4:00 p.m. At last. I've found a movie of cats drifting with F1 car sound effects which I was thinking of putting a link here, but the link I'd found has somehow been replaced by some other new ones, and I lost track of it.

It didn't hit me until over 30 minutes later that I should've searched on YouTube, rather than checking every link in that web page. Anyway, I've found it so here you are. Cats drifting. (With sound effects)

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Caterpillar

3:02 p.m. The typhoon still seems to be hovering somewhere near the eastern coast of Tokyo. The succession of typhoons are something like seasonal events in Japan, since they usually come around this time of year, when the sea temperature is till high from the summer heat. In other words, it's something that reminds us that the season is shifting to autumn.

Here's a black bear enjoying the passing summer season in Whistler, Canada. Black Bear Summer Skiing in Whistler. Ooooh, I want to try that too!

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Caterpillar

3:59 p.m. Oh, no. It wasn't a time to be enjoying summer ‘weeee!’ skiing. Lanfranco Dettori has fallen during a race at Nottingham, U.K. I repeat. Lanfranco Dettori has fallen.

According to netkeiba.com, he has fallen off his horse during a race and his heel bone has been fractured, forcing him to stay out of races at least until the end of this year. That gets him off Trev. He can't ride in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Too bad for him, but could it be good news for the Japanese horses?

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Caterpillar

4:04 p.m. The barrier draw of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is supposed to be announced on October 4th, that is, today. Oh, I forgot it probably wasn't in Japan time. Considering the time difference, which must be about 8 hours, give or take a few, it must be around 8 o' clock in the morning in France now.

Hmm..., must wait until midnight, I guess.

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Caterpillar

1:48 p.m. The barrier draws have been announced yesterday evening around 8 PM Japan time. I'll put the post numbers first and the horse numbers after them following a hyphen. Okay, so here we go. 1-1 Very Nice Name, 2-5 Meandre, 3-9 Pirika, 4-7 Going Somewhere, 5-11 Leading Light, 6-15 Ruler of the World, 7-10 Flintshire, 8-6 Orfevre, 9-17 Intello, 10-13 Penglai Pavilion, 11-14 Kizuna, 12-2 Novellist, 13-12 Ocovango, 14-4 Joshua Tree, 15-18 Treve, 16-16 Sahawar, 17-8 Haya Landa, 18-3 Al Kazeem. For details, please refer to the following website: France Galop

My impression is that Orfevre and Kizuna both drew good post numbers. I think Treve also drew a good post because she might perform better in outer posts. I have a hunch she's doesn't like to be squashed in the field. Novellist, I'm not sure, but could be tough to beat. Though if Orfevre should lose, the most likely chance would be against a three-year-old, since they're carrying much lighter weight.

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Caterpillar

11:40 p.m. It was Trev who won the Arc. Orfevre came in second and Kizuna, fourth.

Can't say for sure, but the pace seemed quite slow. Don't think the pace worked against Orfevre, though. He was squashed in the field around the last corner, but wasn't tossing his head or anything. He was calm. But he was left behind when Trev shifted into top gear. The soft track condition and the weight, perhaps, might have been the reason for Orfevre's loss. Kizuna took a great position at the enterance of the homestretch, but he too, couldn't generate enough speed to catch the French Oaks winner. It was a let down, yes, but this is horse race.

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Caterpillar

3:18 p.m. Maybe next year, we should take a 3-year-old female horse to the Arc. She'd only have to carry 54.5kg.

I can't be bickering about the Arc all week, though. We're having Shuka-sho this weekend. Must check out the member and start thinking about winning.

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Caterpillar

3:17 p.m. The trainer of Gold Ship has revealed that there is a plan to challenge the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe next fall.

Wait a minute. The horse has just lost in a G2 prep race for the Japan Cup, and the crew is suggesting the 58kg weight as one of the cause of his loss. If that is true, how do they expect the horse to win carrying 59.5kg in the Arc? Besides, I don't think he would do well in that extremely slow pace.

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Caterpillar

2:20 p.m. I've bought some freeze-dried vegeies and ready-made food to send them to a friend living overseas.

It all started when I discovered a freeze-dried daikon-oroshi (grated horseradish) pacckage at a nearby supermarket. In a second, my mind jumped from A to B to X, and remembered that a friend living overseas was craving for Japanese vegetables. This is it. It can be sent by post since it's freeze-dried, not raw. It's also very light, so the shipping fees won't cost that much. Great!

