New Year's Eve...all about this year '12

There were lots of troubles and problems this year. Unexpected and unwilling happenings occurred but as time goes by, we could reach to the path aiming to the next goal as long as we live.
On New Year's Eve I'd like to conclude this year with a good story.

It's the local news a few days ago on the Chunichi press.
According to the news, a dog was found left alone, seemed to be waiting for the owner on the lonely closed road in the mountains in Iida city in Nagano prefecture. The dog was seen to be there more than two weeks there never left and just sitting and waiting. The poor dog like 'Hachi' who was faithful and loyal to the owner, might be lost or abandoned. People who saw the dog worried about and wanted to feed him and take care of him.
The Chunichi press reported about the dog and many people offered to help the dog.
It seemed better for the dog to have a new owner. The animal protection worked for the dog to find a right owner.
Finally the dog called 'Hachi in Iida' met a new owner by the arranging.
I thought it was the final warm story for me.
What's your final good story on the New Year's Eve...Good luck!

The movie I recommend

We will have rainy and snowy weather from the end of the year to new year's days.
So I'm planning to read and watch movies.
One of my 'want lists' is 'Les Miserables'. I'm looking forward to seeing Jean Valjean acted by Hugh Jackman who was 'Kate and Leopard' and Cossete acted by Amanda Seyfried who was 'Mamma Mia'.
The movie is produced as musical cinema and all casts are powerful musical actors and actresses.
I also would like to enjoy the ultimate human love beyond laws or rules.
It's the eternal theme for us to think what is true valuable life.

Les Miserables

Cleaning at the end of the year

It's the season for the big cleaning at the end of the year.
I'm not going to clean so big because I mostly did the difficult one during the warm season, for example, the ventilation in the kitchen and windows. What I mostly need to do is to throw the disused away and decrease things. It's almost the half finished at the final clean up this year.

The day clip

It was the coldest morning yesterday at the minus 6 degrees Celsius. But it was very beautiful all the day around from morning till night.
I was enjoying the sunrise and the full moon in the winter night sky.

The coldest morning and the beautiful day and night

Frozen below minus this morning

It was extremely cold this morning!
Because the heat on the ground was deprived into the air in the sky. There was no warmth on the earth. It means no clouds at all in the sky last night, that's why all the heat was gone.
It indicated minus 6 degrees on the thermometer.
It was rare in my memory around here.
But the sun appears and shine in the sky.
I can see beautiful sunny morning so far... but it doesn't seem to be long before getting cloudly.
I'm sure it's the typical winter weather effected by cold wind and low pressure.
I thank the morning sunshine for a moment.

Christmas quotes

Christmas day is over but Christmas holiday goes on until New Year's day.
We have white Christmas in the north hemisphere, but they have summer Christmas in the south hemisphere. It doesn't matter whether it's summer or winter, Santa Clause travels all around the world. It's a big holiday event in the end of the year across the borders, countries, races, cultures and religions,too.
It's time for conclusion of this year and preparation for the next year.
I'm making to do list in this year end and counting the rest of the time day by day.

[my favorite quotes of Christmas]

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.
It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace. ~Agnes M. Pahro


A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas

from "Happy Christmas(War is Over)" by John Lennon & Yoko,1971

From TED Talk "Before I die, I want to..."

TED is a nonprofit organization dedicated to "Ideas worth spreading," which it makes available through talks posted on its website. ( Editor's note)
This program is shown NHK super presentation once a week.
A TED fellow, Candy Chang is an artist, designer, and urban planner who explores making cities more comfortable and contemplative spaces.
She had a hard time from the sudden death of her step mother and spent a long time grief.
One day she wondered if other people felt the same way to overcome difficulties in each life.
She wanted to know what was important to the people around her and wanted a daily reminder to restore perspective.
So with the help from old and new friends, she transformed the side of an abandoned house in her neighborhood in New Orleans into a giant chalkboard house and stenciled it with a grid of the fill- in- the blank sentence " Before I die, I want to ______." Anyone walking by could pick up a piece of chalk, reflect on their lives, and share their personal aspirations in public space.
People's responses made her laugh and loud, tear up, and they consoled her during her tough times.This neglected space became a constructive one where we understood our neighbors in new and enlightening ways. It also showed us we are not alone in our hopes, fears and struggles as we try to lead fulfilling lives. ( edited from CNN news)
Before I die, I want to...

