The Book of Five Rings The Book of Five Rings (五輪書, Go Rin No Sho?) is a text on kenjutsu and the martial arts in general, written by the swordsman Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645. There have been various translations made over the years, and it enjoys an audience considerably broader than only that of martial artists: for instance, some business leaders find its discussion of conflict and taking the advantage to be relevant to their work. Musashi establishes a "no-nonsense" theme throughout the text. Musashi describes and advocates a two-sword style (nitōjutsu): that is, wielding both katana and wakizashi, contrary to the more traditional method of wielding the katana two-handed. The five books[edit] Although it is difficult to grasp it from the book, Go Rin No Sho, these books are actually the teachings which Musashi preached to his students in his own dōjō. The term "Ichi School" is referred to in the book, Go Rin No Sho. The Book of Earth[1][edit] In The Book of Five Rings he writes on timing: See also[edit]
Samurai Samurai around the 1860s Samurai (侍?), usually referred to in Japanese as bushi (武士? By the end of the 12th century, samurai became almost entirely synonymous with bushi, and the word was closely associated with the middle and upper echelons of the warrior class. History Asuka and Nara periods Following the Battle of Hakusukinoe against Tang China and Silla in 663 AD that led to a Japanese retreat from Korean affairs, Japan underwent widespread reform. The Taihō Code classified most of the Imperial bureaucrats into 12 ranks, each divided into two sub-ranks, 1st rank being the highest adviser to the Emperor. Heian period In the early Heian period, the late 8th and early 9th centuries, Emperor Kammu sought to consolidate and expand his rule in northern Honshū, but the armies he sent to conquer the rebellious Emishi people lacked motivation and discipline, and failed in their task. Ultimately, Emperor Kammu disbanded his army. Kamakura Bakufu and the rise of samurai Ashikaga Shogunate
MIT discovers the location of memories: Individual neurons Update 12/2/15: We've now followed up on this story: The more we learn about memory, the weirder it gets. The original continues below. MIT researchers have shown, for the first time ever, that memories are stored in specific brain cells. As you can imagine, the trick here is activating individual neurons, which are incredibly small and not really the kind of thing you can attach electrodes to. Now, just to temper your excitement, we should note that MIT's subjects in this case are mice -- but it's very, very likely that the human brain functions in the same way. In the experiment, MIT gave mice an electric shock to create a fear memory in the hippocampus region of the brain (pictured above) -- and then later, using laser light, activated the neurons where the memory was stored. The main significance here is that we finally have proof that memories (engrams(Opens in a new window), in neuropsychology speak) are physical rather than conceptual.
Seppuku Illustration from Sketches of Japanese Manners and Customs, by J. M. W. Seppuku with ritual attire and second (staged) Samurai about to perform seppuku Seppuku (切腹? Vocabulary and etymology[edit] Seppuku is also known as harakiri (腹切り, "cutting the belly"),[3] a term more widely familiar outside Japan, and which is written with the same kanji as seppuku, but in reverse order with an okurigana. "It is commonly pointed out that hara-kiri is a vulgarism, but this is a misunderstanding. The practice of committing seppuku at the death of one's master, known as oibara (追腹 or 追い腹, the kun'yomi or Japanese reading) or tsuifuku (追腹, the on'yomi or Chinese reading), follows a similar ritual. The word jigai (自害?) Overview[edit] A tantō prepared for seppuku Ritual[edit] In time, carrying out seppuku came to involve a detailed ritual. General Akashi Gidayu preparing to carry out Seppuku after losing a battle for his master in 1582. The second was usually, but not always, a friend. History[edit]
Richard III (play) Richard III is a historical play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1592. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England.[1] The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified as such. Occasionally, however, as in the quarto edition, it is termed a tragedy. Richard III concludes Shakespeare's first tetralogy (also containing Henry VI parts 1–3). It is the second longest play in the canon after Hamlet, and is the longest of the First Folio, whose version of Hamlet is shorter than its Quarto counterpart. The play is rarely performed unabridged; often, certain peripheral characters are removed entirely. The play begins with Richard standing in "a street," describing the accession to the throne of his brother, King Edward IV of England, eldest son of the late Richard, Duke of York. Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York;
Bushido Japanese samurai in armour, 1860s. Photograph by Felice Beato Bushidō (武士道?), literally "samurai's way", is a Japanese word for the way of the samurai life, loosely analogous to the concept of chivalry. Bushido, a modern term rather than a historical one, originates from the samurai moral values, most commonly stressing some combination of frugality, loyalty, martial arts mastery, and honor unto death. Under the Tokugawa Shogunate, some aspects of warrior values became formalized into Japanese feudal law.[2] The word was first used in Japan during the 17th century.[3] It came into common usage in Japan and the West after the 1899 publication of Nitobe Inazō's Bushido: The Soul of Japan.[4] In Bushido (1899), Nitobe wrote: ...Bushidō, then, is the code of moral principles which the samurai were required or instructed to observe.... Nitobe was not the first person to document Japanese chivalry in this way. Historical development[edit] Early history to 11th century[edit] Tenets[edit]
Music theory Music theory considers the practices and possibilities of music. It is generally derived from observation of how musicians and composers actually make music, but includes hypothetical speculation. Most commonly, the term describes the academic study and analysis of fundamental elements of music such as pitch, rhythm, harmony, and form, but also refers to descriptions, concepts, or beliefs related to music. Because of the ever-expanding conception of what constitutes music (see Definition of music), a more inclusive definition could be that music theory is the consideration of any sonic phenomena, including silence, as it relates to music. Music theory is a subfield of musicology, which is itself a subfield within the overarching field of the arts and humanities. The development, preservation, and transmission of music theory may be found in oral and practical music-making traditions, musical instruments, and other artifacts. History of music theory[edit] Fundamentals of music[edit] Play .
