it can't hurt to have a good wingman in your class scott ;)

great show!

also, thanks for the WNYC link! all of those shows are amazing! more on neurology later....

Thanks Aaron: Indeed it can't hurt. I'm thinking of assigning "Taking one for the team" as his first speech topic. And Radio Lab is a good one - I think that's another recommendation from Christopher.

You mentioned that you were buying tickets for the subway. In America, most metropolitan areas have subway passes that people can buy for higher prices but last all year or bulk trips on one ticket that will last until the trips have run out. Do they not have those in Tokyo? Do you have to buy tickets everytime you board a train? If you do, do you have to stand in line or do they have many ticket dispensers?

Radio Lab is a great show. The episode about Stress was fascinating.

And man do I wish you could still order those book covers. I would be the cool kid on campus.

Answer to Taylor - They have those in Tokyo. However Scott is so rich he has no need for such cost saving devices.

I have come to the conclusion that you could podcast about the state of growing grass and I will still be an avid listener. This shows how sad and pointless my life has become. :)

"Japanese elevator stories" mini-segments are nice to listen. Those vehicles seem to be more interesting on your side of the world. No one dares to speak out loud here. You can hardly make any eye contact.
I can bet the idea of personal space is tottaly different in JP & USA ?

Kindest Regards,
Woytec

Good luck with classes for the semester. Those lazy slacker students deserve the grade they get. :)

Garrek

Taylor: I use a prepaid "smart-card" for riding trains and subways, but for the kids' tickets I need to buy from the machine. There also one-day open discount tickets available. Good points, that I'll discuss in a CTC.

Andy: Yes, Radio Lab is amazing and inspiring. As for the book covers, you could probably make one yourself - you'd be the BMOC walking around with a Power Man cover on your Chemistry textbook.

San: I'm only rich in the sense that I've got a solid-gold group of people who listen to my humble and pointless ramblings.

Woj: Elevator rides here to are usually somber and silent, too. One thing that's different compared to USA is that everyone uses the "door close" button as soon as riders step out of the lift.

SWEET CHRISTMAS!

I probably could.

That joke is awesome if you get it. If not, I sound insane.

I notice that on campus whenever I'm in an elevator with someone from China or Korea or Japan they always push the "door close" button when someone steps off. I've always found this puzzling.

I do it too, and I'm from none of those countries.

Nice follow up to the bento story from #113 on your daughter's first train ticket. Surely another rite of passage living in Tokyo.

I also liked the computer lab situation. Japanese institutions sure do like their paperwork and procedures.