ritasakano

Latest Posts by ritasakano

Ōyō Sketchbook (Ōyō manga) : [volume 2]

Ogino Issui 荻野一水 (Japanese, active 1900-10)

Publisher, Kyoto : Yamada Unsōdō 山田芸艸堂

1903

Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.)

Purchase, Mary and James G. Wallach Foundation Gift, 2013

2013.789a, b

Os caquis maduros pintam o tempo cinza do inverno.

Caqui a fruta doce do inverno.

Ryohei Tanaka, Persimmons

Adorei!!

A sushi stitch!

A mini Christmas Mandala cross stitch pattern

É lindo quando eles aparecem no meu jardim!!!

Nihon no kotori (Japanese small birds), cute helpful chart by @T_marohiko listing the following species:

First row - 百舌 mozu (bull-headed shrike) / 目黒 meguro (bonin white-eye) / 川蝉 kawasemi (kingfisher) / ツグミ tsugumi (dusky thrush) / 鶯 uguisu (japanese bush warbler)

Second row - 雀 suzume (sparrow) / 燕 tsubame (swallow) / 椋鳥 mukudori (grey starling) / 駒鳥 komadori (japanese robin) / 赤啄木鳥 akagera (great spotted woodpecker)

Third Row - 頬白 hoojiro (meadow bunting) / シマエナガ shimaenaga (silver-throated dasher) / 鷽 uso (japanese bullfinch) / 菊戴 kikuitadaki (goldcrest) / 白鶺鴒 hakusekirei (black-backed wagtail)

Fourth row - 五十雀 gojuukara (eurasian nuthatch) / 四十雀 shijuukara (japanese tit) / 小雀 kogara (willow tit) / 日雀 higara (coal tit) / 山雀 yamagara (varied tit)

Fifth row - 黄鶲 kibitaki (narcissus flycatcher) / 小瑠璃 koruri (siberian blue robin) / 大瑠璃 ooruri (blue-and-white flycatcher) / 瑠璃鶲 ruribitaki (red-flanked bluetail) / 尉鶲 joubitaki (daurian redstart)

“The Stella Pinafore Toilette.”

Enquire Within, Ladies Home Journal

5th February 1916.

https://www.instagram.com/rita.baanoai/

Babadores exclusiva feitos pela vovó Rita.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CRO1xKApXHB/?utm_medium=copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQa_cFIgkHb/?utm_medium=copy_link

手作りよだれかけ

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQasN2zACwQ/?utm_medium=copy_link

Study Examines Religious Experiences and Depression

While attending religious services is generally associated with improvements in mental wellbeing, a new study reports spiritual experiences and belief in divine leading can lead to an increased risk of depression, especially in men.

Bom Dia!!

Agradecendo por estar em casa!!

Três meses do meu amado neto!!

Doha uma jóia no deserto!!

Amanhecer

As cores brindam um novo amanhecer

Olhos fixos de agradecimento

Flutuar com as nuvens

Puro deleite

Tassel

pinterest.com

Anjo

Anjos

Lembrança

De uma infância

De Anjos

Graduating and I love that my schools colours are green and gold, I couldn’t be happier ‘cause I’m graduating with Loki’s colours. 😂😁☺️

Also, tassels are fun 😋

Tagging because I feel you might appreciate

@worstloki @loki-darkprince-odinson @makerofrunevests

Que trabalho maravilhoso!!

Tissue Series

These pieces are made of Japanese mulberry paper and the gilded edges of old books. They are constructed by a technique of rolling and shaping narrow strips of paper called quilling or paper filigree. Quilling was first practiced by Renaissance nuns and monks who are said to have made artistic use of the gilded edges of worn out bibles, and later by 18th century ladies who made artistic use of lots of free time.

