Gary J. Wolff's Blog Archives, Jan.-Mar. 2011

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Gary J. Wolff's Blog Archives
Jan.-Mar. 2011

This page shows archived posts for Gary J. Wolff's blog from Jan.-Mar. 2011.

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Cheers,
Gary

Mar. 31, 2011 - Mt. Ai-no-dake (間ノ岳), elev. 3189m, and Mt. Shiomi-dake (塩見岳), elev. 3047m, Japan's 4th & 9th Highest Mountains

On this Sept. 1996 trip, I set personal Japan climbing records for length of hike (44 km), total hiking time (29 hrs.), hiking distance for 1 day (21 km), and net elevation gain (2400m). And it’s interesting to note that even after 14 ½ years and after now having climbed all of the 25 highest mountains in Japan, those records are still intact. More details...

Mt. Ai-no-dake, elev. 3189m, Japan's 4th highest mountain
Sept. 16, 1996

Mar. 29, 2011 - Obama's Libyan "humanitarian" mission

Pres. Barack Obama, the 2009 Nobel "Peace" Prize winner, declared Monday night that the United States intervened in Libya to prevent a slaughter of civilians that would have "stained the world's conscience." Attached is Exhibit 1. As you can see, almost all the "humane," foreign-owned energy operations in Libya are European entities. No wonder Sarkozy & Cameron are so gung-ho about this "kinetic military action." And as I recall, the UK freed the Lockerbie bomber so that BP could get a good deal on oil in Libya, right? That was also called "humanitarian," if I'm not mistaken.

Foreign ownership of Libyan energy operations (Source: stratfor.com)

Mar. 28, 2011 - Videos of Burlesque/Belly Dancer Safi & Accordionist Alan Patton

Video 3 is best. I just about had a heart attack when she came over and danced right next to me at the 8:20 min. mark !!!

All 6 videos are in a playlist and will play continuously, non-stop.
(Play the entire Safi/Alan playlist in new window here.)

Mar. 11, 2011 - The Strongest Ever Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

Today was a very shaky day. In fact, not only did we have the strongest ever quake in Japan (Magnitude 9.0), but between the BIG one (@ 2:46 pm) and 10:56 pm, there were 56 aftershocks of intensity 3 or greater on the Japanese scale of 0-7. Keep abreast of the latest news updates, photos, videos, maps, and links on my new page, the Strongest Ever Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on March 11, 2011.

Number of Japan Earthquakes by Day of Month, March 2011

Mar. 10, 2011 - Space Shuttle Discovery

Discovery, the world's most traveled spaceship, made its final touchdown and homecoming @ the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wed. Mar. 9, 2011 @ 11:57 am EST (Thurs. 1:57 am in Japan). In its final mission, STS-133... Read more...

Space Shuttle Discovery, NASA Mission STS-133

Space Shuttle Discovery, NASA Mission STS-133

Space Shuttle Discovery's final landing (courtesy: NASA)

Feb. 23, 2011 - Tricky Dick (ニクソン大統領) and Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato (佐藤総理) sign 1969 agreement returning Okinawa back to Japan

Now

Then

Feb. 22, 2011 - Gyotoku Bird Observatory

The Gyotoku Bird Observatory is a 56-hectare natural habitat for aquatic birds in Ichikawa, Chiba, and a great place to escape Tokyo's concrete jungle. Read more...

Gyotoku Bird Observatory hospital patient

Feb. 21, 2011 - Diamond Fuji

Photo taken Feb. 17, 2011 by Berndt Otto

Best places to view Diamond Fuji around the Lake Yamanakako area: http://yamanakako.info/photo_diamond.php
This phenomenon occurs only from Oct. to Feb. when the sun sets into or rises out of Mt. Fuji's cone, setting off sunbeams that resemble a glittering diamond.

Feb. 17, 2011 - The Obama Hope-and-Change Damage Report

Retail gasoline price up 70%, unemployment rate up 24%, number of food stamp recipients up 35%, failed banks up 17%, people in poverty up 10%, and a national debt accumulating at a rate more than 27 times as fast as during the rest of the entire nation’s history. Are you better off today than you were 25 months ago?

The Obama Hope-and-Change Damage Report

Source: The Damage Obama Has Done, by Dick Morris & Eileen McGann

Feb. 6, 2011 - Already my favorite 2011 Super Bowl ad:

Volkswagen commercial: The Force

Jan. 29, 2011 - The world aches for good listeners.

"Most of us are poor listeners. Since our mind moves forward faster than the words to which we are listening, we are frequently preparing something to say when we should be listening. The world aches for good listeners. Many doctors report that they daily see patients who have nothing physically wrong with them. They merely need someone to listen to them."

-William E. Diehl-

Jan. 10, 2011 - How to Make 2011 Your Best Year Ever

Tips on goal setting, time management, & how to stay focused to achieve more of what is important in your life. Keynote address to the Pioneer Toastmasters Club's New Year Party on Jan. 9, 2011 in Iidabashi, Tokyo.

Keynote Speaker at Jan. 9, 2011
Pioneer Toastmasters New Year Party

Jan. 4, 2011 - Pics, maps, and trail description of my Aug. 11-13, 1994 climb of Mt. Oku-hotaka-dake (奥穂高岳 & Mt. Yari-ga-take (槍ヶ岳), Japan's 3rd & 5th highest mountains

Mt. Yari-ga-take (槍ヶ岳) at sunrise
(the Matterhorn of Japan)

After having climbed all of Japan's 25 highest mountains, I can honestly say that the Mt. Oku-hotaka-dake (奥穂高岳)/Mt. Yari-ga-take (槍ヶ岳) circuit was by far the most exhilarating AND.....most difficult. Well, for starters, the round-trip course is around 34 km, which is a fairly good workout over a three-day period, even for a person in reasonably good shape. Read more...

Jan. 3, 2011 - 2010 Sendai Pageant of Starlight

Click above to view video of the magnificent display of lights on the zelkova trees along Jozenji-dori in downtown Sendai, Miyagi, Japan on Dec. 31, 2010.

Jan. 2, 2011 - Artwork by Yoshimizu Koike (小池　嘉瑞) (updated page)

ELEVEN new masterpieces from Mr. Yoshimizu Koike (小池　嘉瑞), one of my favorite Japanese artists. Click the link above to see more of his paintings and sketches. The one below is named "Reading under the Moon."