Continuing my exploration these hills, i found another trailhead. This time in Simi Valley and despite a understated entrance, we found some exciting features. Including this wash under the 118! Respite from the sun and incredible acoustics. There was a cave that none of the trails we found seemed to head towards. We met another hiker who gave us an idea of how to find it. Next time.
Category: Photography
Time Lapse of my night blooming cereus!
Not all the buds bloomed last night, but i got two good ones making this a success. I’ll try again tomorrow night. hopefully it keeps getting better. more info on the plant. (4K Video)
Second night of time lapse.

LA 3D Club turns 70!
Lots of awards presented. i’ve got to enter more photo competitions. https://la3dclub.com/
Visit to Otagi Nenbutsu-Ji Temple and a bamboo forest
Originally built in 766 Otagi Nenbutsu-Ji Temple was rebuilt a few times since then, most notably by Kocho Nishimura, a statue sculptor and restorer who himself became a Buddhist monk. Over 10 years stating in 1981 reconstruction was in full swing. The main project was the construction of the 1200 carved statues that now cover the hillsides. These are rakan, the followers of Buddha, created individually by everyday followers who made the pilgrimage to learn carving from Kocho Nishimura. you can see the individuality and even elements of personality in each carving.
There are many bamboo forests in Japan, many of the most famous are in the outskirts of Kyoto. This was one of the less popular ones, but none the less beautiful or majestic.
Incredible experience at Arashiyama Monkey Park
In the mountains above the outskirts of Kyoto rests the Monkey Park where i met some enchanting new friends. I got some incredible pictures and videos of some very food motivated primates. They had a great system where all the feeding happens though the bars and outside the feeding room, the monkeys were happy to walk among the visitors. I learned much about these the monkeys and met an adorable mother and child.
teamLab Borderless exhibition delights and amazes visitors!
The teamLab Borderless exhibit in Tokyo shows what is possible with interactive art. From video projection to three dimensional LED or other installation, i was constantly wondering what i would find around the corner. Brining life was a reoccurring theme with one room literally having flowers spring up around slow moving visitors.
Back from Defcon 32 with knowledge swag but no voice
I had a great time this year. i went deep into the sticker game and spent WAY too much time playing with the badge. Playing with the badge allowed me to meet and work with some incredible people with whom we learned, laughed, and lamented the badge’s terrible supplied SD cards. This year i brought flyers to promote my phone adventure game and joined in #StickerLife with a supply of stickers of my own. unfortunately the printers gave me too many flyers, but not enough stickers.
My game did get some traction this year for the first time. Still no winners, but i did get this incredible voicemail from one of the players. I appreciated more ridiculous phone stuff. great job whoever you are! EDIT: i think i found you Foxbox!
The Badge had a lot of problems. only some of which were patched with updates. I excitedly made changes, but then the SD card would fail and be unable change back. currently mine is stuck as a Mario Game, which is not so terrible. i can finish the Defcon GameBoy game on an emulator.













































