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Home: Gary J. Wolff's Blog: Gary J. Wolff's Blog Archives, April-June, 2020

Gary J. Wolff's Blog Archives
April-June, 2020


This page shows archived posts for Gary J. Wolff's blog from April-June, 2020.

Enjoy...

Cheers, 
Gary




June 28, 2020 - Feeling the Wind (風を感じて)

One of my greatest pleasures while residing in the planet's most populous metropolis is cycling up and down the nearby Edogawa riverside on sunny days.

Yep, I'm the crazy guy who several years ago started the fad in Japan of wearing ankle weights on my wrists while cycling along the riverside. Since cycling exercises primarily the lower body, I felt I needed to spend that time working my biceps and triceps as well.

A few years ago while I was out on my mountain bike, I took a breather at the "Kaze o Kanjite" (風を感じて, "Feel the Wind") statue in Junsai-ike Park (じゅんさい池公園) in Matsudo, Chiba (千葉県松戸市). In the pic below, I'm in my usual attire, sporting 4 kg (~9 lbs) wrist weights on each arm.

And for some reason, this spring so far I've encountered an above average number of days with fairly strong headwinds. So I'm hearing the naked statue lady's message loud and clear, as I'm definitely "feeling the wind"! smiley


"Kaze o Kanjite" (風を感じて, "Feel the Wind") statue
"Kaze o Kanjite" (風を感じて, "Feel the Wind") statue
Junsai-ike Park (じゅんさい池公園), Matsudo, Chiba (千葉県松戸市)




June 14, 2020 - Texas Longhorns rock!!

Not only is the Texas Longhorn the mascot for my alma mater, The University of Texas at Austin, but it is also the name of my university's sports teams and is the official "large animal" of the State of Texas.

These huge, beautiful animals, as their name implies, are well-known for their characteristic "long horns" which can measure up to 100 inches (2.54 m) tip to tip for steers.

A hearty thanks goes out to my good buddy Rick in Texas for sharing this wonderful pic on his Facebook page.

Cheers from the great Lone Star State of Texas!


Texas Longhorn
Texas Longhorn




May 30, 2020 - Wear your mask!! smiley

We can never be too careful! smiley As a former traffic engineer, I wonder if we apply social distancing guidelines to cars, whether we'll ever have to worry about traffic jams again, ha ha... laughing icon


car mask
car mask




May 12, 2020 - Words of wisdom from the amazing poet, Tarzana Joe

Choices...

I’m sure you’re sick and tired of
Those caterwauling voices
Lamenting each election that
We really have no choices

Or even of some pundit
Acting like a kind confessor
Advising, of two evils
You must always choose the lesser

I, for one, have always known
We’ll never find perfection
I bear that fact in mind
Each time I’m making my selection

But now I start to understand
This broad dis-satisfaction
For with this crisis growing
I see no clear course of action

No one with the power
Making Liberty their mission
No one in my government
Espousing my position

No one has the answer
There’s no course that they can teach
To say it’s safe to jog
But not to sit down on the beach

Or why if I buy barbells
At a Target I’ll survive
But not if I buy golf balls
Cross the street at the Big Five

Why science says that kids
Don’t transmit COVID as a rule
But government in panic
Says that kids can’t go to school

I am old and weak
And though I like to run and ride
I’ll do my civic duty and
Agree to stay inside

To the young among you
Take this challenge that I give
Tell the folks in power
They must let the country live




April 29, 2020 - GW rocks in Japan!

Today, Showa Day (昭和の日, Shōwa no Hi), is a national holiday in Japan and kicks off the week-long holiday period known as Golden Week, often abbreviated simply as GW.

Well, GW has another meaning in my life.... not only my initials but also my nickname, courtesy of my most beloved family and friends since my childhood days.

Needless to say, GW is one of my favorite times of the year in Japan because everywhere you look, my nickname is plastered on countless advertising signs all over the city. It's nice to be so famous, ha ha.

