Cool Japan

Japanese government unleashes a new logo under the theme of “Cool Japan”. Designed by Kashiwa Sato and selected by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, the award-winning logo will be used by Japanese agencies and corporations worldwide to promote Japanese culture in various sectors such as animation, fashion, and food. The minimalist red logo with English words “JAPAN NEXT” represents the rebirth of Japan after the calamity in March 2011. From now on, Japan will be moving forward with more strength, creativity, and confidence.

Source: http://www.japanprobe.com/2011/09/14/new-cool-japan-logo-japan-next/

Special Tribute to Japanese Earthquake in 2011

Here is my special tribute to all Japaneses who are suffering the loss thanks to the massive earthquake. Just finished it last night. It know easier said than done, but at least please let me encourage you guys.

I believe in your potential and strong spirit to recover from the severely-wounded pain. Please keep running. I’m watching you.

PS. Thanks my favourite artist ZARD (Izumi Sakai) for the song and Takehiko Inoue for the illustrations.

Nightmare

おはようございます!

Last night must be the worst Friday Night of all Japanese people. I presume myriad bodies has been staying awake the whole night, dealing with the effect of the disaster and being prepared for the upcoming aftershock. More corpses were found and the number is seemingly increasing.

Hope nothing go worse and also believe Japan will be quickly recovered from the severe wound. Even though Japan is not my homeland, yet I love this beautiful country and their people. The trip to Japan with my family last April impressed me a lot and it remains fresh in my mind. I will pray for the better tomorrow!

In this connection, I would like to give this song for all Japaneses are are facing the hard time. Please don’t give up!

Traces of rampage

With the camera left in the drawer at the office the day just before I couldn’t come out to work thanks to the civil unrest, I shot some pictures of after-storm Bangkok portraying the outcome of non-violent rally as the red shirts bragged.

Siam Theater was completely burnt out.

Crowd came to take photos.

The dead Siam Theatre

Encouraging banner in front of Central World

The enormous shopping complex was badly wounded.

The trace of bullet attack

Wild Bangkok

The long-lasting political deadlock in Thailand brings load of effects to our life. We pay more for transportation, spend more time to travel between office and home, or fortunately (or unfortunately) don’t have to work. The situation seemed to get worse last night. Today should have been my non-working day but I had to accompany my boss to the conference in Muang Thong Thani. I may sound no exciting to you; however, what if I had to go to pick him up on Wireless Road?

There was nothing till the van was going to move up on the bridge. The group of red-shirted guards [I presumed.] glanced into the vehicle. They let us pass. I lifted up the mobile to photograph but it was blurred because of the crappy phone camera. Grrr! Wireless Road was not accessible from the regular entrance. We had to go through narrow alley, and finally completed our mission in the morning.

Seeing off my boss at home was such an exciting experience. At that time, the Wireless Road was a no-go area, but we couldn’t elude. Having got off from the express way, I saw a big group of motorcycles stopped and starred at something. It must be something wrong. I noticed the dark smoke folding up from the middle of the bridge. I was shocked and a bit scared. We had to take another way, but again it was blocked by the truck, still we eventually got on the Wireless Road, anyway. The diplomatic was street eerily quite, and the while line looked spooky. No people, no car but a few red-shirted protesters standing in front of their fierce bamboo fence. It was definitely a war zone.

It was such a relief once I was already away from the centre of Bangkok. It is now a  very dangerous locale to be.

Endless chaos

Before reading this entry, please be noted that I am not red, yellow, blue, pink, or whatever. I am color-blind.

I consider myself the one who pays little attention to politics. Catching such news is unavoidable as it involves with my current job and our lives. At this point, I feel terribly bored with the endless political chaos in Thailand.

The red-shirted movement kicked off about a few weeks ago, and it has been going on while I am typing this piece of writing. It was originally boasted to be a non-violence demonstration, yet I do not see it is what they declared after all–seizing Phan Fha Intersection and the whole Rajdamnoen Avenue, splashing the blood in front of the Government House of Thailand, bombing, and marching around Bangkok on weekends. Two negotiations between red-shirted leaders and the government failed. If the third time could be made, please do not televise it. I bet it would give the same outcome, and it wastes our valuable time for soap opera and sitcom. Oh, we need to say thanks for this negotiation, for it invented a new trendy vocab—Weng: a blockhead.

