That's What I Call REALLY Rare

Last night at dinner my host ordered squid sashimi. Squid isn't my favorite, but if he wanted it, I would eat it.

The sushi chef reached behind him, fished a 14" specimen out of the tank, cut up half the head, and put it front of us still slithering a little. One of my dinner partners poked at it playfully with his chopstick, watching the tentacles wiggle a little. I took a bite of the cut-up portion.

It was actually really, really good, the only time I ever enjoyed squid sashimi. I didn't notice when it stopped wiggling, but I was well into the sake by then. The first part of this YouTube video is actually pretty close to what I experienced.

Actually, eating "almost dead" food isn't all that uncommon in Japan. Besides squid, there is a fish that is sliced up, put on a small stake, and presented in front of you with his gills and mouth still moving. You eat the flesh off the living bones, watching your prey slowly die as you eat. I don't like the taste of this one so much. Similiar YouTube video here (not for the faint of heart).

Airports: Europe vs. Japan

After my harrowing experience in Barcelona and Charles DeGaulle airports last week, I thought I would compare it to flying domestically in Japan (Tokyo Haneda to Hiroshima):


There really is no comparison. The sad part is that in terms of efficiency and service the U.S. is closer to Europe than it is to Japan.

Your Petro Dollars at Work

See what's going on in Dubai.

Sort of Like 'Second Life' for Kids

Daddy, the server is running slow! - My six-year old daughter

My daughter doesn't know what a server is, but she does know when Club Penguin is running slow.

Club Penguin is a junior on-line community that is owned (through acquisition) by Disney. It is played through a browser with no special software required. Each member gets a penguin (naturally) that they move around the on-line world

You can interact with other penguins, but the main attraction to my daughter is exploring the world, playing games to earn "money", and then using the money to buy clothes, wigs, hats, a better house, or even a pet (called a "puffle").


The site is moderated and there are no ads since you have to pay about six bucks a month (you can start playing for free, but to buy anything you have to get a membership). Unlike Second Life, the only way to earn money is through the on-line games.

Overall I have to say that I am satisfied with this sort of play for the following reasons:

• Working With Computers - She is learning about the internet, using the address bar on a browser, and understanding that she is tied into a larger network.

• Understanding Earning, Spending and Saving - She sees all the things she wants to buy for her penguin, and understands she has to "work" (play games) to earn money , and then save the money until she gets enough to buy the object she wants.

She doesn't interact yet with other penguins, but I see that one coming down the road eventually.

Damn, I Was Planning to Buy an Underwater Bio-Feedback Clock Radio Ionizer

Sharper Image Files for Bankrupcy.