Rick Cogley

(The Japanese on the page jokingly says maybe they even have a "bust up" effect [i.e. help to increase size])サンコーレアモノショップ 【USBバストビューディーパッド】もしかしたら、バストアップ効果があるかもしれない「レアモノ」です！ - Rick Cogley from Bookmarklet

TOKYOMANGO - "Hotaru-san (Mr. Firefly) is a fun web program that lets you send short messages to people in a slightly e-cardish way, except it's much more fun. The start screen shows a gymnasium full of people dressed in black full-body tights with giant light bulbs on their bums; they're supposed to be fireflies. When you type a message into the boxes at the top of the screen and press start, the firefly guys will get up, rearrange themselves, and spell out your message with their butt lights. Once you've created a custom message, you can send it to people by email. Cute idea! It's an ad campaign for web provider So-Net." - Rick Cogley from Bookmarklet

AFP: "SANTIAGO — Astronomers in Chile and Japan have for the first time seen part of the "cosmic web" of galaxies that permeates the known universe in a gigantic assembly some seven billion light-years from Earth. Viewed through the world's most powerful telescopes, the discovery "is the first observation of such a prominent galaxy structure in the distant universe, providing further insight into the cosmic web and how it formed," the European Southern Observatory (ESO) said Tuesday in a statement. The assembly of galaxies form filaments "millions of light years long and constitute the skeleton of the universe," it said. "Galaxies gather around them, and immense galaxy clusters form at their intersections, lurking like giant spiders waiting for more matter to digest," it added. The filaments are located about 6.7 billion light-years away and extend over at least 60 million light-years, the scientists said, adding the structure very likely stretches beyond the area they probed,... more... - Rick Cogley from Bookmarklet

The Japan Times Online - "The menu at Les Deux Bleue in Toyosu's LaLaport shopping complex in Koto Ward reads like one from an upscale bistro — chicken-liver pate with a bountiful mix of organic vegetables, grilled beef and okara (soy pulp) hamburgers, apple pie with fresh cream and mint — except that's just for the dogs. "You can try it, but you'll definitely think it has no flavor," laughs manager Tastuaki Matsumura, who explains that the dog-menu ingredients are the same as those used in the dishes for people, but with one notable difference: The dog versions are completely additive-free. "We don't use any preservatives, salt or sugar," says Matsumura. "Everything is fresh and healthy." The cafe also specializes in elaborate doggy birthday cakes made with strawberries, blueberries, eggs and sour cream. Owners can personalize it with a message and request special decorations. These treats aren't exactly cheap — a medium-size cake costs ¥2,000, and a doggy dinner will set you back... more... - Rick Cogley from Bookmarklet

The Mainichi Daily News - "Managers of Hotel Carib in Yokohama's Asahi Ward, Katsunori Nonaka and Naoya Hashimoto, both 38, were arrested under the Law Regulating Adult Entertainment Businesses for running a love hotel in a prohibited area. The fixtures at the hotel, which is run under a business hotel license, led police to deem the building a love hotel." - Rick Cogley from Bookmarklet

"SEPANG, Malaysia, Nov. 4 (AP) - (Kyodo)—A Japanese woman facing the death sentence for trafficking drugs into Malaysia claims she was duped by a Middle Eastern man into delivering what she thought were "books" to the country, an investigating officer said Wednesday. Mariko Takeuchi, a 35-year-old former nurse, was arrested last Friday at Kuala Lumpur International Airport upon arrival from Dubai." - Rick Cogley from Bookmarklet

Rick Cogley posted a photo: This is mouthwash and the Japanese product name is Breast. Honey could you take out the garbage? Wait, I need to have some Breast. :-p --Rick Cogley ( rick.cogley.info ) - Rick Cogley

The Japanese says it's "bresuto". :-p - Rick Cogley from email

AMPONTAN - "THERE MAY BE nothing new under the sun, but big fun often results when imaginative people modify and adapt whatever’s at hand to create something semi-new. One such group of people, led by 66-year-old physical education instructor Kita Ryoko in Mima, Tokushima, decided they wanted to invent a new sport that could be played by people of any age. What they came up with was yacurling. It’s similar to curling, but played on a gymnasium floor with a kettle instead of on specially treated ice with a granite stone. Curling has shown up on everyone’s radar in Japan since the better-than-expected performance of the women’s team at the 2006 Winter Olympics. The women’s team also finished fourth at the 2008 World Championships, though they didn’t fare so well this year. (The women from China won instead.) Ms. Kita and her crew started with a five-liter yakan, which is a Japanese-style kettle. (There are different sizes, but they all look the same.) They cut three holes in the bottom... more... - Rick Cogley from Bookmarklet

Indeed, Anika. Curling itself is a rather esoteric game, and this yacurling is so funny, I have to find a place to see it! - Rick Cogley from email

Rick Cogley posted a photo: My friend Linda took this shot of me (right) and friends Craig and Kippy, and I guess it's high school, maybe a band concert or it could have been graduation. We have our 3-piece suits and I have my sticks. — Rick Cogley ( rick.cogley.info ) - Rick Cogley

=D - Anika

This was taken by friend Linda, and it must have been at some band concert in high school because we were wearing our formal clothes and I'm holding my sticks. Dig the HUGE 70s collars! - Rick Cogley from email

I might splurge on it. - Rick Cogley from email

Yup, I just might consider a used one. Pretty good discount. - Rick Cogley

Rick Cogley posted a photo: Some wine and spirits with friends at Brasserie Bec, Yoyogi-Uehara, Tokyo. —Rick Cogley ( rick.cogley.info ) - Rick Cogley

An excellent burgundy, er, pinot, er, bourgogne, er... - Rick Cogley

Rick Cogley posted a photo: Some wine and spirits with friends at Brasserie Bec, Yoyogi-Uehara, Tokyo. —Rick Cogley ( rick.cogley.info ) - Rick Cogley

This stuff is truly HOOCH! - Rick Cogley

Rick Cogley posted a photo: Some wine and spirits with friends at Brasserie Bec, Yoyogi-Uehara, Tokyo. —Rick Cogley ( rick.cogley.info ) - Rick Cogley

Rick Cogley posted a photo: Some wine and spirits with friends at Brasserie Bec, Yoyogi-Uehara, Tokyo. —Rick Cogley ( rick.cogley.info ) - Rick Cogley

Rick Cogley posted a photo: Some wine and spirits with friends at Brasserie Bec, Yoyogi-Uehara, Tokyo. —Rick Cogley ( rick.cogley.info ) - Rick Cogley

Rick Cogley posted a photo: Some wine and spirits with friends at Brasserie Bec, Yoyogi-Uehara, Tokyo. —Rick Cogley ( rick.cogley.info ) - Rick Cogley

Rick Cogley posted a photo: A very expensive thermos from Amazon. Is it worth it? - Rick Cogley

The Mainichi Daily News - "Walking through the lively districts of Harajuku and Shibuya in Tokyo, one might encounter a sight unusual to many people's eyes: men in skirts. Not kilts or kimono, but skirts. Called "the skirt boys," or "skirt tribe," the skirt-wearing men of Tokyo are beginning to get some attention from the fashion world. And so, though it may be a little rude, I have to ask: How is this different from being a cross-dresser? I see my first skirt-clad man in Harajuku on a weekday afternoon, his garment made of an almost transparent white cotton, with pretty geometric designs along the hem. He is a second-year art student named Haruki Shana. "I liked the way the hem flutters in the wind," he says. "I got it at a used clothes shop for 1,000 yen."" - Rick Cogley from Bookmarklet