Yesterday, the red shirts declared a war against people in pink who start anti-violence campaign. So pink is considered harmful. What is the next color to be prohibited? The red shirt still went ahead to the US Embassy in order to pass the letter to Hillary Rodham Clinton, hoping to ask help from the US. Sorry man, I don’t think US has time to aid us since they are currently striving for their Health Care Reform.

Today, the situation is even worse when the red shirts hold Ratprasong Intersection resulting the neighboring shopping malls and shops closed. It is estimated that the total financial damage is 200 Million Baht, more or less.

I don’t say they have no right to protest for the true democracy as you bragged. (We all know you do this for your proud boss who sipping a cup of joe while enjoying the riot from monitor.) However, please do not bring any trouble to us. What you are doing now is just similar to what the yellow did last year at the airport. You are ruining the economy.

If the red shirts achieve their goal, the yellow will be back. How on earth could we escape from the vicious circle?

Face mask

Because of the quick spread of the influenza, my colleagues and me are given out a face mask to protect ourselves.

Here are the facts about face mask taken from Bangkokpost.

Face mask facts
– Face masks help prevent the spread of droplets by the person wearing them.
– They keep splashed or sprays from reaching the mouth and nose of the person wearing them.
– They are not designed to protect you against breathing in very small particles.
– Consider wearing a face mask as if:
– You are sick with the flu and think you might come in close contact with other people.
– You live with someone who has the flu and you need to be in a crowded place.
– You are wll but need to be in a crowded place.
– You are caring for flu patients.

Now, Bangkokpost reports that schools and nurseries in Bangkok are ordered to close at least five days. Even worst, the death toll now rises to 24. That means three more persons died today.

H1N1

Honestly, I have never realized about the harm of the H1N1 influenza till it is around the corner. We always see the news on the first page of the newspaper, and, yes, I am willing to bet several people ignore it. Now, the situation is starting to change.

It was yesterday that I started to feel scared by a quick spread of the deadly flu. I saw the death toll is on the up, and it is likely to continue rising up. The H1N1 flu cases is emerging daily. The aH1N1 alone is dreadful enough, and it becomes more fatal once it is mixed with congenital disease.

To prevent the disease, the crime schools are asked to shut for 15 days. Plus, all concerts might be canceled or postponed. But what I think is why the GOV is trying to cover the news. It is better to warn people so that they can be aware of it and protect themselves in time. Or they need to wait till half of Thais get infected before they consider  it is a time to take a serious action?

Thus, my plan going to AF live concert seems to be cracked. (Still don’t know if concert is allowed this week.)

So now, what we can do is wear a mask once we are in a crowded area. Good luck!

Imeem

Imeem is the huge online music station which users can upload and and share their files on the cloud. The website usually tops the list when one is thinking of putting a song on hi5 or anywhere else. Recently, it seems to be on the down as lots of people are sick of its idiot feature.

Linking the song or playlist from Imeem, users will find out their songs are automatically shorten to 30 seconds. Full song will be played only if you click to listen on their website.

Imeem also earns money from our uploaded tunes, allowing customers download them as a ringtone and they will be charged.

Once I don’t get the service, whereas the company takes advantage of my songs, I then erased every single song that I uploaded with no hesitation. Good-bye!

Bloodshed Songkran

Falling in the forth month of a calendar, Songkran festival should have been the time most people enjoy splashing water or stay with family and relatives. However, the first day of the festival truned into the war in the heart of Bangkok. Yes, I’m talking about the red-shirt who happened to come protesting and destroy such a special time and the ASIAN Summit Meeting.

Receiving the makes us updated all the time but too much will make us crazy. I admit that I like to hear the news, the news about the red-shirt always came into my ears all the time as my dad always turned on TV for this news and criticized. Honestly, I felt nauseate because of it. Really wished to turn it off suddenly (if I could).

Well, what surprised me most is the government was able to bring the normality back earlier than I thought. The red-shirt moved back and finally ended its protest. Cool! After the crazy things had gone, Songkran festival seemed to be reborn as a great crowds came out to splash water as it should be. Yahoo! The city became lively again. Thanks.

As for me during the festival, my parents and I went to my father’s hometown as always so as to visit our relatives out there. We also had a n opportunity to do Rod Nam Dam Hua ceremony (the ceremony that you pour the water on the elders’ hands and bless them) altogether with the agnate (15-16 people including me) Don’t forget that Songkran thing is not only splashing water but also the time for you and your family. 😉