Old people

I'm watching the Southpark about how old people are shitty drivers.

Anyhow, I'm the youngest son, of the youngest son, of the youngest son, so by the time I was old enough to have a conversation with my father's father, he was like 85.

So one day, he took my brother and I to the zoo or something.

He was a great story-telling Irishman, like my dad is. Also a great Irish drinker.

So as we are driving to the zoo he starts telling a joke.

A golfer hits a ball, and it lands right on top of an ant colony.

He lines up and swings, and hits about two inches in front of the ball, killing half the colony.

He lines up again...

As my grandfather is about to continue, my brother says from the back seat, "Grandpa, you're in the wrong lane."

I look up, and we are in the far LEFT lane of a four lane road, with a pickup truck bearing down on us.

Grandpa responds, "Oh, so I am." Swerves over into the correct lane, and continues the joke without missing a beat.

I could tell you the rest of the story if anyone cares, but after nearly dieing, the crescendo has been reached.

So, old people are shitty drivers, and if you've ever seen them buying cases of Charles Shaw at Trader Joe's, cognitive decay isn't the old reason -- it is good old alkyhol.

Ugh

My legs are incredibly sore. I'm trying to get on a sane schedule, so I woke myself up early. So I'm tired too.

I ordered a new digital camera for my trip. I wish it was here. I could have played with it. It is a Panasonic TZ5.

Instead I did all kinds of shitty paperwork. I was then too depressed and tired to go to AAR. Plus I don't feel like driving up to Irvine unless I have some other things to do.

I should go to bed now, but after feeling tired all day, I am now no longer tired. My heart is almost racing.

I decided to book a real hotel for my first two days in Tokyo. $160 a night. I just don't feel like coping with jet lag in a youth hostel. So, my first two days are planned, 18 more to go. Day three, I'll get on a train and go somewhere. Don't know where, but I'm thinking:

Tokyo
Sapporo
Shiretoko National Park
Sapporo
Mutsu
Yagen Valley
Osorezan
Mutsu
Hiroshima
Oosaka
Fukuoka Yamakasa festival is Jul 1-20 -- Maybe I'll go Jul 1-3
Tokyo for the last 4-5 days.

Now I need to figure out what is possible.

In progress... I think I'll try camping near hot springs in a couple places. Should be fun, and save some cash, while giving me an excuse to buy a nice sleeping bag. :)

Dog

The dog...he has a very expressive face.

I was sitting on the couch, and he trotted up to me, tail between legs, with a very anxious and sad expression on his face.

I said, "Do you need to go outside?"

We started heading that way, and as soon as he made it to the tile floor, he started wretching. He vomited, but not the usual yellow pool. There was solid oblong object in there. It was still completed coated in bile, so I could not tell what it was.

I put a plastic bag over my hand and then picked it up. My hand told me what my eyes couldn't. Rat. Most of a rat, I suppose. My dog is no hunter, but he also doesn't usually eat stuff that has been dead for very long. I suspect this little rat was near-dead due to poison or something. So I'm keeping my eye on the dog. He seems fine now, but if starts to get sick, he may need to see a vet.

So I cleaned up the rest of the mess. Lots of bleach.

I still feel dirty.

Yesterday

I had a pretty busy day yesterday, but I'm too tired to really describe it, so I'll do my best, and flesh it out later.

Recall that I finished my Brazilian jiu jitsu class at 9:30 Monday, and spent most of the class rolling with a 260lb greco wrestler. He was able to teach me some good things, but his closed guard was pretty tight and I woke up with my ribs hurting badly.

Still, I was not that tired overall, so I went to muay thai at noon. Well that class went fine until we split in to groups, and when it was my turn to work the bag, I threw a knee and then one of my partners said, "your knee is bleeding."

I got a tiny scrape the night before which opened, and a nearly comical amount of blood was pooring down my calf. So I had to stop and fortunately was able to stop the bleeding. I also got blisters on both big toes during this time.

So it took me about 30 minutes after the class finished at 1:15 just to drag my ass to the car.

Then I went over to Mitsuwa to the travel agency there, JTB. Actually I got some ramen first.

They had a direct flight on Korean Airlines at about $1080 plus 560 for the rail pass, so I bought it. That all took 2 hours, and then I headed to UCI. On the way I got a call from a friend, and we met at the pub.

Then we headed over to meet at the flagpoles. And from there headed out to Villa Park. The 55 was not so bad once I got to the car pool lane.

Met up with some more people. Not a huge contingent but there ended up being 15ish who spoke against the "In God We Trust" motion, and perhaps 3 in favor.

Of course the council was in favor, but they were a bit dumb struck by the response, and they came up with a "compromise" which I haven't the mental energy to describe at present.

After that, I talked 4 of the AAR people to come to Honda Ya with me and try all the unusual yakitori. We had a great time, some good food, and apparently some had a bit too much sake, because someone left their laptop in my car. I still don't know who, but I'm sure they shall present them self soon.

Anyhow, I'm sure l left a hundred things out, but I have a bunch of Boolean Algebra homework to do, and I'm really tired. I just wanted to put down the outline before I forget things. Aspects of the day were a bit dream-like, so memories may fade quickly.

My noggin'

I got my noggin fMRI'd today. I really do have a brain! I saw a picture of it. The postdoc who did the scan gave me her email, and said she could send me an image.

The machine was slightly uncomfortable, but I think my head may be a bit on the large side.

Protest at Segerstrom Hall

I don't know what was going on inside tonight, but outside there were about 30 people hatin' China.
About 3 news crews too.

My brain(s)

Looks like I'll be a subject in some type of study utilizing an fMRI next week.

I don't know what kind of research, and I kind of doubt they'll tell me. However, I suppose if they find something horrible like a tumor shaped like the Jolly Roger on the evilness center of my brain, they will mention that.

okay, nevermind

I chased down the people who were laying the red-ribbon booby-traps.

They were a nice couple. I was trying to express my unhappiness without being too menacing, but somehow I think I came off more like Anton Chigur.

You know, so relaxed and aloof it is creepy given the confrontational context.

Anyway, I retract my previous comment. I think the stress and disappointment of this week is wearing on me a bit.

I just read a chapter in "The Trouble With Testosterone" about how adolescent chimps move from their original groups to neighboring groups. This is needed to avoid the problems of inbreeding. In the species he was studying it was the male adolescents that had to make this move.

Most chimps slowly ingratiate themselves into the new group. Work up to briefly grooming with a female.

Occasionally, an adolescent will enter a group and just take over.

Well, Sapolsky studies stress response in animals. Chimps that take the slow route experience great stress, as indicated by blood samples showing elevated cortisol, low lymphocyte counts, etc.

Contrary to expectation, the "come in kick ass and take over" chimps experienced even greater stress.

Anyway, read the book.

Whoever...

To whoever had the brilliant idea of draping red ribbon across the engineering bridge, elevated well above ground and causing me to nearly trip:

FUCK YOU

What is this dead animal?

Sea lion? It was about 7 feet long.

There wasn't much smell coming off of it, not even very interesting to my dog.

Tree lighting in San Francisco

Drove up to Fremont and took the BART to downtown and walked around in the craziness. Got a $1 knit cap at H&M. I hear that stands for hags and 'mos, and I always shop there with my mother.

I'm no 'mo, but I think it is good to act like one, or at least dress like one.

I make up for it by working on cars and having a rage problem.

Gatsby's first time at the beach

He saw the water, and a dead walrus. That is a perfect day for a dog.