Walking back from photographing the hyper-fluffy cherry blossoms earlier this week, I noticed a striking red/orange bug on a tree. I hate bugs -- they give me the creeps -- but I had my extension tubes, so I thought to try some pseudo-macro photography by using one with my Sigma 30mm.

The quality of the shot isn't that great, but it's my best non-blossom macro shot ever (but only on a technicality, because it's my only non-blossom macro shot). A good photographer would be able to make a stunning photograph (see some in this macro shots of the week thread [...]

I renewed my visa today, so I'm allowed to live in Japan for another three years. I'd applied for the renewal three weeks ago, and about a week or so ago, got the "come in and pick it up" postcard. I went today, bought 10,000 yen (US$85) worth of revenue stamps at the little shop around the corner, submitted the stamps, the postcard, and my passport (and with a bit of help from the kind, helpful man at the counter, the application for a multiple re-entry permit), and sat down to wait.

Unfortunately, it was ready soon and I [...]
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Yesterday when Anthony got home from preschool, he runs in and says "Daddy, Daddy, I want to build a computer." Now, I don't know where he got this idea about building a computer, but when Anthony says "I want to build...," it really means "I want you to build for me..." He's fully capable of building things by himself, as evidenced by the highway construction project from the other day, but when he actually pre-announces that he wants to build something, he's really telling me to do it.

I sort of thought the request was a bit odd, since he [...]

When I write for public consumption (book, magazine article, blog post....), I try to be a bit careful with how I present myself. I have the most difficult time with misspellings because they could bite me on the nose and I still wouldn't sense them. I tend to be okay with grammar, and I pick up most typos because usually I read and reread many times before publishing. Some often sneak through anyway.

Part of this carefulness is evident in the first example I give in my book on regular expressions. On the first page (First edition, Chapter 1, Page [...]

We awoke this morning to find that Anthony had built an elevated-highway construction site on the kitchen table. Yes, I'm easily impressed by my own kid, but geez, just look at the detail. Cones and barriers in the proper spots, ladders leading from level to level.... the only thing not true to life is that the workers aren't eating lunch.

This is certainly a step up from the airport security gate from last week, and the street sweeper from six months ago. However, he's been doing research on the subject for a long time.