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Wednesday/ Japan’s dragon stamps 🐲

I bought a large batch of Japanese stamps from an Ebay seller.
These are from 1981, and depict the very first stamps issued by the Imperial Japanese Post (today simply called Japan Post).

Japan’s first postage stamps, known as the “Ryu” (dragon) stamps, were issued on April 20, 1871.
These imperforate, hand-engraved stamps featured dragon designs and used “Mon” currency.

It would be nice to own just one or two of the original dragon stamps, but man! they are listed for anything from $500 to several thousand dollars on Ebay.
Then you have to take really good care of this little square of paper.
Also: a lot of well-made forgeries are floating around.
Some sellers offer authentication certificates, but can even those be trusted?

1981 International Stamp Exhibition “PHILATOKYO ’81” Tokyo, Japan— Stamps on Stamps from 1871
Issued Oct. 9, 1981
Perf. 13 | Photolithography and engraving | No watermark
1481 A1063 60y Multicolored with vermillion 1871 stamp of pair of dragons facing characters of value 200 mon
1482 A1063 60y Multicolored with brown 1871 stamp of pair of dragons facing characters of value 48 mon
1483 A1063 60y Multicolored with yellow green 1871 stamp of pair of dragons facing characters of value 500 mon
1484 A1063 60y Multicolored with blue 1871 stamp of pair of dragons facing characters of value 100 mon
[Sources: 2021 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Vol. 4A, stampworld.com, Google AI]
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Tuesday/ Hantavirus on board 🚢

A suspected outbreak of the rare hantavirus on a cruise ship in the Atlantic kills 3 people

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A deadly outbreak of the rare hantavirus unfolded over the course of weeks on a cruise ship that sailed from Argentina toward Antarctica and then across the Atlantic Ocean, stopping at or near remote islands on the way as passengers and crew members fell sick, according to information from the cruise operator, the World Health Organization and ship tracking data.

It shows nearly a month passed between when an elderly Dutch man fell sick and died in the South Atlantic and laboratory tests in South Africa — more than 3,500 kilometers (2,174 miles) away — confirmed hantavirus infections.

Three passengers in total have died, one is in intensive care in a South African hospital, and three other people still on the cruise ship have shown symptoms and were waiting for evacuations. Nearly 150 passengers and crew members from 23 countries were on the ship, which is waiting off the coast of West Africa.
– Reporting by Associated Press

I am following the hantavirus outbreak on the polar cruise ship MV Hondius.
I hope there is a resolution soon for those trapped on the ship.

Authorities do not know if the passengers that fell ill contracted the virus while on excursions away from the ship, or from rodents on the ship itself. The hantavirus is not really contagious except for one specific type: the Andes virus, found in long-tailed pygmy rice rats.

Reporting from the New York Times.
An update on Wed 5/6: As of May 6, 2026, three people have died and eight cases (three confirmed) of hantavirus are linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship. Three symptomatic patients were evacuated to the Netherlands, and the vessel is heading to the Canary Islands with roughly 150 passengers in cabin isolation. The Andes strain, capable of rare person-to-person spread, was identified. – Google AI Overview/ PBS
The MV Hondius started out in Ushaia, Argentina, on April 1. It is highly likely that individuals on the MV Hondius were already infected with the hantavirus at that time, although they were not showing symptoms at the time of departure.
[Graphic by Bloomberg]
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Monday/ irises 🪻

I found these beautiful bearded irises on Martin Luther King Way in Seattle’s Central District.

From Google AI Overview:
Bearded irises, native to the Mediterranean, have a rich history spanning over 3,000 years, from being cherished by Egyptian pharaohs and Greek mythology to becoming a cornerstone of modern gardening.
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Sunday/ three departures 🚢

The newly built Star Princess made its maiden port of call in Seattle this weekend.  She was constructed in 2025 by Fincantieri in Monfalcone, Italy, with a capacity for 4,300 passengers and a gross tonnage of 175,500. The Star Princess is the second Sphere-class vessel for Princess Cruises, a sister ship to the Sun Princess.

The Star Princess was at Pier 91 with MS Noordam on the opposite side of the pier, and was scheduled to depart this afternoon at 3 pm.
Instead, it was MS Noordam that sounded her horn three times, and departed shortly after 3 pm.

