Dylan tops worldwide charts with new album - Music - MSNBC.com

Dylan tops worldwide charts with new album - Music - MSNBC.com
I went to Bob Dylan's concert at Compaq Center in San Jose, California (HP Pavilion now) at October 12, 2001. At that time I found that he actually became old, to be honest. But now he still records the album and performs live. He is now 65!

firehills went to the Embassy of United States

I went to the Embassy of United States Japan this morning for the first time. I got E2 visa before in 1999 but I didn't come here because travle agent submitted the application on behalf of me and there was no interview at that time in 1999. This time I have to get L1A visa to stay in Atlanta for my new assignment for the subsidiary of our company in United States.

They had a heavy security. I had an appointment at 9am and arrived at 8:40am at the gate. But there were already long cue there before the gate. We had to take the pet bottles out (I didn't have), mobile phones out, MP3 players out (I bought Samsung YP-U2 this week, the second MP3 player for me after Toshiba gigabeat). It was almost same as security check at the airport. It took almost 15 minutes for me to get in. Then I submitted the documents and entered into the waiting room, where more than 100 people were waiting. I was called at 9:40am to fingerprint both of my forefingers. What the hell was 9am appointment? I was called for an interview just 5 minutes later. I expected the consul would ask something to me but he didn't say anything at all. Anyway my application was approved and the consul told me my passport with visa would be sent out in one week.

Shinchiba Country Club

I played at Shinchiba Country Club Tsukumo Course yesterday. This course has 54 holes, huge golf course. It is said Asagiri Course is a championship course and very good. Today's Tsukumo Course has out of bounds lines on both side in most of the holes at back nine. I hit 4 out of bounds. Yesterday's private tournament was arranged by the owner of a bar in Shinbashi. I donated a winner's trophy and alarm clocks for prize. My tee shots was terrible yesterday but I scored just below 100 with extreme difficulty, and my net score was around 79, 21th places among 32 players. More than 30 degrees celcius, still very hot, but breeze through the course was fresh and I could feel Autumn approaching for certain.

The Early Asimov Book 1-3

I have finished reading "The Early Asimov" Book 1-3 in Japanese. The stories here was written from 1939 to 1948. Last story is " Mother Earth", which looks like prototype or model of " The Caves of the Steel" in 1954. I have read Asimov a lot in these 5 months. So I will take some rest for a while, start to study English again and read books about the United States, etc.

PS: Yesterday I had a dinner with my friend at a bar in Shinbashi, Tokyo. This is my favorite place to have a drink. Very small (counter only, full if 7-8 customers) and cozy bar where I can enjoy good beer, Japanese sake and Japanese shochu. Tomorrow I will attend the golf tournament which is arranged and organized by the owner of this bar.

Modern Times by Bob Dylan, etc.

On Tuesday I had a drink with my friend, who was going to quit his job soon, at Beer restaurant in Kawaguchi, Saitama. We always talk about music. When I came home I found an airmail from Amazon USA. Yes, I received "Modern Times(Deluxe Edition With Bonus DVD)" by Bob Dylan, A Jonathan Demme Picture "Neil Young - Heart Of Gold". Dylan's DVD is region free but Neil's is Region 1, so I have to play on my region free DVD player for Neil's. I didn't have enough time to see all DVD yesterday but taking a look at Neil's Heart of Gold, it is great live! Further more, my friend gave me a bootleg of Linda Ronstadt's "Live at Copa Room Sands Casino, Atlantic City 1984 with Nelson Riddle Orchestra" and her new album , "Adieu False Heart". I got 3 CDs and 2 DVDs yesterday. Oh, I forgot to tell you that last week I also got a DVD of The Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang Tour in Japan at Saitama Super Arena on April 2, 2006, which my friend in Sapporo, Hokkaido gave me. Thanks a lot!

CNN.com - NTSB: Crashed jet used shorter runway - Aug 27, 2006

CNN.com - NTSB: Crashed jet used shorter runway - Aug 27, 2006
It is terribly sad to hear 49 people including 2 Japanese died in crashed jet on Sunday morning. This jet left Lexington for Atlanta which I will visit for my new assignment this October. One of media companies made a phone call to our company this morning because we have a subsidiary in Atlanta, asking whether we had casualties in this crash, but luckily we didn't.

I made an appointment with US Embassy Japan

Last week I got original I-797 approval notice and copy of I-129 petition from lawyer in US. Then I made an appointment on September 7 for interview in US Embassy Japan to get L1 visa. Everything can be done on website. I made DS-156 application form, made an appointment and paid application fee through pay-easy, all on their website.

Buddist memorial service for my late Mother

I took a day off on Friday and went to My Father's home in Hiroshima with my son. My brother also joined us with his son, and we went to Nishiki Palace Hotel in Sozukyo Gorge in Yamaguchi Prefecture. I enjoyed a hot spring there. We had Buddist memorial service fo my late Mother in Saturday morning at Saiunji Temple. My Mother's grave is in far countryside in Nishiki-cho, Iwakuni-City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, which is in the west end of the main island of Japan. I will leave Hiroshima today for my home with my son. This post is written in my Father's home.

Google Japan Blog: 日本の皆様にGmailを公開しました

Google Japan Blog: 日本の皆様にGmailを公開しました

Today's Google Japan Blog reports that Gmail is available to Japan without any invitations. I started to use Gmail in May and has been really enjoyed its convenience. To be honest, I struggled to get a invitation and to setup at that time.

A9.com Maps

A9.com Maps
"A9.com, Inc. researches and builds innovative technologies to improve search experience for e-commerce applications. A separately branded and operated subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc., A9.com opened its Palo Alto, California, doors in October 2003. A9.com’s technology will power search on Amazon.com and other web sites.", they are saying in thier website. By this explanation, we don't understand what they are doing. But if you look at thier map service, you will be a A9 enthusiasts. I'm sure. They have a lot of street level images of major cities in the U.S.