Hopi Prophecy The end of all Hopi ceremonialism will come when a "Kachina" removes his mask during a dance in the plaza before uninitiated children [the general public]. For a while there will be no more ceremonies, no more faith. Then Oraibi will be rejuvenated with its faith and ceremonies, marking the start of a new cycle of Hopi life. World War III will be started by those peoples who first revealed the light (the divine wisdom or intelligence) in the other old countries (India, China, Islamic Nations, Africa.) The United States will be destroyed, land and people, by atomic bombs and radioactivity. The war will be "a spiritual conflict with material matters. That time is not far off. The Emergence to the future Fifth World has begun. The Hopi and others who were saved from the Great Flood made a sacred covenant with the Great Spirit never to turn away from him. "It is well done. The Great Chieftain of the Bow Clan led the faithful ones to this new land, but he fell into evil ways.
Romeo and Juliet An 1870 oil painting by Ford Madox Brown depicting Romeo and Juliet's famous balcony scene Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed plays. Today, the title characters are regarded as archetypal young lovers. Shakespeare's use of his poetic dramatic structure, especially effects such as switching between comedy and tragedy to heighten tension, his expansion of minor characters, and his use of sub-plots to embellish the story, has been praised as an early sign of his dramatic skill. The play ascribes different poetic forms to different characters, sometimes changing the form as the character develops. Characters Synopsis Meanwhile, Benvolio talks with his cousin Romeo, Montague's son, about Romeo's recent depression. Sources
Minimalisme: décryptage d’un courant artistique incompris Notre environnement visuel est envahi par l’esthétique minimaliste, que ce soit dans la mode vestimentaire, l’architecture ou le design. Les magazines déco ou multimedia déploient ce modèle de sobriété et de classe. Est-ce un nouvel idéal de beauté, un goût spécifique de l’époque moderne pour l’élégance-ikéa, la branchitude du design scandinave, l’ergonomie et le chic épuré des produits Apple? Le minimalisme, entre formalisme et réflexion théorique Une esthétique minimaliste Sonia Delaunay Manteau pour Gloria Swanson, 1924 Broderie de laine, Collection particulière Il y a sans conteste une esthétique propre à ce courant. Maison Martin Margiela, 2011 Le créateur Martin Margiela redéfinit les courbes du corps humain pour en faire des solides géométriques à l’allure futuriste. Le minimalisme et la couleur : définir les codes de l’élégance Malévitch, Carré noir sur fond blanc,1915, huile sur toile, 79,5 cm × 79,5 cm, Moscou, Galerie Tretiakov Le minimalisme, c’est chic. Mylène Palluel
Ce que pensent les internautes de ce que pense Stallman sur le Cloud Computing Lorsque Richard Stallman s’exprime, il ne laisse généralement pas la Toile indifférente. Ce qui se comprend aisément puisque, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Google…, il critique ouvertement et radicalement ce que tout le monde ou presque utilise au quotidien. Son récent avis sur le Cloud Computing en général et Google Chrome OS en particulier dans un article du Guardian que nous venons de traduire ne déroge pas à la règle[1] Jusqu’à donner l’idée à Katherine Noyes de compiler quelques interventions lues dans les commentaires de l’article ainsi que sur le célèbre site Slashdot. Avec ce terrible constat qui ouvre le billet et que je retourne en question aux lecteurs du Framablog : Pensez-vous que Stallman a perdu ? Déluge de critiques de Stallman sur le Cloud : Prudence ou Paranoïa ? Stallman’s Cloudburst: Prudence or Paranoia? Katherine Noyes - 20 décembre 2010 - E-Commerce TimesTraduction Framalang : Olivier Rosseler) « Il a complétement raison » Puis il y a aussi ceux qui partagent ses idées.