Flow My Tears,The Policeman Said

Posted on November 3, 2013 by spikekalashnikov

So all of this is pretty repetitive  but I’m going to do it anyway.

This blog and “Unemployed But Comfortably Off” is a good archive of what I have done over the last 3 years and some. I probably read it more than anyone else, as it is pleasant to choose a random date and see what you were doing. I regret all  the years that have gone with no record. The blog give structure to my life in a similar way that the Higgs field gives structure to the universe, if you know what I mean.

I go trucking to the forests of the North to return the tables to the village hall of Ada, one of the most remote villages in Okinawa. Ada is so remote that it is impossible to find anything about it on Google apart for ads for nearby hotel.

Anyway Ichiro san the artist birdwatcher, check:

https://quietripple.wordpress.com/2013/09/29/got-my-chips-cashed-in/

and I go birdwatching once we have stashed the tables.

This Isuzu truck is very fine. I am definitely getting tattoos and driving around the western states in one of these with a sleeping cab on the back, once I have shuffled off the work coil.

This Isuzu truck is very fine. I am definitely getting tattoos and driving around the western states in one of these with a sleeping cab on the back, once I have shuffled off the work coil.

He takes me to magical glades and sinuous rills. We hunt the Okinawan Woodpecker. http://www.konicaminolta.com/kids/endangered_animals/library/sky/okinawa-woodpecker.html

We find it not, but hear it a lot.

November in Okinawa

November in Okinawa

We see the Ryuku Robin,  but fleetingly.

http://www.arkive.org/ryukyu-robin/erithacus-komadori/

Daurian Redstart!

Daurian Redstart!

We eat picnic lunch prepared by Ichiro san's estimable wife. Sandwiches and fruit with garland of wild flowers.

We eat picnic lunch prepared by Ichiro san’s estimable wife. Sandwiches and fruit with garland of wild flowers.

We come across hunters! Yikes, first gun I have seen in 3 years. They are shooting crows which prey upon Okinawan Rail chicks.

"I never done it ,Gov" "Straight up, I was at home with the wife."

“I never done it ,Gov”
“Straight up, I was at home with the wife.”

We see  a  Striated Heron and lots of butterflies.

This is a Dragonfly

This is a Dragonfly

Happy snake

Happy snake

The Japanese love to cartoonify

The Japanese love to cartoonify

This one has a ring in its nose

This one has a ring in its nose

So nothing much really but there again what could be better?

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Think I’ll Pack It In and Buy a Pickup

Posted on October 28, 2013 by spikekalashnikov

So this will be a kind of rambling narrative on events over the weekend that were not directly connected with how I earn my salary.

I went birdwatchingphotoing with Itamar who is here from Weizmann. He was packing a 600mm lens  that is very butch. Mahesh came too and between us the photo equipment inside was worth at least double the value of the car – rich boys games.

Make my day Egret punk

Make my day Egret punk

Peewit Herman

Peewit Herman

Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Later I went for a beach clean up. It has been very typhoony over the last couple of weeks. Nothing worth getting excited about but a lot of jetsam is normally deposited and I must have a clean beach.

Boat in typhoon quarters

Boat in typhoon quarters

Special Beach Garbage Bag

Special Beach Garbage Bag

Lucky Bag

Lucky Bag

I then notice that the butterflies have come out of their typhoon hidey-holes and spend a delightful hour following them around.

Drive it down to LA

Drive it down to LA

This looks almost European

This looks almost European

What do they think about?

What do they think about?

Typhoons not good for flutterbyes

Typhoons not good for flutterbyes

It is now Sunday and I talk to some goats.

Getting on my goat

Getting on my goat

The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a goat.

The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a goat.

Then it is music at the Grand Line.

The beautiful May Frawley

The beautiful Mary Frawley

Tara, Mary and I go to it

Tara, Mary and I go to it

Time to go to bed. Work tomorrow

Time to go to bed. Work tomorrow

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Madeleine

Posted on October 22, 2013 by spikekalashnikov

Japan is a country where you take your shoes off a lot – at the dentist, in many restaurants, certainly upon entering a home, yours or someone else’s. If you take off your shoes then usually you put them back on again at some point.

After the historic shoe experiment

After the historic shoe experiment

All this putting on of shoes means that the shoe horn is ubiquitous around here. I do not remember using one in Europe or the US whereas here I would feel lost without one.

I use this one a lot. It is at the dentists

I use this one a lot. It is at the dentists

In Japan the very long shoe horn is de rigueur. You do not have to bend down to put on your shoes. Just position the shoe horn into the heel cavity and slide your foot sensually into the awaiting shoe. This gives me pleasure.

I quite like the doggy one.

I quite like the doggy one.

