Someone just sent me this email. Believe it or not, I had the phone in my hand to call you to check whether you had entrusted your funds to one of these banks …

“Following the problems in the sub-prime lending market in America and the banking problems in the UK, uncertainty has now hit Japan. This morning Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans to cut some of its branches. Yesterday, it was announced that Karaoke Bank is up for sale and will likely go for a song, while today shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended after they nose-dived. While Samurai Bank is soldiering on following sharp cutbacks, Ninja Bank is reported to have taken a hit, but they remain in the black. Furthermore, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.”

nice photos! i am currently at work. pondering between lessons. my internet is not working and we are having a difficult time getting it fixed. mainly as the support center is in japanese. most stressful. the apple store near my work is getting a bit fed of me traipsing in and pretending to peer at the insanely expensive imacs while i check my emails on the sly. we should get it up and running soon or we will get a new provider.

aha! as of 11ish tonight i shall have internet at the homestead and will be able to skype and mail and stuff. the one down side to my wonder machine is that its all in japanese. better get cracking on the old language books.

another earthquake today, im getting pretty used to them but they are still mildly exciting. the prospect of some sort of horrifying disaster adds a little spice to the day.

I was doing a rudimentary clearout of the shed yesterday and came across my venerable Compaq laptop. Clunky and leaden, with its small, innovative, abrasive central nodule for navigation, it cost, as I recall, well in excess of £1000.