Bernard d'Espagnat

Bernard d'Espagnat

"Bernard d'Espagnat (b. Fourmagnac, France, 1921) is a French theoretical physicist, philosopher of science, and author, best known for his work on the nature of reality."

Hardy's paradox

Hardy's paradox

"Hardy's paradox is a thought experiment in quantum mechanics devised by Lucien Hardy in which a particle and its antiparticle may interact without annihilating each other. The paradox arises in that this may only occur if the interaction is not observed and so it seemed that one might never be able to confirm this."

Nonlocality

Nonlocality

"In physics, nonlocality is a direct influence of one object on another distant object, in violation of the principle of locality."

defeasible

defeasible

adj. "capable of being annulled or terminated."

Synesthesia

Synesthesia

"Synesthesia (also spelled synæsthesia or synaesthesia, plural synesthesiae or synaesthesiae)—from the Ancient Greek σύν (syn), 'together,' and αἴσθησις (aisthēsis), 'sensation' — is a neurologically based phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway."

Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia

"Onomatopoeia or onomatopœia, from the Greek ὀνοματοποιία (ὄνομα for 'name' and ποιέω for 'I make'), is one or more words that imitate or suggest the source of the sound they are describing."

Honne and tatemae

Honne and tatemae

"Honne (本音 ?) refers to a person's true feelings and desires. Tatemae (建前 ?), literally 'façade,' is the behaviour and opinions one displays in public."

Yunomi

Yunomi

"A yunomi (Japanese: 湯のみ) is a form of teacup, typically made from a ceramic material, being taller than wide, with a trimmed or turned foot. Unlike the more formal chawan tea bowl which is used during the Japanese tea ceremony, the yunomi is made for daily (or informal) tea drinking."

Bokeh

Bokeh

"Bokeh (derived from Japanese, a noun boke 暈け, meaning 'blurred or fuzzy') is a photographic term referring to the appearance of point of light sources in an out-of-focus area of an image produced by a camera lens using a shallow depth of field."

Defensive weapons of the Japanese samurai

Defensive weapons of the Japanese samurai

Eromenos

Eromenos

"In the pederastic tradition of Classical Athens, the eromenos (Greek ἐρώμενος, pl. ἐρώμενοι, "eromenoi") was an adolescent boy who was in a love relationship with an adult man, known as the erastes (ἐραστής)."

Hsin Hsin Ming

Hsin Hsing Ming
Hsin Hsin Ming - Verses on the Perfect Mind

"Xinxin Ming (alt. spellings: Xin Xin Ming or Xinxinming) (信心銘) (Wade-Giles: Hsin Hsin Ming; Japanese: Shinjinmei (or Shinjin no Mei)) a verse attributed to the Third Chinese Chan (Zen) Patriarch Jianzhi Sengcan 僧璨 (d. 606) (Wade-Giles: Chien-chih Seng-ts'an; Japanese: Kanchi Sosan), is one of the earliest Chinese Chan expressions of the Buddhist mind training practice."

Japanese Culture - Japanese aesthetics

Japanese aesthetics

Japanese Culture - Ensō

Ensō

"Ensō (円相) is a Japanese word meaning 'circle' and a concept strongly associated with Zen."

Japanese Cuisine - Kaiseki

Kaiseki

"Kaiseki (懐石 ?) or kaiseki ryōri (懐石料理 ?) is a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner analogous to Western haute cuisine."

Japanese Culture - Hitsuzendo

Hitsuzendo

"Hitsuzendo (筆禅道 ,hitsuzendō?), or the 'Art of the Brush', is a method of achieving Samādhi (Jap.: samaai) (unification of individual with the highest reality)."

Japanese Culture - Shodo (Japanese calligraphy)

Japanese calligraphy

"Japanese calligraphy (書道 ,shodō?) is a form of calligraphy, or artistic writing, used for writing the Japanese language."

Japanese Culture - Zazen

Zazen

"Zazen (坐禅; Chinese: zuò chán pinyin or tso-chan Wade-Giles) is at the heart of Zen Buddhist practice. The aim of zazen is just sitting, 'opening the hand of thought'."