- by Lisa Nilsson

“Força eletrostática é aquela que governa o movimento dos átomos. É a força que os faz colidir e desenvolver a energia de sustentação da vida de calor e luz, e que os faz se agregar em uma variedade infinita de maneiras, de acordo com os designs fantasiosos da Natureza, e formar todas essas estruturas maravilhosas que vemos ao nosso redor . É, de fato, se nossas visões atuais forem verdadeiras, a força mais importante que devemos considerar na Natureza. ” Nikola Tesla

“Electrostatic force is that which governs the motion of the atoms. It is the force which causes them to collide and develop the life-sustaining energy of heat and light, and which causes them to aggregate in an infinite variety of ways, according to Nature’s fanciful designs, and forms all these wondrous structures we see around us. It is, in fact, if our present views be true, the most important force for us to consider in Nature.”

–Nikola Tesla 

“Tesla, Marvel Of The Future.” Brooklyn Citizen, August 22, 1897.

The Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn

Credits:  NASA/Bill Ingalls

Have you noticed two bright objects in the sky getting closer together with each passing night? It’s Jupiter and Saturn doing a planetary dance that will result in the Great Conjunction on Dec. 21. On that day, Jupiter and Saturn will be right next to each other in the sky – the closest they have appeared in nearly 400 years!

Skywatching Tips from NASA

Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

For those who would like to see this phenomenon for themselves, here’s what to do:

Find a spot with an unobstructed view of the sky, such as a field or park. Jupiter and Saturn are bright, so they can be seen even from most cities.

An hour after sunset, look to the southwestern sky. Jupiter will look like a bright star and be easily visible. Saturn will be slightly fainter and will appear slightly above and to the left of Jupiter until December 21, when Jupiter will overtake it and they will reverse positions in the sky.

The planets can be seen with the unaided eye, but if you have binoculars or a small telescope, you may be able to see Jupiter’s four large moons orbiting the giant planet.

How to Photograph the Conjunction

Credits: NASA/Bill Dunford

Saturn and Jupiter are easy to see without special equipment, and can be photographed easily on DSLR cameras and many cell phone cameras. Here are a few tips and tricks:

These planets are visible in the early evening, and you’ll have about 1-2 hours from when they are visible, to when they set. A photo from the same location can look completely different just an hour later!

Using a tripod will help you hold your camera steady while taking longer exposures. If you don’t have a tripod, brace your camera against something – a tree, a fence, or a car can all serve as a tripod for a several-second exposure.

The crescent Moon will pass near Jupiter and Saturn a few days before the conjunction. Take advantage of it in your composition!

Get more tips HERE.

Still have questions about the Great Conjunction?

Our NASA expert answered questions from social media on an episode of NASA Science Live on Thursday, Dec. 17. Watch the recording HERE.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com.

Know your Neurotransmitters

You’ve probably heard about oxytocin in relation to hugging, dopamine in terms of addiction and serotonin in relation to depression. Neurotransmitters are crucial for all sorts of operations in your brain, including mood, appetite and movement. When dysregulated they can lead to undesirable outcomes, including mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder, addiction and substance use disorders, and psychosis.

You may hear that ‘people with depression have a serotonin shortage’ or ‘addiction is caused by dopamine dysregulation’, and whilst that has some basis in science, the workings of these chemical messengers are somewhat mysterious and definitely more complex than that. Disorders are caused by a number of interactions and neurotransmitters, but for the sake of understanding, let’s keep it simple! In this article we’ll focus on those that are most commonly associated with mood and mental health: serotonin, dopamine, GABA, norepinephrine, oxytocin, and endorphins.

What are neurotransmitters?

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that communicate between the neurons in your brain. Whenever you think, move, learn, feel, perceive or do pretty much anything at all (even when you think you’re doing nothing), electrochemical impulses are rushing along pathways of neurons to make things happen. There are approximately 86 billion neurons in the brain and they do not actually touch each other! Instead they have small synapses where they ‘connect’, gaps of about 40 nanometres between them. For context, there are one million nanometres in a millimetre! The presynaptic (sending) neuron releases these neurotransmitters into the gap, which are picked up by the postsynaptic (receiving) neuron, triggering a response. All this happens a LOT faster than you can say ‘Give me the happy ones please brain!’ 

