3:43 p.m. Here's another heartwarming article I came across. It's a letter sent to a ranger in Yosemite National Park from a little visitor. I am a ranger in Yosemite National Park and receive many letters from visitors. This is my favorite.

This junior ranger already seems to be doing the job pretty well. Hope nothing spoils the little ranger.

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Caterpillar

1:56 p.m. Cedar pollen in full blast. My eyes started to itch the moment I opened them in the morning, so I washed them with cold water to cool down the itch, and applied sesame oil that had prepared earlier. Also, applied some in my nostrils to be on the safe side. Since then, have had no itches, no sneezes so far. Very pleasant.

I feel sorry for those who seem to be suffering cedar pollen allergy, when I see so many masked faces on a windy spring day like today. If they'd only tried the sesam oil remedy, they'd be fully enjoying the coming of spring.

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Caterpillar

1:27 p.m. Am mending jeans tear watching recorded WBC (World Baseball Classic) game, Japan versus Brazil. Ooooh, Brazil has good defence. And that second pitcher, he's good.

7:24 p.m. Still mending jeans while watching today's game Japan versus China after an interval of horse race and late lunch. Mmm, Mae-ken (Kenta Maeda) has definitely improved his condition. The pitchers are all good.

9:30 p.m. Mmm, even Yamaguchi's doing fine. Hey, that's a passed ball! What?! Two in a row?! What is Sumitani doing?

10:21 p.m. Game won but jeans still unfinished. Oh, god.

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Caterpillar

3:54 p.m. Here's an interesting video showing what happens when you press that red Help button on the subway ticket machines in Japan. Now that's service.

As a native Japanese, I'd never cosidered that as service. I guess I must have grown too accustomed to it. Thanks for reminding me that it's one of the many things I should appreciate.

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Caterpillar

2:58 p.m. The first of today's WBC game, Australia versus the Netherlands has started from 1:30 p.m. And according to the up-to-the-minute informarion on Yahoo! Japan's specail page featuring WBC, the Netherlands is taking the lead by 4 to 0 in the end of fifth.

3:22 p.m. I thought the game was into sixth, the Ausies on the bat five minutes ago, but now the Netherlands are on the bat. Score still 4-0, the Netherlands' lead.

Rumor said that the Netherlands have a good team which proved to be true so far as the results go. It's a pitty I can't see their performance on TV.

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Caterpillar

2:41 p.m. I was setting my HDD to record today's WBC game, Japan vs Cuba, when I realized that TBS was spending about four hours on broadcasting the game.

Gosh, four hours? You could finish watching two movies, four episodes of weekly dramas. What time does the game actually start, anyway?

2:50 p.m. Have just checked the time. Thegame starts from 7:00p.m. this evening, while the broadcasting starts from 6:30. What are they going to do for the first thirty minutes? I should have set the timer later.

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Caterpillar

4:22 p.m. Japan has lost the game against Cuba yesterday. But I think I can smell some scheme here.

Since Japan has lost yesterday's game, we're going to the 2nd round as the 2nd place in group A. That means our first game in round 2 would be against Chinese Taipei, the champion in group B. I assume that our national team has more data on Chinese Taipei with Dai-Kang Yang, and some others playing in NPB, rather than the Netherlands which we know little about.

As for the Cubans, I'm afraid we're not going to lose another game against them if we're to play again. Especially if Uchikawa is going to play in that game. Beware, Cubans. That guy is shrewd.

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Caterpillar

3:42 p.m. TV news says that there has been a huge amount of cedar pollen in the air in these two days, equivalent to that of whole spring of 2012. No wonder am having occasional sneezes today. Well, sesami oil has its limits.

3:49 p.m. Looks like the Netherlands have beaten Cuba by 6-2. So the winner of this evening's game, either Chinese Taipei or Japan would play against the Netherlands on Sunday. Hmm... interesting.

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Caterpillar

1:40 p.m. It was a breath-taking game. Japan had just cuaght up the 2-points behind in the top 7th, I think, when I got home and turned on the TV. After that, I couldn't take my eyes off the game.

