Genius appears! Global attention focused on wife and daughter who put into practice “a 100 percent sure way to succeed in preventing father from smoking”


If he never hesitates to walk outside with this equipment on, it is highly likely that he can quit smoking.  But I doubt it.

Masatoshi Takeshita
August 9, 2013


English translation of an excerpt from a Japanese article: Raba Q – July 10, 2013 –

Genius appears! Global attention focused on wife and daughter who put into practice “a 100 percent sure way to succeed in preventing father from smoking




Needless to say, smoking is not good for your health.  Although people decide to stop smoking, there is no end to the number of people who fall by the wayside due to heavy addiction to it.

A 42-year-old Turkish man was a hard-core smoker.  Worrying about his health, his family has come up with a “sure way to enable him to stop smoking” and has decided to put it into practice.

1.

This is the most talked-about male smoker (42 years old).  According to him, he has been smoking two packs of cigarettes a day for 26 years since his was around 16 years old.
However, his father died from lung cancer several years ago.  His wife and daughter, who worried about his health and wanted to stop him from smoking by all means, have come up with the very best equipment.

2.
(Photo)
This is it.  What is this?

3.
Wow!

5.
They also tightly wrapped his right hand up in a bandage so that he was not able to have a cigarette.

9.
“We all family members will work toward his success in quitting smoking!”
Although younger children look subtly tense, let’s forget about it now.

10.
Father does not complain about this equipment but rather his wife and daughter’s love for him might motivate him to try to quit smoking.

Pictures taken 80 years ago produce turbulent responses on the Web – “Disney used to be a scary place”


It seems that this is not Disney Land.  Seeing the first picture from slightly changed camera angle, we might have an impression that there is an altar for Moloch worship.  This is a picture which stirs such imagination.

Masatoshi Takeshita
August 4, 2013


English translation from an excerpt from a Japanese article: Raba Q – August 3, 2013 –

Pictures taken 80 years ago produce turbulent responses on the Web – “Disney used to be a scary place”



Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse …!?
Apparently, there is something different!
And apparently scary!
Such souvenir picture was surely poplar at that time, I suppose.
It is because the boy looks so happy.  Oh, not so happy? (I’m unsure about it.)

---------- 
I don’t even want to know why that boy is on his knees.

Why is Mickey wearing heels?

  Looks like a random note, proof of live.

  What kid wears a tie to Disney Land/World?

  “On your knees boy!”

  Someone should color this!

  The scary part is that this picture IS colorized.

  Anyone else notice Mickey seems a lot more feminine that Minnie?
  Clearly 1930s, clearly not Disneyland.
(The first Disneyland in California was opened in 1955.)

 The 1930 s Mickey Mouse Club characters.

 These other costumes of Mickey and Minnie Mouse from the 1930s are a bit creepier.



  My God.  They look like something from a horror movie.
----------

These pictures will make children today cry.
I want to ask for feedback from children of that time.

“Rice Field Art” in Japan Turns Out To be Amazing!


Information from Ponko, our reader, posted on our blog on July 13, 2013

“I was worried that chemicals might be used to color rice fields.  I am relieved to find that leaves or spikes of ancient rice give coloring to the fields.”
(Comment of the reader)

English translation of an excerpt from a Japanese article: Peachy – July 10, 2013 –

“Rice Field Art” in Japan Turns Out To be Amazing!

“Rice field art” is a large-scale art in which people design rice fields with the use of various different kinds of rice plants.  It originated in early 1990s.  There are 137 places across the country, which is the number of confirmed rice fields so far, where this art is exhibited; it is popular mainly in the Tohoku region.



The larger the area of rice planting is and the more precise the design is, the more difficult it is to make art






It is amazing that no chemicals are used to color rice fields because pictures or letters are drawn with the use of multi-colored leaves or spikes of ancient rice -- purple, yellow, green and red.



Recently “rice filed art” has been known throughout the country, and many tourists take a sightseeing bus tour to see it.  I hear that one hundred thousand to two hundred thousand tourists visit Inakadate village, Minamitsugaru County, Aomori Prefecture every year.  I do want to go there.

Overseas Response “Japan Too Advanced” – Talking Robot Astronaut Astonishes Foreigners

Although not in this article, I have found a comment: “Hurry to revise the Constitution so that I can marry a robot.”

Masatoshi Takeshita
July 12, 2013


English translation of an excerpt from a Japanese article: Gloom of Pandora – June 29, 2013 –

Overseas Response “Japan Too Advanced” – Talking Robot Astronaut Astonishes Foreigners


The other day the completion of talking robot astronaut “KIROBO” was announced.   Since it has passed all screenings and tests necessary for launching into space, the unmanned cargo transfer vehicle “KOUNOTORI” boarding the robot is scheduled to head into space on August 4.

