Propaganda Chips

Chips bought at Incheon Int'l Airport, Korea. Do these chips have a picture of the Liancourt Rocks / Dokdo / Takejima on them? Mildly unbelievable. Bringing international disputes to the public on this populist manner reminds me of the stupidity of "Freedom Fries" during the buildup to the Iraq War. Arguments are made black and white and pushed onto the young because the vagaries of the gray area are harmful to the group publishing such propaganda.

No good can come from an international dispute that's fought on a battlefield of video games and potato chips. Well some good can come from it, those chips were pretty tasty.

SNOW!

IMG_4930, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

It's cold. There's snow. That's it.

More snow.

harry jr?

IMG_4914, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

What is it? What does it do? My coworkers call it a sea urchin. I wasn't that sure when I got it. I use it to hold my keys, cell phone, lip stuff, and coin purse, but I often come into work in the morning to find strange objects embedded in its hairs. Dolls, stamps, toys, other things...

A wonderful Christmas gift. Thanks Mom!

Winter in Jyuso

WinterJyuso-9, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

I just got around to posting my first day out shooting with my new lensbaby G3. I have to say it was fun, but a
bit freezing walking around with out my gloves on. Focusing the lensbaby will take some getting use to.

Jyuso is an area of Osaka across the river from the downtown district of Umeda. It's one of the Hankyu line's biggest stations and there's many crowed shotengai (shopping arcades) near the station. Jyuso is also known for it's live house (Fandango) and it's large red light and love hotel district.

I chose to go here for the shot of the Hankyu train crossing the river with the double tower Osaka Sky Building in the background.

River sides are free game for homeless to set up whole shanty towns. This structure appears to be a patchwork shinto gate, or someone's piece of art possibly set up by one of the invisible homeless.

The homeless are so assured that they won't be kicked out that they build fairly large structures they also sell things from their lean-tos. This person has signs advertising fishing bait for sale. The issue of the homeless in Japan is one which I would like to invest more time into studying. I find the construction of their structures to be innovative and visually appealing while also symbolizing various social problems in Japan.

All of these photos can be found in my Winter in Jyuso set on Flickr

Hanger Engrish

IMG_4913, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

The 100 yen shop is the place to find great Engrish as these hangers prove.

I got Boned by United and the Weather!

This morning we woke up at 3AM Arizona time to get a 5:40AM flight to San Francisco. After being delayed for 3 hours we got on our flight to Osaka. Then the luggage had to be double checked. Then we had to wait to taxi. Then a backup system failed. Then the flight was cancelled because there wasn't a flight crew that had enough hours. Then we had to wait in obscurity to find out what we were going to do. We finally arrived at a hotel. Tomorrow at 7pm we are leaving for Osaka, via Los Angeles and Seoul. It's 12:45 AM. Good night.

Things I Miss About America: American Sushi?!?!

I donno if I really miss oddball american sushi with its cream cheese, lack of nori and spicy mayo, but it's a fun treat. And what's with the spoon in the miso soup!

These were taken at Sushi Saga in Tucson.