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A Very Japanese Misunderstanding

Japan has been semi-isolated for centuries. The barriers are obvious: an ocean, the language, and the use of not one but three writing systems. Isolation, over time, shapes culture. For millennia, survival depended on the resources of a relatively small archipelago and the waters that surrounded it. The result was a society that prized co-operation over individualism, communal contribution over personal ambition, and resource stewardship over waste. Sharing, helpfulness, politeness, and the avoidance of conflict became not just virtues but necessities.

Bamboo water spout, Todoroki Ravine
Bamboo water spout. Todoroki Ravine.
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The Samurai, The Peasant, The Lost Village of Gabos and AI

Samurai
Samurai – courtesy of pexels.com

Some cultures have a particular quirk: they simply cannot say “I don’t know,” “I can’t,” or “It depends.” I think of them as golden retriever cultures—eager to please, eager to agree, even when agreement makes no sense.

These cultures are often deeply hierarchical. Life is hard, survival depends on staying agreeable, and contradicting someone above you in the hierarchy can be … unwise.

Picture this: A 14th century Japanese samurai strides into a rice field. His armour gleams. His muscles bulge. His sword looks like it has opinions.

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A Naturalist’s Diary – Feb 2026.

Autocorrect, that lurking banana skin of the keyboard, tried to title this A Naturist’s Diary. But given that it’s been –20°C some nights and the snow flirting with my kneecaps, I assure you: no naturists are involved. And no, this isn’t a promo for any of my books or photos either. It’s a Naturalist’s Diary about wild rabbits.

For several years I’ve been watching the wild rabbits (technically cottontail hares) that wander into our garden. The first one, many summers ago, we named Woomba Wabbit.

Woomba Wabbit
Woomba Wabbit

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In Search of Mr. Beta

Part 1. Mr. Beta

Calculating beta with Yahoo’s monthly 5-year adjusted price history

Right. Warnings first. This is the most geekish post I’ve ever placed here. If you’re not into stocks, ETFs and weird things like “beta”, “Sortino ratios” and “up-market captures,” or how many angels dance on the head of a pin, skip this one. It’s not as entertaining as my writing posts, or my stories of Johnny Depp or the story of the Philosophers’ Party or the Cat Who Ate Only Chicken. Not even close. And if you think it’s investment advice, it’s not. It’s purely my musings on some nerdish stuff that might, at best, amuse other nerds.

With that out the way, let’s start.

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