Random JapanPicture Friday

If you've never been to Japan, you wouldn't believe me if I told you, but it's true; it is impossible to have a picture taken without at least one person making the old "peace" or "V for Victory" sign with their fingers. Seriously. When I got accosted on the streets of Kyoto by two schoolgirls (not what you're thinking, you pervs) so they could talk to me in English for their homework, they wanted to take a picture with me to prove I was real and they didn't just make up the conversation, which is what I would have done if I had that assignment. So I stood there and smiled for the picture and they said "nonononononononono, do..." and they held up their fingers. And no, it's not just a kid thing. This picture, which I randomly stumbled across, proves my point. I really don't get it though. Wasnt't the "V for Victory" finger move an Allied thing in WWII?






That's why this picture is so much better: it makes sense.

See? This guy has apparently brokered a peace between the dog-faced Japanese people and the normal-faced Japanese people, who both appear to be claiming victory. It is a monumental acheivement akin to what Jimmy Carter facilitated at Camp David between the Israelis and the Palestinians*. We all know how well that worked out!

Also, all next week (well, starting today) I will be guest writing over at the amazing Why.I.Hate.DC blog. The great Rusty has asked me to humbly try to fill his shoes. I'll try to keep updating here too, but we'll see.

*may or may not be historically factual. Wikipedia probably knows.

List Tuesday: Advertisers' Fun Page Edition

Well, I made it back from Japan and have no interest in going back anytime soon. It feels good to be back in the "screw you" capital of the world. It's nice to know that when people crowd past you or in front of you on the road or in the subway, it's because they think they are better than you and are doing the cutting off out of individual, selfish aggresiveness. I much prefer that to the same thing happening in Tokyo where it happens because there is absolutely no concept of personal space in Japan. Of course, there can't really be such a concept in a country the size of Florida with 130 million people.

Anyway, last night, the brickwife and I were talking about the idea of personal space and individuality, the hallmarks of American culture. She asked me if it bothered me that I'm actually not very individual or different than a lot of other people. My answer? No, I don't really care. Advertisers and other social anthropoligists know me. They've never met me, but I fit perfectly into one of their little market fragments. They know what I like, they know how to get me to buy something and they know what gets on my nerves.

So here's today's challenge for any advertisers out there that read A Ton of Bricks (none that I know of): I will list 4 things about me and you have to tell me four other things about me based solely on the information I revealed. If all four things you tell me are accurate, you win!

Things About Me That Are Probably Very Revealing To Advertisers

1. I drive a Volkswagen


2. I use Apple computers at home


3. My favorite current, scripted TV show is NBC's The Office


4. I have and maintain a "blog"

So what else do I own/do/want?

Bad Found Poetry Thursday

I found this poem on the cover of one of the Pay TV Porn guides in my hotel room. That's right. I said "one of." There are two. I get 6 regular channels and two pay channels that carry mostly porn with a little bit of no-holds-barred fighting I think. Basically they are primal urge channels. Anyway, this wonderful haiku was on the cover of one of them. The one with the schoolgirl on the front I think.



Porn and Paradise
by ParadiseTV


Nothing can stop our
Crazy Entertainment Shows
From Tokyo, Japan.