Great things in Japan

Japan lets you rent music CDs. Today I rented 2 CDs for 330 yen (about $3.50). Now it is perfectly legal for me to upload the songs onto my computer and iPod. How and why is it legal? I don't know. But it is, and I like it. :-)

Also, today was my first time to use a music rental store. I chose Tsutaya because it's close to my work, and I've been there with friends before. I ran into two of my students on the way there, and they volunteered to help me get a membership card, even though their English is less than my Japanese. What amazing girls. They marched up to the counter with me and took charge - filling out all my forms and answering all of the clerks questions. It warmed my heart. While at Tsutaya, I saw 18 of my students. Wow. Renting CDs is popular.