Chinese Food Scare ?
I bought this Tofu on March thinking to use soon though, I don’t remember
why but anyhow, it went out of sight in my fridge —– when I discovered this
a week later, it seemed perfectly alright to eat —– though, wait a moment,
Tofu used to be last less than a week even before open the package while the
water getting yellowish murky and the package got ballooned up.
—– with a serious doubt, I decided to experiment to watch this Tofu.
—– FOUR months past. The Tofu looks exactly the same to the beginning.
There is a kind of “Wisdom” to watch, such as a bread. = in the original plastic
bag, if the loaf of bread didn’t mold after 4 days, don’t eat and stop to buy
that bread because the food preservative is too strong.
[]
Coincidently, there was a news in a Japanese site transcribing a news from a
Chinese paper, Global Times ;
【海外発！Breaking News】もはや塩も信用でき
ない国。防腐剤たっぷりの有害な塩が7年も流通。
北京の工場を摘発。
2015年07月12日 12:55 by Joy横手
偽装問題をはじめ、食品に関する危険なニュースがあまりにも多い中国。塩ですら信用できない商品が
出回っているようだ。有害物質をたっぷりと含んだ塩を7年にわたり生産していた工場が摘発され、
波紋を広げている。
中国の英字新聞『Global Times』によれば、このほど中国・公安部の指導のもとで北京市および江蘇省の
警察が行った4か月にわたる抜き打ちの商品検査により、有害な塩を生産し ていた北京の工場が摘発され、
22人の逮捕者が出たもよう。悪質な塩は7年にわたり北京、天津、江蘇、河南、河北、安徽、および山東と
いった都市、省に流 通していたという。
毒入り塩により摘発されたのは、北京市大興区の床面積がたった8平方メートルという小さな工場。
パッケージに「食用塩」という偽のラベルが貼られていたが、中身には亜硝酸塩（防腐剤）がたっぷりと
含まれていた。1トンあたり400～450元の価値しかないものを彼らは800～1,000元の値で2万トンも販売
していたことから、江蘇省泰州市・公安局のZhu Jinhua氏は彼らが大変な利益をあげていたとみている。
また北京の「中国農業大学」で食物科学・栄養技術学が専門のFan Zhihong教授は、「致死量には
至らない程度の亜硫酸塩、その他の化学物質が含まれていると思われる。そうした悪質な塩は
一般消費者が購入する販売店 向けではなく、大部分が食品加工工場向けであろう」などと述べている。
——————–
Which said, a factory was discovered who has been selling an industrial chemical,
a mixture of Sodium nitrite and common salt packaged as a Cooking Salt.
My guess was that, this factory didn’t pay enough money to the local police, that all.
—– many stories of the Chinese Food Scare were too well known. Such as that
famous Melamine Milk or Swage Oil were the name but feeeeew. As a matter of fact,
since the scandal of Swage Oil, I stopped to buy any Chinese food using any oil, not
only Sesami Oil kind but even to Fried fishball. (The circulation of Swage Oil for mix
was said to be too widely spread and impossible to trace).
—– The trouble is their mentality.
[]
Jessop’s Fun-camera Lens
I found yet another fun-camera (One-time use Camera / Camera with Film)
in an Odds and Ends Box of a Camera shop. (for a couple of pounds)
This time it was a Jessop’s product though, since Jessops disappeared many years
ago, this product was also pretty old. Old enough to be rotten deep = supposed be
an unused battery inside was completely corroded and the chemical has been leaked.
Branded Jessops though, it was a Chinese made = hence cheap battery was rotten.
This was an interesting product. As a Chinese made, it could be a complete
Copy-cat product though, the Jessops then was a well known English company
= they could be an easy target of a lawsuit for a Copyright infringement.
So, they didn’t copy the lens by taking a mold —– instead, they put their own
Two-element Lens for this camera. When Japanese film company, Konica,
Fuji, invented the disposable camera (one-time use camera), they designed the
omnifocus lens using pretty fancy aspherical design.
And to make the camera able to take photos under different lighting condition
with fixed shutter speed (about 1/60th second) on ISO 100~200 film, the
lens has to be about F4~3.5. Especially after flash light was incorporated,
to have a reasonable picture for 3m, the lens can’t be smaller. = It’s mean,
pan-focus with smaller F-aperture was not an option, therefore, they had to
design sophisticated aspherical lens which could produce a reasonably well
focused image in any distance with F4 diameter (7~8mm).
—– But, without using aspherical lens, Jessops opted to the simple two lens
design with smaller F8 aperture setting, while taking advantage of the
higher ISO sensitivity of 400.
The trick here was,
F4 x2 = F5.6 F5.6 x2 = F8 while
ISO 100 x2 x2 = ISO 400 (the same)
—– and F8 can give much deeper
depth of the field
(= Pan focus effect using ordinally
lens though, F8 is not enough for
close focus).
