Do You Know the Meaning of Your Dreams?

Illustration, Edvard Munch’s painting

All of us have experienced dreams. Some experts said that dreams are have no meaning at all. It is just brain impulse taken from memory.

Others believed that dreams relate to our daily psychological conditions. Some dreams are happy dreams, others are include:

- anxiety dreams

- nightmare dreams

- normal dreams

- lucid dreams

I myself always have “anxiety dreams” when I was a teenager. The anxiety dreams defined as troublesome dream that more “damaging” compared to a nightmare dream.

Edvard Munch’s painting of a woman

The anxiety dream could have several characteristics, some of them are:

- disquiet

- distress

- restlessness

Painting of Edvard Munch

My anxiety dreams are about:

- chased (my case is chased by usually angry dogs and ghosts)

- falling down from the height

- losing important stuffs

Scientist could “decode” my anxiety dreams now. Dream of being chased is meaning that I am avoiding something in my real life.

I may don’t like with people, locations and decisions, thus, I want to run away from the reality. 

A rural house, painted by Edvard Munch

The meaning of “falling” dream that “dreamers” face negative incidents in her or his daily life. It is including bad and fear to important events.

The events could be:

- fail grade in the school

- get fire from the job

- bad evaluation in job performance

My anxiety dream of losing important stuffs was meaning that my motivation or eagerness to success is leading to down in real life.

What kinds of dream did you face during your kid, teenager, adult or current age?

What is the Relationship between Eggs and Diabetes? - Diabetes 2

An egg yolk, illustration only

Based on early studies (1970’s), there was indication that diabetes type 2 was stimulated by cholesterol in the eggs.

Not only to diabetes, egg’s cholesterol also believed to contribute to cardiovascular diseases.

Health communities then advocated diabetic patients to limit their eggs daily consumption.

Some experts to suggest to eat no more than 4 eggs per week or every other day for one egg.

Recently, after several researches conducted, scientists “doubted” the relationship between eggs intake and diabetes.

Hence, myth about effect of eggs on diabetes (especially type 2) has been modified.

Hens in a small farm, illustration purpose only

Eggs are nutrient riches content, some of them are:

- lower carbohydrate (0.4 gram)

- lower calories (80 caloric)

- 216 mg cholesterol

- 1.8 gram saturated fat

In addition, eggs are sources of vitamin D, fatty acid and protein that are important to:

- build strong bond.

- oxygen transportation and energy resource (in case no glucose)

- fix and build tissues, make hormone and enzyme in the body. 

Organic eggs in the small farm

In respect to cholesterol and saturated fat, dietitians recommend to consume:

- more than 300 mg per day for cholesterol (no specific limit from dietary guidelines for Americans)

- 11 to 13 gr per day for saturated fat.

It is suggested to eat lower calories and lower carbohydrate foods to manage fluctuation of blood sugar.

Thus, consume 1 egg per day is “good enough” for diabetes type 2 patients.

Can America Buy Greenland from Denmark?

Icy Greenland (credit to Google)

Two monumental history in term of land purchased was done by US administration to foreign governments in 1803 and 1859.

US bought huge land from France in 1803, about 828,000 square mile which separated into 15 states, from Dakota to Louisiana.

Second purchased was from Russia in 1859. Russian empire sold Alaska with price of US$ 7.2 million to US government.

Moreover, US had tried to buy Greenland from Denmark several times:

- in 1867 (don’t know price tag)

- in 1946 with price tag US$ 100 million

- in 1996 (idea to buy Greenland re-promoted by Pat Buchanan, president candidate)

- in 2019 (recently)

All attempted by USA are fails. Denmark rejected to sell Greenland even though Denmark faced financial difficulty to maintain Greenland autonomous administration.

A corner in Greenland (credit to Google)

Denmark spends US$ 600 million per-year to subsidize Greenland, then why Danes rejects to sell the icy land to USA?

Among the reasons are:

- vast natural resources

- strategic location, between Arctic and the Atlantic oceans

A fishermen village (credit to Google)

Denmark understands that various of Greenland natural resources is highly possible to be exploited due to melting of ice in Arctic.

Some of the natural resources in Greenland are:

- oil

- lead

- zinc

- gold

- diamonds

- uranium

Nuuk, capital of Greenland (credit to Google)

Greenland has total population no more than 60,000 people. 15 thousand population concentrates in Nuuk, capital city.

Tourist industry is promising sector, in addition to its strategic location and natural resources. Thus, Denmark will not sell Greenland for America for sure.

The Short Story of Japanese Kino Enigmatic Life – Part 1

Small bars in a back street, Tokyo, Japan

I read the story with title “Kino” written by Japan author, Haruki Murakami. The story is about a Japanese man, called “Kino” who confused with reality.

In some points, Kino does not know about what wrong and what going on with his life.

It is quite enigmatic at the beginning of story. Then, I slowly understand that Kino had broken heart, and after that he has:

- lonely life

- no wife

- no children.

- almost no friend (especially women)

After resign from a “boring” job, Kino then has been trying his fortune by open the small bar of his aunt’s property.

The bar locates in the back little street (a narrow alley) of Tokyo, Japan. 

