Smiley's Tropical Escape

Coke & Curry

2008-06-06T03:39:30Z

It's pretty common in Japan for companies to give out small freebies with their products. Usually these fall into one of two categories: toys or household accessories. For example, Coke and Pepsi often battle it out for who can give out toys r...

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Design Festa Vol. 27

2008-05-21T00:39:03Z

Last weekend, I made it down to Tokyo Big Site for Design Vesta Vol. 27. The Festa (festival) is a twice annual art and design event where artists can set up booths to display, promote, or sell their art. Painters, sculptors, musicians, and ever...

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World Con Day 4 Notes

2007-09-02T14:32:34Z

(Sunday) Started the day with a coffee klatch hosted by Cory Doctorow. The coffee klatches are just informal round tables where people can sign up to meet with artists and authors and ask them just about anything. It was fun and entertaining; a...

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World Con Day 3 Notes

2007-09-02T14:18:32Z

(Saturday) Mainly wandered around aimlessly after having slept in too late to attend the Yoshitaka Amano panel. Tried to hit a panel called "Transcendence or Mundane" about the singularity, but missed that as well due to a schedule mix-up. Fina...

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World Con Day 2 Notes

2007-09-01T01:59:48Z

(Friday) Lots more people today. A few cosplayers, but not too many, which is a bit surprising and a tad disappointing. On the other hand, the maid cafe opened today and they're all in costume, which is cool. Started the day by going to a read...

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The Honeymoon Report, Part 1

2007-08-29T13:04:43Z

Now Last Saturday saw my wife and I returned home from a two week, three country tour of Europe. It was fun, exciting, interesting, expensive, and exhausting. We loved it. We're now at home, sorting through the accumulated detritus of travelin...

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Knuckle Bears

2007-08-11T15:20:05Z

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Benefits of Living in a 5,000 Year Old Culture #62

2007-06-05T12:51:50Z

Imagine you have been swimming and have manged to get some fluid trapped in your left ear. Now, find a Japanese person and ask them the best way to release said fluid. Chances are, he or she will tell you that you will need to stand on your left...

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Manga Review: One Piece Vol. 1 Romance Dawn

2007-05-06T02:34:01Z

One Piece is the story of Strawhat Luffy, a boy whose sole ambition in life is to become King of the Pirates; chapter 3 of Volume 1 opens with Luffy riding a shark, cowboy style, complete with a rope strung between its teeth for reigns. This ima...

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First PhotoWalk of the Spring

2007-03-25T15:07:44Z

Managed to get out to my favorite park for a bit of a walkaround last Friday; 'tis almost hanami season and I'm more excited than I should be. Still, a chance to get outside and drink with your friends is never a bad thing, right?

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