Spot the difference

PMIP - Kyoto [Tofukuji]

AGU - San Francisco [Moscone Center (sic)]

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fat arse chairs, originally uploaded by julesberry2001.

As yet another person tripped over the back of my chair in yet another packed San Francisco restaurant, I finally realised that the problem was mine, not theirs. For comfortable sitting the body-hip angle is supposed to be 90-120 degree. Every chair here seems to be a kind of bucket. For a few seconds I wondered why the San Franciscans put up with such discomfort. However, I soon noticed the other patrons and the simple fact that, with a fat enough arse, thighs are raised at the arse end, but not much at the knee end, such that the correct angle is maintained.

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The growth of the Global Environment Change section is what caused me to come to the AGU this year. It has been rather disappointing though, as it seems to contain little climate science and much squealing of the now sadly deranged prophets of doom. In contrast, at sessions on communication that cover areas of geoscience apart from climate, there is such sweet innocence...

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How to eat breakfast

Californians go to restaurants not to eat, but to proclaim their inner thoughts to all while pushing mountains of food round their plate with a fork. Normally they don't get even get through to the plate, before piling the remains into a polystyrene box. This is carried out and left on a nearby park bench. Whether this for the benefit of the birds or the hobos I don't know, but I do know that we aren't Californians.

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Apple and oranges, originally uploaded by julesberry2001.

It turned out that the impossible deadline for spending our budget was little more than a ruse by the bureaucrats, and my recent request for the thinking woman's iPad was approved. So, on the way home from PMIP last night, we dropped into work and picked up an apple and some oranges. Just in time for the AGU.

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More Kyoto Orangey

[Tofukuji,Kodaiji,Tofukuji]

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Kyoto Imperial Palace, originally uploaded by julesberry2001.

Kyoto is orange.

[Kyoto Imperial Palace]

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Kyoto is the best

People are always surprised when I say I prefer Kamakura to Kyoto. In Kyoto the temples and shrines are bigger and more beautiful...

there is a beautiful river down which to take walks...

there are even beautiful views of Fuji-san on the Shinkansen ride there from Tokyo.

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Kenchoji Zen pond, originally uploaded by julesberry2001.

Kenchoji pond in Kamakura. By our calculations, or rather those of TPE, only early in the morning in summer is the pond free of large shadows when the sun is shining.

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PMIP leaf update

Cherry leaves, originally uploaded by julesberry2001.

I mentioned previously that many trees including the cherry tree were unusually pretty this year, and turning at the same time as the species more famous for their colour (the gingko and maple). Furthermore there were reports of the best leaf season in Kyoto for a century. It was all looking very promising for the PMIP workshop next week. Unfortunately we have just suffered a massive storm, which has caused many trees to dump all their leaves at once, blocking the drains and causing minor flooding. On the plus side, it is clear blues skies and >20C today, but that wont be much solace for the PMIPpers as they wander through the bare twigs in Kyoto next week.

[photo taken on 21st November, outside work]

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