Honestly, the background sound is so clear I wonder if anyone will care what I’m talking about.

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I just checked her website for the first time in ages. She’ll be giving a performance at Shinjuku Art Place on Thursday, Feb. 15. (The day after my birfday. My 39th. Shee-it.) Anyone want to go?

Seriously, she’s the only artist in the world for whose original artwork I’d be willing to pay. …Is that grammatically correct?

It’ll be her and four others giving performances on the piano. Here’s the schedule. Opens at 6 pm, starts at 6:30.

And boy do they sound good. Hell, I could be reciting the dictionary on the way to work and people will love listening to my podcasts.

I really have to something about my sniffles. I’m completely unaware I’m doing it until I listen to the recording. They sound extra-specially juicy with these new microphones.

I have to say, what I like best about podcasting is the amazingly friendly people I’ve attracted to here. To me that’s all that matters. I’m still uncomfortable with the worldwide recognition that comes with the territory, but I certainly like the two-way conversations that are the result of me talking to myself.

What is the attraction to fame? Is it that your existance seems greater the more people think about you? I’ve never understood it. Whether I have one friend or a million, I’m still the same person…

I just finished reading parts I and II. The guy who wrote it seems OK; he just had too much to drink one night and things got out of hand.

Maybe a better way to put “don’t be an asshole” is “don’t lose control of yourself” while in Japan. Keep your cool if someone pushes you too hard getting out of a train. Brush off any sideways glances or insults to your heritage delivered to your face or under someone’s breath as you pass by. Standing up for your pride isn’t worth the consequences.

I can think of many occasions when I could have made the wrong choice and ended up in prison like that guy. Luckily, I’m what some would call a wimp, only I’m might proud of it. It takes a lot of strength to not give into anger, even if that strength isn’t widely recognized.

Tony would never let me play Nintendo DS, even though it’s his little brother’s game, so last weekend I bought my own. So far the only game I’ve played is Animal Crossing.

My friend code is: 5068-9763-8107

Town: Richland
Character: Pavster
Friend Code: 1933 6825 6090

Please don’t chop all my trees down or…well, whatever. Be nice to little “Pavster.” Or I’ll cry.

Update: There’s an online community for trading friend codes at http://www.animalcrossingcommunity.com/

If you’re friendly, able write a grammatically correct message, complete with proper spelling and capitalization and don’t use the phrase “lol”, contact me with your character name, town and friend code and if I can I’ll open my gates for you. I cheat like a madman and tend to have lots of bags of 99,000 bells, golden tools and such lying around.

On the other hand, if you can’t use English correctly despite it being your native language, that’s a sign that you should play Nintendo less and study more.

You do not want to get arrested in Japan like this guy did. You don’t even have to be guilty to go to jail here. In Japan, it’s often said that you’re guilty until proven innocent.

I already knew this, which is why I went the whole nine yards when that chikan wedged his hand between me and the woman he felt up on the train back in October. Had I not caught him, the woman might have thought it was my hand up her skirt. Ever since then, I no longer stand near women on trains if at all possible. (I don’t like men very much, but that’s a rant to be left for another day.)

Last fall someone mentioned in the comments that he heard me smoking on a podcast. Yes, I was smoking but I quit over vaction while I was in the US.

Some people can just put out a cigarette and say “That was my last one,” and never smoke again. Not me. I need a long period of mental preparation followed by a few weeks of nicotine patches.

I love nicotine patches.

If you wear one to bed, you will have the wierdest, most vivid dreams you’ve ever experienced. I have to stress this: a night on nicotine is probably the closest you can come to a psychedellic trip without illegal drugs. If you can handle it, I highly recommend it. Just don’t start smoking or I’ll feel responsible.

I just put on a patch because I was feeling drowsy here at work. It’s amazing how quickly they take effect. The second I put one on my chest right over my heart I could feel it work. Aaaaaaaahhhhh. Welcome back, my sweet mistress. I missed you.

Graham Clark, plays acoustic guitar in bookstores, libraries and schools in New York state. Has lots of free downloads. My whole family sings along with him in the car.

P.S. Raffi sucks.

Chuck Palahniuk, the author of Fight Club, has a particular short story he likes to entertain the audience with at public readings.

Because it makes people faint. According to Wikipedia, the body count is up to 60.

It’s called Guts.

A year or two ago, I read it all the way through. This time, I had to quit about an eighth from the end. The underside of my chin started pulsating –the warning sign that I’m about to throw up.