Eventually we won, but it was a close game. And I was surprised how tough Chinese Taipei had become since the last WBC games. Obviously, their performance has improved in huge leaps through the past three years.

It's going to be a thorny path for Chinese Taipei to fight against Cuba. Though Cuba has also been beaten by the Netherlands in their previous game, so whichever team that has been able to put the past behind and move on is probably closer to winning. If Chinsese Taipei could win, who knows whta's gonna happen then? Slim as it may be, they've still got a chance to win the championship.

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Caterpillar

9:47 p.m. Top of 7th, Japan leading by 12 points.

It could've been a called game if it weren't for Utsumi, though. The plate umpire hadn't been taking strikes for outside lows from the beginning. Mae-Ken has adjusted nicely, but it seems Utsumi couldn't and lost 3 points from the lead. Still, Sakamoto has hit a grand-slam to earn another chance for a called game. Now it's up to Wakui up on the mound.

10:01 p.m. Three outs, called. We're going to the U.S.! And I've finished mending my jeans! Great. It's been a good weekend in a while.

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Caterpillar

3:27 p.m. It's March 11th again. Ceremonies are held, ads posted everywhere in memory of the Great East Japan Earthquake that struck us two years ago.

Two years gone and not much have changed in my life. As I was flipping through my Pyhton notebook in which I keep notes and scribbles about Pyhon, to look for something that could be clues to solving a pending problem on my script, I've realized that I had been dealing with the same problem a year ago.

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Caterpillar

3:13 p.m. I was informed today that there had been some inconvenience involving our message board, and I'd like to use this opportunity to apologize.

As you might guess, there has been an incident that we have been troubled for some time, to which we've taken specific measures to solve. We've taken care of the inconvenience, but are questioning the existence of the board and are seriously considering of taking it off, regarding the effort and time spent to deal with this problem.

3:29 p.m. What time does today's game start, by the way? Haven't had a chance nor time to check that out yet.

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Caterpillar

2:26 p.m. Unbelievably windy. As if there's a typhoon. Have wiped dust all over the office twice this morning, but it keeps blowing in I gave up on cleaning.

We hang bamboo blinds on the outside of our windows (in order not to raise room temperature because they absorb and let off heat), and one of them has been blown off while I was concentrating on something else. Have looked up and down the road but could not find it anywhere. Too bad. We'll have to do without it. Hope it didn't hit anybody.

Public trasportation seems to be delayed, too, due to this high wind. The trains and subways I use for commuting hasn't been influenced so far, but I'll have to be on the lookout.

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Caterpillar

Something very nice is supposed to happen to me today, according to the horoscope I'd glimpsed this morning. Something so nice that I'd start crying wiht joy.

4:24 p.m. Sixteen hours out of twenty-four have already passed and nothing nice has happened to me so far. I still have eight hours to go, though.

I really think people, especially people working with the media should be more responsible for what they're saying. How about a penalty for astrologists who can't tell someone's fortune right.

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Caterpillar

2:58 p.m. As I came in today, Cow pointed to the window proudly. The bamboo blind! Apparently, he'd retrieved it from the garbage collection point this morning, although it wasn't collection day for burnables.

The bamboo blind was blown away in the high wind Wednesday. And I'd sadly given it up after scanning the neigborhood and coming up with nothing on my way home that day. Though I did tell Cow to keep his eyes open on buranables collection day, since someone might have picked it up and, deciding it wasn't worth keeping, could put it out as garbage.

Have just remembered that Cow had drew Dai-kichi (great blessing) at Hatsu-moude (first visit to the shrine). No wonder the bamboo blind has miraculously came back. Brother, this guy's really got it.

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Caterpillar

1:38 p.m. Hanshin Dai-shouten, a prep-race for the spring Tennnou-sho, is going to be run tomorrow. And as we all expected, Gold Ship is the most favored by 1.1 to 1. So you bet 1,000 yen on Gold Ship's win, and if he wins, you'll get a payout of what? 1,100 yen. Crazy.

