

Just before the picture was taken, they were smiling! I SWEAR it! Now it looks like they're in a Gap or Uniqlo ad.

On the Subject of Wheels

Nolan loves wheels. Wheels and bottles and balls and basically anything that rolls. He shoves his stroller around. He has to touch every tire on every car he sees.

Hey Sherry!

In Japanese, the name of the hotel with the pink neon lettering is either Sharon or Shalom. I'm leaning towards the Hebrew as the katakana seems to hold the shape of the written language. Either way, it's quite a fancy name for a love hotel.

Eagle Deterrent

I found this little gem on a Hankyu Line train the other day. Notice the knees. Apparently, knees feel joy when their owner is very, VERY polite. Though people on trains here rarely are.

On Real (Looking) Guns and Nostalgia

I remember a time when toy guns looked real in the United States. Those summer evenings shooting the crap out of my Dad. Too bad stupid people exist. Luckily, Japan exists and you can buy all the replica and real-looking cap guns you want!

Recycle Shops Ahoy!

Ever since people found that they can get a little money back from selling their trash instead of throwing it away, I've cried. I used to find great stuff lying around, especially since it seems that the Japanese as a whole don't really understand the value of something - hyper-consumerism and all that.

ANYWAY, we like to peruse the local recycle shops, of which there are many, to look for those rare pearls. The most recent being these two finds. A couple of sturdy chairs from Wonder Woman's invisible jet and a draping mannequin. Luckily for us, they weren't TOO over-priced. JOY!

The Butterfly in the Wind

One day, when coming home from some excursion, the wife and kid and I discovered this guy hanging out on our apartment's staircase. He really couldn't handle the wind very well. Tried to help him out a bit, but he seemed quite comfortable without any human help.

Pleasure is a Priority Too!

Too bad, though! Even though you may want to, all the seats will be taken by those who don't need them.

On the Subject of Tiny Teeth

Nolan's teeth are coming along pretty nicely. His four front teeth and his two are fully out and growing and looking good. Now, he enjoys himself some tearing through thick-skinned object with those chompers of his.

Joboob!

Joboob indeed!

Diznii DVD

There's a section in the Kyōgaku no Gaijin Hanzai Ura File (a magazine published explaining all the ways foreigners in Japan are evil creatures) that explains how foreigners - mainly other asians - come to Japan to steal the copyrights. This mainly extended to video games, cartoons and comics.

Then, right on cue, here are the cheap and very illegal Disney DVDs for sale at a supermarket or kiosk near you.



This isn't even to mention the incredible amount of fan fiction and porno comics based on a legitimate artist's work. Fan fiction, in my opinion, should never make money, unless they get the authors written permission. Laws! Go fig.

When One Eats, One Needs Wine

Playing Pig Flu, Teacher and Me

So as the Pandemic sweeps Japan, all the schools are closed for a week, including all kids classes here at ECC. Which means the staff had to spend hours upon hours calling all their students telling them not to bother coming.

When calling one of my former (and one of my favorite) students, her mother informed the staff member on the phone that her daughter was currently playing a game with her brand new baby sister. She was playing teacher and teaching her sister English. To be precise, she was playing me. A tiny little girl version of me.

I may never think I'm not doing a good job again.

Dieting? Use Jesus Body!

Want to look absolutely fabulous for your next night on the town with your closest 12 buddies?

Yamaha Understands Puberty

Throw a bunch of girls onto a poster and call your new product "P.M.S." and you'll have a guaranteed winner. That is, if you were selling anything other than Pop music lessons...

Nolan Videos