Thanks Drew for helping me understand in relation to the August 24th post. It's possible.

In the same thread, I've been flipped off here in Japan practically everyday. The guy at the convenience store flipped me off when I asked for directions. The gas station attendant flipped me off after pumping my gas. Even my pastor flipped me off on a number of occassions after I asked him when he was planning on taking his vacation.

Why? Well, here in Japan people don't point with their "pointer" finger. Japanese people point using their middle finger... I guess because it's the longest finger. I dunno. I think I've gotten used to a lot of the Japanese "quirks" but this one... this one never ceases to catch me off guard.

Back in July, I was in my pastor's office talking about the vacation he was about to take in August. I wanted to be sure I got the information straight so I asked him, "What days are you looking at?" So, he pulls out the wall calendar in front of us, and BAM! Out stretches the middle finger right before my eyes, and he points it at a Monday. And then he continues to drag his finger across the week.

So, OK. Maybe I exaggerated when I said that I've been flipped off everyday. But for that split second, it sure feels that way.

A Pearl of Wisdom

No Asian person... no matter how lactose tolerant they think they are should ever try to drive a liter (about a quart) of milk straight. I made the mistake yesterday. I make some cookies, and I wanted to eat em so, of course I bring out the milk from the fridge. Well, you know when you watch TV when you eat and you don't keep track of how much you eat or drink? Yeah that happened with cookies and milk. And before I knew it... I downed the entire carton. My stomach wasn't feelin good when I was trying to go to sleep.

One thing I can't get used to, here in Japan... the way guys cross their legs when they're sitting down.

When I sit down, I'll cross my legs by making something that looks like the figure 4. No, not the old school wrestling move. The actual number "4". I'll pick up one of my legs and put it on the other so that the ankle of one leg is resting above the knee of the other leg. Not only is it comfortable, but it also doubles as a mini-desk if I don't have one in front of me. Yeah, pretty standard right?

Well, apparently, it isn't here in Japan. The guys here cross their legs the feminine way. You know, with the knee of one leg above the knee of the other leg. Girls doing this is understandable. But guys? YO! Doesn't it hurt? Or at least feel uncomfortable? I mean, anatomically, guys shouldn't be able to do something like that.

Vending machines are everywhere in Japan. Not just in front of stores, shopping malls, and supermarkets. Often, you'll see a random vending machine right in front of some dude's house. It's really weird. But that's not the only weird thing about vending machines here in Japan...

1) There are a ton of vending machines but there are hardly any public trash cans. Often, you won't see a trash can next to a vending machine. And yet, there's hardly any litter on the streets. Just one of those Twilight Zone or X-Files things I guess... like where do the socks disappear to when you do the laundry and where do all the Corn Pops go?

2) This summer, the Coca-Cola vending machines have a special taller-than-usual can (about 16 oz) that sells for 100 yen. The normal can (about 12 oz) sells for 120 yen. The thing is that even though the vending machines sell the tall can for 100 yen, they also sell the normal can for 120 yen. And... on the display, the tall can is right next to the normal can. Who would buy the 12 oz for 120 yen when you can get a bigger size for cheaper?

For all you guys who just came back from PCJFMC camp... this article's for you. Man, I wish I was there. But looks like I'll be there for 2004. In the great words of the Kool-Aid man, "Oh yeah."

I've been going to the hospital for a while now to get rid of my warts. YUCK! Yeah it was pretty obvious that they weren't gonna go away by themselves, so I decided to go to the professionals. So, for those who've never had them before, there is no option if you go to the hospital. They have one standard treatment. Freeze it off. They have this can/gun full of I dunno... liquid nitrogen? And the doctor just shoots the stuff on the wart. If it doesn't go away (or scale off) a few days after the hospital visit, you get the same treatment again. Repeat if necessary.

Yo, that mess hurts! Whoever it was that said that it doesn't hurt... you're either really tough or a big fat liar. Or maybe I'm just a little baby. There's of course the initial sting from the hospital visit... but it hurts more when you go home and unknowingly wash the dishes. When normal water touches the affected area... YAOOOOCHHHH. Kinda felt like the time I accidently burnt my finger with a sodering iron... and then tried to cool it off under a sink. Yeah, BAD MOVE.

Finally able to webcam with Dean just yesterday. It was pretty cool, even if his video was really jittery for no real reason. Definitely better than our previous way of communicating... email. And definitely better than phone calls cuz A) I can actually see him when I'm talking to him and B) It doesn't cost us by the minute! And he got a pretty phat deal on his webcam... $35 with a $20 mail in rebate to make it a grand total of $15. Now that, my friends, are some Chinese penny pinchin' skills. The software is free... downloaded from iVisit (thanks Peter). If anybody wants to talk... let's do it!

Article of the day: Conan Ready to Mark 10th Anniversary. Yes, that's right. Conan O'Brien. How can you not like a man that debuts Triumph the Insult Dog on TV, frequently gets Mr. T as a talk show guest, and gets his band members to do obscure sketches with him (in the year 2000... in the year 2000). Definitely funnier than the overly sarcastic David Letterman and Jay "I Laugh at My Own Jokes" Leno. Sophomore and junior year in college, I'd watch his show almost every night and just pass out on the recliner. Oh, that was a lotta fun.

Oh, and because all xanga sites are down and have been down for quite a while now... and because Danny'll be away for a week, we'll be having consecutive BCS bye weeks through August.

A couple of days ago, I get this phone call. I pick up and of course I go, "Moshi moshi." The guy on the other side gives a really hesitant "Uhh." A few moments pass and I realize that it's Jerry, and he realizes that he didn't call some random Japanese dude. Congrats to that man for going through the ordeal known as support raising. In many many ways it's very tough process.

Today's article of the day: Dinner with the Sayyids. Thought it was a really interesting perspective on the aftermath of the whole Iraq war thing. I really thought that the end of the article discussing and suggesting the United States' part in this religious and cultural revolution was compelling.

Just now, I saw a TV commercial here in Japan for some eye drops. According to the commercial, the eye drops aren't for red eyes, allergies, or even contact lens dry out. No. Instead, they're being sold as eye drops that help you out when you're tired.

Eyes feel tired? Use these drops for ultimate refreshment. Forget going to sleep. Forget taking some vacation time. Need to work! Have to work! Must work! Put a drop in each eye and I'm good to go. After all, a few milliliters of this miracle fluid is the same thing as a good night's rest.

The article of the day: The Beast Goes East.

Yeah, I still don't get the phenomenon. The article is right on when it comes to this guy Bob Sapp. Japanese fame as many of you know is a very very strange strange thing. Ehh, but it's one of those things that you just go, "I don't get it, but that's cool."