Is Aarhus, Denmark the Happiest City in the World?

The street toward Aarhus Cathedral

I am lucky to have opportunity to stay for a while in the Aarhus, Denmark as the happiest city in the world.

Yes, Denmark is the first rank of happiest country in the world for 2013 and 2014, and always top 10 after those years.

Some reasons why Denmark is considered as the happiest country are:

- a strong civil society

- a well-functioning democracy

- a high degree of security,

- trust

- freedom

- prosperity

- good working conditions  

- balance of life

One of Aarhus city corners

The happy rank is based on survey conducted by several institutions included:

- the United Nations World Happiness Report

- Gallup survey

- the World Values Survey

- the European Social Survey.

- the Happiness Research Institute.

The Aarhus University park

If we ask Danish, why are they happy? The simple answer that are:

- nice to neighbors

- visit sea or beach frequently

- walk in the wood or gardens or public parks

- smile

Students almost 20% of population. There are 45 thousand students of 250 thousand city populations. They come from around the globe.

A Latino quarter

Aarhus is a dynamic city with young age population. Average age of residents are 38 years old.

In my opinion that summer is a festival season. People sit and enjoy outside:

- in front of cafe

- seaside or harbors

- in the park

- in front of fountains

It seem for me that music everywhere. Even, there is Latino square with Latino music, food and drink.

It is not surprise, Aarhus was appointed as capital culture of Europe in 2017.

Have you visited Aarhus city or Denmark?

Is it Norm to Hire Underage Workers in Developing Countries? - part 1

The Apple factory in China (credit to Google)

In many cases, company stock prices relate to quality of product. The high quality may increase demand, thus rise price and stock.

In some points, customers see certain ethics or norms as part of brand value.

Apple ought to contract underage employees (fifteen-year-old) to work in any sections of its factories in some developing countries.

Teenagers employee may damage or destroy brand performance in the market and brand value in the minds of customers, hence may affect company (Apple) stock price.

No law gives permit for 15-year-old children to work full time during school days.

Under some requirement, teenagers may work several hours in school day, and part time during weekend.

All companies and organizations must comply with this law. If not, in this case is Apple will face legal actions.

Workers in China (credit to Google)

However, there are some ethics or norms that are believed and practiced by society in daily life.

Stakeholders may look down (lower brand values) to companies against the social norms.

Children in a developing country, just for illustration (credit to Google)

Since Apple produces iPhone in developing countries such as China, where crime and drug abuse rate is higher.

Is it reasonable to accept underage employees to work in its factory? 

What Effect of Diversity Patrons on the Arts in the 15th-18th centuries? - part 1

Portrait of Isabella D'este by Titian around 1534 to 1536.

Renaissance is the word that refers to rebirth with broader meaning in Europe history.

During the renaissance period (15th-18th centuries), Europe witnessed of new world finding (Columbus found American continent); new understanding of astronomy system (Copernicus); and many other important inventions.

In respect to ancient Greece and Rome, it was a revival of intellectual, value and classical art of these former empires.

Non-religious groups such as families and governments started to be patrons of arts in the renaissance era, and was flowering in Italy.

As suggested by Muscato (2003) that the cities of Italy were controlled by powerful “princess,” they are elected representatives, lords and dukes.

These leaders hired painters, sculptors and designers to be the official court artists. In addition, rich people could be patron by bringing the artist in their private homes.

 Portrait of Isabella d'Este, 

painted by Leonardo da Vinci around 1499

One of well known patrons was Isabella d'Este, she was a ruler of Mantua, Italy and a great patron of:

- painters

- writers,

- poets

- musicians

Three famous painters supported by Isabella d'Este are:

- Leonardo da Vinci

- Mantegna

- Titian 

Medal of Isabella d'Este,

carved by Gian Cristoforo Romano in 1505

Some artists were associated with Isabella are:

- Perugino

- Battista Spagnoli

- Raphael,

- Andrea Mantegna,

- Castiglione

- Bandello.

Writers who gote supported by Isabella d'Este are:

- Ariosto

- Baldassare Castiglione

Musicians such as Bartolomeo Tromboncino and Marchetto Cara also got supported by Isabella d'Este.

# Continued to part 2

Reference

Muscato, C. 2003. Patrons of Renaissance Art: Roles, Influence & Famous Works. Retrieved from study.com..

Can We Get Drone under US$100?

A pocket size drone

Like professional, those who amateurs also want to have a drone to photos taken from sky or selfie purposes.

The “simple” professional drone may cost from US$ 1,000 to US$ 3,000. Quite expensive, especially for beginners

In addition to cheap, the amateurs require the following features:

- good quality camera (video of bird’s eye view)

- portable (easy to carry)

- light weight

- easy to use

- fly up to reasonable high

Is it possible to have above features with price US$ 100 or even less? The answer is YES. 

Illustration of photo taken by an amateur’s drone (credit to Google)

I saw a website (pcmag) gave list of US$ 100 drones, few are:

- Eachine E010 Mini UFO Quadcopter Drone

- QCopter HD Camera Drone

- Ryze Tello

- UFO 3000 LED Drone Quadcopter

- Cheerwing Syma X5SW-V3

A drone is flying

Currently, some friends of mind are talking about “drone x pro” brand name. The price is US$ 100.

If we diligent enough to search through “Google,” few companies sell below US$ 100. I saw US$ 64 and even US$ 54.

However, I don’t know for quality and whether include shipping cost or not. 

Illustration of photo was taken from sky

Drone x pro can fly up to 150 feet (50 m). In my opinion that the height is excellent, below regulation set by Aviation authority.