I took this opportunity to search a bit about freeze-dried vegetables, and found out that there were also freeze-dried ready-made dishes from curry, hayashi rice, omu rice, to oyakodon. It's amazing. Oyakodon, fon instance, includes cooked rice, so all you have to do it open the content of the package in a bowl and pour boiling water over it. Wow. I've got to try this some time.

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Caterpillar

3:54 p.m. Cow is furious. He's infuriated because he's been encountering dog poops left on the sidewalks so often.

The number of people having dogs as pets have increased rapidly in the past couple of decades here in Japan, given the background that more and more housing complexes are allowing to raise pets indoors. Unfortunately, though, some of these dog owners don't seem to have learned pet-related public manners, such as keep them on a leash when going outside, or keep them quiet in public places, or taking care of there droppings.

Cow has been complaining about the owners' lack of morals and responsibility, to which I can't agree more. I love animals, but that doesn't mean I like to step on dog poops.

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Caterpillar

4:25 p.m. So I was wandering around the web to see if I can find any ways to stop ill-mannered dog owners from leaving dog poops on the sidewalks. And I bumped tinto this. Easy-Peasy Life Hacks That Will Save You Time and Frustration.

These weren't about pet owner manners, but some of them really made the scales fall from my eyes. Think I can try 1, 5, 7, 11, 13 and 23 right away. I don't approve 17, though. What if it was an emergency?

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Caterpillar

3:49 p.m. It's almost mid-October. And today's high was 32 degrees Celsius... What is going on?

What's even worse is that Cow had washed the filter of the air conditioner so I had to work without it in this heat. It was so hot, I fell asleep as I sat at the computer after the sessions with my clients. I just revived with a glass of iced coffee and a chocolate roo cake. Mmmm. There has been no time (nor energy) to call the Shuka-sho running tomorrow. Sorry, folks.

They say a north wind is going to blow in and the temperature is going to drop to 20 degrees by 9 o'clock this evening, though I just can't imagine that to happen. Not at this moment.

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Caterpillar

9:03 p.m. Have blown my chance again.

I've made the silliest mistake of buying a trio wheel keying two horses in Shukasho, only to cut down expenses. I keyed Denim and Ruby together with Ever Blossam. Why did I do such a thing? I thought Denim and Ruby would come within third place, and Ever Blossam has recovered from her weight loss before the previous Rose Stakes, possibly rumored to come from unsuccessful transportation to the Hanshin race track.

The result was a disaster. Denim and Ruby started to charge up before she reached the last corner, probably from fear that she might not catch the leader, eventually sinking in fourth place, while I was misinterpreting the 0kg gain in Ever Bloosom's weight as okay, because she didn't lose weight. What it really meant was that she lost her weight before Rose Stakes and she hadn't regained 1kg since then. Wake up, WAKE UUUUUUP!!

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Caterpillar

9:47 p.m. Seems like we're in for another typhoon. It's the 26th this year, and they're saying that it's going to be the most powerful this season. All day there had been warnings about the aproaching typhoon, to brace up for the possible landing on southern Kanto.

Am sick and tired of typhoons. We've been having one in nearly every week since the end of August. We've been bothered with them for over two months now, come to think of it. It's time the sea temperature dropped, isn't it? As I've said, it's already mid October, you know.

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Caterpillar

3:38 p.m. The rain that started falling in the morning, gradually seems to be getting heavier. It is said to reach the peak around 9 to 12 tonight.

Cow has agreed to release me from work earlier today, considering the possible confusion in public transportation. Or maybe he just want to get rid of me. Either way, I have no objection. So am going to leave early today, though I haven't done much work. It was a slow day anyway.

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Caterpillar

4:23 p.m. I think I was four or five when I first met Anpan-man. The teachers in my pre-school would play children's stories on LP during our nap time, and I was shocked to hear the story of Anpan-man who would tear his face made of Anpan to feed hungry children.

In my teenage, I discovered that there was an Anime of Anpan-man being broadcasted on TV. That was the first time I'd ever heard the opening theme now known as Anpan-man March.

