Cleanliness has long been next to godliness for the hygiene-conscious Japanese, but fortune-tellers are now advising those who want to succeed in life to start by scrubbing the smallest room.
"Cleaning the toilet to attract luck" published this month is the latest in a series of books advising readers on how to attract good fortune using a brush and an array of cleaning fluids.
"Don't just wipe the floor, polish it," the book instructs. "It's important to maintain a positive mood while cleaning."
The books are inspired by Buddhist teachings and feng shui, a traditional Chinese belief that people's fortunes are determined by their surroundings.
The idea that Lady Luck may be hiding in the lavatory has been taken up by magazines and television programs.
"I won the lottery! I married my ideal person! I got pregnant!" read some of the claims on the cover of another book on the topic, published last year.
The idea that a clean toilet can bring good fortune, or even make you more beautiful, has existed in Japan for many years, according to Yuka Soma of Makino Publishing in Tokyo, editor of one of the toilet books.
But she is still waiting for a big stroke of luck.
"I've always cleaned my toilet every day, so it never really gets dirty," she said. "At least it's easy that way and it probably helps keep my family healthy," she said.
Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited.
Showing posts with label Fun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fun. Show all posts
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Baby finds $1,300 in 25 cent book
Rhiannon Barnes is a shy 15-month-old.
She doesn’t speak much except to her pet German Shepherd Callie or to say hello or thank you to everyone else. And like others her age, she enjoys playing with uncomplicated objects like boxes, balls, and books.
Still, there is something about this blue-eyed toddler. She is either prophetic or lucky, says her mother.
Two weeks ago, Rhiannon discovered about $1,300 in cash between the pages of a used book her baby-sitter Sheila Laughridge purchased for 25 cents at the Goodwill Store in Stockbridge.
“I was just bored that day, and we rode up there,” said Laughridge, whom Rhiannon affectionately calls Nanna. “We started walking around (the store), and she saw the book and started to pitch a fit.”
She said she only decided to buy the book because of Rhiannon’s insistence to have it. It is an old white hardback book, distinguished only by a sailboat on the cover.
“It’s not even a readable book,” Laughridge said, adding that Rhiannon held the book the entire day.
And later as Rhiannon flipped through the pages, the toddler found a small brown paper bag tucked inside the folds of the book.
“It kind of scared me, because I didn’t have any idea what it was,” Laughridge said. But the bag’s contents included much more good fortune than bad. She found several torn and tattered dollar bills — $100s, $50s, $20s, and $10s.
She took the money, dated as far back as to the 1960s, to a local bank and attempted to run the serial numbers but says she could not trace where the money originated.
Laughridge, who bought the book, received about $300 cash back from only the tattered bills she took to the bank. She said the rest of the $1,300 were in pieces and will be sent to the U.S. Treasury Department.
“I was shocked,” said Shirley Barnes, upon finding out her daughter Rhiannon’s discovery. “I thought it was really interesting. I don’t often take her to the store to do that. She points and screams for things she wants, but she’s generally pretty quiet.”
Barnes added, half-joking: “What I want to do is put pieces of paper with number on them out on the table and have her pick them so that maybe we can win the lottery.”
http://www.henryherald.com/
Canada phone cards India phone cards France phone cards Russia phone cards UK phone cards USA phone cards Bizon phone card Jupiter calling card Mozart calling card Continental calling card
She doesn’t speak much except to her pet German Shepherd Callie or to say hello or thank you to everyone else. And like others her age, she enjoys playing with uncomplicated objects like boxes, balls, and books.
Still, there is something about this blue-eyed toddler. She is either prophetic or lucky, says her mother.
Two weeks ago, Rhiannon discovered about $1,300 in cash between the pages of a used book her baby-sitter Sheila Laughridge purchased for 25 cents at the Goodwill Store in Stockbridge.
“I was just bored that day, and we rode up there,” said Laughridge, whom Rhiannon affectionately calls Nanna. “We started walking around (the store), and she saw the book and started to pitch a fit.”
She said she only decided to buy the book because of Rhiannon’s insistence to have it. It is an old white hardback book, distinguished only by a sailboat on the cover.
“It’s not even a readable book,” Laughridge said, adding that Rhiannon held the book the entire day.
And later as Rhiannon flipped through the pages, the toddler found a small brown paper bag tucked inside the folds of the book.
“It kind of scared me, because I didn’t have any idea what it was,” Laughridge said. But the bag’s contents included much more good fortune than bad. She found several torn and tattered dollar bills — $100s, $50s, $20s, and $10s.
She took the money, dated as far back as to the 1960s, to a local bank and attempted to run the serial numbers but says she could not trace where the money originated.
