Hibiscus

When you hear the name Hibiscus, you may imagine a red flower in a travel brochure of tropical island. Yet still, a kind of flowers belong to Hibiscus group = in the Malvaceae family is amazingly common and flowering everywhere.

This is a Hollyhocks. (seems to be Althaea rosea)

—– incidentally, this plant is a sister of Marshmallow (Yes, that soft white sweets) = the sweets used to be made using a sap from the roots of the Marshmallow.

And this one seems Hibiscus synacus.

But this one seems to be a very different garden valiety though, still pretty like a Hibiscus.

And you may remember this small flower in a grass patch, like a weed desperately clinging to the ground. Still, this one belongs to the Hibiscus family.

It’s somewhat interesting to think about that what sort of the fate or history pushed this plant to cling and survived on a rather poor dry ground ? —– Was that only a niche she found ? (We all knows, life is hard — she must be a rather lucky one, as she has achieved to make a flower at least !) —– by the way, did you know that the Hibiscus plant is Cannivorous = in the night, their stigma catch and strangulates a small insct and suck their body fluid out. = That’s what I heard, but not know the truth.

.

NZ – B – lens

I wrote about NZ lens more than a year ago. Since then I haven’t go out with that lens often. Big bright lens is too big to carry in my pocket.

So, only the front element was recycled then. But, how about many other lenses ? In that 18~200 mm Nikon Zoom lens, there were 3 more groups of glasses were used. = When I tested, I found that the third group was fit to the purpose straight. = easy to make-up as a usable optics — I mean, for my purpose. (Left top is USM / Silentwave motor and the D was the diverging lens I used for an experiment “Retrofocus” as the front element.)

So, the third group glass together with its sliding barrel was just glued to the Nikon-Z mount ring. In this structure, the movement of the glass makes a focus from infinity to x0.6.

As you might have guest, this lens wouldn’t give any clear sharp image. = still, may suit for some subject. Wait and see. 😀 ( I’m serious)

.

Mindfulness sleeping ?

I found a net post where someone talking about Mindfulness sleeping —– what ?

Mindfulness is a misconceived idea somewhat related to Zen Buddhism. As it was invented in the west, there was no equivalent Japanese notion let alone Chinese or Indian idea. ( Hindu or Tantric practice has something similar, as their belief stands on the existence of the Atman = Perpetual mind — Buddhism stands on the belief of No existence of Atman = Anatman, hence Mushin and No Reincarnation)

So, it is bizarre enough to say “Mindfulness”in the context of Zen. To talk Mindfulness Sleeping is utter nuts. Such a silly notion could obstruct the sleeping but never able to make the person fallen asleep. —– There seems to be several technics such as to imagine your whole body top to bottom and scanning down next by next. —– You might be familiar with counting a sheep jumping over the hedge. (One sheep, two sheep — thousand one sheep — 😀 ) If you have any thought in your mind, it would just distract you to fall asleep. You are wondering around its thinking all night.

When I got into the bed I’ll be asleep within a few minutes. But if got something to think about, I get up again and sit before the keyboard and start drafting the idea. Unless otherwise, I’ll be fallen asleep = You might say how ? —– When you got into the bed = What you see for the last moment. = It might be a tangled bedding fabric over the pillow, or it could be a side lamp next to the bed. —– Whatsoever none of them is worthwhile to think about. —– yet still, when you close your eyes, the image remained in your eyes while the color or brightness reversed. Such an image has no value or meaning at all, so, it wouldn’t bother your brain either. And its image would sink down or dissolved away. When the brain found nothing to do, you just fell asleep.

Zen would teach you, don’t be bothered by a silly idea. Just close your eyes, it is enough to make you asleep. (When all about Zen is “Void” or Mushin (Mind of No-mind) who invented such a silly idea “Mindfulness” to focus particular image or thinking.) 😀 (It seems that the tendency of the Hinduism which want to theorize everything, couldn’t accept “No answer / nothing” = that’s why Buddhism was so revolutionary.)

.

G20 – Heavy Congestion of Power or Stagnation ?

I don’t think I do need to talk about the world situation, let alone G20 Summit though, I did pick up some images from Net. = The image on top seemed to show the heaviest stagnation of the power known today.

First day’s evening there was a party where the guests seeing the Osaka Castle behind, (You may find the familier faces there)

As the party attraction, a Kyogen (instead of Nho) was played alongside the piano music (played by a handicapped pianist) and some passages from the opera.

Then a party like party with “Eco” food and drink. —– Everything is in uneasy cohabitation. (At least, those top peoples who hate each other are still in the same table.)

Like a paradox in the LGBT = now people demanding that it should include the Q = queer/hentai = by the political correctness / ideologically, evrybody should be equal therefore even eating whele shouldn’t be anything wrong. And soon we may need to include the murderous psychopath as the same human kind —– and now, the world is sitting on the ticking time bombs = Coming huge default of the Deutsche Bank, the disintegration of China, huge volcano erruption, earthquake to Japan etc etc. —— everybody knows it but pretending not see it while baguely hoping, somebody else can deal with it. So, at G20 everybody asking others “Are you the one who know the answer ?” —– If the one did know the answer, didn’t come here.

.

New B/W Film from Fuji

Fuji film announced that they’ll restart the production of the B/W film which will come on this autumn for the answer to the strong demand from the users. (Though, it will be available only for the Japanese market)

The film’s speed is ISO 100 only at the moment and so far no information about the other size. The film will be produced using the colour film emulsion technology to have more details in the highlight area which is the weak point in digital photography.

So, fortunately or unfortunately we are going to have more chance to shake a tank in the dark room. = the lonely tense moment which has been long lost in the digital revolution.

