commit c287924d67464074f01088ac78428bec046dff49 parent f631380c80f1201da7dc886d901248f6aee7daf1 Author: Chris Bracken <chris@bracken.jp> Date: Sun, 12 Mar 2023 16:31:35 -0700 Eliminate <!--more--> tags This should generate full-text RSS Diffstat:
37 files changed, 51 insertions(+), 53 deletions(-)
diff --git a/content/post/2001-08-17-merida-yucatan-mexico.md b/content/post/2001-08-17-merida-yucatan-mexico.md @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ twenty minute drive from the long strip of hotels between the lagoon and the ocean that the outside world refers to as Cancún. By the time the colectivo got to the bus station, it was 9 pm, so after checking out the schedule and booking tickets, there was just enough time to grab some dinner and get some sleep -before heading off to Mérida first thing the next morning.<!--more--> +before heading off to Mérida first thing the next morning. {{< figure src="/post/2001-08-17-cathedral.jpg" alt="Façade of the Mérida cathedral in the evening light. Groups of pedestrians pass along the sidewalk in front as Volkswagen Beetles drive by." >}} diff --git a/content/post/2001-08-28-quest-for-a-hammock.md b/content/post/2001-08-28-quest-for-a-hammock.md @@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ tags = ["Mexico", "Travel"] In Mérida, most people sleep in hammocks. Walk down any residential street and look in the windows and you’ll see hammocks strung all over the room. What I’m getting at is that I finally caved in and bought a hammock. Now sit back and -listen, ’cause here’s my advice…<!--more--> +listen, ’cause here’s my advice… If you’re in Mérida, you’ll be approached every five minutes by someone wanting to sell you a hammock off the street. Do not buy it! That man is crazy! The diff --git a/content/post/2001-08-30-izamal-yucatan-mexico.md b/content/post/2001-08-30-izamal-yucatan-mexico.md @@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ as transportation by some of its residents. The two big tourist attractions here are the ruins of Kinich-Kakmó, one of 12 Mayan temples that originally stood at the site of this town, and the Franciscan Monastery, one of the first in the New World, built from the stones of the largest Mayan temple in Izamal -after it was torn down by the Conquistadors.<!--more--> +after it was torn down by the Conquistadors. The Convento de San Antonio de Padua sits on one side of the Plaza Principal, a block from the city’s bus station. Climbing up the ramp in front brings you to diff --git a/content/post/2001-08-31-chelem-yucatan-mexico.md b/content/post/2001-08-31-chelem-yucatan-mexico.md @@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ by a bathing centre and the town of Chelem. Now right now I’m going to come straight out and say it: if someone ever tells you a story about the amazing beaches at Yucalpetén, just back away slowly and do not make any sudden moves—the person you are talking to has probably escaped from an asylum. -<!--more--> {{< figure src="/post/2001-08-31-chelem.jpg" alt="Main street of Chelem" title="The main street of Chelem?" >}} diff --git a/content/post/2001-08-31-progreso-yucatan-mexico.md b/content/post/2001-08-31-progreso-yucatan-mexico.md @@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ Half an hour north of Mérida is the port town of Progreso. Though it’s on the gulf side of the peninsula, the water is still a beautiful turquoise-blue; it puts Canadian beaches to shame. On a hot weekend, Progreso makes a fun day trip. The wind keeps you cool, and as long as you keep ordering drinks, the -food comes free at the palapa huts on the beach.<!--more--> +food comes free at the palapa huts on the beach. {{< figure src="/post/2001-08-31-palapa.jpg" alt="Three beach chairs sit in the shade of a palm-thatched palapa on the beach overlooking the ocean. A small 'lancha' boat is pulled up on the beach. On the left, Progreso's long pier extends over the water towards the horizon." >}} diff --git a/content/post/2001-09-06-isla-mujeres-quintana-roo-mexico.md b/content/post/2001-09-06-isla-mujeres-quintana-roo-mexico.md @@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ tags = ["Mexico", "Travel"] > Lo que tu eres, yo fui > Lo que yo soy, luego serás > _—Inscription on the pirate Mundaca’s Tomb_ -<!