Japanise Cuisine - Kaki (Persimmon)

Persimmon

"The Japanese Persimmon or kaki (柿) (Diospyros kaki), 'shizi' (柿子) in Chinese, is the most widely cultivated species."

'known to the ancient Greeks as "the fruit of the gods"'

English Language - Astringent

Astringent

"An astringent (also spelled adstringent) substance is a chemical that tends to shrink or constrict body tissues, usually locally after topical medicinal application."

Japanese Cuisine - Arare (food)

Arare (food)

"Arare (あられ "hailstones") is a type of bite-sized Japanese cracker made from glutinous rice and flavored with soy sauce."

Japan Photos - Geisha, Geiko, and Maiko

Flickr: maiko.gallery's Photostream

Japanese History - 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō

53 Stations of the Tōkaidō

"The 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō (東海道五十三次 ,Tōkaidō Gojūsan-tsugi?) are the rest areas along the Tōkaidō, which was a coastal route that ran from Nihonbashi in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to Sanjō Ōhashi in Kyoto."

Japanese Culture - Ateji

Ateji

"In modern Japanese, ateji (当て字, 宛字 or あてじ ?) are kanji used phonetically to represent native or borrowed words."

Japan (Asia) Photos

Okinawa Soba's Photostream

Japan Photos - Geiko, Geisha, and Maiko

Miegiku's Photostream

Japan Photos - Ochaya and Yakata of Kyoto

Ochaya and Yakata of Kyoto

Japanese History - Oiran, Tayu, and Kamuro

Oiran

"Among the oiran, the tayū (太夫 or 大夫 ?) was considered the highest rank of courtesan or prostitute, and were considered suitable for the daimyo."

Don't forget Kamuro! (ref?)

Science - Biocomplexity

Biocomplexity

"Biocomplexity is the study of complex structures and behaviors that arise from nonlinear interactions of active biological agents, which may range in scale from molecules to cells to organisms."

Japanese History - Mōri Motonari

Mōri Motonari

"He had three sons, Mōri Takamoto, Kikkawa Motoharu, and Kobayakawa Takakage, whom he encouraged to work together for the benefit of the Mōri clan. In one instance, he is said to have handed each of his sons an arrow and asked each snap it. After each snapped his arrow, Motonari produced three arrows and asked his sons to snap all three at once. When they were unable to do so (according to a legend still taught today), Motonari explained that one arrow could be broken easily, but three arrows held together could not."

Latin PotD - Alea iacta est

Alea iacta est

Latin WotD - Ad hoc

Ad hoc

Japanese WotD - Okiagari-koboshi

Okiagari-koboshi

WotD - Syncretism

Syncretism

French WotD - Mistral (wind)

Mistral (wind)

WotD - Transhumanism

Transhumanism

Latin WotD - Locum

Locum

Japanese WotD - Hikikomori

Hikikomori

WotD

Ouroboros

Names of Japan

Names of Japan

Wa (Japan)

Science of the Day - Orthomolecular medicine

Orthomolecular medicine

Japanese WotD - Yōkai

Yōkai

Matsuo Bashō

Matsuo Bashō

Japanese WotD - O-kyaku

O-kyaku

PotD - Jacques Derrida

Jacques Derrida

Science of the Day - Endosymbiotic theory

Endosymbiotic theory

Japanese Phrase of the Day - Yamato nadeshiko

Yamato nadeshiko

To Read

John Locke "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding"

Japanese WotD - Yamato Damashi

Yamato Damashi

WotD - Ephebophilia

Ephebophilia

WotD - Pax Britannica

Pax Britannica

Quote of the Day

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win”
- Mahatma Gandhi

Japanese WotD

Butoh

100 Best Modern Novels

100 Best Modern Novels

WotD

Steampunk

Naughty Japan - Unit 731

Unit 731

Dalit - The Untouchables

Dalit

Japanese WotD

Burakumin

Japanese Word of the Day

MOTTAINAI

Poi (juggling)

Poi (juggling)

Poetry of the Day

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Japanese Phrase of the Day

Anata to oae dekite ureshii desu.

