Archive for the 'Life, Culture & Politics' Category
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
Hong Kong’s Sex Education Dolls
In Hong Kong, there is no birds and the bee story to explain sex; only these two dolls, named Tak Tak and Kar Kar. The dolls are made by Family Planning Association of Hong Kong and is aimmed at teaching children about sex. The dolls are 23 inches tall and have removable clothes with sexual organs. The female doll even have twins “attached” to her.
You can view the dolls in all their glory here [NSFW?]
Source:
presscue via izreloaded
John Rambo Is Banned In Myanmar
The movie may have received mixed reception, but in Myanmar its a politically controversial film. For those that has not seen the movie, it’s based on Rambo taking on the former Burma’s ruling military junta. As expected the Junta’s didn’t like it, however, it’s people did! With many people in Myanmar chanting the movie’s tagline: “Live for nothing, die for something” and some even saying: “This movie could fuel the sentiment of Myanmar people to invite American troops to help save them from the junta” as Reuters shows.
Although the movie has been ban, many has made pirated copies available through out the country. To everyone else around the world it is just another Stallone movie, but to the people in Myanmar it is a hope for change.
Here’s a little Rambo trailer for those that haven’t seen the movie yet:
Source:
Reuters
Naked Festival in Japan
Welcome to 2008… to the 3rd day to be exact, but why bother with details? To kick off the year, Japan Probe has this great video of the ‘Naked Festival’ held in Japan, otherwise known as ‘Hadaka Matsuri‘. Young men participate in the festival by drinking alot of sake to “purify their bodies” and then where nothing but a fundoshi (traditional Japanese underwear pretty much) and dunk themselves into cold water, then carry a sacred float through the snow to a shrine to say their prayers. Not to forget, this is suppose to be the coldest day in that region! Takes guts to do that!
Why they do this you ask? Well, it’s for a safe and prosperpous new year. And it’s been done for the past 300 years!
Here’s the video:
Well you can always try a cold shower; same effect, but I’m not sure if you’ll be any more lucky.
Source:
Japan Probe
2camels
Coffin Inn, China’s Death-Themed Hotel
This is possible the closest thing to death you will ever experience. Not for the fainted hearted, Coffin Inn is situated in a graveyard in Lishui town, Jiangsu province of China.
Jiao Meige, the owner of the soon-to-be Coffin Inn came up with the idea after her plan of using the land for farming was rendered useless due to the tombs on it.
It only costs 50 yuan ($9.70) a night for thrill seekers. The details of your stay at Coffin Inn follows:
‘The night begins with the guest taking his dinner, followed by a hot shower at the service centre.’ Then a journey into the dark and mysterious begins with a service attendant leading the guest on a 15-minute walk to the inn, with only an oil lamp for lighting. Ms Jiao said: ‘When he reaches the white, solitary concrete building, the guest will be led into the dark inn. ‘He will be invited to lie down inside a big, black coffin-like box.’ After ensuring that the guest is comfortable, the attendant pulls the lid over the coffin and leaves. Ms Jiao said ventilation is provided through appropriate holes but ‘don’t expect any air-condition or fan.’ For the rest of the night, she added: ‘All the guest has for company will be the occasional howls of the stray dogs. ‘There are no services in the night, and the guest has nowhere to go.’ Heart patients and mentally ill patients will not be allowed to sleep in. They have to be accompanied by someone healthy. - Electric New Paper
Sounds pretty spooky, the type of things that drives people insane? Although its safety is questionable, what happens if the person needs to go to the toilet during the night, or even worse, he has a nightmare?
For those that still dare to try it out, the hotel will be opened early next year and reservations can be made online.
Source:
The Electric New Paper
tbA Spotlight: The Japanese Art of Bowing and Apologising
Today for tbA Spotlight we have the Japanese art of bowing and apologising. I never knew the Japanese had so many different ways of bowing and that they meant different things. It’s a worth while watch for those that want to know how to apologise to their Japanese friends in the right way, especially with all these Gaijin hostility happening right now.
Here’s the video:
Thanks to Japundit for showing it to us!
China’s cave-school
In Ziyun county, China’s Southwest province of Guizhou, Children attend class at the Dongzhong (literally meaning “middle of hole”) primary school at a Miao village. Possibly, it’s a new technique to improve the children’s learning? Nonetheless, it’s a cool experience for any primary school student!
The school is built in a huge, aircraft hanger-sized natural cave, carved out of a mountain over thousands of years by wind, water and seismic shifts. - Reuters
It’s a great idea for saving construction cost, but is it safe? As Reuters have said, the cave was made from seismic shifts meaning earthquakes. Lighting seems to be an issue too, it looks like their teaching in the dark.
Then again, a cave-school is better than no-school, but detention will definitely be more scary now! The basketball court looks great, the kids look happy and their getting great exercise, that’s all that matters right?
Source:
Reuters via One Inch Punch