Happy Birthday Misaki!

A very awesome actress has her birthday today.  Happy Birthday Misaki Ito! Have a great year. 誕生日おめでとう。

(ホワイトデー) White Day

それを必要とするだれでものためのギフト。 このチョコレートはココアプランテーションで局部的になされる。 そして当然- みずみずしい花。

A gift for anyone who needs it. This chocolate is made locally on the cocoa plantation. And of course – fresh flowers.

- Just a peasant

グレナダからのチョコレートの写真 - Photo of chocolate from Grenada

日本のため (For Japan)

あなたについて考えること。 Thinking about you.

- Just a peasant

Second specimen (第2標本)

This is the other spider. It was about 3 meters away. At first, they appeared similar – but they are different. The color is slightly different. Perhaps that’s just morphology. More importantly is that the central writing of the webs is very different. Specimen #1 seems like the species Argiope argentata. Specimen #2 has a web like Argiope ocyaloides. Argiope ocyaloides is an Australian species.

I don't know the answer. It was just an interesting thing to find.

これは他のクモである。 それは約3メートル離れていた。 最初に、 それらは類似していたようである - しかし相違がある。 色はわずかに異なる。 多分それはちょうど形態である。 もっと重大に、中央網の執筆は非常に 異なっている。 標本#1は Argiope argentata のようである。 標本#1は Argiope ocyaloides のようである。Argiope ocyaloides はオーストラリア種である。

私は答えを知らない。 それは見つけるべき興味深い事だった。

- Just a peasant

Photo of Caribbean writing spider - カリブ執筆くもの写真

First Specimen (最初標本)

Observe this small spider carefully. I will post a photo of another spider soon. (Click to enlarge)

この小さいくもを注意深く観察しなさい。 私は別の蜘蛛の写真をやがて掲示する。 (クリックして拡大)

- Just a peasant

Spider from Grenada - グレナダからの蜘蛛

Happy Valentine’s Day （ハッピーバレンタインデー）

- Just a peasant

Photo from Grenada

Back to School (学校に戻って)

Here I am in Grenada for another semester. However, today is nice. It is a pleasant and windy day. It is a day I would like to share with friends. This photo is from the other part of our campus.

私は別の学期のグレナダにここにいる。但し、今日素晴らしいがある。 それは気持が良く、風の強い日である。 それは私が友人と共有することを望む日である。 この写真は私達のキャンパスの他の部分からある。

- Just a peasant

Hardship

While I sit here in relative comfort I am acutely aware that the same cannot be said for the people of North Korea. There is a claim that its repugnant regime will not last much longer; that these monstrous god-kings will fall to ruin. There remains a naïve hope that the two Koreas will peacefully reunite. Perhaps - but I have serious doubts.

The regime is unethically fueled by business deals with Russia and by the political-military machinations of China. It is artificially bolstered by international humanitarian aid and misplaced pleasantries. It is run by a group of sycophants and true believers who maintain their lifestyles at the expense of millions of slave laborers. North Korea’s atrocious institutions are defended by a fearful and paranoid military. It is a place of starvation, sickness, and desperation.

In their own brutal world they, the elite, are comfortable. It is acceptable to them. The status quo will remain in place. As for the peaceful “reunification” it should be remembered that power does not share power. They will not subjugate themselves to the ideologies of South Korea. Nor do I believe that South Korean leaders have any genuine intention of sharing governance with North Korea. The only real unification will be violent. As for the impending “demise” of North Korea, it must be remembered that those in control of government see themselves as righteous and beyond responsibility for the atrocities and travesties of their rule. The power players of North Korea have no remorse and no intention of changing.

This morning I am reminded that, on this very same planet, a cold snowy morning can bring quiet reflection to one person but bring dire hardship to another.

- Just a peasant

Photo from the backyard

Happy New Year (よいお年を)

I hope everyone has a good year. Do your best!

私は皆がよい年を過すことを望む。 がんばって。

- Just a peasant

Photo from Grenada - グレナダからの写真。

Daybreak (夜明け)

The final exam of Immunology is over. It was a difficult exam. Now it is time for a rest.

免疫学の期末試験は終わった。それは困難な検査だった。今度はそれは残りの時間である。

- Just a peasant

Photo of very early morning in Grenada -グレナダの非常に早朝。