Though, some of you might still remember what happened in the same race last year. Yup. Orfevre had ran off course coming in second by a nose, which lead to suspicions that the race might have been fixed. No one, I mean, no one doubted the horse's victory before the race as the win odds prove, 1.1 to 1, exactly the same as this year's Gold Ship.

Personally, I think Gold Ship would win without incident considering the other contestants, but you never know what's going to happen. Even the U.S. has vanished in the 2nd round of Group D in WBC.

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Caterpillar

10:39 p.m. It was a perfect win for Gold Ship. There was nothing to worry about. The horse has apparently grown better than last year, which only seems to make the gap between today's contestants bigger. Other than Gold Ship, I noted that Yutaka Take has done a fine job coming in second, and Andrasch Starke has proved to be a top jockey if he could bring Forgettable in third place. Must keep an eye on him.

By the way, looks like we're playing against Puerto Rico in tomorrow's semi-final game of WBC. Very excited.

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Caterpillar

3:52 p.m. We lost. There were too many misses that there's no wonder we've lost. The walks in the first inning, and that terrible base running, and the terrible hitting, shooting down the few chances we had.

Congrats to Puerto Rico. I'm sure you'll have a great game whether it's against the Dominicans or the Netherlands. But it's been such a letdown that I've somehow developed cyctitis.

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Caterpillar

12:59 p.m. It'hot. It feels as though we're suddenly thrown into mid-May. Short sleeves are definitely the right attire for a day like this. Why did I bring a fleece jacket?

Looks like the Dominican Republic is leading the Netherlands 4 to 1 in the eighth. But you never know. The Domincans' win will depend on who'd be up for the relief pitch. For the Nehterlands, it will be their chance to turn over the game.

WBC might be over for our team, but there's still the final game for us sports fans to enjoy. I look forward to seeing an exciting game tomorrow, for the final match. Wonder which team is going to be the champion, the Dominican Republic, the Netherlands, or Puerto Rico?

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Caterpillar

5:48 p.m. And the WBC winner goes to... the Dominican Republic! Congratulations! I've only seen the results on the Internet because our stingy TV won't air it on real time basis, but am looking forward to seeing the game tonight. It looks like the Dominicans didn't give Puerto Rico so many chances to score, though.

In the meantime, our national team has come back yeterday. Uchikawa seems to be taking the blame personally. I feel sorry for him. From a management point of view, chief coach Yamamoto is to be reponsible for the result of the team's performance. That's what executives are for, and Koji Yamamoto is the executive in this case.

The important thing now, I think, is not to point fingers at someone, but to figure out what we should have done to win the championship and get it into action, especially if we're expecting a comeback in the next WBC. Well, if we do have a next WBC, that is.

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Caterpillar

3:46 p.m. Am a bit sleepy. I fought hard, but couldn't stay up till the last inning of the WBC final match broadcasted from 12:30 this morning.

One thing I can say, though, is that the Dominican starter, what's his name? Yes, Deduno. He was gooooood! He hit the corners precisely with occasional off-speed pitches.

The Dominicans played well. They were meticulous, patient and focused. I'm not sure if we could have beat them, even if we'd made it to the final game. Frankly, I thought that the Dominican Republic deserves the victory.

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Caterpillar

3:46 p.m. Am a bit sleepy. I fought hard, but couldn't stay up till the last inning of the WBC final match broadcasted from 12:30 this morning.

One thing I can say, though, is that the Dominican starter, what's his name? Yes, Deduno. He was gooooood! He hit the corners precisely with occasional off-speed pitches.

The Dominicans played well. They were meticulous, patient and focused. I'm not sure if we could have beat them, even if we'd made it to the final game. Frankly, I thought that the Dominican Republic deserves the victory.

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Caterpillar

2:35 p.m. Spring season means race season. The Takamatsu-no-miya Kinen will be run tomorrow at Chukyo Race Tracks. Lord Kanaloa, the Sprinters' Stakes(G1) and the Hong Kong Sprint(G1) winner, is the most favored as expected. The win odds for Lord Kanaloa is currently 1.3 to 1, approaching that of last week's Gold Ship.