I have only recently understood why I like shoe horns so much.

On my first day at school, actually kindergarten, there was much ritual. First off there was a uniform that had to be exactly adhered to. There were also accoutrements that any well-bred young gentleman had to have such as a satchel, a games kit bag, and a shoe horn. I remember mine vividly. It was short and had a tortoiseshell pattern, although it was undoubtedly plastic. I was very proud of my shoe horn, it was a badge of non- baby-ness and a fetish which would guard me against ill. I had not thought about it for 57 years until I was putting on my shoes in a low bar a couple of nights ago.

My current shoe horn

My current shoe horn

Each item in this photo costs ¥100, which is $1.

Each item in this photo costs ¥100, which is $1.

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Cicero

Posted on October 20, 2013 by spikekalashnikov

I highly recommend Robert Harris’ novels on the life of Cicero. I am listening to one at the moment as I record the events of this day.

Mainly birds I’m afraid. There are no less than 5 different species of Egret on Okinawa. I have been very lazy in truly sorting them out. Today I go to it.

We shall go from big to small.

Great White Egret. Notice thin kinked neck. The real giveaway I have realized after 2 years is the gape line, thin bit of skin stuff under the eye. Great White has one. The next Egret down , the Intermediate Egret, does not.

Great White Egret. Notice thin kinked neck. The real giveaway I have realized after 2 years is the gape line, thin bit of skin stuff under the eye. Great White has one. Click on the photo and you be able to zoom. The next Egret down , the Intermediate Egret, does not.

The Intermediate Egret. No gape line, smaller, less kinked neck. Bad at Math

The Intermediate Egret.
No gape line, smaller, less kinked neck. Bad at Math

The little Egret. Blackish bill, but the giveaway is yellow feet, which you cannot see in this photo.

The little Egret. Blackish bill, but the giveaway is yellow feet, which you cannot see in this photo.

Yellow wellies, much disliked by my Father.

Yellow wellies, much disliked by my Father.

Now we come to the miserable Cattle Egret. Small, short necked, lacking trawthe.

Terrible table manners

Cattle Egret. Terrible table manners

So these four are usually seen inland, usually poncing around in rice and taro fields.

The last Egret is the Pacific Reef Egret, which is essentially a sea-bird.

So this is the grey morph.

So this is the grey morph.

White morph. Same species different color - like me and Toussaint L'Ouverture

White morph. Same species different color – like me and Toussaint L’Ouverture

Anyway that has cleared up the Egret dilemma. I am gratified by my discipline, it is  so easy to avoid these niceties but, ‘It will but skin and film the ulcerous place,
Whilst rank corruption, mining all within, Infects unseen.’ – birdwatching is a stern mistress.  A few more birds from today’s ramble through the Okinawan tundra.

Bedraggled Russet Sparrow

Bedraggled Russet Sparrow

Northern Lapwing Very rare around here.

Northern Lapwing
Very rare around here.

Common Sandpiper Frightful manners

Common Sandpiper
Frightful manners

Sharp Tailed Sandpipers Also rare.

Sharp Tailed Sandpipers
Also rare.

Eurasian Kestrel, gey few around here.

Eurasian Kestrel, gey few around here.

A Mongoose. Usually more vivacious than this one.

A Mongoose. Usually more vivacious than this one.

I also learned some jigs.

These:

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Green Stuff

Posted on October 14, 2013 by spikekalashnikov

The last 2 weeks or so have been very busy with no time to slob around or have adventures. Not so this weekend – no engagements, dinners and stuff, just stay at home and potter. Also planned 2 day boat adventure postponed due poor weather. Therefore full slob around mandate – is there anything more fair?

I have now lived in this amazing house for exactly a year. You may recall that one of my first acquisitions was a COBB outdoor cooker thing.

https://quietripple.wordpress.com/2013/08/25/cobblers/

Another great outdoor cooking fun thing last night.

Buy one

Buy one

I love lighting fires

I love lighting fires

I marinate fresh tuna, which costs next to nothing incidentally, in lemon juice, olive oil and the green stuff that Japanese eat

I marinate fresh tuna, which costs next to nothing incidentally, in lemon juice, olive oil and the green stuff that Japanese eat

Living by the sea with its inherent windiness is good for getting charcoal hot

Living by the sea with its inherent windiness is good for getting charcoal hot

sizzle

sizzle

Tuna and green stuff salad

Tuna and green stuff salad

I wrap up potatoes and Beni Imo in foil packages that also contain butter salt and pepper. I slice tough lump of beef and put green stuff on it.

I wrap up potatoes and Beni Imo in foil packages that also contain butter salt and pepper. I slice tough lump of beef and put green stuff on it.

