Posted by: nativeiowan | April 27, 2010

more site seeing in Taipei

More sites from this lovely country…

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Posted by: nativeiowan | April 25, 2010

A Great Day

Spent the day with my buddy, Bob Lin. Grace, Connie and Mendozza met Bob in the morning and went to church. I met them outside of church and we spent the day together.

Bob drove us around and showed the sites…

The traffic in Taipei is mind blowing. Common to see families all traveling on one motor-scooter. We got to watch some kite fighting. Then we went for lunch with Bob’s parents…

Mr. and Mrs. Lin are icons of a lost age. Both were born into a world when the Japanese were the colonial power of the region. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lin were educated by the japanese and at the age of 16, Mr. Lin was sent to Japan to prepare to be a Royal Japanese Aviator. If the war had not ended when it did, Mr. Lin had every chance of becoming a kamikaze.

Mrs. Lin is a famous caligraphy artist. We were honoured by being presented with three of her works. I am humbled by such an offering. Bob explains that his mother is a fifth degree (we jokingly said “black belt”) artist. She has taught caligraphy in Universities in Japan.

Mendozza was our photojournalist throughout the day. The meal was a lot of fun..

Bob then took us to his home which is his office. It was way, way coool… the narrow alleys and,

I was so stoked, we got to go on an automobile elevator…

It was, indeed, a great day…

Thanks Bob…

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Posted by: nativeiowan | April 24, 2010

headlines in political times

Some interesting headlines in the Solomon Star. Worth a read.

My favorite…

Parliament dissolves today: End of Chapter

I find it interesting how the report defines this esteemed body…

AFTER four years of political drama, the 8th Parliament dissolves 12 midnight today.

Unlike the 7th Parliament which former Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza completed his four years in office, this House saw three prime ministers.

Snyder Rini was forced to resign after two weeks in office following the April riot in 2006.

Manasseh Sogavare’s Grand Coalition for Change Government (GCCG) took over but was ousted in a motion of no confidence in December 2007.

Dr Derek Sikua’s Coalition of National Unity and Rural Advancement (CNURA) Government carried on in January 2008 up until today.

During the course of the years, four Members of Parliament from Malaita also died while serving their country.

They were:

  1. MP for East Malaita, late Joses Sanga,
  2. MP for Aoke Langalanga, late Bartholomue Ulufalu,
  3. MP for Lau Baelelea, Bentley Rogosomani, and
  4. MP for East Are Are, Edward Huniehu.

Former Prime Minister, Sir Allan Kemakeza and MP for Savo Russels lost his seat early this year.

This was after court ruled that he was not qualified to contest the Savo/Russells by-election, which he lost last year when the court found him guilty of ordering an attack on local law firm Sol-Law in 2001.

Then three days before Parliament dissolves, Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua sacked five of his ministers, accusing them of sabotaging the Constitutional (Political Parties Amendment) Bill 2009.

They were, Environment Minister, Gordon Lilo Darcy, Finance Minister, Snyder Rini; Fisheries Minister, Nollen Leni, Agriculture Minister, Selwyn Riumana and Justice Minister, Laurie Chan.

If there was ever a representative statement of our inability to self-rule in the Solomons… well…

So the insanity of campaigning for National Office begins.

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Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, headlines in political times

Posted by: nativeiowan | April 22, 2010

Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Traveled by High Speed Train to Kaohsiung yesterday.

Had a lot of fun. Nice poeple we are dealing with…

Went to bed a bit late but woke up to this magnificnet view (from teh 67th floor) of the harbour…

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Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Posted by: nativeiowan | April 19, 2010

from my window

Just happens to be on a twin otter… on a rainy day.

But Parara is a pretty island…

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Posted by: nativeiowan | April 19, 2010

headlines from the bar-side

Recently, Big Kev was sitting at his local pub enjoying a frosty ale….

A group of 4 guys were joined by Wayne, a local knockabout (read piss-head). One guy said “G’day Wayne, shit you look a bit rough”.  Wayne replies, ” I have been on the piss for 4 days straight”. To which the other guy said, “Fuck, you must have been thirsty”

The best one-line reply I have heard in ages…

Thanks, Kev.

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Posted in headlines from the bar-side, STORIES: HUMOR AND LIFE, Uncategorized

Posted by: nativeiowan | April 19, 2010

Zoos are fun

Going to the zoo is always fun. It’s even better though with a 4yr old. Also had my buddy, Carson’s, 2yr old grandson with us. Was exhausted by the end of the 3 hour walk but it was worth it…

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Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, Zoos are fun

Posted by: nativeiowan | April 18, 2010

the beauty of these islands

Some simple images that I feel show the beauty of these islands. I really like the little girls standing on the rock, fishing. Her mother and brother are collecting shells near by…

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Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, the beauty of these islands

Posted by: nativeiowan | April 18, 2010

Nature showing off

I just did a check and can count no less than 300 photos of this same scene… and they are all different.