I waited until after 4 pm for Star Princess to depart, and then gave up.  (Later, at home, I saw online that the Star Princess had departed at 5.25 pm).
I walked up to the Magnolia Bridge to take another picture or two, and right then the Norwegian Encore came by in the distance.  She was at Pier 66.

Port of Seattle’s Pier 91 this afternoon at 3 pm.
From left to right: the Star Princess, the Arctic Fjord (a state-of-the-art, 325.8-foot/ 99-meter U.S.-built factory trawler designed for harvesting and processing Alaska pollock in the Bering Sea) and the MS Noordam.
A closer look at the Star Princess. The dome at the top is a multi-level, glass-enclosed top-deck venue. The structure directly in front of the dome is a relaxing, forward-facing outdoor area known as the Sea View. The bridge is located at the very front of the ship, situated on Deck 15 (the Sun Deck).
The MS Noordam, bound for Juneau, Alaska.
The MS Noordam had sounded her horn three times, backed away from the pier, and turned north. In the foreground in Elliot Bay Marina.
So now all of Star Princess is visible from my vantage point at Elliott Bay Marina.
I am not 100% sure, but I believe this tugboat is using its water cannon to produce a ‘water salute’ to the Star Princess prior to her departure.
Look at the Mountain looming in the distance, magnified by my telefoto lens.
By about 4.20 pm at Elliott Bay Marina, I gave up to see Star Princess depart. Her mooring lines were still in place. I walked up the Magnolia Bridge to get this view of Pier 91 for a final picture or two.  
The vessel to the left of Star Princess is Seaspan Baker, a bunkering tanker. These are specialized vessels designed to supply fuel (bunker) directly to other ships for propulsion and energy.
While I was on the Magnolia Bridge, the Norwegian Encore came by.
She was at Pier 66 and had a scheduled 4 pm departure. She was a little late departing as well (this picture taken at 4.35 pm).
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Saturday/ summery weather 🌞

We had 72 °F (22 °C) here in the city today, and we might see the year’s first 80 °F (27 °C) by Monday.

I look for the newest car registration numbers when I am out and about, and I spotted a Washington State plate with CWZ on today.
That means there might be CXA plates out there already.
My dad’s Chev truck in South Africa had a plate with CXX 360 T on. Utterly trivial and insignificant — or is it?
Why would I be able to recall that, decades later?

Here is Saturday’s sunlight, rapidly running out.
It is 8.06 pm and I am looking down along East Thomas St, still able to see the Needle through the newly grown leaves on the trees. 
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Friday/ first of May ⚾

Happy Friday.
Is that a 12 flag on the Space Needle? I wondered today.
No, it’s actually a flag with 51 on.

A “51” flag was raised today May 1 (5/1) to celebrate the retirement of Mariners legend Randy Johnson’s jersey number.
The “Big Unit” himself hoisted the flag to honor his 51 number.
Johnson played for the Seattle Mariners from May 25, 1989, to July 31, 1998.

It is 6.20 pm and I am looking out to the Space Needle from the stairs off E Harrison St where it runs into Melrose Ave E. 
We had blue skies for most of the day, but clouds moved in late afternoon.
The clouds will probably obscure the first of May’s two full moons: one tonight, and one more on May 31!
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Thursday/ †Mimi Coertse (1932-2026)

Beloved South African soprano Mimi Coertse (93) passed away on Monday.

On 17 March 1956, she made her debut at the Vienna State Opera as the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) by Mozart.
She remained with the Vienna State Opera until 1978.

After retiring in 1978, she devoted her time to exposing young South African singers to the neglected art of Lieder singing.
In 1996, Austria’s Federal Ministry for Science and Art awarded her the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art.
In 1998, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Pretoria.

Picture from the front page of South African newspaper Die Burger (The Citizen).
‘Goodbye, Our Mimi‘ says the headline, and ‘She was a true opera diva. When she entered a room, you knew you were in distinguished and important company. An era has come to an end. Rest in peace, dear Mimi.’
Statement from the Vienna State Opera.
KS stands for Kammersängerin, is a prestigious German honorific title for distinguished opera and classical music singers.
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Tuesday/ you’ve got royal mail 🇬🇧

King Charles III is on his first state visit to the United States as monarch, and addressed congress today.

