newsfromtheotherside's Podcast

Going to Pecha Kucha Tonight!

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 04:23:00 GMT

The latest Headstand was a real treat and is now available for streaming. Patrick kicked off the show with Tic Tac Toe, a track by Auckland's cusp. (I'd like to think I had something to do with that). Later in the first hour of the show, he played News by Wellington's Jet Jaguar, who just performed here last weekend. Coincidence? I don't think so!

He kicked off the second hour with a track from Kyoto resident Drew Moon, then bravely went where no radio DJ has probably ever been with a half-hour of Charles-Ãric Billard--Osaka resident and NFTOS event anchor.

Tonight, we are passing up seeing The Earlybirds at the Kings Arms, who we saw live when we first got to NZ, opting instead for Pecha Kucha Night at the Te Tuhi Center for the Arts out in Pakuranga. Makiko and I haven't attended before, so we thought we'd give it a try this time around.

PKN_AKL_09 is a collaboration between Pecha Kucha Nights Auckland and Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts. It starts at 8:20 p.m. local time, doors open at 7:30 p.m. For full details, conatact RenÃe at 09 577 0138 or e-mail renee@tetuhi.org.nz

Posted by Rob.

Psychotropic of Capricorn #9: Boobs on Bikes!

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:00:00 GMT

Make sure to tune into Headstand Radio right away!! You'll be able to stream it live between 21:00 and 23:00 GMT. The second half of the show will feature 30 minutes of eclectic stuff from Osaka legend Charles Billard.

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Boobs on Bikes, Headstand, Takedao Tunnel Party, Auckland, Osaka, Cambridge, New Zealand, England, UK, Japan

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Full Skull and Seven Flaming Ears Aglow

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:37:00 GMT

Part dream, part plagiarized speech, mostly nonsense. This is my homage to an Osaka original, Ray [surname omitted minimize Google detection]:

Full skull and seven flaming ears aglow, all feathers, brought froth on this countertop, a new notion, consumed by Liberty, and dedicated to the indecent proposal that not all men are created equal.

For Raymond, crafting open-chested bust with a head inside this chest causing us to look at another head inside its own chest, his own chest? Took us up onto the mountain top, and in his Texan drawl, "I've raced all up and down this here back road [forgot the name, as it came to me in a dream], cops a chasin' after me, and I done drank at every bar down on that there beach." (He points through the trees to a sparkling pristine beach unspoiled by the simplest of structures).

Now we are so enslaved to a great Silver Whore (money), testing whether that notion, or any new sensation, so convoluted and so degraded, can long endure. We met on the great dance-floor, introduced to one another by that Whore. We have come to desecrate the love potion of that floor, at a final resting chill-out space for those who left their wives at home that we might LIVE, baby, live. It is all together tight-fitting and improper but we should do this thing. And, in a larger sense, we can not desecrate--cops can not confiscate--we can not...

Hallo?--this ground...

Um, where am I? Uh...

Right now?

The brave men, those still living and some undead, who stumbled here, have consummated it, far above in our DJ booth, poor quality audio does indeed detract from the pure quality party vibe. The world will little note, unless they accidently stumble onto BikeClubOsaka.com, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what we did here. It is for us, the half-living, rather, to be decimated by the unfinished work which we, who have fought here for no particular reason except maybe that we had one too many to drink, have thus far so nobly advanced from apes to cavemen to Osaka Erectus and descended upon the Holy City.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great TSK, TSK, TSK, awaiting us when we get home--that from behind those horn-rimmed glasses concealing dead eyes demanding increased devotion in the form of increased salaries to the carcass upon our own grave, yes, over our dead bodies--and a last full measure of sweet devotion! that we may highly dissolve into thin air like the morning mists in the muggy kansai summer sun, rather than 'wake half-dead in the park, just two blocks from home, sun high in the sky, mouth bone dry, stomach churning like a raging sea, skin burning, head pounding, eyes aching--that this notion, under-awed, shall have a new bath of freedom--and back scrubbing of the people, by the people, for the people, blah, blah, blah, AMEN!

Channeled by Rob.

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Bicicleteiros #37: Revancha en la Kanchou*

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:31:00 GMT

Sunday afternoon in Auckland. It's been rainy and grey all day. No surprise there. Recovering from the fun and foolery of last night at Khuja Lounge, where we attended the CD release party for ...Apropos of Nothing. If you get too focused on the lint in your own belly button, however, you totally miss out on stuff like the totally unrelated video above, which was created for a regular Tokyo event by vjay David Roy.

Back here in Auckland, three of us (Andrew, Makiko and myself) ended up in Nonbe, just before closing time, where we had an entirely unnecessary nightcap of kumara-jochu and Sapporos.

We arrived home to find Hans on Skype, and proceeded to record what is probably our least intelligent sounding podcast to date. We discussed the Olympics, particularly Greco-Roman wrestling, football (soccer) and cycling--mainly the time trial.

Greco-Roman wrestling got us sounding like silly homophobic third-graders, while the football made Hans nostalgic for pre-globalized days when Dutch nationality meant blond hair and blue eyes. "Where's my Steven Rooks?" he whined. Cycling finally got us back on track for awhile, with Hans providing expert analysis, breaking down the time trial play by play, so that I now feel like I watched it myself.

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Bicicleteiros, Olympic football, Greco-Roman wrestling, Steven Rooks, enema (espaÃol, nf), shochu, æè*

WARNING: Multiple categories of offensiveness.

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Psychotropic of Capricorn #8

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:41:00 GMT

I've recorded this thing twice and ditched both recordings. Maybe I'll just put up some links for the time being. Some of the links are for the last podcast, which I was having trouble with. The media file kept disappearing every time I tried to edit the text...

â YouTube link for Bicicleteiros #36 for the intro music De Puta Madre.
â Wikipedia link for Bicicleteiros #36 regarding the Sonoma Desert Toad.
â Hans set a Japanese-Italian pronunciation trap for me as Sella tests positive for CERA (CyclingNews link).
â YouTube page for Gabriel White who currently has a DVD projection exhibit, Tongdo Fantasia, at OUi boutique in St Kevin's Arcade.
â Homepage for today's (Thursday's) event in St Kevin's Arcade, Craftwerk.
â A page full of Jet jaguar interviews related to the upcoming CD release party for Apropos of Nothing this Saturday.
â Link for the Auckland Central Library's Travel Nights Featuring Nick Dwyer of C4's Making Tracks

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Andrew, Makikomo, Rob, El Gringo, Jet jaguar, Malty Media, Bignificent D, Group Five, Auckland, New Zealand, homebrew, Tetley's, Khuja Lounge, Electronica, Electro, minimal, live, Saturday night!