I do love it when nature shows off…

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Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, Nature showing off

Posted by: nativeiowan | April 18, 2010

good head

I know, a terrible title. But my buddy, Shane, loves good head. Croc head that is…

I know, even more confusing…

Well, during my recent trip to Gizo I was enjoying a frosty Solbrew with David and Shane when Shane got up, ran away, and came back in a few, happy as can be… He was talking about just doing a great deal for good head… A Good Croc Head, that is.

Shane owns the Gizo hotel and, for those who have frequented these proud premises, you will remember the croc skulls that decorated the bar. Well, Shane reckons this is a good one. And the price was right.

Only in Gizo…

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Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, good head

Posted by: nativeiowan | April 18, 2010

catching up

Man, has been a busy, busy past month, or three…

Where did it all go?

In this time I lost a very senior manager in the company, I have subsequently hired 4 more and have a 5th on line. Have been doing a lot of work with my senior management staff and Board of Directors to prepare for the next 5 years of the company. I was trying to wriggle out of my full time position as Managing Director but failed. The compromise is another 5  years in the harness then I can cut back my time input to something sane, like only 10 hours 7 days a week.

Am in Singapore right now. Not my favorite place. Have Grace and Mendozza with me. We’re going to the zoo very soon.

But as I “relax’ for the first time in weeks I down load my camera and find some picts I failed to manage properly. These are worth a couple good posts but I’ll start with a bit of a tickler…

These are shots from a recent trip to Gizo on a very rainy day.

Enjoy…

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Posted in catching up, DATED COMMENTARY

Posted by: nativeiowan | April 8, 2010

Headlines in the bad times

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Posted in Headlines in the bad times

Posted by: nativeiowan | April 6, 2010

headlines from April 6

I like this… the headline almost (almost) matches the picture…

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Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, headlines from April 6

Posted by: nativeiowan | March 20, 2010

a pale sunnsett

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Posted by: nativeiowan | March 20, 2010

as I sit

and the day wanes…

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Posted in as I sit, DATED COMMENTARY

Posted by: nativeiowan | March 20, 2010

ocean view

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Posted by: nativeiowan | March 20, 2010

Gone Fish’n

Was out yesterday with Dok Filardi and his hand picked crew of fish killers. Tasker and Jackson, like the Dok, are into fish’n, know their stuff and will go just about anywhere, any time to kill big fish.

The weather is a bit shitty. We have had a cyclone sitting south of us and weather all around us but, hey, lets go fish’n.

So we had an early morning meet up at Gizo then spent the day getting rained on while we sought the ever elusive “big-one”.

Through a combination of trolling, spin casting and fly fishing we bagged a selection of small edibles. I went to bed at 6pm but my mob ate a lovely little king fish. One thing The Dok did was intentfully nail a nice queen fish. These are spooky, fast and hard to catch. He is a bloody good fish killer.

All in all a fun day. I am off to Liapari tomorrow.

More later…

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Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, Gone Fish'n

Posted by: nativeiowan | March 17, 2010

goin fishn

Heading west in a couple hours to go fishing with Dok Filardi. Will carry a camera so will get back into bloggn’ after this weekend.

Cyclone is moving away from us. Still grey and rough weather. Buts I suspect the fish will be hungry after such a long spell of nasty weather.

Yee haww… going fishn’…

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Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, Going fishn'

Posted by: nativeiowan | March 15, 2010

Blustery Weather

We have a decent cyclone bearing down on us. Some strange things about this bit of weather… it is currently moving due north. This is strange and frightening. When a storm that traditionally will move to the SSE or SSW moves north you better believe it is powerful. Also, this one is resting at 945 kpa… this is low. Very low. With winds at the centre @ over 100 ks per hour

It does not look like it in these picts but the seas are pretty nasty. Note that you could surf on the breakers outside the Yacht Club basin.

Next map update is 3pm so will be interested to see if everything goes as predicted or we get a reprieve.

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Posted in Blustery Weather, DATED COMMENTARY

Posted by: nativeiowan | February 12, 2010

headlines from the sidelines 12 Feb 20-10

Don’t know if it’s me or just the day but the headlines are great… All from the Courier Mail:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/ …

Bligh blast at redneck bigotry … over change the law to make surrogate parenting legal in Queensland.

Minister’s backflip on police… it’s a long and classically Queensland story. You’ll have to read it for your self.

Review of review on N-test compo rapped… well, and I do speak australian, but as near as I can tell this is an old issue of soldiers being used as “test dummies” in atomic weapons testing. If anyone really figures it out let me know.

Milkshake murderer wins retrial…

and

Lover found guilty over killer curry… both of these are about food prepared by a loved one who may not have really been a loved one.

Stiletto stabbing… a woman in the UK hit her partner with her high-heeled shoe and dern near killed him. Nailed him straight in the eye. More loved ones who ain’t?

A great day to enjoy the paper.

more later

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Posted in DATED COMMENTARY, headlines from the sidelines 12 Feb 20-10

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