Jay got the Shot

I've already wished J of JaR Merry Xmas, but I haven't wished him Happy New Year yet.

Happy New Year Jay!

I'm finally on-line at full speed now, so I can surf back to JaR and check out his work. He's done a bit more organizing of his side of the site, and he's got a couple BEAUTIFUL shots in his new section. Great work J, love how sharp this image is.
Geisha move fast...
See the thing is, we've been chasing Maiko (or Geisha) around Kyoto for like two years, maybe three. And, despite their appearance, they move fast! I suppose that's cuz folks are always pestering them so much. And to add to that they only really come out at dusk. When the light is terrible. So for Jay to have gotten an image this crisp (using his 300mm I assume, which in itself is a super score also) is amazing.

So, congrats Jay, and hope this year brings you more awards and rewards. Keep shooting.

Party til you ... Well you can guess...

Yup, they make doubles stronger in the USofA, and everyone was having so much fun, they forgot to remind me. Actually it was a really wonderful NYE dispute the lack of ability to focus sometime around 1:40 AM. Now, this is supposed to be a better reflection of me as a budding photographer, but we all have our moments, and stories.

His Name is Basil.

No, that's not the story I'm talking about above. It's the name of the person, whom I admire a lot, but whose name was completely gone from my brain by the time I saw him on NYE. Now, I'm a little angry at him, cuz he wouldn't save me from my embarrassment. Not permanently angry, just a little angry at him for leaving me hanging. Understand that I hadn't verbalized his name for approximately 3 years. 3 BRACKEN YEARS BAS!!! GIMME A BREAK! ;)

This is the Theme to Barny Miller, this is the Bar Bar Bar...

Anyway, that was the start of the party at Cap Hill that I went to. Such a great party. The best part was that I managed to see a huge ton of people that I hadn't seen in, like, forever. Saw a guy from back in Uni, Bri C. He didn't recognize me, but he looked good, and the same (strangely). I saw my old UIYG palette V.B. (that's an Aussie joke I'll explain to her later.) and she had her boy in tow. Then of course I saw Bas and he's working with a guy named John that was part of another troupe of comedians that had worked with us while we were doing UIYG (By the way, that means Up In Your Grill which has since become partly Flaming Box of Stuff). Then I was blessed by the goddess that night an my lovely friend who'd moved to S.F. came up to see her family came out to the event as well. That was a lovely time. She was wearing a nice leopard print... well... probably shouldn't share that info on line. Gosh, then there were probably a whole host of others. I remember seeing a guy who used to hang at the old Vogue, and a guy Jose was a friend of a friend. Shucks. Not like I'm giving an Emmy speech or anything... Anyway, lots of people, lots of drinks, lots of laughs. And I actually saw the Space Needle blow up, just J from SF knew where to stand.

Drank a full clip.

So, then, the next day was a complete loss. Now it's the 3rd? Sheesh. Well, again I say Happy New Year everyone. May all you Seattle Comedians and other Performers have a fruitful and funny year. Best of luck to all the Seattle Groups I knew know and love. TA!

Happy New Year!!!

Whew, made it!
Welcome to the New Year everyone.

Have a Glorious New Year's Eve Everyone!

Culture Shock Review

Folks keep asking me about culture shock. They assume that I had completely forgotten what life was like in The America. Well, they weren't completely wrong. The most dominant of these was driving... well, actually it was being the passenger. I've had a terrible time being a passenger. Now, to my credit, both my mother and my brother had a few wiggy moments on the roads recently, which didn't help matters. But that doesn't explain the continuing paranoidism. ;)

... don't mean they're not after you ...

I'm just jumpy right now I guess. I'm hoping to get over it. One thing though was that I was "the driver" most of the time before I left for Japan. Now that I'm back, I don't have a car of my own. Which leads to the second semi-culture shock. DAMN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS SLOW IN SEATTLE!!! I used it to get from Sea-Tac to Everett. TOOK 4 HOURS!!! That's the same time it takes to get from Osaka to Tokyo. And Japanese think that's a very long way! Me too quite frankly. So, as a result, my urge to be a carless American is disintigrating very qiuckly.

... get your motor runnin' ...

Then, I guess the normal set of things people would assume are affecting me. Talking to people that I don't know, cuz they understand what I'm saying. Trying to order food in a fast food joint. Also, digestion (which I'll refrain from describing) is an issue.

... kill your television ...

Lastly there's TiVo. My brother got it for my parents for Xmas. Now I had been uploading TV shows while in Japan. But TiVo is actually pretty cool. Nuff said. I guess there's a lot more that I'll be discoverring in the next few months. But things are too frantic right now to piece everything together.