The Washington Post: As the king spoke, the White House posted an image of Trump and Charles on X, calling it “TWO KINGS,” with a crown emoji.
My comment: The United States of America has no king.

Meanwhile, my latest purchase from an Ebay seller in London arrived yesterday, with a stamp on the envelope that features the king.

United Kingdom, 2026 Definitives
Issued Apr. 7, 2026
Perf. 15×14½ syncopated | 39mm x 30mm | Design: Martin Jennings | Engraving: Cartor Security Printing | Gravure printing | Bar-coded | Phosphor bars, lettering | Self-adhesive
5194 FCP19 £3.60 Purple Heather | Profile of King Charles III
[Sources: stampworld.com, royalmail.com, Google AI]
Held at an angle, the embossed printing, the die-cut security holes (to prevent lifting and re-use of the stamp) and the phosphor lettering comes to light.
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Monday/ earthquake stamp from Japan 🇯🇵

I am expanding my collection of stamps from Japan, and have bought some older ones on Ebay recently.

I love the graphic design of this one.
Check out its interesting history in the caption below.

Japan, 1923 ‘Earthquake Stamps’
Issued Oct. 25, 1923
Imperforate | Offset lithography | Granite paper with colored fibers, parallel lines watermark | No gum
183 A51 4 sen Gray-green | Mount Fuji, cherry blossoms and dragonflies around the  Imperial Chrysanthemum Seal (the 16-petal flower at the top center)
Text on the stamp:
日本郵便  Nippon Yūbin (Japan Postal Service)
四錢  Yon Sen (or Shi Sen) 4 Sen, equal to 1/100th of a Yen
[Sources: 2021 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, Vol. 4A, Google AI]

Historical Background
These stamps were created following the Great Kanto Earthquake of September 1, 1923, which devastated Tokyo and Yokohama. The disaster destroyed the government’s Printing Bureau, along with its stamp-making equipment and stored inventory. To maintain postal services during reconstruction, the government commissioned a private corporation to produce these emergency definitives.
Unlike standard stamps of the time, these were issued imperforate (no holes) and without gum (adhesive) on the back due to the emergency conditions. They were used until April 30, 1925, after the Printing Bureau was restored.

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Saturday/ bon voyage 🛳️

It was a beautiful spring day here in the city (62°F / 17°C).
The Norwegian Bliss set sail for Sitka, Alaska shortly after 4 pm this afternoon, from Pier 66 here at the Seattle Waterfront.

Norwegian Bliss will spend two days at sea to get to Sitka on Baranof Island.
Then she will make her way back to Seattle along the Alaska Inside Passage (a network of sheltered waterways, fjords, and lush islands stretching from Washington State through the British Columbia coast to the Alaska panhandle).
[Map generated from cruise itinerary with Nano Banana 2 by Google AI. The map is close but not 100% accurate. Icy Strait Point (5) is to the west of Juneau.]
Is the mountain out? Yes. The view to the south from the top of Pike Place Market along Alaskan Way this afternoon.
I walked as far as I could on Pier 62 for this picture. Norwegian Bliss is at Pier 66.
There is a game of chess and several cornhole games in progress on Pier 62.
The staircases are part of the pedestrian overpass to Pike Place Market and downtown.
The expanded Seattle Aquarium is housed in the structure with the darkened wood shell on the right.
I made my way to the cruise terminal building by Pier 66 and took the elevator up to the viewing deck on the fifth floor.
The departure time of 4.00 pm has come and gone 5 minutes ago. The mooring lines have all been taken care of, though, and it can only be minutes to departure.
There she goes, pulling away from the pier.
There was no tugboat, and Norwegian Bliss did not sound her horn.
Bon voyage!
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Thursday/ expensive diesel ⛽

Expensive diesel is a much bigger problem than expensive gasoline.
The world economy runs on diesel because diesel has more energy per gallon and powers trucks, marine vessels and heavy equipment.

Supplies of diesel were tight even before the war in Iran— and, writes Emmett Lindner for the New York Times— refineries in the Persian Gulf exported much more diesel and jet fuel than gasoline, while no other countries have the capacity to make up for that loss.

