Category: Travelogue International!

1986: Video of Me Attending a Shukokai ‘Karate-Do’ Course! (7.9.2023)

Hereford is the place where the (professional) 22nd Special Air Service (SAS) has its military base and airfield. Many men in this area either have been in the British Army – or are members of the ‘V’ (‘Volunteer’) Squadron of the SAS. This is a ‘Territorial Army’ (TA) Unit in the 22nd SAS that allows local men to try ‘Selection’ and if successful – join this highly elite group of men. Believe or not – there are individuals out there who are not in the British Army (and have never been in the military) and yet are physically and psychologically tough enough to meet this challenge!

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Laos Buddhist Socialist Republic: Laos-British Ministry of Foreign Affairs Strengthen Cooperation! (5.9.2023)

In this meeting, the two sides appreciated the friendship and good cooperation between the Laos PDR and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland throughout the past period, and expressed a determination for this interaction to continue and grow in support one other. The two sides discussed various aspects of cooperation, such as politics, trade-investment and British aid projects in Laos, such as the Unexploded Ordnance Clearance Project (leftover from the US aggression in the region), the Biodiverse Landscape Fund (BLF), the Youth Empowerment Project (Lone Buffalo), the Health Sector Cooperation Project (Fleming Fund) – whilst the NHS is cut in the UK – and others. In addition, the two sides also exchanged opinions on the ASEAN-UK Cooperation Framework, and the Laos ASEAN chairmanship in 2024 and some outstanding situations that both sides are interested in.

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China: Gansu Buddhist ‘Smile of the Orient’ Said to Equal That of the ‘Mona Lisa’! (5.9.2023)

The early Buddhist groups in China mirrored that of the extant Confucian scholiastic system – often forming around married laymen – with disciples taking the surname of the teacher as their ‘Dharma-Name’ and essentially becoming an extension of his family. Grottoes such as that featured below were places where Buddhists could meet, share and practice their understanding of Indian Buddhist philosophy. An understanding of Buddhist monasticism started to arrive and distinguish itself in China from the existing lay-practice around the 5th century CE – the date I believe this ‘smiling’ monk appears to date from. Whereas Buddhist lay-practitioners did not shave their heads (like Daoists and Confucians) – monastic Buddhists (male and female) were required to shave their heads – indicative of their ‘rejecting’ of the desire-laden conventions that define, guide and justify the external world.

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Ruckersville [2009]: Chris Chan Is Working On It! (4.9.2023)

Interestingly, Robert Chandler (a US Army Veteran who fought in Korea) – was a very successful engineer in his civilian life – whose many different patents also contributed to the development of the 3-D Printer! Apparently, the family made a comfortable living from these patents whilst Robert was alive and it is something of a mystery as to ‘why’ this income never continued to help Chris and Barbara after his death in 2011. Furthermore, although Chris suffers from Autism – he made an attempt to keep his bedroom relatively free of the clutter that dominated the rest of the living space. Robert Chandler is well aware of the reality (and ‘danger’) of ‘hoarding’ – and explains this to Chris whilst not realising the camera is still running and whilst assuming that the internet is situated in a specific location somewhere in the outer world! He is referred to as the ‘Lumberjack’ – as he once implied he could ‘cut-down’ the internet!

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China: Japan Urged to Draw Lessons from 1923 Kanto Massacre! (4.9.2023)

Nearly 800 Chinese residents and more than 6,000 Korean residents in Japan fell victim to the Kanto Massacre orchestrated by Japanese military, law enforcement and nationalist extremists, according to research data.

Also on Saturday, civic groups rallied in front of the National Diet Building in Tokyo. Guest speakers said justice must be served and urged the Japanese government to recognize this historical event, compensate the victims’ families and learn from past mistakes.

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China Manned Space Agency (CMSA): Names Sought for Manned Lunar Exploration Vehicles! (1.9.2023)

According to an earlier report, China plans to land its taikonauts on the moon before 2030 to carry out scientific exploration. The plan is to launch two carrier rockets to send a lunar lander and a manned spacecraft, respectively, to a lunar orbit. The craft and lunar lander will rendezvous and dock with each other, and then taikonauts will enter the lander.

The names solicitation process is open to the public and will run until September 30. It is aimed at those who are enthusiastic about China’s manned space program, said the CMSA.

Also on Thursday, the CMSA began to solicit logos for four missions of China’s manned space program in 2024, including the launches of the cargo crafts Tianzhou-7 and Tianzhou-8, and the crewed spaceships Shenzhou-18 and Shenzhou-19.

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