Laughridge, who bought the book, received about $300 cash back from only the tattered bills she took to the bank. She said the rest of the $1,300 were in pieces and will be sent to the U.S. Treasury Department.
“I was shocked,” said Shirley Barnes, upon finding out her daughter Rhiannon’s discovery. “I thought it was really interesting. I don’t often take her to the store to do that. She points and screams for things she wants, but she’s generally pretty quiet.”
Barnes added, half-joking: “What I want to do is put pieces of paper with number on them out on the table and have her pick them so that maybe we can win the lottery.”
http://www.henryherald.com/
Canada phone cards India phone cards France phone cards Russia phone cards UK phone cards USA phone cards Bizon phone card Jupiter calling card Mozart calling card Continental calling card
Monday, February 12, 2007
Mistake: Canadian Police Promotes Gangs!
TORONTO — The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have pulled online job recruitment advertisements that mistakenly appeared on websites with links to a prominent Los Angeles street gang.
Canada's renowned police force removed the ads after it learned the RCMP brand appeared alongside "inappropriate material that belonged to the 18th Street gang," Sgt. Martin Blais, a media spokesman for the Mounties in Ottawa, said Monday.
"It was extremely inappropriate — poor language, everything you can imagine," he said without providing further details.
The Mounties responded after being alerted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. late last week that its recruitment ads were running on Internet sites run by the notorious 18th Street gang, thought to be one of the largest and most violent gangs in the world.
On one message board, violent messages and death threats to gang rivals appeared as if they were endorsed by an RCMP logo that invited youths to apply to the force, the CBC reported.
At the top of another page on a different site, a banner ad of a smiling female Mountie showed up above a dedication to slain gang member "L'il Creeper," the CBC said.
Blais said the ads — which were supposed to target youths frequenting entertainment websites — were on the gang-related sites for about 46 hours and popped up about 62,000 times.
Although the Mounties made efforts to ensure the ads did not go on sites that contravene its "core values," the Internet company Lycos placed the ads by mistake, Blais said.
"We have strict values that we operate by and we want to make sure those values are reflected in the materials we're providing to the youth community," he said.
LATimes.Com
Canada's renowned police force removed the ads after it learned the RCMP brand appeared alongside "inappropriate material that belonged to the 18th Street gang," Sgt. Martin Blais, a media spokesman for the Mounties in Ottawa, said Monday.
"It was extremely inappropriate — poor language, everything you can imagine," he said without providing further details.
The Mounties responded after being alerted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. late last week that its recruitment ads were running on Internet sites run by the notorious 18th Street gang, thought to be one of the largest and most violent gangs in the world.
On one message board, violent messages and death threats to gang rivals appeared as if they were endorsed by an RCMP logo that invited youths to apply to the force, the CBC reported.
At the top of another page on a different site, a banner ad of a smiling female Mountie showed up above a dedication to slain gang member "L'il Creeper," the CBC said.
Blais said the ads — which were supposed to target youths frequenting entertainment websites — were on the gang-related sites for about 46 hours and popped up about 62,000 times.
Although the Mounties made efforts to ensure the ads did not go on sites that contravene its "core values," the Internet company Lycos placed the ads by mistake, Blais said.
"We have strict values that we operate by and we want to make sure those values are reflected in the materials we're providing to the youth community," he said.
LATimes.Com
Monday, May 22, 2006
Contraband Detector Device
The M600P is a hand held device which can positively detect anomalies packed in a scanned item, etc (including the detection of contraband such as drugs, explosives, weapons, currency and much more). This is a fast and effective way to detect contraband concealed in objects such as tires, cargo, doors, walls and any other object or substance that may contain contraband. The principle of operation for the M600P is the measurement of the difference in density between contraband (drugs, explosives, weapons etc.) and the object in which the contraband is hidden.
Contraband Detector Device
The M600P uses low level microwave energy for detection, yet is completely safe. Since it does not use x-rays or nuclear radiation, it is much safer than many other devices in use today. The portability makes it very convenient for rapid searching.
The M600P is a highly effective search tool, handheld and easy to use. The complete kit includes probe, earpiece, battery pack, full instructions and carrying case. Training is available.
Typical Operation The M600P is held in the hand with the opening placed against the material to be measured. The unit is turned on, producing a very Low-Level microwave signal that is absorbed in the test material and also reflected back into the M600P. The M600P compares the signal it produces with the reflected signal. The results are given both audibly and digitally on a meter on the rear panel of the M600P.
Technical Description The M600P Portable Dielectric Tester utilizes patented nearfield microwave technology to measure the dielectric properties of materials. This technology has made possible a very compact and easy to use instrument.
For materials which are the same throughout (homogeneous), a change in reading will indicate something is in there which should not be. This will give a reason to investigate further or to let it pass.
