The Future Embrace

The Smashing Pumpkins have been my favorite band since Siamese Dream in 1993. But for those familiar with the band, you know it's been a down-hill slide driven by a man with an ever-dwindling sense of the music his fans want to hear. A man that's slowly losing touch.



Noone seems to be able to work with him, and he's been hell-bent on being a self-promoted leader of rock that takes the genre in a completely new direction. He went in a new direction, but noone followed. And yeah, rock probably needed a new direction, but I don't think you can go down the road that Corgan went -- to unenjoyable sound with no artistry.

But with every fall, something's due to rise. Ebb and flow.

Pumpkin-heads everywhere were given a sigh of relief when Zwan released it's only album. But the band's short life sent most of us back underwater.

The newest rise in Pumpkin-land comes with 'The Future Embrace.' Albeit, normal 'Pumpkin-heads' will miss the dreamy guitar rifs, the melodramatic verses of teenage-angst, those of us that grew up a little since 1998 realize that 'The Future Embrace' is a solid first step for Billy.

In this album, Corgan forgets trying to push rock in a new direction and returns to producing good sound and good music. Though this album won't find a big audience, the album will be on 'repeat' for those who never lost faith. Bravo-zulu, Billy Corgan.

Sure, the other reviews you hear will say that the album is crap, that Billy is middle-aged, and that's what he's got left. But do yourself a favor, listen for yourself. NO MATTER WHAT BILLY CAME OUT WITH, THE MEDIA GANG WAS STANDING AT THE DOOR WITH BATS IN HAND.

Oh, but one last thing, Billy. Your album-art sucks this time. You need to re-think it. Anyone that hates where rock has gone, and can't stand these copy-cat new version of the teen-bands, here's your message: This album isn't going to save rock and roll. Not even close. Who can? I'll be waiting, as must you.

Basketball Jones

I had the great fortune to play against a Japanese team in Tokuyama today. Their tallest player was around 5'10. Needless to say, the game was lop-sided from the start. We won by 112 points. I can, however, check off one of my life's to-do's: play on an international court with trapezoidal free-throw lanes.

Click here to see pictures from the day. Here's one to get you started...

Illustration Friday: Tranquility

Now Playing: U2 - Beautiful Day

Not sure this really captured the topic, but it's my first submission.

Now Playing...

Now Playing: Blue Eyes by the Cary Brothers

Danny Amster started each post with what he was listening to at the moment he began writing. It's an innovative writing technique, I think. It's like placing washes on your canvas before you paint it. It gives a little background to the audience, so they're more in-tune to what you're trying to get across. If they care. If they don't, it could still get there subconsciously. It could give you a little help conveying your thought.

My thought is music. Without music, nothing seems to work easily for me. It's the grease in my bearings. It smoothes the ride.

Thanks Dan. I'm officially stealing your idea.

The Good Wife

I was walking down the street yesterday, my belling rumbling, when I thought about home cooking. It sounds SO good. I am living off of Microwavable Chicken Patties. I thought about the nightly ritual in Beaufort, and how dinner is the main event.

Then it dawned on me that my wife cooks all the time, and enjoys her nightly duty. We both have roles, and maybe I've always focused on mine (cleaning up after dinner). But yesterday it dawned on me that it's not natural to be a good cook. It's not natural to seek out recipes, cook them, and then seek my feedback. My wife is into this wife-thing. She's into it, trying really hard, and succeeding. I respect her as the best chef I've ever had. Yay, me, the beneficiary of a loving wife.

So kudo's to my wife. Her heart is in it.

Barbeque Sauce on Corndogs?

So I forgot to write about this before, but it's running accross the screen in my mind now, so here goes:

At the Baseball game, I was so excited to see cordogs and beer for sale. They sell whole entrees of soups and rice, and other japanese delicacies, but I wanted some good american junk at the good american game of baseball. So after figuring out that they wouldn't take the coins in yen, I bought the token required from the machine and approached the counter. I, of course, had to point at what I wanted, my corndog.

I was at the brink of mission accomplishment. The gentlemen barked, 'hai', and smiled.

