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.

Echo.

Echo. Echo.

My Life as a TV Show

Funny the thoughts that spin in an Amerikan kids head. Most recently (moments ago actually) I thought about asking Paul Allen if he would let me photograph some of his really expensive Chahuli Glass to use as stock photograpy. Now if this were a TV show, it would be a perfectly plausable thing for the down and out young naieve photographer to do. And Mr. Allen would of course say yes. Then he would ask about the portfolio that I happened to have, and then find my real art good. Then he'd pay me a lot of money for one of my real pictures.

The Rich Man says, "How about I buy one of your photographs, Rob, and you won't have to do all the stock photography work."

Yeah, right... So, then the fantasy just sorta spins off from there. I thought about sending all of my old bosses photos, and telling them how my life has turned out better due to the inconveniences of quitting/being semi-fired/loosing the chance because the company can't afford the pay-off to the temp agency. Maybe I should, and maybe I'll remember to do it when I return to the US. Something like that did work before. My renewed friendship with Mike Daisey (of _21 Dog Years_ fame) was a result of one of these "'Vengence' is bessed served with a cherry on top" ideas.

In his blog he said, "As geeky and dorky as this story is... I think I was hurt by his departure and his silence, and it took me a year and a half to figure that out, but I am terribly thankful that I did, because, as they keep telling us whippersnappers, life is short."

So, life is short, and I might as well do the things that I feel, though silly or fruitless, they don't hurt anyone, and moreso, they actually do something nice for them. I won't expect any favors, and if Karma exists (which I'm quite happy for it not to), maybe I'll get a few points that will be repayed in this lifetime.

Tabun. BeeMeeYo...

Picture of the Dime - Byodoin Temple, Japan

This is the famous temple that can be found on the back of every 10yen coin. Quite old, and hasn't been repainted in years. Went today. Man it was tough getting up early. I was even an hour later than I wanted, and I almost went back to bed. But, I proved a point to myself. Photos rely on light, of course... But they really need GOOD light. That is light that creates shadow and depth. I got the bulk of the photos between 10am and 11am. If I'd taken them between 8am and 9am, They might have been better. Although, I'm quite happy with the B&W's that I'm getting. Enjoy.

More and More...

Just Updated my Submissions to Better Photo on the Portfolio Blog... These same photos are, of course on my JaR Imagery site as well. I've had some requests recently for copies for Backgrounds. Please feel free to just post these as your screen Background. Robert's Photographic Portfolio
P.S. Yahoo and MSN suck for uploading photos, so disregard that crap about my photos being elsewhere...

Stonemonkey Gets The Big Prize - G'don'ya J!

I've decided to restart attempts to get kudos from other photographers. My friend and cohort Jason G just got a 2nd place award from Better Photos. It's a really good site, and has a lot of great photographers. I myself have only gotten an honorable mention... oh well... :)

Jason's Award Winning Photo

Rob's Honorable Mention

Give Me Ninja!

"The Ephemeral Ms. White" by Lecram Sinun

Found a great sketch on line while surfing other blogger sites... Read the sketch it's really funny... By the way, the rest of his blog's pretty cool too. (also, I renamed his sketch, sorry LS, just sounded like a better title for my blog post)
Sketch

More to love!

101k! YES!

BOO!