--more--> Many, many years ago, a pirate by the name of Fermin Antonio Mundaca de Marechaja landed on Isla Mujeres and fell in love with a young lady whose name diff --git a/content/post/2001-09-11-dzibilchaltun-yucatan-mexico.md b/content/post/2001-09-11-dzibilchaltun-yucatan-mexico.md @@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ tags = ["Mexico", "Travel"] About halfway between Mérida and Progresso lie the ruins of Dzibilchaltún, an important centre in the ancient world of the Maya. The name means 'The place -with writing on the stones.'<!--more--> +with writing on the stones.' {{< figure src="/post/2001-09-11-munecas-door.jpg" alt="View framed by the doorway of the of Templo de las Siete Muñecas looking out over the ruins of a stone building and four-sized stone stela on a raised platform. A path leads past the ruins, through the low jungle, and towards the horizon." >}} diff --git a/content/post/2001-12-18-palenque-chiapas-mexico.md b/content/post/2001-12-18-palenque-chiapas-mexico.md @@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ For Christmas, we decided to take a trip to the state of Chiapas, about an 8 hour bus ride from Mérida. Although Chiapas has been a somewhat politically unstable state during the past 10 years, it is also home to some of the most incredible scenery, archaeological sites and indigenous culture in the -country.<!--more--> +country. {{< figure src="/post/2001-12-18-temple-of-inscriptions.jpg" alt="The Mayan ruins of the Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque towering over a courtyard surrounded by jungle. A large staircase leads up the main face of the pyramid. Rain pours down in torrents." >}} diff --git a/content/post/2001-12-21-san-cristobal-de-las-casas-chiapas.md b/content/post/2001-12-21-san-cristobal-de-las-casas-chiapas.md @@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ winter. It’s cold, damp and cloudy. After months of scorching heat and humidity, I was in heaven. San Cristóbal makes an ideal base from which to do day-trips to the surrounding villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán—indigenous villages comprising the Tzotzil and Tzeltal indigenous -groups respectively.<!--more--> +groups respectively. {{< figure src="/post/2001-12-21-plaza.jpg" alt="The bright yellow façade of a catheral faces the main plaza in San Cristóbal de las Casas. Pedestrials mill about the square in groups." >}} diff --git a/content/post/2001-12-26-chichen-itza-yucatan-mexico.md b/content/post/2001-12-26-chichen-itza-yucatan-mexico.md @@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ ruins at this site cover over 15 square kilometres, with *El Castillo* alone taking up 0.4 hectares. At 83 metres in length, the Ball Court is the largest in Meso-America. The close proximity of the ruins to Cancún and the size of some of the structures have made these the most famous Mayan ruins in the -country.<!--more--> +country. {{< figure src="/post/2001-12-26-el-castillo.jpg" alt="A view from the ground below the El Castillo pyramid at Chichen Itzá. Visitors climb the steep staircase leading up the centre of the face of the pyramid. A few people stand silhouetted at the top, looking down on the surrouding jungle." >}} diff --git a/content/post/2001-12-27-valladolid-yucatan-mexico.md b/content/post/2001-12-27-valladolid-yucatan-mexico.md @@ -9,10 +9,10 @@ In 1543, Francisco de Montejo (the nephew of Mérida’s famous Francisco de Montejo) descended on the ceremonial centre of the Zací (Hawk) Maya, waging war on the *Cupules*, a group of Maya that hadn’t taken kindly to the Spanish conquistadors. When the battle was done and the town had been razed, he renamed -it Valladolid in honour of the Spanish city of the same name.<!--more--> Today, -Valladolid is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the Yucatán, with a -mix of Spanish and Maya influences. Maya from local pueblas and from the city -sell traditional *huipiles* near the plaza downtown. The city is still roughly +it Valladolid in honour of the Spanish city of the same name. Today, Valladolid +is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the Yucatán, with a mix of +Spanish and Maya influences. Maya from local pueblas and from the city sell +traditional *huipiles* near the plaza downtown. The city is still roughly centered on the *Cenote Zací* that was the ceremonial centre of the original Mayan settlement. diff --git a/content/post/2002-01-01-feliz-navidad.md b/content/post/2002-01-01-feliz-navidad.md @@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ tags = ["Mexico"] +++ Took a two week trip through southern México for Christmas. Starting in Mérida, -southwest into Campeche, Tabasco, Veracruz and then Chiapas.