::Enter slow-motion portion::

He offered me the corndog. I was about to take possession, when his other hand approached the dog, carrying a dark bottle. I screamed 'Noooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!', and tried to withdraw the dog, but it was too late. His hand had begun to squeeze and barbeque sauce splattered over the dog.

::Re-enter regular motion::

I walked away knowing that Japanese try to have american type items, but they always come out askewed in the end.

Then I learned of another Japanese-ism. They don't like napkins.

Dan in Combat

My boy made the front cover! Go Dan! In this picture, you'd imagine him scanning the horizon for the enemy; but in actuality, he's probably trying to keep from eating sand, or scanning to figure out where the heck he is.

Wanna drive one of those? Call 1-800-MARINES.

Losing Visual Interest

Propaganda Card
Originally uploaded by This Cat Tom.

Since I haven't placed a picture on here in awhile, I submit this one.

This is a propaganda flyer for the War Effort in Japan. Japanese were forced to buy warbonds to try to raise money for the war. School children were 'mobilized' into admin jobs in the army.

The Real Deal

I am missing my wife. Especially since she's missing me. I know she needs me; and I give her as much of my time as I have, but I am afraid it's not enough. What's worse is knowing that these are the times we knew would come, but that thought doesn't do any good. Stay strong, love. I'm with you.

Family and Friends

It's been about three weeks since I left. Friends and Family have started to email and keep in touch. That's good, too, because without them, it feels like I am treading water, with nowhere to stand. It's good to get in shallower water.

For those keeping score, I am about to be on the move again. I have found my niche on the 'tip of the spear'. I guess I am like a stage crew for a band. I go early, set up the stage, and then the band comes and rocks out. When the music starts to play; I am already thinking about packing up, and moving to the next town. Be back in six-month's ya'll. I can't wait to see everyone.

I Forgot to tell you about Racquetball

The ball was moving alarmingly fast at first; I never see basketballs moving at that speed. But soon I had the concepts down, and my mind adjusted to the ball's velocity.

I dove more than I think is usual for common racquetballers, judging by the chuckles I could hear from the peanut-gallery. I think the floor is what threw me off. It resembles a basketball court. The resemblance spurred basketball habits into action. I dove at every ball, always continuing the play until the 'ref' blows the whistle (there was no referee). However, my old habits were on one specific play.

With the ball speeding down the wall, I dove. I was so concentrated on the little blue ball that I didn't notice the huge white wall. I splattered across it like a bug on a windshield, moving too fast to control the impact. I missed the ball, and felt sheepish. ::chuckle chuckle again from the crowd::

I walked away from losing the game with the 'old-mule' satisfaction that I had played hard. Next time I'll be that much better.

Driving!

Hey ya'll, I am finally on the left side of the road and running. I have my license for Japanese driving. It's not as weird as you think it'll be. The gas is still on the right, the clutch on the left. You just sit on the left side of the car, and keep yourself near the centerline. Watchout, here I come!

Oh, and the vehicle I am driving is so small, I have to wiggle my left knee under the steering wheel, slide in, and then sit down. If I ever wreck, I'll have to get cut out of the car.

Check out the road signs.

Zero Poster

Zero Poster
Originally uploaded by This Cat Tom.

This is a poster I liked at the Peace Park Museum.

PICS

Well, as requested, here are some pictures...


Carp Fans

Anti-bomb poster from post-war Japan

Streets of Hiroshima

Mitsubishi automatic parking garage. It turns your car in the circle, then moves it onto an escalator.

Baseball in Japan

The Carp won the game in the bottom of the Ninth. It was like going to a college football game, except all the cheerleaders were Men with Karate-kid looking headbands on. The fans just cheered their little brains out. It was quite a riot. It took me half the game to figure out what they were saying; 'home run home run Aye Aye Eee!'

The funniest part of the evening was the walk through the city. I'd lost my friends temporarily, but found them easily, as they were all a head taller than the steady flow of Japanese walkers. It was a vast sea of black hair, with three heads standing still above the surface, wondering where we could find some good food.

JAPANESE SAFETY FEATURES

One peculiarity about Japan is it's innovative safety features, especially geared toward the blind.

All the sidewalks have a 'brail path' in them. Right down the middle of the sidewalk, and the pattern tee's at intersections. When it's safe to walk, the crosswalks beep with what sounds like a small bird's call.

