Like it's '82

It may not be Miller Time, but it certainly is Suntory Times over here after learning that the Brewers made the playoffs for the first time in my lifetime. I may be a half a world away, but let it be known that a thunderous yell went out over Tokushima City this morning.


checking the scores...


HEYYYY!!!


DROUGHT OVER.

On foreign policy and international exchange

Of all the titles and claims I thought I might hold in my time in Japan, I never imagined that "Guinness World Record holder" might be one them. That's just what I am, however, after joining my touch rugby team and hundreds of others today in creating the world's largest single indigo dyed cloth. Here's what 836 meters of indigo-soaked diplomacy looks like:


tying the cloth


soaking it up


the gang with their freshly dyed cloth


Gaki signs one of his squares


all stretched out


in the Shimbun

Inside edition

Fresh from my brain and fingers...

Saturday, September 27
Ingrid's International Dance Resolution Party Take 9
Set 2

1. John Legend - Green Light (Feat. Andre 3000) (4:46)
2. Mark Ronson - Amy (feat. Kenna) (3:32)
3. Nadia Oh - Got Your Number (3:06)
4. MGMT - Electric Feel (3:49)
5. Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Till You Get Enough (6:05)
6. Sam Sparro - Too Many Questions (3:56)
7. Gym Class Heroes Feat. Patrick Stump - Clothes Off (3:55)
8. Modest Mouse - Dashboard (4:07)
9. Lupe Fiasco - Superstar (feat. Matthew Santos) (4:51)
10. Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity (3:45)
11. Kanye West - Good Life (feat. T-Pain) (3:28)
12. Rihanna - Disturbia (3:59)
13. The Knife - Heartbeats (3:54)
14. Chromeo - Fancy Footwork (3:20)
15. The Ting Tings - Shut Up And Let Me Go (2:53)

On teaching English

Every so often someone asks me what it's like to teach English to Japanese students. The answer, as one might expect, is not a simple one. I usually tell them about the frustrations of teaching a mandatory subject to students who may never use the subject matter itself. Sometimes, I give anecdotes about the failings of English instruction in Japan and provide for the inquisitor statistics that show how the country lags behind almost all other Asian nations in English proficiency. And other times, I simply tell them that it's a generally enjoyable occupation and that I hope that the students simply take something away from their classes.

But usually, I just tell them it's tricky, and then I show them this:

Saka

I can't think of a better place to have spent this weekend than on three fields of beautiful green sandwiched between ocean and mountains for the semiannual Awaji ALT soccer tournament. Our team may have come up short on wins, but we put in a great effort and a good time was had by all. Here's a look at the action:


blue skies on Awaji-shima


protecting the goal


taking in the action from the sidelines


still smiling after a tough defeat


Hiro gets tended to by our youngest fan


Team Tokushima

Athletes giving back

With so much written about scandal and unsportsmanlike behavior in professional sports, it's always refreshing to come across something like this. Here's to the good guys who still give back. From Yahoo! Sports:

Super Bowl winner to raffle off ring for charity

By Chris Chase

It seems that every few months there's a story about a down-on-his-luck former athlete who's selling a championship ring in order to earn a few extra bucks. This is not one of those stories.

Former New England Patriots safety Je'Rod Cherry is raffling off his championship ring from Super Bowl XXXVI to raise money for exploited children in Asia and Africa. He decided to do so after he and his wife attended a conference at his church in Ohio and saw children there raise $96,000 for an orphanage in Cambodia.

After that event, Cherry knew he wanted to help the cause, but was unsure how to do so until a young girl jokingly mentioned that he should raise money by selling his Super Bowl ring. Cherry liked the idea and decided that raffling the ring would be an effective way to raise money and awareness toward the plight of abused and neglected children in other parts of the world.

The former backup safety and special teams player says he cherishes the ring, one of two he won in New England, but knows it will be put to better use in this way. How refreshing.

A raffle ticket costs $2, with a five-ticket minimum. Cherry preferred a raffle to an auction so that everyday fans would have a shot at owning a piece of history. The 142-diamond ring features the Patriots logo atop the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Order made

A really cool video from one of my favorite Japanese bands, RADWIMPS.