Slow news day? Tell me about it. A promising Afghan constitution has survived debate; terrorists in Iraq are losing men, arms and confidence by the hour; much of the world has settled back down into day-to-day business (which is welcome, unremarkable as it may be); Spirit has yet to start roving to discover or photograph anything surprising, shocking or stunning; even the Corner is throwing cards into hats, debating on the meaning, origin and social significance of the term "neoconservative."
Ah, but the humdrum stops short of distant shores, as Japanese firemen perform 300-year-old, acrobatic stunts for the benefit of an eager, taxpaying public:
The December 2003 issue of National Geographic ran a story on Japan that included a photograph of firemen: even their uniform designs - shaped like samurai armor - are throwbacks to history. Impeccable service notwithstanding, American fire departments could learn a thing or two about color. Truant sumo, bullet trains on closed circuits, calligraphy bees and more are in this week's head-tilt-and-sigh for the nation ranking third in economic power and first in quirky style.