Surekha and Prasad Akella Surekha and Prasad are in Japan on a two year sojourn from their home in the US. Surekha is a Pharmacologist between a Master's and a Ph.D.; she is masquerading as an English teacher in Japan. Prasad has a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University (California) and is working on the control of robots at MITI's National Mechanical Engineering Laboratory. Their common interests include people, photography and international travel. For the next few months, they will report on life in Japan, as viewed through the eyes of Indian-Americans. Kent Barrett Kent Barrett is a Vancouver artist with over twenty years experience in photography. His work has been exhibited in galleries across Canada from Vancouver, B.C. to St. John's, Newfoundland. He is currently working on his first nonfiction book and interactive CD-ROM, "Bitumen to Bitmap: a history of photographic processes." Tom Davis Tom is a wine maker who lives and works in Vancouver, Canada. A former brewmaster, a painter and amateur (in the truest sense) film maker. Currently a Philosophy undergraduate at Simon Fraser University, Tom seeks to start his own vineyard. Ken Eisner Originally from the San Francisco area, Ken Eisner is a Contributing Editor to Vancouver’s entertainment weekly, the Georgia Straight, and Canadian correspondent/film critic for Variety, in Los Angeles. He has also been a frequent arts commentator on CBC TV and radio, and currently reviews new movies for CKNW, throughout Western Canada. Ken Ewing Ken Ewing is a senior technical writer at Sequent Computers Systems, Inc. in Beaverton, Oregon. He is a life-long resident of the Pacific Northwest, a graduate of Eastern Oregon State College, and in addition to travel, has deep interests in philosophy, theology, psychology, and history. Jon Gould Jon teaches law and political science at both DePaul University's International Human Rights Law Institute and Beloit College. He is a former counsel to the Dukakis-Bentsen Campaign and has served as General Counsel to the College Democrats of America and Vote for a Change. Paul L. Gribble Born in Cape Town, South Africa but raised in Vancouver, Paul completed his B.Sc. in Cognitive Science at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. After spending the summer in Japan working for a high technology research company, he started his graduate studies in Cognitive Science at McGill University in Montreal. Jay Hipps Jay Hipps is a freelance writer based in Northern California. He also writes, edits, and designs "Petaluma Business," a monthly newspaper published by the Petaluma Area Chamber of Commerce and which was recently awarded first place in the California State Chamber of Commerce publications contest. His e-mail address is JayH123@aol.com. Anand Mani Anand is a Vancouver, Canada-based corporate communications consultant serving an international clientele. Originally an airbrush artist, his painting equipment has been languishing in a closet, replaced by the Mac. It waits for the day when "that idea" grips him by the throat, breathily says, "Paint Me" and drags him into the studio— not to be seen for months. Andreas Seppelt Andreas is a former Economist with Transport Canada, now consulting in Business Communications and Marketing. He has spent a number of years undergoing formal graduate study and research in Economic Development and International Trade. He currently lives and works in Mexico. Dr. Euan R. Taylor Euan grew up in England where he did a degree in Biochemistry and a Ph.D. Before moving to Canada, Euan spent 6 months traveling in Asia. Now living in Winnipeg, he is doing research in plant molecular biology, and waiting to start Law School. Interests include writing, travel, studying Spanish and Chinese, career changing and good coffee. Pet peeves: weak coffee, wet socks and ironing. Ian Wojtowicz Ian is currently enrolled in the International Baccalaurate program at a Vancouver high school. His interests include fencing, Teletimes and sleeping in. Born in Halifax, Canada in 1977, Ian has since lived in Nigeria, Hong Kong and Ottawa and has travelled to many other places around the world.