Chance of a good video

I've got a good chance to take a movie of Marie's dance like a fur seal.
It's really hard to get a chance to take in a video, which she sometimes shows to appeal her wish.
I didn't prepare yet for having the shot movie of her, while I asked her to show the dance again...she never answered.
I always failed to take her funny dance and never expected to take a chance of it.
She showed her Merry Dance suddenly yesterday and I requested to take it.
This time she was very kind enough to answer my request and could take a movie for the first time!
Please take a look of her Funny Christmas Show time.

Marie dance like a fur seal

Christmas illumination

The colder it gets the more beautiful the Christmas illumination at night.
They compete their beauty here and there, which attract people a lot.
The show of the thousands of light works is fantastic illusion. It really takes us to the imaginary world and calm that's why people are favor of the light works in the dark.

I also love walking and watching at the night museum in the park.
It's special in winter, especially in the Christmas season object.
I'd like to enjoy the different design of the art coming up.

P.S.
By the way, the view counter in my blog ( only in English version ) has got 50,000 access today in the morning. It's been for 2 years and 4 months since I had started blogger and the total posted are 693. It's very amazing for me that I've kept writing blogs so long.
But I once almost failed to keep writing because I didn't have anything to write. While I was stopping to post, Mr. Odekyu requested the blog because he was waiting to read it every day.
It enlightened me and I could restarted again. Thank you for your support.
It's now one of my life to post the blog.
I want to learn and widen more about LIFE.
I want to share many interesting topics and good world with you here now on!
Thank you for all(=^ェ^=)

The death of cash

The economy in the world wide has been depressed, while Japan's is said to be lost twenty years since the destruction of bubble economy.
Now is under the terrible hyper deflation never known before a half century.
Some people say Japan should print more bill to remove depression and increase incomes to outgoes.
I don't know about economy well but I know the important factor that focuses more on the quality of life than quantity or mass products. But it's a kind of ideal ...you may say.
I've heard that Japan mint got the first order to produce coins for another country, Bangladesh.
It's said because of the declination of yen production and being expected to make use of the skills for other currencies.
I think it tells that many developed countries have the same phenomena because of e-money.


Japan mint produces taka


As we more use e-money such as credit card, smart phone and mobile phone paying service, we need less cash.
Actually I often use to pay via credit card or web pay at the convenience store, which is cashless in my purse.
I've found an interesting topic like SF but about the future money.
Not only languages, culture, people but also money will be globalized.


The death of cash

The Young Wonders

The 11 year-old young girl, Jessica Rees, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor, received outpatient treatment at the hospital every day.
One day she found out that many of kids staying at the hospital and she wanted to help " make them happier."
She started to creat JoyJars for them. And they were made 3,000(JoyJars) before she passed away this January. But her parents are carrying on her legacy.
She was one of three "Young Wonders" honored this year at "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute."

The Young Wonder

To get married to the country

South Korean voters have chosen conservative candidate Park Geun-hye as their president. The daughter of the country's late dictator will become its first female head of state.
She is said to be single in her life but she had got married to the country.
It reminds me of the other lady who dedicated her life to her country, whose name is Aung San Suu Kyi. Actually she had married to an English man but she had to leave him and sons. She stayed her country and worked for the people and now on.
They are both super women like Joan of Arc, who struggled to save the people.

And the more, I remember the name of him, his name is Donald Keene.
He retired from the university as a Japanese literature honorable professor and decided to move to Japan to live in the rest of his life because he loves Japan.
He said that he had never got married but would like to marry to Japan.

I was very moved with those dedicated people.

