If you were a Canadian alive in 1992 and 1993, you will remember that the Toronto Blue Jays was the best team in major league baseball. The following year, to protest a Canadian team winning the World Series (twice), everyone went on strike and baseball sucked until recent years.
This was the call by Blue Jays' voice Tom Cheek when Joe Carter hit his famous walk-off homerun in the bottom of the ninth with two out, two strikes on him. I swear, I tear up every time I hear this.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Joe Carter and Tom Cheek
Friday, March 23, 2007
Waitin For a Train - Chris Smither
This guy is amazing. The video is crap, but you stop caring after about 30 seconds of watching and listening to him...
GRADUATION 2007
Two weeks ago my junior high 3rd years graduated (the school year in Japan ends in March and starts again in April). It's a happy occasion for the most part, but I was kind of sad. The sad part wasn't so much that I would probably never see most of them again (although that is sad), but that most of them will probably forget me shortly. This is kind of an egocentric concern, I admit, but the truth is that I really like some of these kids and I wish I could get to know them better. But these kids aren't going to drop everything and come running to me every time they see me. I've only been around for 6 months, I've only taught some of these kids maybe 2 or 3 times in class...
I read somewhere recently that we humans like to consider ourselves to be the stars of the show but the truth is that we are mere extras in relation to most people we interact with. And much as I would like to think I am a significant presence in some of these kids lives (because they are special to me), I have to accept the fact that I am only an extra, a brief walk-on presence. Having come to terms with this, I've decided that the most I can do is act my part as well as I can.
Still, I will miss them.
OK, enough emoting. Below are some pictures of graduation day at my three schools.
Kubo Jr. High had a cool arrangement where all the 1st and 2nd years lined up along the driveway and gave gifts to their "sempai" (elder/mentor) as they filed through.
Members of the Kudamatsu Jr. High Brass Band, before playing out the graduates.
The famous Mizuki two-time English speech contest champion.
Two weeks ago my junior high 3rd years graduated (the school year in Japan ends in March and starts again in April). It's a happy occasion for the most part, but I was kind of sad. The sad part wasn't so much that I would probably never see most of them again (although that is sad), but that most of them will probably forget me shortly. This is kind of an egocentric concern, I admit, but the truth is that I really like some of these kids and I wish I could get to know them better. But these kids aren't going to drop everything and come running to me every time they see me. I've only been around for 6 months, I've only taught some of these kids maybe 2 or 3 times in class...
I read somewhere recently that we humans like to consider ourselves to be the stars of the show but the truth is that we are mere extras in relation to most people we interact with. And much as I would like to think I am a significant presence in some of these kids lives (because they are special to me), I have to accept the fact that I am only an extra, a brief walk-on presence. Having come to terms with this, I've decided that the most I can do is act my part as well as I can.
Still, I will miss them.
OK, enough emoting. Below are some pictures of graduation day at my three schools.
Kubo Jr. High had a cool arrangement where all the 1st and 2nd years lined up along the driveway and gave gifts to their "sempai" (elder/mentor) as they filed through.
Members of the Kudamatsu Jr. High Brass Band, before playing out the graduates.
The famous Mizuki two-time English speech contest champion.
Hiroshima San Fecce soccer fans. Mark, Brett, Ross (fellow JET lads) went to Hiroshima for the day on Wednesday (national holiday: Vernal Equinox Day) and took in this game. Hiroshima got their butt kicked by Osaka but it was fun to watch. There was one leather-lunged young woman (late teens? Early twenties?) beside us who, when I first heard her shouting, I thought it was one of the teenaged boys behind us. She was a real hardcore fan and didn't hesitate to cuss out a player if he messed up. All four of us kept peeking glances at her, in awe and admiration.
We went to Freshness Burger for lunch - delish! Mark ordered a mini salsa burger for dessert.
This picture was taken way back in October, I think, but I don't think I posted it. It's Hiroshima Castle. And that's me in front.
Brett drinks a lot of Coke. He is, in fact, a Pepsi man at heart but Pepsi is hard to find in Japan.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Friday, March 09, 2007
MIYAZAKI HAYAO - genius.
For those of you who have not yet had the pleasure of watching this man's films, well, please do. My memories of Miyazaki's works of art goes back to when i was a wee child of 7 or so and I saw "My Neighbour Totoro". I think one of the first movies our family owned. Anyways, the characters are so alive, and the stories so great. I've only seen a few of them, but the ones I have see are great for kids as well as adults. Please watch them. Below is a poster for Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.
