Lotusblog

Well, not quite nearly the middle, but nonetheless time continues it relentless breakneck forward dash. I did something with my hands for the first time in ages today- changed my tires. It was great to sit out in the cold, getting oil and grease and city-dirt all over my hands as I transformed my Mongoose from a svelte city cruiser to a monster urban-buggy. The tires are only little bit wider but they totally change the bike’s dynamics. Can’t wait to get on and go for a ride. As soon as this ridiculous cough (that I am currently burdened with) clears up I will be back in the saddle before you can say “re-pressurize my shock absorbers”.

Crikey, I completely forgot to wish you all a Happy New Year! It’s been about 10 days since I last posted to this blog. Osaka had a bit of snow on New Year’s Day but otherwise has just been bitterly cold.

I spent New Year’s Eve at the cabaret-lounge “Universe” in Osaka’s Sennichimae area. It was fantastic- we saw a live band to count in 2005 and then the rest of the night was spent bar-hopping in the adjacent Misono Building. Kariente, Black Panther, Macau, Hong Kong- they were just a handful of the places in which we found ourselves.

So 2005 is a year of exciting possibilities- judging at least by the last week. I have met so many new people I am having trouble keeping up. I thought I already knew everyone worth knowing in Osaka- it seems not.

Somehow The Pixies’ song seemed to be the right title for this post. I got up a couple of hours ago, made a coffee and logged onto BBC’s News page and was completely stunned by the headlines I saw. As I clicked and read more and more about the massive earthquake and accompanying tsunami I was completely shocked. No doubt over the next day or two the real horror of this tragedy will unfold. My cousin, planning on being in Phuket for the Christmas/New Year period was fortunately still in the Philippines. It appears that thousands of other tourists weren’t quite so lucky, not to mention the locals living in the affected areas.

I don’t have a TV but this is one of those times when I wish I could actually see more than photos on a web page. I just cannot comprehend the destruction, the size of the wall of water. My imagination is working overtime.

I am on a Shinkansen speeding back to Osaka from Kamakura, where I spent an excellent weekend with Sally and friends. We had a great Christmas party with a full English style Christmas dinner that just never seemed to end. It was fantastic.
We are approaching Shizuoka, it’s just after 17:00 and the sunset is quite a amazing. If only I had my own good digital camera…

I am listening to the amazing Thai album (about which I have raved on numerous occasions) and as always it isn’t failing to deliver.

So what else is new? Not much, really. As the year draws to a close, there’s the usual increase in work intensity as we rush to get everything done this year. It’s going to be a hard week, but in a few days it will all be over.

As for the new year- no specific plans but there are a couple of places I do intend visit on the 31st. I will have about a week off after that; during which it will be great to get out, hopefully see some snow, catch up with The Flounder for the 2005 Editor’s Conference and generally cause some mischief.

I will post this when I get home. Pictures are soon to follow.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas.

Ghosty’s Big Surrender is the song doing the heavy rotation rounds on iTunes at the moment. Actually, it wouldn’t surprise me if this was also one of those songs I loved in my university days and then forgot.

In completely unrelated news, I got the results of a health-check I took at the beginning of December. Basically, I am healthy and my numbers are all within the “normal” range except for one.
My cholesterol numbers were off the charts. I think the way of measuring cholesterol in Japan is a little different from the West, but nonetheless, according to the Japanese figures, the ideal range is 130ish to 220ish. I was 340.

I think I need to start getting healthy. I will do it next year. Fresh slate and all that. That’ll be my one and only new year’s resolution.

For some reason we are raised to believe that evolution of machines means that they get faster, cheaper and smaller.

Devolution?

So why are mobile telephones getting bigger? That’s my T68i on the left (about 18 months old) and a brand new (less than one month old) Motorola phone on the right.

Is the consumer demanding bigger ‘phones?
Cos I certainly am not. I want to reduce the amount of electronics I pack onto my body each day.

(addendum: these are GSM phones available in the UK and other GSM-compatible regions)

Ahh. The Thai life.

Can’t remember whether I told you or not just how fantastic Thailand is.

If I didn’t, then, well it is.

Just got an email from a desperate man. Peter sounds like he is in trouble. I really wish I could help him, he sounds like a nice person.
Maybe someone out there in the wide web world can help him. But only genuine, kind folks need apply…

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MR PETER NGO,
LONDON , UK
Direct private Phone:+447 040115431
Dear Greeting,

In appreciation of your esteemed contact received through a reliable source and the choice of your country wish to introduce myself my name is MR. PETER NGO, the stepson of Mr. Terry ford of Zimbabwe. During the current crisis against the farmers of Zimbabwe by the supporters of our President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white owned farms in our country, he ordered all the white farmers to surrender their farms to his party members and their followers.
you can view website:http://www.thefarmer.co.zw/main.htm or
/www.dogsinthenews.com/issues/0203/articles/020319a.htm

Terry was one of the best farmers in the country and knowing that he did not support the President political ideology, the president supporters invaded my father’s farm and burnt down everything, killed him and confiscated all his investments. Before this unpleasant incident, my mother and Terry had already visited MADRID (SPAIN) to deposit the sum of forty five million United States Dollars (US$45.m) in the safe dilpomatic vault here in MADRID (SPAIN).

This action was taken because Terry felt the growing tension on the farm issue but I guess he never anticipated the tragedy that brought his brutal death. At the time of deposition, the content was not disclosed to the officials; instead, it was deposited as? Family Valuables? Valued for the real content in the consignment. After the bloody incident, we all had to escape to LONDON , UK for the safety of our lives.

On getting to LONDON , UK where I have been living since then as a political refugee I am seeking for a reliable foreigner who can assist me in moving this funds out for safe banking and profitable investment. Honestly I contacted you because I don’t want to invest this funds in LONDON , UK due to my status here as a political refugee and moreover I don’t want to take risk because this funds is all that I and my mother is depending on

My mother and I are seriously looking forward to trusted partner that will assist us with the convenient and legal transfer of the funds out of MADRID (SPAIN). If my proposition is considered for assisting us to transfer this money to your country, we will offer you 20% of the total fund, and 5% of the total will be set aside to cover any expenses incurred during this transaction. 75% will be for my family to buy Shares in your company or investing in your country under your supervision. I would appreciate confidentiality and honesty in our correspondence. Your immediate response will be highly welcomed. I wait to hear from you.
Reply me with this my private mail box (peterngo76@netscape.net)
Best Wishes,

MR. PETER NGO
For the family

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You can stop laughing now.

Tuesday the twenty-first. Already.

It’s been mad since I got back to Osaka last Thursday. But in the midst of the madness, it’s nice to know I can enjoy some holiday cheer courtesy of Somafm’s “X-mas in Frisco” station. Eclectic doesn’t quite capture it. You really have to listen to it for 20 or 30 minutes to see what I mean.

Better get cracking on my Christmas cards.

I’m home.

Surrounded by washing. It’s cold, too.

I want to go back to Thailand.

Made it to Bangkok early this morning. Had a good day. I am staying here tonight, and then tomorrow I am off to some beautiful island with some friends. It will be my first time at the beach in ages. I can’t wait. The weather is lovely- so nice to not be freezing!
My net connectivity may be sporadic (and certainly unpredictable) so those of you who email me may have to wait until I get back to Japan. If you need to call me, my mobile number (here in Thailand) is (+66) 06-022-6809