Category: General

By the way…

Rich Pav 5 Comments

The reason I didn’t put out a podcast last week is because I was totally addicted to the 7th Son Podcast. I listened to over 30 hours of it in five days. If you like Scott Sigler’s scifi/horror podcasts, definitely give it a listen.

Considering how disgustingly wealthy authors like Stephen King and Tom Clancy are, podcasters like Sigler and Hutchins should be making at least a few thousand dollars for the entertainment they offer. If either of them decided to hold the last chapter of their podiobooks for ransom, I wouldn’t hold it against them at all.

My deep, dark, shameful secret.

Rich Pav 14 Comments

The secret is I’m registered as a Republican. Next time I go back to the US, I’m definitely going change my political affiliation. Not sure to what I’ll change it to though.

The country I left doesn’t seem like the same one that’s there now. I’ve felt that way for a long time, and I keep hoping I’m wrong. Boy, do we need a change in leadership. What we really need is a time machine. Considering how badly the Neocons have messed things up since 2000, 2008 seems a long way off.

When Clinton was president, I wasn’t the only one thinking “Good riddance” when his time in office was running down. Last week when I saw his interview on Fox News, I was in awe. I had forgotten how an intelligent and literate president is able to express himself. And now we discover that not only does Tom Mark Foley has a penchant for little boys, but it’s been known about for at least a few years. Then there’s the thing about US citizens now being eligible for Gitmo, the situation in Iraq being worse than ever, health insurance premiums up 80% since the beginning of the decade, more school shootings… Short of another terrorist attack on US soil, can things get any worse? Can the average law-abiding citizen do anything more productive than just complain?

Waking up and reading the news is probably the worst way to start off a new day. I need a change in routine, because right now I’m feeling quite depressed. Even putting partisan politics aside, our government is an absolute disgrace.

The FINAL word on used panty vending machines in Japan.

Rich Pav 40 Comments

Here it is, all in one post. Please digg it. Do it for Japan. Every misinformed Japanophile needs to learn the truth once and for all.

1. This is NOT a photo of a used panty vending machine: http://www.photomann.com/japan/machines/bizarrex.jpg

I can’t read all the text because of the low resolution of the photo and the big scratch on the face of the machine, but what I can read is, “ladies & mens brand new lingerie” in the center and “imported from USA” on the right. My guess is the machine was either in or near a love hotel.

2009/12/15 Update: Someone just pointed out to me that the vending machine reads, “米国直輸入実証済みのスゴイ商品” (Imported directly from America, tried and true amazing products.)

2. Snopes is WRONG. (gasp!)
The page reads,

We’d read that this practice ended in 1993 and reported as much in the original of this article (which was penned in 2001), but since that time numerous readers living in Japan have written to say that not only haven’t the machines gone away, but that they’ve themselves seen them.

How many of those eyewitnesses could read enough Japanese to tell if a vending machine was selling new knickers or used ones?

3. It is illegal in many prefectures to sell schoolgirls’ used panties.

This Google search retrieves page after page of the laws in many prefectures that forbid the sale or purchase of used schoolgirl panties (even fake ones) anywhere, including in vending machines. Almost all of them use exactly the same wording. The average fine for breaking the law is 300,000 yen.

So how did this rumor first get started? This page sums it up best. Apparently, in 1993 someone in Chiba City put used panties in one or more vending machines. Subsequently, skanky underpants were classified under the law as second hand goods, which require a license to sell. This law is actually to prevent the sale of stolen goods, as explained on this page, which answers the question from a concerned mother whose daughter and friends were making a killing by peddling their skid-marked skivvies over the internet.

Are we all clear on this now?

Just this second I thought of the easiest way to get proof on video, if there’s anyone out there who’s still not convinced: I’ll go to a police box with my camcorder and ask a policeman.

P.S. In Japan, there aren’t any convenience stores staffed by robots either.

The Vending Machines of Japan (AAAARRRRRRHHHHH!!!)

