JAWing On – Life on Okinawa

More local flowers in a mosaic…

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Have you ever wondered what would happen if “but they’re drunk” became an acceptable excuse for juvenile behavior (at any age) globally? My guess is … a very intoxicated world!!!

Additional mosaic of flowers found on island…

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I recently heard that Japan wants to begin a certification program of its national dish, sushi. I can understand how the thought of someone imitating what is considered a work of art in the native land in a less than acceptable traditional manner would be frustrating. And as with any art form, there will always be experimentation from new artists in an attempt to find their “voice”. Maybe all nations should set up similar certification programs for their respective national culinary art, to ensure authenticity of adherence to acceptable technique, texture, consistency, flavor, visual pleasure, plating, etc. prior to any eatery globally being able to claim the title (or present the impression) of being a facility serving authentic cuisine. And for those individuals who gain pleasure from thinking outside the box and being creative in their chosen art form, all the while bringing pleasure to those who enjoy new edible creations? I guess those facilities could post “******-inspired” (fill-in the culture or cuisine that brought the initial spark of creativity) on the menus and/or billboard.

More of the flowers found on island…

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I recently had a young person at the bar (couldn’t have been more than 25 years old) ask me if I knew the music of The Ventures. Given, I was much older than the inquirer (and now that I think about it, who must think I’m ancient by his terms) and am familiar with the name, and probably even know a few of their tunes. In reality, however, they were big a bit before my childhood musical influences (Beach Boys, Supremes, Smokey Robinson, The Monkees, Paul Revere and the Raiders, etc. of the 60’s) which were very much perpetuated by TV programing such as American Bandstand, Shindig, Where the Action Is, The Ed Sullivan Show, etc. I simply replied, “No, I’m only going to be 51. I’m to young” (don’t get the chance to say that very often). Quite honestly, I don’t know who looked more perplexed by the end of the conversation, he or I.

The fourth of the flowers seen on island mosaic series…

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***Where morals and ethics are concerned, people have them in varying degrees; money, like nature, is indifferent.

The third of the mosaic set of flowers found on island…

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***Determine your own responsibilities and be a fisher.

More of the local flowers, mosaic-style…

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***People with their own lives are usually too busy to be trying to live other people’s lives.

A mosaic of some of the neighborhood flowers…

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A February afternoon sky in the suburbs….

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A quick look, from a bridge in Naha, at an island low tide on a rainy afternoon.

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