A couple of links for you. The Vatican has declared it’s opposition to Amnesty International on the basis Amnesty opposes abortion in cases of rape or incest. Read more here: BABYLON FIGHTS FREEDOM
Also, here’s a link to a video of President Bush in Albania where he was given a hero’s welcome earlier this week. A couple of odd things here; first off Albanians love Bush (maybe he should move there) and secondly… it looks like somebody nicked his watch. Really, in the first few seconds of the video he has a watch clearly visible on his wrist, then he moves to greet the crowd, many of whom clasp his hands, wrists and arms in greeting. After about 60 seconds his watch has vanished! Nice one. See it for yourself here: BUSH IN ALBANIA
The rainy season began today here in Kansai. Appropriately, it was raining this morning when I got up, it rained throughout the afternoon and it is still raining this evening. Tomorrow’s forecast? More rain. Now, today should be my day off but I have a heap of marking to get on top of before next week and the weather doesn’t encourage me to venture out much, so while correcting student’s papers I’ve been staying sane by listening to good tunes like this:
I just read this story about the 19th century harpoon fragment found in a recently killed whale and was pretty impressed. I had no idea whales could live that long. Apparently they can live to be up to 200 years old - if we don’t get them first. Here’s the link: Bowhead Whale Has Uncanny Sense of Deja Vu Immediately Prior to Bloody Death.
I popped round to Yoshida-kun’s record store to take some pictures for another Deep Kyoto review today and found this classic piece of passive/aggressive signage outside:
There’s a story there I know it! Hopefully, the dastardly “Seely Benjamin” will soon reply in kind. Can’t wait.
Just a few bits and bobs tonight:
There’s a fresh (very fresh) restaurant review up on Deep Kyoto now, for all ye who are interested in falafel (those golden balls of goodness).
And…have you heard of Tv Links? Some time ago my good friend Philippe introduced me to TV Links. It’s a curse. I’m watching TV all the time now. I’ve gotten through all of Black Books (which I love), revisited the entire Father Ted (brilliant!), and am now wading my way through Firefly and Casanova (both of which I heartily recommend). Basically, I’m catching up on all the good stuff I never got to see because I’m out HERE - adrift in Asia…
Now, I was watching Casanova last night and I was thinking: “that’s funny”. What’s funny is that the actor who played Casanova (David Tennant) now plays Doctor Who and both series also had the same writer. No, actually that’s not especially funny, what’s funny is that David Tennant seems to be playing both Casanova and Doctor Who as exactly the same person complete with all the same verbal ticks: “Ah! - Erm… Yes! - Sorry! Nice to meet you! I’m Giacomo Casanova/The Doctor. ” (Invariably folowed by inane grin). But whereas, Casanova was well-written and had Peter O’Toole in it, Doctor Who has pretty much gone to the dogs (in the writing department) ever since Eccleston left. The only thing holding it up really is David Tennant’s boyish charm… and big Scottish eyes. And well yes, the occasional good episode, because the last one “Blink” was actually quite a nice wee tale and those weeping angels were well spooky.
Anyway, enough of geekery. Here are my all-time rock-n-roll heroes performing a classic (albeit not as good as Beretta):
Since starting this blog just over a year ago I’ve become slightly obsessed with the idea of making money from blogging. Not vast amounts of money mind you. Just a little side income from blogging, that would be nice, I’m thinking. But it’s become clear to me that the nature of this blog (basically a pretty random diary for the benefit of friends and family) though fun for me, is never going to attain the kind of audience I would need to make putting advertising on it worthwhile. So I’ve been thinking and reading around a bit… Specifically on Chris Cotter’s suggestion I’ve been reading Yaro Starak a young entrepreneur in Australia who basically makes his living from blogging and makes a tidy sum at that. Anyway, I signed up for his blog traffic tips email newsletter and over the last few weeks have been reading it avidly.