<!--more--> Stopped -to visit the Mayan ruins at Palenque, followed by some of the villages around -San Cristóbal de las Casas. From there, it was northeast back onto the Yucatán -peninsula, to Tulúm, then onwards north again to spend Christmas swimming in -the Caribbean on Isla Mujeres in 30 degree weather. After a few days, it was +southwest into Campeche, Tabasco, Veracruz and then Chiapas. Stopped to visit +the Mayan ruins at Palenque, followed by some of the villages around San +Cristóbal de las Casas. From there, it was northeast back onto the Yucatán +peninsula, to Tulúm, then onwards north again to spend Christmas swimming in the +Caribbean on Isla Mujeres in 30 degree weather. After a few days, it was westward again to Chichen Itzá and Valladolid before finally returning home to Mérida. diff --git a/content/post/2002-03-19-la-habana.md b/content/post/2002-03-19-la-habana.md @@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ tags = ["Cuba", "Travel"] Havana is a city of contradictions. It’s simultaneously one of the most beautiful and most run down cities in the world. It’s hard to imagine how things could be any worse, or any better given the Cuba’s political past and -present.<!--more--> +present. {{< figure src="/post/2002-03-19-old-havana-street.jpg" alt="Run-down street in Old Havana" >}} diff --git a/content/post/2002-03-21-trinidad-cuba.md b/content/post/2002-03-21-trinidad-cuba.md @@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ explorers and trading ships travelling to and from México. During the 17th and 18th centuries, its economy largely depended on trading contraband with pirates. The buildings are in incredibly good shape for their age, most of which are at least two centuries old. It’s not too tough to see why Trinidad is -now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<!--more--> +now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. {{< figure src="/post/2002-03-21-trinidad-street.jpg" alt="Street in Trinidad, Cuba" >}} diff --git a/content/post/2002-04-04-chetumal.md b/content/post/2002-04-04-chetumal.md @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ snacking on good Mexican food and the sound of shouting and laughter filled the air. After all the episodes of trouble, dengue fever, and trying to figure out what the hell was actually going on, it was easy to lose sight of just how great a country México is, and after Cuba, coming back to México felt like -coming home.<!--more--> +coming home. After arrival, the first challenge is getting from the airport to the Cancún bus depot. The shuttle bus drivers' union has a strangle-hold on travel from diff --git a/content/post/2003-08-17-biking-japan-2003.md b/content/post/2003-08-17-biking-japan-2003.md @@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ tags = ["Cycling", "Japan", "Travel"] The plan was to travel from Osaka north to the Japan Sea, northeast along the coast to Joetsu, south through the alps to Nagano, then southeast all the way -to Tokyo — a total distance of close to 1200 km, entirely by bicycle.<!--more--> +to Tokyo — a total distance of close to 1200 km, entirely by bicycle. Unfortunately for me, disaster struck just over half-way, in the form of 150km/h winds and torrential downpours. Typhoon Number 10 ploughed straight diff --git a/content/post/2004-08-20-summer-2004-in-japan.md b/content/post/2004-08-20-summer-2004-in-japan.md @@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ I had originally planned my summer vacations for May, then July, and finally, in an effort to match my summer vacations with those of friends in Japan, ended up shuffling them back to August. Aside from the scorching heat, August is a fantastic time of year to visit. The heat this summer was more than a little -bit scorching though, it was the hottest summer in ten years.<!--more--> +bit scorching though, it was the hottest summer in ten years. It turned out, however, that I would have something more pressing than the weather to keep my mind busy though. In the middle of the night, somewhere over diff --git a/content/post/2004-11-04-apartment-hunting.md b/content/post/2004-11-04-apartment-hunting.md @@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ tags = ["Japan"] +++ Through a stroke of luck, I think I may have actually found a permanent place -to live in Jiyugaoka close to Toritsu Daigaku station.