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Bicicleteiros #36: Toad Whisperer

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:18:00 GMT

There could've been several titles for this episode. At first, I though we'd celebrate Spain's cycling successes in this year's Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and most recently, in the Beijing Olympics, by calling it "...De Puta Madre!" Then, as I was talking to Hans on Skype, the title "Operation Gila Sting" popped into my head. Finally, when I saw this picture of him on facebook, and I knew the title had to be the one I've finally chosen.

Check out his smugmug where he'll be uploading new photos of his adventures.

Want to hear the full track we used for our theme music? You need search no further than YouTube.

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Beijing Olympics, USPRO, Tour de France, Alberto Contador, Carlos Sastre, Samuel Sanchez, EspaÃa, Spain, Arizona, Gila Monster, Rattlesnake, Sonoma, Toad, Jim Morrison, Third Generation, EPO

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...Apropos of Nothing

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:51:00 GMT

I'd be lying, if I said I wasn't just a tad bit excited about this weekend's compilation CD release party.

So you don't have to get out a magnifying glass, the flyer reads: Jet Jaguar, Malty Media, Group Five, Bignificent D*. Saturday, 16 August, 7:00 p.m. $10 ($20 + CD) Khuja Lounge (Level 3, 536 Queen St). In even finer print, the music is described as "slippery slidey electronic, subaquatic bass and sampledelic funk. *("in a rare musical appearance!")

This will be my first time to see the above artists in Auckland. I haven't gotten any details other than what you see on this flyer, and what has been posted on facebook, but I'm sure this is going to be a great gig, as I have had the privilege of seeing the two from Malty Media, Michael Upton (Jet Jaguar) and Stuart McDonald (Aquaboogie) in Japan. Michael also performed at two events I organized in Tokyo, one at the Pink Cow in Shibuya, and the other at Bar Bonobo in Jingu.

If you're familiar with the NFTOS music catalogue, you'll know Jet Jaguar's track "Juicy" from Music From The Other Side #5, further back we made his track News available for download.

If you still haven't made your mind up, check out this recent interview and live-to-air set from Radio Active. On it, Michael and Stuart talk about the Tokyo gig mentioned above, and played a good mixture of their own and their friends' music. It runs just under 30 minutes (25.5MB) and is well worth your time!

Finally, I'm not sure where this piece of the puzzle fits, but Angry Rabbitz were also mentioned on the facebook announcement. I guess it's their label? Anyway, it's worth checking out 'cos there's music on it!

See you there!

Posted by Rob.

Talk Show #53: Pikachu Has a Lot to Answer For!

Sat, 9 Aug 2008 17:55:00 GMT

Alex blames Pikachu for all the problems facing "serious Japan nerds" today. Olympics? "What Olympics?" he asks. Well, you know, the games that those Greek lads played naked every four years, and the winner got to wear an olive wreath. Everyone else stayed naked, I guess. Well, these days, we don't need analog moon computers to tell us when to take our clothes off and run around through the golf course sprinklers on moonlit summer's eves. We just do it. Um...

Jet Jaguar and Malty Media are coming to Auckland for a compilation CD release party, but I'm sure it will be a civilized suit and tie affair. That'll be at the Khuja Lounge, Level 3, 536 Queen Street, from 7:00 p.m. NZ$10.00 will get you through the door. Bring flowers and champagne, if you want to look like a real fan. Genre? Well, if you insist on classifying everything, then so be it: Slippery slidey electronica, subaquatic bass and sampledelic funk. The CD is "...Apropos of nothing."

Photo by Aditya Tannu.

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Pikachu, KATG, Olympics, Beijing, Alan Watts, Kilkenny, Chimay, beer, Alex Brooke, Rob a.k.a. El Gringo, Chiba, Japan, Auckland, New Zealand, football, soccer, Cameroon, China, USA, Korea, Jet Jaguar, Malty Media

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Let Them Games Begin!

Fri, 8 Aug 2008 04:01:00 GMT

Since humans will never solve global problems such as environmental pollution, social strife and political conflict, it's always refreshing when an event like the World Cup, or the Olympics, comes along every second or fourth summer to take our minds off our collective failures.

The Games give us a chance to do what humans do best: Cheer our fellow sapiens clad in shiny colorful outfits as they lift things, throw things, ride things, run, jump, box, wrestle and kick. The ridiculousness and the irony of it all should be lost on no man, woman or child this time around. Beijing is a truly worthy host to this, a socio-political hydra, les 29Ãme Jeux Olympiques Ã PÃkin du 08 au 24 aoÃt!

Here at NFTOS, we're partial to two forms of the aforementioned expressions of human genius: Particularly the riding around of bicycles really fast and the kicking around of the round ball on the grass pitch, between the posts and into the back of the onion bag. GOAL!!!!!!

Um, where were we? Oh, yes, and when I say "we," I'm referring to myself, El Gringo, and my brother Hans, my co-host on the bicicleteiros podcast. Two of us. Alex isn't particularly fond of spectator sport, his national icon, the footie, least of all, perhaps. He does, however, enjoy the two wheels, since there are not many other things to do in Japan which are free. It is through the action of doing sport, that I've tried to lure Alex into watching sport and feigning interest.

You see, with me, sport has always been an outre-nationalist pursuit. Having grown up in Peru and Ecuador, as well as in los Estados Unidos de AmÃrica, I grew up understanding futbol. It's not just something you do or watch. It is something that makes people completely lose their shit! In my earliest childhood memories, I can recall seeing people hanging out of car windows as they raced through the cool Lima night, horns blaring La Cucaracha, La Cucaracha! This was powerful knowledge. Back in the States, it puzzled me that no one had ever heard of this game being played as a sport.

I first recall watching a World Cup final in 1986. I was in the U.S. and it was broadcast on PBS television, that ugly-duckling American version of the BBC. Looking back, it feels like it happened in a Twilight Zone time warp--the small black and white Sony portable, in my room, alone--I had no idea how nerdy this was at the time, because I had always been quite outgoing and athletic.

The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics had been broadcast on network TV, and the gringos had won tons of medals, because the Russians and other commie ilk had stayed behind their rusty curtain. The sport I was unknowingly being sucked into was cycling. That summer the U.S. won 12 medals, if I remember correctly, the most memorable of which was in the Men's Road Race--the darkhorse Alexi Grewal had taken the race in a two-up sprint from Canadian Steve Bauer. I had just bought my first bicycle with my own money, and it seemed like this was a very cool way to don the Stars and Stripes--as a lycra skinsuit! The Tour de France had also flashed on the screen that summer, and the American Greg LeMond was riding in third place, behind les deux frogs obligatoires, Laurent Fignon et Bernard Hinaualt. I was already hooked!

In 1988, the year I got my drivers license, my family moved back to South America, this time to Brazil. Ayrton Senna and Nelson Piquet were at their zenith. As cycling was unheard of as sport then in Brazil, there were only two spectator sports available to me: Futebol and FÃrmula 1.

