This page shows archived posts for Gary J. Wolff's blog from
April-June,
2016.
Enjoy...
Cheers,
Gary
June 26,
2016 - The mysterious vanishing Japanese ducks
Now you see them, now you don't.
The mysterious vanishing Japanese ducks
(If player above is not visible, you can view
video
@ YouTube here.)
June 19,
2016 - THE BIGGEST THREAT TO FATHERHOOD
"As we celebrate Father's Day, we should ponder the sad plight of the
20 million American children who are growing up without their fathers
in the home. Among other unfortunate effects, the trends toward
non-marriage.....are a direct attack on fathers.
The bond between a
child and his mother is an obvious fact of nature, but marriage is the
relationship that establishes the link between a child and his father.
There are many causes for the dramatic reduction in marriage, starting
with unilateral (no-fault) divorce, which spread across the United
States in the 1960s and '70s, putting government on the side of
marriage breakup.
Since the federal government created the
child-support bureaucracy, the majority of divorces have been initiated
by women.
They confidently expect that pro-feminist family courts will award them
a steady income for which they will never be held accountable.
The more child support that divorced fathers are ordered to pay, the
more federal funds flow through the hands of the states, which compete
for federal bonuses given to states that collect the most child
support.
It is profitable to state bureaucrats to make sure that fathers are
permitted to see their own children only a few days per month, so
support payments can be set at the highest possible level.
Women have discovered they can use a request for an Order of Protection
against their husband as "the gamesmanship of divorce" (in the words of
the Illinois Bar Journal) in order to get sole child custody plus
generous so-called "child support."
It's easy to get such orders without any evidence of abuse or even a
threat, without notice to the husband and with no danger of prosecution
for perjury.
Federal and state laws and subsidies that undermine marriage are the
biggest fiscal as well as cultural issue of our times."
Phyllis Schlafly
June 14, 2011
*********
God bless all the wonderful fathers in
the world, especially those
who've made the ultimate sacrifice to help keep our world safe. Here's
a tribute to my own dad, a world-famous softball pitcher, who went to
be with the Lord in 2004: http://walterwolff.com/
Walter Wolff strikes out 17 straight hitters and 20 of 21 for the game
as Metallic of Houston defeated Yazoo, Mississippi 3-0 in a 1965
tournament in Lake Charles, Louisiana. (American Press staff photo by
Sam
Guillory)
June
17, 2016 - Japanese university English speech contest
This university's ESS (English speaking society) holds a speech contest
every June, a recitation contest just for college freshmen, where they
recite from memory a famous speech from history, like JFK's inaugural
address, Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech, Steve Jobs'
2005 Stanford Commencement address, etc. These kids were AMAZING!! And
it was my honor to be able to help judge the contest again this year.
Japanese university English speech contest finalists
(ALL WOMEN!)
June
10, 2016 - Are you a Twit Face?
June
4,
2016 - I'm famous! (ha-ha)
Yours truly will appear in next month's (July) issue of Japan Up!
magazine, a free English publication widely distributed in Japanese
restaurants, supermarkets, and other stores in the Los Angeles,
California area introducing authentic Japanese cuisine, trends, and
culture. Hoo wah!!
Gary J. Wolff, Japan Up! magazine, July 2016
(click
image
above to view entire article)
May 27,
2016 - Japanese university ESS (English Speaking Society) speech contest
I never cease to be amazed at the ambition of some Japanese university
students who are so passionate in improving their English and public
speaking skills. For the 7th consecutive year, on Sunday, May 22, 2016
I had the pleasure of helping judge a university student English speech
contest sponsored by my university's ESS (English Speaking Society).
These 2nd-year students were truly amazing, sacrificing an entire day
to give by memory in front of 100 people a 7-min. speech which they
composed themselves.
May
20,
2016 - Mt. Ushiokunogangaharasuriyama (牛奥ノ雁ヶ腹摺山)
Is this possibly the longest mountain name in all of Japan?
This pic was posted recently in the "Hiking in Japan" Facebook group,
and having scaled 38 of Japan's 50 tallest peaks, it really jolted my
attention. Loosely translated, I believe it means "Rubbing the belly of
a wild goose inside a cow" Mountain. Wow, how funny!
For anyone interested in hiking to the top of this 1990m peak in
Yamanashi Prefecture which offers an excellent panoramic view of Mt.
Fuji, here's some information in
Japanese including
route map and here's the Google Map.
Mt. Ushiokunogangaharasuriyama
(Photo
credit: Lan Jin)
p.s. This reminds me of a story written by a Japanese university
student a few years ago about the
longest train station name in the world, the
"Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch" train
station in Wales. Wow!
May
13,
2016 - Tokyo's famous train riding cat
A cool cat has brought fame to Tokyo's otherwise ordinary Seibu
Ikebukuro Line, bringing plenty of smiles to commuters & animal
lovers, many of whom get on just to have a chance of meeting this very
special feline passenger.
Apparently, the cat travels on his own and decides where to get on
& off. And it is said that the cat has even learned proper
train
etiquette, keeping himself neatly in a compact manner to save room for
other passengers to sit, yet taking the liberty to spread out for a
nice cat nap when the train isn't so packed.
Generally, in Japan animal carriers are required for pets on trains,
however, for the time being, the Seibu Ikebukuro Line seems to be
turning a blind eye to this popular feline commuter.
Tokyo's famous train riding cat (Photo
credit:
Twitter: @manpukuoya)
May
4,
2016 - Have you noticed that bright orange "star" in the lower
southeast sky?
