The Great Northwest

Now that I've decided to head home, I can't wait. I knew I should have waited to make this decision. Not like it would have been any different. It would just have forstalled my daydreaming about seeing all my pals again. This may not be the best time to return... But the Nortwest is my home, and only by leaving something, can we truily gain an appreciation of it. I think...

Very few people treat art as a system of communication which is historically linked with language. If more people were to take this view they would find that their approach to art would change.

- Edward T. Hall

I remember.

Female Ninjas might wear pink lipstic, but they're still ninjas!

In Japan, female 'assassins' look to slay old political guard

''Koizumi is sending out assassins who don't look scary in the beginning because they are women," said Koki Kobayashi, one of the ousted LDP legislators. Now a member of a small conservative party, Kobayashi is facing a showdown with Koike, who is also Koizumi's environmental minister and speaks fluent English and Arabic. Kobayashi said running against Koike was ''a frightening concept."

Take the Bad with the Good...

Everyone is so focussed on the problem(s) in the US. Let's add some perspective... Did about 30 minutes of surfing to find this information... Snap out of it... and stop watching the TV news for all your information. The net's a "free" source of information.

Bad
Belfast wakes up to devastating scene
10.52AM, Sun Sep 11 2005
The city of Belfast is waking up to scenes reminiscent of the worst of the troubles after a night of rioting and skirmishes with police...

Good
Kids vaccine plan 'to save millions'
1.47PM, Fri Sep 9 2005
Amassive immunisation drive to save the lives of 10 million of the world's poorest children is being announced in Manchester...

Bad
Guantanamo hunger strike continues
11.58PM, Fri Sep 9 2005
At
least one British-based man is among up to 200 detainees at Guantanamo Bay who
are in their fifth week of a hunger strike...

Good
Israel declares end to Gaza rule; pullout imminent
Sun Sep 11, 2005
6:59 AM ET
Israel declared an end to its military rule in Gaza on Sunday,
clearing the way to complete its pullout and turn the territory over to the
Palestinians on Monday after 38 years of occupation...

Bad
India's struggle with encephalitis
BBC News - Sep 9, 2005
An
outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has
claimed the lives of nearly 700 children, according to official figures. Aid
agencies say the real toll could be closer to 1,500...

Good
New Polls Find Bush ... Share[s] Blame for Katrina Response
10
September 2005
["Pres."] George Bush [Jr.] and public officials at all
levels of government are getting low marks from the American people for their
response to Hurricane Katrina. In a series of new polls this week, confidence in
the president's leadership fell to 41 and 48 percent, while his overall approval
rating sank as low as 40 percent, the lowest of his presidency...

"...Sheep Dog, Standing in the Rain..."

These are my friends S** & M**'s puppies, they're so cute. I shot a few pictures with them while I was at their house back in May. They're such funny little models. So cute. So then I spliced them together and such... I think I'm going to do the same thing this winter with my parents farm. I like the idea of using this for a post card.

"It's all too much for me to take, the love that's shining all around you..."

Guess what I'm listening too. Anyway, I was inspired to use these two cuties, since I got a note recently that M** was actually reading my blog. That's so nice. Thanks sweets. (^_^)

"All together now..."

Better Red than Dead: Musings of a redheaded liberal

Better Red than Dead: Musings of a redheaded liberal

Found another great person to swing by and see. Though she has used pink as her main color. ;) But her blog is smart, and she's got some great opinions about how life SHOULD be... check it.

Plus, she hooked me up with the COOLEST Terror Level Marker!!!

Go Chi So Sama Deshita

So, this is it, the party will soon be over...

I'm going to go get my hat and jacket, and make for the door. Yes, after 4 years, I'm heading home. This year was a bit rough, and it took me a while to figure out what the plan is. Initially I was going to make sure I had the job before I returned, but that's harder than it seems, being in a completely different time zone and such. I'm going to head back to Seattle, and spend the month with family and friends.

Then, watch out world!!!

It's been a great life experience being over here. Maybe someday I'll talk about what life is like as an illiterate mute. Or tell you about how I got a Yakuza guy's pinky cut off. Maybe I'll tell about Manchester Girl, or the one that got away. We'll see... Ten weeks. eek. I gotta go to Karaoke at least once more, and have that last Sushi Feed. Gotta take the new camera up to Kiyomizu-dera, the second best place in Japan... Yep, lots to do...

Just in case someone wants to come over.

Blue Sky

Well, you get what you wish for. Today was a beautiful day, and the sky was about as blue as a city sky could get. We had the butt end of a Typhoon sweep the sky clean yesterday. And though I usually have today off, I didn't today. Though I have a 4 day holiday next week. I'm planning on heading over to the

"Japan Sea"

(China isn't really pleased about the name) I've been to Fuji, and been to Tokyo, Hokkaido and such, so the only place left on my list is the Japan Sea. The staff told me about a place called Amanohashidate. No, not Amonia-hochi-date, Ahh-man-oh-haush-ee-dah-tay. Sheesh, can't you read? ;) Anyway, gotta do some research to see if it's worth it.