To be continued...

Photo by Brian R. taken in Xinle, Hebei Province, in May 2002.

Posted by Rob.

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Salad Fingers

Thu, 7 Aug 2008 04:01:00 GMT

This a video series we've mentioned before on a previous podcast, and links to it posted. Now several episodes are available on YouTube.

Here's the source: http://www.fat-pie.com/salad.htm

Posted by Rob.

Malty Media: The Mescaline Man

Wed, 6 Aug 2008 04:01:00 GMT

This is how I would make videos, if I knew what the hell to do with a computer!

Jet Jaguar & crew will be coming up to Auckland from Wellington on the 16th for a Malty Media event. Stay tuned to NFTOS, or just go check out nonwrestler.com for details.

Posted by Rob.

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FREEDOM TIME @ Club Noon

Tue, 5 Aug 2008 04:01:00 GMT

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Kyoto Jazz Massive, Club Noon, HiJak, DJ Jules, Brett, Tenjin Matsuri

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Buffalo Yo Lassos The Big Apple!!

Mon, 4 Aug 2008 04:01:00 GMT

Merely two weeks have passed since Buffalo Yo* (see resume) rode into Gotham City, making his triumphal entry, and rumors are already swirling around him like the tornadoes which used to menace him as he once grappled with the Red, White & Blue, All-American English language in the MidWest cornrows of Nebraska and Kansas when just a teenager.

There's chatter he's been spotted just a table away from Gohei Nishikawa's Steinway, and in the booth with The Englishman in New York, DJ Neal. However, reliable sources claim that he's already become Jean-Michel Basquiat to Norville Parchment's Andy Warhol.

Jayson Blair, formerly of the New York Times, is rumored to have asked him, but don't quote us on this, "do you see yourself as a Japanese artist, or as a Japanese-American artist?" Yo reportedly shot back, "Do you see yourself as an African-American plagiarist?" TouchÃ!

Although he is just as likely to show up in the dugout next to Godzilla (Hideki Matsui), he's even more likely to suit up for the Red Bulls with the name Mothra stenciled on his back. Bend it like Beckham has nothing on this ace midfielder when he goes on a bender, although some nostalgists claim his style is more like Hidetoshi Nakata with the looks of Shunsuke Nakamura. By the way the girls scream in ecstasy when he sets foot on the pitch, he's the fifth Beatle, and he'll be the first to tell you that, no, Yoko Ono is not is real mother.

It will take more than his word alone, however, to dispel the even more vicious tabloid drivel that he was dating both Cibo Matto's Yuka Honda and Miho Hattori at the same time! He swears he's into far younger women, that he's not partial to Yamato Nadeshiko, though one shouldn't put it past him having a one-night stand with Madonna, if she was the last person in the bar.

Whatever his next move, it is already clear that the (karaoke) lounges of Vegas had become too cramped for this (punk rock) crooner, his agent having decided only weeks before, while drunk at a 4th of July Barbecue party--with rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air--that it was high time to get the hell out of Dodge and take a bite out of the BIG APPLE.

Who is this man, part samurai, part sweet and tender hooligan, said to have been raised by wolves on the Hokkaido tundra, or as some tell it, along the unforgiving shores of Fukui Prefecture? No one really knows for certain where he came from, but sometime, not long after God created man in His own image, out of fistfuls Shigaraki clay (or was it Joseon?), the DNA of the wandering nomad had already been created. This became clear to Yo himself only lifetimes later, as he roamed the prairies like a tumbleweed in search of gopher pelts, Indian arrowheads and other fragments of vanishing Americana. The realization that he carried strands of this very same DNA must have been painful indeed.**

As for his football (now pronounced sahr-kur***) career, often thought of as more of a sideshow, Yo made the grade in Lincoln, Nebraska, back in 1997 with indoor soccer's FC South Park, before he stepped outdoors and into the silver jersey of FC Porto International. It was only a matter of time before he was inevitably scouted by the Rangers. It doesn't surprise anyone now, that he even donned the fabled orange kit of the indomitable Woodpeckers International futsal club for a season.

Though Paul Bunyan-esque legends abound of him being the source of crop circles, or the father of five-card stud poker, one thing is certain--it's out of the frying pan and into the fire for the greatest embodiment of kamikaze ninja Japanese clichÃs ever to set foot in Times Square. Raise that Threat Level to RED. BANZAI! BANZAI!!

[The above information meets and exceeds the Falsification Standards set forth in Patriot Act I and Patriot Act II, and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. -Proverbs 20:1.]

*Disambiguation: William Frederick Buffalo Bill Cody

**Disambiguation: Human, rather than RaÃlian DNA

***Disambiguation: Soccer, also known as Association football

Compiled from various news feeds. Posted by Rob.

Is it just the ART you're into?

Talk Show #52: Made in Nippon*

Sun, 3 Aug 2008 04:01:00 GMT

*(and New Zealand)

In this podcast we do bad accents. We talk about rugby (not our an area of expertise for either of us). We talk about PBT (a piss poor delivery service that still has an iron Makiko purchased on trademe.co.nz which they refuse to deliver). And Courier Post, who couldn't do any better, although there is a post office located nearby, so we were able to have something taken there to be picked up. We discuss service in general, in various countries and from various angles.

The positive side? There's a cool little Japanese tachinomiya on Queen Street, which we've already mentioned, and which I'm sure we'll be mentioning again!

Pardon the therapy session, but having gone without regular internet for over a month, means that we've been saving all our gripes for the next podcast for sometime now, and it all boiled over in this podcast. Having lived in Japan for 10 years has made one Englishman, Alex Brooke, an expert on EVERYTHING, just as my leaving Japan has suddenly made me an expert on the world outside Japan.

Why, why, why do we record and then upload this rubbish? Hopefully someone somewhere gets a laugh out of it, and realizes that the grass is NEVER ever greener over there, and the best thing to do is to just make do with what you've got when you've got it.

Do you think we ever follow our own advice? Not a chance!

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Alex Brooke, Rob a.k.a. El Gringo, Chiba, Japan, Auckland, New Zealand, rugby, All Blacks, Australia, Nonbe, Queen Street, delivery service, Courier Post, PBT, trademe.co.nz

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Psychotropic of Capricorn #7

Sat, 2 Aug 2008 04:01:00 GMT

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Rob a.k.a. El Gringo, Auckland, New Zealand

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Talk Show Outtake

Fri, 1 Aug 2008 04:01:00 GMT

Here's one that didn't get edited before I left Japan. Alex has the other camera angle. Alex...

Posted by Rob.

