Capybara Cafe

 In Tokyo there are very few pets.  Landlords don’t like them. But people miss the petting.  So they have cafes where you can spend sometime with cats or dogs or Capybaras.

Aquarium Art Museum

 This is one of the most unique places I have ever visited.  It is art created with aquariums and it is stunning.

The Metropolitan Observatory

 There is a free municipal observatory in Tokyo.  Here are some pictures. 

Went to the Sensoji Temple

 A visit to Sensoji Temple during a festival.  It was great. Hot as hell, but cool.

I think I might have posted about Juliet and Romeo before, but if not...

(Read in that semi-creepy / semi-goth gay voice they use in Disney's Haunted Mansion ride) 

What Devil's hand hath pushed this through the muck and grime of hell to be let loose among the mortals we despise?
What demon hath looked at a beautiful story told and repeated through the ages and beloved in all its iterations, only to say meh?
What demon looked at that story and said, "Hey, what if we add low-cut outfits, low-cost music, and dialogue at a 3rd grade reading level and wrap it up like it was almost a Disney movie?"

Give that demon a bonus.

Happy 4th of July

 Happy 4th of July

This year marks the 249th anniversary of the country's founding. Who said it would last?

Like everywhere, it has problems, but it is home. And it is beautiful.

I took this in Bryce Canyon this year.

We attended the Palm Springs International Shorts Festival

Eddie got tickets for us to two different days of the Palm Springs International Shorts Festival. It is a significant event in the world of movie shorts and serves as a qualifying venue for the Academy Awards.

One day, we saw shorts from the local desert area. Two dealt with Vets and recovery. That makes sense since the 29 Palms Marine Corps Air Station is here.

On Sunday, we saw a set of the various winners. And they were charming. Here are parts of great ones. They aren't easy to find and I see mainly trailers for the animation ones, which we only saw a few of. 

The last one was in the "From the Desert" program of the Show.

And if they ever release the short film SHEEPDOGS, watch it! It is a stunning way that an artist is helping vets deal with trauma.

This is "Forevergreen" It is charming

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This is "Būdo" it is a crazy adventure and story about an old woman who mises her dead husband, and they her way of reaching his spirit.

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This is the trailer for Richard Neutra's Maslon House. It is why Rancho Mirage now has historical preservation.