Home Is Where We All Live

If you liked Baraka, you will love Home

(If you get the "copyright" message, or would like to see a slightly larger version, click here)

Home is a film by world renowned photographer, Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

A review on Energy Bulletin dot com says, "From belugas in the Arctic to skyscrapers in Dubai. From glaciers in Himalayas to devastated Easter Island. The images of the Earth captured from above are breathtaking. And the scale of the challenge that lays ahead of us is breathtaking as well. We have 10 years left to change the way we live – to change technologies, economy, governance and above all the consumer culture. There is no technological fix that will do the trick of changing our habits and choosing more sustainable lifestyles. We have to do it on our own."

All I can say is, watch "Home".

Eh! No mess wid these Titas!

In Hawaii, the slang word "Tita" can have different nuances, but basically refers to a "tough woman" or a "sistah". In other words, "a woman who can hold her own and doesn't take any crap".

Tip of the cap to our kayaking/sailing friend Bonnie at the blog Frogma for this story from her home town, Aiea, on the island of Oahu.

It seems a couple of guys tried to steal a van that was left running (I'm guessing because of the hot weather) in front of a beauty salon while the owner unloaded some supplies. She asked a coworker to keep an eye on the van. Good thing. What ensued was priceless...

Read the whole story here: Salon workers pursue duo that stole their van (opens in a new window)

Tara Madijanon, left, owner of "Desire Salon & Spa", Jennie Honda, skincare specialist, and partner and cosmetologist, Vera Close.

Long story short (but do read the whole story at the link), the van is back in rightful hands and the two perps are in police custody. Happily, no one was hurt.

I wonder what the perps will tell their cell mates? "We wuz caught by three crazy barefoot Titas?"

Perhaps they should change the name of the salon to "Three Titas".

Book 'em Danno.

Something's in the Air

We're used to seeing JASDF aircraft fly over our house several times a week, but while walking Momo this morning I saw an unusual formation consisting of a U125 "Peace Krypton" search and rescue plane with an F-4EJ "Phantom" right off its wing, and a little further out, a Kawasaki F-4 trainer. Several minutes later they made another pass.

A U125 "Peace Krypton" used for search and rescue.
Well, I don't know what they were up to, but it seems unlikely to me that they would fly that combination of aircraft in formation, or for so long, as part of a tactical exercise. If they had an exercise of some kind, they would normally just fly over on the way to a block of airspace off shore which is there for that purpose. I think perhaps they were rehearsing for something else. Air Festival?



We enjoyed two air festivals in 2007. Last year, they didn't hold one at nearby Hyakuri Airbase due to construction on the field. So I searched the "internets tubes" for the 2009 calendar of the JASDF aerobatic team "Blue Impulse" and discovered that there is indeed an air festival in the works for Hyakuri this year. It will be held on Sunday, September 13th. As that is close to my birthday, I'll make it a present to myself.

Hot Summer - Cool Kids

It's very warm and humid in Kashima City today, much like Hawaii - K says "hot". Just a matter of what one is used to. Me? I'm enjoying the breeze from an electric fan.

But my granddaughters on Maui are the coolest...


Bailey does a hula with newly found 'ili'ili stones.



Chloe dons some shades and enjoys a little cruise in the ocean.

Way cool, girls.