Lost Generation

Check out this interesting video. Clever use of language.

Passion and Politics

I recommend this piece on the need for moderation in political views, for more reason and less emotion.

Why I liked Obama's address

If you haven't seen this, it's pretty good. And gives me hope! (sorry about the commercial)

Good news! Everybody doesn't hate us!

Thought I'd share an excerpt from a Christmas letter from some friends from Michigan days. Arland is at the Institute for Social Research. Their daughter Rebecca has finished a post-doc and joined the faculty at the U of M. Shirley wrote:

"Arland, Rebecca and I spent Christmas this year visiting the Shah's Palace in Tehran, Iran. Arland was invited there for a dissertation review. We were in Iran for about a week and were treated royally. We flew down to Yazd where the magi were said to have been from. We also saw Esfahan. Rebecca and I each wore scarves everyday and everywhere. The climate was quite mild so we were quite warm. When people discovered we were from America, it was like we were celebrities. Some wanted their picture taken with us, while others just wanted to talk. We had a wonderful experience there.

"We also spent a week in Nepal. Arland has a project there so we tagged along. Rebecca was my tour guide. This would be her fifth trip, and she knows the language. We loved seeing her communicate with the people. She was like a drop of honey. When we stopped to talk, people would come from down the road to listen or talk to her. It was amazing."

So I guess everyone around the world doesn't hate us after all!

Final goodbye!

It's been a cold, dreary day today -- not rainy, so I could mow the lawn -- but suitable for the last goodbye of the holidays. Christian and Shandra will be going back to Honolulu this evening. The only bright spot is that my strawberries seem to like this cold, wet weather. A month or so ago, they didn't look like much!

First harvest --
Organic and locally grown.

Snow again!

My favorite colors are blue, green and white. We got a good heavy snow during the storm, so when the weather cleared this morning, it was beautiful!

Mauna Kea

Mauna Loa
Some into Polulu Valley this morning, some surfing; some golf this afternoon, some beach. Lovely everywhere. If the weather's been lousy where you are, I'm truly sorry! Whit and Jim leave tonight; Rob, Anna and the keikis tomorrow night. The time has gone by way too fast. Merry Christmas!

Day after Christmas

The weather wasn't so great up here -- rainy again -- on Friday, so we headed to Waikoloa so we could watch Lu get shot -- twice -- and she's still smiling.

We had lunch and then down to Pu'uhonua o Honaunau (Place of Refuge) National Historic Park. The weather was overcast but pleasant, and we enjoyed the park and especially the tide pools.

Opihi on the rocks

Lots of hermit crabs for the boys to play with.