Today, I was in my car at a 5-way intersection crammed with people panhandling. On the median to the left, there were two squeaky clean ladies handing out fliers for their church and gathering change in a lemonade pitcher. Directly to the right of my car is a scruffy looking guy flying a sign. Typical five o'clock shadow and suntan, your average guy asking for change. Behind him, on the extra median at the intersection, a new player walked into the scene. She used crutches and was missing her right leg from the hip down. Could barely manage the sign and the crutches together. Hadn't even stood still to fly the sign proper before someone rolled down a window.

I had to laugh at the poor guy stuck in the middle. He saw me do so and probably thought I was being a shit � until he turned around. As I pulled away, I saw him throwing up his hands and shouting. Poor bastard. Nothing like stiff competition to fuck things up...

Some photos from a recent trip to Taiwan... this is the Taipei Botanical Gardens...

I don't have much to blog about, but let's beginning with some photos from Ehime!




Egret over the Soja River in Imabari




Momiji in Nibukawa Gorge




drying rice in Hojo



elementary school students prepare to compete at Otoi-oh-Sumo in Nomura




Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama




bluegrass band playing at Asakura Dam Lakeside Park




drunkies carrying a mikoshi at the famous matsuri in Niihama




Kamoike Seaside Park




Sekizen Island




Imabari Castle