Witness the mesmerizing murmuration of starlings in Italy, a stunning display of nature's coordination and beauty as they dance through the sky in unison.

WHY BAN BOOKS?

A regime's banned-books list is a map of its load-bearing lies.

They alter their society to hide such transformative ideas because to understand them isn't to inspire revolution — it's to trigger evolution. To refuse, permanently, a return to the regime's rule.

Read banned books.

🦀

Kamogawa Delta & Mitarashi dango (Sweet soy-glazed rice dumplings) 🍡

The lush greenery season has arrived in Kyoto. At Kamogawa Park, Japanese kerria are in bloom around a bench shaped like a dango skewer.

📍Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City

New-harvest onions add layers of flavor to any dish Keep your eyes peeled for the sweet and juicy 'shin-tamanegi' onions at your local supermarket.

Not all round onions are created equal. "Shin-tamanegi" onions are sweeter and juicier — and at their peak this season.

Hidden Undernutrition: How to Improve Your Diet - Today's Close-Up | NHK WORLD-JAPAN Are you always tired and struggle to sleep? You may be suffering from undernutrition. The condition even affects people who believe they eat balanced meals. We look at the causes and fixes.

Available until April 24, 2026
www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...
Hidden Undernutrition: How to Improve Your Diet

Are you always tired and struggle to sleep? You may be suffering from undernutrition. The condition even affects people who believe they eat balanced meals. We look at the causes and fixes.

The Toy Gun That Wasn't: In Search of 17,000 Weapons - Today's Close-Up | NHK WORLD-JAPAN Japanese authorities are trying to recover thousands of toy guns that can fire live rounds with potentially lethal effect. NHK investigated how these dangerous products entered circulation.

Available until April 29, 2026
www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...
The Toy Gun That Wasn't

Japanese authorities are trying to recover thousands of toy guns that can fire live rounds with potentially lethal effect. NHK investigated how these dangerous products entered circulation.

Coming Soon to Your Neighborhood? The Pros and Cons of Data Centers - Today's Close-Up | NHK WORLD-JAPAN As data center construction is expanding across Japan, projects near residential areas spark opposition over noise and emissions. Meanwhile, in the US, rising electricity costs is an emerging issue.

Available until April 23, 2026
www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...
The Pros and Cons of Data Centers

As data center construction is expanding across Japan, projects near residential areas spark opposition over noise and emissions. Meanwhile, in the US, rising electricity costs is an emerging issue.

Silent Pandemic: The Dangers of Drug-Resistant Bacteria - Today's Close-Up | NHK WORLD-JAPAN Drug-resistant bacteria are infecting healthy people without being noticed, leading to what the WHO calls a

Available until April 22, 2026
www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...
Silent Pandemic: The Dangers of Drug-Resistant Bacteria

Drug-resistant bacteria are infecting healthy people without being noticed, leading to what the WHO calls a "silent pandemic." We look at what we can do to protect ourselves.

But underneath Goji-chan there was nothing but a semi-dark corridor with some Japanese restaurants lined up in the area, if you were curious.

But underneath Goji-chan there was nothing but a semi-dark corridor with some Japanese restaurants lined up in the area, if you were curious.

A closer view of Goji-chan at Haneda airport Terminal 3

A closer view of Goji-chan at Haneda airport Terminal 3

Stumbling across Goji-chan (Godzilla) at Haneda airport Terminal 3 today

Stumbling across Goji-chan (Godzilla) at Haneda airport Terminal 3 today

Or delete much later
Which is what I end up doing

🐙

A bunny adrift on a tiny ice floe asks a passing seal for help. the seal has a fish in its mouth, and it is a moonlit night on a calm sea.