This robot has been completed as a result of joint development by Tokyo University Advanced Technology Research Center, which had charge of robot body development and motion generation and Toyota, which had charge of providing intelligence to robot with the use of voice-recognition system.
The main mission is “conversation experiment between a robot and humans in space.” It is said that the robot will be able to help humans make experiments in the future.”

Kirobo: Toyota’s Robot Astronaut Heading for in..


Kirobo: Toyota’s Robot Astronaut Heading for International Space Station


Twelve Tests to become a robot-astronaut First test: zero-gravity test

----------  
*Needless to say, even a robot over there is so cute. It’s typical of Japan. +4 U.S.A.

*The robot we sent to Saturn and the robot moving around the ground of Mars may have been insufficient in cuteness. +5 U.S.A.

*Talking robot? Next time it must want the right to vote!!! U.S.A.

*Japan looks ahead of future. I wonder what the U.S. is doing. It does almost nothing but killing each other. U.S.A.

*Research Projects Agency of the U.S. government produces weapons like Terminator, while Japan produces cute robots which make us breakfast, sing, save human life and help the elder. This clearly indicates a difference in culture. +30 U.K.

Thais Protest against Outdoor Display of Fallen Buddha Statue for the Reason of “Insult to Buddhism” 


It is heartwarming or enchanting, though it’s difficult to describe, that a child plays on a fallen Buddha statue in Munich, Germany.  Reading this article, I have found that gejutsu (art) will become such powerful tools that make it possible to dismiss a legitimate protest from Thai people.

I hope that statues such as Shiva or Vishnu, Jesus or Maria and above all, Muhammad, who is regarded as sacred in Islam, should be treated as geijutsu in the same way as this statue.

And I want the German authorities to insist on art without succumbing to protests.
Since I don’t think any religion is sacred, this photo makes me simply laugh.  Equally, since I don’t think geijutsu and its expression is sacred either, the protester is right.

In a word, something that is sacred and inviolable to a person is an object of religion for some people or freedom of expression for others.
I think what matters most is Earth and nature.  This makes me detach myself from such a useless conflict.  I don’t think something made by humans is so important, whatever it may be, religion or geijutsu.

Masatoshi Takeshita
July 5, 2013



English translation of an excerpt from a Japanese article: newsclip – July 3, 2013 –

Thais Protest against Outdoor Display of Fallen Buddhist Statue for the Reason of “Insult to Buddhism”
[Thailand]  It has been revealed that an overturned Buddha statue is displayed outdoor in Munich, Germany.  On 2nd tens of Thai Buddhist group members got together in front of the German embassy in Bangkok, Thailand to submit a written protest to remove the art installation.

The Buddha statue in question is approximately 3-meter ocher statue in sitting position.  It is displayed at an open-air market with the statue overturned.  Some people take a memorable photograph with sitting on the statue.  The statue is scheduled to be displayed from June to September.  Although Thais living in Munich protested the German authorities to remove it, citing “The exhibition disrespects Buddhism,” the German authorities refused to do it for the reason that it was an “art piece.”

According to the Buddhist group, “We requested the Thai Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take appropriate steps but they did not respond to our request.  So we have decided to organize a protest.”



Outdoor display of an overturned Buddha statue in Germany -- Thais protest, citing it is “insult to Buddhism”
Photograph:  Dr. Pornchai Pingapong

Radio Show Hosts, Who Have Saved Americans from Depression, Commit Suicide


It is highly likely that counselors will be possessed by spirits like this woman.  Possession cannot be got through just by a manipulative technique such as “positively tackling with problems.”  Humans have so little knowledge about this field.
Regrettably, most psychologists or counselors hardly believe the existence of spirits.

Masatoshi Takeshita
June 8, 2013

English translation of a Japanese version of The Voice of Russia – June 7, 2013 –

Screenshot: Youtube

Hosts of Radio Show, Who Have Saved Americans from Depression, Commit Suicide

The hosts of a radio show “Pursuit of Happiness,” in which they listened to the problems of mentally ill people and consulted with them, killed themselves
John Littig and Lynne Rosen, hosts of “Pursuit of Happiness,” were found dead at home in New York.  It is said that the two killed themselves on a sofa with plastic bags over their heads.

A suicide note allegedly left behind by Mr. John Littig, 48, says “I cannot stand watching my wife suffer any more.”  Based on the note, the police think that Lynne Rosen, 46, had severe psychological problems.

Lynne Rosen, a professional psychotherapist, and his husband John Littig, a musician, hosted a radio show on WBAI-FM, in which they dispense advice to listeners for one hour on how to positively tackle with problems and how to overcome depression.  It is said that their advice made some people stop committing suicide.

