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Gary J. Wolff's Blog Archives
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May 13, 2012 - NASA's Space Shuttle Columbia (スペースシャトルコロンビア) is found alive and well....in TOKYO!
Just when I thought that all of NASA's space shuttles had been retired, then while out on my bike the other day, I found Space Shuttle Columbia (スペースシャトルコロンビア) parked on the rooftop of a Tokyo kindergarten, disguised as a piece of children's playground equipment.
Space Shuttle Columbia in Tokyo
May 6, 2012 - Shaquille O'Neal awarded doctorate
Photo courtesy:
Barry University--Dr. Shaquille "Shaq" O'Neal, retired 15-time NBA all-star and member of four championship teams, reflecting on his doctorate in education degree received on Saturday--
(Sources: USA Today, UPI)
May 5, 2012 - HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO (May 5th)!!
Source: WikipediaMay 2, 2012 - Tsunami-swept Harley in container found in Canada
Photo
credit: Peter Mark, APThe Harley-Davidson company, after hearing the story, has agreed to ship the bike back to Japan and cover the bill for restoring the two-wheeler to its past glory.
This heartwarming, true story about a disaster-stricken man being reunited with his long lost Harley-Davidson has made the rounds on the Internet and tugged at the heartstrings of Japanese Internet users in particular.
There has been an outpouring of respect and admiration for Harley-Davidson’s promise, with some readers pointing to it as an example of “the American way.” One went so far as to say that this kind of generosity is not possible in Japan. He wrote: “This is why Harley is so great. Japanese “monozukuri” companies that assemble by the numbers couldn’t do this.”
Sources: Associated Press, Japan Today
April 29, 2012 - Japanese windmill house (風車の家)
While out on my mountain bike today, the highlight of the day was to run across an elderly lady's home adorned by an uncountable number of handmade windmills (kazaguruma, 風車). As you can see in the video below, most of these windmills are made from aluminum drink cans and PET bottles. According to the nice lady, making these amazing windmills is her son's hobby.(View video in separate window here.)
April 28, 2012 - Koinobori (鯉幟, carp streamers) along the Edo River (江戸川) in Tokyo
It's that time of year in Japan again....GOLDEN WEEK!! To celebrate Children's Day (こどもの日, Kodomo no hi), May 5, one of the 4 national holidays during this week-long holiday period, "koinobori (鯉幟)," or carp streamers, are flown around the country in honor of Japanese children in the hope that they will grow up healthy, strong, & happy. A few days ago I had the good fortune of capturing on my digicame these flying carp along the banks of the Edo River (江戸川) on what was probably the most beautiful day in Tokyo so far this year.(View in separate window here.)
April 25, 2012 -The University of Texas at Austin approves tobacco-free campus policy
April 23, 2012 - Beijing Auto Show 2012
Source: Wall Street Journal
Chrysler unveiled its dragon-themed Jeep Wrangler concept car in Beijing on Sunday.
April 22, 2012 - MAXINE'S UNIVERSAL LAWS OF NATURE:
Maxine2. Law of Probability - The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.
3. Law of Random Numbers - If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.
4. Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee.
5. Variation Law - If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).
6. Law of the Bath - When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.
7. Law of Close Encounters - The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.
8. Law of the Result - When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.
9. Law of Biomechanics - The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
10. Law of the Theater & Hockey Arena - At any event, the people whose seats are farthest from the aisle, always arrive last. They are the ones who will leave their seats several times to go for food, beer, or the toilet and who leave early before the end of the performance or the game is over. The folks in the aisle seats come early, never move once, have long gangly legs or big bellies and stay to the bitter end of the performance. The aisle people also are very surly folk.
11. The Coffee Law - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
12. Murphy's Law of Lockers - If there are only 2 people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
13. Law of Physical Surfaces - The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor, are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.
14. Law of Logical Argument - Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
15. Brown's Law of Physical Appearance - If the clothes fit, they're ugly.
16. Oliver's Law of Public Speaking - A closed mouth gathers no feet.
17. Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy - As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it (especially in Japan!).
18. Doctor's Law - If you don't feel well and make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better. But if you don't make an appointment, you'll stay sick.
April 19, 2012 - Japanese man turns 115
115-yr.-old Jiroemon
Kimura(Ref.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiroemon_Kimura)
April 17, 2012 - The World's Greatest Piggyback Ride
After 27 yrs. of service, Space Shuttle Discovery, the world's most traveled spaceship, left NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 aboard a modified Boeing 747, on its final voyage to go on public display at the Smithsonian Institute's National Air and Space Museum outside Washington, D.C. Space Shuttles Enterprise & Endeavour will receive similar piggyback rides to New York City & Los Angeles, respectively. Space Shuttle Atlantis will remain at the Kennedy Space Center for display in the visitor center. I have been profoundly touched by this spacecraft thru the years and last year prepared a special webpage about it here: Space Shuttle Discovery(View in separate window here.)
April 14, 2012 - Tokyo Cherry Blossom Season 2012
Click here to view my cherry blossom pics taken @ Chidorigafuchi, Tokyo, Japan on Tues. April 10, 2012.April 7, 2012 - 56 Draft Beers Filled In One Minute
This amazing "bottoms up" beer dispenser is designed and fabricated by GrinOn Industries of Indianapolis, Indiana. So much for the long lines at sports stadiums...(View video in separate window here)
April 5, 2012 - Japanese "high-jumper" (ハイジャンパー）
This interesting piece of Japanese playground equipment is known as a "high-jumper" (ハイジャンパー）, to measure how high you can jump up and touch. The little numbers range from 210-280 & indicate height in cm, e.g. the red "225" represents 2.25 m (~7 ft. 5 in.). Only in Japan... 
April 3, 2012 - Crooner Panama Pete sings his favorite ballads
It was kind of an off day for him, and some of the requested songs were out of his range, but he did his best to accommodate his loyal fans...(View video in separate window here)
Cue marks (in min.):
0:00 "Something" by The Beatles
3:05 "Love Letters in the Sand" by Pat Boone
5:25 "Blueberry Hill" by Fats Domino
7:50 "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" by The Platters
10:25 "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley
13:25 "Your Song" by Elton John
17:30 "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" by Elton John
21:30 "Open Arms" by Journey
24:50 "If" by Bread
27:30 "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" by The Beatles
29:50 "Everything I Do, I Do It For You" by Bryan Adams
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