The name change hasn't exactly sparked my creativity...

Wow. I really felt a resurgence of blog-related energy leading into the re-naming. It's gone now.

Anyway, a couple of quick notes for this week.

Would you trust your kids with these people?

I cannot get enough of this game right now. (Warning, if you click the link, you may never get anything done again.) I've made level 6 a few times....but it gets HARD!

On second thought...this game may be even better. If you can pass level 4 you get mad props.


Best post (by someone I don't think I know) I've seen in a long time. Think how much mileage I've gotten out of my "Cheese was" joke. There's about 20 jokes of nearly equal caliber. Impressive to say the least.

Not too much new at school, but I'm spending a lot more time with the special needs students at my school. They really do remind me of Scott and Phil. I miss you guys.

The Double Deuce is open for business

To celebrate, I'm posting my favourite (and weirdest) audio update of all time.

Today, the audio is 2 clicks away. When you click the link, you'll go to this page:

Dorks will enjoy this article on the Top 100 Gadgets of all time. People who know Aaron Miller (not this guy...the one in Vancouver) will love #100.

24 Hours Left

That's right...this time tomorrow my blog will have brand new name! It's not too late to vote or suggest new ideas, just check out this post and tell me what you think!

Right now, "THE DOUBLE DEUCE" is really taking over, so if you don't like that name, or want something else....ACT NOW!


In other news, I had an epic, epic, elementary school visit today. First Graders and Sixth Graders. The sixth grade class was particularly memorable. I walked in the class, and the second I walked through the door, I was serenaded by recorders. Now I remember back in my day how awful and squeaky and squawky those woodwinds...err plasticwinds sounded, and I'm here to tell you, in Japan, they sound equally awful. I had to put on a brave face, but it was like being at somebody's house and pretending their meatloaf is delicious.

Anyway, class progressed as classes normally do...they were pretty pumped to see me...very high energy, and very fun. (I even brought "EGG NOG" - I know it's February, and it's not really egg nog, but whatever, playing the eggnog card = success). Class has already gone about 10 minutes over, and the teacher says, "Why don't you join us in the gym? Put your things in the teacher's room and we'll get set up."

So 5 minutes later, I'm in the gym along with the 30 rugrats and their teacher. There are 5 big taiko drums set up in a sort of V shape from the baseline with the point of the V being at the top of the key, and a chair 10 feet from the point of the V in the middle of the court. The chair, of course is for me. After their lackluster recorder effort I thought I may be in for it, but they put on a 10 minute drumming display that BLEW MY MIND. I couldn't believe how awesome it was, at points it felt like an earthquake, I'm not kidding you. It left my heart racing (sort of like the Lord of the Dance, except this time, I wasn't left questioning my sexuality - darn you Michael Flatley).

They're SO LITTLE, and just giving it everything they had (when the music crescendos, they are really hammering those drums). It was an incredible performance, and really made my day. I wished I could have video, or audio, but I do have a group picture from after the performance.




Click to make it bigger.

(I'm in the middle...with the beard.)

Anyway, definitely one of the best moments I've had in Japan. My own private concert.

A new name...

That's right! The "Re-Launching" period is over. It's time for a new look, a new format, and all an all important new name. (Okay it's not entirely lost on me that a new look, format and name in and of itself could be considered a Re-Launch, but work with me on this one.)

The new name is where you come in.

I have 3 viable options:

1.) Basic Thuganomics (Some of you may not realize thuganomics was my minor at University...)
2.) The Double Deuce
3.) Ohhh **Snap**

I'm leaning towards The Double Deuce.

Any suggestions or votes are welcome!

Tony

Anyone else interested?

This caught my eye...but I really don't have a lot of weapons...




I thought it was some sort of prank until I read that second sentence.

Settling an old argument...

Is bowling a sport?

It's certainly a question that has plagued many a philospher throughout the years. My friends, below lies the answer.



What you are looking at is my 10 pin bowling scoreboard from Friday night. My score is the bottom score on the list. (Here is the official scorecard and a zoomed in view of the score from the official scorecard.)