Illustration of inside small bar in Tokyo, Japan.

The bar serves drinks, variety of foods and jazz music. After a while, Kino has few “routine” customers. Yes, the few only.

There is one strange customer who comes several times in a week. Not like other Japanese who always visit a bar with companies. 

A small street in Tokyo, Japan.

The customer almost silent, and always sits in the same corner, the most uncomfortable spot in the bar.

I myself is interesting with this part of story about odd customer and a wander off cat. The customer is actually young man with the shaved head.

Who is the strange customer? What happen with his mysterious cat?

# To be continued. Please read part 2 

Is Denmark World Leader in Wind Energy?

Wind turbines in Denmark (credit to Google)

Fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal are believed to have been contributed to climate changes. Thus, we need to move to friendly energy sources, renewable energy.

Two prominent renewable energies are wind and sun. Denmark have chosen wind as energy solution with several reasons:

- wind available for 24 hours, not only in daylight

- less pollution

- more efficient

- produce more energy

In term of wind power generator per capita (MWH per person), top 10 countries are:

- Denmark, 2.29 MWH per person

- Germany, 1.44

- Ireland, 1.34

- Spain, 1.30

- Canada, 0.85

- USA, 056

- United Kingdom, 0.57

- France, 0.40

- Italy, 0.38

- China, 0.26

The offshore Wind farm (credit to Google)

Denmark is clearly pioneer and leader in using and acquiring the cutting edge technology of wind energy in the world.

Technology progress through the years, now, we aware that renewable energy is more effective than fossil fuel energy in term of cost.

An old wind mill, just for illustration (credit to Google)

If we compare wind to solar energies, wind power is cheaper than solar energy. Wind power cost around US$ 45 per megawatt hour, while solar energy cost US$ 48 per megawatt hour.

Cost will be reduced in coming years due to invention in wind turbine technology and storing energy capacity.

USA promoted renewable resources energy, especially in the state of California. If we buy a brand new house, the property owners will offer us solar panels for electricity.

Did your state or country start to use wind or solar energy sources?

What Food Should We Try While in Japan? - part 2

Yakisoba

Part 1 of post (please re-visit: What Food Should We Try While in Japan?), we discussed three Japanese dishes:

- shabu shabu

- onigiri

- kare raisu

My other 3 favorite foods actually noodles or combined of noodle. Comparable to European, Italian foods such as “spaghetti” is noodle too. The same basic “raw material.”

The foods are called as:

- Yakisoba

- Soba

- Udon

Yakisonba is a simple fried noodle for me. In Japan, Yakisoba stir frying noodle mixed with seafood or meat, vegetable and sauces.

We can find “easily” Yakisoba in certain corners of Japanese cities, because Yakisoba is a street food. 

Soba

However, some of street Yakisoba is simply fried noodle mixed with vegetable (chopping cabbage) and spicy sauces.

Another type of Japanese noodle is Soba. It is a long type noodle, just cooked white noodle, then eaten with dipping spicy or sweetly sauces.

We may find quite a “complete” Soba, mixed with vegetable and meat like other Japanese noodle dishes. Healthy and delicious.

Udon

Udon uses bigger (thicker) size of noodle compared to Soba and Yakisoba, but it is a soup version of noodle for me.

You may find Udon in many restaurants in many cities in Japan with local taste and versions.

Sushi with cheese

Just to let you know that sushi blended with cheese available only in the USA. Don’t ask its when you are in Japan. The Chef will confuse for sure.

Have you tried any type of Japanese noodle? 

How many Countries Include in Live Longer Zones?

Expo park, Okinawa, Japan

First, you might know the term of “blue zone.” Yes, it is referring to areas where people live longer than other places in the world.

People may reach 100 years old or more in those areas due to two main factors:

- life style contributes to 70% of live longer

- genetic contributes to 30% only.

Initially, Dan Buettner suggested 5 places as “Blue Zones.” They are:

- Okinawa, Japan

- Sardinia, Italy

- Nicoya, Costa Rica

- Ikaria, Greece

- Loma Linda, California, USA

Beautiful view of Sardinia, Italy

Of lifestyle, some traits that make people live longer are:

- physical activities

- diet

- spiritual

- family and social networks 

One of street in Nicoya, Costa Rica

Blue zone population have regular physical activities to keep their weight. Please don’t think that they are doing exercises like what we do.

Several physical activities and calories burning are:

- mowing lawn, burning 400 calories

- laying tile, 240 calories

- spreading dirt, 270 calories

- shovel snow, 580 calories

- roofing, 340 calories

- rake leaves, 380 calories 

Ikaria island, Greece

You might guess the diet of blue zones population. Yes, they are consuming less:

- meat

- dairy products

- sugary foods

- alcohol

- smoking

Almost 95% of their consumption are:

- vegetables

- fruit

- grains

- legumes

Loma Linda, California, USA

Blue zone community is more religious compared to other areas. It is proved that people “pay attention to spiritual” activities less of:

- heart diseases

- depression

- stress

The important trait that make blue zone people live longer is “family and social networks.” Family and friends encourage each other to live well until old age.

Is your country include in “blue zone?” or have you visited one of “blue zone” countries?