For those of you who have not yet had the pleasure of watching this man's films, well, please do. My memories of Miyazaki's works of art goes back to when i was a wee child of 7 or so and I saw "My Neighbour Totoro". I think one of the first movies our family owned. Anyways, the characters are so alive, and the stories so great. I've only seen a few of them, but the ones I have see are great for kids as well as adults. Please watch them. Below is a poster for Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
The Day American Journalism Died.
The other day, Brett (who is a journalism major) and I were checking out the news on CNN. The site is broken down into several categories: Art, Science, World, etc. That day, the top three stories in the "World" section were (something like) "Eight Shiites Killed In Iraq Bombing", "Three Britons Kidnapped In Afghanistan" and "Earthquake Kills Seventy In Indonesia".
The top three stories in the "US" section were: "420-pound Woman Gives Birth Without Knowing She Was Pregnant", "Lawyer: Police Chief, Dog Have Diplomas From Same School", and "Teen Defends Giving Kids Pot".
Brett said, with great feeling and sadness, "Today, this day, is the day journalism died in America. What is wrong with you, Americaaaa??" He loves America, though. But the comparison of those headlines was pretty hilarious.
The other day, Brett (who is a journalism major) and I were checking out the news on CNN. The site is broken down into several categories: Art, Science, World, etc. That day, the top three stories in the "World" section were (something like) "Eight Shiites Killed In Iraq Bombing", "Three Britons Kidnapped In Afghanistan" and "Earthquake Kills Seventy In Indonesia".
The top three stories in the "US" section were: "420-pound Woman Gives Birth Without Knowing She Was Pregnant", "Lawyer: Police Chief, Dog Have Diplomas From Same School", and "Teen Defends Giving Kids Pot".
Brett said, with great feeling and sadness, "Today, this day, is the day journalism died in America. What is wrong with you, Americaaaa??" He loves America, though. But the comparison of those headlines was pretty hilarious.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Thursday, March 01, 2007
DAZAIFU - Kyushu Island.
Shoko, Jennifer, Brett, and Ken. We (Shoko, that is) drove 3 hours south to the main southern island of Kyushu to see an exhibition of an artist that Shoko loves that was showing at the Kyushu National Museum, which is, by the way, an amazing building. Brand new last year and just acres of space inside the large dome-like interior. The featured artist's name is Itoh Jakuchu (1716-1800) and the man could paint. Unfortunately I couldn't get an original otherwise I would've scanned it and posted it. Incredibly vivid and confident paintings of nature, mainly.... tigers, cranes, and roosters being his specialty.
After the museum, we went wandering about in Dazaifu which has a nice big shrine with tons of people. As I watched all the people bustling about the ancient temple grounds, I remarked wistfully to Brett, "Imagine what this place would've been like a thousand years ago..." And Brett said, "yeah... all trees". Smartass.
The fattest plum blossoms I'd ever seen. I was one of the millions under that tree taking photos.
This very energetic 65-year-old man and his monkey act. When he took his hat off to bow to the crowd we could see he had bright green hair. His shirt said in big letters across the front: "Every day is hell".
Shoko, Jennifer, Brett, and Ken. We (Shoko, that is) drove 3 hours south to the main southern island of Kyushu to see an exhibition of an artist that Shoko loves that was showing at the Kyushu National Museum, which is, by the way, an amazing building. Brand new last year and just acres of space inside the large dome-like interior. The featured artist's name is Itoh Jakuchu (1716-1800) and the man could paint. Unfortunately I couldn't get an original otherwise I would've scanned it and posted it. Incredibly vivid and confident paintings of nature, mainly.... tigers, cranes, and roosters being his specialty.
After the museum, we went wandering about in Dazaifu which has a nice big shrine with tons of people. As I watched all the people bustling about the ancient temple grounds, I remarked wistfully to Brett, "Imagine what this place would've been like a thousand years ago..." And Brett said, "yeah... all trees". Smartass.
The fattest plum blossoms I'd ever seen. I was one of the millions under that tree taking photos.
This very energetic 65-year-old man and his monkey act. When he took his hat off to bow to the crowd we could see he had bright green hair. His shirt said in big letters across the front: "Every day is hell".
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