the web-log

At the behest of friends an’ family, I gave in and started up this online journal for my stay in Japan. It doesn’t get updated nearly as much as I would like, and most of the “good stuff” is never even considered for it (I mean come on, this isn’t livejournal), but I try and get most of my exploits up on here if I think they’re interesting enough. I expect it to have a total lifespan of a year or so; will probably be in some other country come next summer, and I’ll need the NEXT in a series of fantastic adventure-travelogues.

the boy

MICHAEL GOINS is currently a student at Ryukoku University, studying at the Seta campus and working on a (finally settled on) degree in linguistic anthropology. His hobbies include harping, game design, cooking, and getting lost. He has a younger brother (whom he worries about), parents (whom he worries), and some scattered ancillary family. He enjoys drinkin’ rum (Myer’s dark) and whiskey (Tullamore Dew) and singin’ sea shanties, and keeps the beard because he thinks it makes him look less boring than he really is.

Current goal: walk around Japan for the next eight months, because travelling makes him feel good.

books:

Neuromancer, I’m Just Here for the Food, the Rediscovery of Man

authors:

Bill Watterson, Terry Pratchett, A. A. Milne, Cordwainer Smith

music:

Better Than Ezra, the Smashing Pumpkins, Johnny Collins, Silly Wizard, Clancey Brothers & Tommy Makem, They Might Be Giants, the Pillows, Jack Johnson, the Decemberists

television:

Firefly (best show EVER), House (guilty pleasure), FLCL

games:

Quest for Glory II, Monkey Island 2, Vagrant Story, Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri, Sim City 3000