The depth of penetration for the M600P is about 4 ft. in air and is correspondingly less depending on the dielectric properties of the materials being tested. For example, for a bale of wool the depth is about 30" and for a water slurry 6".
Typical Search Scenarios:
In a shipment of asphalt or cement blocks, all will normally look the same. Hidden items will show up as differences from normal readings. Readings are taken from the same points from block to block. Frozen shrimp or fish blocks with items frozen in the center will give different readings from normal. Readings are taken from one or two points in the center of the block. Sealed bottles of wine, whiskey, or any drinkable fluid can be tested without opening. Water based fluids (drinkable), give a markedly different response than explosives or drugs. In a shipment of similar boxes of ceramic fixtures or other commercial items, boxes can be screened to find those which are different from normal. This can be done from outside the unopened box. Tires should be uniformly empty. A tire with drugs in it will show changes from normal. Many other search scenarios have been tried with success. Consult our security professionals.
Advanced Search Scenarios: A user can collect data about the known response of a particular product, and use that from search to search. For example, wine bottles of a known size will always read similarly. A sharply different reading in a new carry on bag would indicate a different substance. In the same way, asphalt blocks will always give the same response. A change should trigger a closer look.
Specifications
(specifications are tested using factory procedures at sensitivity setting of X1)
Operating Frequency 600-650 Mhz
Operating Wavelength 50 cm. (19.7")
Measured Parameter Coefficient of Reflection
Output Device Digital meter/audio
Output Power Less than 10 microwatt/sq. cm. @5cm.
Accuracy/Repeatability "+/- 5% DPM reading
Sensitivity Can display changes +/- 10ml
Response Time Less than 2.5 milliseconds
Safety Less than 1/100 of gov't safety level for microwave ovens (1mW/sq. cm @ 5cm)
Primary Power 12V battery pack; 120 or 220 VAC supply
Weight 4.5 lbs.
Contraband Detector Device
The M600P uses low level microwave energy for detection, yet is completely safe. Since it does not use x-rays or nuclear radiation, it is much safer than many other devices in use today. The portability makes it very convenient for rapid searching.
The M600P is a highly effective search tool, handheld and easy to use. The complete kit includes probe, earpiece, battery pack, full instructions and carrying case. Training is available.
Typical Operation The M600P is held in the hand with the opening placed against the material to be measured. The unit is turned on, producing a very Low-Level microwave signal that is absorbed in the test material and also reflected back into the M600P. The M600P compares the signal it produces with the reflected signal. The results are given both audibly and digitally on a meter on the rear panel of the M600P.
Technical Description The M600P Portable Dielectric Tester utilizes patented nearfield microwave technology to measure the dielectric properties of materials. This technology has made possible a very compact and easy to use instrument.
For materials which are the same throughout (homogeneous), a change in reading will indicate something is in there which should not be. This will give a reason to investigate further or to let it pass.
The depth of penetration for the M600P is about 4 ft. in air and is correspondingly less depending on the dielectric properties of the materials being tested. For example, for a bale of wool the depth is about 30" and for a water slurry 6".
Typical Search Scenarios:
In a shipment of asphalt or cement blocks, all will normally look the same. Hidden items will show up as differences from normal readings. Readings are taken from the same points from block to block. Frozen shrimp or fish blocks with items frozen in the center will give different readings from normal. Readings are taken from one or two points in the center of the block. Sealed bottles of wine, whiskey, or any drinkable fluid can be tested without opening. Water based fluids (drinkable), give a markedly different response than explosives or drugs. In a shipment of similar boxes of ceramic fixtures or other commercial items, boxes can be screened to find those which are different from normal. This can be done from outside the unopened box. Tires should be uniformly empty. A tire with drugs in it will show changes from normal. Many other search scenarios have been tried with success. Consult our security professionals.
Advanced Search Scenarios: A user can collect data about the known response of a particular product, and use that from search to search. For example, wine bottles of a known size will always read similarly. A sharply different reading in a new carry on bag would indicate a different substance. In the same way, asphalt blocks will always give the same response. A change should trigger a closer look.
Specifications
(specifications are tested using factory procedures at sensitivity setting of X1)
Operating Frequency 600-650 Mhz
Operating Wavelength 50 cm. (19.7")
Measured Parameter Coefficient of Reflection
Output Device Digital meter/audio
Output Power Less than 10 microwatt/sq. cm. @5cm.
Accuracy/Repeatability "+/- 5% DPM reading
Sensitivity Can display changes +/- 10ml
Response Time Less than 2.5 milliseconds
Safety Less than 1/100 of gov't safety level for microwave ovens (1mW/sq. cm @ 5cm)
Primary Power 12V battery pack; 120 or 220 VAC supply
Weight 4.5 lbs.
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