You'll notice the score: 229. An amazing feat, and one I am proud of (7 strikes, 4 spares, and no open frames.) What's more incredible about this feat is that it was performed after a 2 hour nomihodai (nomihodai = all you can drink session), and I was "wearing the wobbly boot".

Surely a 229 is a good amateur score, but what about the pros? As you can see from the list, the top professional bowler in the world: Walter Ray Williams Junior has an average of 228.

That's right. Me, as good as the top pro in the world. Stumbling around the lane. I've (10 pin) bowled one time in the last 4 years. I bowled a score that any professional bowler in the world would be happy with.

I don't think a pretty good golfer could get hammered and be competitive with Vijay at Pebble Beach. I doubt a good basketball player could keep up with A.I. in a pickup game. But if Walter Ray Williams Jr. had the guts to show up at a bowling alley in Japan, I would have given him a run for his money on that fateful night. I think that pretty much puts an end to that argument. Bowling is not a sport.

Now, imagine if I had my own ball and a wrist guard! Watch out Walter Ray...I'm comin'!

TRIUMPH!

Wow...what a feeling...that's all I can say about the following picture...this is a one in a million kind of a moment...and I'm just happy it happened to me.....mentally prepare yourself for what you are about to see...
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Hand Analysis


Okay...so my user name is "attractivetb", and I'm the guy holding the 2 Kings. A pocket pair of Kings is a fairly common hand. It's a little more rare to hit 3 of a kind....but as you can see looking at the board...I've actually hit 4 of a kind....but even that happens once in a blue moon - I think the odds are about 1000 to 1. What is REALLY rare is hitting "quads" (especially high quads like kings) and having the 2 other people in the hand BETTING INTO YOU! What a tremendous moment indeed.

I know what you're thinking, and I even thought the same thing at the time. "This moment could be the pinnacle of my life. It is possible, nay, probable, that it is all downhill from here." After some consideration, I have decided, that if it is, in fact, the pinnacle of my life, I'm okay with it. Some people will never know the thrill of being bet into while holding "the nuts"...I have that, and I will cherish that moment forever.

I'm on fire.

I'm requesting one word comments on this link.

dumb or funny

Watch for at least one minute...it doesn't change, but I swear it gets funnier each time I watch it...have I gone crazy?

A snippet of life in Japan

Japanese babies never...NEVER...cry.

School dances don't exist.

Japanese people always apologize for not being better at English:

Bill Collector:
Me: I'm sorry, I don't understand, can you speak more slowly?
Bill Collector: No, no, it's my fault. I must learn to speak English better.

This is very typical...I try to imagine a Canadian bill collector being patient with a non-English speaking client...unlikely.

Japanese high school girls wear OBSCENELY short skirts.

There are many bars and restaurants where you sit on the floor.

Young Japanese children are very well behaved.

Despite the fact that Japan is over 95% Japanese, about half of the stores' signs are in English, not Japanese characters.

Clipping your toenails in the staff room is A-OK.

So is gargling in the staff room sink.

If the train is a minute late, people are NOT happy. (it's only happened to me once since I've been here).

When you buy a train ticket from the machine, an animated woman bows and thanks you.

Worst thing about Japan: No Central heating.

Best thing about Japan: Best service in the world.

Insomnia?

Having trouble sleeping...why not give my latest audio update a try?

THE "HUGE NEWS"

From the end of my January 30th post, "Expect a HUGE NEWS post in the next 3 days."

So without any further ado, here's the news...

I'm coming home in July 2005.

This may not seem like big news to you, but on January 30th when I mentioned "HUGE NEWS"
was on the way, I had planned to stay one more year...but after flippity flopping on this issue several times, I have finalized the decision and I'm coming home (perhaps via Europe or South America) in July.


The other big news between now and then is that Mom and Dad are coming to visit at the end of next month. I'm totally pumped up, and I see they even got a mention in the Onion newspaper. (There's an inside joke in there somewhere...)

Wow.

This soy sauce commercial is so awesome in so many ways....you must check it out!