The name Ghost Dog is in reference to the Jim Jarmusch film of the same name. I love this movie and the name Ghost Dog is the perfect trope evoking for me several levels of meaning, the first of which is my love for movies. Followed closely by my love for books, stories, photography and music. The movie contains all these elements and more. Including an eccentric character acting alone following his own code as expostulated in the book The Hagekure: The Way of the Samurai. Another element of my life very important to me is my interest and devotion to Eastern Philosophy. The way of the Samurai has long fascinated me. Two of my favorite passages from the book and included in the film are as follows:
“The Way of the Samurai is found in death. Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily. Every day when one’s body and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears, and swords. Being carried away by surging waves. Being thrown into the midst of a great fire. Being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake. Falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease, or committing seppuku at the death of one’s master. And every day, without fail, one should consider himself as dead. This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai.”
“There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything.”
My tagline: Notes from the Underground with pictures says two things. First it is another literary reference about a disaffected character communicating with a wider audience from the vantage point of his underground location actually a “mouse hole.” This could be any blogger typing away on his computer keyboard in some dimly lit lonely basement,a  cheap hotel with neon lights blinking outside, or lonely apartment on Santa Monica Blvd. or other such accommodation. I see Tom Waits, Charles Bukowski, or Nelsen Algren.
The picture thing has to do with my love of photography, visual images, and the stories they tell. I will be illustrating my posts with my own work for the most part, but on occasion, when the moment is right, I might snag an image off the internet.
Well, that about explains it. I would be interested in hearing what you have to say, so drop me a line or leave  a comment. As my friend Timi says, keep the conversation going.