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Four Seasons Osaka

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:01:00 GMT

Heading home on New Year's Day 2007, after DJing at ãScrub and greeting the first sunrise of the New Year at Oasis Lounge. We had been given the keys to lock up, and we were supposed to put them in the *secret place* afterwards. When we got home to Alex's pad where we were staying, I realized I had put Alex's keys in their *secret place* instead, so we had to go back to Oasis to exchange keys. It was a long long morning.

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, DJ El Gringo, Osaka, ãScrub, Oasis Lounge, Miyakojima, Sakuranomiya, Japan, ãScrub Oasis Lounge, HiJak, New Year's party, January 1st, DJ El Gringo, makikomo, æå, åæ, éå, æå, åé, ææ

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Psychotropic of Capricorn #6

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:01:00 GMT

This podcast was recorded about 3 weeks ago, but I was unable to upload it because we didn't have internet at home. This brings to a close almost 2 months of depending on computers and internet at cafes, the library and at work.

I can't remember what it was about now...

Photo by Ben Brooke borrowed without permission from his facebook album.

Posted by Rob.

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NFTOS in Nebraska!

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:47:00 GMT

Since we've been offline for awhile, I thought we'd celebrate by uploading some vintage NFTOS footage! Previously unreleased footage from July 2007!

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Omaha, Lincoln, Nebraska, Hans, Makiko, Rolf, airport, interstate 80, SAC, Martin Buscaglia, CSS, Cansei de Ser Sexy

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Samuel F. Scott - Live!

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:03:00 GMT

Tonight, four of us are going out to catch Phoenix Foundation member Samuel F. Scott & The Bunnies On Ponies (I think that's what they're called). That's kicking off in about 2 hours at the Whammy Bar on K Road. Opening act: White Swan Black Swan. Should be good craic. Bought the tickets at Real Groovy yesterday afternoon, for the not-so-bad-price of $15 each (can't even buy a caipirinha for less than that in this town!).

Before the show we'll be checking out Tanuki's Cave (an izakaya on Queen Street) for some eats and drinks.

Tomorrow we should finally be getting internet at home, so I won't have to keep on coming out to the library to check my e-mail, and that means I'll also be able to upload podcasts regularly again!

Just in time too, because a terrible storm is on its way for the weekend...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10523423

Posted by Rob.

P.S. Expect photos and/or video of the distruction, if we survive it!

P.P.S. Tune in to Midnight Japan on Planet FM 104.6, Saturday night from 10:30 p.m., if the storm doesn't end up being so bad that we're not able to drive to the studio...

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Headstand Radio

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:10:00 GMT

Tune in to Headstand Radio with Patrick Widdess on Cambridge, England's 105 fm (http://headstand.209radio.co.uk) tomorrow, from 21:00 to 23:00 GMT.

This month's Headstand promises to be a real mixed bag (as usual) featuring live music in the studio from Clare Connolly (www.myspace.com/connollyclare) and another mini lecture from Nick Stibbs on the life and work of William Blake.

There'll also be an interview with Yako from Tokyo's legendary hardcore punk band Melt-Banana. (www.myspace.com/azap)

Posted by Rob.

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Nonbe - ã®ãã¹ã

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:42:00 GMT

Last night we went to Nonbe, a tachinomiya on Queen Street. It's one bar in a row of Japanese-owned shops along one side of the street between Wellesley and Mayoral. The first thing you see when you walk in, besides the smiling matrons, is the huge phallic nose of a tengu mask. The decor is a kitschy mix of traditional Japanese, and "Oh my gosh! This looks so Japanese" (from a Western perspective) nick-knacks. There are overturned ban kasa for lamps, images of tanuki, a hyottoko mask and a little red man shaped like a kite (this description escaped Makiko's knowledge of traditional Japanese images, so I'll have to look it up at the library when I have internet).

There are rows of sake bottles along the top shelf (presumably empty, just there for decoration), but the bottles on the second shelf are well within reach of the knowledgeable staff. For example, a purple bottle of Wakamurasaki looked like it might be a sweet shochu at first glance, like Tantakatan, but I was assured a manly man such as I could drink it and not lose face. It had a much more complex and interesting flavor than Tantakatan has, and at $8 or $9 (New Zealand, of course) I highly recommend it. "And who are you to be recommending Japanese sake" you might be asking? Well, please allow me to introduce myself... Sometimes known as El Gringo, I am also known as Shochu Man!

My first drink of the night was a mug of Asahi draught beer (NZ$7), and Makiko had Hana-awaka, a sparkling sake drink ($9) perfect for the girlier members of your posse. I had to have one of the same drinks I had last week, Ikkomon (NZ$9), an imojochu listed as being made from kumara, the local word for imo, sweet potato. There is also Sapporo beer on tap, and bottles of the big four (Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo and Yebisu) in the fridge.

Although you'd be better off going to Tanuki (an izakaya up the street) for a meal, Nonbe offers "Japanese tapas," a.k.a. otsumami. Last week we tried some meat on a stick with a fancy name, but our memory of our first time there is a bit hazy. It was yummy though. In short, there is a long list of items to choose from including edamame and takoyaki.

The music is a very un-Japanese, blend of electro & alternative which makes the vibe way hipper than most tachinomiya you'll set foot in in Japan. However, don't let that put you off, as it's played at background volume. Makiko was happy to see her coaster artwork still up in the same place it was last week. Mine was too!

The customers are mostly friendly locals or residents of various nationalities, although it is not unlikely for the random (very) drunk Irish traveler to stumble in, as Nonbe is on Auckland's main drag.

Nonbe is open Tuesday-Satruday from 5:00 p.m. onwards, and is located at 309 Queen Street, Auckland City. Phone: 09-379-5152. http://www.sakebars.co.nz

I'll get a photo of the place the next time we go.

KANPAI! CHEERS! SLAINTE!

Posted by Rob.

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Sunday Sunny Sunday

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:14:00 GMT

...but I'm stuck in an internet cafe waiting for makikomo.com to finish a translation. What?! On a Sunny Sunday? Yes, she does translations, Japanese to English, and English to Japanese. She'll do them at any hour of the day or night, and if she's doing them into English, that means I'm also in business as a proof-reader.

So, what else is on my mind today? Why, it's that Tour de France thing, of course. Can't wait to chat with my brother regarding the latest developments, particularly the rise of Kim Kirchen (Luxembourg) and the demise of former Lance Armstrong lieutenant Manuel 'Triki' BeltrÃn.

But don't rush to make conclusions they tell us... alleged EPO use in the 1999 Tour, Heras, Hamilton, Landis, Contador and now BeltrÃn. Hans will probably be able to name a couple more tainted former Postal/Discovery riders off the top of his head, but don't worry, we are not rushing to conclusions, we're just letting the circumstantial evidence pile up. Whenever we get around to it, there'll be all that to discuss and more, on another edition of Bicicleteiros.

Make sure you tune into it and to my solo podcast, Psychotropic of Capricorn, both of which you can subscribe to separately if you like on iTunes.

