The canal outside my “hotel” at night

There was a midnight curfew at the convent, but he got in all right a few minutes late. Given that dinner out wouldn’t be until after 8PM and was leisurely and often entailed drinks elsewhere, my late-night socializing was curtailed. That was unfortunate since the nightlife on the wonderful [...]

My “hotel” in Venice

The conference organizer put us up in the Istituto Canossiano (on the right here), which is basically a convent in the peaceful Dorsoduro district that now rents rooms to students and travelers who can’t afford Venice’s overpriced hotels. The Madres were all very patient and friendly to the 40+ foreigners there.

Before we get back to narrating the wonders of Venice, Goyatunes needs refreshing. Just before I left for the trip I loaded up on tunes previously unheard. iTunes reviews claim that M.Ward “is the real deal.” I agree — this is damn good music, with soul. Even NPR gave a favorable review of his latest [...]

Non-hunky Non-gondolier

There’s probably at least two espressos powering that smile — and the fact there are no SUVs in Venice. In fact, there are no cars at all except at the bus terminal on the outskirts. Is the heaven or what? Who cares if it’s sinking.

Hunky Gondolier

Can you tell that I was just in Venice? No, that’s not me fulfilling a stereotype. I’d say his name was Marco, but that would be fulfilling another. Outside of the older flabby gondola guys whom I would resemble, many are broad-shouldered, muscle-bound, square-jawed, meticulously-coiffured hunks like this guy. [...]

No post in three days? Someone must be busy. Yes, I’m jetsetting again, this time to the 5th International Conference on Okinawa Studies in Venice. It takes place in the Dorsoduro section of the city. I’ve been in a panic about it all week. The presentation is more or less ready, but I’ve been teaching [...]

Japanese television has always had, IMHO, the best commercials. This web site has collected some very good ones from YouTube. I especially like numbers 18 (samurai cockroach), 10 (great concept well executed), 9 (too cute for words), 6 (too close to home), 5 and 1 (for their take on a stereotype of Japanese), and 2 [...]

Insex

Testing the macro on my new toy camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX07).