.

Funki’s dream or nightmare ?

Whether I’ve seen this, heard this sometime, somewhere or was that in a dream, illusion, nightmare —– ? ? ? I’m not sure at all ——

It’s from the collection of my friend Funki Porchini —– I didn’t know he created this 2011 such long time ago.

And I don’t know how he created this image ? ? ? Whether he used any optics or was it done by purely digital ? ? ?

.

Onion onion

I’m not making any educative post but just write about a bit peculiar about my cooking. (of Onion) 😀

Since I’m getting lazy, my food life is getting boring too. Made the situation worse, I found the frozen vegetable convenient.

Other than a boiled egg, a slice or two fruits loaf, a hand full sprouts ( boiled) and some fresh fruits (I stoped to buy packed so-called fruits juice of dubious origin) for a breakfast, rest of the cooking became more or less the same pattern. Boiled frozen mixed vegetable with chicken or egg in a stew (some time miso based), curry or noodle —– always with “Special Onion” = quarter of a large onion was finely cut and the other quarter was just chopped. The chopped onion was boiled together with mixed vegetable (and cooked as a part of such as a noodle)

THEN just before the end of cooking, finely cut onion was added like spice and mixed. —– some of the people may be horrified to eat raw onion though, if you try, you may find that they make quite a good taste. Only the trouble might be a “said to be a bad breath” (because I myself don’t know) —– still, since I’ve been eating like this for the past 8, 10 years = so far nobody ever complained to me. (anyhow, I live alone and no habit of hugging kissing others) —– And some say, this raw onion (on top of no smoking, no drinking) may contributing my good health.

.

Zen — Supernatural Phenomenon or Asperger Syndrome ?

While having a casual chat with artist friends over a coffee, I noticed that the popular concept towards the Zen seems to be somewhat distorted to that it has a kind of supernatural ability.   Indeed, when somebody wrote about the Zen story, it often describing how extraordinary or phenomenal.  Of course, ordinary people wouldn’t make a good talking piece.  It needs to be something special.  Then, a man dropped the words “Isn’t such person just an Asperger ?”   M m m ?  

Asperger Syndrome could be an interesting description of Zen.  I’m not an expert to talk about this topic still, my knowledge of Asperger seem to be matched to some pattern of the typical Zennist. = rather prefer to be alone and concentrating own interest or a particular subject into even an obsessive level.  And came up with some amazing creation or highly skilled work.   Indeed, such concentration, dedication might be attributed by the Zen ethos.  Yet still, we may not know whether it was the result of Zen or came from the person’s own tendency.

My character and the resulting life and lifestyle has been written on my palm since I was born.   So, even if I do something related to the  Zen, it is rather difficult to tell whether it was due to the Zen idea, otherwise, in reverse, that’s why I was attracted to the Zen.  (Which caused the other?)    In fact, Zen is a mere technic to silence the emotional region of the brain, by which, the one can gain the state of No-self, and in this state, the supernatural phenomenon could be seen or achieved. 

(The emotional region, namely Amigdara emphasize the incoming signal whether it is important to him or belongs to him or not.  They are in fact, the base of Ego and Greed.  Therefore it’s creating the mind which make-up the Self —– if this function was pathologically damaged, cognitive function to distinguish own possession, even to recognize own family member would be lost = everything would be seen detached) —– you may think they are quite a familiar character of good Buddhist though.

So the matter was not in Asperger kind but such No-self state has the key.  (Asperger seemed to lack a social connectivity = not able to see the relevance between the self and the others = simplly the person couldn’t feel who am I = it is almost the state of No-self.)   

Zen Buddhism may not be an invented idea but the recognition of such a hidden function of human nature by which the one could touch with invisible phenomenon.   Provably human history had been noticed such supernatural phenomenon, hence created many spiritual myths, such as God or Vedic philosophy etc.  —– It’s mean, it was not because of the existence of the God but because of the function of the brain which did see the supernatural phenomenon (though others may says it was a delusion).  Which has been interpreted in their own way, and created like a God story or Vedic story etc. (Though, the vision seems to be very vague, in other words any clear image or story was nothing but an interpretation = made-up story —– that’s why “What it is” was never described for “The Panya Paramita”) 

Lord Buddha was the one who noticed that such truth appears behind the state of No-self. (And Mahayana Buddhists try to describe them as the Panya Paramita)  That was why all the Buddhism teachings were aiming to gain the No-self.  (But, once become able to negate the function of Amigdara completly, and achieved the No-self, and able to detach from everything, the demerit become too much, (such as to forsake all the possessions or family) a kind of moderate teachings which says that yet to be is still be a part of Buddha become popular = which was called Mahayana.  (Yet to be perfect — this “yet”was misinterpreted to “need one more life” by the mixed-up of Hinduism.)

Whether it was Zen, Asperger or Autism still, life goes on —– not only sociable friendly person is a person in the society.     Zen exist for personal needs. 

.

Japanese Emperor Akihito abdicates

(Although no English, Global News viz has more detailed images)

The Emperor of Heisei era abdicated.

He did a great job over 30 years of his reign.  I hope he and the Empress Michiko have peaceful quiet life now on.    Load Buddha bless them.     (Though, he was not a Buddhist but the head of Shinto = In deed he was the descendant of the Amateras.)

.

The late Cherry (or Ex-Cherry ?)

It’s not nice to say “used to be cherry” —– so, Ex-Cherry ?

A woman said it’s not fair, they got a full bloom every year —– m m m, rather tricky to say any word here. 

(Those photos were taken by a lens from a toy camera on Nikon Z7 —– It was a single plastic lens, equivalent of  28mm, F13,  fixed focus )

.