The Constorium of Greater Minds

started to read glimpses of unfamiliar japan by lafcadio hearn. hearn was the first foreign writer to really immerse himself in the culture of japan. moving there in 1890 hearn would never return to his home in america, but make a new one in his adopted homeland of japan, the country he loved so much. here’s a great quote of his in reference to yokohama – i think it pretty well sums up my feelings towards the city of tokyo.
“i could not, in those first weeks, resign myself to remain indoors and write, while there was yet so much to see and hear and feel in the sun-steeped ways of the wonderful japanese city. still, even could i revive all the lost sensations of those first experiences, i doubt if i could express and fix them in words. the first charm of japan is intangible and volatile as a perfum.”
–lafcadio hearn

[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/Sfa8Q7DxNYM" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]looking forward to this one. directed by spike jonze, a real creative type – i’m a huge fan of his work on all the classic beastie boys videos.

It’s Delux, son, Delux. It’s not that hard.

What you’ve all been waiting for. A guided tour of the place I rest my head; in pictures of course. With the obvious exception of the bathroom, closet, and laundry room, which altogether comprise like 50 square feet. Plus I can sum it up in a few words: granite counter tops and a mess load of shoes (mine and m’julie’s).

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In light of Jesus’ resurrection, I have been granted an extended escape from this place they refer to as “the Rock”. I have an acquaintance that inhabits the land of wooden shit kickers and have been talking of a small link-up. Aside from the copious amounts of illicit substances and guilt-free coitus I was going to see what the hip hype was lingering up there. On the list were perhaps the Rijksmuseum and some nightlife as per www.superfuture.com. After that I will try to see what I can extrapolate from my lady friend and the NY Times article that will be a guide, which unlike Frommer’s does not require you to wear a weak ass neck wallet deal. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Oh yeah and a post should be coming up soon about my new hood, thats mit Wintergarten…damn thats what a playa must smell like.

A big case we were working on at the office settled last week. I had been working 9 days straight, staying in the office sometimes until past 2AM but regularly until 10PM or 12AM (hence the lack of posts). Anyway, once the case settled, we got half the day on Thursday and all of Friday off. That helps, but I can never get my soul back. Working all that time just saps the spirit.

And, so, to re-energize myself, I headed out to Clarendon, VA to Orpheus records.

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[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/aDgKLeeEDEI" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
[routine fly]

so spring is finally here. went into the city for a re-up on that good urban life. the life blood that keeps me going, keeps me inspired and keeps me creating. every time i walk the streets i see some little thing that gives me energy. whether it’s the first cherry blossom tree of the season in daikanyama park, or catching a truck full of construction workers following a beautiful girl with their eyes as she walks past on the street, the hustle and bustle of busy harajuku back streets teaming with young people or the quiet lanes of naka-meguro full of amazing street cafes and shops. the poetry of the city, the noises, smells, sites, action. there is a life running through the veins of tokyo like no other! some photos from a stroll through a favorite neighborhood: naka-meguro. peace

naka-meguro

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dropping alongside the hyped out kermit t – this one takes the cake in my opinion…of to tokyo to cop? peace!

a serious subgenre or a “short-lived trend that” created more “schlock than shock” (rolling stone). tough to decide when you have the likes of prince paul and the rza as members of one of the predominate groups in the style. decide for yourself – rest in piss, kid.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/gIwFlGtkdgc" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]rest in piss by brotha lynch hung
[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/h016eNYDw_U" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]1-800 suicide by the gravediggaz (includes the rza and pp)
[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/56X515mOU0U" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]why you gotta lie by natas (hear that metallica sample?)
[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/oOcvRuwQyGY" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]nightmares by king gordy
[kml_flashembed movie="http://youtube.com/v/A7sp63P3NLI" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]american psycho by esham

lady in red, wonderful apparition, lady in red. Through narrow marbled streets, shoulder to shoulder with the italian, with the german, with the greek. Lady in red. Red summer dress, red summer dress. blood red sunset and opal night sky. Busy streets, streets filled with life. Life, mad, laughing, wild and drunk, silly and naïve, life and youth exposed. Naïve youth exposed. Mediterranean breeze, give to me your secrets Mediterranean breeze whisper into my ear sweet frivolity, sweet lady in red. Once shrouded behind a curtain of blackest night, now exposed in crimson fury. a passion and a lust for life. A lust, a lust, I lust, I lust. Soft sand beneath delicate fingers, lips of fire and eyes of brilliant starlight the reflection of the ocean in a lingering glance. spirit rising to the heavens in a shroud of ardor and smoke. Summer rising to the heavens above. Summer but a dream, not but a memory of a lady in red, opal sky, sweet salt of the ocean, sweet paradise isle ushering forth to the heavens. Capture my body and soul for a fleeting instant a fiery flash in eros eye. Lady in red in blissful reverie in dancing, in wine, in song and in colloquy. Red summer dress, red summer dress. a lady in red.

so this piece is about a girl i met in bodrum, turkey summer of ’06. she was staying at the hostel my friends and i were crashing at. we got to talking the day after she arrived. she was from kazakhstan and worked for Harpers Bazaar as a photographer and layout designer. her name was helena and i still carry her business card around in my wallet. anyway, my last night in town with a 0430 bus to catch to the airport we went out into town together. she wore this short red summer dress and deep red lipstick to match. she knocked me out. she was so fashionable and gorgeous, her skin was a wonderful honey coloured brown. we spent the night dancing, sitting on the beach smoking hookah, drinking and talking as two people instantly attracted to one another but both awake to the impossibility of the situation do. i wont say how it ended – have to leave something up to the imagination, but our brief relationship effected me as so many like it have and will continue to. such episodes are one of the sweetest joys of travel. peace