Serotonin: The Moody One

We mostly hear about serotonin with regard to mood, particularly that low levels cause depression. People who take antidepressant drugs, are likely to be taking SSRIs — Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors — which work by preventing presynaptic neurons from taking back the serotonin they release into the synapse so there is more available for the brain to use. As well as mood, serotonin is involved in appetite, sleep, memory, impulse inhibition and sexual desire. If you’re low on it, you might experience depression, anxiety, aggression, irritability, impulsivity, insomnia or poor appetite.

How to get enough

The essential ingredient for serotonin is tryptophan, found in salmon, eggs, spinach and seeds, or available as a supplement. Other players in the synthesis and regulation processes include magnesium, zinc, vitamins D, B6, B12 and L-methionine, and deficiencies in any of these could affect your serotonin availability.

How to ‘hack’ it for happiness

Giving, receiving or even witnessing an act of kindness boosts your serotonin, as does sunlight, exercise, and getting a massage.

Dopamine: The Hedonistic One

Dopamine is most commonly discussed for its role in pleasure, reward and motivation. The neurons in your brain that go crazy when you eat cake, have sex, or take drugs are full of dopamine receptors. It is involved in motivation, satisfaction and reward-driven behaviour, as well as movement, sleep, mood and learning. Too much dopamine is linked to aggression, poor impulse control, binge eating, addiction, and has been linked to psychosis and hallucinations in schizophrenia. Low dopamine is seen in movement disorders like Parkinson’s Disease, and may also result in low motivation, energy and sex drive, brain fog, and mood swings.

How to get enough

Dopamine is made from Tyrosine, which your body creates from phenylalanine, which can be found in meat, fish, eggs, tofu, almonds, avocadoes, milk, nuts and seeds. Tyrosine is also available as a supplement. Other players in the dopamine game that you’ll want to get enough of include copper, iron, and vitamins B3, B6, B9, and C. When you eat food that is high in sugar you’ll get a surge of dopamine, however this can lead to the same kind of desensitisation and tolerance as a drug addiction, with your brain needing more and more to get the same dopaminalicious reward. Poor sleep and chronic stress will also deplete your dopamine.

How to ‘hack’ it for productivity

Dopamine’s main purpose is actually motivation rather than pleasure, making sure you enjoy activities like eating and reproducing so you continue to do them. Think about how enjoyable it is planning a holiday, or clothes shopping for a hot date you’re excited about. Set goals, and use your pleasurable dopamine-surge activities as rewards instead of distractions.

GABA: The Chill One

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) is that neurotransmitter that walks into the chaos and reminds everyone to relax. It is inhibitory, produces a calming effect, reducing anxiety, stress and fear, and helping you sleep. Benzodiazepines like Valium work by enhancing the effect of GABA. If you don’t have enough you may suffer from panic, anxiety and even seizures. GABA is produced naturally in the brain, and low levels can be caused by an inadequate diet, genetics and prolonged stress.

How to get enough

Vitamin B6 is essential for GABA production. You can buy GABA as a food supplement, but scientists aren’t convinced it actually does anything.

How to ‘hack’ it for relaxation

It probably won’t surprise you that yoga, meditation and deep breathing improve your GABA functions. You’ll get the best results if you incorporate them as a regular practice, rather than just when you need them.

Norepinephrine: The Alert One (also known as noradrenaline)

Multitasking norepinephrine functions as a neurotransmitter and a hormone, released into the blood in response to stress. It is involved in attention and alarm response, including the body’s fight or flight response, to help mobilise you for action in the face of danger. It is also implicated in emotions, sleeping, dreaming and is important for memory and learning. Low levels are associated with lethargy, lack of focus and attention, and depression. Overactivity can amplify our normal stress reactions and cause symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, irritability and mood swings.

How to get enough (and regulate it)

Norepinephrine is made from dopamine! It starts with phenylalanine, and goes one step further than dopamine, requiring all the ingredients dopamine requires, and then oxygen and vitamin C to undertake that next transformation. Chronic stress causes prolonged activation of the norepinephrine system, which uses up all your resources, stealing energy from your healing and maintenance systems to prepare for this apparent ongoing threat. Finding ways to reduce stress (see GABA: The Chill One) will regulate your norepinephrine.