A couple of years ago, I learned on a TV documentary program, about the life Takashi Yanase, the creater of Anpan-man had lived. The war, the loss of his friend, the pain he's gone through, the birth of this character called Anpan-man, and that Yanase himself had written the lyrics for the Anpan-man March. The most important essence of life in the simplest words. You have completed your mission in this world. Mr. Yanase. Please rest in peace. Hope you're now meeting your lost friend and all the Japanese Manga Gods up there.

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Caterpillar

4:01 p.m. I received an e-mail from the friend to whom I'd sent freeze-dried vegetables the other day.

Since the contents were all freeze-dried, the whole package only weighed 190 grams, so I sent it via small packet postal service. I was a bit worried that the contents might be confiscated, but looks like everything was intact. The ready-made freeze-dried curry packet seemed to have earned a lot of credit.

I'm putting this on the Web so that someone who might be wondering what to send to their friends overseas and how might find it useful.

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Caterpillar

3:40 p.m. News broke out that Glee's next season, season six, would be their final season. According to the Ryan Murphy, the executive producer of Glee, it was originally going to be focused on Rachel (Lea Michele) and Fin (Corey Montieth), but it seems his plan has been derailed a bit by the death of Corey Montieth.

Meanwhile, Lea has made her first appearance before Glee fans after her boyfriend's death, to express her thanks to the Glee fans who supported her. Lea Michele's Speech at the Teen Choice Awards 2013

A touching speech. It must have been unimaginabley hard for her to accept the unexpected departure of Corey, and to get back to the Glee shooting. I'm glad that season 6 is going to be the final. It shows how much they respect him. Without Corey, there would be no Glee.

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Caterpillar

2:51 p.m. Pondering about Kikkasho.

Epiphaneia seems to be leading the others considering the results of the Kobe Shinbun-hai, but he's drawn an inner post. He might give up the race when he's forced to stay on the inside at a slow pace. The horse seems quite hard to please, as I see it. So there's some risk.

My interest is currently on K.I. Chosan, Hiraboku Deep, Satono Noblesse and Yule Singing. That's four horses. Perfect for a wheel.

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Caterpillar

9:24 p.m. I was going to buy all the the horses that had Deep Impact as sire, just to be on the safe side when betting on races run at Kyoto, until I got up this morning. The rain that had begun falling last night was still falling. Not just falling, but seemed to be getting heavier every hour. I checked the track condition of Kyoto on the JRA site, and discovered it was very soft. Which means extremely soft. That almost altomatically means that Epiphaneia would win. Only the powerful horses would be able to perform well in such condition. The children of Deep Impact? Naaaaw, definitely not powerful. So I cut out all of them including Satono Noblesse.

Two Deep Impact heirs have come in 5th place, Satono Noblesse in 2nd. Ouch.

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Caterpillar

3:28 p.m. The Orionids meteor shower is said to have its peak this evening, just around 7 o'clock.

Unfortunately, though, we're having a near full moon tonight. Also, am not sure if the now overcast sky above Tokyo would clear up by that time. But if all goes well, there may be 10 to 15 meteors (per hour) observed from around 7 this evening, to the small hours of tomorrow.

For those whose heart might be discouraged by the loss of Kikkasho, it might cheer you up a bit, but don't for get to bundle up in warm clothes since the temperature might drop.

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Caterpillar

2:08 p.m. How much longer do we have to bear typhoons?

There are two observed on the southeast coast of Japan, with one coming this way, predicted to take a sharp eastward turn heading up to Kanto area towards the end of the week. It's supposed to get close to Tokyo some time on 27th, Sunday, according to the weather forecast as of this morning.

What would happen to Tennou-sho if it lands on 27th? I've never heard of a G1 race being postponed or cancelled. Oh, please.

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Caterpillar

2:22 p.m. For those who are in despair or cannot recover from the loss of Kikkasho, I've found a compilation video that you can restore your faith with.

But before I show you, here are compilations of guilty dogs. It makes you feel that dogs really understand our words when they behave guiltily; doing an I-give-up-pose showing their stomachs, backing up with guilty expressions on their faces, or showing their teeth for obedience, whenever they hear, " Did you do this?" Ultimate Funny Guilty Dog Compilation 2013 PT 2

Oh, and here's Part 1. Ultimate Funny Guilty Dog Video Compilation 2013 PT 1

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Caterpillar

3:54 p.m. So now, the link to the compilation video that you can restore your faith with. People Restoring Our Fiath in Humanity 2013.