Daily bunny no.3294 could use a ride home

Two hooded figures with lamps approach a moonlit, isolated cottage. A woman answers the door. We have come for the child, says the hooded figure So soon? she asks It is time, says the hooded figure. The woman is distraught. We should never have got him a library card! What is done cannot be undone, says the hooded figure We couldn’t see the harm! We just wanted him to enjoy reading! For most, it ends there, says the hooded figure, turning away and walking into the wilderness Oh lord, What have I done! says the woman, the child walks past her and out into the darkness with them. Do not cry mother. I am a writer now.

my latest books cartoon for @theguardian.com

April 18th is #NationalSupermanDay

A reminder that the most powerful being in fiction chose compassion over conquest. Two Jewish kids from Cleveland built the template for modern mythology. Godfather to generations of four-color heroes, 86 years later, Kal-El is still a worldwide phenomenon.

'Batman' by Jean Giraud (Moebius).

Make Your Own Apothecary Diaries Dishes With New Cookbook But no poisons in this recipe book

Make all the Apothecary Diaries dishes (and none of the poisons)!

New Roles for Vacant Homes - Japanology Plus | NHK WORLD-JAPAN *First broadcast on April 25, 2024. Japan's many vacant homes are being used as investments, hotel rooms and opportunities for creative renovation. We discover ways to reimagine properties that were o...

Available until April 30, 2026
www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...
New Roles for Vacant Homes

Japan's many vacant homes are being used as investments, hotel rooms and opportunities for creative renovation. We discover ways to reimagine properties that were once regarded as almost worthless.

Vacant Homes - Japanology Plus | NHK WORLD-JAPAN *First broadcast on August 17, 2023. In Japan, one in every seven homes is empty. These 8.5 million vacant properties may increase the risk of fire and burglary, or negatively impact local real estate...

Available until August 16, 2026
www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/...

Vacant Homes
Japanology Plus

In Tokyo, finding new tenants for shops has revitalized a shopping street. We find out why there are so many vacant homes in Japan and discover some creative solutions.

A bunny rides a barrel off a large waterfall, peering out the top of the barrel at the spray below.

Daily bunny no.3293 is going for a ride

This is a map of major oil pipelines across North America. If we can do this for oil, why don't we do this for water and build reservoirs in areas of heavy rain and move water to drought-stricken areas in the country?
Oh, I forgot, that would be too humanitarian, and no profit involved.

I think most people would prefer this. #Science

B.B. King with Lucille #bluesmusic
Vicksburg, Mississippi, 2007.
Photo by ©Kevin Westenberg

Dalek posing as The Doctor prepping to EXTERMINATE patient. But the text reads “Shock as Dalek posts AI image of itself as Jesus” Personally I think it’s a missed opportunity because having the Dalek as The Doctor is a better use of irony than Jesus in this context and meme. Oh well.

2 images: 1) showing 47 portraying himself as The Doctor as Goji-chan (Godzilla for westerners) looms in the background. 2) second image shows Goji-chan fire breathing on 47 and obliterating the fake Doctor and his regime into oblivion.

2 more that have been kicking around. Of these two I find it comforting to see Goji-chan (Godzilla for Westerners) obliterating the fake Doctor and his regime into oblivion. The Dalek Doctor would take too long compared to Goji-chan.

Samuel Jackson as The Doctor with Pulp Fiction team members around 47 in the latest incarnation mocking the 47 regime’s meme

Obama as The Doctor pouring a bucket of cold water on 47 to help wake him up from his dreams of grandeur

Dr. McCoy as The Doctor healing Kirk on a bed in Sickbay on Star Trek with Starship Enterprise crew by his side

Dr. McCoy in “The Doctor” garb yelling “Dammit Jim, I’m a doctor not a president!!!” On the bridge of the Enterprise.

The Absurdity Levels are heavenly Sky High these days…

ourstarblazers.com
Yamato and Galaxy Express 999 were the stuff of legends leading to Nausicaa and Urusei Yatsura for me.

Great stuff!

ourstarblazers.com
Yamato and Galaxy Express 999 were the stuff of legends leading to Nausicaa and Urusei Yatsura for me.

Great stuff!

Really did not expect to see this coming from Shinjuku in 2026….