Another first: Masuku

Or mask. I'm sure folks have seen these face masks used by celebrities like Michael Jackson and Madonna when they're traveling, or just hiding their face in public, but in countries like Japan, they're used to prevent catching a cold from others who have them, help reduce the effect of pollen related allergies, prevent others from catching your cold, or in some cases, lined with a Vicks vaprorub type solution and actually used as medication.

My throat hurt basically the first day I was in LA, thanks in no small part to the amount of smoke from the various fires. Traveling on little sleep couldn't have helped, nor could the quick temperature change from around 50 in Japan to close to 90 in LA the weekend I was there. It's gotten worse since that first day, and I probably have my own habits to blame (staying up late, drinking beer, not really eating ANY veggies or fruit in LA). In any case, on my virgin mask voyage, here's how I look at work today.