Posted by Rob.

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El Pulpo: ChampiÃ±ones

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:48:00 GMT

Oh, the tribulations of not having internet at home. Today I bought some quiche, a muffin and a flat white at an Esquires Cafe on Lorne Street, so I could use their internet. You get 1 hour & 60MB with any purchase. After about 20 minutes, and this upload of about 3MB, plus a software update (not sure how many MB, but it didn't seem like that many), I suddenly found myself without any internet. When I went to ask the cashier/barrista, he reiterrated the above details to me, to which I replied that I wasn't anywhere near my 60MB limit. He repeated the bit about the 1 hour, to which I responded, "have I been here an hour?" He just shrugged. Customer service anyone?

Now I'm at the library, where I'm having a heck of a time with multiple page reloads, just trying to get from the homepage login to the libsyn publishing tool that I'm typing in now. It's taken me 20 minutes! It's time to get some internet at home, now that I can afford it again.

Anyway, here's something shot back in Kagurazaka, Tokyo, where the internet flowed like the MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI and the champiÃones were sizzling...

Photo coming soon.

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, El Pulpo, Kagurazaka, Tokyo, Japan, Auckland, New Zealand, coffee shops, bad service, library, slow internet, mushrooms, champignons, cogumelos, kinoko, champiÃones

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Tour de France update

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:42:00 GMT

I chose this video because I think it's been the most exciting stage so far. Paul Sherwen commentating at 1:50, in the heat of the moment, saying something Hans would've said: "Cadel Evans, in about 4th position, he's pretty happy just to be there..."

Anyway, here are links to videos from the first 5 TdF stages on YouTube:

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4: Time Trial

Stage 5

With no prologue to sort things out from day one, I'd have to say Valverde (Stage 1), Schumacher (almost on day 1, Yellow Jersey from Stage 4), Kirchen (active on day 1, 2nd overall now), Cancellara (always in the hunt) have been the most impressive so far. The time trial was a bit too short and too early to have much of an impact, I think. Let's wait till the mountains before making any further prognostications, although Hans, who has been watching it all on conventional TV, will surely have something to say on the next Bicicleteiros!

I've chosen a variety of sources, in English, Dutch?, Spanish and so on, to show the global scope of the Tour. Let me know if any of the links go dead...

Posted by Rob.

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Psychotropic of Capricorn #5

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 05:34:00 GMT

>

With special guest Courtney, who has a life-in-Japan, travels-in-NZ, US-reverse-culture-shock blog at bakalicious.blogspot.com.

Photo by Courtney.

Posted by Rob

Tags: NFTOS, bakalicious, Courtney, Japan, New Zealand, Auckland, Seattle, hiking, tramping, backpacking, wwoofing, travel, photos, stories, poetry, writing, blogging, etc

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Bicicleteiros #35: Tour de France!

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 06:33:00 GMT

I'm using the internet at a coffee shop to upload this timely podcast which got disconnected in the middle of our conversation. We had plenty of time for Hans to put forward a perfect prediction for the podium (looking back now, after the Tour has finished -ed), saying that if Cadel Evans could be counted as a favorite this time around, then we'd have to include Carlos Sastre on the list as well. Hans has been making some astute predictions on this podcast, and I can't wait till our next chat, to get his Olympic forecast!

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Cadel Evans, Carlos Sastre, glory hole, Tour de France, Phil Anderson, 4th of july

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Prapatng Living #7

Sat, 5 Jul 2008 00:06:00 GMT

As the captain of the H.M.S. News From The Other Side languishes in the land of no internet, I shall be taking the helm this week with Prapatang Living. I'll be posting links up here soon...

Posted by Alex.

Tags: NFTOS, Alex Brooke, Japan, Patrick Widdess, Brian Ruckle, 4th of July, Independence Day, Terence McKenna

Subscribe to Alex's solo podcast, Prapatang Living, on iTunes

Legit in Aotearoa

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 01:58:00 GMT

My work permit has been approved, so after over 5 months of impoverishment, I can finally get back to work! I'll be doing the usual, while Makiko will be joining a local Japanese publication as an assistant editor. Both of us will be trying to weasel our way onto a Saturday evening radio program for the Japanese community as volunteer DJ/MCs.

Of course, as soon as we have all the other necessities taken care of, we'll get an internet connection at home, and more podcasts will follow. I've got all sorts of stuff edited and ready for upload:

Videos:

The Four Seasons of Osaka (Makiko & Rob)
Forgotten Talk Show footage from Jan 2008 (Alex & Rob)
El Pulpo, Spanish Tapas in Kagurazaka (just the food)
Drinking in Seoul with Flying Koala & Co.
Auckland Truckies' Strike, 4 July 2008

Audio:

The If Factor, a 45-minute jam sesssion (proto-NFTOS feat. Alex, Jonny Heartbreaker & El Gringo)*
Priceless Talk #1 (a recovered file feat. Andrew & Hans)

*(with already more than 15 incriminating minutes removed, Alex is asking for more omissions, so this one may never see the light of day... and I haven't even heard from Jonny yet!)

In the meantime, I'm hoping Alex, Hans, Jarrod or someone else will be able to upload something, anything, because we're only using 38% of our storage at the moment. In any case, July should be a great month for NFTOS! Stay tuned...

Posted by Rob.

Headstand Radio

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:46:00 GMT

Join NFTOS regular Patrick Widdess for his monthly 2-hour FM radio show from Cambridge, England, which you can stream via headstand.209radio.co.uk.

This month's show features the usual mix of music and spoken word including poetry from local poets Dominic Mulvey, Richard Osmond and Glen Hutchinson, and a presentation on the life and work of Pablo Neruda by Nick Stibbs.

Posted by Rob.

The Motorway #1 by Jarrod Lio

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:57:00 GMT

Jarrod Lio has very kindly contributed to News From The Other Side in the form of "The Motorway" his new podcast and travelog. In this first episode, Jarod tell us what he's doing in Langkawi, Malaysia as a tropical thunderstorm rages outside. This is packed with interesting and useful information on traveling in Malaysia along with Jarrod's personal observations and opinions. This is a great travelog and welcome addition to News From The Other Side. I'm looking forward to hearing more. This is an enhanced podcast which means graphics are contained in the audio file which can be viewed in Quicktime, iTunes or your iPod. The visuals are photos taken by Jarrod.

Posted by Alex.

p.s. Jarrod, feel free to post something extra here.

Tags: NFTOS, Jarrod Lio, Malaysia, Langkawi, Holiday, Motor Way, Travelog, Travel, Aussie, Australia, Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands

Subscribe to Motorway with Jarrod Lio, on iTunes

Psychotropic of Capricorn #4

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 04:01:00 GMT

It's game day today, All Blacks vs Poms, but first we must have a barbecue and drink some homebrew.

