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

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


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

Enjoy...

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



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
              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'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




Eisaku Sato & Richard Nixon Now Sato & Nixon
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

Berndt Otto's 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. 6, 2011 - Already my favorite 2011 Super Bowl ad:


Super Bowl XLV Commercial: Kid Darth Vader 2012 Volkswagen Passat
(If player above is not visible, you can view video @ YouTube here.)



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.


(If player above is not visible, you can view video at YouTube here.)


Jan. 9, 2011 Pioneer Toastmasters New Year Party
                   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 at sunrise
                        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


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.
(If player above is not visible, you can view video at YouTube here.)



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."

Reading under the Moon
                          "Reading under the Moon"





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



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