Saturday, July 31, 2021

Day 3266: Much deeper.

 


 

"Bess": photography, junk mail collage, digital.

 

 



Want music?




Click here for Ryan Toby, Oh Happy Day!
then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?
 
 
 
 
 
Olympic Update 
 

Medalists' bouquets hold deeper meaning for Japan


 

Of course, an Olympic medal has significance. But the bouquet of flowers that every medal winner is being handed at the Tokyo Olympics has deeper meaning. Much deeper.

The sunflowers and all the other flowers in the bouquet were grown in the three northeastern Japanese prefectures that were devastated by the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and the subsequent meltdown of three nuclear reactors.

About 18,000 people died in the catastrophe that hit the prefectures of Iwate, Fukushima and Miyagi. The recovery is still ongoing from that day — March 11, 2011.

Organizers had hoped the Olympics would promote the area. But the pandemic changed much of that and put the focus, instead, on the postponement and running off the Games during a global health crisis. In fact, some residents of the area complained that holding the Olympics distracted time and resources from the recovery.

In Fukushima, a nonprofit organization was set up to grow flowers, hoping to lift area spirits. Many of the blooms were raised on vacated agricultural land that was abandoned when fruit and vegetable sales plummeted from the area.

In Miyagi, parents who lost children in the disaster planted sunflowers on the hill where their children sought refuge from the tsunami. The act of remembrance has also been told in a children's book.

Iwate is known for producing gentians, a blue-indigo flower that is the same shade of color as that used in the Olympic and Paralympic emblems.

The 5,000 bouquets were arranged for both the Olympics and Paralympics — they open on Aug 24 —by the Nippon Flower Council.


 





 
 

 
•  A fun 11-minute video, more shadeballs, here.


 
 
Just because ...
 
 
Asian Fairy Bluebird

 

  
                     

Smiles for Saturday ...
 
 
 



 

 
 
 


 

 




                                                               Thanks for coming by today.

 

Friday, July 30, 2021

Day 3265: Olympic marathon.

 


"just average": junk mail collage.

 

 



Want music?




Click here for Booker T. Jones, Green Onions.
then click back on this blog tab or here to listen as you browse, or not?
 
 
 

 

Update - Day 5

 


Except for a physical therapy appointment in the late morning, the Olympic Sloth has watched just about everything. Here's a sample.

I was fascinated with the kayak slalom, K1 & K5. For someone who is claustrophobic, to have my legs enclosed, and to turn upside down in turbulent waters is impossible but fun to watch.
In surfing, the  hurricane provided bigger waves.
 
Then just miles away, golf.


Have you ever watched rugby? Crazy rough!

Game never stops, no padding, practically no rules!

Swiming & Katie Ludeckie are still going strong.

  
 Erica Sullivan & Katie  


  

  

Also going on, daily ... badminton.

and archery ...


and, boxing ...


and, basketball ...

and, soccer ...


and, sailing ...


and, men's gymnastics ...

17 year old, Hashimoto, Daiki, Japan
and, of course, women's gymnastics ...


Jordan Chiles



The eyes have had a workout.




 

 
 

•  A fascinating 12-minute video, shadeballs, here.


 
 
Just because ...
 
 
Two-banded Courser

 
 
  
                     

Smiles for Friday ...
 
 
 


 
 


 
 


 
 








                                                               Thanks for coming by today.