This morning, we went to the Britomart Farmers' Market for some veggies, but the camera battery was dead. I'll have to take some video footage next time, although the Otara and Avondale Markets we went to before are much bigger and have more of an international feel to them.

Photo coming soon!

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Britomart Farmers' Market, Eden Park, All Blacks, BBQ, beer, Rugby, Auckland, New Zealand, England

Subscribe to Rob's Solo Podcasts on iTunes

NFTOS Art Show #5

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 07:03:00 GMT

News From The Other Side Art Show #5

Date: December 2008

Place: Cafe Revel, 146 Karangahape Rd, Auckland, New Zealand

Title: ?

Theme: ?

Flyer designer: ?

Artist Roster as of 13 June:

Andrew Blaker (Auckland)
Charles-Eric Billard (Osaka, Japan) Charlou2006.blogspot.com
Joe Baldwin (Chicago, Illinois) Noisivelvet.com
Hayden a.k.a. Quest (Lincoln, Nebraska)
Makiko Mizutani (Auckland) Makikomo.com
Okha Ryu (Seoul, Korea) groups.msn.com/RecentlyOkha
Patrick Widdess (Cambridge, England) headstand.209radio.co.uk
Peter Morris (Lincoln, Nebraska) HaloEffect.us
Rob Holbrook (Auckland)
Samantha May (Vancouver, British Columbia)
Sridhar Ramasami (ZhangYe, Gansu Province, China) svrart.com

...and you?

Map to the venue:

View Larger Map

Posted by Rob.

Without Internet Awhile

Sat, 7 Jun 2008 23:55:00 GMT

Dear Readers & Listeners,

Greetings from the frontier town of Auckland, New Zealand! (I mean "frontier" in the globalization scheme of things). I'm writing to you from a computer at the Central Library, and will continue to do so, until our new apartment is fitted with the latest in high speed internet. When we moved in yesterday, it was evident that several of our neighbors had wireless, none were sharing. How antisocial! No warm welcome to the neighborhood. No brownies. No free wireless.

This morning, Makiko and I ventured out to forrage for food and caffeine, and decided to try our first NZ Starbucks. Normally, said global chain would be a last resort, but ever curious, we decided to try their "flat white" and hot cocoa, in order to be able to compare them with the local competition.

Although it is a Sunday morning, and there were not many customers, the two young barristas were struggling to keep up. I had to clean the crumbs off our table, and noticed a giant cube-shaped cookie crumb on a window ledge at ankle-level. Not particulary bothered, I began sampling my flat white, and writing my comments to help the barristas in their quest to master their trade.

Then, Makiko's order was called only to be snatched up by an impatient customer, who as it turned out had actually ordered a larger size in a take away cup (we had ordered mugs). The customer then reordered (demanded) a larger drink in a take away cup, and the barristas poured Makiko's drink (by default) into a mug, the whipped cream now sad and forlorn.

Hopefully, the two barristas will take my comments to heart, put their heads together and learn from experience. The customer, a North American bimbo, judging by her accent and fashion sense, probably never will, and will receive karmic retribution (i.e. a flood, an earthquake or tornado damage visited upon her hometown), because this is how Sharon Stone has taught us that karma works.

The names of the aforementioned staff and the location of aforementioned Starbucks have been withheld in order to protect the bright futures of these young barristas from their evil slack managers and the oppressive onslaught of rampant and unchecked globalization.

In other matters, Hans and I, or perhaps Hans with another co-host (Alex? Rolf?) will record the next episode of Bicicleteiros soon, as the 59th CritÃrium du DauphinÃ LibÃrÃ kicks off this weekend, and Hans returns from cheering on the "Philly" participants on the Manayunk Wall.

Not spell checked.

Posted by Rob.

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Nikko æ¥å

Thu, 5 Jun 2008 11:09:00 GMT

Alex's Tour of Japan (Series?).

Homebrew #2

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 06:17:00 GMT

Posted by Rob.

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Ready (Set) Go!

Sat, 31 May 2008 20:49:00 GMT

I'm a sucker for funky flyers, and though I don't know much about this event info (sent by Tokyo resident DH Rosen), I noticed Fumiya Tanaka's name and someone from the OVUM label on it, so it can't be that bad now, can it? -Rob

ããããããïããçææããããããããçæãåæãããããïïï

ïæãèæçååãåèäã[en]ããèãäãããããçæããããæãéãããã ãããïèéãããæããäèããããããããããåçããèããããããããã ããããããäããã

http://www.public-image.org/report/2008/04/30/rinpa-eshidan-exhibition
http://ex-chamber.seesaa.net/article/95261198.html
http://blog.nicorico.com/?eid=812895

ããããããããããããããæåãYou Tubeãèããããï
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg4b--EDTYY

ããããæããããããããããããäåãåææïïæãæåïèçãæäããã ãããããèäãããFUMIYA TANAKAãåããåãããããããããïãåãã ãUNITããããããéåããã!?! ãæããããOpen: 23:30, Close: 6:00 http://www.unit-tokyo.com/schedule/2008/05/31/080531_redbox_and_clubberia_pr .php

éåïïïïïãååæããäèããããããããåãéææãããããããããã ãéããéããããïïïïïãããããããããããããèããããéãããã
discount@redboxproject.com

èæçååãæããDVDã[en]ãäåãèåããããããããããéããããï
-Daniel
www.dhrosen.com

Hi everyone,

Howszit? My apologies to those of you who only seem to hear from me when I am sending out heinous spam... I'm really busy. No, really...

Many thanks to everyone who came out to the Rinpa Eshidan exhibition [en] at the Artcomplex Center Tokyo. For those of you who missed it, you can check out photos and reviews at the links below. Sorry, the reviews are in Japanese only, so I'll take the liberty of letting you know they couldn't say enough good stuff about us. ;-)

http://www.public-image.org/report/2008/04/30/rinpa-eshidan-exhibition
http://ex-chamber.seesaa.net/article/95261198.html
http://blog.nicorico.com/?eid=812895

You can also see some footage of our live set with zycOs minus one at the [en] opening party here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg4b--EDTYY

Next up we're at UNIT on Saturday 5/31 doing a live set to an incredible DJ lineup till dawn. Look for me on stage covered in clay....
Check the flyer attached and link below for details. It's 4,000yen to get in the door, but this party is going to be huge. And if you send an e-mail to the address below by Friday, they'll put you on the discount list for 3,000yen entry!
discount@redboxproject.com

http://www.unit-tokyo.com/schedule/2008/05/31/080531_redbox_and_clubberia_pr .php

Our new DVD [en] will also be on sale at the venue so please come out and party with us! Hope to see some of you soon.

Cheers,

-Daniel
www.dhrosen.com

Posted by Rob.

