The surface and beneath the surface

Designed Obsolescence

Pushed over a cliff.

Writing Systems

Where do I start?

And Justice for All

December 6, 2016. Congress Ave. Austin, Texas. Taken on my walk to the post office.

Self-Imposed Limits in Science Fiction

Science fiction is defined by a spirit of curiosity in a story where everything is just enough different that your initial biases are suspended and you, the reader, become alert to possibility.

Lost

迷 Three random incidents this week wove themselves together under the theme of “lost”. I. In one of my Japanese lessons, the vocabulary list included the word for enigma, puzzle, or riddle: nazo 謎 「なぞ」。 When I looked up the kanji, it turned out to be rather arcane (that is, not in the standard school set). On the left-side, is the radical “word” (to say). On the right side is

A Commonplace Book

In the last couple of years have I become more systematic in trying to synthesize my “highlighted” passages by trying to summarize them, paraphrase them, or otherwise actively engage with my reading.

Don’t Make Me Lose Hope

Lessons From Wonder Woman

“You can do something or do nothing.”

Observing and Observed

One reason I’m usually behind the camera is that I don’t like to be in front of it. So I’m not likely to pose in front of the sights I’m seeing to take a snap to prove I’ve been there. And selfies belong to a younger mindset. However, I enjoy watching other people do that thanks to some inspiration from +Mee Ming Wong. Observing observers observe.

Córdoba, The Judería

The old Jewish quarter in Córdoba is a delightful twist of streets which stay shaded and cool most of the day. At 8PM, everyone is at dinner and many of the streets deserted.

Damson Lane

I was surprised that the trees were still not leafed out so late in spring.

Hygge: Danish Comfort versus American Shame

The lesson I see in this sudden interest in the UK and the USA of hygge, is the recognition that the middle class is disappearing and as these comforts become more rare they are more valued.

All the Leaves Are Brown

Midnight Diner

Netflix has come out with a 10-episode season of Midnight Diner, which began as an award-winning manga, then a Japanese TV series and feature film. Like the filmAn this series is quiet, quirky, and offbeat…mixing food, of course, with characters a bit on the edge of Japanese society but entirely recognizable as classic Japanese characters. Tokyo is said to be not so much a big city as a collection of small villages

An (Sweet Bean)

“We were born into this world to see it and to listen to it.”