I tested this lens attached with rather
heavy concave lens to extend the
original 27mm focal-length to 44mm,
in order to use on the Canon EOS, (Photo left)
(thus, 3.5mm lens diameter, now gives F13 = pretty dark to see the finder image)
—– Not only that, the image produced by this lens was utterly rubbish. = when F13
lens could make only trash image while having no fancy fuzziness (F13 couldn’t
have any chance of nice fuzziness) = there wouldn’t be any point to use this lens.
—– Well, not all the experiment has been a successful one. 😀
[]
Awa-odori — Most popular dance in Japan
—————— Awa-odori at Koiwa / Tokyo — Photo from Tokyobling blog.
Following the post, Tanbo-art, someone asked me why some of the Japanese
culture were not introduced or even reported to the west at all ?
And, what is the current popular culture in Japan — are those well known
“Japanese culture, such as Manga, Anime, Cos-ple” really popular in there,
or are they only on the exaggerated western media ?
Well, I’m not on the street of Tokyo today, so, I can’t tell you what exactly though,
at least I can see the news, info etc on the Net, deeper than the western people.
And I can tell a reality I could read from the photos etc. = like random photo of
a Tokyo street never show the people walking in a fashion of anime character or
in its costume = they gather only in a very limited place or occasion, such as an
anime-festival. Very different from such as the Punk culture in the west on the 80th.
What the most popular culture in Japan I can tell you these days is, Awa-odori.
(Improvised street dancing originated from the Awa region of Shikoku.
— You can Google and read it in the Wiki.)
[]
Apparently, the spread of this dance started after 80th (after I left Japan) =
(when I was in Japan, Awa-odori was limited only in Awa (Tokushima on Shikoku),
then after it sprung out to Koenji (west of Shinjuku / Tokyo) it was copied and
spread all over Japan.) The dance was organized and practised in the each local
group which was called “Ren” while having their own musicians too.
(= Somewhat an equivalent of Brazilian Samba.)
In the Net sphere, an English blogger lives in Japan, Tokyobling, showing many
local Awa-odori events, in fact so many, which made me realize that it was now
almost a national culture held by the men and women, young and old alike.
(Indeed, it amazed me “How on earth, from where so many people came out to do
such a silly dance ?” —– While people dancing they chant “Odoru Aho ni Miru Aho,
Onaji Aho nara Odoranya Son son” = Dancing fools and the watching fools, be the
same fools why not dance !)
Japanese local festival, Matsuri was originated from the local Shinto Shrine, but
now, on top of the traditional Matsuri, the Awa-odori became even more popular
community event and the established culture in Japan. I guess, this must be
utterly new to your knowledge. (and you may feel it’s funny but not cool. 😀 )
(When I try the dance, I found its movement was slower than the Aflo, more like
a staged comical acting = doesn’t taxing the body’s dynamic balance nor fire the
reaction on the rhythm. Awa-odori’s emphasis was created by the gap or
the moment of holt = “Ma / 間” which is
the opposite of the western syncopation (compressed force).)
—– Well, this post is, for your pass time. 🙂
[]
Tanbo Art (Rice field Art) in Japan
————————————————— (Photo from Jiji news)
I’ve been seeing those news every year on this season. This is a Tanbo-art,
exclusively in Japanese rice-field. (of course, not everywhere of their field)
—– it was a picture drawn by the different colored rice crop. And in here,
a famous medieval samurai Keiji Maeda (famous in his eccentric behaviour,
called Kabuki-mono = origin of the name Kabuki) was depicted in Yonezawa.
(You may better Google “rice field art japan” or watch this youtube.)
Amazing isn’t it ? !!!
( It is completely different from an on-the-spot, one hour prank = Crop-circle. — To do
this, four or five different colored rice crop has been kept many years and the seeds
were sown to exact position — and wait and see it’s grow ! = Typical Japanese Mind )
[]
Garden Flowers @ Greenwich Park
Lots of flowers from the Greenwich Park. (They were taken by the Homemade
Two Element Lens and the Homemade Gaudy Lens on Canon 5D Mk-III.)
Don’t see this as a botanical picture. (If this one was for botanical use, it must be a
nightmare for the photographer = may be even beyond the Hi Dynamic Range process.)
= So, see this as an abstract painting. —– black petunia kind and the white one.
After green and the blue Chrysanthemum was created, next by next, rather fancy
colored flower has been appearing in the market.
Another day, I saw an almost perfect black Tulip —– and started wondering, if the
flower industry managed to crack the genetic-code of black color or found the
chemical to tint the flower. In either way, it is a very very uncomfortable situation.
They are extra = I found a huge Tulip Tree in the park. = I may need to visit
again to see its ancient flower !
And realized, in fact there are lots of Chestnut tree = better come again
on October to pick the nuts. 🙂
It was a very hot day —– still some people like to enjoy the sun.
[]
Cosmos and Hydrangea @ Greenwich Park
While checking the photos I’ve taken this time at Greenwich Park, I went
back to the post I did last year and found that it was one week earlier, yet still
I did shoot almost identical photo then. = not only the tree, some of the plant was
perennial and stayed the same patch, keep flowering with the same face. And the
approach to the same plant is the same = amazingly persistent as the same person.