Talk Show #51: 'Beached As'

Sat, 31 May 2008 06:41:00 GMT

We've tended to stay away from politics in the past, but New Zealand politics, and the local government here, are far more interesting (to me at the moment) and far more focused on the issues than what's going on in politics "back home" right now. That includes Obama, Hillary, McCain and anything Sharon Stone might say about China or Tibet.

If you find Alex's and my usual banter tiresome, uninteresting, boring, offensive, not-offensive-enough, or whatever, stick around for Andrew at about 22:00 minutes into this enhanced podcast, where his arrival easily doubles the show's IQ.

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Alex Brooke, Rob, El Gringo, Andrew, filter, manzai, Kiwi English, Labour, National, Party, New Zealand, politics, legalization, criminalization, marijuana, party pills, ecstasy, MDMA, amphetamine, methamphetamine, Queen's Birthday, Queen of, Canada, England, liberal, right wing, left wing, crystal meth, "P"

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Bicicleteiros #34: Giro d'Italia

Fri, 30 May 2008 07:46:00 GMT

[Uncensored version. I'll probably be editing this, once Hans has time to hear it and reflect on the more "racy" bits of his proclamations. Or maybe not. -rob]

Hans and Rob talk shop. Four riders now on Hans' Giro d'Italia grupetto. First off we discuss stage 16, the uphill time trial, at Plan de Corones, which turned to dirt and hit gradients of up to 24 percent. Rob mentioned these photos from stage 16 on CyclingNews.com.

Next, Hans outlines the fundamental difference between asthma inhalers, which contain the controlled substance salbutamol, and whippets, which contain nitrous oxide. This in relation to Alessandro Petacchi's 1-year suspension.

Then it's Jens Voigt, who won the latest Giro stage, which features the course which will be used later in the year as the World Championship. Looks like he'll have some extra confidence going into that race.

In other exploits, Hans almost breaks his personal best on the trans-Maryland segment of the Appalachian Trail, despite getting pulled over for speeding and having to wait for a late-comer. Out birdwatching, he discovers another first for dragonflies in Maryland.

Then Rob tells a little more about the Coromandel hike up to the Pinnacles, and pesters Hans about the Whale video link.

Hans gives his Philly predictions. Rob picks Tyler Hamilton. Hans picks Ben Johnson, or someone from Rock Racing, like Santiago Botero to solo. Hans reminds us of a poster Rob made on the back of a Victoria Secret poster, which was popular on the Manayunk Wall a few summers ago...

Back here in Auckland, we've been brewing beer, while in Hagerstown Hans plans to get a wine kit.

Finally, Rob had a great link to David Millar breaking his chain and throwing his bicycle at the end of stage 5, but "Cycling Television Limited" got it taken off. As short as that segment was, it was nothing more than a great advertisement for their DVDs, or however it is they're making a living off cycling. But they don't even have their own YouTube channel! Stuck in the past... However, after looking around a bit more, an even better version, in super-slo-mo was discovered: http://youtube.com/watch?v=xqTKaDmUr1w

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Giro d'Italia, Hans, Alberto Contador, Alessandro Petacchi, Tyler Hamilton, Rock Racing, Santiago Botero, Philly, beached whale, kiwi, New Zealand, Auckland, Hagerstown, Maryland, trail magic

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Psychotropic of Capricorn #3: Indiana Jonesin'

Wed, 28 May 2008 05:26:00 GMT

Usually I try to steer NFTOS content away from religion and politics, although I let Alex's occasional atheistic profession of faith slip through uncensored, but I forgot to mention one very current issue regarding religion in this podcast, and it concerns Sharon Stone. Someone should issue Eastern Religions' equivalent of a fatwa on her for talking out her self-righteous ass. Maybe she can tell us whose fault it was when Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on New Orleans...

I'm becoming a bit of a hikikomori lately, up at all hours everyone else is not. This allows me to contact those who are awake on the other side. What is a hikikomori you ask? Well, HÃctor GarcÃa can tell you about the phenomena in Spanish and English, so I don't have to. Language nerds, check this out: Geonames. Ever wondered what the name Haiti looks like in every major language in the world? Well, now you can see! Big shout outs to everyone over at LearnJapanesePod forums and at Prapatang.com.

Don't forget to tune into Patrick Widdess' headstand radio tonight from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m. GMT (which is early Thursday morning here in NZ) on 209radio.co.uk. The Pixiphones will be playing live in the studio, and there will be poetry recorded specially for the show from Magic Phil, Hollie and Nick Stibbs. Nick will also be talking about the life and work of Walt Whitman.

Now, I'm not very cool, but I know quite a few people who are, in my humble opinion, and one of them reads another "news" blog called boingboing.net. He's always steering me in the direction of interesting tidbits on the net such as this site which helps the US government track Hassan Elahi by Hassan Elahi himself. Meanwhile, on the cartoon front, foyf informs us on ptikobj that, when a half-eaten dog falls from the sky, it's good luck. This reminded me of an old favorite, explodingdog.com. Well, it's time to go back to sleep, but first I must caress this rusty kettle...

...and to the narcos in Narita Airport, no, you can't have your 142g back!

donuts and regular coffee for breakfast
old glory flapping in the tainted breeze
dawn's early afrodesiac

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, psychotropic, Tropic of Capricorn, Henry Miller, Indiana Jones, Pinnacles, Coromandel, poem, poetry, prose, spoken word, Auckland, New Zealand, homebrew, beer brewing, Celestine Prophecy, Green Brain, Dune

Subscribe to Rob's Solo Podcasts on iTunes

Headstand Radio this Wednesday

Tue, 27 May 2008 08:50:00 GMT

Hi to everyone at News From The Other Side,

My radio show goes out this Wednesday live on 209radio.co.uk at 9pm local time. Featuring local poets and the magnificent Pixiphones playing live in the studio it promises to be a good 2 hours. If you don't catch it live you can listen again at headstand.209radio.co.uk. You can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, just search for "headstand 209 radio".

If you haven't aleady done so, join the facebook group at www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6061328090 and test your knowledge of the show with the headstand quiz http://apps.facebook.com/flixster/quiz?q=908190

Thanks

Patrick

[Alex got 50% on the quiz, Rob got 80%]

Posted by Rob.

Le Grand Danse de Robert et Makikomo

Sun, 25 May 2008 09:18:00 GMT

Voici Le Grande Danse de Robert et Makikomo et porquoi pas?

By Alex and Ben. Posted by Alex.

Tequila y Techno!

Fri, 23 May 2008 21:01:00 GMT

You're in Detroit and you're just getting off work... Well, then I guess you have this to look forward to!

I love the flyer, so I couldn't resist putting it up.

See the previous post for the complete line-up including Los Hermanos, Domenico & the Underground Resistance crew!

Posted by Rob

Look at this line-up!