The key thing (at least to begin with) seems to be FOCUS. A profitable blog is one which gives useful information in one key area, which is precisely what my own blog does not! So I was thinking – if I were to set up a new blog, strictly for business reasons what should be the focus? Well, I occasionally write about the restaurants, cafes and bars that I go to – what if I were to focus another blog solely on that? I do after all know a lot of places that other foreigners here have never heard of. This knowledge might be of use to people – who knows? It’s worth a try. Well, with a little help from Rik Abel I’ve set up a new site. No advertising on it yet, as I’ve only reviewed one place so far… I’ll wait awhile till traffic picks up before I bother with that. I’ll also be following Yaro Starak’s traffic tips and watching closely to see if they have any real effect. For the time being, my intention is to recycle some old reviews from this blog with a few extra pictures and more menu details but as time passes it’ll be a good excuse to find more good places and good people. The title of the new blog comes from a Japanese friend of mine. So impressed was she that I knew the bar Tsurugi that she asked me incredulously: “How do you know this place!? This is real deep Kyoto!” And so Deep Kyoto is born. I’ll keep you posted on how it progresses.
A silly amount of people squeezed themselves into STT last night to help Yoshida-kun celebrate his birthday… Many beverages were imbibed, discs were spun, and I as usual got a little bit snap-happy. I can’t take credit for all these pictures though because playing with my camera is a popular activity among the STT regulars… which may be why there are over a hundred pictures in the bubbleshare slider below (and that’s after editing!). To see it clearly and at your own pace just double-click on the picture as it slides by.
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I think this pic is my favorite though.
Anyway, it was a great night so great that it went on till maybe 5 in the morning (?) and I had to get a taxi to work today in order to be on time… and my head’s a bit hurty so I’m not going to tell you about the “Deep Kyoto” project today. You’ll have to wait till tomorrow. G’night.
Having volunteered my services as “fundraising coordinator” for Intyatyambo in Kyoto, I now find myself in the tricky position of having to actually raise some cash. Well, I don’t much fancy standing on a street corner shaking a box and shouting at passersby so I thought I might ask some of the restaraunts and bars I frequent if they wouldn’t mind having a collection box on the premises. And the first two boxes are out! Last night I left one in Small Town Talk (Kageyama-san was reluctant but said he’d do it because I was his friend - how nice!) and one today here in Little Bamboo:
In the coming weeks I plan to put a few more out, but I doubt that alone will be enough. To build that new orphanage we do need to raise approximately ￥８, 500,000 after all. Just look again at all those zeros. I’m going to have to think up (and organize) some kind of event… or events even. Any practical suggestions would be welcome. Oh and money - money would be welcome too. Contact me if by some miracle you’d like to donate and I can send you the bank details…
I’m off to Small Town Talk again tonight for beers and a bit of a dance . It’s Yoshida-san’s birthday and we are having a DJ event to celebrate. I expect I’ll be posting some pictures of that - oh and I should be telling you something about my new “Deep Kyoto” project. Bet you can’t wait!
Some of you may remember me getting all excited about seeing Michael Franti last year… Imagine how happy I was to discover FrantiV. Here you can see in addition to music videos, an interview with Dennis Kucinich (which is recommended not least because Kucinich looks like Frodo Baggins next to Giant Franti), and this really cool 8 year old asking a very valid question:
Anyhow it’s encouraging to see people like Michael Franti out in the world spreading the good word - and that word is PEACE.
A very simple post tonight. Simply one of the most hilarious pictures I have ever seen. Kumar prepares for fatherhood:
Thanks to his lovely wife George for sending that one. I’d post the picture of her in all her blooming glory too, but I forgot to ask her permission for that one and she might not want me too eh… (Oh and thanks for them there comments Kumar!)
After yesterday’s rather contemplative piece, I thought it might be nice to show you some of the night life here in Kyoto. Last night I went to Tsurugi (剣); the hottest venue in town. Here’s a picture from the street, I didn’t notice at the time but if you look closely there appears to be someone crouched over and throwing up behind the lamppost on the right there. Now if that isn’t a sign of the coming craziness - I don’t know what!
Just coming in the doorway you can feel the energy rolling off the place…
As expected! Another wild and crazy night at Tsurugi!
Just look at these boys get down!
Get down… on the counter and erm… take a nap that is.
Uncontrolled! God knows how Ueno-san handles such a high pressure job.
What a riot! As for me, I’m not the young slip of a lad I once was - unable to take so much excitement - I went home for a cup of herb tea and then bed, leaving these mad young minxes to their wacky hedonist pleasures!