It makes you feel that this world is still not such a bad place to live after all. My best respect to the heros of the world.

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Caterpillar

3:34 p.m. It's Tenno-sho week. JRA has been promoting the autumn Tenno-sho for a couple of weeks now, with banners hanging in Keio lines and posters of past champion horses, pinned up on every column of the Inokashira line platform in Shibuya station.

I think it was the beginning of the week that I realized that there was a life-sized model of Vodka, the 2008 champion, displayed near the escalators that goes down to the entrance of Mark City. As I passed by it, I noticed that the horse had a rather short torso. If the real Vodka had such a short torso, I bet she wouldn't have won Tenno-sho or the Japanese D'erby. Another thing that I noticed was that there was a security guard standing next to the model. I wonder how much he's paid per day.

It seems like we are going out of range of the typhoon, with Sunday being predicted to be sunny according to the forecast. But you never know until the last minute.

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Caterpillar

2:52 p.m. Suddenly cold, thanks to the drizzly weather. Weren't typhoons something that come during warm season?

Humph. I've been staring holes into the race form, but the more I look at it, the more it feels like Tokei Halo is going to blow it. The reasons are mainly two; a)the horse hasn't performed so well on Tokyo tracks, and b)if the weather clears up by race time tomorrow, he wouldn't have that soft turf condition which would work as an advantage.

Considering the risks, I'm beginning to think that Gentil Donna would be the safer bet to key on the wheel.

Oh, gees. I just realized that I failed to record my meeting. I thought I had it all on voice memo, which turned out to be my wishful thinking.

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Caterpillar

9:42 p.m. As I'd feared, Tokei Halo has blown it perfectly. And as I'd said, I keyed Gentil Donna on my trifecta.

It's just that I didn't have either Just Away nor Eishin Flash on my wheel.

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Caterpillar

3:39 p.m. Looking back on Tennou-sho. It turned out that the pace wasn't exceptionally fast. Just slightly faster than average. I should rather say, that track condition was everything after all. The top three horses were all good at very firm condition.

I was thinking that the rain might remain a bit to leave the track dry on the surface, but soft and cushioned when stepped on, and given that condition, it would be an advantage to Tokei Halo. Additionally, I thought that Tokei Halo would lead the race at a moderate pace, in order not to overpace himself to let Yutaka Take's memorial 100th G1 victory slip away. I was wrong. Dead wrong.

As I passed by Shibuya station this afternoon, somehow the place ws deserted with merely occasional passerbys in twos and threes. The usual bustle was nowhere to be seen, and so was the short-torsoed Vodka model. What a short life.

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Caterpillar

4:37 p.m. While I've been bickering about Tenno-sho, the Major League World Series is coming to its climax.

The Red Sox has taken the lead again with 3 games against the Cardinals. One more. One more win and the Champion ring is going to be yours, Uehara. Let's see some "Zasso-damashi"!

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Caterpillar

1:40 p.m. The other day, I dropped by a BookOff (used books chain) in a while to find Lord of the Rings in the Foreign Books corner. Since the book has recently been a hot topic between some of my friends and myself, I bought the English version of "The Fellowship of the Ring" on impulse and have started reading. Of course I've read the story before, but that was in my mother tongue, Japanese, so I've always wanted to read it in English, though I couldn't quite bring myself up to it, from fear that it may be too difficult for my English skills.

Have only read to the part where Gandalf is explaining about the ring to Frodo, but the more I read, the more I realize the similarities between Harry Potter. And I'm not saying about the names of characters or places (it had never occurred to me that the family name of Neville Longbottom had been taken from the name of the place where pipeweed grows since it was translated as Naga-kubo in Japanese), but I am beinning to feel that the two stories seem to be miraculously alike in many parts.

Is it one of those rare coincidences? Or has J. K. Rowling been strongly "influenced" by Tolkien? Whichever it is, as much as I'd enjoyed Harry Potter, my disappointment is overwhelming.

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Caterpillar

2:35 p.m. My desperate atttempt to pick up free wifi signals while I was on the sub has earned me great news. The Red Sox has beat the Cardinals! Yes! Yeeeeeessss!

Congrats! Congrats! You've both done a great job, Tazawa, and Uehara! You guys are the world champion now! I'm not a Boston fan but I'm very proud of you two as a Japanese.

Man, it always feels great to see hard work rewarded.

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Caterpillar