1. As flexible as nylon, more robust than steel, an artificial spider silk called QMONOS (kumo-no-su being Japanese for spider web) is apparently poised for mass production in everything from super lightweight bulletproof vests to automobiles.
http://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2013/05/28/spiber_n_3350116.html
According to the article, this unique silk is so strong that it could snag a jumbo jet in mid-flight.
“Spiber claims its spiderweb is not only seven times tougher than aramid fibres, which are used for bullet-proof vests, but weighs just one-sixth that of steel and 40 per cent less than carbon-fibre. The company says its product will “go close” to reproducing those qualities.” (http://www.motoring.com.au/news/2014/cars-from-cobwebs-46595)
I, for one, would love a spider silk suit – but don’t see one on the company website. I do, however, see this fetching blue cocktail dress. Maybe perfect for Akemi when her birthday rolls around next April – by which point I’m sure the price will have come down considerably.
http://www.spiber.jp/en/about/
2. According to Akemi, sumo wrestlers consume one enormous meal a day. This starve-binge schedule accounts for their enormous weight.
In retrospect, however, Akemi isn’t sure this is true and suspects it may just be a story she heard from her grandmother.
3. Scientists in Japan are creating noodles out of wood! Well, close. They’re using cellulose – which is not all that new. We’ve been enjoying its high-fibre, low-cal benefits for years now:
http://nowiknow.com/pulp-fact/
What’s interesting about the Japanese noodles is that they’re composed entirely of cellulose, making them calorie (and flavor) free!
4. According to Akemi, if you dream about Mount Fuji, two eagles, and three eggplants on New Year’s Eve, you’ll have a great year. Apparently, those details are set in stone so you can’t be dreaming about Mount Kilimanjaro or three kumquats or even two eggplants and still expect to have a great year. When I questioned her about this, she insisted: “It’s common sense.” I tried to explain to her that “common sense” assumes the application of simple logic – in this case, to a causal relationship. i.e. – If you set fire to a book, it will burn. But she remained adamant. “If you ask ninety percent of Japanese people, ninety-nine point nine percent will know this. It’s common sense!”
We’re barreling through Fall and heading straight toward Winter. What happened to 2014?!
P.S. Tomorrow IS the day. Finally. An official announcement on my new series will be made.
I’m hoping.
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