The Constorium of Greater Minds

keep playing those mind games

from liverpool to tokyo

my friend cole will be in japan next month and he recently asked for a few suggestions on what to do there – if you think this is overboard i should let you know i could go on. i always love the opportunity to impart my knowledge of places and experiences – it makes me excited thinking of the amazing time i had in tokyo and the opportunity to help friends and family have a similarly great adventure is always a joy – plus i get to reminisce a bit…bon voyage, cole!

Cole,

I love the opportunity to pass on the knowledge of places I’ve come to love – I know how much fun and excitement I experienced in Tokyo over my 27 months in the area and I hope I can guide you to experience the city in a similar manner! Here’s a version of my Tokyo Tour Guide – not at all comprehensive…I could type for days, but will definitely set you on the right path. But first a disclaimer: one of the features that makes Tokyo so amazing are its maze like streets and alleyways – you will quickly find it apparent that street signs are useless here and any sort of urban planning has been an afterthought for many years – but this is what makes every hour in the city such an adventure. Searching down narrow streets for a shop or restaurant, wandering through quiet neighborhoods to find cool boutiques or hidden bars is something I always loved about the city. So, the disclaimer – I’m not going to give any directions, you’ll have to do a little searching on the internet for maps, and you’ll inevitably get lost trying to find some of the more tucked away spots, but, hey, that’s half the fun. Enjoy!

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non plus one final from Tracy ANTONOPOULOS on Vimeo.

Human Chain from NikeSportswear on Vimeo.

18 days late on this one. time was a commodity the last few months of 2009. long days and late nights of work and what for? but 2009 was mostly good, just enough bad to complete the balance. started out the year in a relationship that has since grown into something strong and perhaps…undying? who knows? i like to think i do. right away we were tested as the blue ridge deployed for a couple of months on the usual course from singapore to manila to south korea. the journey was fun and my role on the ship was enjoyable as i finally had a feeling of mastery over my position on the bridge. every night lisa and i talked on the phone…good thing blue ridge is a communications ship…thank you american taxpayers for footing the long distance bill. hmm, how many post mid-watch conversations did we have? i can’t even imagine what it must have been like to be apart from loved ones during the days of letter mail. oh, but before setting sail there was an unforgettable tour of new zealand with jeff. saw an old friend from uw in auckland and bore witness to some of the most beautiful country in the world. a trip not soon to be forgotten. jumping forward. returned from deployment to finish out my last three months in japan. cliche, yes, but bitter sweet, too. lots of weekends in tokyo. walking my favorite spots, committing things to memory. yoyogi park, harajuku, daikanyama, nights in ropongi. lisa arrived for june, my last month. i took off for two weeks and we let loose in tokyo and relaxed on the island of niijima. spent time visiting with friends and all the time growing together. i said goodbye to lisa and to japan on the morning of july 2nd. she on a flight home to manchester and i on a flight san diego with a stop off in seattle. a few nights in seattle visiting em and mo and other compadres. then down to san diego which i promptly left on a train north to stay with nick in LA for the week. finally, back down to san diego to begin a month and a half of DCA (damage control assistant) school. fast forward 1.5 months and i check on board the new ship, uss halsey. wow, life could not have been different from six months ago. but, trying to make the most of a new experience, trying to live a life that is very noticeably not complete – missing a major component in the form of a beautiful girl one content and an entire ocean away. so here i am, in the real navy, the adventure found on blue ridge is gone, the original cast is spread out across the globe, the glamour has disappeared. but, while 2009 ended in stress mode when it came to the professional side of life, it also ended wonderfully on a personal level. i flew home to europe for the first time since winter 2007. saw my parents, lisa saw my parents, i saw lisa’s family, visited london for the first time in ages, met some of lisa’s friends, was delayed an extra two nights and had pretty much the most amazing time with lisa. now back in america and awaiting what 2010 holds. it’s my last full year in the navy…perhaps. depending on things that will reveal themselves mid year i may stay around for a couple of years as lieutenant allen but that will depend on a few circumstances out of my control and whatever reveals itself this year i take comfort in the idea (edit: fact, so i’m a little superstitious) that it will be the last lisa and i spend apart. oh, and jeff is in town and z will be soon…things are looking up a bit. 2010 is all about staying positive, strengthening relationships, looking towards the future while remembering to enjoy the present. here’s wishing your best days of 2009 are your worst of 2010. peace

came across this as yet unsigned mancunian duo in the pages of Flux magazine. something great going on here. stand by.

happy holidays