Here is my last and middle name in the the Japanese alphabet hiragana: さきま けにち

Day 2 in Okinawa
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It's just like home, but TOTALLY different.

I like it when people around me are speaking in a different language, then I don't have to pretend to listen.

Because I'm half Japanese people here assume I speak Japanese. They ask me something I don't understand, then I either smile and nod or laugh and shake my head. So far, no fights.

Every product in Japan is a smiling cartoon character. EVERY product.

Anime is NOT an exaggeration of Japan. There are tons of school girls, they all giggle, and they're all in love with me.

I feel cool because I look American without trying.

1,000 yen sounds like a lot but it isn't.

We'll that's about it, I'll post more random thoughts as they occur to me.

-Derrik

Support Network Neutrality

Walmart and other companies have to pay for the land their parking lot occupies, just as websites and servers have to pay for the immediate bandwidth they use.

However, the streets, roads and freeways we use to get to Walmart, the park, and grandma's are open and equal to all.

I believe in capitalism and a free market. I hope to own my own company one day, but that dream dies when the government caves to those who can afford lobbyists and make it more difficult for entrepreneurs to create new businesses.

A free market still needs government over site, or else companies like Enron can abuse the public.

I am an American who will innovate if possible. Support Network Neutrality.

http://www.savetheinternet.com/

Artist will be the only profession: The Anarchy retainer.

As technology progresses computers and machines will replace more and more of what we consider work. One day, Artificial Intelligence and self-designing networks will be able to run the planet leaving us to create and explore, unburdened by work and labor. But can't computers be programmed to be creative? Won't they also be able to create art and music?

Yes, but people care about stories about people. People can read all their news on paper or on line but we still like the talking heads of news reporters. Intrumental music is a small niche market while hip hop and music heavy with lyrics is huge, because people care about people. So I'll share a little bit of my story:

After I got my braces off in high school I learned that I could have a retainer made with any picture I wanted on it. So being the kick ass little punk rocker that I was, I went home, opened up MSPaint and created an red anarchy symbol.

My orthodontist says, "I don't know if I can put this devil symbol on your retainer." I informed him, "Anarchy just means a society without a government." This seemed to impress the cute girl working behind the counter. So I continued, "I believe people are inherently good and intelligent enough to govern themselves without the need for an organized entity." Ahhh to be young, innocent, and incredibly stupid.

I applied for a passport and mailed the CDs today.

How Ill get my music on iTunes

As the archaic structure of the music industry crumples away, we are left with a new world where indie and up-and-coming artists are on the same platform as mainstream artists. People aren't buying CDs, they are buying files. The indie artist merely has to have their files available on the same services. The first thing iTunes, or any mainstream online music store wants is a distributor. There are many distributors out there for indie bands and labels to sign up with. I did some research and discovered that CDBaby is the best. So,

Step 1. Create an account with CDBaby. You'll need:

• An address
• 5 copies of your CD (To mail to CDBaby)
  
• $35 Album registration fee
  

Their website may not be that impressive but it's an incredible company. Venture Voice did a podcast interview with Derek Sivers of CDBaby, that mp3 file can be found here.

My next step is to mail the 5 copies of my bands CDs to CDBaby. As soon as they receive my CDs and list me on their site I'll write another entry.