The red planet Mars is often difficult to see, as it’s not a very large
planet. But every 2 years, around the time we pass between Mars and the
sun, the planet brightens dramatically and becomes a splendid sight in
our night sky. That’s happening right now.
In fact, we’re now less than a month away from the planet’s May 22
opposition, when Earth will pass between Mars and the sun. When Mars
then reaches its crest of brightness, it will have quadrupled in
brilliance since the beginning of April.
Mars is easy to spot in the lower southeast sky, and although it's not
so bright, you can also see Saturn a little down to the left of Mars,
as well as Antares, one of the sky’s brightest stars in the
constellation Scorpius, almost directly below Mars. In early May, Mars
rises at about 9 p.m. local time at mid-northern latitudes.
2016 is a grand year for seeing Mars. The best months for Mars viewing
in 2016 are May and June. But the planet remains bright throughout the
summer of 2016. Don't miss it!
Mars, Saturn, & Antares, May 2016
[Note:
Because Fri. 5/6 is the new moon, the next week is a good time to see
Mars in a dark sky without any interference from a bright moon.]
May 4,
2016
- Japanese windmill house (風車の家)
While out on my mountain bike during Golden Week a few years ago, the
highlight of that 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.
Japanese windmill house (風車の家)
(If player above is not visible, you can view
video
@ YouTube here.)
May 2,
2016 - Can you tell that it's azalea season in Tokyo?
Just LOVE this color! The 2016 Bunkyo Azalea Festival at
Nezu Shrine, one of
the best places to view azaleas in Tokyo, runs thru Thurs. 5/5.
Tokyo azaleas
May 1,
2016 - Sumo's all-time winningest wrestler hawks Mickey D's new Grand
Big Mac
Mongolian yokozuna grand champion sumo wrestler Hakuho, the most
successful sumo wrestler in Japanese sumo history, is the new poster
boy for Mickey D's Grand Big Mac. And having twice tried it myself,
although the taste I believe is exactly the same as a Big Mac, I can
assure you that this burger is truly GRAND!!
Forget the fries or
other side orders, as it's a meal all by itself.
Hakuho & McDonald's Japan's new Grand Big Mac
April 30,
2016 - Geisha girl bento
Japanese people are SO creative! But wait....isn't she a little too
gorgeous to eat?!!
Geisha girl bento
April
28,
2016 - 35 flying 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. These koinobori were flying along the banks of the Edo River
(江戸川) on an absolutely gorgeous day in Tokyo.
35 flying koinobori (鯉幟, carp streamers)
along the Edo River
(江戸川) in Tokyo
(If player above is not visible, you can view
video
@ YouTube here.)
April
17, 2016 - Attention university students! The Odakyu Railway Co. is
hiring.
And your dream job is waiting for you as a train station
attendant.
Make up to ¥1,300(~$12)/hour if you're willing to brave the morning
crush hour from 7:00-9:30 am.
Odakyu Railway Co. help wanted poster
Tokyo, Japan
April
13,
2016 - Japanese mini-steam locomotive (ミニＳＬ)
Wow, even a shinkansen!
In Gyotoku Ekimae Koen & operated the 2nd Sun. of every month
(except August) by the Ichikawa Steam Railway Club. Google map for
Gyotoku Ekimae park: http://g.co/maps/tbekf
Japanese mini-steam locomotive (ミニＳＬ)
(If player above is not visible, you can view
video
@ YouTube here.)
April 9,
2016 - Stair climbing calorie consumption
Ever wondered exactly how many calories you burn up when walking up the
stairs? Well, the Japanese have you covered. In fact, they have it down
to an exact science in the famous Tokyu Hands household goods store in
Shibuya, Tokyo.
From the B2 (2nd basement) floor all the way up to the top 6th floor,
they've put the cumulative calories consumed on each stairstep! WOW!
Only in Japan!
Calories consumed,
from bottom of B2 floor
Calories consumed,
@ top of 6th floor
[Note: As for measurements of nutritional energy, Japan uses
kilocalories (kcal), the metric unit for the amount of heat required to
raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water 1 degree Celsius. This
equates to the term "Calorie" (with a capital 'C') used in America.]
Bonus question for extra credit: How many total stairsteps are there in
the Tokyu Hands Shibuya store? (The
first
person to post the correct answer in the comments section below is the winner!)
April 8,
2016 - Nihonbashi Sakura Dori light & music show
As part of the 2016 Nihonbashi Sakura Festival, visitors to the vibrant
and historical Nihonbashi Sakura Dori between the Coredo Muromachi 1
and 2 restaurant and shopping complexes are being treated to an
immersive projection mapping light and music show which wraps you in an
authentic feeling of the sakura season, as if the cherry blossoms are
snowing down upon you. 3/18(Fri)–4/10(Sun), 5:30-8:00pm
Nihonbashi Sakura Dori light & music show
(If player above is not visible, you can view
video
@ YouTube here.)
April 1,
2016 - Cherry Blossom Season 2016
Yep, it's that time of year again! Even after a quarter-century in
Japan, it never gets old. I wish we'd had a little more sunshine today,
but some of my pics turned out pretty well anyways.
Please check out my 36-pic Flickr cherry
blossom
album
if you get a chance. Chidorigafuchi Park, without question one of the
most popular spots to view cherry blossoms in Tokyo (especially for the
nighttime lightup), was stunning (and very CROWDED) as always.
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