Entries this day: Information It_does_not_help_to_get_mad Mt_Fuji_planning

Information

2:07pm JST Wednesday 7 July 2004

I have often stated that information should be free. It's my belief, partially fueled by the suggestion in _Conversations With God_ (though I have subsequently come to disapprove of the overall organizations' attempts to promote and boast for itself), that if more people knew the truth about more things, the world would be a better place to live.

6:20pm

That idea didn't last very long.

Not even long enough to explain that my idea was to file a bunch of FOIA requests and post the results.

It does not help to get mad

6:21pm JST Wednesday 7 July 2004

Stupid fucking Japanese systems.

I have a three month pass to ride the train. So that they can keep tabs on me, or so that someone can return the card if I lose it, I was requested to enter my name on computer to get the card.

The card lasted 3 months and expired yesterday.

Today, I asked the dude if I could renew it, and he's like, [yeah at machine 5 or 6.]

Great. I was actually surprised that I'd be able to at my small station.

But, when I entered the card, though the machine knew my name and phone number, I was asked to enter my birthdate *and* my zip code!! Why?? It's encoded on the card I had just inserted. Is it some form of fucked up security? "A criminal won't know the birthdate and zipcode that the previous cardholder entered."

So what? The card is *expired*!! Who fucking cares if a criminal wants to pay money and use a new card with the wrong name? It's not like anyone ever checks to see who's using whose card. (*)

It's not like someone would ask for a form of ID and accept my train card. Fuckin' A.

(*) correct whose? who's? hoos? hues?

Mt Fuji planning

8:56pm JST Wednesday 7 July 2004

Chillin' with Miyuki and Sumida and Tomoko in Mt Fuji planning session. Chowing at this cool Mexican cafe type place. I need to buy a poncho (or borrow Morag's (I texted her)) and call Apple to see if my Mac will survive the cold temperature.

11:18pm

Fun chatting with them. During the meal I called Yasuko because it was apparent that we wouldn't finish before 10pm, which is how late she said she was willing to wait in Shibuya for us to finish. Yasuko was too shy/nervous to come in to meet my friends, which is kinda cute in a way, but definitely fires her, not that she was ever in the running, though. She was scared about being in Shibuya, saying she didnt like it (the crowds can be a bit menacing), but she seemed to make it okay. I was like, "just be like grrrr" when you walk through the crowds and throw your shoulders and elbows to get people out of your way.

Miyuki tried to speak more English this time; she's getting more comfortable with the idea, it seems. They were mostly like perapera zooom Japanese tonight, so I couldn't catch too much, but it's all good.

I had seen a small herd of yamamba women on the way in to the restaurant, but didn't see any herds on the way out. Just one slightly yamambastically inclined woman walking with her friend.

The next time I see my little group, we'll be ready to climb Mt Fuji. Wow.

During dinner we talked a lot about eating habits in Us vs Japan, and about my favorite foods (sugar-based and chocolte based)_ We ate several appetizer type things from avacado salad to fried calamari to cheese side dish (that was supposed to be melted cheddar cheese for calamari dipping)

I was a bit surprised after dinner to finalize our plans and find out that we were not going to an onsen afterward. I should have asked last time we met, but I didn't want to say anything in front of Miyuki in case Yuuko was goin g to meet us there and Miyuki was not invited. Sigh. Well, I'll have an extra day off work to relax after my Mt Fuji experience.

I wonder if I can find an onsen around my area in which to bask.