I've been using a dummy avatar until I saw this post and finally got around to uploading my standard avatar.
Its all about my love for Japan, aircraft, haiku and perspective.
I have been in love with aircraft since I was a toddler. I'm particularly fond of aircraft around the second world war, when fighter planes still had style, and sky liners were classy and exclusive. Ford Tri-Motor, the Corsair, the Pan Am Clippers...
The aircraft in the picture is a Yokosuka MXY-7... a kamikaze rocket.
The Japanese called the MXY-7 "Ohka" which means "cherry blossom" referring to the explosion they made when they served their purpose. It reflects both the beauty of the eventual destruction, but also the glory of the sacrifice. In reference to something a young man had said of the special unit 80 years ago I wrote the haiku "If I was twenty; the day the sun came up red; Cherry blossoms fall"
The allies called the MXY-7 "Baka" which means "idiot"... because from the western warriors perspective, who else would sign up to fly a rocket into the side of a ship? It is the age-old "Don’t die for your dear country’s sake,
But let the other chap die for his" logic.
...it is also the first word of Japanese I ever recognized (in an episode DBZ where Trunksu mumbles it under his breath).
The kanji on the side is "OhkaBaka"... which has been my name online for almost 20 years.
Perspective is what keeps me sane. No matter what I do, someone out there is going to think it is idiotic, and someone is going to think its beautiful. Knowing they will both ALWAYS exist, no matter what, is keeps me level. Nothing I do can please everyone, nothing I can do will please no one.
The reflection on the water is me, smiling back with equal measure at those who think me beautiful and those who think me an idiot.