Shell octopus

I've heard about a rare shell fish but an octopus in it from a naturalist who lives in the nature and a great lover of nature.
It's season for them to die in a mass suicide at the sea shore.
They are said to be often seen at this time on the rough waves in winter.
Theses shells were the ones which she collected before.
She loves to explore the natural life and enjoy visiting the wild life.
It was first for me to know about the octopus in a shell called paper nautilus or Argonauts Argo.

Heart warming video

I've got a mail from a friend with which she put a special video.
It was very beautiful and left me something heart warming after watching it.
It's natural that we need words to communicate but this video tells that we don't always need words when we are in peace and gentle.

Special video in your heart

Fair and Just

I often heard the word ' Fair and Just ' from some politicians who replied at the interview after the election yesterday.
I wondered what the word in kanji character " Zeze Hihi " means.
It explains that judging what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong or calling spade a spade.

They are responsible for their words and behavior. Being good representative of people, they are expected to work a lot, never forget the first wish.
We need a right person to lead us in peace and prosperity.

New year card

Today is the Election Day for the judgement who will win the next casting board to manage the politics.
I had finished a week before with my parents who might be ill or fail because of bad weather.
They felt safe and relieved to have done the important role at the early voting.

I was preparing for New Year Card print for my father, which is annual task at this time.
I downloaded some good template for next year with the image of the Chinese year ' snake'.
This year's 'dragon' and the 'snake' next year are both long body.
I imagine the both impression is kind of 'full of ups and downs' and 'causing troubles' because it inspires me ' drunk dragon ' or ' Be rolled up by the long tail '.
I hope it will be full of good luck next year.

Kanji for this year

It's season for concluding this year and giving the impression in kanji character.
This year is ' Gold ', a symbol of gold medal in Olympic and the Nobel Prize Award, and more including hope and expectation for the future.

I ask myself what if I were to choose the kanji.
I thought deeply about my life style recently and came to this word.
' Decrease ' is good fit to myself this year because I started ' Danshari ', it means ' To stop, throw away and stay away from your own annoying '

I just want to fulfill my mind as long as I live so I finally find the way to be a minimalist is the nearest to it.
For me, the most important is to complete the rate of happiness.

Please tell me what about yours?


Kanji for this year

Fly in the sky

It was also a beautiful day today for two days. I was very happy and cheerful because of the bright sunshine and great views reflected by the blue sky.
Not only birds but also our bodies could fly into the sky and let us keep floating in the sky.
While we can't fly by ourselves, I feel like flying and swinging in the blue sky.
My heart was going on and on.

The blue sky, the cloud and the snow cap on the mountains

It's so sunny and beautiful day, today after the cold waves.
Nothing is so lovely and merry as the sun in winter.
I sometimes hate the strong heat in summer but its gentle warmth in winter is the most wonderful.

I feel like to soak in the sunny spot and played with taking funny photos for a while.
Of course it's created by Minnie. She provides me a lot of fun!

Mini pad comes up

I've waited for the day when iPad mini comes to me which I had ordered more than two weeks before.
Finally it was yesterday I've got a mail from Apple that the iPad mini was made to deliver and supposed to arrive at my house next day 1212'12...today!
It is lucky day, triple 12, very easy to remember for me.
I rushed back home but it was not arrived yet.
So I had to be patient to wait for the home delivery service.
It came late in the evening at last....anyway, I start to write blog here now.
I'm doing with i-devices, iPhone,iPad and mini one.
I named the first iPad James Brain. He is really cool and worked for me as Mr.Brain a lot.
He will be still a part of my pleasure mate as a movie theater.
And I will give the mini pad Minnie Patty. Ms.Patty will also help me to read books and articles.
I will mostly write blogs from Minnie.
I will always accompany her in my bag. That's why I will never be bored at all.

Never ask the question

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple after Steve Jobs revealed in the interview with NBC's Brian Williams on the 'Rock Center' show.
"One of the things he did for me, that removed a gigantic burden that would normally have existed, is he told me, on a couple of occasions before he passed away, to never question what he would have done. Never ask the question, 'What Steve would do,' to just do what's right,"
I also miss Steve Jobs and wonder if he would live because I love his iOS devices and taking good profits from his a lot.
I'm really glad to read this article and enjoy using iOS.

