It all started in November 2002.  I was bored and sitting at the computer, so I went to www.google.com and typed in "Rock n' Roll Robot."  As would any level headed individual in a similar situation.  To my surprise it came up with this page for a Japanese t-shirt company called F30 t-shop.  A t-shirt with rock n' roll robot on it and one of the weirdest designs I have ever seen accompanying it.  I knew after
viewing it that I had to own it and so began the process.  Initially I tried to use their order sheet set up, but since I don't understand Japanese at all this posed a problem.        Regardless I filled out how I thought the form should go, and off it went.  I received an e-mail reply in Japanese and realized that the communication barrier was something that I needed to solve if my goal of ownership was ever to be achieved.  Initially I bothered skilled AOL users and had them help me translate, but I figured that was only a temporary solution.  So I wouldn't bother strangers who could lie to me anymore.  Luckily I had the assistance of Joshua Murray known to most mainly from his multiple guestbook entries.  With his assistance we were quickly able to solve this issue, and here is the fruits of our labor: こんにちはF30T-shopです。 先日ご注文をいただいたようなのですが、記入漏れ、文字化けのため こちらで内容を確認できませんでした。 もし、正式なご注文であればご連絡いただけますでしょうか？ ※尚、この内容に心当たりがない場合は破棄していただいて結構です。 equals: hello..this is F30T-shop it seems like you might have made an order to us but some part of the form is unfilled and I cannot read some of them, so that I cannot confirm the order.  if you ordered, please contact us again. p.s. if you do not know what I'm saying disregard.       SUCCESS!  We were now slightly in business and I now was able to use the program to inform them that I wanted to know how much and order the Rock n' Roll Robot t-shirt (F-0017).  So I won't bore you (I wish) with the details of the initial miscalculation from Yen to U.S.D. and what-not; however the fact that the form of payment required was wiring money into their bank account, proposed a whole new set of sticky circumstances.
	Basically I had to go through my bank account because they were the least of the rip offs.  Small banks and Western Union are for suckers when it comes to International wire transferring.  So the total of $32 I can understand including shipping and what-not, but FUCK the GREAT cost of wiring turned out to be a flat fee of $40.  So there I was $72 in the hole and nothing to show for it yet.