<!--more--> +to live in Jiyugaoka close to Toritsu Daigaku station. I have my current apartment in Ebisu until the 30th, so the plan is to move the weekend of the 27th. In the meantime, to placate people asking for pictures, diff --git a/content/post/2004-12-09-samui.md b/content/post/2004-12-09-samui.md @@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ With the last days of 2004 upon us, it appears the weather has taken a turn from the relative warmth of November and December to plummet sub-zero overnight. What started as a light flurry this morning has progressed to a full-out blizzard, and it’s still coming down like crazy as I write -this.<!--more--> +this. In unrelated news, I’m off to Kyoto for Oshogatsu from the 31st to the 3rd. This time, I swear I’ll post pictures! diff --git a/content/post/2004-12-30-fresh-snow.md b/content/post/2004-12-30-fresh-snow.md @@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ tags = ["Japan"] alt="View of Mt. Fuji from Ebisu Garden Place" >}} I came into work to a nice surprise this morning. Sipping on hot green tea, we -all crowded around the windows to check out the view.<!--more--> +all crowded around the windows to check out the view. With the recent cold snap, the views this morning are incredibly clear. A little less so when passed through the tiny lens of my cell-phone camera. To diff --git a/content/post/2005-01-05-akemashite-omedetou.md b/content/post/2005-01-05-akemashite-omedetou.md @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ tags = ["Japan"] 今年も宜しくお願いします！Jumped on the Nozomi Shinkansen from Shin-Yokohama station on the 31st to arrive in Kyoto two hours later. It was dumping snow from Nagoya onwards; and by the time we hit Kyoto, about 10 cm had -accumulated.<!--more--> +accumulated. After stopping by friends’ for the traditional osechi-ryouri and soba dinner, Yasuko and I did hatsumoude at Yasaka shrine from 11 at night until 2 in the diff --git a/content/post/2005-03-29-huh.md b/content/post/2005-03-29-huh.md @@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ As I stared blankly out the window of the train on my morning commute, something caught my eye. As the train flew along its raised track, whizzing past the rooftops of Gakugei-daigaku at 80 km/h, I swear I saw a guy standing on the roof of a building alongside the track, dressed in a red cape -and wearing a giant fish on his head, wailing away on a guitar.<!--more--> +and wearing a giant fish on his head, wailing away on a guitar. He was gone from my view before I was able to catch a second glance, though. diff --git a/content/post/2005-04-09-yuki-fubuki.md b/content/post/2005-04-09-yuki-fubuki.md @@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ tags = ["Japan"] Last weekend, the temperature shot up to 23 degrees, and in the space of two days, the cherry blossom trees erupted into bloom. The Japanese take this opportunity to throw impromptu picnics, dinners, and random sake-drinking -events under [sakura][wiki_sakura] trees all across the country.<!--more--> +events under [sakura][wiki_sakura] trees all across the country. {{< figure src="/post/2005-04-09-sakura.jpg" alt="Cherry blossoms near Naka-Meguro" >}} diff --git a/content/post/2005-07-31-kekkon-shite-kuremasu-ka.md b/content/post/2005-07-31-kekkon-shite-kuremasu-ka.md @@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ tags = ["Japan"] The big news is that Yasuko and I will be getting married in November at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto. For the desperately curious, I 'officially' proposed -in February at *Souvenir*, a French restaurant down the street.<!--more--> +in February at *Souvenir*, a French restaurant down the street. In Japan, getting engaged isn't strictly just proposing. You're really not truly engaged until you've 'officially' proposed, which means not just deciding diff --git a/content/post/2005-08-05-look-at-all-the-pretty-pictures.md b/content/post/2005-08-05-look-at-all-the-pretty-pictures.md @@ -7,11 +7,11 @@ tags = ["Meta"] So I moved my webpage and was all of a sudden faced with a deluge of emails from people who I never even knew read the thing. Among those emails was a -request from my amigo Chaffee requesting more pictures.<!