How to ‘hack’ it for attention and memory

Coffee’ll do it!

Oxytocin: The Loving One

Oxytocin is both a hormone and a neuropeptide. A neuropeptide is like a large-sized neurotransmitter, and is usually associated with slow, prolonged effects instead of quick ones. Oxytocin is known as ‘the love hormone’ and induces feelings of affection and trust, while inhibiting the brain’s fear response. There you go… this is probably the scientific basis for that hippy notion of fear being the opposite of love! It plays a crucial role in childbirth, breastfeeding, and parental bonding.

How to get enough of it

You can purchase oxytocin as a nasal spray, and it has been shown to promote trust, kindness, emotion recognition and sensitivity. But beware the ‘dark side’ of the cuddle chemical… a 2009 study has shown it can also increase aggression, envy, jealousy and gloating!

How to hack it for those loving feelings

Some studies have shown you can increase oxytocin by meditating, patting your dog or hugging.

Endorphins: The Feelgood One

Most famous for their part in the ‘runner’s high’, endorphins are another neuropeptide. When you feel amazing after a good workout, that’s your endorphins in action. They act as a natural pain reliever, working on the same neuroreceptors as opiates like morphine. They are released as a response to stress or pain, and also during eating, exercising and sex. They improve your mood, lower your stress and boost your self-esteem.

How to get enough of them

Endorphins are produced naturally in the body. We don’t know a lot about endorphin deficiency, but some studies have shown they can become depleted through habitual alcohol use or after traumatic experiences.

How to ‘hack’ them for good feels

You can give yourself a boost of endorphins by eating dark chocolate or something spicy, having a glass of wine, creating music, dancing, doing a workout, meditating, getting a massage, having a sauna or volunteering. Even just having a good laugh will get them working, so watching a good comedy might give you what you need.

Just to reiterate, this is a simplistic explanation and neurotransmitters work in complex ways with each other, with hormones, and with various parts of the body and brain to create different moods and psychological states. We still have a lot to learn about the true nature of these interactions — the brain is a fun and complicated thing to study! But there’s nothing to lose in friending up with your neurotransmitters and giving them the nutrition and stimulus to encourage them. They might even reward you with those oh-so-good brain feels we like so much.

By Larissa Wright (Medium). Gif by AnatomyLearn. Illustration by Compound Interest.  

É Natal

Vamos cantar

Alegria

Em nossos

Corações!!!

Linda peça em Sashiko!!

Self-drafted Godzilla based on the wood cut from Three Fish Studios. Lots of half stitch and sashiko. by thefutureisfeline

O monte Bromo (em indonésio: Gunung Bromo; em javanês: Gunung Brama é um estratovulcão ativo da ilha de Java, Indonésia,[1] situado na província de Java Oriental e regência de Probolinggo.

Faz parte do maciço de Tengger e o cume ergue-se a 2 239 metros de altitude. Apesar de não ser o vulcão mais alto do maciço, é o mais conhecido. A cratera tem cerca de 800 m de diâmetro e 200 m de profundidade. O maciço faz parte do Parque Nacional de Bromo-Tengger-Semeru e é uma das áreas de Java Oriental mais visitadas por turistas. O nome Bromo deriva da pronúncia javanesa de Brama, o deus criador do hinduísmo.O vulcão ergue-se no meio de uma planície chamada Mar de Areia (em javanês: Segara Wedi; em indonésio: Lautan Pasir), classificada como reserva natural desde 1919

     Bromo Volcano Crater

Novembro

Calor de final de dia

Sons perdidos

Choros aqui e ali

Os dedos percorrem o teclado

A procura de algo que preencha

O vazio que abate o coração

Meu querido ainda dorme

Do outro lado da Terra

Onde as folhas vermelhas caem

É outono

Saudade do abraço

Do cheio do outono

Do aconchego

Que este calor daqui

Não aquece.

Muito ☺️ fofo!! Lindo trabalho.

Just a couple of sloths hanging out by CutieClicker

Fire Sprinklers Erupt from Ingeniously Camouflaged Huts to Protect a Historic Japanese Village