Rich Pav 28 Comments

Every so often this topic comes up and it annoys the hell out of me. No matter what you read or who you tells you, from my point of view this is the truth:

1. Porno vending machines are very, very rare. Used schoolgirl panty vending machines are non-existent. If someone can find a used panty machine, I will videotape myself buying a pair and wearing them on my head all day long. And then I will eat them for dinner.
2. The “Robot Supermarket” apparently did exist at one time in the late 90’s. There was even more than one of them in Tokyo, but as far as I can tell they no longer operate. If someone can find the street address of one, I’ll vlog it. On the entire Internet, I’ve been able to find only one web page (from 1997) mentioning it.
3. What’s so amazing about cigarette vending machines? Did they disappear from the US?
4. Starting next year in 2008, there will be some kind of age verification system implemented in alcohol and cigarette vending machines in Japan. (Or maybe just in JR train stations?) I haven’t looked into it yet.

I have a new goal in life: creating the quintessential online video debunking the common myths about vending machines in Japan.

read more | digg story

What to do with Tony & Andy?

Rich Pav 5 Comments

I’ve finally gotten my boys interested in video. Tony’s been checking his viewer stats all weekend, hoping to surpass the 800+ hitcount of Andy’s video. There’s no telling how long they’ll stay interested, but they both want to start vlogging. I’d rather they play with video than video games, seeing as how the former is not only more social but also a skill that could benefit them later in life. Spielberg started making movies when he was quite young, so who knows?

The thing is, their world is rather small so it’s mostly just them running around the house. In addition, their video is rather raw (backlit and motion sickness-inducing) and they don’t seem too interested yet in vlogging in English.

What are your thoughts? Should I continue putting their videos in the main feed? Should I create a sub-feed the way my main feed is currently spit in to podcasts/videocasts/everything? Should I create a completely new blog & RSS feed for them?

Instead of subtitling their videos, it would be much easier for me to do a director’s commentary kind of thing. Which way seems best?

  • Put the video audio in the left channel, put my simulaneous translation in the right. That way you can pull out the plug of your earbuds just a bit, listen to it in mono (try it, you’ll see what I mean), then rewind and check your comprehension with the commentary.
  • Publish each video twice, the second one with a voiceover.
  • Do the voiceover as a separate podcast, with extra commentary explaining what’s going on so I can finally stop alienating the blind listeners who used to enjoy my podcats. I feel really guilty about that, you know.

Maybe I’ll do one of each and we’ll see which way works best.

Earthquakes are no big deal here.

Rich Pav 6 Comments

Maybe I should have said tremor. I’d say we get one a month on average. The one yesterday was a bit stronger than usual. No worries, no big deal.

In high school I lived in Quito, Ecuador for a year. Lots of tremors there too. I’m quite used to the ground shaking from time to time. It’s just like part of the weather. Seems like those of you from places where the earth stays still picture major devastation when you think of earthquakes.

HFJ in HDV!

Rich Pav 13 Comments

Last night I stumbled across a used Sony Handycam HDR-HC1 Mini DV camcorder for roughly $650 and bought it on the spot. Even though it’s last year’s model, it’s still available from online stores for between $1,300-1,600. It included all the original accessories, three free Mini DV tapes and a blank Sony 1 year warranty card. And yes, I made sure the serial number wasn’t scraped off.

I can’t believe I own this camera. I took it to bed last night like a teddy bear. It has nearly every feature I ever wanted but thought I could never afford: high resolution, external mic input, records to tape not hard drive, backwards compatible with standard DV video, can be used to convert analog video input to DV, and the lens thread has the same diameter as our old camera so I can continue using the wide angle adapter I already own. The only thing it’s missing is the ability to shoot in progressive scan mode at 24fps, but that can be emulated easily in post-production.

It seems like all new model consumer grade DV cameras are moving to solid state storage with built-in 3GB hard drives. My golden rule for buying geek toys is to never go digital until it surpasses current analog technology, and storing video digitally isn’t there yet. I want to be able to shoot tons of video then cheaply store it in a shoebox until I’m good and ready to edit it. If I were to use a camera with a built in hard drive, I’d end up not only shooting less but also clogging up my PC drives with unedited video.

I WILL get some video edited soon. I left work early yesterday (6:30) to go home and work on the beach babe video, but at the last minute decided instead to window shop in Akihabara. No regrets.

P.S. Be sure to check my eBay auction for one of Andy’s adorable little kidneys. The reserve is set at $650.