Stepping out into Dogenzaka Crossing -- the busiest intersection in the world -- I was tweaked awake by a thousand new sights and sounds.

ENGADGET: This is the Modem World: Japan is not weird

When the iPad Mini was released in November of last year, there were few opening-bell lines at Apple stores, few foaming-at-the-mouth fanboys crossing out the days on their calendars, and few folks who viewed the device as much more than Apple getting in the seven-inch tablet game because, well, they pretty much had to at that point.

FORBES: How The iPad Mini Became A Stealth Success

The first task, which previous research has shown to deplete self-control, was tediously crossing out all the Es on a page from a statistics book.

FORBES: Need a Self-Control Boost? Gargle with Sugar Water!

Three tries in 13 minutes from Chris Nero, Paul Sykes and Chris Menzies set the pace, Brett Kearney also crossing to carve out a 24-6 lead at the break.

BBC: Bradford Bulls 58-16 Leigh Centurions

When painting the start of the stripe at Checkpoint Charlie, a former east- west border-crossing where new building has almost entirely blotted out the past, Eberhard Diepgen, Berlin's mayor, felt obliged to calm unease by declaring that there was no intention to split the city again.

ECONOMIST: Berliners see red

The Watford-based team, though, were right back in it four minutes into the second period when Strettle made amends for his earlier misjudgement - crossing on the overlap following a sweeping passing movement out wide.

BBC: C'mont Auvergne 25-10 Saracens

These have included one about Saladin, the (Kurdish) warrior who drove the crusaders out of Jerusalem, a film about the Iran-Iraq war and one about the Egyptian crossing of the Suez Canal in 1973.

ECONOMIST: On the very eve, Baghdadis were still optimistic

This T-shirt had a certain factual, hyperbole-denied charm one could imagine its scrupulous screen-printer, one eye turned to the AL East standings, taking a red pen and crossing out BATTLE, CONFLICT, SHOWDOWN, CLASH, and even FACE OFF.

WSJ: The Zombie Red Sox Trudge On - Jason Gay