Some pics from the Getty Villa.



ゲッテービーラの写真.

Hey, if you can't see the beauty in it, you've forgotten what the internet is for.
Personal Expression #46,000,789

Transit Moments

"When I used to live on the street, I used to worry about 4am, that's when the police are afraid to go out."
- 75 year old woman, after remarking to a nearby woman, "You are too pretty honey, you better not go out after dark."

At 7th and Metro, a woman with a thick accent is confused. "Lookin' for the Red Line."
"Me too."
"That says Blue Line."
"I think there's another staircase around the corner."
On the platform, waiting.
"Western station?"
Not sure if I heard it right, "that side."
"Wanna get a bite to eat?"

You're gonna need a bigger nursing home. New legs (robot)

Meanwhile I'm wishing scientists would apply themselves to more pressing problems-like my closet. I mean terrabytesare great, but whatta bout making life more livable? How about improving dental technology so it doesn't hurt, or...

Just when you're about to give up on Japan, when you just read about one more suicide club, they do something you just have to respect. No, I'm not talking about bring back the French maid outfit, but the ultimate in DIY. Japan Builds Its Own Island.

ちょっと日本をあきらめる時、じさっつクラッブが読めらないし、日本をすばらくした事がしました。マイドりょう行は話さないでけど最初のDIY話しています。　日本は島を建てるつもりです。.

It would be impossible not be drawn to such fading, such exquisite rot. Truly beautiful photos of falling. The work of Julia Solis and more, Dark Passage has posted some of the lure of the subterranean movement. More pics at Urbanized.

このかんじょうはむりで、みさせています。　落としたことの写真が美しいです。　ジュリア　ソリスのさ作家も、　Dark Passage ポストした写真の 地下グルップ。　もこれ Urbanized。



A different kind of urban can be seen at the love hotel moblog, but I'll leave the conclusions for you.

ルブホテル：けいていブロッグ

Sakura, sakura... Imagine knowing where all the blossoms were blooming, anytime you wanted. Sigh. Mapping Site

桜、桜。。。さいている桜の花どかか知れば、どうでしょうか。そうぞうできますか。
マップ　サイト



Hardly cause for celebration, but an evolution in hell is still significant. Particularly heartwarming is the image of Tonka trucks loaded with C4.
Ten Percent of the Troops Are Robots

Transit Moments

Upset because people were not forthcoming in a handout at the subway stop, the mohawked malcontent groused,"...just because you pay for your ticket everyday..."

Indeed.

New Ghibiliスタジオジブリ

Ah-hem. What else would you expect?

Some people prefer less tactile play.

Sometimes it seems like it takes forever for obvious things.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two more retired U.S. generals called for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign on Thursday, claiming the chief architect of the Iraq war and subsequent American occupation should be held accountable for the chaos there.

Meanwhile, A robot in every home is Seoul aim

You know, when you ride public transit, you have a lot of time to think. So I came up with a couple improvements.
1. I'll say it here, in the event that the vast population of Los Angeles hasn't already gotten the hint. S-O-L-A-R. In the most sun intensive (and abusive) environment outside the Mojave Desert, it nothing less than criminal to ignore solar energy.
2. No more McMansions. Green building, green roof!
3. Send everyone driving a Hummer to a chain gang. While we're at it, add choppers too.
4. Tell LAPD to actually prosecute celebrities. Honestly, how many times can Lohan, Spears, Willis, Gibson, and their like get off?

OK, I'm embracing the inner otaku {this is just getting worse as I type}, and confessing my enjoyment of Chobits, the anime. Admittedly male-oriented, it does, in painful cuteness, deal with identity and robots, a theme that becomes more pertinent every year. I'll leave the reader to explore it on their own (Youtube, animesuki), but an enjoyable show, especially if you are beginning Japanese.

In other notes, Marxy's assessment of Asakusa corresponds to my quick impression of the place, and was an enjoyable read as always.

You know you want to.
みんなでしたいという知っています。
MUJI Design Award

This is obviously Phase I of cloning, where you just sing and dance all night. I can't wait.

Those who know me can tell you of my low opinion of all matters celebrity, but this was something I couldn't help but notice. The kind and oft humble actor (a rarity to be sure)Tom Hanks emulates Japan Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (pic), and confesses "I wanted a hairstyle that looked like you." Also of note was Koizumi's interest in the Da Vinci Code.

私を知っている人々はあさいの意見（？）もしっています。でも、この話を見なくていけませんでした。)トム　ハネクスの小泉先生髪。も面白いことは小泉先生が香味：Da Vinci Code.

I'm told that this band's been araound for a while, but I'm just getting into Quruli. Fun band, who sing in Japanese. This band's no android band. They give, man, they give.

このバンドは人気があったそうだけどQuruliが面白いです。アンドロイデ じゃありません。

So here's an interseting tidbit. Toy Presidents, the manufacturer of such popular figures as Arnold Schwartzennegger, Bush, Reagan and Clinton, makes these wholly patriotic dolls right in good ol' China. Ironic? Depressing? Inane? Who's to say? Certainly not Johnson, who is curiously absent from their line. Nixon's in there of course, having visited the mother country, and it just wouldn't be a party without Pope John Paul and Moses. I could only speculate what Moses would say. Perhaps some choice words to idol worshippers?

Juice's Fountain is looking for a new home!
If you can think of a good home (foot traffic, parking), please let Maggie know. We can't let Hollywood lose another great business!

ジュースファウントンという店は新しい所をさがして、手伝ってしましょう。
大切なしょうばいですよ。

Meanwhile Eminent Domain marches on, and the businesses can only scream as they are carted away...

ロボットのニュース：
Robot-wise:
Bug-Eating Robots Use Flies for Fuel

A new Miyazaki film is due out in July, "Earthsea: Farthest Shore," inspired by the writing of Ursula Le Guin.

七月、新しいみやざきさんの映画来て、"Earthsea: Farthest Shore," Ursula Le Guinがそうぞうした作品です.