(It’s mean not much fresh innovation or improvement.) 🙂
Two element homemade lens was the same though, this year I brought
“New” Gordy Lens. (Looks somewhat the same fuzziness, but Gordy Lens
can give close focus. = further background became out of focus ! )
Hydrangea was one week too early and having dry hot weather they looked
a bit withered. = I may come again and change the photos here.
Those heavily fuzzier photos were taken by the Double Density Pinhole.
But those closer images were taken by the Gaudy Lens.
(One more post of Greenwich Flowers would follow.) 🙂
[]
Riot of Colors @ Greenwich Park
Yesterday I went to the Greenwich Park to take picture of Hydrangea. (Its photos
may come next post, though, for the Hydrangea, it was a week too early.)
So, I start with other flowers photo of which I don’t know the name. = some
of the readers must be more knowledgeable about them = I just put the images.
The lens used here was, Homemade Two-element Lens or
Homemade Gaudy Lens on Canon 5D Mk-III.
Be like a fire. I like it.
[]
Red Moon
————- (Photo above was taken by Tamron Mirror SP 500mm F8)
Even after one o’clock early morning (?), I noticed pretty late moon rise.
But the moon, as red as the blood. (It’s a bit of joking. 🙂 )
But even without the joke, the moon was unusually red. Is that the sign of
the Greece collapsing, the China disintegrating ? Japanese volcano ?
I’m not a superstitious man, still, to see such a red moon is not very comfortable.
—–
I hope should the world see a peaceful sunrise in the few hours time.
—–
PS: (on the next day) Thanks goodness, nothing serious happened.
(And this is my 777th Post ! 🙂 )
PPS: For somebody’s request,
I show you the original photo which
was 5760×3840 pix size.
(Clopped photo above was 827×828)
( —– since it has been exported
the photo has no original size here.)
Unless we need a huge enlargement
a photo of 800×800 is pretty usable isn’t it ? ! 🙂
[]
Cool for Hot day
Few days ago there was the hottest day so-far in this year.
Fortunately or unfortunately, unlike Japan where the season has distinctive
extreme, but this is the England = even hottest would be mere 30°C though,
with no air conditioner, 30°C is pretty hot.
Other locals might be having a chilled drink with ice on it or ice stick,
ice cream kind. But a poor man like me can not afford to buy an ice cream.
Instead, I’m making an ice sherbet / frozen juice, what ever it’s called.
Just put a fruits juice (here an apple juice) into a tin cup and make it frozen.
Then break an ice with a knife / ice-pick to make it flaky and eat it. How cool.
Provided the juice was a pure fruits juice with minimum additives, or
homemade would be even better (though need to have a machine !)
It is very cheap = two day’s supply would be as cheap as £0.70 !
To make the frozen juice flaky, use a knife held firmly against the wall of the
ice pit and rotate the cup to scrape the ice. ( The photo above right )
When you try, you can get a knack soon. ( = Move the ice, not the knife)
(But the cup got to be a cylindrical tincup
— never try this with typical flower-shaped teacup.)
Japanese women’s football, Nadeshiko team lost W-cup to US — still,
Have a nice day. 🙂
[]
Follow the Flow — Karma / Dharma
Those who, the kind regular reader of this blog might have noticed that the past
5~6 months or so, I seemed to become an intoxicated junky of junk cameras.
What happened on me ? = Give a thought or two, in terms of the flow in the life.
(= Follow the flow mean, not chase it, not cringing the mater or notion, let alone
obsessed. It would just happen = so, just follow.)
I gave a glance to those cameras —– then, I found the serial number of the camera
I first disassembled, (which was given by my friend) was like this.
Oh my goodness, 8150 again ? !!! —– This sign appeared wherever I go, but
crucially, it will be sign-posted to the matter or thing which got “the concern”.
= May be concerned to the Dharma, and to my Karma hence I have to take the
matter serious. — to show some more hard facts, if you think it sound dubious.
Photo above left was Canon EF Macro 100mm F2.8 = the most useful lens to me.
And the Photo middle was the most frequently used Canon Fisheye Zoom 8~15mm.
Which got the number 2***1850*. And the right, Zeiss 18mm for Nikon.
They are the numbers happened to appear onto my camera lenses.
They were in the shop purely by chance = as if they were placed there for
me to pick-up, though,in most of the case I bought it even without seeing
the number. —– Without any explanation of why it’s there = is the
natural flow of the fate or given task or opportunity to pick-up, whichever
the way we interpret.
—– as it comes. So, I pick up and do what I can do, regardless whether it is
worthwhile or profitable, or please others — or NOT. (in a hindsight, at least
I can say “I did a lot” to respond what the moment required to me.)
I think, what comes is in fact, what was given —– for each of us to fulfil what we
were born to do. = It’s mean, my Karma think, that me to play with junk camera
suits me ! Or the Karma even like my way to play with the junk. 😀
—– And may be my Karma noticed that I’m not sensitive enough to see the
hidden sign, they started to put a noisy notice shouting 8150 to make me aware
that we are a part of the Dharma and they are watching us.
___/\___
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