--more--> Seeing as -I'd always wanted to play with the [Flickr API][flickr_api], I requested an API -Key and started hacking away at some [PHP][php]. The end result is that on the -left side of this page, you now get to see whatever happens to be the latest -picture I've taken on my mobile phone. +request from my amigo Chaffee requesting more pictures. Seeing as I'd always +wanted to play with the [Flickr API][flickr_api], I requested an API Key and +started hacking away at some [PHP][php]. The end result is that on the left side +of this page, you now get to see whatever happens to be the latest picture I've +taken on my mobile phone. The moment I take a picture with my cellphone, it gets emailed to the magical servers at [Flickr][flickr] and tagged with a title, some keywords, and a diff --git a/content/post/2005-10-08-masui-onegai-shimasu.md b/content/post/2005-10-08-masui-onegai-shimasu.md @@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ Yesterday was my first trip to the dentist in years. The last time was just before moving to Mexico, in the summer of 2001. As you might imagine, I was not entirely expecting a clean bill of dental health. The fact that I had once again ignored my dentist's advice to floss daily was not improving my outlook -one bit.<!--more--> +one bit. So it was with some trepidation that I went to see Dr Nakasawa yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock. I stepped into the office, swapped my shoes for diff --git a/content/post/2006-07-01-happy-139th-birthday.md b/content/post/2006-07-01-happy-139th-birthday.md @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ Grill][mapleleaf], followed by a Canada Day barbeque at Yoyogi Park including hot dogs, yakitori, a massive Canadian Flag cake, and imported Canadian beer. By 6pm things, as started to wind down at the park, people started the long trek back to Shibuya and into the Maple Leaf, where it was standing room -only.<!--more--> +only. Some [pictures of the event][pictures]. diff --git a/content/post/2006-09-02-mystery-solved.md b/content/post/2006-09-02-mystery-solved.md @@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ tags = ["Japan"] +++ One of my biggest complaints about Japan has always been the complete and utter -lack of garbage bins in this city. There are none to be found.<!--more--> +lack of garbage bins in this city. There are none to be found. If you buy a (most likely seriously overpackaged) snack, you either have to carry all the wrapping and leftovers around with you until you get home, or diff --git a/content/post/2007-01-26-apple-reinvents-the-phone.md b/content/post/2007-01-26-apple-reinvents-the-phone.md @@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ After watching the Steve Jobs iPhone keynote, I have to say I'm a little disappointed. While this phone has a slicker GUI than any other phone I've seen, it's not so much the $499 US price-tag, but the stone-age functionality of the phone compared to what we have here in Japan that makes my jaw -drop.<!--more--> +drop. Here in Japan, 3 years ago in 2004, for 1 yen, I had the following in a cellphone: diff --git a/content/post/2007-05-30-google-reader.md b/content/post/2007-05-30-google-reader.md @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ got my money's worth out of it. After partnering with [NewsGator][newsgator], I started using their online feed-reader on and off, with mixed results. I like that it keeps my feeds in sync between my computers, and that I can browse articles at lunch, but the interface is still not on par -with NetNewsWire itself.<!--more--> +with NetNewsWire itself. While NewsGator's implementation was lacking, I really did like the idea of dropping the desktop app altogether and going with a fully online solution, so diff --git a/content/post/2007-06-06-pr6.md b/content/post/2007-06-06-pr6.md @@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ II][wiki_appleii] turns 30. It was in production for 18 of those 30 years, which likely makes it the longest-selling personal computer of all time. It was the computer I wrote my first program on, and spent countless hours banging in and editing code from _Compute_ magazine—including page after page of raw hex -code when a program included graphics.<!