Another safety feature is the three green lights above every truck's windshield. Lights are lit depending on speed. One for slow, two for medium, and when all three lights are lit up, and you're staring at them from your rearview at a stop, it means 'move now or die.'

Sailing and Baseball in Japan

Kinitchiwa! I am going sailing tomorrow morning in the harbor here. It's a 14 ft laser like the one's at Tulane. I can't wait. It'll feel good to know that all the same principles apply in the States AND Japan. The same luff, the same trim, the same feeling that holding on to the rope and leaning back gives you. I can't wait to get a little wet too. I hear it's a pretty busy shipping route, so I'll be on the lookout for freighters. I feel like Pi already.

Tomorrow night my Marines and I are catching a train to Hiroshima to see the Carps play. Their logo looks like the Cincinatti Reds. To read their website, or attempt to, click here. I'll take pictures...

Ich means one
Ni means two
San means three

Arregato means thank you
Don't touch the mustache means you're welcome
Ohio Gaseimas means good morning
Kinitchiwa means good afternoon or 'hi'

and I'll keep you posted!

The conversion to Yen got me yesterday. I thought I took out around 15 bucks from the ATM. Turns out I took out 150. And I finally made it out into town. It's a whole different world out there, not just the one that Grandma claims as different either. Needless to say there was a HUGE language barrier. I am at the counter of a fast-food joint showing 5 fingers, "number five???". She just points at the menu. OK. I give up. I point and laugh. Japanese girls are laughing at me from the right side of the building. I feel like an infant. I cannot function as an adult. I just throw some money down, take my food and run away.

I will post some pictures this week. It's unreal out here. Good photo-opportunities, though it's not paradise. It actually feels like the ghetto in New Orleans, only everything is miniature. The carwash outside base was shorter than I was. Oh, and the little shops, they sell hip-hop knock-off clothes. Don't they know I'm searching for something 'unamerican'? If I wanted a Yankees hat, I'd beat up 50 Cent and take it. I want a lime-green t-shirt that has Kanji letters that for all I can tell, spell "1/2 off Fuji-film at the ready-mart." That's hot!

Driven or done-been-drove

I went to the gym today with the best intentions. Doesn't that say it all?

Yesterday was my first day back in months. I am sore. So I did a few exercises to make other muscles sore too. (you know, the whole balance thing) I couldn't get into it. Normally on days like that I give in and go play basketball. Well I check out a ball, head to the court, push open the doors, and nothing.

Noone's there but me.

This, in the past, is my paradise. Time to think. Time to improve on my drop-step, or any aspect of my game without kids playing loudly, or without trash-talking bigger versions of kids trying to prove something. Peace and quiet.

But today I could not get into it.

Today I shot a few, and finally decided line-drills is what I needed to get the 'old motor' running. Line drills are running drills where one begins at the baseline, rus to each proceeding line and back all the way down the court. Sounds fun, right?

They've never been fun, but I used to be able to complete a few. After one drill, I wanted to do five (even though I couldn't breathe). After two? I knew three would be tough. So it's another one of those "work back up to it" things. I am sick of those. Shouldn't I be in my prime? Do ya'll feel like that?

Hang on now, I feel a little motivation surging through me...

The very interesting exit sign, as promised.



and it's still raining. I am going to buy an umbrella today.

Iwakuni

Hey ya'll. The weirdest thing so far is waking up and still being in Japan. The differences are relentless. You walk across the street, you almost get ran over because you are looking the wrong way. You have to look to the left first here. Oh, and then you're walking down the street and it seems like the cars are pulling over to talk to you... until you realize they're just ON that side.

The exit signs are really cool. I'll take a picture and post it.

I had oyaki donburi for lunch yesterday. It's rice in a bowl with checken and egg on top. I also had Inari, sort of like cornbread balls with rice inside. I noticed that while my American friends got two cans of juice/soda, an entree and an appetizer, the japanese got what seemed like an appetizer and drink, and left. We're all huge fat pigs. It's kind of humorous. It made me want to wear slippers and a karate-kid headband, eat rice, and practice my disciplined kicks and punches until I get cut out of wood.

Then I went to sleep. Maybe I'll find a headband after the food digests... zzz. zzz.