Wow, Turkey just won against Croatia in an amazing game. The first 90 minutes were incredibly boring, it was 0-0. BUT in the final 30 minutes, like at 20 minutes Croatia scored, then at 29:59 Turkey equalized and penalty kicks ensued, Turkey ended up winning. Apparently it was the second time in the tourney that Turkey pulled out a victory from the jaws of defeat. They are blessed, apparently. Maybe they can pull out an EU membership from the jaws of Asian mediocrity.

Also, I've always thought this was an interesting saying:
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things (The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians 13)

Growing up FTW?

Apparently the former guitarist of Silversun Pickups was fired for setting the lead singer's sweater on fire. That's really really funny to me. "My sweater! Noooooo!"

I'm sitting here at 9PM on Monday writing you from the future. I've been up for 24 hours now but I can never go to bed at 9, it has to be at least 10. My day started in Las Vegas puking into a toilet at the Paris hotel. It had been a good dinner party the night before. Miranda and Keith had a World of Warcraft wedding cake made and I complemented it with a bottle or so of red.

So anyways 16 hours later I landed in Tokyo. The weather isn't too bad, 70s and cloudy, and Japan is just like out of the movies. All modern, but with a Japanese twist on everything. Rice paddies instead of soy. I was proud of myself for being able to get a bus ticket out to Tsukuba without any problems, and actually end up here, 2 hours away from the airport. My coworker picked me up from the bus station and we went and had donburi, or basically deep fried pork. It was awesome, as you might imagine. The tea they served was also kick ass. I wish I had remembered to bring my Japanese etiquette book. I hope I am not too unintentionally rude.

???????? Here at the hotel I have a fancy toilet in the bathroom, with automatic seat warmer and built-in bidet. It's been kinda fun to use. The bath frightens me though, although since it is private my shame will be my own. I'm just not exactly sure what the correct procedure is. I know you are supposed to shower before hand, but the shower is sort of over the room part. It's pretty interesting actually. I'll explore it tomorrow morning and write a report.