--more--> +code when a program included graphics. In tribute, I ran a Google search on PR\#6 to see what turned up. For those who don't know or don't remember, PR\#6 was the command that kicked off the diff --git a/content/post/2008-08-22-monkey-madness.md b/content/post/2008-08-22-monkey-madness.md @@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ tags = ["Japan", "WTF"] How many police does it take to catch a monkey in one of Tokyo's busiest train stations? Apparently a lot more than the [40 or so that -tried][yt_monkey_at_shibuya].<!--more--> +tried][yt_monkey_at_shibuya]. The monkey was first spotted around 9:45am on top of the Tokyu Toyoko Line schedule display, possibly one of the best choices for people-watching in diff --git a/content/post/2008-10-26-ride-to-okutama-ko-and-back.md b/content/post/2008-10-26-ride-to-okutama-ko-and-back.md @@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ spare time on my hands before baby number two is due, I decided I was going to get back into decent enough shape that I could pull one off. I've been using mornings and weekends to get back into riding longer distances, and slowly building up toward the goal of 160 km by riding further and further up the Tama -river every weekend.<!--more--> +river every weekend. Five minutes looking at Google maps yesterday morning at 6 am convinced me that Lake Okutama was exactly the necessary 80 km away, so without a minute to lose diff --git a/content/post/2011-04-22-installing-mozc-on-ubuntu.md b/content/post/2011-04-22-installing-mozc-on-ubuntu.md @@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ tags = ["Howto", "Japanese", "Linux", "Software"] If you're a Japanese speaker, one of the first things you do when you install a fresh Linux distribution is to install a decent [Japanese IME][wiki_ime]. Ubuntu defaults to [Anthy][anthy], but I personally prefer [Mozc][mozc], and -that's what I'm going to show you how to install here.<!--more--> +that's what I'm going to show you how to install here. *Update (2011-05-01):* Found an older [video tutorial][yt_tutorial] on YouTube which provides an alternative (and potentially more comprehensive) solution for diff --git a/content/post/2011-04-25-winter-sounds-in-japan.md b/content/post/2011-04-25-winter-sounds-in-japan.md @@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ tags = ["Japan"] There are a lot of uniquely Japanese sounds. But the two I'm writing about today appear on cold winter nights, and echo eerily through the -dark, empty streets between dinner and bedtime.<!--more--> +dark, empty streets between dinner and bedtime. Japanese winters are cold. They're not -30C cold, but what they do have on Canadian winters is how drafty Japanese houses tend to be, and the distinct diff --git a/content/post/2011-05-06-job-search-search-job.md b/content/post/2011-05-06-job-search-search-job.md @@ -6,12 +6,12 @@ tags = ["Google", "MorganStanley"] +++ After close to seven years with [Morgan Stanley][ms], I've turned in my badge -and exited the world of finance.<!--more--> I first joined Morgan Stanley in -Tokyo in 2004 working in the Equities Technology group focusing on scalability -in the trade processing plant. Throughout my career at Morgan, I've had the -pleasure of working alongside a lot of incredibly bright people on some very -interesting and challenging problems, mainly focusing on scalability, -parallelism and system architecture. +and exited the world of finance. I first joined Morgan Stanley in Tokyo in 2004 +working in the Equities Technology group focusing on scalability in the trade +processing plant. Throughout my career at Morgan, I've had the pleasure of +working alongside a lot of incredibly bright people on some very interesting and +challenging problems, mainly focusing on scalability, parallelism and system +architecture. After being made the offer one sunny Kyoto morning, and giving it some serious contemplation, I've accepted a position with [Google][goog] in [Mountain View, diff --git a/content/post/2011-05-10-moving-to-us-letter-of-compliance.md b/content/post/2011-05-10-moving-to-us-letter-of-compliance.md @@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ this time, I've got a lot more stuff. One of those things is a Nissan Rogue that's been quietly living its life in Canada. Faced with the prospect of selling the car and buying a new one, I chose instead to import the one I know and love. Here is my story. But be forewarned, it is not for the faint of -heart.<!--more--> +heart. {{< figure src="/post/2011-05-10-futile.jpg" alt="Scrawny kid vs sumo wrestler" >}}