Word of the Day

erudite

Environmentalism: Masanobu Fukuoka

Masanobu Fukuoka

Phrase of the Day

SPQR

Philosophy of the Day

Shugendo

Hunan Tofu

Tofu in black bean sauce

16 oz low fat tofu
32 oz bag frozen broccoli
16 oz can black beans
4 tbs fermented black bean sauce
1 small onion
garlic to taste
soy sauce to taste
1/2-1 cup water
1 tbs cornstarch

Slice tofu into 1" cubes, dice onion. Place wok on stove, add Pam. Toast onion, ad garlic. Toss in Broccoli, add water to steam, 10-15 minutes. When Broccoli is done, add black bean sauce, black beans and tofu. Bring to boil and add cornstarch mixed with water until desired thickness is achieved. Add soy sauce or salt to taste. Serve over rice. 2-4 people.

Grammar of the Day

Split infinitive

No Tats!

Japanese WotD

Yamanba

Music WotD

Glissando

Ph/Fr WotD

Lapsus linguae-calami

WotD

exogenous

Psychology OTD

Sleeper effect
Groupthink

Interesting Quote

The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.
- Horace Walpole

Latin Word of the Day

ad hominem

Japanese Words of the Day

mizuhiki
washi
noshi

Japanese Word of the Day

Oekaki

Word of the Day

hubris

Japanese Phrase of the Day

hara hachi bu: 80% is best
腹八分 【はらはちぶ】 (n) eating moderately
腹八分目 【はらはちぶんめ】 (n) being moderate in eating; stopping short of stuffing oneself

Best Italian Food in Detroit?

Andiamo

Things Aya and I Did Our First Year Together

Weekend trip to Toronto (Casa Loma, Totonto Zoo, CN Tower, Old China Town, Museum).
Long weekend trip to Florida (Tampa, Miami, the Keys).
Weekend trip to Chicago (MWKF Tournament).
Thanksgiving at my mother's.
Day in Detroit (Greektown, Casino, Belle Isle).
Two months apart! (One in winter, one in summer).

Philosophy (Science) of the Day

Hypernym
Ontology (technology)
Ontology (philosophy)

Word of the Day

Synesthesia

Possibly a Good Book

A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America

Words of the Day

Vivarium

Japanese Words of the Day

米製日本語 "beisei nihongo" Amercan-made Japanese

渋い 【しぶい】 (adj) (1) tasteful (clothing); cool; an aura of refined masculinity; (2) astringent; sullen; bitter (taste); (3) grim; quiet; (4) sober; stingy;

伝 【つて】 (n) intermediary; good offices; connections; someone to trust

Fall Reading List

All the books that I didn't read this summer, plus...
Ecce Homo - Friedrich Nietzsche

Factoids

From NPR: Since the 1950's, the average American family is 25% smaller; however, the average home is twice as large.

From work: In the US, 80-90% of healthcare expenses are during the last 6 months of a person's life.

Words of the Day

Thaumaturge (alt. thaumaturgist)

Where to Begin...?

TIME Magazine: TIME 100 - People of the Century

Daily Philosophy

Ludwig Wittgenstein

On China

Pudong
Gulangyu
Shamian Island

Kendo Philosophy

sutemi
捨身 【しゃしん】 (n) (Buddh) renouncing the flesh or the world; becoming a priest; risking one's life for others
捨て身; 捨身 【すてみ】 (n) at the risk of one's life

zanshin
残心 【ざんしん】 (n) follow-through (e.g., in archery)

rei
礼 【れい】 (n) expression of gratitude

Japanese History

Jomon
Yayoi

Latin Logic

modus ponens
modus tollens

Internment/Occupation Books

When My Name Was Keoko - Linda Sue Park
The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag - Kang Chol-Hwan
The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II - Iris Chang
Farewell to Manzanar - James D. Houston
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West - Dee Brown

Words of the Day

Cogent
Internecine
Damnatio memoriae

Summer Reading List

William S. Burroughs - Naked Lunch
Kurt Vonnegut - Slaughterhouse-Five
Iris Chang - The Rape of Nanking
Anthony Burgess - A Clockwork Orange
Ray Bradbury - Fahrenheit 451
Aldus Huxlex - A Brave New World
J.D. Salinger - The Catcher in the Rye
William G. Golding - Lord of the Flies
Hunter S. Thompson - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Alvin Toffler
Max Weber

Words of the Day

sororate marriage
levirate marriage