167 things seen, done, eaten, ridden, stayed in, stumbled across, and scribbled in Japan

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p.s. Hey. So, there's the recent Japan trip in image-stack form. About 90% of the images up there are found ones since I don't have access to the first-hand shots at the moment. I guess if any of the images inspire a question, ask me, and I'll do my best to describe its background. Or if you have general trip-related questions, again, shoot them at me. ** David Ehrenstein, Ha ha, indeed. Thanks again so much for the weekend, sir. ** James, Hi, James! Really good to see you. Japan was amazing. Maybe the photos up there maybe that clear. My favorite city there? Mm, has to be Tokyo, I guess. And the island of Naoshima, although that isn't an actual city per say. You should visit Tokyo, yeah. It's everything it has been cracked up to be and more. Uh, I haven't done a '3 books' post lately because, apart from about five days, I've been away traveling and the blog has been in reruns for the past seven weeks. But there's a '3 books' post coming up later this week. I haven't seen 'Berberian Sound Studio', but I've wanted to, perhaps less so after your so-so review. Steevee answered your movie question, and Kier answered your prayers: 'Deep End'. A very good film. I'm very well, and I hope you are too. Love, me. ** Tosh Berman, Hi, Tosh! Anything or everything up above look familiar? ** Steevee, Thanks for helping James. Wow, that was quite a digression, i.e. PB to GG, but par for the FB course, of course. I'm glad your friend was cool with the FB thing. ** Scunnard, Hey there, big J. ** Mndean, Hi, welcome, nice to meet you, and thanks for coming in here and talking to Mr. E. ** Sypha, Welcome back. Yeah, very nice news about RT's very understandable interest in issuing the updated 'Confusion'. Understood, about clearing the decks so 'the new' can move in. I definitely will not read Jourgensen's book, not that I was ever in danger of doing so, I guess. ** Kier, Thank you kindly, Kier! I'm going to take full advantage of that link myself. Happy Monday! ** Un Cœur Blanc, Hi! What I ate there? Most memorably, I had a number of absolutely amazing multi-course vegetarian Japanese dinners. Usually shojin ryori aka 'temple cuisine'. But I also ate quite excellent Indian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Italian food there. What is the name of that cold brewed coffee, if you can say? I'm intrigued. So cool that you read that Ponge. I love that Ponge. I really want to reread it now. Loveliness to see and hear from you, my friend. ** Thomas Moronic, Hi, T. Blogger problems ... never ending, it seems, weird. Peter Weller is spooky faced, I agree. ** Gary gray, Hi, G. I think my brother thinks TV is evil or displaces one's chakra or something or causes cancer or something, so the answer is no. Which is not to say our bros shouldn't share med types. Actually, my healer bro is maybe the least insane person in my family other than me, knock on wood. Interesting creepypasta-related-ish story. ** Tomáš, Whoa, Tomas! How are you? Long time no speak indeed. I'm great. I'll await your email. Oh, make sure you write me at the gmail address 'cos I don't use/check my old Aol address anymore. Nice to see you! ** _Black_Acrylic, Hi, Ben. So awesome that the YnY weekend was a joy. Great, great. Nice pix show of the happy, productive time too. And I'm excited to go watch even a consolidated version of 'Lolcats' at long last. Thank you! Everyone, courtesy of _B_A, here's a five minute edit of artist Rachel Maclean's much praised and anticipated 15 minute film 'Lolcats', if you're as interested as I am. And here's _B_A's interview with Maclean in the latest issue of Yuck n Yum, if you want some background and insight. ** Sanatorium, Hey! Oh, you wrote X-5 and X-6? Wow, those were two of the total highlights of the issue for me. Kudos, man! Can I see more of your work somewhere? Everyone, keeping on the Yuck n Yum track, d.l. Sanatorium aka artist Kevin Pihlblad has two works in the latest issue, and they're real beauties, and do check then out. Here's the issue's contents page, and just click on the two Pihlblad entries. Nice. Oh, Amsterdam, hm, well, the Stedlijk has this interactive sculpture show, 'Touch and Tweet', that could be fun or not, and an Aernout Mik show. I think his stuff is interesting. I really like the Amsterdam Dungeon attraction just up from the Dam, but I'm into spooky attractions. Eat rijstafel while you're there. Mm, I'll have to put on my thinking cap to give you more tips, and I will. Everyone, Sanatorium is going to Amsterdam, and he wants tips on things to do/see there. Any tips? ** S., Hey. Speaking of gloves, have you seen the Corey Feldman music video? It's the cheapest of the cheapest amusement ever, but ... I never wear gloves except when I'll get frostbite otherwise. Fucking clothes/dye allergy. ** Bill, Hi, Bill. Right? Glad you got the submissions into a submissive stance. That Zachary Schomburg book sounds really, really good. I'll get it. Thanks, pal. ** Chris Dankland, Hi, Chris. It, 'Irritant', is really something and impressive, I think. I haven't seen that Silverblatt autobio video. Definitely want to. I've known him forever, as you probably know, so his recounting will be extra interesting. Everyone, hit this, which will take you to the glorious Neato Mosquito site where you can watch a video wherein the honorable Michael 'Bookworm' Silverblatt talks about his life and takes questions. Curious about that Salinger tidbit. Michael knows everybody, so he probably knows of what he's speaking in that case. Re: the text for 'The Pyre', mm, the idea has been that it will only be for people who see 'The Pyre'. It's literally part of the piece, and it's interlocked into the theater piece. It's actually a small, beautiful book published by my French publisher POL. The thing is, the text was written originally in two versions that are somewhat different from one another, one version for 'The Pyre', and the other version intended to be the first chapter of my now-failed novel about George Miles. At the moment, I'm thinking that the text might survive in a revised form as the first chapter of the new novel that I'm working on now, so, in that case, it would eventually be readable outside the theater piece. We'll see. I'm really happy with the text, so, yeah, it would be nice to get it out there. Thank you for asking, man. I'll let you know about the possible US tour of 'The Pyre' when and if it gets locked down. Have a totally swell day. ** Okay. Enjoy your jumbly visit to the Japan that I visited, I hope, and I'll see you tomorrow, naturally.