Okay, okay. So the horse is powerful and fast and has already won a grade one race. But he'd lost in third place in the same race last year. I've been suspecting that he either doesn't perform well on counterclockwise tracks, or doesn't like to be trapped or jammed. Well, let's wait and see what happens.

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Caterpillar

7:07 p.m. It only made Lord Kanaloa stand out. He's got speed, power, and the toughness to beat all the other horses. I think he's just joined the same rank as Durandal with this win.

Thinking back if I'd ever won Takamatsu-no-miya Kinen. I can't recall...

Oh god. I went back fifteen years, all of my horse race fan career and I haven't won this race. Not even once.

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Caterpillar

3:32 p.m. I have been losing the same race for fifteen years? How could that be? What, am I stupid?

I wish I could wash out my DNA like this How to Extract DNA From Anything Living and replace them with some genius's.

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Caterpillar

2:45 p.m. I've always thought that kangaroos were gentle, peaceful, loveble creatures, happily jumping across Australia. It seems I've been dead wrong. Twelve Photos Suggesting You Should Watch Your Manners When Seeing Mr. Kanagaroo.

I nearly mistook Mr. Kangaroos in these photos for body builders. Look at their shoulders! Look at all that muscle in their arms and chests! Brrrrr. From now on, I think I'll watch kangaroos from a distance.

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Caterpillar

2:16 p.m. There was the 2014 World Cup qualifier yesterday, and our national team played against Jordan at their home. We've lost 2-1; I'm afraid I couldn't see much improvement in defense since the warm-up game against Canada. The players of all people, should know what didn't work well, so am sure they'd straighten things out and be fully prepared by the next match.

It was slightly discouraging not to be able to be the first one out of the qualifiers, but we still have three more games to go. The next match, come to think of it, is going to be our home game against the Ausies. If and when we win, we'd be holding a ticket to the World Cup next year. We'll have to wait until June, but let's keep our fingers crossed and look forward to hearing the good news.

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Caterpillar

2:32 p.m. Looks like something's come up with the anti-virus we're using. I want to search and find out what exactly the problem is, and its solution, so that I don't have to worry my mind over it.

Though unfortunately, I have another session starting in three minutes and, Cow is out to the dentist.

4:10 p.m. Cow has come back and been updating the software. I guess it's not just the software thing, but things seem to be getting him a bit frustrated. I just hope that he wouldn't take it out on me.

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Caterpillar

5:02 p.m. The anti-virus problem has been solved after much fussing and struggling. A dialogue had been showed in the process of updating the software, asking if we'd like to reboot, to which we clicked "Yes, reboot now" as response.

We thought we were following the right procedure, but we were demanded by the computer to choose to reboot either on safe mode or the usual mode on the familiar black screen. Apparently, the updating files seem to have been broken when we didn't shut down the computer in the appropriate manner, although we thought we had.

We fixed the files, rebooted, and anti-virus started working as ther was nothing wrong. Big deal.

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Caterpillar

2:15 p.m. When things happen, they seem to happen all at once.

Gentil Donna is going to run in Dubai Sheema Classic early tomorrow morning (Japan time), while Orfevre is running his first race of this season, Sankei Osaka-hai, tomorrow afternoon. Two of our champion horses both starting their season on the same day, what a coincidence, eh?

Wonder how Gentil Donna would perform. As for Orfevre, I also wonder if he could be the lucky winner this year, since he'd screwed up his first race last year. After all, he's THE horse with a background. For your information, his win odds is 1.1 to 1 as of 2 o'clock this afternoon.

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Caterpillar

10:33 p.m. Gentil Donna, unable to catch St Nicholas Abbey, finished in second place while Orfevre had beat all the rivals beneath him.

I guess you can't simply compare the two horses since their circumstances were completely different. Orfevre HAD TO win this race after screwing up last year, and he performed as he was expected to. Looks like he made a proper start this year. Gentil Donna, on the other hand, has lost. But considering she was running a grade one, overseas, in a while, after that deadheat with Orfevre in Japan Cup last year, I think it wasn't a bad performance. She'd probably perform better in the next race.

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Caterpillar