Raptorial with Seven-Colored Face – Great Potoos Seen in a Video Picture


When I saw the shoebill for the first time, I was surprised.  This Great Potoo is also not bad.
These two are the East and the West grand champions of rare birds.

Masatoshi Takeshita
May 21, 2013

Video: Excerpt from a Japanese article: Karapaia – May 18, 2013 –

Great Pottos seen in a video picture

[Words of Wisdom of Native Americans] Let’s ponder again the teachings of natives.


These are words of real wise people.
Japanese are supposed to have a mind of the same nature.
I think that washing away dust from our heart, our inherent heart will start shining freshly.  Do you ask me how we can wash it away?
The article posted on Raba Q on May 14 may be helpful to you.
I’m just joking.  Light is attracted to what you direct your consciousness toward.  Please cherish heart, not money.

Masatoshi Takeshita
May 19, 2013

English translation of an excerpt from a Japanese article: Martin Island ~ Sky and Forest and Water ~ - May 18, 2013 –

“Seeking for happiness of all people, gaze your eyes and listen carefully.
Don’t stop looking at this moment alone.  Instead, always try to bring into view the generations to come.”

The times seem to rush towards the opposite direction.
Let’s ponder again the teachings of natives.


Teachings of Native Americans


l  “When you get up in the morning, thank the light of the sun, your life and your power.  If you don’t understand why you have to thank them, it indicates that sin is coiling up in yourself.”
[Tecumseh, the Shawnee leader]

l  “God created everything in a simple manner.  Native American’s life is very simple.  We live freely.  The only one law we must obey is the law of nature, law of God.  We obey only that law .”
[Mathew King, the Lakota leader]

l  “Silence is a perfect balance among body, spirit and soul.  A person who keeps himself in balance is always quiet and never be shaken by a storm of existence; it’s just like a tree whose leaf never moves and also just like a shining pond with no ripples on it.

l  “Native Americans need no alphabets.  Words conveying truth sink deep inside heart and stay there.  Humans never forget such words.”
[Unknown author]

l  “Seek for not knowledge but wisdom.  Knowledge is a product, but wisdom produces future.”
[The Lumbee Tribe]

l  Peace between nations will not come until true peace takes root in the heart of people.”
[The Lumbee Tribe]

l  “Glittering water flowing in streams and rivers is not mere water but blood of our ancestors.  Any blurring shadow reflected on the water of lake is talking about events and memories of our tribe.  A slight sound of water is the voice of my father’s father’.”
[Sealth, the Squamish leader]

l  “Rocks never happen to be here.  Trees never happen to sand here.  There is someone who created them, the person who teaches all to us.”
[Unknown author]

l  “We want you never to forget that air is shared with all living beings and their spirits that it nurtures.  The wind that gave the first breath to our grandfathers also receives the last breath of them.”
[Sealth, the Squamish leader]

l  “Crisis changes humans.  It makes ordinary people cleverer and makes them have a stronger sense of responsibility.
[Unknown author]

l  “Name of God has no meaning.   The true God for the world is love.”
[The Apache Tribe]

We Feel Life in Wildlife Silhouettes Pictures! [roomie]

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Information from one of our readers, Serena, posted on our blog on April 28, 2013

It is wonderful that a picture of a “human” is included in these pictures.
Animals are beautiful.  Humans are also friends of animals living on the same planet.
(Comment by the reader)

English translation of a Japanese article: roomie – April 28, 2013 –

We Feel Life in Wildlife Silhouettes Pictures!

How wonderful it is that we can feel “life” this much!

 
Wildlife photographed by Mr. Mario Moreno, a South African photographer, are so vivid though we cannot see their expressions in “silhouette.”


Monkeys:  This picture has an uplifting feeling of a child monkey.


An elephant: Water surface is also beautiful!


A giraffe: I wonder what he thinks.


A rhino: Against the setting sun


Human and the sky


A vulture: The color of the moon seems to make the strength of a vulture stand out.


No wonder nature repeats “life” and “death” every day and every moment.
Although we seldom see such scenes, we would like to reconsider “life” and “death” by seeing these animal pictures.


[Japanese.CHINA.ORG.CN] A Passage to Fairytale World? Magical Caves Sparkling with All the Colors of the Rainbow


I’m going to talk a little about the World of Forms in a video lecture to be recorded today.  These pictures seem to nicely convey its image.

Masatoshi Takeshita
April 18, 2013

Excerpt from Japanese.CHINA.ORG.CN – April 11, 2013 –

A Passage to Fairytale World?  Magical Caves Sparkling with All the Colors of the Rainbow


With multicolored lights gently glowing from a translucent ceiling, a stream rippling through rocks beneath and a bright in the distance, this tunnel looks like a passage to fairytale world.  On April 8, the English paper “Daily Mail” posted on the web magical pictures taken in the caves near the Mutnovsky volcano, Russia.