First human in space

April 2010

Welcome to the aging world

In 19 countries, from Singapore to Iceland, people have a life expectancy of about 80 years. Of all the people in human history who ever reached the age of 65, half are alive now. Meanwhile, women around the world have half as many children as their mothers. And if Japan is the model, their daughters may have half as many as they do.

Read more in the Scientific American

April 2010

Pieces of Liberty

Paris, 1883

Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, 1876

March 2010

Tanuki – scrotum-gifted racoon dogs of Japan

Tanuki with typically enlarged scrotum, in a print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi.

The other day I had a conversation with my friend about Tanuki – incredible characters in Japanese folklore.
Thought you’d be interested as well. Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia.

Tanuki (狸 or タヌキ) is the common Japanese name for the Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus). They have been part of Japanese folklore since ancient times. The legendary tanuki is reputed to be mischievous and jolly, a master of disguise and shapeshifting, but somewhat gullible and absent-minded.

Statues of tanuki can be found outside many Japanese temples and restaurants, especially noodle shops. These statues often wear big, cone-shaped hats and carry bottles of sake in one hand, and a promissory note or empty purse in the other hand. Tanuki statues always have large bellies. The statues also usually show humorously large testicles, typically hanging down to the floor or ground, although this feature is sometimes omitted in contemporary sculpture.

Learn more about Tanuki on Wikipedia or watch Pom Poko by Miyazaki.

March 2010

Saul Bass – Making Money vs. Quality Work

March 2010