Archive for the 'Life, Culture & Politics' Category
Robotic Japan?
Is Japan taking a step closer to make those sci-fi movies come true? By 2025, robots could fill 3.5 million jobs for the aging Japanese workforce.
By 2030, Japan’s workforce is expected to experience a 16% drop. The ‘ThinkTank‘, the Machine Industry Memorial Foundation believe solutions lies in their Japanese robots as a country that does not enjoy the idea of a large-scale immigration.
These robots are expected to reduce strains on the workforce by taking care of children, old people and housework. This will also save Japan an approximate 2.1 trillion yen ($21 billion) in elderly insurance!
However before thinking too far ahead Takao Kobayashi, who works on the Japanese workforce shortage problem state that there’s still much to be done:
“There’s the expensive price tag, the functions of the robots still need to improve, and then there are the mindsets of people.
People need to have the will to use the robots.” - Reuters
To convince you that Japan has what it takes, the picture above in one of the secretary robots invented by the Japanese. Oddly enough, this piece of news remind me of Ghost in the Shell…
Source:
Reuters
Pictures also courtesy of reuters
Kimchi Going to Space
Not letting Japan outdo them with their paper planes or boomarangs, the Koreans are making space history too! And what better way to do it then with some Kimchi, their beloved national dish!
Where Koreans go, Kimchi goes too and space is no different!
So why make a big fuss over bringing some food into space? Well, it’s the first fermented vegetable dish to experience zero gravity! Apart from that, it’s because Kimchi is required to be fermented that it has been causing problems for Korean scientist and chefs alike. This is because fermentation creates bacteria and microbes that scientist fear will become harmful in space after mutating due to cosmis rays! Scientist solved the problem through special packages and some radiation.
Now who will get to sink their teeth into these primo space kimchi? Now, those honour falls on Ko San, a computer science engineer who is also South Korea’s first space traveler on Aprial 8 this year. He will be staying at the Internation Space Station doing research and sharing his kimchi with fellow astronauts.
Not only is Kimchi going to space, but thanks to the hardwork and research by Korea Food Research Institute, Kimchis can now have longer shelflife which was always a problem for Kimchi being exported - Kimchi is taking over the world!
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Source:
International Herald Tribune via Neatorma
Millionaire to build Chinese Hollywood
One hundred and forty eight years ago, the Garden of Perfect Brightness (also known as Old Summer Palace) - a famous Chinese landmark was burnt down and pillaged by the British and French during the Opium War. The garden desiplayed its beauty through its many lakes, gardens and palaces that entertained and pleasured many emperors. At present day, a rags to riches Chinese millionaire named Xu Wenrong hope to, in his words, ‘wipe away this disgrace’ through the construction of an imitation of the 18th Century garden that has become a memorial of national humiliation.
Mr. Xu, who made his fortune from the entertainment industry will be recreating this ‘Chinese Hollywood’ as Mr. Xu describes it as, in Zhejian which will be used for Chinese imperial soap operas and as a tourist attraction - combining his patriotism and instinct of a good business opportunity. The idea faired well with China’s Communist Party, winning their approval.
The 400 hectare garden near Hengdian Town is predicted by Mr. Xu’s company, Hengdian Group to take 5 years (Opens in 2013). Something to add to your places-to-vist list in China soon?
If you are in a very generous mood in ‘restoring China’s wealth and cultural pride, you can help donate some of the 20 billion yuan ($A3.09 billion) that is required to complete the project. People who donate 500 million yuan or more would be honoured with full-body golden statues of themselves on the site.
Source:
TheFirstPost
SMH
Funny Commercial Depicting North Korea
A insurance commercial that tells the story of a typical North Korean that’s preparing for a parade to honour their dear leader, but the ending is hilarious!
Here’s the video:
via AsianOffbeat
Samurai dog
We all know of Ein, the data dog from the Bebop crew or Kiba’s comrade and best friend, Akamaru, but have you heard of a samurai with a dog as a sidekick?
A high-ranking samurai in the mid to late Edo period (18th-19th Century) had a one of a kind four legged companion! Proof of this is shown through the world’s only authentic armour of a wooden helmet and coat of black-lacquered scale mail that is fitted for a dog. However, it’s suggested that the dog has never worn the armour into battle and more likely have worned it for parades.
Historians believe that the armour belonged to a samurai named named Hata Roku Ryouzae-mon Tokiyoshi who had a dog called Inu-jishi (meaning Dog Lion).
The samurai dog armour is now located in a UK museum. Gives a whole new meaning to man’s best friend indeed!
Source:
Pink Tentacle
Toraba
Korea’s national treasure destroyed
Sungnyemun (Namdaemun or South Gate) was burnt down in a blaze yesterday! The South Gate also known as Korea’s number 1 national treasure resides in Seoul (South Korea’s Capital) and was burnt down in matter of hours last night by an arsonist.
The 600 year old gate is the biggest remaining castle gate in Korea which survived several wars including the Japanese invasion in 1592 and the Manchurian invasion in 1636.
Firefighters fought the blaze with ladders and fire hoses at 8:55 p.m. and by 10: 30 p.m. thought the fire was under control and focused on putting out smaller flames. But the blaze rekindled at 10:40 p.m. and burnt the roof out. It collapsed at 12:40 a.m. on Monday. At 12:00 a.m., firefighters belatedly tried to take the roof apart and douse the gate with water inside, but the effort failed and firefighters were reduced to watching the gate collapse while they sprinkled water around it at ground level. - Chosun ilbo
It will take several years to restore South Korea’s national trademark according to news naver via Marmot’s Hole. The gate was repaired in 1447 and its latest restoration/repair work was done in 1961-1963 after damages sustained in the Korean war.
I really wonder who would do such a thing and for what reason?
Source:
Chosun ilbo
Marmot’s Hole
Picture courtesy of Yonhap
Japan To Throw Boomerang In Space
The excitement never seem to end for the Japanese Space Programme. This time Astronaut Takao Doi, 53, will be attempting to throw a Boomerang inside the International Space Station, while his main purpose of the trip up into space in March is to lead the construction of a Japanese scientific testing room.
Astronaut Takao Doi will be throwing his Boomerang in space to see if it will return to him under a zero-gravity environment. My assumptions is (and I’m willing to hear your opinions) that the Boomerang will still fly back to its throwing spot as long as there’s air in its surrounding for it to propel through.
The idea of throwing a Boomerang in space came to Mr Doi when he received a request from Yasuhiro Togai, a world boomerang champion from the western Japanese metropolis of Osaka. Of course, with the request came training on throwing a Boomerang from the world champion too!
“Mr Doi said he will personally carry a paper boomerang for the upcoming mission and we presume he will try it when he has spare time,” said an official of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. - ABC News
But, I’m sure many will still find the Japanese origami plane from space more spectacular!
Source:
ABC News
Space-Travel
Photo Courtesy of science.ksc.gov