some thoughts on what is going on these days

What one person thinks is a waste of time for someone, can actually be productive time for someone else.
What is good for someone else can be something bad for yourself.

Brings me to the next question, is there really a bad and good view of things/items/relations..? Or is it just a mind thing and up to you or your morals/upbringing to decipher which you want to place it in - the good box or the bad box...

What do you think?

what will become of The Hobbit...

After reading The Hobbit and  Lord of the Rings 1, 2 and 3 within two months, I have become a real fan and couldn't get enough of it. I loved the stories and can't wait for The Hobbit to come out!

However, after reading about Sir Peter Jackson's latest news, I couldn't believe it... It is said that JRR Tolkien suffered from a perforated ulcer before dying in 1973... Let's hope that Sir Peter recovers and doesn't die! 
http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/4589305/Peter-Jackson-stomach-ulcer-scare

I really hope his stomach and his health recovers! For his family as well as for his fans that are so much looking forward to watching the movie!

Feb 14th is the official day that they will start shooting in NZ! The long and short of it, is yet to come....

thoughts for the time being in Tokyo

Tokyo Tower and the mysterious NOA building in Kamiyacho

These days, there is so much social networking going on - which is kind of ironic when you think its not really that "social". In fact, I would refer to it as being anti-social as it really doesn't contain any spoken language, just thoughts going through your fingers to the keyboard. Perhaps that is the way how things will eventually go, we will internally send our thoughts out without speaking.. like animals, plants and other beings..

Social networking (mainly, Facebook, twitter, mixi), seem to be where its at these days and if you aren't a part of it (especially when one lives in a city), then you can be made to feel like you are being left behind. Of course if you are not interested in any of the trends in technology and keeping up with fads, then you may be closing the door on more than just social networking, but how the future will be determined. They say that the young will determine our future, and if the young are so based on what is going on now, then it would seem obvious that things will continue to increase being more technologically based than before.

I love technology and what it can bring, however, I do appreciate life without it. Never really miss my cellphone or email if I don't get a chance to view it when I go on holiday. I find that the world still goes on without me having to look into the technological gadget or device... It's like the world has gone back to the 80's again...

Well, that's about my thoughts for this evening... Another chilly night in Tokyo at 2 degrees.. bring on Spring! Official day in Japan is Feb 4!

2011 - start of a new year - INSPIRATION

Thought I would start this year's blog post on something a little bit inspirational that was sent to me recently.. Felt like it just hit the spot on this particular day...
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Happy new 2011! Let's make the most of a brand new year!


Our brain has evolved over time to recognize patterns and to try and
predict what’s going to happen next from those patterns. We are
hard-wired to search for predictability and security. You are so
attuned to recognizing patterns that you your entire life is suffused
with your destiny. Your lived purpose leaves footprints everywhere
across the landscape of your experiences. You just need to focus, to
open up your perception and let the pattern uncover itself.

Put aside your expectations and replace them with a neutral
anticipation and childlike curiosity
Put aside your judgments of good and bad and dwell in gratitude with
what is real
Put aside beliefs and imprints from others and claim the beliefs that
are authentic to your heart, soul, and experience
Put aside your doubts and see your talents and gifts—emotionally,
physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially.
Put aside the constant whir of your life for the stillness and
intuitive sensitivity of your consciousness
In this way, the pattern of your destiny and the direction of your
purpose will stand in this present moment and through every moment of
your life just as the pull of the current shapes the form of a river.
As you sense that pull of destiny, capture it in words that will stir
your passion for life and inspire others as well

hot days in the city

Thought I would write in here and update my blog. Been a while but will try and discipline myself and write..

However, for now, just wanted to let you know that I will be updating the site soon! Stay tuned!!

made by kiwis and for the world :-)

a cool budget software. it's really great and easy to use!
check it out here..  https://my.pocketsmith.com/r/cheersmate

lucina - awesome vegan chocolate in daikanyama

Gotta check this chocolate out! It is out of this world, and good for you!!

http://www.lucina-livefruitfully.blogspot.com/

delicisssss!!

additives list - handy

Happy new year! A brand new year and we start from zero, so can only go up and up :-)

I hope this finds you well and look forward to trying to update my blog a bit more.

Found this interesting and easy list of additives and preservatives. Most scary about MSG

and how it can also be known as "yeast extract"! What the heck.. how are we supposed

to know the difference between yeast extract and MSG now... Things are getting even more

and more vague...

If you're reading this, you are probably an astute label reader already. Even so some of the numbers and names on ingredient lists are near impossible to decipher. Thanks to the Safe Food Campaign of New Zealand, here is an excellent easy to follow list of food additives to avoid.

The following additives may cause health problems such as allergies, asthma, hyperactivity, birth defects and cancer.

Keep in mind:

• Ill effects are linked to many of these additives in human trials and animal tests.
• Additives are not required to be tested in real-life cocktails in which we eat them.
• Doses allowed do not take into account a child’s greater intake for their body weight.
• Research on addictive aspartame and MSG associates them with potential brain damage and effects ranging from mild and transitory to debilitating or life-threatening.

Colours

102 tartrazine 104 quinoline yellow 110 sunset yellow 122 azorubine, carmoisine 123 amaranth 124 ponceau, brilliant scarlet 127 erythrosine 129 allura red 132 indigotine, indigo carmine 133 brilliant blue 142 green S, food green, acid brilliant green 151 brilliant black 155 brown, chocolate brown 160b annatto, bixin, norbixin 173 aluminium

Antioxidants

310-312 all gallates 319 TBHQ 320 butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) 321 butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)

Flavours

Approx 3000 permitted, untested and unregulated. Artificial and natural are both suspect. Some may contain MSG (621) or free glutamate. ‘…flavouring’ implies artificial, ‘flavoured with …’ implies natural.

Flavour enhancers

620-625 glutamic acid and all glutamates, incl. 621 monosodium glutamate (MSG) which may be disguised as hydrolysed protein, yeast extract, sodium or calcium caseinate. See www.truthinlabeling.com 627 disodium guanylate 631 disodium inosinate 635 ribonucleotides

Preservatives

200-203 sorbic acid, potassium & calcium sorbates 210-213 benzoic acid, sodium, potassium & calcium benzoates 220-228 sulphur dioxide, all sulphites, bisulphites, metabisulphites 249-252 all nitrates & nitrites 280-283 propionic acid, sodium, potassium & calcium propionates

Artificial sweeteners

950 acesulphame potassium 951 aspartame 952 sodium or calcium cyclamate 954 saccharin 955 sucralose 961 neotame Safe Food Campaign Inc PO Box 9206 Wellington 6141 Ph (04) 476 8607 www.safefood.org.nz