Time to watch All Blacks against Springboks

Time to watch All Blacks against Springboks

Thank you COBB.

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My Cup Runneth Over

Posted on October 9, 2013 by spikekalashnikov

 

Jonathan and the boys

Jonathan and the Boys

 

http://www.oist.jp/news-center/news/2013/10/7/oist-board-governors-present-future-plans-prime-minister-abe

I don’t like to talk about my women but I’ll do it anyway. A bit of professional life, which I try to keep out of this blog, is going to creep in. Last Friday Jonathan and the Boys had a 30 min meeting with Japan’ s Prime Minister Good Ol Abe.  We are currently a 50 faculty  Grad Skool and would like to be a 300 faculty Grad Skool. We also want to double our budget next year. Abe said the government would decide. He is the head of the government.  He said this. “Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to visit the Prime Minister’s Office, kantei, today. I visited OIST in early 2013 and I was convinced by the high level of aspiration of the Graduate University. By meeting outstanding OIST faculty members and students, I was convinced that Okinawa’s new future and Japan’s new future rests in OIST…….In promoting Japan’s innovation, I have high hopes for OIST. As world-renowned scholars have gathered here tonight, I would like to listen to your opinion about the future of OIST.”

Off we go to Kyoto for the STS Forum. http://www.stsforum.org/index_html?language=english&this_page=home#.UlUzFeAaSNk

This a very big deal affair opened by none other than Good Ol Abe. He ends his speech thus,

“I’m determined to turn Japan into a country where innovation takes place easily. As much as the global society is in need of Japan’s wisdom, our nation also requires the world’s knowledge.

One example of this is the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University. I would like researchers and students from around the world to continue joining OIST. Mr. Omi is a founding father of this university. It will be almost two years since the establishment of the OIST Graduate University. It will continue to grow together with their researchers from nearly 30 countries and students from 23 countries. I believe this is exciting.”

OIST rocks

OIST rocks

We have lunch with French Minister of Science Stuff.

Which two French towns are like a sailor7s trousers? Toulon and Toulouse.

Which two French towns are like a sailor’s trousers?
Toulon and Toulouse.

Then the Japanese Minister of Science stuff gets up in another plenary and goes on and on and on about how wonderful OIST is. All this is pretty trippy for someone in my line of work.

Battle scarred or is that scared veterans

Battle scarred or is that scared veterans

1000 delegates. No wifi so people actually had to listen.

1000 delegates. No wifi so people actually had to listen.

Benjamin Bunny

Benjamin Bunny

So all very satisfactory. It gets er better.

Fly home to find that Higgs won the Nobel. For 12 years my pen hovered over the page to make that announcement . Never did. Oh well. Congratulations Peter and all at CERN

Roger had a lot to do with it

Roger had a lot to do with it

Good few days. A couple of typhoons ripped through the island while I was away. As they were only category 3 it doesn’t seem worth writing about them.

 

 

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Afterwards

Posted on October 1, 2013 by spikekalashnikov

In these parts,when there is a death in the family, people let you know and you contribute some cash. After the funeral you receive a gift in recognition of your er gift. Today I got this.

Two beautiful towels in a very nice box that I can keep my fishing tackle in.

Two beautiful towels in a very nice box that I can keep my fishing tackle in.

Afterwards

When the Present has latched its postern behind my tremulous stay,
And the May month flaps its glad green leaves like wings,
Delicate-filmed as new-spun silk, will the neighbours say,
‘He was a man who used to notice such things’?

If it be in the dusk when, like an eyelid’s soundless blink,
The dewfall-hawk comes crossing the shades to alight
Upon the wind-warped upland thorn, a gazer may think,
‘To him this must have been a familiar sight.’

If I pass during some nocturnal blackness, mothy and warm,
When the hedgehog travels furtively over the lawn,
One may say, ‘He strove that such innocent creatures should come to no harm,
But he could do little for them; and now he is gone.’

If, when hearing that I have been stilled at last, they stand at the door,
Watching the full-starred heavens that winter sees
Will this thought rise on those who will meet my face no more,
‘He was one who had an eye for such mysteries’?

And will any say when my bell of quittance is heard in the gloom
And a crossing breeze cuts a pause in its outrollings,
Till they rise again, as they were a new bell’s boom,
‘He hears it not now, but used to notice such things’?

Thomas Hardy

I think I have posted this before but who cares, it is a great poem.

I also got temporary possession of a beautiful hand painted screen, which made my office look ultra distinguished.

Byobu, Steinberger, Heisenberg

Byobu, Steinberger, Heisenberg

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Got My Chips Cashed In

Posted on September 29, 2013 by spikekalashnikov

When at Stanford, I made the acquaintance of a ranching family who had kept cattle and horses on some of the huge swaths of land bought by Leland Stanford. They had been ranching for generations and they probably were there before the Stanfords. They were real cowboys. I phoned the son once .

