denbushi | blog

…is that now JPGs can infect and destroy your computer. It was just a matter of time, I suppose. First there were the server exploits, then macro viruses, then remote execution via HTML email, then “malicious” web pages, and now… naughty images. What are Microsoft systems going to be vulnerable to next, loud noises? (”I don’t care if it’s Aphex Schwinn, turn that goddamn music DOWN!”) I think they should fire that army of programmers and hire one geek that can write ten lines of code without embedding an unchecked buffer in there somewhere. I mean, COME ON, GUYS. Do I have to buy a friggin’ Mac now or what??

…stands for My New Filing Technique is Unstoppable, but I’m not sure why. Maybe you can figure it out.

These days it’s fairly common to see young girls preening themselves on the train on their way to センター街 or wherever, but today was the first time I actually saw someone curl their hair on a crowded train. These two girls shared a portable roller, took phone calls, and applied six or seven coats of makeup, all between Gotanda and Shinjuku and much to the unspoken derision of their elders seated nearby. I got the impression they actually had plenty of time to get ready *before* leaving the house, but saved it all for the train just for the shock value. You go, girls.

Work takes me to Akasaka (Tameike-Sanno) about once a week, and on those days I hop on my bike, ride over to 武蔵小山 and jump on the Namboku Line for a one-shot, no transfer ride across town.

Unfortunately, I share this habit with about 1,756 other people, and the only place for all these bikes is a narrow little spit of land along the tracks that would normally accommodate somewhere in the vicinity of, what, 200 bicycles?

And how does the local municipality respond to this dilemma? Why they hire three オヤジ to cram the bicycles as tightly as possible into the available space, all day every day, creating a hellish scene that looks like this:

That’s right. And that’s right where my bike was two days after I left it there. It took me twenty minutes to clear away enough bikes to get to my own, and then 10 more to extricate mine from the bikes directly atop or beside it.

And this not 300 meters from the local municipal office, which sports a large sign out front saying, “この社会、あなたの税がいきています” (This society, your taxes at work [alive]) Shyeah right. They should change it to read, “This society, dismal urban planning our specialty!”

Hmph.

Really really good Kumamoto ramen isn’t easy to find here in Tokyo, but I did! Any time I see 豚骨ラーメン I’m always intrigued, and the 店主盛拉麺 at Keika was fantastic! The pork was tender and juicy, the vegetables crisp, and the noodles firm and cooked to perfection. The soup was a bit heavy, but it’s to find a good Tonkotsu that isn’t, eh?

Check the site for locations, or go straight to Shinjuku 3-chome where you’ll find three, including the one I visited:

東京新宿 末広店
新宿3丁目7-2
03（3354）4591
午前11時～午後11時

http://keika-raumen.co.jp/top.html

This open letter to Republicans sums up very nicely my feelings toward the current administration in Washington. By which I mean just that: nicely. My letter would more likely resemble a screed, but I think Timothy’s format works very well…

…Charlie Rich’s The Most Beautiful Girl occasionally in the back of my mind as I go about my daily routine back here in Tokyo. Rie and Mia are still in Kumamoto and will be for a few more weeks, then I’ll fly down once again and bring them home. But for now it’s just me and that deep baritone, singing in time with the car radio, “Hey, if you happen to see the most beautiful girl in the world… …tell her I need my baby, oh won’t you tell her that I love her…”