Jay and Rob

That's the Umeda Sky Building in the background. And that little device I'm holding is a transformer. We were seeing if our link to our secret Kamen Base was working. Unfortunately it wasn't, or I'd have a picture of us in our Giant Robot Gear. Mine's pretty cool, it's all Chromed out. Jay likes his Flat Black. Anyway, we'll try again... Actually we're English Teachers in Japan. But we'd rather be Photographers, or Giant Kamen Robot Pilots.

Flaming Box of Stuff

WHAT: Flaming Box of Stuff at Seattle Sketchfest

WHEN: Thursday, September 8th @ 8pm; September 17th @ 10pm

WHERE: Capitol Hill Arts Center (CHAC), 1621 12th Ave

Flaming Box of Stuff was formed in the fall of 2002 when a collection of veteran Seattle comedy writers and performers decided to make the type of comedy that they wanted to see. What they created became one of the most talked-about underground comedy shows of 2003. A show that incorporated elements from film noir, character based sketch and dark humor. In April 2004, Flaming Box embarked for the American Frontier, exploring the absurd, twisted ideology of the Wild West. Their third show promises to be another strange trip down dark alleys...

Half and Half

Gemini
May 20 - June 20

This is a good day for meditation, or for spiritual studies of some kind, dear Gemini. Your intuition should be operating at a very high level and thus it is going to be easier for you to tune into the thoughts, feelings, needs, and desires of others, particularly the opposite sex. You might even experience psychic insights or visions that shed light on some questions you've been asking yourself for a while. Write down your thoughts. You'll want to remember them.

Okay then,

Assume all Japanese women between 20 and 40 have a boyfriend, and if you get any psychic readings from any of them, remember their simp boyfriends will be buying them something expensive for x-holiday, so you got no chance. But then, there's no reason to be upset about it, there's not going to be any more dating in Japan.

So there.

High Dive Mastah!

This little guy's contemplating his next rad move from the high branch that hangs out over the pond that's near the top of the hill in Arashiyama. This guy's Mom wasn't too happy when he and his little buddies started getting radical off the high-branch, so she posted herself there for a while. Jeeeeeezzzz Moooommmm!!!! ;)

A great day in Japan

Had a great day today.

Started by riding my bike to Denney's, and had ham and eggs. Then rode my bike down by the river, and checked out some kids fishing. Rode around some more, hit way too many red lights. After a good ride along the river, zipped into a 7/11 for a ice-cream and a Fanta. Then rode some more, and finished up at KFC for dinner.

Yep, nice day to be in Japan.

Love those Russian X-Ray Girls

Russian X-ray Girl Thrills Japanese Scientists

Here's the best part of the article:

During the test in Japan, Natasha was able to see that one of the patients had a prosthetic knee. Another patient had asymmetrically placed internal organs. Natasha easily diagnosed early stages of pregnancy and even a pathology of the fetus with a female patient. She diagnosed a rare undulating spinal curvature with a male patient. When Japanese doctors compared Natasha's drawing of the curvature with the X-ray photograph, they could see that the photo and the drawing were absolutely identical. When Natasha was finished with her seven patients, Japanese doctors could not help bursting into applause. However, it was only the first stage of the trial.

End of Month JaR Imagery Viewing

Remember to swing by JaR Imagery before the end of the month. All of the New Images will be moved to their perspective galleries. Thanks, everyone, for visiting so much. Ta, R

My Mom

I love this shot of my Mom with her friends. Even at that age, she's the tallest in the group. And she comes by it honestly. Love ya Mom, Rob

Den Den Town

A computer geeks dream, all the electronics and tech you could ever want or never need. And a place to get a cheap camera if you need it. Here's a Map if anyone needs one.

My pal, Rob needed directions, and since it's terrible to give written directions in japan. Like, "go down the street, and veer slightly to the left, then after about half a block, you'll see two possible lefts and a right, or two rights and a left. You should take the right most left, and cross under the tracks, then between the JR line and the Midosuji line, there's a set of stairs, go halfway up, then turn right, and right again. Once you've come to the second door on you left, look for a small half door on your right, but not until you find the water pipe.

So, I made him a map.

My Gang

Woo,
My friends have stopped by the site recently, and they are happy that I'm doing an Image Blog. These guys are all long time friends. We've been hanging out since University. When I came to Japan, I never thought that they would all come at the same time. I was so happy when they all came to see me... and Japan of course. This is the whole crew in a little montage. From left to right on the bottom half. Shel, Sam, C, Shel again, Aims, and Tuckles, then Sam once more. The "Sex Machine" is actually a Korean BBQ place. I've still never been. I gotta remember that.

Kabuki Corner

Across the street is a very famous Kabuki House. From this side it looks really tiny. But the whole building extend back about a block. Pretty much, it takes up the middle of the entire block, leaving the space around it for various shops and such. I haven't been in. When almost every native I speak to (Japanese person, that is) says that they have never been, or don't want to go, then it's really not an inspiration to go myself.