When I'm 64...

Pop turned 64 yesterday. Had a great day deciding whether or not we'd feed him. In the end we decided we would. Also, my cousin E and Ing came to celebrate with Ing's mom (also my cousin, I got one brother, mother and father, but about 30 cousins... Strange.) Anyway, E told me that she actually checked out my blog. So that makes three people. But she said that I had to keep posting pictures. (Hi E ^wave^, think I could get a job with Nike? Sounds like you got a easy job. ^wink^) hehe ;)

Okay E, here's a shot from HR!

It's actually a picture from a couple of years ago, since there was a snow storm today and had no intention of going out in it. But tomorrow I'm hoping I'll be able to get some tomorrow. Second problem is that I accidentally put my camera's USB cable in the stuff that I am shipping home from Japan via ship. So I got about 150 images that I want to work with, but they're stuck in the camera for now. So, for my three fans, thank you for keeping up with me and my photos. Tell your friends. And have a happy holiday!

Back in the USSA

Yes, I do know how lucky I am... I've be watching the news... But frankly I really can't tell how long I've been gone. They seem to be running the same stories that they were running when I left after X-mas two years ago. I'm VERY happy to be back though! I've seen all my bestest friends once or twice now, and I realize how much I miss(ed) them. I'm going to do my best to get as much time as I can with them before real life catches up with me again.

Still Here

So, a week... no ...two weeks have gone by, and I still have no idea if anyone (except my good friends Tra and Mic) are reading this blog. Mother's being Mom's have a habit of saying... Oh, there's more on your blog now. I haven't checked since you sent me that last message in April. CHEESE!!! Well, I'm also disappointed in Ms. BK, who inspired me to continue with this self congratulatory masturbatory exercise. But she has since continued on her merry way, finding new and more interesting people.

Warning 1

So, until I get three confirmed readers, I'm going to switch to a weekly posting. If I find that people are actually out there. Then I'll up the postings.

OH, I'm home... Thought I was still dreaming.

Hidey Hidey Ho!

Well, I've finally gathered all the pieces, so I'm back in one piece again. Gained a slight bonus; I'm waking up rested at 8am. Which is very rare for me. I've been in touch (actually accosted) with lil R and his circle, and then went to watch a Seahawks game (why?dunno) with my Bro on Monday. Mostly I did it for the BEER!!! AHHHH BEAUTIFUL WASHINGTON MICROBREWS!

Love it.

My parents are in Hawaii this week, so I've got the place to myself, and I'm just basically sitting a giggling at commercials. I'm just about to make contact with the SOURCE. The Aims. Then I'll be up to see them on Thursday. Then It's the weekend, and on Saturday, I'm going to the Macha Monkey Auction... etc...
Glad I'm back, and though it may sound wierd, I'm glad Tacoma is being regentrified, or else I'd have had to drive to Seattle to make this post.

Good Bye Osaka

露武

Okay, so there'rs so many free internet places, I couldn't resist... this time it's good bye... and check out this cool Japanese Keyboard...

刃か ﾔﾛ ﾛ婆と ｵｵﾊﾞﾝﾉﾝ 簿 ﾌﾞ 奉 侮 露武

Paid $1000 to ship my stuff home...

...and the guy who packed my stuff harrased me about such a brief packing list. He insisted that I make a more detailed one with prices. So, I just made one. And, since the Home Security Whatchamaguys Have their GRUBBY MITS in everything these days, I figured I'd do a full disclosure of what I'm sending home... Enjoy Noseys.

Box 1

Various Used Hard Backed Novels
Various Used Soft Backed Novels
Notebooks from Japan
Photo Albums of Japan
Photo Frame Cutter
Empty Bottles with Labels

Box 2

Various Hard Backed Novels
Various Soft Backed Novels
Photography Books
Japanese Study Books
Travel Guides
Shodo Set

Box 3

Used DVD Player
DVD:s and CD:s
Various Hard Back Novels
Small Charms from Temples
Extension Cords

Box 4

6 Bowls
10 Cups
2 Backpacks
Memorabilia from Temple Visits

Box 5

Suits
Pants
Shorts
Summer Business Shirts
Memorabilia from Kobe and Wakayama

Box 6

Sweatshirt
Slacks and Pants
Jeans
2 Halloween Masks
Stuffed Cthulhu Toy
Bicycle Helmet
Turkish Bell Strings

Box 7

2 Pillows
Used Flat Screen TV 16"
PC Monitor (minutely defective) 17"
Soft Back Book
Power Strip
Joystick
Empty Nori Can
Empty Green Tea Candy Can

Box 8

US Micro-ATX Computer with Windows
(Purchased in the US, includes: Pentium 2.8GHz Processor, 1024Mb RAM, 40G HD, CD/DVD-RW, Floppy Drive, 128Mb Video Card)
Wireless Mouse
PC-Camera
Headset
2 Power Cables
2 16pin Cables
4 USB Cables

Box 9

Giant OCR III Road Bike with City Handlebars

Final Post from Nippon

Here's one last image from my trip to Tokyo in 2002.

enjoy the wierdness...

