Culture Weblog!
While the 5 million Turkmen who lived under the crushing rule of President-for-life Saparmurat Niyazov for 21 years are likely (and understandably) grateful about their leader’s untimely demise, the wacky world of dictators just got a little less interesting for us watchers of international affairs. Passport brings you a mini photo essay, highlighting some of Turkmenbashi’s loonier moments:
Standing in the capital city of Ashgabat, this imposing statue is just one of the countless monuments to Turkmenbashi across Turkmenistan, including a massive golden effigy of Niyazov that rotates so the sun always shines on his face.
“Paris syndrome” is taking hold of about a dozen Japanese each year. And no, we don’t mean Paris Hilton. Every year, an average of 12 Japanese tourists in Paris have to be repatriated due to severe culture shock.
Many of the visitors come with a deeply romantic vision of Paris - the cobbled streets, as seen in the film Amelie, the beauty of French women or the high cultutre and art at the Louvre. The reality can come as a shock…
The 2006 Robot Awards have just been handed out in Tokyo and this year, aids for the elderly took top prizes. Paro, this furry little robotic seal used for therapy in nursing homes, took the service prize at the Japanese government-sponsored awards. I supposed Paro is meant to be a friend for the lonely, much like a real pet, since it responds to its name, coos, and reacts to petting. A feeding machine was also honored, another sign that Japan is hoping robots will help care for its rapidly aging population. Forty percent of Japan will be 65 or older by 2055.