nidan

This morning after adult class we had one of our periodic dojo cleanups, as usual in the days before a seminar. In addition to about a dozen adult members, there were several children and even a parent or two. Teenage James was climbing like a monkey in the rafters, while others, including some of our… Continue reading

usenet

A couple weeks ago AT&T Internet services decided to globally eliminate all binary newsgroups from their newsserver. This was done with absolutely no advance warning (or any after-the-fact announcement either 1), and was ostensibly an effort to eliminate child pornography.  How that excuse justifies blocking access to audio files takes a stretch of imagination, but… Continue reading

mac emacs

I’m glad that MacOSX is unix-based, but it still hides too much of the guts, making it harder than necessary to accomplish essential technical activities.  My first home computer was a Mac (actually, one of the first off the assembly line, with the signatures of team inside of the case — I recall being a… Continue reading

lihue

Behind the Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in Lihue, Kauai, is the dojo for the Lihui Aiki Kai. I showed up without a dogi and after a short conversation was offered a clean used one for that night’s training. The class, attended by eight mudansha at all levels of experience, was taught by the daisempai and focused… Continue reading

buckeye ’07

East toward Bridgeport, then several miles up Buckeye road (washboard dirt), to our campsite by the big granite boulder. Hike on the second day to Big Meadow up Buckeye canyon beneath towering peaks and surrounded intermittently by bulls. The next day to Twin Lakes, and not a nibble. Finally to fishing Buckeye Creek, lowest level… Continue reading