A little historical aside before I get to the subject.
If you ever drive on I-70 past the sign “Historic Downtown Rocheport” don’t waste your time getting off the highway. Here is a 1-second tour of the place.

Now get back on the road, you still have a couple of hours to go.

St.Louis Japanese Festival is one of the better-organized, meaningful and entertaining festivals in the country. I visited it once before and enjoyed it so much that I didn’t have any reservations about going there again.
The Japanese Festival is once-a-year occasion when otherwise shy Americans release their inner Japanese, normally hidden deep inside, wrap themselves in shower curtains and prance around in uncomfortable wooden flip-flops pretending to like weird-looking food.

My favorite Japanese traditional entertainer Masaji Terasawa was there once again making spun sugar sculptures, origami figures and making fun of the public.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6RRdVvMny8

I have few clips of his performance.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEmquClM-zw”

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfU1bMlBNrg”

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om4ZSP6CBUc”

The Sumo demonstration was probably the highlight of the day since we decided not to stick around for karaoke.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kyfYldKDQM

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KteGdvDOQE

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0butoszJB6c

On the way back I was tempted to get some “Free water in the name of Jesus” but decided against it, just in case it turns into wine and causes me to get a DUI. I wasn’t so sure I could count on Jesus to pay the ticket.

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Russian people know hats. When I was growing up® almost every Soviet citizen owned some variation of a fur hat. You could tell a person social status by the hat: the cheapest ones were made out of rabbit fur and more expensive ones were made out of fox, wolf, sable, mink, beaver (yeah, I said beaver), etc. The typical Russian hat style is ushanka, which simply means a hat with ear-flaps.

Many years ago my Father had a muskrat hat custom made which at that time was very expensive, several times his monthly wages. I have to say that we got our money’s worth because I still own this hat and occasionally wear it to work to the delight of my co-workers.

And  no, my cat is still alive:

Of course in my hometown wearing this hat didn’t attract as much attention as it does here.

And in the army it was a part of the winter uniform:

Policemen wore them (this one is from Finland, which was a part of the USSR for some time):

Regular people wore them:

And even Kissinger put one on when it got cold enough:

Whatever you do, if you are a heterosexual male do not ever leave your house wearing any variation of ear-muffs, ear-warmers or other partial hats (visors included). These devices are the crocs of the hat world. If you are in a bind and a small animal is within reach you can easily have a do-it-yourself hat within seconds.

By the way, if you are in search of a small furry dead animal, please contact Happy In Bag, he will set you up.

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Hall of Famer Enos “Country” Slaughter played for Kansas City Athletics in 1955-1956.

There is a video about this car, not sure why people don’t allow embedding.

More photos.

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One day I was researching looking at pictures of Michael Jackson’s 1984 Victory Tour which launched in Kansas City and then I saw this:

This piece of art was published in a special issue of the Billboard Magazine where everyone from Michael’s accountant to the company which made his tapes took out ads to congratulate Michael Jackson (and slap their own backs in the process)on becoming the King of Pop.

After the first picture I just couldn’t stop. Sorry…

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In the olden days of analog recordings and heavy electronics, music downloading required physical strength, dedication, time, know-how and, most importantly, the source. That’s why when my cousin V. received a record of the Saturday Night Fever from our overseas relatives, I knew I had to have a copy.

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