Weekend in Osaka

November 25th…

Osaka continues to be my second home. I never knew how much I would come to love the city the way I do.  Still, living out here has kinda of flipped me from a city Boy to more of a rural Man.  When I finally return home I easily see myself living in the middle of nowhere.  I can’t imagine not being able to see the stars at night anymore. I am talking more about where I live than Osaka, but traveling to the city of octopus on and off has certainly given me many fond memories. Made a couple this past weekend.

Believe it or not spent hours talking about Over the Top, the 1987 film about a truck driver (Sylvester Stallone) and his twelve year-old son driving to Las Vegas for the arm wrestling world championships. Classic corny 80’s music track and is a bit campy but I love that film. Keeping the details of the conversation to myself, but it was random as hell.

Jean Baudrillard

November 14, 2018

Reading Baudrillard is incredibly depressing! Been reading his work lately, mostly SimulationsHis work is difficult for me to get through and it is even more difficult for me to write about.  What I can say is that Baudrillard’s overall point is that reality or rather truth has ceased to exist. Everything has become a simulation of what was once the human race’s reality.

Read this quote…

“The simulacrum is never that which conceals the truth it is the truth which conceals that there is none.”

The simulacrum hasn’t replaced reality, it is simply all that we are left with. In his book he goes through an assortment of examples, and I am not sure if I agree completely BUT there is certainly something in his words that leave me feeling uneasy.

Just google him and check out some of his ideas.  Good exercise for the brain.

November 13, 2018

November 13, 2018…

Winter is slowly approaching. The leaves have begun changing colour. The island is still quiet as ever.

Been practicing a lot of basketball recently. This year I helped my team finish second in the city, which makes me realize how easy it would be to win the championship, if I was actually good at basketball. I am average at best and we were able to finish 2nd.  That is why I decided to start practicing a lot more. Might as well try to win it all.

Started Japanese lessons.  I finally reached a level where I require additional explanation. Simply studying myself and trying to make sense of the information online and from my textbook won’t cut it anymore. There are the last couple years here  (in Japan) and I have to make them count.

Waking up at 4:30am every weekday to exercise and study.  In the beginning it was hard but over time it got easier and it has become a regular routine.  I can never sleep in on the weekends though.