Sunday, February 7, 2016

Happy New Year of the Monkey, 恭禧發財, Super Bowl and more.

Gung Hei Fat Choy

Monkey (zodiac)

Excerpts from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Year of the Monkey" redirects here. For the Pushmonkey album, see Year of the Monkey (album).
Monkey 2.svg
The Monkey () is the ninth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Monkey is associated with the Earthly Branch symbol .

Years and the Five Elements


The three wise monkeys over the Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō, Japan

Monkey Statue at a Shinto shrine in Tokyo
People born within these date ranges can be said to have been born in the "Year of the Monkey", while also bearing the following elemental sign:[1]
Start date End date Heavenly branch
6 February 1932 25 January 1933 Water Monkey
25 January 1944 12 February 1945 Wood Monkey
12 February 1956 30 January 1957 Fire Monkey
30 January 1968 16 February 1969 Earth Monkey
16 February 1980 4 February 1981 Metal Monkey
4 February 1992 22 January 1993 Water Monkey
22 January 2004 8 February 2005 Wood Monkey
8 February 2016 27 January 2017 Fire Monkey
26 January 2028 12 February 2029 Earth Monkey
12 February 2040 31 January 2041 Metal Monkey

Chinese Zodiac Monkey

Personality

Occupying the 9th position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Monkey possesses such character traits as curiosity, mischievousness, and cleverness. Forever playful, Monkeys are the masters of practical jokes. Even though their intentions are always good, this desire to be a prankster has a tendency to create ill will and hurt feelings.
Although they are inherently intellectual and creative, Monkeys at times have trouble exhibiting these qualities. When that happens, they appear to others to be confused. But nothing could be further from the truth as Monkeys thrive on being challenged. Monkeys prefer urban life to rural, and their favorite pastime is people-watching.

The myth of the three wise monkeys

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the Turkish film, see Three Monkeys.
"Sanzaru" redirects here. For the game company, see Sanzaru Games.
"See no evil hear no evil" redirects here. For the 1989 comedy film, see See No Evil, Hear No Evil.

The three wise monkeys over the Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō, Japan
The three wise monkeys (Japanese: 三猿 Hepburn: san'en or sanzaru?, alternatively 三匹の猿 sanbiki no saru, literally "three monkeys"), sometimes called the three mystic apes,[1] are a pictorial maxim. Together they embody the proverbial principle "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil".[2] The three monkeys are Mizaru, covering his eyes, who sees no evil; Kikazaru, covering his ears, who hears no evil; and Iwazaru, covering his mouth, who speaks no evil.
There are various meanings ascribed to the monkeys and the proverb including associations with being of good mind, speech and action. In the Western world the phrase is often used to refer to those who deal with impropriety by turning a blind eye.[3]
Outside Japan the monkeys' names are sometimes given as Mizaru,[4] Mikazaru,[5] and Mazaru,[6] as the last two names were corrupted from the Japanese originals.[7][8] The monkeys are Japanese macaques, a common species in Japan.

It is now 2016, I think it's about time to add a fourth monkey to the lineup:

It's time to bid farewell to the Year of the Ram as the Year of the Monkey is here. To welcome the New Year with gusto, grab some bananas and let's watch The most famous monkey in China who is non-other than the Monkey King. 

Below is an animation " Monkey King conquers evil" which was released in China in 1985.




Thirty years later in 2015 a new version of the Monkey King animation was released,"The hero is back" in China. Below is the full version of the film in YouTube.




Published on Dec 28, 2015

Arguably, the technique in making the animation is probably better now then the similar one above made in 1985 but in my opinion that the script is shallow without substance. I like the older one although it pretty much adhered to the traditional story line but artworks made by brute force is superb although I hated the annoying background music.  

2015 was a year full of turbulence and tragedies, while celebrating the arrival of the New Year of the Monkey, may Peace on Earth be with all of us during 2016 and beyond:

The arrival of the New Year has stirred up some heated debates over the chosen mascots for the Year of Monkey between Mainland China and Taiwan. People say these mascots are too ugly, well, you will be the judge:

  Monkey1: Boy, you are ugly.           Monkey2:   I am humbled by your kindness, but you are  really uglier. 


Super Bowl 2016
Now that we all know Denver Bronco is the winner and Coldplay, Bruno Mars and Beyonce performed at the half time show. Do you remember Madonna, who took the center stage at the half time in Super Bowl 2011? 
Hey, are you watching the game or Madonna?
Actually, while the Super Bowl was playing in California this year, Madonna took center stage and is performing at the other side of the globe, Taipei, Taiwan.



In recent years, it is believed that because of the Global Warming, extreme weather patterns are becoming norm, such as drought in California, flooding in many places and extreme frigid weathers in the east:

Christmas 2015.