For the longest time, this sign here on Seattle’s Capitol Hill would show $4.99 a gallon for gas. 
And here we are at $6.30 for gas and $7.70 for diesel.
(Gas is very expensive on the West Coast. The national average for the USA stands at $4.03 per gallon. Diesel $5.60). 
Since the war began, diesel has gone up about 45% and regular gasoline by 35% percent.
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Wednesday/ Earth Day 🌎

Happy Earth Day.
It is a rainy day here in the city of Seattle (55 °F/ 13 °C).

Water, chlorophyll and sunlight: all essential for the survival of humans on Earth.
Do all plants have chlorophyll?
No, not all. The vast majority do (they are called autotrophs).
Even Venus flytraps have chlorophyll, but some plants are without.
Those without are called heterotrophic: they are parasitic, or feed on fungi.
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Tuesday/ the leaves are out 🌿

Here comes the No 12 bus, northbound along 19th Avenue East.
I am standing in the middle of the street by Stevens Elementary School to take a picture of the lovely lime green tree leaves.

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Monday/ a great blue heron 🪽

There was a great blue heron (Ardea herodias) in the shallow waters yesterday, between Pier 91 and the Elliott Bay Marina.
Its patience was rewarded with a little snack.

These herons are common, year-round residents in Washington state, particularly in the Puget Sound region— which has one of the largest breeding populations on the West Coast.

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Sunday/ a Pacific Ocean crossing 🛳️

The MS Noordam from Holland America Line arrived at Pier 91 at the Port of Seattle at 7 am this morning, completing her 36-night crossing of the Pacific Ocean from Sydney, Australia. 

She departed from Pier 91 at 4 pm this afternoon, for 7-day round trip to Ketchikan, Alaska.
So we will see her again next Sunday. 

The itinerary of MS Noordam included Melanesia & Polynesia, French Polynesia, followed by a 5-day crossing to Hawaii, and then on to Seattle.
[Map generated by Nano Banana 2 in Google AI Mode from the itinerary]
Looking out at Pier 91 from the Elliott Bay Marina.
Look for the Space Needle on the left, and for Mount Rainier, to the right of MS Noordam.
At 4 o’clock MS Noordam sounded her horn three times, and pulled back from the pier.
As far as I could tell there was no tug boat in attendance.
Turning to head to the north of Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Bon voyage!
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Saturday/ a bandit in the tree 🦝

As I opened the side door to my garage this afternoon, a little twig fell to the ground. I looked up, and there he was.

I took a photo with my phone, and then went into the house to let Mr. Raccoon get down from the tree and vamoose— which is what he did.
They are nocturnal, but you do spot them once in a while in daytime here in the neighborhood.

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Friday/ the cruise season starts 🛳️

Happy Friday.
So the Strait of Hormuz is open— sort of.
Iran demands that ships use the route in the strait that runs close to its coastline, and the U.S. blockade is still in place. (The U.S. Navy is actively intercepting and restricting ships entering or leaving Iranian ports to cut off Tehran’s revenue.)

Late afternoon, I went down to the Seattle waterfront to see the first cruise ship of the season set sail.

The Mountain was out today.
(Mount Rainier, seen from the top of Pike Place Market and looking south along Alaskan Way. That’s Lumen Field Stadium’s roof with the white (home of the Seahawks football team) and T-Mobile Park to its right with the black roof (home of the Seattle Mariners baseball team).
Making my way down to the water’s edge, using the overpass and stairs from Pike Place Market.
That’s Pier 62 straight ahead. The Norwegian Jade is the first cruise ship to arrive at the Port of Seattle this year and she is at Pier 66.
It is almost 6 pm. The engines are running and the Norwegian Jade is about to set sail for Vancouver. She started out in San Diego on an eight-day cruise.
There is a solar halo in the sky, made by sunlight refracting in the ice crystals inside high-altitude cirrus clouds.
There she goes, leaving Elliott Bay to get to the north end of Puget Sound and into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the passage to the Pacific Ocean.
There is a ‘mosquito’ in the sky at the Norwegian Jade’s bow: a seaplane.