Happy Independence Day!

I'd heard rumours that the Bush administration had plans to secretly move Independence Day to July 2 in order to foil possible terrorist plots (and also any plans the average American might have to participate in the occasion). Luckily, no such move was made, and so Americans (unlike some others) get to enjoy their superficial celebration of independence on its advertised date.

As my contribution to this momentous day, I bought a new bag/briefcase. It was tragic, but it was an emergency and I had no choice. Until now I've been using the brown bloated monster of a briefcase that my Grandpa used in the seventies (or maybe even sixties). Please understand, I'm quite attached to this briefcase, so much so that I affectionately dubbed it "Kneecapper", in recognition of the salutary effect it has on some of the more impudent of my fellow commuters.

But I'm afraid it's seen better days; its left latch is now mostly dead. Now, when I rush off the train in my customary manner, weilding Kneecapper like a mighty briefcase-shaped maul, only the tenderest balance of torque and friction prevents the thing from splitting open and thereby scattering a variety of papers, a travel-sized container of Tylenol, my lunchbox, some spare pens and pencils, two 20-sided dice, a sheaf of old bill stubs, 3 anti-histamine pills, a small bottle of moisturizer, a thermos full of coffee, a pair of chopsticks, 2 packages of tissue paper/advertising, a screw of unknown origin, several plastic bags, etc., to the four corners of the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Have a good retirement, Kneecapper. I'll always remember the times we spent together in the Tokyo subway system.