There’s an in-depth, engaging article in The Independent analyzing Zidane, his life and career, his political significance in France, the headbutt, and the French reaction to it. Recommended reading for soccer fans and all those interested in human drama.

It seems as if there was a power outage at my house while I’m here in Tokyo so to those faithful few who listen, I’m sorry but you’ll have to get your fix of Okinawa music elsewhere until I get back on July 22 to put it back up.

Statue of Liberty, Odaiba, Tokyo
Outside the mall where the Condomania is in Odaiba, you can see the Statue of Liberty with the Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower in the background.

While traipsing about a shopping area out on this artificial landfill island in Tokyo Bay I spied an anthropomorphized neon condom from the distance and had to check it out. Yep, it was a Condomania branch. They wouldn’t allow photos in the store, so the window display will have to suffice.

These two schoolgirls innocently [...]

Apple Store, Ginza
I did my pilgrimage to the Ginza Apple Store today. Not only is this a big store (5 floors, 4 of retail), it’s on a prestige block not far from Mitsukoshi and Wako department stores. Steve Jobs paid a lot of yen for this location.

Healthy & Tasty Prof.
That’s me! This is the name of a restaurant, believe it or not, that is at the top of the stairs.