The sign below I spotted just a few days ago at the local KFC. Yee hah! laughing icon


KFC GW sign in Tokyo
KFC GW sign in Tokyo




April 18, 2020 - Gary's Spring 2020 self-intro for his Japanese university students



Gary's Spring 2020 self-intro for his Japanese university students
(If player above is not visible, you can view video at YouTube here.)




April 12, 2020 - Mariah Carey pays tribute to the many coronavirus heroes

On the occasion of Holy Week, blessings to multiplatinum diva and 5-time Grammy Award winner Mariah Carey for her heartfelt "stay at home" tribute to all the first responders, frontline health workers, and other selfless warriors who are keeping us safe in these troubling times.

In her message of hope, Mariah Carey performed from her home and reminded us in her 1993 hit "Hero" that...

"And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you"

I just LOVE this...



Mariah Carey - Hero (Live at Home Tribute)
(If player above is not visible, you can view video at YouTube here.)





April 7, 2020 - Self-quarantine chip shot

An amazingly accurate chip shot with a roll of toilet paper during this guy's period of self-quarantine. LOVE IT! laughing icon



Self-quarantine chip shot
(If player above is not visible, you can view video at YouTube here.)





April 6, 2020 - CORONAVIRUS: Is the Cure Worse than the Disease?

According to worldometers.info, as of 12 noon April 6, 2020 Japan time, worldwide so far there have been:
  • 15,548,576 deaths this year, including...
  • 3,431,734 communicable disease deaths this year
  • 2,171,109 deaths caused by cancer this year
  • 1,321,513 deaths caused by smoking this year
  • 661,173 deaths caused by alcohol this year
  • 444,394 deaths caused by HIV/AIDS this year
  • 356,853 road traffic accident deaths this year
  • 283,479 suicide deaths this year
  • 259,299 deaths caused by malaria this year
  • 222,612 deaths caused by water-related diseases this year
  • 128,541 seasonal flu deaths this year
  • 80,370 deaths TODAY so far alone
  • and most importantly, since Jan. 22, only 69,456 coronavirus deaths.
As early as tomorrow, the Japanese prime minister will declare a state of emergency due to the coronavirus outbreak for Tokyo and 6 other prefectures including Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Hyogo, and Fukuoka (source: NHK World-Japan).

But unlike in many other countries, lockdowns will not be imposed and public transportation, supermarkets, and other essential businesses in Japan will continue operations. In short, Japan's response to the outbreak will largely remain unchanged from what it's already been the past 6 weeks, namely to ask people to avoid closed and crowded places as well as close contact with others, while maintaining economic and social activities.

The declaration will give the governors of these 6 prefectures (Japan has 47 prefectures) the power to request (not demand) that residents refrain from non-essential outings and to cooperate with measures to prevent the further spread of the virus, but the governors can request or order (if necessary) school closures and restrictions on the operations of department stores, cinemas, and other places where many people gather.

Is there anyone besides myself who believes that shutting down the entire world economy has been a gross overreaction? I hope we can all go back to work soon, before we have a worldwide depression on our hands. So sad... frownie anime




April 1, 2020 - How to make an emergency paper towel face mask

In emergency situations like natural disasters and global pandemics, face masks can protect you in places with debris, in evacuation centers, or even from killer viruses. Watch this 30-second YouTube video and learn how to make an instant face mask using only a paper towel, 4 rubber bands, and a stapler.

25 other short, safety tip videos that can save your life, courtesy of NHK World-Japan, can be viewed in their "How To Craft Safety" YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFEzXnIQVwV8JBaiP0Zu1O5P_PItdn9B5




Japan-Texas ebook cover thumbnail
A FREE download at Smashwords



Pattaya ebook cover
Only $1.99 at Amazon
(¥214 at アマゾン日本)




Alaska ebook cover
Only $2.99 at Amazon
(¥340 at アマゾン日本)



Summer 1974 hitchhiking trip ebook cover
Only 99¢ at Amazon (¥105 at アマゾン日本)


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GW's road trip ebook cover
Only 99¢ from Amazon
(¥114 at アマゾン日本)




new Climbing Mt. Fuji book
Only $2.99 at Amazon
(¥343 at アマゾン日本)




Only $2.99 at Amazon
(¥343 at アマゾン日本)