In order to avoid conflict with private and commercial aircraft, USA aviation authority has a rule to drone that it recommended to fly below 121 m (400 feet).

From 50 m (150 feet), we can take very clear photos with 720p camera.

Interestingly, drone can take-off and landing automatically by pushing a pair of buttons on the remote control. It is perfect for beginner.

Do you want to have a drone? If so, what are you purpose for?

Why Medical Students Need Specific Social Media? - Part 2

Illustration of puncture wounded

First part of this post may be seen at: “Why Medical Students Need Specific Social Media? - Part 1”

Host and co-host discuss about the content of “Figure 1 app.” The feel that the content so gruesome and gross for common people to see the website.

The guest, John Herrman comments that “Figure 1 app” is one of 100 list of things he regrets to see in internet, unfortunate the site to be popular right now.

John Herrman feel strange of Doctors make a joke about punctured by a nail and how the patient nailed it.

It is not wrong, but just so strange to see (the picture) and to talk about it.

Then, the host interviewed Lauren, his friend who is a first year resident in an emergency room.

Lauren and her friends do use “Figure 1 app.” It’s really popular, particularly among medical students.

But, Lauren think the images are worst, gross and horrible. Lauren said, for her, “Figure 1 app” was not a useful educational tool.

She just see the images when kind of boring with other things. It is least tangentially related to medicine.

Illustration for gangrene (credit to Google)

However, one medical student, Nick DeVito is a third-year resident at Tufts Medical Center working toward a career in hematology and oncology has own opinion.

He favors to particularly beautiful photos of growths, gashes, and gangrene from Figure 1 app (Popper, 2015).

Illustration of skin layers (credit to Google)

Many other student thinks that a picture is worth, it is because the image is sharing and connect with everyone.

In addition, Doctors would post images along with a description of the patient and the condition.

Reference

Popper, B. 2015. I'm addicted to the gruesome and beautiful photographs on Figure 1, an Instagram for doctors. The Verge. Retrieved from http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/6/8341217/figure-1-medical-images-sharing-app

Reliefs on the Largest Buddha Temple in the World, Borobudur – part 1

Top View of Borobudur temple

As on previous post: “What is the Largest Buddha Temple in the World?” That there are 3 important parts of temple.

We talking about reliefs now. At the body of the temple, we could find many reliefs. As said by Raezer and Raezer (2016), the total number of relief is 120 big pieces (around 1500 small panels).

Reliefs are sculptures on the wall (body) of the temple, they depicted:

- Buddha life (critical to understand the faith)

- the daily life of people surrounding the temple around 1,200 years ago.

Buddha life consists of:

- Buddha descend from the Tushita heaven

- Buddha enter Maya’s womb

- Maya travel to Lumbini

- Buddha cuts hair

- Buddha meditates with 5 ascetics

- Mara’s daughter tempt Buddha

- Siddhartha achieve enlightenment become Buddha

- Buddha gives first sermon

Relief of Buddha (Siddhartha) cut hair

Cutting hair is a symbol to embrace new (ascetic) life. Some said the symbol as represent of:

- Love

- Courage

- Sacrifice

- Discipline

Siddhartha cut his hair when he reached 29 years old while in the process to be Buddha. 

Since then, he cut the tie between his current life to his former status as a prince. 

Relief after meditation Siddhartha achieve enlightenment.

One process to become Buddha is meditation. Siddhartha meditated under the tree for 49 days or 7 weeks without changing position.

He “deeply absorbed in meditation” to penetrate the true of life. At this stage, he got enlightenment and then become Buddha.

Borobudur entrance

Observing reliefs on the temple wall is one of attractive reasons to visit Borobudur. The largest Buddha temple in the world.

Reference

Raezer, D and Raezer, J. 2016. The Temples of Java: Borobudur & Prambanan.

Retrieved from http://www.approachguides.com/ebook-previews/Preview-ApproachGuides-Indonesia-Java-Borobudur-Prambanan.pdf

Why Salvador Dali Museum as a Wish List to Visit before Die?

The unique design of Salvador Dali Museum

Many friends of mine have “wish list” before they die. Their favorite places or objects to visit are:

1. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

2. Douro valley, Portugal

3. Machu Picchu, Peru

4. Marrakech, Morocco

5. Great Wall, China

6. Pyramid, Egypt

Surprisingly, quite plenty friends of mine have included Salvador Dali Museum, St Petersberg, Florida as their wish list to visit before they die.

It is because the building is unique. It was built based on principle of science, math and proportion. Represent of Salvador Dali see the world with 1000 ways.

The artist observed the world as combinations of:

- progressive

- classic

- fantasy

Museum locates at Water front

The museum has collected art works of Dali, the biggest outside of his country, Spain:

- 96 oil paintings

- 2000 pieces of art works

List of some Dali’s painting are:

- The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory

- The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus

- Daddy Long Legs of the Evening — Hope

- Eggs on the Plate Without the Plate

- Portrait of My Dead Brother

One of corner inside museum

Inside the 3 floor building, we can go from first to third floor through spiral staircase. Staircase reflects the Dali interests in science, DNA helix.

In addition to galleries which displays Dali’s painting, the museum also has sections of:

- theater

- gift shops

- library

- Gala cafe (named for respect of Dali’s wife)

- meeting room

Melting watch, one of Dali famous paintings

Around 400,000 visitors come to Dali Museum in Florida per year. They are from 30 different countries.

Museum is considered as one of the most visited in America. Entrance ticket is US$ 24 for an adult (18 to 64 years). US$ 22 for:

- Seniors

- Fire fighters

- Military

- Educators (teachers)

- Police

Have you visited or arranged to come to Dali’s Museum in Florida?