"I am the very model of a Singularitarian."

This is awesome.

Charlie Kam has written and recorded a humorous Singularitarian version of Gilbert & Sullivan's "I Am The Very Model of a Modern Major General," from the Gilbert & Sullivan opera, "The Pirates of Penzance."

Today's reason Japan rocks...

Sasuke!

Sasuke (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

"Sasuke (サスケ)is a Japanese sports entertainment television special that airs on the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) between Japanese television drama seasons and consists of a competition in which 100 competitors attempt to complete four obstacle course stages."

Makoto Nagano - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

"Nagano spends 300 days a year training on his fishing ship for the Sasuke competitions. During the 11th competition the announcer stated that he only has 6% body fat. As of fall 2006 he is the second of only two victors of the competition, the previous being Kazuhiko Akiyama in 1999."

His victory run:

NC's #1!

s'funny... coming back into the state off and on since I graduated college in '94, the huge influx of Hispanic population was one of the first things that stood out. Never realized that's cause it was the fastest growing in the nation.

Reason Magazine - Hit & Run > California Overrun By Americans:

"According to the Mercury News, 70 percent of those in California with 'Mexican heritage' are American citizens (compared with 40 percent in North Carolina, the state with the fastest growing Mexican population during the 1990s)"

Remember, remember, the 5th of November...

Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal is the awesomeness.

And in honor of the writer's strike...

I fucking hate Catholicism.

I'm sure there are millions upon millions of fine, upstanding Catholics - my own family members among them...

But the Catholic Church as an organization?

FUCK. THEM.

I just finished watching this documentary, and I'd never actually and truly grasped the phrase "banality of evil" until I watched it.

Watching O'Grady and the organization that covered up his actions and the blase' demeanor of the Cardinal and his superiors who transferred him around... their nonchalance... their cowering behind lawyers in testimony...

PISS. ON. THEM.

If hell exists, I hope they rot in the lowest rung.

Deliver Us from Evil (2006 film) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

"Deliver Us from Evil (2006) is an Academy Award-nominated documentary film directed by Amy Berg which tells the true story of the pedophile Catholic priest Oliver O'Grady, who sexually abused potentially hundreds of children between the late 1970s and early 1990s...



The film chronicles O'Grady's years as a priest in Northern California, where he committed his crimes. After being convicted and serving seven years in prison, O'Grady was deported to Ireland, where Amy Berg interviewed him in 2005. O'Grady speaks candidly about his crimes. Additionally, the film presents trial documents, videotaped depositions, and interviews with activists, theologians, psychologists and lawyers which suggest that not only were Church officials aware of O'Grady's crimes, they actively took steps to conceal them.

...Since 1950, sexual abuse has cost the US Catholic Church over one billion dollars in legal settlements and expenses (not including the LA settlement).

...On July 16, 2007, Cardinal Roger Mahony (Archbishop of Los Angeles) and the Roman Catholic Church in Los Angeles apologized for abuses by priests after 508 victims reached to a record-breaking settlement worth $660m. Since 2002 nearly 1,000 people filed sexual abuse claims in California. Earlier a $157m settlement was paid by the diocese of Boston.

A.W. Richard Sipe, a psychotherapist, former priest and author of 'Sex, Priests and Power' estimates that about 6% of priests have had sexual relations with children."

Unintentionally Inappropriate.

When your female, 16 year old, English as a second language student looks up at you and says:

"Roberto-sensei, please practice me."

...

"Ummm, no. Ayaka... say, 'Please practice my speech with me.'"

Ah, English speech competitions...

When your Safari tour goes horribly wrong...

...you've really only yourself to blame.

You think the elephants are only there for you watch?

Silly human.

Via riotclitshave

Totally forgot to throw these Katsuura Elementary photos online.

Got them two weeks ago from Akemi... pre Halloween.

Parent's Weekend 2: Aburayama.

Sunday of the second Parental Visitation weekend, 10 of us headed over to Aburayama [yama=mountain] for a bit of hiking about, nature walking, eating, and more walking. Later, games of chance were enjoyed.

Sadly, you can see here that early in our trip, Sandy was possessed by demons. Later, we vanquished them.

[Or, she might have been dancing. Even odds, that.]



Heading up the path.

Followed by a chotto kyukei [short break] at the appropriate time.


When's it's time to eat, the Adachi Clan [and all related affiliates] DO NOT play around.

Industrial sized blue tarp... enough food that we had to take back home at least 30%... and post meal exercise instruction by Aunt Shigeko.

Daijiro is, as they say, a TRIP! I love that dude.





On the bridge, Sandy goofing around - including, for unknown reasons, attempting to display her high kicking prowess. A high kicking day for Sandy all around.



Whereas dad is, and I believe the term is - MACKING.


Bachan at her most natural... taking pictures.

Parent's Weekend 2: Aburayama - The Adventure of Lili-chan.

I have been reduced to taking pictures of the dog.

Oh well, she's cute.




These two pics show what happens when Sandy thinks she can bribe the dog with treats in order to get a good photo. Because animals are very easily controlled around food, doncha' know?

Parent's Weekend 2: Aburayama - I may be functionally retarded.

Because when I see something like this, even if it's ostensibly designed for kids, something demands I try it out. And make my wife try it too.

Why? It's like Everest. Because it's there, damnit.

If you can stand 15-20 seconds of looking at my shoes and knees, when you watch this video you may bear witness to what might be the finest and most graceful dismount ever.

Parent's Weekend 2: Aburayama - The Scenery.

Climbing the mountain path... sights and wonders and lions and tigers and bears - and snakes and spiders - [oh my.]

Parent's Weekend 2: Aburayama - grown ass men and women trying to hula hoop.

We are all childlike in our joy, aren't we?

Though personally, I think Aunt Shigeko's carefully positioned fanny pack was giving her a bit of an unfair advantage there...

Parent's Weekend 2: Aburayama - Japanese "Horseshoes."

Not actually horshoes, per se, nor do I know if this is a commonly accepted Japanese substitute.

What I do know is that this children's game captivated us. And, as the male of the species is want to do, a competition was born. First to five, of course...


Below, it says Daijiro, Rob and Ed... with our respective point totals at the time... for the Japanese or visually impaired.


If you can look closely, you can see that Sandy snapped this photo just as I nailed the center 3 point spike, thus sealing my victory. Huzzah!

We also allowed the women-folk to play, as we are a kind and just species.

Adventures in Japanese English - The Double Cock Keeper.

A drink dispenser, of all things.

It's not like I'm making this up, people.


As a bonus, I give you the Hello Kitty motorcycle.

In pink.