Saving Myself

Immediately after it happened, I stumbled, tumbled, and then rolled a few times. It's interesting that during the rolling, I actually had the presence of mind to protect my head, tuck my chin, and perform all those safety evasive actions they tell you to. Didn't think I had it in me, but I guess you never cease to amaze yourself when times call for it. I guess tucking my chin wasn't going to do much, particularly inside the helmet, but better than letting my head bounce around needlessly, right? Injuries could have been a lot worse, but because of my absolutely amazing survival reflexes, they're not. I suppose your mind just switches back to Primal Instinct Mode and natural responses take over. Pretty neat.

Peace Unto You

It's been a hectic week -- three client meetings a day, every day, scattered across this county, and then playing host to my three visiting colleagues -- and it ain't even over yet. I need some rest.

But let's imagine to another time, a funner simpler time. When are you most at peace in mind, body, and soul? Is it when you are doing something, some activity? Is it a certain time of the day/night? Or when life is crazy like it is for me this week, what do you do to get yourself to that "happy place"?

And Then Slapped Again

My Mac won't boot up.

Chapped and Slapped

Lesson learned: do not launder your jeans and some new T-shirts after having some drinks. No matter how cool that combination washer/dryer unit in your hotel room looks. No, not even after you've figured out how to operate the all-Japanese-button thing. Because there's a good chance you could leave your lipbalm in your jean pocket, which will work its melty little way through all your stuff, and there's no way to pull off that look after. So not only can I not unchap my lips, but I get slapped with the penalty of wrecked clothing.

Idea gathered: this could be an effective way to ruin someone else's clothes if they piss you off somehow in the public laundry facility at your apartment complex. (Hmmm, save for later.)

Ginza

_so here I am, in the _apple store on Ginza, in _tokyo, Japan. _This place is absolutely packed, so even though the rent on this storefront much be absolutely impossibly high, they:re probably raking in a good amount of money. And far as I can tell, the store itself is actually quite small -- a lot smaller than their silver crunchy coating would suggest. _apologies for the weird typos and stuff, because on these versions of the Powerbooks, they moved stuff around from where (I think) they:re supposed to be.

[ edit: I was wrong. There:s 4 floors in this place! first floor is all the stuff you find at the front of the other stores; 2 is where the iMacs and PowerMacs live; 3 is a theatre for workshops and tutorials; 4 is the iPod area with Shuffles and kids stuff and other accessories. Fun fun fun. ]

[ edit again: Okay, now I:m in the Shibuya Apple Store and just spent about an hour and a half listening to a live session from People to People as part of the Apple Store's "LIVE: a month of great music" program here. Happened across it as I was strolling through the area and heard this wicked beat coming from down yonder. Anyway, time to find some chow and people watch around here. ]

N'Awlins

You know the story -- it's been on CNN for 23 out of every 24 hours. Well, I just got in touch with my friend phasedOUT, who lives in the city with her extended family. She is, though she's lost everything she's ever owned, thankfully okay and all of her family is accounted for. Our wishes go to those suffering from the wrath of Katrina. Damn her.

Don't Mind If I Do

Okay. Girls tend to dress cute so they look cute. This implies that they look cute to someone else, who is doing the looking while they are doing the ... being cute. I have to say that Japanese girls are very good at this. I mean, very good at it. But regardless, here's the question: if a girl goes to lengths to be noticeable -- either by being super-cute or by being outrageously noticeable -- is it okay to give her a long look? (And by this, I don't mean like a wolf staring down a helpless sheep.)

I've noticed that in Shibuya's Center Gai and Koen Dori, this seems completely okay. In fact, they seem to welcome the attention. But let's take normal girls today. Think it's still okay by them?