Interview with Tim Cook

Snow flower

It's abundant of snow piled up on the roof and road, too after the weather forecast of alarming much snow.
It's really tough and tiring for me to drive on the snowy road.
So I left home much earlier than usual and drove slowly and took care of watching.
it's said that ' Better safe than sorry '

Good morning the sunshine

Yesterday it was hell cold and snowy.
Last night snow fall stuck on the parabola antenna and prevented BS vision.
It was because of so cold of the material of the circle antenna and made falling snow into frozen ice on it.
It's bright sunny morning at 8:00 o'clock in the morning. But the weather forecast says it will be snowy all day today.....so I just say hello to the Sun for a while and have to say goodbye after all.
Anyway, we are now having big cold waves and very cold period so far.
I know how to enjoy staying at home too bad ...but sometimes need to walk with snow shoes.

Dr. Yamanaka in Stockholm

It's reported that Dr. Yamanaka arrived in Stockholm to attend the Novel prize award Convention.
We are very proud of his dedication for the medical to save the people suffering from serious disease.
He replied a press interview in short English.

Dr. Yamanaka in Stockholm


Scripts
What I want to say to the young scientists is when you observe unexpected result, that's the chance.

I wonder why...

I've got a package from a delivering mail service. It was which I ordered on the Internet shop.
I was very surprised at the quick arrival because I had ordered only a day before.
And the more, I was a bit amazed with the label on the front of the package.
There are one big name ' SAGAWA ' and a small name ' Japan Press ' jp with it.
I wonder if the package were sent by SAGAWA but why the mail deliver service man was a usual Japan press man.
I want to ask someone about the good quick collaboration system.

Happy ending

Yesterday a famous kabuki actor, Nakamura Kanzaburo, died of his serious sickness. He was still young but so skillful and devoted in the field of the traditional kabuki art and made it developed to modern art. They say his death makes a big lost in that field but I can say we can't avoid going to die even the rich, famous and the VIP.
The other hand, the oldest in the world, who is the 2d longest life in the Guinness record, died at 116 year-old the day before yesterday.
Her 77 year-old son told that her life was strict and patient. She never ate junk food nor complain about the pain.
Both life and death are different but proof of life.
I can only know that we live to die.

The world longest life dead

Decoration for Christmas

It's season for Christmas decoration here and there such as illumination and ornament.
Not only people but also the pets wear in Christmas costume.
I don't know whether they like or not (^^;;

Rainbow after the rain

It was raining all day long. But the sunshine appeared from the cloud for a moment.
There was beautiful color of prism in the sky. It was splendid arch.
I was very happy to see the rainbow at the moment.
I love the natural fine art only in my eyes but impossible to keep the beauty in the camera.

Gum disease

It's reported that gum disease causes chronic disease such as head ache, diabetes and brain disorder.
I regularly have my dental care checked by the dentist twice a year. The dentist always advises me that I should brush between the gum and the teeth carefully more than ten minutes each time. It will prevent me from the gum disease.....so I'm relieved to get my dental health well.
He also tells me that I should keep at least 20 teeth at the age of 80. I'm not sure when I will live until over 80...I want to chew food by my teeth as long as I live.

Gum disease causes problems

Illumination

When I went through the main street around the Castle street by my car I found illusional and brilliant illumination this year as well as usual past years.
I realized that it's time to start to see Christmas ornament and lightening winter illumination.
After the colorful leaves we will enjoy artificial light up in winter season.

Carta

I've got a set of cards "Carta for food and growing up in Toyama"
It was brought up by collecting words from the public, children and students.
I hit upon a good idea for us, already the grown up, we could enjoy and learn by translating these Japanese words into English.
Why don't you join playing cards?
I try to do one of them.

(Japanese)
No...Nokorimono
Ashitani nareba
Shin menu

(English)
Leftovers can be cooked
into new dish tomorrow

Food for life