You see, it's finally time to pack the PC. This means that unless I visit a web-cafe (and remember all my passwords) I won't be posting again in Japan. Boo hoo... etc. I'd like to thank all the people who've helped me over the years... etc.

Aw, heck!

I'm going to be seeing all y'all soon enough anyway... So, this is Rob, signing off... Oh-ya-sume-nisai. See you in the US.

Fun Car Go!!! clap clap clap!

Finally drove in Japan. Got this cute little step-van by Nissan. Not actually a car I'd like to own, but it's sure cute. Also, doesn't really have any guts. Anyway, went for a beautiful drive over the "mountains" between Kyoto and Lake Biwa. Drove over the "pass". (Took 25 minutes...pff.) The view was beautiful, would have taken some pictures, but I was driving. Not sure why no one else did, but whatever. Then we tried to go around the lower part of lake Biwa, but my navigation system failed me, and we ended up going about 30 minutes the wrong direction. We finally got to Yetanathu-Jo, not impressed. Nothing will ever beat Himeji-jo.
It was great to get a chance to drive once, since I'd gone through all the trouble of getting a international driver's license. And driving on the opposite side of the road isn't really that big a deal. My biggest problem was turning on the windshield wipers every time I took a left or right. Everything else was a cinch.

Macha Monkey Meets StoneMonkey and his sidekick Banana

My cohort, and fellow tradition buster have been blessed with the opportunity to donate a few of our photos. Some friends are having an auction to support their theater troupe. This is very important, since J and I have not had many people from the outside world see our work. Those two people who visit me here are the only other people who've been lucky enough to see my work. Macha Monkey is a worthy cause, and we'll get some good publicity out of it. And, it'll be a great way to get back into the world called US.

Macha Monkey's Auction and Cabaret will be held December 10th at 8pm. (click for MM's site)

The four images that we're presenting are very typical of the style that J and I have developed. I'm a huge fan of landscapes, and he loves details. The four pictures are a culmination of what we've been working for for the past two years. J hadn't really done much photography before he picked up his camera in Japan. And I'd been only using cheapo point and shoots up until I got my first digital camera in Japan. Our style has grown leaps and bounds since we started comparing notes, and critiquing each other's work. And though we're not harsh on each other, we do tell it like it is. Though it helps that we agree with each other quite often.


I'd love for you to come to the show if your in Seattle, and for some crazy reason you read my posts, but don't ever comment (you can always send me an e-mail).

Poor Sick Baci

JM and Mike's dog is sick. Please prey on...er...pray FOR it.

The Law of Accelerating Returns

The Law of Accelerating Returns
by Ray Kurzweil

An analysis of the history of technology shows that technological change is exponential, contrary to the common-sense "intuitive linear" view. So we won't experience 100 years of progress in the 21st century -- it will be more

like 20,000 years of progress

(at today's rate). The "returns," such as chip speed and cost-effectiveness, also increase exponentially. There's even exponential growth in the rate of exponential growth. Within a few decades, machine intelligence will surpass human intelligence, leading to The Singularity -- technological change so rapid and profound it represents a rupture in the fabric of human history. The implications include the merger of biological and nonbiological intelligence, immortal software-based humans, and ultra-high levels of intelligence that expand outward in the universe at the speed of light.

Autumn has come early...

...for this blog. As interest is waning, so will my photography posts...

Mo ee terru!!!

It's On Fire!!!

Just a little hint that Autumn has come to Japan.

Mo ee terru!!!

This is a raw image, still smoking from the camera. Stunning fortune today. Guess someone at the Japanese Weather Control Center knew they owed me one. I did them a bunch of favors at the beginning of summer by using my Washingtonian Rain Maker powers. I swear Japan HAS weather control.
If you've got $1500 burning a hole in your pocket, and can handle a 9 hour economy seat, get your hot crossed buns to Tofukuji. Track 10, from JR Kyoto Station. One stop. Do it.

Sold... American!

Made my first sale today. A friend decided he needed a few altered memories of his visit to Osaka, and got a few bunnies as well. Figure the bunnies were for his new lovely wife. Congratulations Chris and Kris! Glad you found homes for the bunnies.