“Where are you?”

“Neil, Not in California, I’m trucking cattle across the Texas border.”

What romance – that was a real job.

Today I trucked tables from Kunigami to OIST. Not quite so romantic but a wonderful drive. An artist who constructs and paints  byobu, er like paper screens, is opening an exhibition at the university on Thursday. He needs tables. He has tables but no way to transport them from the tiny remote village in the extreme North of the island where he lives. I volunteer to truck the tables across the Yanburu border.

Great truck

Great truck

Old boats

Old boats

A house for Gods in the village, Aga, where Ichiro san lives

A house for Gods in the village, Ada, where Ichiro san lives

Cattle

Cattle

Wonderful views on the 2 hour each way drive

Wonderful views on the 2 hour each way drive

Once the tables are safely corralled I go home and dive.

Little fish

Little fish

Newcastle supporters

Newcastle supporters

The dropoff. It goes down deep beyond that edge

The drop-off. It goes down deep beyond that edge

These are biggish fish who live deep.

These are biggish fish who live deep.

Friendly snake

Friendly snake

Big week next week, today good preparation.

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The Road to Dundee

Posted on September 25, 2013 by spikekalashnikov

This is Andy Stewart singing the Road to Dundee, which has nothing to do with this post.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtltT7K_-pI

I do however drive to work every morning on a road and I have become increasingly entranced by the flowerpower. All the way to the university there are beds, hedges, slaps and stiles of flowers, which I don’t think anyone looks after. They just er grow.

I mention these beds of brilliant lily things to a colleague. She said" Oh those are just weeds."

I mention these beds of brilliant lily things to a colleague. She said” Oh those are just weeds.”

Hibiscus hedge lines the route

Hibiscus hedge lines the route

Yellow stuff with tombs

Yellow stuff with tombs

No idea what this is but it is everywhere

No idea what this is but it is everywhere

Old man lying by the side of the road With the lorries rolling by. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jzhLtt_pGQ

Old man lying
by the side of the road
With the lorries rolling by.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jzhLtt_pGQ

Anyway,  it is nearly October but flowerpower is still strong. Nice drive to work but what I am trying to get across is that all these flowers are er random, no local government is involved. They are just there.

Okinawan roadworks

Okinawan roadworks

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60 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Posted on September 23, 2013 by spikekalashnikov

One drawback of my boat is that it is difficult to get back into. Being very light, any attempt to mount from the side simply turns the boat over on top of you. I can just about mount over the stern but it is not easy and I imagine that if I was exhausted or a turtle had bitten my toes off,  I might not complete.

Believe it or not today is another Japanese holiday. “The Autumn Equinox is part of a week called Ohigan, which is a week devoted to paying respect to ancestors much like Obon. It is believed that the land of the living approaches the land of the dead in close proximity on the Equinox. The spider lily is the famous icon of Ohigan. Spider lilies bloom for only a week in mid-September and are commonly planted around graveyards since their poison deters moles and mice.” So there.

I spend the day in the water. I try out a technique, suggested by brother Ian, whereby I tow the kayak out to the dive spot. Once diving is done I clamber onto kayak, which is easy, bring kayak alongside boat and scoot across. We shall see.

Kayak with tank and BCD

Kayak with tank and BCD

Getting in is easy as you inflate BCD to max so that it with tank, having been chucked into the East China Sea,  float and you just slip into it. Then you go and look at fish.

This camera is better.

This camera is better.

Coco the Clownfish with wife and family

Coco the Clownfish with wife and family

Little blue fish

Little blue fish

Meanwhile the kayak awaits.

Meanwhile the kayak awaits.

Different sort of clown fish

Different sort of clown fish

Amazing soft coral - spongey like a mushroom

Amazing soft coral – spongey like a mushroom

These are big - about 2 ft from top to bottom

These are big – about 2 ft from top to bottom

Another variety of clownfish.

Another variety of clownfish.

Joseph fish with coat of many colors

Joseph fish with coat of many colors

Bozo, Blinko and Frosty

Bozo, Blinko and Frosty

These mothers are dangerous . This one is about 18 inches long

These mothers are dangerous . This one is about 18 inches long http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_fish

 

Bubbles, Beppo and Bindy

Bubbles, Beppo and Bindy

Anyway,  time comes to stop diving cos I have little air. I dump dive stuff on kayak, scramble aboard pull alongside boat and scoot over. Easy as can be! Two great dives.

Autumn Equinox sunset

Autumn Equinox sunset

Great day.

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