Fri, 23 May 2008 10:42:00 GMT

For all you Detroit Techno-headz...

Haqq says: "Buzz Goree's party featuring Los Hermanos and many good DJ's. We hope to see you there!"

Posted by Rob.

Music From The Other Side #5

Wed, 21 May 2008 18:47:00 GMT

Looooong over due, I've finally decided to fly solo on this one and managed to patch together 6 songs on garage band. After one listen, it should be obvious that Alex is the technical brains behind our two-man podcast extravaganzas (if it wasn't already).

Back in Tokyo, I think Alex is working on a more Latin-Brazilian batch of songs, and he's actually been contacting some fairly well-known artists to get their blessing on his project.

I've got a few friends with music in the hip-hop and folk-rock genres, so I'm hoping to make one podcast of each. Also, it's New ZeaIand music month now, and that's got me thinking of trying to make an all-Kiwi artist podcast in the near future as well.

Playlist:

Intro music by Alex Brooke and Andrew a.k.a. filter.

1. A New Logic - Chris Perren
2. The Smell of New - Seaholm
3. Juicy - Jet Jaguar

Interlude (sorry about the lo-fi recording!)

4. Seven Years (3rd version) - halo effect
5. Sojurn - Noisivelvet
6. Dappled - Quest

Don't forget to subscribe to us on iTunes, and check out our 4 previous music shows in the "musicprogram" folder: http://newsfromtheotherside.libsyn.com/index.php?post_category=musicprogram

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, MFTOS, Alex Brooke, Andrew, filter, Rob a.k.a. El Gringo, Chris Perren, Mr Maps, Seaholm.com, Jet Jaguar, Peter Morris, Halo Effect, DJ Kung-fu Grip, Joseph Baldwin, Noisivelvet, Quest, Hayden, music, podcast, instrumental, ambient, electronic, Tokyo, Chiba, Japan, Auckland, New Zealand, Wellington, Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, Lincoln, Nebraska, Chicago, Illinois

Subscribe to MUSIC FROM THE OTHER SIDE on iTunes

Blu: Muto

Mon, 19 May 2008 04:01:00 GMT

MUTO, animation on walls by blu on Vimeo.

Discovered by Andrew. Posted by Rob.

Talk Show #50

Sun, 18 May 2008 04:01:00 GMT

Alex and Rob talk about--what else? Japan, life in Japan, all things Japan, but now that Rob is in New Zealand, you can start to expect a bit more about "the land of the long white cloud," The Southern Hemisphere, The South Pacific, The North Island, Auckland, etc.

This YouTube video was previously uploaded here as an .m4v file with the 15 May blog post. Please add it to your favorites, rate it (5 stars, of course!) and forward it to ALL your friends!

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Alex Brooke, Rob a.k.a. El Gringo, Japan, New Zealand, Tokyo, Chiba, Auckland

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Tour of Japan 2008

Sat, 17 May 2008 04:07:00 GMT

Cycling's Tour of Japan starts in Sakai City, OSAKA tomorrow. It's not one of the major races in the world, but it is Japan's biggest race. The average Japanese citizen has never heard of the race, but there are some interesting stages (i.e. a time trial up to the trail head of Mt. Fuji) and here's always an international field albeit made up of second and third tier professional teams and some U-23 national squads.

May 18 - Stage 1: Senboku Circuit, Sakai City (Osaka) , 140.8km
May 19 - Stage 2: Todaiji Temple - Nunome Dam Circuit, Nara, 146.2km
May 20 - Stage 3: Old Imai Paper Wholesale House - Mino Japanese, Paper Village Circuit, Mino, 164.7km
May 21 - Stage 4: Iida Station - Shimohisakata Circuit - Matsuo - Stadium, South-Shinshu, 155.3km
May 22 - Rest & transfer day
May 23 - Stage 5: Mount Fuji ITT, 11.4km
May 24 - Stage 6: Shuzenji Station - Japan Cycle Sports Center, Izu, 112.5km
May 25 - Stage 7: Hibiya city - Ooi Wharf Circuit, Tokyo, 148.9km

Teams for Tour of Japan: Skil-Shimano, A-Style Somn, Nippo-Endeka, Seoul Cycling, South Australia.com-AIS, Stegcomputer-CKT-Cogeas, Trek-Marco Polo Cycling Team, Mroz-Action-Uniqa, Meitan Hompo-GDR, Team Bridgestone Anchor, Aisan Racing Team, Matrix-Powertag, Pearlizumi-Sumita-Ravanello, Team Comrade-Giant, Narsima Frend, Team JBCF

Stage and team info from CyclingNews.com.

Photo: 2005 first stage, Sakai City, Osaka.

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Tour of Japan, Tour du JapÃn, ããããããããããã, èèè, ããã, ããããããããã

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Vegemite Art by Ben Brooke

Thu, 15 May 2008 04:01:00 GMT

Alex's brother Ben sent me this video response to my comment on his sinkfull of dirty dishes, and my informing him that Vegemite contains GMOs (which is just a terrible rumor I heard), and that he should switch to Marmite. Thanks for the live painting Ben!

Photo stolen from Ben's facebook. Thanks for the photo too!

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Ben Brooke, Rob, portrait, Vegemite, Marmite, art, painting, cracker, blackmail, dirty, dishes, kitchen, sink, lemon, Tokyo, æä, åæ, ããã

Moth Conspiracy: First Among the Small

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:01:00 GMT

This from Patrick Widdess' YouTube channel, where you can find more videos of Moth Conspiracy and others live at the Boathouse in Cambridge, England, 11 May 2008. Also check out www.mothconspiracy.com.

Posted by Rob.

Talk Show #49: Rising Sun & Long White Cloud

Tue, 13 May 2008 04:01:00 GMT

ABOVE: "La Cumbia del Mole" by Lila Downs.

BELOW: Alex's and Rob's audio podcast. This is what we talked about...

Giro d'Italia
Dr Conconi, The Godfather of EPO in cycling
Kiwi English - NEW FEATURE!
Japan - 6000 miles on a bicycle (new book release party)
Norville's Greatest Hits
KIX on frisky radio
facebook groups (NFTOS, headstand, KIX on friskyradio, learjapanesepod, bananas prove God exist, etc)
Patrick Widdess and his Harmless Video Podcast #1
Street performance
Fiesta Mexicana
Lila Downs, Oaxaca and "La Cumbia del Mole" (above video) LearnJapanesePod
facebook gift application
Prapatang.com

Posted by Rob.

Tags: NFTOS, Alex Brooke, Rob, El Gringo, Japan, New Zealand, Aotearoa, Auckland, Tokyo, Chiba, Cambridge, England, UK, headstand, prapatang.com, learnjapanesepod, ææè, æä, åèç, ãããããããã

Subscribe to our TALK SHOWS on iTunes